Dream of the Red Chamber: A Refined and Elegant Young Man in a Turbid World

After dismissing Li Rong, Jia Cong returned to his study, took out paper and pen, and began to draw a structural diagram of the bicycle. He removed complex parts such as the chain and freewheel, keeping only the frame, handlebars, wheels, and pedals.

The frame is made of sturdy chicken wing wood, which is both lightweight and heavy-duty. The wheels are made of hardwood and consist of two wheels, an inner and an outer wheel, with space reserved for rubber wrapping on the outer wheel.

He drew it in great detail, clearly marking the size and connection method of each part. Although it was not as precise as modern drawing tools, it was still enough for the craftsmen in the workshop to understand.

After finishing the drawings, it was already completely dark. Chu Lan and Jinping brought over dinner. Jia Cong ate a few bites hastily, then picked up the drawings again to examine them closely, repeatedly revising several details until he was satisfied.

After dinner, Li Rong hurriedly returned to report.

"Third Master, I have found out that the merchants in the capital do sell the sap of the flowering tree, but the quantity is limited, and I have already bought it all."

As he spoke, he ordered his men to bring in the sap from the flowering tree that he had bought. Several earthenware jars contained a thick, milky-white liquid that emitted an unpleasant odor.

After confirming that it was raw rubber sap, Jia Cong gave the instructions.

"Keep these saps safe and dry in a cool, dry place. Do not expose them to direct sunlight or let them get dusty. Also, go to the manor south of the city and find the foreman of the carpentry workshop. Tell him that you have something to make."

A day later, Manager Wang from the workshop in the southern part of the city rushed over. Upon seeing Jia Cong, he bowed respectfully and said, "This humble servant greets Third Master. May I ask what your orders are?"

Jia Cong handed the completed bicycle blueprints to Steward Wang.

"I want you to build it according to the design in these drawings. The materials must be the best wenge and hardwood. It must be sturdy and lightweight, and the details must be polished smooth without any burrs."

Manager Wang took the blueprints and examined them closely, growing increasingly astonished with each look. The blueprints depicted an object he had never seen before: two wheels, a frame, handlebars, and pedals. He was completely baffled as to its purpose. He frowned, scrutinizing the drawing several times before cautiously looking up.

"Third Master, this object... I've never seen it before, what is it called? This pedal is mounted on the wheel, could it be for transportation?"

"You do have some knowledge," Jia Cong nodded with a smile.

"This thing is called a bicycle, and it is indeed used for transportation. You just need to build it according to the dimensions and style on the blueprints. The construction period is tight, as it's only a few days until Master Bao's birthday banquet. I need to have it before the banquet. Can you arrange it?"

Although Manager Wang had some doubts, he dared not be negligent and quickly agreed, "Third Master, please rest assured, I will do my best and work day and night to finish making the item before Second Master's birthday. However, there are some details on the blueprints, such as the connection of the frame and the way the foot pedals are fixed, which I still need to consult with Third Master."

Jia Cong patiently explained the details on the blueprints to Manager Wang, detailing the load-bearing principle of the frame and the stress points of the foot pedals. Manager Wang, already highly skilled, grasped the concepts quickly and soon understood all the details on the blueprints. After asking a few key questions, he hurriedly took his leave with the blueprints and rushed back to the workshop to arrange for the commencement of construction.

Over the next few days, Manager Wang gathered the best carpenters in the workshop and worked day and night to finish the frame. The frame, made of chicken wing wood, had smooth lines and was polished to a fine finish. The handlebars were also specially carved with simple cloud patterns, which were both beautiful and easy to grip.

The wheels are also ready. The hardwood rims are sturdy and durable, with evenly spaced spokes and grooves on the outer wheel that are just right to wrap the rubber.

As for rubber, it's simple. After the raw rubber is dried in the sun, it is rolled with logs to a thickness of about one inch. Then it is smoked without an open flame to become dark, cooked rubber. Finally, some textures are pressed on it to prevent slipping when it goes through the winch.

Before they knew it, it was April 26th, Baoyu's birthday. The Yihong Courtyard was already decorated, with various wines, dishes, fruits and pastries on the table, as well as several pots of blooming peonies, making it quite lively.

When the time came, the invited guests arrived one after another. They were all used to making a ruckus, and today there were no rules or restrictions, so they started playing Go in groups of three or five.

Before long, Wang Xifeng arrived with Ping'er. As soon as she entered, she laughed and exclaimed, "Good brother, I'm late!" Then she ordered the servant behind her to bring up the box containing the birthday gifts.

Baoyu, dressed in a bright red silk robe and wearing a jade crown, bustled about, greeting everyone with a joyful expression. Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, he smiled and raised his cup.

"Let's not stand on ceremony today, let's drink to our hearts' content!"

Everyone took their seats as instructed, and Tan Chun then ordered the maids to pour wine and serve dishes.

Before the food and wine were even served, everyone naturally presented gifts. Baoyu accepted each gift with a delighted expression, especially Daiyu's poem and Baochai's fan, which he cherished and praised repeatedly.

After everyone had presented their gifts, Baoyu turned to Jia Cong and teased with a smile, "Good brother, where's your gift? Did you get too caught up in martial arts and forget about it?"

Jia Cong stood up with a smile, "It's Brother Bao's birthday, how could I, as his brother, forget? Please come with me to see him."

These words piqued everyone's curiosity, and they all got up and followed Jia Cong outside. As soon as they reached the open space outside the Yihong Courtyard, they saw an object they had never seen before: two wooden wheels and a chicken-wing wood frame. The handlebars were carved with cloud patterns, and the foot pedals were fixed to the wheel axles. The outside of the wheels was covered with a dark brown substance, making it look both novel and strange.

"What is this thing?" Tan Chun asked first, her eyes full of doubt. She reached out and gently touched the frame. "It looks like it's for transportation, but how can anyone sit on these two wheels?"

Daiyu frowned, examining the object, and said, "This thing is quite novel; I've never seen anything like it before. I wonder what its purpose is?"

Jia Cong explained with a smile,

"This thing is called a bicycle. I originally thought it would be for my second brother to play with."

As she spoke, she pulled Baoyu to the bicycle and taught him how to get on the frame, hold the handlebars with both hands, and put his feet on the pedals.

Although Baoyu was a little reserved, he was also full of curiosity. He rubbed his hands together and then climbed onto the frame as instructed, gripping the handlebars tightly with both hands.

Jia Cong carefully supported him from the side, and saw that although the other party did not know the method, he was enjoying it.

Baoyu slowly drove around the open space, his joy growing stronger. Even after getting out of the carriage, he couldn't hide his excitement and grabbed Jia Cong's hand.

"My goodness! This bicycle is fantastic! It's so much more fun than riding a horse or a carriage. Strolling around the park with this is so convenient and carefree!"

"Yes, this thing is really novel!" Wang Xifeng also stepped forward, touched the rubber on the outside of the wheel, and said, "What is wrapped around the outside of this wheel? It's so soft, and it doesn't bounce when you drive it."

Jia Cong laughed and said, "This is the sap of the Lin Yi national flower tree. I had it extracted and mixed with rosin and tung oil to make a kind of homemade glue. When wrapped around the wheels, it can both absorb shock and prevent slipping. The structure of this bicycle is not complicated. There is no chain. You just need to pedal and the wheels will turn. It is perfect for getting around in the garden."