Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

Broadly speaking, there are two types: sheet metal and cast iron furnaces.

It's made of sheet metal, with an outer layer of sheet metal, and the joints are secured with thick iron clips. Inside, it's filled with refractory clay.

This is what ordinary people call "tangbi".

This kind of stove burns all winter, and when it's burned again the following year...

The inner lining of such a stove is usually cracked, so it won't keep you warm when it's burning.

Therefore, you should start preparing in advance as winter approaches.

First, remove the lining (refractory mortar) inside, then apply new lining to the furnace and let it air dry in a cool place.

In this way, the food can be supplied to the whole family during the winter.

Lightweight and easy to move!

You can carry it around by simply lifting it by the handle.

Cast iron furnaces are different.

Made of pure iron, it is important to be sturdy and durable.

He's also very honest, and he gives you a lot of information.

Unlike later ones, a thickened cast iron coal stove only weighed about ten kilograms.

Now, a casual gesture will start at 20 jin (10 kg).

Those bigger ones, weighing thirty or fifty pounds, are no problem.

However, it's not accurate to say that the heavier the better when it comes to improvements in craftsmanship.

From a purely psychological perspective, it seems that the more materials used, the heavier and more robust the product.

Most households use sheet metal stoves; they're cheap!

Another advantage is that it consumes less energy, even though burning coal is a major expense.

"Master, this is it."

Yang Jianguo chose the second largest cast iron furnace among the goods; it was thickened and sat there in a square box.

It is about half a person's height, with the vent facing upwards in the shape of a winnowing basket, and a round opening in the middle at the top.

The coal briquettes are placed here, and the stove is started using the air vent below.

The upward-facing winnowing basket is perfect for placing starter materials like wood shavings.

The round opening at the top can hold a kettle, and a peanut and some warm fruit are placed on the side, which is also a unique feature.

It connects to a chimney at the back, and has a door at the front and back at the bottom.

The back is for passing through ash, while the front can be used for baking.

At noon, we put out steamed buns, sweet potatoes, and potatoes.

Slow down the fire and bake slowly.

When I got back from work in the afternoon, I opened the small door and took it out.

hey~

It smells so good!

With air intake grilles on both sides, Yang Jianguo can make some minor modifications and it will be ready to use immediately.

There's no need to worry about coal; you can just buy lump coal from the factory.

How could a steel mill be short of coal?

Coal briquettes, also known as honeycomb briquettes, are delivered by people riding handcarts through the streets and alleys every day.

Even if you can't find it in person, you can buy it at a general merchandise store.

"Okay, this stove is 36.9 yuan, and I'll give you a tool in return."

The craftsman turned and went behind the counter to get him a set of tools.

Fire tongs, fire hooks, fire buckets, small shovels, fire brushes.

That's called perfect!

"Here are your tickets and money. This is the chimney ticket."

That's right, even chimneys require tickets.

The long chimney ticket is for the long chimney, and the turn ticket is for the turn.

A few long chimneys, a few bends, that's how many tickets you need.

After finishing, I bought three long chimneys and two corner pipes.

The stove maker helped carry it to the door, found something to cushion the back seat, and tied it securely with rope.

The chimneys were tied horizontally to both ends of the vehicle, and everything was in place.

Yang Jianguo lifted his leg...

I put it down again.

I almost kicked the furnace; it's solid cast iron.

After that kick, I'll probably be bedridden for days.

Extend your legs over the parallel bars from the front and then bend back.

The stirrups swayed back and forth with energy, "Let's go!"

The driver helped push him from behind and saw him off.

"Thank you so much, sir. I'll come back to you if I need anything else tomorrow."

"Alright." The master raised his hand and smiled.

After everyone had walked away, he walked back into the shop with his hands behind his back and only then did he realize that it was already dark.

"...What the hell time is it?" I looked at the clock on the pillar when I got back into the shop, and it was almost nine hours.

"Hey~" the master said angrily.

Two cigarettes took him more than an hour, that's impressive.

Weaving through the alley, Yang Jianguo rang his bell and called out, "Hey, watch out, watch out, you might not be able to stop!"

When we were almost at the entrance of the yard, I squeezed the brakes and used my feet to steady the car.

Slowly stretching out his leg, Yang Jianguo couldn't let go.

With such a large furnace, the cart support is just for show.

"Yingzi, Yingzi..."

After a few shouts, there was some commotion in the front yard.

After the Third Uncle's house was liberated, the Third Aunt followed him out.

"Brother Jianguo, is your new stove solid?"

Yan Jiefang meant that the furnace was made of pure iron.

But it sounds like he bought a lump of iron.

"Can't this child talk? Is that a stove?" the third aunt said with a laugh, raising her hand.

"What are you standing there for? Help your brother Jianguo take it off."

"Hey!"

Seeing Yan Jiefang about to start, Yang Jianguo quickly stopped him, "Jiefang, don't, this furnace is too heavy."

He wasn't afraid of Uncle San's schemes, but he was afraid of Yan Jiefang untying the rope.

The person is gone!

The large iron furnace weighed about forty pounds, square with sharp angles.

He was about the same height as Yan Jiefang when placed on a bicycle.

That kind of misaligned impact could be deadly.

Yingzi came out at this moment and reached out to help: "Jiefang, can you lend a hand so we can both help each other?"

"Jianguo, you bought a stove?" Shazhu also came out.

"Yes, I just bought it, it's getting cold!"

Upon seeing that it was Yingzi who was helping, he quickly stepped forward and said, "Let me do it, Yingzi, you move aside."

"Auntie, please move to the side, be careful not to bump into anything."

With the help of Sha Zhu and Yan Jiefang, the furnace was finally dismantled.

They carried the cart, chimney and all, into the yard and had Yingzi push it inside.

Yang Jianguo also lent a hand, and together they carried the stove back to the middle courtyard.

Actually, he could manage on his own right now, but he couldn't refuse someone's kind offer.

"Where does the founding of the nation stand?"

"Under the window, that's it, all set."

Clang! Put the stove down.

Yan Jiefang wiped the sweat from his forehead. "This furnace is really heavy."

Thanks to Yang Jianguo who stopped him earlier, Yan Jiefang now felt a sense of lingering fear.

On second thought, it seems like I've lost out!

If it really gets smashed.

Yang Jianguo should at least pay two or three hundred yuan in compensation, right?

Yan Jiefang was heartbroken; what a great opportunity, yet he had failed to seize it.

He truly lives up to his reputation as a descendant of the Yan family.

Sha Zhu chuckled and said, "You little rascal, you're a bit weak."

Yan Jiefang was displeased. "Brother Zhu, I don't think you're any better."

What man is easy to talk about? Isn't that insulting?

"Hey, you little rascal." Sha Zhu pointed and laughed, but didn't argue with him.

In just a short while, quite a few people had gathered in the courtyard.

"Jianguo-jia, is this a new stove bought for his own family?"

Yingzi laughed and said, "Oh, Jianguo just bought it."

"Do you really need such a big stove in your house?"

Yingzi just laughed and didn't argue: "Who says it isn't true? But what can I do if the man insists on buying it?"

"..." Well, it's better to just retort directly.

Both soft and hard nails can choke a person.

Look at what they've got here, wow~

Yang Jianguo had already started tinkering with it, and when he came back, he grabbed both sides of the stove and was about to move it.

Sha Zhu hurriedly said, "Jianguo, I'll give you... a drink~ okay!"

With a lift of both hands, he moved the stove into the room.

It weighs about forty pounds, which is heavy, but compared to the work done in the factory.

It's nothing, there are plenty of things weighing around a hundred pounds.

After setting the stove in place, Yang Jianguo first connected the chimney and straightened the stove.

Once you're done, put the elbow back on.

I found a chair, stepped on it, and used it to pry open the hole I had left for the right side of the doorway.