Chen Dayong and a few others held their clothes over their mouths and noses, standing upwind.
Seeing Chen Xiaobei enter, they quickly waved at him, signaling him to stay away.
Witnessing this scene, Chen Xiaobei secretly felt that his decision to buy saltpeter from Shopkeeper Li was the right one.
He hoped to see the goods in three days.
Chen Xiaobei got straight to the point, "Brother Dayong, how is the boiling going?"
Chen Dayong pointed to a bluestone slab in the distance, "The boiled stuff is drying over there, about a bowl full."
Chen Xiaobei nodded and was about to step forward but was stopped by Chen Dayong, "You don't need to go, I'll get it for you." Su Dan Fiction Network.
Saying that, he rushed forward without waiting for a response. Chen Xiaobei's mind raced, and he added, "And bring back some embers."
Chen Dayong quickly collected the saltpeter and then dragged a burning piece of wood back to Chen Xiaobei.
Chen Xiaobei took the saltpeter and examined it carefully.
Although he hadn't researched saltpeter much in his past life, he had learned a little in chemistry class, so he knew the general color. Saltpeter was grayish-white.
The color seemed acceptable for now, but he was unsure about the purity. Thinking of this, he pinched a bit of saltpeter and sprinkled it towards the flame.
After a sizzling sound, a faint smell permeated the air. He fanned his hand in front of his nose.
Good, it was that familiar smell, so the purity seemed alright.
"Good, Brother Dayong, after boiling this, let's pack up. Don't boil anymore for now, I'll think of other methods."
Hearing Chen Xiaobei's instructions, Chen Dayong felt like he had been granted amnesty and nodded eagerly with a smile.
"Alright, alright, then we'll work fast and finish boiling all of this today."
With the saltpeter in hand, Chen Xiaobei returned home.
One part sulfur, two parts saltpeter, three parts charcoal. This was a rough ratio; he would need to adjust it more carefully himself.
Therefore, experiments were necessary.
Chen Xiaobei took a little of each, mixed them according to the approximate ratio, and stirred them well. Then, he sprinkled them onto the flame bit by bit.
He continued until he achieved the effect of igniting with a single sprinkle.
Well, small amounts ignited. Next was the test with larger quantities.
He took a piece of paper and rolled it into a cylinder about the thickness of a chopstick and the length of a pinky finger.
This was somewhat similar to the firecrackers he used to set off as a child.
He rolled four or five in succession, and then Chen Xiaobei took them outside to a deserted area by the river behind the village.
There was no fuse, so he would have to ignite the paper directly to see the effect.
Chen Xiaobei first lit a pile of firewood and then threw one of the rolled gunpowder cylinders into it.
Whoosh. After a blinding flash of light, a faint white smoke filled the air.
Chen Xiaobei sniffed the air. It was the familiar smell of gunpowder from his childhood. It seemed the ratio was about right, but why was it only burning and not exploding?
Chen Xiaobei was not reconciled. He threw two more in, and the result was the same – they burned but did not explode.
Chen Xiaobei held the rolled gunpowder and thought carefully. He understood.
Yes, the problem lay in the rolling.
The paper used for firecrackers in his childhood was rolled very tightly, layer by layer. Although he had rolled many layers now, they were clearly not pressed as tightly. Therefore, the gunpowder only burned and did not explode.
Having understood the key, Chen Xiaobei returned to the yard.
He first mixed the gunpowder according to the previous ratio. After preparing the gunpowder, Chen Xiaobei also got some water and slowly wet the gunpowder.
Seeing this, Cui Hongyu could not help but ask him, "Husband, isn't this thing you made supposed to burn? How can you use it after wetting it?"
Chen Xiaobei smiled calmly, "It can be dried after wetting. Only by wetting it can we roll it more tightly."
Saying this, Chen Xiaobei took another piece of paper and put some damp gunpowder into it.
Now it had a good feel, and he could wrap it very tightly.
This time, the cylinder Chen Xiaobei rolled was much thicker than before, about as thick as his thumb.
Also, Chen Xiaobei did not use all the gunpowder, leaving some for the fuse.
The fuse was relatively simpler. He crumpled a piece of paper, mixed it with a little gunpowder, and rolled it up, making an excellent fuse.
By the time he finished all this, the sun was already setting.
Cui Hongyu also started busy in the kitchen, first stewing the largest fish. Then she began to cook porridge.
Chen Xiaobei knew that they were to entertain Shen Ziyan and Huang Ying at this time.
So, of course, more food was needed.
Chen Xiaobei got up and went to the vegetable patch behind the house to pick some more greens.
"Hongyu, stir-fry a few more dishes later. One fish might not be enough."
"I'll get more cooked meat from Xiao Jia Town tomorrow."
"Oh, and don't we have wine at home? Bring some out for them to drink."
Looking at the generous Chen Xiaobei, Cui Hongyu's eyes were full of surprise.
The couple worked together, and after a flurry of activity, the meal was ready.
"I'll go call the two sisters to eat," Cui Hongyu said, taking Chen Qiao'er's hand and heading out.
Before long, sounds of laughter could be heard from afar; Shen Ziyan and Huang Ying had arrived.
Upon entering and seeing such a large fish on the table, the two women's eyes could not hide their joy.
It wasn't that they were greedy for food, but eating fish at this time was a grand affair. It signified the importance Chen Xiaobei's family placed on them, and this feeling touched them the most.
Cui Hongyu, however, displayed the demeanor of the head of the household. She pulled Shen Ziyan and Huang Ying to sit beside her, one on each side, and then picked up the wine pot to pour them drinks.
At the same time, Chen Xiaobei also invited the maid Xiao Hua and Huang Ying's maid Du Juan to sit down together.
The two young girls were flattered and looked at their respective masters with searching eyes.
Huang Ying smiled and said, "Since the masters have invited you, you should sit down."
With their masters' permission, Xiao Hua and Du Juan finally sat down closely. The small stone table was packed full, but it was lively.
Chen Xiaobei raised his wine bowl and said to Shen Ziyan and Huang Ying, "Thank you both for deigning to come to my humble mountain village."
"Let's have a toast first."
Shen Ziyan was rather introverted, only smiling without speaking.
Huang Ying was bold and forthright. She raised her wine bowl and clinked it with Chen Xiaobei, "Let's toast."
Seeing this, Shen Ziyan had no choice but to raise her wine bowl, extend it forward, and gently clink it with Chen Xiaobei's.
Chen Qiao'er suddenly raised her rice bowl and said to Shen Ziyan, "Sister Ziyan, I want to toast with you too."
Her words caused everyone to burst into laughter.
The atmosphere instantly became much more relaxed.
After three bowls of wine, Huang Ying tilted her head and asked Chen Xiaobei, "Village Chief Chen, how did you trick our Sister Hongyu into marrying you?"
This.
This was quite awkward. Chen Xiaobei thought to himself, it wasn't that he tricked her; she was practically delivered to his doorstep.
But if he said that, wouldn't it make Hongyu lose face? Chen Xiaobei had a flash of inspiration and said with a smile, "Alas, it's because your sister saw how pitiful I was, unable to find a wife. Otherwise, how would I have had a chance?"