Chen Xiaobei looked at it with excitement. The stones on top of the iron mine were blown into dozens of pieces, and the cast iron also cracked into fragments of varying sizes.
The largest piece of cast iron was half the size of his palm, while the smaller ones were almost like powder.
Well, it seemed that cast iron was a suitable material.
What remained for Chen Xiaobei was the most important problem: how to solve the ignition. Igniting it with a fire starter and throwing it out, although safe, lacked surprise and stealth.
Therefore, to become a standard landmine, this problem had to be solved.
Chen Xiaobei returned home and began to design the device.
As he was drawing diagrams in his room, he suddenly heard barking outside. Huang Ying and Shen Ziyan were back.
The three-day holiday passed in a flash.
Tomorrow was the day classes would resume, so they had returned early.
Cui Hongyu chatted with them in the courtyard for a few sentences. Huang Ying looked around and suddenly asked, "Huh? Where did Brother Xiaobei go? How many of his explosive fires have been made these past few days?"
Cui Hongyu pointed towards the house, "He's in the room. I don't know what he's been up to these days, just drawing diagrams nonstop."
Huang Ying's interest was piqued. She hopped into the room and shouted, "Brother Xiaobei, Brother Xiaobei, what are you researching again?"
Seeing Huang Ying arrive, Chen Xiaobei did not hide anything. He showed her the diagrams he had drawn. "I want to research a device that can automatically ignite the fuse."
Hearing his words, a hint of surprise flickered across Huang Ying's face.
"Ignite the fuse?"
Chen Xiaobei explained his design using a cast iron casing he had made. Huang Ying nodded, this was much faster than chiseling stones.
However, she looked at the percussion ignition device Chen Xiaobei had drawn and shook her head.
"Isn't this too troublesome, Brother Xiaobei? You have to make a new one every time you use it. Who knows how many you'll need to blow up those people on the mountain."
Huang Ying's words reminded Chen Xiaobei. He thought about it, and indeed, technology was not advanced in this era, and making one himself was difficult.
With this thought, Chen Xiaobei quickly drew another design.
This one was simple, similar to the principle of striking a match.
As long as you pulled it, it would ignite.
"Another option is like this. As long as you pull it, it will ignite, but I need a suitable material."
Hearing him say this, Huang Ying actually smiled. "I can make this. Master made a special kind before, which was better than a fire starter. You just had to strike it to light a fire."
After speaking, Huang Ying turned and ran off. In a short while, she hurried back, holding a small wooden box.
From the wooden box, Huang Ying took out some dark brown powder.
Huang Ying wet the powder with water and then applied it to three small wooden sticks, each about the length of a thumb. The thickness of these small wooden sticks was similar to the matchsticks from his previous life.
After applying the powder, Huang Ying carefully brought the small wooden stick close to the oil lamp.
While heating it, she raised her hand and carefully touched the temperature of the powder.
After about half the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Huang Ying smiled.
She handed a small wooden stick to Chen Xiaobei. "Try rubbing it on the table."
Chen Xiaobei marveled at this, wasn't this similar to how matches worked?
It seemed that human wisdom was truly boundless. In this era, these reclusive masters could create something similar to matches.
Chen Xiaobei, with slightly trembling hands, gently struck it. With a "zizizi" sound, it ignited.
Seeing the firelight, Chen Xiaobei became excited. He grabbed Huang Ying's hand. "Huang Ying, how much of this do you have? I might need a lot."
Although Huang Ying appeared carefree, being suddenly held by a man made her a bit surprised.
She let out a gasp, and her face instantly turned red.
Chen Xiaobei looked down and realized he might have been impolite. He quickly let go of her hand.
Outside the room, Shen Ziyan heard Huang Ying's cry and was about to rush in, but Cui Hongyu stopped her.
"Don't worry, my husband can't fight. Ten of them wouldn't be a match for Sister Huang Ying."
Hearing her words, Shen Ziyan thought about it and stopped.
Inside the room, Chen Xiaobei, flustered, let go of Huang Ying's hand and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I, I didn't mean to." Soudan Novel Network
Huang Ying nodded, took the small wooden box from the table. "You can use these for now. I have more at home, and I'll bring you some next time."
After saying that, she stuffed the wooden box into Chen Xiaobei's hand and turned to leave.
Alright, Chen Xiaobei thought the matter was over, but outside the room, it became lively.
When Cui Hongyu and Shen Ziyan saw Huang Ying come out, they immediately surrounded her. Shen Ziyan even anxiously took her hand.
"Sister Huang Ying, what happened just now?"
Huang Ying's face turned red again. "Nothing, I was just startled."
It was clear that this excuse couldn't fool Shen Ziyan and Cui Hongyu, but it no longer mattered, especially to Cui Hongyu. Whatever Huang Ying and Chen Xiaobei did in the room was fine with her.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Huang Ying quickly said, "Alright, alright, Sister Ziyan, let's go back quickly."
After they all left, Cui Hongyu walked in with a smile. Seeing Chen Xiaobei still experimenting, she walked up and gently placed her hands on his. "Husband, were you here with Sister Huang Ying just now?"
Chen Xiaobei thought Cui Hongyu had misunderstood and quickly explained, "No, no, I didn't do anything. I accidentally touched her."
He expected Cui Hongyu to be angry, but to his surprise, Cui Hongyu was beaming. "Good, good, husband, touch her a few more times in the future."
Chen Xiaobei immediately understood. So, she was still worrying about him taking a second wife.
"Hongyu, why are you trying so hard to find me a second wife? Isn't it good for us like this?"
Cui Hongyu shook her head. "It's not good. I can't always serve you by myself. I don't think it's good!"
Chen Xiaobei chuckled upon hearing this and scooped Cui Hongyu up by the waist, about to throw her onto the bed. "Then serve me tonight first."
Just then, Chen Xiaobei turned his head and saw Chen Qiao'er standing silently at the doorway.
Alas, at a critical moment.
Chen Xiaobei had no choice but to put Cui Hongyu down and wave to Chen Qiao'er with a smile. "Alright, alright, go to bed quickly."
Chen Qiao'er, however, looked at Cui Hongyu and said word by word, very seriously, "Sister-in-law has to sleep with me today."
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Chen Xiaobei sighed helplessly. It seemed taking a second wife was indeed quite necessary.
While Cui Hongyu and Qiao'er went to rest, Chen Xiaobei made further improvements to the other matchsticks.
He sandwiched the matchstick between two slightly rough small stone tablets. When the force was just right, a slight pull would ignite the matchstick.
Excellent! The ignition problem was solved. The landmine was officially declared successfully manufactured. They could test it tomorrow.