Chapter 49 Your Family No Longer Needs to Farm!

Old Man Zhang had originally been chatting cautiously with this young master.

Though somewhat restrained, the conversation was proceeding quite well.

They mostly talked about trivial household matters and agricultural affairs.

Suddenly, however, the young master began to inquire about his past background...

In truth, the backgrounds of all their households were recorded in that household register, and the old madam knew them all, but this was the first time the young master had ever asked.

This made him rather nervous.

"...Reporting to the young master, this old servant... this old servant was originally a native of Wei."

"My ancestral home is in Daye Commandery of the State of Wei."

"My family has been blacksmiths for generations, mostly forging farm tools, and occasionally crafting sabers and defensive armor for the imperial government."

"Twenty years ago, the Marquis of Ding'an in Wei raised an army in rebellion and marched on Changye, causing the city to fall overnight."

"The Marquis of Ding'an dispatched many soldiers to capture artisans, blacksmiths in particular."

"This old servant took my wife and my three-year-old grandson, mingled among the refugees, and fled overnight. Thanks to running fast, we fled all the way to Kaihua City, located at the border between Wei and Great Zhou."

"At that time, it was still the Chen Dynasty, specifically the third year of Changle... the third year of Changle, I believe."

"We originally intended to settle down in Kaihua City, but never did we expect that the damned Marquis of Ding'an would be defeated. He was crushed by the Great General Feng, the God of War of Wei, and fled with his remaining troops to Kaihua City as well."

"We had no choice but to cross the border into the State of Chen."

"After wandering about in Chen for two years, in the third year... that was the spring of the sixth year of Yongle, we arrived in Lin'an, just in time when the old madam was recruiting laborers to build the Huaxi Villa."

"And thus, our family stayed here and became the young master's household servants."

"This old servant is getting on in years and hasn't forged any iron for these past twenty years, so..."

Chen Xiaofu waved his hand. "Even though you haven't forged iron for twenty years, the skill must still be there."

"Your grandson Zhang Dani I have already met. That fellow is as strong as an ox and a natural-born blacksmith; farming is a waste of his brute strength."

Old Man Zhang was slightly startled, hesitated for a moment, and asked carefully:

"Why has the young master suddenly taken an interest in blacksmithing today?"

Chen Xiaofu grinned. "Because I need you all to forge some things for me."

"...What does the young master wish to have forged?"

Chen Xiaofu did not say, because there was still an outsider present, Liang Jingru.

"I haven't fully decided yet, but our agricultural implements all need to be improved anyway."

"Let's do this first: find a secluded spot in the village to build a blacksmith workshop. You will take the lead on this matter, and Dani will be at your disposal."

"This will certainly require manpower."

"The young master gives you the authority. There are a hundred or so young, able-bodied men in this village; choose as many as you need from among them."

"Pass down your craft to your grandson, and select a few others to take as apprentices."

"Additionally, I also need highly skilled carpenters. Are there any in our village, or do you know of any?"

Old Man Zhang pondered for three breaths. "Old Wei at the east end of the village is indeed a carpenter, and his son's craftsmanship is even better than his own."

"Oh, then I shall go look for Old Wei tomorrow."

With these words, he pulled a stack of bank notes from his bosom—

On the nineteenth of June, the Lin'an Academy had collected a total of over three hundred and forty thousand taels of silver!

Divided equally into five shares, Elder Dean Li deposited this massive sum in the Lin'an branch of the Zhuo Clan Bank.

That very night, Elder Dean Li and Master Jiang paid a visit to Huaxi Villa and handed the bank deposit certificates worth one hundred and twenty-three thousand six hundred and seventy-five taels to Chen Xiaofu.

This was his rightful share!

However, the name signed on these certificates was not Chen Xiaofu, but... An Xiaowei!

In addition to this, Chen Xiaofu still had the one hundred and ten thousand taels of silver notes he had won in his pocket!

In other words, he now possessed over two hundred and thirty thousand taels of silver!

This was a colossal fortune.

It was his first pot of gold earned in the two-plus months since arriving in this world!

Now, he needed to spend some of this silver.

The blacksmith workshop was the first step!

"Take this ten thousand taels in silver notes first."

Old Man Zhang was startled. He sprang to his feet and waved his hands repeatedly:

"I cannot accept this! I truly cannot!"

"Since the young master wishes to build a blacksmith workshop... this old servant will naturally give it my all."

"As for the silver, the young master should keep custody of it. Just let this old servant know whatever supplies need to be purchased!"

Chen Xiaofu was not an industrious person who insisted on handling everything personally.

Since Chief Steward Chen Shi said these tenant farmers were entirely trustworthy, he naturally did not want to work himself to the bone.

At that moment, Zhang Dani and his wife walked over in a hurry.

Zhang Dani's wife headed to the kitchen, while Zhang Dani came over to Chen Xiaofu's side with a joyful expression.

He bowed respectfully: "This humble servant greets the young master and the young madam!"

"Ah, you've returned just in time. Sit."

Chen Xiaofu explained the matter of setting up the blacksmith workshop to Zhang Dani once more. The joy on Zhang Dani's face gradually faded, replaced by a trace of nervousness.

He turned his head to look at his grandfather.

Old Man Zhang nodded. "Since the young master needs it, this task... our Old Zhang family must take it on."

"But..."

Old Man Zhang waved his hand. "The matter is settled. The Wani Ditch behind the village is a very suitable place to build the blacksmith workshop."

"Wani Mountain has plenty of green oak and elm trees, both ideal for making charcoal."

"There is also a waterfall right there."

"The soil of Wani Mountain is excellent clay, which will also be very useful."

"Grandfather will take you to look at it later. Remember, whatever concerns the young master must be handled with the utmost dedication!"

Only then did Zhang Dani break into a grin once more:

"You got it!"

He looked at Chen Xiaofu and asked out of curiosity:

"Young master, are you setting up this blacksmith workshop just to forge some farm tools?"

"Well... let's use forging farm tools to practice our skills for now."

"Oh... then does the young master want to set up a smelting furnace as well? This humble servant means it would be best—best if we could smelt our own iron so we aren't at the mercy of others."

Chen Xiaofu was taken aback. "I'd love to be able to smelt iron ore myself, but your young master doesn't have a mineral vein right now!"

Zhang Dani smiled again, scratched his head, and said somewhat sheepishly:

"Actually... actually, there is a mineral vein right inside Wani Mountain, and it's not buried deep."

Chen Xiaofu immediately widened his eyes: "How do you know?"

Zhang Dani was filled with pride:

"To not keep anything from the young master, over these past years during my idle moments, I've walked all over Wani Mountain."

"Though this humble servant hasn't yet mastered the skill of blacksmithing, I've become quite familiar with the work of prospecting for ores."

Overjoyed, Chen Xiaofu slammed his palm down on the table and exclaimed in pleasant surprise:

"You've been hiding such a big matter from the young master! In that case, your family won't need to farm anymore!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dani almost burst into tears.

He scrambled to his feet and dropped heavily to his knees right in front of Chen Xiaofu:

"Young master, please don't! This humble servant knows he was wrong! This humble servant shouldn't have kept it a secret, should have told the young master sooner, and should have served the fields wholeheartedly!"

"Considering that this humble servant has aging parents above and soon-to-have little ones below..."

Chen Xiaofu interrupted him:

"What are you doing?"

"It's not like your young master is firing you!"

"Get up. The young master has a glorious and great mission to entrust to you!"