CHAPTER 156: CHAPTER 156: THE MATERIALS WERE INTERCEPTED BY NIU HAO

Originally quite a handsome young man, yet his skin was baked red by the brick kiln.

However, he didn’t complain at all, wasn’t the least bit delicate. Compared to the workers firing bricks, he seemed even more like a brick maker.

Once Tang Peixiao’s brick-firing technique met the standard, he became a master, specifically teaching others how to fire bricks, make brick blocks, and dry bricks.

And Tang Tuo was also clever. Under his father’s guidance, he quickly mastered the craft and started teaching everyone the same.

There were many kilns, and the father and son each managed three. Everything was organized and orderly.

The people from the Deserted Mountain worked diligently, coupled with soldiers occasionally coming to fire bricks; everyone’s efficiency was quite high.

Now they were using the cement Pei Shu’er had provided. She knew that she couldn’t offer it anymore, so she needed to lead people to search, to see if they could find another more suitable adhesive.

She spent a morning searching; this part of the mountain behind had been explored. Then she led people to the Yellow Earth Slope. As they passed there, Pei Shu’er missed a step, her foot getting stuck in a mud pit.

Lin Yu’s face changed, quickly reaching out to pull Pei Shu’er.

Seeing Pei Shu’er had already bent down, picking up the mud from the pit and examining it, after which she smiled.

"Lin Yu, I found it."

Lin Yu was startled, looking at Pei Shu’er’s joyful face, he couldn’t help but smile a little himself.

This black mud is actually a type of clay, and the raw materials for cement are actually limestone, clay, and some other mixed materials.

When fired in a cement kiln, it can be made into cement.

She smiled and said to Lin Yu, "Hurry, push the cart over."

Zhang Chao laughed beside her, "Young Madam, we should pull you out first."

Saying this, he reached out to pull Pei Shu’er.

With the efforts of Lin Yu and Zhang Chao, Pei Shu’er was successfully pulled out from the marsh.

Even though she was covered in mud, her eyes were sparkling brightly.

"Push the mud back, also the limestone and sandstone we encountered earlier, let’s build a cement kiln."

Along the way, Pei Shu’er had already planned out how to construct the cement kiln. Once they reached the Deserted Mountain, because of the readily available red bricks, everyone just needed to follow the blueprints for construction.

There were some difficulties in between, as written knowledge and real-world encounters are not quite the same.

For example, insufficient burning of cement required refiring, as well as dealing with the steaming hot temperature of the fired cement and figuring out how to extract it.

Additionally, due to a shortage of certain materials, even when bonded, the fired cement would crack after a short time.

Such an adhesive was practically useless.

Pei Shu’er then adjusted the proportions, adding more of the marsh mud, and at last, the cement ratio was correct.

Even though it wasn’t as good as modern cement, it was far better than the cement fired the past few times.

The people firing cement were now exhausted, collapsing onto the ground.

Pei Shu’er sighed; there was no other way, if they wanted to build, they needed cement and bricks.

All she could do now was to offer some food to ease the heat for everyone.

Moreover, tending to sunstroke victims.

Seeing these people, Pei Shu’er felt somewhat distressed; she thought she should develop some heat-resistant clothing so everyone wouldn’t be so uncomfortable.

Additionally, there was cement preservation.

This was the most important thing.

Right now, only the stone houses of the three families were leak-proof.

The cement was carried by everyone into an empty house, so whenever someone needed it, they could come and take it.

No worries now, some people dug for raw materials, others fired cement, for wall-builders to use.

Because the cement raw materials weren’t complete, it wasn’t as effective as the cement Pei Shu’er provided, but it was much better than other adhesives.

Everyone was quite satisfied.

Now, they could make their own adhesive, fire their own red bricks and tiles, and in the future, they could live in a big house.

No reliance on anyone!

The people on the Deserted Mountain were full of enthusiasm, working vigorously and energetically.

Yuhua Valley also sent people to investigate; all three forces came because the movements on the Deserted Mountain were indeed significant.

The distance between Yuhua Valley and here wasn’t far, so naturally, they heard everything.

Seeing the Deserted Mountain people building walls, they quickly returned to report.

Big Bull’s face looked extremely unpleasant.

"What are the Deserted Mountain folks doing? Are they guarding against our Yuhua Valley?"

After saying this, he realized it was pointless; Yuhua Valley and the Deserted Mountain were already at odds.

Not only were the Deserted Mountain vigilant against them, but they too were guarded against the Deserted Mountain.

He snorted coldly, "Don’t let me find an opportunity, or I’ll finish them."

Niu Hao also heard the news, his face darkening.

"We can’t let the Deserted Mountain folks have their way. If they want bricks, then have people guard them; don’t let them collect raw materials."

"I remember these materials are only found on the mountain behind."

After Niu Hao said this, everyone immediately agreed, and then they started preparing; those guarding the territory guarded the territory, those following Niu Hao to seize resources seized resources.

When Lin Hong led people to the mountain behind to dig for materials, what he saw were those Yuhua Valley ruffians guarding there ferociously.

"This territory belongs to us."

Lin Hong was discontent, stepping forward to argue for a bit.

Then, he was beaten back by those people.

When Lin Hong returned to the three families with a bruised and swollen face, he felt embarrassed to face Pei Shu’er.

His combat power was just too low, causing him all these troubles.

In the end, it still fell to the Young Madam to clean up his mess.

He felt utterly useless.

But Pei Shu’er noticed him nonetheless.

Upon hearing the news, Pei Shu’er chuckled.

"Don’t worry, I’ll visit Yuhua Valley."

The purpose of Pei Shu’er’s visit to Yuhua Valley was simple.

Now there are only three forces in Yuhua Valley.

Since Niu Hao left, another force, one without any grudges with the Deserted Mountain, could occupy his territory.

Pei Shu’er donned a black cloak, also putting on a black hood.

Lin Yu followed Pei Shu’er, putting on a black cloak too.

She was already at odds with two forces in Yuhua Valley. If people saw her persuading Boss Xiong’s force, Boss Xiong might be jointly targeted by Niu Hao and Big Bull.

Her trip would be in vain.

After Pei Shu’er arrived there, she stood at the mouth of the cave, handing a gatekeeper a wooden box.

"Give this wooden box to your boss, he will understand."

Boss Xiong saw the fermented tofu in the wooden box and knew who stood outside.

The owner of the Deserted Mountain, Pei Shu’er, her renowned fermented tofu had already spread throughout Yuhua Valley.

Boss Xiong quickly stepped out.

Boss Xiong was a burly man, like a bear, hence the nickname.

He stood in place, carefully sizing up Pei Shu’er.

Pei Shu’er smiled and said, "Boss Xiong, are you sure you want to discuss matters here with me?"