Jin Feng saw the ship model just now and guessed that Hong Taoping must have seen the Galen ship.
Now Hong Taoping's answer confirmed his guess.
I found that the ship model was assembled and asked, "Can I take it apart and take a look?"
"I'll take it apart."
Hong Taoping was afraid that Jin Feng would dismantle it for him, so he reached out to take back the ship model.
"Ahem!"
Chen Laowu was worried that Hong Taoping's actions would offend Jin Feng, so he quickly coughed to remind him.
But Hong Taoping seemed not to hear it and continued to stretch out his hand.
"Sir, don't be offended. My young master has been busy for more than two months to complete this boat..."
Chen Laowu helped Hong Taoping explain with an embarrassed look.
"It's okay, I really don't know how to remove it."
Jin Feng smiled and waved his hand.
As both a man in science and engineering, he understands Hong Taoping's worries.
During one summer vacation in his previous life, he received a part-time job making villa models.
After working on it for more than half a month, it was finally done. My cousin's naughty child went to his house to play. He thought he was building toys and insisted on playing with him.
Jin Feng naturally disagreed. Because of this matter, he had a very unpleasant quarrel with his cousin's family. Even his parents felt that he was making a fuss out of a molehill.
Jin Feng was extremely depressed, but he didn't know how to explain it.
Hong Taoping carefully dismantled the model and explained at the same time: "This is the passenger cabin, this is the cargo warehouse, and this is..."
"Wait a minute, if we add a staircase here, it would be much easier to go up and down, and it would also have a stabilizing effect."
Jin Feng interrupted Hong Taoping's explanation and pointed at the inside of the model.
"Add a staircase..."
Hong Taoping looked at the position of Jin Feng's fingers and thought carefully.
After a moment, he nodded and said: "That makes sense... Sir, you also know how to build ships?"
"My family has been blacksmiths for generations, and I know a little bit about the craftsmanship." Jin Feng said with a smile.
"Sir, you are too humble to say that." The guide heard this and said with a smile: "Mr. Hong, you don't know something. Mr. Jin is a master of weapons. The heavy crossbows and catapults he made are used in the northwest frontier and Xichuan City.
The Dangxiang and Tubo cavalry were defeated.
If it weren’t for him, we, Da Kang, wouldn’t have the peace we have this year!”
"oh?"
When Hong Taoping heard this, he looked at Jin Feng in surprise.
This was the second time he heard the guide talk about the war.
In his opinion, Jin Feng was so gentle and elegant that he looked like a scholar. There was really no way to connect him with the battlefield and equipment.
Jin Feng knew that the best way to deal with a science and engineering man like Hong Taoping was to gain his approval in knowledge.
Thinking of this, he took out a few drawings from his sleeve and handed them to Hong Taoping: "These are the drawings I drew in my spare time. Please give me Mr. Hong's guidance."
Although Zheng Chiyuan strongly recommended it, Jin Feng could not believe it so easily.
This is the test he prepared for Hong Taoping.
Hong Taoping took the drawing and was a little unconcerned at first, but slowly his expression became more and more serious.
Jin Feng's drawings were drawn according to Dakang's drawing rules as much as possible. Hong Taoping had been building ships with his father since he was a child, so he could easily understand them.
The drawing is also a ship, to be precise, it is a cross-section of a Galen ship.
Although it was just a drawing, Hong Taoping knew very well that Jin Feng's layout was obviously more reasonable than his.
"Sir, can you also build ships?" Hong Taoping put down the drawings and asked excitedly.
Jin Feng's drawings made him feel like he had met a confidant.
"I know a thing or two." Jin Feng shook his head slightly.
"Sir, you are so humble. If you only understand a little bit, I don't understand anything." Hong Taoping said.
"Master Hong, what do you think of this picture I made?" Jin Feng asked.
"Overall, it's much better than what I did, but I'm afraid there are some problems here."
Hong Taoping pointed to a beam in the drawing and said: "If only one beam is used here, it will not be strong enough and will be easily deformed. It is best to add another one diagonally, and it will be perfect."
"I've learned a lesson!" Jin Feng showed an expression of sudden realization.
In fact, this flaw was deliberately left by him. It is very inconspicuous, but it can affect the stability of the entire ship.
Hong Taoping could tell at a glance, which showed that he indeed had real ability.
"If you can draw this picture, you must also know how to build a ship. Why do you come to me?" Hong Taoping asked.
"I have a lot of things to do, so I can't stay at the dock all the time."
Jin Feng said: "And I'm just talking on paper. It's okay to draw a picture out of thin air. If I were asked to lead a man-made ship, I would really be trying to catch a hedgehog with my bare hands - I have no way of starting, so I want to find someone to help me manage the shipyard."
This is not because Jin Feng is modest, but because he specializes in his craft, he really doesn't understand the specific steps of shipbuilding.
If he spends enough time, he should be able to do it, but what he lacks most now is time.
Hong Taoping was obviously moved when he heard this, but when he thought about the mess in his family, his eyes became dim again.
Just as he was about to refuse, he heard Jin Feng ask: "I wonder how much money Mr. Hong still owes others?"
"Together, we have thirteen thousand taels left..." Hong Taoping replied with a grimace.
"Is it true that if you pay back the money, those wealthy businessmen will stop causing trouble?" Jin Feng asked.
"This is natural." At this point, Hong Taoping finally reacted: "What do you mean, sir?"
"If I lend money to the master to pay off my debt, will the master build a ship for me?" Jin Feng asked.
Through the ship model and drawings, Hong Taoping finally passed Jin Feng's assessment.
His personality is also very suitable for Jin Feng.
For such a talent, let alone thirteen thousand taels, Jin Feng would be willing to pay for it even if it was doubled.
"Of course Hong is willing," Hong Taoping blushed with excitement when he heard that Jin Feng was willing to lend him money.
Although people in the feudal era were somewhat pedantic, they cared very much about reputation.
Even if his home was robbed by pirates, Hong Taoping never thought of defaulting on his debt.
But his family's dock was burned down, and he had no other way to pay off the debt except selling the land and his ancestral home.
The family that used to have a close relationship with the Hong family now avoids him when they see him.
Not to mention lending him money to pay off his debt, he was not even allowed to enter.
Jin Feng was the first person willing to lend him money.
And as soon as he opened his mouth, it was more than 10,000 taels, allowing him to settle all his accounts.
It's strange that Hong Taoping isn't excited.
But suddenly he remembered something, lowered his head and said: "With so much money, I... I'm afraid it will take a long time to pay it back to sir, or I may not be able to pay it back in my lifetime..."
When Chen Laowu heard what Hong Taoping said, he wanted to cover his mouth.
It’s not easy to find an enemy who is willing to lend money to help the Hong family pay off their debts. What do you mean by this?
Who knew that Jin Feng smiled when he heard this.
"Master Hong is indeed upright and benevolent. Just say this to you, and I will make you my friend!"
Jin Feng smiled and said: "If I ask you to build a ship, I will naturally pay you for it. Well, I will give you two choices.
First, if the young master has worked for me for five years, the money will be written off in one lump sum and regarded as the young master’s wages.
Second, the young master will build ten qualified ships for me according to the drawings I gave him, and this account will be wiped off.
What do you think, Master?"
"Sir, are you serious about what you said?" Hong Tao stood up with a loud cry.