Spring has arrived in Marin Creek. All the fantastic ideas he had when building houses in the past, and the "nonsense" that were dismissed as "deviant" by his masters and colleagues, were all approved by the chief. Especially when he read a few
After Ben Shi Dafu specially lent him a book on modern woodworking techniques, it was like opening a door to a new world for him. Ma Linxi felt that he had endured hardships when learning from his master, and what he had learned was as good as
What the chief taught me was like the difference between a mustard seed and a radish. As I shed tears of gratitude, I became more attentive to learning. My skills advanced by leaps and bounds, and I soon became a famous naturalized carpenter in Kaohsiung.
This time when the bell was being built at the customs, Zhong Lishi specially asked him to lead the construction team.
Zhong Lishi explained the structure of the big clock to Vestri on the drawing: "This is the power of the big clock, which is obtained by the lifted weight. It must be lifted once a day... This is the heart of the big clock, where the pendulum is
The power keeps swinging, making the big clock accurate... These gears adjust the speed, and finally drive the hands to indicate the time... Here is the hammer mechanism, used to set the time..."
Westley looked at the drawings and sighed with envy: "It's so great... Where are we going now?"
"The gear is being installed, accuracy is required..."
"I know metalworking and carpentry, so I should be able to do it."
Crédia smiled and said: "You can trust his craftsmanship."
After receiving permission, Westri hurried back to his room to find his luggage. It turned out that it was full of various tools he had prepared. He immediately started working according to the drawings.
Ma Linxi and other craftsmen looked surprised: This guy can actually do carpentry work! Ma Linxi is a person who loves to learn, so he immediately came over to see each other's tools and craftsmanship. Although the two people did not understand each other's language, they were craftsmen.
Use your own technology to communicate, and after a while, you will slowly start to communicate with gestures.
Looking at Vestri working with the craftsmen, Zhong Lishi said to Credia: "This young man is very smart and very capable..."
"He is an ingenious young man." Credia said proudly, "He loves science and especially likes all kinds of novel instruments. He wants to be like Leonardo da Vinci." She said a little embarrassed. "
You probably don’t know Leonardo da Vinci..."
"Of course I know him." Dr. Zhong said with a smile, "but few people in Europe know him anymore."
"Yes." Cretia was a little surprised. Although Leonardo da Vinci enjoyed a high reputation when he was alive, he soon became lonely after his death. It was not until modern times that he was "discovered" again. In the 17th century, there were very few people.
Still remember him.
In this way, Westri and Credia helped work on the bell tower. When they were free, Zhong Xiaoying taught them to speak Mandarin and sometimes went out together. The friendship between the three teenagers grew day by day.
This went on for more than ten days. That night, Credia used a quill pen to write down what she saw that day in her diary as usual. She didn't want to write half of it. The ink she brought with her ran out. Vestry worked all day.
He was already doing his job, and he was already sleeping deeply. Credia didn't want to disturb him, so she went to Zhong Xiaoying who lived on the same floor and asked for some ink - there was still light coming from the crack of her door.
Zhong Xiaoying was lying on the bed writing the math homework that Zhong Lishi left for her. The homework was very difficult for her, she was stuck and couldn't think of anything, and she was bored. She couldn't help but be overjoyed to see Credia come to see her.
The two gestured and chatted for a while - Zhong Xiaoying tried to get Credia to help her think about math problems. But Credia didn't know a word of Chinese and knew nothing about modern mathematical symbols.
However, Credia discovered that the pen she used to write with was very special. The pen had a metal nib, and it took a long time for Zhong Xiaoying to dip her pen into the ink.
Cretia asked curiously: "Your pen is so strange, can't it run out of ink?"
"That's not the case..." Zhong Xiaoying opened the pen cartridge and revealed the ink reservoir inside, "This is called a 'fountain pen'. There is an ink reservoir made of a glass tube. Inside the glass tube are capillaries made of paint chips. There are many
The gaps can store ink. My father's pen has a soft bladder made of rubber, which is better to use, but unfortunately the rubber is too expensive. Mine is cheaper."
Zhong Xiaoying talked for a long time before letting Credia understand what "rubber" was. She immediately thought about it: "I know. The trees your people sent to Batavia last year to help the company plant were this kind of rubber.
"
"Yes, this kind of tree can only grow well in the tropics."
"This is really good. Do you have any for sale here?"
"It's a pity that it has just been developed and has not been put into production yet. But my father said that he would set up a pen factory soon."
Seeing that Cretia liked it, Zhong Xiaoying took out a new pen from the Ministry of Science and Technology factory and gave it to Cretia from the drawer: "I gave it to you. I have repaired the nib of the pen. It is easier to use. But it can only be used with Pro.
High-yield ink, otherwise it will clog. I will give you a large bottle of ink."
"Thank you so much." Credia was very happy about this gift. She held it in front of her chest and looked at it for a while, "Can I give it to Vestri?"
"Of course." Zhong Xiaoying couldn't help but sigh when she saw her affection for her brothers.
"What, you don't have a brother?"
"There was. They and my parents are dead."
"Dead? Isn't Dr. Zhong your father?"
"No, he is my adoptive father." Zhong Xiaoying did not want to mention the sad things in the past, turned around and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "The Senate saved me from a hell that was more terrifying than death, and is also my great benefactor.
."
"So that's it. No wonder you don't look alike at all."
Zhong Xiaoying burst out laughing: "Of course we don't look alike - I used to work as a maid for Dr. Zhong, and then he adopted me as his adopted daughter."
Cretia was very surprised. This was unbelievable to Europeans at the time - even in the Republic of the Seven Provinces, which was known as the most "egalitarian" and "enlightened".
Zhong Xiaoying didn't want to talk about the past. She looked at Credia: "You are wearing too many clothes - don't you feel hot?"
Cretia was wearing a linen petticoat and a tight bra, which looked awkward and hot to Zhong Xiaoying, who was only wearing a nightgown made of high-thread count linen made by Lingao Textile. Not to mention that her forehead was still full of sweat.
beads.
"I also feel a little hot, especially under the bra. It often makes me feel breathless - probably because the weather is too hot."
"I think you should change some clothes. Especially your tights - Father said it affects your health." Zhong Xiaoying climbed down from the bed and opened her suitcase.
Among the naturalized class, the "maids of chiefs" are the class with the most spending power - although the general office does not pay them a salary, a considerable part of the elders' monthly income is spent on them. It can be said that
The maids drove spending in the Senate.
Zhong Xiaoying is an adopted daughter, and her consumption level is even higher. Zhong Lishi is very willing to spend money on her, so her wardrobe is quite large.
Zhong Xiaoying took out her loose nightgown and cotton bra.
"They are all new, I have never worn them." Zhong Xiaoying said, "I think your figure is about the same as mine, so they should fit."
Credia looked at the bra curiously - she had never seen this kind of underwear before. She couldn't help but be eager to try it, and immediately began to untie the knot of the corset, and Zhong Xiaoying also came to help.
As soon as the tight-fitting gauze was untied and her neck was exposed, Zhong Xiaoying couldn't help but be shocked: the neck under Credia's pink and snow-white face was actually dark! This level of filth meant that she hadn't taken a bath in at least a few months.
Credia noticed her surprise: "What's wrong with you?"
"Credia, haven't you taken a shower for a long time?" Zhong Xiaoying said in surprise.
"Not since before I left Batavia. What's wrong?" Credia disagreed. "I wash my face, hands and feet every day, and they are very clean. And I change my clothes every day."
"But you don't take a bath - how can you just change clothes?" Zhong Xiaoying was very surprised by her theory. Although Zhong Xiaoying's family was in decline when she was at home, she didn't have the hygiene habits of the elders - taking a bath and changing clothes every day, but she still
You need water. You have to take a shower every three or four days in summer, less frequently in winter, and you have to take a bath once a month. I haven’t heard of anyone going for months without taking a shower and just changing clothes.
Zhong Xiaoying was very puzzled: "Isn't there a very good bathroom in the shopping mall? Hot and cold water is so convenient."
"My clothes are neat, and my face, hands and feet are very clean. Isn't that enough?" said Cretia. "Besides, priests and doctors say that frequent bathing will lead to various diseases."
Zhong Xiaoying became anxious upon hearing this, and immediately began to teach her the principles of "hygiene" and talked about "the significance of keeping clean to women's physical health." Although Credia didn't understand most of it, she still understood the general meaning.
It's understanding: her new friend wants her to take a shower.
"But I can't take a shower these days." Credia said hesitantly.
"Why?"
"Because..." Cretia's face turned red, and she was reluctant to continue talking. Zhong Xiaoying suddenly understood, no wonder Cretia's behavior has been particularly "elegant" these days.
"So that's it." She blushed a little, "You can take a shower." As she said that, she got off the bed again and took out a cardboard box from the box.
The paper box is sealed, with a line of words printed on it: "Women's Health Care Set A", and below it is a line of small words: "Ministry of Health Medical and Health Materials General Factory". Next is the year, month and day in Arabic numerals.
The box contains the women's hygiene products that the Ministry of Health has recently begun mass-producing: sterile toilet paper and cotton sanitary napkins. The box also comes with a piece of sterilizing soap.
"This is another gift I gave you." Zhong Xiaoying said a little embarrassed.
ps: Regarding the hygiene habits of the Dutch, the British said: Their bodies are dirtier than their houses and streets. Many visitors in the 17th century noticed a characteristic. The Dutch cities and homes were very clean. But their personal hygiene
But very bad.
The Dutch in the 17th century did not have the habit of bathing. The middle and upper classes washed their hands, feet and face every day, and that was about it. In the early 17th century, there was only one public bathhouse in the entire Netherlands.
Considering that the Dutch are actually Germans, and the Germans' lack of hygiene has been famous in Europe since the Middle Ages.