Chapter 1774 – I Want a Bicycle
“Ha-ha-ha! Even the streamer gets overlooked sometimes; just look at the grievance in her eyes! It’s practically spilling out of the screen!”
“I feel like Zhang Ping is digging his own grave; does this kid not realize that charming the streamer is more important than winning over the father-in-law?”
You can’t forget Jiang Pengji, though! Zhang Ping is on a path to eternal singlehood!
“What does it matter? No matter how charming the streamer is, not every man in the world is revolving around her. Zhang Ping and Shao Guang are just a couple of tech nerds lost in their research. Isn’t it strange? If the streamer starts giving Zhang Ping and his buddy a hard time just for that, that’s not the streamer I know! You guys gotta know when to stop joking around!”
It’s just a job, Zhang Ping doesn’t have to hang himself on this crooked tree called Jiang Pengji.
“At worst, they can just part ways, right?”
“The relationship has deepened, though. Bai Yuexia’s feelings toward the streamer are somewhere between friendship and almost romance, and with her thick fan filter, the streamer’s attitude directly impacts whether Yuexia is willing to stick with Zhang Ping…”
Some clueless dried fish in the chat: “…”
“I’ve heard—just heard, mind you—that the kind-hearted beauty seems quite wary of Yuexia, totally treating her like a rival.”
“Someone once recommended this stream for its passion, bromance, and shoujo vibes, and I didn’t believe it at first, but now I’m convinced!”
The dried fish chatted freely about Jiang Pengji’s gossip, growing more and more astonished—
Meanwhile, Jiang Pengji patiently listened to Zhang Ping and Shao Guang’s chatter, maintaining a calm exterior but feeling quite satisfied inside.
When the two finally snapped out of their research trance and noticed they had left their leader hanging for quite some time, their expressions turned slightly awkward.
Jiang Pengji stopped their gestures of apology with a gentle voice, “You two are engrossed in your research, focusing on what matters—is that a crime?”
She had always been quite tolerant and caring towards these precious Mo family scholars. Even during the hardest economic times, she never cut the woodworking workshop’s budget, and she wouldn’t be angry over a moment’s rudeness. “Now tell me about your plans—”
Zhang Ping bowed respectfully, “Yes, my lord, please follow me for a moment.”
Jiang Pengji spent an afternoon at the woodworking workshop, reluctantly preparing to leave as the golden sun began to set.
Before departing, Zhang Ping asked her something—
“How much latex can be harvested from this tree?”
According to their research, the solid latex after coagulation and drying had excellent properties; it could not only be made into shoes for soldiers but also used in other applications. If the yield was adequate, military expenses could see a significant reduction. Even though straw sandals weren’t costly, they wore out quickly during marching, with hefty cumulative losses.
If they could replace the fragile straw sandals with durable, wear-resistant natural rubber soles, it would spare soldiers’ feet and reduce replacements. From a macro perspective, switching from straw to rubber shoes could save a lot of military supply costs. Moreover, this type of shoe could benefit the common people too. They wouldn’t wear them out as fast, and a single pair might last two or three years!
Jiang Pengji sighed, “The trees that produce latex can only thrive south of Nansheng; they aren’t cold-resistant. I’ve already sent someone to cultivate seedlings, and soon we will find a suitable place to plant them. Large-scale production won’t be possible in the next few years, but it should improve significantly in the future.”
Zhang Ping’s face fell in disappointment.
In recent years, battles had intensified, and as their leader grew stronger, other lords began to show signs of weakness.
From Zhang Ping’s perspective, within ten years, their leader would surely dominate the world.
At that point, rubber shoes might see widespread use, yet for soldiers, it would be too late to matter.
Jiang Pengji understood his thoughts, chuckling, “This material isn’t just for soldiers; it’s for the people of the world. If it benefits the common people, what’s the harm in waiting a bit? I heard your discussions; this stuff can be utilized in many other ways—don’t limit it to just shoes.”
How about using it for tires or developing something for livelihood? That could work!
Zhang Ping and the others had no idea about Jiang Pengji’s internal thoughts.
With their leader’s assurance, their confidence surged, and they continued discussing, unanimously concluding that it could also be used for vehicle modifications.
For example, they could experiment with rubber on wheels or encase the wheels to reduce contact between wooden wheels and the rough ground.
That’s not a bad idea!
Currently, the axles and wheels were made of wood; even if crafted from top-quality, high-strength wood, they remained wood, not metal, and wore out quickly on rough terrain.
If some components could be replaced with rubber, who knows what miracles might happen?
Of course, these were just ideas that had yet to be put into practice—how effective they would be remained uncertain.
If they succeeded, they could further improve the design.
If they failed, they’d need to explore alternative approaches.
Jiang Pengji thought about suggesting they try making inflatable tires, but those words were swallowed back down.
After all, inflatable tires were beyond the reach of current technology, and even if they could be created, the state of the roads wouldn’t support them—it was too premature.
But—
An idea popped up in her mind, reminiscent of a bicycle she had seen long ago at an interstellar museum. Maybe that’s something worth trying!
“Xiheng, bring me some paper and a pen; I have something for you to work on.”
The people in the woodworking workshop didn’t use brushes but rather the ink sticks Jiang Pengji had improved, resembling early pencils, making drawing easy.
She quickly sketched a bicycle and a rickshaw.
Her drawing skills were actually quite good, detailing every part.
The tires of the bike wouldn’t be inflatable but completely solid rubber, leaving the fine-tuning of their labor-saving features to Zhang Ping and the others.
“What is this…?”
Zhang Ping and Shao Guang leaned over, staring blankly at the images on the paper.
The rickshaw resembled a handcart they knew, albeit quite different in style, so they could understand that.
But a bicycle… to them, it looked outright bizarre, not to mention making one!
“I must be dull-witted; please enlighten me, my lord.”
Jiang Pengji didn’t make things hard for them and shared her thoughts.
A bicycle? People now would definitely reject it; she just wanted to build one to take Zixiao for a joyride.
The rickshaw would serve to diversify the types of transport available.
She continued, “I arrived at the woodworking shop using a bus cart from the horse-drawn transport. It was cheap, but the smell was overwhelming.”
Even with a makeshift carriage board to shield them, the scent from the horse’s rear was quite unbearable, making for a bad experience overall.
With limited retired warhorses, some of those injured couldn’t pull the buses, resulting in inadequate service and fewer passengers. She thought they could introduce rickshaws, which could provide more jobs for the young, strong common people.
