Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 1146 Zhong Xiaoying's Gift
Spring is here in Marin Creek.When he was building houses in the past, all kinds of whimsical ideas and "nonsense" that his master and colleagues denounced as "deviant" were all approved by the chief.Especially after he read a few modern woodworking technology books that Shi Dafu lent him specially, it seemed to open a door to a new world for him at once.Ma Linxi felt bitterly that he suffered hardships and hardships when he was learning art from his master in the past. Compared with what the chief taught, what he learned was like the difference between mustard seeds and big radishes.In addition to being grateful, I became more attentive in learning.The technology advanced by leaps and bounds, and he soon became a well-known naturalized carpenter in Kaohsiung.

This time when the big clock was being built at the customs, Zhong Lishi specially invited him to lead the construction team.

Zhong Lishi explained the structure of the big clock to Westley on the drawing: "This is the power of the big clock, which is powered by the lifted weight. It needs to be lifted once a day... This is the heart of the big clock, and the pendulum gets The power is constantly oscillating to make the clock keep time...These gears adjust the speed, and finally drive the hands to tell the time...Here is the hammer mechanism, which is used to strike the time..."

Looking at the blueprint, Westley sighed enviously: "It's really great... Where are we going now?"

"Gear is being installed, exact..."

"I know metalworking and carpentry, so I should be able to do it."

Cretia smiled and said, "You can rely on his craftsmanship."

After getting permission, Westley hurried back to his room to find his luggage, which turned out to be full of various tools he had prepared.Immediately started to work according to the drawings.

Ma Linxi and other craftsmen looked at it in amazement: Let alone a ghost, he can actually do carpentry!Ma Linxi is a person who loves to learn, so he immediately came over to see the other party's tools and craftsmanship.Although the two people did not understand the language, the craftsmen communicated with their own skills, and after a while, they began to communicate with each other slowly.

Looking at Westley who was working with the craftsmen, Zhong Lishi said to Cretia: "This young man is very smart and very capable..."

"He is an ingenious young man." Cretia said proudly, "He loves science, and he especially likes all kinds of novel appliances. He wants to be like Da Vinci." She was a little embarrassed when she said that, "You I probably don't know Da Vinci..."

"Of course I know him." Dr. Zhong said with a smile, "But few people in Europe know him."

"Yes." Cretia was a little surprised. Although Da Vinci enjoyed a high reputation when he was alive, he soon became lonely after his death, and was not rediscovered until modern times.Few remember him in the 17th century.

In this way, Westley and Cretia helped with work on the clock tower, and Zhong Xiaoying taught them Mandarin when they were free, and sometimes went out together—the friendship between the three teenagers grew day by day.

Ten days passed like this.That night, Cretia used a quill pen to write down what she saw and heard that day in her diary as usual.I don't want to write half of it, and the ink I brought with me is exhausted.Westerly had had a day's work and this would have slept soundly.Cretia didn't want to disturb him, so she asked Zhong Xiaoying, who lived on the same floor, for some ink—there was still light peeking through the crack of her door
Zhong Xiaoying was lying on the bed and writing the math homework that Zhong Lishi had left for her——the homework was very difficult for her, she was stuck and couldn't figure it out, and she was so bored.He was overjoyed to see Cretia come to her.

The two chatted for a while - Zhong Xiaoying tried to ask Cretia to help her think about math problems.But Cretia doesn't know a single word of Chinese, and she doesn't know anything about modern mathematical symbols.

But Kretia found that the pen she wrote with was very special.The pen was made of metal, and Zhong Xiaoying hadn't seen Zhong Xiaoying dipping it in ink for a long time.

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, revealing the ink reservoir inside, "This is called a 'pen'. There is an ink reservoir made of glass tube inside, and inside the glass tube is a capillary made of paint flakes. There are many Ink can be stored in the gap. My father’s pen is made of rubber soft capsule, which is more usable, but rubber is too expensive. Mine is cheaper.”

Zhong Xiaoying talked for a long time before letting Cretia understand what "rubber" is.She immediately remembered: "I see, last year you sent people to Batavia to help the company plant this kind of rubber."

"Yes, this tree grows 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 yet been put into production. But my father said that a pen factory will be established for a while."

Seeing that Cretia liked it, Zhong Xiaoying took out a new pen from the Ministry of Science and Technology from the drawer and gave it to Cretia: "I gave it to you. I have repaired the nib and it is more usable. But it can only be used temporarily. High-yield ink, otherwise it will clog. I'll send you another big bottle of ink."

"Thank you so much." Cretia was overjoyed with this gift, holding it on her chest and examining it for a while, "Can I give it to Westley?"

"Of course." Zhong Xiaoying couldn't help sighing when she saw her friendship for her brother.

"Why, don't you have any brothers?"

"There used to be. Both of them and my parents are dead."

"Dead? Isn't Dr. Zhong your father?"

"No, he is my adoptive father." Zhong Xiaoying didn't want to mention the sad things of the past, turned around and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, "The Senate rescued me from a hell worse than death, and it is also my great benefactor .”

"So it is. No wonder you don't look like one at all."

Zhong Xiaoying burst out laughing with a "puchi" and said, "Of course we don't look like each other—I used to work as a maid for Dr. Zhong, but later he adopted me as his adopted daughter."

Cretia was very surprised.This seemed unbelievable to Europeans at the time-even in the Seven Provinces Republic, which claims to be the most "equal" and "enlightened".

Zhong Xiaoying didn't want to talk about the past, she looked at Cretia: "You wear too much—don't you feel hot?"

Cretia was wearing a linen petticoat and a tight-fitting corset, which looked awkward and hot to Zhong Xiaoying, who was only wearing a nightgown made of high-count linen woven by Lingao.What's more, her forehead was still covered with beads of sweat.

"I also feel a little hot, especially the chest girdle, which often makes me feel breathless-probably because the weather is too hot."

"I think you should change some clothes. Especially your tight girdle - my father said that it will affect your health." Zhong Xiaoying climbed off the bed and opened her suitcase.

Among the naturalized people class, the "maids of chiefs" are the class with the most consumption power-although the general office does not pay them wages, a considerable part of the monthly income of the elders is spent on them.It can be said that the maids drove the consumption of the Senate.

Zhong Xiaoying is an adopted daughter, so she goes a step further in terms of consumption.Zhong Lishi is willing to spend money on her, so her suitcase is quite large.

Zhong Xiaoying took out her loose nightgown and cotton bra.

"It's all new, I haven't worn it." Zhong Xiaoying said, "I think your figure is about the same as mine, so it should fit you well."

Cretia looked at the bra curiously—she had never seen such underwear.Can't help but eager to try, immediately began to untie the knots of the corset, Zhong Xiaoying also came to help.

As soon as the girdle was unbuttoned and her neck was exposed, Zhong Xiaoying couldn't help being surprised: the neck under Cretia's pink and snow-white face turned out to be black!This level of filth, at least a few months without a bath.

Cretia noticed her surprise: "What's wrong with you?"

"Cretia, you haven't showered for a long time, right?" Zhong Xiaoying said in surprise.

"Not since before leaving Batavia. What's the matter?" Cretia didn't take it seriously. "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 your clothes?" Zhong Xiaoying was very surprised by her theory.When Zhong Xiaoying was at home, although her family was in poor condition, she did not have the hygienic habits of the elders - bathe and change clothes every day, but she used water every day, and she had to take a shower every three or four days in summer, and less in winter, she had to take a bath once a month .I have never heard of people who can go for several months without taking a shower and just changing clothes.

Zhong Xiaoying was very puzzled: "Isn't there a good bathroom in the store? The hot and cold water are so convenient."

"Isn't it enough that my clothes are neat and my face, hands and feet are clean?" said Cretia. "Besides, the priests and doctors say that frequent bathing will cause all kinds of diseases."

Zhong Xiaoying became anxious when she heard this, and immediately began to lecture her on the principles of "hygiene", talking about "the significance of keeping clean for women's physical health", although most of Cretia did not understand, but the general meaning she Yes understand: this new friend of hers wants her to take a shower.

"But I can't take a shower these days." Cretia said hesitantly.

"why?"

"Because..." Cretia blushed a little, reluctant to continue.Zhong Xiaoying suddenly understood, no wonder Cretia behaved particularly "elegant" these days.

"So it is." She also blushed a little, "You can take a shower." She got off the bed again and took out a cardboard box from the box.

The paper box was sealed, with a line of words printed on it: "Women's Hygiene Care Set A", and a line of small characters below: "Ministry of Health Medical and Health Materials General Factory".This is followed by the year, month, and day in Arabic numerals.

The box contains feminine hygiene products that the Ministry of Health has recently begun to mass-produce: antiseptic toilet paper and cotton gauze sanitary belts, and a piece of antiseptic soap is also included in the box.

"This is another gift I gave you." Zhong Xiaoying said a little embarrassed.

　Regarding the hygienic habits of the Dutch, the British said: their bodies are dirtier than houses and streets.One feature many 17th-century visitors noticed was the cleanliness of Dutch cities and homes.But their personal hygiene is poor.

　　The Dutch in the 17th century did not have the habit of taking a bath. The middle and upper classes washed their feet and faces every day, that's all.In the early 17th century, there was only one public bath in the whole of Holland.

　　Consider that the Dutch are actually Germans, and Germans have been known in Europe since the Middle Ages for their lack of hygiene.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)