EBE Chapter 49 Fire Bed
Chapter 49 Fire Bed
At dawn, Ying Wuyou slowly opened her eyes and felt a chill rush towards her. She got up and walked to the window, and the scene before her surprised her greatly—the outside was covered with a layer of pure white snow, like a fairy tale world.
This was the first snowfall since Ying Wuyou transmigrated to this world. Excitedly, she ran into the courtyard, feeling the coolness of the snowflakes landing on her face. She reached out and caught a snowflake, watching it slowly melt in her hand, her heart filled with joy and curiosity.
After a while, Ying Wuyou's expression turned gloomy. She stared at the vast white landscape and thought to herself, "It's snowing now. I wonder how the people will get through the winter?" With this thought in mind, Ying Wuyou decided to go and find the King of Qin, hoping to come up with a good plan to help the people get through the cold winter.
Snowflakes fluttered down, landing one by one on the girl's shoulders. Ying Wuyou, dressed in a pure white dress, stood in the snow. Her beautiful eyes blinked as she gazed into the distance until Cui'er approached carrying a copper pot. Only then did Ying Wuyou happily take the pot and run off into the distance.
A gust of wind swept by, lifting her skirt and hair. Her small figure appeared even more petite against the snow, yet it was remarkably lively, adding a touch of brightness to the vast white landscape.
Holding a bronze pot, Ying Wuyou walked steadily toward the Zhangtai Palace. At this moment, the King of Qin was no longer the furious man he had been yesterday. Instead, he sat majestically on the dragon throne, intently examining the memorials in the book.
Hearing the voice, the King of Qin raised his head, his gaze sharp. Seeing Ying Wuyou carrying a mysterious object, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "What is that you're carrying?" Ying Wuyou smiled and said softly, "Greetings to Father, this is a bronze pot that I had carefully crafted." The King of Qin became even more curious and pressed on, "Oh? What is the purpose of having this bronze pot made?" Ying Wuyou said enthusiastically, "Father, I have come specifically to invite you to taste hot pot."
"Hot pot? What's that?" the King of Qin asked. At that moment, the King of Qin couldn't help but recall: [Last time, Jia Yang seemed to have mentioned wanting to eat hot pot to the system. So, hot pot requires a special copper pot?]
As Ying Wuyou had the table set, he said, "Hot pot is the perfect dish for snowy weather. Father, please try it; you'll be absolutely satisfied." Upon hearing this, the King of Qin put down his memorial and smiled, saying, "Very well, I'd like to see what this hot pot tastes like."
Soon, one by one, eunuchs carried dishes into Zhangtai Palace. Ying Wuyou arranged the various ingredients on the table, including tender beef and mutton, as well as various vegetables and lotus root slices. Ying Wuyou skillfully put the ingredients into the pot one by one, watching them boil and cook.
Soon, a rich aroma filled the air, making mouths water. Ying Wuyou carefully placed the cooked food into an exquisite porcelain bowl and respectfully presented it to the King of Qin. The young eunuch who was tasting the food immediately stepped forward and took the bowl from Ying Wuyou. He carefully inspected each dish, making sure there were no problems, before allowing the King of Qin to taste it.
The King of Qin smiled as he accepted the bowl, gently sniffed it, and nodded in satisfaction. Then, he picked up his chopsticks and slowly savored the delicious flavor. Each bite was delightful, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "This hot pot is truly unique, with a distinctive flavor. Jiayang, you've really put your heart into it!"
Hearing her father's praise, Ying Wuyou smiled happily, feeling a sense of accomplishment. She replied with a smile, "I'm glad Father likes it. I will make it for Father often in the future."
The King of Qin looked at his clever and lovely daughter, his eyes filled with joy and affection. He couldn't help but recall the time he had spent with Ying Wuyou, those warm memories flooding his mind. At this moment, he felt incredibly happy, because he had such a thoughtful daughter by his side.
The two chatted and ate hotpot in a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Outside, the snow continued to fall, but the warmth inside made them feel incredibly comfortable.
After finishing his meal, Ying Wuyou mentally asked the system: "System, with snow falling all around, how will the people get through this harsh winter?"
The system replied with a grave expression: "The people of Qin can only stuff their clothes with withered grass and tangled hemp, and sleep on straw beds at night. Those with strong constitutions might barely survive the harsh winter, but many of the weaker ones will likely freeze to death."
Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou felt as if she had been struck by a heavy hammer. She urgently asked the system, "We have to think of something. How can we just stand by and watch people freeze to death?"
The system sighed helplessly: "What can we do? Currently, Qin has no cotton, and coal wasn't even used during the Qin Dynasty. Winters will basically be a miserable ordeal."
After pondering for a moment, Ying Wuyou asked, "System, what do you think would happen if I built a heated kang (traditional Chinese bed)?"
Upon hearing this, the system's eyes widened instantly, and it exclaimed excitedly, "Host, your idea is brilliant! Once the kang (heated brick bed) is lit, not only will the kang itself be warm, but the entire room will become cozy and cozy!"
After hearing the whole story, the King of Qin was overjoyed and secretly marveled, "There really is such a wonderful thing as a heated kang bed? This is truly amazing!"
However, on the surface, the King of Qin remained focused on the memorial in his hands. Ying Wuyou turned her gaze to the King of Qin and suddenly spoke, "Father, the weather is getting colder. I wonder how the people will get through this long winter?" Her voice was calm as water, yet it seemed to contain a faint trace of worry.
This winter may be a difficult season filled with thorns for the Great Qin. Ying Wuyou knows the hardships of the people's lives, especially in this harsh winter, when they desperately need enough food and warmth to withstand the long winter's cold.
After listening to Ying Wuyou's words, the King of Qin remained silent for a moment and then slowly said, "Jiayang, do you perhaps have a good idea?"
Ying Wuyou nodded slightly and suggested, "Father, what we can do right now is to make heated kang beds. With heated kang beds, the people can at least avoid freezing to death if they stay indoors less."
The King of Qin asked in confusion, "What exactly is a heated kang (a type of heated platform bed)?"
"A kang (heated brick bed) is a heating facility. It is a flue built under the floor of a room, which generates heat by burning fuels such as wood or leaves, thus warming the entire room," Ying Wuyou explained. "In this way, people can feel warm at home without worrying about getting cold."
The King of Qin nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. He slowly said, "Jiayang's words are quite right; this plan is feasible. However, the materials and manpower required to build the heated kang are numerous. How should I prepare them?"
Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou's eyes were firm and confident. He straightened his body, cupped his hands, and said to the King of Qin, "Father, please grant me several craftsmen. I will personally teach them how to make kang (heated brick beds)."
After a moment's thought, the King of Qin nodded in agreement. Seeing this, Ying Wuyou's face lit up with joy, and he continued, "Father, rest assured, building heated kang beds is not difficult. It doesn't require superb skills. The craftsmen only need to master the key points, and then be sent to various prefectures to teach the prefects, who in turn teach the county magistrates, the county magistrates, the village heads, and finally the village heads help the people learn on their own and build them themselves. If any people don't know how to build them, they can charge a small fee to have someone else build them for them. In this way, the widespread use of heated kang beds will be just around the corner." The King of Qin nodded repeatedly, praising Ying Wuyou's suggestion.
Then Ying Wuyou continued, "The materials for making kang beds are mainly mud and bricks, which are common building materials that are easy to obtain. They don't cost any money, so they are not only simple but also free for ordinary people. They can definitely be promoted very quickly."
Upon hearing this, the King of Qin's eyes lit up, and a surge of joy welled up within him. He knew that this idea was of great significance to the development of the Qin state and the people's livelihood, but he also understood the challenges and difficulties that might arise from it.
The King of Qin nodded in satisfaction and said, "Good! Then we will do as you say. However, this matter concerns the livelihood of the people, so we must make a thorough plan."
Ying Wuyou respectfully replied, "Father is wise. Your son will do as you ask. We will certainly formulate detailed plans and schemes to ensure the smooth progress of the production and promotion of heated kang beds."
The King of Qin smiled and said, "Alright, go and do it. I will have Prime Minister Wang Wan send you a few craftsmen later." Then he waved his hand, signaling Ying Wuyou to leave.
Ying Wuyou knelt down and bowed, "Your subject obeys! I will do my utmost to ensure that the people have a warm winter."