The Wealthy Eldest Sister Rules Supreme

Chapter 627: Chapter 614: Water Gun

Having apprehended a man with ill intentions and removed a potential threat to the weaving workshop, while also obtaining a very practical blueprint in the process, Zhuang Qingning felt wholly satisfied with today’s outcomes.

Indeed, it was a good day.

With these thoughts in mind, Zhuang Qingning went to bed and closed his eyes.

After working late into the night and in an excellent mood, Zhuang Qingning quickly drifted off into a sweet sleep.

The next day, the news of Cao Jiande’s failed attempt to set the weaving workshop on fire and his subsequent arrest spread throughout the county town.

The people in the county town were filled with righteous indignation at such behavior.

Autumn was a dry season and nights were often windy. If a fire did break out, it would not only affect the weaving workshop but also the nearby shops and houses. If the fire got out of control, it could potentially ravage half the county town.

Everyone’s hard-earned livelihoods depended on their properties. If everything was destroyed by a fire, they would not be able to make ends meet in the future.

Moreover, ever since Zhuang’s weaving workshop opened, the price of the quality cloth it produced was much cheaper than that of the cloth imported from Songjiang. This reduction in clothing cost was a godsend for everyone, and they genuinely appreciated the workshop. If the workshop didn’t exist, wouldn’t they have to buy more expensive cloth elsewhere?

All in all, people were extremely furious with Cao Jiande’s act. They felt that he had a malicious heart.

Some of the outraged locals even threw rotten vegetable leaves and bad eggs into Cao Jiande’s courtyard and onto the sign at Cao’s Cloth Store.

Once someone took the lead, others followed suit. They retaliated with stinking eggs, blood, stones, and even urine buckets…

After several days, Cao Jiande’s store and house were in total disarray.

Cao Jiande’s wife, Mrs. Zheng, couldn’t bear the humiliation and decided to pack up and take their children and valuables to her parents’ house for shelter.

As for Cao Jiande, because of his failed arson attempt, he was sentenced to labor and sent to work on the river embankment.

With that, the drama concerning Zhuang’s weaving workshop came to a temporary end.

However, this incident had made Zhuang’s weaving workshop more famous than before, and the orders from customers coming to the workshop had doubled.

Zhuang Yutian and Mrs. Meng became busier than ever before.

During this time, Zhuang Qingning was also extremely busy making the bamboo water gun according to the blueprint.

The incident with Cao Jiande and Ge Wu had reminded Zhuang Qingning that in an era with insufficient fire-fighting facilities, having a water gun in each household could help reduce the damage caused by fires to some extent.

The water gun was simple enough in theory. A straight and thick bamboo pipe could function as a water gun if a hole was drilled in one end and a suitable handle and plug were attached at the other. The water gun would then allow water to be drawn in and squirt out.

But it was also complex. The selection of bamboo, the size of the drill hole, the material and size of the plug, all had to be tested to create the most suitable water gun.

Zhuang Qingning studied attentively, finally producing a water gun that was relatively easy to use. After observing it carefully, she drew water from a nearby wooden bowl and squirted it upwards, hitting her house’s eaves.

The column of water shot skyward in a parabolic arc before eventually falling on the roof.

As water droplets rained down the roof tiles and dripped from the eaves, Zhuang Qingning became so engrossed in the process that she kept squirting the water gun at the roof again and again.

However, perhaps she put too much force into it this time, and the column of water overshot the roof, falling on the eaves on the other side and flowing out.

“Oh my!” A surprised shout suddenly came from the entrance of the courtyard.

Uh-oh, someone must have been drenched.

Zhuang Qingning hastily put down the water gun and went outside to check, only to see Zhuang Jingye walk into the courtyard completely soaked. His hair was especially wet, water beading on his forehead, flowing down to his chin, and dripping onto his body.

“Uncle Village Chief?” Zhuang Qingning was surprised. She quickly called for Xiangqiao to get a handkerchief to dry Zhuang Jingye and hastily apologized, “Sorry, Uncle Village Chief, I was experimenting with this water gun at home and didn’t realize I used a bit too much force. The water ended up splashing outside.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Zhuang Jingye waved his hand and dried his face with the handkerchief. He looked at the large bamboo pipe Zhuang Qingning had placed on the table with curiosity, “So this is the water gun you mentioned?”

“Yes.” Zhuang Qingning nodded.

“What…what’s it used for?” Zhuang Jingye asked.

“It’s primarily used for putting out fires,” Zhuang Qingning honestly answered, “Look, you pull this out to fill the pipe with water, and then you push it back in to spray the water up high.”

As she spoke, she demonstrated it for Zhuang Jingye.

Zhuang Jingye watched, eyes wide in astonishment, and finally exclaimed, “This is a great invention!”

If there were accidental fires, they could often spread upward. It’s difficult to splash water onto roofs, so fires aren’t easily extinguished until the beams and rafters have been completely burned. But with this tool, you could shoot water at the roof and put out the fire where it starts. It’s indeed a wonderful invention.

“Is it hard to make this thing?” Zhuang Jingye asked again.

“Not hard at all. It’s quite simple to make according to the blueprint, and the materials are inexpensive,” Zhuang Qingning smiled, “I’m in the process of testing it. Once it’s successful, I was thinking of having each household prepare some as a precaution.”

“Good, very good,” Zhuang Jingye nodded approvingly, “Could I take the blueprint and have someone start making it? We’re already into autumn, and it will be winter soon. The nights get dark earlier in the winter, and we light wax candles and oil lamps and burn charcoal for warmth, so the risk of fire is higher. Having these around will make everyone feel much safer.”

Not only would it make them feel safer, but the most important thing is that if there is an accident, they’ll be able to put out the fire quickly.

“I was planning on seeking the Village Chief’s assistance regarding this matter anyway, so it’s perfect that you’re here, Uncle. You can take everything and have someone make it.”

Zhuang Qingning added, “And if you get a chance, could you please bring it to Mr. Xu at the County Government Office and see if they need it.”

“Alright!” Zhuang Jingye cheerfully agreed.

Making the bamboo water guns in the village was easy enough, but going to the county town was a bit more difficult.

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