Chapter 119: then translation of title

Bicycle?

What is this?

It's quite obvious Director Xu doesn't understand; holding this drawing, he also can't quite figure it out.

No one has even heard of this thing.

Lu Yuan then smiled and explained:

"It can be understood as a horse that doesn't need feeding, doesn't need cleaning the stable, and with proper maintenance can live seventy or eighty years."

Director Xu gazed at Lu Yuan, utterly confused.

This??

Not only was Director Xu captivated by Lu Yuan's words, but also his two sons, Director Xu's wife, and even Su Liyan were captivated by Lu Yuan's words.

Su Liyan also didn't know what Lu Yuan had made.

Although Lu Yuan would draw things each time, Su Liyan would watch from the side, but she never asked too many questions.

When her husband speaks, she listens.

If her husband doesn't speak, she doesn't go asking around.

Lu Yuan then gazed at Director Xu's astonished face and continued:

"Moreover, its speed is not much slower than a horse's; the only drawback is that it can only be used on flat ground—if it's on muddy ground or mountain paths, it's not as useful as a horse."

"But overall it's better than a horse, especially in terms of cost."

After all, raising a horse is quite a hassle!

From raising it from a foal to adulthood, then training it and so on.

The cost involved is truly enormous!

Where is there a lower cost than that of a bicycle?

Bicycles are industrial products; as long as there are enough workshops and output is large enough, the cost can be spread out and reduced further.

At this moment, Director Xu quickly looked over Lu Yuan's drawings, his face full of excitement.

This?

Just hearing Lu Yuan's simple introduction, Director Xu knew this was absolutely a good thing!!

This thing is like the thresher, not……

Even more so, the impact this thing produces is even greater than that of the thresher!!

At this moment, Lu Yuan looked at Director Xu and said:

"Besides these single-person models on my drawings, they can also be designed as tricycles, namely by adding a cargo bed at the back."

"This way they can haul goods; for cargo that isn't too much, there's no need to use an ox cart—one person can pedal the tricycle and manage it."

Director Xu listened to Lu Yuan's words, looking at the bicycle design in his hand, his breathing became a little hurried.

To be honest, Director Xu now feels he can't stay at home any longer.

Now Director Xu just wants to quickly take a few forge workers to the Forging Bureau and then make this thing to try it out.

Lu Yuan also saw Director Xu's thoughts at this moment and immediately smiled and said:

"Grandpa, after making this single-person bicycle, someone who has never ridden before won't be able to ride it well; we can first install two training wheels on either side of the rear wheel."

"Basically, an adult will learn to ride after two or three days, at which point the training wheels can be removed."

"As for how to make the training wheels, that's shown on the last page of the drawings."

After saying that, Lu Yuan also looked at Director Xu and smiled:

"Grandpa, it's about time; I and my wife should head home to tidy up, and we still need to go back to our hometown."

At this moment, Director Xu was taken aback, then looked up at Lu Yuan excitedly and said:

"Oh dear, please sit down and eat a couple more."

Lu Yuan then laughed, shook his head, rose to his feet and said:

"Grandpa, I really won't eat; if we head back late, we'll miss the village's noon meal, so we'll be off now."

Director Xu could no longer contain his excitement; he wanted to hurry and take people to the Forging Bureau, and didn't keep them any longer.

He quickly rose to his feet, excitedly saying:

"Good, good, good; then Lu Yuan, when will you come back? Grandpa will be waiting to have a drink with you."

Lu Yuan grinned and said:

"I'll be back on the third day; Grandpa, on the third day I plan to go to Bing Jia Chang, I want to quickly make a bicycle for my wife so that her commute to work will be easier."

Director Xu was taken aback and quickly nodded, saying:

"Good, good, good; then Grandpa will be waiting for you at Bing Jia Chang on the third day."

Lu Yuan didn't actually know what Director Xu was waiting for him for; maybe if there's anything unclear later, he'll still need to come ask him.

Anyway, he just agreed to it.

Director Xu put on his outer garment, saw Lu Yuan and Su Liyan out of the Siheyuan, then hurried back inside.

Upon returning, he saw his two sons each holding a drawing, curiously examining it.

Immediately, Director Xu gritted his teeth and shouted loudly:

"Put it down!! Who let you mess around? You've scrambled the order—who am I supposed to find?!!"

Director Xu's two sons are over thirty, but upon seeing their father, they're like mice seeing a cat.

They hurriedly put the drawings down.

Director Xu glared at his two sons, displeased.

His two sons are nowhere near as good as Lu Yuan!!

Why isn't Lu Yuan his son!!

And Aunt Xu in the house also hurried out, trying to smooth things over, saying:

"Oh dear, Father, it's the New Year—don't quarrel."

Director Xu hurried forward, carefully placing the drawing into his briefcase, then, while quickly getting dressed, he said:

"You go ahead and eat; I'm heading to the Forging Bureau and won't be back for lunch."

Aunt Xu hurried forward to hand her husband the leather gloves and dog-skin hat, saying:

"Do you have to be in such a rush? It's New Year's today."

Director Xu glared, about to say 'You don't know shit,' but remembering it's New Year's, he refrained from swearing.

He then curled his lip and said:

"What do you know? To produce such a fine thing during the New Year and show it to the higher-ups—of course they'd be thrilled at this festive time!"

After saying that, Director Xu put on the dog-skin hat and hurried out.

Having left the Siheyuan, Director Xu swung onto his horse and galloped madly toward the Forging Bureau.

Along the way.

One could say it's a case of enemies meeting narrowly, but not really.

Director Xu and Lin Fusheng bumped into each other at a fork in the road.

Both were feeling extremely pleased with themselves.

"Yo, Old Xu, happy New Year—why aren't you home celebrating, but out here?"

Lin Fusheng looked at Director Xu and said with a smile:

The Agriculture Bureau also has workshops; for threshing rice, there's no need to go all the way to the Forging Bureau.

Of course, when the thresher goes into full production later, the factory will certainly still be built and placed under the Forging Bureau.

However, the credit for that will belong to the Agriculture Bureau.

At this moment, Director Xu was overjoyed, and looking at Lin Fusheng before him, he said:

"Happy New Year—hey, why aren't you home celebrating? Why are you out too?"

Why did Lin Fusheng come out?

Naturally, just like Director Xu, he couldn't stay cooped up at home.

After taking just two bites of breakfast for luck, he hurried out.

And Director Xu knew why Lin Fusheng had come out.

After all, Lu Yuan had just said something about that thresher earlier.

However, humph~

After all, Lu Yuan is still one of us from the Ministry of Works.

You Agriculture Bureau folks are still fussing with the thresher, while we've already got bicycles up and running~

Just wait a few days, Lin Fusheng, when you hear the news, you'll be envious~

Immediately, Director Xu gave a hehe laugh, flicked the reins, and took off, ignoring Lin Fusheng.

Lin Fusheng remained on his horse in place, blinking at Director Xu's retreating back.

Hey!!

This Old Xu!!

What's wrong with this!!

He didn't even say a word.

But soon, Lin Fusheng figured it out: this must be something Lu Yuan gave Old Xu.

Otherwise, Old Xu couldn't be so smug.

Look at that smug look!

Really infuriating!

Of course, I'm just saying—Lin Fusheng isn't really angry.

No matter how you say it, Lu Yuan originally belonged to the Ministry of Works and was the first to know Old Xu.

In other words, Old Xu was the first to discover Lu Yuan, so he deserves some favors.

But my own thresher is pretty impressive too!

Lin Fusheng wasn't jealous of Old Xu either; he immediately flicked the reins and galloped toward the Agriculture Bureau.

And while those two were racing to the Forestry Bureau, Lu Yuan rode horseback with Su Liyan, leisurely and contentedly.

"Bro~~ how are you so amazing~~~"

Lu Yuan saw his wife's face full of admiration, couldn't help curling his lip, and then said:

"It's not because of anything else—it's because of you."

"Because of yourself?"

Su Liyan blinked her beautiful eyes, looking puzzled, and said:

"Why is it because of me?"

Lu Yuan curled his lip and said:

"That's because of you, of course—who made you look so good? Now I, as your brother, can't touch or fondle you, so I gotta find something to do."

Lu Yuan really hadn't thought of producing these two things right now.

But……

That night, there was nothing to do……

Before, after finishing a meal, he'd boil water to prepare for a big bath, then after bathing go straight to bed for exercise.

Now he can't do anything; after eating and washing up, his wife is right there at the sewing machine.

Lu Yuan, idling with nothing to do, could only tinker with these things.

One slip, and a few days went into making it.

Lu Yuan's words made Su Liyan blush; after a soft whimper, her voice turned soft and sweet.

"But... but I didn't stop you from touching me... it's you who didn't touch me."

Su Liyan couldn't understand why her man wouldn't touch her for a month.

Although her man explained last time, Su Liyan still couldn't fully understand.

Moreover...

I also miss big brother~

Hearing his wife's alluring little movements, Lu Yuan felt a bit restless, but after thinking...

Forget it, we've held back for so many days already; a few more days won't matter.

After returning home, Su Liyan went back to her room and put some red envelopes into her small satchel.

These red envelopes are for our own family.

The amount given varies from household to household.

All decided by her man; when giving the red envelopes, she must not get it wrong.

While Su Liyan was sorting the red envelopes of different sizes, Lu Yuan ran into the kitchen and stuffed dumplings into his mouth.

Not being hungry is false.

We've been out wandering for so long.

Surely we're a bit hungry.

Moreover, the return journey will be bumpy for several hours, so naturally we need to eat something.

After Su Liyan finished packing the red envelopes, she saw her man eating dumplings in the kitchen.

She quickly slung the small bag back in front of herself and said strangely:

"Brother, you just said at Director Xu's place that you weren't hungry, right?"

Lu Yuan, while stuffing dumplings into his mouth, said:

"Their dumplings aren't tasty; I can't eat them; I just love eating yours."

Su Liyan stood there, stunned; then her clear, flowing eyes softened like water, and her love almost overflowed.

Her heart felt as sweet as if she'd eaten honey.

"Brother~ these dumplings have cooled; I'll pan-fry them for you."

Su Liyan, while saying that, began to take off her satchel.

Lu Yuan shook his head and said:

"No need, just eat a couple to tide over; we'll eat more when we get home at noon."

Su Liyan's words meant she wouldn't eat.

Su Liyan differs from Lu Yuan; she isn't picky about food, and she had already eaten her fill at Director Xu's place.

After Lu Yuan had stuffed five or six dumplings into his mouth, he then took his wife out.

All the way, they whipped their horses and galloped.

At 11:30 noon, Lu Yuan and Su Liyan returned to Qiu Qiu Village.

By then, many people had gathered in the courtyard.

In Qiu Qiu Village, who doesn't know that the Su Clan's son-in-law is rich?

They're all planning to build houses!

They're all leading their children, saying auspicious phrases to ask for red envelopes.

Lu Yuan had already prepared the red envelopes.

Su Liyan handed them out one by one.

In this village, the children's red envelopes are basically two fen each.

But when giving red envelopes to the children of Second Uncle and Third Uncle's families, the envelopes were larger.

Each family received thirty yuan.

Su Liyan didn't want to give that much.

However, Lu Yuan felt a bit embarrassed to freeload off Second Uncle and Third Uncle's families.

Mainly...

Our chickens at home are almost gone!

Lu Yuan feared Second Uncle and Third Uncle's families had no money to buy chicks, so he quickly gave them some money to raise more.

Otherwise we might run out of chicken to eat later!

Lu Yuan, regardless of handing out red envelopes, after entering the courtyard and giving a few men a cigarette, went straight inside, took off his shoes, and got on the kang.

After galloping for hours in such freezing weather, even Lu Yuan's perfect physique felt exhausted.

The men of the Su Clan also immediately went inside to keep the son-in-law company.

After Su Liyan had almost finished handing out the red envelopes, she returned to her room, took off her leather jacket and high-top leather shoes.

She changed into cotton clothes and shoes, then came to the main hall to stoke the fire and cook.

At that moment, in the main hall, Second Aunt and Third Aunt stood before Mother Su, holding thirty yuan, feeling at a loss.

This is said to be red envelopes for the children, but it's definitely not for the children.

They had barely been in hand for three minutes before they were taken away.

Second Aunt and Third Aunt looked at their own children's red envelopes in their hands, feeling a bit dazed.

With so much money, they actually felt a bit reluctant to accept it.

Su Liyan looked at her two aunts, then directly pursed her lips and smiled, saying:

"Yuan ge said, just keep it; if you feel uneasy, raise more chickens, my husband likes to eat."

After Su Liyan finished speaking, she walked toward the east room while looking at her mother and asked:

"Mom, do we still have meat filling?"

Su Mother was startled, then quickly nodded and said:

"They're gone; we made all the New Year's dumplings at once, what's wrong?"

Su Liyan, familiar with the task, went to the east room and took out the dough basin, saying:

"I want to make dumplings; have Changliang come down to chop the filling."

Su Mother was stunned, then quickly said:

"We have some at home; yesterday with your two aunts we made a lot, and there are still several packs left uneaten, enough to eat."

Su Liyan slightly raised her head, feeling somewhat proud, and said:

"Who wants to make dumplings for you to eat? I make them for my husband; he likes the dumplings I make, not yours."

As soon as Su Liyan finished speaking, the three older women in the main hall each showed a hint of a smile.

Su Liyan really is starting to look like a proper daughter-in-law~

She knows how to dote on her husband now~

Immediately Su Mother went to the west room, pulled Su Changliang down from the kang, and said:

"Go get some meat and chop the filling in the courtyard."

Su Changliang, a bit dazed and wearing a bitter expression, said:

"Why do I still have to chop the filling? I just came back yesterday and you had me chop; my hands are sore."

As soon as Su Changliang finished speaking, Su Mother glared and raised her hand.

Su Changliang, without another word, grabbed the cutting board and ran out.

Su Mother looked at her son and couldn't help but laugh and scold:

"Little brat!"

Thanks to elder brother Gong for the 1666 book coin reward, thank you very much~

Thanks to book friend 2022101 elder brother for the 500 book coin reward, thank you very much~

Thanks to book friend 202207 elder brother for the 100 book coin reward, thank you very much~

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(End of chapter)