Chapter 12: The Precious Sword

  In the northern part of Anhui County Town, there is a small ironwork shop that produces and sells butcher knives, farm tools and other ironware.

  The Han dynasty had extremely strict control over the casting of weapons, all equipment was uniformly manufactured, managed and operated by the government, and civilians were not allowed to privately cast weapons and equipment, only simple farm tools or pig slaughter knives could be smelted.

  Local tyrants also had privately cast weapons, but Yangzhou had very few places that produced iron. The landlords and local tyrants armed their private soldiers, and the equipment was all purchased from other states and counties.

  The sky had just lit up, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the empty streets.

  Zhou Jian stood at the door and looked around for a while before walking into the blacksmith's shop.

  Blacksmith Hu San is a man in his thirties, with a robust build and a ruddy complexion. His large hands are covered in calluses, and his fingers, which are thicker than usual due to years of gripping hammers, can no longer straighten out.

  "The little man greets the young master."

  Hu San saw Zhou Jian enter the door and hastily paid his respects.

  "Alright, get up!"

  Zhou Jian waved his hand and asked, "What I want, isn't it ready yet?"

  "Hurry up," said Hu San, "it was just finished yesterday, please follow me, young master."

  Zhou Jian nodded and followed Hu San to a side house in the backyard.

  Hu San took out a shining battle knife and handed it over respectfully: "Please, young master, take a look and see if you're satisfied."

  Zhou Jian took the war knife and swung it twice, the weight was okay, about four catties, the blade was wider than two fingers, nearly one meter long, with a thickness of about half a finger, and the surface shone with a blue light, looking much sharper than the ring-headed knife.

  "Not bad, good job."

  Zhou Jian praised him without hesitation.

  In this era, due to the limitations of craftsmanship and knowledge, all weapons were heavy, the ring-headed knife was too heavy, wide and thick, suitable for breaking armor and horseback riding, but not agile enough. Zhou Jian's martial arts came from over a thousand years later, so he couldn't get used to the ring-headed knife at all. Three years ago, he found blacksmith Hu San and told him some basic material composition and chemical reaction principles, letting Hu San secretly forge this slightly wider and thicker Eastern sword, which took three years to complete, and finally saw the result.

  Although I don't understand iron and steel smelting, some basic theories were learned during junior high school.

  "Hah!"

  Zhou Jian swung his hand and slashed, a piercing metallic friction sound rang out, and the axe head next to him was cut into two pieces, like cutting rotten wood.

  "Good!"

  Zhou Jian couldn't help but burst into praise, and was overjoyed beyond his expectations.

  I didn't expect this Western knife to be so sharp, it's really beyond expectations.

  Upon closer inspection, the blade is smooth and shows no signs of rolling or folding.

  "Hu Sanli opened his mouth and laughed: "Thanks to the young master's guidance. This humble one also repeatedly pondered the principles spoken by the young master, and after three years of deliberation, came up with a method to remove impurities."

  Zhou Jian nodded, "Not bad, can this knife be mass-produced?"

  Hu San was somewhat embarrassed and said, "This is very difficult. Although I have figured out a way to remove impurities, it would take at least half a year to forge such a battle knife, and it would also require a craftsman with extremely refined skills."

  Zhou Jian thought for a moment, this Japanese sword is handy to use, but the shortcomings are also very obvious, it can't be mass-produced, and if the toughness is not enough, it will break easily when hit by heavy weapons, it's not suitable for large-scale equipment of troops. The Cold Ice War, it's still more suitable to equip with Huan Shou Dao, after thinking for a moment, he asked: "Hu San, what's your wish?"

  Husan scratched his head, opened his big mouth and smiled foolishly: "What's the wish? As long as I can eat well and dress warmly, marry off those three kids at home and have a few grandsons, I'll be content."

  Zhou Jian said, "It's also a good life here, but after the New Year, I may have to leave Pu County and probably won't come back again. What about you? Are you going with me or staying here to continue running your blacksmith shop?"

  Hu San hesitated for a moment before saying: "As long as the young master allows me to bring my wife and children, I am willing to follow the young master."

  Zhou Jian nodded in agreement, saying: "Taking care of one's wife and children is a man's responsibility, so it's only natural that you can't abandon them. As long as you're willing to follow me, that's all that matters. However, for now, you should still stay in Anhui County. When the time comes, I'll send someone to fetch you. The money I gave you will be enough to support your wife and children, so don't worry about that. Just focus on honing your skills with your sword."

  Hú Sān also didn't ask much and hurriedly said: "I understand."

  Zhou Jian said, "Later I'll have someone send you some more money to buy a big house and hire many more apprentices. The more the better. Teach them well for me, I have use for them."

  Hu San hastily agreed and firmly remembered it in his heart.

  It's hard enough doing business these days, and when society is in chaos, it's even harder to make a living.

  Especially for hardworking craftsmen, making a living is even more difficult.

  Hu San had long felt the hardships of life, fortunately, in recent years, there was Zhou Jian's generous money, no worries about living, as long as his wife and children could eat well and dress warmly, he wouldn't mind what Zhou Jian asked him to do.

  Zhou Jian played with the war knife for a while, suddenly feeling like something was missing. After thinking for half a day, he finally thought of it and said, "Make me another scabbard, make it more exquisite, don't be too rough."

  Hu San hastily agreed and prepared to go soon.

  Zhou Jian finally put down his battle knife and left the blacksmith's shop with satisfaction.

  Qiao's Mansion

  Cai Yan is teaching Da Qiao to read and write, while the maid is taking care of Xiao Qiao by their side.

  The Qiao family residence was only temporarily occupied by Cai Yong and his daughter Cai Yan, with the rest being just some servants.

  Cai Yan had some talent and learning, and since she was usually idle, she took the initiative to teach Da Qiao to recognize characters and understand classics.

  Da Qiao came to Cai Yan's residence in a separate courtyard, and the maidservants also got into the habit of bringing Xiao Qiao over every day.

  The sound of footsteps echoed, and a servant came in saying: "Miss Cai, Young Master Zhou Jian requests an audience."

  Cai Yan was taken aback for a moment, then hastily said: "Please come in quickly."

  Zhuang Ding responded with a sound and left, soon after, Zhou Jian came in big strides.

  Cai Yan made a polite bow, "Little sister has met Big Brother Zhou!"

  Zhou Jiansu smiled and said: "Yan Mei doesn't have to be so polite, am I disturbing you?"

  Cai Yan smiled and said, "How could that be? I heard that Big Brother Zhou has taken people to the wilderness for training again. Now it's cold, and Big Brother Zhou will be camping outside for a long time, so he must take care of his body and not catch a cold."

  "Never mind," Zhou Jian laughed, "I'm as strong as a tiger, a minor cold is nothing to worry about."

  Cai Yan couldn't help but laugh, and the servant woman beside her also burst out laughing.

  His wife thought to herself: "This Master Zhou is really an interesting person, who would say such things about himself?"

  But this carefree and uninhibited nature is much more likable than those self-proclaimed noble rich kids.

  Zhou Jian bent down and picked up Da Qiao, rubbed her face and smiled, "Yingying, how many words have you remembered recently?"

  "Hello Brother Zhou Jian," replied Da Qiao in a clear and crisp childlike voice, "Ying Ying has remembered nine more characters."

  "Great, better than your brother Zhou Jian when he was a kid."

  Cai Yan and her maid servant smiled. Every time they came into close contact with Zhou Jian, they felt that he was different from other young masters of wealthy families.

  It's just this joke, and other young masters from good families would definitely not tell such a joke.

  People of this generation are deeply influenced by feudal etiquette, and the literati's dignity is serious. Which scholar would admit to being inferior to others, especially not as good as a four-year-old girl? Even if it was just a joke, few young masters from aristocratic families would dare to say it out of humor.

  Cai Yan and her maid's idea is that only people with a broad mind will not care about other people's opinions.

  Zhou Jian put down Da Qiao and picked up Xiao Qiao, then sat down on a chair at the side.

  Little Qiao was making "yaya" sounds, with her fingers wrapped around the pacifier in her mouth, sucking loudly.

  Zhou Jian couldn't help but laugh at the sight, he really didn't expect that the legendary Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao would be like this.

  It's just unknown what kind of expression these two sisters will have when they grow up and talk about the interesting things that happened when they were young.

  After chatting with Cai Yan, the turmoil in her heart gradually subsided.

  Every time he goes out for training or after killing someone, only in this quiet and secluded courtyard can Zhou Jian's mind calm down and carefully plan some things.

  The light and lively sound of the zither rose up, accompanied by Cai Yan's slightly clear and melodious singing voice.

  The song ended, and Zhou Jian had already put down Xiao Qiao.

  Cai Yan put down her guqin and smiled: "Little sister is showing off, making Brother Zhou laugh."

  Zhou Jian smiled and suddenly asked: "And Wei Xiong, I heard he's going back to He Dong after the New Year?"

  Cai Yan's pretty face turned slightly red, and she softly murmured in agreement, "He's already left, a month ago?"

  Zhou Jian was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "This is really unexpected. After the New Year's Day, I also plan to go to Luoyang, originally wanted to travel with Wei brother together, did not expect him to leave first."

  Cai Yan was taken aback, "Brother Zhou wants to go to Luoyang?"

  Zhou Jian nodded and said: "After the New Year, I plan to go to Luoyang for a visit."

  A faint melancholy flashed across Cai Yan's bright eyes, and was immediately well hidden.

  After sitting for about half an hour, he finally stood up and bid farewell.

  After leaving Qiao's house, I was still thinking about gains and losses in my heart.

  Tsai Yen was a woman of great talent and beauty, as the saying goes, "Heroes love beautiful women", Zhou Jian was no exception.

  However, Cai Yong wanted to marry off Cai Yan to Wei Ning, which was a bit difficult.

  In this era, it's all about obeying the orders of one's parents and the words of matchmakers. Marriage is not something that can be decided by oneself, especially in wealthy families where parental orders are like golden rules that cannot be disobeyed.

  Even if brothers have intentions and sisters have feelings, they absolutely cannot go against their father's orders.

  As for eloping, that's even more nonsense.

  It's impossible for Cai Yan to elope with someone, given her upbringing and education. Even if she were willing to run away with Zhou Jian, he would be condemned for abducting a respectable woman, a reputation that could be fatal in this era.

  The only way is to let Weining evaporate between people.

  Zhou Jian was still considering whether or not to find an opportunity to make Wei Ning disappear, but unexpectedly Wei Ning left first.

  It's okay, after Chinese New Year I will go to Luoyang myself, there are plenty of opportunities.

  Zhou Jian thought to himself that although Wei Ning was a bookworm, he was still a good person with a gentlemanly demeanor. He decided to find an opportunity to talk to him first and then make further plans.