Chapter 610: City Wall Soldiers
Translator: Endlessæantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Gongsun MO looked at Lei Tongtong dotingly. He was still willing to work at the toy factory for his wife’s sake.
Su Binglan discussed the toy factory, and everyone listened attentively. The young couple agreed ffith her thoughts and suggestions.
Luo Jin’an noticed how happy his wife was and supported her. However, he did not want her to tire herself out.
Su Binglan said, “It’s almost the end of the year now. The winery, embroidery shop, tofu factory, and other places will close for the holidays. If we want to open a toy factory, it’ll be at the end of the year. There’s no rush, so let’s design some toys first.”
‘I’ll have many more things to do next year.’
With that thought in mind, she felt re-energized. She did not feel tired doing such things but found pure joy. Her mind had endless thoughts regarding designing the toys.
‘We can make various toys for children to play outdoors and indoors.’
Su Binglan used charcoal to draw a detailed design of the building blocks and a puzzle. She even marked the sizes and dimensions.
“These are building blocks made of wood, each with a specific size. Children can use them to build structures, oxcarts, or even carriages.”
Lei Tongtong looked at the drawings and wished to play vvith the toys now. “If only I had this many toy options as a child.”
Su Binglan said smilingly, “You can play with these soon.”
Lei Tongtong said embarra.s.sedly, “But I’m too old to be playing vvith toys.”
Su Binglan had another idea when she heard Lei Tongtongs remark. She said, “That’s right. I can make more complicated designs for the building blocks for adults to play with.”
She remembered Luo Jin’an simulating his battle plans on the sand before this, thinking, ‘Soldiers on the city walls can use these building blocks to simulate their battle plans. If so, adults can play ffith them too.’
“Tongtong, you gave me a new idea for some building blocks for adults. Children can play with them by making shapes, while adults can use them to build city walls, villages, and forests to plan their battles.”
When Su Binglan mentioned those things, many more thoughts appeared in her mind.
Luo Jin’an and Gongsun MO were stunned when they heard her words.
‘If she makes those, can we still consider them toys? Although, they would be of great use.’
Gongsun Mo’s heart pounded. He became excited and felt his blood rushing through his veins. He came from a family of blacksmiths and technicians. They could design complex mechanisms and even hidden weapons.
The Gongsun family also excelled at making defensive and offensive tools of war. However, Gongsun MO did not possess the family’s peak technical abilities of the past, leaving him feeling guilty now.
‘l wouldn’t have disgraced my family’s name if 1 could do all that.’
Luo Jin’an was shocked. Those building blocks would have been a great help if he had them to simulate the confrontation between two armies. He looked deeply at his wife and felt she could always surprise him.
He also looked forward to seeing the building blocks, but it was almost the New Year, and Su Binglan had to wait for next year to make them.
“These are small wood pieces with slots. Anyone can pile them up like this and build them into various shapes,” Su Binglan continued to explain how the building blocks worked. She spoke in detail, and everyone listened closely.
Meanwhile, Luo Jin’an and Gongsun MO thought those were no longer just toys.
Su Binglan had plenty to say. As Luo Jin’an and Gongsun MO listened, they gradually realized they could put forward their own ideas to give Su Binglan more inspiration.
Luo Jin’an wanted his wite to improve on these things and maybe even add natural sand.
Su Binglan thought she could make colored sand to simulate battle strategies more efficiently.
After much discussion and deliberations, the group realized it was late. Hence,
Luo Jin’an and Su Binglan had to hurry home. However, Gongsun MO and Lei Tongtong had not heard enough. They were full of interest as they listened and grew increasingly excited.
“It’s okay. I still need time to draw everything,” Su Binglan held Lei
Tongtongs hand and continued, “l have something interesting planned. I’ll be arranging a stage play before the New Year celebrations.”
“A stage play?” Lei Tongtong did not know what that was.
Su Binglan explained, “It’s similar to a drama troupe show but slightly different. You’ll know what I mean when you see it.”
Although she said so, getting Yang Xiaosun to sing was difficult, especially since the latter had no experience. However, it would be easier to arrange a stage play because the actors would only have to memorize their lines.
Everyone should be able to perform well if Su Binglan wrote simple scripts.
Lei Tongtongs eyes lit up, and she became excited. She clapped while saying, “That’s perfect! You’re so awesome, Sister Su!”
When Su Binglan and Luo Jin’an returned, the rest of the Su family had just finished wrapping the dumpling fillings. Su Wenzhe started the fire while Liu Yinyin helped Shen Qiuhua with sorting the dumplings.
Even Su Fengmao helped by chopping firewood in the courtyard. After all, the family needed more firewood to endure winter.
Although the family had charcoal, they had grown accustomed to using firewood when cooking. It allowed the family to save on charcoal and use it to keep the house warm at night.
“Father, it’s so cold outside. Quick, come in.”
“It’s okay. 1 want to finish chopping these first.” Su Fengmao did not feel cold since he wore the sweater, down jacket, and winter boots his daughter had made.
While Su Fengmao continued chopping the firewood, Luo Jin’an approached him and took the ax from his father-in-law, saying, “Go inside and rest, Father-in-law.”
Luo Jin’an took the ax and chopped the wood. He could chop plenty of wood quickly as he had great strength, stunning Su Fengmao.
Immediately after, he realized that his son-in-law had recovered fully. Luo Jin’an looked healthier and more robust, and Su Fengmao was satisfied. Soon, the family ate the dumplings. Some had hawthorn fillings, and others had shrimp, utterly different from what the family had eaten.
Su Binglan saw everyone enjoying their food and smiled. “I’ll go somewhere oceanic one day and bring home more seafood for everyone.”
She also wanted to cook crayfish for her family after winter. She knew many ways to cook crayfish one would taste spicy and garlicky. She considered opening another restaurant but would do it next year.
Since New Year was approaching, Su Binglan calculated everyone’s wages and bonuses. She planned to give everyone gifts alongside their year-end bonuses. Then her employees would happily bring their gifts home to their families..