Chapter 50 Carpenter William
Butler Chahar chose the northeast corner of the outer fort as the site for the construction of the squat toilet.
This place is far away from the gate of the Mountain Forest Castle, separated from the inner castle by a city wall, and a long distance from the main building where Ronin lives, so there is no need to worry about the odour drifting over.
After spending these days together, Chahar knew very well that the master was a clean freak. For example, he had to take a bath every day, wash and change his clothes every day, etc. He was even more clean than some young ladies from noble families.
But Chahar didn't find this strange.
Every noble has some unique hobbies, and a quieter hobby like Ronin's is very easy to serve.
Dig a pit, place a ceramic jar, and then put up wooden boards, and the simple squat toilet is ready.
But there is no time to build a shed today, so we can only use an open-air squat toilet.
Luo Ning took a quick look and nodded in acceptance.
This primitive squat toilet does not require any technical skills, and with the detailed drawings he drew, any ordinary person can build it accurately.
"It's basically like this, but the tank is a little smaller."
He gave Chahar some suggestions for improvement: "There are more than 20 servants in the castle. You need to ask that Kales to make some bigger jars. Or you can see if there is a mason who can dig a large, impermeable pit in the ground to replace the pottery jar. As long as the manure water does not leak out, it will meet the requirements."
There is no cement here, and Roning didn't know if there was any material that could replace cement to achieve the sealing effect, so he chose the cylinder at the beginning.
"Yes, sir!"
Chahar wrote down this suggestion and said, "I went to the blacksmith shop this afternoon to ask. Kalus promised that he could make a bigger pottery jar. I just need to give him some time."
It is not difficult to make pottery jars, and even ordinary people can make some small pottery jars by themselves.
Roning nodded. "It doesn't matter which method you use or both. There can't be only one or two toilets in the castle anyway."
"Also, tell Kalus that the castle will not seize the fruits of his labour. I hope he can make the pottery jars with confidence and ensure the quality!"
This was a small matter, and after explaining it, Roning left the scene, leaving Chahar here to ponder over what method could better satisfy the Lord.
But after all, he still couldn't imagine using manure water as fertilizer. Would people be able to eat the vegetables grown in that way?
Moreover, the master loves cleanliness but is obsessed with building toilets. These are really two extremes.
But despite his doubts, Chahar still completed everything Luo Ning asked him to do meticulously, so there was no conflict.
"Come on, let's go ask the bricklayer in town." He said to the two servants beside him.
On the other hand, the servant Galen came to the house of carpenter Uncle William with the guards.
At this moment, the uncle is instructing his son how to build a cabinet.
When he saw Galen and the guards coming over, his face immediately changed.
The news of Princet's betrayal of the Lord had already spread, and even the paralyzed people in the town knew something about it, including William.
Because of this, he has been hungry, unable to sleep, and restless for the past few days.
He was afraid that because he had been hired by Princet to build the castle cabin, the Lord would hold him accountable and accuse him of being in cahoots with the traitors.
He once thought about taking his wife and son away from Shanlin Town but eventually gave up.
Although William's family were free people, it was very difficult for them to leave the place where they had lived all their lives in a hurry and survive in another strange city.
Fortunately, after waiting for two days, he found that the Lord had no intention of pursuing his crime and even sent the mysterious light magician Lord Elrond to rescue the wounded.
He realized that the man in Hillfort might be a truly benevolent lord.
But he didn't expect that what was coming would still come, and the castle guards still came to his house.
When William saw this group of people, his heart instantly fell into a basin of cold water, and he felt chilled to the bone.
"Sir, what are you doing?" he asked anxiously.
Galen was in a trance. He never expected that one day someone would call him "Sir". This feeling was really... very strange.
It turned out that entering the castle to serve the Lord was the right choice.
Although the other party respected him, Galen did not forget Roning's instructions. He maintained a very polite attitude and even performed the etiquette he learned from Chahar.
"Uncle William, my name is Gallen, and I am a servant of Baron Ronin of Shanlin Castle. I came here today to invite you to the castle. It seems that the master has something to entrust to you."
Hearing this, William's nervous heart calmed down a little. He still asked a little awkwardly: "I don't know why the lord called me over?"
In response, Gallen shook his head.
He didn't know Luo Ning's purpose, but thinking that the master had been experimenting with the wood all afternoon and now looking for a carpenter, he probably thought that it was related to the black ironwood.
But every failure makes one wiser, and he no longer makes rash assumptions about information he is uncertain about.
"I'm not sure about that. You'll know when you come with me to the castle."
Galen said, "The master is waiting for you over there; don't keep him waiting for too long."
"Okay, okay, sir, please wait a moment. I will go to the castle with you now." William quickly turned around and picked up the tools for use.
Soon Galen brought the carpenter to the outside of the main building of the inner castle.
After confirming that the Lord did not want to punish him, William's mood improved. At this moment, he looked at the main building in front of him, which he had presided over the construction, and a sense of accomplishment surged in his heart.
For a carpenter, there is nothing more joyful than looking at his masterpiece.
After waiting for a while, a figure walked out of the main building.
William immediately stood up straight, maintaining a respectful attitude.
Compared to the last time when he saw the Lord's face from a distance on the grassland, this time, he saw it more clearly.
The Lord is worthy of being the son of a great noble family. He looks so noble and handsome, and his demeanour is so calm and elegant that people feel admiration and respect for him as soon as they see him.
"Your subject, William, it's a pleasure to meet you, respected lord!" William saluted and greeted seriously.
"Nice to meet you, Uncle William!" Roning acted quite easygoing.
Such a title made the old carpenter on the opposite side feel flattered for a moment, and he didn't know how to respond.
"The reason I asked you to come here today is mainly because I want you to see something," Roning said, taking William to a piece of black ironwood tree nearby.
"Is this a tree from the Black Forest?" Carpenter William recognized the source of the tree stump at a glance.
Luo Ning raised his eyebrows, "Have you ever understood it?"
This question touched upon William's pride. He couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Master, I'm not bragging. I've been to all the woods in Shanlin Town. There's no wood that I don't know about!"
Roning smiled and pretended to listen.
Regardless of whether the other party was bragging or not, he could recognize at a glance that this was a piece of tree from the Black Forest, which made him look up to William.
"The trees in the Black Forest are very strong. Princet originally wanted to use them to build this house, but it was too troublesome to cut them down, so he eventually gave up."
"It can't be used as material to build houses, and woodcutters don't want to cut down trees to burn at home. Over time, we don't pay much attention to black forests."
This surprised Roning a little. He didn't expect that Princet had discovered the black forest long ago, and he didn't expect that after discovering it, that guy didn't understand the value of the black ironwood.
This really gave him a good deal.
"Uncle William, the servants in the castle say that you have great skills. I want to see it with my own eyes."
Ronin pointed to the tree stump on the ground and said, "Black ironwood is hard enough to be used to make breastplates, shields, and spears for attack. I would like you to make a set for me."
When Carpenter William heard this, he was stunned.
He has always thought that wood is used to build houses and make furniture, and he never thought that it could be developed into armour and weapons.
Hearing Luo Ning's words, his mind suddenly opened up, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Master, you are really a genius!"
He looked at the tree stump on the ground and already had an idea of armour and spears in his mind. He also believed that with the hardness of the black iron tree, the things made from it would definitely be useful.
William put away his eagerness to try and began to think seriously about how to make it.
"Master, it should be no problem to make the things you mentioned. But you know how hard the black ironwood is. It's a bit difficult for me and my son to cut it down and transport it home in large quantities!"
Black ironwood is not only hard but also heavy.
It would be difficult for an average adult male to lift this piece of tree, which is just over one meter long.
Not to mention that William and his son were the only ones who moved back from the West.
"Don't worry about that. I will arrange some manpower for you. You and your son should focus your energy on manufacturing and don't waste it on carrying and felling."
"Also, if you help me make these things, you need to keep it a secret for me, and I will pay you extra."
When William heard that the Lord would not force him to do voluntary labour but was even willing to pay him, he was immediately moved and happy.
"Praise my Lord, you are such a kind and enlightened Lord!"
As he spoke, he humbly bent his waist ninety degrees: "William is happy to serve you!"
"Very good. I will work out a reasonable salary and manufacturing plan for you."
Luo Ning nodded and said with a smile: "Before that, you can take these tree segments back and study them carefully. It would be best if you could show me the finished product as soon as possible!"