Chapter 71: The Amazing Kang Bed!

After the completion of the house frame, progress accelerated. Within two days, the roof tiles were in place. From the outside, it already looked like a fine house. The remaining tasks included painting, flooring, door and window installation, and ceiling work. At this stage, the wooden doors, windows, and ceiling were all crafted by Li Qing, known for his meticulous workmanship that pleased Su Zhi. As the house neared completion, she felt nothing but joy.

“Wife, our house will be finished soon. If you have any ideas, please share them,” Shen Zi’an said, observing Su Zhi standing in the courtyard, happily watching the house.

Seeing Su Zhi’s content expression, Shen Zi’an felt pleased despite the fatigue of recent days. He marveled at the happiness of having a home with his diligent and gentle wife. Just a few months ago, he couldn’t have imagined such happiness – marrying a capable and tender wife, residing in such a fine house felt surreal.

Observing Shen Zi’an’s tired, lean face, Su Zhi felt a pang of concern and said, “You’ve been working hard. Once the house is finished, I’ll cook more delicious food to fatten you up a bit. Look at how thin you’ve become.”

“Wife, I’ve slimmed down too. While you cook delicious meals for Zi’an, don’t forget about me. Don’t worry, I won’t disturb you. I’ll take my share home to eat,” Li Shi jest, appreciative of his friend’s wife’s care and culinary skills.

Li Shi smiled as he stood in the courtyard, watching the young couple with a hint of envy. Not envious of the large house, but of Shen Zi’an having a wife who was so caring and understanding. He began to feel that he should also get married, intending to choose a gentle and virtuous wife like Su Zhi. A delicate figure suddenly appeared in his mind, causing a moment of distraction before he shook his head to dispel the image.

Su Zhi, smiling, promised to treat Li Shi to her newly invented dish.

“Zi’an, the adobe bricks have been brought in. Should we start building that… what was it called?” Shen Shugen approached quickly. A few days ago, Shen Zi’an had mentioned building something called a “kang” in the house, a type of bed for sleeping that could be warmed by burning firewood in winter. Intrigued by the idea of using adobe to construct a bed and heating it with fire, Shen Shugen viewed Su Zhi in a new light for her innovative ideas in house design and furnishings.

Li Qing, who was busy installing windows nearby, also joined the conversation.

“Are we going to start building that ‘kang’ now? Let me have a look. If it really can be heated with a single batch of firewood, that would be wonderful!” Li Qing exclaimed, eager to see the potential benefits of this new addition to the house.

“Today, we’ll build the ‘kang.’ Here’s the blueprint,” Su Zhi presented the meticulously prepared plans she had ready, explaining to the group how to construct it, detailing each step and why it was necessary. Her detailed drawings were a result of observing an elderly neighbor in the countryside who enjoyed sleeping on a ‘kang,’ allowing her to understand its internal structure.

“We just need to build a hearth here, burn a fire for a while. The heat from the fire will warm the ‘kang,’ and one fire can keep it warm for half a day. You can also use it to cook or heat water. However, be cautious not to burn too much; it could scorch the bedding in the hottest part. Besides, we won’t use the stove in the summer; no one wants to sleep on a hot ‘kang’ during summer,” Su Zhi explained.

“Little Sister! This ‘kang’ of yours is truly amazing!” Zhang Qing, listening to Su Zhi’s explanation and studying the blueprint, felt like he was holding a treasure. He fully appreciated the benefits of the ‘kang.’

“Yes, it’s fantastic and costs nothing. Just a bit of time to build,” Li Qing chimed in, nodding in agreement with Su Zhi’s innovative idea.

“Little Sister, can we have the villagers all build this ‘kang’? If we do that, everyone will be warm this winter,” Li Shi suggested, contemplating the broader impact. After spending time with Su Zhi, he recognized her kindness and believed she would be willing to promote the ‘kang.’ Understanding the value of this craft, he knew that skills like this could be monetized. While being granted permission to learn how to construct the ‘kang’ was already fortunate, extending this knowledge to others would require Su Zhi’s approval.

Shen Shugen and Li Qing also looked at Su Zhi, envisioning the benefits of having this ‘kang’ during winter and hoping that such a valuable addition could be shared with everyone.

Realizing the significance of the ‘kang’ during ancient winters for the common folks, Su Zhi knew it meant an end to freezing cold. She had long considered spreading the use of the ‘kang.’ Watching her family enjoy the warmth while others suffered in the cold winter was something she couldn’t bear. Her intention was not to profit but to earn a good reputation.

“Of course, if it means the villagers don’t have to endure the cold in winter, what’s a simple blueprint? However, I won’t be the one building it. If anyone is willing to learn, the older brothers can teach. I don’t have that skill,” Su Zhi explained.

“Wife, you are truly amazing!” Shen Zi’an praised her sincerely.

Shen Zi’an joyfully held Su Zhi’s hand, feeling fortunate to have married such a smart, gentle, and kind-hearted wife.

Li Shi patted Shen Zi’an’s back and chuckled, “You’ve got such a great wife. Treat her well, or big brother might have to intervene!”

Li Qing chimed in, “Exactly! Little Sister, if Zi’an dares to mistreat you, come to us, and we’ll support you!”

Shen Shugen added, “The entire village will stand by you! How could anyone mistreat such a wonderful wife? You need to cherish her!”

Shen Zi’an, surrounded by his supportive older brothers, felt elated. Seeing everyone embrace Su Zhi filled him with happiness. What could be more gratifying than having his wife accepted and valued by everyone, no longer treated as an outsider?

The workers nearby, intrigued by the laughter, approached to inquire. Li Qing cheerfully explained the ‘kang’ concept, leaving them wide-eyed and eager to experience this newfound comfort. Their attitudes towards Su Zhi changed, now showing more respect and courtesy, impressed by the innovative idea of the ‘kang.’

In a short while, everyone in the vicinity became aware of the concept of the ‘kang.’ Despite being engaged in their tasks, they conversed about this new idea, yearning for a warm spot during the winter.

Zhang Qing and the others enthusiastically began constructing the hearth and ‘kang,’ showing great enthusiasm. Su Zhi supervised, pointing out any discrepancies and offering guidance, which the men promptly followed. As they grasped the intricacies of the construction, their admiration for Su Zhi grew. Even if she mentioned learning from others, they believed her ability to understand and demonstrate the concept based on a drawing made her far more capable than them.

Li Zheng,  after receiving the information, arrived at the scene. Observing the nearly completed ‘kang’ in Su Zhi’s home, he wondered about its warmth. Su Zhi explained that she had been taught how to build it by a passerby during her time in the convent. Li Zheng nodded, acknowledging Su Zhi’s fortunate encounter. The notion of her being a jinx was now clearly unfounded, dispelling the old Taoist’s baseless claims.

“Su Zhi, are you really allowing the villagers to use this ‘kang’ without payment?” Li Zheng inquired.

“Yes, Li Zheng. However, since it requires effort to construct, I believe if someone wishes to build one, they should compensate the laborers. The amount should be reasonable, and I suggest discussing this with the few elders who have already learned how to build the ‘kang’,” Su Zhi replied.

Su Zhi saw this as an opportunity for the first few individuals who had learned to build the ‘kang’ to earn money. Constructing a ‘kang’ required time and effort, and she couldn’t let them work without compensation. She was concerned that these individuals, being quite straightforward and sincere, might not ask for payment from others unless prompted.

Li Zheng nodded in agreement with Su Zhi’s approach.

With both the hearth and ‘kang’ completed, Su Zhi instructed to boil water. As the fire ignited, onlookers attentively observed the ‘kang.’ In less than a quarter of an hour, smoke began to rise from the earthen surface of the ‘kang,’ spreading across the entire structure, causing everyone to cheer. Li Qing touched the ‘kang’ from end to end, happily confirming its warmth. Someone outside reached in through the window, feeling the heat and confirming that it had indeed spread throughout.

Su Zhi explained, “Once the ‘kang’ is thoroughly heated, we’ll lay a reed mat on top. In a couple of days, it will dry completely. Burning one batch of firewood while cooking can keep it warm for half a day, and burning another batch before sleep will keep it warm through the night.”

Li Zheng, marveling at the ‘kang,’ found it truly remarkable and asked Su Zhi if he could report this matter to the county official.

After considering it, Su Zhi realized that the county official would likely learn about the matter of the sacred beast in due course. Escaping attention was not a viable option. Instead, she decided to go with the flow. In this era of imperial authority, being a small farmer could lead to oppression at any time. Establishing a connection with the authorities could be beneficial, especially since she wasn’t required to engage in warfare, which posed no direct danger.

Li Zheng was delighted by Su Zhi’s agreement. Having such a beneficial addition to the village was something he took pride in as the local village head.

Su Zhi had constructed several ‘kangs’ around the house, anticipating a future where their family would grow beyond just her and Shen Zi’an. She envisioned a prosperous future and planned to invite others to live with them. Even as a farmer, she aimed to be a content and relaxed one, eventually being known as a respected lady of the land.

After a few more days, Su Zhi’s house was completed, with only the courtyard walls left to finish. Despite this, Su Zhi began bustling with activity, intending to decorate all the rooms before the courtyard walls were completed.