CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 144: LOYALTY, CHARCOAL, AND THE ENGINEERING TEAM

"Very good, very very good."

Xue Rui nodded repeatedly, rubbing her hands anxiously as she reported,

"We’ve already completed the first layer of your cellar, but your ice cellar needs to be dug a bit deeper, please give us a bit more time."

"We promise to build you a safe and spacious ice cellar."

"Mm, I know."

Luo De nodded, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes,

"You’re doing alright."

"So far, apart from the urine smell inside, I’m rather satisfied with everything else."

As Luo De finished speaking, Xue Rui’s cheeks turned red, and her long ears bashfully pressed together.

To the Snow Rabbit People, the smell of urine was nothing unusual.

However, Xue Rui heard that in Frost Leaf Town, public urination is not allowed.

And because they were facing Imperial People with different customs, Xue Rui felt particularly embarrassed.

"Sorry, Lord, we can’t help it."

Xue Rui lowered her head, her voice filled with apology.

"Mm, it’s okay, I’ll send someone to take care of that afterwards."

Luo De switched the topic, getting to the main point,

"I’m telling you that your probation period has been cut short."

"I’ll be providing food for you, so make sure to send all the tribe’s herbs back quickly, and you’ll need to send more tribe members here to work for me."

"No problem!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Rui’s face lit up with joy, bowing repeatedly in gratitude.

"We will definitely work hard!"

Luo De nodded slightly, suddenly asking, "Do you understand blueprints?"

"Lord... what are blueprints?"

Xue Rui blinked in confusion.

"Come over."

Luo De waved a hand, spreading a sheet of paper on the table and introduced it to Xue Rui:

"This is a coking furnace, used for producing coke."

"Of course, you don’t need to know what coke is, or even what this is used for, it’s not important."

"You just need to understand the drawing on this paper and follow it to build the coking furnace for me."

The blueprint Luo De drew was intended for the coking furnace to be built halfway up a hillside, half above ground and half underground.

Utilizing the elevation difference of the hillside, the smoke can be vented from a hole at the top, while coal is fed in through the door below.

"I know you might be unfamiliar with building walls, but it’s similar to digging tunnels, just that one is underground and the other above ground."

"I’ll send someone to teach you how to build the walls, but this is only the first time; in the future, these things will need to be handled by you."

"Oh oh oh..."

Xue Rui nodded thoughtfully, then hesitated a bit and said,

"Lord, I don’t quite understand this blueprint... but one of my tribe members, he’s quite skillful with this kind of thing!"

Xue Rui quickly exclaimed, "His name is Labette, he can learn quickly what you teach, and he’s the strongest Snow Rabbit Person in our tribe!"

"Alright, then go get him."

Luo De nodded in agreement.

"Please wait a moment!"

Xue Rui dared not delay, quickly scurrying out.

In no time, Xue Rui brought another Snow Rabbit Person.

This Snow Rabbit Person was a head and a half taller than Xue Rui, standing almost 1.8 meters tall.

Though not very tall for humans, in a group where the average Snow Rabbit Person was about 1.6 meters,

1.8 meters was practically like a Giant among them.

Upon seeing Luo De, Labette’s eyes widened, nearly blurting out,

"Why is it a kid?"

Xue Rui’s heart tightened, quickly pulling Labette’s tail!

"Ow!"

Labette howled in pain!

But he reacted quickly enough and fell to his knees directly!

"Bang bang bang!"

Three loud kowtows, his rabbit head turned crimson!

"Stop, stop, there’s no need for such exaggerated gestures in the future."

Luo De frowned slightly, waving a hand to stop Labette’s actions.

No idea who taught them this.

"Oh!"

Labette replied loudly,

"For eating so much of your food, bowing is only right!"

"Just work well, that’s enough."

Luo De looked at Labette:

"You’re the strongest Snow Rabbit Person? I heard from Lawrence that you work with a lot of enthusiasm."

"Yes, yes, Lord!"

Labette echoed, his eyes sparkling with excitement, "Mainly because the food here is good, so I have the energy to work!"

"No need for such excitement, working requires not just strength, but brains too."

Luo De waved his hand at Labette, "Come here, can you understand this blueprint?"

"Okay, okay, okay!"

Labette rushed to the table, the draft paper fluttering in the wind stirred by his movement.

Xue Rui felt a jolt in her heart.

If she understood the blueprint, she wouldn’t have let Labette come.

On the way over, Xue Rui had briefly introduced a few things to Labette.

So Labette didn’t ask anything, just staring closely at the three-view drawing of the coking furnace on the paper.

He pondered for a long time, mumbling under his breath.

Luo De watched him, seemingly calculating something in his mind, waiting quietly without interruption.

After a moment, Labette shook his head,

"I can’t quite understand it."

"Hm?"

Luo De frowned, feeling a bit tricked,

"If you don’t understand, why were you looking at it for so long?"

"Lord, I don’t understand, but I can build it!"

Labette explained loudly, his eyes filled with confidence, "I don’t know what it’s for, but I know it’s a domed building with a small chimney beside it!"

Labette pointed at the blueprint, talking animatedly,

"Things go in here, and then you seal it up, right?"

Labette was pointing at the coal entry point.

"Mm, very good."