Two days later, after arranging these matters, Fang Er returned to Chang'an with Zhang Tian.
Road construction was not a matter of one or two days; even with many people, it would take time for maintenance.
During this period, he could go back and complete the preparatory work needed for aluminum smelting.
Returning to Chang'an was to bring the leaders of the various grassland tribes along. Otherwise, he feared they would have to rely on the Ministry of Rites for a few warhorses and travel back bumpy rides.
Upon returning to Fang Family Manor, Fang Er had just entered the house when he saw Chai Zhewei and Chai Yue, the brother and sister, happily chatting about something.
“Big Brother!”
Fang Er greeted them proactively.
“Didn’t brother-in-law go to Qingzhou? Why are you back so soon?”
Chai Zhewei, seated in a chair, saw Fang Er and stood up with a smile.
“The matters over there are mostly arranged. I’m preparing to return to Shenyang. This time I’m back to bring the leaders of the grassland tribes.”
“Is Big Brother not on duty today?”
“No, it’s my day off.”
After chatting for a while, Chai Zhewei left after having dinner at home.
“My lord, take Qing'er with you tomorrow,” Chai Yue whispered into Fang Er’s ear that night in the bedroom.
“What? Are you staying home to wait for your father-in-law?” Fang Er asked.
“Yes. Father has been away at war for so long, Yue'er misses him,” Chai Yue said, her eyes turning slightly red.
Fang Er quickly comforted her, “Alright, alright, your father-in-law is definitely safe. If you want to wait, you can stay home and wait.”
“Isn’t it good for Qing'er to stay home and serve you?”
“No need. We still have Xuelian and Xiao Mi at home, and Uncle Zhang is also here.”
“What, leaving Qing’er at home too? Does my lord fancy Bingxue Yulu? Or Xing'er?”
At this, Chai Yue suddenly stared at Fang Er and burst into laughter.
“My lord fancies no one. In this life, having you and Qing’er is enough!”
“You said you’d take her, so my lord will take her tomorrow. Alright, sleep!”
With that, Fang Er put his arm around Chai Yue’s waist with a smile and closed his eyes.
Looking at him, thinking of his words just now, Chai Yue felt her heart swell with sweetness. She boldly pecked Fang Er on the forehead.
“Alright, don’t play with fire, you’re pregnant now!”
“Hehehe, I won’t!”
Chai Yue mischievously reached out from under the covers.
“Hiss~~!”
Fang Er’s closed eyes finally opened, and he gasped.
He had been ambushed!
Could he still endure this?
So, he reached out, as if speaking from his conscience.
Of course, that conscience was definitely not his.
“If you keep this up, I’m going to transform!”
“Oh, really!?”
Chai Yue giggled and said this into Fang Er’s ear, then stuck out her tongue and licked him.
Fang Er shivered.
Although over two months pregnant, Chai Yue had not yet begun to show, but she had become much more voluptuous, igniting Fang Er’s desire even more than before.
Provoked by her repeated teasing, Fang Er felt as though he would explode. Thinking of the child in her belly, he could only beg for mercy, saying, “Alright, my good Yue'er, stop playing, let’s sleep.”
Chai Yue showed no intention of letting him off.
Fang Er immediately began to resist, his large hands roaming over Chai Yue’s body.
The pregnant Chai Yue not only attracted Fang Er more, but she herself was also exceptionally sensitive.
In just a few movements, Fang Er’s teasing made her unable to resist.
“Alright, I’ll write up to here.”
(๑
Fang Er explained in detail, and the craftsmen listened while taking out their personal notebooks to record.
After explaining the hydroelectric power station, Fang Er chose a piece of land near the road for the future aluminum smelting workshop.
Aluminum smelting required a large amount of electricity, and the current thermal power at the workshop would likely not be enough, which was why Fang Er chose this location.
This area would require calcination furnaces, reaction chambers, and electrolysis cells.
First, sodium carbonate, fluorite, and silica sand would be mixed and calcined.
Then, after pulverization and leaching, they would react with aluminum sulfate to synthesize cryolite.
Finally, cryolite would be used as a flux for electrolysis of bauxite to obtain pure aluminum.
With pure aluminum, aluminum alloys would not be far behind.
Before the aluminum workshop could officially start operations, these basic construction tasks did not require Zhao Gang’s involvement for the time being; they were all handed over to the accompanying craftsmen.
After clarifying everything, Fang Er took Zhao Gang and returned.
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Author's Notes: