Chapter 9.5- The Winnower and Pietro the Apprentice
The people worthy of respect are surprisingly the ones close to you.
For Tanya these were: her grandmother who was at the same time the tribal chief, Jane – the manager in charge of this village’s girls, and her husband who kept bringing forth new things.
Recently, that husband of hers had been wholeheartedly making something.
At her feet there was a wild boar piglet rubbing against her with its nose.
Besides it, there was 1 more female boar feeding a piglet with its breast milk.
From this chamber, Tanya’s workshop could be seen.
Inside the dark room, Eiji was fiddling with a wood-constructed device.
Today marks the third day.
Since the senbagoki was made, her labor drastically bettered.
However, for her own sake, under no circumstances could she neglect her labor.
– Eiji-san.
– Recently, you’ve been staying a lot in the house; will your job be fine?
– I’m having Philip-san making me firewood, that’s why I’m waiting. Since the watermill was made, I can produce the items far quicker. Also, I was able to acquire a subordinate kid to help me with the whetstone.
Once asked by Tanya if it’s fine to cease his work, Eiji smiled, saying that it’s fine.
Because the firewood consumption was extraordinary big, it’s necessary to take a break once in a while – is what he justified.
The first time Tanya saw the watermill mentioned by Eiji, she was surprised at the sound produced by it.
Just as Eiji said, it seemed that there were lots of gadgets inside the watermill.
Strings could be seen in the blacksmith workshop, circulating midair. Once these strings were pulled, you could decide whether to stop or activate the watermill.
You could also control the pair of bellows, the electric hammer, and three grinding machines at own your discretion, once there are two water mills operating.
Tanya couldn’t understand just from seeing its construction.
Such moments made Tanya think that her husband is a genius.
– What do you intend to make with that, Eiji-san?
– A winnower?
– After you finish threshing using the senbagoki, aren’t there are tiny stones and straw scraps still attaching to the seeds, no matter what you try? How do you deal with them?
– I put them on the screen, and select the wheat seeds only.
– It’s time consuming. You have to repeat that numerous times.
Because the screen has a different eye-hole pattern, one would have to shake it many times with their hands, in order to make scraps fall.
At the same time, so as to not miss any crop seeds, there was a need to sift them thoroughly on the screen 2-3 times.
But Tanya, who obtained the status of having a husband, could be exempted from doing this, given that she helps with field work.
The reason why she continued to do her rigorous work was because she could work skillfully for the villagers unaware of Tanya’s work reduction, which was due to her possessing the only senbagoki in this place, and therefore, increasing the share of wheat.
Previously, it seemed that Tanya let her tongue slip about the senbagoki; nevertheless, other people probably hadn’t expected it to be 7-8 times more efficient than normal labor.
Once they gladly accepted, Eiji and Tanya could enjoy a little bit more luxurious meals.
– How is putting them on the screener related to this device?
– Once you rotate it using this handle, the seeds will drop while being blew away by the wind power, separating the seeds which are different in mass. Such is this device’s function. It properly uses the rotation part made from iron, which effectively suppresses the loss of power. Furthermore, once it slightly settles, it will easily rotate, and ….
Tanya could neither understand what Eiji said, nor his fixation with the use of iron.
Despite her not understanding, she thought desirably of Eiji, who continued to give an explanation while trying to make it easy with a troubled face.
Once she finished taking care of piglet, she stood next to Eiji.
Eiji, who thought it would be easier to show in practice, inserted the wheat grains from the upper part of the winnower.
With his left hand, he operates the board. Then he adjusts the amount of flowing wheat grains, and rotates them using the handle with his right hand.
The wheat grains, which were falling in drops, moved a little while falling into a jute bag.
Then the chaff itself and the wheat straw, both of them being scraps, were blown away by the wind.
Ahh, it’s indeed incredible.
Tanya covered her opening mouth with her hands, as she wondered how much the winnower will help, as well as, how much time will she be able to save for other things.
– Yes, as expected, the amount of streamed wheat and the adjustment width of the wind are hard to operate. Tanya-san, it might be difficult to get used to, for the time being. Nevertheless, when you get used to it, your labor will certainly be much more of fun, so can I have you use this?
Indeed, Tanya could remember the troubled face of that amiable and kind husband of hers, who was bowing down in her direction.
——- I wonder how long this will last.
How long will she be able to live? How long she be able to stay by this person’s side? – she thought.
The feeling of bliss, the feeling of rejoice, and then, the feeling which made her fall in love, she wanted him to feel the same way, as much as possible.
Tanya smiled. It was a smiling face from deep within her heart.
Even though she didn’t possess any skills, nor knowledge or wisdom, like Eiji, at least she wanted to make an effort, so as to have him spend his time pleasantly.
Then, Tanya wanted a baby which could receive this happiness.
There’s no way to realize them, just by smiling.
Tanya thanked god for letting her meet, by chance, such a soft-hearted husband whom she could respect.
——————————
Gon, gon – a low continuous sound was heard reverberating.
The workshop was usually warm thanks to the furnace, but could also be cool if the fire ceased to work.
The big, round-shaped whetstone was revolving.
Despite this boy still growing, he had a slim physique.
The boy was called Pietro.
While being free from any obstructive thought, he continued his grinding work.
Because the whetstone was moving by itself, it should be fine to continue with hitting, so as not to deviate along the edge and to adjust the angle of the blade.
The one which was now used to shape the hoe’s tip was a naka-to
The blade’s edge was thinly sharp and glittering.
Pietro, who had been in his care for one month, was the right person whom Eiji had searched for.
– Master, I finished it.
– Yes, it’s fine.
– Eh! Is it right for me to do the blade edge scraping?
– …..No, it’s just that…
– It’s ok not to brood over whether it’s hard or not.
For Pietro, Eiji was an adult on whom he could rely on.
Pietro would go to the mine with a pickaxe to gather some ores, or run around to get firewood, but these were only natural tasks for a subordinate.
However, he hadn’t thought he would be told of them that quickly.
Pietro was able to feel the trust behind those words, which made it seem like he could give his best under this person’s guidance.
– Having Pietro remember things rapidly, I want you to learn as fast as possible, so that you could be in charge of this workshop when I’m away.
– I wonder. If I teach you the skills without any stint, then you should be able to become a maker within 5 years, but…
– ….Dozens of years, no, perhaps 15 years. Even for simple tasks, it’s about experience, you see.
Assuming he doesn’t incur any serious injury or illness, he could make large quantities of items.
-Is that so?
Pietro couldn’t understand what he feels.
Perhaps, it was due to him not knowing the possibility of creating a more pleasant environment.
No matter its difficulty, as long as it’s what’s natural to do, he could only accept that without any complaint.
Eiji spoke.
– When we talk about transport, it would usually be walking by feet or riding on a horse, I think. Nevertheless, there’s a device called a bicycle. It’s slower than horse, however, it can let people move with the same speed as running.
– Yeah. If I were to imagine… it would probably seem like that. You have seen the wheelbarrow, right? The wheels would be attached in front and back, and you would get on a platform. Like that, you rotate the lever with your leg power, making the cog-wheels bite each other. And the wheels moves, just like how the whetstone works using the watermill’s power.
– (Sigh of astonishment)
Pietro could somewhat imagine it. However, for some strange reason he didn’t understand why it was still too early to make that.
Perhaps he was thinking about inventing the next item. One could tell how serious his face was.
– What do you plan to make next?
– Yes?
– Bra…
– Yeah. Pietro, I’ll entrust you with its sharpening once it’s made. You have already done lots of sharpening, including scythes, hoes, nata, and kitchen knives, haven’t you? I don’t mind if you finish your work at your own convenience, but don’t forget to turn off the watermill.
– Y-Yes. How about Eiji-san?
– For now, I’ll focus on completing this bra. First, I’ve got to take measurements.
While having a stern expression, Eiji left the workshop.
Because, whenever he made something, it would surprise and please the villagers.
Every tool was made using iron.
There was no doubt that the bra was a convenient tool made from iron as well.
Pietro silently bowed down toward the inventor whom he revered.
——
P.S. (from the author)
Due to some people’s misunderstanding, I’ll postscript. The Bra is cotton-made (laugh)
Chapter end
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