I Got Rich in Period Fiction
Chapter 519: The Prototype of the City

Chapter 519: Chapter 519: The Prototype of the City

Qiao Zhicai, though reluctant to part with his little grandson, had to leave for Yun City.

Doudou and Feifei had started at a new school and needed to adapt. As transfer students, they were falling behind, so a tutor was hired.

The children’s studies became intense, and they needed someone to fetch them to and from school.

Both Qiao Genbao and Niu Guili had low educational levels, so both had enrolled in night school. Therefore, the task of transporting the children fell to Qiao Zhicai.

Following Mr. Wu’s suggestion, they considered buying a car specifically for the two children’s commute; however, Wu Qianyun rejected the idea.

The children were still young and, even with a wealthy great-grandfather, should not develop the habits of young masters and mistresses.

Qiao Zhicai readily agreed.

He opposed the superficialities deeply. After all, he knew his roots well—his ancestors had toiled in the soil for generations, and could not be called anything other than impoverished farmers.

One must not allow children to develop pompous habits.

Therefore, Qiao Zhicai visited the building material shop then the blacksmith, welding a tricycle for himself. At that time, such vehicles were called "reverse donkeys." With a cart in the front and three wheels, he kept the cart immaculately clean and laid soft pads on it, and used this tricycle for taking the children to and from school.

Back then, there were only a few cars on the streets; bicycles and these homemade tricycles were far more common.

Of course, these were all minor details.

In the summer, the Agricultural Machinery Factory was finally established at the base. They had been cooperating with the Yushu County Mechanical Factory, but the capacity of the latter was no longer sufficient.

The new factory specialized in agricultural machinery—large, medium, and small-sized. Every year, it produced both improved and upgraded versions.

And it could accept orders from all across the country.

Old Yu from the Yushu County Mechanical Factory had been promoted to the city for his achievements, but his successor lacked the necessary skills, though he was politically adept, which is why he had gotten the position.

Even with good blueprints, the quality was not the same as before. With substandard workmanship throughout, the base decided to establish its own Agricultural Machinery Factory; after all, they could manage internally since they also had an Agricultural Group.

Qiao Qingyu needed a large number of agricultural machines, and North City required even more.

Thus, the establishment of this Agricultural Machinery Factory was deemed essential.

By this time, Tenghai Research Base already faintly resembled a medium-sized city.

When the TV Tower and the Cultural Palace were completed, and the staff was in place, He Xiuyu brought back a big color TV.

Then, one day, all the employees who weren’t working overtime gathered in front of the newly purchased TV to watch a drama series broadcasted by the research base’s own TV station.

The theme song was familiar to Qiao Qingyu and Su Yunyao, but for others, it was fascinatingly new. They glued their eyes to the screen.

And during the day, these children would mimic the "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms" with laughter...

When spring turned to autumn, the heavy machinery developed by the research team led by He Xiuyu was finally launched.

The advent of this heavy machinery signified that our country was no longer at the mercy of others in heavy industry. We no longer needed to endure the contempt or frustration of not being able to buy a single part despite having ample foreign exchange.

With this heavy machinery, we could vigorously develop transportation and logistics, carve through mountains and bridges, drill tunnels, and even lay down urban underground networks.

At this point, the world’s structure truly underwent a transformation.

Of course, these matters didn’t concern Qiao Qingyu much; she continued living her life as usual.

In the evening, He Xiuyu and Qiao Qingyu bathed their son.

The bathtub was wooden, oval-shaped, made especially for their son by He Xiuyu.

Just after the eleventh, the heating at the base had started.

It wasn’t very cold outside; just heating it once in the evening made it very warm, and the room was cozy too.

The little guy loved to play with water, even though he could already stand up. Normally, he would hold onto the hands of adults with his little hands, his legs kicking energetically, always seeming ready to try walking. However, as soon as he was in the bathtub, he would act like he couldn’t stand, frequently falling over in the tub.

When he fell, he wouldn’t get up and needed an adult to lift him out, and then he would giggle.

Qiao Qingyu patted her son’s chubby bottom and told He Xiuyu to stop letting him mess around.

"Hurry and dry him off; it’s time for bed."

Wrapped in a big towel, the child was swiftly placed on the warm kang, Qiao Qingyu supporting his body while He Xiuyu prepared to carry the bathtub outside to discard the water.

Perhaps it was habit due to water scarcity, but people here were very economical with their water use.

Thus, the little guy’s bathwater was saved in a bucket for mopping, to be used the next day for cleaning the floors.

After mopping the floors, since there were no detergents or shower gels in it, the water was simply poured into the vegetable garden outside.

However, the water used for laundry was directly poured out from the bathroom.

He Xiuyu easily carried his son’s bathtub outside.

Little Chaoxuan wriggled out of the big towel, revealing his little head with his hair half-dry from being wiped by his mom, and his shiny black eyes instantly spotted his dad carrying the bathtub out.

That was his source of joy; he hadn’t had enough fun yet. The little guy wanted to jump back in and play for a while longer, but he couldn’t speak. In his urgency, he wriggled out of Qiao Qingyu’s grasp and took one, two, three steps forward...

Then the three people in the room were stunned.

He Xiuyu’s eyes sparkled with joy—was their child walking now?

He quickly placed the bathtub he was carrying down on the floor, and Qiao Qingyu, caught off guard, stood holding the towel, staring blankly at her son.

He Xiuyu and Qiao Qingyu exchanged a look, then the little guy, realizing suddenly that he had nothing around him to hold on to—and actually, it was his own legs supporting him—he walked three steps then stopped. His black grape-like eyes rolled a few times, and with a plop, he sat down on the kang.

Qiao Qingyu quickly went forward, and He Xiuyu also sat on the edge of the kang.

He Xiuyu picked up his son and wrapped him in the towel, smiling at Qiao Qingyu, "Our son has just taken his first step."

With that, the child couldn’t stay still in the room any longer.

He already had a walker, and when seated in it, he was quite mischievous, able to glide from the east wall to the west wall.

As long as there was no threshold, he could glide out.

So, the child began walking quite early, his little legs kicking energetically.

Now that he could walk, he was unwilling to use the walker, feeling that it restricted his freedom.

Then, taking advantage of the warm and sunny midday, Wu Qianyun would take Little Chaoxuan out for a walk.

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