Chapter 5, Economy

This operation proved to be quite complicated, as it took about ten days just to select a location. In the end, a site was chosen by the riverside outside the city, where the water usually flows rapidly, to establish the furnace base. The furnace bricks needed to be custom-made from a brick kiln, with the addition of materials such as coal and others, using coal to produce charcoal. Wu Anguo referred to these bricks as refractory bricks, a term that was unfamiliar to everyone. However, out of trust in him, they proceeded blindly with the task.

The author is currently pressed for time. Is there anyone willing to co-write with me? I have to take the IELTS in April next year. I hope someone who enjoys this story can write with me.

By the time everything was busy, the Mid-Autumn Festival had already passed. The government office began to busily purchase charcoal in preparation for winter. Li Shanping also came to inquire whether to use charcoal or peat (coal) for heating at the Wuan Guo School, as well as matters regarding the purchase of braziers. Charcoal is relatively expensive, while peat is cheaper but produces a lot of smoke, generally only used by poor families

Chapter Six Introduction: The author faced considerable difficulty in writing Chapter Six. The large-scale forced migration policy of the Ming Dynasty resulted in a significant increase in the number of immigrants in Huairou. Can such a small county bear this pressure? Should the immigrants be left to fend for themselves, or should they be integrated? Guo Pu and Wu Anguo, among others, chose to follow their conscience.

This iron furnace was also designed by Wu Anguo himself. The vertical furnace stands over six people tall, is oval-shaped, and has a circumference of ten. It is constructed from refractory bricks. The chimney rises high into the clouds. The adjacent furnace is slightly smaller and lies horizontally; Wu Anguo refers to it as the flat furnace. This structure is different from the vertical furnace and is one that the blacksmiths have never seen before. The center is built with a brick grid made of refractory bricks, which Wu Anguo calls the heat storage chamber. Both furnaces are designed to be blown by a pair of waterwheels. An iron smoke extractor (draft fan, which the villagers do not know about and simply call it the smoke extractor) is also powered by the waterwheel. The flat furnace has a casting trough with a water tower beside it, controlled by a mechanism to regulate the flow of water for cooling the molten iron. These two furnaces nearly employed all the idle people in the county to assist. Wu Anguo paid well, and everyone was willing to work. Despite this, it was only in the height of summer that they could be completed.

Indeed, this year there are quite a few new things in Beiping. Just a couple of days ago, running water was installed in the government office, reportedly a gift from County Magistrate Guo. That County Magistrate Guo has been in office for several years and has never shown any respect to his superiors; it seems he has finally learned his lesson this time. Alas, I have been chatting with you for too long. My house is getting running water installed today, and I need to go back and check on it. I don't want my sons to mess things up and cause damage to our ancestral home. Waiter, the bill, please! The bill!

At noon on the fourth day, the furnace was opened to pour steel. As the molten steel flowed into the casting trough, Wu Anguo immediately ordered the water to be released. Two streams of water, flowing at different speeds, entered different casting troughs, creating a mist that enveloped everyone like a cloud. In a moment, the molten steel cooled, and some had already jumped forward to lift the steel ingots one by one. The blacksmiths were so astonished that they could not speak. Traditionally, artisans had passed down the methods of refining iron into steel through processes like roasting or pouring, and obtaining a good steel ingot required thousands of hammering and refining. This was the first time they had seen iron being directly smelted into steel. Holding the steel ingots, some were already so moved that they cried out.

Moreover, there will be many inconsistencies in the fantasy novel. I hope everyone will point them out, and together we can improve it.

Do not be unconvinced, Lord Wang's nephew, Wang Hao, is working at the county office and has connections with Lord Wu, which is why he was prioritized. Just wait until winter, just wait until winter, and you will see if it will be your turn. Last winter, the Guo family did not manage to buy a stove; they had to use a fire basin instead, fearing that others would laugh at them when they came to their home, leaving them with no face to show. They even saved money on hosting during the New Year. After finishing this pot of tea, I must return and ask the servants if the water stove has been arranged for me. These useless people cannot even handle this little task; I have raised them for nothing.

Wu Anguo instructed Zhang Zhengxin and Captain Wang to ride back to the carpenter's camp to purchase a large windmill from Old Man Yang. He also had them draw up blueprints for Zhang Wuge to cast a batch of uniquely shaped iron pipes to be sent over together. He informed the disciples that during the agricultural off-season, they could come for free schooling, with all food and accommodation covered by the master. He then spent money to hire people to clean up the garbage and renovate the house, keeping everyone busy and engaged.

Has your home installed running water? The wealthy families throughout Beiping are now comparing these rare commodities, as the convenience of such amenities is evident to all

The school is located next to the garden, where a teacher has been hired to instruct the children in reading and martial arts in separate classes. Enrollment is free for the children, who are responsible for their own food and accommodation. Those from distant homes may rent rooms at the school at a very low price. Some young scholars can also study here, teaching the younger children in exchange for rent. The accommodation and meals for the disciples from the Craftsmen's Camp are covered by Wu Anguo himself. The school not only teaches the teachings of Confucius and Mencius but also offers mathematics and geography. Originally, Wu Anguo intended to introduce other subjects as well, but he was unable to find suitable teachers throughout the entire Beijing Prefecture, and thus had to reluctantly abandon the idea.

The next day, I mentioned to County Magistrate Guo Pu my desire to purchase the piece of wasteland at the end of the county town's street for the purpose of establishing a school. Guo Pu naturally expressed his strong support. This wasteland had originally been a training ground for Mongolian troops, covering over 100 acres, and had been abandoned for many years, accumulating a great deal of garbage. Therefore, it was appraised at a very low official price and sold to Wu Anguo.

Wu Anguo instructed Li Shanping to purchase the houses surrounding the training ground. The owners of those houses, seeing someone willing to buy properties next to a garbage dump at a very reasonable price, were eager to sell. They took the money and went elsewhere to buy new homes. Less than ten taels of gold were spent, and all the surrounding houses were acquired. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the national treasury was empty, and officials often used paper currency (treasure notes) for purchases, which appeared to the common people as akin to robbery. Now, with the clerk using gold for transactions, the homeowners were naturally willing, making the procedures much simpler.

The school is not enclosed by walls, and many wealthy gentry often come to this garden to recite poetry and enjoy the scenery. Gradually, some people have even traveled from afar to admire the view. The property prices around the school have already increased threefold in a single day, reaching dozens of times the amount when Wu Anguo acquired them. Wu Anguo has rented out all the surplus houses as shops; if the school does not expand, the rental income alone is sufficient for maintenance. Moreover, there are newly constructed houses serving as the school's fund. The houses being built on the development land are currently having their foundations laid, all surrounded by burlap, and construction is not allowed during class hours, leading to slow progress. Nevertheless, the deposits for the new houses are already approaching exorbitant prices. Wu Anguo has rented out all the surplus houses as shops; if the school does not expand, the rental income alone is sufficient for maintenance. Moreover, there are newly constructed houses serving as the school's fund. The houses being built on the development land are currently having their foundations laid, all surrounded by burlap, and construction is not allowed during class hours, leading to slow progress. Nevertheless, the deposits for the new houses are already approaching exorbitant prices

The large knife borrowed by Wu Anguo from the Guandi Temple had long been returned by Fifth Brother. Fifth Brother made a new one for Wu Anguo, weighing the same, but using his self-created spiral welding method. The blacksmiths of the Craftsmen's Camp forged soft steel and high-hardness steel together through thousands of hammerings, shaping the blade. After polishing the edge, it surprisingly displayed a feather-like pattern. When swung, ordinary swords and knives would break with a sound. Hearing of this, skilled martial artists offered a substantial sum to the blacksmiths to make them a sword like that, but the blacksmiths, now with fortunes exceeding a thousand taels in the city, politely declined. The creation for Wu Anguo was out of gratitude; as for others, in the hearts of the blacksmiths, even the emperor might not hold such a qualification.

They still want to be workers, but do they have that fate? This is not the beginning of the year; everyone is needed. Now, to become a worker, one must queue for a number at the county office. Those with ample land at home are not wanted. The county magistrate says we cannot delay the farming season. A few days ago, Wang, the short fellow from the back alley, tried to find a way to get to work but was turned back. The person in charge said, 'I have never made money so easily in my life; don't cut off my source of income with your crooked ways. Although Lord Wu is considerate of everyone, the rules are strict, clearly written on the wall, stating what can be done and what cannot. If I am driven out of here, who would dare to employ me in the future? Besides, where can one find such high wages?'

That summer, all the waterwheels in Huairou County were fitted with steel gears, which were much lighter and more durable than wooden ones. Countless more sophisticated items were produced from the lathes. The number of lathes increased from one to over ten, divided into categories such as turning, milling, planing, and grinding. Huairou steel became renowned throughout the world. Skilled workers, aside from pursuing education and taking examinations for official positions, became the most fashionable profession. "That child from the Li family is capable; he works as a foreman in Master Wu's factory and can earn two taels of silver each month!" This is what professional matchmakers first introduce when finding a husband for a girl.

(Note: Water stoves and earth heating systems are common in the 21st century among families living in bungalows in northern towns. Each household has a miniature boiler, comparable in size to a stove, with a higher thermal efficiency because the chimney is not located inside the house, making it cleaner. Wu Anguo, who grew up in the rural north, first thought of these when he acquired iron.)

The gentry in the county were deeply moved upon hearing that the newly arrived Wu Dianshi had actually sold tiger skins to fund a charity school, and they all contributed generously, raising over a thousand taels of silver. Wu Anguo instructed Li Shanping to keep a detailed account of the donations, treating it as shares for future dividends. Li Shanping was unaware of how the charity school would generate income, nor did he understand what the development company mentioned by the Wu brothers entailed; he had simply grown accustomed to Wu Anguo's astonishing actions and complied without question. The only thing that displeased him was that Wu Anguo had him oversee all financial matters along with several hired deputy managers, as if he were worried about overburdening him, which felt rather distant. It was only when Wu Anguo mentioned that the company would grow larger and inevitably require more personnel, thus needing to cultivate talent from the ground up, that he felt a sense of relief.

The handle of the knife is made from highly elastic steel pipes, which are screwed onto the blade. When not in use, pressing a mechanism allows the threads to be unscrewed. These steel pipes are by-products from the new houses developed by Wu Anguo next to the school. The newly developed buildings are all three stories high, with the main beams made from these steel pipes. Initially, there was a plan to build even higher, but they could not find skilled craftsmen capable of such work. The building is equipped with a simple water supply system. The water tower is an independent structure resembling a pagoda, where water is pumped up layer by layer using a manual well, with two workers responsible for regularly supplying water. The manual well is a version of the Western-style wells that Wu Anguo had seen in the countryside during his childhood, where water is drawn by pressing a piston.

On an auspicious day, Wu Anguo invited the local gentry who had contributed funds to a banquet at a tavern. According to the proportion of their contributions, he allocated the remaining unfinished houses to them. The various laborers, having assisted in the arrangements, also received a share of the profits. Everyone was surprised that the money they donated could yield double returns, leading them to regard Wu Anguo with newfound respect. The clever ones discreetly slipped red envelopes to the laborers, asking them to keep an eye out for any further schemes from Wu Anguo and to alert them, so they could also profit. This made the brothers beam with joy, thinking that the magistrate was not merely a reincarnation of the Xuanwu deity, but rather a reincarnation of General Zhao Gong.

Finally, the blast furnace was completed. A favorable date was chosen, and various deities were worshipped. Layers of iron ore and coke were placed together with stones, and with a single ignition, a brilliant red light filled the eyes. Thick smoke billowed from the chimney straight into the blue sky. Zhang Wuge and others understood the principle that a chimney signifies a fire; looking at Wu Anguo's vertical furnace chimney, it was estimated that even a celestial being could be refined within. Once the fire stabilized, Wu Anguo led them around the spiral staircase by the furnace to observe the fire at the tuyere. The furnace was designed with negative pressure, so there was no need to worry about the fire escaping. Unbeknownst to Wuge and the others, they cautiously approached, inching closer to take a look. After a while, realizing they were not obstructing anything, they began to carefully observe the fire's condition. These individuals had been blacksmiths for half their lives and could tell at a glance whether the fire was at the right temperature.

During this period, Wu Anguo entrusted Fifth Brother with the method of burning peat to produce coke, allowing them to take people to do the work. The tasks of the blacksmith shop were mostly managed by Zhang Jiazhengwen, who was assisted by a bookkeeper trained by Li Shanping. The young man was skillful and meticulous, and there were no significant mistakes.

Most of the steel was taken by blacksmith shops to forge agricultural tools and wear-resistant items. The hoes and shovels made of steel are both light and quick, enjoying a very good market. The axles and pins produced are not only sturdy but also significantly smaller in size compared to wooden ones, making them much lighter, and they quickly became popular everywhere. One day, Wu Anguo, with a mindset of trying it out, designed a simple lathe, which surprisingly was carved out piece by piece by Fifth Brother. This delighted him immensely. He hurriedly set up a waterwheel by the river to demonstrate the blacksmiths' exceptional skills.

In order to ensure that the immigrants have enough to eat, Wu Anguo played a game of "empty-handed karate." This was the first appearance of Xiao Jiangye, whose only possession was a branch from a locust tree.

The area around Huairou County has long been known for its iron ore production. Wu Anguo thought that since he was going to engage in this venture, he might as well do it on a grand scale. He decided to create a budget and establish an ironworks, inviting local gentry and officials to invest at a limit of ten taels of silver per share. Huairou County had been under the rule of the Liao, Jin, and Mongol empires for many years, and the local gentry had never considered the idea of profit from trade. Moreover, since the previous land speculation incident, the people had come to regard Wu Anguo as a figure akin to General Zhao. They had been lamenting their lack of opportunities to profit alongside the blacksmiths, so when they saw Wu Anguo inviting investments, they were very eager to participate. Zhang Wuge, Yang Laohan, and others nearly invested their entire fortunes, demonstrating a clear leading role, and soon they had raised over 40,000 taels of silver.

The workers under Wu Anguo directed the molten iron into the casting trough to form iron blocks, selling half to the blacksmith shop. The other half was pushed into the reverberatory furnace, ensuring that the coke did not mix directly with the pig iron, but was instead layered. With a loud ignition, the wind was fierce and the fire intense. This process lasted a full three days and nights, and by the fourth day, Zhang Wu and the others knew it was a critical moment, gathering around the observation hole to peer inside. They saw the molten iron boiling, with a layer of hot air blowing over it, creating dazzling ripples. This process lasted a full three days and nights, and by the fourth day, Zhang Wu and the others knew it was a critical moment, gathering around the observation hole to peer inside. They saw the molten iron boiling, with a layer of hot air blowing over it, creating dazzling ripples. Wu Anguo had no way to explain to them what pearlite and austenite were; he could only repeatedly remind everyone to pay attention to the color of the molten iron, as different temperatures produced different colors, resulting in varying qualities of steel.

When Fifth Brother arrives, the blueprints from Wu Anguo will also be ready. Fifth Brother takes out a bag of silver, which is the profit share from the carpenter's shop for Wu and Li. According to Fifth Brother, the carpenter's shop is thriving; the craftsman camp has now become a large market, attracting numerous merchants every day. Yang Hongyi is a promising young man; following Wu Anguo's guidance, he has turned the benefits of items like waterwheels into folk songs, which many merchants now hum. As a result, the shop is growing larger and has started hiring additional workers. Yang Tiezhu has now designed many of the carved wooden items himself, which are very popular.

With ample funds, matters can be easily resolved. In just over a month, everything has been prepared. The central area of the schoolyard is paved with bluestone, dividing the land into plots of half an acre each. Aside from reserving some for playground development, each plot has been adorned with trees, flowers, and plants, as well as rockeries, stone tables, and stone benches. A well has been dug in the center of the schoolyard, where a windmill draws water up into a tank concealed at the base of the windmill. The bottom of this tank is connected to pipes that extend all the way to the fish pond beside the well. Several jets of clear water shoot high from the pipe hidden at the bottom of the pond, cascading down like flying flowers and shattered jade. An area of wasteland has been transformed by Wu Angguo into a grand garden in the blink of an eye

The blacksmith shop is set to open on a chosen date. As before, each person holds shares; Wu Anguo provided the funding, acquiring 40% of the shares, while Li Shanping and Guo Pu each retained 5%. The remaining shares were evenly distributed among Zhang Wuge and others. The first product is a heating stove. During his visit to the Qiao Family Compound in Shanxi, Wu Anguo had seen a stove that the Qiao family imported from Germany. Although it is a 19th-century product, his background in mechanical design allowed him to recognize that its design is superior to some products from small towns in China in the 21st century. This time, he created blueprints by imitating the original design and had Wuge and the others produce a batch.

In just a few days, the blacksmith shop produced a batch of stoves, all of which were purchased by the school for use in classrooms and dormitories. Although the weather had not yet turned cold enough for the heating season, the students could no longer contain their curiosity and eagerly attempted to light the stoves. As a result, the classrooms became so hot that it was almost unbearable, causing several students to catch colds.

The stove is quite simple, naturally not a challenge for skilled craftsmen like Fifth Brother. However, the chimney is very difficult to construct. In that era, there was no galvanized iron; the flue had to be painstakingly hammered out of iron blocks. Fortunately, Wu Anguo employed a half-wall stove design, requiring only a short chimney that connected to the wall, with the flue primarily located within the wall.

Hmph, look at Lord Wang's demeanor. He just had someone install a water heater at home yesterday. It's still early in the season, and winter is far from here!

That winter was the happiest time for the blacksmiths, as every day, accompanied by the clanging sound of hammering iron, white silver flowed in. Besides the furnace, other items designed by Wu Anguo were also highly favored. For each item, Wu Anguo instructed the blacksmiths to stamp a name prominently on it; he referred to this as a trademark, but the blacksmiths privately called it a brand. According to the traveling merchants, the Zhang Wuge brand scissors produced here, along with the charcoal iron that had a layer of water in the middle, had already been sold to Quanzhou. Although there were others making similar items, customers still recognized only the Zhang Wu brand from Huairou County, much to Wuge's delight. As the New Year approached, every blacksmith's pocket was bulging with earnings. They had never made so much money in their lives; Wuge often doubted whether he was dreaming, biting his finger every few days to see if it hurt. As the New Year approached, every blacksmith's pocket was bulging with earnings. They had never made so much money in their lives; Wuge often doubted whether he was dreaming, biting his finger every few days to see if it hurt.

After the Spring Festival, Zhang Wuge urged Wu Anguo to find a way to apply to the county magistrate for a diploma to establish an iron smelting furnace. During the Ming Dynasty, salt and iron were state monopolies, and only with government approval could a furnace be established. Wu Anguo, who specialized in metallurgy, was indeed interested in this and readily agreed. Since Wu Anguo's arrival, Guo Pu had seen the county's tax revenue nearly double, making it very easy to report to higher authorities, and he had already received several commendations from his superiors. In a good mood, he quickly approved the request and personally invested five hundred taels of silver.

The second batch of stoves has been delivered, and this time they were all purchased by the county office, with one installed in each of the six departments. (During the Ming Dynasty, the county was divided into six departments: Military, Justice, Household, Rites, Personnel, and Works, corresponding to the six ministries of the state, all overseen by the county magistrate. In smaller counties without a magistrate, the chief clerk would be in charge. The term "Liushanmen" originates from this context.) Both the main hall (used for criminal cases in the Ming Dynasty) and the secondary hall (used for civil cases in the Ming Dynasty) have been equipped with specially made large stoves. The local gentry who wish to experience this must wait for the third batch. The laborers are so hot that they cannot wear thick clothes indoors, constantly calling for the attendants to add less coal.

Throughout the entire summer, Wu Anguo spent his time by the blast furnace. Guo Pu understood that he was busy and did not bother him with official matters. The laborers were surprised to learn that there were ways to earn money without scraping the ground, and they wished they could support Wu Anguo and worship him daily. The idle people in the county had mostly been absorbed by the steel factory, working in shifts of four hours each, with five shifts rotating, leaving no one with time to cause trouble. The investment had long been recouped, and craftsmen for each process had been trained. Wu's elder brother was appointed by Wu Anguo as the factory manager, overseeing all affairs. His family had a natural talent for blacksmithing, and he could already distinguish the differences in molten steel with the naked eye, producing either soft or hard steel. The school had also opened a short-term smelting course, allowing young people in the county who wished to make a living from steelmaking to learn various processes for free. After graduation, they would be uniformly assigned to the steel factory for internships, filling various positions. A school was established nearby the factory, hiring teachers to teach literacy and reading, and all workers could attend classes for free during their off-hours. Many shareholders had doubts about this, but when there was money to be made, they were unwilling to argue with Wu Anguo. "After all, let’s consider it a charitable act," thought the shareholders. "These laborers are fortunate to encounter Master Wu; not only do they have money, but they also know how to make money. Let them burn incense in gratitude!"

That Master Wu, whose origins are unknown, possesses formidable skills. It is said that he has killed a tiger with his bare hands and has slain a dragon in the water. The disciples he has trained are also remarkable; the terms they use are unfamiliar to you. The young man from the Yang family in the Craftsman Camp, named Hongkui, was still seeking refuge in the courtyard next to ours last year, and this year he has become a designer. Do you see that quick kettle outside that boils water? It was designed by him. The fire travels within the kettle, making the water boil quickly. They call it a boiler.

From then on, every morning, the sound of朗朗 reading would emanate from the school, accompanied by the gentle flow of the stream under the small bridge, the chirping of birds, and the fragrance of flowers, creating an illusion of a paradise on earth

County magistrate Guo Pu did not expect that Wu Dianshi had such a talent for turning stone into gold, and he kept asking Wu Anguo for advice. Wu Anguo explained for a long time, but Guo Pu still could not understand how wasteland could become so valuable. Wu Anguo thought to himself, how could you people from the Ming Dynasty understand the art of land speculation in the twenty-first century? He said little and simply gifted Guo Pu a 10% stake and several properties as a present, which Guo Pu firmly refused. In the end, it was Li Shanping who mediated, suggesting that Guo Pu accept it, using the excuse of "competing for profits with the common people" to curry favor with his superiors in the future.

Wu Anguo pondered for a moment and instructed Li Shanping to prepare more peat. He asked Zhang Zhengxin to return home once more to bring back Fifth Brother and a skilled blacksmith, stating that they intended to open a blacksmith shop in the city. Fifth Brother had long been looking forward to this day, gathering his tools and setting off overnight with a group of people.

Forget it, Master Sun. The little money you give is hardly enough to support them. My distant cousin was once so poor he couldn't even afford a meal, always coming to me for help. Since the beginning of the year, he went to work for Master Wu and now he's doing well. He has even learned to read and acts all high and mighty when he sees me. He hadn't come for a while, so I went to see him, and lo and behold, he has become a foreman, calling himself a team leader. Now he earns this amount every month. If you don't treat your servants a bit better, they might just quit one day and go work as laborers in Huairou. Laborers, what a strange term.

The people of the Central Plains place great importance on the New Year. The blacksmiths took a few days off, returning home joyfully with the silver they had earned. Less than half a month later, they returned to set up their forges and continued to earn silver with the sound of clanging metal. During the New Year, Fifth Brother and others rented out their family land to nearby families who lacked skills, deciding to focus solely on their craft. Soon, there was a shortage of pig iron in the Huairou region. Although the price of iron rose, the blacksmith shops still made a profit, yet this left many blacksmiths feeling somewhat unhappy. Fifth Brother and others rented out their family land to nearby families who lacked skills, deciding to focus solely on their craft. Soon, there was a shortage of pig iron in the Huairou region. Although the price of iron rose, the blacksmith shops still made a profit, yet this left many blacksmiths feeling somewhat unhappy.

On the second day, with the sound of the fifth brother's command, the workers activated the machinery, and molten iron poured out in torrents, illuminating the sky with the furnace's fire and creating a chaotic scene of red stars and purple smoke. Even though the blacksmiths had been forging iron for half their lives, they had never witnessed such a magnificent spectacle. This furnace produced over 5,000 pounds of pig iron.

The waterwheel drove the lathe, gradually gaining speed. Wu Anguo carefully installed the tool made from the hardest steel, which had cost Zhang Wu three pounds of flesh to complete. Engaging the gears, the cutting tool spun rapidly, instantly transforming a piece of wrought iron into a cylinder. He switched to a drill bit, creating a hole in the cylinder, then used a boring tool to smooth the hole, and employed a tap to cut threads. He fitted another iron rod with a threaded coupling, creating the simplest product from his metalworking internship in college—a hammer. Just as he was about to explain to the blacksmiths, he heard an eerie silence behind him. Turning around, he found all the onlookers had become transfixed, their household tasks forgotten and dropped to the ground.

By the time the third batch was released, a long queue had already formed at the blacksmith's shop. Shrewd merchants bought dozens at once, reselling them at double the price, yet they were still snatched up in an instant. After all, the money saved by using peat for an entire winter was enough to buy three or four stoves. This situation forced Brother Zhang to continuously recruit helpers for the blacksmith's shop, and he also had to hire people to maintain order, limiting each person in line to one purchase. Wu Anguo did not interfere with the specific operations of the blacksmith's shop, but stipulated that helpers could only work four hours a day (8 hours), and any additional hours would require extra pay. The concerned shareholders were sweating profusely, but they could not oppose him and had no choice but to comply. The helpers were grateful for his consideration and worked even harder during their shifts, producing more than usual each day.