I Live on the Land in Global Games
Chapter 293 - 289 Old Uncle Rub (August End Ranking Sprint Bonus 1/3)

Chapter 293: Chapter 289 Old Uncle Rub (August End Ranking Sprint Bonus 1/3)

When the construction of the Iron Refining Camp began, Mu Ying had considered incorporating Old Uncle Rub, Curry, and Paul as well.

Although the methods Paul and Curry used to make equipment were not advanced and the success rate of producing blue quality equipment was few and far, green quality was already considered excellent, yet these pieces of knowledge were their family secrets, and getting them to share might cost a considerable amount.

But based on the tax information from their shops, Mu Ying could roughly estimate their sales and profits, and the territory could afford them.

The main reason she abandoned this idea was that currently, the territory only had iron ore as a common material for weaponry and equipment production, and the variety of equipment that could be made was limited.

Furthermore, apart from self-mining, the territory had no other sources of raw materials. The shops she could recruit were all selling finely processed items, with purchases but no sales of raw materials, so the conditions for sustenance of life professions like Forging Masters weren’t met yet.

However, hiring Old Uncle Rub as a technical advisor to help everyone achieve quick results in iron refining should be feasible now.

Professor Han also wanted to join her in persuading Old Uncle Rub, and Mu Ying teleported with him to the blacksmith shop.

Upon reaching the doorstep, the unceasing clang of hammering iron filled their ears.

This shop was perhaps the most unrefined one in the entire Main Territory, with the main products hung on the entrance wall or displayed on the floor, mostly farm tools and kitchen utensils, along with some basic swords and weapons.

Further inside was the blacksmithing area, featuring two forges, a rack for tools, and a large anvil.

Old Uncle Rub was hammering a crude iron prototype. Seeing Mu Ying enter the shop, he tossed the prototype back into the furnace, wiped his rough hands on his clothes, and greeted them with a welcoming nod, "Lord, are you looking to buy something?"

Mu Ying shook her head, "I’m here for another matter. As you know, a territory has established an Iron Refining Camp. This gentleman is the person currently in charge of it. Before the apocalypse, he was an expert in materials science in Xia Country. They were in charge of steel refining, but they’ve discovered recently that the current iron differs from the pre-apocalypse iron, causing issues in the refining process. We would like to ask you to provide technical guidance. Would that be possible?"

Professor Han stepped forward and shook hands with Old Uncle Rub, "We really need your help!"

Old Uncle Rub was surprised, "I’m just a simple blacksmith, not qualified to be a technical advisor. Blacksmithing only requires patience, a bit of strength, and endurance. If you want to learn, I can teach apprentices here, albeit with very low wages. Some players have come here to apply for apprenticeship, but none stayed on, and about the steel refining, I don’t know either."

He was aware of his own skills; finding apprentices for his blacksmithing skills was difficult even outside, and his choice to participate in the Evolution Center’s shop-residence scheme was also because his two sons wanted to develop in the new world, his craft limited to ordinary iron tools.

"No, no, no, your ability to turn iron ore into qualified tools is already worth learning. Your method of forging iron resembles our techniques from several centuries ago, but before doomsday, we had already shifted to industrialized iron and steel refining. Steel is actually a form of iron, just with a different carbon content, more suitable for making blades, sharper. But now we’ve found that the existing methods of steel refining can’t be used due to material issues. Hence, we would like to have an exchange with you, learn from each other, and perhaps re-explore steel refining, or try to industrialize the production of iron tools," said Professor Han earnestly, even explaining to Old Uncle Rub the iron and steel refining industries and principles of Deep Blue Star before doomsday.

Old Uncle Rub listened attentively.

He truly loved blacksmithing, loved the sparks that flew when the hammer struck the workpiece, and loved the way the metal slowly took shape under his repeated strikes.

But even after many years of blacksmithing, this was the first time he heard that iron was not merely iron, that it also contained carbon elements, and that varying carbon content could affect the hardness and toughness of iron.

This made him feel very curious, as it was the first time he realized the splendid civilization of metal smelting in this world, all of which were precious and still valuable now.

Although Professor Han mentioned that it might be iron before the evolution of this planet, he knew that evolution wouldn’t change the essence of a material but would only mutate and evolve on this basis. Whether before or after evolution, it was still iron.

Perhaps this was an opportunity to explore and produce higher quality ironware.

Old Uncle Rub made up his mind immediately, "Lord, I won’t be a technical advisor. I am very interested in your iron refining and material research. If it weren’t for my attachment to the blacksmith shop, I would have wanted to work full time for you. Could I get a part-time position at the Iron Refining Camp? I am willing to contribute all my knowledge and experience in blacksmithing as long as I can participate in the research and have the right to use the research outcomes. We can establish a Secret Contract, and I wouldn’t tell even my two sons."

Mu Ying hadn’t expected this outcome, but it was even more advantageous for them, and Old Uncle Rub wasn’t at a loss either; he was investing in the future, so she agreed right away.

After signing the contract, Old Uncle Rub got his official status and had no more reservations.

"Brother Han, there’s a lot about what you just explained that I don’t understand. Let’s talk in detail. If you have any questions, just ask me, and I will leave no stone unturned!"

"Alright, where don’t you understand?" Professor Han also became very enthusiastic. He had a bellyful of questions about the steel refining process and wanted to compare it with Old Uncle Rub’s blacksmithing details to figure out what the properties of the current iron ore were.

"It’s a long story, how about we have a drink in the tavern and chat slowly?" Old Uncle Rub suggested.

Professor Han nodded, "That sounds good."

"Lord, minors can’t drink, so we’ll take our leave," Old Uncle Rub told Mu Ying.

Mu Ying: "..."

Thus, the two seniors completely ignored her, the mediator Lord, and decided to go exchange their feelings.

"Drink less, Professor Han. Make sure you rest!" Mu Ying still admonished them in the end.

They are real treasures of the territory!

She wasn’t worried about Old Uncle Rub; seeing him swing the heavy hammer every day, she knew he was in good health.

But Professor Han had been struggling with steel refining lately and was under a lot of stress, with severe dark circles under his eyes. He still needed to take care of his body and not get carried away with their talk and then rest poorly.

Even though he had become a professional after the apocalypse and was much stronger than before, looking not nearly in his fifties, it was still bad for his health to keep this up.

"Got it!" Professor Han waved at her with a smile, then walked away with his newly recognized big brother.