Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 54 Giovanni's Request

  In Madame Navarre's secluded small living room, Antonio was half lying on the sofa admiring the paintings hanging on the wall, as comfortable and comfortable as in his own home.

   And Winters is looking at the nose, the nose, the mouth, and the heart, and sits upright on a chair, like a sculpture.

   "Don't be so restrained." Antonio happily handed the small plate of nuts to Winters: "You look like an ascetic now, and you are about to whip your own back with a flail."

   "Who's to blame then?" Winters was very annoyed when he saw that the main responsible person seemed to have nothing to do with him.

  Antonio casually picked up a fig from the small table and peeled the peel bit by bit: "Didn't I come with you?"

  Why Winters and Antonio came to Navarre Mansion? This is a bit of a twist.

   Major Moritz only had ten steel cones, which was not enough. So Winters turned to his little uncle, Antonio's younger brother, Giovanni Seretti.

  The history of the Serbian Ti family in Hailan City is not long. Starting from Antonio and Giovanni's father Cavalli, the Serbian Ti family has only spread its branches in Hailan.

  Cavaglia, a big-nosed, ill-tempered Veneta, was forced to leave his family for a vendetta when he was young.

His mother put the two gold coins into his hands, kissed his cheek, and cried out, "My dear son, you don't want to spend these two coins, you have to carry them close to your body but don't spend them. It. The red traces in the lines of the gold coins are the blood of Saint Noverata. With them, Saint Noverata will bless you. I will also pray for you every moment."

   His father silently handed him a sharp sword.

  In this way, with a sword, two gold coins and mother's blessing, Kavalia came to Hailan City from Hundred Flowers City alone.

   He pawned the good sword first, spent two more gold coins, and lived a comfortable life. Within a few days, the money ran out, and the new "friends" Cavallia had made at Aquamarine abandoned him twice as fast as they approached him.

  The helpless Kavallia had another miserable life, and was finally taken in as an apprentice by a kind-hearted gold and silver craftsman. After surviving the arduous apprenticeship, he became a full member of the Precious Metal Craftsmen Guild of Ocean Blue City.

   By the time Cavallia's eldest son Antonio was born, he had become a well-known gold and silver craftsman in Seablue City and owned a very good workshop. And redeemed the good sword and the two gold coins said to be stained with the blood of San Novella

  Cavaglia Seriti's eldest son, Antonio, was admitted to the Military Academy and became a soldier. And his youngest son Giovanni inherited his father's craftsmanship, and after Cavallia died of illness, he inherited the workshop and became a gold and silver craftsman.

  If Antonio has the same status as a father in Winters' heart, then Giovanni is called an uncle, but he is actually a brother.

  Kavaglia's children were difficult, and five children died prematurely. It was many years after the eldest son had a second son who grew up healthy, Antonio and Giovanni were fourteen years apart in age, and Giovanni was only nine years older than Winters.

   So compared to his older brother who was fourteen years older, Giovanni and Winters, who played a lot of fun, were closer. Most of the bad things Winters has done since he was a child were done by Giovanni.

  If Winters sets the house on fire, he won't talk to Antonio and Cosa, but he will talk to Giovanni. If Giovanni killed someone, he wouldn't tell his brother that he would ask Winters to help him move the body.

   Of the ten steel cones Moritz gave to Winters, only five pointed steel cones could be used in actual combat, of course not enough. Winters wanted to have someone make a batch of the same cones that the major gave him.

  Since it was related to metal, Winters immediately thought of his uncle Giovanni. Although Giovanni was a precious metal craftsman, in Winters' opinion, Giovanni should also know some highly skilled blacksmiths.

   In addition to building a batch of steel cones, Winters had another purpose: to make a scabbard for Elizabeth's dagger.

   The dagger that Elizabeth had ruffled about and took away from Winters had already been returned to Sophia, but she didn't know what kind of persuasion skills Elizabeth used, and Sophia actually gave the dagger to Elizabeth again.

   The leather scabbard that Elizabeth sewed herself was useless, and was soon pierced with holes by the dagger. So Winters has another mission, asking Giovanni to make a silver scabbard for Elizabeth. Of course, only the outer shell of the scabbard is silver, with a cork liner inside to prevent the dagger blade from being blunted.

   Winters originally thought it would be easy to make hundreds of identical steel cones, but he didn't know how difficult it was until he communicated with a real blacksmith.

   Made by hand, it is difficult to guarantee the consistency of shape and weight. The steel cone that Major Moritz gave Winters was a cylinder, which could not be made by hand forging. If steel is also used, filing is more time-consuming and labor-intensive.

   At the same time, we must ensure that each piece has the same weight, and the difficulty of production will be doubled again.

   Giovanni's most precise balance for weighing gold could not verify the difference in weight between the ten steel cones that Major Moritz had given Winters.

   These ten steel cones amazed Giovanni's blacksmith friend, who bluntly said that he had no such ability, and even if he made great efforts to do it, the price of each steel cone would be more than one silver coin.

According to Giovanni: "The material of this thing is not expensive, but the effort expended by the craftsman far exceeds the value of the material itself. The value of the craftsman's labor is seriously underestimated, so few people will spend so much effort on base metals. A few small things are simply carved patterns on the iron."

  It was only then that Winters understood why Major Moritz used silver coins as casting materials—this special steel cone cost more than a silver coin.

   It would be better to use silver coins directly as arrows. At least silver coins are uniformly stamped by the Veneta Mint and are readily available materials of equal weight and similar shape.

  Compared to the predicament of custom-made steel cones, it is much easier to make a scabbard for Elizabeth.

   Winters brought the dagger with him. Giovanni took the measurements, poured the wax mold, and Elizabeth just had to wait at home for Uncle Giovanni to bring her the scabbard.

   "By the way, did the little girl say that you want to decorate the scabbard with any pattern?" Giovanni asked casually as he returned the dagger to Winters.

   Winters was stopped, and he didn't dare to call the shots for Elizabeth without authorization. Had no choice but to ride the strong luck and run home to ask Elizabeth herself.

   Elizabeth did not reply to Winters immediately, but gave Winters two paintings after a visit to the studio.

   These two paintings are different from the common religious style paintings, and they are more inclined to freehand paintings. They do not pay attention to the principle of perspective. They use delicate and delicate brushstrokes to outline the picture of flowers. At the same time, it does not lose complexity, and makes good use of the white space technique.

   When Giovanni saw these two paintings, he was astonished, and the next day he delivered the finished scabbard. The pattern provided by Elizabeth was reproduced on the scabbard by Giovanni using the embossing method.

The    relief method is a process in which a small chisel is used to knock out a chiral symmetrical pattern on the back of the metal sheet, so that a bas-relief pattern can be obtained on the front of the metal sheet. Then through hand-carved details, the clarity of the relief lines is increased. The end result is a beautiful embossed pattern on the metal surface.

  The relief on the scabbard can not only play a decorative role, but also make the scabbard can be grasped more firmly to a certain extent.

   Elizabeth couldn't put it down when she got the scabbard, and excitedly showed it off to Kesa and Antonio.

   But Giovanni came to find his little nephew for another thing. Giovanni laughed and hooked Winters' neck hard: "Where did those two patterns come from? Are there any more patterns?"

   It turned out that Giovanni showed these two drawings to another wealthy business lady, and immediately got an order for two silver salt boxes.

   Compared to base metal craftsmen, the valuation of precious metal craftsmanship is higher. No matter how much effort is spent, it is difficult for iron to sell for the price of silver. However, after the careful work of precious metal craftsmen, the price of gold and silver utensils can be much higher than the value of the material itself.

   So compared to the base metal craftsmen who pursue mass production, precious metal craftsmen have embarked on a different path: investing more effort into a small amount of fine gold and silver utensils to make money.

  Giovanni with a keen sense of smell found that wealthy female customers liked this pattern very much. This new style pattern was tantamount to a new vein for Giovanni, and he was eager to get more patterns.

   Winters explained: "Ira gave me the drawings, didn't she always go to Mrs. Anguissola's studio? She should have drawn them herself."

  Giovanni said regretfully: "Ella, this little girl, if I ask her for it, she will take the opportunity to blackmail me."

   "Then there is no way." Winters spread his hands.

   "But didn't Ella listen to you since she was a child?" Giovanni seems to have had a case for a long time: "How about you help me take care of her and ask for a few more drawings, and then help you solve the problem of the steel cone?"

For the steel cone Winters wanted to customize, Giovanni's solution was this: the cylindrical shape required too many manual labor hours to be considered; so simply use a triangular prism, which can be forged directly on an anvil with a V-groove Forming; after blacksmiths make roughly equal weight blanks, send them to Giovanni's workshop, and then use the precious metal processing technology of "fine grinding" for secondary processing; although it can't be done like ten pieces in Winters' hands The steel cone is exactly the same, but it can also ensure the consistency of shape and weight to the greatest extent.

   More importantly, the cost is acceptable to Winters.

   This proposal was completely impossible for Winters to refuse, but Winters did not expect that his uncle had changed, and he would make a deal with himself in this way.

   Looking at Winters' resentful eyes, Giovanni had to promise to make another silver saddle head as a reward for the pattern. And whether or not Winters can bring more patterns, it will help Winters solve the problem of the steel cone.

   But to Winters and Giovanni's surprise, Elizabeth told Winters that the drawings were not drawn by herself.

   She gave the name Winters least wanted to hear right now: Ana Navarre.

   Elizabeth not only knew Anna, but also had a very close relationship. Anna, Elizabeth and several other female friends studied together in Madame Anguissola's studio. The two drawings were drawn by Elizabeth and Anna.

  Self-esteem is a delicate thing that drives people to act noble and sometimes prevents communication between people.

  Because of self-esteem, Major General Layton fulfilled his promise to be the first to jump into the gang, and Winters rushed into the enemy's cabin regardless of the knife wound on his arm;

   is also because of self-esteem, Winters is too lazy to explain to Miss Navarre, let alone meet each other again. After all, that slap in the face that can't be said, it still hurts.

But Elizabeth smiled wickedly and refused to agree to help Winters find Anna for a pattern anyway. Apparently, she already knew from her own channels that Winters was slapped by Anna. This was probably because she was a little bit in her ordinary life. Some fun is never easy to let go.

   "Your friend has a very bad impression of me. I can't see it if I can see it. Do you just want to see another slap in the face?" Winters grabbed Elizabeth and prevented her from running away.

"Winters, I'm doing this for your own good." Elizabeth pretended to be serious and said with her own set of crooked reasons: "You're almost mad at Anna, and now my girlfriends treat you as a very bad guy. Well-behaved man...you apologize to Anna and she will forgive you."

   "Why should I apologize?" Winters couldn't help laughing. He had seen through Elizabeth's thoughts: "Are you happy to see me slapped again?"

   Elizabeth couldn't bear it any longer, and laughed wildly. It happened that Antonio had just returned home, and Elizabeth hurriedly asked her father for help.

Antonio's attitude was very open-minded: "I thought these little girls were just going to Madame Anguissola's studio to play, so do they paint well? Since Johnny needs to ask for Miss Navarre's help, I I'll take you to Navarre House."

   "Then why don't you go to Madame Navarre yourself and let her get some pictures of her daughter?"

"Johnny asked you for help, not me. You should have gone by yourself. I went to Navarre's house to apologize to Miss Navarre for my offense." Antonio's smile was exactly the same as Elizabeth's, Winters reiterated that Ella's mischievous personality was definitely inherited from Antonio.

   Back to Madame Navarre's small living room, Antonio and Winters came to the Navarre mother and daughter duo.

   Antonio and Madame Navarre are old friends. He explained his purpose in a few words, hoping to ask for a few works of Miss Navarre for his younger brother Giovanni. Without waiting for Anna to speak, Madam Navarre agreed for her daughter.

   Then Antonio cheerfully talked to Anna first in the Old Language, and then in the Old Language.

  Ana answered fluently, and Madam Navarre was a little overwhelmed by being left aside.

   Winters can understand it, but Antonio and Ana are just chatting daily, and there is no real chat content.

After confirming that Anna was indeed able to use the old language and the ancient language, Antonio stood up, bowed solemnly to Anna, and said sincerely: "[Old language] Miss Anna, how offended I was before, I was wrong before. Please accept my apology for treating you as an ordinary woman."

  Anna, Madame Navarre, and Winters were all taken aback.

   In any case, the status of men in this era is much higher than that of women; not to mention that even if Anna is a man, the social status of Major General and Commander of the Standing Legion, Antonio Seretti, is much higher than hers.

   It is very rare for a person of high status to admit and apologize to a person of low status, no matter in what era or in any country. Most high-status people, even if they should apologize, just pretend that nothing happened.

   Seeing this, Winters began to admire his uncle's bearing, because Antonio had no reluctance and was sincerely apologizing to Ana for his actions.

  Anna became a little panicked when she saw Antonio bowing deeply to her, she also quickly stood up and curtseyed back in a hurry.

  Antonio said more, turned his head to Madame Navarre, and said with a smile, "Then ask Miss Navarre to take some paintings and make them."

  Mrs. Navarre was confused, she didn't know what happened, and she didn't understand a word of the conversation between Antonio and Ana just now.

   Finally, Antonio started to speak Common again, and Madame Navarre leaned gracefully on the chaise longue and replied, "Let the two children go together. You and I, but there's a lot to talk about."

  Winters followed Anna, and the two walked straight to Anna's studio without a word.

   There are several stands in the studio, and the table is full of canvases and paper. Many panels, covered with white cloth against the wall, appear to be completed works. There are also many white papers with line drafts casually thrown on the ground.

"Hmph." Anna turned her back to Winters and stood looking at the table, and said angrily first: "Mr. Serbia still despises women, 'I mistakenly regarded you as an ordinary woman' and treats ordinary women with contempt. Can a woman be so frivolous?"

   Winters was dumbfounded.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She asked Winters angrily: "What do you think? Mister Montagne."

   Winters thought for a moment, then said slowly: "My idea is that as a guest, I shouldn't be treated like this."

  Two rolls of drawing paper were thrown towards Winters, but the throwing party was not strong, and the drawing paper was not a javelin, so it was easily caught by Winters.

   "Can guests ask for my work after humiliating me?" Anna came over with several large scrolls of drawing paper and shoved the drawing paper to Winters: "All for you!"

"No one else can represent me. I have never had any frivolous thoughts about you. On the contrary, you are very rude to me." Winters replied humbly: "If you don't want to give me the painting, I can also buy it. But to be honest, compared to before, I don't respect you as much now."

  Anna is really going crazy now.

   "How about you slap me again?" Winters asked quietly.

   This sentence was full of sarcasm, Anna was completely mad, and then she… she cried.

  Yes, Anna was so angry that she cried.

   squatted on the ground and cried.

   Winters was dumbfounded.

   He was stunned and at a loss.

   "Eh? Why are you crying?"

   "Aren't you pretending to cry?"

   The other party cried even louder.

   "What is this? I'm innocent."

   "Let your servants hear it, and I can't wash it... You can't wash it either."

   still has no effect.

   Winters also squatted on the ground and asked tentatively, "How about... I'll slap you too and we'll even out?"

   "You fight!" Anna raised her head, sobbing, weak, helpless, and fierce.

   finally worked.

   "I don't hit... a lady." Winters wanted to say not to hit a woman, but thought of Sophia, there are many women as vicious assassins as Sophia, so she still replaced the woman with a lady.

  Anna stopped crying, her eyes were red, and she asked Winters with a snort without a ladylike image: "You said I painted the ones you wanted to buy, right?"

   "I can buy it, you can bid."

   "This is not a lion's mouth," Winters thought: "I have to ask Uncle Giovanni for reimbursement."

   "You'll know the price." Anna glared at Winters and pushed him out of the studio.

  ———

   On the way home, Antonio said to Winters with emotion: "Miss Navarre is indeed very powerful. I think if she is not a woman, she will definitely do more."

   "Didn't you just tell me the other day that it was the widow who held up half a Veneta?" Winters retorted.

   "Yes, I'm talking about widows." Antonio smiled: "If Miss Navarre becomes a widow, she will do more."

  ———

  In the Navarre Manor, Anna buried her head in Mrs. Navarre's arms, and she couldn't see that she had cried just now.

   "Are you familiar with that young man named Winters?" Madame Navarre asked casually.

   "No, we only met for the second time today." Anna replied absently.

   "What do you think of him?"

"not good!"

Mrs. Navarre said to Anna earnestly, "I know his mother and I have met his father. He has northerner blood, and our family does not marry northerners. Do you understand?"

   "Oops! Mom, what are you talking about! I'm not Catherine, I just want to get married all day!"

   Thanks to the book friend 20170726153222839 for the recommendation ticket, thanks to the book friend 20181013204343295 for the recommendation ticket, thanks to the book friend Yanyunsan for the recommendation ticket, thanks to the book friend for the recommendation ticket of the shrimp pond, and thanks to the friends who have voted for me before. thank you all. The history of widows' property rights changes and the process by which widows are gradually recognized as persons with full civil capacity is very interesting.

   (end of this chapter)