The ox cart rolled into Liew Clan Village with two men aboard—York Wang and his uncle, come again to find Clara.
It had only been a day since York's last visit.
Clara hadn't expected them to decide so quickly.
Lester Liew brought out two bowls of sweet fermented rice wine soup, handing one to each guest before quietly standing beside Clara, head lowered, listening attentively as they discussed this "fifteen taels" business opportunity.
Say what you will—his wife really knew how to do business. A waterwheel that cost just one tael to make, and she was confidently quoting fifteen.
Though, to be fair, it sounded like this was a larger version of the original wheel. Still, no matter how big, it couldn't be worth fifteen times more.
York and his uncle had a simple request: they hoped to get the watermill built before the autumn harvest.
Clara assured them that wouldn't be a problem. "There's plenty of time," she said.
"Would it be possible to lower the price a bit?" York asked tentatively.
Clara showed a conflicted expression. "I really can't reduce it. That price is only an estimate anyway—the final cost depends on the site conditions. But since you've already decided to have me build the mill, I can promise this: you'll be satisfied with the result."
That pretty much settled it—there'd be no bargaining here. York and his uncle exchanged a glance, then asked if Clara had time to come with them to Riverbend Village to inspect the riverbed and finalize the quote. It would help everyone know what to expect.
Clara smiled and agreed. "Sure, I've got time. You came by ox cart, right?"
The two nodded. Clara stood, ready to head out with them.
Lester, without much thought, followed them outside. After days of copying texts, his eyes were going blurry, and he hadn't stepped out of the house in what felt like forever. If he stayed cooped up any longer, he'd lose his mind.
And it'd been so long since he saw Sonny—if he didn't catch up soon, Sonny might forget he even had a big brother.
Clara initially didn't want him tagging along, but after a moment's thought, she asked him to fetch Carpenter Liew as well. Better to get all the measurements and inspections done today—then they could draft the plan and start construction without delay.
That kind of efficiency earned Clara newfound respect from York and his uncle. They had their doubts about a woman handling such a project, but now it was clear—they'd underestimated her.
Clara instructed Adam and Ben to take care of Deb and Chad at home. Then she, Lester, and Carpenter Liew—armed with measuring tools, paper, and brushes—climbed aboard the cart with the Riverbend villagers and set off.
It was noon by the time they reached Riverbend Village. The riverbanks were bustling with half-grown children bathing. They splashed around in a shallow pool downstream, watched over by a few adults, so there wasn't much risk of drowning.
Seeing York bring folks from Liew Clan Village, the curious villagers came over to take a look.
Soon, the visitors were surrounded by a pack of naked boys asking what they were up to.
Clara turned to ask Lester for the paper and brush they brought, only to find he'd vanished. The materials had somehow ended up in York's hands.
She didn't need to guess—Lester had definitely slipped off to goof around with Sonny. Since guests were present, she didn't make a fuss. She and Carpenter Liew began surveying the river.
The shallow bathing pool had a 2.5-meter elevation difference from the upstream water, but it was more of a sloping incline, dotted with protruding rocks. The water flow wasn't especially strong.
Plus, the lower pool was too small to fit a horizontal waterwheel. Clara and Carpenter Liew ruled out that location and walked further upstream in search of a better site.
Like many riverside villages, Riverbend had a stone pond nearby, used for rinsing vegetables and washing clothes.
At the inlet to this pond, a narrow 50-centimeter channel had been dug, splitting the river's three-meter width in two. The diverted water flowed through this narrow, deep channel, creating a surprisingly strong current.
Even during the dry season, if they blocked the other half of the river, the pond would still fill easily.
Clara studied it for a moment. This was the perfect site.
Carpenter Liew didn't fully understand the hydraulics, but he could follow Clara's explanation.
They sat on a stone beside the pond while Clara pulled out a sheet of paper and began sketching a basic layout for the new mill, just enough to show the visitors a clear picture.
York and his uncle leaned in. Comparing the sketch with the terrain, they began to visualize how the whole thing would look.
"I've already done the math," Clara said. "This pond is wide and deep enough—about eighty centimeters of water depth. That's more than sufficient for a three-meter-diameter horizontal wheel."
As she spoke, she gestured to where the wheel would be installed.
"It's also an easy site for construction. If we just block the inlet here, we can work safely."
"The mill can be built directly over the pond, with four foundation pillars—north, south, east, and west—supporting a raised platform. The pond stays below; the mill sits above."
Of course, Clara wouldn't be building the structure. That part would be Riverbend Village's responsibility. She'd provide the blueprint, and they'd find their own builders.
Horizontal waterwheels produced more torque than vertical ones, which made them perfect for powering two grinding stones and a stone roller at once. Vertical wheels, while easier to build, lacked that level of power.
York realized then that this design was different from the one he'd seen at Clara's mill.
"Clara, is this going to be different from the one in your village?" he asked.
Clara saw his concern and responded confidently. "Don't worry. Waterwheels come in many forms. To get the best results, you have to design them based on the terrain, the river's flow, and other local conditions."
Reassured, York nodded.
Now that the site was confirmed, he invited Clara and Carpenter Liew back to his home. There, they gathered several village elders to discuss next steps.
The blueprint was already taking shape in Clara's mind. To make it easier for everyone to understand, she quickly sketched a simplified diagram, clearly showing who would be responsible for what.
First: she and Carpenter Liew would handle the waterwheel and the millstones—materials, labor, and installation included.
Second: the price would remain fifteen taels of silver, no negotiation. It might even go slightly over budget.
But since this was their first collaboration, Clara offered a neighborly discount.
If Riverbend Village confirmed today and paid five taels as a deposit, she'd cap the total at fifteen taels—even if it went over, she'd absorb the extra cost.
Lastly, the villagers would be responsible for building the mill structure. Clara would give them a blueprint, and they'd hire their own builders.
Carpenter Liew, who had remained silent this whole time, nodded in agreement to everything Clara said—until she mentioned the "neighborly price" of fifteen taels.
Then, his eyes widened for a split second.
As a carpenter, he knew those materials wouldn't cost more than two or three taels at most.
But he quickly regained composure, folding his hands into his sleeves to hide the subtle tremble of excitement.
Looking around the room, the Riverbend villagers seemed persuaded by Clara's pitch. Even though the price felt steep, they were convinced it was worth it for such a powerful and efficient mill.
Carpenter Liew couldn't help but mutter in awe: This woman really knows how to sell.
(End of chapter)
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