Chapter 47: 47 Toilet Design

Chapter 47: The Design of the Toilet

Early the next morning, Luo Ning, assisted by Bella, dressed in a simple and practical training outfit.

Compared to yesterday's nervousness, Bella today displayed much more composure and a greater proficiency in her actions. It was believed that in a little more time, she would become a qualified personal maid.

Luo Ning walked out of the dressing room, "Gallon, go notify Macken, have them prepare. They will accompany me to continue inspecting the territory later. Today, our direction is westward, to survey the tail end of the Wu Shan Beast Mountain Range."

"Yes, sir, I will go notify him immediately!" Gallon scurried away.

As Luo Ning stepped out of the main building, he saw steward Chahar and administrative officer Wilson waiting at the door. Between them stood a large urn.

Seeing the lord emerge, they approached and offered their morning greetings.

"Sir, the large urn you requested yesterday evening is prepared."

Yesterday, Chahar had exerted great effort to find a larger ceramic urn, but after searching thoroughly, he could not find anything bigger.

Unable to do otherwise, he brought a water urn to be used temporarily.

Luo Ning circled the ceramic urn twice, "It is barely acceptable, just a bit small."

Chahar was somewhat embarrassed, "Sir, this is the largest one in the castle."

"Can we make larger ones?"

Luo Ning gestured, "Is there anyone in town capable of this?"

This...

Chahar shook his head. He did not know the townsfolk well and looked toward Wilson, who, being a native, knew Lin Town far better than he did.

"Yes, sir!"

Wilson said, "I recall that the blacksmith Kalus in town can fire pottery."

"Then have him fire several large urns for us."

Luo Ning then asked, "How is the census progressing? Have any problems arisen?"

"Sir, the progress is smooth. Yesterday, I registered over nine hundred people."

This was Wilson's first assigned task, and he performed it diligently and diligently. Throughout yesterday, aside from eating and drinking, he did not stop to rest.

"There are no major issues, but the remaining residents are not concentrated in their dwellings. Surveying them requires running around east and west, and cannot be as fast as yesterday."

"That is fine."

Luo Ning was quite satisfied with Wilson's efficiency, "Chahar, assign a common horse to Wilson. This will conserve our administrative officer's energy and accelerate his work speed."

"With a horse assigned, how long do you think it will take to complete the census?"

"Well..."

Wilson hesitated, uncertain how to answer this question.

If the time stated was too short, failure to complete would be undesirable;

But if stated too long, it would appear as inefficiency.

"One and a half days?"

After weighing for a moment, Wilson finally gave this timeframe.

"Sir, I will strive to give you a response by tomorrow afternoon!"

Luo Ning nodded. One and a half days was quite swift.

"You decide. If time is insufficient, it can be extended slightly. But you must ensure no errors in the results. Efficiency is important, but results are more important!"

Wilson's expression was serious and earnest, "Please rest assured, sir. Wilson always keeps your requirements and instructions in mind!"

After these instructions, the topic returned to the ceramic urn before them.

Luo Ning brought out the parchment sketching the squat toilet he had drawn last night and handed it to them, "This is the toilet I designed. I intend to implement it in Lin Town."

Wilson and Chahar exchanged glances, neither anticipating the lord would present this to them.

"Sir, please forgive my offense!"

Steward Chahar dutifully advised, "Such filthy matters should be handled by servants. As the master of Lin Town, the noblest person here, you should not engage in topics with such odors."

Although Wilson lacked the boldness to directly advise like Chahar, it was evident he strongly agreed with this statement.

Though this was his first role as administrative officer, thirty years of experience told him nobles and lords were exalted. How could they consider matters of feces and urine?

"I have my ideas."

Luo Ning looked at the parchment in hand. This squat toilet was essentially the toilet from his childhood in rural Earth—

A large urn buried underground, with two planks placed left and right atop it. Those needing to use it simply stood on the planks.

Oh, and a stick would be placed in the large urn—the so-called "shit-stirring stick."

Collecting feces in this manner amounted to natural fermentation, directly usable for fertilizing crops.

"I hope someday every household in Lin Town has such a toilet to collect their feces."

Luo Ning began explaining to his administrative officer, "Of course, implementing this now is not possible, so I intend to start from our castle."

He looked at Chahar, "You must choose a location, first build two, and erect shelters over them, so castle servants can use them! Rather than collecting feces now and transporting them outside the castle to discard."

"Sir, I understand your meaning."

Chahar bowed in reply, "But I do not understand why you wish to collect these things? Sir, this matter compromises your status!"

Truthfully, as steward, Chahar himself did not wish to manage this matter.

"This is fertilizer, related to my subsequent plans, so you need only fully cooperate."

The talk having reached this point, though Chahar still did not understand, he ceased further persuasion. Regardless, he was a castle servant—advising was his duty, executing was his fundamental role.

"I understand, sir. Every matter you command, I will fully undertake!"

"We will have gains."

Luo Ning smiled, then began addressing the administrative officer again, "During the census, you need help finding several skilled farmers. I need them to serve me for a period. Additionally, I need you to prepare two acres of vacant land. I intend to develop it into experimental fields."

Wilson listened attentively throughout the baron's account—from designing the toilet, collecting feces, finding farming assistants and two acres of land, even mentioning fertilizer.

He faintly grasped the baron's ideas.

"Sir, you truly are distinct. I have never seen a lord so concerned with farmland!"

Wilson praised, "With your assistance, Lin Town will surely have bountiful harvests every year!"

Luo Ning's eyes brightened. He had not anticipated the administrative officer would discern his purpose.

This was good. At least in future task assignments, the other could swiftly align with his thinking.

"Well, summoning you both today is precisely for this matter. Continue with your work."

After his instructions, Luo Ning strode toward the castle exterior first—he would begin surveying the woodland.

Chahar watched his lord's departing figure, then looked down at the ceramic urn, consulting Wilson.

After a moment, he nodded with vague comprehension, "Our lord truly is, as you said, distinct!"

Wilson, as administrative officer with only one day's tenure, knew little of Luo Ning's past. Prinster had not widely publicized the matter of the Marquis's eldest grandson's succession being revoked.

Yet from yesterday's examination and assignment of tasks to today's plan, Wilson felt that the Baron was a very pragmatic, practical man who sought efficiency and results.

Following such a person, as long as one diligently handled matters well, aside from other things, the daily salary of ten copper coins was assured.

"Sir steward, please quickly take me to fetch a horse. I want to expedite the census!"

Wilson nodded to Chakhar, "I feel that once this task is completed, there will be many more matters awaiting me from the Lord!"

"Haha, well said, officer!"

Chakhar complimented, "With your help, the Lord's Forest Town will surely thrive."

Hearing such praise, Wilson felt quite pleased.

Yet he also knew Chakhar's status. As the castle steward, the Baron's former personal valet, he undoubtedly belonged to the trusted circle.

It was essential to maintain good relations with those close to the Baron, so they began rounds of mutual professional compliments.

(End of Chapter)