Another World Metal Factory

Chapter 31

“Okay! Be careful!”

“Tehez! Hold it tight!”

At the Factory Manager’s shout, Channing yelled, and Tehez gripped the rope tighter, leaning back with her weight. They were trying to unload the pots and dishes from the wagon before it got dark.

The Factory Manager, who had placed wooden blocks under the wheels to prevent the wagon from moving, first set up a support stand at the back of the wagon with Channing using the steel pipes and fixing clamps they had brought beforehand.

They erected the steel pipes in an inverted V-shape on both sides and placed another pipe horizontally on top to create the support.

Just in case, they hammered thick iron stakes into the pre-drilled holes in the pipes to prevent any movement. Then, the Factory Manager fastened a chain block to the pipes.

The chain block (Chain Block, 사슬 블록, a device that uses chains and gears to lift and lower heavy objects) was a pulley made of chains and gears. Although slow, it was very sturdy due to its construction. Especially useful for moving heavy objects, the mechanism wouldn’t unwind unless the gear was released.

After securely attaching the chain block to the steel pipes, the Factory Manager fixed the end of the chain to the pressure cooker and started to pull the chain block.

Clatter, clatter, the sound of the chain catching on the gear echoed as the pressure cooker slowly began to slide out of the back of the wagon.

Channing and Tehez carefully pulled the rope tied to the pressure cooker, preventing it from moving suddenly.

“Good! It’s all the way out! Everyone be careful. It might suddenly shake!”

The Factory Manager said, helping Channing climb onto the wagon.

Channing tied a rope to the inner pillar of the wagon, sat on the floor, and tied another rope around himself, bracing his legs against the wagon wall.

“Okay! Channing, slowly release the rope!”

“Yes! Factory Manager-nim, you can release it now!”

The Factory Manager and Channing carefully moved their bodies.

Getting out of the wagon was the most dangerous moment.

One wrong move could send them tumbling to the ground, and if the swaying wagon hit someone, it could lead to a major accident.

The Factory Manager carefully wound the chain, and Channing slowly released the rope.

Clang!

The sound of the chain rubbing. The metallic sound of the steel pipes twisting under the impact.

The sound of the pressure cooker dangling in the air and swaying echoed.

Only after the movement stopped could the Factory Manager and Channing relax and sigh in relief.

“It must be a very heavy object… I should have called for more people to help.”

Shellen approached the Factory Manager, who was wiping the sweat off his neck with a towel, and spoke to him.

“Well, it’ll be easier from now on, so don’t worry. Channing! Go down and bring the hand truck!”

Channing got out of the wagon and brought a foldable hand truck with handles, placing it under the pressure cooker.

The Factory Manager slowly released the chain block, and Channing and Tehez once again grabbed the rope and controlled the movement of the pressure cooker. Finally, the pressure cooker settled onto the hand truck.

“Channing! Bring the ratchet strap.”

“I’ve got it ready.”

After unfastening the chain tied to the pressure cooker, Channing quickly brought the ratchet strap and firmly secured the pressure cooker to the hand truck.

The ratchet strap (Ratchet Strap, 자동바, a rope tool used to secure cargo), often called a ‘kkalkkaligeuba’ (깔깔이바), was a tool used to tightly fasten objects.

After carefully winding the ratchet strap, Channing tightened it by folding and unfolding the gear mechanism, firmly securing the pressure cooker.

Then, the three of them groaned and pulled the hand truck.

Originally, the hand truck had small wheels designed for paved surfaces, making it very difficult to move along the unpaved road outside the inn.

While Channing struggled to pull from the front, Tehez pushed from behind, and the Factory Manager pulled from the side.

With great effort, the three of them managed to pull the hand truck through the door, past the creaking floorboards, and into the kitchen.

And then, they encountered a problem at the kitchen entrance.

“Factory Manager-nim. This won’t go in at all.”

“Damn. The door is too small… Channing. Lift it.”

“Huh?!”

Channing asked when the hand truck got stuck in the narrow doorway, and the Factory Manager sighed and responded.

Surprised, Channing looked at the Factory Manager, but the Factory Manager, ignoring him, unfastened the ratchet strap and lifted the bottom of the cooker first.

“Lift the front…”

At the Factory Manager’s words, straining as he lifted the bottom, Channing, speechless, struggled to lift the front of the cooker.

“Ugh…”

“You’ll hurt your back lifting like that. Straighten your back and bend your knees!”

At the Factory Manager’s scolding, Channing lifted the cooker again, and the two of them groaned as they managed to get inside the kitchen.

******

After installing the pressure cooker in the kitchen, the Factory Manager, Channing, and Tehez sat around the table in the dining room. They were all covered in sweat from their hard work.

“Ugh… I feel sticky.”

Tehez grumbled, taking off her work jacket and remaining in her t-shirt, and Channing handed her a glass of water, taking off the towel he had around his neck.

“Alright! Good work, everyone.”

Richel smiled and handed wet towels to the factory workers. Channing quickly took a towel and started wiping his face.

“And Tehez, cover yourself up a bit. You have a nice chest, but it’s a bit too revealing.”

At Richel’s words, Tehez, glancing down at herself, blushed and zipped up her work jacket.

“Here. You’ve all worked hard. It’s a wonderful pot.”

Shellen said as she came into the dining room, and the Factory Manager, wiping the back of his neck with a wet towel, smiled faintly.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“You must be hungry. It wasn’t made in that pot, but I hope you’ll enjoy it.”

As Shellen spoke, Marsha came out of the kitchen, walking quickly. Carrying a basket filled with bread, Marsha placed it on the table.

“Ah. Thank goodness. I was hungry.”

Channing reached for the bread. The hard bread cracked with a snap.

“Don’t grab the bread first. How rude.”

Richel scolded him as she placed a tray on the table. A stew filled with ingredients was in a stainless steel bowl.

A simple meal began.

“I apologize for the lack of preparation. You were unexpected guests.”

“No, it’s delicious.”

The Factory Manager replied to Shellen’s words and scooped up a spoonful of stew. He smiled as he put the red stew in his mouth.

“Wow. This is slightly spicy, which is quite nice. It would be great with rice. I’m not just saying this, I really like it.”

“I don’t know what rice is, but I’m glad you like it. Some people don’t like the spiciness.”

“Well, I quite enjoy spicy food.”

“I think this is the first time I’ve heard Factory Manager-nim compliment food like this.”

Richel interjected into the conversation between Shellen and the Factory Manager.

Richel, who delivered lunch to the factory every day, found it rather amusing as she had never heard the Factory Manager praise food so enthusiastically.

“Ahem! I’m someone who appreciates good food when I taste it. Don’t make me out to be some strange person.”

“It’s just your image, you know. You’ve never praised the goulash we serve at the Red Rooster like this, even though it’s a regular dish.”

When Channing dipped his bread into the goulash broth and spoke, the Factory Manager cleared his throat and tore off a piece of bread with his mouth.

“By the way, it seems your husband is out somewhere.”

The Factory Manager spoke, trying to change the awkward atmosphere, and Shellen smiled bitterly and lifted her spoon.

“Is he on the second floor?”

“No. My husband is dead.”

At the unexpected answer, the Factory Manager was speechless and stared blankly at Shellen.

The atmosphere turned strange, and the meal ended.

4.

Waking up at dawn, the Factory Manager yawned and got out of bed.

Honestly, the straw-filled mattress wasn’t exactly comfortable, but thanks to the clean sheets, he slept without complaint and woke up early.

Used to waking up early even on his days off, the Factory Manager’s eyes opened in the early morning. Yawning and stretching his shoulders, he headed to the well to wash his face.

“Yawn!”

Yawning as he arrived at the well, the Factory Manager spotted Marsha diligently pulling up the bucket.

“What are you doing?”

Marsha struggled to pull the bucket up from the well.

“I’m drawing water.”

“Water… from the well, that’s right.”

The Factory Manager took hold of the bucket instead of Marsha and poured the water into a wooden bucket.

“Thank you.”

“It must be hard. Do you draw all your drinking water like this?”

“Yes. We do laundry and such by the lake, but we have to use this well for drinking water.”

The Factory Manager stroked his chin.

Watching Marsha struggling to carry the well bucket and wooden bucket with both hands, the Factory Manager thought for a moment, scratched his head, and headed towards the dining room. He was hoping to find something to eat, even though it was still early.

Entering the dining room, the Factory Manager was surprised to see the room filled with acrid smoke and rushed into the kitchen. He was worried that there might be a fire.

Inside the kitchen, Shellen was coughing, holding flint and tinder. The Factory Manager hurriedly ran over and opened the kitchen shutters. The smoke escaped with the wind.

“Are you alright?”

“Cough! Cough! Yes. I’m sorry. I woke up this morning and the fire was out. Cough!”

Seeing Shellen coughing, the Factory Manager quickly grabbed her hand and rushed her out of the dining room. Shellen’s coughing subsided as she breathed in the fresh air.

“I’ve lived in a house with a fireplace since I was a child, so I know a bit about this. It seems like the chimney isn’t in good condition. The smoke doesn’t seem to be escaping properly.”

“Cough! Is that so? I haven’t cleaned it properly lately.”

The Factory Manager went back into the kitchen.

Squeezing himself next to the pressure cooker, the Factory Manager examined the chimney. It certainly didn’t look to be in good condition. The opening was narrowed with black soot and ash.

The Factory Manager came out of the dining room, brushed the ash off his clothes, and spoke to Shellen.

“Hmm. It needs to be cleaned.”

“Yawn… What’s going on?”

Channing, who had just woken up and was heading towards the main building, yawned and asked the Factory Manager. The Factory Manager thought for a moment, nodded, and grabbed Channing’s shoulder.

“Ah. Perfect timing. Channing. You know how to clean a chimney, right?”

“Clean a chimney? Well, I know how. We had a chimney in our house too. My older brother helped father with the farm work, and my younger brother was too young, so cleaning the chimney was always my job. Thinking about it now, it makes me a bit angry.”

The Factory Manager smiled at Shellen.

“Channing will clean the chimney. Where are the cleaning tools?”

“Ah. They’re in the storage room over there… I’m so sorry to trouble you…”

“It’s alright. Hey! Channing! Go get the cleaning tools!”

Channing stared at the Factory Manager with wide eyes, then sighed and grumbled as he followed Shellen to the storage room. The Factory Manager went to the wagon and pulled out various tools.

After unloading the toolbox, oxygen welding equipment, and other items from the wagon, the Factory Manager went into the kitchen.

The kitchen was bustling with preparations for chimney cleaning. Shellen, Richel, and Tehez were moving the kitchenware outside, and Illia and Marsha were helping with their small hands.

Channing covered the pot inside the fireplace with a cloth and examined the inside of the chimney.

“Wow… It seems like it hasn’t been cleaned in ages.”

“Channing. Clean it thoroughly while you’re at it.”

“Sigh. Really, Factory Manager-nim, you’re too meddlesome. Don’t worry. I’m good at this.”

Channing grumbled as he put on the work mask and goggles he had brought.

“I’m sorry to inconvenience you.”

Shellen approached the Factory Manager and spoke with a very apologetic expression, and the Factory Manager smiled and shook his head.

“No, don’t worry about it too much. Consider this a service. Ah, but could I take three bowls? I need them to make something.”

“Ah! Take them!”

Shellen quickly handed the Factory Manager the stainless steel bowls that had been set aside.

The Factory Manager took three wide and slightly deep bowls, used for serving soup, and went back outside.