82話 便利なもの
というわけで、雨妹は三輪車の試乗のため、場所を移して近くの少し広い道へとやってきた。
周囲から「なんだなんだ」と声が上がるが、胡を見ると「ああ、アイツか」といった声が聞こえてくる。
どうやらこの胡は、変人と思われているようだ。ともあれ三輪車を走らせてみようと、雨妹は箱に跨る。
――うーん、安定感がイマイチだなぁ。
これは三輪車というより、一輪車に余計な車輪が後ろにくっついていて、辛うじて後ろに倒れないように支えられている感じだろうか。
しかもハンドルのような握り手がないため、体勢を安定させにくい。
――まあ、一輪車も乗れるからいいけどね。
前世での子供の頃、一輪車の大流行があり、友人と競うように乗ったものだ。
そんなことを思い出しつつ、雨妹は安定感の悪い三輪車の踏み板に足の力をこめると、多少ヨロヨロしながらも走らせる。
「おぉ!? 動くじゃねぇか!」
雨妹の走らせる三輪車に、胡が興奮した様子でついてくる。
「ほぅ」
立勇も感心したように眺めている。
一方の雨妹はというと。
――お尻が、お尻が痛い!
なにせ雨妹が座っているのはただの木箱で、衝撃を吸収するものが一切ない。
なので地面がむき出しの道を走らせると、その衝撃が直にお尻に響く。そしてやはり走り辛い。
お尻が限界になり、雨妹は三輪車を止めて降りる。
「すげぇなおめえ!」
そこに興奮した胡が駆け寄ってきて、雨妹の背中をバンバンと叩く。
――やめて、今はお尻に響くから!
雨妹はお尻を守るために慌てて胡から離れると、立勇の背後に隠れる。
「動くのはわかったが、しかしこれがなんの役に立つ?
雨妹に隠れる壁代わりにされた立勇は、三輪車を見てなおも懐疑的である。
「速度は、これからの改良次第だと思いますけど」
「それでも、馬に敵うわけもあるまいに」
この言葉に、胡が「わかってねぇなぁ」とぼやく。
胡の話に、しかし立勇は首を捻っている。
――まあ、これで「馬が要らない」って言われてもね。
到底馬と張り合えない完成度なので、ピンと来ないのもわかる。
しかし日本の自転車を知っている雨妹としては、この三輪車が大いなる一歩に見えるのだ。
そして、今まさに求めているモノでもあるのだから。
「胡さん、これを使って作ってほしいものがあります」
「そう言やぁ、利民に言われて来たんだったか。
雨妹の説明に胡は首を傾げながらも、作る約束をしてくれる。
そして雨妹はついでなので、「乗ってみた感想」という体で、この三輪車モドキについての改良点を述べてみた。
「この前輪の上に、持ち手をこんな感じで付けてくれたら、乗りやすいかなと。
そう話しながら雨妹が地面に指で絵を描いて見せたのは、まさしく日本の三輪車の図だった。
「なるほど、この持ち手で方向を変えるのが簡単になるってわけか」
胡はブツブツ言いながらも、雨妹が描いた図にじっと見入っている。
――うんうん、その調子で頑張って作ってね!
後輪を動かす日本の自転車と違って、これは子供用三輪車のように前輪を動かす作りだ。後輪を動かす自転車を作ろうとすると、チェーン回りを開発しなければならなくなる。
けれどそんなものでなくても、今の時点ではこれで十分ではなかろうか。
そして完成した暁には、雨妹も一台欲しいものだ。
三輪車があれば後宮内での移動が楽になるのは間違いない。
「これが、そんなにいいものか?」
一人納得できていない立勇だが、軍人でお坊ちゃまな生まれであろう彼なので、庶民よりも馬が身近な人間だ。
ゆえにこの新しい技術が、馬に勝ると考えられないのだろう。
そんな約一名を置いてけぼりにして、それから数日が過ぎた。
今日は、再び胡の元を訪れる日である。
「どんなもんなのか、いまいちわからん」
その後ろでそう言って首を捻っているのは、利民である。
どうやら雨妹がなにを注文したのか気になって仕方がないようで、自ら見に来たのだ。
黄家の若様という身分なのに、腰の軽い事である。
雨妹が相変わらずボロい家に向かって呼び掛けると、中から「おう」と返事があった。
そして戸を開けて出て来た胡は、ちょっと得意気な顔をしている。
「注文の品、出来てるぜ」
胡がそう言って指差した先にあるのは、車輪が一つだけついていて、あとはそれを動かないように固定する台があるだけのものだった。
持ち手が身体を支えるようについていて、座る部分はむき出しの箱ではなくて綿が詰められてる革張りの座席となっている。
――うんうん、だいぶ近いんじゃないの!?
雨妹が胡に頼んだものとは、ずばりエアロバイクであった。
Chapter 82
Thus, they all moved to another location so Yui Mei could test run the tricycle. It was a wide path nearby.
The people were shouting "What's up?" and "What's happening?" around them, but mumbles of "Ahh, it's him" were also heard when they saw Hu.
Hu was treated as an eccentric person, apparently. Anyway, Yui Mei straddled the box so she could ride the tricycle.
'Hmm, it's quite unstable, huh.'
It was more of a unicycle than a tricycle, with wheels added unnecessarily behind it, and it felt like they were just supporting the unicycle marginally.
It didn't even have handle bars, so it was difficult to stabilize her body.
'Well, I can ride a unicycle, so it's fine, I guess.'
Unicycles were extremely popular when she was a kid, so she frequently rode it and competed with her friends.
She pushed the pedals of the unstable tricycle while thinking that, and she managed to make it move, albeit a bit wobbly.
"Whoa!? It's moving!"
Hu was brimming with excitement as he followed Yui Mei while she rode the tricycle.
"Ohh."
Li Yong also gazed with admiration.
On the other hand, Yui Mei was --
'Ouch, my butt, my butt hurts!'
She was sitting on a wooden seat, and there was nothing on it to absorb the impact, after all.
Thus, her bottoms received impact directly when she rode on the bare ground, and it was painful.
Finally, she stopped the tricycle and got off when her bottoms reached their limit.
"That's amazing!!"
Hu enthusiastically ran towards Yui Mei, and he clapped her back passionately.
'Stop, I can feel your claps on my butt!'
Yui Mei hastily ran behind Li Yong to protect her bottoms.
"Yeah, it's working, but what is it for? It's faster to run."
Li Yong asked as he looked at the tricycle while being treated as a wall by Yui Mei.
"I think the speed will depend on future improvements."
"It won't stand a chance against a horse, though."
"You don't get it, huh."
Hu said, but Li Yong was puzzled.
'Well, even if you say 'there's no need for a horse'...''
It didn't look like it could compete with a horse at this stage, so it was understandable that he didn't get it.
However, for Yui Mei, who knew what bicycles could do based on her previous life, it was already a huge step.
Besides, it was exactly what she needed right now.
"Hu, there is something I want to make based on this."
"Oh, right, Li Min did tell you to come here, huh. What do you wanna make?"
Hu was a bit confused at Yui Mei's explanation, but he still promised to do it.
Yui Mei also gave more suggestions to improve the tricycle while at it, passing them off as 'impressions from the person who rode it'.
"If you add handles on the front wheel, like this, then it'll be easier to ride, I think. Also, maybe you can move the seat a little more to the back..."
Yui Mei was drawing Japan's tricycle on the ground as she spoke.
"I see, those handles make it easier to change the direction, huh."
Hu stared intently at Yui Mei's drawing while mumbling.
'Yup, yup, just like that, do your best to make it!'
It was more like a children's tricycle that pedaled the front wheel, than Japan's bicycle that moved the rear wheel. If she wanted something like that, then they had to develop a chain-like thing.
However, this was already enough at this point.
Yui Mei also wanted one after it was completed.
Moving around the Inner Palace would become an easy task for her if she had one. If a basket is attached, then she could put her cleaning tools inside.
"Is this really that good?"
Li Yong was the only one unconvinced, but that was probably because he was the most familiar one with horses since birth, since he was a soldier and probably a young master, too.
Therefore, he probably couldn't imagine how this new invention would surpass a horse.
A few days had passed since then.
They were scheduled to return to Hu's place today.
"What kind of thing, huh. I don't get it, somehow."
Li Min was trying to imagine it behind them
He couldn't help but think about Yui Mei's order, so he decided to tag along and see it for himself.
Even though he was the young master of the Huang family, he was ready to do things himself.
Yui Mei called out at the dilapidated shack, and she heard him say "Yeah" from inside.
Hu opened the door. Pride and elation was written all over his face as he stepped outside.
"Your order's done."
Hu pointed to a single wheel object that was fixed on a pedestal so it wouldn't move from it's place.
The handles were fashioned so that they could support the body, and instead of a wooden box, the seat was made from leather and stuffed with cotton.
'Yup yup, it's close enough, isn't it!?'
Yui Mei had requested Hu to make an exercise bike.
Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace
百花宮のお掃除係～転生した新米宮女、後宮のお悩み解決します。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/housekeeper-of-the-hundred-blossom-palace/
Fantasy Romance Shoujo Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Ancient China Complex Family Relationships Different Social Status Female Protagonist Imperial Harem Love Interest Falls in Love First Reincarnated in Another World Royalty
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4104ev/
黒辺あゆみ