83話 お披露目となったのは
「なんだぁ、こいつぁ?」
初めてみるものを前にして目を丸くする利民に、胡が告げる。
「そっちの嬢ちゃんからの注文の品だぜ、元になっているのはこれだな」
胡がそう説明しながら、奥からもう一つの品を前に出す。
「おおぉっ!?」
「どうだ、ちゃんと問題点は改良してあるぜ」
目を輝かせて食いつく雨妹に、胡は「ふふん」と鼻を鳴らしながら話す。
そこにあるのは、以前よりも完成度が上がっている三輪車だった。
そして、後輪部分の上に籠がつけられている。
「籠をつけたんですね」
「おう、もうちぃっと安定感が欲しくてな。
――うんうん、日本の三輪ママチャリに近くなったよ!
三輪車に頬擦りせんばかりの雨妹に、立勇は渋い顔をしている。
おそらく変な奴だと思われているのであろうが、それもこの三輪車の便利さを思い知ったら認識がひっくり返るに違いない。
「しっかしよぉ、こっちの動かない車なんざなんに使うんだ?」
胡は自分で作りながらもエアロバイクの用途が分からないらしく、首を傾げている。
「ふっふっふ。それはズバリ、身体を動かすための物なんです!
「......まあいいだろう」
指名された立勇は、眉を寄せながらも頷くと、エアロバイクに跨る。
動かないように固定されているため、立勇でも問題なく乗れた。
そして踏み板を恐々といった様子で踏み込み、漕ぎ始める。
「言われた通り、車輪が回るのを重くしておいたぜ」
どのような仕組みなのか雨妹にはわからないが、ブレーキのような摩擦で止めるようなものを仕込んであるのかもしれない。
立勇が結構真剣な表情で漕いでいるみたいなので、これだと潘公主には重すぎるか。
しばらく漕いでいた立勇が、足を止めてエアロバイクから降りてきた。
「......疲れるな、それに身体のあまり使わない所が動いていた」
「結構全身を動かしたでしょう?」
立勇の感想に、雨妹は尋ねる。
「まあ、そうだな」
立勇はそう述べると、懐から出した手巾で額の汗を拭っている。
自転車を漕ぐという動作は、足だけを使って行うものではない。
足で踏み板を漕ぐにしても、筋肉は全身が繋がっているのだから、無意識であっても全身の筋肉が動いているのだ。
前回は懐疑的だった立勇だったが、実際に自分でやってみて文句のつけようがないみたいだ。
「へぇ、面白ぇモンを作ったな」
利民はというと、興味津々でエアロバイクを眺めている。
「自分でも漕いでみたい」と顔に書いてある彼に、雨妹が話す。
「ちなみに、こっちの一人用の車ですけど。
雨妹の営業トークのような話し方に、胡も付け加える。
「試作品よりも安定感を増しているから、走らせやすいはずだぜ。
「そりゃあ、乗ってみないとなんとも言えんな」
というわけで、この胡の話を確かめるべく利民が試乗を言い出した。
そして前回と同じ場所に移動すると、黄家の若様がいるとあって、周囲が「なんだなんだ」と人だかりを作る。
その中で、利民は三輪車にまたがる。
そして最初はゆっくりと、やがて勢いをつけて走らせた。
そのまま持ち手をうまく動かして、ぐるっと回って雨妹たちの元へ戻ってくる。
三輪車なので漕ぎ板を止めれば車輪は動きを止めるのだが。
子ども用三輪車と違って速度が出るので、安全のためにブレーキが必要かもしれない。
これは後で胡に相談するとして。
「こりゃいい! 爽快だな!」
利民は三輪車の乗り心地を気に入ったようで、まるで子供のようにはしゃいでいた。
「車みたいなものか?」
周囲には人だかりが増えていて、三輪車に群がってくる。
その中で、利民が思案気に告げる。
「佳は道が狭い場所が多いんで、馬が入らない所が結構あるんだ。
「重たい物を持っての移動が、これを使うと楽になるでしょうね」
この意見に、雨妹がそう付け加える。
「短距離の、馬を使うまででもないが少々遠いといった移動には、適しているかもな」
立勇までそんなことを言う。
馬を動かすのは経費を使うので、もしかすると多少の距離だと馬を使う許可が下りないのかもしれない。
ともあれ試乗の結果、利民はこの三輪車を自分用に注文した。
今試乗した三輪車は利民にはちょっと小さいため、乗りやすい大きさを作ってもらうようだ。
――太子殿下も、欲しがるかなぁ?
太子は案外新しいもの好きなところがあるので、お土産にすると喜ぶかもしれない。
Chapter 83
"Hey, what's this?"
It was the first time Li Min saw such a thing, and his eyes widened in surprise.
"It's requested by Little Miss over there, and it's based on this."
Hu then took out another object from inside.
"Whooaahhh!?"
"How is it, I already addressed all the problem points, see."
Hu was bursting with pride while Yui Mei's eyes were shining in delight and awe.
It was the improved version of the tricycle, and it was no longer a mock model.
A basket was attached to the upper part of the rear wheels.
"So you put a cage, huh."
"Yeah, I want it to be more stable. I thought it'll add some weight."
'Yup, yup, it looks like the mommy tricycles in Japan!'
Yui Mei was so moved that she almost rubbed her cheeks on the tricycle in affection, but Li Yong looked unconvinced.
He probably thought that she was an oddball, but if he only knew how convenient this was, then he would surely change his opinion right away.
"Still, how on earth are you gonna use that if it's not gonna move?"
Hu didn't understand the purpose of the exercise bike, notwithstanding he was the one who made it, so he was truly puzzled.
"Fufufu. This thing would help you move your body! Lord Li Yong, can you please try to pedal it?"
".... It's fine, I guess."
Li Yong was singled out by Yui Mei, so he rode the exercise bike with a furrow in his brows.
It was fixed so that it wouldn't go anywhere, so even Li Yong didn't have any problems riding it.
He then cautiously started to pedal.
"I made the wheels more difficult to turn, just like what you said."
Yui Mei didn't know what kind of mechanism he used, but he probably installed something that could stop it with friction, like a break.
Li Yong was earnestly pedalling away, so the resistance might be too much for Princess Pan, though.
After pedalling for some time, Li Yong stopped pedalling and went down from the bike.
"...It's tiring, and it also helps move the body parts that aren't usually used."
"You moved your body quite a lot, right?"
Yui Mei asked when Li Yong expressed his impressions.
"Well, you're right."
Li Yong assented, then he took out a handkerchief from his bosom pocket and wiped his sweat.
The feet were not the only ones moving during a cycling workout.
Even though he was pedalling with his feet, he unconsciously engaged the muscles of his entire body, since they were all connected, after all.
Li Yong had been skeptical about this at first, but now that he tried it firsthand, he couldn't utter any sort of complaint.
"Heh, what an interesting thing you made."
Li Min was curiously staring at the exercise bike.
The phrase 'I wanna ride, too' was written all over his face. Yui Mei called out to him.
"By the way, about this single-rider vehicle, don't you think it's convenient when going around the city?"
Hu was also baited by Yui Mei's sales talk.
"It's a lot more stable than the prototype, so it should be easier to use. I also rode this earlier, at any rate."
"Well, I had to ride it first before deciding whether that's true or not."
And so, it was decided that Li Min would take it for a spin first to confirm whether it was as Hu said.
They went to the same location earlier, and this time, the young master of the Huang family was with them, so a crowd of curious spectators gathered again. They could hear people saying "What's up" to each other.
Li Min straddled the bike in the midst of them.
He slowly pedalled at first, steadily gaining momentum, until he was running fast.
He then deftly turned the handles to return back to where Yui Mei and the rest were.
Because it was a tricycle, the wheels stopped moving as soon as he stopped pedalling.
Yui Mei thought that it would be better if a stopping mechanism like a break was added to it for safety, since it could gain speed, unlike the ones little children used.
She decided to discuss this later with Hu.
"Whoa, that was amazing! I feel so refreshed!"
Li Min was exhilarated like a kid, and he seemed smitten by the experience of riding the tricycle.
"Is it like a cart?"
There were more people coming to check what the fuss was all about, and they crowded around the tricycle.
Li Min thoughtfully expressed his opinion.
"We have many narrow paths and alleys that are difficult for horses to enter here at Kai, but I think this thing might do the trick?"
"It will be easier to move if you're carrying heavy items, too."
Yui Mei also commented on that.
"Perhaps it's also suitable for short-distance travel to places that are far enough, but not appropriate for using horses."
Even Li Yong said that.
It costs money to use a horse, and it might be unwise to use them for certain distances.
Anyway, Li MIn also ordered one tricycle for himself as a result of him doing the test drive.
The one he used was a little bit small for him, so he requested one that had the appropriate size.
'Will His Highness the Crown Prince want one, too?'
The prince loved novel things, unexpectedly, so he might be happy if she brought one as a souvenir for him.
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