Ancient one-wheeled carts were generally made of wood, including the wheels.
These carts were typically used for transport. They had a single wheel in the center at the bottom, with wooden planks, strips, or side panels attached to form a handcart.
Compared to two-wheeled carts, these vehicles, while having a lower overall load capacity, were more agile.
Most importantly, a single person could push this one-wheeled cart, eliminating the need for animal power to pull it.
"Good heavens, this is a one-wheeled cart with side panels!"
Chu Chen exclaimed in his heart.
While fighting in the Eastern Frontier, Chu Chen had visited the grain storage areas and had some understanding of the general process of grain transportation.
It was mostly carried by laborers on their shoulders, or pulled by ox carts, horse carts, and donkey carts. These animal-drawn carts had four wheels and were moved by human and animal power.
If the load was too heavy or the ground was difficult, animals would even pull from the front while one or two people pushed from behind.
The one-wheeled cart, however, was adaptable to a wider range of terrain, and could even move on muddy roads, albeit requiring more effort to push. Of course, one could also enlist another person to help.
Besides being less strenuous, the one-wheeled cart had another significant advantage over four-wheeled carts: it was cheap to produce.
It was so cheap that even ordinary households could afford a simple one-wheeled cart, as the only difficult part to manufacture and purchase was the wheel.
The other parts could be made and assembled by the farmers themselves at home.
"You bunch of fools, you actually bumped into Eunuch Chu just now. Fortunately, Eunuch Chu is unharmed and magnanimous enough not to hold you accountable for your transgression."
"Otherwise, you lot would already be dead!"
Eunuch Wei, with his back to Chu Chen, was unaware that Chu Chen had not yet left and was furiously scolding his five subordinate eunuchs.
The five young eunuchs meekly obeyed, not daring to retort.
Covered in filth, they righted the one-wheeled cart, but the waste in the wooden bucket had already spilled.
For a moment, they didn't know what to do.
"Eunuch Wei, the waste in the bucket has spilled. What should we do?"
One eunuch began to cry.
"Hmph, it's all thanks to Little Guizi's good idea, saying this one-wheeled cart is more convenient. I told you long ago that a cart with one wheel is unstable and prone to tipping."
"But you insisted and pestered us to use it. And now look."
Eunuch Wei was very angry, pointing at them with one hand.
Little Guizi was about to argue back when he looked up and saw Chu Chen behind Eunuch Wei. He was so scared that he immediately knelt on the ground again.
"Huh?"
Eunuch Wei noticed something was amiss.
Having lived in the palace for so long, Eunuch Wei immediately understood and turned to look behind him.
Chu Chen was standing behind them, not having left.
This greatly frightened Eunuch Wei and the others, who thought Chu Chen had returned to settle the score.
"Eunuch Chu, I deserve death. My voice was too loud and disturbed Eunuch Chu."
Eunuch Wei said this while slapping his own cheeks.
Chu Chen was startled and sighed at the eunuchs' subservience, recalling his own beginnings, which were not so different.
He then smiled and said, "There's no need for that. I'm not here to settle scores."
"Then, why are you here?"
Eunuch Wei stopped and asked cautiously.
Chu Chen had been appointed the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Palace by the Empress. Although he had never managed affairs, his status was undeniable, and the gap between them was vast.
The palace rules were strict, and it was easy to be executed for offending a superior.
It was no wonder they were so humble and fearful.
"I found your cart rather peculiar, so I stopped to take a look."
"Ah?"
Eunuch Wei and the others were stunned. They didn't know what was so special about the cart. While its design was indeed a bit unusual, with only one wheel unlike the mainstream four-wheeled carts.
"Your one-wheeled cart can actually move and carry things. It looks quite convenient. Where did you get it from?"
Chu Chen pointed at the righted one-wheeled cart and asked in a gentle tone.
"The cart? This cart was made by Little Huzhi. He said it's more convenient and labor-saving for carrying things."
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Wei immediately pointed to a eunuch behind him.
"Eunuch Chu, spare me! I will never dare to do it again!"
Little Huzhi was sweating profusely with fear and kowtowed repeatedly on the ground.
"Hey, what are you doing? I was just asking. There's no need to be so scared."
Chu Chen took a couple of steps forward, intending to help him up, but the man was covered in filth, so he didn't dare to actually touch him.
Little Huzhi heard this, looked up, and asked Chu Chen with surprise, "Really?"
"How dare you! What kind of person is Eunuch Chu? How could he deceive you?"
Eunuch Wei chided from the side.
"Thank you, Eunuch Chu."
Little Huzhi felt relieved, carefully stood up, and took a small step back.
"Can you tell me how you managed to build this one-wheeled cart?"
Chu Chen asked with a slight smile.
Secretly, he unassumingly activated his active skill: Appraisal, and his purple talent: Insightful Eye.
Immediately, a semi-transparent panel appeared before him.
[Character: Wang Erhu. Palace Name: Little Huzhi.]
[Age: Seventeen.]
[Realm: Body Forging Realm, Early Stage.]
[Occupation: Gongshi Room Eunuch.]
[Talent: Purple-grade Whimsical Ideas, Purple-grade Dexterous Hands.]
Seeing this, Chu Chen exclaimed, "Good heavens!"
Two purple talents! This was clearly a little inventor! No wonder he could build a one-wheeled cart himself.
It seemed that even the profession of inventing things in the palace was competitive.
Little Huzhi's mouth moved rapidly, but Chu Chen wasn't paying attention to what he was saying.
Instead, he turned his gaze to the others and continued to scan them with his skills.
Appraisal could reveal a person's general information, such as name, age, realm, and occupation. Insightful Eye, on the other hand, could reveal a person's talents.
Besides Little Huzhi, his other four companions only had common white-grade talents, like extras. Only this Eunuch Wei was different; he was also quite capable.
[Character: Wei Ronghua. Palace Name: Little Weizi, Eunuch Wei.]
[Age: Thirty.]
[Realm: Body Forging Realm, Mid Stage.]
[Occupation: Gongshi Room Steward.]
[Talent: Gold-grade Flattery, Purple-grade Effective Management, Purple-grade Reading People, Purple-grade: Unwavering Loyalty.]
Good heavens! If this man were to rise, he might become a powerful eunuch who could destabilize the court!
Chu Chen felt his horizons had been broadened.
"Eunuch Chu? Eunuch Chu?"
Eunuch Wei, seeing Chu Chen's lack of response, called out cautiously.
"Hmm? Oh, I was just lost in thought."
Chu Chen came back to his senses and replied casually.
Then, he smiled with interest and said, "Little Huzhi, I see you are a talented person. It's a waste for you to be doing this kind of work. How about coming with me to the Qingming Palace to serve Princess Xin Yue?"