Chapter 374: Chapter 352, Xiangyang Glass Factory_1
“I have already chosen the location for the Glass Factory; it’s on the outskirts of Ningmen Prefecture’s city, outside the city walls. In the future, when there is profit, I will give you and your three brothers fifty percent of the earnings,” Xiao Yeyang continued.
“Fifty percent?” Daohua showed surprise. “Isn’t that too much?”
Xiao Yeyang asked with a smile, “What, you think it’s too much silver?”
Daohua: “Of course, I don’t think there’s too much silver, but we haven’t done anything and you’d give us half of the profits. Doesn’t that seem like we are taking advantage of you?”
Xiao Yeyang shook his head: “If it weren’t for the recipe you provided, I couldn’t have earned this money. How about this, you take twenty percent, and each of your three brothers takes ten percent?”
Seeing that Xiao Yeyang was sincere about sharing the profits, Daohua no longer demurred and nodded with a smile: “Okay, okay, Xiao Yeyang, you better work hard and let me experience counting silver while lying down.”
Seeing her look enchanted by wealth, Xiao Yeyang burst into laughter, as did Gu Jian and Granny Gu, shaking their heads with a chuckle.
Daohua turned to Xiao Yeyang: “If I’m taking twenty percent of the profits, it wouldn’t be right to do nothing. If you need any help in the future, remember to come find me.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled: “As it happens, I do need your help with something.”
Daohua’s eyes widened: “What is it?”
Xiao Yeyang: “Wenxiu mentioned that you are very detail-oriented when it comes to bookkeeping. Help me with that sometime soon.”
Daohua waved her hand: “That’s a trivial matter. I’ll help you with it after we eat. By the way, when will your Glass Factory begin construction and what will it be named?”
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua: “What do you think of the name ‘Yiyang Glass Factory’?”
“Yiyang?” Daohua laughed outright: “You might as well call it ‘Yiyangzi Glass Factory’.”
Xiao Yeyang frowned: “You don’t think it’s a good name?”
Daohua pondered for a moment: “It sounds odd. ‘Taiyang Glass Factory’ or ‘Xiangyang Glass Factory’ sound much better than ‘Yiyang Glass Factory,’ don’t you think?”
Xiao Yeyang looked toward Granny Gu and Gu Jian: “What do Granny and Master Gu think?”
Gu Jian glanced at Xiao Yeyang and snorted in his heart.
Yiyang, he must have combined his apprentice’s name with his own to come up with that.
His true intention was becoming all too apparent!
After glancing at his clueless apprentice, who was still happily laughing and had no idea, Gu Jian silently shook his head; his nephew still had a long way to go.
Granny Gu looked at the two children with a smile and after some thought said, “How about ‘Xiangyang Glass Factory’?”
Daohua immediately nodded: “That’s good.”
Xiao Yeyang, thinking back to the blessing Daohua gave him on his fifteenth birthday—thrive toward the sun—also smiled and nodded: “Then… let’s name it ‘Xiangyang Glass Factory’.”
With the name settled, the construction of the Glass Factory was nearly ready to start. Following that, Xiao Yeyang began to come and go early and late, personally getting involved in the construction of the Glass Factory.
This was the first time he had taken charge of something all by himself, without relying on anyone else. Every detail of the preparations had been directly overseen by him as he wanted it done perfectly.
He wanted to show everyone who cared about him, as well as those who had deeply hurt him with harsh words, that he was no longer the child who could only vent his frustration and indignation with anger in the face of injustice and inequality.
Daohua had planned to stay for only a few days and then return home, but because Xiao Yeyang was building the Glass Factory, every time he came back, he would discuss the construction’s progress with her, so she did not rush to leave.
Although she didn’t know much about the specifics of factory construction, in the information-rich future, she had seen and heard about some factory construction projects. Occasionally, when Xiao Yeyang hit a bottleneck, she was able to give him a tip or two, which helped him out a lot.
Through the discussion and cooperation between the two of them, Daxia’s first Glass Factory gradually took shape.
…
While Xiao Yeyang was busy establishing the Glass Factory in Ningmen Prefecture, back in Beijing, the Emperor personally allocated land to the Ministry of Works to begin construction of the Beijing Glass Factory.
Only then did the officials realize that the Emperor had possession of the recipe for making glass.
A set of colored glaze tea utensils on the market could cost dozens or even hundreds of taels of silver, and even a small colored glaze mirror would require more than ten taels.
Such huge profits!
Everyone was eager to get involved and take a share of the spoils.
Unfortunately, the Emperor tightly held on to the formula, offering no opportunities for others to get involved.
Inside the Imperial Palace, the Emperor lazily played with a colored glaze cup, ignoring the presence of people like the Jiang Princely Heir, the old royal family Prince, and the Minister of Revenue standing below.
“Your Majesty, the Glass Factory should be managed by the Ministry of Revenue. It’s not good to overburden our colleagues at the Ministry of Works!”
The Minister of Revenue was the first to speak out.
The Emperor glanced at the Minister of Revenue indifferently, “Minister Xie, have you prepared the military provisions for the border soldiers this year?”
The Minister of Revenue’s expression stiffened, revealing a bitter smile, “Your Majesty, you know the situation of the Ministry of Revenue. We really have run out of silver…”
The Emperor raised his hand and interrupted him, “When you have resolved the issue of the border soldiers’ military provisions, then come and talk to Us.”
The Minister of Revenue showed a look of helplessness and silently retreated to the back.
After some thought, the Jiang Princely Heir stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I’ve heard… Ningmen Prefecture is also planning to build a Glass Factory, and it will be managed by Yeyang?”
Looking at the Princely Heir, the Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly with a smile that was not quite a smile, “Princely Heir… you are quite well-informed. We haven’t even had the chance to speak of this matter yet, and you already know.”
The Jiang Princely Heir felt a tightness in his heart. Although he was the Emperor’s brother-in-law, he didn’t dare to rely on his identity at all. He could feel that the Emperor’s attitude toward the Jiang Family was not as close as it appeared on the surface.
For example, the Emperor never called him by his name, always using the title ‘Princely Heir.’
“My second brother has gone to Zhongzhou; it’s hard not to pay some attention to my cousin Yeyang, so I came to know of this.”
The Emperor nodded with a smile, “Indeed, it was I who asked Yeyang to build it. His construction started even before that of Beijing, and by now, it should be nearly completed. He chose a name, what was it? Xiangyang Glass Factory, and he even told Me that it will be the first Glass Factory in Daxia. This child, I haven’t seen him for a few years, and he has indeed become more accomplished.”
Seeing the Emperor in what appeared to be a good mood, the Jiang Princely Heir hesitated before attempting, “Your Majesty, Yeyang is still young and might not withstand the pressure. Perhaps, we could have my second brother assist him?”
“Smash!”
The sound of the cup shattering echoed through the hall, frightening everyone to kneel down.
The Emperor looked regretfully at the broken cup on the floor, “Such a pity, a perfectly good cup, just like that, shattered.” After finishing his words, he glanced at the people kneeling around him with a look of surprise, “Eh? Why have you knelt down? Stand up. We merely dropped a cup, no need for such nervousness.”
The Jiang Princely Heir and others stood up tremblingly.
At this moment, the Emperor looked at the Princely Heir with a smile, “What were you saying just now, Princely Heir? I didn’t hear it clearly.”
At this point, the Jiang Princely Heir dared not repeat his suggestion, and with a forced smile, he shook his head, “This official didn’t say anything.”
The Emperor glanced at him with a smile and did not pursue the matter further. He turned his head to look at the old royal family Prince, “Royal Uncle, what brings you here today?”
Old Prince laughed heartily, “This old servant just came for a visit, it’s been a long time since I paid my respects to Your Majesty, and I’ve missed you.”
The Emperor smiled, “We have also missed Royal Uncle. It’s been a long time since We have had a contest with Royal Uncle. Shall we play a game later on?”
Old Prince nodded vigorously, laughing like a Maitreya Buddha, “Yes, indeed, this old servant’s hands have been itching for a game.”
The Emperor pointed at the memorials on the royal desk, “We still have memorials to review, so Royal Uncle will have to wait a while.”
Old Prince immediately responded, “Then I will wait in the side hall and not disturb Your Majesty further.”
“We, too, will take our leave!”
Seeing the Emperor nod, Old Prince and the others hurriedly left the hall, and once outside the door, they let out a sigh of relief. Exchanging looks, they quickly went their separate ways.
Watching them leave, the Emperor snorted coldly.
He hadn’t yet made any money from it; how could he possibly let others make a profit first?