frightfiction Chapter 406 Making Money
Chapter 406 Making Money
Min Xi certainly would not stay in the manor to guard it, but Dan Yangzi and several craftsmen stayed with him. Min Xi did not have time to watch the colored glaze firing, so Dan Yangzi had to stay, at least until the craftsmen fully mastered the colored glaze firing technology before leaving.
On the way back, Yunlin carried a basket full of shepherd's purse. Min Xi looked at his sunburned face and said, "Wow! You got quite a lot. Let's go back and make dumplings."
"Okay, I want to make dumplings too," Yunlin said.
"Okay, I'll teach you."
When they got home, it was almost dusk. Min Xi didn't want to disappoint her child, so she quickly called the cook to help her pick vegetables, mix stuffing and make dumplings. By the time they had dinner, it was already the 10:00 p.m.
Yun Ji had been busy in the study room all day. When he was called out for dinner, he looked at the table full of dishes and dumplings and asked, "Did my ninth brother make this meal?"
Yunlin said proudly: "Brother, I made dumplings too!"
Yun Ji patted his head and said, "Not bad. You even learned how to make dumplings. Did you learn it from your second brother?"
"Yes, my second brother taught me. He said I was very talented. I made them very well the first time I made them. None of them broke when cooked."
"Yes, today's dumplings must be delicious." As he said this, his stomach couldn't help but growl.
Min Xi laughed: "You are hungry, why don't you eat quickly. The dumpling filling was prepared by Lin'er, come and try it."
Yun Ji picked one up curiously and put it in his mouth: "Hmm! Dumplings stuffed with shepherd's purse. Did Lin Er dig the shepherd's purse?"
"Yes, I don't have time to dig shepherd's purse. Lin'er digs it himself in the farm."
Yun Lin showed a proud look on his face. "I dug them all. At first I couldn't find a place, but later I found a lot of them in the rice field, and they were very tender. Next time I have a day off, I want to go dig shepherd's purse. Big brother, can you come with us? It's fun in the farm."
Yun Ji looked at his brother's expectant eyes and said, "I'll try my best. I'm a bit busy recently, but once I get familiar with the work of the Ministry of Households, things should get better in the future."
Min Xi picked up a piece of boiled chicken for him and said, "Don't be so stressed. You are more than capable enough." According to the work efficiency of the officials in the court, Yun Ji's work status is as efficient as that of three people.
"I know. Once I'm familiar with the work at hand, I'll have time to accompany you." Yun Ji felt a little guilty. He had been concentrating on official duties recently and had neglected Min Xi and Yun Lin.
"It's okay, just focus on your work first. We all understand." Min Xi said.
"Brother, it's okay. We can play together when you're done with your work. You should take care of yourself." Yunlin acted like a little adult and knew how to care about his brother.
Yun Ji nodded, feeling deeply moved.
After four or five days, Danyangzi returned to the city and brought Minxi the first batch of glassware. As expected, the first batch was very successful, and the glassware produced was also rich in color, including gray, blue, green, orange, and red.
The biggest problem is that the craftsmen’s skills in making colored glass are limited, and the vessels they produce are not exquisite.
Danyangzi said, "This batch has quite a lot of quantity, should we sell it?"
Min Xi rejected it: "Don't sell this batch. Let them make more. When they are exquisitely made, they can be sold. Try to make more glazed panels. I plan to use them to inlay the windows."
Winters in the north are very cold. To keep out the cold, new window paper is pasted every winter. In order to get better light, white Qingming paper is used, but the light transmittance is not very good. And it has to be re-pasted every year. For wealthy families, this alone is a big project. If there is a glass that can be used once and for all, which is not only windproof and has good light transmittance, but also saves the trouble of pasting every year, it must be very popular.
Dan Yangzi asked: "Does that mean we should use a lighter color?"
"Yes, use the original color. Blow it thinner, but not so thin that it breaks at the touch. It should be about this thick." Min Xi gestured to Dan Yangzi.
Dan Yangzi nodded.
Min Xi said, "Then I'd like to trouble you to stay at the manor for a little longer."
"It's okay. I'll try my best to deal with the glass kiln matter, and then come back to do other things with you." Dan Yangzi is still very serious about his work.
During the time when Danyangzi went to make glass, Min Xi was naturally not idle. He no longer tinkered with glass, but tried hard to recall the chemical knowledge he had learned before, tried to do various chemical experiments, synthesized and refined various substances, and strived to apply them to steel synthesis as soon as possible, to create the required alloys, and solve the problem of materials needed for steam engines.
In fact, if Dan Yangzi were to do the chemistry experiment, perhaps there would be more unexpected gains. Unfortunately, Dan Yangzi was not available at the moment, so Min Xi had to do it himself.
About a month later, Danyangzi came back from the farm outside the city. The glassware he brought back was already very good. It seemed that the craftsmen had not been idle during this period and had worked very carefully.
These glasswares are different from Western glasswares. They have obvious Chinese style. The shapes are simple and elegant, and the aesthetics are quite good. Danyangzi, the supervisor, deserves credit for this.
Min Xi thought that the glassware could be sold, so he put it on the shelves in Yunxianghao, a shop specializing in southern goods. The price was half cheaper than imported glassware, and he told customers that the glassware was made by himself and not a Western product.
After the glassware was put on the shelves, it caused a small trend. Many customers who were reluctant to buy it before because it was too expensive are now willing to buy some to use as decorations. Moreover, the glassware they made is not all for decoration, many of them are practical, which makes it even more popular.
After this, Danyangzi no longer stayed in the manor, but came back to do chemical experiments with Min Xi.
The craftsmen in the village were very capable, and the products they made were good and sold well. What surprised Min Xi the most was the colored glass plate, which was actually made. It was a coincidence that thanks to an accident, a colored glass plate was made that was larger than the glass Min Xi had seen in Europe.