It was impossible for Zhang Xiaobao to let Li Xun kill people. In that case, he would be finished before Li Xun was killed. However, he thought of another good way, which was to use some things in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. When the weather was warmer, he was ready to do that.
In fact, it was very simple. It was to cultivate Li Xun's courage, such as drifting and so on. As long as the skill was good enough, he could guarantee Li Xun's safety. First, he would train Li Xun from these things. Then, he would catch some wild beasts and let Li Xun kill them personally. As long as he killed more, it would be fine.
In fact, if someone was sentenced to death, it would be better to let Li Xun be the chief surgeon. This was simply impossible. Li Xun's identity was there. Another way was to let Li Xun go to the graveyard and scare him at night.
Zhang Xiaobao believed that Li Xun's nerves were strong enough. Under normal circumstances, he would not be scared out of his wits. Bit by bit, after experiencing more things, he would slowly cultivate a kind of temperament.
Now, Li Xun needed to exercise his body. With a strong body, he could deal with all kinds of dangers. When Li Xun heard Zhang Xiaobao promise him to start using a special training method when summer came, he immediately went to exercise happily.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan began to let people burn the glass. This temperature was not easy to control, so they could only rely on the experience of the person who made the kiln. Therefore, for each batch of ingredients, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan made more, so that they could experiment under different temperatures.
After letting people do it according to this method, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were finally free again. They did not need to worry about other things.
Now, all he had to do was to wait for the good news from the people who were going to Hainan Island. At the same time, he also wanted to see what the people here would like to buy. If he liked her, he could give her more in the future. If he didn't like her, he would think of ways to make others like her.
"Xiao Bao, do you want to kill two of those crocodiles, and then use their skin to make something to see the reaction of the market?" Wang Juan asked Zhang Xiaobao as she washed her hands and wiped them with a towel.
"Let's not do the things that others do. Let's do something that others can't think of. Who knows what's new?" Zhang Xiaobao also decided to kill a few. It would be best if he could get a few more swamps and catch some small crocodiles and send them over. In the absence of natural predators, the small crocodiles would slowly grow up. As for artificial breeding Zhang Xiaobao, he did not have such thoughts.
He heard that when other people tried to breed crocodiles, they failed many times with the help of those instruments. Artificial breeding should not be as simple as breeding poultry. However, they could be fed some meat appropriately so that the small crocodiles would not be in danger when hunting.
Zhang Xiaobao did not care whether the wild crocodiles existed or not. Lu Zhou could not include all the crocodiles in one place. As long as he could get the skin of the crocodiles, that would be enough. However, the wild nature of the crocodiles could not be eliminated easily by feeding them some food.
When Zhang Xiaobao mentioned it, Wang Juan fell into deep thought. Currently, there were leather armors made of crocodile skin here. There were also some weapon handles made of crocodile skin wrapped with a layer of skin. There was also a decorative belt made of crocodile skin.
Crocodiles were not only found here. Some lakes and rivers also had crocodiles. As long as people saw them, they would think of ways to kill them and then sell them for money. The main reason was that if people were not careful, they would be hurt. It was just like tigers. The people here did not have the idea of protecting wild animals.
As long as they could eat people, they would try their best to kill them. It would be best if they could kill all of them and make them extinct. In that case, it was impossible for the two of them to ask for protection.
Wang Juan was thinking hard about using crocodile skin to make something that was not available here. For example, a leather bag. This was now on sale, mainly to the rich people in the capital. It could be made, but it was a little too monotonous. Wang Juan believed that as long as people saw those beautiful leather bags made of other kinds of skin, they would think of using crocodile skin to make them.
Businessmen were very smart. Sometimes, they only needed a little hint to let them find business opportunities. In this way, they did not need to think about using crocodile skin to make leather bags.
Gloves, boots? It seemed a little wasteful to use crocodile skin to make these two things. If someone was willing to do it, they would have done it long ago. There was no need to wait for her to think about it.
After thinking about several ideas, Wang Juan was not satisfied. She said to Zhang Xiaobao, "I can't think of anything. I don't know what to do. It is too difficult to show the value of crocodile skin and also something that the people here can't think of."
Zhang Xiaobao laughed and said, "I know something. It is buttons. People don't use buttons now. There are no buttons on clothes. We can make some clothes with buttons. When the time comes, we can make some clothes with buttons. When the time comes, we can use wood, iron, and copper to make it, and then wrap a little crocodile skin on it.
In this way, even if other people want to learn, they have to get some crocodile skin first. Decorative things are usually more expensive than practical things, and the cost is correspondingly less. Believe me, just do it. "
"Then let's try it, but don't destroy the whole skin. First, make some scraps. A button doesn't need to be so big." Wang Juan also agreed.
*****
The two of them chose something that could be made and began to let people kill the crocodiles. It was very difficult for one person to kill the crocodile. Usually, he would even be eaten by the crocodile. But when there were more people, the trouble was small.
Some people were responsible for killing the crocodile. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan put their energy on making the glass. They failed continuously. The two of them had thought about this for a long time. They were not worried about not being able to make it. If others could do it, they could do it.
The mercury and tinfoil were also ready. They were just waiting for the glass to be made. They would cut it into thin slices, put tinfoil on it, and cover it with a layer of mercury so that it could be used as a mirror. The two of them had already set the price. The cheapest palm-sized mirror cost 50 strings of coins.
This was the price that they would often sell in the future. In the beginning, they would not sell it at all. Instead, they would give it to some people that they could not provoke now, such as Li Longji, those princes, ministers, and some very powerful families.
"It's done, it's done. Little Young Master, Little Miss, this glass thing is done. It's right here. Hurry up and bring it over."
Just when Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were preparing to go to the dock to see if the ship had arrived, the person in charge of making the glass ran over here happily. He excitedly told Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan. During the process of talking, he waved his hand. Two people behind him used wood and rope to carry the large piece of glass to Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan.
"Little Young Master, Little Miss, this is it. It's so beautiful. It looks green." The person who came was still there. He still touched the large piece of glass with his hand.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan went over to take a look. What green? It was too thick. The whole glass was like a big stone. It was because of this reason that the glass looked green. It was because of the light.
They touched the glass with their hand. It was indeed this thing. The two of them were also happy. Although it was not flat, for the two of them, it was just a matter of making the craftsman more effort. With such a large piece, they could make more small mirrors, eyes, and other things.
"Good, good. Remember the formula. In the future, burn according to it. Also, the temperature in the kiln needs to be controlled well." Zhang Xiaobao acknowledged the effort of the people in the inner courtyard. He nodded and praised.
Wang Juan also said at the side, "You must keep it a secret. Don't let others see it for a while. Also, don't talk about it. When the time comes, I will definitely give you more red packets."
Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao had their own considerations. This place was really too remote. If too many people knew about it, the two of them did not doubt that some people would take risks for this thing. And they were the targets of that kind of people.
The person who came nodded and promised. After Zhang Xiaobao ordered people to send this thing to the craftsman in the inner courtyard, the person who came came back with the people who carried it. He wanted to burn more of it. Anyway, he knew the formula.
"Let's not go to the dock first. Go back and wait. The craftsman should be able to get a small piece soon. This glass is a good thing. In the future, it can be used to plant greenhouses. It can also be used to plant watermelons of various shapes. I am going to plant a square watermelon and see the market. If it is good, we will do this in the future."
Zhang Xiaobao was not in a hurry to go to the dock. He pulled Wang Juan into the house to rest. When the piece of glass was sent over, the two of them would try to make a mirror.
Just as Zhang Xiaobao said, the two of them did not wait too long. The craftsman brought the piece of glass over. If they did not know that the craftsman would not use the floating method to make flat glass, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan looked at the flat glass in front of them and wondered which craftsman knew how to make flat glass.
"How can it be so thin and flat? It is really hard to imagine. It seems that the craftsman is really amazing."
Wang Juan gently touched the glass with her hand and said to herself.
Zhang Xiaobao also heard Wang Juan's words and said, "It is very normal. With so many jade and other stones, they can make very fine carvings and make many shapes. It is not difficult to make a piece of glass. Come on, wipe the glass clean first. Otherwise, if you really get tin foil and mercury on it, the traces left on your hands will never be removed."
"Okay, I will wipe it. When the time comes, make two pieces of the mirror and give them to our mother. I am not in a hurry to use my own mirror." Wang Juan also wanted to have a mirror now. No matter how clear a bronze mirror was, it could not be compared to a glass mirror. Just think about it and you will know. When the time comes, she will take out a mirror from her delicate leather bag and look at herself in some personal gatherings. This will raise her identity.
The two of them were busy and only finished the mirror at night. Some parts of the tinfoil were still wrinkled, but this was not a problem. They just needed to practice more in the future. Perhaps if they gave it to a craftsman to make, the craftsman would be able to make it better than the two of them.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan asked the craftsman to remove the wrinkles, leaving only a few mirrors the size of two palms. They also asked the craftsman to make a frame, which was actually a wooden box that could be opened and closed back and forth. The box was carved with patterns and was also very thin.
When it was time for dinner, the two of them each held three mirrors. A large piece of glass could be cut into several small pieces. The two of them prepared to give a mirror to Xin Er, Liu 'er, and Weiwei in addition to their mother. The last one would naturally be kept by Wang Juan. This was very meaningful to her, she decided to keep this mirror for as long as possible.
The dishes were served. Today, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan did not immediately pick up food for everyone like before. Instead, they sat there motionless, looking back and forth between their family members without making a sound.
"Xiao Bao, is there something difficult to do? Tell me, I'll help you think of a solution. " Seeing her son and daughter-in-law like this, Jang Wong Clan thought that the two of them also encountered a problem, so she asked. However, in her heart, she did not expect that she and the others would be able to help. She just told her son and daughter-in-law not to worry about the family and to do whatever they wanted. After all, they could even do things that defied the heavens, and they did not have this kind of expression, so it must be more difficult.
Zhang Xiaobao shook his head and took out the mirror from his arms. He pushed the wooden box in front of his mother and said, "Mother, I made something for you. Take it as a gift."
Wang Juan also did the same thing and pushed the mirror in front of her mother. This time, she did not say anything and only waited for her mother to open it.
Wang Juan's mother was not as steady as Zhang Xiaobao's mother. When she heard Zhang Xiaobao say that it was a gift, she immediately opened the box. As soon as she opened it, she was shocked and said in a trembling voice, "Cuckoo, tell mother, how did mother get in the box? Quickly get mother out. Is this box used to lock people up?"
When she said this, Jang Wong Clan also opened the box and looked inside. She was also shocked, and then showed a happy expression. She said to Zhang Xiaobao, "Xiao Bao, is this a mirror? Aiya, it can see more clearly than the bronze mirror. How did you get this thing? Could it be that you and Cuckoo went to the Celestial Court and stole it from there? "
Jang Wong Clan was not bad and reacted quickly. She was not like Wang Juan's mother, who thought that she was locked in a box. When Wang Juan's mother heard that it was a mirror, she made a few movements. Sure enough, the person inside the box also made a few movements, just like the bronze mirror they usually used.
However, the reflection of this mirror was too clear, so clear that it was as if a person had entered it. Thinking of Jang Wong Clan's words, she looked at Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao nervously and said,
"Xiao Bao, Cuckoo, mother knows that you are doing this for my good, but you can't take the risk. Quickly, send it back to the Celestial Court. Otherwise, if they find out that the mirror is missing, they will come after us. Mother is satisfied with just one look. Knowing that there is such a thing in this world, better than others, I don't want it anymore, quickly send it back. Ah, mother only wants you to grow up safely, nothing else."
"Mother, what Celestial Court thing? This is something that Xiao Bao and I made ourselves. The Celestial Court doesn't have it now. If we really send it back and they find out, it will be really troublesome. This one is a little small, so it's just right to put it in the leather bag that was sent last time. When we make a bigger one in the future, we can put it in the room and stand in front of everyone, so that they can see it."
When Wang Juan heard her mother's words, she was very moved. These words should make people laugh, but it made her eyes turn red. She hurriedly explained, and at the same time, said that the Celestial Court was something that her family thought so, so she just let them think so.
"Okay, okay, okay, as long as it's not something that belongs to the Celestial Court. Don't worry, mother won't take it out casually. If I want to take it out, I will do it in the room, so that the people in the sky won't see it. Avoid them."
When Wang Juan's mother heard that she didn't need to send it back, she was even happier. She looked at the mirror like it was a treasure, and her face was full of smiles.
Jang Wong Clan was also a little worried just now, so she pushed the mirror in front of Zhang Xiaobao. Now that she knew that this was made by her son and daughter-in-law, and had nothing to do with the Celestial Court, she took the mirror back and carefully looked at it. She picked up a strand of hair on her temples and nodded with satisfaction.
Seeing that their mother was satisfied, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also felt relieved. They were really afraid that their mother would be worried.
"Xiao Bao, is it troublesome to make this thing?" When Zhang Zhong saw the mirror, he thought about making money. Now that he was used to new things appearing in the house from time to time, it seemed that every new thing could bring enough benefits to the family. This mirror should be the same. Looking at Qiao 'er's happy face, the other girls couldn't help but like it.
"It's not troublesome, but you have to keep it a secret. The cost of this thing is very low, and it will be sold at a high price in the future. Father, I'll have to trouble you to write a few letters and send this mirror to someone. The kind that doesn't cost a single cent. You have to send it, so that we can be safe here."
Zhang Xiaobao explained to his father again, and at the same time, he told him his idea.
Zhang Zhong nodded and said, "I know, I know. Our family often sends things to others. Those who take the things will always help us when we need it. Otherwise, how can we be so free and unfettered here? We have to send more to the Emperor. After all, there are many women there. If one or two of them don't get it, they might do bad things behind our backs. "
Zhang Zhong was no longer the same Zhang Zhong who had cheated his wife in the beginning, nor was he the same person who had been the top scorer for the first time. Now, he gradually understood and adapted to official matters. He could clearly distinguish what should be done and what should not be done.
"Father, don't worry. In a few days, there will be a lot of mirrors coming out. When the time comes, we'll send them together. Just wrap them in cotton. Be careful on the road, otherwise they will break very easily."
Zhang Xiaobao was very happy with his father's change. Now that he was a provincial governor and had to endure more hardships, he wouldn't have to worry about being cheated when he entered the Ru Imperial Court in the future.
This meal was different from before. The old man in the family was very happy, and the two people who received the mirrors were also very happy. As they ate, they carefully passed the mirrors back and forth. They each said the price of the mirrors, and in the end, it was lower than Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's.
As a result, the meal took a lot longer, twice as long as usual. After the meal, the family didn't return to their rooms. Instead, they continued to look at the mirrors. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan left. The two of them had to send the mirrors to the other three people.
When the two of them found the old man, Li Xun and the others were all there. The old man acted as the referee according to the rules of the game. The others were divided into four families and played a game of monopoly.
"Elder Sister Xin Er, Elder Sister Liu 'er, and Weiwei, this is for you." Wang Juan ran and distributed the mirrors in her hands. She also took out the one that belonged to her and fiddled with it. It wasn't that she hadn't seen a mirror before, but that there was a mirror in this place. The meaning behind it was not simple.
When the three girls saw the wooden box in their hands, they felt that it was not bad. They curiously opened it to take a look. In an instant, they cried out in surprise like Wang Juan's mother and Zhang Xiaobao's mother.
The person in the mirror also opened his mouth wide in shock. When he blinked his eyes, the person in the mirror also learned to blink very quickly. It seemed that as soon as he moved, the person in the mirror moved as well.
"I know, this is a mirror. Wow! You can make a mirror like this? I'm rich, I'm rich now. In the future, if there's anything you can't eat or spend, let me sell it. "
Xin Er was stunned for a moment, and finally reacted. With her talent in business, she immediately knew the value of a mirror. Not only could it be sold directly, but if it was done well, it could also be used to make money. It could also be used to exchange some benefits with others.
"What mirror? What mirror? Is it really that good? Let me see, let me see. " Li Xun didn't care at first, but when he heard Xin Er's words, he curiously leaned over. Xin Er closed the mirror at once, and didn't let Li Xun see it no matter what.
Li Xun had no choice but to find Wang Juan. He took the mirror from Wang Juan's hand and opened it. He also opened his eyes wide and said to Zhang Xiaobao,
"Did you guys make this thing as well? I want as many as you have. First, give me 100, no, 500. I want to give it to someone, no, 100. Just give it to the key people. If you give it to everyone else, it can't be sold at a high price. You don't expect them to buy it. "
"Only 10, take it or leave it." When Wang Juan heard Li Xun say 100, she turned her head away. There was no discussion at all.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
