"Son-in-law, is the soup ready?"
Xiao Huan had just poked her head in from outside the kitchen when she was pushed back by Li Yi.
"I still need another fifteen minutes. I'll call you when it's ready."
Ruyi liked the sweet and sour soup from the dining hall very much. She had specially learned it last time, and now it was an indispensable dish on the family's dining table every day.
The maidservant stood guard outside the door while the son-in-law brewed soup for the young miss. She actually wanted to go in and help, but the son-in-law wouldn't let her, not even when the second young miss wanted to sneak a sip. The son-in-law was treating the young miss better and better these days.
However, the son-in-law was also very good to Xiao Huan and the second young miss. The maidservant raised her wrist and looked at the colorful bracelet on it. Every time the maidservants in the residence saw it, their eyes would almost pop out...
...
Perhaps it was because he had helped the old emperor earn a lot of money last time, but he didn't say anything about the management of the academy at home these days.
In these few days, Li Yi had placed most of his energy on the glass, no, on the colored glass.
Because the sand contained metal elements, the colored glass that was produced was mostly colored. Transparent glass was more difficult to produce, and a large part of it depended on luck.
Thus, the colorless glazed Guanyin statue sold to the old monk Tan Yin for 8,000 taels was not expensive at all. If not for his friendship with the old monk and sold to the Fahua Temple, they wouldn't even be able to touch it for less than 20,000 taels.
He had originally considered selling two statues to the Fahua Temple at a high price, but after some thought, he decided against it. That would be a little too unethical. In two years, he wouldn't even be able to be friends with them. Although what happened here two years later wouldn't affect him much, the thought of being hated by all the monks and Taoists in the world and being cursed all day long made him shudder.
This business was too risky. His family was a small temple and couldn't withstand such a big storm. Thus, he had to rope in at least two reliable partners. The Wang family was one, but it wasn't too safe. The safest way was to rope in the old emperor who only cared about money. He had been jealous of the silver of the officials and nobles in the capital for a long time, and he wasn't afraid of offending anyone. He was definitely a good partner to work with.
Although this way, they would earn a lot less money, in the future, they wouldn't have to be scolded, and they wouldn't have to bear grudges. The risk was almost zero, and it was still very worth it.
This matter could not be rushed. He had to plan step by step. While benefiting the nobility in the capital, he had to strive to maximize the benefits, and at the same time, mess with the Cui family …
Fang walked to the door and said, "Son-in-law, that Wang guy is here again."
…
"Brother Li." Wang Yong walked in from outside, cupped his hands, and greeted with a smile.
"Brother Wang, there's no need to stand on ceremony. Please sit."
Just as he was thinking about the Wang Clan, Wang Yong came over. After Xiao Huan served tea, the two did not exchange many words before Wang Yong went straight to the point.
Wang Yong raised his head and said, "This time, my father asked me to come over. He wants to ask about the 'big business' that Brother Li mentioned last time …"
Although the two of them had reached an agreement on that big business last time, Wang Yong still didn't know what that big business was until now.
It was only because of his trust in County Uncle Li's ability and the Wang Clan's principle of being greedy for money that he didn't ask.
Li Yi smiled and said, "Even if Brother Wang didn't ask, I would still tell you today. Brother Wang, please wait for a moment, I will be back soon."
"Fang, come with me for a moment." Li Yi walked out of the door and said to Fang, who was leaning against the wall to eavesdrop.
Wang Yong picked up the teacup and took a sip. There was a trace of doubt on his face, but it quickly disappeared.
Not long after, he saw County Uncle Li and the big man come in with a few boxes of different sizes.
Old Fang walked out and closed the door behind him.
"Brother Li, this is?"
Li Yi handed over a square box and said, "Brother Wang, open it and you will know."
Wang Yong took the box and was surprised to find that it was a bit heavy. After opening the lid, his face was stunned for a moment and then immediately widened.
There was a fist-sized ball-shaped object in the box. It was colorful, and as it shook slightly, it gave off a brilliant glow. As the eldest son of the Wang Clan, he had seen countless treasures, so he recognized what it was with a single glance.
"Colored glass!"
He raised his head to look at Li Yi and asked in disbelief, "Colored glaze is a natural object, the head of the Five Famous Artifacts and one of the Seven Treasures of Buddhism. It is rarely seen. Brother Li, where did you get this colored glaze?"
Li Yi didn't answer and asked with a smile, "In Brother Wang's opinion, how much is this colored glass ball worth?"
Wang Yong shook his head and said, "Colored glass is extremely rare, and such a regular shape is even rarer. Once it is out in the market, I am afraid that countless people will fight for it, especially the Buddhists, who will certainly not let it go. Its value is really hard to estimate. However, if it is handed over to the Wang Clan, we can at least sell it for this amount."
Wang Yong stretched out a finger.
"Ten thousand taels."
Li Yi smiled and said, "There is no hurry. Brother Wang, look at the others first."
Wang Yong nodded and closed the lid of the box. He carefully put it away and opened another box.
In an instant, he was almost blinded by the colorful light that overflowed from the box.
Another colored glass ball! A different colored glass ball!
Wang Yong raised his head abruptly and glanced at Li Yi. He seemed to have realized something. After putting the box away, he opened the other one.
This time, he could no longer suppress the shock on his face.
He put down the box and reached for another …
…
…
"Seven …"
The expression on Wang Yong's face was a little dazed. There were a total of seven glass balls, seven glass balls of different colors …
He swallowed a mouthful of saliva and asked, "Brother Li, where did you get these things from?"
Li Yi looked at him and asked again, "Brother Wang, how much do you think these glass balls are worth?"
Wang Yong was startled and said, "The rarer something is, the more valuable it is. Any treasure, if there are too many of them, the value will be greatly reduced. If these glass balls are thrown out at once, the value will definitely be greatly affected."
Li Yi smiled and took out the eighth glass ball from the box. He weighed it in his hand and said, "Then what if there are only seven of these glass balls in this world and you can summon the Dragon God by gathering all seven different colored glass balls?"
"What?" Wang Yong was confused.
Pa!
He let go of the glass ball and it fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
Wang Yong's expression changed drastically. He quickly stood up and said, "Brother Li, what are you doing?"
Li Yi looked at him and said, "Then there are only seven."
Wang Yong was startled and slowly sat down. He took a deep breath and said, "Brother Li, how many more glass balls do you have?"
Li Yi smiled and said, "I accidentally dug up a glass mine. I can have as much as you want."
Wang Yong was startled again. After a moment, he raised his head and said, "Brother Li, you should know that if we sell off a large amount at once, the glass will lose its original value. Moreover, if there are more glass balls in the future, we will immediately become the target of public criticism."
"Not us." Li Yi shook his head and said, "It's you."
He looked at Wang Yong and said, "The Li family will not be involved in this matter. The glass balls were brought in by a wealthy merchant from another country. The Wang family bought them at a high price and sold them for charity in the capital. Forty percent of the proceeds will be donated to the national treasury for disaster relief …"
"His Majesty will also be involved in this matter?" Wang Yong asked with a serious expression.
Li Yi thought about it and nodded.
"How much will the Wang family take?" he asked again.
"Twenty percent," Li Yi said straightforwardly.
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