Zheng Dacheng and Zhou Shuo rested in the villa for two days, then they couldn't sit still and took the initiative to ask Xie Yushu to arrange work for them.
When Xie Yushu told them that she wanted to make glass, both of them were confused.
"Master, what is glass? We don't know how to make it!"
"Yeah, I've never heard of it!"
Xie Yushu gave them some popular science
"Glass is a transparent thing, similar to colored glaze. The main material used to make it is quartz. The sand we usually see has a large content in quartz stone."
Zheng Dacheng asked puzzledly
"It's made of sand and stone. How is that possible? How can sand, stone and glass be compared to each other! One is shiny and the other is gray!"
Zhou Shuo also looked in disbelief.
Xie Yushu had no choice but to explain
The main component of sand and quartz is something called silica, which is composed of silicon atoms and oxygen atoms. After heating at high temperatures, these two atoms can be neatly arranged under certain conditions to form A regular lens is what I call glass.
However, if you want to turn quartz stone into glass, you need to add lime and alkali. The alkali can cause the quartz stone to melt, and the lime can absorb the moisture inside. Stir these things evenly and heat them at high temperature. The temperature should reach 1600°C and heat to a certain To a certain extent, the first thing you get is glass water, and then you put the glass water into a mold, or blow it into the desired shape, cool it, and it's done.
The theory and steps are basically like this. You go experiment first and try to make it as soon as possible. After success, Master Zheng will be responsible for making glass plates of different specifications, and Zhou Shuo will be responsible for making glass water into tea sets, including teapots, tea bowls, lampshades, and wine bottles. , and some things you can make out of porcelain.
Of course, I will focus on making the tea set first, and try to make it more high-end and classy. I will use it to open up business routes for our Yuquan Villa!
As for the monthly profit for the two of you, it is only twelve taels a month, and there will be a commission at the end of the year. This is determined based on the current year's performance. If your family is willing, you can share in the factory in the villa next year.
The two of them used to run a small shop by themselves. When the profit was good, they could earn maybe sixty-seven taels of silver a month. But when the profit was not good, it was common to earn three or four taels. They had to pay various taxes, and occasionally there were gangsters. The scoundrels charge protection fees and have enough to live on throughout the year.
Unexpectedly, when I came here, the host directly gave me ten taels of silver for a month, which was just leftover. They also took care of food and housing, and even gave the family a small courtyard. It was much more comfortable than living in the capital!
The two of them immediately thanked Xie Yushu. Although they didn't quite understand why a sheep and a turtle could be made into glass by putting them together, what the owner said was true, and they would definitely be able to make it if they followed the instructions.
So I patted my chest and promised that I would make the glass before the end of the year!
It's a joke. The owner has prepared all the steps and raw materials. If they can't make it, wouldn't they be too incompetent? How can they have the dignity to pay such a high monthly fee?
The two of them toiled for four or five days, burned out three furnaces of waste products, and finally made glass water. They poured the glass water on a smooth iron plate and used rollers to press out different thicknesses. The first batch of glass was made!
Looking at the smooth and transparent glass, the two of them opened their mouths enough to swallow eggs.
"Oh my goodness! This humble broken stone can really make such exquisite and beautiful things!"
The people who helped them were also amazed
"I'm so shocked! This thing is more translucent than that glass!"
A few people wondered for a while, then hurriedly ran to find Xie Yushu excitedly, asking her to see if this thing was finished!
It happened to be a coincidence that Han Zhongyu was taking a break that day. He had nothing to do, so he rode over with Han Zhong and Han Yi to see if there was any progress on Xie Yushu's glass. When he saw Xie Yushu, he saw someone running to report. Glass is made.
The two went directly to the temporary factory to inspect the results.
When the two arrived, Zheng Dacheng and Zhou Shuo were carefully placing the glass on the table outside. When they saw Xie Yushu and Han Zhongyu, they hurriedly stepped forward and said goodbye.
"Master, sir, look, is this the glass you mentioned?
This thing is so beautiful! "
Xie Yushu took a look and nodded.
"Yes, this is it! This thing can be used as a window instead of oiled paper. In this way, the sunlight can shine directly into the house, making the house brighter. It is much more convenient for working, writing, reading, or doing needlework!"
Han Zhongyu also looked surprised
"Such a bright thing is really made of stone and sand! It's such a magical thing!"
Zheng Dacheng heard this
"Sir, this is true!
The owner of the village told me that day, and I still didn’t believe it, but hearing what the owner said was true, we both thought, if it was true, if we did what the owner said, we would definitely be able to make it, but wouldn’t we actually make it!
The owner is really awesome!
With our pig brains, we would never have imagined that this stone could make such good things! "
Han Zhongyu was very shocked and exclaimed
"Don't talk about you, I can't even think of it!
There are people outside the world, and there is a sky outside the world. Since I met your owner, I have opened up a lot of horizons! "
Even though he was sighing, there was also a bit of pride in his voice!
Xie Yushu looked at the two pieces, pointed to the thinner one and said
"I plan to take the affordable route and make it into small pieces one foot square and sell it to ordinary people, making small profits but quick turnover!
This size should be the largest size that ordinary people can use! It’s time to go over the limit! "
"Well, indeed, the windows of common people cannot exceed one foot, those of officials cannot exceed three feet, those of princes and generals cannot exceed six feet, and the windows of the emperor's bedroom and royal study room must not exceed nine feet."
Then make a thicker one, cut a five-foot one and sell it to merchants, cut some six-foot ones and sell them to officials, and then cut some nine-foot ones. Make a batch in the first year. Then you can give Send it to the palace and exchange it for me some money. I will use it to build the villa next year!
"Sure, this glass will probably become popular across the country as soon as it comes out, and the Holy One will definitely praise it!
It’s just that the Chinese New Year is only thirteen days away, is it still too late? "
"Almost, it can be made in four days. If you transport it to the capital in four or five days, it can be handed over to the palace in 289. If the people in the palace are quick, the emperor can watch the fireworks in the glass house on New Year's Eve!"
"Then it's settled, I'll go back and write a greeting note, and help you collect your reward!"
The two made a plan and told Zheng Dacheng and the others to hurry up and put the others aside first, driving out the 200 yuan that was sent to the palace and the 80 yuan that was given to Han Zhongyu.
He also asked Zhou Shuo to try to make a few sets of tea sets and lampshades. If he can do this, he can do it. If he can't, he can put it away for now and study it later.
As for herself, she ordered people to go to the city to order ten sets of nanmu frames, and planned to make a few mirrors and send them over together, so that they, old antiques, could see what a real mirror was!
