Zhu Houzhao brought in a wave of passenger traffic.
When customers see the variety of products, they are naturally very interested, but when they see the prices... they are a little intimidated.
"...Please look at this, everyone. This is a mirror. It is much clearer than a bronze mirror. A mirror is not expensive, only two hundred coins. A larger one is four hundred coins..."
"Look at this magnifying glass again. If you put it on something, you can see the details clearly. It costs five hundred cents a piece. A child is innocent."
"If you have presbyopia, you can use these, called glasses, to see things close to your eyes."
While shopkeeper Huang Li was promoting the product, he also pulled over an elderly wearer.
After the tryer put it on, I found something for him to test.
The man said in surprise: "Sure enough, I can see it clearly!"
"This kind of glasses is for those who read a lot and can see clearly in the distance!"
"Who believes it?"
"Don't say it, this young man comes here and gives it a try!"
Then a scholar was pulled over to try his myopia glasses.
After he put it on, he almost jumped up on the spot: "I saw it, I saw it!"
In these days, presbyopia is not taken seriously, but many people have myopia, especially scholars. With glasses and without glasses, what you see are two completely different worlds.
"How much is this thing?"
"One tael of silver per pair can be made according to the specifications of your eyes, so as to ensure that you can see things in the distance clearly without getting dizzy. Those who are usually blind with their eyes open are blessed."
"It's so expensive? Who's to say it's blind?"
"It's better to be more expensive. This young man, I've had my glasses checked and it's time to return them. Don't hold them. If they are damaged, you will have to pay for them."
Huang Li saw that the scholar didn't want to buy it, so he just came to join in the fun, and then he grabbed the glasses back.
The scholar's look of reluctance made it clear that this was indeed a good thing, but it was of little use to ordinary people.
"Is there anything cheaper?"
"Yes, there are glass cups here, thirty cents each. Crystal clear."
"Isn't it cheaper to use a glass cup than a porcelain cup? A bowl for drinking tea is fine."
Huang Lize looked very proud: "The things we have here are of high quality. These things are not available on the market. After buying them, others will see them and know that they belong to a noble family."
Huang Li gave this group of people some comfort, making people think that if they buy a glass cup and go home, they can reach the top of their lives.
"There are also glass beads here, which can be said to be precious stones. They cost ten cents each. If you want to buy them, please come early. We will wait while supplies last..."
…
…
There's a sale going on out there.
I don’t know if anyone bought it, but at least Zhu Houzhao found it lackluster after looking at it.
"There is nothing new. I want to bring more good things back." Zhu Houzhao looked very depressed.
He came out to see interesting things, but what he saw were all things he had experienced before.
Zhang Zhou said: "I've been too busy lately. How can I find time to do anything good? Come with me."
Then he took Zhu Houzhao to the backyard of the shop, where a "bicycle" made of iron and wood and welded was parked there. The previously cast iron pipes were used on it to form the main frame of the bicycle.
"What is this?" Zhu Houzhao was curious.
Zhang Zhou walked over and got on the bicycle. Although there were no tires and the chain was very stiff, Zhu Houzhao was shocked by the way the two wheels were running when he pedaled on flat ground.
"It's so fun, give it to me!"
Then Zhu Houzhao wanted to do it himself.
Zhang Zhou said: "You don't know how, just watch from the sidelines. I can't do anything if you fall."
"It's okay, I'm not afraid of falling!"
Then Zhu Houzhao insisted on getting on the bicycle, which made Liu Jin and others who followed him anxious.
A group of people supported and supported Zhu Houzhao beside him, making him kick up.
Although the bicycle Zhang Zhou originally built was not big, Zhu Houzhao's legs were still a little short, and his physical strength was not good enough. He was exhausted and sweating profusely after being carried around for a while.
"Sir, let's come down." Liu Jin persuaded.
He knew that if Zhu Houzhao fell again, it would probably not be as simple as getting hit when he went back.
Zhu Houzhao was tired and happy.
He got off the bicycle and wiped the sweat from his head: "It's okay!"
Zhang Zhou squinted at the side and said: "If you like it, I can customize a set for you, make it according to your height, and add a set of protective gear for you."
"Okay!" Zhu Houzhao readily agreed, "Is five hundred taels of silver enough?"
Gao Feng said hurriedly: "Your Highness, we don't need that much money."
Liu Jin originally wanted to say it, but now he didn't dare to take down Zhang Zhou's position. The sullen look on his side showed that he also felt that the prince was going to be taken advantage of.
Zhu Houzhao scolded: "I can spend my own money however I want! Even if I give him five thousand taels, it will be my pleasure!"
"okay."
Zhang Zhou said angrily, "I can give you something, but whether you can play with it or not depends on whether His Majesty agrees. Don't be too happy too early. I'll show you something else."
This time, there was no need for Zhang Zhou to greet him. Zhu Houzhao threw his bicycle to Gao Feng and followed Zhang Zhou in.
Zhang Zhou gave him a small thing to play with in his palm. Zhu Houzhao took it in his hand but didn't know what it was.
"What?"
"Smash the cannon and gun," Zhang Zhou said.
Zhu Houzhao frowned: "Is this useful?"
Zhang Zhou smiled, took it, and raised it to the sky.
"Bang bang bang bang bang bang!"
Six blasts in a row.
Zhu Houzhao's eyes were shining, as if he had never seen anything so interesting.
"I come!"
As he spoke, Zhu Houzhao snatched the revolver and smashed the cannon, and then pulled the trigger, but there was no sound at all.
"It's broken?" Zhu Houzhao didn't know why.
Liu Jin next to him was so frightened that he almost covered his ears and asked, "Mr. Zhang, what is this? Is it not dangerous?"
Zhang Zhou smiled and shook his head: "It's not dangerous."
As he spoke, he opened the cannon gun and took out the gunpowder responsible for making the sound... In fact, the materials were just a little black gunpowder and red phosphorus, not even potassium chlorate was added, because red phosphorus itself has a low ignition point. The trigger completes ignition, just like the principle of a fire bomb, it directly ignites the black powder in a small area and explodes, making the sound of firecrackers.
This is also what Zhang Zhou researched in order to make new firearms.
The craftsman Dongchang found for him was very experienced in casting copper parts, so the revolver was made of copper.
Zhang Zhou mainly used this method to complete the manufacturing of fixed-specification castings such as springs and triggers, and used the assembled smashing gun to complete the test of mechanical sensitivity and durability. Later, he also planned to manufacture standard bullets, but the biggest technical problem was The difficulty lies not in the regulation of these small castings, but in the manufacture and selection of the "percussion charge", that is, the priming charge.
To put it bluntly, this is just a semi-finished toy for testing and does not have any lethality.
"try again!"
With that said, Zhang Zhou handed the smashing gun to Zhu Houzhao.
Then Zhu Houzhao was finally able to perform cool moves like a "Western Cowboy", even though he himself didn't know what he was doing.
…
…
I took Zhu Houzhao to play in the backyard.
Huang Li hurried over to find Zhang Zhou and said excitedly: "My boss, the deal is done."
"How many orders?" Zhang Zhou asked.
Huang Li looked at the boy who came to buy goods earlier, sitting with his boss and playing with something in his hand. He was still a little confused about who he was.
He smiled and said: "There are many orders, especially glass mirrors and glasses, which are the most popular ones. There are also glass cups... they are almost sold out."
With that said, Huang Li showed Zhang Zhou the account book he had just recorded.
"Yes, I made more than 40 taels of silver, and the income is not bad." Zhang Zhou nodded, then looked at Zhu Houzhao beside him, "The business is profitable, do you have any ideas?"
Zhu Houzhao curled his lips: "It's only forty taels of silver, how about sending it to a beggar?"
Zhang Zhou said: "If you sell forty taels that day, how much can you sell in a year?"
"This..." Zhu Houzhao was confused for a moment, and asked after a while, "More than ten thousand taels? That seems pretty good."
For the first time in his life, he made money by cheating two uncles and earned more than 6,000 taels. If a small shop like Zhang Zhou could sell more than 10,000 taels a year, then the relationship would be pretty good.
"You're sharing 50% with me, right?" Zhu Houzhao suddenly became interested in the business again.
When Huang Li heard this, his face instantly sank.
Who is this person? A naughty kid who dares to come up and ask for 50% of the profits from his boss?
Zhang Zhou said: "Okay, I'll give you 50%, but don't expect to make this kind of profit every day in the future. Today is a fresh sale, and it is impulse consumption. After these people buy it back and find that it is of no use, they will think If you want to return the goods, of course you won’t give it back to them. But they will definitely not come back in the future..."
"As long as you make money, don't worry about that much." Zhu Houzhao smiled.
Not looking to make money, just looking to have fun.
Zhang Zhou nodded: "Then if there is any partnership in the future, it will be 50/50. The management rights will be mine. If you agree, we will sign the contract."
"Come again?" Zhu Houzhao remembered that he had done this when he and Zhang Zhou opened a bookstore together. He frowned immediately, but then waved his sleeves and said, "Take the pen, I want to sign."
…
…
Zhang Zhou signed a 50-50 contract with Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao felt that he had made a profit, and the eunuch next to him also felt that Zhang Zhou was so generous that he had no friends. He had a business of forty taels in less than an hour after opening on the first day. He actually gave up half of the prince's share? Is this still stingy Zhang Gongsheng?
But after Zhang Zhou got the contract, he was very satisfied.
For time-travelers, making money is a trivial matter, and what they want is this kind of cooperation model of equality and mutual benefit.
"My boss, who is that? Why should I give him half?"
Huang Li felt that his boss was crazy.
Zhang Zhou pulled Huang Li's sleeve into the room, pointed at Zhu Houzhao and said: "Let's get to know Mr. Zhu again. He is also half of your boss. Go over and say hello."
"Dong... my little boss." Huang Li saluted.
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said: "You are good at doing business. If there is any business in the future, I will let you be the shopkeeper."
Zhang Zhou smiled and nodded.
At a young age, he can draw people's hearts and win their hearts.
Huang Li asked again: "What kind of business does the little boss's house do?"
"Be bold!"
Gu Dayong next to him couldn't bear to listen. You are a market shopkeeper and a handyman. How dare you ask what the prince's family does?
Huang Li was confused.
I asked what kind of business you were doing, and you violated a taboo?
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "We, Mr. Zhu, are very noble. We don't need to do business to make money. We just need to get to know each other. Go out and continue to look after the counter."
"Yes Yes."
Huang Li left with doubts.
Zhu Houzhao looked at Huang Li's back and said with a smile: "The person you are looking for is quite interesting."
Zhang Zhou said: "This is not interesting, it is the philistine spirit of the market. For him, he only runs for the livelihood in front of him and socializes with people because of his livelihood. In his eyes, there is no difference between a prince and an ordinary person. "
"ah?"
Zhu Houzhao was very confused after hearing this. He just commented that a person was interesting. What are you saying to me?
Zhang Zhou said: "If you are still in the mood, come out with me to see the people in this market. Let's go."
"Um."
Zhu Houzhao didn't know what Zhang Zhou wanted to do, but he thought Zhang Zhou was very sophisticated, so he followed Zhang Zhou to watch Huang Li deal with people in the market.
…
…
In the Qianqing Palace.
After Zhu Youtang finished his work for the day, watching the sunset, he asked Dai Yi next to him: "Is the prince back?"
"Not back yet."
Dai Yi said, "But I thought it would be soon."
"Um."
Although Zhu Youtang agreed to let his son leave the palace, he still felt uneasy.
Xiao Jing waited until after sunset to report: "Your Majesty, the prince has returned to the palace. Everything went well."
Zhu Youtang smiled and nodded: "How do he and Bingkuan get along?"
"Good."
Xiao Jing then informed the emperor in detail about Zhu Houzhao's situation outside the palace.
Xiao Jing was smart that day and did not show up in person. Instead, he secretly observed the surroundings, so that he could look at the problem from an objective perspective.
"...Mr. Zhang also signed a contract with the prince, saying that the money earned would be split 50-50. In one hour, forty taels were sold. Mr. Zhang said in his own words that the profit was more than 30 taels. He later sold a lot more ..." Xiao Jing said cautiously.
It sounds nonsense for a minister to partner with the prince in business.
But Zhang Zhou just did it.
And it was done so openly and honestly, without the prince's money or effort, but giving the prince profits.
Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "What is Bingkuan doing?"
Even the emperor, who had great trust in Zhang Zhou, could not understand Zhang Zhou's intentions, and the eunuchs nearby did not understand what kind of medicine Zhang Zhou was selling in his gourd.
Xiao Jing added: "After that, Mr. Zhang also told His Highness the Crown Prince some truths, saying that people in this market place focus on immediate interests and only deal with people within the scope of interests. Then he met the Crown Prince and met ordinary people. How people exchange money for things... I will talk a lot about it later, but it is not part of the classics and history, but involves the daily life of the people."
"Yes." Zhu Youtang nodded, "Bingkuan has good intentions and wants to make the prince understand the hardships of the world in this way. Haha, Bingkuan usually cares about money, but he is still willing to give half of it to the prince. It is not easy."
The emperor didn't think Zhang Zhou had too bad intentions.
When it came to making money, he shared half with his son, and the emperor did not think that money was bad. As an emperor who knew how to govern a country, Xiaozong naturally knew that almost all the troubles in the Ming Dynasty came from "lack of money."
Whether running a country or a family, they are all based on economics.
I heard that Zhang Zhou's business can sell forty taels an hour, and the net profit is about thirty taels, half of which is shared with his son...
Could a father tell his ministers not to give money to the prince or lead him astray?
He originally asked the prince to go to Zhang Zhou for study. If he wanted to study the Four Books and Five Classics, there was no need to go to Zhang Zhou. He just felt that he could learn things from Zhang Zhou that the Confucian scholars could not learn.
As emperor.
Zhu Youtang knew very well how helpful those miscellaneous knowledge would be to the prince's future governance.
(End of chapter)
