Chapter 438 – Why Don’t You Go Rob?
【Influence of the Dominant Boss】: One hundred fifty thousand… Are you sure the host didn’t accidentally add an extra “ten”?
【Here Comes the Update】: Can any big shot explain how much one hundred fifty thousand is? Ten fingers aren’t enough to count.
【So Today】: Hehe, don’t say ten fingers; even if you added up all your family’s hands and feet, you still couldn’t count it.
【It’s Really Six Updates】: Let’s put it this way, different dynasties have different exchange rates for copper coins, silver, and gold, fluctuating like foreign currency. To put it simply, one “guan” equals a thousand “wen,” and one “wen” is roughly equivalent to one of our local bucks, so one hundred fifty thousand… How many soft sister coins do you think that is?
Imagine crossing over to ancient times with your family’s glass vase, instantly becoming a billionaire.
With such enormous profits, would you be scared?
A set of glassware aimed to sell for one hundred fifty million.
Host, you’re not just black-hearted; you’re completely shrouded in darkness!
Jiang Pengji looked at their comments and helplessly added a line.
【Host V】: I’m not that black-hearted, converted to local currency, it’s at most seventy to eighty million.
Everyone: “…”
【Master Writer】: This is the first time I realize pricing something worth seven or eight bucks at seventy to eighty million isn’t considered black-hearted.
【Failed at Losing Weight】: Host, you’re amazing!
Liu Zhi steadied his heart to avoid being scared to death by this girl, his eyes conflicted as he looked at that glass tea set, before saying after a long pause, “If this is truly one of a kind in this world, one hundred fifty thousand might not be impossible to sell.”
Jiang Pengji raised an eyebrow and said, “A single set, that’s definitely out of the question.”
“So, setting the price that high is wrong. ‘Low profit, high sales’ is how we let more Northern Border nobility ‘benefit’. This price should be set at a level they can accept yet not feel the items are cheap,” Liu Zhi thought it over, his gaze moving around the glass tea set several times. “I believe one to five guan is about right. We should introduce more styles, adjusting the price based on purity. If we want good sales, this needs careful planning, and we must create hype around its origins.”
After hearing Jiang Pengji’s jaw-dropping request for one hundred fifty thousand guan, the audience started thinking her dad was really kind-hearted.
【Mushroom Cutest】: Has my value system warped? Why do I think one or two guan for a glass item seems so cheap?
【Tuhui Boss】: Don’t worry, you’re not alone upstairs.
【Don’t Speak Nonsense】: You’re not just two people upstairs.
Seeing a series of sarcastic comments, Jiang Pengji frowned.
“Isn’t this price a bit too low?”
Liu Zhi answered, “This price is already good. If you want to trade for fine horses, the price needs to be lowered further.”
The Northern Border boasts vast lands that produce excellent horses, and every horse farm is closely monitored.
But some folks are willing to take risks for profit; the Big White given to Jiang Pengji was smuggled in—originally intended for the Northern Border Royal Court but intercepted by lower officials. They sold the smuggled Big White, leaving the King with a horse of somewhat inferior quality.
Liu Zhi was well aware of the ins and outs.
“Lan Ting, Amin often says that doing business is like fighting wars or governing a country; there are many rules to follow. Mastering them allows you to play on the big stage.” Liu Zhi smiled; his wife was the real business whiz, and most of the Liu Clan’s second branch’s assets were built by her. After years with her, he learned a few tricks, “Leave this to me; you just wait for the money to come in.”
Jiang Pengji naturally trusted Liu Zhi, “Then I will control the production to ensure quality.”
Liu Zhi nodded, adding, “The rarer something is, the more valuable it becomes. Even the best item is no longer good if it’s in excessive supply. I’ll stay here for a few more days to produce a few high-quality sets to take back. After that, don’t produce this item in your kiln for the time being. Manage your people well; if anyone secretly makes items or leaks this craft, deal with them without mercy.”
“I understand. Those who know how to make it are all tightly controlled. If anyone leaks info, my son will know.”
A gentle smile graced Jiang Pengji’s face, causing the master brick kiln worker nearby to feel a shiver down his spine.
Hearing this father-son conversation, he couldn’t help but tremble… after all, that was several guan of money; who wouldn’t be tempted?
However, the words that followed made him want to shrink back. No amount of money is worth risking one’s life for.
“Do a good job, earn big money, and you won’t forget your contributions.” Jiang Pengji patted the kiln master’s shoulder, “If you do well, I’ll help your grandkids escape their craftsman status and secure free educational opportunities when schools open in the county.”
With the current household registration system being a pain, craftsmen’s children could only enter craftsman status.
In terms of social status, while it was slightly higher than that of slaves, it still fell below that of ordinary common people.
For craftsmen to shed their status, it took nothing short of a stroke of luck.
Not to mention the promise of educational opportunities for the children; in this era, no matter how rich a family was, education wasn’t easy.
Books were a huge challenge; how could one learn without textbooks?
Being from a distinguished family, the brick kiln master naturally had no doubts.
His eyes lit up, confidently declaring, “Lord, you can rest assured, I won’t let you down!”
For the brighter future of his descendants, to help them become outstanding people, the brick kiln master wished he could stay right here, keeping a close watch on every detail, monitoring every aspect, ensuring all glass waste was destroyed without exception.
“That’s good!”
Jiang Pengji ordered the master to bring out three sets of glass tea utensils.
These three sets—the best one for Liu Zhi, one for herself, and the last to be placed at the county’s administrative hall.
The next day, Qi Guanrang sleepily arrived at work.
Upon opening the door, a strong golden light poured in, and a gleam caught his eye…
What in the world is that?
He squinted, discovering a beautifully crafted set of five-colored glass pieces laid out on the table.
In an instant, all drowsiness vanished.
Qi Guanrang was so shocked that he hurriedly backed out the door, looking around and muttering, “Could I still be dreaming?”
Not believing in the supernatural, Qi Guanrang cautiously approached the table, finding those stunning pieces remained.
He carefully reached out to touch them, feeling a chilling sensation on his fingertips.
They didn’t turn into foam?!
“Not a dream?”
His breathing became heavier, intensely focused on them.
“What’s wrong, Wen Zheng?”
After a while, Feng Jin entered, carrying a large stack of dusty bamboo slips, and indeed found Qi Guanrang already there.
Thinking about Wen Zheng’s recent overtime work, he silently sympathized with him.
