Acquiring a Western Curiosity

At this moment, in the palace, Xiao Lingyan was standing in front of the hall, listening to Fu Yunlang speak with his head down.

"... My marriage plans fell through, so I went south to clear my head. Unexpectedly, I came across some Western Ocean timekeeping devices being sold back to the emperor. I've brought one here specifically to sell to him."

When Xiao Ge heard about "Western Ocean objects for keeping time," he was quite interested and Gao Xing. He also thought that the second son of the Fu Family was perceptive and knew to keep his emperor in mind.

Upon hearing the word "sell," his expression immediately darkened.

Seeing this, Xiao Lingyan quickly stepped forward and said, "Father, Fu Yunlang originally wanted to present one to you, but since it's called a 'bell,' he decided against it. He plans to charge you only one tael of silver per bell, which is a great discount for you."

If I were to give him a clock, wouldn't that be considered giving him a clock? That would indeed be unlucky.

And he only accepted one or two taels of silver, which was just a token gesture; it was clearly a gift... oops, a huge discount for him.

"Forget about one tael, that's practically giving it away for free. Let's make it twenty taels. Your father may be poor, but I can still come up with twenty taels of silver." Xiao Ge didn't forget to plead poverty in front of his son.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Fu Yunlang cleverly kowtowed in gratitude.

Xiao Ge waved his hand. "Rise."

After Fu Yunlang stood up, he asked with interest, "Where is that 'clock'?"

"It's right outside," Xiao Lingyan. "The Imperial Guards were just checking."

Xiao Ge turned to the eunuch. "Have them bring it in."

The eunuch went out and soon returned, carrying a Imperial Guards that was one and a half times the height of a person, which he carefully carried in.

"Wow, it's so big?" Xiao Ge was taken aback.

This bell is not only one and a half times the height of a person, but also as wide as a person. Judging from the Imperial Guards ' expressions, it seems quite heavy.

Recalling Zhao Ruxi's eloquent reasons, Xiao Lingyan's lips twitched involuntarily.

The reason the clock was made so large was certainly because current technology couldn't produce very fine parts, so they had to make it bigger. However, Zhao Ruxi had her own set of theories.

She said, "The bigger the house, the more valuable it is; the same goes for pigs and sheep—the bigger they are, the more valuable they are. If we don't make these things bigger, how can we command a high price? If the exterior isn't large enough, how can we show off the lightness and delicacy of the pocket watches that will follow? The first generation of clocks must be made large to demonstrate their value."

If we weren't worried about not being able to get through the door, this clock might be even taller.

After the Imperial Guards put the bell down, Xiao Ge circled it once, clicking his tongue and saying, "It really is Western Ocean thing; it looks different from ours."

"Indeed, when I first saw it, I also found it very peculiar."

The clock's shape was modeled after the Western Ocean clocks they had seen in their previous lives. To make it more realistic, the brand name "William" was even engraved on it in English, achieving the ultimate in Europeanization in its details.

Even if it weren't for Xiao Ge, who hadn't seen much of the Western Ocean, a real foreigner wouldn't be able to tell that this thing wasn't from the Western Ocean.

Although Fu Yunlang hadn't met Xiao Ge much, he was initially quite apprehensive. But as the male protagonist of a book, he proved himself capable in crucial moments.

He had already regained his usual composure by now.

Hearing Xiao Ge's words, he stepped forward and chimed in, "Your Majesty, look, this constantly moving needle represents day and night. The short needle..."

He went on and on about the function and significance of the hour hands.

Of course, the so-called representative significance was also something Zhao Ruxi made up on the spot. After several twists and turns, it reached Fu Yunlang.

Xiao Ge looked at the needles, then compared them with the water clock in the room, and finally hesitated, "It's 5:20 now?"

"Your Majesty is wise." Fu Yunlang bowed and flattered him.

"So this thing just keeps moving automatically?"

"Your Majesty, look, there's something here. Every day, have the eunuchs turn it counter-clockwise a few times like this until they can't turn it anymore, and it will keep running without stopping," Fu Yunlang -up mechanism at the back.

"Alright, alright." Xiao Ge sat back down and gestured to the eunuch.

The eunuch immediately stepped forward. "Fu Yunlang, the second young Marquis of Pingnan's Residence, is a man of unwavering loyalty. He has sold a bell to His Majesty and will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver, five bolts of palace satin, and two bolts of silk."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Fu Yunlang knelt down to express his gratitude.

"Alright, you may leave now. I have something to discuss with my father," Xiao Lingyan said.

After Fu Yunlang left, Xiao Lingyan said to Xiao Ge, "Father, I heard that you were involved in the sale of that safe. Fu Yunlang's cost price for bringing this bell back was five thousand taels. Because there weren't many, besides the one he sold to you, there were only three left. He plans to hold an auction and invite interested buyers to compete for the money. Father, would you like to participate in this deal as well?"

Xiao Ge waved his hand without hesitation. "Little Five, I appreciate your kindness, but things can't be done this way. I'm involved in the safe sale because it's related to your great-uncle, and I need to do him a favor. Besides, that thing also safeguards the peace of our Great Jin. With it, the constables in the yamen can have some free time."

"Your system is different. If I were to get involved as well, it would be too unseemly. Do you believe that tomorrow a censor will impeach me?"

This answer did not surprise Xiao Lingyan.

"It was my oversight, my rashness," Xiao Lingyan, bowing slightly.

"Your filial piety is evident to me."

The two put on a show of fatherly love and filial piety before Xiao Lingyan took his leave.

Fu Yunlang was still waiting outside.

Seeing Xiao Lingyan, he stepped forward and asked, "Your Highness, what did the Emperor say?"

Xiao Lingyan shook his head and remained silent.

Fu Yunlang understood, and his face immediately fell in disappointment.

Xiao Lingyan, "You only have three clocks, and the purchase price is so high, who knows how much money you can make? Is the Emperor's name so worthless that you only make a pittance? I already said no, no, but you insisted on making me go to the palace, which made Father quite Gao Xing."

He and Zhao Ruxi did this without even telling Xiao Lingpu and Fu Yunlang.

After selecting the parts from Zhao Ruxi's house, which was used as a warehouse, he had the gray-clad man transport them directly to the south. He then found the best carpenters elsewhere to carve the wooden casing of the clock according to the blueprints, transported it to the south, and then assembled these parts.

After making the goods, they bribed a missionary, promising him a reward for selling the goods and instructing him to do as they were told.

Some time ago, Fu Yunkai went to the border to transport grain and supplies. Xiao Lingyan then found an excuse to deceive Fu Yunlang, saying that as long as he could make a lot of money, he would solve his marriage problem. He also had someone whisper in his ear that there were many Western Ocean things in the south where he could make a lot of money.

Ignoring the objections of the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan, Fu Yunlang went south with great enthusiasm.

Then he met a friend there who was acquainted with the preacher at the church. When this friend took him to the church, he happened to see this kind of clock.

And so this deal came about.