My uncle is Zhu Di

Chapter 183 Asking for Money from Sakyabao
Zhu Di disguised himself and left the palace. After finding out where Xu Qin was, he went straight to Xu Qin's glass workshop.

At this moment, Xu Qin is checking the glass cups that have just been produced. They are okay, but the yield rate is a bit low, less than half. However, it can still be improved. Therefore, Xu Qin and the craftsmen have been staying in the workshop with their shirts off. After all, it is very hot in the workshop now.

"Young Master, Young Master, there's a man outside who claims to be your good friend, Mr. Wu, and wants to see you." The doorman came in and said to Xu Qin.

"Mr. Wu?" Zhu Di looked up at the doorman of his house, and then muttered, "Why is he here? Okay, please invite him in."

Xu Qin was helpless. Why did Zhu Di come here at this time? He didn't have time to chat with him.

Soon, Zhu Di was brought in. When he saw the workshop, he was shocked. The temperature inside was a bit high. However, Zhu Di also saw the glass cups being produced and then transported to the table next to them by the craftsmen. Zhu Di wanted to touch them, but was stopped by the workers, who said that the temperature was very high.

Zhu Di went to look for Xu Qin and found that Xu Qin was squatting with his bare chest and studying something with those craftsmen. Zhu Di walked over, stood behind Xu Qin and listened to Xu Qin talking to those craftsmen.

After about a quarter of an hour, Xu Qin and the craftsmen had made adjustments and continued to try production. Zhu Di looked at the glass cups being made in amazement, especially when he saw some finished glass cups placed in the distance, he was even more impressed.

"Sakyabao, Sakyabao!" Zhu Di shouted to Xu Qin who was watching the production.

"Hmm? Oh, I forgot about that!" Xu Qin was about to bow, but Zhu Di waved his hand and said, "Just call me Mr. Wu. There are no rules."

When Xu Qin heard this, he thought it was a good idea, as he was also worried that Zhu Di’s identity would be exposed and he would be unsafe.

"Is this the glass cup you mentioned?" Zhu Di asked, pointing at the glass cup that was being produced.

"Yes, it's beautiful, right? Come, I'll take you to see the finished product. It's indeed very good and very sturdy." Xu Qin said proudly to Zhu Di, and at the same time took Zhu Di to the area where the finished products were displayed. Some glass cups here had already been packed.

Xu Qin took down several glasses of different styles, handed them to Zhu Di and said, "We currently make these types, and we will develop new styles in the future, but these are enough. This is a small glass cup for drinking, this is for drinking tea, this is for drinking water, and this is for entertaining at home."

Xu Qin began to introduce it to him. Zhu Di took the glass and looked at it carefully, saying in amazement: "It's so transparent and beautiful. Is it made? It's even more beautiful than crystal. Good boy, how did you come up with this idea? How did you make it?"

"It's produced here, so of course it's more beautiful than crystal. We can use it to exchange for food and silver from other countries. Ours is produced from stone. Although it takes some effort, it does not require the consumption of food and other important materials. However, if we can exchange it for food and silver, it's worth it." Xu Qin said happily to Zhu Di.

"Well, how much do you plan to sell it for?" Zhu Di asked immediately.

Xu Qin thought about it and asked, "If it were you, how much silver would you be willing to spend to buy it?"

"Just these cups? I'm willing to pay one hundred taels of silver for each. They look beautiful." Zhu Di said as he held the cups and couldn't let go.

"Hehe, that won't work. Common people can't afford it. However, I will send some to the palace later. As for the selling price, it's just a few taels of silver each. Ordinary people can't afford it. These are mainly for rich families." Xu Qin said to Zhu Di with a smile.

"So cheap? Then can you make money?" Zhu Di asked in shock.

"Sure, don't worry. I have to make some money anyway." Xu Qin nodded, but he didn't dare to tell the truth to Zhu Di.

"No, it's too hot here. Are you done with your work? If you are, let's find a place to have tea." Zhu Di felt it was very hot here. He was wearing many clothes, while Xu Qin was shirtless, so naturally he didn't feel anything.

"Okay, wait for me for a moment." Xu Qin said and went to put on his clothes. Zhu Di was still here looking at the workshop. He admired Xu Qin very much in his heart. In addition, after listening to Xu Qin discussing problems with those craftsmen just now, Zhu Di knew that this kid was really capable. Except for writing, everything else seemed to be okay, and he was also generous.

Soon, Xu Qin put on his clothes and led Zhu Di to the thatched house outside the workshop. Xu Qin sat there making tea. At this time, the house outside was already under construction.

"When it's completed, my office will be inside. We can go in for tea then. It's a bit embarrassing now because all it did before was just a construction workshop, so we couldn't take care of other things." Xu Qin pointed to the houses under construction in the distance and said to Zhu Di.

"Well, it's a big deal. You are really generous when doing things. I heard that the mirror is sold out?" Zhu Di asked, staring at Xu Qin.

Xu Qin made tea for Zhu Di, nodded and said, "The carpenters cannot produce enough, so we recruited some more. Now those mirrors are not planned to be sold overseas, but the next batch will be sold overseas, including those glass cups. It may be difficult for them to make them, but we can still make money from them for hundreds of years." "Oh, hundreds of years?" Zhu Di looked at Xu Qin in surprise and asked.

"Well, for hundreds of years, these things have been very popular. Although the profit in China is not high, it is estimated that the profit will be considerable if sold abroad. By then, all the money will be deposited into the Trade Bureau, and the Trade Bureau can use the money to do something for the people of the world." Xu Qin nodded and said.

After hearing this, Zhu Di nodded his head and said to Xu Qin, "You kid!"

"Hey, when I was recruiting workers here, you didn't know that many people came here every day hoping that I could recruit them. My workshop provides food and accommodation, and the salary is about 50 cents a day. Those people rushed here, hoping to find a job here, but I only need a few people. If more people were needed, it would be better. So the people are still a little poorer." Xu Qin sighed and said to Zhu Di.

After hearing this, Zhu Di remained silent.

If we have more workshops in the Ming Dynasty in the future, we will be able to absorb a large number of people to work, allowing them to earn more money. The court will also be able to receive more taxes, and the people will live a stable life. This is the long-term solution.

Zhu Di looked at Xu Qin in surprise. He did not expect Xu Qin to think of the common people. So he smiled and said, "Your words really impressed me."

Xu Qin smiled and said, "That's because I've seen the suffering of the people outside the city during this period. Now that the people outside Nanjing are having such a hard time making a living, you can see what other places are like. The people can actually live a better life. There must be something wrong somewhere."

Zhu Di nodded and said, "Local officials are seriously corrupt. My father has only been gone for a few years. How many civil officials have been killed before? But those corrupt officials can't be killed off. One after another, they are corrupt. In addition, those civil officials are protecting each other. It is very difficult to investigate clearly. It's a pity for the people of my Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, why don't you become a county magistrate or a prefect? ​​How about you govern a place?"

Zhu Di suddenly proposed this suggestion. Xu Qin glared at Zhu Di and said, "Can you say something reliable? If I become the prefect, aren't you afraid that I will kill all the officials under me?"

Zhu Di smiled and said, "That's exactly what I want!"

Xu Qin looked at Zhu Di and didn't want to talk about this topic anymore, so he said, "What are you doing here? Is there anything going on in the palace?"

"Oh!" Zhu Di sighed deliberately and looked at Xu Qin.

Xu Qin did not respond, and drank his tea. Zhu Di stared at Xu Qin, who smiled and said, "Why are you sighing?"

"You kid!" Zhu Di pointed at Xu Qin in frustration, then sighed and said, "The border is unstable, and the Tatars often invade. I want to mobilize the army and lead the army in person, but your eldest cousin won't let me. He said he has no money. I said he is not as good as you. Look at you. What was your family like last year? What is it like now? You have accumulated such a huge family business, and you even bought such a large piece of land for your father to make money.

But what about the three of them? They are always trying to fool their boss. Is he so easy to fool? When I asked them to pay for the war, the boss said he had no money! "

"Oh, so do you have money or not?" Xu Qin asked immediately.

Zhu Di stared at Xu Qin and said angrily: "If I had money, would I come to you?"

"What, what do you mean?" Xu Qin was a little frightened by Zhu Di's words. What did he mean by coming to him? He wanted money for war? Did he have that ability? It was not a confiscation of property. His family did not have that much money to support a war.

"This time when the Trade Bureau goes out to sea, you have to send out more goods and make more money. It would be even better if you can get food and fodder, copper, iron and other things. I want to reorganize the military and see if we can fight this year. If we can't fight this year, we will fight next year." Zhu Di said to Xu Qin.

After hearing this, Xu Qin felt relieved. So this was what he meant.

"Anyway, I can't count on the boss and the others, so I can only count on your Trade Bureau." Zhu Di continued to stare at Xu Qin and said.

"I say, if something happens at sea, then do I have to die?" Xu Qin said, staring at Zhu Di with a depressed look on his face. Zhu Di just wanted to make money, but who could tell what would happen at sea?

"Bah, bah, bah, nonsense! Nothing can happen!" Zhu Di spat on the ground a few times and glared at Xu Qin and cursed.

(End of this chapter)