You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

In the twelfth lunar month, it gets dark early.

Just as the time of Shen (3-5 PM) arrived, several tallow candles were already lit in the main hall of the Ministry of Works, illuminating the account books piled up in front of Shen's desk.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating his face as he sometimes gazed intently at his work and sometimes wielded his brush.

The clattering of the abacus beads finally stopped, and Shen Gai put down his pen and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Twenty 'joint shares,' totaling two thousand shares."

"Scattered 'individual shares,' thirty-seven shares."

"One tael of silver will be prepaid for each share..."

"A total of... 22,407 taels of silver were received."

This number is neither too large nor too small.

For the Northern Expedition's military expenditures, which often amounted to millions, this was merely a drop in the ocean.

However, for the Ministry of Industry's newly established glass trading business, this was already an astonishing amount of start-up capital.

More importantly, this represents the hopes of more than two thousand ordinary families.

Shen Gai pondered for a moment, then called out to the official on night duty: "Tomorrow, send someone to purchase quartz sand, pure alkali, limestone, and other materials, and deliver them to the newly established glass office in the west of the city."

"Issue another order to all artisans and kiln workers in the official workshops: tomorrow at dawn, light the fires and start the kilns, producing flat roof tiles according to formula number three!"

"At the same time, produce a batch of utensils. I have already approved the designs, and I'm having them make them accordingly."

"Yes!" The official accepted the order and was about to leave.

"Wait a minute," Shen called out to him again, pulling out a document from another stack of papers on his desk. "There's one more thing."

"Send people to find the person who led the signing of the agreement among the twenty joint shareholders."

"Inform them that, in order to ensure fairness and prevent problems from arising in the first place, each joint shareholding is specially permitted to send five people to take turns to observe and learn at the Ministry of Industry's Sales and Audit Office."

"And supervise the daily processes of shipping, accounting, and pricing."

"The rotation is changed daily, with each association arranging its own schedule. Supervisors must sign and affix their seals; this is the system of 'civilian supervision and official cancellation'."

The official was somewhat taken aback. A civil supervisor?

That's something new.

Shen continued, "When informing them, you can also disclose the approximate material costs, labor costs, and estimated losses for this batch of flat glass and utensils, choosing the information that can be made public."

"Furthermore, the Ministry of Works' 'official sales outlets' are about to open, and there is a need to hire reliable sales, moving, and cleaning staff."

"All joint shareholders and individual shareholders, as well as their relatives, are given priority to register. Wages are paid daily at market rates."

The official understood this time: the goal was to turn the investors into half of their own people, both to reassure them and to utilize their abilities.

We can also use their eyes and mouths to solidify the word "transparent".

He couldn't help but admire him secretly, and bowed, saying, "Understood, I will take care of it immediately."

After the official left, the hall returned to silence, with only the occasional crackling of the candlelight.

Shen got up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the bleak winter sunset had completely sunk behind the rows of rooftops, leaving only a dark purple afterglow on the horizon. The cold wind swept through the bare branches, making a sharp whistling sound.

However, a warmth, completely different from the harsh winter, surged in Shen Gai's heart.

"Your Majesty, you are truly superior."

This is not just about selling glass.

This is how the scattered resources and wealth of the people are cleverly woven together with a thread called "profit" and "trust," and then given back to the imperial court.

Public oversight and government sales silence dissent; transparent cost disclosure demonstrates honesty; and prioritizing hiring ensures fundamental benefits.

In this way, who would dare to easily accuse the Ministry of Works of embezzlement?

Who can easily stir up doubts about throwing good money after bad?

This first batch of silver was no longer a pool of funds, but rather became a partnership tied together.

At one end of the rope lies the credibility and technology of the Ministry of Works and the imperial court.

On the other end of the rope lay the lives and hopes of thousands of families. Their fates were intertwined; one's prosperity was theirs, the other's loss...

.....

On the 18th day of the twelfth lunar month, after the snow had cleared, the sunlight was cool and clear.

After more than half a month of preparation, the Ministry of Works' "official sales office" finally opened at an auspicious time at the most bustling street intersection inside Zhengyang Gate.

The store wasn't very large, but the facade was brand new, and the black sign with gold lettering that read "Royal Glass Bureau Official Sales Office" shone brightly in the winter sun.

Several days in advance, news of the upcoming release of "glassware" had spread throughout the city, whetting everyone's appetite.

At three-quarters past Chen hour, the shop door suddenly burst open.

The long-waiting crowd surged in like a tide.

The store was already set up, with bright candlesticks and specially left high windows that focused the light onto the display stand covered with dark velvet.

In an instant, almost everyone who entered held their breath and stared wide-eyed.

What a dazzling, crystal-clear sight it was!

In the center of the booth, a row of tall, elegant glasses stood gracefully, their walls so thin and transparent that they seemed almost nonexistent, only refracting rainbow-like fragments of light under the candlelight.

Next to it were glass plates and bowls of various shapes, some with lotus leaf edges, some with lotus petal patterns, and some plain and smooth as a mirror.

Some of them contain clear water or a few fresh fruits, making the objects appear as if they were carved from ice or solidified from crystal, yet they also possess a luster and brilliance that ice and water lack.

Several glass mirrors of different sizes stood in the corner, reflecting people's beards and eyebrows in perfect detail, more than ten times clearer than ordinary bronze mirrors!

Even the glass-shaded wall lamps hanging on the wall appear exceptionally soft and bright because of their incredibly pure shades.

"hiss!"

"This...this is glass? It's so clear!"

"Look at that cup! It's as thin as paper, yet it's so sturdy!"

"This mirror! Good heavens, it reflects every mole on my face so clearly!"

"No wonder they can build greenhouses to grow this amazing vegetable! It's truly ingenious!"

The prepared staff, dressed in matching blue short jackets, stepped forward with great enthusiasm and began their introduction.

The prices were staggering: the most ordinary stemmed glass cost five taels of silver.

A medium-sized plain glass plate, weighing ten taels.

Fruit platters and vases with embossed patterns or special designs range in price from twenty to fifty taels.

Those full-length dressing mirrors were priced at two hundred taels of silver!

This price was enough to make most onlookers gasp and silently back away.

Five taels of silver is enough for an ordinary family of five to eat for one or two months!

However, in the eyes of those buyers who were sent by their masters or who were wealthy themselves, the high price was commensurate with the unprecedented, sparkling artifact before them, and was closely linked to the novelty, extravagance, and prestige it represented.

"Give me four of these cups! No, six!"

"My wife wants that set of lotus-patterned bowls and plates!"

"Mirror! Wrap up that vanity mirror for me!"

"These lampshades are elegant, I'll take two pairs!"

The enthusiasm for buying was instantly ignited, with the powerful and wealthy rushing to place orders, fearing they would miss out if they were too late.

The workers were busy collecting money, issuing invoices, picking up goods, and packaging.

Those valuable glasswares were carefully packed in soft cotton paper and specially made wooden boxes and handed over to the servants of each household.

In less than two hours, the goods on the display stand had visibly thinned out.

Later arrivals could only look at the empty booths and price lists with regret, asking when the next batch would arrive.

......

That evening, the official sales office closed early.

The sound of abacuses echoed once again in the back room of the Ministry of Works, this time with an irrepressible excitement.

As dusk fell, the results came out.

The sales officer, carrying the account books, practically ran to Shen Gai's office, his voice trembling, "Sir! The accounts are settled!"

"Today's release included 127 items such as glasses, plates, bowls, mirrors, and lampshades; 125 items have been sold!"

"Accounts receivable...two thousand eight hundred and sixty taels!"

"After deducting expenses for materials, labor, shops, and losses, the net profit... is nine hundred and seventy-three taels of silver!"

"How much?" Shen put down his pen and looked up.

"Nine hundred and seventy-three taels and five mace!"

"This is only the first day!"

"This is just a small batch of vessels produced on a trial basis! If flat roof tiles are mass-produced and widely adopted in greenhouses, the benefits will be..."

Nearly ten thousand taels of net profit in one day!

This is just the beginning, merely a trial run for luxury tableware.

Shen Gai took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "Go, immediately send someone to invite the twenty joint shareholders and the thirty-seven individual shareholders to the ministry for a meeting."

"Make today's accounts public."

"yes!"

......

When the news spread, the organizers and individual shareholders, whether they were eating, chatting, or already asleep, were all politely "invited" up by the Ministry of Works' runners. They were filled with unease, unsure whether it was a blessing or a curse.

It's only been a little over ten days. I heard the glass was made and it's selling extremely well. But can we start making money right now?

So fast?

As everyone anxiously gathered in a brightly lit side hall of the Ministry of Works, they found a long table already set up in the hall.

On the table were several stacks of loose silver and small silver ingots, and account books were spread out beside them.

Shen Gai said, "Fellow villagers, today the official sales office opens for the first time. Thanks to His Majesty's great fortune and the craftsmen's hard work, the goods can be sold."

"As previously agreed, the accounting is complete today, and the first dividend should be distributed."

He gestured to the clerk beside him: "Read it."

"On the 18th day of the twelfth lunar month, the total sales on the first day amounted to 21,600 taels of silver."

"After deducting material costs, it is 8,400 taels."

"Expenses for labor, shops, transportation, and losses amounted to 3,427 taels, with a net profit of 2,932 taels."

"According to regulations, 30% of the net profit goes to the Glass Bureau of the Ministry of Industry, amounting to 2,622 taels."

"My share: 6,841 taels, which is the dividend that can be distributed this time."

"Each share will receive a dividend of... 3.357 taels."

Three taels, three mace, five fen, and seven li?

Invest one tael, and in less than twenty days, you can get back three taels, three mace, five fen, and seven li?!

After a brief silence, a loud "boom" erupted in the side hall, as if a pot had exploded!

Everyone was stunned by the number, followed by uncontrollable elation and disbelief!

"How much? Three taels, three mace, five fen, and seven li?"

"This...this is real?!"

"Pinch me!"

"Am I dreaming?"

Shen raised his hand and gestured to suppress the boiling uproar: "The accounts are here, the money is here."

"Those whose names are called, step forward to press your fingerprint and receive the money."

……

The night was deep, and the chill was biting.

Fang, the accountant, carried a small cloth bag containing a little over three taels of silver in his arms, yet his steps were so light that he seemed to be flying.

His neighborhood was already crowded, and news traveled fast. By the time he pushed open his creaking wooden door, there were already five or six people crammed into the main room.

It was those neighbors who pooled their money with him to join the donation.

"Mr. Fang! You're finally back!"

"What does the Ministry of Works want with me?"

"How did it go? That glass... can we really split the profits?"

Several people swarmed around, chattering away, their eyes gleaming in the dim oil lamp light.

Fang Shouye did not answer immediately. He first carefully bolted the door behind him, then returned to the charcoal brazier. By the flickering firelight, he slowly took the cloth bag out of his pocket.

He untied the rope and carefully emptied the contents onto a small wooden stool next to him.

"Ding-dong..."

A few pieces of silver, along with a string of copper coins, gleamed with a real luster in the firelight.

The room fell silent instantly, with only the crackling of the charcoal fire and the sudden increase in the volume of their breathing.

"This...this is..." Aunt Sun, who was helping in the kitchen, said in a trembling voice, pointing to the stool.

"It was just assigned by the Ministry of Works."

"Our joint venture made a profit on its first day of business!"

"This is the profit we're entitled to based on our initial investment!"

He picked up a silver coin weighing about two taels, then pointed to the string of coins and smaller pieces of silver: "I've calculated it, and all of us contributed a total of eleven taels of capital. Today alone... we only received a little over three and a half taels back!"

"How many?"

Lei Dachui's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He snatched the silver coin from Fang Shouye's hand, examined it closely, and then bit it with his teeth: "One day? You only got a little over three taels?"

"Eleven taels of capital, and you get more than three taels back in a day?!"

"My God..." Wang Xiaoshuan, a young waiter at the tavern, gasped and counted on his fingers, "Then..."

"Wouldn't it take only a few days to recoup all the investment?"

"So everything that follows is profit?"

"That's right!" Aunt Sun exclaimed excitedly, slapping her thigh and beaming with joy. "More than three ounces a day..."

"Ten days is more than thirty taels..."

"This glass...this is a treasure trove! Mr. Fang, we've struck gold!"

The room erupted in chaos. The people kept their voices down, but they couldn't contain their elation.

"I knew it! Following the imperial court is always the right thing to do!"

"His Majesty is truly a living bodhisattva! No, he's a living god of wealth!"

"Great! The end of the year is almost over! We can even buy fabric to make new clothes!"

"My son's tuition is settled!"

"Brother Fang, shouldn't we celebrate tomorrow? I'll pay for the drinks!"

Everyone chatted amongst themselves, their faces beaming with boundless anticipation for the future, as if they could already see money flowing into their homes like water.

"Quiet down, everyone."

After everyone's excitement subsided slightly, Fang Shouye waved his hand, his face still showing excitement but with a touch of seriousness: "There's something I need to make clear to everyone."

"This amount of money is considerable, but Lord Shen specifically instructed that..."

There are two reasons why we were able to distribute so much today.

"First of all, this is our first time opening, so we're selling something new and unusual."

"Secondly, the glass cups, plates, and mirrors we are selling today are all top-quality items, and they are expensive. They are exclusively for the enjoyment of wealthy families and tycoons; they are 'luxury goods'."

He paused, looking at the crowd's eyes, which seemed to understand but were still shining, and continued, "But such a good thing can't be available every day, and it's impossible for everyone to afford it."

"Going forward, the Ministry of Works will mainly produce flat roofing tiles for our greenhouses, as well as glass windows and glass lampshades that ordinary people can use."

"Those things definitely don't have such high profits anymore."

"What Lord Shen means is that distributing so much today is to reassure us all and let us know that this business is real and can make money."

"Then... how much more will we get in the future?" Lei Dachui asked urgently.

"later?"

Fang Shouye said, "The rules for profit sharing will be changed. Instead of settling accounts daily, we will settle accounts and distribute profits monthly."

"After all, for a business to last, it needs to be a steady, gradual process; it can't always be like it is today."

"Once a month?" Wang Xiaoshuan was taken aback.

"Yes, we'll distribute profits once a month." Fang Shouye nodded. "Lord Shen said that even if the profits decrease in the future, our capital is small."

"As long as this glass business continues, we'll get a share every month."

"It's like...like having an extra reliable source of income."

The room was quiet for a moment.

From wild dreams of earning a few dollars a day to the reality of earning only a fraction a month, with profits potentially dwindling.

There was a sense of disappointment, but I quickly came to terms with it.

"Once a month would be fine!"

"Even if it's only a few coins a month, it's still free money!"

"That's enough to buy a lot of grain and oil!"

"Yes!" Old Chen, who also worked as a carpenter, nodded in agreement. "It was extra money we scraped together anyway, so it's good that it can generate more money."

"Three ounces a day is a pipe dream. A few coins a month adds up to a considerable sum over a year. The key is that we don't have to worry about it; we can just sit back and wait to collect the money. Is there anything better than that?"

"Right, right, right! It's free money!" Lei Dachui finally understood and chuckled, "Even if we only get five cents or a penny a month from now on, our eleven taels of capital will be back to normal in no time!"

"The rest is pure profit!"

"This deal is a good one!"

"Mr. Fang," Wang Xiaoshuan's eyes lit up, "about the Ministry of Works recruiting apprentices and workers..."

"Don't worry, I remember everything," Fang Shouye said with a smile. "We'll go register first thing tomorrow morning."

"Learning a skill means having another job, even if you don't get any dividends."

"This is the real guarantee for long-term success."

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