When leaving the palace, Xu Qilin was still thinking about whether to apply to His Majesty Li Er to open a grocery store in the palace to meet the purchase needs of nobles and palace people.

Most of the people in the palace have no relatives or friends in Chang'an, and if they want to buy things, they can only let others carry them, which is very inconvenient.

is not only a low-status palace maid and eunuch, but even a high-grade concubine like Wu Meier. Even if Chang'an has a family, it is not easy to enter the palace to send things.

On the surface, it's a bit weird to have a shop in the palace. But as long as His Majesty Li Er nods, it is still quite easy to implement. Bring the freight in, directly hand it over to the designated palace people to operate, and return cash on time to replenish the goods.

Xu Qilin thought like this, and only then did he put away his thoughts when he came to the headquarters of Dayingku.

"Xu Cheng is back."

"I've seen Xu Cheng."

"Xu Cheng, the officials are polite."

When the officials saw Xu Qilin, they greeted him one after another.

Xu Qilin responded with a smile and went straight to his office. Even though it was months in the future, the servants were cleaned. As soon as he sat down, before the tea was brewed, Helan Chushi had already rushed over.

Seeing that the ceremony was over, Xu Qilin casually asked about his recent work, as well as trivial matters such as the distribution of New Year's benefits.

Helan Chushi seems to be well prepared, and his reporting attitude is respectful and organized.

Xu Qilin praised it twice, and then said with a smile: "This Caoyun reform, coupled with the other merits of the Great Ying Treasury, Your Majesty will soon award a reward." The list of meritorious personnel has been preliminarily drawn up, and when the time comes, everyone will meet and discuss, so as not to make the meritorious heroes fall into discouragement. ”

"Xu Cheng is the most fair and selfless, the list will be drawn up, and there is no need to negotiate." Xu Qilin waved his hand and said, "We don't do a word here, we must bow down to everything, and it is not a certain style." Other yamen are not the chief officials who take care of everything, such as the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Industry, the degree branch, etc., and there are also many subordinate officials! ”

Helan Chushi blinked his eyes, feeling that Xu Qilin had something to say, this official department was not in charge of his father-in-law, could there be any other meaning to beat himself.

"The talented go up, and the mediocre go down." Xu Qilin took a sip of the teacup and said lightly: "We can't control other yamen, but Dayingku will never bury talents." ”

"Xu Cheng is extremely right." The more Helan Chushi listened, the more he felt that there was a deep meaning in this, as if it was related to the old father-in-law's officials, and he agreed casually, but in his heart he planned to hurry up and ask.

Xu Qilin finished the side knock, his tone softened, and said: "When a certain person was on a business trip, Deputy Helan sat in the big Yingku, and he did all the work very well. The list of rewards is also on the list. ”

Helan Chushi bowed and bowed to express his gratitude. I understand more and more in my heart that this is a sweet shot after beating, there must be something!

After chatting casually, Helan Chushi got up to say goodbye, and Xu Qilin did not stay, and asked the servants to recruit officials from the Patent Office.

After reviewing the patent applications and grants during this period of time, Xu Qilin found that there were not many, and it was obvious that this patent right had not been recognized by the general public.

Xu Qilin didn't care about this. After all, it takes time and some example to change people's minds and ideas.

Others didn't apply, but Xu Qilin was not polite. Gunpowder, glass, mirrors, crucibles and steel, etc., are all registered and are all his personal inventions.

In fact, in addition to glass and mirrors, other patents will not make Xu Qilin get much benefit. For the country and the people, he has to make money while making a name for himself.

Anyway, glass products and mirrors are extremely expensive luxury goods, and the cost is seriously detached from the price, so it is not too much to take 10% of the patent fee, right?

This is the only one, Xu Qilin calculated, getting tens of thousands of yuan every year, or even tens of thousands, is not fantasy and extravagance.

After dealing with the affairs of the headquarters, Xu Qilin rushed to the workshop factory outside the city. Finish the important things as soon as possible, so that he can enjoy the vacation.

A few months have passed, and the factories for wool weaving and sugar making have expanded a lot, and the slaves and maids of the Yeting Palace are still used, and the wages alone have been saved a lot.

In the woolen textile factory, Xu Qilin saw the attached cotton spinning workshop. The cotton picked from the Imperial Forest Garden has been deseeded and bounced, and according to the instructions of Xu Qilin's letter, it has been spun into cloth using a slightly modified wool spinning machine.

"Well, it's thick and wearable." When Xu Qilin saw the cotton sample, he pretended to be very expert and reached out to touch it, nodding in praise.

"It's just that there are too few raw materials." The accompanying official said with some regret: "Only this bit of cloth is woven, and it will be more expensive to sell *** wool wool!" ”

"Scarcity is expensive, this is also a normal law." Xu Qilin said: "After a large number of planting, the price of cotton cloth will gradually decrease, so that the people of Pingtou can afford it." ”

"If the farmers plant, won't they be able to weave?" The officials felt that this was not very good, and without the monopoly, there would be no windfall profits in the big surplus treasury.

Xu Qilin smiled and said: "This is a major event that benefits the country and the people, and it cannot be measured by money." Even His Majesty will definitely agree. Well, that's for the future, and you don't have to think too much about it now. ”

After turning around, Xu Qilin was very appreciative of the cotton weaving machinery, called Zhou Qi, praised a few words, and instructed the officials to reward Zhou Qi for meritorious service.

Just by relying on the drawings and descriptions drawn in his letters, he can make tools such as seed removal machines, pedal flower machines, spinning wheels, etc., and even Xu Qilin can't help but admire Zhou Qi's ingenuity.

"Slaves and maids are brave, can they credit their mother's name?" After Zhou Qi thanked him, he made a somewhat unexpected request.

Xu Qilin frowned slightly, and he also knew Zhou Qi's thoughts. Although the imperial court has not yet decided, the news that he has done a good job and may be able to re-naturalize is still spreading in the workshop.

Of course, this is what Xu Qilin is happy to see, which can play a great role in motivating slaves and maids, and greatly improve work efficiency.

After thinking for a while, Xu Qilin nodded and agreed. Even if Zhou Qi accumulates enough merits, even if the imperial court has regulations for renaturalization, Xu Qilin will keep Zhou Qi. How can such a backbone force be let go casually?

Bringing cotton cloth and cottonseeds, Xu Qilin went to the chemistry laboratory again. It would be a secret place to make mirrors, and some of the raw materials would have to be prepared chemically.

After Xin'an made transparent glass, Xu Qilin wrote a letter to arrange for officials to build this laboratory, and explained in the letter some utensils to be made and some raw materials to be prepared.

In ancient times, Fang Shi was a chemist, who could make a lot of chemicals. For example, calcined alum (ferrous sulfate) can produce sulfuric acid; Dry distillation of saltpeter can produce nitric acid and so on.

But without theoretical support, without a strict system inheritance, it does not have much effect to produce these things. It's even full of serendipitude, and it's hard to repeat.

But for Xu Qilin, theory is not a difficult problem. Nitric acid can be made with rudimentary equipment in ancient times, and there is silver nitrate; Alkali is added to the urine, and ammonia is generated after heating reaction, which is then dissolved in water to produce ammonia.

Children's shoes who have studied chemistry in high school should understand what Xu Qilin is going to do, right? That's right, it's a silver ammonia solution plus fructose, and the silver mirror reaction is carried out on the glass.

Historically, this was the German chemist Liebig's method of chemical silver plating. It is said that as long as the concentration of the solution is appropriate, a mirror can be made in half an hour.

Xu Qilin doesn't expect half an hour, even if it can be made in a day or two, it will definitely make him satisfied. This is much faster than the amalgam-tin reaction that takes more than a month to complete, and it does not have the toxicity of mercury.

Wen Ren's work is reassuring, and Xu Qilin specially asked him to set up this chemical laboratory. Although Wen Ren didn't understand what he was going to do, he still carried it out to the letter.

"Yes, well done." Xu Qilin inspected the various reactors, some of which were fired with ceramics and some of which were made of copper and iron, although they were not as perfect as glass instruments, they could basically meet the requirements.

Wen Ren grinned and said, "It's Xu Cheng's drawings that are well drawn, and the craftsmen can understand it at a glance." ”

Xu Qilin patted Wen Ren's arm and said with a smile: "Branches have been set up in various places, do you have any intention of going out to be alone?" Luoyang, Kaifeng, Yangzhou, Youzhou, you can. ”

Wen Ren didn't know the doorway here very well, and looked at Xu Qilin with some confusion.

Xu Qilin explained: "The big Yingku has been upgraded, the chief official is the fifth grade, the deputy is the fifth grade, and the officials of the branch should be the highest six ranks. You're a seven-pin now, right? ”

"Yes, the humble position is the seventh grade." Wen Ren's eyes lit up, knowing that this was Xu Qilin who wanted to promote him, so he hurriedly bowed down and replied.

Xu Qilin pondered for a moment and said: "There should be more opportunities to be promoted in the branch, this time the imperial court will be rewarded, and you are also on the list of a certain play, and you can barely be a branch director if you are promoted to the seventh grade." ”

"Thank you Xu Cheng for your kind words, thank you Xu Cheng for your promotion." Wen Ren thanked him again and again, and asked inquiringly: "I don't know where the branch is better, Xu Cheng can you give me some advice." ”

Xu Qilin nodded and said, "If you want to be closer to Chang'an, go to Luoyang, or go to Xin'an; If you look at the development prospects, I think Kaifeng is better. In addition, the next year may be to promote the planting of cotton throughout the country, and Youzhou has great potential for development. ”

Wen Ren thought for a moment and said, "But you can think about it carefully, tomorrow-"

"There is no need to rush to decide, officials will be assigned after the year." Xu Qilin waved his hand and said: "First recruit the personnel equipped with the laboratory, be careful and steady, and tomorrow the day after tomorrow, a certain person will come to guide the operation." ”

"Yes, the lowly post has already found a good candidate, and he will be available at any time."

"Then tomorrow!" Xu Qilin turned around and walked out, "All kinds of materials and tools are ready, and we must strive to build them before the year." ”

"Xu Cheng rest assured, he will arrange it for his humble position, and he will never make a mistake." Wen Ren was happy in his heart, and quickly followed, feeling that his body was a little lighter.

……………

The day passed quickly, Xu Qilin went back to the house to visit his eldest brother, and then went out before the city gate was closed and returned to the mansion outside the city.

After dinner, Xu Qilin was pulled by Xiao Zhao again, and took Scarlett and Adjani to the theater to watch the play. This is also the first time he has come in after the completion of the theater and the first time to appreciate the performance effect here.

I have to say that as long as it starts, the ancients can also think about improvements, and even Xu Qilin feels that some changes are very creative.

The lighting, curtains, and even a few dime small special effects, Xu Qilin looked relatively naïve, but the audience's reaction was very enthusiastic.

Singing and dancing, juggling, magic, theater and so on, this is already a comprehensive performance. For Xu Qilin, it is more interesting than watching a play.

"Are Ke's clothes good-looking?" Xiao Zhao just waved his little fist to cheer for Ah Ke, then turned his head to the old brother and asked, "According to the way you painted, I changed it again." ”

"Good-looking, good-looking." Xu Qilin nodded again and again, and said with a smile: "I just draw casually, but after you change it like this, I can wear it out." ”

Xiao Zhao grinned happily and said with a smile: "Ake has several sets of clothes, and I have changed three sets alone." As he spoke, he stretched out three fingers to show emphasis.

Xu Qilin smiled and said, "Continue to help her design clothes in the future, Ake is now a star!" ”

Xiao Zhao blinked, remembering the new word "star". Literally, she pretty much understood what it meant.

The evening performance finally ended, and Xu Qilin was pulled by the little sister again, out of the box, and went backstage.

The theater belongs to Xu Qilin, and so does the troupe, which is different from the kabuki raised by the powerful and rich, Xu Qilin does not restrict their freedom, and it is also the relationship between the boss and the employee.

Walking into the backstage, some old people who knew Xu Qilin from Goolan Washer greeted one after another, and Xu Qilin responded one by one with a smile, and there was no shelf.

Zheng Tuantuan is the leader of the troupe, Ah Ke has a close relationship with her, and they are pillars, and the two have a separate lounge and dressing room, which is different from other people's preferential treatment.

"Xu Lang-" When Zheng Tuantuan opened the door, the makeup had not been removed, and when she saw Xu Qilin, she was obviously a little surprised, obviously, she didn't know about Xu Qilin's return.

Xu Qilin smiled and waved his hand, and entered the small room with his little sister. Xiao Zhao was familiar with the road, and when he entered the house, he ran to Ah Ke, took Ah Ke's arm and greeted him with a smile.

After months of not seeing each other, Ake looks better and has a smile on her face. Got rid of the miserable life, and it is extremely popular, and the mood is certainly happy and relaxed.

"The slave family has seen Xu Lang." Ah Ke gave Xu Qilin a proper salute, and was not casual because of what Xu Qilin said about the exemption.

Xu Qilin smiled, sat down on the chair brought by Zheng Tuantuan, and said, "I haven't seen you for a few months, but the skills of Zheng Niangzi and Ah Ke have increased dramatically, which is breathtaking!" ”

Zheng Tuantuan bowed down and thanked him, and said, "Thank you Xu Lang for your enthusiasm to take him in and teach him the seven-tone composition, so that the slave family and Ake are where they are today." ”

"It's all Zheng Niangzi and Ake's own ability, and it's just a little bit of effort." Xu Qilin said: "I came back last night and haven't seen the accounts. After calculating the profits, next year's commission should be raised. ”

"Xu Lang doesn't have to add money." Zheng Niangzi hurriedly refused and said: "I used to wander around, but now I am well fed and clothed, and I have a place to live, all of which are Xu Lang's kindness......"

Xu Qilin didn't wait for her to finish, then interrupted with a smile: "Don't talk about any kindness and gratitude, you can't afford it." Let's just say that now, if you are an employer and you are an employee, if you do a good job, you will increase your salary, and if you do not do well, you will reduce your salary, this is the rule. ”

……………