Since joining Yong Sheng Trading Company, Ye Chong and Li Qiu'e have felt as if they have been reborn.

Chatting with Master Zhao, who casually mentioned deals worth hundreds of thousands of strings of cash, made their legs tremble.

Before meeting Master Zhao, tens of thousands of strings of cash were something they had never even dreamed of.

For ordinary people like Ye Chong from the countryside, earning two or three strings of cash a year was a blessing. They had no other source of income and relied on the food they stored from farming.

Before the new policy, things were even worse. Most of the grain they painstakingly grew throughout the year went to the landlords, and the remaining family barely managed to survive. As for money, they had never even seen what it looked like.

Not to mention widows like Li Qiu'e, who barely managed to survive on the bare minimum.

But now, she is the owner of the largest cloth shop in the capital.

Poor people tend to be more conservative and cautious when doing things.

Because the poor have nothing, being cheated or suffering losses can be fatal.

Therefore, poor people develop a mindset from a young age that they should not take risks or make changes arbitrarily.

This mindset is difficult to change quickly, and both Ye Chong and Li Qiu'e are trying to change it.

Because they are no longer poor; one is running a textile mill and a steam engine manufacturing plant, and the other is in charge of the most popular cloth business.

But I was still deeply shocked by the idea that Zhao Guanren proposed today, and I couldn't calm down for a long time.

In fact, they are not to be blamed at all.

If Xu Churen heard this, he would be so shocked that his jaw would drop.

Since ancient times, cattle have been used for plowing, and eating beef has been forbidden in all dynasties.

Your Majesty, you actually want to eat the food that farmers cultivate in the fields! What kind of tyrant are you?

Zhao Huan suddenly asked, "How's the steam engine manufacturing mold coming along?"

"Sir Zhao, all five large rooms are ready and waiting to be built!"

"Let's start manufacturing, beginning with pumping water, spinning textiles, and mining iron ore."

"good!"

Zhao Huan was at ease entrusting this matter to Ye Chong.

Ye Chongjia was a craftsman, but he also farmed in order to survive.

Unlike those scholars, this person is extremely capable in practical matters, which is exactly the kind of person Zhao Huan is looking for.

The molds in those five large rooms were the prototypes of the first generation, capable of manufacturing very primitive steam engines and processing them into water pumps. In this way, the problems of agricultural irrigation and water accumulation during coal mining could be solved.

However, the cost is still very high, so it can only be used on a small scale.

Ordinary farmers certainly couldn't afford it, and grain merchants like Zhu Qing, who bought large tracts of land, definitely wouldn't buy Huaxing Trading Company's steam engines to pump water.

Since the imperial court also had its own departments manufacturing steam engines, Zhu Qing, backed by the government, would definitely purchase steam engines from the government.

But grain merchants like Zhu Qing do have this demand.

Ye Chongdao said, "Sir Zhao, there is something I don't understand."

"What's up?"

"Since the patent rights belong to us, and the imperial court has to give us a share of the profits for every steam engine it sells, why should we manufacture steam engines ourselves?"

Zhao Huan laughed and said, "Because the steam engines manufactured by the imperial court may not be easy to use, we cannot work behind closed doors. The Huaxing steam engine still needs improvement, and improvement needs to come from practice."

Ye Chong seemed to understand, and he nodded.

Zhao Huan continued, "Besides, the steam engine used by the imperial court is definitely not as good as the one you made."

Zhao Huan did not believe that the things produced by the Ministry of Works were really good.

All practical tools are driven by practice and purpose.

The Ministry of Works neither farms, weaves, nor mines coal. The things they make are all based on imagination on the basis of reality. How can they compare to the things made by ordinary people who are completely guided by reality?

Ye Chong smiled modestly: "I will definitely continue to improve!"

Zhao Huan then asked Li Qiu'e, "How is the spinning going?"

"Don't worry, all five spinning mills are ready. Once Master Ye has built the steam-powered spinning wheel, we can begin construction!"

"Okay, everything must be done quickly, because we are not the only ones who have thought of using a steam engine to power the spinning wheel."

"Um!"

Li Qiu'e nodded emphatically, feeling her blood boiling even though she was a small woman.

She feels that what she is doing now is very valuable, that she is changing things and making people's lives better.

She couldn't say for sure, but she felt very proud.

Huaxing Spinning Wheel has already made great improvements on the original spinning wheel, but now, a steam engine will be added to the spinning wheel. In this way, as long as firewood is added to the steam engine, the steam engine can weave cloth continuously for twelve hours a day.

This will greatly increase production and save labor.

It's unbelievable just thinking about it!

This Mr. Zhao is truly a remarkable person!

"Ye Chong, ensure the yield of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and peppers. Be quick! Throw one of the steam pumps here as soon as it comes out!"

Ye Chong smiled憨厚ly and said, "Don't worry, Master Zhao!"

"I have something to do today, so I won't have dinner with you. Don't overwork yourselves; if you can afford to hire someone to do it, then spend the money!"

If Xu Churen and Tang Ke had heard the emperor say this, they would have silently shed tears.

Emperor, you treat these common people so well, but you treat us ministers like cattle!

"Thank you, Master Zhao. We'll see you off."

"No need, I'll be going now."

Zhao Huan mounted his horse and suddenly remembered something. He turned to Ye Chong and said, "When we have time, we should study and write this book. We can take it to a printing press to print it and sell it!"

Ye Chong was slightly taken aback, then smiled somewhat apologetically, "I'm not very literate."

"Find someone who can read to assist you!"

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!