Charlie: "Yes, the Emperor introduced him. He wants to build a bookstore in the capital and needs to use cement. I talked to him a lot and was very inspired."

Karl was surprised that someone could actually talk to Charlie. It was one thing to have an emperor before, but now there was another one.

Carl was quite happy about this situation. Charlie was his friend, but Charlie was usually too withdrawn and didn't like to socialize. He would either be engrossed in studying books or visiting various buildings, then come back to draw drawings and marvel at the exquisite beauty of the architecture.

Now that Charlie has someone he can talk to, Carl is genuinely happy for Charlie.

Carl said, "That's fine. I'll invite him over for a meal sometime. I'd like to meet him too, as I'll be leaving soon."

Charlie's main point was that Carl was leaving.

"You've only been here a short time, why are you leaving again?"

Karl said somewhat helplessly, "This is something I promised the Emperor. Besides, it's always better to have something to do than nothing at all, and I'm quite happy doing these things."

Charlie is a person who respects his friend's ideas. He himself likes architecture, so he naturally thinks that his friend likes his current job as well, otherwise why would he be so enthusiastic about it!

Charlie: "By the way, what did you bring back this time?"

Carl: "These are all goods that came off merchant ships. I've already delivered them to Wu's Department Store."

Charlie was somewhat puzzled: "Wu's Department Store?"

How come I've never heard of it?

Karl explained, “It’s a shop in the capital that hasn’t opened yet. The Emperor specifically asked me to deliver it there.”

Charlie stopped asking about it and started talking to Carl about his architectural dreams.

The idea of ​​Wu's Department Store was actually Wu Yiming's own, and of course, it also had the support of Yinzhen.

Wu Yiming has been very honest these past few years. In addition, after the Wu family's accounting method came out, she stopped being a lazy bum. After opening a tea and snack shop in the capital, she finally opened up her restless heart.

I've started to get interested in doing business.

"Master, a new batch of imported goods has arrived. What are your plans for handling them?"

Wu Yiming: "Take me to see what kind it is first?"

Then Wu Yiming followed a servant to the storeroom. Wu Yiming had someone open the boxes storing imported goods, and casually took out a few items to look at. To be honest, Wu Yiming didn't think much of the technology behind these things.

But it's already very good for this era.

Of course, Wu Yiming is an insatiable person. Now that he has a powerful backer in the capital, he has established himself and broadened his horizons. Looking at this batch of things, Wu Yiming made a plan in his mind.

She may not have much technical skill, but the Qing Dynasty has no shortage of skilled craftsmen!

After leaving the warehouse, Wu Yiming ordered people to search for people skilled in unusual and ingenious crafts. Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, craftsmen did not have a high social status, but in order to survive, there were indeed many talented people who were good at these things.

Wu Yiming has no shortage of money these days, and in order to ensure that she can find a suitable person, she spent a lot of money, and as a result, many people were indeed tempted.

Of course, she doesn't want just anyone. She needs two types of people: those who are good at imitation, that is, those who can replicate these imported products, and those who are creative. Creativity is one of the driving forces of production in any era.

Although Wu Yiming's actions were discreet, Yinzhen and Yunrong knew about them. Yunrong had a good impression of Wu Yiming; the current Wu Yiming was no longer naive and looked like a strong woman, which Yunrong greatly admired.

"I heard that Wu Yiming actually wants to do business with imported goods."

Yinzhen nodded. He knew about this and agreed: "She's quite ambitious. She's searching everywhere for skilled craftsmen, thinking of making her own things to sell."

Yunrong: "This is fine."

Yinzhen asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why did you think of Wu Yiming?"

Yunrong: "Wu Yiming has some business dealings with the Imperial Household Department. She wants to find skilled craftsmen. To be honest, most of the best craftsmen in the world are in the Imperial Household Department. She heard that she sent someone to inquire, so she thought of this."

Yinzhen: "I see. I hadn't paid attention to that. But what do you plan to do?"

Yunrong thought for a moment and said, "How about this, we can set up a training class to teach craftsmen this knowledge. Of course, we can also find some orphans and train them from a young age."

When Yinzhen heard this, he hadn't originally planned to do these things, but since Yunrong was interested, he decided to let her do it.

"I'll do as you say, you can arrange it."

Yunrong was very happy: "The bicycle has already been designed. We'll have someone make the parts and assemble it, and it should be ready to use. That will bring in a lot of money for the Imperial Household Department."

Yinzhen looked at Yunrong and said with a smile, "You've really fallen for money."

Yunrong refused to admit it: "I did all this for you."

"Yes, yes, it's all for me."

Yunrong: "I think Wu Yiming has a good business sense. Maybe she can develop in this direction in the future. The Imperial Household Department probably can't handle the bicycles. We could let her be an agent."

Yinzhen had no objection: "Whatever makes you happy."

Yunrong then remembered, "Oh right, Wu Yiming recently started a department store, which I think is quite good. I have some modern perfume formulas and some other miscellaneous formulas. I'll show them to her later. If it's suitable, I can have her cooperate with the Imperial Household Department. That would be another source of income..."

After listening to Yunrong ramble on and on about money, Yinzhen wondered if she had misunderstood something.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!