Tong Cheng'er looked at everyone and said bluntly, "I called you all here today because I have something to say."

The crowd shouted, "Please give your orders, Madam!"

Tong Cheng'er: The sound was too loud and startled her.

Tong Cheng'er coughed lightly and then said, "Later I will have someone arrange for the five of you to stay in one courtyard. From now on, you will be in groups of five. I like strange and unusual things, such as the clairvoyance that came from the West. If any group can make something that I think is good, then each person will be rewarded with a minimum of one hundred taels of silver."

"In addition, if you can thoroughly study some Western objects and make the same ones, you will be rewarded with one hundred taels each. If you can improve upon the original, you will be rewarded with another fifty taels."

"Let me give you an example. If you can make a telescope by your own ability, I will reward each of the five members of the group who make it with one hundred taels of silver. If the telescope you make can see farther than the ones from the West, then each person will receive an additional fifty taels of silver, which is one hundred and fifty taels of silver per person."

"Did you all understand?"

The crowd below excitedly replied, "We understand."

Tong Cheng'er nodded, quite satisfied with their spirit.

"Rulan, go and arrange their accommodations."

Rulan nodded and took the twenty-odd people away.

The three people from the Kikyoku-in remained where they were.

Tong Cheng'er: "I kept you guys here because I wanted the three masters to help me make something."

Dong Cheng: "Just give the order, Your Highness, and we will do our best."

Tong Cheng'er nodded, and then explained her idea for the sofa.

After she finished speaking, she asked, "I wonder if the masters are confident that they can make it?"

All three were involved in pencil making, so they were naturally familiar with springs. Using springs to improve the wooden bed was not impossible.

Dong Cheng nodded: "This servant is confident."

Tong Cheng'er smiled and nodded: "Okay, I believe the masters will be able to make it."

After seeing off the three craftsmen from the Qiqiao Institute, Tong Cheng'er instructed Ru Xue, "From now on, all the craftsmen in the manor will have their monthly salary increased to ten taels. Also, tell them that if they make a lot of things and do them well, their monthly salary will be increased accordingly. Let them do their best."

Ru Xue nodded: "Yes, Madam."