After learning the purpose of Mo Lan and her servants' visit, they readily took them to the shipbuilding base for an on-site inspection. They also explained the shipbuilding technology that the Zheng family was so proud of. Of course, they only mentioned the core technology briefly and did not reveal it at all.
After following Madam Zheng on a tour, the group returned to the main hall. "I wonder if the young lady has any special requirements for building the pleasure boat?"
"I need a three-story pleasure boat. The materials must be good, the construction must be reasonable, and the draft must not be too deep." It's not that Mo Lan is an amateur, but with the current craftsmanship, the combination of wood and iron makes the draft issue a technical challenge.
Following Mo Lan's suggestion, Madam Zheng nodded. "Of course. Although every family has its secret techniques, I can guarantee with my heart that my Zheng family's craftsmanship can meet your requirements, but it must use top-quality materials, so the price will naturally be higher. Do you have a budget?"
"I haven't calculated the specifics in detail, but I'd like to know what kind of timber your shipyard has?" Mo Lan has blueprints, but what she lacks are materials and technical personnel.
"The best wood for shipbuilding is teak, but because it is so rare and precious, if you are willing to spend the money, you can use teak for the deck and keel, and use pine or cedar for the rest. It's just that the cost is a bit high. However, other materials can be used instead, such as cypress, redwood, nanmu, and elm, which are all good choices and the cost is relatively lower."
As she spoke, Madam Zheng observed Mo Lan's expression. Seeing that Mo Lan remained indifferent, she felt somewhat uncertain.
"Could you be more specific about the price? Like you said, how much would it cost to use teak for the deck and keel, and pine for the rest? And how much would it cost to use either cedar or pine for everything?"
Mo Lan really didn't know about the shipbuilding technology and prices at that time. A few days ago, she was in a hurry to draw up blueprints, and these days she has been visiting shipyards to check their reputation. She has overlooked the price.
As Madam Zheng watched Mo Lan and her servant refill her tea, her mind was already racing.
"Very well, I see that you are a straightforward and honest person, so I will be frank with you. Before you came, you may have learned about other shipyards and our Zheng family. We are an orphan and a widow, and we have been schemed against and suffered a lot. But our shipbuilding skills have been passed down to this day, thanks to the elders of our Zheng family who have been able to preserve them."
Mo Lan listened to Madam Zheng's explanation and nodded in understanding, waiting for her to continue.
Seeing Mo Lan's attentive expression, Madam Zheng paused for a moment before returning to normal. "To be honest, Miss, if teak is used, a two-story pleasure boat will cost eight thousand taels of silver, and a three-story one will cost ten thousand taels of silver. I can guarantee that the hull will remain intact for fifty years."
"If pine and cedar are used, the cost for a two-story building is five thousand taels, and for a three-story building it is less than seven thousand taels. The lifespan is no problem within twenty years."
Listening to Madam Zheng's quote, Mo Lan couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Shipbuilding was indeed expensive. For an ordinary family to afford a pleasure boat, the price alone could empty half of their savings.
No wonder there are very few large boats on the Jingwei River, mostly small ones.
However, none of this was a problem for her; she had plenty of money.
Thinking of this, Mo Lan directly explained her requirements to Madam Zheng.
Mo Lan pondered for a moment and decided to have a two-story teak boat custom-made for herself. It would be a good thing, whether for collection or for personal travel.
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