The seventeenth year of Jingming is a year worth remembering.
Gu Jiu's years of investment finally paid off.
The Institute of Technology, which had been unknown before, suddenly became a big hit.
The chime clock was born!
The technical difficulties of the chime clock were finally overcome.
The Polytechnic Institute successfully produced ten chiming clocks.
"The time error will not exceed one minute!"
"Sound the time on time!"
“Luxury and magnificent!”
From the day the chime clock was born, it became a luxury item sought after by high-ranking officials, wealthy families, and wealthy businessmen.
The chime clock is half a person's height and can be placed directly on the ground with a base.
Without a base, it can be placed on a table.
The price of a chime clock ranges from three thousand taels to an unlimited price.
The Golden Throne Hall was one of the first places to use chiming clocks.
Accurately telling the time, reminding the court officials that half an hour, an hour, two hours have passed since the morning court session...
The automatically running hour hand attracts everyone's attention.
Someone asked a silly question, "Is there really no one hiding behind that moving needle?"
"Of course I won't hide anyone."
"But how can the needle move on its own? And it moves in the same direction. Why does it take half an hour to make one circle?"
“If you want to know why, go to a polytechnic.”
“No, no!”
"As long as it's useful, what's the point of knowing so much? Do you have to look at the hen that laid the eggs and ask why they lay eggs before you eat them?"
"That's right!"
"I always thought those people from the Polytechnic Institute were a bunch of crazy people with abnormal brains. I never thought they could create such a magical device that can calculate time intuitively and accurately, and even tell the time on the hour."
"A chime clock is such a great item! Having one at home not only adds to the appearance, but also keeps you from wasting time."
"It's really useful for telling time."
"Now it seems that the Empress's opening of the School of Engineering and gathering all the eccentrics in the world together has its benefits. Being able to create a self-ringing clock is truly extraordinary!"
"It's more than just extraordinary, it's practically divine. No, I have to find some connections and get the Polytechnic Institute to deliver it as soon as possible."
It’s so impressive!
As a descendant of a wealthy family, if I don't have a clock in my room, I will lose face in front of my friends.
The Throne Room is the best place to advertise a chiming clock, and the effect is amazing.
From the day the chime clock appeared on the throne room, the Polytechnic Institute was overwhelmed with orders.
These days, there are many poor people and many rich people.
In order to keep up with the trend and save face, high-ranking officials spent huge sums of money just to buy a clock in the shortest possible time.
The Polytechnic Institute published an announcement in the newspaper.
The Polytechnic Institute ships twenty chime clocks every month, no more.
Those who wish to purchase, please go to Shaofu to queue up and pay the deposit.
The time of deposit payment is the basis, whoever pays the deposit first will be ranked first.
What this means is that if you want to use your connections to cut in line, sorry, the Polytechnic Institute does not provide queue-cutting service at the moment.
Didn’t you see that the orders have been queued up for two years?
I can only say that there are so many rich people.
This is just the Gyeonggi area.
Once the news gets back to other parts of Jiangnan, the Polytechnic Institute will receive more orders.
As soon as the announcement came out, the whole city was in an uproar.
The high-ranking officials were very depressed.
"Only twenty units a month? Can't they make a few more?"
"Why issue an announcement? Let everyone know that the Polytechnic Institute has created a chiming clock. If anyone wants to buy a chiming clock as a dowry for a girl in the future, they'll have to pay a deposit and queue up years in advance. Isn't this causing trouble for everyone?"
"Once the announcement is made, Jiangnan will start to move. I estimate that the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce can place an order for 100 units at once."
"I'm afraid it's more than that! Comparison is rampant among the wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan, and they all have plenty of money. I estimate that the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce can place an order for 200 units in one go."
As a result, everyone underestimated the financial resources of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce.
The Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce made a big move and placed an order for 500 units at once.
The Northern Chamber of Commerce followed suit and placed an order for 400 units.
Other chambers of commerce in various places followed suit, placing orders for hundreds of units.
The dignitaries in the capital were secretly shocked, but also felt relieved.
"Luckily we placed the order early, otherwise we wouldn't know how long it would take."
"Your Majesty is still very considerate of us. The Polytechnic Institute waited until we placed the order before issuing the announcement, which can be considered as giving everyone priority treatment."
"The lowest price is three thousand taels for a clock, and there's no upper limit. The Polytechnic Institute is going to make a killing this time!"
"Only 240 units a year, yet they generate over a million taels in revenue. They're truly a goose that lays golden eggs."
"No wonder the Queen spends so much money on the Polytechnic every year. The rewards are truly generous."
"The Queen has a unique vision, foresight, and is willing to spend money."
"The Polytechnic Institute has been established for so many years, and in the first few years, we only saw it burn through money without making a single penny. Yet, the Empress has shown no dissatisfaction and continues to pour money into it year after year. Her vision is truly remarkable!"
"From now on, as long as the Empress invests in a project, whether it's an academy, a polytechnic, or even digging a ditch, we will follow suit. Just because we can't make money now doesn't mean we'll never make money. This chiming clock is a gold mine, enough to mine for hundreds of years. We missed the gold mine of the chiming clock, but we can't miss the next gold mine."
"Just wait and see. The Polytechnic Institute will undoubtedly continue to introduce various new items in the future. Perhaps one day there will even be a small, portable clock that allows you to check the exact time even when you're out and about."
"That would be great! If the Polytechnic Institute can really create a portable chime clock, I'll definitely be the first to place an order."
"I heard that the Polytechnic Institute is currently working on a machine that can pull a carriage without horses."
"Is there such a thing?"
"Arabian Nights!"
“Exaggeration!”
"unrealistic!"
“What a wild idea!”
"If we don't use horses to pull the carriage, what will we use? Do we need people to pull the carriage?"
"Wait, don't rush to deny it. You just said that the Polytechnic Institute is building a machine that, if successful, can pull a carriage without horses?"
"I just took it for granted. I have a distant cousin whose son is studying at the Polytechnic Institute. Last time we met, he casually said something, and I just took it for granted. Whether it's true or just bragging, I don't know. But before that, I was sure he was bragging. Ever since the Polytechnic Institute built a chiming clock, I've been thinking that maybe one day they could actually build a machine to replace horses in pulling carriages."
ah?
Everyone looked at each other!
The official from the northwest had shining eyes.
"Could you introduce me to your relative who's studying at the Polytechnic Institute?"
"You want to meet him? He's just a nerd and a weirdo."
"No, no, no, to be honest with you, I'm very interested in the machine you just mentioned. I want to learn more about it and ask if I can invest money in it and get a small share."
Huh?
"The Polytechnic Institute is burning through money at a rate that's like a bottomless pit! Only the Queen has deep pockets to support those weirdos."
"Yes! When it comes to burning money, no one can compare to the Polytechnic Institute. How much money do you have to invest to get even a small share? It's a bottomless pit. Think twice, brother."
"Don't be impulsive. It's not easy to save a little money, how can you invest it in a bottomless pit like a polytechnic?"
The official from the northwest was adamant. "Before, I missed out on Xinmin County, missed out on the cement road, missed out on shares in Universal Transport, missed out on so many opportunities. Later, I finally made it to Beijing, but still missed out on the chime clock. Now I don't want to miss out again. By all means, please introduce me to relatives at the Polytechnic Institute."
"Okay! I'm not responsible for any consequences."
"Don't worry, I will bear all the consequences myself."
"Instead of investing in that bottomless pit of a polytechnic, it's better to invest in a medical school. Did you hear about what happened last month? An old man had a large tumor on his back, said to be as big as a washbasin. No one in the world, including the imperial physician, could cure it. The old man later entered a medical school, and guess what? He was cured! I heard that the medical school successfully removed the tumor from the old man's back and saved his life. In a few days, the old man will be able to be discharged and return home."
"Is this true?"
"The old man is still a resident in medical school. If you don't believe me, go ask him yourself."
"According to this trend, medical schools will have a huge future. Investing early, even if you don't make money, can be considered a good connection. It's definitely worth considering investing in a medical school."
Everyone was discussing whether to invest in the medical school or the polytechnic school.
The last person chose to invest in a polytechnic, while the others chose to invest in a medical school.
This investment is not something you can invest in just because you want to.
I won’t go into details about the twists and turns.
Speaking of the self-ringing clock, it was not until the Polytechnic Institute published an announcement in the newspaper that ordinary people knew that there was a new object in the world that could automatically tell the time on time.
Checking the time is not only accurate but also intuitive.
Even people who have never been to school and cannot read can understand the time at a glance.
Everyone is curious about what a chime clock looks like.
Never seen it!
The Polytechnic Institute will not put its chiming clock on the street for people to see.
It's not a four-wheeled carriage. It was built to run on the street so that everyone can go out and take a look.
People who bought a clock would put it directly at home and then invite relatives and friends to visit.
Any family that can afford a grandfather clock has nothing to do with the general public.
Even if there is a connection, they would not invite an ordinary person to visit and see the clock.
Once everyone knows the price of a grandfather clock, it will become even more rare.
The lowest price was three thousand taels, and the common people were secretly shocked.
"I can never earn three thousand taels in my entire life!"
"Three thousand taels is enough to buy ten apartments in Phases 8 and 9. If I buy a house near the Imperial College, I can buy twenty small apartments."
"Three thousand taels can buy a house in the city."
"It's enough for my child to succeed in his studies."
"What do you think a chime clock looks like? Is it shiny and golden? Otherwise, why would it be so expensive?"
“It’s a bit expensive, but it tells the time automatically.”
"Before there were no chime clocks, people still came here."
"But the time is not right."
"Why do you need such precise timing? We work at sunrise and rest at sunset. It has been like this since ancient times."
"That was in the past. Now with the chime clock, things are definitely different."
"Nothing is different. Life goes on as usual."
Regardless of whether the self-ringing clock is useful or not, everyone, from high-ranking officials to ordinary people, cherishes the self-ringing clock.
The first order was delivered a month later.
Huang Qubing was fortunate to be the first customer.
When the clock was brought back to the mansion and placed in the flower hall, the whole mansion was shocked.
Friends and relatives sent people to inquire.
Shouldn’t the first person who buys a clock be treated to a treat?
You can’t not treat us!
Unable to withstand the crowd's clamor, Huang Qubing held a banquet to entertain relatives and friends.
The theme of the banquet was to visit the chiming clock.
"it's beautiful!"
"It's so tall! It must be as tall as an adult."
“There’s a base installed underneath, so it looks really tall.”
"The needle is moving? How do you think the needle is moving? There can't be someone hiding behind it."
"Hahahaha... How could someone possibly be hiding in such a small space? I already told you, this is a chime clock, it must be something special, that's why everyone is so curious about it."
"How was this chime clock made?"
"I don't know! I'll have to ask someone from the Polytechnic Institute."
The girls chattered, full of curiosity.
Everyone suddenly lowered their voices and whispered, "I heard the Polytechnic Institute is recruiting female students, but it's a pity no one has taken the initiative to sign up."
"The medical school also accepts female students. As far as I know, in addition to girls from medical families, there are also girls from ordinary families studying there."
"It's said that studying in medical school is very strict. There are assessments every year, and if you fail the assessment, you will be eliminated."
"Of the first group of royal family members who went to medical school, about 20 to 30 have been eliminated. Fortunately, those who were eliminated were exempted from the entrance exam and entered Zhixing Academy."
"For us girls, studying at a medical school is a good option. As long as we graduate successfully, we can become a seventh-rank official."
"You don't have to go to medical school to get a third-rank imperial decree."
"That's different! One earned his position, the other received it from a man. The one he earned himself can't be taken away by anyone except the Empress and His Majesty. Even the Ministry of Personnel can't control a medical officer. But the one given by a man is hard to say."
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