Xie Xian looked normal, as he already knew the other master's appetite very well.
Lao Qi is different. He is an honest craftsman and does not have a deep understanding of Fang Zhengyi in some aspects.
He trembled all over and said, "Master...this is too expensive!"
Fang Zheng patted Lao Qi on the shoulder and said affirmatively, "No! The materials cost five taels, and your craftsmanship is worth four thousand nine hundred and ninety-five taels!"
"Besides, this thing is not something that can be sold to ordinary people. Only the rich and powerful will buy it, and they have to keep it as a family heirloom!"
"Don't worry about the pocket watch for now. This clock should be divided into three grades, high, medium and low, and sold on the market. The cheapest one will be sold for 5,000, the medium one for 7,500, and the high-end one for 9,999 taels."
"Ah?" Lao Qi swallowed his saliva: "Then... the mid-range ones are made of silver, and the high-end ones are made of gold?"
Fang Zheng's face turned serious: "Idiot! Who told you to do business like this? You'll lose all your pants if you do this! Control costs! You have to control costs, understand?"
Lao Qi looked confused.
Xie Xian came to the rescue and said, "Old Qi, you don't understand if you don't do business. If we use pure gold and silver, how can we make any profit? We can just plate the outside with gold or silver, and embed some gemstones for high-end ones."
Fang Zhengyi said disdainfully: "Old Xie, what nonsense are you talking about? Isn't gold, silver, and gems money? You've been doing business for so many years!"
"Different grades use different wood materials and the dials are slightly adjusted. Low-end dials use white backgrounds, mid-range ones have flowers and plants painted on them, and high-end ones have birds and animals painted on them. Isn't this how they can be distinguished?"
Xie Xian frowned: "Master, the buyer is not a fool. The main purpose is the same. He will not spend thousands of taels of silver for a few paintings."
Lao Qi stood between the two of them, looking left and right, seeming a little at a loss.
Fang Zhengyi snorted coldly, "Of course it's not that simple. Isn't the clock empty inside? Add weights to it. No weights for cheap ones, but for others, add five kilograms of cement blocks for each level up. What we sell is a sense of quality and luxury. What is quality? Heavy is quality, and high price is luxury!"
Xie Xian suddenly realized and said with great admiration: "So that's how it is, Master is very smart!"
"You're still a long way from here, so study hard!" Fang Zheng said proudly, crossing his arms.
The honest old Qi's worldview was shattered at this moment, and his face swelled up.
Seeing his embarrassed look, Fang Zheng asked, "Old Qi, tell me what you think."
Lao Qi stammered, "Uh... I... I think we should redesign it so that it will break once they take it apart. Tell them not to take it apart easily? Otherwise, wouldn't it be easy for us to be exposed..."
"Great! Let me also charge for after-sales service! Go back to Ao Chen and get a red envelope, and I'll do as you said! Go back to the county and tell them to produce and sell table clocks first, and not pocket watches yet."
"Also, ask those in charge of manufacturing to come up with some new features, such as automatically ringing the clock at twelve o'clock, or popping up a little bird... Discuss with other research institutes, and in addition to improving the timing accuracy, find a way to add all the other fancy things that can be added to me."
"Well, Master, I'll go back first." After receiving Fang Zheng's affirmation, Lao Qi turned around and left trembling, still muttering, "It's too dark... too dark..."
Looking at the two princes who were still studying, Fang Zheng smiled and said, “Chen Yi, what do you think of this thing?”
Shen Yi stood up and said seriously: “Master Fang, this thing is really convenient. It can strictly plan your time. It’s a pity that I can’t carry it with me.”
Fang Zhengyi took out his pocket watch and threw it to Shen Yi: “Take it, this is for you.”
Chen Yi looked at the pocket watch that Fang Zheng threw to him, and opened the lid without any instruction, and was shocked.
“This…this…”
Now this thing looks much more delicate than a clock, it must be priceless!
"Master Fang... this is, Shen Yi does not accept rewards without merit."
Fang Zhengyi smiled slightly: "It's always more convenient to do things outside. Putting these small etiquette aside, when are you leaving?"
Shen Yi was moved, and looked at the pocket watch in his hand and carefully put it into his arms: "Thank you, Lord Fang, the Ministry of Revenue has sent someone to inform you, I will leave the day after tomorrow."
"Okay, I'm afraid the Crown Prince and I don't have time to see you off. Take care on your journey, write back often, and tell me if you have any difficulties."
"Have the Jinyiwei exam questions been printed?" Fang Zhengyi asked.
“Okay, I’ll get it for you.” Shen Yi turned and went out.
Li Yuanzhao stood up and said, "Lao Fang, this thing..."
"Your Highness, this is just an enlarged pocket watch, nothing special. I'll send some to the palace someday. Let's get down to business first."
Li Yuanzhao nodded, and when Shen Yi took the test paper, he immediately looked at it carefully.
After reading for a while, his face gradually became serious, and he spread out the newspaper and asked: "Lao Fang, is this how you recruit people?"
Fang Zhengyi quickly leaned out to take a look, glanced at it and said, "Is there any problem with this? This is how I recruit officials in Taoyuan County."
Xie Xian also glanced at it and said, "Your Highness, this is indeed correct. The person who set the test was someone we found from Taoyuan County, and he specially set the test questions."
"Once the people know about the advertisement in the newspaper, they will take a written test at the Southern Pacification Office and then have an interview on the same day."
"Are you sure there is no typo?" Li Yuanzhao picked up the newspaper again, his features pressed together, and he read with difficulty: "Multiple choice question, Jinyiwei has an emergency, how to deal with it.
Ding: Announce the news immediately so that others can be prepared.
B: This is the secret of the Imperial Guard. Anyone who leaks it will be killed!
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