Chapter 11: The Mirror! The Golden Brick Is Secured!

The atmosphere inside the hall was tense and strange.

Zhu Gaochi and Xu Zengshou were sitting so close together their backsides nearly touched, fervently discussing their next big money-making plan.

“You just mentioned mirrors?” Xu Zengshou hurriedly asked.

“But mirrors have existed since ancient times. How can they make money from that?”

“Nonsense!” Zhu Gaochi gave him a sharp look. “There are bronze mirrors, yes, but that’s not what I’m making... I’m making glass mirrors!”

“Glass mirrors?” Xu Zengshou exclaimed in disbelief. “Glass is rare and expensive, mostly imported from the Western Regions. Where will you get so much glass...?”

Before he could finish, Xu Zengshou realized something, staring at Zhu Gaochi in utter disbelief, his voice trembling.

“You... you have a method to make glass?!”

Zhu Gaochi didn’t deny it; he just smiled and nodded.

“Third uncle, what do you think of this business? Can we do it?”

Xu Zengshou was completely stunned, overwhelmed by immense excitement.

Can we? Of course, we can! The glass industry is incredibly profitable. Once you have the technique, you can make as much glass as you want. This is like an endless mountain of gold and silver!

“You brat, don’t lie to me. You really know how to make glass?”

“Basic skills, basic skills!” Zhu Gaochi waved his hand modestly, though his chubby face was full of pride.

Now Xu Zengshou was truly shocked.

A mere child, yet he understands how to make glass?

No matter how you look at it, it seemed impossible!

But this kid sounded so certain and didn’t seem to be joking.

“Dear nephew, can you show me the formula first?”

“That’s not possible!” Zhu Gaochi shook his head like a rattle. “We have to sign a contract first to ensure a fifty-fifty split. I contribute the technology; you contribute the labor. You handle production and sales...”

Hearing this, Xu Zengshou’s expression changed instantly, and without hesitation, he raised an objection.

“That’s impossible! You want half the profits without doing anything?”

“That’s the charm of investing technology!” Zhu Gaochi remained unfazed. “If you don’t agree, I’ll find someone else.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Gaochi stood and started to leave without a second thought.

But he hadn’t even taken a few steps before Xu Zengshou grabbed him back.

By now, Xu Zengshou’s eyes were bloodshot, and his breathing had quickened.

“Half it is! Nephew, you better not be lying to me!”

“Of course not!” Zhu Gaochi pulled out the glass-making formula and waved it in his hand.

Seeing this, Xu Zengshou’s eyes grew even redder. He immediately signed the contract. After Zhu Gaochi confirmed everything was in order, he tossed the formula to Xu Zengshou.

“Third uncle, just so you know, this formula is a mountain of gold and silver. It absolutely cannot be leaked.”

Xu Zengshou was already examining the formula. Smiling, he nodded.

“Don’t worry. The artisans in our Duke’s Mansion are all respectable young men, loyal to the house. They won’t leak anything.”

“Since we can mass-produce glass, why limit ourselves to mirrors?”

“Because of market demand...” Zhu Gaochi started but then waved his hand impatiently. “Never mind, you wouldn’t understand even if I told you now. Let the artisans make some samples first. You’ll see then.”

Among glass products, mirrors were undoubtedly the most valuable, though they had little practical use.

At this time, the world did not have what could truly be called a mirror.

It wasn’t until the Zhengde era that the Venetians invented the first glass mirror. Its appearance caused a sensation throughout Europe, becoming the new favorite of nobles and royals, each scrambling to pay top prices for one.

Because mirrors were so valuable, the Venetians even enacted strict laws to protect their manufacturing secrets. Anyone who leaked the method faced death, and production was confined to an isolated, sealed island.

Thanks to these measures, the Venetians preserved their mirror-making secrets for over a hundred years, amassing staggering wealth!

The same logic applied to Ming China.

Ming mirrors were still bronze mirrors, usually very small. The largest were about the size of a plate. The bigger the bronze mirror, the harder it was to make—and the more expensive—making a full-length mirror impossible.

Only wealthy families could afford bronze mirrors. Ordinary people could never afford such luxurious items.

Even for the rich, bronze mirrors were typically small, often just palm-sized. Only a few truly wealthy nobles could afford large bronze mirrors, but still not very big.

Though bronze mirrors could show one’s reflection, it was blurry, especially if the surface wasn’t polished smoothly—far inferior to glass mirrors.

So just the mirror business alone held great promise.

Zhu Gaochi gave a few more instructions, and seeing the time was nearly up, he prepared to return to the palace.

Xu Zengshou personally escorted him to the Duke’s Mansion gate and helped him into a carriage, his smile never fading.

“Gaochi, if you ever run short of money, just tell your uncle, alright? Don’t ever mistreat yourself in the palace...”

His tone was utterly groveling, as shameless as one could be.

Zhu Gaochi waved him off impatiently, pocketing five hundred taels of silver.

That wretched Xu Zengshou had just claimed he was broke, but as soon as there was profit, his true colors showed.

Ugh, what a scoundrel!

Back in the palace, Zhu Gaochi first settled his bill at the Imperial Medical Bureau, then shamelessly joined Dai Sigong for lunch. Afterward, he lazily made his way to the training grounds to continue his rigorous training under Master Guo.

The martial training was grueling; Zhu Gaochi felt as if his whole body was about to split apart. He collapsed on the ground, utterly disheartened.

“I heard you went to the Wei Duke’s Mansion asking for money?” Guo Ying teased.

Zhu Gaochi shot him a glare. “Who told you not to give me any?”

“I’m not your father!” Guo Ying’s words almost choked Zhu Gaochi. “Brat, even if that bastard were your father, he wouldn’t dare act so recklessly in front of me!”

Damn it, had Zhu Di really done such terrible things in the past to be so hated?

Seeing Guo Ying turn to leave, Zhu Gaochi grew anxious and called out, “Um... Master?”

“Hm? Speak up if you have something to say!” Guo Ying didn’t even look back, blunt as ever.

“I’m just too weak right now, could you spare some effort and help me get to the Imperial Medical Bureau?”

“Walk yourself!”

“???”

Damn it!

Zhu Gaochi angrily raised his middle finger.

Just then, two armored guards arrived carrying a package—it was the big gold brick Zhu Gaochi had been longing for!

The gold brick weighed twenty-five jin, radiating a dazzling glow.

Zhu Gaochi immediately sprang up, snatched the gold brick in his hands.

“Hahaha...”

“With a gold brick in my hand, the world is mine!”

Holding the shining gold brick, Zhu Gaochi instantly felt revitalized and even made a decision he would come to regret deeply.

“Guo Lao’er, take this brick!”

The chubby boy swung the gold brick and charged at Guo Ying, attempting a sneak attack. But he returned even faster, kicked flying, and knocked unconscious on the spot.

Damn it, that bastard Guo Ying really hits hard!

The two guards exchanged nervous glances—after all, this was the Dragon’s descendant. Could they really treat him like that?

Guo Ying slowly withdrew his foot, never looking back.

“Don’t worry, this kid’s skin is thick and tough.”

“Take him to the Imperial Medical Bureau, just throw him to Dai Sigong.”

Though his words were cold, a faint smile curved Guo Ying’s lips.

That brat can hold a grudge!