Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 369: Palace Affairs, Ceramic Factory [Please Subscribe]

Liu Kuan actually hoped that there would be some overseas explorers in the Ming Dynasty. If one or two of these explorers became famous, it would effectively enhance the enthusiasm of the Ming people to explore overseas.

"First, what kind of skills do you think an editor who collects materials overseas should have?"

Xu Zhen paused for a moment and said, "I believe that if you want to go overseas to collect folk songs, you must first have strong communication skills. This way you can quickly understand the local customs and practices through the locals."

"Secondly, you need strong adaptability and survival skills. Overseas is different from the Ming Dynasty. You will undoubtedly encounter many unexpected events and even dangers. Without strong adaptability and survival skills, you will easily be lost overseas."

"Finally, writing skills are crucial. My subordinates believe that the most important aspect of this matter is the overseas research, with writing being secondary. If we gather good content, the magazine can then hire an editor to polish the article."

Liu Kuan nodded in satisfaction. "That's right. I'll do as you say and recruit a few reporters specializing in overseas reporting. We'll also accept submissions from the public."

"Overseas reporting is, after all, arduous and somewhat dangerous, so their salaries could be higher. If the content they gather is accepted by Overseas Scenery, they will also receive a generous bonus."

"As for the prize amount, let's start with 300 kan."

Starting from three hundred strings of cash?
The other editors in the department, whether they were in charge of "Natural Science" or "Overseas Scenery", all held their breath when they heard this.

The educated people who work as editors in magazines are basically from ordinary families. Three hundred strings of cash is equivalent to two years' salary for them. Now, they can get it by just writing a manuscript. Who wouldn't be tempted?

Some people even considered changing jobs to become overseas reporters.

Liu Kuan noticed the changes in the editors' expressions and said with a smile, "Everyone, do your best. Your year-end bonus will be generous."

Hearing this, all the magazine employees smiled.

It was not only because of Liu Kuan's promise, but also because they did receive a considerable year-end bonus before the New Year's Eve holiday last year.

Afterwards, Liu Kuan looked around the magazine before leaving.

The servant, Arong, brought Liu Kuan's horse and asked, "Where are you going next, Master?"

Liu Kuan mounted his horse skillfully and easily, then said, "Let's go to the Western Suburbs Ceramic Factory."

"Yes." A Rong responded and walked in front, leading the horse.

Although Liu Kuan could provide horses for his followers and guards, he couldn't possibly ride around the capital with so many riders. Not only him, but even the prince wouldn't dare do that.

He rode a horse when he went out, firstly for transportation, and secondly so that he could get to where he was in a hurry.

Looking at Ah Rong's back, Liu Kuan asked, "Ah Rong, you and Ah Hu are nineteen years old this year, right?"

"My Lord, Ah Hu is nineteen, but I am actually twenty."

Liu Kuan knew that the ages Arong mentioned were calculated based on the lunar calendar. In fact, one was eighteen and the other was nineteen. In later generations, if they started school later or repeated a grade, they would still be in high school.

But this is in the Ming Dynasty after all.

Liu Kuan thought for a moment and then said, "You should get married at your age. Do you have someone you like?"

Ah Rong blushed. Liu Kuan couldn't see from behind, but he heard Ah Rong hesitate before answering, "Ah Rong will follow the master's instructions."

Liu Kuan smiled and said, "Okay, then I will assign Hu Niu, the kitchen helper in the backyard of the mansion, to be your wife."

When Arong heard this, the image of Hu Niu emerged in his mind - she was almost as tall as him, weighed about 150 pounds, and her face and chest swayed as she walked. She usually wore an oil-stained apron and carried a long-handled iron spoon in one hand.

The scene where Hu Niu chased a servant who had done something wrong all over the yard and begged for mercy with her head in her hands left a particularly deep impression on him.

But in the past two years, Hu Niu would smile shyly every time she saw him.

Thinking of Huniu's smile, Arong shuddered and said hurriedly, "Master, although Huniu is good, she is three years older than me."

Liu Kuan could tell Ah Rong was reluctant, but he still teased her deliberately, "What's there to be afraid of if he's three years older? Haven't you heard that a woman three years older than you is a treasure, and a woman three thousand years older than you is considered a fairy."

A Rong scratched his head, he knew that the master was saying something weird again.

He didn't understand, and he didn't want to marry Huniu, so he had to bite the bullet and said, "Master, I actually have someone I like."

"Hahaha," Liu Kuan laughed, "You're not being honest. You've got someone you like, but you won't tell me. Tell me, which girl?"

A Rong said: "She is the youngest daughter of the bookstore owner Gu - I'm afraid I am not worthy of her." Gu Siqi's youngest daughter?

Liu Kuan had never seen him and had no impression of him. As the "general manager" of Sanwei Bookstore, a subsidiary of the "Liufu Group", Gu Siqi would come to pay him New Year's greetings every Spring Festival, but he usually brought his son with him.

However, he did know that Gu Siqi had a wife and a concubine. He had been married to his wife for many years without a son, and when he reached the age to take a concubine, he took her in. However, not long after taking the concubine in, his wife became pregnant and gave birth to a son, while the concubine became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter, his youngest daughter.

After all, Gu Siqi is a scholar. In the past few years, the business of Sanwei Bookstore has been booming under the guidance of Liu Kuan, and it has opened branches in many provincial cities. Gu Siqi holds some shares in Sanwei Bookstore, and now his wealth is quite considerable.

Although Arong was his servant, he was still an official slave after all. Even though she was Gu Siqi's concubine's daughter, there was still a certain difference in status between them.

"How did you get to know Manager Gu's youngest daughter? Does she have feelings for you?" Liu Kuan asked.

"Master, you often asked me to run errands and get things from the bookstore. One time, I happened to meet Xianglan reading a book in the store, and we got to know each other. Xianglan has feelings for me, but I was worried that Manager Gu would blame her, so I didn't let her tell."

The atmosphere in the early Ming Dynasty was heavily influenced by Hu Feng, and was originally more open than later. Now, due to a series of influences brought about by Liu Kuan, the atmosphere in the capital is more open than in history.

Therefore, whether Gu Xianglan was reading in the bookstore or she was secretly having a relationship with Arong, both were possible.

Liu Kuan paused for a moment and said, "You've been by my side for the past few years and have done quite a bit. I'll cancel your indenture and send someone to help you negotiate with Shopkeeper Gu and see if I can help you and Gu Xianglan get together."

Ah Rong was shocked when he heard this. He quickly stood aside, bowed and said, "Ah Rong shouldn't have any improper thoughts. Please don't chase Ah Rong away, Master!"

Liu Kuan asked, "What are you doing? I'm not helping you escape slavery to drive you away, but only by doing so will Manager Gu marry his daughter to you."

"Also, even if you lose your slave status, you can continue to work in the mansion. If you don't want to, you can go to the library to help Manager Gu, or go to other places under our family that need people. In short, you will be able to do some work."

Ah Rong then realized that he had misunderstood, but still said, "I want to stay in the mansion."

"Then you can stay in the mansion, but after you get married you can no longer be my personal attendant. Go and follow Lai Fu and Lai You to learn how to be a steward."

Ah Rong bowed deeply again and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Master. Ah Rong will do his best and will not bring shame to you."

Liu Kuan smiled and said, "Okay, let's continue on our way. The ceramic factory is still a long way off."

As time passed, Arong and Ahu, the youngest of the official slaves given to Liu Kuan by Zhu Yuanzhang when he first arrived in the Ming Dynasty, had grown up, not to mention the others.

Xia He, the oldest of the four maids, is already twenty-four or twenty-five years old. Three or four years ago, Zhu Huilan was going to cancel her slave status and arrange for her to marry an officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Xia He knew too many secrets, so she could only marry an officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard or other spies under Zhu.

But Xia He was unwilling, saying that she wanted to stay in the mansion and serve Liu Kuan and Zhu Huilan.

Zhu Huilan didn't want people to think that she was jealous or bothered by a maid, so she didn't force it.

As a result, Chunlan and Qiuyue followed suit and didn't want to get married. Only Dongmei was not firm in her attitude. Maybe in two years, she would come to her senses.

As for Taoyao and Zhuohua, who were given as dowries by Zhu Huilan, they had been promised to officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard one after another, but they still worked in the mansion - they were not slaves, but were considered long-term (lifelong) servants employed by the Liu Mansion.

Liu Kuan was thinking about things in the mansion and realized that not long after, he arrived at the western suburbs.

"Master, we've arrived at the ceramics factory."

Liu Kuan and his entourage stopped in front of a building complex with a ceramic kiln.

This ceramic factory is not large in scale. It currently has only three pottery kilns and two porcelain kilns. It was an industry acquired by Liu Kuanrang's mansion last year.

With Liu Kuan's current status and wealth, buying property is certainly not just for making money, but more often for interest.

For example, this ceramic factory used to be like other folk workshops, producing some pottery and porcelain, which had no special features and could only be used by ordinary people.

After being acquired by the Liu family, they began to study the firing of ceramic pipes, tiles and flush toilets in accordance with Liu Kuan's instructions.

The first two do not require high technical skills and have already been developed and put into production. The next step is to find ways to promote and sell them - this is not a problem for the Liu family, which has extensive connections.

Liu Kuan came today because he heard that the factory had developed a practical and affordable flush toilet, so he wanted to take advantage of his day off to come and take a look and inspect the ceramic factory.

　First update.

　　[I still have to go to pay New Year’s greetings today...]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)