Dominate the ancient academy

Linglong Pavilion

"Master Sun, can you make this more delicate?"

After Shu Xiaoxiao left, the shopkeeper Bao Ming hurried to find Sun Da, the best silversmith in the store. Sun Da's craftsmanship was well-known in Kyoto, and many ladies came for Sun Da's craftsmanship. Sun Da was the trump card that enabled Linglong Pavilion to gain a foothold in Kyoto, so the first person he came to when he had a new idea was Sun Da.

After listening to the shopkeeper's description, Sun Da immediately understood what he meant. He was more proficient in jewelry than the shopkeeper. After carefully observing the shape of the black jade, Sun Da directly took the tools and started to work. He did not disturb the shopkeeper and found a chair to sit down and wait to see the finished product. He would be in a hurry to go back, so he might as well wait here.

After more than half an hour, Shopkeeper Bao looked at the exquisite jade with regret on his face: "What a loss, what a loss. If I had known that it could be made like this, I would have sold it for at least five thousand taels of silver."

But on second thought, since I had already said it, there was no way I could go back on my word. Besides, with this approach, I could quickly earn back the several thousand taels of silver, so I felt a little better.

Thinking that this could be so amazing, the sound that the young master talked about must not be much different. So he was not in a hurry to go back and just waited in the room with peace of mind.

Sun Da has decades of craftsmanship, so he can make bells very quickly. The first one was a hollow circle with a silver ball inside. It looked very delicate and small. He held it in his hand and shook it gently, and a ding-ding-ding sound came out, which was light and pleasant. Shopkeeper Bao smiled so hard that his teeth were showing. The effect was better than he had imagined.

Master Sun looked at the shopkeeper's happy expression, but still said nothing. He began to try other styles. He felt that the sound should be clearer, and he could also try other materials and different shapes.

In one afternoon, Master Sun made nearly twenty of them. He concluded that the ones with hollow shells are the most delicate, while those without hollow shells have the clearest sound. It is also best to use silver or copper, as gold makes a duller sound.

There are nearly twenty of them, and almost no two are the same. The styles include round, goldfish, and even gold ingot shapes. It is true that once the ancient people had an idea, what was in their minds should not be underestimated.

After Master Sun finished, he slowly said, "Has this been named?"

Bao was stunned for a moment before he realized what Sun Da was asking. He replied, "Not yet. I just found out about this and came to you first. I haven't had time to think of a name yet."

Master Sun said directly, "I think the sound it makes is like a tinkling bell, so it's called a bell."

Shopkeeper Bao nodded and said, "Lingdang! This is a good name. Let's call her Lingdang."

Sun Da went on to say: "Also, this bell can be sold alone or paired with jewelry. It's just too easy to be imitated. Anyone who knows how to make it can make it just by looking at it."

"I know about this. I'm going to rush to make a batch during this period and promote it well before the Dragon Boat Festival. Even if other stores make more, they can only pick up what we have left."

"As long as you know the number."

The next day, after Shu Xiaoxiao had breakfast, she brought Yuan Zhen to Linglong Pavilion.

"The young master is here, how about you looking after Mo Yu?"

Shu Xiaoxiao was stunned when she picked up the black jade. The black jade was surrounded by tiny silver bars. The gaps between them were not dense, which was just enough to wrap the black jade and fix it, but did not cover it, making the black jade inside clearly visible. The two seemed to be one. The black jade became more mysterious and unique against the backdrop of the silver bars.

Seeing the shopkeeper's expectant expression, Shu Xiaoxiao gave him a thumbs up: "Linglong Pavilion lives up to its reputation and deserves to be the number one silver shop in Daning."

"No, no, I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it." Although Manager Bao was humble in words, he was very happy in his heart. He didn't expect that this young master had such good taste. He really should let the people from other silver shops come and listen. Jin Mantang and Yu Fulou would have to retreat in front of their Linglong Pavilion. Hahaha!

Shu Xiaoxiao sent Yuan Zhen away as soon as she left Linglong Pavilion, and whispered, "Shenbao, you have a good eye. This piece of black jade is really beautiful, especially after it is made into a pendant."

"Of course. This black jade should be the essence of jade. Wearing it for a long time can strengthen your body. Although its effect is not as strong as mine, it is still pretty good among ordinary things."

"The essence of jade is so powerful, we are lucky to have found a bargain!"

Shu Xiaoxiao was in a good mood, and then handed the black jade to Shen Bao: "You can't take the black jade now, you keep it for me first."

Shenbao happily took the black jade and said proudly: "Don't worry, it will not be lost with me. It doesn't matter if it is lost. Having me by your side is much more effective than this black jade." It is a thousand-year-old ginseng, how can its efficacy be compared to this small black jade.

"Of course, you are the best. Since I met you, I have never been sick. This is all thanks to you. If you hadn't mentioned this black jade, I wouldn't have bought it. This is also thanks to you."

"hey-hey!"

"Master, that's where they sell chicks."

"Then let's go take a look."

Shu Xiaoxiao followed Yuan Zhen to the southern corner. Just now she saw a group of people gathered here, so she sent Yuan Zhen over to take a look. Unexpectedly, they were selling chicks.

There were so many people that Shu Xiaoxiao didn't want to squeeze in, so she waited on the side until there were fewer people before going forward. There were still more than ten chicks, with round bodies, fluffy yellow feathers, only a few centimeters tall, and eyes as big as green beans. They looked extremely cute.

Thinking of the difficulty in buying chickens in the academy, Shu Xiaoxiao whispered, "Yuan Zhen, what do you think about us buying a few chickens and raising them in the academy, then roasting them and eating them?"

Yuan Zhen opened her mouth wide. She knew that several young masters roasted chickens together, but students raising chickens in the academy? That was really a big girl getting married - the first time, and she didn't dare to imagine where the sedan chair would go.

"This... Young Master, aren't you having dinner at Yun Shizi's place now? Aren't you short of meat?"

"I don't need it, but my brothers do!"

"But... where do we keep it? And how do we take it to the academy?" Yuan Zhen hoped to dissuade the young master from this idea.

"I'm in the tea room. I can't support so many book boys together."

"It's okay. I'll go find Senior Brother Yun. He will definitely find a way." Shu Xiaoxiao was full of confidence. Senior Brother Yun was the only one in the academy who brought guards with him. A few chickens were not a small problem.

"Who will feed you, young master?"

"Let... let Huo Feng feed them. He needs to catch insects in the fields. Those insects can just be fed to the chickens. This way it won't be wasted."

The chicks are at their cutest now. Shu Xiaoxiao doesn’t know which one to choose. In the end, she asks the lady who sells the chicks to pick out a rooster. There are five hens, so it’s a perfect combination!

Each chick cost one penny. When the old lady saw that they bought six, she gave them a small chicken cage, which was just the right size for the chickens.