At this time, in the palace, Xiao Lingyan was standing in front of the palace, lowering his head and listening to Fu Yunlang's words.

"...Due to a discordant marriage, the boy went south to relax. Unexpectedly, he came across a time-keeping Western object that was brought back by someone. The boy specially brought one to sell to the emperor."

When Xiao Ge heard about "Western objects that keep time", he was originally very interested and very happy. He also felt that the second son of the Fu family was very discerning and knew how to keep an eye on him as the emperor.

But when he heard the word "sell", the expression on his face suddenly stopped and darkened.

Seeing this, Xiao Lingyan hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Father, Fu Yunlang originally wanted to dedicate one to his father, but he thought that this thing is called a 'clock', so it was difficult to dedicate it. He planned to only accept one bell from his father."

Two taels of silver is a big discount for you, Father."

A clock? If you give one to him, wouldn’t it be a gift of a clock? It is indeed unlucky.

And it only took one tael of silver, so that's what it meant, obviously it was a gift... ah, it was a big discount for him.

"Forget one tael, it's no different from giving it away for free. Let's go with twenty taels. Your father and I are poor, but we can still get twenty taels of silver." Xiao Ge did not forget to cry about his poverty in front of his son.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Fu Yunlang kowtowed tactfully and thanked him.

Xiao Ge waved his hand: "Pingshen."

When Fu Yunlang stood up, he asked with interest: "Where is the 'clock'?"

"It's just outside." Xiao Lingyan said, "The guards were just checking."

Xiao Ge turned to the eunuch: "Let them bring it in."

The eunuch went out and came in after a while. Four guards carried a clock that was half a person tall and walked in cautiously.

"Hey, so big?" Xiao Ge was surprised.

This clock is not only half a person tall, but also wide enough. Judging from the appearance of the guard, it seems quite heavy.

Thinking of Zhao Ruxi's plausible reasons, Xiao Lingyan couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

The clock is made so big because the current technology is not good enough and the parts cannot be made too fine, so it can only be made bigger. However, Zhao Ruxi also has his own theory.

She said: "The bigger the house is, the more valuable it is, and the bigger the pigs and sheep are, the more valuable they are. If we don't make this thing bigger, how can we call it a high price? If we don't make it taller in appearance, how can we show the lightness and fineness of future pocket watches? The first generation clock

It must be built bigger to show its value."

If I hadn't been worried about not being able to get through the door, maybe this clock would have been taller.

When the imperial guard put down the clock, Xiao Ge circled around the clock and said, "It is indeed a Western thing, but it looks different from ours."

"No, when I first saw it, I thought it was very strange."

The appearance of this clock was modeled after the Western clock they had seen in their previous life. In order to be realistic, the brand name "William" was engraved on it in English, and the details were extremely Europeanized.

Not to mention Xiao Ge, who had never seen many Western scenes, even if he was a real foreigner, he would not be able to tell that this thing did not come from the West.

Although Fu Yunlang had never met Xiao Ge, he was a little trepidatious at the beginning. But as a man with a book, he was quite capable at critical moments.

By now he had already regained his usual composure.

After listening to Xiao Ge's words, he stepped forward and joked: "Your Majesty, look, this needle that keeps moving represents day and night. The short needle..."

He boasted about the functions and meanings of several hour hands.

Of course, the so-called representative meaning was also made up by Zhao Ruxi. After many twists and turns, it reached Fu Yunlang.

Xiao Ge looked at the needles, then turned back to compare them with the copper hourglass in the room, and finally said hesitantly: "Is it five-twenty now?"

"Your Majesty is wise." Fu Yunlang bowed and flattered.

"Then does this thing always move automatically?"

"Your Majesty, look, there is something here. Let the father-in-law twist it several times like this in the counterclockwise direction every day until it can't be twisted anymore, and it will keep going without stopping." Fu Yunlang pointed to the winding machine at the back.

local road.

"Okay, okay." Xiao Ge sat back on his seat and raised his hand to the eunuch.

The eunuch immediately stepped forward and said: "Fu Yunlang, the second son of the Pingnan Marquis Mansion, is very loyal. He sold a bell to the emperor and was rewarded with a hundred taels of silver, five pieces of palace satin, and two pieces of silk."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Fu Yunlang knelt down to thank him.

"Okay, please step back first. I still have something to tell my father." Xiao Lingyan said.

After Fu Yunlang retreated, Xiao Lingyan said to Xiao Ge: "Father, I heard that you were involved in the sale of that safe. The cost of Fu Yunlang's shipment was five thousand taels. Because the quantity is not large, in addition to selling it to you

There are only three of this one left. He plans to hold an auction and invite people who are interested in buying it to bid. Father, do you want to take a stake in this deal?"

Xiao Gehao waved his hand without hesitation: "Xiao Wu'er, I accept your wishes, but it can't be done like this. I participated in the safe sale because it is related to your cousin, and I need to sell him a favor.

.In addition, that thing can be regarded as ensuring the peace of our Dajin. With it, the policemen in the yamen can be more relaxed."

"Your clock is different. If I were to take part in it, it would be too ugly. Do you believe that there will be a censor's statement to impeach me tomorrow?"

This answer did not surprise Xiao Lingyan.

"I didn't think carefully, I was reckless." Xiao Lingyan cupped his hand.

"You are also filial. I know that."

The two pretended to be a loving father and a filial son, and then Xiao Lingyan took his leave.

Fu Yunlang is still waiting outside.

Seeing Xiao Lingyan come out, he came forward and asked, "Your Highness, what did the Emperor say?"

Xiao Lingyan shook his head and said nothing.

Fu Yunlang understood, and his face suddenly became frustrated.

Xiao Lingyan scolded: "You only have three clocks, and the purchase price is so high, I don't know how much money you can make. Is the emperor's name so worthless, and you can only make three melons and two dates? I told you already.

No matter what, you just want me to come into the palace and make my father quite unhappy."

When he and Zhao Ruxi did this, they even hid it from Xiao Lingpu and Fu Yunlang.

After picking out the parts from Zhao Ruxi's warehouse house, he asked the men in gray to transport them directly to the south. He also found the best carpenters elsewhere to carve the wooden shell of the clock according to the drawings and transported it to the south.

Assemble these things.

After making the goods, they bribed a missionary, promising him benefits from selling the goods and asking him to do as they were told.

Some time ago, Fu Yun went to the border to transport grain and grass. Xiao Lingyan found an excuse to fool Fu Yunlang, saying that as long as he could make a lot of money, he would help him solve his marriage problems. He also had people whisper in his ears that there were many Western things in the south.

Can make a lot of money.

So Fu Yunlang went to the south with great interest, regardless of Mrs. Pingnanhou's obstruction.

Then he met a friend there who was familiar with the preacher in the church. When he took him to the church to see it, he happened to see such a bell.
Chapter completed!