Yi Yan Geng left Ning He for the capital the next morning after the two had spent a whole day playing in the countryside.
The weather grew warmer day by day, and April arrived in the blink of an eye.
Xu Heng Yan, who had poured countless efforts into personally leading the cultivation of sweet potato seedlings, saw them growing more vigorously with each passing day.
The land prepared for the sweet potato trial planting had been tilled, and it was just waiting for the official planting in two days.
Xie Jiang's glass factory was also proceeding very smoothly, with reports of finished products being made one after another.
On this day, Xu Heng Yan took some time off and went to the glass factory with Xie Jiang.
The glass factory had already become quite impressive, with workers diligently toiling everywhere one looked.
Upon seeing Xie Jiang and Xu Heng Yan, the workers would stop to greet them, "Young Master Xie, Lord Xu..." before returning to their work, each one sparing no effort.
Such good work naturally deserved to be done well; otherwise, how could they justify the wages?
They were all villagers from the surrounding villages, and depending on their different job roles, they could earn two to three taels of silver each month.
The lowest earners could still get two taels of silver! With such a considerable income, enough to improve the lives of their entire families, everyone's face was beaming with contentment.
Xu Heng Yan nodded as he walked, saying to Xie Jiang with great satisfaction, "Your glass factory, once established, has truly brought blessings to the local people of Ning He."
Farmers, who spent their lives with their faces to the loess and their backs to the sky, had never truly filled their stomachs.
Those who worked in commerce and left their homes were not always met with good fortune.
Being able to work at their doorstep and genuinely earn money was a blessing they had never dared to dream of before, and everyone was grateful to Xie Jiang for opening the factory here.
"However, a mere glass factory can only help a limited number of people."
"Helping even one person is a boundless virtue, let alone the fact that your factory has hired quite a few people."
"Then I will continue to strive and make the glass factory bigger and stronger, aiming to help more people."
Xu Heng Yan also hoped that the glass factory could continue to operate, and if it could grow bigger and stronger, that would be even better, meaning more workers could be hired, and more impoverished families would have a safety net.
Tian Kang Tai led the two to see the finished products.
Xu Heng Yan immediately spotted the horse placed in the center.
That was the design Xie Jiang had asked him to draw previously.
Following that were neatly arranged various glass products.
From large decorative vases of different colors and shapes to small portable accessories and exquisite hairpins and hair ornaments, there were estimated to be over a hundred items in total.
Xu Heng Yan picked them up one by one to examine them closely. Each piece was so radiant and beautiful that he couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
"They are made so well!"
Tian Kang Tai asked with a smile, "Does Lord Xu think they are acceptable?"
Xu Heng Yan found it incredible, "Acceptable is an understatement; what you have made here is truly a masterpiece of craftsmanship."
Even though he had heard that they had successfully manufactured glass, Xu Heng Yan had never imagined that the glass products they produced would be this good.
"Has the glass manufacturing skill in Lan Yong already become so proficient and perfect?"
"Lan Yong's glass manufacturing only began in the past few years, and it's far from proficient; it's just acceptable."
Xie Jiang picked up a vase to look at it, then picked up a hairpin and shook it, nodding to indicate that it met the passing standard and could be taken to the capital to fleece the wealthy.
Tian Kang Tai asked Xie Jiang to set a price for these items.
Glass products were a rarity in Da Yu; only wealthy families could afford them.
They were undoubtedly luxury goods.
No matter how high the price was set, there would be no shortage of buyers.
However, rarity was the key to value; even the best things would lose their worth if they were everywhere.
Given that they could produce so many items in such a short time, the factory would inevitably churn out more products continuously, and soon glass would no longer be a rarity in Da Yu.
Xu Heng Yan also considered this issue. He put down the glass teacup in his hand and looked at Xie Jiang opposite him, speaking to remind him.
"You really need to consider the pricing carefully. If you set the price too high now, and then your factory produces a large volume of goods later, you will inevitably offend those who bought glass at a high price."
Unless they limited production.
But he didn't think limited production was a good thing.
At least not for the workers outside who wanted to earn a living through hard work.
Although the only thing that could truly fill the stomachs of the common people was grain.
And he had some confidence in the sweet potato yield.
But it was uncertain when sweet potatoes would actually reach the common people's bowls.
The glass factory could already support many people now.
If the glazed tile factory could continue to expand and grow stronger as she said, perhaps it could benefit more people, even the entire population of Ning He?
Upon hearing this, Xie Jiang seemed to recall something, and a hint of mischievousness played on his lips.
"Since you say so, then this batch must be priced very high, so high that they will ache whenever they think of it in the future."
"Do you intend to offend all the powerful and wealthy in the capital?" Xu Heng Yan shook his head helplessly.
He had heard about the events that had transpired some time ago.
News of Xie Jiang opening a factory and producing glass in Ning He had spread to the capital.
Some people's greedy thoughts had been awakened.
When the glass factory successfully produced finished products, some people had rushed over with bank notes, shamelessly demanding a partnership under the guise of bestowing a favor.
What did the allegiance of the Xie clan have to do with them?
Wasn't Lan Yong just a small island the size of a palm?
No matter how impressive the Xie clan was in Lan Yong, they were just island lords, at best?
Moreover, there was the vast ocean separating them from Da Yu.
Their willingness to partner with the young man named Xie was his good fortune.
If he knew what was good for him, he would obediently let them have a share.
Wouldn't it be a win-win situation if everyone could enjoy the good life together?
In the eyes of these people, Xie Jiang, who possessed the technology to manufacture glass, was like a child walking around with a great treasure.
As for the downfall of the Lu clan of Nanxiong Marquis Manor and the annihilation of over three hundred bandits in Gangshi Town, they had completely disregarded them.
What did the demise of the Lu clan have to do with the young man named Xie?
His Majesty had long intended to deal with the Lu clan, and the jumping around of the young man named Xie was merely coincidental.
As for the more than three hundred Huanglan Mountain bandits being annihilated without a trace, it was even less likely to have anything to do with the young man named Xie. Wasn't the Heir of the Duke of Wei coincidentally in Gangshi Town at that time?
Xu Heng Yan could understand Xie Jiang's aversion to the powerful and wealthy in the capital.
It wasn't just one or two families who had come with silver in hand demanding to form a partnership.
Each of them had their own ugly demeanor.
Some adopted a condescending attitude, waiting for Xie Jiang to grovel at their feet and beg them to partner.
Others were straightforward with their threats and inducements.
And there were those with kind and benevolent appearances, feigning concern that Xie Jiang was being bullied and offering earnest advice.
Could Xie Jiang be bullied by these shameless individuals?
A joke.
Those people were still hanging in the nearby woods, not a single one missing.