Chapter 39

How high, exactly? Luo Youde mentioned that a few years ago, there was a Censor-in-Chief named Li Guang in the imperial court, who was also a famous poet. He received a gift, a glass bowl of excellent quality and great transparency. What is a Censor-in-Chief? It's roughly equivalent to a Vice Premier, a very high-ranking official. After receiving the glass bowl, Li Guang would even sleep with it, he loved it so much! However, after three days, he returned the bowl to the giver, because it was too valuable for him to accept! You see, even the Vice Premier of the wealthiest country in the world, the Song Dynasty, found a colorless, transparent glass bowl too precious. The value of glassware in the Song Dynasty can be imagined.

"If I have the time, I'll help Brother Luo with this. I know how to make this stuff. After a few more experiments, I can make it better than this thing. In my hometown, this kind of thing is as cheap as Song Dynasty porcelain." Hong Tao, in his excitement, couldn't hold back his words.

"When will Brother Hong have the time? All the... experimental costs will be covered by me. You just... experiment!" Luo Youde almost jumped out of his chair, he didn't know how to describe his feelings.

On the sea, with nothing to do, Luo Youde watched someone fighting a shark out of curiosity and asked his steward to inquire. The steward reported that the brave fish killer was a very unusual Tanka, with an accent never heard before and clothing that was neither from the Central Plains nor the Southern Barbarians. He had a large, intricately tattooed colorful rat head on his back, a sight never seen before. This person had an extraordinary demeanor and sharp words, definitely not a mere fisherman. This piqued Luo Youde's curiosity, and he decided to see for himself. The steward's description was spot on. At that time, Luo Youde was merely curious. Since the sea voyage was extremely boring, he invited Hong Tao to chat, never expecting to find a treasure! This strange man not only came from the far southern Australia, which he had never heard of, but also knew Central Plains culture, could cook delicious food, read sea charts, and cut clothes. Now, he claimed to know how to make glassware. This was hard to believe, but very likely!

What is Luo Youde? A merchant! No matter how much he loves making friends with unusual people and enjoying life, he is first and foremost a merchant. Merchants can have various styles, but they all share one common trait: the desire to make money. No matter how wealthy a merchant is, the desire to make money never diminishes; it only grows. Otherwise, he is not a qualified merchant. For example, Hong Tao is not a merchant; he is at most a businessman.

"Not in a hurry, not in a hurry. To be honest, Brother Luo, I have my own plans. Even if I want to make glass, I will use my own money and then invite Brother Luo to invest. This way, we will be partners, not employer and employee. In business, both parties must have only one identity, that of a merchant, to ensure a long-term relationship. Isn't that the right principle? I don't have the foundation to be a merchant yet, so let's take it slowly!" Hong Tao felt that in Song Dynasty society, he could be a bit more relaxed. If what Luo Youde said was true, this era of the Song Dynasty was beautiful and free, providing a stage for him to showcase himself. So he was not in a rush to act. Before doing anything, he needed to establish the rules. Without a commonly recognized consensus, business couldn't be done, and cooperation was impossible. It would just be a cycle of mutual deception.

Hong Tao did not want to bring the ruthless business models from the future to the Song Dynasty. These things would fundamentally颠覆 the Song people's mindset. In the short term, they might bring him great benefits, but they did not align with his long-term goals. He came to save the Song Dynasty, not to harm it. He could teach these methods to the Song people, but he had to ensure they used them against foreign tribes. Without this guarantee, Hong Tao would never entertain such thoughts, unless he had no other choice.

"Brother Hong, your high moral standards! That's the right principle. Even the imperial court buys our goods through a bidding process. I'll wait for the day when Brother Hong can invite me to... invest, is that the same as becoming a partner? And an employee is a helper, right?" Luo Youde was a bit confused by Hong Tao's modern language, feeling it made some sense but not quite understanding it, mainly because of the large amount of information.

While waiting for the dishes to be served, Hong Tao and Luo Youde continued to discuss business. One party was very interested in new terms like shareholding systems, boards of directors, and professional managers, while the other asked detailed questions about how the Song Dynasty's Maritime Trade Office collected taxes from merchant ships. Ah Cai sat in a position facing away from the door, listening to the two of them exchange questions and answers, rarely interjecting.

Finally, a servant girl brought the food, and Hong Tao was a bit puzzled. He was confused by the utensils that came with the two dishes. He knew how to use chopsticks, but what was the thing with a small spoon on one end and a small knife on the other? Before he could figure it out, he noticed something interesting: the Song people ate separately! The two silver plates on the table had identical dishes, and the portions were not large. The placement of the plates suggested that each person had their own. If it were Western-style dining... it was unlikely, as Europeans were still in the Dark Ages, with no concept of Western dining!

"Brother Luo, in my hometown, we don't use such utensils. Could you explain them to me?" He stuck to his principle: if he didn't understand something, he would ask, never pretending to know!

"It's a 'bi'! The spoon is for eating, the knife for cutting, and the tip of the knife for spearing food. What utensils do you use in your hometown?" Luo Youde loved introducing Hong Tao to various Song Dynasty customs, culture, and rules, answering every question in detail. He was also very interested in Australia, but he had more manners than Hong Tao. Unless Hong Tao brought it up, he wouldn't ask about it, maintaining a bit of the pride of a Central Plains citizen.

"Very scientific! In my hometown, we usually use chopsticks. If we eat meat, we use knives and forks, but not as ingeniously as this 'bi'. Impressive, impressive!" Hong Tao picked up the small spoon and examined it closely. Indeed, it was a combination of a spoon, knife, and fork. He wondered why it wasn't popular in the future, as it seemed very convenient for eating.

"Let's drink to that!" At this moment, Luo Youde raised his black pottery wine cup, or perhaps it was a wine bowl.

PS: A recommendation or a favorite would be great! It doesn't cost you anything, but it encourages the author.

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