The burly man, Wang Zhifeng, replied with a wry smile: "Mother, there is no need to mention this matter again. Zhitong came here just to talk to his son. Now his son doesn't have much thought about other things. The steam engine that the emperor mentioned.
Using it is what my son cares most about."
Wang Zhifeng knew that the emperor still cared about his mother and son.
When I was still a child, my mother ran a cement business that spanned Tianjin's Weiyan Canal, all the way to Shandong and even Xuzhou. It can be said that during these one to twenty years, my mother also accumulated a huge amount of wealth.
There were rumors that his mother's family fortune was at least two million silver, and Wang Zhifeng guessed that he was talking to a young man.
Unlike Zhitong, I was not a student. I also went to Qingtan Academy for two years. However, I couldn't study either the meaning of the classics or the investigation of things. I could only barely master the law.
So after I failed the exam once, I gave up and went home to help my mother run the cement business.
However, the cement batching process has long expired its patent period, and cement workshops have sprouted everywhere. Even in Tianjin, Wei and Shandong, they are facing fierce competition, so profits have dropped significantly.
Fortunately, I had suggested to my mother early on to buy several coal mines in Yanzhou and Xuzhou, which was the diversified development that "Father" said. Although the cement business is not as profitable as before, the coal mine business is still booming.
However, Wang Zhifeng was not satisfied with making money from the coal mine business. He kept his father's advice in mind and kept an eye on the Imperial Palace Museum. As long as new technologies, new patents, and new items came out, he would boldly take them, no matter how much it cost.
No matter how much money you have, even if you make mistakes occasionally, you will still make money seven or eight out of ten times, and make a lot of money.
Because of this, Wang Zhifeng has always maintained close contact with Li Zhitong and often funded Li Zhitong. Even though Li Zhitong's net worth is not bad, when funds are needed for some new experiments or explorations, Wang Zhifeng will take the initiative to ask for funding.
And it is not limited to the areas that Li Zhitong knows.
Wang Zhifeng felt that his father was most interested in the so-called steam engine, and Li Zhitong happened to be engaged in this industry, so he often invited Li Zhitong to Tianjin Wei, not only to connect with relatives, but also to understand the progress of the research, so that he could intervene in a timely manner.
Now Wang Xifeng of Wang's Fengming Group has gradually withdrawn from daily management, and he is now responsible for the operation. Wang Xifeng has retired and is only responsible for making major decisions.
Wang Xifeng also knew that her son had received a lot of "face-to-face advice" from Feng Ziying. Over the years, as her identity became more sensitive and inappropriate, she went to the capital less often.
Before the age of forty-five, Wang Xifeng would go to the capital city several times a year to meet Feng Ziying, but in the past ten years, she could count the number of times she went to the capital city to meet Feng Ziying.
She also knew that she was old and wan. Even if she took good care of herself and looked young, she could not compare with the charming sluts around him, but men were still teenagers until they died (Feng Zi English), so she also
There are fewer people who take the initiative to go.
On the contrary, my son has always insisted on going to Beijing several times every year, and it is inevitable to see him.
After all, they are the blood of father and son. Although they cannot publicly recognize each other due to material disputes, even the women in the palace are aware of this connection and no one is too attached to it.
Wang Xifeng also knew that Feng Ziying would mention her son from time to time, and would tell her son things that she had not said to her, and her son's temperament was also very popular with Feng Ziying.
"What do you and Zhitong have to discuss? Is it still the steam engine? Is there any progress?"
My son attaches great importance to this steam engine. In the past few years, every time he came back from Beijing, he would mention it. It is estimated that Feng Ziying attaches great importance to this, so he keeps an eye on it so closely.
"There has been some progress, but it will probably take another year or two to reach the stage that His Majesty the Emperor mentioned." Li Zhitong shook his head, "But the progress can be considered to be quite smooth, and the Imperial Academy of Gakushu also attaches great importance to this thing, and other institutions in the academy
Many of those who are researching are working on this package, or branches. According to His Majesty the Emperor, this will determine the fate of the empire in the next one hundred or even two hundred years."
Wang Xifeng and Wang Zhifeng were both surprised. This statement was a bit too heavy, and it was too heavy to bear.
After pondering for a moment, Wang Zhifeng felt a little regretful, "It's a pity that it will still take another year or two..."
"Brother, if you are eager to find a new path in business, there is actually another thing that I think has some prospects, and the emperor has privately said that the future prospects are quite promising." Seeing Wang Zhifeng's regretful look, Li Zhitong couldn't help but said.
"Oh? What project?" Wang Zhifeng knew that his half-brother was not interested in business and only liked to engage in research on objects. His half-brother Jia Lan had even entered an official career, and his relationship with him was not too close.
We are close to each other, so if there is any good thing, I will naturally take it first.
"Glass." Li Zhi said.
"Glass?" Wang Zhifeng was disappointed, "Isn't this already available?"
"It's different. It can be mass-produced and is very transparent. It can be as clear and transparent as water. Each piece produced can be very large..." Li Zhitong gestured casually, "You can also cut it at will...
…”
Wang Zhifeng and Wang Xifeng couldn't help but feel excited. If this were the case, the glass business would be different.
Jingying Cement also belongs to the category of building materials. Of course, they also had the idea of producing glass, but after inspection, they gave up.
Today's glass is turbid, has very low transparency, and the production process is cumbersome. It is difficult to control the firing quality, and the quality is also uneven and difficult to grasp. It is too difficult to use it on a large scale in ordinary households.
But according to what Li Zhitong said, it can be produced on a large scale and the quality can be greatly improved. It is not just used by telescopes or wealthy people. The windows and open tiles do not use window paper but use glass. What a big deal it will be.
market.
"Zhitong, is that really what he said?" Wang Xifeng took a step closer and asked in a deep voice.
"Aunt, how can my nephew dare to say such nonsense? It seems that a kind of lead has been added, and there are also some changes in the method." Li Zhitong smiled bitterly, "Of course, the emperor also said casually, there were still some crafts that were not fully understood at that time.
However, my nephew thinks that it may be almost done within one or two months. By then, Gewuyuan may also sell the patent, but it will definitely not be limited to one company, and will still be sold to several companies based on regions."
Wang Xifeng nodded, "Well, I have to go to Beijing again and ask."
The new book is being written. This is to save the manuscript and publish it automatically.
