NOVEL WEB Chapter 78: Earned more than two million yuan!
“It’s fine if Li Lizhi doesn’t know the cost, but being aware of the expenses always feels like a moral dilemma,” said Li Lizhi with a smile.
“The items are good, but… they’re a bit pricey!” Li Lizhi chuckled.
“Rare things are valuable, and the Tang Dynasty doesn’t have them. Speaking of which, is that the first mirror for Noble Consort Wei?” Li Lizhi nodded, “Yes!”
“So selling her forty taels has always been considered normal,” Li Lizhi agreed.
Empress Zhangsun continued to look at the list and asked, “Does the expert have any suggestions for the price?”
“He said the cost price is just a reference. You should determine the price, Mother Empress, as you know the Imperial Palace best. If it’s too low, it will appear cheap, and if it’s too high, most people won’t be able to afford it. So, Mother Empress, it’s up to you to decide,” Li Lizhi explained.
Empress Zhangsun agreed, “That’s really good. It’s not simple!” Li Lizhi nodded, “I understand!”
Xiao Ran himself is not simple. After all, he is a person more than a thousand years later and can be regarded as standing on the shoulders of giants.
“Mother Empress has to consider the price carefully,” Empress Zhangsun said. “Bring the things here,” she instructed.
Soon, a small box was brought over. Open it up, and it’s all gold.
“All forty-nine sets of thermal undergarments have been sold, totaling two thousand four hundred and fifty taels of silver. After taking the commission, we have one thousand nine hundred and sixty taels left. Deducting your share, one thousand four hundred and seventy taels are remaining. The expert wants gold, which amounts to one hundred and forty-seven taels of gold,” Empress Zhangsun explained.
Among them, the ones given to Nobel Consort Wei were made up by Empress Zhangsun herself.
“I made a lot of money the first time,” Li Lizhi remarked.
Xiao Ran spent 20,000 yuan, except for the distribution to Empress Li Lizhi and Li Shimin. The rest was worth 2.46 million in the 21st Century!
Twenty thousand changed hands and became more than two million.
Li Lizhi took seven taels of gold and said, “Besides these, leave the rest to the eldest brother! There is also a share of the servants, which is also for the eldest brother to resettle refugees.”
“Initially, the empress wanted your father to pay first. After all, he owns 30% of the coal in Yujiagou. Now it seems unnecessary,” Li Lizhi mentioned.
All of these Xiao Ran counted, the seven taels of gold are worth more than 110,000 dollars, which is enough for turnover.
“All the remaining funds were invested in the coal mines in Yujiagou,” Li Lizhi explained.
“Compared to the coal mines, selling things in the palace is a small business,” she added.
“The rest of Xiao Ran plus Li Lizhi’s amounts to almost two thousand taels of silver, which is almost enough for Yujiagou in the early days,” the narration continued.
“The main focus is on building houses and buying food. Building houses only require purchasing materials, and there is no shortage of manpower,” it explained, highlighting the cost-saving aspect.
“I don’t need my father’s help; he still has a lot of things to do,” Li Lizhi remarked.
Empress Zhangsun agreed, “Very well. Xiu Niang exchanged the gold for an equivalent amount of silver and delivered it to the Eastern Palace. Tell Chengqian that he can begin.”
“Once the money is in place, you can start. It is not far from coal entering the market,” the narrative explained further.
“Okay, slow down on the road!” Empress Zhangsun advised Li Lizhi.
Li Lizhi expressed her understanding and later returned to her quarters.
“Xiao Ran, I’m back!” Li Lizhi happily announced.
“From your looks, things should be going well,” Xiao Ran observed.
Li Lizhi excitedly recounted the successful events, including selling the small mirror to Nobel Consort Wei.
Xiao Ran felt somewhat amazed when hearing about the forty taels of silver for a small mirror.
Li Lizhi didn’t explicitly mention the money, but Xiao Ran seemed to have an idea and jokingly said, “I feel like I’m darker than a family member!”
“It’s different! What they earn is the lives of the common people! Hard-earned money! Because they don’t know how many people have died,” Li Lizhi explained, highlighting the ethical distinction.