Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Xie Xian's expression remained unchanged, as he already deeply understood his master's tastes.

Old Qi was different, an honest craftsman who hadn't yet fully grasped certain aspects of Fang Zheng Yi's approach.

He trembled and said, "Master... isn't this a bit too expensive!"

Fang Zheng patted Old Qi's shoulder, affirming, "No! The materials cost five taels, but your craftsmanship is worth four thousand nine hundred and ninety-five taels!"

"Besides, this isn't something to be sold to ordinary people; only wealthy families will buy it, and they'll keep it as an heirloom!"

"Forget about the pocket watch for now. This clock needs to be divided into three tiers – high, medium, and low – for sale on the market. The cheapest will sell for five thousand, the mid-range for seven thousand five, and the high-end for nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine taels."

"Ah?" Old Qi swallowed. "Then... the mid-range one will be made of silver, and the high-end one of gold?"

Fang Zheng frowned. "Fool! Who told you to do business like that? If you do that, you'll lose your shirt! Control costs! You need to control costs, understand?"

Old Qi looked blank.

Xie Xian interjected, "Old Qi, you don't understand business. If we use pure gold and silver, where will our profit come from? Just plate the outside with gold or silver. For the high-end one, add some gems."

Fang Zheng scoffed. "Old Xie, what nonsense are you spouting? Aren't gold, silver, and gems money? You've been doing business for so many years, and you still don't get it!"

"Use different wood for different tiers. Make slight adjustments to the clock face. Use a white background for the low-end one, paint flowers and plants on the mid-range one, and paint birds and beasts on the high-end one. That's how you differentiate them."

Xie Xian frowned. "Master, the buyers aren't fools. If the main function is the same, they won't spend thousands of taels more just for a few paintings, will they?"

Old Qi stood between them, looking left and right, appearing somewhat flustered.

Fang Zheng snorted. "Of course, it's not that simple. Isn't the inside of the clock empty? Add weights! Don't add any to the cheap one. For each tier up, add five pounds of cement blocks. We're selling a sense of quality and luxury. What is quality? Heavy is quality, and expensive is luxury!"

Xie Xian suddenly understood, admiringly saying, "I see! Master is brilliant!"

"You still have a long way to go. Learn properly!" Fang Zheng said smugly, crossing his arms.

The honest Old Qi's worldview was shattered at that moment, his face swelling up.

Seeing his awkward expression, Fang Zheng asked, "Old Qi, do you have any ideas you'd like to share?"

Old Qi stammered, "Uh... I... I think we should redesign it so that it breaks as soon as they take it apart, and tell them not to open it easily? Otherwise, won't we be easily exposed...?"

"Excellent! Add paid after-sales service too! Go back and get a bonus from Ao Chen. Modify it according to what you said! Go back to the county and tell them to produce and sell the clocks first. Don't sell the pocket watches yet."

"Also, tell those responsible for manufacturing to think of ways to add new features, such as automatically chiming at twelve o'clock, or popping out a little bird... Discuss it with the other research institutes. In addition to improving the timing accuracy, add any fancy things you can think of."

"Uh, Master, then I'll go back first." Having received Fang Zheng's affirmation, Old Qi turned and left, muttering, "Too dark... too dark..."

Looking at the Crown Prince and Shen Yi, who were still studying, Fang Zheng smiled and said, "Shen Yi, what do you think of this object?"

Shen Yi stood up, solemnly saying, "Master Fang, this thing is really too convenient. It allows one to strictly plan their time. It's just a pity that it can't be carried around."

Fang Zheng took out the pocket watch he had on him and tossed it to Shen Yi. "Take it. This one is for you."

Shen Yi looked at the pocket watch Fang Zheng threw him, instinctively opening the lid, utterly astonished.

"This... this..."

This thing looked much more refined than the clock, so it must be priceless!

"Master Fang... this... Shen Yi doesn't deserve such a reward."

Fang Zheng smiled slightly. "It's always more convenient to have something like this when working outside. Put aside these little formalities. When are you leaving?"

Shen Yi was moved, carefully putting the pocket watch in his pocket. "Thank you, Master Fang. The Ministry of Revenue has already sent someone to inform me that I'll be leaving the day after tomorrow."

"Good. The Crown Prince and I probably won't have time to see you off. Take care on your journey, and write back often. You can tell me about any difficulties you encounter."

"Have the examination questions for the Embroidered Uniform Guard been printed yet?" Fang Zheng asked.

"Yes, I'll go get them for you." Shen Yi turned and went out.

Li Yuanzhao stood up and said, "Old Fang, this thing..."

"Your Highness, this is just an enlarged pocket watch. There's nothing special about it. I'll send some to the palace another day. Let's get down to business first."

Li Yuanzhao nodded. When Shen Yi brought over the exam papers, he immediately began to examine them closely.

After reading for a while, his expression gradually became serious. He opened the newspaper and asked, "Old Fang, is this how you recruit people?"

Fang Zheng quickly leaned over to look, glancing at it. "What's wrong with this? That's how I recruited constables in Peach Blossom County."

Xie Xian also glanced at it. "Your Highness, this is indeed correct. The person who wrote the questions was someone we brought from Peach Blossom County, who specializes in writing exam questions."

"Once the people know about the advertisement in the newspaper, they'll first take a written test at the Southern Investigation Bureau, and then go through an interview on the same day."

"Are you sure there wasn't a printing error?" Li Yuanzhao picked up the newspaper again, his features contorted as he struggled to read, "Multiple choice question: How should an Embroidered Uniform Guard handle a sudden event?

A: Immediately announce the news so that others can be prepared.

B: Embroidered Uniform Guard secrets! Those who leak them will be killed without mercy!

C: First block the news, and then think of a countermeasure after the news inevitably leaks out."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard needs to lay off employees. What should you say to your laid-off colleagues?

A: Even if you're laid off, you can't lay off your thinking!

B: If this company doesn't keep you, another one will.

C: There's nothing to miss about the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"... What! What! What! What is all this nonsense!"

With a thud, Li Yuanzhao slammed the newspaper on the table. "This is just ridiculous! We're just recruiting some of the lowest-level captains and laborers. Isn't it enough if they have a clean background and can read? Why do we need to test them on this inexplicable stuff? At this rate, I'm afraid we won't be able to recruit everyone in a year!"

Fang Zheng picked up the exam papers, carefully put them away, and patiently explained, "Your Highness, these are all carefully designed. It doesn't matter if we don't have enough people. Better to have none than to have someone bad!"

"When the Embroidered Uniform Guard recruits people, their thinking must be correct first! What's the point of being an Embroidered Uniform Guard if their thinking isn't correct? If their body isn't good, they can exercise, but if their brain isn't good, it's hard to fix."

"And they need to be bold and meticulous! Look at this multiple-choice question. Normally, there should be three options: A, B, and C. Here, it's written as D, B, and C, so D is one of the wrong options. Smart people will eliminate it, but fools will think I made a mistake, but that's actually intentional! ^ _ ^"

"This is just a preliminary screening. After the interview, they still need to take classes. We need to focus on both their thinking and their physical fitness!"

"Once I select the people, Your Highness can wait to train them!"

.....

It's a bit late today, and the later parts are more difficult to write. I apologize to everyone. I'll try to get it done early tomorrow.