Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

"How about it, Dad? This chalk is much better than ordinary chalk. It's not easy to break, and it doesn't drop dust easily. Also, the material for this blackboard was specially made by a factory I found. It wipes cleaner and is much better than the facilities at Dongjiao University."

"I think with the rise of new-style schools, whether private or public, the demand for blackboards and chalk will be considerable. However, the chalk on the market is still the same as what you had the government produce years ago, without any changes."

"Now, the chalk and blackboard I've made have excellent performance. If we promote them widely, could we make a fortune?"

"Wow, you've made quite a leap, going straight from making writing brushes to making chalk," Fang Zheng said, picking up the chalk and trying it repeatedly, unable to help but praise, "Good, the product is good, and your vision is excellent... But what about the cost?"

"The cost..." Fang Chengyu hesitated for a moment, "The cost per box is a few coins more expensive than what's on the market."

"That's barely acceptable, but the cost still needs to come down... The demand for chalk is too great," Fang Zheng nodded, putting the chalk and blackboard back into the box and looking at Fang Chengyu.

Fang Chengyu sighed softly: "The cost... There's no way around it. The experts in my factory have tried many new technologies. Even if I don't consider the money invested, the process has become more complicated, and the material costs alone are higher than usual. However, I think with this quality, it won't be difficult to launch it."

"It's not difficult. You could sell a pile of dog shit for a high price," Fang Zheng snorted. "Don't rely on my reputation. Use your own brain more. Although the cost is a bit higher, it shouldn't be a problem to sell it in large quantities."

Fang Chengyu chuckled and moved his stool closer: "Dad, there's a simple way to reduce costs. I could just buy in bulk... But the problem now is that warehousing also costs money. What if I buy so many raw materials and then can't sell the finished products? Please teach me, Dad. I've put all my energy into the product."

"Celebrity endorsement, scarcity marketing, such simple things and you still need to ask me?" Fang Zheng said disdainfully, "When you go out and deal with people, don't use my name."

"Dad..."

Fang Chengyu was about to say more when the door to the private room was opened, and a man in official robes walked directly into the room, standing in front of Fang Zheng and bowing deeply.

"Grand Secretary, the Embroidered Uniform Guards said you were looking for this humble official. I rushed here as soon as I was off duty. What's the matter?"

"Wei Qing, sit down," Fang Zheng said, patting the stool beside him.

Wei Qing bowed again: "This humble official dares not. Please tell me what you need, Grand Secretary."

Fang Zheng didn't even look at him, picking up a handkerchief and slowly wiping his hands: "Bring Manager Li here."

Wei Qing's heart skipped a beat. After hesitating for a moment, he turned and went downstairs.

Soon, he returned with Manager Li, who looked completely bewildered.

Only then did Fang Zheng slowly open his mouth: "Wei Qing, someone reported to the Embroidered Uniform Guards that you eat without paying. You are a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue. How can you eat without paying? Is the salary that our Great Jing Dynasty provides not even enough to cover the meal expenses of a fifth-rank official in the capital?"

"No, Marquis, it's on account! It's on account!" Manager Li hurriedly glanced at Wei Qing and quickly explained to Fang Zheng, "Someone with ulterior motives is framing Lord Wei!"

"Grand Secretary! This humble official does come here often to eat, but I have never not paid. It is indeed on account," Wei Qing's forehead instantly broke out in a layer of sweat. "Manager Li has also said so. I wonder who is using such base rhetoric to slander this humble official?"

Fang Zheng flicked the handkerchief and threw it on the table.

He looked back and glanced at Manager Li.

"I heard that the person who reported this is a regular customer of Manager Li. He once complained to this person about you, saying that the account has been outstanding for three months. Ten days ago, this enthusiastic customer of Manager Li helped him report it to the Embroidered Uniform Guards. Manager Li, is there such a thing?"

The atmosphere in the room became heavy.

Manager Li couldn't help but shrink back and swallowed, stammering: "Marquis, this was just a joke between me and a friend. It can't be taken seriously."

Wei Qing kept his head down, sweat dripping from his forehead.

Bang!

Fang Zheng slammed the table and said in a deep voice: "A high-ranking official of the court running to the homes of ordinary people to freeload, how could you do such a thing?"

"Grand Secretary, I..."

"The Ministry of Revenue has been reformed in recent years, and I have participated in it a lot! The salaries of officials have been increasing year after year, and the court's assets have been distributed to you in the form of shares. You must have earned a lot from the stocks. Eating without paying..." Fang Zheng smiled coldly.

"If you eat without paying, and the people talk about it, then you are damaging the reputation of the court!"

"If you eat without paying, and the people pay less taxes, then you are stealing from the national treasury!"

"Stealing from the national treasury is corrupting the court!" Fang Zheng slammed the table again, raising his voice, "If the court is corrupted, then the army will be even more corrupted. If the army is corrupted, how can the country survive? You, as a Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, dare to commit such a great crime... Chengyu, what crimes do you think he has committed?"

"Treason!" Fang Chengyu said in a deep voice.

"Treason, a good treason..." Fang Zheng's tone returned to calm as he looked at Manager Li and said slowly, "Manager Li, let me test you. According to the Great Jing law, what should be the punishment for treason?"

Manager Li's legs trembled. Under Fang Zheng's compelling gaze, he said in a trembling voice: "Confiscation of property... Extermination... of the clan?"

"Good, good..." Fang Zheng clapped his hands and smiled faintly, "The people of our Great Jing all abide by the law and know the law, so why do you, a Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, insist on eating the court's food and smashing the court's pot?!"

With a thud, Wei Qing knelt on the ground, crying and wiping away tears: "Grand Secretary, I just ate without paying! You can't wrong me like this!!"

"Hmph, it would be fine if it were just anyone. Remember your identity. Apologize to Manager Li, settle the bill, and go home to reflect!"

Wei Qing was relieved, and he quickly got up and repeatedly apologized to Manager Li, cupping his hands.

Then, he fumbled to take off his sleeves, and finally took out a pocket watch and handed it over.

Fang Zheng glanced at the flustered Manager Li: "Accept it. Remember to give him change next time he comes."

"Ah? Ah... Yes," Manager Li hurriedly replied.

Wei Qing wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and bowed again: "Grand Secretary, then this humble official will take his leave."

"Mm, go."

Only Fang Zheng, his son, and Manager Li remained in the room.

Manager Li secretly lamented in his heart, not knowing whether to leave or stay.

Just now, Fang Zheng said: "You don't need to be afraid. What is there to be afraid of? If an official bullies the people, go to the Embroidered Uniform Guards, go to the newspaper, don't be afraid to make a big deal out of it."

Manager Li gave a forced smile: "Returning to your Lordship, I've really troubled you, but... Lord Wei is, after all, the face of the court. I believe he will settle the bill sooner or later. It wouldn't be good for me to go out and shout about it. There are foreigners everywhere in the capital now, and it would make people laugh..."

"Nonsense! It's a joke that he eats without paying. It's a joke that you let him ride on your head and bully you. What if the foreigners know? Such a big country is not afraid of being laughed to ruin! They laugh, but our Great Jing won't lose a piece of meat. People like you being bullied, that's digging at the roots of the court!"

"Don't hide such things next time. The court is wise, and if you are honest and upright, no one will dare to touch you! Go and get busy."

"This humble one..." Manager Li took a deep breath, his back straightening a bit unconsciously, "Thank you, Marquis."

.......

(Continuation of the main story, to be continued!!! New book, The Most Chaotic World of Immortals, already has 2 million words, please support brothers, please give a good review~ ~!)