Bai Yuegang of Prince Ning's Mansion

While Xiaotao went to fetch things, Ruixue chatted with Laoqian again.

"Uncle Qian, the last time you went to the northern border, the time was so tight, how did you have the time to explore those mines in the northern border. It's so good to hide it, I didn't even know when I died."

Laoqian was a little embarrassed: "It's not all done by me alone, it's a coincidence to say it."

The roads in the north are rough, and it is common for grain transport vehicles to be damaged on the road.

In the general merchant team, most of them will follow a car master to check and repair the damaged vehicles on the road.

After the old team entered the northern border, people from Zhao Fengnian's barracks took care of them along the way.

Inside there was a blacksmith accompanying the army, chatting very speculatively with the old man.

On the way, the two exchanged ideas on Da Lan's current iron-smelting technology.

Originally, the old man didn't take this matter too seriously, he just thought it was doing a friend a favor.

After I came back, the more I researched, the more I felt that doing this well could help many people.

Later, I heard that Zhao Fengnian attached great importance to this matter, and wanted to exchange the secret technique of iron smelting from Bishui.

I knew it was a big deal, he was a technical nerd, and all his thoughts and purposes were to improve his skills.

For those initial investments, there is no concept of future development at all.

I sneakily obtained a few metal rivets from the clear water side, melted them, and tossed them for a while.

I really rely on my own ability to fiddle with a few similar ones.

Although ordinary people can't see any difference, Laoqian knows in his heart that it is still far from what he wants.

If you want to do research in Kyoto, there are many constraints.

He couldn't disregard the interests of Ruixue and Zhuangshang. If he violated the law, he would not be the only one who would be unlucky.

In terms of funds, it is also a considerable investment.

Laoqian can see what their situation is now, and doesn't want to add another burden to Ruixue.

If you can go to the northern border, these problems can be ignored.

This can be regarded as helping Zhao Fengnian, and he also wants to repay Ruixue's favor through this matter.

After considering all aspects, and the matter has a clue, I told Ruixue.

Besides thank you, Ruixue couldn't say anything else.

Isn't it just 200 taels? It's still possible to get it together.

When Xiaotao came back with the box in her hands, she saw the old and the young encouraging each other.

I stomped my feet helplessly: "Miss, you have been coaxed by this little old man again. Since you are going to the northern border, you will also be helping the prince to do things at that time, so there is no need for 200 taels. I don't give it to the children in the village in spring." Sir please?"

Ruixue let out an "ah" and sniffed.

"That's right, Uncle Qian, did you ask for a little too much this time?"

The old man coughed twice: "What are you talking about? I went to that place, so I don't need to prepare more money for emergencies. The distillation and fermentation equipment that I helped the lady change a while ago were not all my own money. .”

Xiao Tao became a little unhappy, and placed the box in her hand heavily on the table.

Lao Qian's eyes instantly enlarged, and he stretched out his arms to protect the box.

"Hey, little aunt, please be gentle, there are precision instruments inside."

Xiaotao suddenly lost her temper, and suppressed her temper.

Even if this matter was uncovered, Lao Qian carefully opened the box, revealing the interlayer at the bottom of the box.

The three cipher boxes were lying on the bottom of the box in good condition, and they were not damaged.

Only then did the three of them dare to pant loudly, and Xiaotao gave Laoqian a somewhat unconvinced look.

He muttered softly, "You just want to steal Missy's money, you are more greedy than Uncle Qian."

Lao Qian rubbed his hands, took out a cipher box from the box, and gave Xiao Tao a white look.

"My money has been used for something. It's like him, a miser."

Without saying a word, he carefully fiddled with the precision lock on the cipher box.

With a few "clicks, clicks", the lock cylinder was opened intact.

I don't know where the old man took out a thin silver hook, and hooked out a roll of parchment as thick as a little finger from the lock cylinder.

After carefully looking at the shape, he put it on the tip of his nose and sniffed it. After confirming that there was nothing wrong with it, he handed it to Ruixue.

Ruixue was a little nervous, keeping it so carefully, she didn't know what kind of shocking secret was recorded on it.

His breathing became much lighter, and his fingers trembled slightly as he unfolded the roll of parchment.

There was not enough light in the room, and only a small piece of parchment was densely packed with many character patterns.

Xiaotao stretched her neck and sighed: "This is too small, what are they writing about?"

Lao Qian rubbed his hands, and took out a polished crystal mirror from the leather pouch around his waist.

"let me see."

The corners of Ruixue's mouth twitched. Isn't this a magnifying glass? This old man has quite a complete set of tools.

The three of them moved to the window, and with the magnifying glass in the old man's hand, they saw clearly the contents of the parchment.

The old man snorted: "I don't know what it is, but it's just the technique and process of refining sea salt. Why does Madam keep this thing so tightly?"

Ruixue couldn't help being a little disappointed. Although salt is a huge profit, it is not a business that she can do now.

The several salt fields in Dalan are all by the sea, guarded by heavy soldiers, the Holy One will not allow others to get involved.

But why did Li Ningshuang regard this thing so important? Could it be that when they came to Dalan to do business, they wanted to open a saltworks.

"Uncle Qian, when my mother and the others first came to Dalan, there was a large-scale saltworks here."

The old man thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly.

"No, most of the salt farms in Dalan today were established after the current emperor succeeded to the throne. I remember that when I first came to Dalan, most of the salt was transported from our clear water. The price is also much higher than now."

Ruixue seems to have grasped a key point.

Li Ningshuang probably brought over Da Lan's method of making salt from Bishui.

If it wasn't for this, Li Ningshuang and his sister wouldn't have received so much preferential treatment when Dalan was doing business.

This thing is indispensable in people's life. If Dalan had not possessed such technology, even salt would have to rely on importing from clear water.

At that time, the Holy Majesty probably didn't dare to tear his face with Bi Shui just because of firearms.

The brothers and sisters of the Li family offered the method of making salt to the Holy Master in exchange for the land at Shibalipu and preferential treatment for doing business in Dalan.

But in the end, Li Ningshuang still ended up meeting people badly and dying as a guest in a foreign country.

Rui Xue rolled up the parchment and handed it to Laoqian.

"Uncle Qian, put it back where it came from. Auntie left it for me anyway. Since we don't need it, let's put it away."

The old thousand nodded, took the parchment, and re-fastened the cryptex.

"Are the remaining two still open?"

"Let's open it, I have to see what else A Niang left for me."

Ruixue also lost the excitement just now, and sat on the side, waiting for Laoqian to open the remaining two cipher boxes.