Chapter 12- Merchant Ling family

After walking along the path, they reached the An Ling house. Kai placed the box inside the house as An Ling directed. An Ling thanked him, saying, "Thanks for accompanying me, by the way."

Kai replied, "No problem. It was quite the journey," as he walked towards the exit. Something caught his eye, prompting him to move closer. An Ling also noticed and followed his gaze.

Approaching the object, Kai examined a sundial and its unique formation. "What is this, sir?" he inquired.

An Ling observed Kai before explaining, "Oh, that? That's a rare find. It's a sundial."

"A sundial? I've never heard of those, let alone seen one like this," Kai admitted.

"Yes, it's a timekeeping device," An Ling explained.

"Timekeeping device? Please explain, sir. I don't quite understand," Kai requested.

"Well, it uses the position of the sun and casts a shadow onto the dial to indicate the time," An Ling clarified.

"Wait, what? Sun, shadow, position dial? I don't understand any of it," Kai confessed.

An Ling tried a simpler explanation, saying, "It helps keep track of workers' time and informs about the day and when the sun sets with accurate measurements."

Kai pondered for a moment before responding, "Sir, that's completely new to me."

An Ling remarked, "Oh, that's very unique."

Curious, Kai suggested, "Sir, why don't you sell it?"

An Ling hesitated, "Sell it? But I only have one."

Kai proposed, "Sir, after observing it, I'm sure other blacksmiths will make similar ones. But to measure it accurately, you'd have to document it on paper."

"Wait, firstly, this sundial will be able to sell?" An Ling questioned.

"Yes, sir. This is a unique discovery. I've never heard of accurately measuring the day. I guarantee you'll sell it, fetching a high price of 10 to 100 gold," Kai assured him.

Amazed, An Ling asked, "10 to 100 gold? For one?"

Kai confirmed, "Yes, sir," gesturing towards nearby rocks. "We can even make these on those rocks. If we add designs and use different metals, we can increase the price."

An Ling considered this possibility. "Hmm..."

Thinking about the potential profits, An Ling asked, "What if someone copies it?"

Kai explained, "Sir, if you don't want it to be copied, you should sell it through a merchant. They'll make it easier for you."

An Ling pondered, "Merchant...? we could also sell it on the street."

Kai cautioned, "Yes, sir, but there's a high risk of theft on the street. It's better to find a merchant for protection and to fetch a good price."

An Ling then inquired about the cost of making the sundial.

Kai responded, "If you provide the rocks over there, it's only service charges and iron. If you provide both iron and rock, service charges are included, totaling around 100 to 200 copper coins per hour."

An Ling then asked about selling prices.

Kai explained, "It depends on the merchant and how they sell it. I can introduce you to some merchants I supply deliveries to."

Curious about his own family's business, An Ling asked, "Have you heard about the Merchant Ling family?"

Surprised, Kai replied, "Sir, who doesn't know about them? They're the most famous family in the empire, with a vast business network. They operate under the name Third House."

"Third House... they?" An Ling trailed off, intrigued.

Kai elaborated, "Yes, their reach is extensive. If you make a contract with them, you might receive lower prices due to high interest rates, but they'll sell your items professionally. Under the Ling family name, no one would dare to copy."

Shocked to learn about his own family, An Ling thanked Kai and said he would consider the information.

"Thank you, sir. If you ever need anything, feel free to find me," Kai said, quickly jotting down his address to hand to An Ling before leaving after a brief moment admiring the sundial.

After Kai left the mountain, An Ling thought, "With the workers gone, Father might push me into merchant business. But what if I can find a way to stay? If I use the sandile and sandclock to make money, I could fund Lin's training. How can I make this work?"

As he pondered, he called out, "Dan, come here!"

A black shadow descended from a tree, replying, "Yes, young master."