Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 426 - 299 This is a technology blockade!_3

Chapter 426: Chapter 299 This is a technology blockade!_3

Feng Yi became curious and asked, "How do other clan relatives recognize each other?"

The butler shook his head, "That, I’m not clear about."

Feng Yi fell silent for a moment before sharing his own thoughts.

"Old Man Feng has built a separate ancestral hall and issued invitations far and wide, asking clan relatives from home and abroad to attend the grand ancestral ceremony, and I was invited too. I was thinking, taking advantage of this clan gathering, to try and see how many people recognize this."

"Not everyone knows; it depends on whether they have learned how to distinguish it from their elders. Times have changed," the butler said.

"Mhm, I know," Feng Yi responded.

Feng Yi understood the butler’s meaning.

In modern society, people’s ideas have changed. The roles of clan leader, clan elder, and clan successor don’t hold as much power anymore. At most, they’re like Old Man Feng, a feudal patriarch, but that’s only within a local family. People from other places might not give face.

Feng Yi didn’t have high hopes of getting much help from other clan relatives. Regardless of whether those clan relatives understood how to recognize the zodiac copper coin or acknowledged Feng Yi as the coin caster, it wouldn’t have a significant impact on Feng Yi’s business.

He was doing very well now. And he still had money.

It would be even better if he could cause Old Man Feng some trouble at the ancestral ceremony.

Feng Yi fiddled with a zodiac copper coin, watching it flip between his fingers.

The surface layer of "patina" on the zodiac copper coin benefitted people carrying that kind of homologous special gene.

The benefits wouldn’t be extremely obvious, but they were there. Maybe it somewhat strengthened the body and health, or perhaps it stimulated a talent in some direction. Genetic matters are unpredictable, but the influence was definitely positive.

With age, this influence would fade until it was almost non-existent.

To make such zodiac copper coins, Feng Yi had to plate the surface of these coins with a layer of "patina."

"I know all that already; now let’s talk about the coin casting," Feng Yi looked across the tea table, "You have the formula, right?"

The zodiac copper coin wasn’t made of pure copper; it was a type of copper alloy with an optimal matching ratio.

Using pure copper as the base, other elements were injected in proportion. Among these elements were several precious metals.

The ratio of these elements was the result of generations of trial and error, leading to the current optimal ratio.

In other words, the alloy created from this ratio formed a patina the fastest, was more stable, and energy-saving.

Using the least energy to produce the fastest and most stable "patina"!

Of course, the butler had the formula. He copied it from his notes and had Feng Yi copy one as well.

This was a "family heirloom formula" that could be passed down!

The butler was eager to take on the task of coin casting.

"Casting zodiac copper coins, we can make more at once, keep them stored, and use them as needed. They can last for decades," the butler suggested.

"Yes, that’s what I’m thinking," Feng Yi said.

If he was going to make zodiac copper coins, then he might as well make a bunch at once to keep; after all, he wasn’t short on money. What was unused could be melted down again.

Once the copper coins were made, he would take as many as needed for "processing."

Maybe start by making about a dozen or twenty?

To begin with, since his technique was rusty, Feng Yi was afraid he couldn’t handle too many.

What if they weren’t evenly made?

It would become the subject of ridicule by future inheritors.

So, based on his abilities, a moderate amount would do.

Later at the ancestral hall ceremony, he could observe and see about how many zodiac copper coins were needed; if there weren’t enough, he could make more next time.

However, Feng Yi thought that not many people would bring children to the ancestral ceremony.

If some clan families no longer observed this custom, then there was no need to give them away.

"I’ll prepare for the casting. You just need to finalize the design," the butler said, looking at Feng Yi, his eyes shining, "If you haven’t decided on the pattern, I also have some references to offer!"

"...Please tell me," Feng Yi replied.

"May I ask if, for casting the zodiac copper coins, are you choosing a single zodiac or drawing all twelve?" the butler inquired.

"Draw all of them," Feng Yi said.

According to the ancestral teachings, children born in the Year of the Snake had a higher chance of becoming the successor, but it wasn’t absolute. The zodiac copper coin didn’t play a decisive role. It didn’t mean that only people with the coin could become the next heir.

So, not confined to any single zodiac sign, naturally, all twelve zodiacs were needed!

After some thought, the butler said, "It can be done like this, one style featuring all twelve zodiac animals and another with just the exclusive Year of the Snake version."

Feng Yi considered it for a moment and felt that was also fine, "Then let’s make two designs. Did my great-aunt do it this way too?"

Butler: "No."

Feng Yi: "Then..."

Butler: "She didn’t just make two styles; she also created several special editions! The traditional patterns show respect to the ancestors, and the exclusive Year of the Snake version respects customs, while the especially designed editions satisfy her own creative desires."

Feng Yi expressed surprise: "There were designer editions?"

Upon reflection, it seemed like a good idea.

Zodiac copper coins themselves are sort of a self-entertaining pastime, and in the end, to him, zodiac copper coins were just a medium.

Even without any pattern, smooth and simple, even if it didn’t look like a coin, it wouldn’t affect its function.

Moreover, zodiac copper coins are only a recent form.

Perhaps even before their existence, similar functions might have been carried out in a different form.

For instance, some gemstone, some type of bone, shells...

"Your great-aunt mostly gave her designer editions to the children on her side because she had a bad relationship with the Feng Family in Yang City. Even if she sent them here, they might not be treated seriously and could even be thrown away like trash. She also kept some of them, so that one day, if she met some younger relatives with fate in other parts of the world, she could give them out," the butler explained.

The butler suggested to Feng Yi, "You could do the same!"

Feng Yi curiously asked him, "Did you participate in the design of the zodiac copper coins that my great-aunt made?"

The butler replied disappointedly, "I did not."

However, soon enough, the butler’s eyes sparkled with excitement again, and he looked at Feng Yi sincerely and fervently:

"I’m eagerly hoping to take part in your zodiac copper coin project!"

Feng Yi replied, "...Welcome aboard."

He had originally planned to reference the patterns of the zodiac copper coins made by his predecessors, but seeing the butler’s passion, he could also incorporate some different ideas. After all, the zodiac copper coin was simply a medium, and when it came to the pattern, Feng Yi wasn’t that concerned.

So, moving forward, the butler actively contributed ideas to Feng Yi. After discussion, they settled on the general direction and decided on three styles—

The traditional old flower pattern (antique twelve zodiac version)

The exclusive Year of the Snake version

The special design edition