By using this new system of reckoning, your illustrious but exceedingly narrow-minded and miserly father would be able to make five taels where he now makes one.
Would he not, in consideration for this, consent to receive me as a son-in-law, and dismiss the inelegant and unworthy Li Ting ?' "'In the unlikely event of your being able to convince my illustrious parent of what you say, it would assuredly be so,' replied Ning.

'But in what way could you do so?
My sublime and charitable father already employs all the means in his power to reap the full reward of his sacred industry.

His "solid house-hold gods" are in reality mere shells of clay; higher-priced images are correspondingly constructed, and his clay gatherers and modellers are all paid on a "profit-sharing system." Nay, further, it is beyond likelihood that he should wish for more purchasers, for so great is his fame that those who come to buy have sometimes to wait for days in consequence of those before them; for my exceedingly methodical sire entrusts none with the receiving of money, and the exchanges are therefore made slowly.

Frequently an unnaturally devout person will require as many as a hundred idols, and so the greater part of the day will be passed.' "'In what way ?' inquired Yung tremulously.
"'Why, in order that the countings may not get mixed, of course; it is necessary that when he has paid for one idol he should carry it to a place aside, and then return and pay for the second, carrying it to the first, and in such a manner to the end.

In this way the sun sinks behind the mountains.' "'But,' said Yung, his voice thick with his great discovery, 'if he could pay for the entire quantity at once, then it would take but a hundredth part of the time, and so more idols could be sold.' "'How could this be done ?' inquired Ning wonderingly.