In May, the Dragon Boat Festival has just passed.
It is a custom in Bianjing that every household nails mugwort to the door.
It was just after the festival, Wu Qiniang and Wu Mansion drove to a nunnery in the eastern suburbs of Bianjing.
But there are several weeping willows planted outside the nunnery, surrounded by a small river. The scenery is quite good, and it has the tranquility of a place far away. The car parked far outside the door. Seventeenth Mother got out of the car and ordered her maid to distribute money to the people who were waiting for her. Then she entered the nunnery.
The Seventeen Mothers were guided to a side room, where they saw a female nun kneeling on a futon and meditating.
Seventeen Niang waited for a moment, and then the nun opened her eyes and said, "Yes, is Li'er here?"
Only then did Seventeenth Mother step forward, kneel on the futon next to the nun and say: "Mother, I'm here to see you."
The nun looked at her daughter's face and said, "You shouldn't have come. The eldest lady will not be happy if she finds out."
The Seventeenth Mother said: "I came here because of the eldest lady. I heard that my mother has been in poor health recently."
The nun smiled and said: "It's just a long-standing illness. You don't have to worry about me. There are good people in the nunnery and they treat me very well. You don't need to donate money anymore. Your monthly money is not much. In the house I also need money to pay for it."
"Besides, you have reached the age to get married. Keep more money with you. When you get married in the future, your husband's family will not dare to neglect you."
The seventeenth mother laughed and said: "Mom, if you can even value my money, then this husband's family is no different."
The nun smiled and said: "You have never managed a house. You don't know the seven things to do when opening a door. You don't know how expensive firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea are. It's only when you have more money that you can be confident. In this matter of marriage, it is said that the two surnames are good, but After all, it is still a matter of family status and money. Let me tell you, your grandfather still has some money and property, I will save it for you and give it to you when you get married, but you don’t make any announcement about it."
Seventeenth Mother said sadly: "My daughter understands. But what will you do after you give your daughter the money?"
The nun said: "How much money can I spend on fasting in this nunnery? The most important thing to me now is you."
"Have you encountered anything unpleasant?" the nun asked carefully.
"No." Seventeenth Mother smiled.
"You were always like this when you were unhappy when you were young, but you were wronged by the eldest lady?"
The Seventeenth Mother smiled and said, "No, although the eldest lady is usually strict, she treats me very well."
"Really not?" the nun asked, "Yes, what are your father's plans for your marriage? Should you find a matchmaker? Or should you do it yourself?"
Seventeenth Mother whispered: "Dad had a date a while ago."
"Did you meet someone? The one who can catch your father's eyes is definitely not an ordinary person."
Seventeenth Mother said: "That's not true, it was Academician Ouyang who took a fancy to it first and then recommended it to daddy."
"So you are not an official in your family?"
"no."
The nun smiled and said: "It would be better if you don't become an official. If you don't become an official, you won't have the habits of officials. So you must be good at reading."
Seventeenth Mother nodded and said: "Exactly."
A smile appeared on the nun's face and she said, "A scholar?"
"Student."
The nun was relieved when she heard this and said: "That's good. Although most of these disciples are a little arrogant and arrogant, they have real abilities, but they are also betrayed... Hey, what am I worried about? There will be no difference between the people your father can appreciate."
"You have such a temper that you can't tolerate sand in your eyes. If you go to a noble family, you will be as deep as the sea once you enter the noble family. I am really worried that in the future... you will end up like me."
Seventeenth mother said: "Mom, after all these years, you still haven't gotten rid of your father's anger?"
"It's okay not to mention the past... Let me tell you, it doesn't matter what his background is. Although he is not from a good background, if your father invites him to come to see him, he must have extraordinary merits."
Seventeenth Mother said: "But it doesn't matter to my father, but he... wants to get married before he can get into the imperial examination."
The nun heard this and said, "Is this really true?"
"I didn't say it clearly, but I already knew the meaning."
"Is it Qi Dafei's accident, or is there another reason?"
"I don't know."
"Have you met him?"
Seventeenth Mother was silent, with tears in the corners of her eyes. She turned her head and said, "Mom, my daughter wants to go back."
The nun finally understood the reason for her daughter's displeasure and said, "Since you are here, you might as well talk to me again."
"Okay." Seventeenth Mother sat down on the futon again.
The nun said: "Don't judge people rashly. Maybe if you are rich, you should look at what he supports, and if you are poor, look at what he doesn't receive. Does he really have such ambition? When looking at people, you should not only listen to their words, but also watch their actions. "
"My daughter understands."
"But getting admitted to the Jinshi? How many young talents have spent their time in the examination room? How many talented students have been unhappy all their lives, and their black hair turned into white hair. So what if they get a special title?"
"It's hard for men to wait for this kind of day, and it's even harder for women to wait for it. But in the end, everything will be straightened out naturally."
Looking at Seventeenth Mother's inquiring eyes, the nun said: "Your father is such a scheming and capable person, just look at his arrangements."
Daxiangguo Temple, Guzhizhai.
Wang Anguo came to visit as usual, and this time he also came with a friend.
Wang Anguo smiled and said: "Sanlang, I brought my friends to beat you again."
Zhang Yue cursed in his heart after hearing this, "How damn are you, I'm just a poor student." You shamelessly come here to eat and drink, do you still have any conscience?
However, with Wang Anguo's friend here, Zhang Yue still gave him enough respect and said: "Since you are Pingfu's friend, you are my friend. Later, I will invite you two to Shaozhuyuan to eat roasted kidneys."
"good!"
The two of them applauded, and Wang Anguo said with a smile: "I told you that Sanlang is a generous person and a friend worth making."
The three of them sat down in the alcove.
Wang Anguo's friend's name was Li Chu. He was from Jinghu and was in the cotton spinning business. He looked very shrewd.
Although the other party said it politely and said it was a small business, Zhang Yue guessed that being friends with Wang Anguo wouldn't be too bad.
Wang Anguo chatted with Zhang Yue. He recently liked to chat with Zhang Yue at his collection house. Although Zhang Yue doesn't talk much, he occasionally gets to the point with one or two sentences, and his ideas are clear and unique.
Even from Wang Anshi, Wang Anguo's elder brother, Wang Anguo had never heard so many novel insights from him.
Li Chu had traveled extensively and had gained a lot of experience, so he was able to get in on the conversation with Zhang Yue and Wang Anguo.
During this period, Zhang Yue mentioned that Li Chu was doing cotton cloth business in Shaanzhou, and suddenly remembered Huang Daopo, and couldn't help but ask a few questions about the technology of cotton seed removal.
Li Chu's workshop was still peeling cotton seeds by hand, so Zhang Yue told him the crude method of ginning cotton.
When Li Chu heard that Zhang Yue had this method, he couldn't help but be elated. He immediately stood up and said, "If this method can be achieved, Li is willing to give a generous gift to thank Sanlang."
Zhang Yue smiled and said nothing.
Immediately after Li Chu heard half of it, he felt itchy in his heart, so he made a request and invited Zhang Yue and Wang An to have a drink at a restaurant near the capital, and the three agreed.
When he arrived at the restaurant, Li Chu asked for a private seat.
The private seating is upstairs, separated from the outside by a landscape screen. Inside is a round table with six seats.
After the three of them entered, Li Chu said with a smile: "The Yellow River carp soup here is the best. Just put it into the pot and cook it. If you are afraid of the fishy smell, you can also divide the fish into fish soup or fish soup. Or fried fish bream.”
Zhang Yue and Wang Anguo both laughed. Wang Anguo said: "We are all from the south. There is no reason to be afraid of fishy fish. Let's just come up together!"
Zhang Yue couldn't help but be speechless. Wang Anguo was really a big foodie, and he was resigned to being the loser.
Li Chu smiled and said: "That's it. Cut up two more pounds of mutton and bring two bottles of good wine through the sieve. Don't take a big bowl. We have something to discuss later."
During the dinner, Li Chu kept asking Zhang Yue about the cotton ginning machine. Zhang Yue did not tell him directly, but he gave a general direction. As for the details of the churning machine, he did not disclose it.
Although Wang Anguo took a sip of warm wine and a sip of fish soup, he listened to every word spoken here.
Li Chu gritted his teeth and said: "If the method of ginning cotton is feasible, I am willing to give you five hundred guans and another fifty guans as a reward."
Zhang Yue sighed at Li Chu's straightforwardness, not even doubting whether he was a liar, because he was so straightforward.
I have to lament that businessmen are good at seizing opportunities. If you have any new ideas, tell them to Li Gou and the scholars. One of their reactions was whether what you said is reliable or not. If it is reliable, then think about whether it is in compliance with the rules, and then think again for a long time.
As for businessmen, they are very decisive. As long as there is tangible benefit, they will do it immediately.
For such an epoch-making technology as cotton ginning, five hundred guans is not expensive at all.
Zhang Yue and Li Chu were chatting with each other. At this time, Wang Anguo put down his soup bowl and asked inappropriately: "Sanlang, if you say so, won't the people who strip cotton lose their livelihood? This is not a good thing for them." Good thing."
When Zhang Yue heard this, he thought, indeed, are all scholars this piss-poor?
Li Chu saw that he was afraid that Zhang Yue would be persuaded by Wang Anguo and not tell him the method of ginning cotton, so he immediately said: "Pingfu is joking, how can there be no benefit?"
Wang Anguo shook his head and said, "There is something unclear here."
Below, Wang Anguo remained silent and in confusion.
After drinking, Li Chu said goodbye and left, probably to practice the cotton ginning method that Zhang Yue just mentioned, but Zhang Yue was convinced that Li Chu would come back to him in the end.
Wang Anguo looked at Zhang Yue and said: "One is famous for Chu, and the other is famous for Yue. How come you two Chu and Yue people are so speculative when it comes to talking about profit? Sanlang, you are good at everything, but you are a little blind to money."
Zhang Yue thought to himself, Okay, if you don't see the money, don't come here to make money.
Wang Anguo and Zhang Yue were one generation apart in age, but because they admired Zhang Yue's talent and learning, they became friends as equals. This is the first time he talks about Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue heard this and said: "Brother Pingfu, these are the things you said you were doubtful about before!"
Wang Anguo said seriously: "Yes and no."
Zhang Yue said: "I think what Pingfu actually wants to say is that the benefits do not go to the people, but only to the merchants, so it is shameful to talk about benefits."
Wang Anguo clapped his legs and said, "Yes, Sanlang, that's exactly what I meant."
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "This is just like the land owned by landlords in the countryside. What benefit do local officials have to building canals to irrigate farmland to the people? Don't farm laborers have to rent it to the landlords?"
Wang Anguo shook his head and said: "Otherwise, the farm laborers will also benefit. Originally, one stone per mu was given to the landlord and one stone to himself. If we can irrigate three stones per mu and harvest three stones per mu, we will get one and a half stones."
Zhang Yue said: "No matter how high the harvest per mu is, the farm laborer can only get one stone."
"How?"
"You think about it again?"
Wang Anguo was startled, thought for a moment and then said, "It's really a snake's heart..."
Finally, Wang Anguo said: "People's hearts are not like this, but I think there are still kind-hearted people, otherwise we wouldn't have to talk about kindness."
Zhang Yue said: "No, landlords can get more land due to irrigation and get more money, so they can sell more fields. As for more people who sell their fields, they can only become farm laborers."
"In the past, farmhands might have been able to earn one and a half dan, but as more and more farmhands became more and more common, they finally got only one dan, or even half a dan. In the end, they could no longer make ends meet and had to sell their sons and daughters."
Wang Anguo was stunned for a long time and could no longer speak.
"Is it a good thing or a bad thing that officials are building canals to irrigate farmland?"
Wang Anguo said: "Of course it is a good thing, but it can only be slowed down for a while. In the end, the rich will still be in the fields and the poor will be dead."
Zhang Yue said: "Exactly, why there was great governance after great chaos? Because in the early days of the country, household registration was rare and there were idle fields everywhere. If the population increased, the people would just go and cultivate the idle fields. If the family had land to cultivate, they were called yeoman farmers."
"There will be no free land anymore. In years of disaster and famine, people will sell their land and become farm laborers. If there is a lot of land, farm laborers will work it, and they will become landlords."
“What is the difference between a farm laborer, a landowner, and a landowner?”
Wang Anguo thought for a while and said: "If there is no land, there will be more land."
Zhang Yue said: "Of course. This is what Mencius said, those who have permanent property have perseverance, and those who do not have perseverance have no perseverance."
"It becomes increasingly difficult for those without permanent property to buy land, and they will eventually either starve to death or become thieves and bandits. Those who have land will sell their land when faced with natural disasters, and they will also become landless. In this way, the landowners will only have more and more land. This is today's In the Song Dynasty, what would you do if you became an official in the court?"
Wang Anguo said: "We should limit the fields and refrain from annexation!"
Wang Anguo thought for a moment and asked, "What does Sanlang advocate?"
Zhang Yue thought to himself, of course, it is necessary to restore Wang Mang's old system and turn all the fields in the world into Wang's fields.
However, Zhang Yue said on his face: "Suppressing annexation can only be slowed down, but it is not enough to remove the firepower. As long as there are more people without land at home, sooner or later..."
"How to remove the firepower?"
"We should use the technique of Shen Shang (Shen Bu Hu Shang Yang)!"
Wang Anguo couldn't help but said: "Are we going to go to this step? Sanlang said that if you use the art of Shen Shang to divide the interests of those who have vested interests, where can you make up for the worries?"
Zhang Yue said: "It comes from building ditches to irrigate farmland, and it also comes from churning cotton on rails."
Wang Anguo was dumbfounded after hearing this. It turned out that Zhang Yue was just trying to clear his name for his own benefit after going around for a long time!
This guy is really too cunning.
But Wang Anguo thought about it again and couldn't help but feel that what Zhang Yue said made sense.
That day, Zhang Yue returned to Taixue after studying at Chen Xiang's house.
A few days later, Zhang Yue was eating at Taixue University when he heard from his classmates that a businessman named Li Chu was looking for him outside.
Zhang Yue expected that the other party would come to find him.
The two met at a teahouse next to Taixue.
Li Chu ordered a pot of tea and took money to ask the idle man sitting in front of the door to buy some food from the restaurant.
Zhang Yue knew the customs of Bianjing, and there were such idle men in teahouses and restaurants.
On weekdays, if you want to call a geisha when you want to have wine and tea, or if you want to eat some food and drinks from a big restaurant, you will give a small tip to urge such an idle man to run errands to buy them. Zhang Yue initially mistakenly thought that the Song Dynasty was so developed that it even had delivery boys.
Li Chu smiled and said: "It was very presumptuous to meet her for the first time that day. Let's get to know her again. I am Li Chu. My mother's surname is Yang. She is the niece of Yang Xiuyi, who is currently an official."
Zhang Yue knew that the other party had some background, so this was a confirmation, and he wondered if he had any other trump cards.
Zhang Yue said: "It turns out that brother Li, a relative of the country, has been disrespectful and disrespectful."
Li Chu smiled and said: "I don't dare to take it seriously. This time I took the liberty to come to Sanlang for the purpose of the car-churning matter. I am willing to add 800 guan to buy this car-churning plan, and I will pay 80 guan every month."
Zhang Yue smiled when he heard this but did not agree. At this time, the idle man had already crossed the street with his food box and brought back a plate of fried liver and a plate of shredded chicken to the tea house.
Li Chu rewarded the money and said, "Sanlang, what else do you have to worry about?"
Zhang Yue said: "Brother Li, since you have a mixer truck, where do you plan to track the cotton?"
Li Chu said: "Of course it is in Shaanzhou City."
Zhang Yue said: "Are there any other cotton cloth merchants in Shaanzhou?"
"have."
Zhang Yue said: "Then if you build it in Shaanzhou, you will either be stolen from others or smashed by envious people."
"Who dares to do this?" Li Chu said sternly.
Zhang Yue said: "Of course I believe in Brother Li's ability, but you have cut off other people's livelihood. You can do it five times faster with a truck mixer than without. In the future, if you are a skilled mechanic, it will be more than eight times faster. By then, won't you be hurting others?" rice bowl?"
Li Chushu said: "Yes, this is ruining people's wealth!"
Zhang Yue said: "Yes, unless all merchants use the truck mixer, if you only use it, it will ruin people's wealth. If it spreads to others, it will be ruined soon. Therefore, I advise you to stay away from the city. At the same time, keep the secret strictly and don’t spread it out.”
Li Chu thought for a while and said seriously: "Sanlang really has a far-reaching plan. Thank you very much for your advice."
Li Chu was still a little unconvinced by Zhang Yue before, but now he is somewhat convinced by him.
"What about the plan to stir up the car?"
Zhang Yue said: "One thousand guans, and another 100 guans every month."
Li Chu's expression changed when he heard this: "Too many, a thousand strings, do you know how many there are?"
Zhang Yue said: "I know, but I can't afford a room in Bianjing."
Li Chu laughed when he heard this and said: "Sanlang, although I really want to make you a friend, a thousand strings is too much!"
Zhang Yue said: "In that case, I'll take my leave. Brother Li can come to me whenever he figures it out."
Li Chu stood up and said: "Sanlang, I don't have that much cash, how about I give you some shares?"
Zhang Yue thought that it would be a good idea to start a cotton cloth business in partnership with Li Chu. If he expanded the scale, he would definitely be able to earn more money. But Zhang Yue's own focus is still on studying, and running cotton cloth will involve too much of his energy.
The risk of joint venture is too great. If you have support, of course you are not afraid of joint venture, but if you don't have support, it's better not to get involved as a member of a poor family.
It's not that I can't believe Li Chu's character, it's because I never meant to believe it. Without any means of restraint, are you really willing to give you a large sum of money every month? Work for you? It is better to take the benefits that are visible in front of you.
"Sorry, Brother Li, I'm not interested in dry stocks."
Zhang Yue walked out of the tea house and was about to enter the Imperial College when he felt someone hit him on his shoulder.
It turned out that Li Chu had already caught up, and said with a livid face: "A thousand guan is a thousand guan!"
Zhang Yue said with a smile on his face: "Okay, we need to establish a written evidence and ask Wang Pingfu to be a witness."
Li Chu said: "Pingfu hates Yanli the most, Sanlang, don't be afraid to come to him..."
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "It doesn't matter."
A few days later, the two signed a written agreement.
Zhang Yue handed over the plan to stir up the car. As for Li Chu, he also gave Zhang Yue a thousand guans and promised to give Zhang Yue 100 guans every month after it was put into production.
Zhang Yue also had many feelings.
I have money, a thousand dollars!
Then Zhang Yue was taken to Fanlou University by Wang Anguo to have a meal and spent five or six guans.
