"Old man, how many melons are there in your field?"
Looking at the young man who brought out the teapot and poured them tea, and then looked at the old man who picked fresh melons from the field and was busy cutting them for them to share, Jia Lian suddenly asked.
Although the old man didn't understand why Jia Lian asked this, he still replied: "About 12,000 to 3,000 jins."
Hard-working farmers have very accurate judgments about the harvest in the fields.
Jia Lian said: "Let's do this. If the old man is willing, I can afford four cents per catty and buy ten thousand catties from the old man."
As soon as he said this, the old man had no reaction, but Lai Wang exploded first: "Why did the second master buy so many?"
Jia Lian ignored him.
This is actually the reason why Jia Lian is willing to go to the countryside under the sun, not just to drink a bowl of herbal tea.
However, he had never intended to buy so many. He just thought the melons here tasted good and wanted to buy a cart or two back home so that his family could have a taste.
After listening to the old man's words, Jia Lian made a temporary decision.
It just so happens that he still wants to find a way to improve his reputation, why not take advantage of the opportunity to show some kindness and win over everyone in and outside the house?
As for whether 10,000 kilograms of watermelon can be eaten, that doesn't exist.
There are nearly a thousand members of the Jia family in Ning and Rong mansions alone. Although the other eight houses have few servants, they have many children. If one family gives some away, ten thousand catties will definitely be consumed.
Zhaoer also hurriedly asked: "Second Master, we have to go to Yangzhou. What are we going to buy these melons for? How about we come back and buy them again?"
Zhao'er thought that the melons here were delicious and sold so cheaply. If they could bring some back to the capital, they might be able to make some money. But the second master doesn’t look like he’s short of money?
Jia Lian smiled and said: "It's hot today. Buy it to honor the old lady and the others, and let the people outside of you also get some light from it."
The old man opposite saw that Jia Lian was not joking, and hurriedly asked: "Young master, are you serious?"
Jia Lian smiled and nodded, and asked Zhao'er to take out ten taels of silver and put it on the table, and then said: "Our home is more than a hundred miles away from here, and we may not be able to transport it back for a while. After that, I will ask our family to transport it back." Get on the carriage and come over, no matter once or several times, until you have finished pulling the ten thousand kilograms.
These ten taels of silver are the deposit. The remaining twenty taels will be given to them when they come to pull the goods. Does the old man think it is okay? "
At this time, the purchasing power of one tael of silver is much greater than that of one danqian (thousand coins), which can be exchanged for about 1,300 coins. Therefore, thirty taels of silver is roughly equivalent to 40,000 coins.
Seeing the cash on the table, the old man finally couldn't control his excitement and began to tremble. The young man next to him also opened his eyes wide and stared at the ten-tael ingot.
"I know the young master is trying to help us, but the young master buys so much at one time and doesn't let us escort it. The price of four cents is too high. Why not... let's calculate it as two cents."
When the old man heard what Jia Lian and his servants said, he didn't mean to take them to be resold, but to eat them at home...
He couldn't imagine what kind of family it was like to be able to eat ten thousand kilograms of watermelon, so he became more and more cautious.
After thinking about it again and again, I finally said this.
Although it was sold for two cents, I still didn’t make much money this year, but at least I don’t have to worry about the land rent, right? Besides, he was originally trying to help others, so how could he deliberately make money from others?
Jia Lian shook his head and said with a smile: "At this price, it is already very fair, I don't need to say anything more.
Okay, thank you for your warm hospitality, but I still have things to do, so I won’t bother you anymore.
After the old man goes back, he can make some preparations with his family. At the latest the day after tomorrow, our family's fleet will come over, and then we can pay and deliver the goods. "
Even though it only took Jia Lian and the others half a day to get here from the capital, that was because they all traveled lightly and quickly.
It would take at least a day or two to catch up with horse-drawn carriages and mule carts to pull the goods, and it would be even slower after loading the goods.
This is also the reason why these melon farmers are obviously very helpless but do not transport the melons to the capital to sell them.
The journey is too long!
Moreover, the market in the capital cannot be occupied by these rootless farmers...
Jia Lian stood up to leave. Although Lai Wang and others did not agree with Jia Lian's "crazy" behavior, they did not dare to object and could only follow.
The old man hadn't figured out all the joints for a while, and he didn't dare to stop Jia Lian and others. He just went up to watch the two dogs and didn't dare to let them disturb the noble man.
Suddenly thinking of something, he called Jia Lian and others: "By the way, young master, you have to be careful when someone comes to your house. That member Li is the tyrant from all over the country. Besides, he has already spoken out and forbids others to follow." If we buy melons here, if he finds out, I'm afraid he will send people to make trouble..."
The old man was a little worried in his words.
Zhaoer sneered and said: "Young member Li is a bastard. He is not a bully in front of our family! He pissed off my second master and asked people to demolish his house!"
Jia Lian waved his hand to stop Zhao'er's arrogance, and smiled at the old man: "Don't worry, old man. If Mr. Li comes to trouble you, just say that the melons were sold to the Rongguo Mansion in Beijing."
After saying this, he said goodbye and took Lai Wang and others back the same way.
"Grandpa, where is Rongguo Mansion? It sounds amazing."
When Jia Lian and others walked away, the grandson finally couldn't help but tugged on his grandfather's sleeve and asked.
The old man lowered his head and smiled: "Grandpa, I don't know where that place is, but it's really amazing. We really met a noble person today!"
He looked up at a few villagers in the fields in the distance who were sticking their heads out to watch the excitement. The old man didn't say anything. He took his grandson and returned to the thatched cottage happily.
…
When they got to the official road, Lai Wang and others looked at each other, still not quite understanding why their second master suddenly wanted to do such a wasteful and meaningless thing.
Thirty taels of silver is neither too much nor too little.
The most important thing is how much effort it takes to transport those watermelons back to the capital!
If you have the time, you can still honor the old lady and the others by buying it directly in the capital.
Could it be that the second master is simply out of kindness and wants to help a bunch of old men?
Jia Lian didn't explain much. He glanced at everyone and called, "Wang'er."
Laiwang rushes forward on horseback.
"You untie the things from your horse and give them to them, then go back and do this yourself. After you pull the things back, tell your second grandma and ask her to think about it for herself. The elders in our house, the east house, and the eighth house are all Give some to each.
And the slaves at home, please give some rewards as well. Do you hear me clearly? "
After listening to Jia Lian's words, Lai Wang immediately said: "It's the same as leaving this matter to them. I'd better follow you to Yangzhou..."
Jia Lian suddenly laughed: "Follow me to Yangzhou, so that you can help your second mistress continue to monitor me?"
Lai Wang suddenly trembled with fright and opened his mouth to explain.
"Okay, you two are here from the Wang family, so it's your duty to be loyal to your second grandma, and I don't mean to blame you.
It's just that you are used to following me and understand my thoughts better than others, so I asked you to handle this matter for me to avoid mistakes. "
When Lai Wang heard this, he was unwilling and did not dare to refute again.
After confirming that Jia Lian's intention could not be changed, he could only unpack the things he had prepared for the trip and give them to others before riding back to Beijing.
The others watched Lai Wang leave with deep thoughts. It seemed that Second Master Lian was preparing for a romantic and happy trip, so he took the opportunity to send Lai Wang away to avoid informing Second Grandma Lian after Lai Wang returned.
Some people even secretly thought that they would definitely fall out of favor after coming to Wang, so the second master would be short of people. If he could please the second master by doing things in Jiangnan this time, he might be able to follow the second master more often in the future, and the benefits would be unnecessary. Say more...
In fact, the reason why Jia Lian's branch is so prosperous is not because of being shady, but because he simply doesn't like to be watched by others.
Moreover, a large part of the reason why his predecessor was controlled by Wang Xifeng was that most of the people around him were controlled by Wang Xifeng. So from now on, he must deliberately cultivate some confidants who are only loyal to himself, so that he can move forward and retreat freely no matter at home or abroad.
Turning the horse's head, he looked towards the end of the official road.
The scorching sun was still shining, but Jia Lian had no intention of resting here much.
"Get ready to go, find a place to eat ahead, and then continue on your way. Try to reach Yangzhou within five days!"
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly looked a little bitter, even the five nursing homes were no exception.
Jia Lian then encouraged: "Everyone has worked hard these days. If you can get to Yangzhou on time, I will give each of you an additional reward of ten taels of silver. Even after arriving in Yangzhou, I will give you a holiday in turn. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces suddenly turned from worry to joy.
Being rewarded with so much money and being able to take a vacation, is there anything more beautiful than this?
Therefore, everyone thanked them one after another, and they were all in high spirits, without even the slightest bit of bitterness from before.
Jia Lian smiled, tightened the reins of the horse, and clamped his legs: "Drive!"
A group of seven riders ran south quickly.
…
But he said that after Lai Wang rushed back to his house in the evening, Wang Xifeng immediately found out about it, so he asked him to go in and answer the question.
"Didn't you follow your father to the south? Why did you come back suddenly?"
Wang Xifeng asked after seeing Lai Wang coming in through the door curtain.
Lai Wang was very cautious and just stood at the door of the room. He thought about it for a while and decided to tell the truth.
"I originally followed you, but before we reached the border of Ping'an Province, the second master asked me to come back."
Wang Xifeng frowned: "Why did I ask you to come back?"
"Go back to Second Grandma, Second Master asked me to come back to do something for him, so..."
Laiwang therefore told Wang Xifeng one by one what happened along the way.
Hearing that Jia Lian and others ran more than a hundred miles away, Wang Xifeng felt a little puzzled. When she heard that Jia Lian spent thirty taels of silver to buy ten thousand kilograms of watermelons, her eyes suddenly widened and she said in disbelief: "A Ten thousand pounds? Is he crazy?"
"Second Master said, not only to honor the old lady, but also to the elders in the East Mansion and the eighth room, I want to give some as well, even..."
"If you have anything else to say, please stop hesitating like a mute in front of me!"
"Also, the second master said that we, the slaves outside, should also take advantage of the opportunity, and they will also have a share."
Wang Xifeng mocked: "He is quite generous, even you have considered it, but, bah, he only takes other people's money to pretend to be generous!"
Wang Xifeng felt very unhappy when she thought that she was working hard to make money for the benefit of her family, while Jia Lian was spending money lavishly.
Thirty taels of silver were spent just to buy a few broken melons?
Doesn't he know how much effort I usually put into getting such a small amount of money? The old ladies and madams above are so discerning, do they really think her money is so good?
If I had known earlier, I shouldn't have been coaxed by his sweet words and given him so much money at once...
