Zhou Lezhi only found out what his master's magical power was later. But at the time, these rumors only added another layer of mystery to Mr. Zhou.
He has been with Mr. Zhou for several months. Both Mr. Zhou and Wang Yehao trust him very much. Gradually, the two of them stopped talking about sending him away, and instead kept him by their side. Wang Liang said that this was his treatment as a "confidant".
Considering his status as Mr. Zhou's "disciple", this treatment is not excessive. According to the rules, the relationship between master and apprentice is comparable to that of father and son. However, these days Zhou Lezhi could clearly feel that his husband did not completely trust him. He was vaguely defensive, not only towards himself, but also towards Mr. Wang and others in the palace.
There is a sense of loneliness about Mr. Although according to Zhou Lezhi's opinion, his life is superior enough and his future is even brighter. With Mr. Wang's current ability, even if Zhou Lezhi wants to become a minor official, it probably won't be a problem.
Maybe decent people are a little weird.
Whether it's weird or mysterious. Zhou Lezhi still has a good impression of this gentleman. The first is to treat him sincerely, and do his best when teaching him his studies, and answer all questions; sometimes when he doesn't understand well, he has to give him extra lessons and tutor him, and he has to break it down to explain it clearly; secondly, That is, there is no habit of being abused by those in power. Mr. Zhou is always polite to everyone and never makes unreasonable demands, let alone use his status to oppress and abuse his servants and apprentices. Based on this alone, Zhou Lezhi felt that he was a rare gentleman.
Originally, he felt somewhat guilty about being an "undercover", but since he discovered that Mr. Zhou was an upright person and had no shady secrets except for some ailments, he was actually the same as an undercover agent, so he gradually The center of the earth is at peace.
The time in Shaoxing was not short, and Mr. Zhou was not idle either. He traveled around and saw the poor people's livelihood and the poverty of the people everywhere, and he always showed his unbearable expression. But he never said anything. During this period, he wandered around the market and watched the workers in the shops making a living, and was very curious. After coming back, he would also write notes in his "vernacular".
Because Mr. Zhou's handwriting was really ugly, Zhou Lezhi had to copy the notes he wrote in regular script as usual. Otherwise, even he himself wouldn't be able to see through it.
As for the contents of the notes, they are quite varied. Urban conditions, rural phenomena, business forms, skills of various industries, people's daily lives, price trends and local customs... everything is covered. Zhou Lezhi doesn't understand why Mr. is doing this?
He couldn't help but ask Mr. Zhou, but Mr. Zhou replied: "I'm thinking about how to make money."
Zhou Lezhi didn't know how to make money, so he had to keep silent. Unexpectedly, Mr. Zhou asked him again: "What kind of money do you think is the best to earn in this world?"
"Be an official!"
"This cannot be counted." Mr. Zhou shook his head helplessly, "When an official makes money, it is not doing business, it is stealing the blood of the people. If you put it like that, can't you also make a lot of money as a thief? You have to be serious. Business cannot be illegal."
"Needless to say, Mr.'s miracle medicine!" Zhou Lezhi particularly admired Mr.'s "one dose of medicine that works". No matter what miracle doctor, they all say that "diseases are gone like silkworms." Drink a large bowl of the medicine for a month or two. , He has seen too many things where money and people are gone. Only this time, Mr. Zhou’s medicine gave him immediate results.
However, Mr. Zhou showed a guilty smile and said: "Although medicine is good, getting sick is always a troublesome thing. Besides, opening a pharmacy can't hope for a prosperous business. What's more."
"Going to sea to sell goods." Zhou Lezhi said, "We in Guangdong have the most people going to sea to sell goods. With a small capital of twenty or thirty taels of silver, whether it is from the East or the West, as long as we can come back safely, we will be profitable once we go out, and again when we come back. Profit, it’s easy to make double the profit back and forth. If you are lucky, you can also get three or five times the profit. It’s just..."
"Just what?"
"It's bad luck. The boat capsized and was attacked by pirates. If you can escape with your life and come back, you will be lucky. How many people never come back."
"The risk is too great, let's leave it aside for now. What else?"
"What else?" Zhou Lezhi wondered, is this gentleman questioning himself? Speaking of which, Mr. Zhou often teaches "economics" on weekdays. He thought for a moment and said, "The next option is to open a bank and pawnshop. Take in low-priced loans and earn high interest rates. Money will roll in..."
"Haha, you are right, finance is indeed the fastest way to make money." Mr. Zhou couldn't help but clapped his hands and laughed, "But this industry requires a lot of capital and a big threshold to support it."
Zhou Lezhi said, "If sir wants to do this business, wouldn't Mr. Wang be a ready-made big threshold?"
The gentleman smiled but did not answer, and continued: "What if the bank can't do it?"
"Then...then become a rice merchant!"
"Rice merchant?"
"Yes, as long as you are a human being in this world, you have to eat. Being a rice merchant, isn't it a sure way to make money without losing anything?"
Mr. Zhou laughed loudly and said: "You said it well. Well, it is indeed not bad to be a rice merchant. However, the rice merchant is just moving things in the middle and seeking profit. He does not grow rice himself. If he encounters Natural and man-made disasters, no rice to sell, all we can do is stare at them."
"What do you think you can do to make money, sir?" Zhou Lezhi's curiosity was piqued and he asked.
"If so, just open a factory and make cheap items that everyone can use."
"Why don't you create a magic medicine, sir?"
For a moment, Mr. Zhou's eyes flickered, and he said hastily: "The miracle medicine...can't be counted. After all, it is a miracle medicine. There are too many prerequisites...the raw materials alone...well, well, I can't get it together..."
Then he immediately changed the subject: "Actually, there are many things that everyone uses and are very cheap. For example, soap... yes, you call it soap; and matches, which are easier to use than flint and fire sickles..."
That day, the master enthusiastically talked about a lot of useful little things. Zhou Lezhi had never heard of them. Hearing the teacher talk about them so well, he felt itchy in his heart and said, "Sir, since the things are so good, why don't you let Mr. Wang pay for them?" , how about setting up a factory? Both you and Mr. Wang can make money."
"Alas, you think I don't want to. But making these things is easier said than done, but actually it's difficult. There are so many things to do and there's no way to start..."
In the evening, Zhou Lezhi reported the conversation between himself and his husband to Wang Liang. Unexpectedly, Mr. Wang called him over the next day. He said these words again. Wang Yehao twisted his beard for a long time and then said: "Does he really have plans to make money and start a business?"
"It looks like a joke, but it doesn't seem like it is." Zhou Lezhi said cautiously.
"If he really means that, just let him say it."
Zhou Lezhi thought that Mr. Wang was also quite enthusiastic about making money.
Wang Yehao spent many days in Shaoxing. He took care of the housework and visited the local officials and local gentry. By the way, he also helped his husband register his household registration - only then did Zhou Lezhi realize that his husband was still a gangster.
After the matter was done, Mr. Wang set off back to Beijing. In addition to a lot of luggage, there was also a forty-year-old scholar with a depressed look in the team. This person's identity is a bit strange, he is actually a prisoner.
Since when did officials escort prisoners? Zhou Lezhi was quite surprised. But it’s inconvenient to ask too many questions, just go with the team.
The group of people either took a boat or a sedan chair all the way to Hangzhou. Only then did we board the boat at Mishi Pier, four miles outside Wulin Gate in the north of the city. Wang Yehao's great-uncle Wang Chengxun served as governor of water transportation for more than 20 years and was the last general of water transportation in the Ming Dynasty. This time, on the one hand, he was lucky enough to be nine thousand years old, and on the other hand, he was a relative of his old boss, who wanted to repay his support. Therefore, the Cao Army in Hangzhou worked particularly hard and specially arranged four official ships. One boat is dedicated to Wang Yehao and his personal entourage, one boat carries followers and guards, two boats carry all kinds of goods, and there are two small boats for backup.
After boarding the official ship on the canal, the journey afterwards was quite pleasant. The gentleman also commented and explained based on what he saw and heard on the trip. After this trip, Zhou Lezhi only felt that his horizons had been broadened. His teacher taught him many methods of thinking and observation. Many people and things that he could not understand in the past, now that he looks back and savors them, he can see the sun through the clouds and feel enlightened.
The teacher said that learning is not only about mastering knowledge, but also about learning to think on the basis of mastering knowledge.
Now he somewhat understands
That night, the boat stopped at Guazhou Ferry, and Mr. Wang suddenly came to Mr. Zhou's cabin. With a smile on his face, he held the latest newspaper from the inn.
"That Jiannu did set up a siege in Jinzhou. Sir, he has a brilliant plan and is a true god."
"Haha, actually there is no need to rush this time. They will withdraw when the summer is too hot." Mr. Zhou looked quite proud.
Zhou Lezhi had a basic understanding of the situation in the world through his studies in recent months, and knew that the two men were talking about the Liaodong war. But this statement has no beginning or end, and is incomprehensible. I didn't know what the two of them were talking about. I just knew that it must be a major military matter, so they just stood aside and waited respectfully.
"That's good." Not to mention retreating, even if he now said that Jian Nu would go directly to the capital, Wang Yehao couldn't believe it. "Sir, after traveling all this way, can the two maids still be used together?"
"It's okay, but it's not very convenient on the boat."
Zhou Lezhi laughed secretly. Although a private room was specially allocated for his husband, the cabin was too small to allow him to do ordinary things. The gentleman seems to be getting angry.
"We will arrive in Yangzhou Mansion in a few days. Since ancient times, Yangzhou's romantic affairs have been unrivaled in the world. I wonder if you, Sir, are interested?" Wang Yehao felt that scribes have the rhetoric of scribes, and rough materials have rough cuts. There was no mincing words when chatting with Mr. Zhou. If necessary, it is better to get straight to the point.
"Yes! Sir, you are so interesting!" The gentleman was quite cooperative.
"Haha, it's rare for you to be so elegant. I have also heard of the reputation of Yangzhou's thin horses. I will definitely travel with you when the time comes."
But the gentleman asked something that Wang Yehao didn't know how to answer: "Sir, are there any fat horses?"
(End of chapter)
