In the old courtyard of Huifangyuan, Jia Rong was discussing with Zong Cheng and several craftsmen how to build a cement kiln. I saw Jia Yun running hurriedly from outside and said, "Brother Rong, I need you to come forward if something happens."
"Is someone giving you a hard time?" Jia Rong asked.
Jia Yun nodded helplessly, fearing that Brother Rong would despise her now. Brother Rong gave him several tasks, one of which was to go to the Jia family's brick kiln to carry bricks. But when he went to the clan kiln, not only did he not get the bricks, he was kicked out.
"Didn't you tell me the name of Ning Mansion? Didn't you say it was me who wanted the bricks?"
This is strange. Rich families in Beijing all have their own brick kilns in Zhuangzi outside the capital. Firstly, it is used to provide errands for the clan's children to earn income, and secondly, the bricks and stones can be used to build courtyards and temples for each house and family in the clan.
Now the Ningguo Mansion wants bricks, but the clan won't give them to them.
Jia Yun said: "I've told you, I've told you everything. Even if I told the man in charge of the six-room kiln that I could buy it at a price 10% higher than the market price, they wouldn't want to. I said Brother Qin wanted to build a temple, so he had to get the bricks early. They have all ordered it. They will not give up the bricks unless we pay several thousand taels of silver."
"It's so easy to calculate. I've made all the money on my head." Jia Rong asked Zong Cheng again, "According to the style in the picture, how much does the brick cost?"
Zong Cheng was not angry either. Ordinary green bricks were very cheap. It's not like the "Linqing Bricks" or thousands of taels of silver needed to build the palace, these people really dare to speak. He muttered and replied: "One or twenty taels of silver should be enough. Thirty taels of silver including the labor for building the kiln is more than enough."
"Did you hear that the master of the sixth house in our clan deceived me as a rich man? A few dozen taels can buy an old small courtyard in the outer city, and a few thousand taels can even buy an ordinary small courtyard outside Liangfu Street. I can buy ten of them.”
Jia Yun said with a bitter face: "That's what I said. But Mr. Ji in the sixth house said that the two houses have never been short of silver. Every day, they spend hundreds of taels on eating, drinking and having fun. Thousands of taels on the Ning Mansion." It's just the tip of a feather on the body of nine oxen."
On weekdays, Jia Rong doesn't care if the money is more generous. It's outrageous to ask for thousands of taels of silver. "Have you ever gone to the brick kiln nearby and asked if you can buy bricks?"
"Most of the brick kilns outside our Zhuangzi are Huangtian. The nearest brick kiln belongs to Qiu Duwei's family. The owner of the kiln there heard that a man named Jia wanted bricks, so he said he would have to ask Qiu Duwei for the decision."
"Who is Captain Qiu? Do you have a close relationship with the two governments?" Jia Rong asked.
Jia Qiang, who had been idle all this time, walked out, winked at Jia Rong and said, "Brother Rong, have you forgotten?"
"Brother Qiang, what's the matter? I have a very good relationship with the Qiu Duwei family?"
Jia Qiang choked and coughed several times before saying: "That's good! A few months ago, you and Captain Qiu's son kissed each other's cheeks with your fists. If Feng Ziying hadn't pulled him away, you would have ended up rolling on the lawn together. .”
"Um... being able to fight together must be a naughty thing, right?"
"The stubborn ones can't get away from each other. Those named Qiu and our surnamed Jia have never dealt with each other. There has been a grudge for one or two generations."
feud? There's nothing we can do about it.
Jia Rong could only take the next best option and asked Zongcheng, "Is there any way to the official kiln?"
"Since the previous dynasty, all official brick kilns have been contracted by private kiln owners. They can be purchased, but the price is more expensive than building a kiln to bake bricks yourself." Zong Cheng said, "Master Rong actually doesn't need to worry about bricks. , we who came out of the Ministry of Industry’s Camping and Maintenance Department are all good brick-burners. Even the ‘Linqing Bricks’ used in the palace were made by our Camping and Maintenance Department.”
Other craftsmen also agreed, they don’t understand cement, don’t they understand brick making? What does the Camping and Restoration Department do? The first job is to bake bricks, professionally. Even the Linqing area where Linqing bricks are produced has set up a maintenance branch.
Jia Rong nodded, those people in the clan must not be spoiled, don't they want thousands of taels of silver?
Don't even want half of it now. Not only that, Jia Rong also made a note in her heart to clean up the bad habits of these people.
"Brother Yun, don't go looking for bricks elsewhere. Brother Qiang, go to Lai Sheng and ask for a village with a large area. You might as well build a brick kiln and a cement kiln. If Lai Sheng doesn't give it to you, just ask him if Mr. Zhen is ill now." , who is calling the shots in the house."
Jia Rong wanted to see if these side ministers and the servants in the mansion would give him any face. If he really waited for him to go find him in person, he would not be so polite.
After a while, Brother Qiang came in person with Lai Sheng.
When Lai Sheng saw Jia Rong, he hurriedly said: "Although I am the housekeeper of the house, I only do some trivial things in the house. The master has always been in charge of every place in Zhuangzi. The situation in Zhuangzi... No one has been there several times except the master. It has always been It was the village leaders from various places who sent the money to the government, and the land, rivers, and acres of land in various places, I'm afraid I don't know much about it myself."
Lai Sheng has stayed in the mansion for decades and has a clear view of many things. It is said that the emperor and his courtiers are the same, and it is the same in the government. One generation of family masters and one generation of servants. Look at Jiao Da, who once worked hard and achieved great results. He was a loyal servant who saved the life of the old country. Now he is not stubborn like a dog?
In feudal society, everything a servant has is given by his master. Your master has the power, and the servant can also be looked at a few times. Your master has lost his power. How can a servant live a good life?
For example, people who have served the elders of the family, even cats and dogs, are more noble than young masters. "
Such words would not work in Duke Ning's mansion.
The old housekeeper was afraid that Jia Rong would misunderstand, so he explained eagerly: "The old servant can only take the uncle to the manor in person to look for a place where a kiln can be built."
"That's fine, I just want to take a look at the situation in each village where my family lives. I heard that the master has mentioned in the past that many villages in many places have always suffered from some disasters in the past few years, and the money sent to them is getting less and less every year."
Lai Sheng was shocked when he heard this, and secretly thought, who has provoked this man again today? I hope the village owners are sensible, otherwise...
"Prepare the car, let's go take a look together." Jia Rong smiled and became curious about Zhuangzi, whose Ningguo Mansion was outside the capital.
On the way, Lai Sheng, the general manager of the mansion, introduced to Jia Rong the origins of several villages in Ningguo Mansion.
"The village land in Heishan Village in the northeast was rewarded by this dynasty during the uprising. The village land outside the sacred capital was given by Emperor Taizu, and some were earned by the old prince. It has been divided from generation to generation, and these are the only ones left. .
In Mr. Jing's generation, there is less contact between Zhuangzi in various places and the government, and they only come here to rent. When Master Zhen became the owner, there would only be a few farm owners left to rent. "
Jia Rong knew that there was a high probability that the owner of the village outside was nothing, but these words coming from Lai Sheng's mouth always made him feel uncomfortable. This old guy is applying eye drops to himself, and he doesn't want to think about the situation of your Lai family.
When Jia Zhen became seriously ill, Jia Rong's role in the mansion began to change, and his personal interests became closer to those of the Ning mansion. The Lai family and the village owners stole Ningguo Mansion's money, which was equivalent to stealing Jia Rong's money.
Jia Rong did not give Lai Sheng a good look, and said sarcastically: "Isn't that right? The sky is high and the emperor is far away, there are always things that cannot be controlled. I heard that your Lai family also has a man who left the house. Not only did he buy Zhuangzi outside, I built a garden. I lived the life of a young master in the mansion. I was raised like a phoenix by my maid, my mother-in-law, and my nanny since I was a child. I have a pair of eyes on the top of my head."
Lai Sheng smiled awkwardly and said, "It all depends on the kindness of the two governments."
