The gate of Banyuan Garden has been rebuilt. At Li Dan's request, it was built in the style of a gate with brackets and hanging flowers. It was painted with varnish and covered with black tiles. The green tiles and white walls with two wings and tiger skin stone curtains at the base maintain the characteristics of the garden.
There are two checkerboard doors between the two outer columns of the hanging flower door. The outer panels are made of pear wood. The beautiful patterns are unforgettable at first sight. This door is usually closed, and visitors go to the left and right.
The platform with a green brick edge is lined with a stone staircase. Climb up two steps and you will see a solid inner screen door between the two inner pillars. The main door in the middle is inlaid with half stone paving on the left and right, and two carved rings. The lion and cat looked at each other, making people smile.
What's even more surprising is that this seemingly heavy door opens and closes silently and flexibly, and I don't know what ingenious method the owner used. The door on the left is for servants to enter and exit.
The entire gate is mainly made of wood tones, which is exquisite but elegant. It not only shows the master's strength without any intention of showing off, but also echoes the leisure theme of the garden.
On both sides of the screen wall in front of the hanging flower door, there are thoughtfully built corridors of several feet for carriages and carriages to take shelter from the rain. The carriages and carriages from various houses on the opposite side can also be used. You can also see rickshaws and carriages rented there in recent times. Zhu Zhanji felt novel when he saw him for the first time.
"This rickshaw is said to be an invention of the Li family." Zhu Zhanyi happily introduced to his brother: "As soon as the taxi came out, many bearers had no work to do, so they went to Guide Mansion to make noise.
Futai then went to visit Li's house, because his family was the first to make taxis.
Later, when the Li family got a reply from Li Zedong, they asked their own horse racing company to build the rickshaw according to the drawings sent to them, and then signed a ten-year contract with them. During these ten years, as long as you have a guarantor and the car is used by others, you will be paid monthly Collect some rent and the car will be yours after ten years.
The car factory will perform free maintenance and repair on the car twice every year for ten years. If the car is lost or damaged, the individual will have to pay compensation. If the person dies within ten years, the car can be passed down to his son or designated beneficiary and continued to be leased.
Just like that, a new industry emerged and an old industry disappeared! "
"It's amazing, it's wonderful!" Zhu Zhanji's eyes lit up: "The sedan that originally required four people to carry can now be carried by one person, and the money earned does not need to be divided with others.
When everyone sees this way of making money, they will definitely stop making trouble. They can just collect the deposit and find a guarantor. But they were defeated one by one, what a plan! Eh, that’s not right,”
Zhu Zhanji suddenly remembered: "These sedan bearers used to belong to the sedan chair industry. How could the shopkeepers let them go?"
"Haha, Di Yuan was also confused. Later, their big shopkeeper Zhu Qing gave some advice and suddenly realized, how did they do it?" Zhu Zhanzhen deliberately let it slip:
“The Li family approached these sedan dealers and negotiated with them to buy shares with new cars, and then the sedan dealers would turn into car dealers on the spot and provide guarantees for the bearers.
In order to prevent the bearers from losing business in the first few months or not being familiar with the usage, the Li family promised to provide low-interest loans to the bearers who invested in the sedan companies.
Each person can receive 60 yuan per month to support their family. The Li family only charges one penny in interest. The loan can be continuously loaned for up to three months. If a certain income cannot be achieved in the fourth month, the car dealer will take back the car and terminate the contract with the bearer. "
"Hey!" Zhu Zhanji said, stroking his hands: "I have thought about it all the time. This Li Zedong is really good at fighting and making money!"
"Yeah, and I earn more than before!" Zhu Zhanzhen laughed, and then whispered:
"Actually, many ministers in the DPRK have invested in the Li family's business. There is no way, they become popular wherever they work, and they also open stocks and allow stock trading. Who do you think has a grudge against this money?"
"Hmph, your son is so familiar with them, are you afraid that he might be involved in it?" Zhu Zhanji curled his lips.
"Hey, it's rare that my eldest nephew has a friendship with that Li Dan. His reputation is so great that all the shopkeepers of the Li family are very grateful to him!"
"Don't come here, that guy always talks good things about Li Zedong in my ears. I think he doesn't get any less!"
"That's Mr. Qian!" Fatty Zhu muttered, and his brother pretended not to hear as he walked toward the door with his hands behind his back.
The two of them knocked on the door, and the window on the door next to them opened, revealing a yellow face: "Hey, Prime Minister Zhu, please wait a moment!" Soon there was the sound of the screen door being bolted, Xiu Er opened the front door, and bowed politely to invite them in.
Zhu Zhanji looked up and saw a general standing under the porch. In his ears, Xiu Er was chattering:
"Aren't you going to Liaodong? I didn't expect you to come. You are so polite! The two ladies just went to Yuantong Temple yesterday to offer incense to the young master. They came back a little late. You two, please come to the flower hall and sit for a while. I will go there right away. Report. Uh, I wonder who this is...?"
"This is a certain elder brother."
"Hey, but the name is Zhanji and the courtesy name is Qichang? Xiu Er, the housekeeper of Banyuan, has met Mr. Zhu." Xiu Er quickly stepped back and bowed deeply. When the general saw this, he also followed suit, which frightened the Zhu brothers. .
"Your steward, please get up quickly." Zhu Zhanzhen supported him while looking back at his brother in surprise.
Zhu Zhanji was also confused: "Honorable Butler, why are you saluting and how do you know me?"
"Sir, my name has long been known to me from the Young Master. You are a man of all abilities in civil and military affairs, and you are also the father of General Qi Zhen. Therefore, if you come to visit, you should be treated as an elder, with the same etiquette as the Young Master's teacher, Mr. Zeng." Xiu Er replied.
"How dare you, how dare you," Zhu Zhanji knew that Li Dan's teacher was Imperial Master Zeng Qun, so he quickly waved his hand:
"I am now living in seclusion and returning home. I am just a white scholar. I am just dawdling around with pen and ink. How can I compare with Mr. Qiong Lin? Mr. Li is too high-minded!" However, after saying this, he was still slightly excited and proud in his heart.
Xiu Er smiled, took their name tattoos, and asked the family general named Bai to lead them to sit in the flower hall. He said hello to the doorman in the concierge and asked him to close the door, and then hurried inside to report the news.
"Two adults, please come down with me." The general led the way.
Walking on the path paved with flowers and stones, we passed through the shady bamboo forest, and in front of us was a white-walled tiled house.
Before leaving, Li Dan drew pictures to renovate the original house. The bamboo fence turned into a low dragon-backed wall with various patterns of leaky windows, winding among the bamboo forests. A moon-hole door surrounded by clear bricks was opened on the wall, with an inscription on the forehead. The place is empty, probably because he is waiting for the owner to come back and give it a name.
When I walked in and looked up, I suddenly felt refreshed. There is a rectangular pool in the front, five feet long and one or two feet wide. The pavement is inlaid with broken porcelain shards, so clear that you can see the bottom.
There are water lilies floating inside, and koi carps of various colors swimming around. The two rockeries in the middle are more than two feet above the water, and through some unknown method, spring water gushes out.
There is a fat fish at both ends and opposite corners of the pool, swaying its tail and looking back, spitting water from its mouth into the pool. The south side of the pool is gentle, paved with white gravel until it reaches the rose bushes under the wall.
Climbing up the stairs to the north are five halls, surrounded by corridors connecting the east and west wings.
At first glance, Zhu Zhanji felt that this hall was a little different. As he got closer, he realized that the original window lattice and the window lattice above the door panel were not made of light gauze curtains like those in big families nowadays, but a kind of Something as clear as crystal.
"Is this...Po Li?" Zhu Zhanji touched it with his hand and tapped it lightly.
"Brother is very knowledgeable!" Zhu Zhanzhen smiled from behind: "Among the guests I have brought, you are the only one who has the answer so far!"
"But, this thing is very expensive!" Zhu Zhanji wondered: "How can it be made entirely of Poly and be so flat and clean?"
"If you had come a month later, you would have seen that my flower hall would have to be replaced with a poli." Zhu Zhanchen said proudly: "Only the Li family's Jade Guifang can make such a poli.
Your Majesty has installed several palaces in the palace, and then Prince Ding's Mansion and Princess Miyun's Consort's Mansion will also be installed. I have to wait for the next batch.
It is not easy to make this thing. According to the material used in this house, it was made by melting 1,200 stones of quartz stone, mica and 200 stones of selected river sand! "
"This is too extravagant." Zhu Zhanji frowned, and Zhu Zhanchen was embarrassed, thinking that it would be better not to fight with you.
"Sir, this thing actually has many uses, and using it on windows is just one of them. It was originally used to make lenses for telescopes and telescopes. My young master discovered the method of firing it, and it got out of hand.
Nowadays, the price has been reduced repeatedly due to the large output, and it is not as difficult as before. "The general introduced with a smile.
Only then did Zhu Zhanji pay attention to look the man up and down, and saw that he had a well-proportioned figure, broad shoulders and thick back, and bright eyes.
Warriors will naturally have a good impression of those who are capable. When Zhu Zhanji saw that this man had been on the battlefield, he immediately believed his words, nodded and asked him: "Are you also from Yugan?"
"I'm Bai Shun, my native place is Poyang." The general hurriedly crossed his hands and replied, "My father Bai Yan was recruited by the imperial court to be the envoy of Huxi pacification and the captain of Hengjiang County.
Three years ago, I was sent to Yugan by my father to join the army. Later, I worked as an inspection officer and a regiment training town governor. After retirement, I studied in a military school for two years. Now I have graduated, joined the Merchant Corps Guard Club, and was sent here to serve as the guard squad leader. "
"Oh." Zhu Zhanji felt a little disapproving when he heard that he had been recruited. He also heard that he had been a town governor and asked in surprise: "You can also be a town governor? Doesn't anyone care about your father's background?"
"Don't worry, sir. Yu Qian only cares about my achievements and contributions." Bai Shun heard what he meant, but he had seen a lot since he came out and didn't take it seriously.
"I have the rank of sergeant during regimental training. If I go to the combat unit, I can get the rank of sergeant and lead a platoon of forty soldiers.
Later, he went to a martial arts school, and after graduation he was equivalent to a second lieutenant. He could lead forty to one hundred people in combat, which was equivalent to the sentry commander in the Forbidden Army. "
"Oh? You were promoted pretty quickly!"
"I participated in the Meigang Blockade Battle," Bai Shun smiled: "I saw with my own eyes your master's heroic appearance on horseback. I was slightly injured in that battle, so I was recorded as having merit, and because I was literate, I was recommended to the martial arts school. .”
"That's it!" Zhu Zhanji suddenly felt that this child's background was nothing, and turned around and shouted: "Fifth brother, I didn't expect that this white warrior had fought with Dalang on the same field!"
"I don't dare, I don't dare." Bai Shun hurriedly said humbly: "Young Master Chang Tuan Lian is the auxiliary officer of the army and the arm of the official family. I will never dare to take credit."
These few sentences were actually what Yu Qian's regimental commanders must teach their subordinates. Unexpectedly, Zhu Zhanji took great advantage of them and praised the regiment commander and Mr. Li.
Just then, two people hurriedly came in with the sound of footsteps outside the door, and hurriedly bowed to meet them.
Zhu Zhanchen introduced to his brother that these two people were Zhu Qing, Li Dan's chief steward in Shangjing, and Master Ba, the chief shopkeeper of the trading company.
The two cordially invited them to sit down, and tea and snacks were constantly brought to them. Bai withdrew by the way.
After having tea, Zhu Qing cupped his hands and said, "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting for so long. The two ladies are also changing and getting ready to come over to see you. Please wait a moment."
"It's okay, it's okay," Zhu Zhanyi chuckled: "I am the 'Prime Minister' for outsiders to see. We are not the same family." Zhu Qing was stunned after hearing this, and Fatty Zhu quickly explained:
"When I was studying with you, I didn't know how many times I was slapped by Master Zeng, and how many times I have been beaten by you today. I should be my senior brother with your young master, not my own brother!" Only then did everyone understand, and they all laughed. It's quick.
"I'm here to visit today. One is to bring my brother to see the exquisiteness of this garden. The other is to ask my brothers and sisters if they have any letters that I need to take to Liaodong, uh no, Liaoning? The third thing is to talk to Lao Ba Let’s discuss a deal.”
"Ah?" Mr. Ba looked at Zhu Qing and was surprised: "Zhu Xiang came here in person, it must be a big deal? This trading company will definitely provide you with wholehearted help, but I don't know...?"
"Oh, this deal is actually related to my brother." Zhu Zhanzhen looked at Zhu Zhanji, who looked slightly embarrassed. "When my brother was in office, his colleague Qu Mou came forward to report that he had caused unexplained losses and the loss of weapons during his tenure.
The Ministry of War sent people to investigate and found the problem, but there was no evidence pointing to the brother. So...my brother was dismissed from his post and compensation was given within a time limit.
Today, there is another censor who is adding insult to injury. His brother ignores official duties while he is in office, plays in the wilderness, etc., and wants to punish his crimes.
The emperor was kind and allowed him to go to Liaodong as a parading envoy sent by the Ministry of War. Bah! In Liaoning, I conducted a military parade on behalf of His Majesty and inspected the military equipment and folk customs of various places. "
Zhu Qing and Mr. Master Ba were still confused after hearing this: "So... there is no business here?"
"Well, that's it." Zhu Zhanzhen also felt embarrassed: "My brother has never been good at management and has a lot of money. Especially after my sister-in-law passed away, there was no one to take care of her, so..."
"Oh!" Zhu Qing and Master Ba looked at each other, then looked at Zhu Zhanji's simple straight-embellished Taoist robes, and immediately became convinced. "I wonder how much the compensation is in total?" Zhu Qing asked cautiously.
"The deficit... is not much, that is, less than a thousand taels." Master Ba felt relieved after hearing this, and then heard the next sentence:
"The key is weapons, armor uniforms, etc. The number of losses and damage is huge, about eight thousand taels!" His heart skipped a beat, as he said this, it was nearly ten thousand!
"Can't Zhu Xiang help me?" Master Ba asked.
Zhu Zhanzhen smiled bitterly: "If I help, the censor will dare to join me tomorrow."
"Don't worry, Mr. Zhu, let's think of a solution." Zhu Huqing saw the figure of a girl flashing through the beaded curtain behind the screen, and stood up hurriedly:
"Prime Minister, Mr. Zhu, maybe my wife is here, please wait a moment." After confessing his sins, he asked Mr. Ba to accompany him and drove behind the screen. At first glance, it was not only Aying and Ning'er, but also Qian.
Zhu Qing hurriedly went to the back to greet his wife and the two ladies one after another, and then gently acknowledged their visit. Qian frowned and said nothing. Aying asked first, "Mr. Zhu, is this brother of Prime Minister Zhu called Qichang?"
"As my lady told you, that's right."
"Huh?" Qian asked curiously: "Aying, do you know this person?"
"Mother, my daughter-in-law has heard from my husband many times that this man has top-quality calligraphy and painting, as well as strategy and martial arts. He is a rare talent."
"Oh?" Mr. Qian wondered: "They must have never met before. How do they know this?"
"My mother doesn't know that Mr. Zhu's son is Zhu Qizhen, the Qianzong of Governor Zhao of Poyang, and he is very close to Xianggong!"
"I see!"
Wu Ning'er came up with an idea: "Mother, our flower hall has not yet had a plaque with an inscription. Why not ask Mr. Zhu to inscribe it? In your opinion, how much skill does he have and whether his writing is worthy of the name can't be seen at a glance?"
Qian smiled and nodded to Zhu Qing: "That's it, Mr. Lao will arrange it."
Zhu Qing hurriedly transferred to the project again. Zhu Zhanji heard that it was his wife's invitation and happily accepted it. My son helped his boss get promoted twice in a row. How could this favor not be worth even a plaque? Zhu Qing quickly sent someone to prepare pens, ink, paper and inkstones to serve him.
Zhu Zhanji walked out and walked around, came back and licked the ink, thought about it and wrote: Four Seasons Curling. After leaving the famous money and taking out the seal to use, Zhu Qing ordered two servants to carry it to the back hall to show it to Qian.
"This man's brush strokes are strong and his writing is natural and smooth. He is indeed a rare artist!" Qian was surprised when he saw it: "Are you a military officer? What a pity. If you were a civil servant, you could get a chancellor with this talent. "
She lowered her head and thought about it, and said to Zhu Qing: "It would be inappropriate if we directly lend or donate ten thousand taels. In addition, his brother is still Zhu Xiang, so it is easy for others to talk about him.
Go and ask him if he can sell the paintings, calligraphy, or even manuscripts he has on hand to my family? We come forward to acquire it, so no one has anything to say. "
"Mom, my child has an idea, do you want to hear it?" Aying asked with a smile.
"Huh? Look."
"No matter how many paintings he has, he can't sell them for ten thousand taels. Isn't he Wu Zhen or Huang Gongwang?" A Ying came up with an idea:
"Let him first use calligraphy and painting to pay part of the silver, and then write such things as "The Thousand-Character Classic", "The Three-Character Classic", "Hundred Family Surnames", "Three Hundred Tang Poems", "Long and Short Sentences of the Song and Yuan Dynasties" and so on.
We can ask the Prime Minister to print it into enlightenment textbooks and calligraphy stickers, and take them to all schools in Liaoning for distribution... "
"Oh, I understand. Giving him money based on royalties is more unobtrusive and legal. It might be more than ten thousand!" She looked at her daughter-in-law appreciatively: "Very good, Mr. Zhu, let's arrange it like this." !”
When he left Banyuan, Zhu Zhanji couldn't believe it was true, and felt like he was in a dream. "This...is everything solved? I didn't expect it to be so easy." He looked back at Zhu Qing, Master Ba and others who were still bowing at the door to see him off, and murmured to himself.
"Brother, you see me, don't you?" Zhu Zhanchen shook his head proudly and got on the carriage: "This family has this ability, and things that others think are difficult to die are now a piece of cake.
You have appealed to so many rich and powerful people, and you have been subjected to all the glares and verbal insults. What is the result? The same thing, in just one hour here, not only solves the immediate problem, but also generates benefits in the next ten years. Alas, this person Li Zedong..., tsk tsk! "
He raised his hand and touched the package in his sleeve. Inside was the letter that Mrs. Li and his wife had entrusted him to take to Liaoning. Well, Li Zedong seems to pay more attention to this line.
Zhu Zhanzhen secretly made up his mind that he would have to do this even if Li Dan was really transferred back from Liaoning. It’s so worth it to be with this guy!
