"So, then Shen Zhuang came up with the idea of selling vegetables from the greenhouse?"
Guo An was a little angry.
"Who doesn't like vegetables in cold winter?" Zhu Di said.
This night, he also figured it out, and was even a little annoyed. The price of vegetables was definitely set low, and they should only cost two taels of silver per catty.
"Your Highness, something serious has happened."
At this time, Zhu Liang ran in from outside with a hurried expression.
"What's the matter?"
"Your Highness, the gentry and merchants in Changping, Liangxiang, Shunyi, Miyun, Huairou and other counties, as well as Tongzhou, Jizhou, Zhuozhou and other prefectures and counties, have heard about the farm vegetables for some reason.
Now, more than 300 people have gathered outside the farm to buy vegetables, and the number of people is still increasing! "
Zhu Liang said hurriedly.
"Where did our Beiping Mansion come from with so many wealthy households?" Zhu Di's eyes widened and he was still a little angry.
"The general doesn't know..."
"That's because they usually hide it!"
Guo An secretly slandered, feeling a little happy about Zhu Di.
Then he remembered something and asked quickly: "Are there only two generals guarding the farm now? Have the Yanshan Three Guards sent more generals to guard the farm?"
Zhu Di also quickly looked at Zhu Liang.
Zhu Liang replied: "Your Highness, Guo Changshi, after Tang Commander discovered something was wrong, he quickly sent two more soldiers from hundreds of households to garrison the farm.
However, those stewards who come to the farm will each bring more than a dozen young and strong nurses.
There were more than 300 people, so there were at least 3,000 people, occupying all the open space outside the farm. "
“The most important thing is that each of these people has to buy more than 20 kilograms of vegetables, or even more.
There are not that many vegetables in the greenhouse. Even if we sell all the ten acres of vegetables that we left yesterday, it will not be enough. "
"Can't pick it off!"
Guo An hurriedly looked at Zhu Di, "Your Highness, I have worked so hard to build such a large greenhouse just so that I can eat vegetables in the winter.
Nowadays, there are so many profitable shops in the house, and there is no shortage of ten acres of vegetables.
Your Highness, those ten acres of vegetables must not be sold to those gentry and merchants! "
Zhu Di waved his hand impatiently, "Do you think we are the short-sighted people?"
Guo An breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhu Di thought for a moment and then said to Zhu Liang: "The ten acres of vegetables are the family's vegetable garden and are absolutely not allowed to be sold to outsiders.
As for the remaining acres of vegetable fields, we cannot let the merchants and gentry buy them at will.
Each family can purchase up to ten kilograms of vegetables at a time, and the next purchase must be five days later. "
"Now, will there be enough vegetables in the greenhouse?"
"this……"
Zhu Liang stared hard and thought hard for a moment, then replied with a look of shame on his face: "Your Highness, please forgive me, I will not be able to think clearly."
Zhu Di said: "Then go back to the farm and do the math. If ten catties per family is not enough, then five catties per family."
"I will obey the order!"
Zhu Liang bowed his hands to Zhu Di, then resigned and rushed to the farm.
In the main hall, Zhu Di's face was full of indignation.
"Damn it, usually none of these bastards show off, and each family is poorer than the other. But now, just because of these vegetables, each family is richer than the other..."
Guo An sat aside, smiling slightly, but didn't say much.
These things are not something he can solve now.
Moreover, his old Guo family seems to be a member of the gentry class.
However, the sale of a vegetable really made the entire Beiping Prefecture rich. The wealthy businessmen, gentry, and even officials reported it one by one under Zhu Di's nose.
Guo An's eyelids jumped as he watched.
Even in Wanping County, there were several gentry and wealthy businessmen that he had never heard of.
…
After returning home after work, before Guo An could drink a cup of hot tea, Erniu walked in and reported to Guo An: "Master, there are two people outside the house looking for you."
"not see!"
Guo An refused directly and decisively.
However, this time Er Niu did not leave as before. Instead, he smiled, leaned his head in front of Guo Anman, took out a shiny silver ingot from his arms, and whispered.
"Master, the two people outside the door were very generous this time. They asked the villain to come in and report once, and then gave the villain ten taels of silver."
Guo An raised his head and glanced at Guo Erniu. He took the ten taels of silver and was not annoyed. He just sneered and said, "It's so generous. Whose family do they belong to?"
"Master, the leading young man seems to say his name is Shen Zhuang!" Guo Erniu glanced at the ten taels of silver with great covetousness and said slowly.
"Shen Zhuang?"
Guo An paused, narrowed his eyes slightly, and threw the ten taels of silver in his hand to Guo Erniu.
"Invite that Shen Zhuang in, we would like to see how tyrannical the wealthy family of the Ming Dynasty is."
"Yes, Master."
Guo Erniu didn't care who Shen Zhuang was, he put the money in his arms and walked out with a face full of joy.
Soon, Guo Erniu led a young man slightly older than Guo An in.
Behind the young man, there was also a strong guard.
If they fight hard, it seems that their two cows will be pressed to the ground and rubbed.
As soon as Shen Zhuang entered the door, he recognized that he was sitting casually on a chair in front of him, and he was looking at him, no, he was looking at Guo An, who was guarding Shen Wu beside him and was distracted.
Feeling a little surprised in his heart, Shen Zhuang quickly bowed his hands in a respectful manner.
"Young man Shen Zhuang has met Guo Changshi."
Only then did Guo An come back to his senses, looked at Shen Zhuang and asked quietly.
"Shen Zhuang, who are you and why are you here to see me?"
Shen Zhuang was stunned. He didn't believe that a man as greedy as Guo An had never heard of his name, Shen Zhuang.
However, this time he had something to ask for, so he hurriedly replied: "I am reporting to Guo Changshi, Xiaomin is a member of the Shen family in Zhouzhuang. I came to see Guo Changshi this time because I have something to ask of Guo Changshi."
"Um?"
Guo An looked surprised, frowned and stared at Shen Zhuang for a moment, then asked: "Are you from the wealthy Shen family in Suzhou?"
The corners of Shen Zhuang's lips curled up slightly, "What Guo Changshi said is correct, Xiaomin is a member of the Shen family."
In the Ming Dynasty, merchants had a low status, and ordinary merchants were like slaves in front of officials. But when the Shen family is as wealthy as the country, they are the guests of the feudal officials.
He believed that Guo An would be very enthusiastic towards him like other officials.
As expected, Guo An's eyes lit up and his attitude immediately improved a lot.
"Come on, please sit down."
After saying that, he ordered Guo Erniu on the side: "I didn't see the distinguished guest coming, so I quickly ordered the maid to serve tea."
"Yes, Master."
Guo Erniu responded and quickly retreated.
"Guo Changshi is too polite!"
Shen Zhuang smiled reservedly and sat on the chair below Guo An.
Soon, a maid brought hot tea.
Later, Guo An asked again: "How many shops does the Shen family have in Beiping Mansion? How much money can they make every year?"
"Guo Changshi..."
Shen Zhuang was caught off guard and was shocked by Guo An's straightforward question.
"If it's not convenient, just say it."
Guo An waved his hand indifferently. He was just curious, how powerful is this legendary family in the Ming Dynasty?
It’s just about cooperation.
"Guo Changshi misunderstood."
At this moment, Shen Zhuang quickly laughed and said: "Xiao Min is just a descendant of the Shen family. He just came to Beiping a year ago and has only twenty shops. Most of them are in the grain and cotton business.
As for the money he made, Guo Changshi laughed. After more than a year, he only made more than 20,000 taels. "
"It's a bit missing."
Guo An nodded slightly.
"..."
Shen Zhuang was stunned. If he had just come in, he would have been more confident and could figure out Guo An's thoughts.
However, this would be completely confusing.
Doesn't he earn enough?
He, Shen Zhuang, came to Beiping Mansion alone, with only some silver and nearly a hundred cronies, and it took him more than a year to open up such a big situation?
Ten thousand taels of silver is still less?
Of course, if Guo An hadn't come out to disrupt the situation, either researching textile machines, opening a barbecue shop, or even using the name of Prince Yan's Palace to hire the entire Peiping Prefecture to weave cotton and woolen cloth, he, Shen Village, would have earned even more next year.
Similarly, Guo An inexplicably lost interest in Shen Zhuang, and was too lazy to talk to Shen Zhuang.
"What on earth do you want to see us for? If you keep going around in circles with me, I will not accompany you anymore." Guo An looked directly at Shen Zhuang and asked.
A hint of joy flashed in Shen Zhuang's eyes, and he opened his mouth and said, "Guo Changshi..."
However, he did not continue speaking, but looked at Guo Erniu aside with an embarrassed look.
Seeing this, a hint of impatience flashed across Guo An's face, "If Mr. Shen feels inconvenienced, then there's no need to say anything."
"Guo Changshi, calm down, calm down!"
Shen Zhuang's face stiffened. He didn't expect that Guo Changshi's face would change at any time. He quickly said with a smile, "I'll say it now, I'll say it now."
Then, under Guo An's indifferent gaze, he slowly said: "Xiao Min wants to cooperate with Guo Changshi."
"cooperate?"
Guo An smiled slightly and asked: "What cooperation?"
"For example, the vegetables in His Royal Highness King Yan's farm."
Shen Zhuang said, "As long as Guo Changshi can sell five hundred catties of vegetables to the people every day, the people will receive two taels of silver per catty."
"The extra one tael of silver can be used as I wish." Guo An said.
Shen Zhuang looked happy and said quickly: "Guo Changshi is really smart."
Guo Jingjing looked at Shen Village quietly for a long time, then asked: "Then why don't I just sell it to the stewards at the farm for two taels of silver?"
Shen Zhuang's face stiffened and he said sarcastically: "In this case, the money gained from the sale will belong to His Highness King Yan and has nothing to do with Guo Changshi."
Guo An picked up the tea cup, took a sip slowly, and said calmly: "How do you know that the money earned from selling vegetables does not belong to me?"
Shen Zhuang's face was startled and he couldn't believe it, "How is this possible?"
"Moreover, isn't Member Shen afraid that Ying Tiancheng's sword will cut him off again?"
Guo An chuckled, "Does Mr. Shen have any other plans?"
Shen Zhuang said quickly: "Since Guo Changshi is unwilling, I wonder if Guo Changshi can tell me the secret recipe for growing vegetables in winter. I am willing to buy it for 50,000 taels of silver."
Guo An sighed helplessly and asked, "If Mr. Shen comes to see us just for such trivial matters, then I will be really disappointed in the Shen family."
Shen Zhuang felt ashamed and said, "It is the common people who have insulted the name of the Shen family."
"It's really humiliating."
Guo An nodded solemnly, making Shen Zhuang stunned again.
"We originally thought that Mr. Shen came to look for me because he wanted to cooperate with Prince Yan's Mansion through me, but we didn't expect... Sigh... If Mr. Shen has nothing else to do, please come back."
Shen Zhuang's eyes widened and he looked at Guo An with surprise.
"Guo Changshi means that the common people can cooperate with the Yan Palace?"
…
(End of chapter)
