Outside the window, it started snowing again.
Zhu Gaoxu walked to the window and wanted to open it to enjoy the snow scenery, but in the end he did not take action. His body did not allow him to be willful.
"You can watch it if you want."
Li Qing put his hand on his wrist and gave him pure energy.
Zhu Gaoxu felt a trickle of warmth pouring into his body. His whole body felt warm and comfortable.
"How does it feel?"
"My body seems to be supported by vitality, and my energy and spirit are exceptionally good," Zhu Gaoxu exclaimed, "Is this the magic method of an immortal?"
"Haha...where did the magical means come from?" Li Qing smiled bitterly, "I was lying to you at first. In fact, I am just an ordinary person who can survive. I am more powerful than ordinary people, but I am not related to gods."
Li Qing sighed quietly: "If I really had magical means, I wouldn't have many regrets."
'Squeak' Li Qing opened the window and looked out at the heavy snowfall, silent for a long time.
Zhu Gaoxu stood beside him, just like Li Qing, standing silently and speechless.
Large snowflakes were brought in by the early wind, falling on the floor and turning into water droplets. The cold air hit him directly, but Zhu Gaoxu was not affected, and his body was still warm.
After a long while, he asked: "How long can your method last?"
"how?"
"I want to play a machete in the snow," Zhu Gaoxu said with yearning eyes, "I used to like winter the most. On a cold day, sweating all over the body turns the cold into coolness."
Zhu Gaoxu's eyes were piercing: "I want to be young again!"
Li Qing smiled, put his hand on his wrist, and transferred a large amount of Qi to him, encouraging him: "Go ahead, go crazy."
~
The snow was very heavy. Zhu Gaoxu's beard and hair were all white. He was holding a big knife weighing ten kilograms. He was playing fiercely and domineeringly. The heavy snowflakes were swept by the blade, breaking large pieces into two pieces, and the sound of cutting through the air was endless.
A family of three walking in the snow stopped to watch, and the mother and daughter were amazed. Zhu Qizhen also realized how brave the second grandfather was when he was young.
"Grandpa is so awesome."
The little girl was very happy and her little hands clacked loudly.
"Call Grandpa." Zhu Qizhen patted her and said softly.
The little girl followed the good example and changed her words: "Grandpa is so awesome!"
"Hahaha... I think back then, my great-grandfather was also a hero among thousands of troops, and one was as good as ten." Zhu Gaoxu shouted softly, and the force of his hand increased a little, becoming more domineering and fierce.
Li Qing glanced at Zhu Wanqing and said, "Stop praising me. Your great-grandfather doesn't always praise him."
Zhu Wanqing: "..."
Infuriating energy is not omnipotent, nor can it last forever. After about a quarter and a half, Zhu Gaoxu became exhausted and stopped.
"Haha... It's so enjoyable. I'm sweating again. It's so damn enjoyable!" Zhu Gaoxu laughed loudly, feeling the pleasure of being young again, which made him extremely satisfied.
Li Qing hurriedly stepped forward, transferred some more Qi to him, and said: "Go back to the house and rest for a while. Don't get carried away. The extreme joy will lead to sorrow."
"Well, okay." Zhu Gaoxu closed his eyes and enjoyed the refreshing wind and snow for a moment, then took the crutches from Li Qing and walked into the house.
Zhu Qizhen looked at the old figure, remained silent for a moment, and said, "Xiaoqian, you and Wanqing continue walking, and I'll go in and take a look."
"Okay, husband, go quickly."
~
In the room, the charcoal was burning brightly, with a fine layer of white ash condensing on the surface, and sparks popping out from time to time.
Li Qing and Zhu Gaoxu sat opposite each other, with Zhu Qizhen accompanying them.
The three of them were at peace, and the grandfather and grandson no longer bowed their heads.
"How about a drink?" Zhu Qizhen suggested.
Li Qing looked at Zhu Gaoxu, "Do you want to drink?"
"Then drink." Zhu Gaoxu nodded, "This is my last indulgence."
"I'll get it." Zhu Qizhen hurriedly walked out. After a while, he came back with the wine and said with a smile: "It's all warmed up. I originally thought I would drink it myself, but... it's better to have fun alone than to have fun with everyone." .”
He filled three glasses, pushing one to Zhu Gaoxu and one to Li Qing, and raised the glass.
Li Qing and Zhu Gaoxu also raised their wine glasses, clinked them with each other, and sipped.
The three of them drank slowly because they all knew it was the last time and didn't want it to end so soon.
In the face of life and death, everything seemed pale and redundant. There was nothing he could not let go of. Zhu Gaoxu finally let go, completely let go.
He no longer blames Zhu Di, nor anyone else, nor even himself.
He reached an understanding with everyone, faced it calmly, and was fearless.
…
Shen Xin moved very quickly. With the support of more than a dozen sons, several grandsons, and a large number of royal guards, the funds were recovered much faster than expected.
In the middle of the twelfth lunar month, everything was completed, including the local property in Jinling, leaving only a house.
The reputation of being a wealthy man is not an exaggeration. Shen Xin, the richest man in Jinling, was actually the richest man in the Ming Dynasty. Although a lot of it was sucked away by Jiangnan bureaucrats, the rest is still very impressive.
Calculated into silver, there are more than 27 million taels!
It is not an exaggeration to say that the country is as rich as a country. Today's Ming Dynasty cannot afford even 27 million taels of silver, let alone 27 million taels of silver.
With so much wealth, there were so many things that could be done. Li Qing didn't even dare to think about how many industries the release of this wealth could bring about.
You know, this is not 27 million yuan in treasure money, but money in vain, and its purchasing power is quite strong!
"Sir, when are we leaving?" Shen Xin asked, rubbing his hands. He couldn't wait.
Li Qing thought for a moment and said, "How about the sixth day of the first lunar month?"
Hanhan couldn't wait any longer. He also took a break for more than half a year, so there was no need to take full leave.
"Sixty-six smooth, excellent." Shen Xin smiled from ear to ear, "Shen is ready for your portion. When do you think...?"
"There's no rush," Li Qing smiled and said, "Let's go to the north first."
"Ah? This..." Shen Xin's heart suddenly flashed, and he said sarcastically: "My lord, shouldn't it be...that or something?"
Li Qing said with a smile: "Don't worry, the emperor will not do anything to make a profit. Your property is indeed tempting, but the emperor is sitting on the world, and he has all the people in the world in his heart."
After a pause, "Besides, you are also the emperor's subject. If he wants to do this to you, wouldn't it be a clear declaration of war against all the landlords, wealthy gentry in the Ming Dynasty?"
"Uh... It seems like this." Shen Xin smiled sheepishly.
People are like this sometimes. If you save them, they won't feel at ease.
But this time the amount was too big. Li Qing loves money, but he is not greedy for it.
But since Shen Xin was worried if he didn't accept it, Li Qing had no choice but to accept it: "The money is ready. When the time comes, I will hand it over to the national treasury, and I will say it is your back-pay for taxes."
"Sir, Shen has never paid less. It's better to..." Shen Xin tried, "It's better to say that Shen donated it."
Li Qing glanced sideways at him and snorted: "You are a small citizen, donating five million taels to the country? It is not a good thing to be in the limelight. Making a fortune in silence is the right thing;
Furthermore, the court needs dignity, and the Ming Dynasty is peaceful and the people are safe. Why does the Ming Dynasty need donations from the people? "
Li Qing said calmly: "The emperor naturally knows your intentions, but if you want to pierce this layer of window paper, it will be your fault."
Shen Xin was stunned, and quickly apologized: "The villain knows his mistakes, everything is decided by the adults."
"That's right." Li Qing said with a smile, "You are a businessman, just do your business well. Don't force yourself into people who are not in the same circle, otherwise... Haha, haven't you suffered enough? ?”
Shen Xin felt a shiver in his heart: If this was taken advantage of by the northern bureaucracy, there would really be no place for him to go.
He knew nothing about the court situation, but that didn't affect his understanding of the stakes. Even a businessman like him would do dirty things. How could those high-ranking officials in the temple be kind?
He had already seen the viciousness of Jiangnan's bureaucrats, and he didn't want to see Jingguan'er's tricks again.
If you really want to develop an official career, the safest way is to let your descendants study hard and take the orthodox imperial examination route. It is too easy to be manipulated by others.
"Thank you, sir, for reminding me. Shen will never have unwise ideas again." Shen Xin said seriously.
"This is the best thing," Li Qing smiled slightly: "Just remember, as long as you pay taxes in full and don't treat workers and people harshly, you deserve to be rich;
But if you have evil intentions... Haha, using business to disrupt government is a serious crime! "
"Grass people don't dare!"
"It's okay if you don't dare." Li Qing said, "Take the time to sort it out and see if there is anything missing. I won't wait for you then."
"Yes, the grassroots council."
…
Yongqinghou Mansion.
Li Qing said softly: "Master, will you come with me to the capital after the new year? When you go back this time, I won't run around anymore, and I will make delicious food for you every day."
