Wanyan Kang finally asked Jian Yong to withdraw another five hundred coins.
Although this amount of money is not a small amount, it will definitely be a drop in the bucket when used to purchase relief food.
But in addition to food, Anguo Temple's disaster relief also requires a large amount of other materials. It can be said that money is needed everywhere.
For now, Wanyan Kang has no other income and can only reach out to the government.
But this once again reminded him of the urgency of making money and the importance of financial independence.
“It’s better to have your father and mother than to have it in your own pocket.”
This is what his mother taught him in his previous life. Although it is simple, it contains the philosophy of life.
Because King Zhao had made an explanation before leaving, Jian Yong agreed happily.
In fact, even if King Zhao didn't say anything up front, whenever the young prince opens his mouth, as long as the red line is not crossed, the money will still be given.
But Jian Yong didn't believe in disaster relief or anything like that.
What kind of disaster relief is this? After all, this is still the trick used by the young prince.
After taking the money, he went to spend money like water with those gangster friends.
Anyway, this isn't the first time.
Just last month, I was fighting fiercely with Li Ke, the Marquis of Kaicheng, in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion over an oiran from the Western Regions.
After squandering a full five hundred dollars, the prince finally filled the hole himself.
That is to say, Prince Zhao's family has a great business and can still afford to support this troublesome prodigal prince.
The prince and princess doted on him so much, what could Jian Yong, a housekeeper in the mansion, say.
Jian Yong left Jiang'an Xiaozhu and was walking. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Wanyan Kang chasing after him. He stopped and saluted: "I will arrange the money tickets right now. Please wait a moment, young prince!"
That means, little master, you are not in such a hurry to bring money. I still have to go to the accounting office to go through the withdrawal procedures, right?
Wanyan smiled generously: "There's no rush, Mr. Jian, I just forgot to ask something. The palace must have fixed assets or something... Oh, it's properties like fields, houses, shops, etc."
Jian Yong's mouth twitched and he could only nod silently.
Which wealthy family has no property in their house? Isn’t this nonsense?
"So, does the palace have a grain account in its name?"
Jian Yong shook his head decisively after hearing this.
Hey... Wanyan sighed and turned around to leave.
But before he had taken two steps, he suddenly turned around and said, "Mr. Jian, how many hundreds of servants and guards does the royal family have? It must be a lot of food consumption every month. The current price of food in Zhongdu is 2 guan per meter. If calculated according to this,
The amount of money spent on grain purchases in the government is really an astronomical figure..."
As a talented but underappreciated scholar and a senior housekeeper of Prince Zhao's palace, Jian Yong is extremely shrewd.
He immediately realized what the young prince wanted to ask.
He thought for a while and said: "Back to the young prince, our palace, as well as the palaces of other princes and ministers in Zhongdu, have special grain accounts to supply food. As for the price, of course it is lower than the market price, but it is only two or three hundred yuan for a bucket of rice.
.”
"Otherwise, although the palace... food prices are so high, it will not be able to sustain itself for a long time."
"This is not a secret, or an open secret."
"To put it bluntly, these grain merchants colluded to raise the price so high. They were just hoarding the grain, waiting to sell the grain into the official warehouse at a high price in the future, and then make a lot of money."
Jian Yong said with emotion: "If grain merchants want to make money from the court, they must not lose money to the nobles, otherwise they will not make money... Therefore, every time there is a disaster and food is in short supply, this is what they do. Everyone agrees.
It’s just not announced.”
Wanyan Kang was speechless.
What Jian Yong revealed was quite different from what he had guessed.
Sure enough, no matter ancient or modern times, when government and businessmen collude, the people at the bottom will always be the unlucky ones.
Therefore, under this natural disaster, not only the refugees outside the city, but also the civilians in the city must have a very difficult life.
"Mr. Jian, can you help me buy cheap grain from the grain merchant in the name of the palace?"
Wanyan Kang still held on to the last glimmer of hope.
Jian Yong raised his eyebrows fiercely and smiled bitterly: "One or two hundred stones is no problem, but if you want to buy in large quantities, there is no chance of this happening!"
As if he was afraid that Wanyan Kang would mess up, Jian Yong lowered his voice and said: "The Zhongdu grain merchants are by no means as simple as the little prince thinks. The interests behind these merchants are all over the place and they are colluding with each other. The water is deep. Even the prince can't
To touch easily..."
Wanyan Kang fell silent.
…
Distraught, Wan Yankang threw away his entourage and moved forward alone. After talking to Jian Yong on the way, he understood in his heart that it was no longer possible to raise food through normal channels and he had to find other ways.
Two servants fell far behind.
Seeing that the young prince did not return to his courtyard, he went straight to the back garden.
From Jiang'an Xiaozhu, where Bao Qinniang lives, to the back garden, the direction is opposite, and you have to make a big circle and pass through two courtyards.
Wanyan Kang asked for directions and walked in a hurry.
The back garden is very large, and the hanging flower gate into the garden alone is much taller and wider than other courtyard gates in the mansion.
As for the lush green garden, there are all kinds of exotic flowers and rare trees everywhere.
An exquisite corridor with hanging purple pergolas connects several pavilions and pavilions in the garden. The artificial lake in the garden is rippling, and several rockeries in various shapes are randomly dotted on the green lawn.
Wanyan Kang walked and walked in the garden, thinking about it, but he had no interest in admiring the flowers and scenery, even though the garden was beautiful with hundreds of flowers blooming.
In the deepest corner of the back garden, there is a rockery covered with moss.
Next to it stands a stone tablet with a big Chinese character "福" on it.
Two old weeping willow trees stand opposite each other, with their lush branches hanging down, and they surround the rockery airtightly.
Wan Yankang knelt down and stared at the overgrown hiding place behind the rockery. After staring for a while, his heartbeat suddenly accelerated a little.
After a long time, he finally got up and walked quietly.
…
Wanyan Kang returned to his private courtyard.
The name of the garden "Xiangxiang" probably illustrates the style of the young prince in the past.
Although he thought it was vulgar, he was too lazy to change it.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw He San holding the hand of his sister He Xiaolian and standing under the sweet-scented osmanthus tree in the courtyard. The brother and sister knelt on the ground together.
Wanyan Kang took a few steps and leaned over to help his brother and sister up.
Then he smiled and touched He Xiaolian's little head and said: "He San, just stay with me and work. As for Xiaolian, she is still young..."
Wan Yankang turned around and saw Xue Qing walking gracefully in red. He smiled and waved: "Qing'er, I'll leave this child to you. You have to take good care of her. When you have time, you can teach her to read some books."
Character……"
"Qing'er obeys your orders!"
Xue Qing responded with a smile.
The young prince went to Anguo Temple to burn incense and brought back two children. However, seeing that these siblings seemed to be well-behaved and sensible, it was no problem to stay with them. Anyway, Prince Zhao's palace did not need these two mouths to eat.
He Sanmo pulled his sister to kneel down again, with tears in his eyes.
He Xiaolian was only five years old and didn't know much about the world, and her small dark eyes were rolling around.
She only knew that she no longer had to go hungry, and she was happy in her heart. She didn't know what "reading and literacy" meant.
But He San understood.
Women who can read and write are all eldest ladies from wealthy families. Now my sister actually has the opportunity to study... She will definitely marry into a good family in the future!
He San thought so simply.
However, he was dull by nature. Even though he was extremely grateful, he could not express even a single word with his mouth. He could only keep the young prince's benefits in mind silently.
If I can't repay you in this life, I will wear a grass ring in my next life to repay the kindness of the young prince.
Wanyan Kang pulled He San up, then leaned over to pick up the thin Xiaolian, saying: "He San, don't kneel down all the time in the future, especially when there are no outsiders, don't kneel down."
He San pursed his lips and bowed.
He Xiaolian was a little nervous while lying in Wanyan Kang's arms, her head slightly lowered, her face as red as an apple.
At this time, Liusu also came out of the house and saw his little master standing under the tree holding the little refugee girl who had just entered the house, smiling like the warm spring breeze.
Ever since she can remember, she has been the young prince's personal maid.
So many years.
Except for the past few days, she had never seen the young prince be so kind and peaceful to his servants.
In the past, the servants in the house, even she and Xue Qing, had to be cautious in front of him, and would be beaten or scolded if they made the slightest mistake.
After this illness, the arrogant, domineering and moody young prince suddenly turned into a gentle and gentle brother next door...
So much so that during the past few days when Wanyan Kang was away, she really missed him a little.