When Cheng Sanwu arrived at Hu Beard Tower, the door was already blocked by carriages and horses from various houses, and several servants of high-ranking officials were quarreling and shoving each other for access.
"Ouch, there are so many people."
Cheng Sanwu was riding on horseback, craning his neck to watch from a distance. Although he expected that there would be many wealthy people attending the opening of Hu Beard Building, this scene was still unexpected.
When Cheng Sanwu was still worrying about how to squeeze into the Hu Beard Building, a familiar voice came from behind: "What a coincidence, Cheng Lang is here too."
Looking back, he saw a green-covered car approaching slowly. Jiangzhen and Afu were in the car together. Qin Wangshu, who was traveling with Cheng Sanwu, immediately leaned over and saluted.
Afu was now wearing a narrow bamboo green dress with an open collar and small sleeves, a cloud-green long skirt tied around her waist, and a goose-yellow shawl around her shoulders, revealing a large area of snowy skin on her chest.
Compared with the fresh and beautiful Afu, Jiangzhen is much brighter and more gorgeous. She wears a cherry-colored brocade chest-length skirt with a large peony flower embroidered on the chest. It looks particularly vivid with the ups and downs of two masses of snow.
Smart; outside, she wears a large-sleeved magenta blouse with gold trim, made of gauze, and her arms can be seen swaying.
"Did you also receive the invitation?" Cheng Sanwu asked.
"What? If I don't receive it, you don't plan to treat me?" Afu dangled a flower-wound silk fan in her hand, with a lazy expression and a hint of resentment in her words: "Sure enough, men are all heartless people. They got ahead of themselves.
Then I forgot my past feelings."
At this time, there were many people passing by. When they saw a pair of beauties in a green-covered car, they naturally felt a bit of admiration. After hearing this, they all cast a reproachful or contemptuous look at Cheng Sanwu, and some even looked at her secretly.
Whispering, saying things like "like the new and hate the old", "having a blind eye" and the like.
Cheng Sanwu looked helpless and had no choice but to step forward and say: "This is Lao Su's business. I am his good brother, so of course I will come to support him."
A Fu shook her fan and said nothing, and Jiang Zhen explained: "Mr. Cheng didn't know something. Manager Su's Hu Beard Building is opening, and he needs singing and dancing to entertain. He personally handed the invitation to Tianxiang Pavilion, hoping that I could help."
"Oh, that's it..." Cheng Sanwu couldn't refute. Su Wangting had made careful arrangements and would use every means to make use of all the objects that could be used.
"Come with us." Jiang Zhen said with a smile: "Mr. Su has arranged manpower at the side door, so Cheng Lang doesn't have to fight with those common people."
As Jiang Zhen said, Su Wangting asked his eldest son to wait at the side door. When the eldest son of the Su family saw that it was Cheng Sanwu and Afu who had arrived, he immediately bowed down.
"Okay, okay, where are all these etiquettes?" Cheng Sanwu said, pointing to the carriage outside the door: "This carriage of fairy silk is regarded as a gift for the opening of Hu Bear House. You can have it moved away.
."
"How can this be done?" The elder son of the Su family asked: "Where can we receive Uncle Cheng's gift? If my father knew about it, he would definitely punish his nephew!"
Cheng Sanwu laughed and said: "What are you afraid of? Just think of it as the dowry I prepared for Gui Yatou. I can't let some people compare!"
Afu knew that he was talking about herself, so she didn't refute, just covered her face with a fan and smiled. Watching Cheng Sanwu show off his stupidity in front of the Su Wangting family was a rare pleasure.
The master of the Su family arranged Cheng Sanwu and his party to the private room on the second floor, where they could overlook the stage on the first floor.
"Please wait a moment, I'll call my father over."
Cheng Sanwu hurriedly called to the Su family's elder brother: "What's the hurry? Your father is very busy right now, so don't bother him. First, get me two pots of boiled goat to satisfy my craving!"
The elder son of the Su family said he was resigning, but within a moment, Su Wangting arrived with two pots of boiled sheep.
"Lao Cheng, I heard from Dalang that you also sent a cart of fairy silk as a congratulatory gift?" Su Wangting first saluted Afu and others, and then said, "Where did you get such silk?" <
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"Aren't I saving the servants a lot of work? Then there must be a reward." Cheng Sanwu was not polite at all. He directly put a pot of boiled goat in front of him and started eating and drinking.
Su Wangting complained: "You have been through life and death, and finally received rewards. How can you do this without carefully arranging your family and property and squandering it carelessly?"
Cheng Sanwu glanced at Afu, who smiled and said nothing. He took the glass of wine from Qin Wangshu and took a sip.
"I have enough to eat and the whole family is not hungry, so I don't need to take care of the family business." Cheng Sanwu waved his hands and did not explicitly say that he took over as Lord Zhaoyang.
Su Wangting was very helpless. He knew that Cheng Sanwu was a careless person and could not keep money in his hands. If he gave him thousands of dollars, he would probably spend them all in a blink of an eye. He would not live within his means and take care of it carefully.
Perhaps having Ah Fu by his side can save Cheng Sanwu a lot of worries, but as a brother who has shared weal and woe, Su Wangting does not want Cheng Sanwu to be controlled by Ah Fu in everything.
"Let's see. The car of Xianwen Ling you gave me is worth a lot of money. I'll treat it as the principal you invested in Hu Yanlou." Su Wangting said, "Every month I make a profit from the business, I'll give you part of the interest.
If you have any expenses in the future, come directly to Hu Yanlou to get the money, or I will ask Dalang to deliver it to you."
"Ouch? How does this sound like saving money to do business?" Cheng Sanwu has been with Su Wangting for many years, and he can still understand this business method.
Su Wangting also sat down: "Otherwise, why do you think I can open the Beard House in Dongshi? This is not entirely my property."
"Lao Su, your business is getting bigger and bigger." Cheng Sanwu sighed repeatedly, then looked at Afu: "Hey, won't you help me?"
Jiang Zhen gave Cheng Sanwu a gentle push: "Cheng Lang is so cruel. Even the Tianxiang Pavilion of the Nu family has come to support me. Isn't that not enough? Could it be that the beauty of the Nu family has declined?"
Without waiting for Cheng Sanwu to reply, Su Wangting said quickly: "Miss Jiangzhen is joking. The girl from the Hu-bearded building condescended to move me. It can be said that she is so radiant. I don't dare to let the girl work any more."
Afuf caressed the silk surface of the fan and said slowly: "The Hubeard Tower is ready. There will be many distinguished guests in the coming day. I will arrange for people to come here. But please don't worry, Manager Su, I won't disturb your business."
And it can help you fend off some unsighted thieves."
Su Wangting understood as soon as he heard that Afu wanted to use the Hubeard Tower to monitor the guests and spy on the news. This was equivalent to putting the Su family's property under the protection of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He quickly crossed his hands and thanked: "In that case,
That would be perfect."
After saying this, Su Wangting was busy entertaining other guests, so he could only apologize and leave.
"Thank you very much." Cheng Sanwu said suddenly.
"You can rest assured, right?" Afu smiled slightly: "You are worried that others will attack the Su family, so you might as well make Hu Yanlou a perfect place for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to monitor people who come and go, so that you will be in a detached position, no matter who is in charge in the future.
, we must also preserve Hu Beard Tower. And with Su Wangting’s ability to dance, his position is destined to be strong."
Cheng Sanwu laughed and said nothing else, just immersed himself in drinking soup and eating meat. Jiang Zhen and Qin Wangshu beside Afu both looked at this man with subtle eyes, once again appreciating the hiddenness behind the stupid appearance.
Scheming.
Guests came to Hubeard Tower one after another. In addition to the four wealthy citizens of Chang'an who came with gifts, there were also many high-ranking dignitaries who pointed everywhere after entering.
Su Wangting quietly collected a lot of poems and calligraphy during these days, which are now hanging everywhere in the building for people to appreciate. This is also in the hope of attracting literati to write inscriptions, thereby accumulating a reputation for Hu Beard Tower.
At this time, there were more and more guests, and Jiang Zhen led a group of musicians to the stage to perform, attracting the attention of the guests. Just as Cheng Sanwu looked around, as if he was looking for someone, the sound of welcoming guests suddenly came from outside the door:
"Lu Qilang has arrived——"
As soon as this sound came out, the sound of silk and bamboo stopped immediately, and guests from all walks of life raised their heads, wanting to take a look at Lu Qilang's style.
Lu Changqing, the seventh man newly recognized by Prime Minister Lu last year, is now very famous in Chang'an. Because of his teacher Daguan Zhenren, he was admitted to Jixian Palace to teach "Taibai Yin Sutra" to train future generals for the country. Most of the people who were taught were serving in the palace.
The heroic son of the bodyguard.
In the eyes of knowledgeable people, this incident has been regarded as a precursor to changes in the court structure. Based on this relationship alone, Lu Qilang cannot be ignored in the court in the future.
I saw Changqing wearing a robe with a crane and cloud pattern, holding a crystal whisk at an angle, as bright as a jade tree in front of the wind, and the gods of the Purple Mansion came down, the transcendent meaning was breathtaking.
"Fake Taoist priest, you still like to put on pretense." Afu glanced at it and sneered in a low voice.
After Chang Qing arrived, Su Wangting hurriedly stepped forward to greet him and invited him to the private room on the second floor facing the stage. Four wealthy people came to pay their respects and were very respectful.
"Tsk, tsk, the ostentation in Changqing is incredible." Cheng Sanwu sighed.
"Don't you understand yet?" Afu said: "The New Deal is about to be implemented. These four rich people have businesses all over the world. If they cannot learn about the New Deal trends in time, they will lose their wealth and life if they are not careful. Fake Taoist Priests
Although it’s pretentious, it’s necessary.”
……
"We are all elders, so there is no need to be polite."
Changqing waved his fly whisk and sat up straight. Su Wangting ordered people to bring wine and food, and then waited on him.
Melodious music came from the stage on the first floor, but everyone present was not thinking about it.
Changqing had just received the invitation for the opening of Hu Beard House yesterday, and originally planned to thank the guests for a day and have a happy gathering with Cheng Sanwu and the others. However, the Prime Minister's Mansion suddenly sent someone to summon him, and he had to reluctantly go to see Prime Minister Lu.
"Something happened in Hebei."
When Prime Minister Lu saw him, he handed over a report, which mentioned that there was a severe drought in Hebei. The Jingguang monks used magical powers to make rain and other things. With their evergreen wisdom, they immediately noticed the hidden danger.
"Relying on magical powers to gather believers?" Changqing asked: "Are they going to rebel?"
"Not yet, but it's almost there." said Lu Xiang.
Chang Qing asked with a straight face: "Do you want me to deal with this group of monks? If they can really use magical powers to make rain and relieve the drought, then there will definitely be many people following them. If they accidentally trigger a civil uprising, many people will die.
”
"Based on your words, you are destined to be unable to do such a thing." Prime Minister Lu's eyes were sharp, penetrating deep into his heart.
Changqing's heart moved, and she retorted: "The people are just being deceived, are you going to kill them because of this?"
"I really don't know what Daguanzi taught you, and I don't know how to adapt it at all." Lu Xiang showed a look of disappointment, and then said: "Your Majesty has issued a decree to summon those with magical power from the Taoist sect to go to Hebei to pray for rain and calm the people's hearts." p>
Changqing was startled when he heard this, and then nodded heavily: "Okay, I'll go!"
Prime Minister Lu didn't even say a word of praise, and then asked: "Su Wangting's Hu Beard Building opened. I heard that four wealthy people were invited?"
"You know everything about this, why do you need to ask me?" Changqing said as if he was angry.
Prime Minister Lu said: "Go and ask Wang Yuanbao to vomit out the food he has hoarded. This year, there will be famine in several states in Hebei. It is difficult to survive, so let him prepare to sell his sons and daughters."
"You asked me to talk about this kind of thing?" Although Chang Qing was annoyed, he didn't forget about it: "Why should I ask Wang Yuanbao to take out the food he has hoarded? And for this kind of thing, if you give me an order, he won't obey it.
Up?"
"A considerable part of his food is to be supplied to the powerful people in Guanzhong. If I order a forced conscription, the impeachment memorials will be piled up with the imperial court tomorrow. Although I am not afraid, there is no need." Lu Xiang said: "After this matter is over,
Changping warehouses were widely set up in various states in Hebei. The grain he took out before was converted into the cost of the warehouse, and the court would repay it year by year."
After retracting his thoughts, Changqing looked at the four wealthy people: "You are all used to seeing the storm, so I will get straight to the point - this year the new policy will be implemented in various provinces, one of which is to order the various states to set up Changpingcang Office. Of course.
, the imperial court will not ignore the truth, such as Jianghuai, Liangzhejiang, Lingnan, Jiannan, etc., the underground is humid and humid, this is not an example."
Among the four wealthy people in Chang'an, Yang Chongyi's business was distributed from Jiangnan to Qingxu and along the East China Sea. This statement almost excluded him. Wang Yuanbao, whose Changping Warehouse Office is related to grain transshipment and whose industries span both sides of the Yongji Canal, was the first to speak: <
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"I wonder if the Changpingcang Office has any other arrangements besides stabilizing food prices?"
"In addition to corn, beans and grains, bamboo, wood, tea and lacquer are also included. Of course, the specifics depend on the abundance and shortage of products in each state." Changqing said according to what Prime Minister Lu said: "In addition, the Changping Warehouse Department must set up a warehouse.
In addition to providing relief during disasters, the capital is also used for credit on weekdays. After the harvest every year, people can repay it with cloth, silk, corn or discounted money.
"The capital of this warehouse is currently tentatively set at 3,000 gu in Shangzhou, 2,000 gu in Zhongzhou, and 1,000 gu in Xiazhou. The imperial court allows each state to raise its own funds, and those who are able to do so at the local level can participate in replenishing the warehouse capital, and the operating income is divided as usual." The four wealthy people changed their colors slightly when they heard this. They were all people who had been in business for a long time. They knew very well that the Changpingcang in the New Deal was no longer limited to the court's replenishment of warehouses and disaster relief and grain distribution. If it was managed properly, the loan interest alone would be enough to make people
The four wealthy people are salivating.
Moreover, the capital for the regular liquidation of warehouses was left to the states to raise on their own, which was equivalent to allowing businessmen to participate. If the four wealthy people knew the news before others, they would have enough money to prepare money and food, and open up the upper and lower joints before the New Deal was launched.
This is the real business opportunity!
Based on Chang Qing's words alone, the profits of the four wealthy people were more than one million. Even Yang Chongyi wanted to propose setting up a bamboo, wood, tea and lacquer warehouse in the Jianghuai area.
"Mr. Changqing's words are more powerful than Jiuding." Wang Yuanbao was not as steady as a Buddhist layman at this moment. His eyes were shining and he leaned forward: "I wonder how I can help?"
"Wang Jushi, there has been a severe drought in Hebei recently and there is a period of drought. We are in urgent need of food relief." Chang Qing said: "If you can provide food to relieve the people's plight now, this part of the food can be discounted into the capital of Changpingcang.