Only by personally experiencing this era of commercial prosperity, time-travelers like Shen Lie can deeply understand the horror of rentier groups in this era.
Especially after two hundred years of accumulation, in the early years of Wanli, the loan business has developed to a crazy level!
It can be said that throughout the entire Ming Dynasty, families who relied on lending to make huge profits, the royal relatives and relatives were like crucian carp crossing the river.
And the people...
Naturally, the people who are exploited by powerful people from all walks of life are in dire straits.
Shen Lie was once one of the victims.
"Do you lend money?"
Tian Hong nodded and said softly: "It's nice to enjoy the shade under the big tree. With the emperor as the backstage... this is a way to make money."
Zhang Jingxiu and Yun'er also stopped talking. Anyone who has some common sense in life knows that this is a road to wealth that leads to mountains of gold and silver.
And he got rich overnight!
In silence.
Shen Lie smiled and made a decision immediately: "Miss Xuan'er is right, but whether it's a bank account or a pawn shop, we don't do such harmful things. I think... let's open a restaurant."
Everyone looked over in surprise.
But Shen Lie's expression became more resolute, and he said softly: "Food is the most important thing for the people, so it is safer to open a restaurant without causing trouble."
As soon as this statement came out.
The beautiful girl Xuan'er was slightly stunned. She looked at Shen Lie's slightly mediocre but very heroic face. She couldn't believe it at first, but then she looked like she was thinking.
In Fang's heart, she couldn't help but think carefully about the words "food is the most important thing for the people".
After another period of silence.
Zhang Jingxiu laughed out loud, made a face at his sweetheart, and stuck out his tongue, as if mocking him for being timid.
"Not only are you a philistine, you are also as timid as a mouse!"
Under the playful teasing of his sweetheart, Shen Lie rolled his eyes again and said harshly to her: "That's it. Listen to me and you won't make a mistake. Be careful not to make a big mistake. Otherwise...be careful if you take too big a step. Get the eggs!"
As soon as these vulgar words were spoken, the pretty faces of the girls turned crimson.
Miss Xuan'er looked at Shen Lie in surprise, her face instantly turned red with embarrassment, and she lowered her snow-white pink neck shyly.
Yun'er covered her mouth in surprise and looked at the young master with widened eyes. She couldn't believe that the young master had said such vulgar words.
Zhang Jingxiu's pretty face turned red, and she spat again at her sweetheart: "Sigh, you really are... a dog can't spit out ivory from its mouth."
"vulgar!"
Seeing the different charms of the three stunning women, Shen Lie laughed dryly.
Do not talk nonsense!
"Shen has made up his mind, who is in favor and who is against?"
Yun'er was naturally the first to raise her little hands high to show her unconditional support for the young master.
Although Tian Hong, the third shopkeeper, felt a little regretful and thought it would be a pity not to work in the bank pawnshop, he still chose to support Shen Lie.
Although Miss Zhang was a little unhappy at this time, she could only nodded guiltily and said softly: "Oh, it's up to you."
In this way, the overall situation is decided.
But how to open this restaurant?
Shen Lie's eyes flashed with wisdom and he said softly: "Early tomorrow morning... we will leave the city and go to Shenjiazhuang!"
This has to be carefully planned.
As soon as they heard that they were going out for a trip to the city, the three stunning women immediately forgot about business matters, and San Suang's bright eyes lit up.
Yun'er begged charmingly: "This time, I also want to go to Shenjiazhuang."
When Shen Lie thought about it, the business in the small shop was now on the right track, and the few apprentices who were learning to cook big pot dishes could also take the lead, and he smiled fondly.
"Okay, everyone goes!"
In an instant, Yun'er jumped for joy and let out a sweet cry. Miss Xuan'er also responded shyly, covering her mouth with a piece of white silk.
Tian Hong also laughed innocently: "I'll prepare the horse."
So one day later.
outside the city.
Among the green mountains and green waters, Shen Lie was jolting on his horse, riding side by side with Tian Hong. In front of him was Zhang Jingxiu running briskly with several Taishi Mansion guards.
Behind them were several guards in royal robes protecting Yun'er, and Xuan'er, two women who were not very good at riding, moved forward slowly on the spacious official road.
It was another sunny day, and there were obviously many more pedestrians on the official road than in winter. Amidst the bustle, merchants going south and north were in a hurry.
As the group entered a fork in the road and walked for a while, a large expanse of farmland full of life appeared at the foot of the green mountains directly ahead.
A few people reined in their reins and sat on their horses, looking around. The most eye-catching thing inside and outside the village was naturally the Western-style mill.
Surrounding the mill are potato fields as far as the eye can see, vegetable gardens full of various fruits and vegetables, and a Ming Dynasty-style vegetable greenhouse under construction.
The fields stretch from the foot of the mountain to halfway up the mountain, covering an area of hundreds of acres. Surrounding the fields are farmhouses, stables, and dozens of large brick and tile houses.
After a heavy rain, the weather gradually became hot again, and everything came back to life, and water gurgled in the ditches in the fields.
Not far away, a small river that had dried up in winter now has a water source, and the clear water flows quietly.
As the uncultivated wasteland nearby has been developed, the scale of Shenjiazhuang has become larger and larger, and it is still expanding to the nearby area.
This kind of unparalleled scenery is really refreshing, and it is like a sheltered harbor outside the noisy capital city, where farmers are working in the fields.
There was even a weirdo with blond hair and blue eyes wearing a Taoist robe, standing respectfully at the entrance of the village to welcome the arrival of several big bosses.
In silence.
Zhang Jingxiu was the first to stand up and dismount, handing the reins and the bay-red horse to Victor, who came to greet him, and she rushed into the village with a roar.
Yun'er and Miss Xuan'er, who came to Shenjiazhuang for the first time, were stunned.
Yun'er straightened up on the horse and opened her bright eyes. She first looked at the weird blond man in a Taoist robe, then at the strange windmill and mill, as well as the green crops in front of her.
The little maid couldn't help but murmur to herself in her red cherry mouth: "What a big farm... Such lush crops."
Shen Lie smiled and said, "Do you like it?"
Yun'er nodded desperately: "Yes, I like it."
Shen Lie showed a confident smile to her and said arrogantly: "This big village, these fields...all belong to our family!"
After saying that, he turned over and dismounted, walked over and took Yun'er off the horse, holding her slender waist to help her stand steady.
Then he looked at the shy girl Xuan'er on the horse.
Shen Lie was a little confused, but after thinking about it, he walked over quickly and carelessly, and patted his knee in front of Miss Xuan'er's horse.
Shen Lie said softly: "Come on, step on it."
Miss Xuan'er turned over shyly and dismounted, stepped on Shen Lie's knees with one foot, pressed Shen Lie's broad shoulders with her delicate hands, and stood still on the ground with Shen Lie's help.
Then she pulled back her luscious hair and said softly: "Thank you very much."
Shen Lie showed her a bright smile, and then said hello to the front, back, left and right: "Stay here first, we can talk about anything tomorrow!"