Wang Pu frowned slightly, alarm bells ringing in his heart. He didn't believe that Li Mu would give him a gift? There must be something fishy in this. But Li Mu came to make peace, so he couldn't just turn him away. If he did, Li Mu would
Where to put his face? Wouldn't it force him to fall out?
Wang Pu himself didn't realize that in his heart, he was already afraid of falling out with Li Mu.
Seeing that he was silent, Li Mu showed an unhappy look and said, "Brother Wang, is it because he doesn't want to accept my gift? In that case, I'll take my leave!"
"Master Hou, wait a minute." Wang Pu didn't have time to think, and hurriedly pulled Li Mu and said: "Master Hou's temper is really like a raging fire. It's not that I don't want to accept it, but that I, the Wang family of Taiyuan, have very strict family rules. The so-called no-nonsense
If you don't get rewarded for your merits, I accepted the gift from the Marquis for nothing. If my brother knew about it, he would definitely blame me."
"So that's what happened." Li Mu put on a smile again and said: "The Wang family in Taiyuan has a noble family and stricter family rules, which I can understand. I knew the bet that day, and it was calculated.
Brother Wang... Naturally, I cannot let Brother Wang bear this money, so I brought two thousand guan, just to return it to Brother Wang to resolve the grudge between us."
When Wang Pu heard this, he felt a little embarrassed. He didn't expect Li Mu to be so direct. He had already brought the money, how could he still fake it? In this case, didn't Li Mu lose five thousand guan? Wang Pu couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
I feel ashamed because of my suspicion. People come at me with sincerity, but I judge a gentleman with a villain's heart. I really shouldn't!
Wang Pu hurriedly took the words and said: "Master Hou, it's just a small amount of money, it doesn't matter. Today I have seen Master Hou's sincerity. I have offended many people in the past. Now that they have been dealt with, we can get along well in the future."
That’s right, I also admire Mr. Hou’s ability.”
"No!" Li Mu waved his hand and said: "Today I brought the money and swaggered through the market. If I take it back again, where will my face be? Those who know it is Brother Wang Gaoyi, and those who don't know think I am the prince.
Are you being rejected? Brother Wang also said, it’s just a small amount of money, so Brother Wang, it’s better not to refuse.”
The more Li Mu said this, the more ashamed Wang Pu felt. How could he accept it? If he accepted it, wouldn't he become a person who values money more than loyalty? Although two thousand guan is indeed not a small amount of money to him, but
Speaking of which, he could not disgrace the aura of the Taiyuan Wang family above his head.
Wang Pu stood up and said sternly: "Master Hou, I am determined not to accept this money. If the Marquis is out of favor, you can leave it here for now. I will return it to you another day. But I can't accept the money."
receive!"
"Hey!" Li Mu sighed heavily and said, "Today I found out that Brother Wang is also a gentleman who regards money as dirt!"
"Ashamed, ashamed..." Wang Pu waved his hands hurriedly, but felt a little proud in his heart. It felt so good that a person who was originally an enemy could say that he was a gentleman.
Li Mu frowned, as if he was not satisfied with the result. Wang Pu did not bother him and ordered his servants to prepare a banquet. Today, Li Mu came to resolve the conflict. He showed the gentleman's style again. The two turned their hostility into friendship, so naturally they wanted to have a drink.
Only then can it become a good story.
Li Mu pondered for a long time, then suddenly said: "Brother Wang, you just said that you will not get any reward without merit, but what if you have merit? So what?"
"this……"
Li Mu didn't wait for him to speak, and said: "Brother Wang, since I brought this money, I can never take it back. I can understand that you say no reward for no merit, but we can make some changes. You
You also know that I work in the Ministry of Industry. The Ministry of Industry has just moved its office recently and is about to start building the plowshares for the Zhenguan plow. Naturally, coal is indispensable for blacksmithing. Most of the coal for the Ministry of Industry is supplied by Tongchuan County.
That day I heard from a doctor in Yubu that Taiyuan is also a place with coal and stone. It is said that there is quite a lot of it. It is found after digging out the topsoil. It must be cheaper than Tongchuan. The Ministry of Industry uses a lot of coal and stone every year. Where is it?
They are all bought. Since there is coal and stone in Taiyuan, I will buy it with Brother Wang. These two thousand guan should be used to buy coal and stone!"
Hearing Li Mu say such words, Wang Pu was really moved by Li Mu's sincerity and said: "Master Hou, I don't know something. Although there is coal in Taiyuan, there is no iron in Taiyuan. In addition to iron smelting, this coal also
It is useless. Therefore, almost no one digs the coal in Taiyuan. Taiyuan is far away from Chang'an, and the coal is heavy. If the cost of transportation and horse chewing are included, the price will be about the same as that of Tongchuan coal. I
There are also some coal fields in Taiyuan, but those coal fields don't grow food, so there's nothing I can't bear to part with, I just can't bear to deceive the Marquis."
"Hey! What's the point of lying? Since coal is not more expensive than Tongchuan, I can't be considered as abandoning the official position for personal reasons. It's settled like this, two thousand guan will be given to Brother Wang, and he can buy as much coal land as he can...
That’s all. Let me tell you how many coal fields Brother Wang has. If two thousand guan is not enough, I’ll send someone to pick it up from home!”
"Oh, what did the Marquis say? I have already said that coal fields do not grow food, so how much is it worth? If the Marquis does not mind the long journey, I will give my coal fields to the Marquis, and treat it as a gift.
A gift to meet the Marquis!"
"How can this be done? I must pay you. If you don't accept the money, I will just take advantage of you. Is Brother Wang looking down on me?"
"This..." Wang Pu really couldn't deal with Li Mu's free-spirited attitude. He sighed and said, "If Mr. Hou has to give money, then give him half. I have one hundred and ten hectares of coal fields. If I pay on time,
Calculating the price, it’s about 1,400 guan, so Lord Marquis will give me 700 guan.”
"No, I brought two thousand guan, that's 2,000 guan, it's a deal!"
"This..." Wang Pu smiled helplessly. There is no such thing as 'forced buying and selling'. He thought to himself that it would be bad if he kept entangled with him. I got hundreds of dollars more today, so I can find something to repay as a gift someday.
That's it, it's a good thing for both parties to save face.
Thinking of this, Wang Pu no longer refused and asked his servants to bring in pen and ink. As a professor at the Imperial College, although he was a bit uneducated and incompetent when he was young, he still had the foundation of family education and could write with one hand.
The result was smooth and flowing. After a while, the contract was written. Another copy was copied. The buyer and seller signed and stamped their fingerprints. Li Mu dried the ink, folded it and put it in his arms, saying: "This winter should be used
No, I will send people to dig coal in the spring next year, and then I will have to rely on Brother Wang."
Wang Pu smiled and said: "I dare not try my best. When the time comes, I don't need the Marquis to send people over. I will give the order and the idle men in the village will be poached. The Marquis only needs to reward you with a few wine money. I, the Wang family of Taiyuan, are here
There is a lot of business in Chang'an, and there are vehicles going to and from Chang'an every month. I repaired the book and sent it back. I told the elders of the clan to arrange for a few more vehicles and they were sent, so Lord Marquis doesn't have to worry about it."
Li Mu laughed loudly: "I just found out today that Brother Wang and I have such similar temperaments. If we weren't inseparable, we would definitely get drunk together."
Wang Pu heard the words and couldn't help asking: "Is the Marquis about to leave? I have arranged for a banquet in the mansion. How can we not have a drink to relieve our knot today?"
Li Mu said: "It's not about Datang Daily. There are more and more people reading newspapers in Chang'an City. A thousand newspapers a day are simply not enough. We have no choice but to move to the Ministry of Industry. Your Majesty
Isn't there a printing supervisor? I'm selecting people among the craftsmen these days. Wait until next month, and Datang Daily will be able to expand its printing. I've been very busy these days."
Wang Pu complimented: "Master Hou, this is a job for those who can do it. Datang Daily is very popular, and Master Hou must have made a lot of money."
"What's the profit?" Li Mu couldn't help but pour out his bitterness: "Now I lose money every day, at least thirty or fifty guan. But there is no way, I have to print even if I lose money. Who told me that I like to be in the limelight, now I have to bite the bullet
It’s okay, that’s all… Since today’s gift has been given, we have turned our hostility into friendship, and I feel happy. When I have some free time in the future, I will prepare a banquet at home and invite Brother Wang to show his respect.”
"It doesn't matter." Wang Pu stood up to see Li Mu off, and the two walked side by side. When they reached the door, Li Mu got on his horse, and Wang Pu held his hands in front of him as a gift and said, "The Marquis and I are no longer acquaintances, and there will be more in the future."
Move around."
Li Mu also cupped his hands and said: "I have always respected the Wang family of Taiyuan. Among men, there are dragons among men like Brother Wang and Shizhong Wang, and among women there are phoenixes like Sister Ou. The Wang family of Taiyuan
The thousand-year reputation is well deserved, and we will naturally have more visits in the future. It’s windy and cold in autumn, so Brother Wang doesn’t have to send me far away, please come back!”
Wang Pu watched Li Mu and his entourage go away, feeling that something was wrong. But what exactly was wrong, he couldn't remember for a moment.
After pacing back to the lobby, Wang Pu finally remembered, patted his head and said, "This Zhu Lu Hou is really doing things upside down. He calls me Brother Wang, but he calls me Sister Ou'er. Isn't this confusing the seniority?
"
Just as he was about to return to the back house, the concierge hurried over again and said: "Sir, the money has been counted, and two thousand guan is a lot. Zhuluhou is also a generous man. Not only did he keep the money, he even left the car.
The horses have also been left behind. If the carriages and horses are put together, I'm afraid they won't be able to get through for less than thirty pounds. Master, now our house is rich again."
Wang Pu saw the concierge's appearance and said displeasedly, "Money, money, money, money is all that matters in his eyes, and he doesn't have the generosity to do big things at all. It's really embarrassing to have a concierge like you!"
The concierge quickly apologized and said: "What I said is that the villain will definitely change in the future. One more thing, sir, when you were talking to Zhulu Hou just now, someone came from the eldest master's house and asked him to come over and discuss something important."
Wang Pu said angrily, "If it could be something important, I would definitely be scolded again. But today I am not afraid anymore. I have resolved the conflict with Marquis Zhulu. Let's see what else I can say."