Wang Ou responded, but there was a hint of sadness between his eyebrows. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end she didn't say anything. She watched Li Mu put his tools away and accompanied him.
He came out of the warehouse. He stayed with Li Mu in the study for a while, and left before dinner. Although the relationship with Li Zhien has eased a lot now, Wang Ou still rarely stays to have dinner with him. It's not impossible.
But it feels inappropriate. Li Mu has never forced it. He has always been quiet about women's affairs. He does whatever makes everyone feel comfortable. The palms and backs of his hands are full of flesh. He can't be happy with one and feel wronged by others. That's the case.
Not his style.
Li Mu got up early the next morning. Because of the discussion last night, since we couldn't have the New Year's Eve dinner at home, it would be better to move the meal to noon. As the head of the family, Li Mu naturally had to take care of it. Saint
Yun, the gentleman is far away from the kitchen. Bai Qiaoqiao won't let Li Mu enter the kitchen to cook, so Li Mu has no choice but to take over the job of buying vegetables. He got up early, intending to go to the West Market and grab the earliest batch. If
When I go there in two hours, the things I buy are the leftovers from other people’s selections.
Of course, Li Mu could also send someone to inform him and say that Zhuluhou Mansion wants it and it will be delivered to his doorstep. But that would lose the "New Year flavor" and it would be boring. Li Mu still plans to go there himself.
But things went against expectations. Li Mugang asked Dugujiu to lead the horse out. Xiaozhu came to the front yard and said that there were guests visiting. There were quite a few people. The leader was the king. Behind him was a tall guy who called himself
It was Hou Junji. Xiaozhu didn't remember the others, but they looked like they were dressed like ordinary people.
Li Mu thought to himself, most people don't dare to enter our door. He hesitated for a moment, sighed, and said to Dugu Jiu: "Okay, Xiaojiu, find someone to go to the West Market and let us know. As for what to buy...
There’s no need to pick, just take them all. Whatever you want, if there’s more than you can eat, I’ll just give it away. Once this is done, you can go home and celebrate the New Year.”
Dugujiu immediately shook his head: "Brother, I used to celebrate the New Year at home every year. This year I finally left home. If I don't go back, I will spend it here."
Li Mu couldn't laugh or cry and said, "What are you doing here? I'm not even here."
"If you are not at home, I can still accompany my sisters-in-law. I can protect them."
"Fart! Want you to accompany me? Tell you, this is the reason why you are not allowed to stay, not only you, but also no one. After I go out in the afternoon, there is no man allowed in this yard, please stay away!"
Dugu Jiu wanted to talk, but Li Mu said impatiently: "You go home if I ask you to. As my son, I won't be home during the Chinese New Year. Is it okay? It's just a day thing. I won't see you again tomorrow during the arena competition."
Are you sick?" As he spoke, Li Mu frowned and stared at Dugu Jiu, saying: "I said, why are you so clingy now? It's very dangerous for you to be like this, little brother, do you like men?"
"No, no, no, no ... yes!" Dugu Jiujiu refuted, stuttered: "I, I just worry about the safety of the sister -in -law, no, there is no other meaning. OK, I'll go home, just go home!"
Dugujiu did not dare to stay any longer and went to the West Market on horseback to do some shopping. Li Mu shook his head helplessly, took off his tiger fur, changed into normal clothes, and came to the front yard to meet the visiting guests.
…
It was New Year's Eve today, so Fengqiuhuang was closed for business, so Li Mu met everyone in the front yard. When Li Mu came to the front yard, he saw that there were really a lot of people there. After a quick glance, there were more than twenty people.
In addition to the two big bosses Wang and Hou Junji, there are also the heads of various sects in Chang'an, the shopkeepers of several large partners in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and several representatives of Shandong gentry. They are the ones who drove up food prices a few days ago.
The few who came here also came licking their faces.
Li Mu first asked Wang and Hou Junji to stay in the study room in the backyard for a while, then returned to the front yard. Seeing that there were not enough chairs to sit on, he asked someone to bring in a stool. He didn't need to arrange it. The group of people could be clearly distinguished by themselves.
Those with higher status sat on chairs and those with lower status sat on stools. Li Mu didn’t ask anyone to serve tea. Seeing everyone sitting down, Li Mu said with a smile: "Everyone has worked really hard on New Year's Eve. This is...
…Wish you New Year greetings?”
Everyone hurriedly said: "Happy New Year, Mr. Hou!"
"The Marquis is rich and wealthy, and his financial resources are endless..."
"The Marquis has money coming from all directions..."
Li Mu raised his hand and pressed it softly, and said: "You have been dealing with me for so long, so you should understand my character. I am a person who likes to have something real. Since you are here to pay New Year's greetings, I come here empty-handed.
?”
"Yes, yes!" Among the crowd, a shopkeeper stood up, it was Cheng Qian of the Cheng Mansion. Cheng Qian is now a leader in the business circle of Chang'an. Whenever someone needs to stand up and communicate with Li Mu,
When the time comes, Cheng Qian will act as this representative.
Cheng Qian took out a gift list from his sleeve, handed it to Li Mu with both hands, put on a smile and said: "I have been grateful to the Marquis for taking care of me in the past six months, and I have been so kind and kind. We will keep it in our hearts. This is a small gift. Here is the gift list.
I hope the Marquis will not mind being shabby and wish you a happy New Year."
Li Mu took the gift list, snorted from his nostrils, handed the gift list to Xiaozhu behind him, and said: "Give it to the Second Madam and let her handle it."
Xiaozhu responded and walked back. All the shopkeepers were good people, obedient and listened to the music, and they were all experts. Everyone looked at each other, Cheng Qiandui smiled and said: "Master Hou, I just heard you say that the second lady...Master Hou..."
Is this about taking a concubine?"
"Oh, it's not a big deal. My wife's maid is so... ah, everyone knows it." Li Mu showed a smile that all men understand, grinned, and said: "I am a natural born
I care about feelings. I have to give a status. This is a private matter, so I don’t want to talk to anyone, and I do it in a low-key manner. I don’t plan to have a big banquet, which means that the family will have a lot of fun together, in time for the Lantern Festival, haha
, don’t worry too much, it doesn’t cost you anything.”
You don’t need to spend any money. Why do you say it so clearly?!
All the shopkeepers' expressions froze, and then they all put on smiles. They all said that if no one comes to bother me, the gift money will definitely arrive. Li Mu even said that it was not necessary, and all the shopkeepers also said that it was necessary, and there was a stalemate for a while.
"Alas!" Li Mu sighed heavily and said: "I can't resist you. Aren't you setting me up for injustice? Well, we are all friends. If I refuse sternly, I will lose the friendship of my friends, that's all.
, if you insist on expressing it, then I will accept it. Anyway, I can give it back when you have things to do at home in the future, just keep it here with me. But to be clear, the gift cannot exceed one thousand guan.
, if it exceeds one thousand guan, the censor should impeach me for accepting bribes."
The faces of all the shopkeepers froze again. Who wants to give you a gift of one thousand guan? We all just meant it, 1,000 guan, why don’t you go and grab it!
Everyone couldn't help but look at Cheng Qian complainingly, and thought to themselves, it's all your fault for instigating him. If it hadn't happened, they would have just escaped. Today, plus the gift from Yuan Jie, 1,500 Guan flew away again.
Okay, isn’t this harmful to people!
"If anyone feels sorry for you, just pretend that you haven't said it yet. As a person like me, business matters must always be public affairs, and private matters must be private matters..."
When all the shopkeepers heard this, they quickly calmed down their expressions and returned to smiling.
In Li Mu's mind, things should be over now. I've paid New Year's greetings, given gifts, and all know about getting married on the Lantern Festival. Why don't you just leave? But for the shopkeepers
He said it, but he was extremely unwilling to do so. After spending so much money, there must be some benefit, otherwise wouldn't it be the same as those who didn't come?
The awkward silence continued for a long time before Cheng Qian spoke up, rubbing his hands and saying with an embarrassed look on his face: "Master Hou, um... everyone is here today, and there is a small matter..."
"Oh, tell me."
"About the Ministry of Internal Affairs..." Cheng Qian had a little difficulty in organizing his words, because now it is clear that Li Mu is no longer a member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If he directly asked about the arrangements of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he would worry that Li Mu would use this to prevaricate, so the words came to his mouth.
At the same time, he suddenly changed his words and said: "Master Hou, everyone is used to the fact that Mr. Hou is in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but recently there are rumors that Mr. Hou is no longer in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Everyone is worried that an outsider will come, so I dare to ask..."
"Ouch." Li Mu frowned slightly and said, "So that's what happened. Ouch! It really makes me sad!"
Cheng Qian said in confusion: "Master Hou, but the villain said the wrong thing? Master Hou must not be angry, the villain will not be able to apologize."
"In other words," Li Mu waved his hand and said instead of answering the question, "I was just wondering whether there is a friendship between us, or is it because I am the Minister-in-Chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and you are fawning over me, that's why we are like this?
We have friendship. If I really no longer care about the Ministry of Internal Affairs, you won’t come to pay me New Year’s greetings, right?”
"No way! Everyone admires and respects the Marquis, and it has nothing to do with anything else!"
"The Marquis has misunderstood. We are just worried that without the Marquis, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will not be able to operate, and our jobs will be ruined!"
Everyone swore and swore, each one more cruel than the other. Li Mu quickly waved his hand to stop him and said with a smile: "Are you kidding? There will be no changes in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. You also said that without me, Li Mu, the Ministry of Internal Affairs cannot function. However,
You must also understand that there is no such thing as a banquet that lasts forever. Although the Ministry of Internal Affairs was founded because of me, Li Mu, I cannot be the minister-in-chief for the rest of my life."
"Some time ago, you also know that I recruited a group of people. Even among the people here, there are my nephews, who are still among them. Regarding this matter, I can tell you something. After the year, the nine members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
The bureau and the first guard will gradually take shape. And this group of students will gradually graduate and join the ninth bureau and the first guard. In other words, the person who will deal with you in the future will probably not be me. I will gradually train them
, shoulder the important responsibilities. The decentralization of power is also a good thing for you, so don’t worry about anything, do your own thing well, orders will be completed on time, money is indispensable!"
The shopkeepers were relieved a lot, but some people were still curious. Look at me, look at you. Some people had the courage to ask: "Master Marquis, what are you doing?"
Li Mu glanced at the speaker and said with a smile: "Of course I am preparing for the imperial examination. You have forgotten that I also want to take the first prize and let Wei Zheng worship me as his teacher!"
This answer was obviously unexpected. Nowadays, with Datang Daily, there are fresh headlines every day. The bet between Li Mu and Wei Zheng has long been forgotten after so long. The shopkeepers have not thought about it at all.
, who would have thought that Li Mu, who is busy with everything, and makes money every day, would take this bet so seriously.
Although everyone couldn't understand, they didn't dare to ask, and they all agreed that Li Mu would definitely be able to achieve high school.
Li Mu responded with a smile, and opened up the conversation, saying: "I understand what you guys mean. I have gathered a group of people to pay me New Year greetings today. If I don't reveal any information to you, your money will be wasted.
Forget it, I will reveal two pieces of news to you here. The news is for you, who can make money and who cannot make money depends on the individual's ability."
Everyone was overjoyed and pricked up their ears for fear of missing a word.
Li Mu cleared his throat and said: "Is this the first one? It's simple and direct. My sworn brother Li Siwen is now General Zhechong of Dingxiang Zhechong Mansion. At the same time, he was also granted the title of Viscount Dingxiang for his service, and his fiefdom was also in Dingxiang.
Xiang. Like me, he ran a winery business and did business with countries in the Western Regions. He also took in a lot of refugees. To feed the refugees, he needed food. Before he returned to Dingxiang after the year, he was about 20 years old.
Damn it, I need to bring a batch of grain with me. In order not to raise the price of grain in Chang'an City, the price of this batch of grain can be slightly higher. But it must be a large transaction, and it cannot be done in small quantities. Initially, we are
It was discussed in this way, an order of 50,000 guan, a total of three orders, I won’t go into details about the profit, everyone is understanding. Whoever completes these three orders will basically make a year’s profit
Just came out."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone shouted: "Master Hou, our Zheng family has taken these three orders. The price is negotiable. Just follow the current average price!"
"Master Hou, if these three orders are given to our Lu family, we are willing to make them cheaper and it is easy to negotiate!"
Li Mu glanced at the two of them and said: "We won't discuss it at this time. It's still early, and it's not my business. I have to wait for my adopted brother to decide. I'm just telling you that there is such a thing. As for
Let’s each show our abilities in how to win orders.”
Li Mu talked about the second thing again and said: "This other thing seems to have something to do with you." As he said that, Li Mu lowered his voice and said: "This matter is top secret. I told you that you know it.
You are not allowed to spread it to outsiders. If it is spread to outsiders, I will not be responsible for anything that happens."
"We are very strict with our mouths and we must not leak anything. Please tell me what is going on, Mr. Marquis!"
"This matter," Li Mu said with a smile on his lips, "It's about the earth!"
"land?"
Everyone here, who doesn’t have tens of thousands of acres of fertile land? Even if they don’t have it themselves, the family behind them does. And for a large clan like Wu Xing Qiwang, if you add up all the land, it’s more than tens of thousands of acres.
, there are also 100,000 acres. Moreover, fields are the foundation for a livelihood, who can not pay attention to them?