The words of the inner courtyard made Li Longji temporarily give up on asking Zhang Xiaobao to come up with ideas to help others repair houses and roads. He stopped the inner courtyard, who was about to return.
"How much money do they need?"
"Your Majesty, we don't know how much money they need. The young master and his wife want to borrow three million strings of string of coins. All of their things together are normally valued at six million strings of coins. Due to the added value of the jewelry processing and the uncertainty of the brand of Baby Candy House, they can only borrow half of the total value, three million strings of coins."
The inner courtyard replied. When mentioning Xiaobei and the others, a doting smile appeared on the inner courtyard's face.
Li Longji waved his hand, and the inner courtyard retreated.
"Xiao Bao, send a report to Xiaobei and see what they want to do." Li Longji's interest was piqued and he urged.
Zhang Xiaobao shook his head. "Don't ask. Since they don't want money from their families, it means that they want to do things with their own abilities. It's normal for the Great Tang Bank to reject their loan application. Let's see what other ideas they can come up with."
"If possible, I want to give them three million strings of coins. It's just a small amount of money. Look at Xiaobei and the others, they have to use their own things as collateral."
Li Longji had a distressed expression. The words "three million strings of coins" came out of his mouth so casually. If it were ten years ago, he definitely wouldn't have been so confident.
"Xiaobei and the others can't take our money. It's not easy for them to go out and be free. If they want to do something, let them try. At worst, they'll lose some money. For them, it's most important to gain something from this."
As he spoke, Zhang Xiaobao had already put red charcoal on the grill. The rain outside was still drizzling, and the contrast between the two made it seem very comfortable under the umbrella.
Li Longji smiled and shook his head. He used a bamboo stick to cut open the stomach of a fresh prawn, took out the innards, and put them on the grill. He then put the innards on the grill and said, "In recent years, I've lived a relatively happy life. In the past, I always had to scheme against the officials, and the palace wasn't stable either.
"There are also the neighboring countries and the foreign tribes in northern Hebei Province. The only thing that can be said to be better is the national treasury, which appears to be abundant. If I didn't know about the lives of the common people and the future situation you and Cuckoo described to me, I would have thought that the common people of the Great Tang were already doing very well.
It's all thanks to you and Cuckoo. With your influence, I don't have to worry about my subjects harboring ill intentions. I doubt they'll be able to overturn the heavens. That's why life is about enjoyment, not worry. From the commoners to me, the Emperor, who doesn't have some worries? Thinking about it all day long, I don't want to live anymore. "
Zhang Xiaobao held a brush in his hand and brushed the salt water on the prawns. This was how fresh prawns should be eaten. If it wasn't for Li Longji's heavy appetite, he wouldn't even have to brush the salt water on the prawns.
Hearing Li Longji's sigh, his hands didn't stop moving as he continued, "There's no one in power who can solve all the problems of the people under their rule, but at the very least, they have to make sure that the people don't have to worry about their survival. If they can do that, they can be considered to have succeeded. Anyway, it's very difficult."
"Yes, it's difficult. No matter how difficult it is, it has to be done. Xiao Bao, where was I just now?" Li Longji lightly nodded as he flipped the bamboo stick in his hand.
"You said that you're living a good life."
"That's not it. It's in front."
"Give Xiaobei money."
"Even further."
"Let me eat."
"Even further."
"Give Xiaobei and the others money."
"Eat the prawns. We've personally roasted them for you. When you eat them, you should show some appreciation, right?"
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty. This subject is eternally grateful."
"Show your loyalty."
"This subject's loyalty to the Great Tang can be seen by the sun and the moon. I'm even more willing to protect Your Majesty's stability."
"Next time, when you put me in front of you, can't you say something like 'I won't hesitate to go through water and tread on fire'?"
"If I said that, I would have to build a house for someone else."
"Alright, let's drink. Truly, outside the umbrella, the rain gurgles, the prawns on the grill, the wine in the cup drains. Bridges, carriages, and the affairs of the world, the people's hearts are like a furnace. "Li Longji raised his cup.
"Cheers!" Zhang Xiaobao raised his head and downed the wine. He grabbed the bottle and poured another cup for Li Longji and himself. He raised his cup again, "Cheers! The wild geese flew to the south and returned. Let's drink another cup. The common people have their own way of doing things. A leader should do what a leader should do. Who should repair bridges and mend roads? "
"Hah! You're still preaching to us? You're a leader, and you're not willing to do small things. Then who should you tell us to lean on? Tell us, who should you tell us to do it? "
Li Longji looked at Zhang Xiaobao and took the prawn that Zhang Xiaobao passed to him. He took a bite and nodded, indicating that it tasted good. He drank another cup of wine and said, "Let's change to yellow wine. I see that you and Cuckoo don't drink wine one cup at a time. Right now, it's awkward to keep drinking."
Zhang Xiaobao turned to the inner courtyard a dozen steps away and shouted, "Boil the wine!". He then picked up a prawn and took a small bite. He slowly chewed it and said to Li Longji, "Earlier, we discussed this matter.
We wanted to give the local wealthy families and gentry the opportunity to participate in the local administration. After that, we'll select them through layers of selections. In the end, we'll send them to the capital. Why don't we let them do it? "
"Right, we almost forgot. Once we're done eating, we'll immediately issue an edict. It's already difficult for your family's business to reach the county, so how can you pay attention to the matters of the villagers? Local matters should be handled by the local authorities. After that, we'll report it to the county yamen. Only then will your family be able to secretly verify it. "
Li Longji clapped his hands happily. He scooped up a live prawn and continued processing it.
Zhang Xiaobao pursed his lips. He picked up the charcoal tongs and scraped the white ashes off the charcoal. He knew that if he didn't come up with a solution, Li Longji wouldn't stop harassing him. Was it easy to eat with an emperor who was always looking for trouble?
"Xiao Bao, tell me, do you think it's easy for me to have a meal with you? I'm risking catching a cold and working for you. I just want you to be happy so that you can accompany me. When we return, we'll take the land route. What do you think? "
Before Zhang Xiaobao could complain, Li Longji had already started complaining.
Zhang Xiaobao was so frightened by Li Longji's words that his hands froze. When he felt the warmth of the charcoal, he quickly withdrew his hands. After mulling over it for a while, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, if you dare to go, I'll go with you. We'll take the land route from Jiangnan to Lu Zhou. You'll know what's going on after that."
"Let's give it a try," Li Longji said weakly.
At this moment, the inner courtyard had brought out a red clay stove. There were also wine jars sealed with clay seals. Naturally, the wine in the jars was Shaoxing's yellow wine. It was not bought. It was given to them by the merchants who cooperated with Zhang Xiaobao and the Wang Family.
Zhang Xiaobao preferred wine more than yellow wine. He drank it occasionally, but most of the time, he used it to cook. He poured spoonful after spoonful into the pot.
Wine was wine, pure wine. Even when it was boiled, nothing was added. It was like tea. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were not used to drinking wine that had ginger, sugar, and salt added to it.
Li Longji looked at Zhang Xiaobao as he fiddled with the small stove and wine. He suddenly said, "If I knew we were going to eat prawns, I would've asked you to make the drunk prawns. Now … it's too late."
Zhang Xiaobao nodded. He boiled the wine and said, "Get someone to catch two fish. When the boats are ready in the afternoon, we'll set off quickly."
*****
In the cabin, Wang Juan accompanied Wu Huifei and Empress Wang to talk.
Wu Huifei mostly asked Wang Juan where the family's business was, how they arranged the staff, and what had happened in the process of perfecting the system. She planned to develop in this direction.
Empress Wang talked about the children. She asked where Xiaobei and the others had been recently and whether they had sent any news about their son and daughter.
Wang Juan responded easily. She said that when she was doing business, she could bring up the children's matter. The three of them chatted happily.
At the same time, Wang Juan also received news from her family that Xiaobei and the others had gone to get a loan and were rejected.
"The manager of the Great Tang Bank is too hateful. How can Xiaobei go back on his word? Let Xiao Bao deal with them. Xiaobei and the others' things are worth three million strings of string of cash. Even if the price is thirty million, many people will rush to buy them. "
Empress Wang was not satisfied when she heard the news and complained about the injustice for Xiaobei and the others.
Wu Huifei, however, agreed with the way the bank did things. She said, "Sister, don't blame the manager of the bank. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Today, we agreed to let Xiaobei and the others get a loan. Tomorrow, other children steal things from home and exchange them for money. Will we give them money?"
"Xiaobei and the others are different from other children. Cuckoo, why do you think Xiaobei and the others want money?" Empress Wang suddenly thought of this question. Three million strings of cash was not a small amount.
Wang Juan shook her head. "I don't know. Since the younger brother and sister don't want money from the family, they naturally have their own plans. Let them be. When the family trains the children, they should let go when it's time. If they do it right, the credit will go to the children. If they do it wrong, it will be the family's training fee.
This is the difference between the children of aristocratic families and the children of ordinary families. The children of aristocratic families have enough resources for them to try. As long as they are not too stupid, they will often be far behind the children of ordinary families. "
Empress Wang and Wu Huifei nodded and immediately shook their heads at the same time.
Wu Huifei said, "That depends on who they are compared to. Compared to you and Xiao Bao, the children of aristocratic families will be overshadowed. You have learned too much."
"This is the power of education. The purpose is to let a small number of children of ordinary families close the gap between them and the children of aristocratic families through hard work. Since they don't have enough resources to gain experience through practical actions like the children of aristocratic families, they can learn indirectly from books."
Wang Juan mentioned the importance of education.
"Isn't that so? We should educate the children well. The children of the Tang Empire are better than the children of other places. With a few more children like Xiaobei and the others, who will dare to disobey us in the future?"
Empress Wang's words were still so aggressive.
"Young lady." The maid opened the cabin door a little from the outside, poked her head out and whispered.
"What's wrong?" Wang Juan asked.
"There's news from Xiaobei and the others. They didn't get the loan, so they immediately contacted the people of the branches of the other big trading companies in Xuzhou. Up to now, the intelligence shows that they have reached an agreement with three big trading companies. For the time being, the three big trading companies have agreed to provide five million strings of cash. The other four branches of the other trading companies are asking for instructions by telegram."
The maid answered.
Wang Juan was stunned. After a few breaths, she laughed again. "Five million strings of cash? Or temporarily? You are indeed the younger brother and sister of Xiao Bao and I. It seems that you have done a lot of preparations. You have the demeanor of Xiao Bao and have not lost your reputation. "
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