Zhang Xiaobao looked straight into Wang Ju's eyes, shook his head blankly, and asked, "Grandfather, we are here to fish. Is this thing a crawler? Can it walk on the ground? "
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Xiaobao regretted it. Who was the other party? It was Wang Ju, a close official of Li Longji. How could he be an ordinary person? He had overdone it. Sigh, it was all Wang Ju's fault.
Sure enough, after hearing Zhang Xiaobao's words, Wang Ju's joy faded a little. He finally knew what it meant to understand the ways of the world.
His grandson must have known what he had asked someone to bring, but he pretended not to know just to make him happy. If he didn't hear his answer, he would have thought that he had never seen it before.
Sigh, sometimes, when a child is too smart, it doesn't feel good for an adult.
Thinking about it, Wang Ju became happy again. Her grandson was doing this to make her happy, which meant that the child was filial to her. Moreover, to have such a sensible grandson was something that she could only wish for in eight lifetimes. Others probably didn't have it, right?
So Wang Ju didn't care anymore. He said to Zhang Xiaobao, "Since you know, let's throw it down and see. The bait you gave you has a lot of hooks, and you also need to put some on the tongue. It's best if it's a worm or a red worm in a small ditch.
There's a place you need to hold down. Otherwise, if you touch the hook and the tongue, it will close its mouth. Hang stones in the net below. If you hang other things, they will fall into the water in the end. It's not convenient to salvage them. "
"Okay." Zhang Xiaobao didn't continue to pretend to be stupid. He carefully looked at the wooden otter. According to Wang Ju, the bait should be hung and the bait should be put down. This was to attract different kinds of fish.
Both of them were ready, so they put the bait down and waited for fish to eat it. If a fish touched it, the wooden otter would close its mouth and release the stone below. It would float up automatically.
Seeing her grandson put the things down, Wang Ju threw in a few more fishing rods and said to Zhang Xiaobao, "Xiao Bao, I almost forgot. You and Cuckoo are not ordinary people. Also, the Ministry of Works that you let Yongcheng manage and the technicians in your family design are more advanced.
In the future, if you encounter something like this again, tell me the truth. The more you know, the happier I, as your grandfather, will be. Xiaobao, tell me the truth. Did you use your skills to make this thing? "
Wang Ju felt that with the technology Wai Sun Tzu had, he could make better wooden otters, so he asked.
Zhang Xiaobao waved his hand and replied, "Grandfather, how could I possibly make such a thing? This thing can only catch one fish at a time. I can play with it for myself, but I don't have much time to play with it. I have to think about things all day. Although I came here to fish with you, I also have to think about other things.
It's either I don't make it, but as long as it's something that Cuckoo and I make, it will definitely be something that the people of Tang Empire need. We also made tools to catch fish, but not just small things like this. We put big things on the fishing boats. They can help with the fishing nets and make it easier for the fishermen to catch and collect the fish.
If we do it for ourselves, that is truly for ourselves. If we do it for the people of Tang Empire, Cuckoo and I will be happy. We don't care about the world, but we care about what we can do for Tang Empire. Compared to how many fish we can catch, a word of gratitude from the people makes us feel more comfortable.
Selflessness is selfishness. I haven't seen true selflessness. Even if you don't leave your name when you make something, it's because as long as you think about how much help your product can bring to others and feel gratified, that's the embodiment of selfishness.
It's just that one kind of selfishness brings benefits to oneself, while the other selfishness brings benefits to others. There's nothing wrong with selfishness. What's wrong is whether you belong to the former or the latter. "
Wang Ju listened to her grandson's words and then looked at the third wooden otter that had not been baited yet. She suddenly felt her face heat up.
She thought to herself, No wonder His Majesty gave me the cold shoulder and valued Xiao Bao and Cuckoo. She was just an 'opportunist' who helped His Majesty seize power. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo were the ones who were truly magnanimous.
They might have flaws and all kinds of small problems, but the people of Tang Empire approved of them because of their persistence and sincerity in the matters of Tang Empire.
Just like how Xiaobei refuted Shan Feng, who had come looking for trouble and wanted to attack Xiaobei and the others, his meaning was very straightforward. He said, 'Don't put ethics and morals on me. I'm not a saint. This is all I can do. I'm doing it, and I'm working very hard. As for what I did wrong, it's wrong. I'm willing to take responsibility.
I have a good brother and sister, but you don't. With the help of my brother and sister, I can help others. As for you, you can only be a mountain village man. You can just be a good village man. Why do you have to question me? '
She had originally wondered why Xiaobei and the other children were so direct, but now it was clear that their brothers and sisters were the same. The strength and calmness in their bones, and then they brought benefits to the people, were what the people liked the most. They were not something that a noble man full of benevolence and righteousness could compare to.
The people admired morality, but what they needed more was rice. The people needed benevolence and righteousness, but what they needed more was invincibility. And what Xiao Bao and Cuckoo were doing was what the people needed. One was improving their lives, while the other was conquering the world.
Thus, the Emperor did not need someone who would rebel. What he needed was someone who could stabilize the country. Everything was that simple.
Wang Ju finally understood why she was alienated. It was because she did not immediately change. At the same time, she also understood why the Emperor appreciated her. It was because of her relationship with Xiao Bao and Cuckoo.
Xiao Bao was her grandson, and Cuckoo was her granddaughter-in-law. If she was still the same opportunist as before, then there were two possible situations. One was that Xiao Bao and Cuckoo would rebel with her, and the other was that the two of them would watch over her.
This was the Emperor's idea. In that case, the Emperor's trust in Xiao Bao and Cuckoo had reached a terrifying level. Did the Emperor believe that Xiao Bao and Cuckoo would not rebel with her?
Zhang Xiaobao's words made Wang Ju think of many things.
After thinking about it, the way Wang Ju looked at his grandson changed. He waved his hand, and everyone around him retreated. He asked, "Xiao Bao, if you and Cuckoo rebel, what will the result be?"
Zhang Xiaobao's expression was still so calm, as if what Wang Ju asked was a very small problem. He smiled and replied, "Then we will have to find a new Emperor. It is very troublesome and not worth it. The people of Tang will also be at a loss for a period of time.
A person's life has an end. Cuckoo and I do not want to waste years or even decades to restore the confidence of the people of Tang. It is not worth it.
Grandfather, do you know? Right now, Cuckoo and I are developing Tang's industrial development in a very effective and direct way. If we do not take detours, it will develop very quickly.
You will see that Tang's technology is developing by leaps and bounds. What Cuckoo and I need to do is to train talents. We have bypassed all the detours in the development process. We will make the researchers believe that there is absolutely nothing wrong with their research.
In a year, in less than a year, you will see a new carriage. Carriage? Alright, let's call for a carriage. It will definitely appear, because Cuckoo and I know what it is. We won't let the researchers waste too much time on uncertain experiments.
We will not let them borrow money and find investments for the materials they test. We have omitted this process. This is the super industrial revolution that Cuckoo and I are building.
Just like this fishing device you made. Just like you said, I know that Cuckoo and I know that it is too simple. It is just a few interactive links. It is not a big deal at all. But how long did you think when you made it? How many times did you fail?
And in the Ministry of Works, failure is only due to the difference in the choice of materials and proficiency. It is not because the thing itself is wrong. Cuckoo and I will control the direction and thinking of the research. "
Zhang Xiaobao's meaning was extremely clear. Without making any mistakes, he and Wang Juan could make the Great Tang develop its industry as quickly as possible, and then lead other industries along the way.
Every day was very precious. They were not willing to waste years or even decades on the matter of who became the Emperor. With that time, Tang would have developed to another level.
Wang Ju was frightened by his grandson's words. He really did not know the progress of Tang's industrial development, but after hearing this, he finally had a general impression and expectations.
He wondered what the carriage that could replace a horse would look like. How fast could it travel? Would it be able to travel on all the roads?
A year would pass very quickly. He was about to witness the emergence of a new thing. Compared to the fishing device he made, the fishing device was more useful.
After thinking about it, Wang Ju asked again, "Xiao Bao, what if someone wants to rebel? Or is it someone close to you? "
"Impossible. People close to us will never rebel, because they know that rebellion will interfere with my and Cuckoo's plans. Anyone who has such thoughts is not close to us, but an enemy. Therefore, in my and Cuckoo's opinion, there is only one way to deal with those who rebel, and that is … to kill them."
Zhang Xiaobao's tone was still so calm, and there was no other expression on his face. However, his words made Wang Ju's heart tremble.
"Xiao Bao, I am just asking. Since that is the case, you can go back to work. There is no need to fish. Fishing a few dozen fish is not good for the people of Tang."
Wang Ju suddenly felt that asking his grandson to fish with him was a crime against the people of Tang. Xiao Bao was not his Xiao Bao, but the whole Tang.
With a swish, Xiaobao lifted a fishing rod with a foot-long grass carp wriggling on it. He looked at Wang Ju and said, "Grandpa, I'll make braised grass carp for you later. If I can get a Fat Head Carp, I'll make a Fat Head Carp for you.
Grandfather, I suddenly thought of something interesting. Not only can it make money, but it can also improve your reputation. At the same time, it can also give the people a way to make money, and let the rich people spend more money to generate profits and taxes. "
"Ah?" Wang Ju was confused. Did he not express clearly enough just now? He said that there was no need to fish. Why was Xiao Bao addicted to it? Furthermore, if one were to say that Xiaobao was absent-minded when it came to fishing, he caught the most fish, and his timing was even better. However, if one were to say that he was focused on fishing, how could he combine that with earning money and reputation, as well as making the people rich and raising taxes?
"Xiao Bao, what's the matter?" Wang Ju could only follow suit and ask. He was really confused. This grandson of his was too strong. Needless to say, his fishing skills were excellent, but he was still able to think of a bunch of things in such a situation. No wonder Her Majesty always liked to pester her grandson.
He was really amazing. He could still think of other things while doing other things well. Judging from the few benefits, it was probably not a small matter.
Zhang Xiaobao looked at his grandfather in surprise. Was it necessary? Fishing was originally a form of entertainment. When he was fishing in the past, he decided on the income of hundreds of millions of yuan. Otherwise, who would accompany those people to fish? Was he that free?
Ordinary people were not qualified to fish with him. Of course, excluding Wang Ju's identity as his grandfather, he could also be the Minister of Finance. He had been the Minister of Revenue before.
Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaobao smiled and said, "Grandfather, what I'm talking about is actually very simple. It's fishing. You can organize and set up a place for fishing enthusiasts to play together. Let's call it the 'association.' Then we will have it together."
"How will we have it? I have a reputation, but what about other things? How will we make money? How will the people become rich? And where will others spend their money? "
Wang Ju's experience made him unable to follow Zhang Xiaobao's rhythm. If it was Wang Juan, it would be much more convenient. This was also the reason why Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan cared about each other. It was really difficult to find someone who could understand you. Living alone in this world was indescribably lonely.
Zhang Xiaobao did not expect Wang Ju to understand at once. He explained, "If you set up a fishing association, you will naturally find a group of fishing enthusiasts. Then I will immediately follow and sell fishing rods and various fishing gear. Is it profitable? When the time comes, we will split the profits and give you half of the net profit.
You have to find a place to fish, and you have to have fish. No matter where you look, the local people can set up a stall nearby to sell fishing gear, open a snack bar, or even an important lake. If your association goes there, you have to pay them. Only then will they give you a good fishing environment.
As long as there is a certain amount of money flowing, there will naturally be taxes. Whether it is transportation, processing, or pure entertainment provided by enclosed areas, especially fishing in running water. You have to sit on a raft, right? People usually charge 10 copper coins to ferry people, but they charge you 100 copper coins. Are you willing to pay? "
"Yes, the people in my association don't lack money. You can just throw out a little bit and it will be more than 100 copper coins. Who will buy the fishing gear? Don't you know how to make it yourself? "Wang Ju was very surprised.
"If others make it themselves, not only will it be a waste of time, but they will also not be as professional as me. Grandfather, let me show you my fishing gear. I have prepared this big box long ago. The things inside are divided into running water fishing and dead water fishing, sea fishing and river fishing, stream fishing and lake fishing, stream fishing and rock fishing.
Even if it is the same place, different rods and baits will be used to catch different fish. There are also different techniques. In addition to the basic fishing equipment, there are also auxiliary equipment, such as chairs, tables, pole erectors, and so on. There are countless of them. I only brought a little bit in my box. "
As Zhang Xiaobao spoke, he laboriously dragged a big box next to him over. He opened the lid, and a variety of fishing gear appeared in front of Wang Ju's eyes.
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