It was unknown what the Old Man Pi and the other three were thinking. Two days after Zhang Xiaobao came up with the idea, the Old Man Pi and the others really worked together and sent the idea to the capital. It seemed that they were really going to do it.
After Liu Zhirou continuously obtained good things, she also wanted to take a look at the bridge. The four old men greeted each other and formed a group to go to Wangjiang County.
With the departure of the four old men, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's lives returned to relative peace. They didn't have to worry about government affairs anymore.
Li Xun did not come over to disturb him. He was busy cultivating. Cultivating near the hidden mountain was different from other cultivators who wanted to develop their cultivation towards luxury. Li Xun's cultivation only required that the place was big enough to poop.
The commoners in the villages near the hidden mountain who had nothing to do were all gathered by Li Xun to help him work. They didn't get paid. The commoners weren't angry because Li Xun said that after the path was built, he wouldn't find people outside to maintain it. He would choose people in the surrounding villages who usually couldn't find work to maintain it.
Li Cheng, who was in charge, didn't know what Li Xun wanted to do. While the commoners were busy, he found Li Xun and asked for advice, "Young Master, if others came and saw this path you built, they would probably laugh at you. The place is not small, but the hidden mountain here is not as good as Lake Tai. Why don't you make the path more luxurious?"
Li Xun had always been asking Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan what they wanted to do. The design of the path was also proposed by the two of them. Today, he was finally asked by someone else. He pretended to be profound and coughed and said, "You don't understand, right?"
Li Cheng nodded his head vigorously, looking like he was waiting for guidance. However, he really didn't understand why the path was built in such a remote place, and it was so simple.
"If you don't understand, just ask. Don't keep it in your heart. Let me ask you, why do people live?" Li Xun acted like an expert.
"Why?" Li Cheng asked. It seemed like he was asking someone else, but it also seemed like he was asking himself.
"Too difficult, right? Then why are you alive? "Li Xun asked again.
Li Cheng did not answer immediately this time. Weiwei lowered her head and thought. Li Xun was not in a hurry. He watched the people help him cultivate while waiting.
Li Cheng thought for a while and replied, "Young Master, I was sold into the manor when I was very young. I sold myself. At that time, I didn't want to starve to death. At that time, I lived to eat and fill my stomach. Later on, when I followed Young Master, it was different. I was able to make others look up to me. Sometimes, I relied on Young Master's identity to bully others.
Later on, I ran to Sanshui County. When I saw that the restaurant was making money, I wanted to make more money. Now, I don't know why I still want to live. Young Master is rich, and so am I. Maybe it's a habit for me to live. If you think about it this way, it seems that even if I die, it doesn't matter. "
After listening to Li Cheng's words, Li Xun nodded in agreement. "You're not bad. You don't want to continue to climb to a high position. But I can't. I also have to be responsible for living. I'm afraid that if the goal is too small, it will be achieved in a few days. So, I set a big goal for myself. I live to let the people of Tang live a good life."
Li Xun's voice was not loud, but Li Cheng could hear Li Xun's determination. This goal was too big, but what did it have to do with cultivation?
Without waiting for him to ask, Li Xun told him, "Other people's businesses are a waste of money and manpower. Fixing a good one is a waste of money. Even the luxurious decorations inside cost money. Most of the land occupied by a business is unused. The people who do the work in a business are also not working hard. It's a waste.
Even if it's my own money that is wasted, I won't be such a person. As long as it's my thing, I will find a way to make it produce money and use the money on the people. "
"Young Master, isn't it faster to make money by Lake Tai?"
"Even if I don't go there, I can still make money. How can I not come here? What I want is not the prosperity of a certain place, but the prosperity of the whole Shuzhou. "
Li Xun waved his hand hard, which meant that the whole Shuzhou was included.
Li Cheng watched from the side and suddenly realized that the former Little Prince had really grown up. It was time for him to get married.
"Li Cheng, although the Zhang family and the Wang family are still in Shuzhou now, they won't care too much. They just gave me an idea and gave me the opportunity to build Shuzhou. It was also their idea to build Xingzai in Qianshan and make it simple."
"Then …"
"That's why. It's because my business is not a decoration. It's going to be a zoo and a botanical garden. As long as there are animals and plants that can be raised here, I will find a way to raise them.
Don't worry about the entrance fee. You know the entrance fee, right? Everyone can look around. There will be people who will introduce it to you. If it's too luxurious, the people won't dare to come and see it. It's good to be simple. The people nearby will come and see it. After seeing it, they will help me promote it.
When there are more animals and more famous, more people will come. Naturally, there will be rich people. The animals in the zoo and botanical garden will be made into dishes for them. They are willing to eat even if it's expensive. The local people can also sell souvenirs here, especially local specialties. Then … "
"Then the people will have money in their hands. They want to live a good life. The economy will gradually develop. Then we can collect entrance fees, right? Raising animals also costs money. "
Li Cheng suddenly became smart. Before Li Xun finished his words, he had guessed it. After he interrupted, he realized that he had interrupted Young Master.
Li Xun didn't care. Seeing that Li Cheng could think of this, he nodded happily and said, "Yes, that's the arrangement. The house of the business is simple. When the rich people come, we will rent it to them. They can tear it down and build their own houses. The rent is enough to maintain the zoo and botanical garden.
My identity is obvious. Even if they want to curry favor with me, they will have to spend that money. With them, there will be a market here. This place will gradually become prosperous. We will also build a tourist attraction in Qianshan and let them invest. At that time … Do you understand? "
"Yes, yes. At that time, Young Master can stay at home and collect money. Your identity as the Commandery Prince of Tong 'an will be more stable," Li Cheng replied.
"Wrong. At that time, I will leave and continue to be the Commandery Prince in another place. If I exchange the prosperity of Tong 'an, which is Shuzhou, for two or three large and poor places like this, Imperial Uncle will be willing. After all, I have collected too much rent here. The more prosperous it is, the more the court will lose."
Li Xun was now addicted to building places. The poorer a place was, the more he wanted to go and develop it.
"Young Master, you are so devoted to the people. I admire you. I will ask people to do it quickly." Li Cheng had heard Li Xun's words and admired him.
*****
Compared to Qianshan, where Li Xun lived, the winter in Qianshan was not too cold, but the capital had already snowed three times. At this time, it was impossible to transport beef and mutton from Yan Zhou and other places in the north. The price of meat in the capital would increase.
However, today was different from previous years. Although ordinary people could not eat meat casually, the increase in price was relatively small. It did not double or more, but only increased by less than 50%.
The high price of beef was not only because there was not enough of it, but also because it was not allowed to be casually killed. Usually, when it could be transported from other places, the restaurant owners would think of ways to kill a few, especially in winter.
As for mutton, it was purely a matter of transportation. As a result, the price of pork also increased by 40%. Those who could not afford mutton changed to eating pork. Sauerkraut was now popular.
As a result, the price of pork increased a little, but this was not a big deal. With a pigeon flying from Shuzhou, the Savant's Restaurant immediately launched a new dish, 'Braised Pork with Red Wine'. After that, the price of pork increased again and again.
This time, the imperial court finally realized that something was wrong. The price of pork actually caused the transportation industry to prosper. The price of the hay that the livestock ate also increased. If there was not enough hay, there were still soybeans to eat.
Following that, the prices of other goods also rose. This was the effect of a single popular item on the market. The abnormal concentration of consumption made the areas around the capital seem prosperous, but it also gave people the feeling that a storm was about to come.
Li Longji in the imperial court with a sullen face asked the ministers who were shivering in the cold outside what to do. At this time, Lv Yanzuo came out. He did not forget to scheme against Zhang Zhong. After explaining the cause and effect of the matter, he pointed the finger at the Savant's Restaurant. Not only did the Savant's Restaurant sell it, but they also taught the method of cooking.
The Savant's Restaurant belonged to the Sanshui Zhang family, so why did they have this dish? It was because the Zhang family had wine. If others wanted to make it, they could only buy wine from the Zhang family. Other kinds of yellow wine were also fine, but yellow wine was not easy to preserve. If a large amount of yellow wine was produced locally, the food supply would not be able to keep up, and the consumption would be too large.
It was different if it was diluted with a high degree of alcohol. The taste might not be as good, but it was still a delicious dish. No matter how expensive it was, it could not be compared to beef. Therefore, in this novel situation, more people ate it.
Lv Yanzuo's intention was to arrest Zhang Zhong, and the two officials who followed in his footsteps were also impeached at the same time. In the end, very few people responded. The other officials did not cooperate. Some were already numb to it, some had businesses at home, and some had furniture and tea leaves that were given to them by others.
Li Longji really wanted to use this opportunity to warn the Zhang family. This was too much. He already knew that the pigeon that flew over had given them a recipe.
Even if they wanted to sell it, they could not do this. However, when he saw that the other officials were silent and only a few people were present, Li Longji did not dare to make a move on Zhang Zhong.
This year's Shu Province's rent and tax discount was 280,000 strings of cash, and this was after the dam burst. The Minister of Works, Liu Zhirou, had also gone there to learn about the technology. Coupled with the bridge and the unfinished construction, it was impossible to transfer Zhang Zhong back, let alone arrest him. Without him, the Zhang Family and the Wang Family would not do anything.
Li Longji sighed inwardly as he leaned back. He felt a warm sensation on his back. At this moment, he remembered the comfortable and warm chair he made was sent to him from Lu Zhou's place half a month ago.
When he saw Lv Yanzuo's expectant gaze, Li Longji pretended that this did not happen and continued to talk about other things. Hence, the morning court passed in an atmosphere where Lv Yanzuo and the others were sullen and the other officials were relieved.
After the court session, Li Longji wrote a letter to Bi Gou, Yao Chong, and Liu Zhirou. The meaning was for them to solve the problem and help the chair to sit on the leg of the pigeon that belonged to Shu Province that was sent over a few days later.
When Old Man Chang's family received the pigeon, they immediately sent it to Wangjiang County on a fast horse.
When the letter arrived, Liu Zhirou was leading the people from the Ministry of Works and her nephew to observe the bridge.
"It's back. The Emperor has given the order. I don't know what the Zhang family wants to do, but why did they have to send a recipe at this time? They could have sent it in the summer. Isn't this a scam?"
Old Man Pi said to Liu Zhirou after reading the letter.
The four old men who wanted to stay had no choice but to take a carriage and rush back at the fastest speed. Their destination was the courtyard of the four little fellows from the Zhang Family and the Wang Family.
*****
"One, two, three jump, one, two, three jump."
Old Man Pi's group of four really didn't come to the wrong place. When they arrived, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were playing with a group of little fellows. They were just jumping with their legs together.
After jumping and jumping, they jumped to the entrance of the courtyard. Zhang Xiaobao looked up and saw the four old men coming. He smiled and greeted them, "Four grandpas, have you seen the bridge? I thought it would take another two days to come back. "
"I wanted to see more, but I can't. I'm slandering, I'm slandering that meat made with wine. If I don't come back soon, I'll be slandering to death."
Old Man Pi looked helplessly at Zhang Xiaobao's face that seemed to really know nothing.
"Ah? So Grandpa Bi wants to eat red braised pork made with wine? Isn't that simple? I'll get someone to make it right away. "Zhang Xiaobao was very happy.
"No, I can't eat it. Pork is too expensive, and so are other things. Xiao Bao, shouldn't you say something? The Emperor is unhappy. Look, the letter is here. "
Old Man Yao shook the paper in his hand and asked.
Zhang Xiaobao secretly laughed and turned to look at Wang Juan. Wang Juan gave him a look, which meant that he should deal with the trouble he caused himself.
"Now turn around, it's time to jump back. Turn ~! Okay, one, two, three jump, one, two, three jump … " Zhang Xiaobao let the little fellows continue to play. He gave the maid a look, and the maid continued to shout. Only then did he take Wang Juan and the four old men to a courtyard specially used for resting.
Zhang Xiaobao and the four old men found a table and sat down. Wang Juan went to make tea. Under the gazes of the four old men, Zhang Xiaobao spoke.
"Actually, you can't blame my family for this. Can't my family make a new dish? You have to be reasonable. The main thing is that many people around the capital are not cooperating. It's just a little tiring and lazy, especially those who have Zhuangzi. They think that it's too messy to raise Zhuangzi. Otherwise, why would the price of pork go up? "
The meaning of Zhang Xiaobao's words couldn't be clearer. This was such a good technique, but it was actually resisted. The people in the North were lazy in winter, mainly because it was cold. But wasn't the coal and firewood very cheap in Hua Yuan County? Cotton cloth was introduced, and the price of linen in and around the capital dropped again and again.
What's there to be afraid of wearing more? Can laziness lead a good life? The most infuriating thing was that those who have Zhuangzi wanted to avoid such a good opportunity to increase their income. Raising pigs was dirty, so the price was raised a few times. See if they still dislike it.
"Your family is forcing the cow to drink water. No one said that we want to punish you. We just want to ask if there's any way to make up for it."
Liu Zhirou was a little embarrassed when she said this. Her family also didn't raise Zhuangzi. It was cold in winter, so they didn't want to touch it. If they raised pigs in summer, the smell was too strong. Now they knew that the smell would be reduced by using the biogas pool.
Zhang Xiaobao saw that the four old men didn't come to punish them, so his tone softened.
"Grandpa Liu, actually, my family didn't expect that one dish would be like this. We actually sent more than ten dishes. I'll make braised pork ribs for you to eat later and boil crab meat balls with marrow. Grandpa Liu, quickly contact someone and tell them about the biogas pool. I don't believe that they don't raise pigs."
"Even if they raise pigs, they can only do it tomorrow. Now that the price of pork in and around the capital is too high, the price of pork must be reduced. What can your family do?"
Old Man Yao was most concerned about the present.
"What else can we do? Just take out the pork from Sanshui County."
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