When Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan followed Li Longji's pilgrimage team back to the capital, two restaurants opened opposite the Savant's Restaurant and the Joy Residence. To be precise, they were a chain restaurant.
The name of the chain restaurant didn't have words like 'Ge', 'Lou', or 'Residence'. These four words made people feel puzzled at first.
It was unknown where the merchants of Jiangnan East Road found a good painter. Each restaurant had a large piece of cloth pasted on the front. On the cloth, there was a painting of the blue sea, blue sky, coconut trees, sunshine, and beach.
The 'Blue Sea Silver Sand' suddenly became an alternative scenery among the restaurants in the capital.
As soon as this name appeared, it spread around the capital. Wherever there was a restaurant Between the Clouds and the Water around the capital, one could see the Blue Sea Silver Sand. Even the restaurant Between the Clouds and the Water next to Sanshui County was affected.
Zhang Wang and Ge San's restaurant in Sanshui County was next to Zhuangzi. Others couldn't buy it, but it could be bought in Huayuan County. The flagship store of the Blue Sea Silver Sand was opened next to the restaurant Between the Clouds and the Water.
The same quality service, the same variety of new dishes, and the same membership system.
The only difference was that the scenery Between the Clouds and the Water was mainly ethereal. Wherever there was a restaurant Between the Clouds and the Water, there would always be a little hazy, not to mention the main restaurant in Sanshui County.
The Blue Sea Silver Sand was mainly realistic. They even moved the sand into the restaurant, thinking that they could create a beach scene.
When the two restaurants were compared, each had its own characteristics. It made people who liked to eat happy, and it also made many people watch the show. Some people were gloating and waiting for the two restaurants to compete with each other. Then, they would try their best to reduce the price so that they could enjoy better service with less money.
"Xiao Bao, I remember that it freezes in Dalian in winter, right? Can't the people find work in winter? " Wang Juan was sitting in the car with a charcoal pencil in her hand. She was writing and drawing on a piece of paper. The bumpy ride made her feel uncomfortable, so she stopped and asked Zhang Xiaobao.
Zhang Xiaobao was also thinking about how to make use of the time after the busy farming season. Normally speaking, there was not much to do in the Northeast during winter. Hunters could hunt, but more people stayed at home and did not go out.
Hearing Wang Juan's suggestion, he lowered his head and tried to think of a solution. They couldn't develop businesses, and the people had already exchanged all their money for winter food. Where would they have the money to go out and spend? They couldn't develop tourism either. Under the circumstances where the road was difficult to travel, who would spend a few months in advance to see the ice lanterns?
Animal husbandry was also out of the question. If the seawater froze, fishing in the sea would become an extravagant hope.
Wang Juan didn't say anything. She waited by the side, hoping that Zhang Xiaobao could come up with a good idea. One was to increase the income of the local people, and the other was to reduce the loss of her family. Now, it was free of charge.
If the person sitting next to her wasn't Zhang Xiaobao, but someone in this era, Wang Juan wouldn't expect him to come up with a solution at all.
But if it was Zhang Xiaobao, it was a different story. She believed that in terms of economy, as long as Zhang Xiaobao was willing, there must be a good way to make use of the seemingly impossible resources. There would always be a small number of people, and their will was the result.
After waiting for half an hour, Zhang Xiaobao raised his head and said, "Develop handicrafts. If you don't want to go out to consume heat in cold weather, you can always stay at home. Let the people in Jili Province paste paper boxes and print at home to prepare for this year and next year."
Wang Juan frowned slightly. "What's the use of the paper boxes?"
"For packaging goods. We will continue to cut down trees today. Dalian doesn't need so many trees. We will burn them into charcoal. Next year, when people go out to sea in spring, we will equip them with good ships to sell dried goods and build local brands. I want everyone to know that the dried goods in Jili Province are the best, and the charcoal is also the most exquisite in Jili Province."
Zhang Xiaobao began to expand his thoughts, and then said, "Contact Xinluo. We will invest and build a large paper factory in Xinluo. We will use the local resources to provide a blessing to the local people."
Wang Juan was stunned for a moment. She reached out and pinched Zhang Xiaobao's face. With a hint of teasing and pride, she said, "Zhang Xiaobao, I asked you to come up with an idea to find trouble for the people in Jili Province. As expected, you didn't weaken your reputation. When you were developing yourself, you started to scheme against Xinluo."
"I deny the false accusation of scheming against Xinluo. There is no environmental protection now. Even if our Jili Province is also cutting down trees, we can't say that all their trees will be gone if we build a paper factory in Xinluo, and then some natural disaster will happen, right?"
Zhang Xiaobao did not break free from Wang Juan's hand, and his voice was unclear as he defended himself.
"Who said that you were scheming in this aspect? You know very well in your heart. Hmph, don't think that I don't know the way people like you do things. As long as people like you make a move, they will definitely not have good intentions, especially to people from other countries."
Wang Juan placed both hands on Zhang Xiaobao's face and rubbed it hard. When she saw Zhang Xiaobao's face deform back and forth in her hands, she released her hands in satisfaction.
Zhang Xiaobao rubbed his face again. "I heard discrimination in your words. I won't be with you anymore. I'm going to tell stories to Xiaobei and the others."
"I'll go too. It looks like I won't be able to spend the new year with my family in Luoyang this year. I have to stay in Jili Province in case others don't have enough food and target us."
Wang Juan jumped out of the car as well.
Before the two of them could find Xiaobei, Gao Lishi's subordinate, Luo Bin, came over and said to the two of them, "Young Master Zhang, Lord Gao is looking for the two of you."
The two of them looked at each other helplessly and could only follow Luo Bin.
"Luo Bin, do you know what's going on?" Zhang Xiaobao handed Luo Bin a golden bean without hiding anything.
"I think it's about a new restaurant in the capital. His Majesty found out, so he sent me to find you." Luo Bin happily took the golden bean and didn't hide anything. He told them what he knew. He knew that with Zhang Xiaobao's status, there was no need for him to curry favor with him, nor was he worried about His Majesty's mood.
When Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan arrived beside Li Longji's car, they smelled the smell of barbecue.
"It smells like shrimp," Wang Juan said as she sniffled.
"Yes, it looks like His Majesty is living a good life," Zhang Xiaobao added.
Perhaps the people in the car heard their voices. When the door opened, Gao Lishi stuck his head out and waved at Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan.
The two of them directly entered from the side. The car was still moving, but it wasn't moving that fast.
This car was made by the two of them for Li Longji. The interior was spacious, bumpy, and sturdy. It cost a lot of money. This was Li Longji's first time using it, so he didn't want to get out the moment he entered the car.
"You made a good car for me, so I'll treat you to some shrimp." Li Longji was very happy to see Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan. He gestured for the two of them to sit down and put the grilled shrimp on the plates in front of Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan.
If it were any other minister, they would be so grateful that Li Longji had personally grilled something for them. However, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan did not even have the slightest bit of gratitude. Grilled prawns were enough to pay for the carriage. Diamond prawns?
"Thank you, Your Majesty. This minister is so grateful." Zhang Xiaobao said. He skillfully peeled off the shell of the shrimp on the plate and put the untouched shell to the side. He then put the meat on Gao Lishi's plate.
Li Longji also understood Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, so he didn't hear any sincerity in Zhang Xiaobao's words. He said indifferently, "Minister Zhang, you don't have to be like this. Does Xiao Bei like to eat shrimp?"
Zhang Xiaobao knew that Li Longji liked his younger siblings. The main reason was that his younger siblings weren't so restrained. Compared to Li Longji's own children, they were more lively and gave people a special feeling.
Seeing that Li Longji was sincerely asking Xiao Bei, he also said sincerely, "Xiao Bei likes to eat boiled shrimp. Grilled shrimp is fine too. I'll grill them for them now."
As Zhang Xiaobao spoke, he and Wang Juan began to put live shrimp on the iron plate one by one and grill them for their younger siblings.
Li Longji sat there and watched the two busy and said to Gao Lishi, "Lishi, Minister Zhang and Minister Wang have helped me solve a lot of problems in the north of Hebei Province. Do you think that I should reward them?"
Gao Lishi knew that this was the emperor's heartfelt words. Since Xiao Bao and Cuckoo were sent to Jili Province, they were much more obedient. During the pilgrimage, people from various Commanderies came to deliver things, which was to pay tribute. They had also paid tribute before, but it was definitely not as much as this time.
The amount of tributes this time was more than the sum of the previous ten years. There were even a few prefectures that said they could pay taxes. These prefectures were the prefectures closest to Ji Li Prefecture. It was obvious why they could do so.
They were afraid. They were afraid that Xiao Bao and Cuckoo would do something to them. They probably knew what Xiao Bao and Cuckoo had done in the past and knew their abilities. Didn't they see that they were suddenly scolded by the emperor?
The emperor was naturally happy that one of his worries had been solved.
However, he couldn't ask for any reward for his son, so he had to say, "Your Majesty, what Governor Zhang and Minister Wang did was what officials should do. We can't reward them."
"Lord Gao is right. The two of us are just doing our duty. How can we reward them?" Zhang Xiaobao said as he placed the grilled prawns on a plate beside him.
It was awkward to say this, but it could only be said this way. It was official business.
The people on the side, who were waiting to serve them at any time, also understood that this was a family having nothing better to do.
Li Longji nodded slightly and said, "Then I'll reward you with some prawns. Xiaobao, speaking of this roasted prawn, I heard that the Blue Sea Silver Sand makes it even better. Have you tried it?"
Zhang Xiaobao stopped what he was doing and looked up at Li Longji. He thought, You asked me now. You know that I can't try it. Oh, so that's why.
"Your Majesty, I haven't tried it. I'll go and see it when I get back to the capital. The Blue Sea Silver Sand needs sand from the seaside. We can see if we can cooperate with them and sell them the fine sea sand from Jili Province."
Huh? Li Longji was slightly stunned. He felt that Zhang Xiaobao should feel the pressure. After all, the Blue Sea Silver Sand was against Between the Clouds and the Water. Why was Zhang Xiaobao so calm and still thinking about doing business? It seemed that he already knew about the Blue Sea Silver Sand. Was he not afraid of being robbed?
Moreover, the sand used by the Blue Sea Silver Sand had already been bought. It was the Dengzhou that the two of them said when they lied to him.
So he said, "Xiao Bao, the Blue Sea Silver Sand has already cooperated with Dengzhou. You can't cooperate with Jili Province, right?"
"Why not? I can sell it to them at a cheaper price. People who do business won't reject cheap goods. I'll pick the best sand to sell, and ship after ship will come over. I don't expect to make a lot of money, as long as there is profit every time. Only with competition can there be development."
Zhang Xiaobao emphasized the words "there is only development when there is competition." As for the meaning behind it, only Wang Juan understood.
When Li Longji heard these words, he felt like he understood why Xiaobao and Wang Juan didn't have to worry about the competition in the restaurant. However, he didn't know why, but he didn't seem to have a deep enough understanding of these words. What went wrong?
After thinking for a while, he asked, "What about the price of the sand in Dengzhou?"
"That depends on your means. Under the condition of ensuring profit, whoever does better can sell the goods. If you can't compete with price, you can compete with quality. Details determine success or failure."
Zhang Xiaobao explained.
When Li Longji heard Zhang Xiaobao mention means, he thought that he wanted to use force to suppress others. But he found that was not the case. He asked again, "Is it the same for the restaurant?"
"Of course. Between the Clouds and the Water has been the leader for a long time. It is easy to be overtaken by the second leader because the second leader has a target to catch up with, but the first leader doesn't. With pressure, there is motivation. It's better to have a chain restaurant, so that it can become a tripartite balance of forces."
Zhang Xiaobao nodded and admitted it.
Li Longji thought that Zhang Xiaobao would not do things so simply, but he couldn't figure out why he had such a feeling. If he had to describe it, it would be that everything was under Zhang Xiaobao's control. What was the reason why he didn't care about the new Blue Sea Silver Sand?
Unable to understand, Li Longji decided not to think about it anymore. He would slowly observe in the future, and eventually be able to figure it out. Changing the topic, he said, "Xiaobao, Juanjuan, this time you have provoked Ke Yu. You must be very careful in the future."
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. There is no problem in dealing with him. This year, we will make him pay the rent voluntarily. What is the Commander-In-Chief's Mansion in Song Mo? Next year, starting from the Commander-In-Chief's Mansion in Bohai from the east to the west, no one in the north of North Vanhe Province can refuse to pay the rent. "
Wang Juan said proudly as she handed a plate full of prawns to Luo Bin and asked him to give it to Xiaobei and the others.
If it was someone else who said this, Li Longji wouldn't believe it. He would think that there was a problem with the other party's ability. But when it came from Wang Juan's mouth, it was a different matter.
"Can it be so? How should we do it? " Li Longji's eyes brightened. If he could completely solve the matter in the north of North Vanhe Province, it would save him a lot of trouble and he could concentrate on other things.
The current Tubo was already much less troublesome. Over there, they didn't dare to fight, and they were at a disadvantage when it came to exchanging food. It was all because of Xiao Bao and Cuckoo. They wouldn't be able to recover by next year.
"Your Majesty will know in a moment. Speaking of which, there are too many things involved. This year, let the Commander-In-Chief's Mansion in Song Mo pay the rent. At that time, Your Majesty will naturally understand."
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