As the saying goes, if the lamp is not lit, it will not shine, and if the words are not spoken, it will not be clear.
As soon as Adele said those words, Catherine woke up from her dream.
The governor of the Eastern Province is such a glorious figure. He has a lot of troops and has overwhelming power. He can even act as emperor behind closed doors for fun. As long as he is not discovered by the Imperial Supervision Department, there is no problem.
But that only refers to the governor.
Although Catherine, Earl of Anson, was the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke and was extremely talented. She had been in charge of the political affairs of the Eastern Province since she was twelve years old.
Not to mention anything else, the huge military expenditures to maintain the Eastern Front and the various expenditures for government operations can basically balance with the tax revenue, or even make a slight profit, and there is no major vicious incident in which the common people cause trouble.
Once the incident happened, we can already see how superb her political methods are.
However, no matter how well she did, no one gave her bonuses or red envelopes.
Even though the financial amount she handles every day is calculated in the tens of thousands. But it is like a bank teller. She handles too many banknotes every day, but the money has its own use, and she cannot just put it in her pocket.
And since the identity of the grand duke's eldest daughter is there, in one word, the entire empire belongs to their family. Who dares to get tired of life and come to her to bribe her.
Therefore, it is impossible to have gray income like other officials.
All pocket money for her personal disposal comes entirely from royal allocations and proportional taxes from her own fiefdom.
And as a woman, she has no inheritance rights according to the laws of the empire.
So although she looks majestic and cheering all day long, her working conditions are not as good as those of migrant workers in a sense.
Occasionally, because he didn't have enough money on hand, he would embezzle some funds from the Duke's Palace to buy some skin care products. It was like poking a huge hole in the sky, making the old man who killed people without blinking an eye...
When I saw the bill, the pain was like pulling out a tooth, and I screamed.
This is why there was a popular saying in the Ruman Empire to bless newlyweds – ‘I hope your first child is a daughter.’ (Note, the Ruman Empire did not have family planning.)
Because as long as the daughter grows up a little, she can take care of her younger brothers and sisters. She can also do odd jobs to support the family and share the responsibilities for her parents. And the best thing is that all of these are unpaid and do not buy labor insurance, as long as they are paid
A bowl of rice will suffice.
In the end, when the daughter grows up, she can also be used as a link to connect interests. As long as she spends a small amount of dowry money, she can be married off and married to other people to consolidate the power of the family.
But even though the benefits and role of daughters are so huge, and they work hard for the family, and parents are also aware of this, many times, when they think of the dowry that will be given away, and their own property that is about to shrink, they still tolerate it.
Constantly making accusations.
Regardless of whether they are Chinese or foreign, in this world or in another world, there is a common professional vocabulary to describe these girls. That is - 'losing money'.
If you meet a parent who is a little bit stingy, such as Mr. Grandego, just take a look at the representative experience of Miss Eugenie, and you will know the situation of these poor girls.
How tragic. (Please allow the author to long for that evil era with tears streaming down his face.)
Although Catherine understood the meaning of Adele's words, there was a constant war between heaven and man in her heart.
While she was thinking about it, she unconsciously put her slender fingers to her lips and kept biting them. A lock of hair playfully jumped out from her temples and hung diagonally on one side of her pretty face.
That touch of endearing and endearing charm as the girl meditated made everyone present feel excited.
Lorraine stared at her pretty face with some lust. Seeing her frowning eyebrows loosen slightly, he knew that she had made a decision in her heart. She hurriedly looked away for fear of being rude.
At this moment, Catherine gritted her teeth, raised her head suddenly, and said decisively: "Dale, you are right. I worked hard and worked hard. Why do I help those two losers save money?"
She turned her head and said calmly to Lorraine: "I have decided. As the governor of the Eastern Province, I will order one hundred water mills and windmills from us... er, no, from your company in advance...
"
Before she could finish her words, Lorraine had already raised her hands, interrupted her, and said: "Nicole, we are here to see the company's opening today. And if we want to discuss business, you can only go to us.
CEO, how you two siblings discuss it is your business. I have no control over it."
He paused for a moment, then murmured: "I am the manager of the Lorraine Castle Foundation for Out-of-School Children. If you discuss this business with me, if the Economics Section of the College Inspection Team finds out, it will be difficult to protect those
You scum won’t invite me to tea.”
As he spoke, he looked downstairs.
At this time, Leo had already finished the demonstration in public. He left everything on display for people to see. Then he shouted loudly: "Because the quantity of our company's products is limited, all those who are interested in buying, please bring them to register."
For a fee of one gold coin, go to the side to register and leave your detailed address. We will arrange a dedicated person to discuss business with you later."
After he finished speaking, he pointed at a guard sitting behind the table with a smile on his face. Then he stopped caring about the onlookers and jumped down from the chair. Wiping the sweat on his head,
When the people saw this, they all roared and surrounded the guard, almost drowning him. Although these ruffians did not sell train tickets, they also knew the business opportunities hidden in it.
Although a gold coin is expensive, if this or something rooster... Well, if the company's shop can actually make those things as they say, demand will definitely exceed supply in the future. The threshold is stepped on. This
Sometimes, if you can buy something in advance, you may be able to sell it at a sky-high price.
Leo was so weak that he was pushed away by the swarming crowd. He was so angry that he waved his fist and wanted to curse a few words, but he forced himself to hold it back.
Come down.
Regardless of whether he is sensible or not, no matter what happens now, he is still the chairman of the board. He lives in his position and pursues his own affairs. He knows that these people are sending money to him, so of course he is a lot more polite to them.
He looked around and found that he had nothing to do. He hesitated for a moment and was considering whether to squeeze in again to help collect money, or to call some boys over and shout twice on the street to advertise.
At this time, he looked up and saw Lorraine standing on the opposite floor waving to him, and immediately walked over.
When he came upstairs and saw Catherine and everyone there, he couldn't help but feel very dissatisfied. He bared his white baby teeth and said angrily: "You, what are you doing? You can't trust me, can you?"
Seeing the sweat on his head, Catherine couldn't help feeling pity. She stretched out her hand and dragged him over. Then she took out her silk handkerchief and wiped it hard on his face twice. The little guy screamed twice as he wiped it.
, then he said: "You can't believe it, but you can't believe it. If you open your business, we can't come and take a look."
Leo snorted angrily, then stretched out his hand to grab the handkerchief and wiped it twice himself.
Seeing that he ignored her, Catherine couldn't help but smile, then sat back down and said slowly: "Leo, do you want to do a business with me?"
Leo was startled, put down the silk handkerchief in his hand, then blinked his big black and white eyes, and asked: "Doing business with you? In what capacity do you do business with me? As Earl Anson? Or as Dongfang?
The identity of the provincial governor?”
Catherine couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. She lowered her head and saw Leo's serious look, then turned to look at Lorraine and Adele. Seeing them all shaking their heads slightly, she couldn't help but feel surprised.
If this sentence was said by Lorraine or Adele, she wouldn't be so surprised. If they taught Leo to say it, she wouldn't be so surprised. But now it's obvious that no one taught him, but now
Then I asked, this is not that simple.
She couldn't help but think about it, then smiled slightly, supported her pretty face with her hands, looked at Leo, and asked softly: "Is there any difference between them?"
Leo's little nose twitched, and then said: "Of course. If you are negotiating business as my sister, then there is no need to say anything. As a shareholder of your company, windmills, water mills, etc. are all based on cost.
Calculate the price. By the way, the same goes for carriages and sofas. These expenses will be deducted from your dividends later."
Catherine couldn't help but look weird when she heard that he was so clear-cut about public and private matters. Even when he treated her so stingily, she forgot to be angry.
Leo sat down on the chair next to him, then clasped his little finger and continued: "If you are negotiating business with me as the governor of the Eastern Province, then the calculation will be based on the market price plus 30%.
"
Catherine couldn't help but be surprised when she heard this.
She blinked her beautiful eyes in disbelief and asked aloud: "As the governor, I am purchasing from you. The quantity is very large. If you don't lower the price, you will increase the price by 30% to the market price."
.Are you crazy?"
Leo rolled his eyes and said, "Listen to me. Our business is high-tech and unique. There is no other company. If you want to find someone else, you can't do it. Besides...
"
He paused for a moment, then clenched his hands into small fists, slammed them on the table, and then said matter-of-factly: "Do you think it's so easy to deal with the government? Those dogs are all very good at getting things done.
Although it is not enough to succeed, it is enough to fail. I have to prepare kickbacks for them. Otherwise, if they make a stumbling block, the money I earn will be wasted."
Catherine looked at his angry expression and couldn't help but laugh or cry.
At this time, I heard Leo continue to say: "Oh, by the way. Also, according to industry regulations, there must be 10% of your commission. Don't these all have to be squeezed out from the 30%?
"
Catherine immediately became angry.
She slapped the table, then stood up, pointed at Leo's small turned nose, and cursed angrily: "Asshole~! You are openly bribing me. Do you understand?"
Leo looked at the spring-onion-like finger she stretched out to his nose, feeling a little confused.
He blinked his big bright eyes and asked blankly: "Yeah. So what? Isn't that how we do business?"
Seeing Catherine's shameful and angry look, he suddenly understood and said cautiously: "Nicole...Nicole, are you worried about the hooks of the Imperial Supervision Department? It doesn't matter. We will all use cash by then.
, and don’t make payments at the bank. Those guys are stupid and can’t find out at all.”
As he spoke, he slapped his chest heavily as if to make a guarantee.
Catherine saw the expression of a profiteer on his young face, and he was also very slick and sophisticated in doing these crooked and evil things. She couldn't help but feel so angry that she almost went crazy.
She gritted her teeth to pieces. She couldn't help cursing in her heart: What bastard taught him this? In just a few days, he has turned into such a bastard and a little slicker~! If I find out, I will definitely
First chop that guy into meat paste, and then wash it into the gutter with foot washing water...
Lorraine felt chills next to her and shivered involuntarily.
Leo saw that the color on Catherine's face was uncertain, and he didn't know what he was thinking. He couldn't help but feel scared. He stretched out his little hand, waved it in front of her, and then asked in a low voice: "Nicole, Nicole, you...
…Are you okay?”
"I'm fine." Catherine finally came back to her senses.
She composed herself, and then said coldly: "As the governor of the Thirteen Eastern Provinces, I will first order a hundred windmills and water mills. But..."
She paused briefly, and then continued: "But, you must repay me with an increase of 50% from the market price."
Leo couldn't help but be startled for a moment, then raised his head and looked at her, complaining: "Nicole, we can't be too greedy for money. Isn't fifty percent too much..."
Before he could finish his words, he looked up and saw that Catherine had put her moving gray eyes less than ten centimeters away from him, so close that he could see his own reflection through her eyes.
.
Leo couldn't help but "wow" and was startled, and said in a trembling voice: "Nicole, you...why are your eyes green? You look really scary~!"
Catherine said word by word: "Fifty percent increase in price. Do you know?"
Leo looked at her eyes that were about to burst out with fire, knowing that she was on the verge of going crazy. He was so frightened that he couldn't say a word. He could only straighten his neck, swallow dryly, and then nodded heavily.
He scratched his head and said, "I...I know."
Catherine's teeth were itching with hatred, and she even wanted to find some bone to grind on. But she suppressed her anger and said: "I don't want the extra ones in vain. I will give you another 10%.
, considered as your personal kickback."
"One hundred... ten percent???!!!" Leo almost went crazy with joy and almost fainted on the ground. He sat on the chair with his mouth open, like a catfish out of water.
I was panting heavily for a long time.
Although he is not very good at math, he also knows that ten percent is a big pile, enough for him to buy a lot of cakes, candies, toys...
And even if he eats one and throws two, he can make it for most of his life.
At the same time, he saw the strange light shining in Catherine's eyes, and he was slightly confused. He vaguely felt that something was not quite right, but he couldn't remember it for a moment. Then, he put it away
Forgot in the back of my mind.
But there are so many things that have happened. People always inadvertently remember something that happened in the past.
One night many years later, he woke up suddenly, lying on his dragon bed, looking at his gorgeous tent roof, and suddenly remembered this thing again, and then he realized what was in it.
wrong.
As the heir to the empire, the money should have belonged to him. However, Catherine had tampered with it and withheld part of it.
But then again, as a shareholder of the company, he also made money from it. And the money spent on buying things, although nominally his money, must be invested in reproduction.
Under normal circumstances, he would not have made a penny personally. But Catherine gave him a kickback, and the money actually flowed into his pocket.
He was immediately dizzy by the complex economic issues involved. He looked at the tent and murmured: "What I did back then, is it considered a profit or a loss?"
Leo was not aware of the specific problem at this time, but his eyes were completely fascinated by the unexpected windfall, and he was just happy.
Seeing his money-obsessed look, Catherine couldn't help but secretly hate him. She just wanted to scold him and give him a good education.
At this moment, Adele, who was standing at the window, said "Hey", then waved to everyone and said, "Everyone, come and take a look."
Everyone couldn't help but be startled, and then they walked to the window and looked down.
I saw a young man dressed luxuriously, with oily hair and a powdery face, appearing on the street, escorted by a large group of royal guards. It was Gondores, the second prince of the Almohad Empire.
The royal guards fiercely separated the crowded crowd and made way for them. Only then did Gondolas step forward.
He smiled politely at the registration guard, then picked up the model placed on the table, fiddled with it twice, and then said calmly: "I see that your company's products are good.
I plan to buy some. I wonder if you are willing to sell them to us?"