Immediately afterwards, Li Er also looked through several other gift boxes.
I have long heard that Lao Li has many children in his family, and they care less about etiquette than affection. Zhao Mu also prepared some small gifts for them all.
But I didn't know how many heirs there were, so I prepared a few more small gifts.
Changle got a gift as he wished. This pair of glazed necklaces looked really beautiful.
Wearing it around my neck, I just feel that my overall temperament has improved a lot.
On the other hand, Li Chengqian looked miserable. It was a sin to get a set of arithmetic problems for him.
"Come here, load all these things onto the carriage and take them back to the palace!"
"It's the master!"
That day, Li Er and his party left Li Mansion and returned to the palace.
Before leaving, Li Er gave each of them a box of Huazi.
The two took Hua Zi and returned to their respective mansions, leaving only the servants and maids of Li Mansion running the mansion step by step.
Changsun Wuji arranged for a confidant to come to Li's Mansion to be the housekeeper for management, and he would come to Li's Mansion from time to time to inspect it.
As for everyone in the Li Mansion, it can be said that their lives are quite comfortable.
Doing the easiest work every day and receiving money every month is really enviable!
Drive, drive, drive.
"Master, this two-day trip to Chang'an City is quite interesting, and the meals arranged by Shopkeeper Li are also very good.
If we have another chance to come to Chang'an City next time, we can stay in Li Mansion, I think it will work!"
"Let's talk about it if there is a chance to come to Chang'an City."
"It's the young master."
Li Er returned to the palace, and the time was just right. He changed his clothes and went to the morning court.
After finishing the court meeting, I returned to Tai Chi Hall and started to get busy again.
"Your Majesty, please check the news coming from the northern border."
Li Er opened the letter and read it from beginning to end.
The news in the letter said that Datang's army had begun large-scale training.
We just wait for next spring when the army goes north to fight against the Turks.
After reading the news from the soldiers at the front, Li Er told everyone that they must train hard.
Subsequent supplies of food and grass must be transported to prepare all soldiers.
The three armies have not moved, and the food and grass have to go first. Li Er speculates that this battle against the Turks will take at least more than a year.
It's just that the consumption of food and grass was very huge, and he remembered what his wise brother said, that there will be drought and locust plague next year. Thinking of these, Li Er felt a little upset.
"That's all, thinking about these things can easily mess up your thoughts.
As the saying goes, there must be a road before the car reaches the mountain, let’s wait until things happen.”
Two days passed by in a hurry. After the morning court, Changsun Wuji drove the carriage and took His Majesty towards Zhaojiazhuang!
Arrive at Zhaojiazhuang!
I met Zhao Mu in the front hall!
"My dear brother, it has been two days since we parted ways in Chang'an City. I, Old Li, miss you very much.
I have already dealt with this matter. I came here today to talk to Brother Xian about the heating.
Dear brother, can you please make arrangements for me, Lao Li?"
"sure!"
Zhao Mu took Li Er and found this thing called a heater next to the wooden grilles on the left and right sides of the front hall.
When I came closer, I felt warm. I touched it with my hand. Wow, it was quite hot.
Looking at such a grid again, there were several more in the entire front hall, and I couldn't help but murmur in my heart.
I said that when I entered their house, I just felt warm inside, and I was always curious in my heart.
But I didn't think about it at the time.
Today I saw that there are so many heaters arranged. If this room is colder, it will be weird!
"Xiandi, you don't have heating in that restaurant, right?"
"That's natural. My entire village has been paved."
"What about the people outside?"
"My people in Zhuangzi are not that affected, but they have fire kangs, so they don't have to worry about the cold night."
"Brother, what is this fire bed?"
Li Er was stunned for a while. He had never been exposed to these new words before, and looked at Zhao Mu with a puzzled face.
Zhao Mu arranged for someone to take Li Er to the people's homes outside Zhuangzi to look around.
Several families had already started to light fires to cook. They felt the warmth on the kang with their hands, and attached quilts and mattresses. It was warm at night.
My dear brother is really a genius.
"Brother, you are really talented.
Suddenly I realized that this was also a business opportunity.
There are many wealthy families in Chang'an City. If heating is provided to every household.
Are we going to make a lot of money in this whole city of Chang'an?"
Li Er only felt that he was very smart. These days, he was thinking about continuing to save money. Isn't today's heating a big business opportunity?
After all, the carbon basin only receives a small amount of heat, while the heater can ensure warmth all night long. You can tell which one is better and which one is worse at a glance.
"I didn't expect that, Lao Li, your business acumen is really extraordinary.
This heater has been in my village for such a long time, and there are many businessmen who cooperate with me.
It's surprising that no businessman has discovered the mystery behind this.
In this case, the heating issue will be left to you in the market of Chang'an City.
I will provide you with the raw materials and some manpower to install them.
It just so happens that there are many people in Zhuangzi who are resting at home. Let them make some money and increase their income. They also want it."
"Xiandi, of course you can, but it's just the profit?"
"If the profit is 30% to 70%, you will get 30% from me and I will get 70% from you. If you install the heating this time, I will charge you the cost."
Li Er...
"Xian brother, you see, I have found such a good business opportunity for you, but I still need to charge for the heating in Li Mansion?"
"Brothers will settle the score!"
Yes, yes, Li Er waved his hands repeatedly, he, my good brother, said this is not ordinary black.
However, today's task has been completed, and I feel quite happy.
After having dinner in Zhaojiazhuang, the next morning, Changsun Wuji drove the carriage ahead and led a group of people from Zhaojiazhuang, pulling a large amount of materials, and set off in the direction of Chang'an City.
Arriving at Li Mansion, we started assembling the heater.
These people in Zhaojiazhuang are all good at work, and Li Er just wanted to do an experiment first.
In two days, the entire Li Mansion was installed, and all the remaining materials were placed in Li Mansion, and the money and goods were cleared.
Zhao Mu also gave Li Er an extra car of coal.
Fill the heater with water, install the boiler in the kitchen, and light it.
Because Li's Mansion is relatively large, the heating is relatively slow to heat up. It took a whole morning for the heating temperature to be raised.
Li Er took several people to Li's house in person and checked it out.
Not to mention that the entire study is warm, even if you take off a piece of clothing after entering it, the feeling is really wonderful.
"Auxiliary machine, would you like to install one in Duke Zhao's house?"
Everyone likes good stuff, especially if I have experienced it myself, I am even more satisfied.
"His Majesty also wants to install one."
“Since you want to install it, just tell me directly.
You should go back to the mansion and see how many radiators need to be installed. You should know how to calculate them and report them to me.
Pay first and install later.”
Ahem.
Your Majesty has really changed now.
"It's Your Majesty."
"Auxiliary machine, unfortunately, although the heating is good, it consumes too much coal."
Li Er heard what Zhao Mu said about coal. The official name for this thing is black stone, which can be ignited and used for heating.
It's just that the current black stone is not particularly commonly used in the Tang Dynasty.
People in the Tang Dynasty all used carbon and wood. Now that coal is being used in such a way, Li Er's eyes light up.
If I directly monopolize the coal industry, will I be able to make a lot of money again throughout the winter?
While he was thinking, a servant hurried over.
"Sir, the black stone in the kitchen is no longer enough.
This heating consumes a lot of black stone. Now my Li Mansion has switched to wood burning, please let me make your decision!"
Li Er also heard a little bit about coal mining. It is said that the coal is buried underground and it is very difficult to mine it.
Unlike firewood, which is very common, it can be cut down in the forest.
Unfortunately, although wood is good, it cannot be burned. Although coal is resistant to burning, it is troublesome to mine.
Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, but this is also a business opportunity.
Since my wise brother has this ability and can mine it, there must be a way to mine it.
Li Er decided to go to Zhaojiazhuang on another day.