Zhu Wanquan looked at Zhu Hao with a slightly helpless expression.
That look seems to say that you don't know the situation at home, and there is no fundamental difference between me and you. I'd better help you to intercede, so it's better to avoid it.
"Zhu Hao, I have always known that you have a famous teacher in the palace, but I don't know what the name of this famous teacher is and where he is a Confucian? He can teach you so many things in a short period of time, I guess you are a very talented person.
A world-famous fighter."
Zhu Wanquan no longer wanted to take the Zhu Hao School exam.
The insight Zhu Hao unintentionally showed just now is definitely not comparable to that of ordinary children.
Besides, Zhu Hao's knowledge has nothing to do with Zhu Wanquan. He just came here on the order of the old lady to test and discourage Zhu Hao's enthusiasm for learning, which made Zhu Hao, mother and son give up on taking the imperial examination. Who knew he really had that ability...
...Zhu Wanquan feels that there is no need to be a villain in vain.
Zhu Hao said: "It's a gentleman named Lu."
"Where's the name?"
Zhu Wanquan felt very strange.
Do you only know your surname is Lu?
There are so many people with the surname Lu in the world, why would the palace invite a gentleman back and even his real name become a secret? Even the Zhu family can't find out who this person is?
We have inquired about all the candidates with the surname Lu in Huguang, including students, Jinshi, etc., but there is no specific information.
Zhu Hao smiled and shook his head, as if to say I don't know, but what he really wanted to express was that I knew and wouldn't say anything.
Zhu Wanquan nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
"Since you intend to take the county examination next year, besides blessing you, my uncle can't help you much." Although Zhu Wanquan wanted to help his nephew, he was powerless.
Zhu Hao said: "I know that the coming year will be a big competition year, and I also wish my fourth uncle that you can be named a winner."
The uncle and nephew looked at each other and smiled.
No matter how tense the relationship between the third brother of the Zhu family and the main family was, at least Zhu Wanquan had no ill intentions toward Zhu Niang and her son from the beginning to the end, and the uncle and nephew could maintain relative harmony.
…
…
Zhu Hao originally thought that he would spend a lot of time with Zhu Wanquan and ruin his plan.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Wanquan was so easy to talk to. He left the teahouse not long after, and Zhu Wanquan went to meet friends on his own... Probably because Zhu Wanquan rarely went out to relax recently, and he didn't want to waste too much time on Zhu Hao.
Zhu Hao is about to go see Su Xigui's local contact person, Shopkeeper Ma.
After asking Uncle Zhong to say hello, Zhu Hao went to the laboratory before attending the appointment.
When they arrived, they found a three-story pavilion. Su Xigui was standing by the fence of the pavilion, chatting intimately with a woman, pointing at the distant and near scenery from time to time and commenting on it.
Zhu Hao knew that woman, she was actually Fei Liannu who was traveling with him from Jiujiang to Nanchang.
"Hey, Mr. Zhu, come here, let's talk. The scenery here is really nice."
Su Xigui was very happy to see Zhu Hao and immediately sent out an invitation.
Zhu Hao finally reached the third floor of the pavilion from the steep stairs, only to see Su Xigui standing in front of the window, with the air of pointing out the country with a feather fan and silk scarf.
Quite stinky.
The lotus girl is like a bird, leaning on the railing.
Zhu Hao couldn't help but wonder, this lotus girl said before that she was betrothed to someone else, but her husband died before she could get married, and she has been single ever since. She is considered an older leftover girl... Couldn't her true identity be that Su Xigui raised her in an outside house, right?
Considering that Huang Zan once served as an official in Jiangxi, and the Sui family, a great businessman, had a close relationship with Huang Zan, it was not impossible that Lian Nu would be given to Huang Zan as a foreign residence by the Sui family, even if she was unwilling to do so.
"Little Master, come here, look at the crisp autumn air, the dense forests, and the sky full of fallen leaves. Isn't it very poetic?" Su Xigui actually started to show off his literary talent in front of the woman.
Zhu Hao said: "The fallen leaves are withered and yellow, withering and blocking the sun. What's the poetic meaning?"
Su Xigui was originally in high spirits, but after hearing this, it was as if someone had poured cold water on him, and the smile on his face suddenly disappeared.
Seeing Su Xigui's embarrassment, Lady Lotus next to her pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "I won't disturb the two of you from talking about business. I'll wait downstairs first."
When Lian Nu walked downstairs, Su Xigui looked over, with those eager eyes... It seemed like there was something special between the two of them.
…
…
"Dongzhu Su, where is this song coming from? Why did you come to Anlu all of a sudden? Didn't you say hello in advance?" Zhu Hao asked after Lian Nu came downstairs and only Zhu Hao and Su Xigui were left on the third floor of the pavilion.
One sentence.
Su Xigui waved his hand: "Don't mention it. I have been so busy lately that I finally returned to Huguang. I wanted to have some peace and quiet for two days. I wanted to feel at ease in the provincial capital. Thinking of you... I always felt itchy and unbearable, so I turned around and headed to An.
Lu. Anyway, it’s a pastime anywhere, and it’s the same in Anlu.”
Listen to the meaning behind these words...
It seems like you have any plans for me?
Zhu Hao asked with a half-smile, "I wonder what the relationship between Lotus Lady and Su Dongzhu is?"
Hearing this, Su Xigui glared at Zhu Hao and frowned: "You kid, don't think wrongly. Su has a daughter, and she is a sister. I have always regarded her as my nephew. This time she...is negotiating.
It comes from business and does not involve personal relationships between men and women."
A grown-up man actually explained to a child seriously and looked cautious, for fear of being misunderstood?!
Zhu Hao nodded.
Believe it or not believe Su Xigui's words, for Zhu Hao.
Who Lian Nu is to Su Xigui does not affect the business between them. A middle-aged veteran like Su Xigui would find a woman in her twenties to be her foreign wife... who is also her daughter's best friend...
You, Su Xigui, have a very strong taste!
"Master Zhu, you recently provided a batch of telescopes to King Xing as a tribute and sent them to the capital, which caused a sensation in the government and the public. I think King Xing relies heavily on you, right?"
Su Xigui came up as if he wanted to raise an army to investigate.
If you have any good deeds, you don't come to me, but you seek cooperation from the royal palace?
Seeing that the emperor and the ministers attach so much importance to telescopes, do you know that you make me very jealous?
Zhu Hao said: "It seems to have nothing to do with our business, right?"
Su Xigui sighed: "How come it doesn't matter? You leave this business to me... By the way, you can also make telescopes, right? Make a batch for me, fifteen taels of silver a pair, and give me ten pairs a month.
what do you think?"
Su Xigui was too lazy to say any polite words.
In a few sentences, he talked about buying a telescope from Zhu Hao.
"Dongzhu Su heard about the telescope, so he should ask about the specific cost, right? Fifteen taels of silver...isn't it a little less?"
When it comes to business, it's natural to bargain.
Su Xigui said with a smile: "The imperial court appropriated ten thousand taels of silver to purchase a hundred pairs of telescopes. As a person, you know that someone has been lining your pockets. I guess it would be good to have one or two thousand taels in your hands. Besides, wouldn't the palace want to deduct money from you?"
A sum? There are some benefits to doing business with me. If you say you are a child, you can do no deception... then you really are a child and you can do no deception!"
Zhu Hao nodded.
Su Xigui is right about this, because Zhu Hao himself is one of the "Tongsou".
Judging from the integrity that Su Xigui has always shown in doing business, he is a very principled person. So far, Zhu Hao has never seen Su Xigui use his brother-in-law's power to do anything to bully his peers.
"Okay, I'll make a few later and sell them to Mr. Su."
It is naturally not Zhu Hao's style to make money without making money, but he has to agree with Su Xigui on the price: "I can sell it to you, but you can't sell it for less than one hundred taels... Is this okay?
"
Su Xigui looked ashamed and annoyed, as if he was being despised by Zhu Hao. He raised his head and said: "Don't worry, I won't sell any of them. Even if I keep them as sacrifices, I won't break your rules, Mr. Zhu..."
I understand this kind of thing very well."
Think about it too.
The imperial court only had 100 of them, so Su Xigui bought them back, of course as a good gift.
Civil servants may not like that stuff, but who doesn't like military commanders such as noble princes and even local commanders, guards and commanders?
Holding it in your hand...it's the same style as the one used by the royal family. Isn't it satisfying? Isn't it beautiful?
Fifteen taels of silver may be able to accomplish a major event worth a hundred taels or even a thousand taels of silver...
Su Xigui's shrewdness is not only used in business.
Negotiate the business.
The two of them stood at the window.
Zhu Hao asked: "I wonder what's going on in Huangfantai recently?"
Su Xigui looked slightly satisfied: "Everything has been arranged. The Ministry of Personnel has revealed the news in advance. After the big plans for the coming year, Huang Gong will enter the court as the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and all the relationships have been taken care of..."
"Nato?"
Zhu Hao asked.
Su Xigui was even more proud: "Bei Hu."
Zhu Hao thought to himself, how could it be said that Su Xigui is good at doing business? This kind of court secret has not been announced yet, and all the relationships have been revealed.
Huang Zan had such a brother-in-law to help him organize things, how much trouble would he have saved?
"However, there are rumors in the court that the Tatar invasion has become more and more frequent in recent years, and the new right minister of household affairs or the title of right deputy censor of the capital will go to Xuanda to manage food and salary and other matters, so I have been busy running around recently.
I hope that more money and grain can be mobilized from the south and north of the Yangtze River for reserve... If Huang Gong really fills the official vacancy, it will be difficult to achieve anything in his office without planning in advance."
Zhu Hao originally thought that Su Xigui was very considerate of his brother-in-law, but now it seems that Su Xigui can be regarded as Huang Zan's golden thigh.
By buying the secret recipe for drying salt from Zhu Hao, he helped his brother-in-law find the opportunity to become the Minister of Household Affairs in the imperial court. During this period, he helped his brother-in-law deliver tributes, gifts to court officials, and smoothen the relationship between superiors and subordinates; when he learned that his brother-in-law became the Minister of Household Affairs
, he might be sent to the Datong line of Xuanfu to organize armaments, so he made preparations in advance, and the money and food would be supplied immediately after he took office...
This means that Huang Zan is not willing to just be a minister of household affairs, but wants to further seek the position of minister.
If Zhu Hao hadn't become an official yet, Zhu Hao would have wanted to ask: Brother, do you still need a brother-in-law? Marry your sister to me and I can be your brother-in-law.
Zhu Hao said: "So this time Su Dongzhu came to Anlu to collect grain?"
Su Xigui smiled: "No, no, I just came here to relax and talk to you to see if there is anything I can do to help you... Oh, by the way, the batch of white sand you asked for has been shipped to you nearby.
If you want the warehouse, you can call it anytime."
Su Xigui was considerate of the difficulties of his business partners and knew that Zhu Hao's mother and son had a bad relationship with the Zhu family and wanted to conceal the matter of continuing to make glass, so Su Xigui quietly provided raw materials and warehouses.
"Thank you, Mr. Su."
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "If it weren't for the fact that I'm studying in the palace, I would have done my best to be a landlord these days."
Su Xigui laughed loudly: "No need, I am walking around the city and Anlu by myself. I feel more at ease. With you by my side... I am at a loss."
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
There are three updates today, and there will be another chapter at 6pm. Please support me!