Queen Zhou, Zhang Yan and other members of the royal family rode in five VIP cars, escorted by a hundred Xujiazhuang security personnel, and embarked on the road to Harbor City.
The standards of this visit were obviously lowered.
There are only four or five core royal members.
There were less than a hundred people accompanying him.
Most of the escorting security personnel were from Xujiazhuang, and the royal guards only brought a dozen or so.
In addition, Xujiazhuang will still reimburse all the expenses this time, but they will not provide a consumption limit. Instead, they will accept whatever accommodation and board conditions Xujiazhuang arranges. If you are not satisfied, you can put forward opinions, but the main thing is to see
How to arrange Xujiazhuang.
Even the reception standards have been significantly reduced, not as generous and luxurious as last year.
Because Fang Qingyan was responsible for giving instructions for this year's reception arrangements. She believed that there was no need to be too extravagant and wasteful, and Xujiazhuang also had many places to spend money, so it was necessary to be frugal and restrained.
That's right.
It's the end of the year, and Xu Yuan has returned to his hometown again. During this period, the time and frequency of returning to White Castle will be very small. Therefore, Xujiazhuang has entered the stage of rotating consuls and matrons in charge, and it will last for a long time, at least
More than three months.
Fang Qingyan does not take the royal family too seriously, and even treats it with contempt and disdain.
After all, compared with Xujiazhuang, the royal family's few resources and strength are too shabby and inadequate. To reach an alliance and marriage with the Xu family is actually to gain a higher status from the Xu family and obviously take advantage of the Xu family. However, it often happens
She behaved coldly and looked like she had suffered a big loss. My husband might do this, but I, Qingyan, would not do this! Because without the support and sponsorship of Xujiazhuang, the royal authority has long been lost.
, maybe even the foundation of the country cannot be saved, how can we be where we are today?
My husband may be spoiled by the royal family, but I, Qingyan, will definitely not. Even if the two parties have formed an alliance, they will adopt a business-like attitude and not waste any more resources.
Five days later.
The VIP convoy arrived at Harbor City smoothly.
Queen Zhou, Zhang Yan and others were quickly settled and moved into villas in the high-end villa area in the west of the city - it was the same as last year. They were all pampered members of the royal family, and their living conditions should not be too bad.
As for the purpose of Queen Zhou and the others' coming this time, Fang Qingyan also knew it clearly in advance, so she took the initiative to receive them in the White Castle. After a while of warm greetings and exchange of gifts between the sisters.
Fang Qingyan said to them straight to the point: "Sister Zhou, Sister Zhang, if you have any ideas for cooperation, just tell me. My husband won't be able to come back for a while. As long as it's not a particularly urgent matter, I can make the decision."
It’s up to you to talk to me.”
"Sister Fang, we mainly came to Harbor City this time to relax and enjoy the scenery. We discovered that in less than a year, Harbor City has added new attractions such as the Ocean Park, Ferris Wheel, and Zoo. We are particularly curious.
I just wanted to come over and have a look.”
Zhou Yufeng smiled and said, not intending to tell her real purpose.
"Sister, you are a bit dishonest. There are so many new attractions in Harbor City. The most suitable time to visit is summer. It's so cold in winter that you can't see much. Don't hide it from me. Just tell me." Fang
Qingyan said with a smile.
"There is indeed something more important."
Zhou Yufeng had no choice but to say, changing her words: "But it is better to talk to the owner of the village in person about this matter, but we don't know when he will come back... But we can wait, there is no problem in waiting for ten days and a half, it is not particularly urgent.
"
"Don't you just want to open a few royal factories? Needless to say, I have guessed it."
Fang Qingyan simply made it clear: "Brick kiln factory, cement factory, furniture factory, food processing factory, hand-cranked washing machine factory, vehicle maintenance factory, etc., I can make decisions in these factories, whether it is technology transfer or equipment sales, no problem
, According to the current market conditions, these factories can earn a profit rate of more than 20%, and can also create a large number of jobs, and their development prospects are very good."
"Are there any factories with higher profit margins?" Zhou Yufeng asked.
"Of course there are glass factories, soap factories, garment factories, paper factories (which can produce toilet paper, sanitary napkins and other products), ceramic factories, high-precision parts factories, handicraft factories, jewelry OEM factories, etc. As long as you master the craftsmanship
With technology, it is easy to reach 50% profit margin." Fang Qingyan said.
"We want to build a high-profit factory. As for the craftsmen, we can recruit a group of skilled craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry. The quality of the workers can be guaranteed." Zhou Yufeng said quickly.
"In fact, we in Xujiazhuang have opened these factories ourselves. They are all profitable and belong to high-quality industries. Once the technology is diffused and the equipment is sold, although a profit is made, some long-term business will be lost.
If we are not a particularly good partner, we will not consider decentralizing high-quality industries unless the profit margins of these industries have dropped to an unprofitable level."
"Our royal family and Xujiazhuang are fully cooperative allies. As allies, I wonder if we can transfer some high-quality industries to us?" Zhou Yufeng asked, unknowingly falling into Fang Qingyan's rhythm.
"For allies, of course, there is no problem in transferring high-quality industries, but we also have a few small requirements as equivalent exchanges to make up for our economic losses." Fang Qingyan said with a smile.
"What are the conditions? Please tell me."
"In the future, prefectures and counties in the Jiangnan region can allow talents arranged by Xujiazhuang to serve as officials in certain positions to solve some stubborn problems; secondly, Xujiazhuang's legal system has certain binding force on the people in Jiangnan.
The people of the Ming Dynasty can choose to come to the courts of Xujiazhuang to litigate business and civil disputes, which are also legally binding; in addition, the people of Xujiazhuang can carry any weapons and go anywhere in the Ming Dynasty, and have the right to freely arm themselves..." Fang Qing
Yan said several things in succession.
"Stop talking!"
Zhang Yan interrupted her directly: "We will not agree to any of the conditions you put forward, let alone agree to them. Just ask, if we negotiate with you without agreeing to these harsh conditions, can our royal family get anything?"
Technology transfer for high-profit factories and purchase of equipment at preferential prices?”
"Haha, it's okay if you don't agree to these cooperation conditions, then just talk about the money directly. For technology transfer fees, a one-time payment of 1 million silver dollars, or a patent licensing fee equivalent to 5% of the product selling price every year. For equipment, of course it is also a business matter.
The public price ranges from a few thousand silver dollars to hundreds of thousands per unit. The equipment purchase cost of a factory will not be less than one million... If you can get this money, of course, a high-profit factory can help you build it." Fang
Qingyan chuckled.
"How much will that cost?"
Zhou Yufeng was astonished. This could cost tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of silver dollars. The royal family's cash had been spent, and it was estimated that they would not be able to build many royal factories.
And it’s also extremely uneconomical.
"If you don't have money, then give up setting up a factory, or set up a few low-profit factories and make money by running volumes. As allies, we will occasionally place some orders to avoid being said by you that we have no allyship." Fang Qingyan was very happy.
A humane way.
"Let's go!"
Zhang Yan directly pulled Zhou Yufeng away and said: "We can't negotiate cooperation with her. Let's wait."
"Are you waiting for my husband to come back?"
Fang Qingyan's voice sounded behind them, saying: "I suggest you don't wait any longer. My husband will have the same cooperation conditions when he comes back. I won't make an exception for you. It will only make you more disappointed. In this way, we will be disappointed again."
Let’s talk. As long as the cooperation conditions you offer are suitable, I might be able to make some concessions.”
"No need, there's nothing to talk about."
Zhang Yan said without looking back.
…
Leave White Castle.
Back to the high-end villa in the west of the city, and then waited day by day.
Both Queen Zhou and Zhang Yan felt an increasingly tormenting feeling.
Although Harbor City has a comfortable environment, countless delicious food, and numerous entertainment activities, it always makes people forget to leave.
But from late November to mid-December, it was more than half a month of waiting.
Zhou Yufeng, Zhang Yan and the others did not feel much relief and happiness. Instead, they became more and more headaches and agitated, and their good moods were often completely ruined.
As for the source of these negative emotions, it is naturally the woman Fang Qingyan.
She regards herself as the mistress of Xujiazhuang. These days, she is still warm and polite to the royal family members. She even comes to visit every now and then. She calls her "sister" and "sister" very intimately, and talks about all kinds of topics. It seems that they are about to become extremely close friends.
best friend.
But it is often difficult for men to understand the intrigues between women, but among women, their minds are like mirrors and they can understand them immediately.
For example, Fang Qingyan praised the royal family for its rich heritage, frugal life, and natural nobility. She mentioned a lot of advantages, which seemed like commercial flattery, but in fact she might be criticizing the royal family for being backward, decadent, poor, hard-working, and putting on airs.
listen.
Zhang Yan was tit for tat, and would praise Xu Jiazhuang's rapid rise, wealth, and aggressiveness. In fact, she might be criticizing Xu Jiazhuang for being a nouveau riche, only having money but no morals, and being too greedy in plundering overseas.
But even in terms of bickering, Zhang Yan could fight Fang Qingyan to a 50-50 tie, but she and Queen Zhou came to Harbor City this time because they wanted something from Xujiazhuang, which made them less confident.
For a moment, I dare not criticize too much.
Later, Fang Qingyan often thought of ways to stimulate and attack them.
For example, you invite them to go shopping in a high-end shopping mall, buy things worth hundreds of thousands of silver dollars without blinking an eye, and then give them some gifts such as stockings, jewelry, sunglasses, etc. It feels like a lady is giving a reward to a maid.
They were often invited to dinners, such as king crab feasts, Chinese sacred cow feasts, etc. The various high-end ingredients opened their eyes to Zhou Yufeng and Zhang Yan, but they also felt a little inferior. Because of these high-end foods, they were in the palace.
They are rarely eaten, but Fang Qingyan eats them often.
And most importantly, when it comes to when Xu Yuan will come back, Fang Qingyan is acting like a monkey. Today she said she would be back in four or five days, tomorrow she said she might be back in two days, and even once
Simply say that Xu Yuan came back once, but only stayed for a short while and then left again immediately - Zhang Yan almost vomited blood in depression.
After being teased many times in a row.
Feeling humiliated, Empress Zhou was about to give up and said: "Forget it, Sister-in-law, let's not wait any longer and go back. Fang Qingyan plays tricks on us every day and will not tell us the news of Xu Yuan's return."
"No, I want to wait!"
Zhang Yan said firmly: "If you can't wait for half a month, wait for a month. If you can't wait for a month, wait for three months. Then Xu Yuan will come back eventually, and I will definitely see him!"
At this moment, even if she wanted to get rid of that hateful Fang Qingyan, she had to continue to wait and never give up!