Li Guolou's brother Li Guoyun, sister Li Guomei and brother-in-law Tan Guoxi took a boat from Shiliupu Pier in Shanghai to Tianjin Port Nanbu Pier and then took a carriage to the capital. Li Guolou sent Wei Xiaoqi to pick up Li Guoyun and others at Tianjin Port Nanbu Pier. The six of them went back to the capital directly. At this time, they entered the Mingyang Gate of the east gate in a group of three carriages in the wind and snow. Li Guolou wrote a letter home and asked Wei Xiaoqi to give it to his eldest brother Li Guoyun. His life and work in the capital The situation was described in detail, so Li Guoyun, Li Guomei and brother-in-law Tan Guoxi all already knew what was going on with Li Guolou.
Li Guoyun is in his early thirties, with a rectangular face and two small beards. He is about 1.75 meters tall. He is lame in his left foot. He habitually holds a cane in his left hand. Even when he is sitting in a carriage, he still holds the cane in his hand.
Tan Guoxi is thirty years old. He has a round face and a slightly chubby figure. He wears a pair of gold-rimmed eyes. He is less than 1.7 meters tall and has a small beard.
At this time, the social atmosphere no longer regards long beards as beauty, but people like to grow various kinds of mustaches. Orientals regard it as beauty to grow mustaches, especially soldiers. Many businessmen wear this style of mustache, and civil servants want to show off. The most dignified appearance is still to have three strands of beard.
Li Guomei is less than thirty years old. She has her hair tied up in a high bun. She has pale eyebrows and a fair face. Her belly is slightly bulging. She is already more than four months pregnant. Her beautiful face is looking sideways at the street outside the car window.
Li Guomei didn't turn around and said: "Brother, don't worry. Since Xiaolou likes to eat soft rice, just let him go. But I'm not willing to spend so much money in vain. When the time comes, you can ask him to take the Juren Examination. , a man cannot let his career go to waste."
Tan Guoxi, who was sitting next to him, said: "Xiaomei, I think it's better not to ask Xiaolou to take the imperial examination. He is still too young and uncertain. How can he sit still now? Are you making things difficult for him? It is better to let him get married and start a career first. If you take the exam and become an official in the south, you will have no future if you stay in the north."
Li Guoyun, who was sitting alone in the front row, leaned sideways, looked to the back and said: "That's it, let's make the family business bigger first. It doesn't matter whether we need a fig leaf or not. Anyway, the small building is a fake foreign devil. I'm afraid it won't work just to hold a wedding in my hometown. , when I get married, let him go back to Fei to visit relatives, and let him hold a wedding in his hometown, and my ancestors will jump out of their skins."
"Hey! I originally had a good idea to let you two brothers get married together, but now where is the better one?" Li Guomei sighed helplessly.
Li Guoyun shook his head and sighed: "Anyway, the one who chased me here is ready to be a concubine. Xiaolou just gives her a title. I really don't understand that Xiaolou didn't find a good little girl, but found three widows and... He's a bastard, and he said that the names of the three wives are decided, it's a shame he figured it out."
"Xiaolou, you will die early." Tan Guoxi lamented, glanced at Li Guomei next to him, and felt happy. He originally promised that Li Guomei would not marry a young wife until she had a son and a half, but now his wish has come true, and he will start it when he returns to Shanghai. Get ready to marry a singer and take him home to raise.
"Hey, the capital is still the same. It hasn't changed at all. Shanghai is still better." Li Guomei looked out the window and said with emotion.
The carriage was as warm as spring, but still a little hot. A charcoal stove was burning brightly under Li Guomei's feet, and the streets were full of timid poor people walking in the wind and snow.
"Yes, if you are used to living in a bungalow and then living in a courtyard room, it will feel very cold. I'm afraid Xiaomei won't be used to it." Tan Guoxi put an arm around Li Guomei's waist, and the two looked at each other and smiled.
Li Guoyun sighed: "Let's see where we live. If the place is small, we'll still live in a fellow villagers' guild hall. If the wife in a small building has a big enough home, it doesn't matter. Anyway, I don't have to spend any more money. My life is very tight this year." of."
Tan Guoxi sighed: "Now the textile industry has plummeted, and the silk export business has been dealt a blow by Hu Xueyan. We can only rely on shops to support us. Big brother will find a way to turn around next year. The family has a big business and a lot of expenses. If we continue to support it like this, we My family fortune will be exhausted.”
Li Guoyun gritted his teeth and said: "Little Japan is really bad. It hurts others but does not benefit itself. They want to use this trick to bring down our textile industry in the Qing Dynasty and make more of our factories close down. I don't believe in this evil, so I will bet with Little Japan to the end." .The country is happy that the silk business has no future. People say that if you don’t wear silk clothes, you won’t wear them, but the future of the cloth business is bright. European powers are developing heavy industry, and their workers are too expensive. In this kind of industry where cheap workers are concentrated, we Easterners compete. The advantage is obvious. Little Japan is on the same level as us. If we are too timid to bet against Little Japan, we will not be able to even get into the door when the industry develops. Anyway, I will risk my life. If others back down, I will follow up. , when Little Japan Software comes to negotiate with us, the price war will eventually end. If you withdraw your shares and I fall out with you, you can weigh it yourself."
Tan Guoxi lamented: "Brother, I also made a fortune by hanging with the Li family. Don't be so stubborn. We can discuss things easily."
"You are not allowed to mention unhappy things during the Chinese New Year." Li Guomei hurriedly persuaded them, and if they continued to argue, they would quarrel again.
There was silence in the carriage for a while, and Li Guoyun looked at the street outside. A signboard of golden nanmu shone brightly, and the newly opened "Hu Qingyutang" came into view.
"Hu Xueyan brought Hu Qingyutang to the capital. What a sight! Even the Queen Mother knew about this great benevolent man's good deeds. He made money and got a good reputation. As people of the Qing Dynasty, we also have to share our worries for the country and don't give up when we encounter any setbacks. If we want to keep a little bit of our family fortune, we can no longer compete with Japan in business. If we lose our key industry, what other industry can we have to gain a foothold in the world." Li Guoyun elevated business competition to national dignity and was a demagogue. , Li Guolou learned his speech and behavior from his elder brother.
"Okay, okay, I can't help you. If you don't talk about the textile factory in the future, don't show me the account books again. Out of sight is out of mind. When things get better, you can show your credit to me. Our conversation is about us making money. We mainly focus on the Jinfengyin Building, and there is no need to talk about the export business. Hu Xueyan will die in our hands one day." Tan Guoxi is patriotic, but also has deep-seated hatred in his heart.
Li Guoyun smiled brightly and said: "That's right. If it doesn't work, we will pledge the Jinfeng Silver Building to Citibank. You have to believe in my vision."
"I didn't hear anything!" Tan Guoxi covered his ears, refusing to listen to what Li Guoyun said.
"Stop talking, let's talk about my brother. If this kid refuses to take the Jinshi exam, I think we should let him move back to Shanghai and stop being played like a monkey. Our family cannot afford to lose this person." Li Guomei's Her opinion has not changed. She is an independent woman. Her husband's business investment is based on her advice. Profits come first. She spent tens of thousands of taels of silver for her brother Li Guolou, but in exchange for a worthless official hat, no wonder she Full of resentment.
"Listen to what Xiaolou has to say first. You don't have to worry." The eldest brother Li Guoyun remained calm and maintained the usual style of a big businessman.
Li Guomei scooped out the letter written by Li Guolou and read it carefully, trying to find some clues in it. Li Guolou also had that look, and his family were all masters of conspiracy.
"The three widows look pretty good, and they look pretty clean in the photos. I just have no idea whether their names will be included in the family tree when we compile it in the future." Li Guomei looked at Li Guolou and the three lovers. In the group photo, his face shines with brilliance. Even if he has money, he still needs money. His younger brother Li Guolou has not disgraced his ancestors.
Li Guoyun sighed: "Forget the foreign girl. The widow with the oil bottle always wants her to be fucked. If the age of the oil bottle is changed to a few years younger, it can be regarded as raised by a small building. The second child should be fucked by her. Her surname is Li Xie." After saying that, he scooped up the photos and saw that it was the photo of the child Zheng Lingling, which made Li Guoyun feel better. Zheng Lingling, who had two braids, her eyes were wide open and she was extremely innocent. cute.
Tan Guoxi said: "I quite like girls. It's good for Xiaomei to give birth to a girl for the first time. I'll let my sister take care of the children in the future."
The three of them were circulating a stack of photos on the carriage, with looks of approval on their faces. Lu Bu was the best among the people, and the red rabbit was the best. Li Guolou was quite discerning, and it was not a loss to have a soft meal. He had both wealth and appearance, and heirs of the Li family. Write a new legend.
It was almost noon. When Li Guolou stepped into Baozhi Room, the lobby inside was already full of people. The people who were supposed to come did not waste their deposits. Li Guolou hurriedly stepped forward to greet the people he knew, feeling a little shaken. Worshipers were sitting in the lobby.
"Brother Xiaolou!" The actress Yue Zhaixian ran to Li Guolou in front of everyone. Regardless of Yelia being right next to her, Chen Xiangfang stood at the door of the kitchen and hooked Li Guolou's arm resolutely.
Everyone was shocked that something contrary to common sense had happened. This was the Qing Empire. Men and women were not allowed to hug each other in public. Even Yelia, a foreign woman, did not dare to hook a man's arm casually.
Li Guolou was so anxious that he wanted to break away, but one of his hands was already held by Yue Zhaixian, as if holding hands, so that everyone could see clearly what their relationship was.
"Brother Xiaolou, please introduce your girlfriend to me." The actress Yue Zhaixian spoke loudly in the lobby, as if the relationship between the two had developed to the point where they were finally meeting her parents-in-law.
He couldn't lose his face here. Li Guolou winked and asked Chen Xiangfang and Yelia to follow him to the backyard to talk.
The extremely shameless Yue Zhaixian refused to let go of Li Guolou's hand. He blew his breath like orchid and whispered in his ear: "Brother Xiaolou, you can't escape this time. It was you who came to my place to seduce me. You You can’t rely on it.”
In the open corridor in the backyard, snow fell on the four of them. Li Guolou said: "Yue Zhaixian, what do you mean by doing this? I haven't even looked at you." Then he said: "Xiao Fang, Jelia, you all have seen that I am not messing around outside. This woman is the best actress. She came to me when she had nothing to do. I have already told her that it is impossible. She still does this today. I But third brother, he is a famous person in the world."
Before Chen Xiangfang could say anything, Yue Zhaixian offered his blessing and said respectfully: "Grandma, Third Grandma, Yue Zhaixian wishes you well. I will serve you two from now on. My life was almost ruined by the opium ghost, but Brother Xiaolou saved me." I have no choice but to repay the favor, Grandma, Third Grandma, I am a magician who can do magic, not an ordinary actor. Now I am the number one in Tianqiao. During the Spring Festival, I will invite you to watch the show."
Chen Xiangfang said with a straight face: "Yuezhaixian, Xiaolou told me about you. Are you a nymphomaniac? You are staring at this place. Do you want to be ashamed?"
Yue Zhaixian began to cry bitterly, wiping her tears and crying loudly in the backyard, as if she felt endless grievances.
Yelia learned about the cause and effect of the matter from Li Guolou, and waved his hands and said: "I don't care, you can solve it yourself. I will accompany the Pravda reporter first, and you can tell me the solution later."
bsp; Chen Xiangfang looked at Li Guolou's expression, already knowing the answer in her heart, and sighed: "Xiaolou, you can solve it yourself. Anyway, we are not coming from the right way. The retribution for you is that you don't want to be a high official. Your The reputation stinks."
When Li Guolou saw that there was no one around, he took out his handkerchief and handed it to Yue Zhaixian, saying: "Okay, don't pretend to be aunt, Yue Zhaixian, you are good-looking. If you really like me, just wait for me for a year. You Don't tell me that you are keeping your virginity for me, I won't believe it. As long as you dump your old lover and don't be in the same troupe with him, I won't mind your past and want to cheat me out of money and get back with you again. Don’t think about him eloping, you saw with your own eyes how Xian Cheng Li of Yipintang died."
"You, you, you, why are you like this? I really like you. I'll dump you as soon as I get rid of you. I won't cheat you of your money." Yue Zhaixian excitedly threw herself into Li Guolou's arms, shedding tears and runny noses. Rub it on Li Guolou's handkerchief.
Li Guolou lamented in his heart, why should he be soft-hearted? This kind of female actor wants to marry into the family. Unfortunately, the Li family's family tradition will be ruined. The hot lips are pressed against him, and Li Guolou is willing to be plotted by the female actor.