At the mouth of the river, in the villa that was converted from a shipyard, in the backyard, there are lake pavilions, patches of lotus flowers, and strips of green willows. It is a cool place with no wind. Three 28-year-olds are sitting cross-legged and discussing their ambitions.
"Young men make up their minds, just remember them."
When Zhu Kui spoke, he looked like his elder brother was giving advice. The two people who listened nodded repeatedly and said, "Young Master's words are like enlightenment, and I have learned a lesson."
"Okay, I've also decided on the name of this escort agency. It's called "Tianxia Escort Agency". This villa has also been officially renamed "Tianxia Villa". It's just the chief escort, you have been in Shuizhai for many years, have you ever thought of any good candidates?
"
"As for the candidate for the chief escort, we think that Gao Yi is a steady and resourceful man. He has been very prestigious in the village before. He can do the job."
"Oh, but that tall brother who saw through Yan Baihu's plan to deceive the city that day?"
"Exactly this person."
Zhu Kui thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Well, I will ask Brother Gao about it tomorrow."
Then, the three of them continued to talk for a while, and soon after noon, someone came to tell them that the food and wine had been prepared and could they be served.
There is a natural pond in the backyard of the villa, about three acres in size, connected to the Huaihe River. It is surrounded by willow trees and lush green. There is also a path leading directly into the pond. At the end of the path is a pavilion, located in the center of the pond.
A good man should eat a lot of meat and drink a lot of wine, but the meat is pork or chicken. In the novel, one liang of white dried beans and two pounds of beef are impossible to eat cattle like this in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Cows are livestock, very valuable, and the common people
The government will never kill them for eating, it is expressly prohibited.
After Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty only respected Confucianism, he popularized Confucian etiquette. However, the people in the Green Forest still insisted on their own habits and never learned these complicated etiquettes. Look at Gan Ning eating pork and holding wine at the same time.
Tan Wan poured wine into his mouth and wiped the oil from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. He tilted his head and looked at the surrounding scenery. He praised: "The young man is really knowledgeable and knows how to build a courtyard. Last time I went to the Lu family with the eldest master.
When I said my thanks, the scenery I saw was incomparable to this place."
Zhu Kui shook his head and said with a smile: "Xiao Dao'er, it's not enough to comment on it."
"We are also willing to do great things, but we are just from a humble background and dare not speak nonsense." Zhou Tai sighed after taking a big gulp of wine.
"No, since ancient times there have been many heroes who slaughtered dogs. Why should you two brothers belittle yourselves? Aren't you already officers and soldiers now? I can guarantee that in the future you will both be granted the title of marquis and general."
Gan Ning laughed and said: "The military adviser said that only those who are capable will live in this place. Young Master can give Gaojiazhai a better future. I didn't believe it at first, but now I believe that you can really lead us to achieve great achievements in the future."
"
Gan Ning and Zhou Tai were all talented generals. In official history, one was named a victorious general and the other was the Marquis of Lingyang.
Zhu Kui raised his wine glass, stood up, and said: "Haha, Mr. Ma Jun is so complimentary, but the three of us hit it off so well. Now, the willow leaves in the backyard are flying, and the scenery is beautiful. We can worship the heaven and earth in the pavilion. The three of us
People become brothers of the opposite sex. What do the two brothers think?
Gan Ning and Zhou Tai were overjoyed when they heard this and said in unison: "This is very good. Both my brothers have this intention."
"Okay, okay!" Zhu Kui said three good words in a row, waved his hand and shouted outside the pavilion: "Come here, please remove the banquet and set up the incense table!"
After a while, an incense burner was set up on the wine table, three sticks of incense were placed upside down, and three large bowls were filled with wine. The three people held knives and cut their fingers one by one, and dripped them into the wine.
"Remembering Zhu Kui, Gan Ning, and Zhou Tai, although they have different surnames, if they are brothers, they will share the blessings and the same misfortunes. They do not wish to be born in the same year, the same month and the same day, but only wish to die in the same year, the same month and the same day. The emperor has a rich soil, and he has learned this heart.
Being ungrateful and ungrateful will kill both heaven and man."
After the oath was taken, the three of them drank blood wine together, and the three pairs of big hands held each other tightly. From this moment on, they shared life and death together and never left each other...
Since ancient times, heroes have been born in youth. This year, Zhu Kui was sixteen years old, Zhou Tai was fifteen years old, and Gan Ning was only fourteen years old.
"Big brother"
"Second brother, third brother."
What would it be like if the three sworn brothers in Liuyuan saw the three sworn brothers in Taoyuan one day?
The guards of Tianxia Villa heard that the three were sworn brothers and came to congratulate them one after another. Zhu Kui was so happy that he exempted them from training for a day and ordered them to kill chickens and pigs and hold a feast. Hundreds of people drank in the backyard until late at night. Gan Ning
Zhou Tai was a drunkard by nature and was extremely drunk. Later, the servants carried them back to their room.
Although Zhu Kui's drinking capacity was not as good as the two of them, he was still sober because of his temperance. After the banquet was over, he returned to the room alone.
After a while, Wang Xiaoliu knocked on the door to meet him as promised.
Under the dim light, Wang Xiaoliu stood with his head down. In front of him was Zhu Kui, who was sitting on a soft mat.
Wang Xiaoliu glanced at Zhu Kui secretly and saw that he was still sitting upright, as he had been since he came in, quietly.
"Wang Xiaoliu, I heard people say that you are not only proficient in criminal law, but also know how to do business, is that right?"
Zhu Kui's tone sounded drunken, like a drunk talking nonsense.
"I can't be called a businessman. I just sold some jewelry and bronzes for the big boss in the past. It's not worth mentioning."
Wang Xiaoliu's face was full of smiles, and he was so wretched. Zhu Kui had already found out his details from Kaohsiung and others. He was cunning and resourceful. He served as a jailer for two years, and then committed crimes and ended up in Gaojiazhai to this day.
It has been six years. Although everyone knows that this person is cunning, his relationship with others is not very bad. He sometimes calls him brother and brother, and he has never done anything to disgrace Gaojiazhai. Kaohsiung has a good impression of him.
"Okay, I'm looking for you because I believe in you. I want to establish a trading company, and you will be in charge. I will send people to you when the money comes back, but you need to find a way to manpower yourself? I need this trading company to spread all over Jiangdong within two years.
Six counties and eighty-one counties can extend their tentacles into the Central Plains, you can be sure."
When Wang Xiaoliu heard this, his mouth opened wide. Zhu Kui actually valued him so much. His family knew about his family affairs, and they also knew that he was not well regarded by his brothers.
He was very confused. How could ordinary people be confident that Zhu Kui's proposal was so huge? Moreover, he wanted to build a huge business network at the expense of the near, so why did he start from scratch? Didn't he have a close relationship with the daughter of Zhao Bancheng, the richest man in Moling?
, why not just take the Zhao family's property and get married to Zhao Ying'er. These days, all good men have three wives and four concubines. With his ability, he can marry them all. At that time, although the Zhao family's surname was Zhao, it was also surnamed Zhu, just like today's Gao
The water village is average.
But he quickly came back to his senses. This was his opportunity, an opportunity to stand out. No matter what he said, Shulang had to build his business again. If he missed it, he would never have it again.
"The little man is willing to serve the little man and do his best."
Zhu Kui was very satisfied with Wang Xiaoliu's answer. If he loudly promised to do it within two years, it means that this person is too boastful. Although he is not self-made, it is not something ordinary people can achieve. This can be regarded as a compliment to Wang Xiaoliu.
a test.
"Don't think that I am too ambitious and ambitious. In fact, I don't want you to make your business as powerful as possible and become a giant in that county or place. What I want is to be broad and numerous. What I want is for everyone in Jiangdong to be big."
There is a stopping point everywhere, a small tea stall, or a small grocery store, that's it. This way you can be somewhat sure."
Wang Xiaoliu listened to Zhu Kui's explanation of his needs and plans one by one, and made up his mind. With enough funds, it would not be difficult to do a chain store. He just thought that Zhu Kui would have to go to every place.
They all open a restaurant or cloth shop, make it bigger and stronger, like Piaoxiang Tower or Tianfeng Tower, and compete to be ranked first or second.
Such a request is very difficult to achieve. You see, Zhao Bancheng only opened Piaoxiang branches in all counties in Jiangdong after Zhu Kui presented "Storytelling Policy". This is Zhao Bancheng's 20 years of hard work and hard work.
The results...
Wang Xiaoliu didn't have much confidence in the interview just now, but with the operation of small tea stalls and small shops, he had confidence. So he confidently promised again: "Don't worry, little man, in two years
, Xiaoliu will definitely complete the mission."
"Yeah!" Zhu Kui said a dignified favor, expressing his approval. Then he changed the topic and mentioned: "When you work for me, you will have to contact high-ranking officials in the future. It's better not to use the name Xiaoliu."
How about changing it to Wang Zhong, with the courtesy name Degui? From now on, you only need to inform me about everything in the business. Even if you are the boss, you cannot say a word without my consent."
A pale color flashed across Wang Xiaoliu's face. This was because he wanted to use it for himself and create a team of his own confidants. He changed his name to Wang Zhong, with the word Degui, which obviously meant to warn that only by being loyal can one be noble.
Although he had known that Zhu Kui intended to slowly take over the power of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung had not announced it explicitly, and Shu Shu'er and Zhu Kui were not married. Although everyone followed Zhu Kui's orders, Kaohsiung was the real boss. He didn't want him to be like this.
Quickly begin to seek common ground and eliminate differences.
Wang Xiaoliu had been loyal to Kaohsiung for seven years, and he naturally did not want to switch to the outside world so easily, but then he thought of Shu Shuer's usual attitude towards Zhu Kui, and it made no difference whether they married early or late.
"Since the head of the family has long wanted to pass on the throne to him, it is not considered disloyal to serve him." As soon as Guan Yu left, Wang Xiaoliu bowed his head again and said, "Wang Zhong pays homage to my lord."
A smile slowly bloomed from the corner of Zhu Kui's mouth, and he said with satisfaction: "Okay, it's late at night, Degui, you should go back and have a good rest."
Moling, Piaoxiang Building, inside a room.
Zhao Ying'er, dressed in pink, was sitting on her knees beside the table, while her maid Xiaoqiu was serving her and eating breakfast.
Manager Li in front of him stood up and reported: "Second Miss, I was a little late. When I arrived at the North Neighborhood, the owner had already sold the shop to a man named Wang Zhong. Only then did I find out that this man's price was twice as much as ours.
"
In recent years, Zhao Ying'er has begun to take over major transactions in her family.
"Oh." Zhao Ying'er stopped the chopsticks in her hand, a little surprised. The North Street store was a must-have for her Zhao family, and the price was already very high. She didn't want anyone to pay twice as much as her.
"Uncle Li, have you found out who made the bid?"
Guan Li shook his head beforehand: "I sent him to inquire. No one knows the origin of Wang Zhong. They only know what kind of sedan business he wants to carry out."
"But." The conversation changed and he added: "The old slave went to Lianghuai Salt Fields three days ago to buy some salt goods. He happened to meet this person and he was with the storyteller. Looking at their appearance, Wang Zhong looked solemn.
It’s like following fate.”
"Is he from Brother Kui?" Zhao Ying'er thought in her mind: "When I went to the salt field, Brother Kui said that he wanted to do something big and get involved in the private salt business. I seem to have heard him mention this sedan. Isn't it a rickshaw luan?"
He asked, "Does father know about this?"
Manager Li nodded and said, "I already know, so I'd better wait and see what happens."
Zhao Ying'er breathed a sigh of relief. Her father was not angry that the store was being snapped up. He thought for a moment: "Brother Kui wants to get involved in the private business, so why don't we ask him to cooperate."
Thinking of this, he no longer wanted to eat, so he called Xiaoqiu and went out to find Zhu Kui.