Zhou Lezhi only found out what Mr. Zhou’s magical powers were later. But at that time, these rumors only added another layer of mystery to Mr. Zhou.
He has been with Mr. Zhou for several months, and both Mr. Zhou and Wang Yehao trust him. Gradually, the two of them stopped talking about sending him away, but staying by their side. Wang Liang said that he just
This is considered the treatment of a "confidant".
As he is Mr. Zhou's "disciple", this treatment is not excessive. According to the rules, the master-disciple relationship is comparable to that of father and son. But these days, Zhou Lezhi can clearly feel that his husband does not completely trust him, and he has a vague defensiveness.
Not only for myself, but also for Mr. Wang and other people in the palace.
Mr. Wang has a sense of loneliness. Although according to Zhou Lezhi's opinion, his life is superior enough and his future is bright. With Mr. Wang's current ability, even if Zhou Lezhi wants to become a minor official, it probably won't be a problem.
Maybe decent people are a little weird.
Regardless of whether he is weird or mysterious, Zhou Lezhi still has a good impression of this gentleman. The first thing is that he treats him sincerely, tries his best to teach him his studies, and answers all questions; sometimes when he sees that he doesn't understand well, he also asks
To give him extra lessons and tutoring, I have to break it down and explain it clearly; secondly, he does not have the habit of being abused by superiors. Mr. Zhou is always polite to everyone, and he never makes unreasonable demands, let alone
He would use his status to oppress and abuse his servants and apprentices. Based on this alone, Zhou Lezhi felt that he was a rare gentleman.
Originally, he felt a little guilty about being an "undercover", but since he discovered that Mr. Zhou was an upright person and had no shady secrets except for some of his shortcomings, he was actually the same as an undercover agent, so he gradually began to
The center of the earth is at peace.
The days in Shaoxing were not short, and Mr. Zhou was not idle either. He traveled around and saw the decline of people's livelihood and the hardship of the people wherever he went. He would always show a look of unbearability. But he never said anything.
During this period, he wandered around the market and saw how the workers in the shops made a living. He was very curious. After he came back, he would write notes in his "vernacular".
Because Mr. Zhou's handwriting was really ugly, Zhou Lezhi had to copy the notes he wrote in small regular script as usual. Otherwise, even he himself wouldn't be able to read them.
As for the content of the notes, it can be said to be very diverse. Urban conditions, rural phenomena, business forms, skills of various industries, daily life of the people, price trends and local customs... everything is included. Zhou Lezhi can't understand why Mr. is doing this?
He couldn't help but ask Mr. Zhou, but Mr. Zhou replied: "I'm thinking about how to make money."
Zhou Lezhi didn't know how to make money, so he had to keep silent. Unexpectedly, Mr. Zhou asked him again: "What kind of money do you think is the best to make in this world?"
"Be an official!"
"This cannot be counted." Mr. Zhou shook his head helplessly, "When an official makes money, it is not doing business, it is stealing the blood of the people. If you put it like that, can't you also make a lot of money as a thief? You have to be serious.
The business cannot be illegal."
"Needless to say, sir's miracle medicine!" Zhou Lezhi particularly admired his husband's "one dose of medicine that works". No matter what the miracle doctor is, he always said that "diseases are gone like silkworms." Drink a large bowl of the medicine for a month or two.
, he has seen many things where money and people are gone. But this time, Mr. Zhou’s medicine can be said to have an immediate effect.
However, Mr. Zhou showed a guilty smile and said: "Although medicine is good, getting sick is always a troublesome thing. Besides, opening a pharmacy can't guarantee a prosperous business. What's more."
"Going to sea to sell foreign goods." Zhou Lezhi said, "We in Guangdong have the most people going to sea to sell foreign goods. With a small capital of twenty or thirty taels of silver, whether it is Eastern or Western, as long as we can come back safely, we will make a profit once we go out, and again when we come back.
Profit, it’s easy to make double the profit back and forth. If you are lucky, you can also get three or five times the profit. It’s just..."
"Just what?"
"I was unlucky. I capsized my boat and was attacked by pirates. If I could escape with my life and come back, I would be lucky. How many people never come back."
"The risk is too great, let's leave it aside for now. What else is there?"
"What else?" Zhou Lezhi thought to himself, is this gentleman questioning himself? Speaking of which, Mr. Zhou often teaches "economics" on weekdays. He thought for a moment and said, "The next thing is to open a bank and pawn shop. Take low loans and high loans."
, just sitting and collecting interest. The money is rolling in..."
"Haha, you are right, finance is indeed the fastest way to make money." Mr. Zhou couldn't help but clapped his hands and laughed, "But this industry requires a lot of capital and a big threshold to support it."
Zhou Lezhi said, "If sir wants to do this business, wouldn't Mr. Wang be the ready-made big threshold?"
The gentleman smiled but did not answer, and continued: "What if the bank can't do it?"
"Then...then become a rice merchant!"
"Rice merchant?"
"Yes, as long as you are a human being in this world, you have to eat. Being a rice merchant, isn't it a sure way to make money without losing money?"
Mr. Zhou laughed loudly and said: "You are right. Well, it is indeed not bad to be a rice merchant. However, the rice merchant is just moving things in the middle and seeking profit. He does not grow rice himself. If he encounters
Natural and man-made disasters, no rice to sell, all we can do is stare at them."
"What do you think you can do to make money, sir?" Zhou Lezhi's curiosity was piqued and he asked.
"If so, just open a factory and make cheap items that everyone can use."
"Why don't you create a magic medicine, sir?"
For a moment, Mr. Zhou's eyes flickered, and he said hastily: "The miracle medicine...can't be counted. After all, it is a miracle medicine. There are too many prerequisites...the raw materials alone...well, well, I can't get it together..."
Then he immediately changed the subject: "Actually, there are many cheap things that everyone uses. For example, soap... yes, you call it soap; and matches, which are easier to use than flint and fire sickles..."
That day, the master enthusiastically talked about a lot of useful little things. Zhou Lezhi had never heard of them. Hearing the teacher talk about them so well, he felt itchy in his heart and said: "Sir, since the things are so good, why not let Mr. Wang pay for them?"
, how about setting up a factory? Both you and Mr. Wang can make money."
"Alas, you think I don't want to. But making these things is easy to say, but actually difficult. There are so many things and no way to start..."
In the evening, Zhou Lezhi reported the conversation between himself and his husband to Wang Liang. Unexpectedly, he was called over by Mr. Wang the next day and said the words again. Wang Yehao twisted his beard for a long time before saying: "
Does he really have plans to make money and start a business?"
"It looks like a joke, but it doesn't seem like it." Zhou Lezhi said cautiously.
"If he really means this, just let him say it."
Zhou Lezhi thought that Mr. Wang was quite enthusiastic about making money.
Wang Yehao stayed in Shaoxing for a long time. He took care of the housework, visited the local officials and local gentry. By the way, he also helped his husband register his household registration. Only then did Zhou Lezhi realize that his husband was still a gangster.
After finishing the matter, Mr. Wang set off back to Beijing. In addition to a lot of luggage, there was also a forty-year-old scholar with a depressed expression in the team. This person's identity was a bit strange, he was actually a prisoner.
When did the official escort the prisoners? Zhou Lezhi was quite surprised. But it was inconvenient to ask more questions, so he just went with the team.
The group of people either took a boat or a sedan chair all the way to Hangzhou. Then they boarded the boat at Mishi Wharf, four miles outside Wulin Gate in the north of the city. Wang Yehao's great-uncle Wang Chengxun had been the governor of water transportation for more than 20 years and was the last governor of the Ming Dynasty.
The General Soldier of Water Transport. This time, on the one hand, they are transporting a nine-thousand-year-old "reward"; on the other hand, they are relatives of their old boss, who want to repay their support back then. Therefore, the Water Transport Army in Hangzhou worked particularly hard and specially arranged four ships.
Official ships. One is for Wang Yehao and his personal entourage, one is for escorts, two are for various kinds of goods, and there are two small boats for backup.
After boarding the official ship on the canal, the rest of the journey was quite pleasant. The teacher also commented and explained based on what he saw and heard on the trip. After this journey, Zhou Lezhi felt that his horizons were broadened, and the teacher taught him many methods of thinking and observation.
, many people and things that I couldn't understand in the past, now when I look back and appreciate them, I can see the sun through the clouds and feel suddenly enlightened.
The teacher said that learning is not only about mastering knowledge, but also about learning to think on the basis of mastering knowledge.
Now he somewhat understands
That evening, the boat stopped at Guazhou Ferry. Mr. Wang suddenly came to Mr. Zhou's cabin. With a smile on his face, he held the latest newspaper from the inn.
"That Jiannu did set up a siege in Jinzhou. Sir, he has a clever plan and is a true god."
"Haha, actually there is no need to rush this time. They will withdraw when the summer is too hot." Mr. Zhou looked quite proud.
Zhou Lezhi has a basic understanding of the world's situation through his studies in recent months, and knows that the two men are talking about the war in Liaodong. However, these words have no beginning or end, and are incomprehensible. He does not know what the two men are talking about, but he only knows that it must be a military and national event.
, just stood aside and waited respectfully.
"That's good." Not to mention retreating, even if he now said that Jiannu would go directly to the capital, Wang Yehao couldn't believe it, "Sir, after traveling all the way, can the two maids still be used together?"
"It's okay, but it's not very convenient on the boat."
Zhou Lezhi laughed secretly. Although a private room was specially allocated for his husband, the cabin was too small and inconvenient for him to go about his business. The husband was quite angry.
"We will arrive in Yangzhou Mansion in a few days. Since ancient times, Yangzhou's romantic affairs have been unrivaled in the world. I wonder if you are interested, Sir?" Wang Yehao felt that scribes have the rhetoric of scribes, and rough cuts have rough cuts. There was no mincing words when chatting with Mr. Zhou.
If necessary, it is better to get straight to the point.
"Yes! Sir, you are so interesting!" The gentleman was quite cooperative.
"Haha, it's rare for you to be so elegant. I've heard about the reputation of Yangzhou's thin horses. I will definitely travel with you when the time comes."
But the gentleman asked something that Wang Yehao didn't know how to answer: "Sir, are there any fat horses?"