His Excellency the Count of Grandet

After signing the transfer contract, spending some time inspecting the newly purchased manor, and entrusting the recruitment of workers to Mr. Myron, Charles set off for Paris from Bordeaux.At this time, there was still more than a month before Christmas, and he was not in a hurry at all, telling Antoine not to struggle too much in driving the carriage.

On reaching Angoulême, Charles received a letter from Saumur's men.It said that the [-]-barrel project was successfully completed, and the transaction price was [-] francs; now it is watching the workers loading the ship, and it will soon drop anchor and set sail; finally, ask what to do next.

Charles smiled when he saw it.The news from Saumur was indeed the fastest, because his dear uncle had already done it before him.The owners of those vineyards had exhausted their calculations, and they probably wouldn't soon realize that not only were they planted in Grandet's hands this time, but two in succession.

There's nothing superior or sympathetic about it, it's just a fact.

If it wasn't for the high price of more than 180 francs a barrel, why would those people suffer from it?Didn't he take it away if he offered it earlier at the normal price?If you dare to make a decision to stock up, you must estimate all risks.Just like himself, before doing this, he was also prepared to go bankrupt, no matter how many possibilities there were.

High returns are always accompanied by high risks; skills are not as good as others, admit defeat, don't you?

Charle wrote a reply letter, and asked someone to transport the wine to Tours, then take the overland route, and put it directly on the train to Paris, so as to ensure that it will arrive on time.Guillaume is in Paris, and can be responsible for work such as warehousing and inventory, and then deliver it to the Duke of Orleans after confirmation.

And when Charles arrived in Sifrai in his light traveling carriage, the results of several other places also came out.

Cities such as Nantes and Angers saw volumes between 110 and 130 barrels and prices ranging from 120 to 150 francs.Although it can't match Saumur's low price, the average purchase price of [-] francs per barrel is much lower than the [-] francs he had prepared before.Then calculating the total amount, it was more than a thousand barrels more than expected.

Charged too much?No big deal, just sell it to someone else.Although other people may not be able to charge as high a price as His Excellency the Duke, since their charging price is not high, making a small profit is not a problem.

Before reaching Saumur, Charles had settled the accounts of the business.Regardless of the extra thousand barrels of wine charged, he saved 54 francs in cost.Based on the minimum purchase price given by the duke, the gross profit in the first year is 99 francs.After deducting manpower, transportation and warehousing expenses, the net profit is between six and seven million francs.The biggest expense is the transportation contract, because it has been signed for ten years, and it will be paid in one lump sum this year; but on the other hand, there is no need to consider railway expenses in the next few years, so it is still a good deal.

This news will definitely cause a sensation in Paris: the annual income of 20 francs is enough to make them look sideways, let alone how many times it will be doubled?

But Charles didn't care about that.He made a total calculation and found that part of the funds could be withdrawn at the end of the year, and he had about one million francs in cash on hand.When His Excellency the Duke pays the large final payment at the beginning of the year, he will have more than 300 million francs.

With so much money, in addition to resolving some difficult creditors (such as Victor), there must be a lot left.Then, the follow-up funds invested in Bordeaux vineyards will be available.

All in all, exceeded expectations!

When Shire had already figured out what to do with the Shuo stone layer, Saumur also arrived.

This city is not much different from when Shire came here a few months ago. At best, the feeling of coldness has turned into substance—because winter is coming.There were still few pedestrians on the street, and only when they heard the sound of wheels rubbing against the gravel road, did someone look out from the narrow window on the second floor.

"Look, it's that young master again! He's back!"

"What's the use of coming back now? That Laon man has already left with the wine he bought!"

"If I knew it, I would have stayed a few more days..."

"Don't fantasize - if he hasn't finished the 1 barrels of wine, is there still time to come to Saumur?"

"That's what you said... It really is my son, my time is spent on how to spend money..."

Because of Shire's strict orders not to leak information from his staff, most of them don't know who they sold their cheap wine to.After all, the ship leaves in the same direction whether it goes to Laon or to Paris.Besides, even if it was shipped to Paris, it wouldn't mean it had something to do with Charles, could it?

Only the shrewd Grandet thought that Charles might accomplish this in secret; and he had no proof, unless he followed all the way until he met Guillaume.

Naturally, Grandet would not do such a useless thing.But this didn't affect his face turning into a black iron plate when he saw Shire again.However, his usual expression was not very kind, so Charles just pretended not to notice.

"Hello, Uncle." He said politely, "I'm glad to see you at home this time."

In the past, Grandet might have answered with a snort from his nose.But after suffering a dark loss, he had to keep an eye on Charles - how could this be a brat?Almost better than him, okay?

At this time, he had to think that his initial feeling was right——Charles' unchanging face was not polite, but really calm.

It may be said that Papa Grandet has not lost money in this business: his wine is still sold at a high price of two hundred francs a barrel, is it not?

That's right.But the problem is that the biggest winner in this business is not Grandet, but Charles.

This has never happened before.Grandet has always been the kind of person who plucks the feathers of the goose, and no one is his opponent in the business field; no matter what the situation is, he is the one who earns the most.

The thing this time is that he originally wanted to sell it to Charles at a high price, but later changed his mind and sold it to the Dutch; the drop in the price of wine was what he expected, but he did not expect that Charles would pick up wine here. A leak, a big leak—

He grows grapes, calculates carefully for a whole year, has 16 barrels of wine, and earns 27 francs; Charles can earn [-] francs just by scissors!

Father Grandet couldn't help gnashing his teeth, wondering if it was appropriate to describe Charles' harvest by picking up the leaks.In this business, he unknowingly made a wedding dress for others, and it was completely free!If Charles had discussed cooperation with him from the beginning, he would have earned at least [-] francs more; but Charles hadn't said anything, but had already included his and other people's reactions and countermeasures——

Earning less money and being discovered by others were the reasons for Grandet's first reaction of cursing at that time.Moreover, compared to the former, the latter made him even more frightened.You know, he has been stammering for 30 to [-] years; businessmen who deal with him are contemptuous of his inarticulateness, so he can use this laxity to see through each other, but now...

Once there is a second time, there is a second person for one person; if this kind of thing can't be stopped, how will he live in the future?Do you still want to make money?

Papa Grandet was quite happy.

Although she didn't know the real story, Eugenie could see that her father's anger these days and those neurotic soliloquies were all because of her cousin, so she couldn't help feeling a little worried.This emotion gave her an urge to persuade Charles to return to Paris as soon as possible, but at the same time she really hoped that Charles could attend her birthday party—even if it was very poor.

Madame Grandet saw her daughter's wavering. "My dear nephew," she said, trying not to tremble in her voice, facing the straight stare of her husband, "I must say that the time for your return is just right. Eugenie's birthday is tomorrow, and you Would you consider staying an extra day and having a light meal before leaving?"

Knowing that her mother was helping her at great risk, Eugenie cast a grateful look over her.

"That's really my honor." Charles bowed slightly.He was still thinking about whether he could catch up, but now it seemed just right.

Of course, he wasn't interested in Eugenie; it's just that some guys who just fell in love with Jinshan represented by Eugenie had better get out as soon as possible.Based on his cousin's wealth and appearance, the husband he can find will beat Adolph and Cluchutin by N streets in minutes, okay?

For someone who is good to Shire, Shire can treat him or her ten times better.For Eugenie, this can never be a bad thing; but for the Cruchot or Grassan faction, a brother-in-law who is extremely protective is killed halfway, no matter how much they worked hard before, this time they can only advance Light a row of candles for them.

Grandet has been watching coldly from the sidelines, neither nodding nor shaking his head.It was also because of this that he finally discovered the fact that he had neglected for a long time—the only daughter he loved, Eugenie, whom he had been taking care of carefully, had definitely taken a fancy to him, a good nephew in Paris!

In this regard, Grandet's first reaction was neither shock (when did this happen?) nor anger (Eugenie actually took a fancy to that dead boy!), but——

What is Charles' attitude to this?Wouldn't it be killing three birds with one stone if they agree with the Cruchot and Grassan factions?