The husband's son-in-law

The three big families of Chen, Lin, and Huang in Zhaozhou City went to the banquet of the Tongzhi Master Gu today. About the same, maybe even longer.However, the Li family is very local, occupying the two coastal prefectures, Rongguan and Jiting, and they are the real landowners.

The four families said that they would go to the mansion to chat, but when they heard the ceremony and counting in the back, they couldn't move away.

Li's 400 taels.

Wang's 600 taels.

500 taels from the Huang family, which is a branch.

The same surname is Chen, but the Chen family has 400 taels.

……

Everyone is better than the big clan in front.

Interesting.The three families of Chen, Lin, and Huang who had agreed before coming here looked at each other, showing a half-hearted smile, with their hands clasping their sleeves, ha ha, ha ha.

Businessmen value profits, Zhaozhou is already poor, and the market is only so big.The three families are occupied, and they barely squeezed into the Li family. The pattern has not changed for so many years, and now a new official has finally arrived.

Why should the big four eat the big head and they take the small head?Isn't it just to give money to curry favor, they can do it too.

If the entire Zhaozhou Commercial Bank is solid and united, it will be a headache.But this kind of possibility is very rare. Li Zhouzhou said to his husband: "They all have different surnames. The buying and selling market is so big. If you earn more, others will earn less. There will always be people who are not convinced."

"Besides, they all have the same surname, but they have different branches. The Huang family is the most troubled and has the most disagreements. Now the Huang family in the east looks down on our own Huang family, and thinks that the head of the Huang family is too incompetent. Originally, it was obviously the Huang family who had a little head. , and now being suppressed by the Chen and Lin families, it’s a coward.”

"The current Patriarch of the Chen family, Chen Fu, is too domineering. He suppresses the branches below so hard that he hides his spearheads inside. He dares not speak out when he is angry."

But now Gu Zhao's chanting of this move clearly put the two branches of the Chen family into opposition.

Let’s just say that Chen Fu is still smiling while looking at the jokes of the other three families, but he gritted his teeth a little bit when he looked at the cousin of the branch Chen family, “It’s amazing, cousin.”

Cousin Chen was embarrassed, never thought that he would be put on the table, he would laugh aloud, he didn't dare to be the most patriarch, and dumped the blame on the subordinates, "I don't know where it was made, I made a mistake, I don't know I know." This is not bad, at least the face is saved for the Patriarch.

As for the Huang family's lineage, it was brought to the table brightly. Although it is a yellow character, it has become two families.Only then did they enter the first gate, and when the gongs and drums beat, they fell apart.

The first two yards in front of Li's mansion, the main yard is very spacious and grand, it is used for the male master's study and meeting guests, and the small yard of the two-story building next to it is used for entertaining guests and staying overnight. Now there are six The bodyguard temporarily lives there.

Just now, merchants from all walks of life have stepped through the second door one after another.There is nothing to see in the courtyard. The city of Zhaozhou is as high as the sky and the emperor is far away. Local wealthy businessmen have accumulated wealth for more than ten years, and their clothing, food, housing and transportation are more refined than officials.

There is nothing to look at, so you have to say a few words of politeness.

"Master Gu's mansion is very good, the leaves are very green."

"Outstanding people, don't get aura."

The big guys were chatting with each other, stepped across the small arched bridge, and arrived at the main yard, where it had already been set up. There were long tables with tablecloths on the sides of the yard, and there were drinks and snacks in the middle. There are two rows of hard benches in the open space.

Crowd: ...

Startled, still, quite novel?

"Is this Jingli's particularity?"

"I don't know." Boss Lin was also confused, "I haven't seen it before, it's the first time I've seen it."

They used to attend the banquet held by Mr. Chen's mansion, which was also a big round table, and there were only a few people who could sit at the same table with Mr. Chen every year, and they were divided according to their positions, and some of them almost sat at the entrance of the main courtyard.

This is eating a feast.

Mr. Gu is strange, not to mention all the long benches, and the tables are so far away.

The housekeeper of Li Mansion greeted all the bosses that you don't have to be polite, and have a rest with some drinks and snacks.Everyone gathered around the long table to take a look, and thought they were all Zhaozhou fruits, but they were served in small porcelain bowls, some snacks and meat on small plates.

There are plates and chopsticks next to it.

The drink is a small wine glass, if you don't have it, you can add it yourself-why do you have to do it yourself.But on Mr. Gu's site, it was the first time for everyone to see this kind of banquet, and each of them thought to themselves that this is the rule in Beijing, so they must not show timidity, so everyone was careful, and at the same time, they looked at their peers to see what others were eating.

It takes about two cups of tea for the big guys to eat and drink. Although the portion is small, there are so many tricks, eating and drinking in turn, I am still a little full.Especially the meat, I don't know how to make it, the taste is strange, I can't get used to it at the first bite, but the more I chew, the more addictive I can't help but add a few more pieces.

The servants of Li Mansion cleaned up diligently, empty plates and used chopsticks were all taken away and replaced with new ones.

There are about 60 merchants who came to Li Mansion today. If you want to set up a table to eat noodles, you need to prepare six or seven tables. Moreover, neither Gu Zhao nor these merchants came here for the banquet today.

Everyone has their own thoughts.

Simply buffet and tender forms.Simple and fast.

"Master Gu, Mrs. Gu arrived at—"

The steward shouted, and all the merchants, no matter they were eating or sitting, put away their things, straightened their clothes, stood up, and saluted one after another.

Gu Zhao and Li Zhouzhou came out together.

"Bosses, please take a seat. Let's sit and chat." Gu Zhao said with a smile.

Everyone sat down on the hard benches one by one, and there was a certain way of sitting, if it was the same as when they went to Mr. Chen's place for a banquet, the first table would naturally be the family members of four families connected with Mr. Chen.But now there are hard benches, one can seat ten people, Mrs. Gu is sitting alone on the front steps.

The empty seat in the first row——

Some shopkeepers felt alive, but they didn't dare to go forward, so they heard Master Gu in front of them laughing and saying: "Everyone, you are welcome, a few more people in the first row, I have to talk about something later, don't hear the queen mother clearly."

Now that Mr. Gu had spoken, the Wang family was the first to stare at the position, sitting in a row.With the beginning of the Wang family, a few more people went to the front, all of whom were heavy gifts given today.

Sit down.

Gu Zhaoxian said: "This is my wife Li Zhouzhou."

Everyone got up and greeted again.

"You are welcome." Li Zhouzhou nodded in return.

Gu Zhao said with a smile: "It's not too polite." Then he started the homely mode and said: "Our family first came to Zhaozhou, and we fell in love with it immediately. The place is open and spacious, and the people are simple and warm. The most important thing is our There are many things and treasures in Zhaozhou."

The merchants below: ...

I haven't met Mr. Gu before, just hearing what happened afterwards, he sounds like a serious and clear person, but when I saw him today, he didn't say anything, and he smiled and said nothing. It's homely.

"...For example, my Fubao loves to eat fish and shrimp. Our Zhaozhou Jiting and Rongguan's shrimp are almost as big as my palm. The shrimp meat is delicious. You can eat it by steaming without touching the mouth. It is very delicious."

"Fruit Our family is all from the north. When we arrived in Zhaozhou, we didn't stop at fruit. I came here from Mozhou and ate lychees. Let me tell you something from my heart. The lychees in Zhaozhou grow better than those in Mozhou. They are bigger and thicker. Sweet."

The merchants present at the scene nodded their heads in agreement, speaking to their hearts.It's not because Mr. Gu praised the lychees in Zhaozhou, but because Mr. Gu trampled on Zhaozhou!

There is no businessman in Zhaozhou who does not dislike Mozhou, because the two states are close to each other, Zhaozhou has some famous specialties, and Mozhou can also grow. In addition, Mozhou's geographical location is better than Zhaozhou, and it is richer than Zhaozhou. Merchants want to ship goods, and Yanzhou suppresses them. If they borrow the road to transport to the north, they will be stripped to pay tolls and protection fees.

Obviously their goods are better, but they can't make money.

With Gu Zhao's hand in hand, the merchants are a little closer to Mr. Gu, no matter whether it is superficial or hypocritical, anyway, they will all nod and say that Mr. Gu is right and well said, isn't it?

"It's a pity that this city is located norther than us, and the road is easier to walk. The towns that produce lychees are a little far away. The lychees have grown, and it will take a lot of trouble to send us to Zhaozhou City, let alone transport them to the north. Thank you. You know, people in the north have never seen these fruits in our Zhaozhou, and ordinary people eat more dates, so there are so many kinds of fruits in Zhaozhou."

"pity."

The merchants followed Mr. Gu to regret, and thought to themselves, after all, it turned out that it was about the road. Mr. Gu wanted to build the road, everyone knew it, but what did the road construction have to do with them?

Let them send money?

"Most of our roads in Zhaozhou are rich, but the roads are not good, so they are all blocked. When I arrived in Zhaozhou, everyone must know that roads and concrete roads need to be repaired. I have been busy for more than a month, and now I am free. , I don’t want to talk face to face today, I will treat you all with thin wine and thick tea, thank you for your donation.” Gu Zhao stretched out his hand, and Su Shiyi handed over the account book.

Front row four: donate silver!

It seems that when I first entered the gate of Li Mansion, I heard the word donate, but because of the beating of gongs and drums, and the number reported, I forgot to use this word.It turned out to be a donation of silver.

This time—the merchants are definitely not happy. Sending money to the official is sent to the official's pocket, which is a personal relationship, but it becomes a donation all of a sudden, it is not a favor, it is free.

Not to mention the small merchants, they are the ones sitting in the front row, and now all of them don't look very good-looking.

Gu Zhaoquan pretended not to see it, read the final ledger with a smile on his face, handed it to Zhou Zhou, and then said, "63 people came today, and they donated a total of 3000 taels of silver. Everyone is so enthusiastic, especially the Wang family—— Who is Boss Wang?"

The owner of Silk Zhuang Wang who was not very happy and felt that he was being slandered, will be called first by Mr. Gu. He has not finished covering his face, so he quickly raised his hand and said, "My lord, it's me. I'm here."

Gu Zhao stood up in person and went over, shook Boss Wang's hand with a smile, and said, "Okay, Boss Wang is kind-hearted, Zhou Zhou, help me write down Boss Wang's name, I can't lose Boss Wang in vain." This is 600 taels of silver."

The blood all over Boss Wang's body rushed to his head at this moment, his face flushed, and he didn't know what to say.

Because in the past, Mr. Chen was given filial money every year, but he had never been treated like this—in front of all the business owners in Zhaozhou City, he was praised as a person, and he was said not to lose him.

What an honor this is!

"When we build roads in Zhaozhou, Boss Wang chose a section that he often walks. There is a monument of merit and virtue on the cement road, and he named it Wangjia Gongde Road. Let us Zhaozhou people remember it in our hearts. Every time we walk this road, we must thank Boss Wang. Donating money, you can't chill the hearts of kindhearted people, can you?" Gu Zhao said earnestly.

Boss Wang was so excited that he couldn't say anything. He kept nodding his head, and said where, where, how dare he, but he thought about it wrong, and changed his words: "It should be, that road is really called Wangjia Gongde Road?" Carefully.

"Of course, if Boss Wang wants to add a name, it's fine." Gu Zhao looked around and said, "It is said that building bridges and paving roads will benefit future generations, so naturally Boss Wang's donation of money should be recorded so that all descendants of the Wang family can see it. How benevolent the ancestors were at the beginning, even if they were merchants, they still have integrity, and merchants who pretend to be common people in their hearts, can they be the same as ordinary merchants who have an eye for wealth and deceive people's interests?"

"Naturally it's different."

Boss Wang is so flattered by the praise. Everyone in the world says that merchants are cheap, have no status, and their descendants will not be able to be officials. He was born with a short waist when he saw the master, but now in Mr. Gu's mouth, he is a merchant with integrity. Yes, it is unusual.

no the same! ! !

When Boss Wang got excited, he said to donate another 500 taels.

Surprised and moved, Gu Zhao held Boss Wang's hand and almost burst into tears of consolation. He turned his head and told Meng Jianyun, "Bring a pen, I saw such a charitable businessman today, I must remember, praise, and reward me." .”

The ink was prepared long ago.

Gu Zhao's handwriting was not good before, he was an official in the Imperial Academy for two or three years, and later learned a lot from teachers, and now his handwriting has a bit of style - his teacher said it himself, yes, it has a bit of style.

At this time, Gu Zhao wrote big characters on the spot: Charity Wang's family.

Boss Wang got the naming right of a section of road for 100 taels and a piece of writing inscribed by Mr. Tong Zhi himself. Regardless of whether future generations think it is worthwhile, anyway, the 62 businessmen and bosses present were envious and jealous. The four families just wanted to intervene, but they didn't intervene. Now it's up to the Wang family to take the lead.

Boss Wang took it respectfully, his face was flushed red, and his excitement had not dissipated. It was decided that it would be framed for future generations to see. Gu Zhao nodded and said solemnly: "It's not my official words, it's Boss Wang's fist-pounding heart."

After Gu Zhao finished speaking, he saw that Boss Wang was excited again. After thinking for a while, it was not easy to catch a wool, and this person was not a big merchant, so he encouraged Boss Wang to pat on the shoulder and said, "Go to my wife and keep the one you want to crown." famous road."

Boss Wang hurriedly nodded and bowed his head. He was so excited that he just donated another 500 taels.

If you really want to do this, then his family will be in vain for almost a year.

But when Mrs. Gu wrote down the name and picked the lot, Boss Wang's back was straight. After so many years of business, he never thought it was a good deal to spend money as he did today.

One thousand and one hundred taels is more than half a year's profit. His family can flatter this official and that official, and there will be four to five hundred taels all year round. I have never heard of it, so where is the reputation today.

His Wang family is a well-connected family in Zhaozhou City.

Does the Chen family have one?Do the Lin family and Huang family have one?

His family is the only one——

"Master Gu, I also want to donate money to build roads, I don't know if this—"

Seeing that the big businessmen took the bait, Gu Zhao smiled and said very kindly: "I really didn't expect that all the bosses in our Zhaozhou City are charitable, so naturally they can do good deeds. The more good deeds, the better. Leaving a name in Zhaozhou City is a great deed of blessing for the younger generation."

"My Chen family donated 2000 taels."

"Okay!" Gu Zhao smiled brightly, and asked Meng Jianyun to study the ink and inscribe the words.

After witnessing everything, Boss Wang at the front changed his only happy one to the first one. His family overwhelmed the Chen family, and he was also the first one to choose the route, hey!

The Chen family came out on top, Master Gu said so again, and in the end, all the top ones rushed to donate money.Not everyone gave Gu Zhao's inscription - it's not uncommon for this thing to be given too much.

Although these merchants will definitely react when they go home afterwards, now that the heat is on the rise, you can see that he has dug a hole when he calms down, but what should be done on the surface has to be done. If all 63 companies present get inscriptions, it will not be rare. It doesn't appear that people who donate a lot are lining up.

Modern wealthy businessmen still pay attention to limited quantities when buying things, so as to reflect their noble status.

Therefore, apart from the Wang family, there were nine more people who had inscriptions, all of which were calculated based on donations.Gu Zhao made a perfect one, and finally said: "In the 59th year of Kangjing, I first arrived in Zhaozhou. These are the top ten benevolent merchants in Zhaozhou City this year."

Good guy, there were seven more merchants in Zhaozhou City who were originally three major merchants. Although they are good-hearted merchants, they are famous in front of Mr. Gu, so it is naturally different.

Those who didn't get on the plaque were naturally regretful, but his family's small family still couldn't compete with the big merchants, and what Mr. Gu said meant, this year's top ten merchants, will there be next year?Isn't there a chance...

The naming right of the road to be repaired was donated by those present, so everyone was happy when they went back, hoping that Mr. Gu would repair the road as soon as possible.

In a banquet, the guests and the host enjoy themselves, and everyone pays money happily.

After sending off the guests, Gu Zhao asked: "How much is it in total? Is it more than 5?" The first wave of leeks was more than 2, and the next wave of large ones was cut. The Chen family alone paid 300 taels. The Huang family and the Li family are the same, but the Li family has 100 taels more in the first wave, which is the most among the four families.

These four companies add up to 1 taels.

"Not counting those gifts, the silver alone is already 400 taels." Li Zhouzhou was shocked when he finished the calculation, he didn't expect it to be so much.

It's all said, three years to clear the magistrate, one hundred thousand snowflake silver.

This is not a lie.Just collecting filial piety every year, this is the amount I have saved up for almost three years. Why does everyone want to be an official?

The bustling world is for profit.

"Put away the things, register them in the register, and put them in the warehouse at home. Don't touch them. I will copy the list again for the donated money, and I will praise it again in black and red on the red paper outside the Zhaozhou Yamen." Gu Zhao joked, "This is not someone You don't have that much money with you, why don't you pay on credit first?"

Li Zhouzhou also laughed, "I have money to build roads." But he didn't know for a while, "Is it enough?"

Gu Zhao didn't know either: "Almost, not enough, I'm going to five prefectures and counties to cut a wave."

There must be enough money. Nowadays, road construction costs less manpower, and there is no need to buy raw materials. Limestone, clay, and firewood are all provided by the government.

The 400 taels was used by Gu Zhao as a financial treasury for the construction of Zhaozhou. It did not belong to the government office.In the future, if you raise money for charity, it will also be placed here.

Before the Li Mansion was cleaned up, people came to give money one after another at the door, and at the end it was still dark, and all the money was ready without missing a tael.The money is in the care of the bodyguards in Lao's mansion.

"We need to hire some housekeepers." Gu Zhao was worried about his family, and when the money was in place, he would start building roads immediately, and Gu Zhao was also worried about keeping a few bodyguards at home.

Li Zhouzhou said, "Okay."

In the end, this move of guarding was handed over to Li Da.

Gu Zhao stayed in Zhaozhou City for three days, and went to the Chen Mansion the next day. As a result, Mr. Chen thanked the guests behind closed doors. He didn't even see him. Gu Zhao knew Mr. Chen's attitude, and he really didn't want to get involved with him. All the things, good and bad, are all his responsibility.

……Good.Originally, Gu Zhao, as a subordinate, raised money and had to report to Mr. Chen on the surface, but now that the surface is over, it's fine.

As everyone knows, Master Chen in the Chen Mansion was stunned for a while after listening to his move yesterday, and then he laughed and celebrated, and said: "This little Gu is talented, but those people are not stupid. blood, the road is repaired and it is useless, it must be recorded..."

Even if the road in Zhaozhou is repaired, it is useless, and those fruits still cannot be sent to the north—it is too far away.The road is useless, the money is wasted, and those businessmen are not fools, so this trick will not work next time.

Mr. Chen's second son said, don't donate so much and don't get it all in your pocket.Chen Jia Dalang said: "I don't think so. Mr. Gu said that the money is for building roads. If you donate money, someone will get the name of a section of the road. If you don't talk about it, it will be in vain. If you don't build roads, Mr. Gu's reputation will be ruined." Gone."

A new official, in a strange place, the most important thing is prestige and coercion, without these, it will be looked down upon.So the road will definitely be repaired, but the remaining money is hard to say.Chen Jiadalang thought.

"Master Gu is not greedy for money and not lustful—"

"That's for fame." Master Chen said affirmatively.

Always the same picture.

The merchants who participated in the banquet in Zhaozhou City returned home, and after one night, the enthusiasm and excitement subsided, and they could see Master Gu's hand, but they jumped into the pit willingly.

Life is alive, money, power, sex.

Businessmen are no exception. When they have money, they have a big family and a big business. There are many wives and concubines. Because the place is far away, they don’t care about regulations.But the only thing is that there is no name.

A cheap businessman that the world despises, no matter how rich he is, he can't stand on the stage.Mr. Gu's one sentence is good, he can leave a name in Zhaozhou City, and everyone in the future will remember it.

What a temptation.

Since ancient times, princes, generals and ministers have left their names through the ages to record the annals of history.Now let’s not talk about the history books, if the people of a city can remember well, and can remember the family, then they will really become a big family and have a prestige background.

So these merchants knew that Mr. Gu had dug a hole, but they jumped willingly and did not regret it.

"That's what you said this concrete road is?"

"If there is a stele of meritorious deeds on the road from my house, if it doesn't work, I have to find a stone to carve it again, so that it won't be worn out by the wind and rain for a long time."

All the merchants thought this way. After finally getting a name, they must not engrave their names on the dirt road. When the wind blows, the name will disappear. Thanks ah.So families began to buy stones one after another.

He was even more anxious to see the way to his house than Mr. Gu.

"Master Gu has brought someone out of the city!" A servant of the Wang family reported back.

Boss Wang is happy, okay, okay, Mr. Gu is going to build the road!

Gu Zhao brought 1 taels of silver out of the city, followed by three bodyguards, Su Shiyi, Meng Jianyun, and ten yamen servants, and went to Bolin along the way, leaving 5000 taels behind.

"This is money for road construction, if you dare to covet a penny—"

The county magistrate of Bolin immediately knelt down to reassure him that he didn't dare, and Gu Zhaorang got up.

"How is everyone preparing?"

The county magistrate of Bolin wiped off his sweat, and answered one by one. The whole prefecture and county have recruited a total of 3000 laborers. According to the drawing of the caregiver, each section of the road will be arranged nearby...

"I just don't know how this cement is made?"

Gu Zhao went to the cement factory himself. Before he went to Zhaozhou, he actually explained to several masters how to do it. Now when he asked, the masters even figured out the proportion of cement that was mixed to the best hardness.

"...the road was built with weeds gone, and the ground was compacted. First, mix cement, sand and gravel to water a layer of primer, and then smooth the ground with cement. Don't step on it before it dries. It's about two or three days in this weather. done."

"If it's rainy, don't repair it for now, just concentrate on making cement. If the paved road is not yet dry, and the weather is cloudy and it's going to rain, pave a layer with straw."

The latest batch of cement was burned out, and the ground of the ten-meter road outside the factory had already been compacted, and the unevenness was repaired. This road is slightly lower than the ground next to it by half a palm.

This needs to be poured with cement and good silt and gravel.

As soon as the road was paved, the people who were conscripted for labor were all studying and watching. These are the captains of one hundred households in Bolinfu County. There are regulations on how wide the road is.

Use hemp thread to measure first, and then start to draw the line with white stone powder.

No matter how wide the road is, it cannot be repaired randomly like before.Of course, the working people feel that it is a waste of time and trouble, but the officials and lords above have to do it, so they can only listen, and they will pay them back.

Everything in Bolin Prefecture was on the right track. Gu Zhao took his troops to Jiting Prefecture, next door, with 5000 taels of silver. Half of Jiting Prefecture is backed by mountains and half by the sea. .

Gu Zhao buried the suspected iron mine hill.

There is only one limestone mountain in the entire Jiting Prefecture. It is a bit of a hassle to build roads here, and it is not as convenient to transport as planting forests. Gu Zhao rode a horse to the side near the sea and went around. There should be limestone on the beach?

I found a white stone suspected to be limestone and burned a furnace, but found something else.

Gu Zhao stared at the thing that had cooled down and was slightly dusty and mottled with impurities, then wiped it lightly with his hands, "Glass?"

The raw material of glass is limestone, but it also needs alkali, soda ash is the best, plant ash can produce alkali, and make glass, but it is not pure and ugly when burned, but this piece of glass is mixed with gravel when it is fired, not because it is so as dirty.

This piece of transparency is okay——

Excellent glasswork!

The author has something to say:

It was repaired: the cement road should be poured with cement and gravel and sand first, and the cement should be smoothed.

In 59 years of Kangjing, Zhaozhou's top ten benevolent businessmen appeared!

Master Xiao Gu: Congratulations everyone.

Winner: I am grateful to Dade, I am so grateful and moved...

Those who didn't win the prize: Come on next year, next year will definitely succeed! ! !