[Pride and Prejudice] Mary's Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 20 Two to London

Mr. Lake stayed in Meriton for three days. He stayed in Fanny's food store for the first two days to learn about the main products there and check the sales situation.On the third day he came to Longbourn and had a discussion with Mary.

At breakfast, Mr. Bennet informed his wife to make preparations in advance. He said that a young guest was coming to join them for dinner.

Mrs. Bennet immediately asked excitedly: "Who is this young guest? Is it the young man from the Booth family? He has fallen in love with Jane at first sight since the ball, and he always comes to visit us."

Mr. Booth was one of the men who had been enamored of Jane at the ball, and since Mr. Laurence's departure from Meryton, this gentleman evidently thought he had a chance, and had been visiting Longborn frequently.

Jane blushed immediately when she heard this, and she quickly stopped Mrs. Bennet's rich associations: "Mom, please, please don't say that..."

Elizabeth took a sip of cheese and potato soup, then forked a piece of bacon and put it on the plate. She smiled and said to Jane: "Jane, you have to understand that since you officially entered the society, mother began to expect someone young and handsome Gentlemen can visit us every day, and she is not interested in other types of guests now."

Lydia giggled and said, "That Booth is a big fool! Jane, please don't talk to him!"

Kitty also laughed. She opened her mouth to belittle Mr. Booth, but after looking at Mary, she still didn't dare to be as presumptuous as Lydia.

But Mary agreed with Lydia this time. That Mr. Booth went to college, but the school didn't change him in any essential way, and he didn't make any useful friends in school. Even if he broadens his horizons, he can't let him know himself. This is really a rare idiot and fool who always likes to be complacent!It's a pity that a man like him is so in line with Mrs. Bennet's aesthetic taste!

Mrs. Bennet gave her two daughters a stern look: "Shut up, he might propose to Jane."

"I hope not," said Mr. Bennet, "that boy has accomplished nothing and knows nothing of himself, and though the Booths have a lot of land, I'm sure he's doomed to be mediocre as the second son without an inheritance. I don't want my daughter to be poor for the rest of her life." Mr. Bennet wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up and said, "Kitty, Lydia, I'm very pleased that you didn't do anything stupid this time."

Elizabeth took a mouthful of spring rolls and said to everyone after swallowing, "I think from the point of view that he knows how to admire Jane, at least his aesthetic taste is worthy of recognition."

Mrs. Bennet really didn't agree with these people, she turned to Mary and asked, "Who is coming?"

"Our manager in London."

"London? Are we really going to open the food store to London?" Mrs. Bennet asked in surprise?

"Of course, Mom, think about it. The population of London is dozens of times that of Meriton, and the rich people there are hundreds of times that of Meriton. The annual profit of our food store is between 300 and 400 pounds. time, how much will it be in London?"

Mrs. Bennet immediately multiplied 400 pounds by 10 times, that is 4000 pounds, multiplied by 100 times, that is 40000 pounds, my God, even the top aristocrats, even if they have the largest manor in the UK, they can make so much money Bar?How should the money be spent?I want to leave some dowry for several daughters. Each daughter can have a dowry of [-] pounds. You can also buy a lot of top jewelry, exquisite lace, gorgeous fabrics...

Mrs. Bennet was immersed in her own imagination and couldn't help herself, with a dreamy look on her face. Even Kitty and Lydia were quickly calculating how many hats with feathers they could buy. Jane looked at Mary in disbelief. Dubious.

The only one who is sane is Elizabeth. She fully understands that her sister is fooling her confused mother. If a food store can double its profits by moving to London, then London will already be crowded by shop owners from all over the world. exploded.The biggest example is their Uncle Gardiner, he is a successful businessman, does he make ten thousand pounds a year?Why doesn't mom think about this?But Elizabeth is not going to remind her mother, let her daydream, at least she has something to do, and it doesn't hurt.

****

Mr. Lake came to Bennet's house before evening, and Mrs. Bennet gave him a warm reception.Notwithstanding the young man's difficult circumstances, Mrs. Bennet was pleased by his brisk figure and lively voice.

She kept laughing throughout the meal, and kept talking to Mr. Lake, asking about his family background, income, family, friends, as long as there was information about Mr. Lake, she was very interested.She even wanted to ask Mr. Lake to play whist with her after dinner.

Mr. Bennet didn't want to see his wife continue to make a fool of himself. He sincerely begged Mrs. Bennet for forgiveness, and said that he would take her new celebrity, Mr. Lake, to talk about something in the study, and of course he would also bring Mrs. Go Mary.Mary felt that after Mr. Bennet finished speaking, the atmosphere in the whole room immediately relaxed. It seemed that no one except Mrs. Bennet liked the topics she talked about.

The atmosphere of the study is also very relaxed.Mr. Bennet closed the door with his own hands, and said: "Please sit down, young man." Then he sat down on the seat himself, and Mary and Mr. Lake sat on the sofa facing each other.

Mr. Bennet said straight to the point: "Dear Mr. Lake, I don't know anything about how to do business, so you can lie to me as much as you want in the future."

Mr. Lake immediately stood up, and he said sincerely: "I think since you and Ms. Mary have hired me, you believe in my character and integrity."

"Of course, actions speak louder than words. I don't know you as a person when I just met, but I trust my brother-in-law, Mr. Gardiner, so I should trust the friend he admires. It would be insulting for me to question you Your personality. This is not okay, even though we just met, I like you very much, and our conversation in the morning was very pleasant, making friends is rare, losing friends is easy, I must be careful."

"Yes, Mr. Bennet, I think we've had a good start, and we're going to have a good start."

"I hope so, you know that I invested in Fanny Foods, but the specific affairs are presided over by my daughter Mary, so if you have any comments, suggestions, suggestions, ideas, etc., etc. , you can bring it up now and make it clear to the lady opposite you."

After Mr. Bennet finished speaking, he picked up a book and read it like no one else was there.Although Mr. Lake was very surprised in his heart by the strange character of the employer, he didn't show it on his face.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries with Mary, he began a formal communication. His first sentence was: "I have been in the food store for three days, Miss Mary, this is by no means an excessive compliment on my part. Fanny's food store will become a famous London store." Maybe it will become as famous in the UK as Fortnum and Mason's, and become a royal family."

Mary smiled embarrassedly. When she read novels in her previous life, she once deeply despised those who made their fortunes by plagiarism, but now she has become such a person herself, and any excessive compliments to her now make her feel like she is sitting on pins and needles, but she Still unable to change the subject, I looked for Mr. Lake and said, "I'm not that ambitious yet, sir. As long as I can save a decent fortune for our sisters, I'll be satisfied."

As an excellent manager, Mr. Lake naturally wouldn't waste his time complimenting his employer.

He gave Mary many practical opinions and suggestions on the construction of the food store.Experts will know if there is one as soon as they make a move. If Mary had any doubts about Mr. Lake before, these have been completely eliminated now.

Mr. Lake suggested that Mary directly register a company in London, which will be very beneficial for Mary to open a branch in the future.

They discussed the decoration style of the store, the recruitment of personnel, and the setting of posts.Mr. Lake attached great importance to Mary's suggestion that employees should be trained in advance. He decided to go back to London for company registration and personnel recruitment. Mary also decided to go back together. She wanted to supervise the progress of the store's renovation.

No one expected Mary to leave so soon. Mr. Bennet thought he didn't have to go this time. He didn't want to go to London to endure the choking fog. Elizabeth decided to go to London with Mary this time, she said : "I can't let you, a little girl, run around and work alone for the family. Although I can't give you much help, it's better than nothing."

Jane also decided to go together. She really couldn't bear the harassment of Mr. Booth, and Mrs. Bennet, who quickly recovered from the grief of losing Mr. Lawrence, tried her best to match Jane and Mr. Booth, regardless of Mr. Booth's character and disposition, only seeing his family background wholeheartedly, really made Jane unbearable, so she had to hide as the best policy.