Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 267: Fast as the Wind
Well, since I was the one who sent Zhang Chen out, I'm afraid I have to take the blame!
Zhang Shou rubbed his head with a headache, and then said unhappily: "Where were we just talking about? Yes, you used the name of the Second Prince to buy up all the remaining cotton stocks on the market... Wait, where did you get so much money? Did you hire weavers for free? You opened a weaving workshop there, and rented looms for free? I remember you also asked you to hire a few carpenters as backup!"
If you had so much money, would you come back in a rage and tell them that Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu were running out of money?
This time when Zhang Chen went to the countryside, Zhang Shou gave him half of the 5,000 strings of cash he had earned from selling the spinning machine to the eldest prince, and the other half was undoubtedly given to Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu. Zhang Chen himself was also ambitious, and he took his own 2,000 strings of cash without telling his parents - of course, all this money was in banknotes, otherwise he would have had to drive dozens of vehicles to Cangzhou, and there would be no way he could keep it secret.
For the sake of convenience, Zhang Chen had already exchanged the banknotes with the seals of the Duke of Qin and Zhang Shou for cash notes that could be redeemed on sight in the capital.
However, four thousand five hundred strings of cash was a huge sum for ordinary people, but when it came to actually doing things, it was not enough at all. He naturally understood this deeply, and at this moment he couldn't help but feel a little proud.
"The Second Prince's name is very useful. I took out 1,500 strings of cash, and the wealthy families immediately agreed to lend me the rest. I also wrote them IOUs. Because the cotton is still in the Xingtai warehouse, even if I claim to be going back to Beijing to see the Second Prince, others will still believe that I am really going back to report to the Second Prince, and they won't have any doubts at all."
"As for the weavers, I paid double the wages and easily recruited 70 or 80 people along the way. Because they heard that it would only take a few months and the place we were going to was not far from Zhending Prefecture, they were all happy to do it. The weaving workshop was already open and carpenters were also hired, so the yarn collected by Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu was just right for my weaving workshop. So, I still had 2,000 strings of cash left in the end."
At this point, Zhang Chen revealed an embarrassed expression: "So, I saw that Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu had no money to collect cotton yarn, so I lent them the little money I had on hand, and then I came to see you, young master, under the pretext of reporting to the Second Prince."
As expected, he was full of righteousness. After he had finished his work, he heard that Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu were getting more and more difficult, so he immediately used the money he brought with him to support the two brothers. Zhang Chen was a man of righteousness and generosity. He really didn't make a mistake in choosing him!
Zhang Shou confirmed that Zhang Chen was just as he expected, so he hooked his finger at him. Seeing that he really came forward, he whispered a few words into his ear. After he finished speaking, he saw that Zhang Chen's mouth was almost split open and he was about to laugh out loud, so he quickly patted him on the shoulder.
"Be reserved! It hasn't even happened yet, why are you so happy?" Zhang Shou managed to stop Zhang Chen from getting carried away, and then asked with a half-smile, "By the way, didn't you go to Xingtai to find a romantic encounter? So, did you find the beauty you like?"
Zhang Chen's face darkened immediately after these words came out. His current status in Xingtai is that of the Second Prince's confidant. Although others try their best to curry favor with him, they only regard him as a lackey, so most people have to lend him money even if they have to bite the bullet. However, when he showed up in front of people with a mustache and beat away the First Prince's men, his reputation in Xingtai was completely ruined.
How many people could really appreciate such a lackey? Apart from the seductive singing girls from the red-light districts that were sent to him, he had never met any decent girls, so how could he have any romantic encounters!
Therefore, Master Zhang could not help but curse angrily: "The good girls in the world are really blind!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a crisp voice came from outside the door: "Oh, you are getting bolder and bolder. You even dare to scold me behind my back?"
Following the voice, Zhu Ying rushed in. She was one of the people who knew the truth about Zhang Chen's "fall from a horse". Seeing Zhang Chen's face full of embarrassment and avoiding her gaze unnaturally, she stared at him from head to toe for a while, then snorted, "You've been recuperating for so long, and you seem to have gained weight. No wonder you've become more arrogant!"
Zhang Chen was shocked by the word "fat". You know, the person he looked down on the most was Fatty Lu. He shuddered at the thought that he might have a body shape like that most annoying guy!
He immediately said in a serious tone, "I will definitely get up early to ride a horse and practice martial arts when I get back. I will definitely lose the weight I just gained very quickly!"
Zhu Ying was just teasing Zhang Chen, but seeing that he took it seriously, she was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: "Zhang Chen, you've already gone out to do something important, why are you still so easy to deceive! By the way, you came to see Zhang Shou so brazenly, aren't you afraid of being discovered?"
"Of course I'm in disguise!" Zhang Chen immediately took out a mustache from his arms and put it on, then fiddled with his eyebrows. Seeing Zhu Ying looking at him in surprise, he smiled and said, "Just a little trick. Besides, I have several people outside to watch. Besides, the young master lives near your house, are you afraid of someone spying on you?"
At this point, he bowed solemnly to Zhang Shou and said, "In that case, I will do as you command, young master. If I get any more news, I will definitely send someone back. I will never rashly come back again!"
"Okay, then I'll wait for your good news."
Zhang Shou smiled slightly. Seeing Zhang Chen walk out of the door, he could still vaguely hear his voice talking to Ah Liu. Soon, it was quiet outside again. He looked at Zhu Ying and said, "Didn't you say you were busy when you got up earlier? Have you finished your work?"
"Don't mention it." Zhu Ying waved her hand in annoyance, sat down listlessly on a chair beside her, and said weakly, "I accompanied Concubine Yu to see her future son-in-law, but Yongping somehow found out and came over. Concubine Yu was already upset, let alone me? Oh, next time I will never do good deeds again, and people don't even appreciate it."
"You really are addicted to matchmaking!"
This time it was Zhang Shou who was both amused and confused. He shook his head helplessly and said calmly, "Fate is a mysterious thing and cannot be forced. If Princess Yongping doesn't want to get married, then let her go."
"Do you think I am happy to take care of her? Didn't Concubine Yu tell me privately that the Emperor said that Yongping's marriage could only be delayed for a year, otherwise the Empress Dowager would not be able to pass the test! If it weren't for this, Concubine Yu wouldn't have been so helpless and secretly looking for a candidate!"
Zhu Ying stood up and snorted, "But what you said is true. Yongping has met so many people at the Yuehua Tower Literary Party. There must be a few talented people among them. If she really likes them, she would have married them long ago! Everyone says that I am arrogant, but I say that she is much more arrogant than me. She looks kind to people, but in fact, she is not easy to deal with!"
Seeing Zhu Ying complaining and then losing interest, Zhang Shou remembered what Ah Liu had said to him before, so he simply pulled her out. When he arrived at the main room, just as he was about to go in, he heard Wu's voice talking to Aunt Liu.
"Look, the weaving and dyeing workshop is now very prosperous, but the cotton yarn spun is too much. It is said that after the new spinning machine was made by A Shou, the cotton price in the counties under Shuntian Prefecture rose by 10%, but the price of cotton yarn fell by 10%. This is not the cotton producing area. Now it seems that there are not enough weavers... Fortunately, I recruited a few weavers in advance. It is said that it is difficult to recruit weavers in the capital now..."
Thinking of the weaving and dyeing workshop that he had entrusted Wu to take care of Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu, Zhang Shou couldn't help but smile. It was undoubtedly a good thing for Wu that his mother had something to do and was very dedicated.
So, he smiled and pulled Zhu Ying into the house. Seeing Wu quickly put down the account book in her hand and stood up, he smiled and said, "Mother, Yingying is here just in time. I have something to discuss with you. Ah Liu said before that the villa over there has been cleaned and tidied, and asked when we should move in. What do you and Yingying think, should we move or not?"
He then added, "According to Ah Liu, not only should we move in, but Zhao Si, Luo Xiaoxiao, Guan Qiu, and the weaving and dyeing workshop should also move in. After all, the Luwang Villa is too big, so we can just set aside a special area for them."
Mrs. Wu was a little stunned, especially when she saw Zhu Ying's surprised expression. She said quickly, "How can this be possible? Not to mention that the ironwork and carpentry are all very noisy, even the weaving and dyeing workshops, with the spinning and looms running together, are noisy, and it would be bad if they dirty the place. Besides, it's enough for me to live here alone. It won't be too late for you to move in after you and Yingying get married."
"What's there to worry about? There are several secret rooms in the courtyard. They are perfect for Zhao Si, Luo Xiaoxiao, and Guan Qiu to work in. We can also save on the number of people on duty to prevent prying eyes! The noise underground can hardly be heard above ground!"
Zhu Ying agreed with a smile, then went up to Wu and took her hand, saying in a coquettish tone: "As for the weaving and dyeing workshop that Ah Shou asked you to manage, Aunt Wu, I've seen it. There is a large courtyard in the northwest corner of the garden that was originally used by servants to do odd jobs. There are not many people in our family now, so it's vacant anyway. We can just move the looms there. We have a kitchen at home, so we can provide meals for ."
As she spoke, she looked at Zhang Shou and said, "That large courtyard is a little far from the main house. Besides, it's not like they're working day and night, so even if they make noise during the day, it won't make much difference. Ah Shou, you and Aunt Wu should move quickly! It's not far from my home anyway, and it's also close to the Imperial College. If anything happens, I can go there, and you can go back and forth. It's very convenient."
Mrs. Wu wanted to argue a few more times, but Zhu Ying just smiled at her and said, "Aunt Wu, the past is the past. You have raised Ah Shou for so many years. Your kindness is no less than your life. It is only natural that he treats you well. If you don't go over, how can he feel at ease? If you feel lonely living there alone, I will come to see you often!"
"Mom, did you hear me? Yingying has said so. If you insist, wouldn't that be inhumane? After moving there, you won't have to go back and forth between the weaving and dyeing workshop and home all day long. It's too tiring..." Zhang Shou persuaded her a few more times. Seeing that Wu was finally moved, he suddenly remembered something else and immediately looked at Zhu Ying and said, "By the way, Yingying, how many days will it take for your father to come back?"
"They say we've already passed Xuanfu... Xuanfu is 350 miles from the capital. If it's 600 miles or 400 miles for urgent military information, we can get there in one day by galloping. But if we march at the fastest speed of 80 miles a day, it will take four or five days. Dad is also carrying several hundred guards from the Beijing camp that the emperor gave him when he went to war. I guess they can't go fast, right?"
Zhu Ying's tone was uncertain, and she immediately said in a distracted tone, "Why hasn't Dad come back yet? Grandma and Mom have picked several auspicious days, waiting for him to come back!"
Wu couldn't help but secretly smack her lips when she heard such bold and fiery words, but then she heard Zhang Shou's answer.
"Yingying, you are the apple of his father's and your elder brother's eye. The way your elder brother looks at me right now is as if he is silently asking, what kind of aphrodisiac did you give my sister? If he hears you saying this now, he will probably want to kill me! It's the same with your father. You complain that he hasn't come back yet, but who knows if he won't want to fly back?"
Zhu Ying could tell Zhang Shou was teasing her, but she didn't take it seriously. Instead, she raised her eyebrows and said, "Even if I get married, I'm still Dad's daughter and Big Brother's sister. Didn't you promise to go home with me often? I also heard that there is a custom in the capital for married daughters to return to their parents' home and stay for a full month. Haven't you heard of it?"
Zhang Shou didn't expect Zhu Ying to ask about this, and he burst out laughing. The reason why he asked Zhu Ying about the whereabouts of Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing was indeed to calculate his wedding date, but now it seems that not only he is secretly calculating the wedding date, but Zhu Ying has also been calculating it to the point of impatience. As for the moon, he now doubts whether Zhu Ying knows what the moon is.
According to the most stringent so-called ancient etiquette, during that month, the newly married woman would go back to her parents' home, while the new son-in-law would stay alone at home! Because, the so-called "looking at the moon" actually means that the couple, who are in the midst of love, should be a little restrained, and not indulge in lust just because they have just experienced it, so as not to damage their health...
He was thinking this in his heart when he suddenly heard the voice of Old Liu from outside: "Hey, Zhu Hong, what's wrong with you? Even if you come here often, you can't rush around like this, right? You have to let me know!"
"It's too late!" As Zhang Shou said these four words, he heard Zhu Hong's obviously angry voice coming from outside the door, "Miss, Master Shou, the master is back! He just entered the city gate. The emperor sent Eunuch Chu to wait at Chongwen Gate. Now he has entered the palace."
Seeing Zhu Ying looking at him in surprise, Zhang Shou couldn't help but chuckle, "Yingying, your father and your elder brother are really of the same temperament. They came to the capital without saying a word. Could it be that all of them, as military commanders, are well aware of the sayings of being swift as the wind, slow as the forest, aggressive as fire, and immovable as a mountain?"
Zhu Ying's expression changed several times, and finally he stood up suddenly. He was very angry at first, but then he showed a suspicious expression: "Dad is not my eldest brother, it is impossible for him to be so frivolous for my matter! Besides, how could the emperor send someone to wait for him at Chongwenmen in advance? He must have sent a letter to the emperor in advance!"
At this point, she looked at Zhang Shou with sparkling eyes and said, "Ah Shou, let's go to the palace! In front of the emperor, let's cut the Gordian knot and settle our relationship right away!"
