Chapter 326: The Knife Is Falling! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

The attendant was alarmed upon hearing this.

He said, "Does the parent mean they've agreed to Shen Jun's request? If so, it might be difficult to explain to Master Wu..."

As Xu Jie's close attendant and right-hand man, he knew a lot of inside information and was also aware of the subtle relationship between his family head and Wu Xian, and between the Xu family and the Wu family.

The Wu clan, to which Wu Xian belonged, had a distinguished lineage for generations, producing many high-ranking officials and ministers. Changes in the dynasty did not diminish the Wu clan's prosperity. In Wu Xian's generation, the clan did not decline; in some ways, it even prospered further.

And what about Wu Xian?

This young man was known for his chivalry in his youth. He was generous and righteous, had many friends, and was easygoing. He was also known for his respect for the virtuous and learned. He often played a leading role among his peers in Tianhai. He once led a group of young friends to suppress bandits with his passion.

Over time, he accumulated enough prestige, and many of his friends were willing to follow Wu Xian's lead and do great things together!

Xu Jie came from the Xu family of Tianhai.

What is Xu's most well-known strength?

Rich, rich, and rich!

They amassed wealth and riches, rivaling even the most powerful feudal lords.

However, in terms of ancestral achievements, reputation, and foundation, they were simply not on the same level as the Wu family. They also had few distinguished descendants; at best, they could only be described as "newly rich with enormous wealth." Xu Jie consistently contributed more money and effort to Wu Xian's cause but remained relatively quiet, maintaining a neutral stance for many years, which was partly due to this shortcoming. He was kind to others and avoided making enemies.

The attendants were very clear about these things.

He worried that Wu Xian would be wary of the parents doing this.

Seeing the worry written all over the attendant's face, Xu Jie chuckled and said, "What are you thinking? We don't even know what the relationship is between our lord and Lord Shen. Even if they are truly at odds, they must at least maintain a facade of harmony in the current situation..."

As I said before, Zheng Qiao is not dead yet.

It's not a good thing that our lord Wu Xian is too outstanding.

Shen Jun's ability to subdue He Yin in such a short time demonstrates his competence; having an ally is always better than having an enemy. To outsiders, particularly Zheng Qiao, the mutual checks and balances between these two are far more reassuring than one party dominating the other.

It's highly unlikely that the lord and Shen Jun will break up.

Not only will they not, they might even have close ties.

Under this premise, is there any problem with Xu and Shen having normal business dealings?

and--

Xu Jie smiled faintly: "If we can use this to cut off Shen Jun's lifeline, making him unknowingly rely on Tianhai, thereby relaxing his own development and turning him into a subordinate vassal. He Yin will become a buffer zone between Tianhai and other forces, which will put our lord at ease."

The attendant was dumbfounded.

"Really?"

Xu Jie coldly sneered, "Why not?"

Merchants can also be ruthless and bloodless.

This is often overlooked by the world.

Seeing that the head of the household had his own ideas, the attendant said no more. As Xu Jie's personal bodyguard and right-hand man, his duty was to protect Xu Jie's life and carry out the orders given by the head of the household. Even if the order was to kill himself!

Xu Jie said: "See you tomorrow, Gu Wangchao."

Based on his guess, Shen Jun shouldn't be leaving the game anytime soon.

Xu Jie's speculation made sense, but he hadn't anticipated that Shen Tang was no ordinary person, and therefore couldn't be reasoned with using ordinary thinking. It wasn't until after midday the next day that Xu Jie saw Gu Wangchao, whose eyes were bluish and whose face was weary.

Xu Jie asked, puzzled, "Has Wangchao encountered some trouble?"

If you get a little closer, you can smell a slightly strange odor.

Gu Chi's expression was indescribable. Seeing the genuine worry on Xu Jie's face, his chilling heart finally warmed. He remained silent for a long time, and only after Xu Jie pressed him for answers did he let out a heavy sigh. Xu Jie knew at a glance that Gu Chi was finally about to reveal his true colors, and then heard Gu Chi sigh, "It's all because of our lord..."

"What happened to Shen Jun?"

Xu Jie cooperated fully and pressed for answers.

Gu Chi complained to him that his lord was incredibly unreasonable when he got into trouble, pouring out his grievances: "My lord got some inspiration late at night and insisted on making some kind of earthen bed... Didn't Qi Yuanliang find out this morning? That scoundrel, without even asking what happened, tried to clear my name. My lord wanted to play with mud, and I was the one who encouraged him to do that???"

He was even more wronged than Dou E.

Xu, bewildered, explained: "..."

To be honest, he was prepared to weigh the pros and cons.

Is that all?

That's it?

Gu Chi's words sounded strange no matter how you put them together, and even the attendant beside him looked confused for a moment.

Shen Jun......

Playing in the mud?

Xu Jie then asked, "What is a kang (heated brick bed)?"

Gu Chi said, "It's just a bed, where you can light a fire under the bed to keep warm... Yesterday, the lord received news that twenty-three commoners had frozen to death in the cold, and that's when the lord had this idea."

The attendant couldn't help but ask, on behalf of his master, the shocking question: "A fire under the bed? Are they going to cremate him?"

Gu Chi: "..."

Xu Jie feigned a scolding: "Excuse me!"

The attendant awoke with a start and bowed in apology.

Gu Chi quickly smoothed things over, saying, "It's not his fault, it's not his fault. I didn't explain clearly. The earthen kang that you mentioned, my lord, is a raised platform built in the house, on which mats are laid, a chimney is connected, and a stove is built in the east kitchen. People can lie on it to keep warm and ward off the cold..."

That's a good idea.

Following Gu Chi's description, Xu Jie constructed a rough outline of a kang (heated brick bed) in his mind, which seemed quite good. However, he had a problem: heating a kang required a fire, and starting a fire required firewood and charcoal. Since commoners had these things, wouldn't it be more convenient to use a brazier for heating? Besides, firewood and charcoal were also an expense.

Ordinary people may not have that kind of economic strength.

Xu Jie asked these questions, and Gu Chi also asked Shen Tang about them.

The answer was that using charcoal to start a fire is unsafe.

Indoor ventilation can easily lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, and carbon powder can also cause dust explosions.

Gu Chi didn't know what carbon monoxide was, but according to his lord, it was something that was hidden in charcoal fires. Once it was burned and volatilized in a relatively sealed environment, it would accumulate to a certain concentration and cause people to be poisoned and die.

Secondly, it is not always necessary to use firewood for heating a kang (a traditional heated bed).

Hay, straw, fallen leaves, and even animal manure are all acceptable.

Compared to some wealthy and powerful playboys who arrange for young and beautiful "warm beauties" to warm their hands and bodies in winter, or to have dozens or hundreds of women take off their clothes and sit around to "warm up," the cost of such arrangements is almost negligible.

Gu Chi smiled more: "If the earthen kang can be built, it would be a good thing for the common people in the north."

Xu Jie listened attentively, nodding occasionally.

He added, "Leaving aside the fact that this method is quite innovative, even if it fails, at least the effort that Mr. Shen has put into serving the common people is commendable. Why would Mr. Qi criticize it as 'playing with mud'?"

Can playing in the mud and playing in the mud be the same thing?

Gu Chi: "..."

I didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Answering truthfully would damage the image of one's lord as wise and virtuous.

After all, a lord who loves riding pigs and frequently infuriates Qi Shan to the point of despair doesn't seem very bright. After much deliberation, he decided to leave a fig leaf for his lord's image and remain vague.

Xu Jie wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

He also gained a deeper understanding of Shen Tang's "diligence." According to Gu Chi, the idea of ​​the earthen bed came from Shen Tang late at night. He even dragged him along to the construction site to demonstrate and give a passionate speech in the cold wind, which is why he developed dark circles under his eyes.

Hearing Xu Jie's praise, Gu Chi felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

There's still a chance to survive when your colleagues are competing, but when your lord leads the way, there's absolutely no way out. Let alone him, even if the King of Hell himself were just passing by, he'd be dragged in and forced to work overtime all night to rewrite the Book of Life and Death! ε=(ο｀*))) Alas, what an unfortunate life!

Xu Jie then probed further.

"I do have some ideas about this earthen kang (heated brick bed), but something is missing. Would it be convenient for us to go and take a look?"

Gu Chi said, "My lord and Lord Wu are like brothers, what's so inconvenient about seeing a mere earthen bed? Please!"

Xu Jie: "..."

Goodness, it's only been one night.

The relationship between the two lords has skyrocketed and is heating up rapidly.

It has actually evolved to the level of "deep affection between brothers"!

If Xu Jie hadn't known that Gu Chi had ulterior motives, he might have been misled by Gu Chi's enthusiasm and blinded by his own desires.

Shen Tang's initiative has always been exceptional.

She wanted to build a traditional earthen bed, so she immediately gathered several craftsmen to discuss it. The group discussed the idea while simultaneously simulating the construction process on-site.

It doesn't matter if you mess it up, you can just start over.

Shen Tang was responsible for providing the general design of the earthen bed and its functional divisions. He racked his brains, digging out the little memory he had, and discussed and overcame the remaining parts and the technical difficulties of construction with the craftsmen. When Xu Jie came over, he saw Shen Jun squatting on the ground without any regard for his image, sitting in a circle with several dusty craftsmen, whispering and discussing something.

"...The earthen bed can't have this much space, how much stuff would we need to burn to keep it warm? We need to raise it... How do we raise it? There's plenty of sand and mud outside, isn't there? If that's not enough, we'll bring in some gravel to fill it in... Tsk, we're still short of bricks..."

Hearing footsteps approaching behind her, Shen Tang turned her head.

His face was covered in mud.

Xu Jie could hardly recognize that the boy who looked like he had rolled around in the mud was actually Shen Jun, whom he had seen yesterday.

"Why is the tide coming?"

Gu Chi pointed to Xu Jie and said, "It is said that after hearing the idea of ​​the earthen kang, he had some other ideas and came to take a look."

Shen Tang and Gu Chi both looked at Xu Jie.

Xu Jie: "..."

Do you believe him when he says it's just an excuse he made up on the spot?

Forced into a corner, a brilliant idea flashed into his mind.

He coughed lightly and joined the discussion.

Of course, the Xu family patriarch, who exudes an air of "nobility," would not squat down like Shen Tang, thus ruining his image.

The discussion ended, and an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Xu Jie secretly observed Shen and Tang, whose expressions remained unchanged, and couldn't help but wonder in his heart—it's fine if Shen Jun doesn't say anything, but why didn't Gu Wangchao mention the wine either?

It wasn't mentioned that day, nor the next.

On the third day, Xu Jie was about to set off and leave.

There was still not a word from them.

Xu Jie prepared to take the initiative.

Let's use Zhao Fengdang as an excuse to start the conversation.

Although Zhao Feng was a powerful and courageous martial artist, his body had suffered many hidden injuries from years of fighting.

During this time with Shen Tang, my old injuries haven't flared up. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was thanks to those fine wines!

Zhao Feng, who diligently tills the land every day: "...???"

Chen, the King of Involution, a 007 Enthusiast, Tang: "How could there be a hidden injury to a righteous cause? It was my carelessness that prevented me from discovering it."

Xu Jie: "Shen Jun, there's no need to blame yourself or feel remorse. Martial arts masters don't easily reveal their weaknesses to others. It's quite shameful to admit, but many martial arts masters in my clan, among my retainers and followers, suffer from various ailments. As the head of the Xu family, it's my responsibility to help them. I wonder if your brewing recipe might be of any use..."

Shen Tang refused before he could finish speaking.

"Everything else is negotiable, but this is not. This is the 'treasure' of the Shen family that has been passed down for generations, and I still want to pass it on to my descendants. Although it's true that a son selling his grandfather's land doesn't hurt his heart, I'm afraid that if I do this, I'll be beaten up by my ancestors a hundred years from now."

Shen Tang's words left no room for discussion.

Xu Jie knew this would be the outcome, but he was not disappointed.

After all, only a fool would sell a brewing recipe.

A one-off deal can only make you money once.

If the wine is brewed and then sold, the profits can be sustained.

Xu Jie chuckled awkwardly, then quickly apologized: "I know this request is impolite, and I hope Lord Shen will not take offense. However, as the head of the Xu family, I must still strive to obtain it—I wonder how much of this spirit wine Lord Shen possesses?"

Before Shen Tang could answer with a number, he directly cut off any possibility that Shen Tang might ask for an exorbitant price and then try to negotiate the amount on the spot.

Shen Tang can supply a limited quantity to Fu Gu Department Store every day, and even commoners can exchange for wine as long as they have wine tokens, which shows that the inventory is definitely not small. Even if it has been almost sold out, can't it just be brewed again?

"Does the commentary mean that he wants to eat it all?"

Shen Tang was already thinking about where to strike.

Xu Jie said, "Not exactly."

What's the point of clearing out the entire inventory at once?

If Shen Tang were to suddenly turn on you and sell all the goods at a low price, you would be stuck with all that stock.

Xu Jie is a cautious person.

He planned to ask for a symbolic one or two hundred jars first.

If Tianhai can successfully establish a foothold and sign a long-term cooperation agreement with Shentang, acting as an intermediary for sales without risking stockpiling goods himself, he will simply help Shentang sell the goods and profit from the transaction.

Such as labor, transportation, and commission.

Swallow it in one gulp?

He's not stupid.

Shen Tang had no objection to this.

“Since Wenzhu is so sincere, I naturally have no reason to object. However, as you can see, Heyin has nothing to offer. What are you planning to use to settle the bill?” Shen Tang frowned in worry and smiled bitterly. “To be honest, if it’s in silver, it won’t be very useful. What we lack most right now are goods and small-denomination coins like copper coins that can circulate among the common people… I’m not afraid to tell you, Wenzhu, that we even lack the seedlings and farming tools needed for next year’s spring planting, therefore…”

Xu Jie listened attentively on the surface, but was slightly startled inside.

He hadn't expected Shen Tang to be so straightforward and blunt about her true purpose, nor did she intend to play mind games with him; her sincerity was so genuine that it was hard to refuse her. But Xu Jie was a rational and sensible scholar.

“Seedlings and farm tools… this matter requires our lord’s approval; it is not something that can be decided by one person alone.”

No matter how good the relationship is between the two companies, they are not one family.

Xu Jie deliberately exaggerated the situation to leave enough room for negotiation.

|ω`)

Ah, I still haven't finished writing the missing thousand words.

I'll definitely make up the difference of two thousand tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)