Shen Yu threw the question back to Cui Jinhuan and asked, "What does Master Cui mean?" He planned to counter the move.
"The City Lord's Mansion cannot collect any taxes from the Cui family for a hundred years," Cui Jinhuan replied. The Cui family couldn't just spend money to build a city for nothing and then have to pay more later, right?
Shen Yu looked at Wan Xueying, who nodded slightly. They'd roughly calculated the cost, and the Cui family's request wasn't excessive. They'd paid for it, so they had to get their money back!
So Shen Yu nodded and readily agreed: "Okay."
"Okay?" Cui Jinhuan was a little surprised, "Why don't you bargain?" Although he would never agree if the other party bargained with him, this process was still necessary!
"We think Master Cui's proposal is reasonable," Shen Yu said, "but I think it would be best to make some adjustments."
"Make some adjustments? How?" After Shen Yu made this request, Cui Jinhuan felt more at ease.
"We want to extend this period to two hundred years. During this period, the Cui family will pay half of the taxes each year." After the new city is built, we can't rely entirely on the Shen family and other unrelated businesses to pay the taxes, right? That would make it difficult to maintain the basic expenses of the new city, let alone support an army.
"Okay." The Cui family had discussed this before, so Cui Jinhuan agreed readily.
"Then let's make this a preliminary decision first." The one who makes the decision in the Cui family is Cui Hao, the head of the Cui family, and there are still some things to discuss later.
"Okay." Cui Jinhuan also agreed. He then asked curiously, "Why do I feel like you two have ambitions beyond just this one city?"
Shen Yu smiled and asked, "Mr. Cui, how long do you think it would take to build such a city?"
"Uh...at least ten years, right?"
"I'm afraid that by the time we're all buried, this city might not even be complete."
"Why would it take so long?" Cui Jinhuan obviously didn't believe it.
"You'll know when we actually build it." Even the slightest lack of manpower, material resources, or financial resources would delay the project, and that's before considering external factors. Furthermore, this isn't a small undertaking; it would take generations of effort to complete it. So, there was no room for greater ambition; they should just build the city first.
"However," he added, "it won't take long to build a prototype so people can live there first." After all, the Cui family didn't have much time left, and so many people in the Shen family were also waiting.
"Okay," Cui Jinhuan nodded. "I'll give you an answer as soon as possible." He then made a small request. "I heard from my second brother that Miss Wan opened a food court in a county town under Ningjiang County. There's a lot of delicious food there. Could you take me there to try some of the new food this time?"
Wan Xueying smiled and said generously, "That's not difficult. Shuangyang County is not too far from here. We can get there in the afternoon by carriage. Eat whatever you want today. It's my treat."
Cui Jinhuan said bluntly, "Then let's make it a deal."
"Okay, it's settled."
When they arrived at Wanfeng Food City, the lobby was already full of people before dinner time, and it looked very lively.
Cui Jinhuan asked questions like a person who had never seen the world.
"What is this stall selling? Why have I never seen it before?" he asked.
Wan Xueying took a look and replied, "Malatang."
"What about that?"
"Chuanchuanxiang."
"That... uh, I know it's kebabs."
"Yes, it's grilled skewers, and there are fried skewers next to it."
"I know that too. It's all kinds of noodles."
"Not only noodles, but also rice noodles. There are various staple foods and side dishes next to it that you can also try. There are also various stir-fries over there, and each portion is relatively small. For the price of one dish at other places, you can have several here. After we finish eating, I will bring you some cakes to take back. Those cakes are all carefully developed and improved by Aunt Wu. The taste is particularly good. Some guests from other places come here specifically to buy some to take back as gifts."
"Well, my trip was not in vain."
Because Cui Jinhuan wanted to try everything and share the leftovers with his followers, Wan Xueying asked someone to bring a portion of each to her private room on the second floor.
While the dishes were being served, she went to the office where Aunt Chen and Aunt Wu were working. They had been busy with their own things recently and had rarely seen each other.
When she knocked on the door and entered, she saw not only Aunt Chen and Nanny Wu, but also an acquaintance.
"Sixth cousin, why are you here?" This man was none other than one of Shen Yu's cousins. Because there were so many people coming to the Shen family, Wan Xueying had no choice but to follow Shen Yu's example and address everyone.
The reason why Wan Xueying is familiar with Shen Yuanda is that he was the first member of the Shen family with the title of scholar that Wan Xueying invited when she opened the school two years ago. He is now An Fan's teacher.
Shen Yuanda's old face flushed slightly as he explained awkwardly, "The school is closed today, so I came here to help Lian Niang with the accounts since I had nothing better to do."
Lian Niang? She sounds quite affectionate.
Wan Xueying had decided on the school's holiday. At both Wanfeng Academy and Beijiang Academy, students get two days off for every ten days of classes. Today, not only the school, but Beijiang Academy is also closed. But Mr. Shen, you're not resting at home, but coming here to help. Don't you have any ulterior motives? Your face is practically red.
Wan Xueying was not overthinking it. In the past two years, because of the booming business of Wanfeng Food City, Aunt Chen and Nanny Wu had become celebrities in Ningjiang County.
Knowing that Concubine Chen was a widow (as they had always told others) and very beautiful, many people came to propose marriage. However, Concubine Chen had been busy with her first career in the past two years and had no time to think about these things. It seemed that this scholar Shen was planning to find another way!
Wan Xueying did not object to this.
Shen Yuanda was a widower in his early forties. He had a daughter with his late wife, who had already married and had children. He was very loyal in his relationships and, apart from his late wife, he had no concubines or maids.
It was because she thought An Fan had good character that Wan Xueying allowed him to become her apprentice. Later, she discovered that he was truly talented, and it was through his guidance that Gu Ming finally passed the imperial examination and became a scholar.
After becoming a scholar, Gu Ming did not continue to take the imperial examination. He knew that his success was entirely due to luck and the encounter with a noble person. His noble person has always been Wan Xueying. Even Shen Yuanda was introduced by Wan Xueying.
Gu Ming is also teaching at the school, responsible for the enlightenment of the children. Last year, he helped a girl from Yangshu Village and got married to her at the end of last year.
Because everyone settled down in the northern border, Wan Xueying gave each of them a generous settlement allowance, and Gu Ming and the others who got married gradually brought their wives and children over.
Seeing that everyone was in pairs, Wan Xueying naturally hoped that Aunt Chen would find a good home. If Nanny Wu also wanted to remarry, she would also give her a large gift as a dowry.
She was afraid that her excessive talk would cause Concubine Chen to think too much and delay a marriage, so she simply said hello to Concubine Chen and Nanny Wu, telling them that she was bringing people to dinner today and that everything would be recorded normally.
This was the rule she had set from the beginning. Everyone who came to Wanfeng Food City to eat had to pay the normal price. Because the food at each stall was reasonably priced, there was no such thing as a discount. This also saved a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Wan Xueying returned to the private room, where some snacks had already been served. As soon as she sat down, Cui Jinhuan began peppering her with questions.
Wan Xueying patiently explained each step, and after Cui Jinhuan had a general understanding, he began to eat with relish.
He was really full after this meal, and at the end he did not forget to remind Wan Xueying to bring him some of the cakes that had been agreed upon in advance.
During the meal, he also proposed that Wan Xueying open a food city like this in Xijiang.
Shen Yu rolled his eyes at him. "Your family is struggling in Xijiang, and I don't know how many more difficulties Xueying will face if she opens a shop there." Even now, Wan Xueying is so busy all day that he feels bad for her. However, seeing that Wan Xueying enjoys doing this, he can only find a way to help her share the burden.
After coming out of the Food City, they saw the plaque of Wanfengcheng Pharmacy. Thinking of the scene where the beauty pills Cui Yincheng brought back were scrambled for by the women at home, Cui Jinhuan asked the two of them to take him to visit.
Ever since the academy was built, Wan Xueying had delegated all the management of the shop to others. The current person in charge of the shop was Anping and his wife, whom he had married last year.
"Brother, sister-in-law." As soon as she entered the room, Wan Xueying took the initiative to greet them when she saw the couple busying around.
"Xueying, why are you here?" Ever since the couple got together, Wan Xueying rarely came to the shop, so Anping was a little curious.
"This is the eldest son of the Cui family. He has finally come to the county government. Shen Yu and I will accompany him around." Wan Xueying explained briefly.
"Master Cui!" An Ping put down his work and gave Cui Jinhuan a fist pump. "I'm Xueying's eldest brother, and I'm helping her run the shop. I've had the pleasure of meeting Second Master Cui a few times before, but this is my first time meeting Master Cui."
"Manager An, right? I've heard my second brother mention you." Cui Jinhuan politely returned a salute to Anping.
"Xueying, go sit in the backyard with your sister-in-law first. I'll stay with you here." Anping said this because he was afraid that Wan Xueying would be tired and wanted her to be closer to his wife.
"Xueying," Lv Xiuhui quickly stepped forward and took her hand, saying, "You've finally come here. I still have a lot to say to you."
"Okay then," Wan Xueying nodded, "I'll leave this to Big Brother and Shen Yu. My sister-in-law and I will go sit in the backyard first."
"Miss Wan, don't worry about me," Cui Jinhuan said at the right time, "I will go back to the inn after I finish my tour." He planned to stay in Shuangyang County tonight and had already asked someone to book an inn.
Shen Yu followed up, "You go and rest first. I'll take the eldest son of the Cui family home after he finishes his tour."
"Okay," Wan Xueying agreed readily, "The rest is left to you." After that, she and Lu Xiuhui walked towards the backyard together.
On the way, he also asked about Lu Xiuhui's health with concern.
"Sister-in-law, you're pregnant, so just let my brother handle it alone. Besides, don't we have the guys?"
Speaking of which, Anping really found a treasure. Guan Xiuhui was a lady from a noble family in the past, but her current identity is really embarrassing.
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