Chapter 196 New Home
"Highest price?" Jin Sui glanced at Yan Shiyi's smug expression and sneered, "Is it because our Turtle Master is threatening other bidders to not bid?"
Yan Shiyi did not even try to hide his feelings: "You are amazing, Boss Ji, you can even guess this! That's right, I will just tell them directly that no matter how much they offer, I will add 10% to it."
Jin Sui smiled and said, "This threat is not bad!" Next time I will find someone to bid against you.
When they arrived at the military camp, Gu Changxiao led the Northwest Army and the Black Feather Camp soldiers back to the camp. Cheng Yu prepared a grand triumphal banquet, which would be held tonight.
Jin Sui continued to visit the workshop area with Grandpa Ling. It had only been a few months since she left, but the border town looked brand new. She was eager to visit the brand new border town.
The road is really wide, divided into a carriageway and a sidewalk, separated by pine trees in the middle.
The main road was temporarily closed to welcome the army into the city. When we arrived at the workshop area, there were endless horse-drawn carriages carrying goods. What surprised Jin Sui was that many of the carriages with "Border Town" engraved with serial numbers were four-wheeled! The road was wide enough for four carriages to drive side by side. Grandpa Ling praised Cheng Yu for his foresight and for building the road before building the workshop. He said that the carriages and herdsmen would ride horses, so the road must be widened to prevent traffic jams.
It’s wider than the Chidao Road! Apart from Chang’an, no other city has roads this wide!
Grandpa Ling said with a little pride: "Master Cheng also asked Grandpa to plan it. He said to use the Taoist Bagua map to build workshops and roads. This way, it will be accessible in all directions and the feng shui will be good."
This reminded Jin Sui. She just felt that the square was very much like the center of the Bagua diagram. Workshops were built around the square, with a road leading to the checkpoint on one side and fertile fields on both sides.
One side leads to the main urban area, and on both sides are military camps. The main urban area is also a residential area.
She praised him: "Grandpa is amazing! He even understands something as difficult as building a city!"
Grandpa Ling stroked his beard proudly, and was embarrassed to say that he actually did nothing at all. He just drew a Bagua diagram, and Cheng Yu took it and built a city according to the diagram.
That's because Lord Cheng is a good person. He deliberately gave credit to his grandfather, the fake King Li, in the hope that the fake King Li would come back.
"The workshops related to military industry are all in the military camp, not in this industrial area. But the colored glaze workshop is in the easternmost part, next to the East China Sea base.
Was it your idea or the prince's? Liuli is not allowed to be sold in large quantities in Daxia, and only a small portion is sold to the nobles. I heard that 90% of it is sold to the northern border and the sea, is that right? "
Jin Sui laughed. Cheng Yu knew that the raw materials of colored glaze were too cheap. He was afraid that colored glaze would become a common thing on the streets in the future, and those people from Da Xia who had bought colored glaze at high prices would cause trouble for Border Town.
It would be better to eliminate this hidden danger from the root and only make money from foreigners. Anyway, just looking at the love of the people in Northern Xinjiang for colored glaze, Gu Changxiao can earn a lot of military expenses.
This is a good thing. If it is sold on a large scale in Daxia, the recipe will easily spread out and the unique business will not last long.
"Liuli is also cooperating with the Yan family?"
"No, Lord Cheng specifically said that Liuli is a big business and needs to cooperate with at least three families. In addition to the Yan family, there are also the Jin family and the Zhou family."
"The Zhou family? Is the old man from the Zhou family willing to bow his head and cooperate with Biancheng?" She did not forget the arrogance of the old man from the Zhou family, who acted as if he was superior and Biancheng was not worthy of him.
"Mr. Zhou has passed the position of the head of the family to his grandson, and he doesn't care about anything."
Jin Sui sneered: "It seems that the bones of the nobles are not that hard. No matter how arrogant they are, they will bow their heads in front of interests."
She suddenly felt that Cheng Yu's approach was great, as the Yan gentry would have close ties with the border town. And these businesses were all in the industrial and commercial fields.
The border town can be ceded at any time without damaging the foundation, but if the nobles want to cede it, it will inevitably hurt their bones. No wonder they not only did not suppress the border town and restrict its development, but also helped it with all their strength.
Judging from the current situation, they say they are partners, but in fact they are just high-level employees working for Border Town.
Oh, I never thought that after being a cow and horse for two lifetimes, I would one day be a rancher and herd other cows and horses!
Jin Sui touched her chin. She was thinking further ahead. She wanted to use huge short-term benefits to overwhelm the minds of the gentry and make them focus on business. Maritime trade and the huge market in the northern border were enough to overwhelm the gentry.
Gu Changxiao could take this opportunity to take back the land of the gentry.
When the profits from the output of the fields are far less than those from business, they will definitely focus on business. Once the fields are recovered and distributed to the people, we will then introduce the land reform system.
It was impossible for the gentry to buy back the land. Without land, all wealth would be castles in the air.
At this time, Gu Changxiao's strength must be much stronger. After the land reform, we can introduce trade reforms and firmly grasp some of the country's fundamental industries in our hands.
The gentry either had to obediently serve as high-level workers, or they would be exploited and have their New Year pigs slaughtered.
Of course, there will be bloodshed, riots, coups and other events during this period, but Jinsui believes that we will definitely win! Because if the nobles continue to expand without restraint, clinging to the huge country of Daxia like a cancer and sucking blood, one day they will be like "the streets of heaven trample on the bones of nobles"! In comparison, Boss Ji's methods are much gentler!
Seeing a hint of sharpness flashing in his granddaughter's eyes, Grandpa Ling understood that she must have thought of some long-term and grand plans from these details.
My granddaughter is no longer an ordinary person.
Grandpa Ling reminded in a low voice: "Sui Sui, Grandpa knows that you have a heavy burden on your shoulders. You have never had a moment of leisure and have been busy and tired all the time."
Jin Sui was stunned: "Grandpa, why are you talking about this? My granddaughter is fine. Actually, I didn't do any hard work. I just used my brain."
More often than not, I would go to the space to copy the answers.
"Grandpa is not rushing you, it's just your father's case?"
Jinsui then understood that Grandpa was worried that she was enjoying her current identity and status and had forgotten that she was still Ling Jinsui, and was still burdened with Grandpa Ling's case and Mother Ling's last wish.
Grandpa didn’t bring Jin’an with him. Was he afraid that Jinsui would ask her questions?
Jinsui was too embarrassed to tell him about the agreement between him and Gu Changxiao. How could he explain such a thing to an old man?
"Don't worry, Grandpa. I have never forgotten this. To be honest, one of the motivations that supported me to continue working hard in Border Town and one of the reasons why I assisted the King of Li was because of my father's case.
It’s just that I can’t talk to the King of Li about this alone, so I thought it would be better for the three of us to meet him at the same time and talk to him about my father’s case.”
Grandpa Ling then said happily: "Sui Sui has a good idea. It is indeed the three of us who should talk about it together. Then in the next two days?"
Jin Sui nodded: "Let me make an appointment with the prince! The prince should be very busy these days."
She didn't feel like continuing to visit the workshop area, so she went home with her grandfather. The small mud house had changed a lot. The main house alone had five large rooms made of blue bricks and tiles, and there were three courtyards, with more than a dozen rooms of different sizes.
"This was built specially for us by Master Cheng. It's right next to the palace."
The palace! I have been the fake prince for so long, but I haven't been able to live in the real palace for a day. What a loss!
As a result, she found that the prince's palace was not much bigger than Ji's palace. It only had a huge martial arts arena, but no gardens or landscaping.
Cheng Yu is really a practical person. He doesn't want to buy anything fancy or expensive like the luxury houses in Chang'an.
Grandpa Ling pointed out the location of her home. She was no longer in the mood to walk around the city and wanted to go see her new home.
But when I saw the bustling main urban area, I felt that I couldn’t sit still even if I went home, so it would be better to take a walk around before going home.
The roads in the main urban area are narrower than those in the workshop area, but they are equipped with street lights and the market is very lively. Jinsui couldn't believe that there were so many people in the border town?
Thinking back to when she first came, she opened the Li Da Wu Xian restaurant in order to attract merchants. It was Chen Yunniang who brought a group of women from the Tun Tianying camp, who set up various stalls and created a street several dozen meters long.
The only thing that attracted people was a tomato fish ball.
Nowadays, the street with restaurant signs is endless. At the corner, there is a three-story restaurant with two streets and four storefronts. It is actually "Zhongyuan Chowder"! There are so many customers that all three floors are full. In addition to the chowder, she can also smell the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes. Potato stewed pork is also one of the main dishes.
It seems that Lord Cheng takes good care of my grandfather's restaurant. He gives away as many sweet potatoes, potatoes and tomatoes as the restaurant can sell.
Jin Sui smiled and said to his grandfather, "My great grandfather, you are now the boss of Zhongyuan Stew! The annual income from such a big restaurant is enough for you to build a Dadao Temple."
Grandpa Ling said in a tone that was both proud and polite: "It's just small profits but quick turnover. Don't underestimate the number of customers. The food we sell is not expensive.
The ones making money are the Yan Family's Hot Pot Restaurant across the street and the Yanzhizhai over there. Their monthly profits are equal to that of Zhongyuan Zahui in half a year!"
Jin Sui thought, the more money the better, since I have shares anyway. It's really a case of planting willows by accident and getting a good harvest! When I was penniless, the few businesses I cooperated with the Yan family were like small seeds, and now they have all grown into towering trees.
As one of the shareholders, I can also sit back and collect the money! No wonder so many people are willing to take the risk to invest, because the rewards after success are really high!
Jinsui reminded himself to stay calm, we make money not to be a miser, but to do more things.
She didn't forget the point. She walked around the main city but didn't see it. "Where is the refugee office? Has it been abolished?"
Grandpa Ling said hurriedly, "How could it be? The Refugee Office is now one of the most important institutions in the border town. Lord Cheng said that it was the prince who said that as long as the military district exists, the Refugee Office will exist! Now, not only are the refugees from the sixteen states of Yan rushing to the border town, but also the people who have suffered disasters all over the world, the people who cannot make a living in their hometowns, and the refugees who have hidden in the mountains are all trying to find ways to run to the border town.
Not only was the Refugee Office not abolished, it was also built on a large scale. Just outside the South City Gate, an area slightly smaller than the workshop area was planned.”
Jin Sui laughed, thinking himself to be so stupid. Refugees would only come from the south, not from outside the Great Wall. He returned to the city by taking the road from outside the Great Wall to the main city, so naturally he did not find the refugee office.
She did not immediately run to the South City Gate to see the Refugee Office, but waited for Cheng Yu to take her there when he was free. If she came suddenly, the officials below would feel embarrassed.
Hearing the sound of the bell, she looked up and saw a huge martial arts field in the middle of the city, and a row of watchtowers built next to it. One of the towers had a bell on it, which struck once every hour.
"Sister!" Jin'an, carrying a schoolbag, ran towards Jinsui from the street, but suddenly stopped in front of her.
He didn't jump into her arms like before, because after only a few months of not seeing each other, the child had grown to the height of Jinsui's nose! No way? What kind of physique does this child have? Does he grow taller when he is full? "Grandpa, what did you feed him? Horse feed? How come he is so tall?"
Grandpa laughed: "Boys of this age grow fast if they eat a lot. You didn't see him eat. If it was in the past, I really couldn't afford to raise him."
Jin Sui said worriedly, "It's okay to grow taller, but don't get fat. Boys your age are in the prime growth period, and getting fat will be troublesome."
Jin'an felt very aggrieved. He hadn't seen his sister for such a long time and missed her so much. But as soon as they met, his sister said that he ate too much!
He rolled up his sleeves and bent his arms to show off his muscles: "I'm not fat! I go to the Black Feather Camp to train for two hours every evening.
Sister, don't you miss me?"
Jinsui quickly patted his shoulder and said that in the past he would have touched his head, but boys are grown up and their heads cannot be touched casually.
"Of course I did! So when I heard that you were about to finish school, I waited for you at the door."
Grandpa Ling laughed and didn't expose his granddaughter's lie. What's wrong with making the child happy? At this time, Hei Hu's tall body squeezed over: "Boss Ji, Taoist Ji, Xiao An, it's great that you are all here. Let's go to the military camp to attend the banquet!"
Grandpa Ling was embarrassed: "Is the old Taoist going too? Oh, you young people can go."
Heihu went right up to hug Grandpa. Although Grandpa was not short, he was too thin, as thin as a pine tree. When Heihu hugged him, it was as if Grandpa was being held under his armpit.
Jin Sui quickly stepped forward and separated the two of them: "Grandpa was just joking, of course he will go. Hei Hu, you go back first, I will go home and bring some good wine."
Hei Hu was unwilling to leave, and pointed at the carriage outside the Ji residence: "I'll be waiting for you in the carriage. The prince said that he must pick up all three of you."
Jin Sui whispered to Grandpa, "Aren't you going to tell the prince about my father? It's just right to talk to the prince after the banquet."
Jin'an, who had an innocent smile on his face just now, suddenly became serious, and his lacquered eyes were calm. Although he was still a child, he had a restrained hostility.
Jinsui couldn't help but think of the day when the child heard that his sister and grandfather were not planning to go to Chang'an, and rushed into the mountains alone and was caught by bandits. His expression was like this at that time.
Sure enough, Ling's father's case has always been the heaviest burden in the minds of the grandfather and grandson. They have been restraining and enduring and waiting for the opportunity. Now the opportunity has come.
The Ji family is a simple family. They have no servants, only three apprentices accepted by the grandfather. They are not Taoist apprentices, but disciples who learn to cook Central Plains stews.
Three young apprentices helped clean and lived in the front yard, Grandpa and Jin'an lived in the second yard, and the third yard was kept very clean, spotless, and all the furniture was new.
The layout is also very exquisite. There are flowers and plants in the yard. The beds, cabinets, tables and chairs all exude elegance. There is also a study and a small kitchen.
It looked like a lady's yard, spacious and not too complicated. Jin'an and Grandpa looked at her expectantly.
Jin Sui understood what he meant: "This yard is so beautiful! I have never lived in such a nice house! Who decorated it?"
Jinan answered quickly: "We asked Madam Chen to decorate it. She said my sister would definitely like it."
Jin Sui smiled and nodded: "I like it very much! Thank you, Grandpa and Xiao An, this will be our home from now on!"
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