"Ten taels."
"Boss, this is too expensive, isn't it? It's not made of precious wood like red sandalwood or huanghuali, it's just ordinary wood, how can it cost ten taels of silver? Can you make it cheaper?"
"Buy it if you want."
Well, this temper is unique.
But who can blame him for being capable? Capable people also have tempers, that's called personality. What can she do? She can only bear it.
Xue Huan reached for her wallet and said, "Oh, what a coincidence! I don't have any money with me. Can I exchange something for you?"
Zhou Ao finally looked up at her and said, "Tell me, what are you doing here?" It was obvious that Xue Huan was not really here to buy anything.
Xue Huan didn't answer immediately. She found a small stool under the counter, wiped herself clean, and sat on it. She then pulled out a palm-sized bottle from her sleeve. "It's cold, would you like some wine to warm you up?"
The information mentioned that Zhou Ao loved drinking. Once, he even missed a job because of drinking, causing deviations in the design drawings and leading to a big mistake. It was this time that brought his career to an end.
From then on, Zhou Ao never drank a drop of alcohol.
Zhou Ao glanced at the bottle and said, "I don't drink."
Use tongs to pick up the roasted water chestnuts from the brazier, slowly peel one and eat it.
Xue Huan didn't force it. She opened the bottle and took a leisurely sip.
The mellow aroma of wine filled the air, making people itch. Even the old yellow dog lying on the ground couldn't help but come over to smell it.
Xue Huan placed the wine bottle on the edge of the brazier, then took out an oil-paper package from her other sleeve and slowly opened it. Inside were neatly arranged slices of evenly thick braised beef with a rich sauce and attractive color.
The smell of meat made the old yellow dog drool even more.
Xue Huan pinched a piece and handed it over. The old yellow dog rolled up its tongue and began to eat it with relish.
Xue Huan also ate one piece herself.
The wine, the meat slices, and then the water chestnuts in his hand, Zhou Ao instantly felt that the food was tasteless.
"Go away, this is not an inn." He started to drive people away.
Want to turn a blind eye.
Xue Huan pushed the oil-paper package in front of him and said with a smile, "Would you like one too?"
Zhou Ao snorted, "Trying to bribe me with a piece of meat?"
But he reached out his hand honestly, took a piece and put it in his mouth.
Then, he silently took the second piece, the third piece...
Zhou Ao finally softened his attitude, "What on earth are you doing here, girl?"
Compared to just now, the tone was obviously not as cold and hard.
Xue Huan smiled and stated her purpose: "Mr. Zhou, I want to build an academy and I want you to be the general manager."
There was no such title as chief engineer in this era, but general manager was almost the same, responsible for managing all matters.
Zhou Ao refused outright, "No."
Xue Huan pretended not to hear and continued, "I haven't introduced myself yet. My surname is Zhao, and my given name is Xiaoxian. I opened a shop in Fengchi County and made some money. I want to use the money to do some good things, such as donating some food and clothes to those orphans, and finding them a job so that they can at least survive.
"But these are only temporary solutions. I think it's better to teach people how to fish than to give them fish. Why not build a special academy to teach them some skills to make a living, such as needlework, cooking, martial arts, carpentry, etc. With a skill, even orphans can make a living in the world.
"I've already bought a piece of land on the outskirts of the city, specifically for the construction of an academy. If you're willing to come out of retirement, please feel free to ask for my salary, and I'll do my best to meet your requirements."
Zhou Ao was still peeling water chestnuts, seemingly oblivious to her words. Just when Xue Huan thought he wasn't interested at all, he suddenly asked, "How big is that piece of land? Where is it located?"
Xue Huan was delighted. Since he was willing to ask, it meant that he was interested. If he was indifferent, he would probably not even pay attention to her.
"That piece of land is on the outskirts of the city, about three hundred acres, not far from the official road, and can be reached in about a quarter of an hour."
One mu of land is about 667 square meters, so 300 mu is 20,000 square meters! That's enough to build a university.
It is close to the official road, which means transportation is convenient.
If this area hadn't been haunted, how could Xue Huan have gotten such a good position?
Zhou Ao fell silent again.
Xue Huan asked tentatively, "How about you come with me to take a look?"
"Why am I not staying indoors in this cold winter and running out to suffer?"
Seeing that he had no intention of moving, Xue Huan sighed inwardly. It seemed that this man really had no intention of reopening the business. Well, she could only find someone else.
Although this person was her first choice, she had also prepared herself in advance for the possibility of not being able to invite him.
She stood up and said, "Mr. Zhou, I won't bother you anymore. Goodbye."
Zhou Ao was dumbfounded. Hey, how could this woman be so insincere? What about the promise to invite him to be the general manager? He was just trying to trick her, and she actually let him go like that?
He kicked the old yellow dog lightly on the butt. The old yellow dog was also very smart and immediately understood what its master meant. It ran out and blocked Xue Huan, biting her skirt and dragging her inside.
Xue Huan was dragged into the house by it. "Mr. Zhou, it seems your dog still wants me to persuade you. For its sake, will you agree?"
She had seen all of Zhou Ao's little movements just now.
Xue Huan had already handed over the ladder, so Zhou Ao couldn't hold back any longer and went down the slope. "Alright then, I don't have anything to do anyway, so I'll go with you to take a look."
He simply closed the grocery store door and followed Xue Huan into the car.
Arriving at the Weeping Ghost Forest, Zhou Ao glanced at Xue Huan as he got out of the car. "You're going to build the academy here? You want students to interact with ghosts?"
Xue Huan smiled and said, "Mr. Zhou, you are not just following the crowd, are you? There are no ghosts here?" Even if there were, they would have been subdued by her long ago.
Zhou Ao snorted, without explaining anything to her, and walked into the forest with his hands behind his back, pacing around. Xue Huan guessed that he was surveying the terrain, so she didn't say anything and followed him silently.
"Building a house has to be done according to my wishes. I don't like others telling me what to do."
Zhou Ao suddenly said.
Xue Huan realized that he had agreed!
"I don't understand construction, so I won't get involved rashly. But before we start construction, I need to tell you my requirements."
Zhou Ao was not angry, "You say."
Xue Huan simply picked up a branch and began drawing on the ground. "First of all, the academy needs a teaching building, which is where the children will attend classes. Since it's a building, it must have more than one floor. It would be best if it had three floors, so that more people can attend classes."
Zhou Ao nodded, his tone calm but with a hint of pride: "Not to mention three stories, I can build you five, six, seven, or eight stories. It's just that there are regulations for folk houses. Three stories is the ceiling. Any higher and it will exceed the limit."
Xue Huan took the opportunity to flatter you: "I went to invite you because I knew you were very capable."
Zhou Ao's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of smile appeared in his eyes.
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