The common people knew that many people visited their houses, so they paid great attention to the cleanliness and furnishings of their homes. However, even a broken bowl in a poor family is worth a fortune, and they would not be willing to throw away any old or worn-out items. Therefore, no matter how they tidied up, their homes still looked messy.
Changsun didn't take it seriously and led his men into the house. They looked around and found that the first, second, and third floors were all one-way, with a bedroom and a living room. The living room contained some furniture and grain. There was also a kitchen at the back of the first floor. Although the kitchen was only one floor, it was also built of brick and stone, and the adjacent rooms were all arranged in the same way.
"Grandpa, are you satisfied with this new home?" After the tour, the eldest grandson came out and asked with a gentle smile.
The old man dared not look directly at the very beautiful noblewoman. Looking at the garden, he opened his toothless mouth and smiled very happily, saying, "Replying to your question, I am very satisfied, extremely satisfied!"
Speaking of his new home, the old man seemed to get very excited, touching the brick wall and exclaiming, "I've lived for sixty years and never imagined that I could live in such a nice house! Many relatives and friends are very envious!"
"Don't you think the house is a bit small? I think this garden is shared, isn't it?" Changsun asked again.
"It's quite spacious! It's spacious enough for a family of five! I heard that the imperial court ordered its construction. His Majesty is a good man! Not only are the houses new, but every family is also given a new bed!"
"This garden, although it's supposed to be shared, is enough to raise chickens and ducks and store other things," the old man sighed.
The eldest grandson was the happiest when Li Shimin was praised, his smile widening as he nodded and said, "Thank you for disturbing me, sir."
After the eldest grandson finished speaking, he left. A eunuch took out a handful of copper coins and, despite the old man's refusal, stuffed them into his hand.
After asking about two more gardens, Changsun glanced at the sky and turned back to ask, "Is the Six Doors government office nearby?"
"Yes, madam!"
"Go and summon Changning and Qin Huaidao to see me! I'll be waiting for them on the fifth floor," Changsun instructed.
"Yes, sir!" the eunuch replied, and hurriedly ran away.
Qin Mu and Cheng Huaimo had just finished arranging things when they received a message from the eunuch. Seeing the panting eunuch, he and Princess Changning left the Six Doors.
"Pretty boy, why doesn't Brother Qin like me?" Xiangli Yanran asked wistfully, putting the pine nuts in her hand into her pocket as she watched Qin Mu and Princess Changning leave.
Yuchi Baolin glanced at Xiangli Yanran, took out a copper coin from his pocket, and threw it at Xiangli Yanran's feet.
The copper coin landed with a crisp sound.
He gestured with his chin, saying, "Look!"
"?"
These are just ordinary, common copper coins. What's so interesting about them? After glancing at the copper coins, Xiangli Yanran looked up at Yuchi Baolin with a blank expression.
"See? Perhaps that's the reason," Yu Chi Baolin prompted.
"What do you mean?" Xiangli Yanran was completely confused. She looked down at the copper coin again, which landed right at her toes.
Xiangli Yanran blinked, somewhat confused, when suddenly! A thought flashed through her mind, her gaze rising and lingering on her chest for a moment. Then, enraged and embarrassed, she threw a punch.
A muffled thud!
Yuchi Baolin was caught off guard by her sudden attack. The fist that went straight to his stomach bent him into a squat shape.
"Hmph!" Xiangli Yanran was still furious. She stepped forward and stomped her leg into him. Then she snorted coldly, leaving Yuchi Baolin screaming in pain, clutching his nose.
………
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!"
"Changning, Huaidao, you've arrived." Upon seeing the two arrive, Changsun glanced up and down, nodded slightly, and smiled.
"Your Majesty, is there something you need from us?" Princess Changning asked, stepping forward to support Changsun.
"What? Can't I ask you to come and keep your sister-in-law company if there's nothing wrong?" Changsun asked with a half-smile.
"Of course I can. You just told me, and I came right away," Princess Changning said, gently shaking Changsun's arm. From their conversation, it was clear that they had a very good relationship.
"So, you only come when I call you, which wasn't the case before; sigh, having a lover really makes a difference," Changsun teased.
"Sister-in-law!" Princess Changning blushed deeply and said coquettishly.
"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore, Huai Dao! What do you think is suitable for the royal family to sell in this shopping mall?" Changsun patted the back of Princess Changning's hand, then looked at Qin Mu and asked.
"The royal family must have some assets, right? They could sell them!" Qin Mu said, somewhat puzzled.
"Ah! What did you say? You're going to sell all of this? Do you expect the royal family to come here and sell vegetables and cloth? What kind of talk is that!" Changsun said irritably.
"What's wrong with selling vegetables? This place is for selling vegetables! The first floor is empty, you see? I'm arranging for people to fix up the counter. The first floor is for selling all sorts of small things, pots and pans, vegetables and fruits, what can't be sold?" Qin Mu asked back with wide eyes.
"They sell vegetables and fruits on the first floor? You built such a big shopping mall, and this is all you sell? You can buy them anywhere else. Do people really come all the way here?" Changsun asked with a hint of skepticism.
"Why isn't anyone buying? Not to mention the residents nearby, people who come to the mall can also buy some to take home; this is also a food street, with dozens of vendors. They can't eat their own snacks every day, can they? It's very convenient for them to buy some vegetables nearby, right? And there are so many workers, it's also very convenient for them to buy some vegetables to take home after work," Qin Mu analyzed.
“What you say makes sense, but most people eat vegetables they grow themselves, or ordinary people sell them, and wealthy families have people deliver them to their door. But if you raise the rent here, the cost must be high, right? Why would anyone come to buy?” Changsun countered.
"Your Majesty, let me explain. The first floor will be divided into a large area as a special sales area for vegetables and fruits. Not only will merchants who buy vegetables be allowed to set up stalls, but ordinary people will also be allowed to set up stalls. Ordinary people will only need to pay a market management fee of one coin, and they will not have to carry their vegetables around looking for customers. They will definitely be willing to do this, right?"
"And then there are the vendors. They buy vegetables, and they definitely choose the best ones. So why can't they sell the better vegetables at a higher price?" Qin Mu earnestly explained the benefits of the vegetable market to Changsun.
“That makes sense. Vegetable sellers all come here, so naturally, buyers will come too. There are cheap and expensive options, catering to both ordinary people and the wealthy. For just one copper coin, you don’t have to carry your vegetables around, and there are plenty of customers. It’s practically a vegetable market!” Changsun thought for a moment and understood. His eyes lit up, and he gave Qin Mu an appreciative look.
"Your Majesty is wise! That's exactly the point! At the beginning, few people knew about it, so even if the people sold their cloth, I could buy it all. After all, the Six Doors have so many people to feed." Qin Mu offered a flattering remark.
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