Chapter 135 Scholar's Debate
Xiao Xixi's eyes widened and she blinked a few times innocently, which made the maid very happy.
But although the maid was touched by Xiao Xixi, she didn't dare to touch Xiao Xixi's face and head like her master.
All she could do was to go to the kitchen to get small cakes for Xiao Xixi. After a while, the small cakes were already placed in front of Xixi.
Xiao Xixi was very happy to eat, but she didn't forget her important things.
Just now, she wanted the third brother to take her out to play, but the third brother was not in the mansion at this critical moment, so Xixi had to find a new "transportation tool".
Qin Xixi felt that this maid sister was a reliable and kind sister, so she put her head close to the maid's arms.
"Let's go shopping!"
The maid understood and realized that Qin Xixi wanted to go out to play.
If she was not a maid in the Li Mansion, and there was a cute, furry child rubbing against her like this, she would definitely take Xixi out to play without any principles!
But...
the little maid gritted her teeth and felt that two lines of tears were about to fall from her face.
Miss, it's not that I don't want to take you out to play, it's just that I have the will but not the fate!
"Miss, you can go out to play when the head of the Qin family comes back, or the third young master comes back. I dare not take you out privately."
But Qin Shu was busy doing business outside, and she would not be back until the evening, and the third young master was also immersed in work and couldn't extricate himself. It is estimated that he would not even eat in the mansion after dinner.
What little Xixi wants to do can't wait for them to come back!
Xixi pouted her little mouth and looked at the maid with her watery eyes. She even touched the maid all over and hugged the maid and started to act coquettishly.
Although she said a lot of things, the maids didn't understand her.
But she pronounced the word "shopping" clearly in the end.
Zhang Wan'er walked in at this time.
She was a little surprised when she heard Xixi's words.
"Little Xixi, do you want to go shopping?"
When the maid saw Zhang Wan'er coming back, she nodded quickly as if she saw a savior.
"Madam, Miss Qin wants to go out shopping, but the head of the Qin family said before that the young master is not allowed to take the young lady out, and the servants are not allowed to take the young lady out. It happens that the head of the Qin family and the young master Qin are not here, you see..."
The maid looked at Xixi and saw that she wanted to go out and play so much. She also had some selfish thoughts in her heart and wanted Qin Xixi to go out and relax.
How could Zhang Wan'er not see that little Xixi was acting like a spoiled child just to go out and play?
She had nothing to do anyway, so she could just take Xixi out for a walk.
Qin Xixi also knew at this time that Zhang Wan'er would definitely take her out to play.
Before going out, she carefully calculated and felt that Wan'er's godmother would not be harmed today and the child would grow up safely. Only then did she feel at ease to let Wan'er's godmother hold her little hand and go out.
Qin Xixi even allowed the maids to hold her, not Zhang Wan'er.
Although Zhang Wan'er felt a little regretful, she knew that little Xixi was afraid that she would get hurt, so she couldn't help but smile with relief, and happily took little Xixi out.
Originally, Zhang Wan'er wanted to buy some clothes for Xixi, but she saw that little Xixi always deviated from the original track, as if she wanted to go to the restaurant.
She never thought that Xixi was an ordinary child. Seeing that Xixi had her own ideas, Zhang Wan'er simply followed little Xixi to the restaurant.
When they arrived at the restaurant, they found that there were a lot more people here today, and most of them were young people.
Zhang Wan'er saw a few familiar faces, who seemed to be the scholars who passed the exam in Lan County this year.
Seeing some people discussing fiercely and many students joining in the fun, Zhang Wan'er suddenly realized.
"So Xixi wants to watch the debate of the scholars in the restaurant today!"
She said that Xixi is not an ordinary child! Little Xixi will definitely have a deep understanding of literature in the future!
Qin Xixi didn't know that she already had this image in Zhang Wan'er's eyes. She was very happy to pull Zhang Wan'er to sit in a small corner where no one noticed.
At this time, there was still a fierce debate on the stage. It happened that Zhou Fangze and another newly admitted scholar were debating.
The topic of this debate was about whether salt and iron should be sold exclusively to the royal family.
The emperor is very supportive of students' debates on topics, and often sends people to various taverns where scholars debate to learn good reform measures.
The question of whether salt and iron should be sold exclusively is indeed a hot topic of discussion today.
In the past, salt and iron were only mined and sold by the royal family because of the huge profits.
But I heard that the emperor seemed to be interested in liberalizing the sale of salt and iron.
Recently, everyone has been arguing a lot, but there are few truly useful debates.
The scholar on the stage obviously agrees to liberalize the monopoly of salt and iron.
"The Emperor does not compete with the people for profit; this is the Emperor's kindness. Uniformly manufactured ironware is also difficult to adapt to the different natural agricultural environments of various places. Moreover, the salt and iron shops are backed by the royal family, and they are often arrogant and closed, causing many people to be unable to buy the supplies they need in time. Although salt and iron monopolies will level the market and avoid price gouging, if the officials are corrupt and greedy for profit, the people will suffer instead."
Zhou Fangze shook his head when he heard this.
"I don't agree with what Brother Runze said. The reason why Daliang can be as peaceful and stable as it is now is undoubtedly due to the great contributions of the emperor and the royal family. A large part of the economic source to support Daliang's military expenditure is the money earned from the salt and iron monopoly. If the money was confiscated like this in the hands of individuals, how many merchants would be willing to donate it to be confiscated? Moreover, salt and iron are manufactured in large quantities by the government, and the efficiency is very high, and the price is very low. On average, the quality is almost the same, which is more convenient for the people. There is no war in Daliang now. If the salt and iron monopoly is lifted, it may make the rich richer and the poor poorer. If people with ulterior motives are allowed to accumulate huge wealth, it may even threaten the current peace. "
Zhou Fangze's words put forward a direction that no one has thought about. The students in the restaurant felt that what Zhou Fangze said was indeed reasonable.
Even Zhang Wan'er sighed after listening to it.
"If nothing else, this Zhou Fangze has some real talents and knowledge. "
Seeing that everyone was fooled by Zhou Fangze, Xiao Xixi curled her lips in disdain.
How could she not know whether Zhou Fangze had real talent or not!
Today she would expose Zhou Fangze's true colors and not let him use the fame that did not belong to him to gain glory!
Previously, Qin Xixi asked her third brother to write a very interesting debate topic. When Xiao Xixi woke up, she searched everywhere and took it with her, just to expose Zhou Fangze.
She handed the note to Zhang Wan'er.