In the following days, Xun'er never came again.
Xiao Zhaoling was like this every day. He would go out at dawn in the morning and return at noon. Sometimes he would come back earlier, after 9:00 p.m., and sometimes he would come back later, at dusk. He was always a little tired, yet always tireless. He would come back to torment the young master. Several times, Lin Zikui almost couldn't bear it and was broken by him.
Lin Zikui received invitations from Prince Shuo's Mansion several times. Prince Shuo invited him to listen to operas and appreciate flowers, and Lin Zikui dared not refuse.
When I went there that day, it was just in time for lunch. Prince Shuo, still wearing Bai Ze Pu's court robe, complained to him in front of him: "I don't know what's wrong with that regent's brain. A few days ago, he sent eunuchs to issue an order, asking me to attend court every day! What's the point of asking me to go! It's just like standing in the corner. Yesterday, he asked me to go to the imperial study and left me out in the sun for an hour. I was dizzy! He took one last look at me and sent me away, saying that he wanted to see me after not seeing me for a long time. Bullshit! Didn't I watch him for so long during the court just now? I don't know how I offended him!"
Xiao Fu is the son of Duke Changguo, who is an old neighbor of Prince Shuo.
It's okay to say a few words behind someone's back.
Lin Zikui thought that the new emperor was still young and the regent was in power, but he didn't know what kind of monarch the regent was.
Some people have heard that the Regent had made great military achievements and served the country well, while others say that he has evil ambitions and wants to change the dynasty.
That was the king he was about to serve, so Lin Zikui listened more seriously. Prince Shuo didn't dare to say anything more. Walls have ears. If Xiao Fu knew about it and made him wait in the sun for several hours, wouldn't that be fatal?
Prince Shuo looked at Lin Zikui and said, "You are about to serve as an official in the court. I have a few words to say to you. The regent hates pedantic scholars the most and supports military officers. However, Daye is in need of talents right now. You are a straightforward person, so be careful with your words and don't treat him like a Confucian scholar."
Lin Zikui understood, bowed to thank him for his advice, and thought about it several times.
In June, Mr. Xue rushed over from Huainan and temporarily stayed at Prince Shuo's mansion. When Lin Zikui was in class, Shuo Wang's son Can Ge'er was also attending. Can Ge'er was a few years younger than Lin Zikui. After listening for a while, he lay on the table and crumpled the rice paper into a ball to play with. Old Xue saw it, but didn't say anything. Can Ge'er was the same as his father.
As soon as Elder Xue had settled down, Duke Changguo sent someone to invite him over, saying, "The court has confirmed that you are in good health. How about letting Xiao Fu reinstate you?"
Mr. Xue waved his hands and said, "I can't do it now. I only have one student. That's enough for me. I'm old, tired, and can't do it anymore." Then he changed the subject, "Have you seen my student?"
"It's Lin...Lin..." Duke Changguo forgot for a moment, and Elder Xue said, "Lin Zikui, my student."
Duke Changguo nodded in response: "I have seen him in Prince Shuo's mansion. He is neither arrogant nor impetuous, but calm and steady. It is rare for him to be so at this age."
Elder Xue said: "He has suffered a lot. Both his parents are gone. I am training him as my descendant. After a hundred years, there should be someone to take over my position in the court."
The four words "there are successors" explain the uniqueness of this young man. I didn't notice anything special last time.
Old Xue pondered for a moment and said, "He originally had a good marriage. His relative-in-law was Xiao Huang, a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue. But it was ruined by an impolite guy. He is gentle and a little weak in his attitude towards people and things, and he has always been submissive. When you know it in the future, you will know that it was not his wish, and he did not do it on purpose." It's really the second kid in your family who is too shameless.
"What do you mean by intentional? I'll know in the future. What will I know?" The Duke of Changguo looked puzzled. Old Xue coughed dryly and did not continue talking. At the critical moment of the imperial examination, he could not let Lin Zikui be distracted accidentally.
After court today, Xiao Fu dealt with state affairs and heard that Lin Zikui went to Prince Shuo's mansion with a pedal windmill.
When King Shuo heard that Lin Zikui had developed such a thing, he insisted on seeing it.
I guess Lin Zikui was also thinking of asking King Shuo to invite craftsmen to study the drawings and promote mass production of this product.
Although King Shuo may not be good at other things, he does have some business skills. After taking a look at this thing and trying it out, he found that he only needed to step on it lightly, and a cool breeze would blow on his face, which was better than ice in reducing the heat! This is a great thing for cooling off in the summer!
Lin Zikui stood aside and said, "After using it, I improved the blueprint and polished the fan blades to make them curved. The wind force will definitely be stronger. Your Majesty, if you can distribute the blueprint to all the carpenters in Jinling and promote it to millions of households, it will be a great deed."
King Shuo frowned when he heard this: "What, you want to give the blueprint to others for nothing?"
Lin Zikui was also stunned: "What else?"
Such inventions that benefit the people's livelihood should be introduced into ordinary people's homes without charging a penny, which is a great benefit.
Prince Shuo: "No, that won't work. The business here is huge. Huaifu, you are still too naive. Do you know what the rich families in Jinling use to cool off?"
Lin Zikui looked at the basin of ice cubes under the table and said, "Ice cubes to cool down."
"Yes, I have an ice cave in my house. It's not a rare thing. I store it in winter and use it in summer. But you see, it's so hot now, and the ice is used up quickly. Once it's opened, the ice in the ice cave melts. There's not enough for my house. Wouldn't it be hot to death for ordinary people in July?"
"Your Highness is right. That is why we need to distribute the blueprints to the carpenters and blacksmiths in Jinling. As long as they can build it, it will be a great thing."
"You are stupid. I have seen your blueprint. It is not complicated. It just has a few small tricks. You are giving this business away to others for free. Why don't you give it to me? Do you think that if you share it, no one will do this business? It will only be monopolized by powerful people, just like making ice. If ordinary people want to use it, they can only buy it. Give me the blueprint, and I will not only fulfill your promise, but also give you this amount."
Prince Shuo quickly thought about how much money he could make from this business. Wouldn't it be too much to sell each one to the Duke of Changguo for 100 taels? There are so many people in the Duke of Changguo’s Mansion, he should buy twenty, right?
The Duke of Changguo's Mansion is worth two thousand taels. There are so many nobles and officials in the capital, and even a few of them can earn a business of one hundred thousand taels, so the profit is at least half.
King Shuo narrowed his eyes and stretched out five fingers: "If you sell this amount to me, I promise you that I will promote this thing to the people."
Lin Zikui: "Fifty... fifty taels?"
"Your vision is too small..." King Shuo stretched out his hand and stamped his feet, saying, "Huaifu, I will give you five thousand taels! But you can't sell this blueprint to anyone else."
Lin Zikui: “…………”
He almost lost his balance and felt dizzy. He almost thought that King Shuo was giving him money.
Am I the lost relative of King Shuo? Why did he give me five thousand taels?
"Five thousand taels? No, no, Your Majesty, this is too much." Lin Zikui felt uneasy and guilty, but he thought what he said made sense. As long as something can make money, powerful people will monopolize it.
"It's not much. I have money. Your blueprint is a good thing. I just need to make a little money." Seeing that Lin Zikui had no business acumen, King Shuo was very satisfied. Everyone has shortcomings.
But even if Lin Zikui was given the capital, he still couldn't do this business. He had no money and no power, and he couldn't give it to the people. This business can only be done by Shuo Wang. He persuaded Lin Zikui to accept it, and took out the silver notes, five light notes of one thousand taels, and handed them to Lin Zikui: "Is your wife's illness cured?"
King Shuo mentioned it several times and asked him to bring his wife over, but Lin Zikui always evaded the question by saying he was sick.
Prince Shuo said, "Your wife is so seriously ill, and the imperial physician can't help. Spend more money to buy her supplements and some beautiful jewelry..."
Originally, Lin Zikui didn't want it, but he could give the drawings to Shuo Wang as a favor as long as he kept his promise. But when he heard the word "wife", his heart began to waver.
He was extremely embarrassed. When he received the bill, he felt like he had done something bad, like he had been bribed. He raised his hand in the air, then dropped it, and said shyly, "I, I'll ask the teacher..."
"…Why are you asking your teacher for such a small amount of money?" King Shuo shook his head. Lin Zikui really had no courage, was pedantic, and had the integrity of a scholar.
Lin Zikui went to ask anyway: "Teacher, I shouldn't have accepted the money from King Shuo."
When Mr. Xue heard this, he quickly understood: "He is a profiteer. Do you think he will lose money? He only gives you a small profit. It's better to give it to him. No merchant can take food from him. Just sell it to him for 5,000 taels."
Lin Zikui frowned in thought, seeming to be still hesitating.
"Oh, right," said Elder Xue, "the spring exam is coming up. Tomorrow you will move to Prince Shuo's mansion with your servant. Prince Shuo owes me a favor. If you move here, Yuwen Can will be able to attend classes at night, which is what he wants. You should concentrate on writing essays and studying, and separate from that...that someone in your family first."
Lin Zikui thought that the exam was indeed important, although he didn't know how to tell Zhao Ling. But what the teacher said made sense. His wife... went out early and came back late every day. At night, she would pester him to play, saying it was hot and wanted to take off her clothes. She was like a child, wanting to be hugged, chewed, fed and fed. As a result, there was not a single piece of healthy skin on Lin Zikui's body, it was all covered with marks. When Lin Zikui went home that night, he couldn't even do his homework.
My wife is too lustful.
Taking the silver bills and riding in the carriage back home, Lin Zikui looked dazed as if he were in a dream.
I made a list in my mind of what to do.
First, I will pay back the five hundred taels to Lord Xiao, and then buy something for my wife. What should I buy?
When Xiao Fu heard about this in the palace, he snorted coldly: "Only five thousand taels? Who are you going to give it to? It's not that easy for Prince Shuo to make money!"
After it was completed, he issued an order to King Shuo, asking him to present three hundred to the imperial palace first.
In the silver shop, Lin Zikui exchanged one of the silver notes for a note for five hundred taels and some small change.
He first bought a fish and cut some beef. Zhao Ling couldn't taste it, so he could only cook more meat for him to nourish his body.
He loves drinking, so he buys some fine wine.
Then Lin Zikui bought some flowers and went to the jade shop to pick out a jade hairpin and jade pendant for Xiao Zhaoling. Then I went to the cloth shop and ordered a few sets of clothes. Thinking that he would have to visit Xiao's parents in the future, no matter whether they recognized him or not, he had to be polite, so he simply picked up a gift for the meeting!
Lin Zikui returned with a full load, and Xiao Fu also left the palace and went home.
The outer wall of the villa was covered with blue jade lotuses, and bright yellow lanterns were hung under the porch. Xiao Fu pushed the door open and saw a table set in the yard, with colorful flowers piled on the table. Lin Zikui bought a lot, so there were flowers in the dormitory as well.
Lin Zikui was doing all this in his usual white shirt. Xiao Fu stood still, his eyes softened. Lin Zikui turned around and saw him waving: "The meal is ready, come and eat, I bought you some wine."
Although he knew that he had made some money, Xiao Fu still deliberately asked: "Is there any happy event today? Is it the Chinese Valentine's Day?"
"The Qixi Festival is still a few days away. There's nothing happy about it, except Prince Shuo..." Lin Zikui told him everything, sat down, and gave him a red envelope. "I don't know how to keep money, and I often forget about it. Here are the remaining four thousand taels, Zhao Ling, keep them well."
Xiao Fu held the red envelope in his hand, smiled and asked him, "Give it all to me? What are you going to use it for? You are so greedy, is it enough for you to eat when you go out?"
Lin Zikui was used to being frugal: "I still have some change, enough to spend. Food doesn't cost much." He and Mo Liu were the same. They shared whatever they had and ate together. Now they were living a good life.
Lin Zikui doesn't have so many material desires and extravagant demands. He is content with a small fortune and is afraid that his wife cannot satisfy him.
Xiao Fu deliberately scared him: "What if Shuo Wang's business loses money and he asks you to pay him back? What if I spend all the money?"
Lin Zikui was stunned by what he said, thinking that there was indeed such a possibility.
The other party is Shuo Wang, and he wants money, so can I not give it to him?
He thought for a long time: "Then, then I will think of a way to sell some calligraphy and paintings and give him the money I earned. You can spend it, you can earn money, but I only have one wife."
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