Chapter 104 Do you still want to kiss?
The moment he saw Rong Yin's appearance clearly, the top scholar showed a look of surprise.
It was not because he thought it was Rong Yin who threw the flowers at him, but because he had seen Rong Yin before, on the day of the palace examination, when he was wearing a eunuch's clothes and standing next to the emperor.
The number one examiner's seat was the first one. When he sat down, he carefully glanced in the direction where His Majesty was sitting. Rong Yin was dazzlingly beautiful, and he would not have made a mistake.
At that time, he sighed that there were indeed many hidden talents around His Majesty, and even a small eunuch had such an outstanding appearance.
His fellow students often joked that he was handsome and warned him to be careful of being chosen as a son-in-law. Even His Majesty had praised his appearance.
But the moment he saw Rong Yin, he realized that there are always people better than you.
He was a little confused. Why was His Majesty's eunuch here?
Before Zhuangyuanlang could figure it out, the team had already left the bakery building far away, and Rong Yin, who was standing by the window, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"You little monkey, you run away from the battlefield. What kind of man are you?" Rong Yin put his hands on his hips and questioned the hiding little monkey.
The little monkey played dumb: "Boss, I'm not a man, I'm still a child."
"Go to hell." Rong Yin wasn't really angry. After being teased by him, she started laughing happily again.
Seeing that the crisis was resolved, the little monkey stood up and became proud again, "Boss, it doesn't matter where the flower landed on the number one scholar, but at least it landed on him, so the purpose of taking advantage of the good fortune has been achieved anyway."
Rong Yin said: "Perhaps the champion is scolding us for being rude in his heart."
The little monkey didn't care: "It's not like I haven't been scolded before, let him scold me as much as he wants, as long as our store's business is good."
Rong Yin said with a tut-tut sound, "Profits come first. I find that you, little monkey, have more and more potential to become a profiteer."
"I am not a profiteer. I am open-minded and not petty."
Rong Yin's face was full of black lines: "Whatever you say is what it is."
In the evening, Zong Zhengxiao, as the emperor, was going to hold a Qionglin Banquet to entertain this year's new Jinshi. He asked Rong Yin if she wanted to join in the fun, and Rong Yin shook her head.
"I'd better stay at home and crack some sunflower seeds. I don't want to see a bunch of people flattering you. I'm tired of it."
In order to show off in front of Zong Zhengxiao, those scholars would definitely try every means to attract his attention, such as writing poems or articles for him, and they would say anything exaggerated at that time.
This kind of banquet is really boring, even more boring than the imperial examination.
Zong Zhengxiao said shamelessly: "That's not flattery, it's clearly praising my actual achievements, and they're not the only ones praising me. Have you forgotten how the number one scholar in this year's palace examination was selected?"
Rong Yin raised his eyebrows, "Of course I haven't forgotten."
Rong Yin has been in the book for nine years. He knew about the previous palace examinations, but he didn't pay much attention to them.
The reason why he went to join in the excitement of the palace examination this time and watched the parade of the top three, paying so much attention to it, was simply because the topic of this year's palace examination was related to him.
A year ago, he and Zong Zhengxiao took a look at their private treasury. In addition, the weather has been good in recent years, the people have lived and worked in peace and contentment, and Da Sheng's finances have been developing in a good direction.
With the economic foundation in place, they began to consider infrastructure issues.
Rong Yin not only figured out the calcination method of earth cement, he also followed up personally and worked in front of the kiln with the people from the Ministry of Works for several days. He was almost roasted into a dried fish before he managed to calcine the earth cement.
Cement can be used to pave roads and build houses. When applied on exterior walls, it is not only beautiful but also can strengthen the walls, prevent moisture and keep warm. It is truly an essential product for infrastructure.
After the first batch of cement was produced, Zong Zhengxiao first mixed cement, sand and gravel in the palace to build a cement path.
This kind of road is not like ordinary dirt roads, which are muddy on rainy days and dusty on hot days. It is also not like stone roads, which are expensive to build and maintain. It is even less like gravel roads, which are easily damaged and hurt your feet when you walk on them.
Only when you walk on the cement road can you experience what it means to be "walking on flat ground". Even when you are riding in a horse-drawn carriage, it feels like you are floating on the clouds, without the bumps and shakes of ordinary roads.
After the cement road was built, Zong Zhengxiao invited people from the meritorious groups and aristocratic families to visit in batches. After experiencing the benefits of the cement road for themselves, all the ministers were fascinated.
One was crying with joy, the other was filled with jealousy and resentment.
Hero Group: Woohoo, so touching, you have brought good things to us and Dasheng again!
The people from the noble families gnashed their teeth: This merman actually took out such a magical thing again, and they lost the competition with Zong Zheng Xiao again!
After the ministers had visited the cement road, Zong Zhengxiao kindly distributed some cement to the ministers, telling them that cement could not only be used to pave roads, but also to paint the exterior walls of houses.
According to Zong Zhengxiao's words, the ministers personally conducted experiments and found that the cement coating was indeed effective in preventing moisture and rain erosion.
After all the civil and military officials understood the benefits of cement, Zong Zhengxiao proposed to pave the main roads of Dasheng, or official roads, with cement, starting from the capital.
Nowadays, people need a good road for travel, caravan transportation, and military marches, as long as it involves walking.
Moreover, Rong Yin said that everyone in their world knows a saying: If you want to get rich, build roads first.
With smooth roads and faster information flow, the economy will naturally develop.
After Zong Zhengxiao announced his plan, the people from the aristocratic families stood up to oppose it as expected, and their reasons for opposition were very legitimate.
That is, whether it is calcining cement or paving roads, a lot of money and manpower are needed. With Dasheng's current national strength, it may not be able to afford it, so it is better to wait a few more years.
The members of the Heroic Group came forward to refute Zong Zhengxiao's opinion, saying that building roads would promote the development of Dasheng's commerce, facilitate people's travel, and even effectively speed up the march in the event of war. Only by building roads would Dasheng become more and more prosperous.
The people of the aristocratic family said to wait, but when exactly do we have to wait and what conditions have to be met before we can start the road construction project?
No one from the aristocratic family dared to come out and guarantee or give an exact time and data, but they always insisted that the road construction should not start now.
The reason why the people from the noble families stopped it was ultimately for their own sake. Didn't they understand the principles of the people from the Hero Group? It was precisely because they understood it too well that they came out to oppose it.
The fertilizer made Zong Zheng Xiao a wise ruler in the eyes of the people. Now if the people knew that he had come up with something as good as cement, with these two life-saving talismans, no one would be able to shake Zong Zheng Xiao's throne.
Even if he makes a terrible mistake in the future, the Zong Zheng family will still sit firmly on the throne of the world.
This means that the royal family will always be superior to the aristocratic families, and the aristocratic families and the royal family have long been resentful of each other. Once the royal family seizes the opportunity, it will be easy to overthrow the aristocratic families as easy as cutting melons and vegetables.
Taking this into consideration, even the mutually hostile Choi and Chen families temporarily reached a new level of cooperation in order to prevent the road construction project from being implemented.
But the people of the aristocratic families forgot that the current Zong Zheng Xiao is no longer the pitiful emperor who had just ascended the throne and had a weak foundation.
In recent years, his sphere of influence has expanded rapidly. With the help of Rong Yin, his wallet has become fatter and fatter, and the common people love and respect him.
They were no match for Zong Zheng Xiao in any aspect, so how could they possibly fight against him?
The aristocratic families and the royal family each held their own opinions, but in the end Zong Zhengxiao still issued the order to build the road. However, he also understood the principle of taking things step by step. The officials knew the benefits of the cement road, but the people did not yet understand.
In order to prevent the noble families from spreading rumors, Zong Zhengxiao decided to build a cement road in the capital first. Once the people knew the convenience of the cement road, even if the government did not want it built, the people would ask for it to be built.
This cement road leads from the East City Gate to the Northwest Official Road. There are countless small roads along the way leading to nearby villages, but only the main road is paved with cement.
When this road was being built, it was Rong Yin, as a wealthy businessman in the capital, who took the lead in donating money, supporting the court's policy of road construction, and actively promoting the benefits of cement roads.
In order to encourage other businessmen to donate and build momentum for the cement road among the people, Zong Zhengxiao also gave Rong Yin a plaque with the words "Virtue carries all things" and hung it in Rong Yin's hot pot restaurant.
For a while, Rongyin Hotpot Restaurant attracted a large number of new customers who came to see the plaque.
The wealthy merchants in the capital knew that Rong Yin was related to the emperor. His appearance basically meant the emperor's will. So, whether they really wanted to be kind or wanted to take the opportunity to show off in front of His Majesty, any businessman who was a little smart, no matter how much, donated a sum of money.
It is said that there are many rich people in the capital. The amount of donation this time alone is equivalent to the annual net income of Rongyin’s several shops and paper-making workshops combined.
Rong Yin was shocked and felt that he was still a poor guy.
It was impossible for Zong Zhengxiao not to respond to the donations made by the wealthy businessmen. He personally wrote an article, highly praising the businessmen's good qualities of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, and posted it on the government notice board along with the list of donations made by the businessmen.
In order to prevent illiterate people from understanding it, several people were specially sent to take turns reading aloud the content of the article under the notice board, as well as the names of certain wealthy businessmen who had donated so much silver. This lasted for half a month, and after hearing it so many times, even children could recite it by heart.
This was not enough, so Zong Zhengxiao specially built a large stone with cement, engraved a list of donations on it, and placed the stone on the side of the official road. Whether entering or leaving Beijing, one could see the stone not far from the city gate.
Cement and stone are strong, and as long as they are not damaged intentionally, they should be able to last for a hundred years without any problems.
Even if these businessmen die or their families decline in the future, as long as this stone is still there, someone will always remember that such a group of people once existed.
商賈作為社會地位末流，向來是被人看不起的，可如今作為帝王的宗政逍卻給了他們一個流芳百世的機會，他們怎麽能不感動。
即便一開始是被迫捐款的，現下心裏也再無芥蒂了。
修路需要勞工，官府出錢雇傭青壯年，不僅工錢日結，還供一頓飯。
經過造紙坊招工一事後，官府的公信力深入京城百姓的內心，是以這次招工告示一出來，百姓們紛紛前來報名，就怕慢上一步，賺錢的機會就沒了。
修路期間，宗政逍嚴格管理相關官員，以杜絕貪墨工錢和欺辱勞工等惡行的發生，戎音充當起了監工，偶爾還會給修路的百姓免費送果茶。
參與修路的勞工都知道，要是遇見什麽麻煩或者需要幫助，找戎老板比找管事的更有用。
戎老板态度和善辦事利落不說，長得也賽神仙似的好看，跟他說句話，感覺一天的疲憊都沒有了。
那段時間戎音早出晚歸，比宗政逍這個皇帝還忙，連陪伴老公和帶狗崽的時間都沒有了，宗政逍和外孫們表示忍了一肚子怨氣。
因為前期宣傳給力，全京城人都知道了東城門有那麽一條水泥路，等路修好正式開放使用以後，那裏就成了京城新景點，這誰要是沒去走過水泥路，朋友鄰居說閑話你都插不進去嘴。
百姓們不僅用腳走，還把自家馬車牛車甚至是板車都拖過去跑了一遍，那種跟飛一樣的乘坐體驗，試過一次就終生難忘。
下過雨以後，其它進城的路都是一腳一個泥水坑，走不了幾步那鞋子和褲子都沒法看了，可水泥路依舊平整幹淨，那天走水泥路進出城的百姓，因為幹淨的鞋面和褲腳，成了人群裏的亮點。
再多的花言巧語，都比不上百姓們的親身感受。
這下世家連跟宗政逍打輿論戰這條路也被堵死了，只能灰溜溜縮回去，沒臉也沒膽子再跳出來反對修路了。
水泥從采集原材料到煅燒再到投入修路，這整個過程都需要人力，這就帶動了就業，就業率高，消費力強，經濟自然就活了起來。
短短一年時間，雖然還沒有修好多少路，但這個過程已經形成了良性循環。
今年殿試，宗政逍出的題目就是修水泥路的益處，很直白很簡單，能走到殿試這一步的都沒有蠢人，修路又是前一年的大熱事件，只要不是腦子抽筋，随随便便都能寫一篇錦繡文章出來。
但麻煩的是，題目越是簡單，寫出的文章想要與衆不同一枝獨秀就越是艱難，在人人都能及格的時候，你只有拿到滿分才是真正有勝算。
今年的狀元郎是寒門學子，年逾三十，今年會試是他第一次到京城，也是第一次走上水泥路。
他的文章除了寫衆所周知的促進就業和經濟發展這兩點外，還着重描述了那塊刻着富商捐款名單的石頭給他的感悟，他從中體會到宗政逍在百姓間的號召力以及百姓對宗政逍的愛戴。
得民心者得天下，宗政逍愛民如子，是真心為百姓謀福祉，百姓感受到帝王之愛，自然也會尊敬帝王，聽從帝王之令，從而共同創造一個繁榮昌盛的大晟。
最重要的是，狀元郎是唯一一個花費筆墨去誇獎戎音的人。
雖然他寫戎音之所以敢為人先、成為有良心有責任心的商人，原因是深受宗政逍愛民思想的影響，最終目的還是為了誇獎宗政逍治民有策，但也算歪打正着，讓自己的文章多了一個入宗政逍眼的理由。
戎音去殿試看熱鬧是因為宗政逍提前告訴了他題目，水泥是他弄出來的，水泥路是他主張修的，他自然想看看這些即将成為朝廷官員的讀書人，對水泥路是什麽看法。
通過他們的答案，在一定程度上，其實可以看出他們未來的站隊傾向。
戎音沒有幹涉宗政逍判卷，狀元郎在文章裏誇了他的事情，他也是後來聽宗政逍說的。
殿試前三甲，只有狀元郎一個寒門學子，榜眼和探花都是京城的世家公子。
瓊林宴上，宗政逍又問了狀元郎幾個有關民生的問題，狀元郎的回答都令他很滿意。
之後，殿試前三甲都被安排去了翰林院，是終身碌碌無為還是力争上游位極人臣，都得看他們自己的造化了。
宗政逍雖然欣賞狀元郎，希望他能成為朝廷寒門學子一派、也就是忠于他一派的重要成員，但了解過狀元郎的文化底子和思想偏向後，宗政逍還是想考驗一下他的為官能力。
要知道會讀書和會做官是兩件事，宗政逍可不想給自己招攬一個無用的書呆子。
宗政逍在宴會上喝了幾杯酒，但還遠遠沒到酒醉的程度，不過為了能享受戎音的關愛，他還是臭不要臉地裝起了醉漢。
戎音又是給他換衣服又是服侍他洗澡，連醒酒湯都是親手一勺一勺喂給他喝的。
見宗政逍全程暈暈乎乎，像是真得醉得很厲害，戎音還有點納悶。
“你酒量不是挺好的嗎？而且你是皇帝，誰敢逼你喝酒，怎麽就醉成這樣了？”
宗政逍頂着一張紅撲撲的臉，表情很是無辜，“我心裏歡喜，所以就多喝了一點點。”
戎音問：“是因為今年的狀元郎讓你很滿意？”
宗政逍點頭。
“看來我們陛下很惜才啊。”戎音玩笑道。
宗政逍捧起戎音的臉，笑得有些傻氣，“我最最珍惜的天才，就是我的阿音。”
宗政逍的眼眸清澈明亮，瞳孔裏映照出戎音的臉，再加上這句溫柔至極的話，瞬間讓戎音臉紅心跳。
“你真這麽覺得啊？”戎音追問。
宗政逍點頭，道：“真的。”
“嘿嘿，酒後吐真言，陛下果然無論什麽時候都很在意我。”戎音小聲嘀咕，臉上是幸福的笑容。
宗政逍：“……”
如果我告訴戎音其實我沒醉，我還能看見明天的太陽嗎？
“好了，很晚了，洗漱完該去睡覺了。”聽了宗政逍的話，戎音現在心裏甜滋滋的，連跟宗政逍說話的語氣都軟了幾分。
宗政逍這下更不敢承認自己在裝醉了。
兩人洗漱完，一起上了床，戎音見宗政逍醉了，也沒打算跟他做什麽，本想湊過去給他一個晚安吻就哄他睡覺，誰知兩人嘴唇剛貼上，宗政逍就伸手扣住他的後腦勺，加深了這個吻。
戎音一時恍惚，本能地回應了他，過了好一會兒才反應過來，宗政逍不是醉了嗎？怎麽這吻技還跟清醒的時候一樣好？
趁着換氣的功夫，他推開宗政逍，擡頭看向他的眼睛，疑惑地問：“你真醉了嗎？”
宗政逍心裏咯噔一下，心道剛才只想着跟戎音親親，完全忘記要僞裝的事情了。
他企圖繼續裝傻：“啊？阿音你在說什麽？”
戎音的臉刷一下就垮了下來，冷冷道：“宗政逍，裝醉好玩嗎？”
宗政逍：“什麽裝醉？裝醉是什麽？”
“呵呵。”戎音擡腿就要往他身上踹，同時道：“既然醉了，那就滾到地上去睡，好好清醒清醒。”
宗政逍一把握住他踹過來的腳，可憐巴巴道：“阿音，我就是開個玩笑，我不想睡地板。”
戎音瞪他：“不裝了？”
宗政逍老實巴交：“不裝了。”
“不裝了那就睡覺。”戎音抽回腳，拉起被子把自己裹進去，轉身背對着宗政逍，閉上了眼睛。
這個結果在宗政逍的意料之外，他還以為戎音會撲過來咬他呢。
事出反常必有妖，宗政逍心裏不安，小心翼翼地湊過去，從背後抱住戎音，輕聲問：“生氣了？”
戎音不說話。
宗政逍更慌了：“不高興就打我罵我吧，別自己憋着，生悶氣傷害的是自己的身體。”
這次戎音回應了，他道：“你之前說的那句話是認真的，還是在裝醉糊弄我？”
宗政逍下意識追問：“哪句話？”
戎音又不吭聲了，宗政逍想了想，覺得應該是天才那句。
他就說戎音怎麽突然就生悶氣了，原來他在擔心自己那句話是騙他的。
宗政逍心裏莫名有些刺痛，他掀開被子，将戎音轉過來面對自己，凝視着他的眼睛，認真地道：“阿音，我不該裝醉逗你，但那句話，我不是在騙你，你真的是我這一生最珍惜的天才。”
“少了一個字。”戎音很是嚴格。
宗政逍失笑，道：“好，我補上，阿音是我最最珍惜的天才！”
“這還差不多。”戎音重展笑顏，擡手摟住宗政逍的脖子，問他：“還要親嗎？”
“要。”宗政逍邊說邊摟着戎音貼近自己，柔聲問：“除了親親，阿音還想不想要其它的服務？”
“比如？”戎音眼神逐漸暧昧。
宗政逍湊近戎音的耳朵，悄聲道：“比如×壞你。”
戎音故意道：“你喝了酒，*得起來嗎？”
宗政逍抵住戎音：“阿音親自試試不就知道了嗎？”
“不及格的話，明晚不許上床。”
"Okay, I promise I can sleep in the same bed with you, Ayin, every night."
After a night of rocking, it's time to change the bedding.
Half a month later, Rong Yin's shop received a batch of goods, which were the dried seafood that Ji Xie sent him from Linhai.
Ji Xie hadn't been able to find any potatoes or sweet potatoes in the past few years, but he did start a seafood business. In order to prevent Zong Zhengxiao from blaming him for incompetence, every time he sent someone to deliver goods to the capital, he would send Rong Yin a truck for free and ask him to help put in a good word in front of Zong Zhengxiao.
In fact, Zong Zhengxiao didn't blame Ji Xie at all. Instead, he felt a little guilty towards him. He had been running around outside in the past few years and had no time to meet and reunite with his family.
Zong Zhengxiao once suggested that someone replace him, but Ji Xie refused to agree. He said that he liked the feeling of traveling everywhere, and that traveling thousands of miles is worse than reading thousands of books. He had gained a lot in the past few years outside.
And since there is this opportunity, he also wants to help His Majesty see how the current Da Sheng world is different from the previous dynasty.
Rong Yin also asked him in a letter whether Li Chu had been honest after coming to his side.