Chapter 14 Black-Hearted Man
On the way back, Zhu Zhanji looked at his eldest niece and said, "You are so generous. You let that boy bump into you."
Zhu Yuhuan didn't take it seriously and said, "He doesn't know Fifth Uncle's true identity, so it's inevitable that he would speak disrespectfully. What's more, he did give me a warning."
Zhu Zhanji raised his eyebrows slightly and asked curiously, "A reminder? What can he possibly remind you of with all his nonsense?"
"Business is pretty good right now. We can't rely solely on your people for long-term supply, but sooner or later we'll have to open branches. When the shop grows bigger, relying solely on these people won't be enough." Zhu Yuhuan smiled slightly and said, "The money that my uncle saved for me, combined with the money my mother gave me, should be enough to expand our production."
Zhu Zhanji understood what she meant and readily agreed, "The manpower issue is easy to discuss. Fifth Uncle will find a way for you!"
Zhu Yuhuan shook his head, showing a sly smile, and said: "Manpower is the simplest thing."
Seeing his niece's knowing smile, Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean? You still have your own men?"
"No," Zhu Yuhuan said innocently, "but there are plenty of people in the outer city. Are you worried about a lack of manpower?"
Zhu Zhanji was slightly stunned, then suddenly realized: "You want to let these people from outside the city come to work? What did you say in your article... to reduce costs!"
Seeing how quickly he had grasped the meaning, Zhu Yuhuan flattered him, saying, "As expected of Fifth Uncle, you understood what I meant so quickly! No wonder the Emperor assigned Fifth Uncle to this mission!"
Zhu Zhanji waved his hands and said, "Don't flatter me. I can see that you are a very evil girl."
Zhu Yuhuan was somewhat puzzled and asked, "Black-hearted? What's so black-hearted about him?"
"People from the outer city are lucky to be able to make money. They certainly don't expect to make much money. Their monthly salary must be lower than mine. Isn't this just reducing costs?" Zhu Zhanji raised his hand and pointed at Zhu Yuhuan, saying, "I can't believe that mother even taught you this. What a sin!"
Zhu Yuhuan: “…”
If her fifth uncle hadn't told her, she wouldn't have realized this.
Pointing at Zhu Yuhuan, he said helplessly, "I didn't say I wanted to exploit them. Equal pay for equal work... What I meant is that the monthly salary in the outer city and the inner city is the same."
Besides, who knows whether Zhu Zhanji paid the servants in Prince Xiang's Mansion their monthly salary from the shop? Where did he save the money? Just because Zhu Yuhuan didn't ask didn't mean she couldn't guess.
Zhu Zhanji was somewhat confused after hearing this and asked, "What are you trying to do?"
Zhu Yuhuan said sternly, "There are many poor, weak, and elderly people in the outer city. They can't farm, but they still have to pay taxes. If we sit idly by and do nothing, their families will be destroyed. At the very least, it would be unbearable for anyone to see. At the worst, wouldn't this mean fewer people can pay taxes? In the long run, this will hinder the national treasury. Natural disasters and man-made disasters require money, so wouldn't the national government have any money left for disaster relief?"
Zhu Zhanji never expected Zhu Yuhuan to go this far. He pondered for a moment and said, "I didn't realize you're quite thoughtful, niece. Did my mother teach you that?"
Zhu Yuhuan said seriously: "Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. A thousand-mile dike is destroyed by an ant's claws. The people may be insignificant, but they are the most important."
Zhu Zhanji was so frightened by her that he was stunned for a long time before he frowned and said, "Is this what these two sentences meant? Why do I feel something is wrong?"
Zhu Yuhuan pretended nothing had happened and continued to persuade them patiently, "Back when Daddy was still the Crown Prince, Grandma brought my mother and the Imperial Concubine to help with disaster relief efforts. But allocating money and grain is only a temporary solution, not a fundamental solution. Only by giving these impoverished people enough to survive can we ensure this disaster doesn't recur."
Zhu Zhanji finally understood what Zhu Yuhuan meant. He tentatively asked, "You mean... you're going to work for the country at your own expense?"
Zhu Yuhuan laughed in her heart. This was not a bad idea, but the most important thing was that she planned to do this in the name of Hu Shanxiang.
Even if he couldn't win anything else, winning the hearts of the people wouldn't be a big problem. After all, Zhu Zhanji still cared about his reputation, otherwise he wouldn't have regretted his "youthful impetuosity" many years later.
Of course, she also took into account that the living standards in the outer cities were relatively low, so the cost would indeed be lower.
She lacks everything now, but what she lacks most is money, her own money!
"Fifth Uncle, this matter...I'm leaving it to you."
Zhu Zhanji met Zhu Yuhuan's expectant gaze, and after a long moment, he waved his sleeves helplessly, saying, "Okay, okay, do whatever you want. Fifth Uncle will be gone sooner or later anyway. Apart from committing a crime or insubordination, what else is there that he wouldn't dare to do?"
Zhu Yuhuan smiled sweetly upon hearing this and said, "Thank you, Uncle Wu~"
"Let's go, buy some fashionable things to take back, otherwise Tongtong will nag you."
Zhu Yuhuan hurried back to the palace before the palace gate was locked. He first asked someone to deliver his things to Hu Shanxiang, then he simply washed up in his room, changed his clothes, and went to find his mother and sister.
Zhu Youtong was originally playing with the rattle that Zhu Yuhuan brought back. When he saw her come in, he immediately put it aside, ran over to Zhu Yuhuan excitedly, and asked, "Sister, is it fun outside?"
Zhu Yuhuan thought for a moment and said, "It must be fun for you."
Zhu Youtong was a little confused and said, "For me...?"
Hu Shanxiang was originally reading Zhu Youtong's calligraphy. After understanding Zhu Yuhuan's hidden meaning, she raised her head and asked with a smile, "Have you been to the outer city?"
Zhu Yuhuan nodded slightly and said, "I've been there."
Zhu Youtong didn't know what the outer city meant, so he just asked, "I thought it was fun out there, but why doesn't my sister look happy?"
Zhu Yuhuan walked over to Hu Shanxiang and sat down, saying, "Mom, I have something to tell you."
Although Zhu Yuhuan did not have a stern face, his expression was very serious when he said this, and it was obvious that he had something important to say to Hu Shanxiang.
Zhu Youtong couldn't help but move closer to the table, holding his chin with both hands, and looking back and forth at his mother and sister curiously.
Hu Shanxiang was slightly taken aback. The palace maids in the hall had already tactfully retreated. She looked at the deserted main hall and said with a smile, "They really listen to you."
Zhu Yuhuan joked, "Grandma always says that I'm lenient and not authoritarian... Mom is the truly tolerant one."
The queen's palace maids don't listen to the queen, but instead listen to the princess. Anyone would think, "How can this be tolerated?"
Hu Shanxiang heard her say this, shook her head helplessly, and asked, "You look so serious, is there something you want to tell me?"
Zhu Yuhuan sat upright and said, "Mother, I would like you to come up with a name."
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