Chapter 104: Prospects For Property Purchase
Exited the cloth shop.
Old Pan said, “General, this business is really not bad. Bringing in goods from the Shu region and Jiangnan, the prices have doubled several times. If you knew that ‘Rice Dumpling Brother’, you could join a share, and money would keep making money.”
“What’s the point of buying low and selling high? If you want to do something, do it for real industry.”
These words, Xiao Yi had heard from a friend in his previous life. He had never contacted that friend again; he didn’t know how they were.
Old Pan indeed didn’t understand and asked, “General, what is ‘real industry’?”
“Planting cotton, having them find us for raw materials. It’s a solid industry, not about investing in shares, but about cooperation.”
“General is wise, but planting cotton needs land, and the capital is not small. Cotton is delicate and difficult to grow; it’s much harder to care for than crops.”
“Don’t rush, take it slow. Let’s finish making the lenses first. Also, cotton is not a flower.”
“Did the General grow cotton?”
“…”
Xiao Yi observed that Hua Nong was not adept at business and was more suited to guiding the soldiers’ thoughts.
Old Pan was not bad; he was the most suitable person among his subordinates for business.
But he would need to find someone to help train him.
This matter could be discussed with Li Fang.
Turning his head, he saw a Four Treasures of the Study shop with an unusual style. He stepped inside and asked the price for a set of Four Treasures of the Study, five strings of cash.
Hua Nong was greatly surprised and whispered, “General, the ink brush and ink I bought were only fifty cash, and they are very good… Jiangnan goods are all overpriced.”
“If you give a gift, either don’t give one, or give a good one.” Xiao Yi beckoned the shopkeeper and asked, “What about that set?”
“The customer has sharp eyes. Dragon tail inkstone, pine soot ink, ramie paper, Xuanzhou brush – all fine goods from Jiangnan, fifteen strings of cash.”
“I’ll take it.”
Afterwards, he bought some toiletries. Xiao Yi picked out affordable and good-to-use items for himself.
He was hungry after browsing around. Seeing a good restaurant in the East Market, he wanted to go in and try it, to reward his subordinates, but he was stubbornly stopped by two people.
“General, I brought food. It’s supplied by the palace. It’s a waste not to eat it.”
Old Pan opened his luggage, which was full of Hu Bing and water skins.
Hua Nong also said, “General, the East Market is too intimidating. If we order some good dishes, who knows how expensive it would be? It’s more reassuring to eat these Hu Bing, they have a meaty flavor.”
“Eating these again, what would Tie Ya say?”
“My mouth would be so bland it would feel like birds flew out of it.”
“Exactly.”
Unfortunately, when they asked at the restaurant, they needed to pre-order to eat normal dishes; otherwise, it was only Hu Bing, noodle soup, or stewed dishes.
In the end, he still gnawed on the Hu Bing they brought, to avoid the incessant nagging of those two, which ruined his appetite.
“Let’s go to the Li Residence again. We’ll go back early today. Tomorrow we still have to escort the Son of Heaven to his resting place.”
…
Li Residence.
A luxurious carriage was parked by the side door. A man in brocade clothes was pacing back and forth, holding a box and sighing.
Xiao Yi passed by, and the other person didn’t notice him, so he didn’t pay much attention.
Li Fang took the Four Treasures of the Study and looked at it, then laughed, “You’re afraid the interest will be too high if you drag this out, aren’t you?”
“Then Ming Yuan Xiong guessed wrong. I have something to ask of you. As they say, ‘taking someone’s things makes one’s hands short’.”
“Oh?”
“I want to build a device called a telescope. Here is the blueprint. If it can be built, I will sell it to the Marshal’s army. After obtaining the budget, I will set up the industry, then build a kiln and try to fire cheaper materials.”
Li Fang took the blueprint and looked at it, frowning in thought at times, his fingers moving lightly at others.
After a while, he finally spoke.
“Your blueprint, is it the art of ‘inverted scenery’ and ‘concave mirror’? Light travels like an arrow, and bends when it encounters a mirror, thus forming an image?”
“Ming Yuan Xiong can actually understand it?”
“Is that so?”
“I don’t know.” Xiao Yi said with some surprise, “I’ve only seen this object and copied it. If Ming Yuan Xiong knows the principle, I’ll entrust this matter to you. Your courtesy name ‘Ming Yuan’ subtly matches the function of a telescope. This is heavenly will. You can take a share…”
“No,” Li Fang handed back the blueprint and said, “Seeing you have no talent for business, if you have spare cash, it would be best to leave it with me. I’ll give you two percent monthly interest, how about that?”
“Ming Yuan Xiong really knows how to manage finances. Are you not called ‘Li the Skinflint’?”
Li Fang said proudly, “I am not managing finances, but I have great talent. I disdain this minor path of commerce.”
Just then, Li Zhaoning entered carrying a tray.
“Clan Brother, you should give your little sister some face and help him out, alright?”
“Sigh.”
Li Fang sighed slightly and took the blueprint from Xiao Yi’s hand.
“Fine, before your biological brother returns, I will temporarily repay this favor for you.”
“Clan Brother treats little sister as if she were his own sibling.”
“Is that so?” Li Fang glanced at Xiao Yi and said leisurely, “Unfortunately, I cannot make decisions for you.”
Xiao Yi looked away.
Li Zhaoning gracefully approached.
She was much better today, but her pale complexion added a touch of fragility.
Her lips were not as vibrant as usual, possessing a kind of broken beauty.
“Try it?”
“Hmm?”
Xiao Yi lowered his gaze and saw two exquisite dishes on the tray.
“Duke Xin Chen knows you love perch, so he had someone catch some this morning and kept them in a tank with all the seasonings prepared. Try this egg custard, is it tenderly stewed?”
“You are thoughtful, thank you, Duke Xin Chen.”
Li Zhaoning pursed her lips slightly, appearing somewhat displeased, and said, “Duke Xin Chen should also thank you for the cloth you brought, it’s very beautiful.”
“It was brought with the medicine. If you like it, have a set of clothes tailored.”
“Then, shall I tailor a spring shirt for you too? I’ll measure you later.”
“The color is not suitable. Try the cotton cloth for me. If it’s comfortable, I’ll buy it in my favorite color.”
“Right, when we captured Su Fengji, your sword was left on the boat. Clan Brother sent someone to find it; remember to pick it up later.”
Li Fang suddenly let out an awkward laugh.
Xiao Yi asked, “Why is Ming Yuan Xiong laughing?”
“This telescope, I need to see the finished product before I can comment. But how can the materials, cost, and labor have no regulations? Bring me paper and pen, I’ll tell you.”
“Please ask Ming Yuan Xiong to teach Old Pan. I plan to entrust the establishment of the industry to him.”
“An old soldier? How long will that take to teach? Will I have to teach him from basic accounting?”
Li Zhaoning said, “Clan Brother, when my elder brother returns, he can teach. Before then…”
“Understood. Old Pan, come with me. And you, come too.”
Hua Nong had been staring at Li Fang with admiration. He was overjoyed upon hearing this and rushed to follow, not feeling the pain when his calf hit the corner of the desk.
Only two people remained in the main hall.
Xiao Yi picked up his chopsticks and asked, “Aren’t you eating?”
“I can eat anytime, no need to rush.”
“You have an elder brother?”
“Duke Xin Chen inquired about it. During the family upheaval back then, elder brother happened to be outside and fled to the False Tang. I’ve already sent people to search for him. When he returns, he will repay your kindness on my behalf.”
Xiao Yi said, “This doesn’t seem like you.”
“How am I?”
“Outwardly gentle but inwardly strong. It’s rare to see you rely on your elder brother.”
“Are you mocking me? Don’t blame me if I mock you too. The Song Imperial Son-in-law has taken a fancy to you; perhaps he has a beautiful younger sister who wants to marry you.”
“Oh, I inquired. Because Li Ye has not been apprehended, Su Fengji and Ge Yanyu have been brutally interrogated and are severely injured. We just need to catch Li Ye, and they will be publicly executed. If you have recovered by then, you can go watch the execution.”
“Yesterday, why did you try so hard to capture Su Fengji?”
“I wasn’t trying hard.” Xiao Yi asked in surprise, “Did I look very strained?”
Li Zhaoning lowered her eyes and said softly, “Not strained at all. It was like flowing clouds and water, effortless and natural.”
“Just a moment of excitement,” Xiao Yi said self-deprecatingly, “I just like to show off.”
Li Zhaoning didn’t say she didn’t understand and looked at him steadily for a while.
Xiao Yi ate and drank seriously, only then realizing that the perch tasted similar to the Golden Broth and Jade Slices he had eaten last time.
“Did you make it?”
“No,” Li Zhaoning raised her delicate hand, covering her mouth slightly to stop a slight cough, and said softly, “I only know the method, I watched the cook make it.”
Xiao Yi said, “Help me with another favor.”
“Alright, just say it.”
“If you find your elder brother, help me bring back a batch of cotton seeds, cotton farmers, and weavers from Jiangnan.”
“You want to plant cotton? Don’t worry, I can handle it.”
“Take this money needed for this matter. Don’t be stingy. Money is a small matter; it’s important to be able to hire people.”
“Okay.”
Li Zhaoning agreed, then pursed her lips and smiled slightly.
Xiao Yi asked, “What are you smiling about?”
“Hmm… let me think. Duke Xin Chen has a disciple who accidentally saw me. At noon today, he brought a box of jewelry to the mansion and said he wanted to give it to me. It’s quite amusing.”
“He is still outside, but why is it amusing?”
“Perhaps he thinks I’m not beautiful if I wear old clothes and no gold or jade jewelry? What do you think?”
Li Zhaoning deliberately leaned her face, which was as smooth and delicate as porcelain, closer, as if she absolutely had to get an answer.
Xiao Yi scooped a spoonful of egg custard and ate it unhurriedly, swallowing it completely.
“Your eyebrows are drawn very well today.”
…
After leaving the Li Residence, Hua Nong looked back several times.
“Lingering, Mister Li is truly a genius! With a few words, my mind is opened. General, I understand now. Persuading soldiers is useless; it must be ‘subtle influence’.”
“Good. From now on, you will put more effort into this matter. Old Pan, did you gain anything?”
Old Pan said, “Accounting is difficult. I’m old, and it’s hard to learn.”
“Study it carefully, and in the future, you can manage my industries.”
“Really?!” Old Pan was overjoyed and said, “If I get this stable job, then then…”
He couldn’t utter a few coherent words, so he simply dismounted and wanted to kowtow genuinely.
Xiao Yi stopped him and said, “An old person in the family is like a treasure. As long as you don’t find it tiring.”
Old Pan grinned, smiled for a long time, then thought for a moment and said, “Your subordinates are all green recruits, General. It would be best to train them well before I can leave with peace of mind.”
“Don’t rush, take your time. All matters have not yet unfolded. You two should help each other and complement each other’s strengths.”
“Okay.”
On the way back, perhaps feeling more like Xiao Yi’s person, Old Pan rode closer and said, “General.”
“Hmm?”
“Although my old eyes are blurry, I see that both Guo Xiao Niang Zi and Li Xiao Niang Zi are fond of you, General. You must think carefully about which one to marry.”
“Young Master, I’ve noticed it too,” Hua Nong said, “In my humble opinion, you should marry…”
Xiao Yi raised his hand to stop them.
Even they could see it. How could he, who had been in social circles in his past life, not notice?
Thinking about it today, they wanted to talk about marriage, but he temporarily had no plans to marry. He still needed to avoid suspicion.
The social customs have changed. In the future, if he couldn’t control his habit of teasing people, he should stay away from such difficult-to-handle young ladies.
“General?”
“Stop talking nonsense. Suspicion arises from proximity; it ruins people’s reputation.”
“Yes.”
“By the way, General, did you forget a sword at the Li Residence?”
“I won’t take it. I can kill people with a branch…”
He galloped back to the Xuanwu Gate guard post, and the two-day leave ended. Tomorrow the late Emperor would be buried, and he had to be on duty early.
As soon as it got dark, Xiao Yi impatiently hugged his quilt and went to bed early.
When he heard the third watch drum, he sat up, preparing to put on his armor and enter the palace. Suddenly, he saw two women standing in the moonlight.
One in white like snow, the other in red and vibrant, their figures graceful, both holding long swords.
“Xiao Yi, tell us, who will you marry?”
“In my past life, Xiao has never been tied down.”
“Then die.”
Xiao Yi sneered and looked back at Xuanwu Gate, intending to leap to the peak of the Forbidden City.
As he moved his foot, he was slightly stunned.
Where was the wire?
The next moment, a sword light flashed, and blood bloomed on his chest.
“Puff.”
“Puff…”
