Chapter 137: The Witch’s Kiss
The day after Xu Wei left, Yuzhang Commandery finally smelted the first batch of Wu Zhu Coins. The coins popular in various places now were still the small Wu Zhu Coins cast by Dong Zhuo, Wu Zhu Coins without characters, also called Wen Qian small coins.
Of course, they were not necessarily cast by Dong Zhuo; places everywhere were imitating this kind of small coin. It was simple and easy to make, but even if simple and easy to make, it could not be produced just casually.
Gan Ning had been preparing to mint coins since last year. The coins in Yuzhang Commandery were all made by Liu Biao and Jiangdong. Casting a batch of copper coins could buy up all the grain and supplies in Yuzhang Commandery.
Although copper coins also had costs, they were still far inferior to the profits from minting coins. Minting coins also had seigniorage. The Imperial Court minting coins was certainly a manifestation of ruling power, but it was also a means to harvest the wealth of citizens. Otherwise, why would all the vassal lords rush to mint coins.
It was just a matter of having a slightly better conscience, using a bit more copper. If the conscience was bad, then use less copper, or even large coins, worth ten or fifty to one, cruelly exploiting the wealth of citizens.
Gan Ning failed to mint coins last year because the old artisan who previously minted coins for Liu Yao had passed away. He searched everywhere for coin-minting artisans and found several experienced old artisans from Changsha Commandery two months ago. After more than a month’s careful preparation, he finally cast the first batch of copper coins.
In the official residence, several officials were gathered together admiring the newly cast Wu Zhu Coins.
Lu Su picked up one Wen Qian, looked at it for a long time, and sighed: “The quality of this coin is really good, better than any I’ve seen, even better than the coins cast by the Imperial Court.”
“Indeed good!”
Jiang Wan also praised: “High copper content, thick and solid, with a good weighty feel, really excellent quality. I hope we can keep it that way, and our coins will be liked by more and more places.”
Gan Ning was silent for a moment and said: “But how can ordinary citizens distinguish our coins from the Imperial Court’s coins? Just relying on quality might not be enough to tell them apart.”
Gan Ning was considering recognition. If people throughout the world recognized the coins he cast, they would gradually recognize his political power. Once recognized, loyalty would arise, so recognition was very important.
Lu Su thought for a moment: “This batch of coins is indeed hard to distinguish from Imperial Court coins. I think starting from the next batch, we can add a simple mark on the reverse side. Ordinary citizens will know at a glance that it’s a coin we cast.”
Gan Ning smiled and said: “Won’t that be too troublesome? We’d have to make a master coin first and start over.”
Lu Su shook his head. “Actually, it’s not troublesome. The troublesome part was all the preparations, which are now complete. Anything we do next will be easy. Making another master coin would just take a few days.”
Gan Ning gladly said: “Then let’s add a five-pointed star on the reverse of the next batch of coins. Citizens will know as soon as they touch it that it’s a coin we cast.”
Jiang Wan hesitated: “I’m just afraid someone might deliberately frame us by casting a batch of inferior Wu Zhu Coins with a five-pointed star. Lord, if this problem arises, how should we resolve it?”
Gan Ning pondered for a moment and said: “We can’t stop eating for fear of choking. I believe citizens have a scale in their hearts; they won’t doubt us just because a few inferior counterfeit coins appear.”
Xu Shu, who had been silent beside them, smiled and said: “I have a suggestion. Lord, you can choose an appropriate time to cast a batch of inferior counterfeit coins yourself, then publicly destroy them and claim it’s someone framing us. This way, citizens will be prepared in their minds. Once they encounter very poor quality coins with a five-pointed star, they’ll think not of our problem, but that someone is impersonating us to make fakes again.”
“This method is good!”
Lu Su praised: “This is the vaccine that Lord often mentions.”
Although Lu Su didn’t know what a vaccine was, Gan Ning often mentioned the term, and he understood that vaccine meant preventive measure.
Gan Ning gladly said: “This patch is well applied. It’s decided.”
In the afternoon, Gan Ning returned to the manor. As soon as he entered the inner residence, a yellow shadow flashed, and someone jumped in front of Gan Ning. It turned out to be Xiao Qiao.
Gan Ning reached out to stroke her head and smiled: “You scared me. Were you trying to sneak attack me?”
Xiao Qiao hugged Gan Ning’s waist, pouted her little mouth, and acted coquettishly: “No way! I missed my husband.”
“It’s Gan Lang, not husband!” Gan Ning corrected her.
“I’ll share a room with you tonight, so no need to change your words.”
“You’re not yet at the age to share a room. What did I tell you before?”
“Why not! Older Sister shared a room with you on last year’s New Year’s Eve. She’s only one year older than me, so it’s my turn this New Year’s Eve.”
Gan Ning pinched her little cheek and smiled: “First, your older sister is two years older than you, not one; second, your older sister is more sensible and mature than you. I’ve accepted her in my heart, but in my eyes, you’re still a naughty child who hasn’t grown up, so you need to wait patiently for two more years.”
Xiao Qiao twisted and said: “Where am I not sensible and mature? Mom says even if I reach eighty, I’ll still be jumpy. My older sister and I just have different personalities, hee hee! You eat big fish and meat every day; don’t you want to change taste and eat some little greens?”
Gan Ning laughed heartily. “I like little greens too, but you’re really not at the age yet. This is what Doctor Liu said. She said sharing a room too early can easily lead to lifelong infertility. That’s her exact words; you can go ask her.”
“Fine then!”
Xiao Qiao wrapped her arms around Gan Ning’s neck and whispered: “You kissed Xu Wei yesterday afternoon. You have to kiss me too.”
“Were you eavesdropping?”
“I didn’t hear what you were saying, but I saw it. You kissed her for a long time. Hmph! You’ve never kissed me; it’s unfair to me.”
Gan Ning gave her a quick dragonfly-on-water kiss on the lips and smiled: “Fair now, right?”
“Not counting! Not counting! I wasn’t ready; do it again!”
Xiao Qiao pouted her little mouth and leaned forward. Gan Ning had no choice but to kiss her again, but Xiao Qiao was prepared and suddenly hugged his neck tightly, kissing him passionately. Gan Ning struggled twice before getting lost in the little demoness’s fiery kiss.
He didn’t know how long they kissed when footsteps sounded from afar. Gan Ning came to his senses and quickly pushed Xiao Qiao away. Xiao Qiao blushed, twisted her hands together, swayed her body gently, and said: “How’s that? The taste of little greens isn’t bad, right!”
Gan Ning pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear: “You little rascal, no more seducing me like this in the future.”
“Hee hee! You clearly like it but pretend to be proper. From now on, I’ll seduce you; just wait and see!”
Xiao Qiao turned and flitted away like a butterfly.
“Now you know how formidable this little demoness is!”
Gan Ning turned his head and found Da Qiao standing not far away, smiling at him.
Gan Ning walked up, gently put his arm around Da Qiao’s waist, and smiled: “You saw it all?”
“I saw her sneaking behind the rockery, so I suspected. I observed her from the room the whole time.”
Da Qiao pointed to an empty house nearby. “She didn’t notice me. I thought she was playing with a cat, but she was waiting for husband.”
Gan Ning smiled wryly: “She saw me saying goodbye to Xu Wei yesterday and wanted me to compensate her too.”
“Her and Yun Qing are so close, like wearing the same skirt, but she’s worried Yun Qing will follow husband before her, so whatever Yun Qing gets, she has to fight for too.”
“You sisters have completely opposite personalities—one gentle like water, the other passionate like fire—but you can blend with each other.”
Da Qiao playfully smiled: “I thought husband would say one is like big fish and meat, the other like little greens!”
“You overheard too. No, I have to punish you. Come with me to the study.”
Da Qiao coquettishly said: “Husband, no! My monthly period just came today.”
“Then a different punishment. Come with me!”
Gan Ning put his arm around Da Qiao and hurried toward the study.
