Red Mansion Huacai

Chapter 212 Complexity

Li Weijian and Yan Chengzhang were chatting happily. Knowing that Li Weijian was meeting here for the first time, Yan Chengzhang briefly explained the rules for calling.

Hou Jian was also called Qi and was divided into two groups. The first class is composed of ordinary officials who report on their duties and the first-class official assistants in the capital. This is an ordinary name. The saints usually talk about home affairs, ask about local customs, encourage them and then send them away; the other class is Li Weijian and so on, or I'm back from running an errand, or if I have anything to do, please see me.

The two were divided into two places to meet each other, and the saints probably called out alternately. However, the former are mostly in groups of small and large, and the latter are mostly solemn.

As for how long to wait, it depends on the saint's mood. If the saint is in a hurry, he will ask his ministers to come in to see him while he is resting at noon.

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Dai Quan holding Buddha Chen inside. He glanced briefly, his eyes stopped on Li Weijian, smiled and leaned forward slightly: "Li Langzhong, come with our family, the saint is waiting."

All the third and fourth graders inside glanced at him one after another, all with envy in their eyes. It was just noon now, so there was no way the saint would stay to eat. Is this kind of grace so common and comparable?

Li Weijian immediately stood up, slightly cupped his hands in all directions, and Shi Shiran followed Dai Quan. After walking for a long time, they turned around and arrived at the East Nuan Pavilion of Qianqing Palace. Dai Quan entered and reported, and immediately led Li Weijian inside.

Li Weijian lowered his head and entered, bowed and bowed: "Li Weijian, a humble minister, has seen a saint!"

After a while, I heard Emperor Zhenghe's voice coming from the throne: "Fusheng is here? I'm a little hungry now. Fusheng will have dinner with me. Dai Quan, bring him an embroidered pier."

"I thank the saint."

After bowing again, Li Weijian stood up slightly and looked up. Then they saw a table set up in front of the throne, with dishes spread out on it and all kinds of dishes prepared. Emperor Zhenghe was sitting on it wearing a red dragon robe, and a familiar figure stood beside him - it was Yuanchun.

Dai Quan took matters into his own hands, moved the embroidery pier, and invited with a smile: "Mr. Li, please sit down."

Li Weijian cupped his hands and thanked him, then slowly sat down. With such an honor, Li Weijian only thought of it as ordinary, but pretended to be flattered and at a loss.

Emperor Zhenghe glanced at it and said with a smile: "It's just an ordinary family banquet. There is no need to be so formal about resurrection."

"Yes."

While they were talking, Emperor Zhenghe actually served the dishes to Li Weijian himself. Li Weijian observed his words, waited for Emperor Zhenghe to move his chopsticks, and then took a careful taste.

I don’t know what kind of meat that dish is, just eat it... that’s all.

Emperor Zhenghe greeted: "Yuanchun, you also sit down."

Yuanchun, who was standing there, responded with blessing and then sat down next to the embroidered pier. Seeing Li Weijian chewing carefully, Emperor Zhenghe smiled and said, "Isn't it delicious?"

"Ah? Wei Chen..."

"Don't try to coax me."

Yes, then tell the truth.

Li Weijian said: "Maybe it's a little cold, and the meat has a fishy smell."

Zheng He Di Le said: "In the palace, there are all warm dishes. Where can I find delicious ones freshly cooked in small stoves? Just eat it, I have been eating it for eleven years. I only hope that the reform will be successful in the future, and then it will be destroyed." You son of a Junggar traitor, I might as well go around and taste the Kong family banquet that my father was so impressed with."

Li Weijian said cautiously: "Chen Shou has been working hard to improve governance. He first purged the officials last year and promulgated new laws this year. It is expected that there will be success in 2032. As for Junggar, the problem of ringworm and scabies is nothing to worry about."

"What did you say just now? Don't try to coax me."

Gee, this emperor is really hard to coax.

Li Weijian raised his head and said sincerely: "Sage, I have never lied to you. How many people are there in Junggar? How many people are there in my Dashun? It's not because of the long distance. Junggar has long been crushed by my Dashun."

"Haha, okay! Young people, you should have this kind of vigor!" After a pause, he added: "Fu Sheng has traveled thousands of miles and traveled to Guangzhou and Jiangnan. Do you have any thoughts when you return to the capital?"

"Returning to the saint, I met a minister who was inspecting the same inspection in Tongzhou. He was a person from Zhili. His name was Li Dingye. He was a Dianshi first and took only four people to Guangnan County. It took two and a half months and seventy-five taels of silver. , I have just arrived at my post. When I returned this time, I took my family with me and took a boat all the way, spending a total of 660 taels to get to the capital."

Emperor Zhenghe sighed: "Our Dashun territory is vast, and traveling from north to south is time-consuming and laborious."

Unexpectedly, Li Weijian said: "Well... I think this is because we have inconvenient transportation in Dashun."

"Huh? What do you think about resurrection?"

"Traffic, on the one hand, the roads are smooth, and on the other hand, the cars and boats are fast. Then Li Dingye said that the southwest is vast and the mountains and rivers are continuous. The two villages are only ten miles apart, but it takes half a day to walk. Wei Chen thinks that this is because the roads are inconvenient. If between the two villages Wouldn't it be convenient if we built a bridge in the village?"

After a pause, he added: "Besides, inland river boating can only run three hundred miles per day at most, which is too slow. Wei Chen is thinking that if the power of the boat is improved, it should be much faster."

"Well——" Although Emperor Zhenghe admired practical learning, his practical academic attainments were only slightly better than those of King Zhongyong. Its original intention was just to follow Wang Anshi's old example and promote new learning to bring about reforms. To put it bluntly, Li Weijian's words touched upon the saint's intellectual blind spot.

Li Weijian knew this, but still said: "Sage, I have built a steam engine before, and its power is comparable to the power of twenty donkeys."

"Pfft..." Emperor Zhenghe couldn't help but smile, and even Yuan Chun on the side couldn't hold back his smile. "Resurrection, your donkey power... is too unpleasant. How about changing it to something better?"

"Ah? Why don't you ask the saint to give me a name?"

Emperor Zhenghe quickly shook his head: "I don't want to give random names. I'd better go back and figure it out myself after the resurrection."

"Oh, sage, what Wei Chen means is that since the steam engine is worth twenty donkeys, if it is installed on a boat, it is impossible to say that the river boat will not need boatmen and trackers to punt and pull fiber, but it will only consume some coal. Not to mention traveling a thousand miles a day, there is always five hundred miles, right?"

Emperor Zhenghe thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Yes, it's interesting. Let's continue talking."

"Yes. Weichen was thinking, this boat can be equipped with a steam engine, can it be installed on that set of cars? If the set of cars can be installed, will it cost more coal to go to Xining to stock up on grain and grass, and save the cost of livestock? Food and grass?”

"That makes sense." Emperor Zhenghe cheered up: "It's no wonder that Fu Sheng's practical academic achievements are highly praised. If he really builds such an instrument, how can I, Dashun, be afraid of the Dzungar traitors? I originally thought that Fu Sheng could do something like this, but not as good as this. If I am transferred to the Ministry of Industry and experience for a few years, I can put him to good use in the future. Now it seems that if I stay in the inner government first, I can make full use of my talents."

Li Weijian was immediately frightened. Go to the Ministry of Industry? Are you kidding me? Reform is going on at the moment. He doesn't want to get together with the new party, let alone be suppressed by the new party, so he would rather stay in the inner government and be at ease.

"Thank you Saint for your understanding."

Emperor Zhenghe said with a smile: "Resurrection can just do whatever it takes. Now that the internal funds are abundant, haha, it is still the result of Resurrection."

"Wei Chen is just doing his duty."

"Well said, duty, oh, at such an old age as Fu Sheng, he knows his duty, but Mr. Yan Yan is so old, but he doesn't know what his duty is."

Li Weijian quickly raised his hand and said a few words of humility.

After eating for a while, Emperor Zhenghe asked about the scenery in the south of the Yangtze River. Li Weijian picked up what he knew and told the truth. Emperor Zhenghe then asked about Lin Ruhai.

Li Weijian told the truth, which made Emperor Zhenghe frown and sigh, saying, "What a pity."

He was originally a person who was entrained, and was expected to be of great use in the future. However, he became seriously ill and was about to die.

Later, after lunch, Emperor Zhenghe said: "Fu Sheng has made great achievements this time, and I should not hesitate to reward him. But King Zhongyong said that Fu Sheng was too young and weak, and the reward was too large, which might attract the jealousy of others. "After a brief pause, he added: "I will never forget this achievement. I will leave it to you when you are old enough to be reborn one day, and then I will reward you all together."

Li Weijian quickly thanked him and then hesitated.

Emperor Zhenghe said: "Do you have anything to say about resurrection?"

"Return to the saint, Weichen... Then Qinghai——"

Emperor Zhenghe's expression suddenly changed: "What nonsense, fighting between two armies is child's play? Everything has been going well in the past year after resurrection. I'm afraid he has become arrogant. Do you really think that you are a general?"

Li Weijian said sarcastically: "Sage, isn't this minister thinking about getting a military exploit so that he can be promoted to a noble title?"

Emperor Zhenghe was stunned. Good fellow, you Li Fusheng are so straightforward!

After a little luck, thinking of Li Weijian's achievements, the second-class man was indeed unworthy. Emperor Zhenghe said with a face: "King Zhongyong told me... Well, I will find an opportunity in a while to give you a counselor." Doing errands, supervising the transportation of grain and grass, and with these achievements, I can always be promoted to Bo."

Li Weijian immediately beamed with joy and said, "Thank you so much, saint, for making it possible."

No matter how he has fantastic ideas and acts steadily, he is always a young man in his fifteenth or sixteenth year. Isn't it just the mentality of a young man to be so stubborn about being knighted? Emperor Zhenghe couldn't help but smile and scolded with a smile: "Are you full? Go back when you are full. You are allowed to rest for ten days."

"I thank the saint!"

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After being sent out of the imperial city by Xiaohuangmen, Li Weijian was worried. It seemed that he might not be able to catch up with the battle in Qinghai. How many soldiers can you lead to supervise the transportation of grain and grass? I'm afraid a thousand soldiers and horses can reach the sky. Such a small number of troops is not enough to break the situation. I just hope that with the blessing of new weapons, the Dashun Army will be able to go more smoothly, and at least be able to maintain its invincibility.

Just when he arrived in front of his carriage, a servant trotted up to him and respectfully handed over the name card. However, it was Yin Yan Chengzhang of Shuntian Prefecture who invited Li Weijian to pass by the house.

Li Weijian thought about it, Yan Chengzhang had been thinking about making good friends before, and he only wanted to make good friends, but now that he thinks about it, he probably has something to ask for.

Yan Chengzhang was in his sixties, and he was afraid that he would be an official after only a few years of service. After making good friends, he was not afraid of offending the saint, so Li Weijian thought of paying a visit to Yan Chengzhang in two days to see what Yan Chengzhang wanted.

After getting on the carriage, the Ding brothers cleared the way for the carriage and horses to return home. As soon as they arrived in front of the house, they were blocked by Cao Yunsheng and other owners.

These Shanxi and Huizhou merchants were the most well-informed. When they learned that Li Weijian had been summoned by the saint, they turned around and came to entertain him. The cement business in Xishan Island aroused the envy of Cao Yunsheng and others. During the banquet, they complained from time to time, saying that Li Weijian had taken advantage of the Jiangnan gentry for nothing.

Li Weijian knew that the complaints of these Shanxi and Huizhou businessmen were false. Everyone knew that if the cement business wanted to continue in Jiangnan, it would require the approval of the Jiangnan gentry. How could Shanxi and Huizhou businessmen account for the majority of the shares?

Their complaints were just urging Li Weijian to explore new investment channels.

Because it was Li Weijian, he smiled and said: "The cement recipe is not that strange. I will write it down later. If you are interested, you can find a place to set up a factory by yourself. However, the north is not as good as the south of the Yangtze River. It requires dredging rivers and building stone ponds. Of course, there are very few of them, but cement is very convenient for building roads, building cities, and building bridges, so it is expected that there will always be some profit."

Cao Yunsheng's eyes suddenly lit up: "Hey, we can't just take advantage of Lord Li for nothing. It's up to you to make the decision. The person who got the prescription will let some shares come out."

As soon as the words fell, a crowd of people immediately echoed. Li Caishen doesn't like this little money, but businessmen like them can't be discerning. Only in this way can he come and go frequently. In the future, if Li Caishen has a good job, he will think about the big guy.

Li Weijian had just had lunch with Emperor Zhenghe at noon, because he only ate briefly at the banquet and drank a few glasses of wine with everyone else.

The group of Shanxi and Huizhou merchants were not here for the banquet, because Cao Yunsheng ordered people to withdraw from the banquet and talk about the steam engine factory instead.

"Master Li, the factory orders are now scheduled for the first month of the year. We are wondering if we need to expand production?"

Another Huizhou businessman laughed and said: "Master Li, I don't know, but the day before yesterday, a gentleman from the south of the Yangtze River came to see Mr. Cao and bluntly said that he wanted to order 200 machines. Mr. Cao only said that the schedule was full, but the man thought that Mr. Cao wanted to get a raise. The price is high, and for this reason, I have specially sought out Mr. Zhao from the inner palace to discuss the matter."

Cao Yunsheng smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Well, this factory needs to expand production quickly. If we delay it any longer, all the orders will go to the Military Academy."

The Armed Forces Academy has been working hard to build soldiers and armor since last year. Now that the army has set out, the soldiers and armor are all ready, so they have some free time. When I turned around and saw that steam engines were selling well, I naturally built a steam engine.

Li Weijian said: "This steam engine is a new thing, and the Military Academy does not specialize in making this. How many orders can it take if you let it eat? It is necessary to expand production. In this trip to the south, I designed another one. The steam engine is only stronger than the previous one."

Someone said: "Master Li, this iron material is not good. I wonder if Master Li can get through the inner palace? Otherwise, it is really difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice."

"Yes, yes, iron materials are not easy to buy nowadays."

Li Weijian nodded and said, "It doesn't matter. When I have time to take a trip to Zunhua, I'm sure this matter will be solved." As a man who makes metallurgical equipment, he certainly knows some iron smelting technology. Others dare not say that Dashun’s current short and fat blast furnace can at least be improved.

After the banquet, Li Weijian became interested and simply went to the factory in the outer city to take a look around. The machines built in the early days all had interfaces for connecting transmission belts, but now they are driven by steam engines, and their efficiency far exceeds that of human power. All the bosses are very calculating. Although they spent some money on buying coal, the labor cost saved far exceeded that coal.

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Next day, Li Weijian had practiced a little early in the morning. He wanted to take a good rest, so he took a stroll with Fu Qiufang in the side garden, and then something grew in his heart.

This person is used to being busy, but he feels a little uncomfortable when he suddenly has some free time. So he simply went into the study to write and draw. When it was almost noon, Bi Tong came in to report that there were guests from outside, and his aunt Fu Qiufang had already welcomed him out.

Guests coming? Instead of calling Li Weijian, Fu Qiufang went out to welcome him. He expected that the person coming would be Wang Xifeng.

Li Weijian put down his pencil and stood up. Just as he walked to the courtyard, he heard laughter and laughter in the distance. Then he saw a group of orioles entering the main courtyard. The one among them who was smiling and high-spirited was Wang Xifeng?

"Second sister-in-law is here? Why didn't you send someone to let her know in advance so that I could welcome her?"

Wang Xifeng laughed and said: "Brother Jian is out of touch when he says this. I have been to your house so many times. If you ask me, I don't even have time for Qiu Fang. On a hot day, I just send someone in charge to greet me." ”

Fu Qiufang quickly smiled and said: "Second Grandma's words——"

"Eh? Why did you become the second mistress again?"

Fu Qiufang then changed her words: "How can I send someone to greet such an important guest as my second sister-in-law? That means I haven't gotten married yet, otherwise I would have to have the wife of the house greet me."

"Keke, my sister is now in charge of the family, and brother Jian knows both cold and hot. If you ask me, I wouldn't change it even if I were given the head wife."

After some small talk, Li Weijian led Wang Xifeng into the main room first. Knowing that Wang Xifeng came here to make a living in the greenhouse, Li Weijian didn't shy away from it.

When the maid served tea, Wang Xifeng said directly: "Brother Jian also knows what I am doing here. Now if that recipe falls into the hands of the eldest master, it will be spread everywhere...Brother Jian also knows that I Your second brother Lian is not rich, so all this money was raised by selling dowry. Brother Jian doesn't care about such a small amount of money, but your second brother Lian and I do. You have to let me get my money back anyway. "

Li Weijian smiled and said: "Second sister-in-law, don't be anxious."

Wang Xifeng said: "That day, I heard from brother Jian that there is another way. I wonder what it is?"

Li Weijian muttered: "Second sister-in-law knows that the most profitable thing in the world is to make a living by herself."

Wang Xifeng nodded repeatedly: "That's exactly the truth. Brother Jian kept the greenhouse for his own use. Your brother Lian and I thought that there would be no others in the capital, so we decided to build this greenhouse. Now it's good, I can't say anything. Then it will be done everywhere.”

Li Weijian smiled and said: "Except for this unique business, the rest of the business is mostly big fish eating small fish, and small fish eating shrimps."

Wang Xifeng was already smart, and she had a vague idea, but she was not sure. Because he asked suspiciously: "Brother Jian, what do you mean?"

"If we build more greenhouses, build them bigger, and use boilers for central heating, we will naturally save on coal. In this way, won't our costs be reduced? Others can only recoup their costs by selling them for one or two silver dollars. We have eight hundred If you make money, you will make money. Hey, the cost of building a greenhouse is not low. How many of them can continue to operate at a loss?"

Wang Xifeng's eyes lit up, and then she frowned and said with a grimace: "I know what Brother Jian means, but..."

Just what? It's just that I don't have enough money. This time Wang Xifeng can be said to be throwing away the pot, so how can he still find the money to continue throwing money into the greenhouse?

It was hard for Wang Xifeng to say these words, because she turned her eyes and glanced at Fu Qiufang for help. Unexpectedly, before Fu Qiufang could speak, Li Weijian smiled and said, "I am aware of the difficulties Second Sister-in-law has. Putting aside other things, just because of the affection between Qiu Fang and Second Sister-in-law, how could I put Second Sister-in-law in trouble?"

"Hey, what kind of regulations does Brother Jian have?"

Li Weijian thought about it and said: "I don't think it's better to spend another 100,000 taels while the month is still early. Either don't do it, or build the largest greenhouse. I spent the 100,000 taels first, and it still counts as a partnership between us. Second sister-in-law will just watch and make up for the money she makes in the future."

After the words fell, Wang Xifeng frowned and said nothing for a while. One hundred thousand taels, half of it is fifty thousand taels! Wang Xifeng's dowry totaled only thirty thousand taels of silver! As the head of Zai Rongguo Mansion, the amount of money he passed through every month was no more than a few thousand taels of silver. How had Wang Xifeng ever seen so much money?

When the fifty thousand taels of silver fell down, Wang Xifeng's heart suddenly trembled, for fear that the business of the greenhouse would be ruined and the money would not be returned. Then I thought about it, Brother Jian is the God of Wealth! Brother Jian is optimistic about the greenhouse business, so how can he lose money?

She was someone who could take things up and let them go, so she relaxed her mind, breathed out a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "Brother Jian, I and your second brother Lian are ashamed to accept it! Brother Jian, don't worry, if you lose money Yes, even if I pawn and sell the dowry, I still have to pay back the money."

Li Weijian smiled and waved his hand, and Fu Qiufang smiled and said: "Second sister-in-law, that's enough. Not to mention the ginseng fruit, the green leafy vegetables in winter are just lovely to look at. There are many nobles in the capital, so as long as the price is right, this I don’t have to worry about selling the fruits and vegetables. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll clear it up and maybe it can be sold into the inner palace.”

Wang Xifeng suddenly laughed and said: "Hey, look at me, I almost forgot that Brother Jian is a doctor in the inner palace. Who dares not to give Brother Jian face? In this way, isn't it a sure profit?"

Li Weijian said: "I don't dare to brag about how much I make, but it's true that I don't pay any compensation."

With these words, Wang Xifeng suddenly felt confident. Later, Wang Xifeng's witty words were heard in the hall, which made several people laugh and laugh.

After all, Wang Xifeng was a female family member, and Li Weijian couldn't keep her company for a long time. When he saw noon, he ordered Qian Xue to prepare lunch. Wang Xifeng stood up and left at this moment.

Fu Qiufang held back a few words, and then Wang Xifeng said: "Normally, it's hard for me to refuse the banquet hosted by Brother Jian, but this time I just came out on time. It's not your fault... In short, we come and go often, so it's not bad. Once. When I come back to Rongguo Mansion, I will definitely host a banquet to entertain my sister."

Seeing what she said, Li Weijian and Fu Qiufang had no choice but to send her gift out of the house.

After Wang Xifeng's carriage was gone, Li Weijian and Fu Qiufang returned to the inner house side by side. On the way, Fu Qiufang couldn't help but said: "Master, this is one hundred thousand taels."

Fu Qiufang was very smart, and she always felt that the beloved person around her would not give out a hundred thousand taels for nothing. It seemed that there was some plan in it, but she couldn't figure it out.

But Li Weijian smiled nonchalantly and said, "It's only a hundred thousand taels. Believe it or not, sir, if I shout, someone will immediately offer you a hundred thousand taels?"

Fu Qiufang said angrily: "Xin, I am the God of Wealth."

"Oh," Li Weijian said as he walked: "The greenhouse is indeed a good business. There are millions of people in the capital, and the officials and honors are worthless. How many people have eaten green leafy vegetables in winter? As long as the price is right, this will You won’t have to worry about sales if you harvest fruits and vegetables. Don’t worry, if you spend a hundred thousand taels now, you won’t be able to make back even a million taels in a few years.”

After a pause, without waiting for Fu Qiufang's words, he continued: "I'll tell you the truth that day. I'm the only one left in this room, so I have to spread my wings. Although Qiufang is just a concubine and can't be given a title, at least I have a family. I can share some profits in my career. I cannot let my children, Li Weijian, endure hardship and poverty."

Fu Qiufang suddenly felt relieved and said: "This is what I planned."

For a moment, she forgot to ask, since it was a profitable business, why did she have to give Wang Xifeng so many shares?

At this time, I heard Li Weijian say: "How about it? If you are optimistic about this business, then take care of it together, and the business will be given to you in the future."

Fu Qiufang was just a little girl before, but now that she has entered the Li family, her horizons have been raised. Every day everyone hears about big deals involving tens of millions of taels of silver, but now how can one think of a greenhouse worth hundreds of thousands of taels? So he casually said, "I still have to look after the factory. I really don't have time. Why don't you let someone else take care of it?"

Li Weijian smiled and said, "Sure, but don't regret it."

Seeing that Fu Qiufang had entered the inner house and only wanted to follow Xia, she took a wild look and came over to hold Li Weijian's arm, leaning half of her body and saying: "What do you regret about me? What will I give you in the future?" Just take whatever I want."

Li Weijian couldn't help but feel shaken. What man wouldn't love such a smart and well-behaved woman?

In the next two days, Li Weijian had a good rest, and spent most of his time writing and drawing in his study. The rest of the time was spent with Fu Qiufang, or walking around with Hongyu, not to mention the pleasant and charming atmosphere inside.

On the third day, Li Weijian could no longer hold back. I read the newspaper in the morning and saw that my mentor Yan Xiyao was convicted and demoted to the rank of doctor. The stolen money was confiscated and he was fined 8,000 taels of silver.

Li Weijian, who was supposed to go to the factory, hurriedly went to Yan's house to check on him, but unexpectedly, the order came before he even left the house. The eunuch from Xiaohuangmenxia was the one delivering the message this time.

Li Weijian hurriedly set up the incense table to welcome the imperial edict. Fortunately, his family had experienced this before, so this time it was busy and not chaotic. The eunuch Na Xia recited the imperial edict in a cadence. Li Weijian had made great contributions to establishing the sugar business. He was promoted to a first-class male. His father was posthumously named a second-class scholar, and his mother was made a second-class lady.

There are also a thousand pieces of money, twenty pieces of brocade, twenty pieces of silk yarn, twenty honeydew melons from Shaanxi, twenty catties of fresh lychees from Guangzhou, twenty catties of Wenshui grapes, and ten smoked pigs. Twenty sheep were left to dry, and a carriage and four horses were built inside.

Li Weijian couldn't laugh or cry in his heart. Then the sugar office was given a first-class title? As the situation unfolds in the future, I am afraid that the cane sugar business will be more profitable than the Jingshi water business.

That's all for the title. The rest... just a mansion to suffice for food, clothing, housing and transportation.

No matter what, it is always a good thing to be rewarded by saints. Li Weijian accepted the edict in a polite manner and asked Wu Haiping to entertain the eunuch Xia who delivered the edict. He hurried to his family temple to enshrine the edict and burned three sticks of incense before turning back.

There was nothing he could do, he was the only one in the Li family, and the rest were either concubines or maids, so they were not qualified to enter the family temple. Li Weijian was a man of two generations, so he didn't care much about this, but he didn't want to break the rules. Otherwise, if it spreads, it will really damage the reputation.

He turned around and gave Eunuch Xia another two hundred taels of silver. Eunuch Xia smiled and congratulated him, and then left briskly.

His parents were granted a title, he was promoted to a higher rank, and he was given so much wealth. This was such a great joy! The whole family was overjoyed, and even Fu Qiufang, who had always been in a calm mood, was a little excited and immediately released a month's reward.

Turning around, he had to prepare a banquet for relatives and friends again... Li Weijian tried hard to persuade him. It is better to invite guests and friends to the banquet later rather than earlier. He is really too young, so being so public can easily make people jealous.

It was late that day, and after the housework was settled, Li Weijian rushed to Yan's Mansion, but he missed it. After looking for Yan Fengzhen and asking about it, I found out that the teacher Yan Xiyao had come to the palace to see you!

As he had told his teacher Yan Xiyao earlier, Li Weijian was thinking to himself that the imperial envoy's mission had been finalized, and now that he was coming to the palace to see him, Emperor Zhenghe must have given him instructions on how to handle the case when he went south to Yangzhou.

Just when Li Weijian was about to leave, Yan Fengzhen scratched his head and said, "Resurrection, on the sixth day of next month, remember to be the best minister."

"Huh? Brother Jingwen, are you too eager?"

Yan Fengzhen said: "The three matchmakers and the six betrothals are almost gone, and we just need to meet him personally. My father is going south soon, so I must get married before he leaves."

Li Weijian cupped his hands and smiled: "Well, congratulations to Brother Jingwen. I will have to put some thought into this gift later on."

Yan Fengzhen suddenly became interested: "Did Fusheng come up with something mechanical again?"

Li Weijian blinked and then said with a bad smile: "Brother Jing Wen, don't ask anymore, we will know when the time comes."

Yan Fengzhen knew Li Weijian's temperament well, and suddenly felt something bad in his heart, and said quickly: "Fusheng, please don't give me anything weird. If I lose face in front of my beloved mother, I will definitely have a good son of yours!"

"Okay, okay, Brother Jingwen actually misses me so much. We are no longer friends. Say goodbye!"

How could Yan Fengzhen take it seriously? He just chased him out of the house and gave instructions again and again, barely begging.

On this day, Li Weijian first went to the manufacturing office and picked out a lovely gift for a long time. Then he went to the factory again, summoned several master craftsmen, spread out drawings and detailed the design of the new steam engine. structure.

In fact, there is nothing innovative about this steam engine. It is just that the boiler and cylinder are larger. Compared with the previous one, this steam engine has at least more than 90 horsepower at seven standard pressures. If it is expanded further, doubling the power is not a problem.

Still remembering that the first train only had 0 horsepower, Li Weijian thought to himself, if he iterates again and builds a steam engine with about 4 horsepower, he can at least build a 0-- narrow-gauge train, right?

That day, when I returned home and had just changed my clothes, Qianxue came to report: "Sir, the eldest master of Rongguo Mansion sent someone to invite you. Please come here if you have time."

Jia She invites you? Without knowing it, I was definitely heading towards the greenhouse this time. Since he was determined to hurt others, how could Li Weijian care about the recipe of the greenhouse?

Immediately, he sent Qian Xue to reply, saying that she would be there tomorrow. Then he returned to the study, picked up his pen and put down his ink, and in just a moment he wrote down the general outlines of the greenhouse.

Just write it, Li Weijian thought about it briefly, wondering how he could let Jia Sheping take advantage of it in vain? After thinking for a while, he called Hongyu and asked, "Are any of those two vegetable farmers dishonest?"

Hongyu said: "The older one is fine, the younger one talks a lot in private. The employment contract is still there, but I'm afraid of being sued, and I'm afraid that he would have run away by now."

Li Weijian said happily: "Then just follow his wishes, find some mistakes, and send him away."

"Ah?" Hong Yu was puzzled, thinking that if he sent it out, wouldn't the recipe for the greenhouse be spread out? Then I thought about it, how could Fourth Master not know such a simple truth? Expecting that there must be a deep meaning in it, he immediately nodded and said: "Okay, this person happened to be drunk early in the morning, so I'm going to send him away!"

(End of this chapter)