dead souls, imperial envoy

Chapter 41 Dead Souls (41)
Koshkarev said, and led Chichikov into the library.The library is a hall full of books.And taxidermy.There are all kinds of books on forestry, animal husbandry, pig breeding, horticulture, etc.; various magazines and handbooks are piled up, and many magazines introduce the latest achievements in horse breeding and natural science.There's even a book like Pig Farming as a Science.Seeing that these were not books for leisure, Chichikov went to another bookcase—just after avoiding a wolf and meeting a tiger: they were all books of philosophy.There is a book called "Philosophy in the Sense of Science".In front of me is a work in six volumes, the title of which is "Introduction to Thinking--Theory on Commonality, Totality, and Essence, and on the Essence of Polarization in Social Production".Chichikov flipped through it carelessly, and every page was covered with words such as "expression", "development", "abstractness", "closedness", "rigority" and so on. "It doesn't suit me," Chichikov said, and went to the third bookcase, which contained literature and art books.He took out a large book with some vulgar mythological illustrations on the inserts, and just flipped through it.This fits his aesthetic.Middle-aged unmarried men like to see this kind of paintings; I heard that recently even those little old men who have improved their tastes by watching ballet also like to look at them.There is no way, people in this century just prefer exciting things.Chichikov had finished flipping through this book and was just about to pick up another similar one when Colonel Koshkarev came back with a happy face and a piece of paper in his hand. "It's all done, and it's done very well. I told you that that person's understanding is really better than others. Therefore, I want to reuse him. I want to set up a special supreme management bureau and let him be the head. Look, here's what he wrote..."

"Ah, thank God!" Chichikov thought for a moment and was about to listen.

The colonel read: "Thanks to my lord for not giving up and entrusting me with a heavy responsibility. I have thought twice after taking office in a humble position, and I would like to state my personal opinion as follows: [-]. A request from Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, a sixth-rank officer and medalist There is something wrong: the petition includes the serfs registered by accident as dead serfs. His so-called dead serfs may refer to serfs who are about to die, not dead serfs. Because dead serfs cannot be reborn. It’s for business. There’s no more, so where’s the business? This is against common sense. And this gentleman’s literary attainment is obviously not deep..." Koshkarev paused for a while after reading this and said: "Here, this guy ...He stabbed you. But it can be seen that he is talented, and he has the style of a minister; but he just wasted three years in the university, and he didn't even graduate."

Koshkarev went on to read: "... Literary attainments are obviously not deep... The gentleman's article actually mentioned the 'dead' soul. Anyone who has studied epistemology knows that the soul is immortal.

"150. The above-mentioned serfs, whether they are foreign, newborn, or the dead serfs mentioned by the gentleman, are not mortgaged, because all serfs are mortgaged without exception, and every serf They were re-mortgaged at an additional price of [-] rubles, with the exception of the small village of Gurmalovka, which also cannot be bought, sold or mortgaged because of disputes with Pletishev."

"Then why didn't you tell me earlier? Wasting my time for nothing?" Chichikov asked unwillingly. "How could I know beforehand? That's what paperwork is for. See, it's all clear."

"You bastard, stupid thing! What have you learned from books?" Chichikov cursed inwardly.So he picked up his hat, without any formality, and walked out of the house.The driver stood by the wagon ready to leave at any moment, knowing that there was no need to unload the wagon, because if the horses were to be fed, a written application would be required, and the order for the allocation of oats would not be issued until the next day.In spite of Chichikov's rudeness, Koshkarev was very polite and polite to Chichikov.Koshkarev took Chichikov's hand forcibly, and put his hand on his heart, thanking him, saying that Chichikov gave him an opportunity to really understand the production process; Complaints and accusations were necessary, for everything would be negligent, and the springs of the village administration machinery would rust and slacken; and it was said that the end of the matter gave him a good idea—a new committee, a new committee. The committee in charge will oversee the work of the construction committee, and no one will dare to steal anymore.

"Stupid pig! Bastard!" Chichikov cursed angrily in his heart along the way.It was dark at this time.The village is twinkling with star lights.As he approached the gate he saw through the window that supper was being served. "Why did it take you so long to come back?" Kostanjoglo asked after Chichikov entered.

"What have you been talking to him for so long?" asked Platonov.

"It's killing me!" said Chichikov. "I've never met such a bastard."

"That's nothing!" Kostanjoglo said. "Korshkarev has a consoling effect. His effect is that he reflects more clearly in caricature the stupidity of our various intelligent people. These people are too smart and stupid to know the domestic market in advance, and they just copy other people's practices to their own country. They set up offices, government agencies, hire managers, open factories, run schools, and set up committees. It's as if they run a country! This is the trick of those smart people! After the French left in a year or two, there were some signs of sobering up, but now this situation has become messy again. The French are still struggling. The question is, do you like this look? A landowner who is too busy with the work in the field, he wants to set up a candle factory, hire technicians from London, and become a merchant! Some bastards Know how to manage, and even opened a silk factory!"

"But you also have factories," said Platonov.

"How could I start it on purpose? It happened naturally! There was a lot of wool and no one bought it, so I wove woolen wool, which was thick and simple. Because the price was low, it was sold out as soon as it went on the market. Another example, for six years, people have been throwing useless fish scales on my shore, ahem, what to do with it? I made glue from these fish scales and earned [-] rubles. My factories are all here It was opened under such circumstances."

"So shrewd!" Chichikov looked at him and thought to himself, "A good money maker!"

"And because of this, I don't build houses, and I don't see high-rise buildings on my estate. I don't hire foreign technicians. As for the farmers, I can't separate them from agriculture under any circumstances. In my factories Those who work are all farmers from other places to earn a living. There are many factories of this kind. As long as you carefully calculate your family property, you will know that any rag can be used, and any kind of waste It can increase income, so that you can’t push it away, and you can’t do it if you don’t want it.”

"Amazing! The most amazing thing is that any waste can increase income!" Chichikov said.

"Well! More than that!..." Costanjoglo didn't finish his sentence: a cloud of anger rose in his heart, and he wanted to scold the neighboring landowners, "There is such a landowner, guess what kind of business he started He built a house out of stones in the village as a nursing home! Charity!... If you want to help people, you do your Christian duty to help everyone, not let him get rid of this duty. Let the son honor his sick father, instead of creating conditions for him to push his father out of the house. It is better to let him have the ability to support his relatives, let him have money to do this, do his best to let him do it, but Not to tell him not to do it, otherwise he will not remember the duties of a Christian. What a quixotic thing! . . . Two hundred rubles a year to raise a man in a nursing home! . . . The village feeds ten people!" Costanjoglo swallowed angrily.Nursing homes did not interest Chichikov.He wanted to know more about how to use waste to increase income; but Costanjoglo became more and more angry and talked more: "Another Don Quixote founded a school! Alas, it is for people to read and write knowledge." More important than anything? But how did he do it? The farmer in his village said to me: 'My lord, what's the matter? Our children are disobedient, they don't want to help us, they all want to be recorders , but one recorder is enough.' This is the result!"

Chichikov didn't want to hear about the running of the school, but Platonov took over the matter: "There is no need to record things now, it goes without saying, but it will be useful in the future. We must think about future generations."

"Brother, you are so smart! You always think about future generations! Everyone thinks they are some kind of Peter the Great. Look at your own feet first, don't always stare at future generations; let the peasants get rich first, let them have Kung Fu voluntarily learns, instead of saying to them now with a pointer in his hand: 'Learn!' Why do people put the cart before the horse! ... Well, listen to me: now it is up to you to judge..." At this point Kostenjog Lo moved closer to Chichikov, and in order to give him a deeper insight into the outline of the matter, he fastened a buttonhole of his tuxedo with one finger. "You said, isn't this clear enough? The reason why farmers rely on you is that you hope that you can bring them a life of adequate food and clothing. How can we make them have enough food and clothing? Do you have to make them work hard to farm? Then should you work hard? Let them be a farmer. Isn't that obvious? No, those self-righteous fellows say: 'They must be taken out of this state. They live too simply. They must be shown luxuries.' They themselves have been rendered inhuman by this extravagant life, who knows what diseases they have, and now children have to try all kinds of love affairs: no teeth, no hair, Now I want to infect farmers again. God bless, we are left with only one healthy class that has not been infected with this terminal disease! For this reason, we thank God. In my opinion, farmers are the most respectable people .May God turn us all into farmers!"

"Why, do you think farming is more profitable?" Chichikov asked.

"It's not more profitable, but more reasonable. Farming requires sweat, and people are not lazy. As the saying goes, there is always a reason. And the experience of generations shows that farmers are more pure. Where is agriculture As the root, you can live and work in peace and contentment; there is no poverty, no luxury, only wealth. As the saying goes, people are advised to work in agriculture, work... It is useless to play with flower guns! I said to the farmer: "Whoever works for you, give it to me, give it to you Whether you work for yourself or for your neighbors, you have to work. As long as you are willing to work, I am willing to help you. If you don’t have livestock, I will give you horses, cows, and carriages...I will provide you with whatever you need. But you have to work. But your family business is not doing well, a mess, lack of food and clothing, I will die of anger. I hate not doing business. I teach you, nothing more than let you work.' Humph! Everyone opens factories to increase income! You must first make all the farmers under your hand rich, at that time even if you don’t open a workshop, don’t open a factory, you can still get rich without those stupid tricks.”

"Dear Konstantin Fyodorovitch, you never get tired of hearing what you say," said Chichikov. "Sir, I admire you very much. Please tell me: If I were a Landlord, in your province, where should I focus my energy? In order to fulfill the important duties of a citizen, I want to make a fortune in a short period of time, so what can I do, and what should I do?"

"How can I make a fortune? If so..." Costanjoglo was talking—"Let's go to dinner." After the hostess said, she got up from the sofa, walked to the middle of the room, and wrapped her clothes in a shawl A shivering delicate body.Chichikov immediately rose from his chair with the agility of a soldier, with a gentle smile on his face, gracefully extended his arm like a scale to the mistress, carried her triumphantly across the two rooms, and entered. In the restaurant, the head is kept slightly tilted to one side.The waiter lifted the lid of the soup bowl, everyone moved the dining chairs towards the table, and began to drink soup.After finishing the soup and drinking another glass of cider (the cider was delicious), Chichikov said to his host: "My lord, please allow me to resume the topic I just interrupted. What do you say should be done, how should I go?" How can it be better to do..."

...16
"This manor, now he asks for [-] yuan, and I will give it to him immediately."

"Hmm!" Chichikov thought about it.Some timidly asked: "Why don't you buy it yourself?"

"One needs to know how to measure. My manor is enough for me to do. What's more, the nobles here are already dissatisfied with me, saying that I took advantage of the situation and bought land to take advantage of it. I have heard enough of these words. "

"Slander of the nobility!" said Chichikov.

"The situation in our province...you can't imagine what they say about me. They always call me a first-class cheapskate and miser. But they can tolerate everything with themselves. Their catchphrase is: 'I spent my family's wealth. It's gone, but that's because I have higher needs in my life. I need books, and I live a luxurious life to support the development of industry; if I live like a cow like Costanjoglo all my life I can't live without bankruptcy.' Listen to them!"

"I really want to be such a cow!" Chichikov said. "They say that about me because I never feed them or lend them money. I don't feed them because I think it's a burden—I'm not used to it. But if they come to my house You eat what I eat—then I welcome it very much! Saying that I don’t want to lend money to others—that’s a lie. If there is a need, come to me and tell me clearly what to do with my money, and I After listening to it, I think that you spend the money reasonably and can bring you obvious benefits. I will not refuse, even the interest. But I will not do it if I throw the money into the wind. Let them forgive Let me have it! How can I lend them the money they want to give for their mistress and buy new furniture! . . . "

At this point, Costanjoglo spit on the ground and almost uttered some indecent curse words in front of his wife.A melancholy shadow cast over his lively face.There are some horizontal or vertical wrinkles on his forehead, which shows that he is really angry.Chichikov drank a glass of cider and said: "Excuse me, sir, please allow me to continue the topic you left off just now. If I bought the manor you just mentioned, how long would it take?" I can be rich..."

"If you want to get rich quick," said Costanjoglo, staccato and stiff, visibly still angry, "you'll never get rich; if you don't care about time, you'll get rich soon."

"So it is!" said Chichikov.

"Yes," said Kostanjoglo angrily, as if angry at Chichikov, "you must love work. You can't do anything without it. You must love agriculture, that's right." And believe me, it's not boring here. People say it's boring in the country, but if I were to live like them in the city, even for a day, it would be suffocating! The manor owner has no time to be in a daze. The manor owner's life It’s not empty, it’s very fulfilling. There are various jobs one after another throughout the year, not to mention what kind of jobs these are!——that’s the job that can really cultivate people’s sentiments, not to mention these jobs How complicated and changeable. Man is moving forward with nature and the seasons. No matter what is accomplished in nature, he participates and plans. Before spring comes, various tasks are busy: to store firewood and All kinds of items are used when the road is muddy and the traffic is not smooth; seeds need to be prepared; food needs to be dumped, re-weighted, and dried; rent standards need to be re-established. The snow has melted and the river has opened, so we have to get busy: Boats to be loaded on the pier, trees to be pruned in the woods, trees to be planted in the garden, fields to be plowed everywhere, shovels to be used in the vegetable garden, plows and harrows to be used in the field. It's time for planting. Bored? It's sowing tomorrow's harvest! Summer—mowing grass, this is the most important day for farmers. Bored? It’s time for the crops to be harvested; there’s no time to harvest, after the rye is harvested, wheat is harvested, barley is harvested, oats are harvested, and then hemp is peeled. Then there are haystacks and crop stacks. Just halfway through August, everything has to be transported to the yard. Autumn is here, and then turn over in autumn, plant crops that can survive the winter, repair granaries, drying rooms, and livestock pens. Tasting new grains, the grains start to be threshed. Winter is coming, and you can’t be idle: transporting goods to the city, every yard is threshing, and the grains are transported from the drying room to the granary. Cutting trees, sawing winter Chopping firewood, transporting bricks, stones and wood, preparing for spring repairs and building houses. There are too many jobs to count, and the changes are varied! You have to visit the mill, the factory, the workshop, and the threshing floor And go to the farmer's house and see what they're doing for themselves. Boring? Seeing a carpenter's ax beautifully used makes me happy like a holiday, standing in front of him for two hours: that's how I like a good craftsman. Look I can't express how happy I was to see that there was some kind of creativity in it all, and to see everything around me develop, bring results and income. It wasn't because there was more money,--money was just money ,——but because you did all of this, because you operate all of this, you are the creator of all of this, you are a fairy, you can turn stones into gold. Where can you find something that can be compared with this What about the fun of comparison?" Costanjoglo said, and raised his head, the wrinkles on his face disappeared.He looked like an emperor holding a grand enthronement ceremony, with a happy face. "Yes, no such joy can be found in the world! Here, right here, man is imitating God. God finds for himself the greatest joy of creating the world, and he also requires man to be the creator of happiness and prosperity How can this be called a boring thing!"

(End of this chapter)