Chapter 131: The Killer

Xu Huizu from the big inside out, face to face but see Zhu Di wearing a regular clothes in waiting for him, smilingly said: “Said what?”

Xu Huizu shook his head, “It’s just some home truths.”

Zhu Di said with interest, “Go, I will take you to a good place.”

Xu Huizu smiled, he seemed to recall, when he was young, how Zhu and him looked when they were still partners.

It’s just …… hard to see this look anymore when thirty years have passed.

“Where is Your Majesty going?”

Zhu only said, “Take you to see a good place.”

Xu Huizu then did not ask any more questions, “Obey the decree.”

“After leaving the palace, there’s no need to be so formal; outside you’re a ruler and a minister, in private you and I are still in-laws.”

Zhu Di is very interested, being an emperor is too hard, and these sons and nephews, too, sometimes make Zhu Di really bad.

There seems to be only one thing that makes Zhu a little happier now, and that’s to see where he earns his money.

……

Sukhumvit Ferry here.

A huge store is officially open.

The bazaar in Qixia has been very busy lately, and every now and then, a new store will appear, which is not really a big deal.

But this store today is a little different.

Just a few days ago, a rumor spread in Nanjing City that Qixia was about to open a store of literary treasures at low prices.

How inexpensive is it?

The finest Xuan paper is twenty-eight cents a foot in Nanjing City, but in Qixia, it only costs fifteen cents.

On top of that, there are brushes, inkstones, etc., which can almost be described as selling at a loss.

There was a lot of talk when the news broke.

Many people don’t believe it.

But now …… the store is finally open.

This is called Sincerity Zhai store, the size is not small, enough eight open door.

The inside is well stocked.

Full of fine paper, a wide array of inkstones of all colors, and a variety of inks, as well as many types of pens were all hanging out.

Many people can’t help but enter the store with curiosity to find out what’s going on.

Upon asking the price, they were all uncharacteristically stunned.

That price …… really isn’t that expensive.

The shopkeeper said smilingly, “This is Uncle Cheng En’s store, and there is an allusion here. Some days ago, Uncle Cheng En went to Qixia Temple to tell his fortune ……”

“Yah, temples tell fortunes too?”

“It’s almost the same thing, Buddha also needs to eat joss stick money.”

“And after that?”

“And then Cheng Enbo this count, can not be, the original Buddha his old man’s trigrams, but shows that Cheng Enbo because of the weekdays earned too much silver, attracted the jealousy of heaven ……”

“Is there such a thing? How come I’ve never heard of such trigrams in my fortune-telling?”

“Do you give a hundred taels of silver for the joss oil for fortune telling?”

Now the lifters were silent.

“Thus, and cautioned Uncle Cheng En, want to dissolve, it is inevitable to do more good deeds, so Uncle Cheng En learnt from the bitter experience, so there is this store, Uncle Cheng En to do good deeds la.”

The crowd heard, good man.

Come to this store, mostly readers, even if they do not read, are attached to the people.

That’s a really hard thing to say about Zhang Anshi.

How much money has that dog screwed everyone by selling books!

At this time, when they heard that Zhang Anshi was going to be punished by Heaven, each of them was secretly happy in their hearts!

Should have chopped this guy a long time ago.

“You see, we this store, that is, Uncle Cheng En opened, in order to return everyone, the things here, sell a piece, lose a piece, hey …… Uncle Cheng En in order to make their own losses less, so decided, in this shopping, a purchase can only buy three taels of silver, and then high, not for sale. ”

When this statement was made, many people talked again.

The news naturally went viral.

At this moment, at the pier, several readers were rushing over, led by Kai Tsang, followed by Zhou Shu and Zhou Mengjian, and Yang Xiang.

Previously they had quarreled, but after all, they were from the same town, so inevitably someone set them up, and they eventually made up again.

The temple examination is imminent, four people instead of relaxation, I heard that there are top quality pen, ink, paper and inkstone sales, and low prices, the readers are in fact leisurely, but also love to join in the fun, so sex will meet with the same.

On this journey, Zhou Shu hatefully said, “Hmph, that Zhang Anshi, there is also a time of heaven s wrath, deserved it, haha …… fast, fast.”

Yang Xiang didn’t say anything and only followed silently.

Mr. Tsang Kai said, “Sage Chow, this man is indeed ill-intentioned, but why should we, as readers, bother with him?”

Zhou Shu said in annoyance, ”I’m just resentful in my heart.

Out of the ferry, not far away is the marketplace, at this time the crowd is like a shuttle, actually very lively.

And came a lot of readers, Zeng Kai surprised, “I did not expect that outside of this Nanjing city, there is a place so lively, but teach people did not think.”

They rarely left the city since they entered the capital.

But just heard, now out of the city by water is much more convenient, in the city which a dock, the boat almost go up to the ship, much more convenient than before.

Taking a boat is always better than walking, thus sometimes, you want to go from the east city to the west city in Nanjing city that may walk or take a sedan chair time, not as fast as taking a boat from the pier straight to Qixia.

When they reached the place, they were seeing many people gathered around a store.

Mr. Tsang followed suit, and for a moment, the store was crowded.

Someone said in surprise: “Everyone quickly go in and buy ah, all low-priced ink, paper and inkstones, too cheap, too much cheaper than the price of some places in Nanjing City.”

Someone else said, “I heard that Zhang Anshi was condemned by heaven and had to come out to do good deeds, so everyone hurry up and buy, if you buy one more copy, he will lose one more copy, and lose this dog to death.”

This time, the crowd is even more shrugged, everyone has an inexplicable excitement, as if …… it is a kind of revenge of the smooth feeling.

There are even those who, in their hearts, develop an inexplicable sense of mission.

Born as a scholar, to do away with harm for the people, since I can not fight, I buy this dog’s pen, ink, paper and inkstone, I lose him.

“I heard that Zhang Anshi is hiding at home and crying! Gentlemen, gentlemen, don’t talk about morality with this man, we must lose him to death, and teach this Zhang to lose all his money.”

“Good.” The crowd responded eagerly.

Tsang Kai could not help but stare at the scene.

Zhou Shu and Zhou Mengjian two people, at this time also boiling blood up, both can make their own cheap to buy the four treasures of literature, but also can buy Zhang Anshi holding head to cry, a think, will feel the heart of the heart is smooth and happy, at the moment the two are overjoyed.

“A few brothers, I’ll go grab it first.”

At that moment, he also burrowed into this crowd.

Yang Xiang bowed his head, he was a little crying and laughing, originally he felt that Zhang Anshi was very uncomplicated, but this time, Zhang Anshi would actually believe the monk’s words, as for what to hold his head and cry and so on, at this time when he thought about it, he really felt that he couldn’t help but cry and laugh.

In the distance, someone laughed, “Just right, three taels of silver …… Hey …… that Zhang Anshi must lose at least five hundred Wen.”

Someone else said, “Don’t crowd, don’t crowd, they are all readers, we all go in one by one, don’t teach people to look at jokes.”

Yang Xiang didn’t go for the ride.

It was Mr. Tsang Kai who said with concern, “Why don’t you go buy it, Mr. Yang?”

“So many people, not buying.”

After all, Mr. Tsang Kai is a scholar, but also to be civilized, followed by a smile: “The two Zhou virtuous brother is also washed out by the hatred, we will not come together this hilarious it. Well, you see there …… actually have a bookstore it, may as well we go there to see!”

At that moment, the two of them lifted their steps and walked to the bookstore next door.

Looking around casually, the duo ended up each buying a copy of the diaper and the book of their choice. After settling the bill, the two of them, Zhou Shu and Zhou Mengjian, also came out clutching a pile of papers, and both of them were beaming with smiles.

“Brother Zeng, you are not looking at those fellows who sell goods, as if they have died like a mother, each one is like a bereaved mother, haha …… fast, fast.”

“I bought a couple of books too, hey …… I’m hungry, go sit there.”

The inns and restaurants here, most of them are mud legs to eat, walked to the end of the street, only to find a row of restaurants. It looks quite elegant, when I went to ask a few, are full, it is not easy to turn a street, only to find a vacant seat.

But even so, the inside was still full. A few people managed to sit down and order their drinks.

“I also heard one thing.” Zhou Shu said with a joyful smile, “said that store, Zhang Anshi him a day, at least to lose a few hundred taels, tomorrow I have to ask a few other fellow townspeople to come together, this time it is my carelessness, only with two silver, tomorrow with three to, always teach this Zhang Anshi loss of a blood money.”

Soon the dishes for seven or eight were served, and the four of them talked and chatted.

Yang Xiang said, “I just saw the people here, they all went to the inn to eat.”

Zhou Shu laughed coldly, “That inn, which I have also seen, is such a filthy place.”

Yang phase pondered: “Jiangxi has been considered the land of fish and rice, but Ji’an Prefecture City, and Nanchang Provincial City, including the current Nanjing City, you have seen so many people in these places into the inn to eat?”

Zhou Shu laughed and said to Zhou Mengjian, who was on the side, “Yang Xiandi is being seduced by Zhang Anshi.”

Zhou Meng Jianxian also laughed: “Haha, then tomorrow even more should come, Zhang Anshi this dog, he can make us readers pitched ah.”

Yang Xiang, however, asked himself, “And I am here, but I did not see anyone begging, although there are many people, but it is not like other places mixed with fish and dragons, strike …… I know that if I say this again, the brothers and sisters should be unhappy again.”

With that, he shook his head and smiled bitterly.

He could not help but worry about Zhang Anshi, many of the readers are considered to be Zhang Anshi hate, a Zhang Anshi eight-unit pen talk, I do not know how many people hate to break Zhang Anshi’s dog head it!

A few moments later, when three or two more readers came in, Mr. Tsang Kai suggested, “I saw a tea house there. It’s quite quiet, so if you’ve had enough to eat and drink, let’s go there and have a few cups of tea. I heard the sound of a pipa there, and the three of you know the music, so you might as well go and enjoy it.”

Zhou Mengjian and Zhou Shu were pained in their hearts, so they laughed and said, “Fine, fine, go and listen, happy today, have a good stroll.”

…………

“Zhang Anshi is losing money.”

“I heard that now has sold tens of thousands of taels of silver goods, I am afraid that at least one thousand taels of loss, wait until the night, I do not know how much to lose it, according to my view …… may be a loss of 1,500 taels is not unlikely, if it is a year down, that is not to let Zhang Anshi on the street to beg for food? ”

“Hee hee …… happy.”

Two people …… are leading dozens of guards, wearing bucket hats on their heads, listening to the gossip on the street. The one …… in the lead was trembling.

One of the people under the bucket hat was none other than Zhu Di, whose face had risen like a pig’s liver.

He’s pissed as hell at this point!

This is not only Zhang Anshi to hold his head and cry, he Zhu Di also want to cry!

Seo Hui Zu, however, was comfortable watching and felt curious everywhere.

He had grown up in Nanjing since he was a child, but he had not expected that there would be such a place to go.

Zhu walked tiger, to the end of the street, the more secluded place, but saw a store in front of the top hung a sign: “Recruitment of laborers, four taels of silver per month, inclusive of food and housing.”

Zhu froze and looked sideways at Yilungha at the back, “Come.”

Yishakha hurriedly nodded his head and came forward.

Zhu Di pointed to the sign and said, “When you were in Beiping, you also often picked up in the city, if you are collecting labor, what is the price?”

Yilungha laughed bitterly, “Six or seven hundred dollars would be good. Nanking City may be a bit higher, but it should only be one or two silver pieces.”

Zhu blinked, and his face grew odd.

At that moment, he entered the store.

This is a paper fan store, the shopkeeper saw the people coming in, and hurriedly greeted them, “What kind of fan does the customer want?”

Zhu Di’s gaze was haunted and he said, “You’re raising labor here?”

The shopkeeper laughed: “Customer jokes, small at a glance customer will be extraordinary, definitely not to do labor.”

Zhu pointed to the cloth clothes on his body, “Is that so? How come it doesn’t look like it?”

The shopkeeper said, “I can’t say, but I just don’t feel like it.”

Zhu didn’t argue with others, but said, “You have a good eye, I’m just looking at the price of recruiting quite a lot here, so I came to ask.”

“My price is already low.” The shopkeeper smiled bitterly and said, “You don’t know, I think you’re new here. Our market, now store by store open, business is getting better and better every day, nowadays, where there is a shortage of manpower ah!”

“But …… the guest thought also know, I Daming law, ordinary people without road guide, can not be free to leave the countryside for ten miles, if not, it will have to be treated as a stray person to dispose of.”

After a pause, the shopkeeper then said: “So now everyone is recruiting manpower, Qixia this place, roughly 1,500 households, a ten-mile radius, at most, there are still two to three thousand households, can hire only so many people, the price of labor is not going up? To be honest, I’m only recruiting store assistants, my paper fan store is still idle, so I’m willing to pay four taels of silver, if it’s the cook in the inn, or the footmen on the pier, those who have the ability to earn hard money, which one don’t want to be six taels, seven taels it!”

Six taels, seven taels?

Zhu listened directly with his jaw dropped.

Even Xu Huizu couldn’t help but be moved.

That’s absolutely unheard of.

Zhu couldn’t help but say, “In that case, with respect to this Qixia, the people can live and work in peace and happiness up to this point.”

“More than living in peace and happiness.” The shopkeeper smiled and said, “In fact, we are all living our lives, even if we earn more, this big guy also has the worries of the big guy, but in this place, the days of our people are flourishing.”

He then sighed, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to recruit anyone with these four taels of silver, I’m only afraid that tomorrow, I’ll have to add another one or two.”

Zhu was astonished, “Why is this?”

The shopkeeper was about to say something when another customer arrived.

The shopkeeper knew that Zhu was not here to shop, so he was busy going to greet those few guests.

Zhu was embarrassed, and with quite a bit of annoyance in his heart, he led the way out.

There’s a lot of traffic out here, and Zhu looks down in thought.

Xu Huizu whispered, “Your Majesty, such economic talent is truly unheard of by me.”

Zhu Di laughed bitterly, “He’s a genius of economy, haven’t you heard that he’s losing more than a thousand taels per day. What he is losing is my silver.”

Xu Huizu said, “Your Majesty is rich in the four seas, so you should put the world first.”

Chu: “……”

Zhu Di then called Yiluoha: “Where is Zhang Anshi now?”

“The slave girl went to inquire.”

After a while, also lost ha came back and said, “Uncle Cheng En at this time not far away in a house, slave girl lead the way.”

A few moments later, sure enough, the group arrived at a more secluded mansion, only to see a few people standing guard at this entrance.

These people were winded, as if at any moment someone was going to be unfavorable to the owner of the mansion, and as soon as they saw that someone was coming, they were about to come forward to be questioned.

Behind Zhu, a few guards immediately stopped them while taking out a waist plate.

These several guards are obviously also professional, although I can not see this waist plate belongs to which Yamen, but through their own professional judgment, they know that these people are not simple, and then back away, Zhu was the first to enter the house.

This mansion was obviously Zhang Anshi’s temporary quarters.

There are a number of compartments to the left and right, most of which appear to have people coming in and out of them.

Instead, along the center axis, it was a lobby, and within a few steps, he heard hahahahahaha laughter coming from that lobby.

Zhu Di felt extraordinarily harsh when he heard this laughter.

Then the sound of someone talking was heard coming out.

“What happened, what happened, come on.”

“Afterward they all said that they would lose money to Seung-ub, and that they would tell Seung-ub to hold his head and cry every day.”

“Hahahahahahaha ……”

Zhang Anshi’s voice laughing maniacally.

Chu: “……”

“And what about ……”

“And there is more, which the little man dares not speak of.”

“Tell me, hurry up, I’m having fun!”

“They also said that Seung Eun Bo will be begging on the streets in the future.”

Zhang Anshi exclaimed, “Wonderful, wonderful, when the time comes, I must satisfy them, I’ll wear beggar’s clothes and go begging on the streets, after all, the customer is God, I have to make them happy.”

Zhu Di’s face pulled down when he heard this.

Xu Huizu couldn’t help but cough as well.

Zhu Di can no longer bear it, big steps, directly into the room, coughed: “How, you still want to be a beggar?”

Zhang Anshi was originally cackling with laughter, his mouth on the verge of croaking.

At this moment, when he heard this familiar voice, he winced and was busy chasing away Zhu Jin, who was laughing along with him, like a fly.

Zhu Jin hastily retreated.

Only then did Zhang Anshi look bitter, only this bitter face looked as if he could not help it a little, “Your Majesty, how did you come, and you didn’t say so earlier.”

Zhu Di glared at him and said, “What you are saying is like I shouldn’t have come! Luckily I came, otherwise I wouldn’t have known you were fooling around here.”

Zhang Anshi told Zhu Di and Xu Huizu to sit down and bounced around to serve tea to the two of them.

Zhu waved his hand, “No need, sit down and talk.”

Zhang Anshi immediately looked like an aggravated little daughter-in-law and owed his seat: “Your Majesty has come …… here.”

“You opened a store?” Zhu stared at Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi nodded, “Yes, quite a few homes were opened.”

Zhu Di sighed: “The art of war has a cloud, pride will be defeated, I see you are after repeated victories, complacency, has been a little complacent! You ah you, how can you do this kind of loss business it, that what divination thing, you can also believe? Tell me the truth, how much did the store lose today?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Maybe a few dozen taels of silver.”

Zhu froze, “Only a few dozen taels? But I heard you lost thousands of taels.”

Zhang Anshi then laughed and said, “The cost is not calculated like this, if it is according to the store in Nanjing city, but may really lose so much? But your majesty forgot that I have a few advantages, the first one, the land here does not want silver, the pavement also does not need to collect rent, this is not save a sum?”

“Moreover, your majesty has also seen, the sales here is not other stores can be the same day. I directly with the workshop of each place to talk about how much goods promised to him every month, let them give me some discount, say inkstone it, general store, every month if if into a hundred square, but the minister alone, but can promise a month to them to sell two or three thousand, your majesty think about it, such as me such a big deal, the price of goods, is not it much cheaper?”

“In this way in fact I have not lost any money at all, even if I did lose money, it would only be the silver for hiring the fellows.”

Zhu Di is another stunned, although he may not understand the way of business, but Zhang Anshi words, but into the feelings into the reasoning, is quite a few points of truth, they are not sure and asked: “No loss?”

“No loss!” Zhang Anshi swore, “And …… this price, I also want to lower it again in a few days! I myself did not expect, the sales will actually be so hot, so that said, the sales will be even greater, next month, have to talk to the workshop again, the price of the purchase of goods and then a pressure.”

Zhu Di a long sigh of relief, like all of a sudden relaxed look, said: “I see outside many readers are smiling, also thought you blood loss it! No loss will be good, not right …… you are full of support, even if no loss, this does not earn silver business to do what?”

“Zhang Anshi, ah, I have great expectations for you, so don’t waste your energy on useless things. What kind of good deeds are you doing at your young age! Think about me, think about what a heavy burden I have to face with this kingdom, I am still counting on someone to do good deeds for me!”

That’s a little less than facetious.

Zhang Anshi: “……”

Xu Huizu glanced at Zhu Di, as if Xu Huizu had despised Zhu Di’s behavior since he was a child.

“Your Majesty ……” Finally, Zhang Anshi awkwardly said, “Actually …… I earned ah, earned so little. ”

Zhu frowned, “What have you earned? Word of mouth? You also do not think, people outside is how to scold you, readers are not bred wolves, you think they got your favor, will still say you a good? This world except me ……”

Zhang Anshi felt like he was being mentally pua.

So he busily said, “It’s really earned, really earned! Has Your Majesty ever wondered why the outside world is so excited?”

Zhu impatiently gave him a cold snort and said, “Don’t sell yourself short.”

Zhang Anshi said, “I just want to create the illusion that they have earned a big bargain, and only if I make them feel that they have earned a big bargain, they will follow suit.”

Chu: “……”

Zhang Anshi then said, “Just the general public, is not going to believe that someone sells at a loss, at this time, I had no choice but to borrow a little bit of the monks of the Qixia Temple. This excuse to say good, can say bad is not bad, and this is a really low price, by they do not believe.”

After a pause, Zhang Anshi added, “Has Your Majesty ever wondered why I am selling the Four Treasures of Literature?”

By this time, Zhu Di had already detected a slight difference.

Zhu’s expression became serious, “You continue.”

Zhang Anshi said, ”Because the buyers of the four treasures of literature are the readers! Your Majesty …… In this capital, those who really have the spending power in their hands, the readers definitely make up the majority. Can read, and on the literary room four treasures, especially the texture of the good literary room four treasures, can afford to buy, they have the most money in hand, spend up silver, is also the most willing.”

“That’s why I’m starting to cut through the clerical work.”

Zhu Di frowned tightly, he vaguely felt something, but there were still some places he didn’t think through.

“I on the surface, is in the literati here lost money, but your majesty do not forget, the whole market, is a whole, now the market size of the store, there are one hundred and forty-three, half of which, is the minister in the operation, that is, the merchant bank opened their own, there are high-grade tea house, there are restaurants, and book stores, there are shoes and hats and cloth store, Lin Lin, so much of the trading …… quite a few stores that sell more expensive goods.”

“As for the other seventy stores, although they are opened by unusual merchants, these merchants …… their stores are also ministers, should they not pay rent?”

“Now, a large number of people with silver wrapped around their waists are swarming in, these people, are they rushing here, only to buy a clerical treasure and go back? Even if they just hit the road and go home, but Your Majesty, don’t forget that the boats on this ferry are also owned by our merchant bank.”

“Therefore, I am not afraid of the loss of money in the literary house, the only thing I am afraid of is that they refuse to come, as long as they are willing to come, then they will have to eat and use, they will have to take the boat, and sometimes they will wander around, and it is not possible to say, they will like what, and buy it back by the way. Dare I ask your majesty, can your majesty calculate this account?”

Zhu Di suddenly realized, exclaimed, “The original …… you this is a bitter meat trick.”

Zhang Anshi squirmed and said, “It is not a bitter trick, in fact …… it is just a mixed meal.”

Zhang Anshi continued, “In fact, at first, I did not expect the effect to be so amazing, the enthusiasm of the reading public is very high, if I had known this, I should have opened a few more stores.”

This is indeed not expected ah, who would have thought that these readers hate Zhang Anshi so much that they gnash their teeth?

That’s why hate, sometimes, is a force.

“As for the future, this person is inertia, these readers about more than a few trips, accustomed to this place, will be willing to come here every now and then. I intend to be here, specializing in creating a street for readers to buy, what a literary house, what a bookshop.”

After a pause, Zhang Anshi continued with a gleam in his eyes, “By the way, there is one more thing, for safekeeping, from now on, this street will become a hen that lays golden eggs.”

Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi with great curiosity and said, “What is it?”

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “This has to be opened tomorrow, I have taken great pains for this ……. Right now is to attract the readers, but people attracted, in addition to the four treasures of the literary house, but also have to stay, if the people can not stay, that can not be.”

Zhu Di has only one thought in his heart at this time …… This guy …… he is really a talent.

Xu Huizu suddenly had a feeling that he was too honest and a bit out of place with this duo of monarchs and ministers.

Hey …… young people nowadays …… still really ……

Zhang Anshi looked at the sky, but said, “Your Majesty, it’s getting late, I have to go and look at today’s account, to see how much money has been earned today compared to yesterday, and how much benefit can be brought about by these four treasures of literature, in the end.”

When Zhu Di heard this, he said with a dragon’s vigor, “I will also go and take a look.”

At that moment, Zhang Anshi took the lead and came to a compartment next door, which was obviously the accountant’s office here.

Here, seven or eight bookkeepers were nervously calculating the earnings summarized from the various stores.

More and more accounts are coming together.

Until it gets dark.

Zhu Di but also refused to go, he did not see the number of afraid to sleep, even if this time the stomach is hungry, but also in this waiting.