allonlinenovel Chapter 48 drew a circle
Chapter 48 drew a circle
Chapter 48 drew a circle
Zuihualou.
Li Jinshui and his brother knelt down and kowtowed three times, saying in unison, "Sons greet Mother!"
Sheng Lan stared blankly at the Li brothers in front of her. The elder brother, Li Jinshui, was one of the most powerful officials in Hanshan County, and the younger brother, Li Yinshui, was a clerk in Hanshan County. In the past, the two brothers would occasionally come to Zuihualou, but they never gave her a second glance. Today, however, the two brothers were kneeling down and kowtowing to her.
Godmother? Sheng Lan was a little confused. How did she become the godmother of the Li brothers? She had never heard the adults say that the Li brothers were her godsons!
"You've come to see Wang Wenzhou?" Sheng Lan asked.
"Replying to Mother, your sons learned that today is your birthday and have come to present you with a gift," Li Yinshui said.
Li Jinshui was filled with mixed feelings. He used to look down on all the "old maids" at the Drunken Flower Brothel, but now he had to kowtow to her. And this woman was even calling him her godfather by his given name! He felt incredibly awkward!
"Please rise, both of you. Please wait a moment. I'll go find Wang Wenzhou right away. He's practicing calligraphy in the inner room." Sheng Lan turned and went upstairs.
At first, Sheng Lan didn't want to call the adults by their given names, but the adults insisted that she do so, and they would get upset if she didn't. Over time, Sheng Lan got used to calling the adults by their given names.
Wang Wenzhou came downstairs and asked with a smile, "Xiao Jin, Xiao Yin, what's up?"
Li Yinshui smiled and said, "Father, isn't today Mother's birthday? We sons have specially prepared a small gift to celebrate Mother's birthday."
Li Jinshui quickly presented the gift with both hands.
Wang Wenzhou picked it up and saw it was a small, pure gold Buddha. He weighed it in his hand and estimated it to be worth at least a hundred taels of silver. These two brothers had really gone all out.
Wang Wenzhou smiled knowingly and said, "Thank you for your expense!"
"Father, this is a small token of our appreciation! Please don't find it offensive, just accept it!" Li Yinshui said ingratiatingly.
"Lazy Lan, since this is a birthday gift from your son, please accept it." Wang Wenzhou handed the small golden Buddha to Sheng Lan.
"Prepare some snacks to go with the drinks, I'll have a drink with them. By the way, have the policewomen returned yet? If they have, bring two of them to keep us company," Wang Wenzhou instructed.
"It's almost time, they should be back soon. I'll arrange for someone to come and keep them company for drinks later." Sheng Lan said, then went to prepare the food and drinks.
Wang Wenzhou chatted with the Li brothers for a while, and Sheng Lan quickly prepared food and drinks. The policewomen also returned, and two of them sat down next to the Li brothers.
The policewomen were used to it. When guests came to visit, the superiors often made them drink with them. Back when they were courtesans, they not only had to drink with them, but also sleep with them. Now, as policewomen, the superiors only made them drink. It wasn't that they didn't want to accompany the superiors; the problem was that the superiors only liked Sheng Lan, so they could only feel jealous, envious, and resentful in their hearts!
Wang Wenzhou held Sheng Lan in his arms, took a sip of wine, and asked, "Xiao Jin, Xiao Yin, we're not strangers, so just say what you need to say."
Li Jinshui smiled and said, "Father, business hasn't been good these days! I'd like to ask you if there are any good business opportunities available?"
Hehe! Wang Wenzhou laughed inwardly. Now, in Hanshan County, no matter what kind of business it is, it's n times better than before! Business is bad, my ass! I knew you guys came here to ask me if I have any ideas on how to make big money.
"It is indeed a good business opportunity, but the initial investment is quite large. Of course, it will definitely make a lot of money in the future!" Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.
"Father, we're all family. Just tell us what to do, and we'll do it!" Li Yinshui said, patting his chest.
"Have you heard that I'm planning to open a school?" Wang Wenzhou asked.
“We brothers are right there today, how could we not know? Father is wholeheartedly devoted to the people and has the common people in his heart. We sons truly admire Father’s selflessness!” Li Jinshui flattered Wang Wenzhou.
"The school will be temporarily requisitioned from the Emperor Wen Temple. I plan to rebuild the school. The location has already been chosen. Xiaoqiang, go and get the map," Wang Wenzhou said.
Wang Qiang laid the blueprints horizontally on the table.
Wang Wenzhou pointed to the map and said, "Outside the south gate, there's a wasteland. It must be unclaimed, right?"
"Yes!" Li Yinshui had been a clerk in Hanshan County for over twenty years, so he knew these things very well. He quickly nodded in agreement.
"I wonder what kind of business Father is talking about?" Li Jinshui asked.
“A construction company!” Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.
"..."
What is a construction company? The Li brothers were completely baffled.
Wang Wenzhou explained, "Construction companies build houses! The population of Hanshan County will continue to grow, and with more people, there won't be enough living space. Hanshan County town is too small, so I plan to expand outwards."
“Making money is simple! You guys should first acquire all this land! My first step is to develop this area.” Wang Wenzhou drew a circle on the map.
"Thank you for your guidance, Father!" the Li brothers quickly expressed their gratitude. They understood that once the county town was expanded, land prices would definitely increase several times over.
“Acquiring land only makes a little money! Building houses is where you make big money!” Wang Wenzhou laughed.
"Father? Anyone can build a house, how can that make a lot of money?" Li Jinshui asked, puzzled.
"In a few days, I plan to issue a decree that the government will fund the repair of old houses in the county. Many of these houses are dilapidated and extremely dangerous! Therefore, I have decided that from now on, no one will be allowed to build a house without the government's approval. Anyone wishing to build a house must be verified by the government and be employed by a qualified construction company," Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.
“You are all on my side, how could I treat you unfairly? Your construction company will be the first to obtain the construction license,” Wang Wenzhou said.
"Thank you, Father!" the Li brothers quickly expressed their gratitude.
Wang Wenzhou, a conman in later generations, knew that monopolies were the most profitable. In Hanshan County, as the magistrate, he could monopolize whatever he wanted. Making a little money was easy for him. Of course, as a conman, he had to make the deceived people count their money while kneeling and shouting that Wang Wenzhou was a righteous official who served the people wholeheartedly!
“You can’t make money building this school. First, it’s to train a workforce. Second, I am the magistrate of Hanshan County, and the school will be funded by the charitable fund I established. It’s unreasonable for you to try to make money from it!” Wang Wenzhou still had some conscience. He planned to build the school into a fortress that would not collapse in an earthquake.
“Father, please rest assured! My brothers and I also plan to donate some money to the charity fund. We are also from Hanshan, and it is our duty to do something practical for our fellow villagers,” the Li brothers said.
"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou laughed heartily. His two adopted sons were quite shrewd. They weren't fools; they knew how to pat themselves on the back.
"The ice hasn't thawed yet, so construction isn't advisable. You should hurry up and recruit workers so that construction on the school can begin immediately once the ice melts. After the school is completed, I should start expanding the city," Wang Wenzhou said, taking a sip of wine.
"Father, rest assured, your son will definitely build the school into a beautiful place!" Li Jinshui patted his chest and promised.
Sheng Lan picked up a piece of food and fed it to Wang Wenzhou. She rarely interrupted when the adults and guests were discussing serious matters. She knew when to speak and when to remain silent.
These past few days, following the master, Sheng Lan has learned a lot. A few casual words of advice from the master earn her more than the most popular courtesan in Hezhou. Sheng Lan used to think the most popular courtesans were the highest earners, making tens of taels of silver a night. Now she realizes that making money is easier for those familiar with the master. A few casual words from the master can earn her at least several thousand taels of silver.