The Bookish Scholar of the Red Mansion

This is what happened after the Lin family moved into the government office. Regardless of whether Uncle Lin has a break or not, as long as Chen Heng comes to visit, the other party will always find a space to receive him. There is no need to pick a time when each other is free like in the old house.

When Chen Heng came to visit, Lin Ruhai was in the study, writing a letter to Shen Tingfang, the governor of Guangdong. The heavy rain in Jiangnan has a great impact on the state's crop harvest. Temporarily switching to planting potatoes and other crops is a stopgap measure. Finding more food on this basis can truly bring peace to the people.

Fortunately, the summer harvest in Lianghu, Guangdong and other places was not affected, which left Dayong with a chance to breathe. Lin Ruhai also took the opportunity to use his favor in the officialdom and planned to write an affectionate letter to Shen Tingfang to talk about his difficulties.

Shen Tingfang is originally from Hangzhou, and Lin Ruhai is from Suzhou. Suzhou and Hangzhou have been a family since ancient times, and their friendship is easy to discuss, not to mention that the two of them were Jinshi in the same high school. If you talk to Brother Shen about your troubles, the other party can't just ignore him until he dies. Is it possible that Wei Yinghong borrowed it, but I, Lin Ruhai, can't borrow it?

Lin Ruhai was writing happily when he saw the steward leading Chen Heng in. After Jia Min came back, it was obvious that he was in a good mood. He immediately greeted the junior with a smile and asked curiously: Heng'er, what are you holding in your hand?

Chen Heng raised his green sleeves, proudly waved a stack of documents in his hand, and said with a smile: Uncle, you will know it as soon as you see it. After saying that, he stepped forward as if offering a treasure and placed the things on Lin Ruhai's desk.

The latter became interested and put aside the letter he had written. I picked up Chen Heng's plan and saw the words Qiupu Street Renovation written at the front. Lin Ruhai changed his sitting position and started reading with a more serious expression.

Chen Heng's writing is very thick. The first few pages are about the situation of weaving bureaus in various places in the south of the Yangtze River starting from Jiajing. The cited data are all marked with sources. In addition, he deliberately chose a straightforward narrative and omitted irrelevant rhetorical modifications, allowing Lin Ruhai to easily follow his train of thought.

After reading the situation in Suzhou and Hangzhou, combined with the difficulties faced by Qiupu Street, Lin Ruhai directly had a more detailed understanding of the overall situation. Just seeing this content, he knew it was right to leave the matter to Chen Heng. This guy's perspective on problems is very different from ordinary people.

Lin Ruhai continued to look at Chen Heng's proposed solutions to problems such as few business orders, low output, and quality gaps. It should be said that this issue is indeed not Lin Ruhai's expertise.

This has little to do with intelligence, but because the thinking used in business and officialdom are two different systems, and they are completely opposite to each other.

If you really think that just by reading a few books of the Four Books and Five Classics, you can become a great businessman. Then why should officials think about corruption and bribery? This has something to do with the convenience of rights, but the fundamental reason is that most scholars do not understand the operation and logic of business. This is precisely Chen Heng's strength, and it is also the reason why he has the confidence to take on this matter.

Seeing Lin Ruhai looking fascinated, Chen Heng did not stand in a daze. He didn't come to Lin's house just once or twice, just minding his own business and reading around in the study. There is a new picture of chrysanthemum appreciation hanging in the study, probably painted by my uncle during the Double Ninth Festival.

In the painting, Jia Min and Daiyu are sitting in the pavilion, leaning on the railing and listening to the wind. Zicuckoo and the snow geese are walking from the corridor carrying a food box. There was even Jue Di who was holding a windmill and ran down the steps. Two or three slaves chased Lin Jue, as if they were worried that he would fall from the steps, with nervousness on their faces.

This painting uses rich colors and the characters' expressions are lifelike. Even if it is just a frozen scene, the cool autumn wind still blows through the paper on the faces of the viewers, making it unforgettable.

As soon as Lin Ruhai looked up after reading the document, he noticed Chen Heng admiring the flowers. He laughed once and didn't care. I called the junior and asked him to explain the details on the document to me.

Chen Heng was not in a hurry. He first asked for a cup of tea from his uncle to moisten his throat, and then started to talk about his plan. His solution sounds simple. The weaving bureaus in Suzhou and Hangzhou purchase a huge amount of silk every season, and it is difficult to rely solely on local people to grow it.

Dayong learned from the previous Ming Dynasty's mistake of changing rice to mulberry and made great efforts to protect cultivated land. After excluding the cultivated land that needs to be reserved, there is really not much land left in Suzhou and Hangzhou that can grow mulberry leaves. This is the shortcoming of Suzhou and Hangzhou, but it is the strength of Yangzhou.

There is a large area of ​​wasteland in the northwest of Yangzhou, and the soil is very suitable for growing mulberry and raising silkworms. This alone can make Yangzhou a booster for Suzhou and Hangzhou. The only headache is whether the officials of the Weaving Bureau are willing to accept the raw materials sent from Yangzhou.

After all, transportation was not convenient in ancient times, including the transportation costs of traveling and traveling. If you transport things from Yangzhou to Suzhou and Hangzhou for sale, the price will definitely increase. Even if it's just a little bit, it will still be a huge expense considering the number of pieces of cloth in the future, which will virtually reduce the profits of the Weaving Bureau.

Chen Heng was not completely sure. He could guarantee that the officials of the Weaving Bureau had a far-sighted vision and thought of the profits brought by increasing production capacity. They are essentially officials, not businessmen. While seeking money for His Majesty, the most important thing to consider is definitely not to make mistakes. This is something decided by the officials' butts and cannot be changed.

So he prepared a more attractive plan for Suhang, which was that Yangzhou would take the initiative to reduce prices and deliver goods. As long as the Weaving Bureau was willing to sell all the leftover fabrics made by the Bureau to Yangzhou for processing.

In this way, the weaving bureaus in Suzhou and Hangzhou can be said to have won twice. They obtained raw materials at low prices and increased their profit margins. He also sold the remaining fabrics in the workshop and got back the money given to Yangzhou. It was a free profit. Chen Heng believes that they will definitely agree to this method.

For Yangzhou, it seems that taking good raw materials and exchanging them for other people's defective cloth is very disadvantageous. But the current positioning of Qiupu Street is not aimed at wealthy households, so there is no need to make things perfect.

Rather than compete with Suzhou and Hangzhou, which have first-mover advantages in this field. It would be better to use the leftovers and defective products from the weaving bureau's material selection process to make clothes that small households and ordinary people can afford on their own.

What Chen Heng is interested in is the gap between silk and satin and coarse linen. As long as his vision is lowered, the skills of the female workers in Qiupu Street can be put to use. It can be said that taking a step back, the sea and the sky are brighter.

All that remains is to accumulate technical advantages, and at the same time rely on the huge procurement volume of the Weaving Bureau to further expand the mulberry planting area in Yangzhou and achieve dual breakthroughs in production capacity and technology.

As for the means of attracting investment in the future, Chen Heng also has three filings. It's just that these things all happen naturally. Once Qiupu Street in Yangzhou becomes famous, everything else will be easy to handle.

In the design of this plan, Chen Heng grasped two key points. Avoid the sharp edges of Suzhou and Hangzhou and take advantage of Yangzhou’s geographical location and human resources. As long as these two factors are used well, Qiupu Street can definitely turn around.

Lin Ruhai couldn't help but nod after hearing this. Chen Heng's experienced vision and thinking were indeed extraordinary. He thought for a while and then said: If we sell cloth at such a low price, will it have any impact on the Sang people in Suzhou and Hangzhou?

It's just like being humble and hurting the people. If one party offers a lower price, how can it be possible that it won't have any impact? Chen Heng nodded immediately, but he also explained: In the short term, it is definitely possible. We can only control the quantity and ensure that the fabric we sell can just buy all the fabrics of the Weaving Bureau and give it to the local Sannon makes room.”

There is never a perfect method in this world that is good in every aspect. If there is, it must be empty talk on paper. Chen Heng continued to reassure Lin Ruhai, As long as we survive the mid-term period and the business on Qiupu Street picks up, maybe we and the people from the Weaving Bureau will rob the mulberry farmers in Suzhou and Hangzhou.

This is also a hidden worry, but if you start to worry now, you will probably stop eating due to choking. Don't look at the national policies set by the imperial court. They just take one step at a time and see two steps at a time. If we really want to talk about matters that will have long-lasting impact, only those major projects that benefit the country and the people can do this.

Lin Ruhai obviously didn't expect that this day would happen again, and he hesitated in surprise: Can this day happen again?!

Chen Heng thought for a while, took the pen and paper from the desk, drew an outline of the provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, pointed at them one by one and said: This is Jiangsu, this is Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi, and next to it are Jiangsu and Anhui. . Counting Shandong above us. How many people do you think there will be in these places?

Lin Ruhai was shocked to hear this business logic that transcended one state or one government. He took a sip of tea, suppressed the thoughts in his heart, and finally said calmly and with a bit of the excitement of a trend-setter of the times: Heng'er, I will do as you wish.

Okay. Seeing that he had successfully convinced his uncle, Chen Heng also relaxed. Both of them smiled tacitly, with anticipation faintly in their eyes.

Taking advantage of this gap, Lin Ruhai carefully reviewed Chen Heng's plan in his mind. What impressed him most was that Heng'er's design from beginning to end did not put any further pressure on the government's already tight finances.

This alone gave Lin Ruhai a reason to try. After all, if he doesn't make changes, he will still have to wait for Qiupu Street to slowly improve, and whether he will be the prefect of Yangzhou or not will not be known.

Which company are you going to find to help you?

Lin Ruhai asked with concern, the plan is a good one, the rest depends on the person who uses it. This was Lin Ruhai's strength. He was afraid that Chen Heng would not know the connections of the big houses in the city. I went to the wrong door, went to the wrong temple, and attracted some troublesome people.

Uncle, who does Xue or Wang think is more suitable? Chen Heng had already thought about this, but his words were also clever. He proposed alternatives and left the decision-making power in Lin Ruhai's hands.

Uncle Lin has always regarded him as his junior, and Chen Heng is not willing to overstep his authority and take care of everything according to his own wishes. For some things, it is right to ask more questions, especially when facing elders who are willing to sincerely plan for themselves.

The Xue family? The problem with their second room is not that big. Lin Ruhai went through the situation of the two families in her mind, but the Wang family could wait a little longer. Now that His Majesty intends to rectify the Household Affairs Bureau, the Wang family, which has been entangled too much with the Household Affairs Bureau, cannot easily get involved before there is any result.

After thinking about it like this, Lin Ruhai said: How are you going to convince the Xue family? The implication was that he dismissed the possibility of the Wang family joining the situation.

Hearing this question, Chen Heng, the little fox, finally showed a smile and snickered: I want to ask my uncle for some rights so that my nephew can handle the affairs of Qiupu Street.

There are some things that should be said to this extent. Lin Ruhai saw the document written by Chen Heng and knew how much power this child needed. He has been immersed in officialdom for a long time, and he also knows that no matter how talented a person is when he goes to work, it will be difficult to control others without power. He nodded immediately and said, Okay.

After saying that, Lin Ruhai started to write official documents on the paper. When he stopped writing, he smiled and said: Are you going to take my chicken feathers and go to the Xue family to serve as an archery envoy?

Chen Heng didn't think so. His relationship with the Xue family couldn't be explained clearly in a few words. Let them accompany him into the game. Let's not talk about Uncle Xue. There must be something wrong with Uncle Xue. I have this document in my hand just to increase my persuasiveness and make Uncle Xue feel more at ease.

This is called a word that can defeat a million divisions. Chen Heng gave his elder a small slap on the back. The people on the other side talked a lot, and all of them were struggling with chicken feathers. Just this sentence, just right, to the point.

As for whether they are smart or not, you don't need to pay too much attention to the conversation between the two of them. What is important is a cordial and casual attitude.

You're being naughty. Lin Ruhai couldn't see the kid's intention of flattering him, so he laughed and scolded him, and asked someone to get the official seal from the court and prepare to stamp the document, Manager Zhao, I will send someone to pass the message. Don't worry. , he won’t stumble you secretly.”

It would be great to be able to do this. Chen Heng nodded quickly and listened quietly to his uncle's next instructions.

This is the first time that my children have officially gone out to do errands. Lin Ruhai couldn't help but worry about gains and losses. He pulled Chen Heng to talk about the officialdom of Suzhou and Hangzhou, and highlighted some of the big families in Suzhou.

The Lin family's ancestral home is in Suzhou, so they naturally know the news very well. These more specific and detailed information are also things that Chen Heng must understand.

With Uncle Lin's suggestion, he learned more about Suzhou and Hangzhou. After finishing talking about this, Lin Ruhai also gave Chen Heng a thorough explanation of the details of several major merchants in the city.

As the saying goes, know yourself and the enemy, and Lin Ruhai didn't want Chen Heng to go out to do things in a daze. After relaying all the information that Chen Heng could not collect on his own to the other party. Lin Ruhai comforted the other party and said, Just go ahead and do it. Even if it doesn't work, it doesn't matter. If anything happens, my uncle will be here.

Hearing this, Chen Heng nodded with some emotion, not only because of Uncle Lin's concern, but also because of the other party's words, What happened, my uncle is here.

With just this sentence, you can see how much Uncle Lin takes care of you. The reason why many working people in later generations hate their superiors deeply is that they want them to do things but are unwilling to take the initiative to take responsibility. Typical 'if it's done well it's my credit, if it's failed it's because of your incompetence'.

If you say thank you now, it would be embarrassing to say it out loud. Chen Heng cupped his hands and said in a deep voice: My nephew will do his best to handle this matter.

It will take at least two months for Qiupu Street to improve. Lin Ruhai knew the financial situation of the government. At present, Yangzhou was spending money everywhere, and he could not devote more energy to taking care of Qiupu Street. After all, compared to the situation in each street and square, the rising prices in the city obviously require the prefect to worry more.

Yes. Chen Heng didn't say much. He kept the situation in mind and agreed. The matter has come to this, even if it is a sea of ​​swords and fire, we still have to find a way out.

Lin Ruhai nodded with satisfaction, then motioned to Chen Heng to stay at home and have lunch together, then kicked him out of the study. He was still busy dealing with prices and other matters.

It was still early for dinner, so Chen Heng asked his servants to take him to the government office's library. After the Lin family moved into the government office, they also moved a lot of books from the old house.

The library of the government office is larger than the library of the old house, but it is not as exquisite as the Lin family's old house. It lacks the incense burner and bonsai that fit the occasion. There are only a few desks placed at the wooden windows in the corners, decorating the house with the autumn scenery outside the windows.

Chen Heng had borrowed and read books intermittently over the years, and had also looked through the Lin family's collection of books. He finally found something he had never read before. He had only been sitting in his seat for a while when he heard someone coming in from outside the door.

Brother, it doesn't make sense.

Hearing such familiar chanting, Chen Heng turned his head with a smile and saw Daiyu leading Zicuckoo and Xueyan to the front.

He asked with an innocent face: Sister, what's wrong with me?

In the past few days since I came back, you haven't even come to the door once. Lin Daiyu went to the capital once and became much more courageous after coming back. He directly brought a stool and sat down next to Chen Heng angrily.

Only then did Chen Heng understand the reason and hurriedly explained the matter at hand with a smile. After understanding that the other party was entrusted by her father, half of Lin Daiyu's petty thoughts had disappeared.

So, brother will go to Suzhou and Hangzhou in the future? Lin Daiyu was full of curiosity. People only need to go out once. The yearning for the outside world is irresistible.

Chen Heng thought about it carefully, and logically speaking, he must go there several times. He would definitely feel uneasy if he didn't do some things himself, so he nodded to his sister. The two people were talking. The rhododendron had already made tea and placed it in front of them. Then it stood behind Daiyu and listened intently to their conversation.

Then when you come back, you have to tell me about the scenery of Suzhou and Hangzhou. Lin Daiyu was very excited. Even though she was from Suzhou, she had only been back a handful of times since she was a child.

good.

It was a small matter, and Chen Heng, who lowered his head and continued reading, readily agreed. What he was reading today was Li Weigong Questions and Answers, which mainly focused on the art of war and military affairs. It was selected as one of the Seven Books of Martial Arts in the Song Dynasty, but Chen Heng saw it as a casual reading and had no intention of studying it in depth.

This thing is more about talent than reading, just watch the excitement. Chen Heng asked himself that he had no talent in this area, but just used it to broaden his knowledge. The Lin family is also unlike the Xue family. Xue Biao has a much richer collection of leisure books, and Chen Heng would not pick out a military book to pass the time.

Seeing her brother lowering his head to read again, Lin Daiyu didn't care. Only relying on the dazzling sunshine at noon, he recounted his recent situation. One time it was the excitement of the Jia family in the capital, and the other time it was the strange rules of a wealthy family.

Chen Heng listened silently for the most part. He could still do two things as long as he didn't concentrate on reading. He had read a lot about the grand scene of the Jia Mansion at the moment in the original book. Now when I heard Lin Daiyu talk about it, I felt it was a bit more real.

The two chatted casually, neither paying attention to the flow of time. When he heard that Daiyu had returned to the academy and had become a teaching assistant for Master Xie, Chen Heng suddenly raised his head, removed his eyes from the book, and looked at the girl with surprise, saying: How could such a good thing happen? How can you Can you convince your aunt to make her agree?

He didn't expect that after a trip to the capital, his aunt would change her gender when she came back, and she would actually agree to Sister Lin's request to go out. Daiyu was also having fun, holding her chin in her hands and showing a smug smile: My mother taught me well.

Chen Heng didn't know what Jia Min taught Daiyu in the capital, but he was really happy for her. With Sister Lin's temperament and talent, it would be a pity to be trapped in the same house.

It's just that there are all female students in the back hall, and it's hard for Chen Heng to inquire too much. Then the topic turned to Lin Daiyu's experience of helping Ms. Xie prepare lessons, and she listened to the other party talk about the hard work of preparing lesson plans and the fun in it. Sensing Sister Lin's sincere love for this matter, Chen Heng couldn't help but nod and chuckle.

Lin Daiyu told her brother some interesting things in class, hiding the name of the girl. Even before she finished talking about some of the fun parts, she was already laughing so hard.

Chen Heng had been listening quietly. When the other party talked about tiredness and hardship, he offered a few words of comfort. He did not advise Sister Lin to be lazy and give up, but encouraged her to keep doing it well. It is an extremely rare blessing to be able to find something that you enjoy doing in your life.

After the two talked about this, they turned the topic to Lin Daiyu's script. In this regard, the latter has more problems. She is currently arranging a story about melancholy, expanding a short story similar to a Chinese fairy tale into a full-length story. The contradictory relationships that need to be considered cannot be explained clearly in a few sentences.

Chen Heng is considered an expert in this regard. Writing articles and writing storybooks are two different things. As Daiyu's half-leader, he naturally has to shoulder the responsibility of teaching. I simply took advantage of the extra time and taught Daiyu the key points of writing a long storybook.

They were having a heated discussion until Jia Min called them to eat. The two people were still unfinished, so they had to make an appointment to continue the discussion the next time they met.

I got off work late today. I changed several versions but I'm still not satisfied with it. Pass it on first to ensure full attendance. When it breaks out tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, I will continue to revise and polish it. Be grateful, be grateful.