lady, please calm down

Chapter 261 Real Estate Infrastructure

September 21.

The color of the earth gradually changes from green to yellow, and the autumn atmosphere becomes stronger.

Twenty miles south of Caizhou City lies Xiaxi Village.

Wu Tong and Li Mulezi, who were back home for vacation, pulled a rope ruler to measure the length and width of the yard.

During the rainy season last year, when Wu Tong went to Tongshan with Zheng Yi's Shenrui Army, half of the main hall of his home collapsed.

Later Wu Tong was captured and imprisoned for several months before completing his transformation and joining the Huai Army.

Now, after saving money for more than half a year, I finally decided to renovate the old house before winter comes.

Li Mulezi, who knew something about construction, drew a rough drawing on the wooden board according to Wu Tong's request, then raised his head and said, "Brother, do you really want to build the hall into two floors?"

"Hey, Brother Mule, I heard from Team Bai and Baoxi that every house in Luliuwei has two floors. They can live in it, so why can't we? My parents have never enjoyed happiness in their lives. Now that we have savings, I I want them to live in a good house."

Wu Tong embarrassedly explained his 'extravagant' behavior.

Li Mulezi smiled and said: "Of course we can live in it. However, if we build a main house with two floors and then build a side room like you said, if we don't bake the bricks ourselves, it won't be counted as labor, and seventy or eighty bricks will be built. Come on, how much money do you have?"

Wu Tong and Li Mulezi were friends by fate, and he did not hide it. He told the truth: "Last year, Master Dutong rewarded me with 20 taels to thank my father for treating me to a meal. This time during the expedition, each person was rewarded with five guans. I was rewarded for fighting." For your bravery, you will be rewarded with ten guans, plus six guans of salary saved over half a year."

Zhenhuaijun held night classes at night. Although I couldn't learn how to write poems and lyrics, I could still read a few hundred Chinese characters and do addition and subtraction.

Wu Tong calculated in silence for a while and said: "There are about forty guans in total."

"That's still thirty or forty guan." Li Mulezi thought for a moment and said, "I have it in my hand. I will bring you [-] guan tomorrow. You can use it first."

"Brother Mule, it's time for your house to be renovated. You can keep the money for yourself. I have a way."

Although Wu Tong was moved by Li Mulezi's righteousness, he still declined. Brother Mulezi failed to join the army, and now he does not even have a regular job. Lady Cai Sanniang, who came with Tongshan last year, worked as a guide, but in the past few months, she went to another place and did not know where she was. It's a very difficult job, but there's no stable income anyway. It's all thanks to the Li family's sister-in-law to save some money by working in Lord Tutong's house.

Li Mulezi probably guessed what Wu Tong was thinking, so he just smiled without explaining, but asked, "What can you do?"

"Brother Mule, haven't you heard about the 'Jiangshi Home Loan' launched by the four major banks?"

"Oh? I never noticed, what is a home loan?"

"Hey, the four major banks provide loans specifically to soldiers."

"Even a loan?"

"Uh" I had to ask Wu Tong. He also learned about it from Shangguan Baimaoshu. After learning about it in detail, Wu Tong felt that the loan was good, but he couldn't explain it at the moment and could only find a similar word. Said: "Loans are a bit like borrowing usury."

"Confused!"

When Li Mulezi heard this, he became uneasy and scolded: "Can usury money be borrowed? How did your ancestors lose the ten acres of paddy fields in the first place? Didn't you borrow the usury money from Li Lezi and get it at a profit? Is your family's ancestral land stolen? If you get involved in usury, you will have to peel off your skin even if you don't die! Don't think too much. If you need money, I will give it to you."

"no no."

Wu Tong quickly waved his hand and said: "Brother Mule, these four major banks are money banks that are run by others."

"."

Li Mulezi was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.

In his opinion, the Dutong couple were both respectable people. How could they engage in such an unethical business?
Seeing that Li Mulezi might have misunderstood, Wu Tong said hurriedly: "Brother Mulezi, this 'soldier home loan' does not charge interest! And it can be repaid in three, five or eight years, and just pay back part of it every month. If I will pay off a loan of 660 yuan in five years. I only need to repay [-] yuan a month. My salary is enough to repay the loan, and it will not affect my family's food."

Wu Tong pointed to the pig pen in a corner of the courtyard and continued: "My father also adopted two piglets from the livestock cooperative under the Luliuwei Farm Reclamation Group. When they are raised, they will be weighed and recycled by the Farm Reclamation Group, which will be another source of income. .”

Li Mulezi was not in the mood to look at the two piglets. If he hadn't heard that the four major businesses were people's industries, his first reaction would have been to not believe that there was usury in the world that did not charge interest.

"If it were Renren's bank, it would be possible for him to do such a good deed." Li Mulezi did not understand the economic connection, but his respect for Dutong and his wife made him quickly accept and agree with this matter.

"No, now this 'soldier home loan' is only open to our left-behind officers. Others can't use it even if they want to." Wu Tong said proudly, but then he remembered another thing and couldn't help but sigh and said angrily. : "I heard that many merchants wanted to use this unprofitable money from the capital. They wanted to encourage Paoze, who was not building new houses in the army for the time being, to also borrow the money. The merchants would then pay some handling fees to borrow it from Paoze. "

"Oh? Is there such a thing?"

Li Mulezi remained calm, but his professional sensitivity made him immediately take the matter to heart.

Sure enough, there are policies from above and countermeasures from below.

It was a good thing to improve the living conditions of the soldiers, but the merchants were like flies smelling the smell of blood, sensing the huge business opportunities.

Nowadays, merchants lend money to each other, and the monthly interest rate is more than five cents.

It would be even more outrageous if it were loaned to farmers. The monthly interest rate starts from [-] cents and [-] cents is not uncommon, and the interest is calculated with compound interest.
As early as July or August, as early as March, the cost will be doubled.

No wonder someone is tempted by the interest rate difference between no interest and [-]% interest.

Wu Tong was still worried and said: "Brothers, please don't be confused, otherwise you will be helping outsiders to trick the capital."

Li Mulezi remained silent, but he had already begun to think about how to write a report on this matter to Chen Chu when he returned.

At this time, I saw a strong young man wearing a blue sweatshirt, as if he was not used to the muddy ground yet. He walked into the courtyard with his shirt in his hands and went straight to the pig pen.

Seeing this, Wu Tong and his father hurriedly came forward and called, "Xu Li, are you okay?"

Xu Li had a painful expression on his face. He seemed to dislike the smell of the pig pen, but he still resisted and stood in front of the pen. His attitude was polite, "Old Zhang Wu, Mr. Wu, let me take a look at this pig. By the way, the first few days Can the dried mugwort leaf powder given to you by Rifa be mixed into pig food?"

Wu Tong is not at home on weekdays, so Father Wu is responsible for feeding the pigs. The latter hurriedly said: "Xu Lichang, I have followed the instructions and added the pig food at a ratio of fifty to one."

"Ah."

Xu Lichang nodded pretending to be mature. He wanted to say something, but seemed to have forgotten it. He quickly took out a booklet with "Thirty Things About Domestic Pig Raising" written on the cover and folded the corner of the book. On a page, he read according to the script:

"Mugwort has high nutritional value. Mugwort leaves contain aromatic oil, which can promote blood circulation, enhance metabolism, improve meat quality, and has antibacterial effects. Adding 2% moxa powder to pig food can increase the average daily weight gain by 5% to 8%. %, and feed remuneration increased by 7.5% to 12.3%.”

Xu Lichang shook his head and recited, but Wu Tong and his son could not understand it at all. They felt that the Li Chang himself did not know what he was reciting.

"These are all the research results of the Luliuwei Agricultural Research Institute. Mr. Wu must remember them and don't take them seriously."

After finishing reading, Xu Lizhang gave his instructions again, then turned around and walked out of the courtyard. When he reached the courtyard gate, he seemed to remember something again, and turned around and said: "Chief Wu, I heard that your family is building a new house? Do you need my help?" Organize manpower?”

"Thank you, Commander, for your concern. All the soldiers in our army are on vacation today. They will come to the house later to help."

Wu Tong cupped his hands and said.

"Okay, if anything happens, just come to me. Now I live in the original Li Lezi's yard."

After Xu Lichang said that, he walked out.

His last two words of concern were very helpful to Father Wu. After sending the person outside, he couldn't help but look back at the iron plate nailed to the lintel of the simple courtyard door, which read: Soldier's Home
With this iron plate, it is said that some taxes can be exempted.Even the job of raising pigs is only open to the families of soldiers and soldiers. It costs nothing to raise piglets, and it is easy to get some pigweed on weekdays. The strength of farmers is the most worthless.

In the future, when the piglets grow up, they can be exchanged for a large sum of money, which is perfect for the elderly who cannot do heavy work!
Father Wu was illiterate, but he still cheerfully raised his hand and wiped the non-existent dust on the sign with his sleeve. Then he returned to the courtyard with his hands behind his back and humming a tune with satisfaction.

Li Mulezi, who had been sitting there, couldn't help but laugh and said jokingly: "Uncle, I haven't seen you so happy in more than ten years."

"Hey, now that life is getting better, why don't we allow the old man to have a good time?" Father Wu took the opportunity to sit next to Li Mulezi.Li Mulezi smiled and said: "Uncle, when did our village have such a young village chief? Aren't the village chiefs all village elders?"

"This liar chief is sent here by the governor."

"Capital? How can he have time to care about who is the chief?" Li Mulezi couldn't help but laugh, feeling that Father Wu was bragging.

Seeing that he didn't believe it, Father Wu couldn't help but glared and said: "What? You don't believe it? Let me tell you, my name is Zhiyuan here, and he will go to the foreign government to be an official in a while. He is. This is"

After thinking for a while, Father Wu remembered Xu Zhiyuan's exact words when he was chatting with him a few days ago, "He is delegating training to the grassroots!"

Seeing what Father Wu said about having noses and eyes, Wu Tong also wondered: "Dad, he can be an official? How can an official go to a farmer's house all day to look after pigs and sheep?"

"You don't know this! Xu Lichang said that they were all sent down and set a few hard targets."

"Dad, how can you learn so many new words?"

"They are all taught by Xu Li. He said that the indicators of the metropolitan system include 'village sanitation, average height and weight of children under 12 years old, grain yield per acre, number of live pigs and chickens' and how green the grain is. Anyway, seven Eight miles."

Even though Wu Tong and Li Mulezi had studied in the military night school for a few days, they still couldn't understand the meaning behind these indicators. For example, what does the height and weight of other people's children have to do with your height?
Seeing the two juniors stunned for a moment, Father Wu felt more and more inferior to the young people. His vanity was unprecedentedly satisfied, and he continued to show off: "I also heard him say that the quality of various indicators will directly affect their ability in the future. How big an official can you be?"

"Them?" Li Mulezi heard the key.

"Well, Chief Xu said that there are now at least 20 people like him who have gone to various places in Zhuangzi to serve as district chiefs. Many of them are nephews of government officials. By the way, the son of Chen Tongzhi in Fucheng has also become a district chief."

"Chen Tongzhi's son becomes the head of the village?" Wu Tong was shocked.

You know, if the nephew of an official wants to become an official, it should not be too easy. No matter how bad he is, he will have a higher starting point than being famous!
Besides, isn’t the village a nice place? I didn’t see that Xu Lichang just now. Even if he works hard, he still can’t adapt. His clothes made of expensive fabrics are stained with mud, and his good boots are stained with pig excrement.
Are the adults willing to let their children and nephews suffer this?
The three of them fell into silence at the same time. In the end, Father Wu concluded in simple words: "I see, everyone is here, Caizhou is going to change."

It's morning and afternoon.

From outside the village, more than a dozen men wearing black training uniforms came, carrying chickens, fish, and cakes in their hands.

Although their statures are different, their calm and tigerish aura when they walk is from the same vein.

There were very few outsiders in Xiaxi Village. When they saw strangers, women and children subconsciously hid in the house. Only some children hid in the corners behind trees and looked curiously.

The visitor went straight to the Wu family.

Wu Tong was not surprised when he saw someone, he laughed and greeted him.

"Father, mother, this is my son's Shangguan Bai Captain.
This is Baoxi, Lord Dutong's personal bodyguard.
This is Captain Zhou Zongfa, Hahaha, it was Brother Zhou who captured Brother Mule and me in Tongshan."

Wu Tong introduced his family members one by one, but Li Mulezi, who was good at dealing with people, laughed and corrected: "General Zhou didn't catch us back then, he led us on the right path!"

"Haha, yes, Brother Mule is right."

On the same day, noon.

Lin'an businessman Miao Kui and Yingzhou businessman Chang Dechang, who just arrived in Caizhou this morning, were walking side by side in the south industrial zone.

On the east side of the industrial zone facing the river, there are many workshops that require water power, such as iron smelting plants and mills.

The west side of the industrial zone is dominated by various kilns, such as brick kilns and porcelain kilns.
Rows of chimneys spewed black smoke, and the air was filled with the smell of sulfur produced by burning coal and fine dust invisible to the naked eye.

Chang Dechang led Miao Kui into a large open-air market and explained with a smile: "This place is close to the workshop, and a building materials market has spontaneously formed. You see, there is a brick kiln sales office over there, as well as log sellers and sellers. Private, and this.”

Chang Dechang walked to a shop and pointed to the items displayed outside as samples.

The thing was about half a finger thick, one foot long and one foot wide, with a layer of white glaze on the surface. Miao Kui saw this thing for the first time and couldn't help but ask: "Brother Chang, this is"

Chang Dechang hesitated, picked up a piece, and pressed it lightly with his fingers, making a crisp sound.

"Is this porcelain?" Miao Kui heard from the voice that this object should be something fired in a porcelain kiln.

"Haha, these are ceramic tiles, used for paving the floor."

"Paving the floor?"

Miao Kui took the ceramic tile from Chang Dechang and looked at it. He was a discerning man, and he knew the business prospects of this thing with just a brief thought.

Let’s not talk about the visual effect of having white glazed tiles spread all over the house. The key point is that this bright floor can also increase the brightness of the house!
Lighting in the house has always been a big issue.

"Are these tiles produced by our business?" Miao Kui asked subconsciously.

"Of course it was produced by our firm," Chang Dechang said with a smile.

Both of them are the first shareholders of Sihang Trading Company, so there is nothing wrong with using 'We Trading Company'.

After getting confirmation from Chang Dechang, Miao Kui looked around the crowded building materials market and couldn't help but laugh, "Brother Chang, no wonder the four major banks launched the 'Jiangshi Home Loan'. The soldiers borrowed money to build houses and needed to Even though there is no interest when buying construction materials, once the money is transferred around, the money comes back to our firm."

Chang Dechang laughed and said: "Brother Miao's situation is too small."

"Oh? Brother Chang, please help me understand my confusion."

"At the beginning of the month, when Brother Miao was away, Madam Cai revealed when presiding over the shareholders' meeting of the commercial bank that the army had given out tens of thousands of guan in rewards to the soldiers and launched home loans for the soldiers at the same time, in order to allow money to circulate quickly. As for building houses, the soldiers There is a strong demand, and it can also stimulate the entire upstream and downstream industries such as building materials, logging, construction, and transportation."

After half of listening, Miao Kui thought of the original Watermelon Festival and subconsciously asked: "Is it like the Tongshan Watermelon Festival?"

"The formats are similar, but the Tongshan Watermelon Festival is driven by sales, while this time in Caizhou, it is driven by 'infrastructure'."

"Infrastructure?"

"It means building houses. Madam Cai got a word from Dutong. It's also called 'real estate'. It also includes building roads."

"Build the road?"

"Yes, there is a story circulating in Caizhou in recent days. It is said that the capital is planning to build a straight road from Caizhou to the canal, spanning the three prefectures of Ying and Shou."

"Is your Da Qi court willing?"

Miao Kui couldn't help but be surprised. In a heavily defended border area, roads were not allowed to be built to prevent the enemy from breaking through the border defenses and quickly breaking in.

If Chen Chu really does this, it will first prove that he has completed the control of the Huaibei Prefectures, and secondly, it will also show that he will not let go of the ambitions of Shou and Ying Prefectures.

Chang Dechang sighed and said: "The reason why the news of road construction has spread is that the governor is testing the reactions of all parties. Now that Huaibei's vitality is seriously damaged, the governor wants to use 'big infrastructure' to quickly restore vitality to several prefectures."

Even Chang Dechang, a small shareholder of a trading company, only knew a little bit about this kind of temple affairs, and then changed the topic, "Brother Miao, how long do you plan to stay in Cai this time?"

"Let's talk about it for more than a month. We have agreed to let Renren get married next month. How can we finish the fun? After all, we are still Renren's mother-in-law's family."

"Hahaha, the opposite."

Mao'er is the major shareholder of Sihai Commercial Bank, while Miao Kui and Chang Dechang are small shareholders. They can be regarded as both Mao'er's subordinates and partners.

I can barely call it 'mother's family'.

Miao Kui said he would stay for more than a month, but what he wanted in his heart was to stay a little longer. He wanted to see with his own eyes the magic of Dutong's large-scale infrastructure.

Furthermore, if the external rumors are true and Tongtong really builds the road, it will require a huge investment of funds. By then, even if you just start a supporting business such as supplying materials, you can earn more than you can spend in a few lifetimes. money
(End of this chapter)