money player

As lunchtime approached, flight attendant Cai Zhixian arrived and brought Wu Zecheng's letter of introduction.

After receiving the letter, Sin Yiu-man invited her to stay for tea, and the two chatted for a while.

Just like last time, Cai Zhixian's family had already prepared a meal for her. This time, he didn't insist that she stay for a simple meal, but instead packed a bag of flour and good ingredients for her to take away.

Before dinner, Tang Yiying returned, carrying a gift box for Zheng Haoquan.

She placed the gift box on the stone table and snuggled into Xian Yaowen's arms. "The woman who came to sell the vases was named Yueqin. She was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. It was a bit strange that she told me her name but not her surname."

“Perhaps the surname is unusual, but while one can choose a given name at will, one dares not disrespect the surname.” Xian Yaowen put down the newspaper in his hand and put his arm around Tang Yiying’s waist from behind.

"possible."

"Is Yueqin Zheng Haoquan's lover this month?"

"It sounds like it."

"Then we should get closer in the future."

Tang Yiying fiddled with Xian Yaowen's fingers, "Was it worth paying such a high price from the very beginning?"

“I know what I’m doing.” Xian Yaowen lightly flicked Tang Yiying’s belly. “There’s not enough room at home. You can find a house nearby and move out. I’ll give you two options: one is that I’ll buy the house and put it in your name, and the other is that I’ll use the same amount of money for you to buy a street-front shop to collect rent, and you can rent out the house for now.”

What's the budget you gave me?

"12 is enough to buy a nice house, with money left over for renovations."

"Hmm~" Tang Yiying thought about it carefully, "I want to buy a street-front shop."

"Have you chosen?"

“I’ve made my choice.” Tang Yiying turned around and put her arms around Xian Yaowen’s neck. “Listen to me, Jing Shu Zhai wants to make money, and the focus is still on Hong Kong. After some time, once the shops here are sorted out, I will start traveling between the two places, and I will spend more time in Hong Kong than here.”

Besides, I prefer Hong Kong and want to settle down there. Having a place to stay here is enough; I'll buy a nice house in Hong Kong later.

"That's good. You have a plan and know how to make choices." Xian Yaowen pinched Tang Yiying's plump buttocks. "What I give you won't be just what you have now. I will give you more in the future. Just like I said before, you don't need to worry about your future. As long as I don't fall, I will protect you and make sure you have enough to eat and wear."

What you need to give is loyalty and dedication; the better you do, the more you will naturally receive.

Tang Yiying laughed and said, "The sun and moon can bear witness that I have always been loyal to you. If you say to bend over, I dare not lie down; if you say to sit on a lotus position, I dare not lie down."

"You old slut, always finding new ways to eat me alive. Luckily I'm young and strong, or you would have sucked me dry long ago." Xian Yaowen pinched Tang Yiying's cheek. "You're so shameless. You make it sound like you're being loyal when you're actually taking advantage of someone."

Tang Yiying chuckled, "I prepared a nourishing soup for you, but you didn't eat it. Who can you blame?"

"Don't say that again. You women never cooperate with men. If I had done what you wanted from the beginning, Jingyan would probably be thinking about how to kick you out by now."

"You reap what you sow; sow the seeds of vying for favor, and you'll reap the fruits of vying for favor. You grew up in the palace, yet you can't even fathom the intricacies of palace intrigue."

Tang Yiying said indignantly, "I was desperate and grasping at straws at the time, without thinking too deeply about it."

"Let's not dwell on the past. I've already accepted Jingyan's gift and have my own plans for her. As for you, just keep quiet and don't give her any unsolicited advice."

What are your plans for her?

Xian Yaowen glanced at Tang Yiying and said, "Support her restoration. Before she forms an army, let her chop you up to test her courage."

"Fine, don't talk then. Who are you trying to bully?" Tang Yiying pouted, her expression as delicate as a young girl's.

"Don't pretend to be young. In two years, you'll be celebrating your birthday in your ninth year. I won't be stingy; I'll definitely throw a grand party for you. I'll hire at least three suona bands, and eight pairs of mischievous children to present you with longevity peaches. Oh, right, and as for the filial son... oh dear!"

Tang Yiying retorted coquettishly, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart."

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything, let's go eat."

Xian Yaowen stood up with Tang Yiying in his arms, then carried her in a princess carry and walked into the house.

After we sat down in the dining room, my third sister came up and said, "Madam just called and said she won't be coming home for dinner."

"Okay, let's eat."

Lung Hsueh-mei was not in a group today and sat next to Sin Yiu-man.

“Valerie has found a suitable house for someone. It’s a three-story Western-style building at the intersection of Guilin Road. It covers an area of ​​420 pings and has a building area of ​​270 pings. It has a back garden. One corner of it was bombed during the Taipei air raids. The owner couldn’t afford to repair it and was willing to sell it for 17.”

"You've been there?"

“I went there this morning and had an assessment with a civil engineer. The repairs will cost about 6 yuan.”

"If you and Valerie think it's a good deal, then buy it and start the repairs and renovations as soon as possible."

"What are your opinions on the renovation, sir?"

"I don't know much about it, so let Lu Jingshi make the decisions. The budget can be higher. I only have one requirement: the speed must be fast."

Valerie asked what the department was called.

"The rich in the north are smoky, and the flutes play in the tall buildings at night. Who knows that the neighbor in the south is still wearing fine linen in September? Let's use the name 'North Village'."

"I haven't read this poem before. Is Beili a place name?"

"Originally, it was the name of a dance song, which was regarded as lewd and decadent music. However, in the Tang Dynasty, it became an elegant name for Pingkang Lane in Chang'an. Pingkang Lane was the Baodou Lane where high-ranking officials and nobles went."

Long Xuemei was surprised, "Isn't this name a bit too direct?"

"I did it on purpose. This name is an internal designation, known only to a select few. It won't be widely publicized. Because the name is direct and has a story behind it, once it gets out, it will spread very quickly. The day we hear about it from the outside, it means that we've become too big for our own good and it's time for us to disappear."

"Warning, understood."

Sin Yiu-man took a bite of spicy stir-fried watermelon rind and said, "Do you remember what I told you about state capitalism before?"

"Ah."

"Taiwan's current economy is dominated by the public sector, which is somewhat similar to Cuba. Without considering ideology, it is also possible to define it as state capitalism."

The sudden influx of mainlanders into Taiwan has caused a dramatic shift in its social structure, creating an opportunity for ideological change. The future path could lead either left or right, something the United States cannot ignore.

"Will Taiwan's state-owned economy-led model be sustainable?"

"It cannot last, nor can it last. Right now, the bulk of the fiscal budget is military spending. The upstream industries are 100% state-owned, while they are sucking the blood of downstream private enterprises and the entire island."

Even with this approach, the budget deficit persists. Sucking away at resources can only last so long; if it goes too far, someone will give a speech in a teahouse, and a stable transformation is inevitable.

Long Xuemei thought for a moment and said, "What was the opportunity for the shift from public to private?"

"Peace of mind, the peace of mind of being content in a corner of the world."

"Actually, you can rest easy now. They don't have transoceanic airlift capabilities. The Soviet Union is worried that intervention would trigger a world war, and they are also worried about the emergence of an uncontrollable superpower in the Far East. They will definitely not provide support..."

“Hmm.” Xian Yaowen cleared his throat, interrupting Long Xuemei, “It’s useless if you understand, it only works if a large part of the people involved understand it.”

As the saying goes, "Ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring." If you want to get ahead of others, you have to soak in the water and keep company with the ducks. That's why I'm developing Beili.

Furthermore, throughout five thousand years of history, nothing related to land has been without its troubles. A government office has more than one door: the main gate is for commoners to submit petitions and for government officials to enter and exit daily; the ceremonial gate is for superiors; the side gate is for daily entry and exit; and the death gate is for entry only, used by prisoners sentenced to death to be escorted to the execution ground.

The main gate leads to the inner courtyard, and the key is personally held by the prefectural and county officials. Officials' families and servants can enter and exit, but yamen runners are not allowed to enter without permission.

The saying, "The government office is wide open, but those with reason but no money should not enter," refers to the main gate.

Xian Yaowen whispered in Long Xuemei's ear, "There's a lot to learn about which door to choose and how to walk comfortably. This knowledge is too complicated for you to master, but you need to know how to use people who are proficient in it."

Set more goals, offer more rewards, offer fewer suggestions, and don't pry into small details. If you don't know, I know even less.

Although Long Xuemei only understood half of what she heard, she still nodded.

Xian Yaowen had spent a considerable amount of time with Long Xuemei and was well aware of her comprehension and cognitive abilities. Dealing with government officials was not easy; it wasn't something that could be understood after just a few words.

"Don't rush, take your time to understand and learn. You have the chance to try and fail." As he spoke, he placed a piece of shredded chicken and dried tofu on Long Xuemei's plate.

Long Xuemei nodded again and picked up her chopsticks to eat.

The dining table was quiet for more than a minute. Xian Yaowen heard the phone ring. After a while, his third sister came over to tell him that it was for him and that the Hengyang Hotel was calling.

"Hello, Jingyi."

Are you eating?

"Yeah, have you eaten?"

"Mom's making it now. Are you free tonight?"

"Not now, why?"

"I'm so bored, can you come over after you've eaten?"

"Are you still guarding the camp? Hasn't the foreman returned yet?"

"I'm back. I'm only bored because I have nothing to do."

"Okay, I'll come find you after I finish eating."

Come early!

"Well, hang up first."

As soon as Sin Yiu-man put down the receiver, the phone rang again, so he had to pick it up once more.

"Hello, Mr. Xian."

“Mr. Xian, this is Cai Jintu. Do you have time tonight? Let’s go out for a chat.”

"Since Brother Cheng invited me, I am free, but it will be a little late. I have something to take care of first."

[Looking back at the previous text, I noticed a missing section about Cai Jintu. As a young man, Cai Jintu performed in a theatrical troupe and was popular with female audiences, earning him the nickname "Milk City," implying he lived off women. This is the origin of the nickname "Brother City."]
"It's alright, Mr. Sin, take your time. I'll wait at the tea shop."

"Okay, see you later."

Back at the dining table, Sin Yiu-man asked his third sister to fill a thermos with milk. Judging from Choi Kam-to's tone, "coming out for a chat" clearly didn't mean going to a teahouse, but rather to a restaurant, where they would inevitably have a few drinks.

If Cai Jintu owned and ran the restaurant, one could imagine several women surrounding him and urging him to drink. Not offering a little something would easily ruin the atmosphere and lead to him drinking even more. It would be better to prepare some milk to soothe his stomach. (End of Chapter)