Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 161 Dreams and Reality

……

"Brother Rong?"

"Brother Rong!"

Jia Rong was shaken awake from his drowsiness.

Open your eyes.

When he saw the stunningly beautiful Lin Daiyu right in front of him, he could not distinguish between dream and reality for a moment.

"Aunt Lin?"

"Why are you in my dream, um..."

"Where am I?"

Lin Daiyu nodded and said with a smile, "You slept like this in just one cup of tea. What good things did you dream about that made you reluctant to wake up?"

Xue Baoqin blinked her eyes: "I think so. Did you dream of passing the imperial examination?"

"Do not."

Jia Rong sat up from his chair, hiding his embarrassment, and smiled, "I dreamed of the wedding night."

"Pooh!"

The two aunts blushed and spat.

I don’t know what each of them is thinking.

"Auntie, I'm going back first."

Jia Rong left the room in a hurry after saying a few words.

After experiencing a fantasy world on Aunt Lin's recliner, although Jia Rong did not encounter any unbearable things, he was tempted to feel hot and uncomfortable all over, and it was not suitable for him to continue hanging out with the young aunts.

Go back and study!

Use the writings of sages to cleanse your soul.

Xiao Xiao was dozing off in the corridor of the study. When she heard the voice, she opened one eye and saw that it was indeed Jia Rong who came back. She continued to squint her eyes, tilted her head and closed her eyes to rest.

Jia Rong casually picked up a book from the bookshelf next to him.

"Mencius said: Jie and Zhou lost the world because they lost their people. They lost their people because they lost their hearts. There is a way to win the world: win the people, and then you will win the world. There is a way to win the people: win their hearts, and then you will win the people. There is a way to win their hearts: gather those you want, and don't give away those you hate, that's it..."

This is an article about gaining the world.

It is intended to warn the monarch that whoever wins the hearts of the people will win the world, and whoever loses the hearts of the people will lose the world.

Only the first and second generations who could sit on the throne knew what the people's will was, and even the third generation barely knew it. How could the later monarchs know what the true people's will was? All they saw were a few words and sentences in the books of sages.

All dynasties are bound to gradually decline from prosperity.

The general trend of the world will inevitably divide if it stays together for a long time.

Jia Rong was deeply moved and picked up his pen and dipped it in ink.

Only by taking the people's hearts as the basis can we be invincible.

The article was written until the evening and had more than 2,000 words. It was a policy paper written by Jia Rong based on what he had learned and experienced in his previous life.

The young cabinet minister has a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, and what he wrote will be useful in the future.

Jia Rong didn't stop writing until Xue Ke came to find him.

"Brother Rong."

Xue Ke clasped his fists and saluted.

Jia Rong pointed to the chair next to him and said with a smile, "Brother Xue, there is no need to be polite. Please sit down."

Xue Ke sat down as he was told.

The little girl came in and poured tea.

"I heard that you are leaving today?" Jia Rong asked, picking up the tea bowl and taking a sip.

Xue Ke smiled and said, "Business is bigger this year. Father can't handle it alone, so I have to go back to help. Besides, we have to go out to sea in a few days, so I have to keep an eye on the goods. I'll leave Baoqin to you, big brother."

In fact, Xue Ke came to Lin's house today for no other reason. His main purpose was to send Baoqin over.

Jia Rong smiled and nodded.

"Don't worry about Baoqin."

"I have already made arrangements for the Lianghuai coastal defense for you. The East China Sea is unobstructed."

After hearing what Jia Rong said, Xue Ke said confidently: "With big brother's help, I will be able to open Xue's business all over Southeast Asia in less than two years. It's easy to make money from the Western devils and the Southeast Asian devils. It's no problem to make several million or even tens of millions a year." Jia Rong was in a very good mood after hearing this!

It turns out that making money is faster through overseas trade.

"I trust Brother Xue's abilities, but although making money is important, your own safety is the most important thing. Don't put yourself in danger for the sake of profit. If you do that, I will have a hard time explaining to your sister."

Xue Ke said, "Don't worry, Brother Rong, I will pay attention." As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something and continued, "Mr. Jiao is really powerful. He has made a great name for himself in the East China Sea recently. Even the Sea King has to give him some face."

Jiao Da did mention it to Jia Rong once.

His current strength is still a far cry from Aquaman's.

However, the King of the Sea knew his identity and did not dare to offend him easily, so Jiao Da and his men thrived in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and their number of followers increased.

Even made a lot of gold and silver.

The only thing missing was ships, especially warships.

Jia Rong planned to wait for some time for Xue Ke to go to Southeast Asia to sell some goods, and then use his own small treasury to buy a few warships from Westerners.

Although Daxia’s ships are good, the risks are too great.

Do not touch for the time being.

The two chatted about overseas affairs for a while, and Jia Rong changed the subject: "Brother Xue, what do you think of the current salt industry?"

Xue Ke thought for a moment and said, "This move by the Lord is beneficial to the country and the people. I admire it very much."

Jia Rong asked, "What about business?"

Xue Ke said: "It's hard to say."

"A while ago, all the wealthy merchants who hoarded large amounts of salt collapsed, and some even went bankrupt due to heavy debts. Most of the remaining salt merchants are not optimistic about the current salt ticket system, and feel that the huge profits are no longer there, so they have changed their careers."

Jia Rong nodded and said, "With the emergence of salt tickets, selling salt is indeed not as profitable, but salt is an indispensable necessity for everyone. With small profits and quick turnover, the profit is still huge."

Profit comes second.

If a caravan could be formed to travel around the country selling salt, it would be equivalent to having control over the general situation of the common people across the country, and even the general situation of the officials and gentry.

After all, officials and gentry also need to eat salt.

"Brother means..."

"Salt dealer?"

Xue Ke looked at Jia Rong in confusion.

He didn't understand why his elder brother was obsessed with selling salt.

Compared with overseas business, the profits from salt trading are almost negligible now, unless the salt tax can be changed back to the previous policy.

"good."

Jia Rong said, "I want to sell salt."

Xue Ke: “…”

Having to go out to sea and sell salt, Xue Ke felt that Jia Rong wanted to split him in two and use him as two people.

As if he could see Xue Ke's thoughts, Jia Rong said with a smile: "Just focus on the sea affairs, and don't get involved in the salt affairs. I will naturally arrange it for you."

Xue Ke said ashamedly: "Thank you for your understanding, brother."

Jia Rong said, "Don't thank me yet. I have something to tell you."

Xue Ke: "What's the matter? Just tell me, big brother."

Jia Rong: "I don't need you to sell salt, but I may need your family's sales network."

The sales relationship network is the foundation accumulated over generations of business and is generally not given away easily.

The situation of the second branch of the Xue family is naturally an exception.

When I returned home this year, my family discussed together and decided to take the opportunity to enter the maritime trade and gradually develop the land-based industries.

At this time, the sales relationship network is a bit tasteless and a pity to throw away.

What's more, since Jia Rong wanted it, Xue Ke gave it to him with both hands.

"Brother Rong, please wait a few days. There is an old butler in our house named Uncle Fu. He used to be my father's personal bodyguard. Later, he was injured and stayed in the house to live out his days. He knows almost all the sales network in our family."

"I'll let Uncle Fu come to meet Big Brother when I get home."

……

(End of this chapter)