My aunt is Queen Ma

Chapter 50: A Threesome Must Have an Idea King (asking for monthly tickets)

Look at the workers who are constantly carrying decoration materials in, and then look at the group of second-generation people who are pointing and giving suggestions.

Ma Yu looked confused.

Who am I, where am I, and whose shop is this?

Just as he was thinking about his life, Chang Sheng was the first to notice his arrival and came forward to say:
"Brother Ma, when did you come back?"

Others also came over to pay their respects, and no matter their age, they had to respectfully call him "Brother Ma".

Big Brother Ma, Second Brother Zhu, and Third Brother Chang are respectful titles for the three founders of the small group.

At the beginning, some people were indeed not convinced. Why do you, Ma Yu, sit in the first chair?
Even if you are the queen's nephew...well, there is still the second prince, right?

The prince must sit in the first chair.

Ma Yu didn't say anything, and Zhu Chong and Chang Sheng dealt with these people.

In particular, every time Zhu Biao appeared, he was very kind to Ma Yu and always called him cousin.

And from time to time, the two of them would have long, secret conversations behind closed doors.

Although I don’t know what they talked about specifically, it shows that the prince recognized this cousin.

Especially after returning home, his parents repeatedly told him not to offend Ma Yu.

So no one dared to say anything anymore.

Ma Yu successfully secured the top spot.

Closer to home.

After greeting everyone, Ma Yu pointed at the busy workers and asked:
"This is?"

Chang Sheng said excitedly: "Brother Ma is like this..."

Small organizations need a fixed venue for activities.

It wouldn't be a good idea to put it in anyone's home, not even Ma Yu's.

After all, it is inconvenient for family members to go in and out, and members of the small organization will also feel uncomfortable.

So the shop given by Queen Ma was temporarily used.

With so many people gathered together, we can't just sit there and do nothing.

They need to have something to eat or drink, and a group of second-generation people are unwilling to compromise themselves.

At first I bought it somewhere else and brought it back.

But over time, some people felt that this was not cost-effective.

He also carefully calculated the cost for everyone and found that the money spent was enough to hire two chefs to cook the food themselves.

It would be better if everyone pooled their money to hire two chefs and let them cook whatever you want to eat.

This proposal was naturally passed unanimously, and they actually raised funds to hire two chefs.

They don’t make any other complicated meals, but only various snacks and pastries.

Of course, I am also responsible for cooking for everyone when it is mealtime.

A few days later, someone suggested that it would be boring to just sit there every day, so why not find a theatre troupe or storyteller to come and perform.

Everyone immediately thought this was a good idea.

After a final discussion, we decided to forgo the opera troupe because it was too expensive, but we would be fine with storytelling and singing songs.

So from time to time I would go to the street to find people to perform.

Then the accident happened.

The shop given by Empress Ma is located in the busy area of ​​Dagongfang, with a very large flow of people.

Some people thought it was a tea shop because they saw storytelling, singing and a group of young men drinking tea and eating cakes.

The shop looked clean and simple, so I wanted to come over and take a rest.

This man takes it as his responsibility to uphold justice, and he is very well-known in Shuntian Prefecture.

If my friends from the underworld are willing to come in, it’s because they are giving me face. They can come in, sit and eat as much as they want.

Give money? That means you look down on men.

Most people left on their own initiative when they learned that this was not a snack shop.

There were also a few people who came in to sit and watch the fun.

And the strange thing is that the less you want to do business, the more people want to come in and rest.

Although no one says it, they actually don't like it in their hearts.

Not only is it troublesome to explain back and forth, but the tea, drinks and pastries all cost money.

It’s okay once or twice, but with more people coming in, our brothers’ wallets can’t handle it anymore.

Just then, someone else made another suggestion.

Or we can just open a snack shop. If people are willing to come in and support us, we can make some money. If not, then forget it.

Everyone hesitated.

After all, they have never done business before, and this shop is not their own. It is hard to say whether Ma Yutong agrees or not.

After Zhu Chong learned about it, he made the decision and did it.

What? Do you want to ask Boss Ma for his opinion?
Am I, Zhu Laoer, sitting in the second-in-command position for nothing?
After hearing what he said, everyone put aside their worries and got to work.

So a group of second-generation people pooled their money and started the renovation work.

When Ma Yu learned what had happened, he was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

It is said that when three people get together, one of them will come up with the best ideas. This is really true.

With so many young boys gathered together, there are even more idea kings.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Chang Sheng said nervously, "Brother Ma, you won't disagree, right?"

The others were also a little nervous. After all, the shop was his and he had the final say.

Ma Yu laughed and said, "How is that possible? It's good for brothers to have ideas, just do it. Why bother with so much?"

Everyone was relieved immediately and laughed:
"Haha...Brother Ma is really straightforward."

"Just do it. That's really encouraging."

"Or else Brother Ma could take the top spot."

Ignoring everyone's flattery, Ma Yu asked again, "Where is the second brother? Why is he nowhere to be seen?"

Chang Sheng said, "He's settling accounts with Old Wu on the third floor."

Old Wu is Wu Gao, who is nineteen years old and the oldest member of the small organization.

His father Wu Liang and uncle Wu Zhen were both generals under Zhu Yuanzhang, and both were granted the title of marquis in the third year of Hongwu.

Wu Liang stayed in Jiangyin for ten years, resisting the attacks of Zhang Shicheng.

Zhang Shicheng was the most business-savvy among the heroes at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Wu Liang often dealt with him and had some understanding of this aspect.

Influenced by his father, Wu Gao had some understanding of business and also studied mathematics.

Well, it should be said that most famous generals understand mathematics.

Many people believe that generals must be strategists and devise strategies every day.

Actually it is not.

The most common thing a general does is to count on his fingers how much food he has and how many days it will be enough for the soldiers to eat.

Then it's about how many miles to march every day, where to set up camp, etc.

Although there will be military officers and staff to assist in the calculations, the generals themselves must also understand these things.

The "know yourself" in knowing yourself and knowing your enemy includes this data and information.

Therefore, ordinary generals may not understand mathematics, but generals who can stand on their own feet must learn this.

Even if you don't understand it at first, you have to make up for it after becoming a senior general.

Wu Liang naturally also understood mathematics, and Wu Gao had been exposed to mathematics since he was a child.

In the small organization, he should be the one who knows business best.

Moreover, it was his suggestion to open a tea shop.

After learning where Zhu Chong was, Ma Yu greeted everyone and went all the way to the third floor.

Zhu Chong and Wu Gao were calculating something around a pile of papers.

Seeing Ma Yu come in, Wu Gao quickly stood up and saluted: "Brother Ma."

Zhu Chong simply looked up and said, "Are you back?"

Ma Yu and Wu Gao greeted each other, came to sit next to Zhu Chong, and asked:

"Calculating what?"

Zhu Chong said, "Calculate how much the renovation will cost... Did the third brother tell you everything?" Ma Yu nodded and said, "I told you, Old Wu's idea is a good one. Go with the flow and you're guaranteed to make a profit."

Because this place is originally used for brothers to carry out activities, doing business is just a by-product, and every piece sold is profit.

Wu Gao said modestly, "I'm just taking advantage of my brothers' efforts."

Ma Yu laughed and said, "Old Wu is just too modest."

After praising each other for a few more times, Ma Yu turned and said, "However, I have a small question about this matter."

Zhu Chong put down his pen and asked, "It's just a tea shop, just for fun. What questions do you have?"

Ma Yu smiled and said, "Who owns this shop? What if it loses money? How will the profits be divided? Have you considered this?"

Without waiting for the two to speak, he continued:

"As the saying goes, even brothers should keep their accounts straight. If you want to maintain a long-lasting relationship, you must be clear about money matters, especially."

"Brother, if you have money, give me a bag. That's a favor."

"But business is different. Every penny must be accounted for."

Zhu Chong frowned slightly and stopped talking.

He naturally understood this principle, but he had not thought about it so much before, so he had never considered this issue at all.

Ma Yu noticed Wu Gao's calm expression and knew that he had considered this question long ago, so he asked:

"Old Wu, you were the one who suggested this. Do you have any thoughts?"

Wu Gao hesitated: "This..."

Zhu Chong urged, "We are all brothers, so there is no need to worry. Just speak up if you have any ideas."

Wu Gao then spoke up and said, "Then I will say a few words."

"We are all doing business together this time, so we can calculate the share based on how much money we contribute."

"The most important asset is this shop. I think it can be worth 50% of the price."

"The Second Prince is of noble status and can take up 20% of the credit."

"The remaining 30% will be divided among the brothers according to how much they contributed. What do you two brothers think?"

Zhu Chong objected, "What's the difference between status and no status? We are brothers doing business together. Who cares about status? We will just divide the profits according to how much money we contribute."

Wu Gao looked hesitant and looked at Ma Yu.

Ma Yu already had an idea in mind, so he said:

"Let me share my opinion."

"One-third goes to the Crown Prince, the second brother and I take 20%, and the remaining 50% is divided equally among the brothers."

"I know some people pay less and some pay more."

"Those who paid more will have part of it refunded, and those who paid less will have to make up for it."

"If we lose money, everyone will pool their money to fill the hole."

"If we make money... everyone has enough money at home, so we don't care about this little bit of money."

"How about I make my own money and use it to help the poor?"

Zhu Chong's eyes lit up, and he said happily, "This is a good idea. This way, no matter how much or how little we earn, no one will have any objections."

Wu Gao hesitated and said, "This is so unfair to you."

After all, the others just came out with their pocket money to join in the fun, but Ma Yu actually left the store.

Ma Yu laughed and said, "What's unfair about this? I can't sit in the top position for nothing."

Wu Gao said with admiration, "Brother Ma is very righteous."

Afterwards, the three of them settled the accounts together and called all the members of the organization to the third floor for a meeting.

Wu Gao came forward and told everyone the decision just made.

Naturally, everyone had no objection to Ma Yu's decision.

We are all second-generation, and no one needs this little money.

Using it to help those in need can not only reduce unnecessary internal conflicts, but also earn you a good reputation. Why not do it?

Especially, this suggestion was made by Ma Yu, the person who suffered the most.

Others will have no objections.

With a just goal in mind, everyone became more motivated, and many people personally helped the workers with their work.

Ma Yu did not intervene again.

He also didn't take the tea shop seriously. In the current economic environment, it was difficult to break even, let alone make a profit.

The reason why we divide the members so seriously is just to reduce unnecessary trouble.

Get the most important things done, and let everyone else handle the rest.

Soon after, word spread that the second generation had opened a snack shop together.

The parents of each family were naturally very happy.

In particular, he strongly supported Ma Yu's proposal to donate all the money earned to charity.

It can even be said that if the money is not used for charity, they would not dare to let their children participate.

But some people also had objections, and they were the censors.

They wrote letters of impeachment one after another, claiming that the children of officials and nobles were damaging the dignity of the court by engaging in business, and demanded severe punishment.

Zhu Yuanzhang also followed suit and asked each family to discipline their children well and not to act recklessly.

Then there is no more.

After the elders from each family returned home, they said a few symbolic words and the matter was over.

Everyone should just do what they should do.

The censors impeached him several times, but then they found that the tea shop business was very slow and they themselves found it boring, so they were too lazy to make a fuss about it.

Of course, at this moment they had no time to care about the mischief of these second-generations.

Because Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly changed his usual behavior and severely criticized the officials who demanded the restoration of the well-field system in the court.

And it wasn't just verbal criticism, they also asked these people to go home and carefully investigate when and why the well-field system began to collapse.

He then used this incident to criticize Confucian scholars: "You always mention the Three Dynasties. Who can tell us what the Three Dynasties were like?"

Some civil officials stood up to refute this, saying that the three generations of sage kings ruled the country with ease, educated the people with benevolence and virtue, and brought peace to the world.

Zhu Yuanzhang followed up on his words and said, "Well, we heard that during the Three Dynasties, the world belonged to the public."

"Each of you write a memorial to me, explaining in detail what it means to serve the public good."

When the officials heard the words "the world belongs to the public", their faces changed.

Many people who claimed to want to restore the rule of the Three Dynasties also became panicked.

This is like roasting them on the fire.

We just want you to rule the country without any effort. How can you say that the world belongs to all? Isn't this asking for our lives?

But Zhu Yuanzhang had already said it, so he naturally would not give them a chance to regret it.

Then he assigned a task to everyone.

Go back and write a memorial about the population and land policies during the Han, Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties.

The officials did not think much about it, thinking that the emperor had not yet made up his mind and was looking for everyone's opinions.

However, through Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude just now, everyone also got some useful information.

That is, the emperor attached more importance to the experiences of the Han, Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties, and was not interested in the governance of the Three Dynasties at all.

This is understandable. Zhu Yuanzhang has always been inclined towards Legalism, so it is normal that he does not like the rule of the Three Dynasties.

The prosperity of the Han and Tang dynasties is obvious to all, so it is normal to want to learn from them.

The Song and Yuan dynasties were closest to the Ming Dynasty, and their experience is also worth learning from.

In short, in everyone's opinion, Zhu Yuanzhang's performance today was very normal.

Nothing surprising.

In comparison, it was Zhu Yuanzhang's next decision that attracted more attention.

"I plan to go to Dadu in person in the next few days. The Crown Prince will still be the regent, and you, the ministers, should assist him well."

The emperor's travel was a big event, but as the founding monarch, Zhu Yuanzhang and his ministers did not object.

I was just thinking about what I should do when the emperor was not around.
-
Ma Yu, who was studying at home, became restless when he heard the news that Zhu Yuanzhang was going to Dadu.

I was still thinking about how to save Chang Yuchun, and now the opportunity has come.

So he immediately put down the book and took Zhu Chong to the palace to find Zhu Yuanzhang.

(End of this chapter)