It wasn't an apple that hit Newton.

"Forehead......"

It was clearly unacceptable for Li Cheng to sleep with Louise, so Newton thought for a moment and decided, "Let her sleep in Freya's room, and Freya will sleep with me."

Li Cheng was speechless: "Do you think this is appropriate?"

Newton raised his chin and said, "There's nothing inappropriate about it. I often sleep with Freya."

Li Cheng went berserk.

Is this the same thing I'm talking about? Is it the same thing? So you actually think that sleeping in a big bed with Freya is something you're being wronged about?

Just then, Li Cheng felt his clothes being tugged. He looked down and saw it was Louise.

Li Cheng thought Louise was finally unhappy, so he reached out and patted her head, saying, "Sorry, I made you laugh."

Louise let go and asked doubtfully, "No, brother, I'm not upset. I just have a question I'd like to ask."

"What's the problem?" Li Cheng asked patiently.

"Doesn't my brother usually sleep with my sister?" Louise asked innocently.

These words struck Li Cheng and Newton like a bolt from the blue, leaving them both stunned and speechless.

The courtyard suddenly fell silent.

Li Cheng, who was the first to react, twitched at the corner of his mouth and said, "Why would you think that?"

Shameless, shameless! So young and yet so shameless... Newton's face flushed red instantly, like a ripe apple, from the top of his head to the roots of his neck.

"Isn't that right?"

Louise said with some surprise, "But I've heard that husbands and wives sleep in the same bed."

Li Cheng coughed repeatedly, choked by the choking sound: "We're not married, we're not husband and wife."

Louise pressed on, "When will brother marry sister?"

"Who would want to marry him!"

Newton couldn't take it anymore; she felt that if she let these two talk any longer, she would evaporate from this world.

She jumped up from her chair and yelled at the two people in front of her, "Who cares about you! You can sleep wherever you want, I'm sleeping in Freya's room tonight!"

After saying that, she rushed out the door in one breath, her head steaming with heat.

"Oh, Miss, where are you going?"

Freya happened to return from outside and was startled by what she saw.

Then she looked into the courtyard and saw that Li Cheng had returned from outside. She was no longer so surprised, but instead felt a sense of familiarity.

But then Freya noticed Louise next to Li Cheng.

Louise was still confused about what she had said wrong. She stood there with her head down, her fingers intertwined, looking somewhat lost.

Li Cheng continued to comfort her, saying, "You didn't do anything wrong, you just asked the question in the wrong way..."

Who is this?

Freya asked, puzzled.

Li Cheng looked up and introduced succinctly, "Louise, stay for a few days, take good care of her."

Freya nodded and said, "I understand, it's Miss Louise, right?"

"Hello, sister." Louise responded obediently as always.

Freya did not press the matter further.

She stepped forward, took a newly received letter from the basket she was carrying, and handed it to Li Cheng: "This is a letter someone sent to you."

Chapter Sixty-Five: Roy's Analysis

The letter arrived; it was rather heavy, and there must be more than one sheet of paper inside.

Li Cheng judged that it should be a letter from Roy.

He had initially tasked Roy with hiring a reliable blacksmith and collecting information on the textile industry, with a deadline of one month. Roy completed the task in just half a month, proving himself to be very young and capable.

Having identified the sender, Li Cheng did not rush to open the letter, but instead put it into his pocket.

Then he led Louise on a random stroll around the room—there wasn’t much to see, really; it was Newton’s collection of experimental instruments that really came in handy, with the prism and magnifying glass successfully piquing Louise’s interest.

In addition, Li Cheng also brought out many small toys that he had obtained by trying to improve Newton's favorability, including a custom-made set of Gomoku.

This simple and fun game quickly became popular with Louise, and with Li Cheng deliberately letting her win, the two continued playing game after game.

Later, both of them got a little tired of Gomoku, so Li Cheng transformed himself and brought out a set of Animal Chess... well, the same set he originally used to please Newton. He really made the best use of it...

Time passed quickly.

The two-player chess games continued until evening, followed by Animal Chess (a modified version with pieces consisting of mercenaries, knights, kings, etc.), and then Chinese Chess, with no two games being repeated.

At dinner time, Newton went home as if nothing had happened.

Louise wanted to apologize for her behavior, but Li Cheng stopped her. He whispered to Louise not to mention it again and took the opportunity to teach her how to flatter.

......

night.

After taking a shower and changing into some fresh clothes, Li Cheng sat at his desk and opened the letter he had received—as expected, it was from Roy.

The letter is mainly divided into two parts. The first part is about the reliable and skilled blacksmith that has been hired, and the second part is a collection of industry reports on the British textile industry, which also includes personal insights.

Of all the textile industries, I am most optimistic about the cotton textile industry, not only because it is an emerging industry and lacks monopolistic giants, but also because cotton fabrics are lightweight, have good warmth retention, and are inexpensive...

The numerous advantages of cotton textiles have made them widely popular across all levels of society. After all, not everyone can afford expensive fur coats and fur clothing, not even the nobility.

However, a major problem for our cotton textile industry is that cotton fabrics from India, Persia, and the Great Yan region are too cheap, making it impossible for our local cotton textile industry to compete.

To solve this problem, I believe there is no other way than urging parliament to pass legislation banning the import of cotton fabric from abroad.

However, this will create significant social obstacles, as it will not only increase the price of domestic cotton textiles, causing widespread discontent among the lower and middle classes and undermining the government, but will also harm the interests of some who previously engaged in the import of cotton textiles...

【...】

After reading Roy's analysis, Li Cheng secretly praised his talent.

All the questions he raised were spot-on; they were all problems that Li Cheng had encountered in his previous life and were actually recorded in history.

The solution Britain had at the time was also to enact legislation... however, it was already 1700, the bourgeoisie had already launched the Glorious Revolution, and those who opposed the legislation were weak.

As for flying shuttles and spinning jenny, those came after successful legislation and the flourishing of the British cotton textile industry.

This is a normal law of social development, but Li Cheng cannot wait for it, so he has to do the opposite.

If he could simply manufacture the flying shuttle and the spinning jenny ahead of time, the increase in social productivity would lead to a decrease in unit prices, improve the competitiveness of British cotton textiles, and allow the industry to flourish naturally, without any need for legislative protection.

The prosperity of the cotton textile industry and the use of machinery will further promote the development of the bourgeoisie, and then circle back to carry out the Glorious Revolution—in any case, a revolution is inevitable. This is the real tide of the times, and anyone or any country that tries to stop it will be completely crushed into dust.

"Of course, I need to find a reliable partner beforehand, otherwise we might attract unwanted attention..."

Li Cheng checked his thoughts again and then continued reading.

[An investigation revealed that the largest textile tycoon was Earl Anderson, who monopolized nearly 30% of the country's wool textile industry and was a figure that various powers were eager to win over...]

???

Earl Anderson?

Li Cheng felt as if he had been hit in the head with a hammer, leaving him stunned.

He read the letter over and over again in disbelief, making sure he wasn't mistaken; it was indeed Earl Anderson, not Anderson or Anderson Monk.

Louise Anderson → The Anderson Family → Earl Anderson

After sorting out the relationship between the three, Li Cheng decisively threw the letter onto the floor beside him, losing all interest in reading it anymore.

...What the hell are you talking about collaborating with?! I've already kidnapped Earl Anderson's own daughter, Louise! He'd probably be itching to hang me right now!

That's why I was so kind back then, actually giving Roy a month. I should have only given him a week!

It's too late now, the die is cast. Louise is happily playing kidnapper, while Earl Anderson's rage will likely be deflected by Veronica, who will then remember me, the red-haired man who dared to offend him...

The more Li Cheng thought about this, the more frustrated he became.

Li Cheng had considered collaborating with the Chamber of Commerce president a long time ago, but after learning from Mr. Stoller that the president lacked control over the Chamber, he gave up the idea.

Now, no sooner had Li Cheng kidnapped Louise than Roy sent a letter informing him that Louise's father was a British textile tycoon...

Knock knock knock—

Just then, there was a knock on the door, interrupting Li Cheng's thoughts.

He said, "Please come in."

As the wooden door creaked open, Louise appeared in the doorway.

She was wearing a silver slip dress (provided by someone with resentment), which hugged her petite figure.

However, the nightgown didn't fit quite right; Louise felt a bit stuffy in her chest, but the skirt hung too low. To avoid wrinkles, she had to carefully lift it up, which resulted in her thighs being faintly visible when she moved...

"It's so late, is there something you need?"

Li Cheng asked in a very normal tone.

Although he felt a bit complicated about Louise at this moment, it had nothing to do with Louise; rather, she was the victim.

Louise stammered, "Well, brother, Louise has a little... a little trouble sleeping."

After she finished speaking, she lowered her head as if embarrassed, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

Louise is still young, and it's possible that she might be in a completely unfamiliar environment... Li Cheng thought for a moment and said, "How about this, you go back to bed and lie down, I'll tell you a few stories, and I'll leave after you fall asleep, okay?"

"Of course, it's a normal fairy tale, not the kind of fairy tale about Newton that he told me..." he added in his mind.

Chapter Sixty-Six: Give Him a Kick

Shortly after Li Cheng left the room, a golden figure arrived at the door of his bedroom.

Needless to say, it was Newton.

During the day, Li Cheng said he would tell Newton and Louise the detailed reason for coming, but the two of them forgot about it until Miss Newton remembered it just before going to bed, so she came over in her slippers.

Knock knock knock—

Newton had recently learned to knock on doors, but this time she waited for a long time without hearing Li Cheng say "Come in."