It doesn't matter what the lord is.

"Spending money... Aren't there many places to spend money? Going to brothels, buying antiques, walking birds and fighting crickets. I see they are having a lot of fun."

Griffa sighed and said:

"First, these cannot bring them any benefits; second, they have too much money, and these expenses, which are expensive for ordinary people, are actually nothing in their eyes."

Filin asked:

"So what is the new option you mentioned?"

Griffa paused, spread out the papers on the table, his eyes sparkling in the candlelight:

"It is better to open up than to block. Master Feilin, have you heard of the term 'dry shares'? In the business community, if a family is short of money for business, they will pull in several other companies to form a joint venture. According to the proportion of funds invested by each company, they will calculate the shares of each company in the business, and then divide the shares according to the dry shares. For example, today I want to do a tea business and want to get you to join. I put in seven gold coins and you put in three gold coins. Then according to the rules, I will take 70% of the dry shares and you will take 30%. In the future, if the tea business makes money, I will take 70% of the revenue and you will take 30% of the revenue."

Philin nodded:

"I also know this. In the officialdom, many officials do not pay money, but they have shares in various businesses to provide them with protection. So what? Don't keep me in suspense, just say what you want to say."

Griffa tapped the tabletop lightly with his fingers and said:

"I heard that the Prime Minister wanted to expand the industry of Yuxi City to the whole of Yunyang, but he was unable to complete the expansion due to insufficient funds. It would be better to split an industry into thousands or tens of thousands of shares, each of which is sold publicly at a fixed price, and allow shareholders to trade freely... When the industry prospers, shareholders will not only share in the profits, but the stock price itself will also increase. In this way, the Yunyang nobles will have another means of investment, and the Prime Minister will be able to quickly raise funds."

Feilin frowned. He was a straightforward person and couldn't get around the question for a while. He asked:

"Isn't this like giving money to them? We could have made a steady profit from that money, but now we have to share it with them..."

Griffa smiled and replied:

"It's just a win-win situation. In the future, all eligible businesses, even those initiated by the public, can sell their shares through us. The nobles have to invest and take risks. Once the business loses money, their money will be wasted. In this process, we only play the role of middlemen, just like the banker at the gambling table. It doesn't matter who wins or loses. What matters is that money must keep flowing so that the entire territory can remain vibrant. If everyone is like the Qinglong Inn, buying land when they make money, then a hundred years later, Yunyang will still be in chaos."

9. In the good old days

Filin and Griffa chatted for a whole night until the chickens at the door of the inn crowed several times. Griffa told Filin a complete set of ideas that he had sorted out in his spare time over the years. It was not just a direction, but a detailed plan.

Although Feilin didn't know much about economics, he had laid a foundation in the Yuxi Academy, and later he had experience in managing Huanghua Village, so he could ask many key questions. Griffa could answer some questions quickly, but shook his head to indicate that he didn't understand others: after all, he was just an apprentice from a poor family, and it was inevitable that he would have some inconsiderate thoughts in such a grand plan.

But it doesn't matter. From Griffa's words and deeds, we can see that he is an organized person. As long as he is given some opportunities, he can grow to a very high level. Filin stood up, patted Griffa on the shoulder, and said:

"Very well. Is there anyone else in your family?"

Griffa shook his head and replied:

"If one person is well fed, the whole family will not be hungry."

Feilin drank the last cup of tea on the table, and felt a bitter taste in his stomach. He then remembered that he had been drinking tea all night. The poor quality tea finally began to show its disadvantages in the morning when his stomach was active. Feilin took out the cloth bag from his arms, counted the money in it, looked up and calculated, and confirmed that he had enough money to buy two more buns, so he said to Griffa:

"Come on, I'll treat you to breakfast."

Griffa was flattered. Filin's expression was calm. When he scolded those noble children before, he was so imposing, but now he was as clear and pure as a lake of autumn water. Filin took Griffa downstairs and reminded him on the way:

"I have noted down everything you said. You are a very thoughtful person. I will contact the local officials here and ask them to arrange someone to send you to Lingyun City in person. After arriving in Lingyun City, you only need to go to the lord's mansion to ask to see the Prime Minister and tell him your ideas."

Feilin paused and continued:

"I sent you to Lingyun City because your talent should not be wasted and because you can make the people of Yunyang live a better life. But if in the future, you become corrupted by money and become like those beastly nobles, I will report to the lord without hesitation and ask him to behead you in public!"

Griffa stopped, bowed deeply to Filin, and said:

"Griffa will never forget your kindness in raising me. Please rest assured, I was born in a poor family and I know the sufferings of the common people. Although I don't have your integrity, I won't let myself become a person that even I can't stand. Moreover, the current Yunyang system is becoming more and more perfect, and officials and businessmen are gradually separated. Since I have chosen to be an official, I will not have any unreasonable thoughts."

Filin stopped and looked at Pea who was dozing off with a broom in his hand.

Apparently, Pea hadn't slept all night, and had been waiting carefully for Griffa to come downstairs. When it was almost dawn, he couldn't stand it any longer. Filin let out a breath, turned around, and made a rare joke:

"You should have some thoughts. You can't let the girl wait for you foolishly forever, right? I'm very picky about people. I don't like people who seduce and then abandon them."

Griffa said awkwardly:

"But the betrothal money..."

Filin shook his head and said to Griffa:

"You will understand it later. Officialdom is simple, but if you put it aside like me and just think about your own justice, then everything will be easy. But if you get stuck in it and want to sort out all the ins and outs, then being an official will be the most difficult thing in the world."

Griffa nodded as if he understood something. The two of them went downstairs. The shopkeeper had already gotten up and came out yawning. When he saw Filin, he immediately changed his expression and said:

"My Lord, I just asked the kitchen to prepare some food..."

Feilin waved his hand and said:

"No need to be polite. Today I'm here to ask for someone. Griffa will be going to Lingyun City to be an official soon. I'd like you to prepare his identity documents and various contracts in advance."

The shopkeeper felt as if a thunderbolt had struck his head, his entire head was buzzing, and he said in a lost voice:

"Him? Are you sure, sir?"

Feilin said coldly:

"What do you mean, are you blaming me?"

The shopkeeper suddenly woke up from his dream, shook his head like a madman, and fell to his knees on the ground, not daring to say another word.

Pea, who had just woken up, held the broom in her hand and looked at the scene in horror. She also dared not say a word. She was in a low mood. All she could think about was that Griffa was going to be a high official, and she could no longer call him a fool. She also thought that he was going to Lingyun City, which was so far away, and she might not have the chance to see him again. Thinking about it, Pea felt a little sad.

Griffa hesitated for a moment, walked up to her and asked:

"Bean, do you want to go to Lingyun City?"

Pea looked up and asked stupidly:

"what?"

Griffa rubbed her head and said:

"Who told you to come and chat with me every now and then? I've gotten used to it without realizing it. I'll go to Lingyun City alone in the future. It's so big, and I won't even know anyone. And no one will talk to a fool like me. How lonely it will be. Besides, if I miss you in the future and can't see you, I won't have the energy to work, and I might be dismissed one day."

The pea stood there at a loss, and whispered:

"But I...have a bad reputation...and it will affect you."

Philin, who was standing next to him, coughed twice at the right time and said:

"When working for the Lord and the Prime Minister, the most important thing is ability! The second is character! No one cares about your background, and no one cares about those ridiculous rumors."

Griffa gently took her hand and said:

"Even if there is an impact, it doesn't matter. I..."

He wanted to say a few more affectionate words, but Filin shouted again behind him:

"I've already said it, it won't have any impact!!"

Griffa had no choice but to change his words:

"Yes, yes, it has no impact, don't worry."

He held Pea's hand, exhaled, and said:

"To be honest, Douzi. I have been thinking about things all these years. Many times I feel that my fantastic ideas are no different from dreams, but I still keep thinking about them, just to prevent myself from getting used to this kind of life. This time, I am appreciated by Lord Feilin. Maybe I can go to Lingyun City to seek an official position. I want to take you with me. I have thought about it many times. If I suddenly become rich one day, the only thing I want is probably to be with you."

Pea carefully withdrew his hand, hid it behind his back, blushed and stammered:

"Everyone... is watching. I'll go with you... just go with you."

10. New members, new journey

Filin saw Griffa off and set off to the next city to test talents. After the Griffa incident, he seemed to have a lot more confidence and was ready to roll up his sleeves and do a great job.

Griffa soon understood what Filin meant by "the bride price is no longer needed". On the night when Filin introduced him to the local officials, eighteen sedan chairs came to the door of his shabby house, and more than twenty wealthy families were willing to marry their daughters to him. After hearing that Griffa was willing to take Wandouzi to Lingyun City, Wandouzi's mother was even more ecstatic and said that there was no need for bride price, and they were one family and would not talk about it.

Griffa was shocked by these changes at first, but soon calmed down.

He knew very well that Yunyang's current system of straight up and straight down was easy to climb up and easy to fall down. For a person like him who had no foundation, what he should do most now was to push things forward with passion like Feilin and make tangible achievements. If he started to enjoy it now, then these treatments would soon disappear.

So Griffa traveled to Lingyun City overnight and knocked on the door of the lord's mansion.

The person who opened the door was a very beautiful person. After seeing his letter, she smiled and said:

"Oh, you are Griffa, right? Please come in. I heard your idea from Filin, and it is very close to something the Lord mentioned before. Come, let's go to the meeting room and discuss it in detail."

Griffa cupped his hands and asked carefully:

"You are--"

The man smiled and replied:

"He Yue."

Griffa's hands trembled for a moment, but he calmed down and followed He Yue into the lord's mansion. When passing by the yard, a blonde girl was practicing swordplay, and the sound of iron forging could be heard from the house next to her. When they were about to reach the meeting room, a young man with messy hair passed by and asked while yawning:

"Are there new people here?"

He Yue pushed Griffa to the front and said:

"The accountant at the Qinglong Inn has come up with a plan for dividend distribution. I think it's feasible."

The boy recalled and said:

"The person that Feilin mentioned last time, the dry stock dividend, is a very good idea, at least it was very good at the beginning of the design. But it is not easy to implement this measure. For example, if our factory raises funds from the old nobles, most of the old nobles do not believe us, and this matter is difficult to accomplish overnight. But I think it is a great thing that so many institutional reforms can be associated with the dry stocks used by businessmen to do business. Make room for him in the lord's palace."

Griffa lowered his head, not daring to look at the young man. He knew very well that the only person who dared to speak to the Minister of Internal Affairs like this in the lord's mansion could be the newly appointed lord of Yunyang. He was not familiar with this new lord at all. When he was at the inn, some guests said that he was a villain who killed his father, and now he has succeeded and climbed to the position of lord; some people also said that he was capable and could be regarded as a local hero after sleeping on straw and tasting gall.

Lid glanced at Griffa, walked up to him, patted him on the shoulder, and asked:

"Don't be so reserved. I heard that you came up with all these ideas while you were settling accounts. So we are the same kind of people."

Griffa had several question marks in his head.

Lid continued to say to He Yue:

"Seeing Griffa reminded me that a new director will come to the research institute soon. Guess who it is?"

He Yue shook his head:

"How can I guess? There are too many people."

Lid gave a thumbs up and said:

"Comrade Zhan Mei, former deputy general of the Moon Guard, has decided to join us. After coming back to hold a welcome party for Grifa, we will also hold one for them. This matter has a great impact. It is not just a simple matter of one person switching jobs. Just think about it and you will understand."

He Yue raised his eyebrows and asked:

"Last time we went north, didn't you say you didn't find anything? How come the foundation of the wall came to us again?"

Lid folded his arms and said:

"You're kidding. Are there any talents I can't recruit?... Actually, it's nothing. Zhan Mei doesn't want to fight anymore. Too many people died on the Northbound Journey this time, and Zhan Gui was seriously injured. Yu Zuo planned to let Zhan Mei take over her brother's job, but Zhan Mei herself was a little discouraged. After helping to stabilize Yue Wei, she submitted her resignation. I wrote a letter and asked for her to come over."

He Yue frowned and stared at Lid with suspicion:

"Even if Lord Lingwu lets her go, he won't allow her to come to us. Tell me, what are you going to give us in exchange this time?"

Lid shrugged his shoulders and said something else:

"No, it's nothing..."

He Yue came up to Lid and stared at him closely with a kind smile on his face.

Lid's momentum suddenly weakened a bit, and he whispered:

"The children of Lord Lingwu's relatives may be sent to us for care soon..."

He Yue had a look of "that's it", obviously not believing it. Li De couldn't explain much. Given the character of Lingwu Lord, he would never let Zhan Mei join Yuxi City. But if Zhan Mei wanted to leave, this woman would use her to create some extra wealth for herself. Li De exchanged the architectural drawings of the new buildings in Yuxi City. At the same time, because Lingwu Lord was busy recently and didn't want to take care of chocolate, he asked to send the chocolate over in advance.

He Yue shook his head. Since there was someone in charge at the research institute, he would not pursue other matters for the time being.

Li De talked to He Yue about Zhan Mei, and He Yue also felt that she was the most suitable woman to run the research institute. Zhan Mei had a strong curiosity, sufficient management experience, and the qualifications to suppress everyone. It was perfect for her to sit in this position. It was definitely a big victory for Yuxi City to recruit her.

He Yue patted Griffa on the shoulder and said:

"Then I'll go take the new people to a meeting first. Do you have any plans for the future?"

Lid thought for a moment and said:

"Wait for Zhan Mei to come first. I must explain the matter of the research institute to her in person. During this time, I want to solve the magic problem. After the research institute and the magic club start to run smoothly, I plan to go out again."

He Yue took a deep breath and asked:

"Where?"

Lid smiled and said:

"Let's go to Nanchu. A friend there asked me to go. Before, Yuxi City was invaded by the demons. Didn't Anna and Merlin come to save us? In fact, the real favor is in Nanchu. After Yunyang settles down, I have to go there and deal with the things over there. Don't worry, it should be safe this time, and there will be no danger."

He Yue nodded and said: