Wei Tingyu came out of Cuizhen Pavilion.
Wei Tingzhen heard that Song Mo had invited Wei Tingyu to participate in the dredging of the canal, and was overjoyed: "Is this true? How did Song Mo tell you? What did he say? How much silver will it take? Which section will be assigned to you?" She dismissed the maidservant who was serving in the house and pulled Wei Tingyu down to sit on the large kang by the window.
Wei Tingyu excitedly told Wei Tingzhen about the conversation between the two people in detail.
Wei Tingzhen's mind began to spin rapidly.
The price of river work is set by the Ministry of Works, and the money is disbursed by the Ministry of Revenue. The labor force consists of corvée laborers from various prefectures and counties. They can only undertake tasks such as purchasing stone materials, but they are not experienced in this line of business. Naturally, they need to find a merchant with strong financial resources. With four river sections involved, it's a huge deal worth tens of millions of taels. If merchants are asked to advance some funds, I'm sure many will be eager to take on the task. If one is only concerned about the middleman's profit margin, although the money may be less, it's still a stable and worry-free option...
She seemed to see piles and piles of silver pouring into her own purse, and she became extremely excited: "Brother, you must settle this matter. As long as we can make this deal, our family will have the capital in the future, whether it's opening a shop or doing business with ten warehouses, there will be silver, and even if you want to alienate Song Mo, it doesn't matter..."
Mentioning this matter, it was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, making Wei Tingyu's passionate blood cool down: "This, this isn't quite right? To burn the bridge after crossing the river, they were also kind-hearted, inviting me to join the venture..."
"Didn't you say that Song Mo was ruthless and not a good person?!" Wei Tingzhen's face turned red with anger, "You said this, you said that, what do you want exactly?"
"I, I... didn't say anything," Wei Tingyu muttered to himself, recalling Song Mo's cold eyes. Suddenly, he felt a chill in his heart, "Let's not get involved in this business after all... I've heard that if you're not careful with the river works, it can lead to corruption and embezzlement cases... who knows how many high-ranking officials have been demoted or beheaded because of it... It's really not a good business! Otherwise, why would Gu Yu and Song Mo think of pulling me in when they don't lack money themselves?..." He spoke more and more convincingly, his tone becoming firmer, "We'd better limit our interactions with Song Mo. Mother also said that peace and safety are the greatest blessings. It's not ours to have. Let's not force it..."
Wei Tingyu's words also brought down Wei Tingzhen's temperature, and she began to think seriously about the matter.
What my brother said is right, something that others can't get no matter how hard they try has suddenly fallen into his lap.
Or is it that something has already gone wrong over there and Song Mo wants his younger brother to take the blame?
Otherwise, it's impossible to make sense of why Song Mo took the initiative to befriend his brother...
The more she thought about it, the fishier it seemed.
Was it decided from the beginning of Song Mo and his brother's interaction that it would be like this?
"Right!" Wei Tingzhen frowned at Wei Tingyu, "This matter..." She originally wanted to say "let it go", but thinking of the silver flowing into someone else's pocket like splashing water, she felt heartbroken and changed her words. "We should think about it from a long-term perspective... It's best to discuss it with your brother-in-law... You also need to discreetly investigate... What if Song Mo just wants to help you? Wouldn't we be missing an opportunity?! Such opportunities are rare... We can't let it slip away... We need to think carefully..."
Discuss with brother-in-law. Wei Tingyu thought this was a matter, and hurriedly urged Wei Tingzhen to invite Zhang Yuanming over.
Wei Tingzhen smiled and said, "What's the hurry? Your brother-in-law is busy settling accounts with the family steward. Didn't Song Mo say that this matter has only one stroke of the eight characters, do you want to shout it out for everyone to know at this time? Of course, we have to wait until your brother-in-law is done, and then I'll talk to him nicely." He also instructed Wei Tingyu, "This matter is extremely important. You must not mention it to anyone else, even to Wang Qinghai, you must keep it strictly confidential. Do you understand?"
"This... doesn't seem quite right?"
"You this elm knot," Wang's family was the river engineering department of the construction section, and Wang Qinghai also had a mind that couldn't hold things in. If he accidentally leaked his mouth, with Wang Qinghuai's cleverness and ability to get things done, he would probably have to intervene forcefully, and even Song Mo and Gu Yu might have a headache. But this was something Wei Tingzhen couldn't say to Wei Tingyu, as he took his friends too seriously.
Wei Tingzhen took a deep breath before saying, "If this matter fails, how will you explain it to Wang Qinghai later? How will the people of the Wang family look at you? Can't you be more steady in your actions?"
"Really!" Wei Tingyu scratched his head in embarrassment, made a few promises to his sister, and said some words of longing and worry. As it was getting late for dinner, he thought of his mother alone at home and refused his sister's invitation to stay, returning to the Jin'ning Marquis Manor instead.
Zhang Yuanming was left by his father in the outer courtyard to have a meal, and Wei Tingzhen hastily ate some and lay on the kang thinking about this matter.
When she got married, her parents tried their best to prepare a dowry of 120 taels for her. Although it looked luxurious, it couldn't withstand scrutiny, and among the sisters-in-law, hers was the thinnest foundation. If not for her father-in-law often secretly giving them some silver, even the daily interactions would have left them struggling to make ends meet. If this matter could be settled, she wouldn't have to be so anxious about money either. But if Zongyao found out about this, he would definitely tell his father. Money can move people's hearts; if his father intervened, what would become of the Wei family's affairs? What would happen to Wei Tingyu then?
Wei Tingzhen decided not to tell Zhang Yuanming about this matter.
If you pay attention, you might just hear some news!
When they earn money, the sister and brother share it equally. No, the brother gets a larger share, she gets a smaller one, that's fine too. As long as she has her own silver for socializing with relatives, everything else can go to her brother.
Wei Tingzhen thought of Wei Tingyu's marriage from this matter.
Husband and wife are originally one body, she slapped Duan Zhao's face, and her brother also lost his dignity, this reason she still knows. The reason why she mentioned the hundred days in advance to welcome Duan Zhao is actually that she wants to use this to probe into Duan Zhao's position in the Duan family.
The second lady personally came forward and rejected this proposal, it can be seen that Dou Zhao is still relatively valued in the Dou family.
I don't know how many dowries Dou Zhao will have when he gets married?
A wealthy family like the Duan's sounds good, but with many children, the silver each person gets is very limited. Moreover, Duan Zhao's mother was of humble origin, and his stepmother Wang Shi may not necessarily help him wholeheartedly...
She sighed deeply once again at this thought.
At first, before exchanging engagement gifts with the Duan family, Father should have discussed it thoroughly with her.
The Wei family may not be considered prosperous, but they are simple in family matters. My younger brother also inherited the title smoothly, and it's not necessarily a difficult task to find someone with a good background and appearance.
It all boils down to Father being too impatient about this matter.
Wei Tingzhen let out a somewhat helpless sigh, when suddenly her husband Zhang Yuanming's voice came from inside the house: "What's wrong? You look so worried." He had already heard that Wei Tingyu had come by, and smiled as he said, "Is it something to do with Tingyu?"
"What can he do?" Wei Tingzhen smiled and said perfunctorily. "I'm just worried about what will happen after I take off my mourning clothes for him."
This matter Zhang Mingyuan was also powerless.
He thought for a moment and said: "Why don't we ask Song Mo for help? I think Song Mo values his uncle very much."
Wei Tingzhen told Zhang Yuanming about Wei Tingyu's concerns for Song Mo and said, "This kid is a bit of a troublemaker."
Zhang Mingyuan smiled and said, "Brother-in-law is indeed a bit too cautious - think about it, if the British Duke was in the right, Song Mo killed his own guard and still put on that attitude, the British Duke would have probably reported to the Emperor long ago, how could he still be so tolerant? Let brother-in-law not worry. Song Mo is still a person worth getting along with."
Wei Tingzhen listened with her eyes wide open.
It seems like this river project can be done!
She saw it flow into her purse like liquid silver.
Wei Tingzhen couldn't help but smile all over her face and personally poured a cup of tea for Zhang Yuanming.
In the Yizhitang of the British Consulate General, Gu Yuze helped Song Mo personally brew a cup of tea.
Song Mo jokingly said "thank you" to Gu Yu.
"Don't mention it!" Gu Yu smiled slightly, looking rather displeased, and then said, "Are you really going to let that Wei Tingyu intervene? We're not short of money, and Wei Tingyu isn't someone who gets things done..."
"Eating alone is not a good habit!" Song Mo laughed and said, "Besides, how can all the silver in the world be earned?"
"Could it be that you are just about to make silver..."
Just like two countries at war, provisions and fodder come first.
Song Mo and Song Yichun fought, it's impossible without money.
This is also why Song Mo decided to get involved in the river work.
"Let him take a small share," said Song Mo, "We'll just consider it as paying more to the officials of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue."
Gu Yu said nothing more.
Song Mo asked him: "I killed the guards of my own family. Do your companions think I'm a tyrannical and overbearing person?"
Gu Yu was taken aback.
Song Mo smiled and said: "Just say it straight out, I just want to hear a true word."
Gu Yu has always thought that Song Mo was very strong.
He nodded and said, "Not all of them, some people just find it surprising."
Song Mo uttered an "oh" and was stunned for a moment.
"What's wrong?" Gu Yu asked him.
"There's nothing." Song Mo said vaguely, and in his mind, he once again floated the face of Dun Zhao, who was calm and self-contained, "Just ask!" A strange emotion in his heart grew uncontrollably.
Dou Zhaos guards had participated in this matter, Dou Zhao should have known about the situation on the spot long ago.
From start to finish, she didn't show a hint of surprise or fear.
What is she thinking?
What's your take on this matter?
Song Mo really wanted to ask Dou Zhao.
After Gu Yu formally took over the task of managing the four rivers, he asked Wei Tingyu to take out some silver as a symbol, and then went to Jining himself, accompanying the prefects and county magistrates for several days of feasting and drinking. Only after that did he finalize the river management project, and then rushed to Xuzhou... By the time Gu Yu returned from Jiangnan, he had already eaten Laba porridge.
He tidied himself up and went to the British Consulate.
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Today's update!
o(n_n)o~
Only when you make mistakes can you correct them.
Sichuan had another earthquake... Hope everyone is safe and sound, cherish what's in front of you.
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