Chapter 77 2. Zhao Maochang sent Zhang Zhidong a professionally trained young woman

The marriage of his sons and daughters was successful and full of new ideas, especially the friendship with Sang Zhiping was deepened through the marriage, and a foreign affairs talent who was very useful to him and the country was won over. Zhang Zhidong was very happy. The weaving layout outside Wenchang Gate has been in operation for more than half a year. There are 2,500 workers, 3,000 yarn machines, and 1,000 cloth machines. The machines are all imported from the UK, and ten technicians are specially hired from the UK with high salaries. , responsible for teaching weaving skills and machine maintenance.In half a year, Zhang Zhidong went to the weaving shop seven or eight times, seeing more and more machines in operation and better and better weaving cloth, he was filled with joy.Last month, the sample cloth sent was fine and shiny, no less than the imported foreign cloth.He happily said to Mo Yunliang, the alternate magistrate of the general office: "Hubei Province has a population of 17 million. On average, one person pulls a foot of cloth a year, which is 1.7 million Zhang. Calculated on the price, the weaving layout can earn 340,000 taels of silver a year, and after deducting the cost and all other expenses, at least 30% of the profit can be obtained. In this way, in Hubei alone, the weaving layout can make a net profit of 100,000 taels , plus Hunan Province, whose population is about the same as that of Hubei, is under the jurisdiction of the Huguang Yamen, and I, Zhang, can reach it even though I have a short whip. According to Hubei Province, adding 100,000, it is 200,000. At present, Shanghai is the only one that has a weaving layout in China. It is impossible for it to grab the business of other provinces. We have to compete with it. Not to mention too much, there is no problem selling four to five million feet of cloth every year, and at least another 300,000 can be obtained. Two. In this way, Zhifu can make a profit of 500,000 yuan a year. Governor Mo, have you ever thought that your property is really huge, and within a few years, Zhibu will become rich like an enemy!"

Hearing Zhang Zhidong's plan, Mo Yunliang was greatly enlightened, and grinned and said, "Aren't all the money we made from the weaving layout all yours, Mr. Zhang? The humble job is just for you. Just running errands." Zhang Zhidong said: "Of course, this money is not yours, but it is definitely not mine. Except for the development of the weaving layout itself, the rest must be handed over to the governor's office. I, Zhang, will not embezzle any money personally." Money, this money will be used for the Westernization of Hubei. Right now, the Silk Reeling Bureau has also started work, and there is an urgent need for a large amount of money. This money is temporarily borrowed from foreign banks, and I will be counting on the weaving bureau to repay it in the future. Prefect Mo , you have to work harder and work hard!"

Mo Yunliang hurriedly said: "The humble job will never disappoint the expectations of adults. We must run the weaving layout well, weave more, and make more money. But the cotton in Hubei is not good enough. Foreign technicians say that it is not good for the woven cloth Big impact." Zhang Zhidong asked puzzledly: "The cotton in Tianmen and Qianjiang areas of Hubei is well-known. Even foreign technicians can't tell. Where can there be good cotton in China?" "Yes, that's the same answer to foreign technicians. They said, yes, the cotton in China is not the best, and the best cotton comes from the United States. The cotton production in the United States is high, and the fiber is long. The cloth weaves It’s beautiful and durable. No matter how good American cotton is, we can’t buy cotton from the United States. How much does it cost? They say that we can buy cotton seeds from the United States. With American seeds, we can also buy them in China. Grow good cotton."

"Buy American cotton seeds! That's a good idea." Zhang Zhidong's eyes lit up. "The introduction of good cotton seeds is not only for our weaving layout, but also for the benefit of Chinese cotton farmers all over the world." "It's good, but it's not easy to implement." Mo Yunliang said confidently, "Cotton farmers in Hubei have been used to growing their own cotton seeds for generations. If they are asked to switch to foreign cotton seeds, they will not know it all at once. Accept it, and worry about the poor harvest. But then again, the cotton farmers’ concerns are justified, what if one is not good? The livelihood of the cotton farmers’ family is betting on cotton for a year, so it cannot be adopted.”

"Oranges cross the Huaihe River to form trifoliate oranges." Zhang Zhidong seemed to be muttering to himself, and said after a moment of pondering, "That's good, let's try it out first, buy a batch of seeds from the United States, don't charge money, and give them away." Cotton farmers, let them plant. In autumn, weaving bureaus will be in charge of buying them all. If the cotton harvested per acre is less than in previous years, they will be given the same amount of money as in previous years. If there is more, they will be given a little more; , we will buy more next time, and the cotton farmers will be happy to grow it, what do you think?"

Mo Yunliang said: "It's a good idea, my lord, but we don't make any money at the moment. Where did the money come from?" Zhang Zhidong said, "Let me figure out a way for the silver, you go to collect it first." Mo Yunliang left the supervisory office with satisfaction to prepare for the matter. For several days, Zhang Zhidong went to visit the spinning mill built at the North Gate.The factory building of the spinning mill was about to be built, but there was no money to buy back the 1,000 spinning machines ordered in England to spin ten to sixteen counts of yarn.Zheng Guanying wrote to say that a businessman in Shanghai was willing to invest 80,000 silver in advance on the condition that he would sell gauze to him at a discount in the future.Zhang Zhidong accepted this condition, and the thousand spinning machines were quickly bought back.

The weaving layout, the spinning mill, and the silk reeling bureau are all running smoothly, and Zhang Zhidong is in a good mood these days.After dinner that day, he said to Peiyu: "You must be married, I can't hear her playing the piano, and you haven't played the piano for a long time, the backyard of the yamen is almost the same as the lobby in front, and there is no joy to hear. Let's play a song, and everyone can relax." Peiyu is almost forty. Ren Kan, who was born in Guangzhou, is more than seven years old, and studies with a tutor in the west wing every day. Ren Shi, who was born in Wuchang, is also four years old and has a nanny to look after her.Peiyu has not been in good health for the past two years, she is a little puffy, and indeed she rarely plays the piano, especially after Zhuner got married, she often feels empty and depressed, and there is something that is bothering her recently. I don't know if I should ask Zhang Zhidong, seeing that Zhang Zhidong is in a good mood today, she decided to give it a try.

Peiyu dressed up a little, and sat in front of the piano. After concentrating for a while, a long and long piano sound flowed out from between her fingers and the strings.This is a song Zhang Zhidong likes to listen to very much.When he was still the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, one day, Wang Zhichun, who was then a Taoist of Leiqiong, said that there was an old man who was blind in Qiongzhou.He has listened to it several times, and he thinks that there is no one who is better at playing music than this person in his life.Zhang Zhidong was so moved that he asked him to bring this old man with him the next time he came to Guangzhou.Soon, Wang Zhichun brought the old man back.It turned out to be a dark, thin and short blind old man who could not speak Chinese and was an aboriginal Li nationality.The blind old man blew three Lusheng tunes to Zhang Zhidong, and they really sounded very nice.After the blind old man left, Peiyu told her husband that she also listened to it quietly in the room, and felt a sense of emptiness and coldness. If it was slightly changed, it would be a very good piano piece.She asked Zhang Zhidong to invite the old man into the mansion tomorrow and listen again.Zhang Zhidong agreed with her opinion.The next day, the blind old man played the lusheng to Peiyu all day in the backyard, and when he left in the evening, Peiyu had already recorded all his scores.It took Peiyu more than a month to fuse the seven or eight tunes played by the old man into one qin tune.She played it to Zhang Zhidong, who praised it deeply, and named it "Moon Shines on Qiongdao".After a few days, I will definitely learn it and play it very well.Right now, after playing a song, Zhang Zhidong sighed: "This song "Moon Shines on Qiongdao" really makes you more and more refined."

Peiyu said: "I haven't played it for more than three months, and my fingers are a bit clumsy. This piece must be played better than me." "Zhun'er played well too!" Zhang Zhidong hadn't seen his daughter for more than a month, and he really missed her a little. "In two days, ask Zhun'er to come back once, and you two will play a song "Moon Shines on Qiongdao" together." "Okay!" Peiyu said happily, "I really miss her these days!" "That old artist of the Li nationality is a talented musician. I think he is likely to be someone like the legendary Zhong Ziqi." Zhang Zhidong fell into a kind of emotion blankly, talking to himself Rambling, "There are many talented hermits in the world. They have talents and skills that no one else has. Due to various reasons, they are often buried, abandoned, and not known to the world. I often think: a governor, a If you can unearth those buried and abandoned talents in your jurisdiction and put them in proper positions, then the governor’s prefecture and county will be done well. I really want to call the old artist of the Li nationality to Guangzhou. It's a pity that he died in the second year, and I have always regretted it."

Peiyu smiled and said, "Fourth Master's intentions are of course the heart of the benevolent. There are no virtuous people in the field, and the capable are in office. This is the virtue and government that responsible rulers have longed for since ancient times. However, I am There are some different views, not all talents must be used by the world, it depends on what kind of talent it is." "Oh, what you said is interesting." Zhang Zhidong looked at Peiyu's bright eyes even though the corners of them were wrinkled with interest. "Some talented people have always aimed to help the world, but their luck is bad, they are not appreciated, and they live in the rivers, lakes and mountains. If the incumbent can find them and give them reuse, that is their blessing, such as Jiang Ziya and Zhuge Liang of the previous generation. Such people are like this. For some people, their talent is the product of innate spirituality. Although they can entertain others, they are more for self-entertainment. It can be obtained by wholeheartedly understanding and seeking. Zhuangzi said: "Using the will is not distracting, but concentrating on the gods. This is how the stunt of the humpbacked man is obtained. If once he is placed in a lively place with the goal of pursuing fame, fortune and utility, His heart is floating, his mind is divided, and his skills will never improve. For example, thanks to the desolate place like Qiongdao, if he had gone to Guangzhou and the capital when he was young, he would never have Such high Lusheng skills. I think this is probably the reason why Wang Mian is unwilling to be an official and Wen Zhengming is unwilling to apply for the job."

"You're right!" Zhang Zhidong nodded. "I can add another example for you. My commoner friend, Wu Qiuyi, is also a person who is willing to wander rather than live in a government office." Seeing that Zhang Zhidong was in such a relaxed mood, Peiyu mustered up the courage to speak out what was on his mind. "Fourth Master, there is one thing that I have hesitated for a long time, but I have never dared to say it. I want to tell you today." "What's the matter, tell me!" "If it's not right, you just pretend I didn't say it." "Okay, what's the matter, so solemn?" Peiyu's hesitant expression made Zhang Zhidong himself solemn. "One such thing." Peiyu said slowly, "Si Ye knows that my parents have no sons and I am the only daughter. My father regards it as a lifelong regret for not having a son. Two years ago, my father was in the city of Wuchang. Occasionally, I met a man from my hometown in Shanxi. They recognized each other as fellow villagers and had a good relationship. Years ago, this fellow was going back to Fenzhou. My father asked the fellow to visit his hometown and find out who else was in the family. Last month , This fellow came back and brought me a cousin. This cousin is the son of my father's first cousin. My father was very affectionate with this nephew and treated him as his own son. He really wanted to keep him in Wuchang. My father told me several times, and asked me to talk to the adults about finding him an errand in Wuchang City. My father said that Zhang Zhitai has set up many bureaus, and he can find him an errand in any bureau. You can do anything, just stay by his side, and when you die in the future, you will also have a son who will be a filial son who holds a spirit tablet. I know your temper, and you will never seek employment for your relatives. At that time, two nephews and grandchildren in Nanpi's hometown Yuanlu They came here to find a job, but they sent them back. The relatives of the Zhang family can’t be accommodated, let alone the people of our Li family? So I kept suppressing it for you. The day before yesterday, my father mentioned this matter again. Looking at his father’s expression I really couldn't bear the pale look, so I had to say it boldly, if Fourth Master thinks it's inappropriate, just pretend I didn't say it." Peiyu lowered her head and stopped talking. It turned out to be such a thing!Zhang Zhidong breathed a sigh of relief. This is an insignificant matter in the eyes of others, but Peiyu treats it so seriously, Zhang Zhidong can't help feeling a little pity in his heart.He knew that this was due to his almost harsh family rules. Zhang Zhidong, who was born in Qingliu, has always hated corruption and bribery in the officialdom. When he was an official in the past, he encountered corruption and bribery by officials and fell into his hands.After being released to the governorship, he inspected the officials under him and used greed and non-corruption as a dividing line. Even if the corrupt person is capable, he will punish until he is dismissed;For this reason, he set an example and severely warned his family that he would never accept a penny of money and goods outside his body.Since he came to Wuchang to set up the Westernization Bureau Factory, he has discovered another unhealthy trend in Hubei official circles: on the one hand, many officials have criticized him behind his back for doing Westernization, squandering money, and treating the country's money like water. On the other hand, they saw that the bureau factory was profitable, so they introduced their three relatives and six relatives to the bureau factory to work or do labor service.Zhang Zhidong was very annoyed by this.He gave repeated orders and strict orders to guard the gate 13 when entering the bureau factory. Those who have no choice but to guard the gate are those who violate the ban. They regard the bans stamped with the purple flower seal of the Huguang governor's yamen as not much different from the waste paper thrown in the garbage dump. The difference, in the end, was just a pain for himself.Those relatives and friends who came all the way from the mountainous area of ​​Guizhou and their hometown in Nanpi to Wuchang to find a place, all of them came here in good spirits and returned disappointed.Sometimes, looking at those disappointed faces, he was also shaken in his heart, but he thought that if he opened a hole here, and when he came to the officials who were handling affairs, he would break a long embankment, and the corruption of the atmosphere would be uncontrollable. But today, facing Peiyu's fearful expression, Zhang Zhidong hesitated. Not to mention that Peiyu has taken good care of him over the years and gave birth to two sons for him. For the sake of the two old people, he couldn't bear to refuse.Peiyu's parents are both in their seventies. Although they followed their daughter from north to south and then from south to north these years, the two elders kept their duties and did not regard themselves as supervisors and relatives, and never caused trouble.Because there is no son. The adopted nephew is the son; because he wants to keep the heir, he hopes to find a job in the three towns of Wuhan, which is really not an excessive requirement.The nephews and grandchildren of Nanpi's hometown can send them back, but for this heir of the Li family who came from a long distance from Shanxi, it would be almost cruel to let him go back in disappointment. What's more, there is another matter recently, Zhang Zhidong is thinking about it in his heart, and he needs Peiyu's support.This incident was caused by Zhao Maochang. When Xu Zhixiang participated in the case that year, Zhao Maochang lost his position as the chief copywriter of the Supervision Department, and his other part-time jobs were also lost accordingly. He had to return to his hometown in Wujin, Jiangsu in dismay. In Zhang Zhidong's service, Zhao Maochang is a capable person who has done a lot of things for him. Although some gossips are often heard in his ears, he doesn't take it seriously. If anyone has no shortcomings, the more loopholes he does, the more loopholes will be. The more people there are, the more people will be offended.Some of the things discovered that time, such as bribery and personal use, some could not be conclusively confirmed, and some were true, but Zhao Maochang immediately admitted readily, and immediately compensated for the bribes.Zhang Zhidong always hated officials taking bribes, so he did not intercede for Zhao Maochang and sent him back to his native place.But there was a faint sympathy for Zhao Maochang in his heart: because this matter was completely out of revenge from others, Zhao Maochang was actually shot because of himself. Before leaving Hubei, he said to Zhao Maochang: "You are capable and good at handling things. I know this. You can go back to Wu to live in peace of mind and reflect on yourself. You are still young and have a bright future. Write to me, maybe I will use you again after a few years." Zhao Maochang bowed deeply to Zhang Zhidong, and left Wuchang gratefully. After years of painstaking management, Zhao Maochang has bought hundreds of acres of fertile land at home, and built dozens of large houses with red bricks and blue tiles.If he lives at home with peace of mind, Zhao Maochang can live a comfortable and quiet life.However, Zhao Maochang is not a person who is content with the countryside.He yearns for power, pursues glory, and always looks forward to a comeback.He remembered Zhang Zhidong's words, and often wrote letters to his old master to greet him.He racked his brains, thinking of ways to win Zhang Zhidong's favor, and return to Huguang governor's yamen as soon as possible.One day, his family told him that after Qin Laosan, a poor scholar in Dongzhuang passed away, his wife Qin Mu brought three daughters and a son, and the family was so poor that they often couldn't get rid of it.Qin Mu asked people everywhere to find a wealthy family for her eldest daughter, if it was a wealthy family, even being a concubine would be fine.Zhao Maochang's heart moved, and he asked the eldest daughter of the Qin family to come and see.The next day, Qin Mu took his eldest daughter Huan'er to Zhao's house.Zhao Maochang was quite satisfied to see that Huan'er was upright, only eighteen years old, and could read a few words.He told Qin Mushi that there was no good family at the time, so Huan'er was temporarily working in my house and waiting for an opportunity. After all, he took out four slings of money and gave it to Qin Mushi.Qin Mu accepted it gratefully, and always treated Zhao Maochang as a benefactor. Huan'er started working as a maid in Zhao's house.Zhao Maochang observed carefully, and saw that Huan'er was smart and diligent, and he was very happy.He wants to manage Huan'er as a rare commodity.He thought about it, what kind of family should he find?Suddenly one day, his mind opened up: Do you still want to look around? Isn't there a wonderful house there now!The family Zhao Maochang was thinking of was the Zhang Mansion in Wuchang. There is only one woman beside Zhang Zhidong, and this woman takes the position of wife as a concubine, Zhao Maochang is very puzzled by this.With Zhang Zhidong's status, he can marry an unmarried lady of good family status and become the wife in charge of the internal affairs. He can also buy concubines into the mansion one by one, and no one else will. Gossip: Which high-ranking official is not surrounded by wives and concubines?Zhang Zhidong's way of doing this is different from ordinary people, but it makes everyone feel strange.Zhao Maochang naturally did not dare to ask about the governor's family affairs, but he firmly believed in one thing: there is no man who does not love women, and the more heroic he is, the more he loves beautiful women. As the saying goes, a hero is sad about a beautiful woman; Pass!Zhang Zhidong is not yet sixty years old, and he is still in the heroic period of a man. Doesn't he love beautiful women?Mostly because he was too enthusiastic about his career and didn't have the heart to think about such things.If someone finds a beautiful woman for him and is enthusiastic about making arrangements for him, will he refuse the door?Zhao Maochang believed that Zhang Zhidong was by no means Liu Xiahui who was restless. But, after all, Zhang Zhidong has only had one woman by his side for many years, he is obviously not the kind of womanizer, so he must be careful in doing this, and must not be reckless.Zhao Maochang, who has followed Zhang Zhidong for a long time, knows very well that this Taiwan magnate is like a fierce horse. If the flattery is not right, his front teeth may be kicked off by iron hooves. At the end of July, two days before Zhang Zhidong's fifty-seventh birthday, Zhao Maochang specially came to Wuchang by ocean liner to celebrate his old master's birthday.Zhang Zhidong has always handled birthdays indifferently, but the family reunion is just for dinner, and he never announces it to the public.Zhao Maochang, as the chief copywriter, of course knew the governor's birthday, but it was inconvenient for him to give gifts to celebrate his birthday before.This time the identity was different, and he gave Zhang Zhidong a gift, which was a specially processed Korean mountain ginseng.An old doctor once taught him a secret recipe: Find ten five-inch-long male seahorses, dry them and grind them into ashes, then dry and grind half a catty of poppy shells into ashes, mix the two kinds of ashes, and dissolve them in clean water Soak ginseng in this solution for three months, dry it and store it for a long time.This kind of ginseng is far superior to ordinary ginseng in nourishing vitality, strengthening yang and increasing essence, and it has a miraculous effect on middle-aged and elderly men.Zhao Maochang took a few sticks, and it was true. Zhao Maochang said mysteriously: "This ginseng is extraordinary, and its benefits to the body are incredible. You might as well try it." Zhang Zhidong has often felt exhausted for many years, and he desperately wants to use supplements to refresh his energy.Zhao Maochang's flattery was really on point.He happily accepted.Therefore, the topic of the two began to adjust energy and prolong life.Zhao Maochang told Zhang Zhidong the carefully fabricated story vividly. "There is an old man in Wujin Taiping Bridge. He is 102 years old this year. He is still sharp and healthy. He lives in daily life and does not need anyone to take care of him. This spring, I paid a special visit to him. His reputation is really well-deserved." "Have you asked him about his longevity?" Zhang Zhidong was really interested in it. "I asked, the purpose of my going is to learn the way of longevity from there." Zhao Maochang said solemnly, "The old man said, many people ask this, but in fact I don't have the way of longevity, just like everyone else." Living life. You still don’t believe me, I was not in good health before middle age, my hair turned gray a lot when I was in my forties, and I have a lot of minor illnesses and pains throughout the year, so I don’t look like a person who can enjoy a long life. Sixty years old Afterwards, I grew stronger day by day. I am not afraid of your brother’s jokes. I have three sons at sixty-two, sixty-four, and sixty-six. The youngest son is already thirty-six years old this year.” Zhang Zhidong also laughed when he heard this, and asked, "He gave birth to three sons after the age of sixty, how old is his wife?" "I asked the old man that too." Seeing Zhang Zhidong's interest, Zhao Maochang became more motivated to speak, "The old man said that his wife died when he was fifty-eight years old. Years later, I couldn’t stand the loneliness. At this time, two mothers and daughters fleeing famine in northern Jiangsu came to Taiping Bridge. The mother was suddenly ill and had no money for medical treatment. The daughter would rather sell herself to save her mother. , my children and grandchildren also have no objection. In this way, I bought that seventeen-year-old girl to renew the strings. Since then, my body has been getting better and better. Otherwise, how could I have won consecutively in the next eight years? Three sons? Maybe it's because of my bad virtues, God wants to make my old man prosperous. Speaking of this, the old man burst out laughing." Zhang Zhidong said: "Old men in their sixties sometimes give birth to sons. As long as women are young, it's not a strange thing. It's just that the body is getting better and better, and it's rare to live to be over a hundred years old." "Xiang Shuai, I think this may be the function of tonic." Zhao Maochang looked at Zhang Zhidong, and there seemed to be no lust in his eyes. Zhang Zhidong, who has read a lot of books, naturally knows that there is a saying in ancient intercourse, that is, when an old man has sex with a young woman, it can strengthen the yin and strengthen the weak yang; on the contrary, when the old woman has sex with the young man , it can strengthen the Yang and supplement the weak Yin.It is said that Wu Zetian had a lot of faces in his later years. In fact, he wanted to use the strength of yang to supplement the weakness of yin and hope for longevity.Zhang Zhidong was skeptical about this set of fornication theory, but from what Zhao Maochang said, fornication really worked. He said: "Caibu has been said for a long time. There are quite a few old men asking for concubines, and it doesn't necessarily work for everyone. I'm afraid this old man is lucky!" "Xiang Shuai's words make sense. Later, I consulted an old doctor by the Taihu Lake. He said that it depends on the woman's blood. If the woman's blood is particularly strong, she can receive the effect of strengthening yin and strengthening weak yang. The old doctor said Well done, the old man's Xu Xian is now over sixty years old, and his body is still strong, it seems that the woman belongs to the strong Yin category." Zhang Zhidong smiled and said, "It's a fact that you saw with your own eyes, so I can't help but believe it." Zhao Maochang said in a half-joking and half-serious tone: "Xiang Shuai, if you can meet a suitable woman, how about I help you out?" The example of the old man Wu Jin is indeed very convincing. Zhang Zhidong longs for health and longevity.He responded, "Okay, can you find such a strong vaginal young woman?" Zhao Maochang put away his laughter and said sincerely: "Xiang Shuai, I, Zhao Maochang, have received your great kindness for many years, and now I am returning from a vacancy, and you still don't dislike it. Doing my best to do this for you is considered a little tribute to you." Zhao Maochang was so grateful to Dade, Zhang Zhidong was somewhat moved. He is a kind-hearted man with clear grievances and grievances.Thinking of so many bureaucrats and friends around me, who have received a lot of favors from him, there is no one who thinks of him so sincerely and sincerely; only Zhao Maochang, who does not forget the old kindness and the old master, really stands for him He works.He also thought that Zhao Maochang might want to recover or ask for something else.Even so, it's not a bad idea.If someone really treats you well, you should also reciprocate. After two years, after the wind calms down, it can be used again.Zhang Zhidong said sincerely: "Mr. Zhu, it's hard for you to be filial, I know." Zhao Maochang was overjoyed, and immediately left Wuchang, sent his boat downstream, and rushed back to Wujin.He wasn't in a hurry to send Huan'er there, he wanted to train him a little bit more. Yangzhou, not far from Wujin, has long been known throughout the country as a place for training women.This place does not teach women to read books such as the Four Books of Women and Biography of Women, nor does it teach women the three obediences and four virtues, women's morals and women's rules. It teaches women how to serve men and how to win men's favor.Showing off, playing and singing, dressing up, teasing and teasing, etc., all these skills that can move a man's heart and arouse his sex must be taught.There are places in Yangzhou that specialize in training such women.This kind of woman has a strange name called "skinny horse".Some scholars have researched that "thin horse" originated from a poem by Bai Juyi, a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty: "Don't raise a thin horse, don't teach a little prostitute. The aftermath is up to now, don't believe me. Look at it. A fat horse walks fast, and a prostitute can do it." Singing and singing. It has been heard that they have changed masters between the ages of three and five." After going out, the "slender horse" either enters a brothel, or enters a karaoke house, or becomes a concubine, which is much better than other singing girls and concubines. Around the Tang Dynasty, Yangzhou Shouma became famous; in the Qing Dynasty, due to the gathering of salt merchants, Yangzhou Shouma reached its peak.Zhao Maochang brought Huan'er to Yangzhou City, chose the most prestigious Yan matchmaker's family in the city, paid one hundred taels of silver, and trained Huan'er into a skinny horse that everyone liked within three months.Reaching this standard in three months was originally impossible, but Matchmaker Yan, greedy for the huge profit of one hundred taels of silver, readily agreed. Three months later, when Zhao Maochang went to Yangzhou City to see Huan'er again, he saw that Huan'er had become plump, white and tender, and she looked even more charming against the backdrop of a bright and well-fitting dress. It's quite different than before, and it makes people feel comfortable watching it.Apart from the short-term failure of blowing flute and playing the piano, she can also sing more than a dozen beautiful tunes.He can dance again, and when he starts to dance, his colorful sleeves are fluttering. It looks like the flying sky painted on the wall of the temple. Zhao Maochang was fascinated by it.Knowing that Huan'er can become so cute, she should have accepted her as the fourth concubine.Thinking of his future as an official, Zhao Maochang hardened his heart, and took Huan'er on board the boat. Zhao Maochang stayed at the Yellow Crane Tower Inn.The next day, he went to see Zhang Zhidong. That night, Zhang Zhidong was surprised when he saw Huan'er in the inn.Zhang Zhidong is not a womanizer, nor is he a frivolous man, but as a man full of vitality, a woman with a beautiful appearance and a graceful posture cannot but make him love and admire him.He thought of his three wives and Peiyu who was by his side now, and he couldn't compare with this woman in terms of being distracted at a glance.He is a person who never goes to brothels, eats flowers and wine and makes troubles. He doesn't know that this kind of ability to distract people is the specialty of prostitutes, and the skinny horse walking out of the Yangzhou teaching workshop is even more beautiful. Superior to others. Zhang Zhidong was very satisfied.Zhao Maochang asked him to carry Huan'er into the governor's office overnight in a green cloth sedan chair.Zhang Zhidong thought for a while and said, let's go in two days! The reason for "in two days" is to say hello to Peiyu first. He and Peiyu have been in love for ten years, and today they have another concubine, but they don't even say hello, Zhang Zhidong can't bear it.He was thinking about what to do to compensate Peiyu, but he didn't want Peiyu to ask for it himself.Thinking of this, Zhang Zhidong said: "I understand the old man's thoughts very well. Having an heir by their side can save you a lot of worry. Tomorrow, you ask your younger brother to come to my place. Let me see and show him What fits the job." Zhang Zhidong agreed so readily, which surprised Peiyu, and she immediately told her parents and cousin about it happily. The next day, Peiyu's cousin Li Manku timidly came to the supervisor's office to sign the bond room. "Sit down!" Zhang Zhidong put down the ink pen he was writing, and greeted Li Manku who was standing aside. "The villain is here to listen to the orders of the adults, so he dare not sit down." Li Manku, whose upper body was stiff and his legs were trembling slightly, wished he could sit down sooner, but he still couldn't help but say these words.Li Manku was a countryman, and he had never met an official before he came to Wuchang.Now seeing the governor all of a sudden, how can he not be timid!Although I know that the governor is the husband of the cousin, but the cousin is a concubine, not a wife.According to the ritual system, the concubine's natal family cannot be regarded as the husband's relatives, and the concubine's grandmother's family can only be the natal family of the aunt, not the birth mother.The honest and responsible old man Li also repeatedly warned his heir: Don't treat yourself as the governor's brother-in-law.Because of this, Li Manku said "Master" to Zhang Zhidong, and called himself a "little man", and at the same time did not dare to sit down. "Sit down." Zhang Zhidong understood Li Manku's state of mind very well, and said kindly, "You are Peiyu's cousin, and now you are the heir of the Li family. You are different from others. Don't be restrained, sit down and talk carefully." .” Seeing Zhang Zhidong talking to him so kindly, Li Manku was very grateful, hesitated for a moment, and then sat down on a small wooden bench beside him. Zhang Zhidong took a careful look at Li Manku, saw that he was still handsome and pleasing to the eye, and said, "Have you ever read?" "When I was young, I studied with the teacher for three years. Later, the harvest in the fields was poor, so I went to work in the fields and didn't study anymore." Although Li Manku spoke with a Shanxi accent, his nasal accent was not too strong, and it was easier than that of ordinary Shanxi rural people. Understand.Zhang Zhidong reckoned that he didn't look like a country bumpkin sticking to his hometown.People in Shanxi have the habit of doing business. Many boys stop reading after they study for a few years.When they were fifteen or sixteen years old, they followed their relatives and friends to learn how to do business, traveling all over the world to the wharf. A very few lucky ones became a big businessman in this way, and most of them just took advantage of it to support their families. "Have you ever done business?" "When I was seventeen, I followed a distant uncle in the village to the pier for three or four years. Later, my uncle lost his money and I went home." As expected, Zhang Zhidong did not expect it.He knew that running the wharf for three or four years was a very important experience, which could broaden his horizons and gain knowledge. Compared with those country people who had never left their homes, Li Manku must be much stronger. "What did you do after that?" "I planted land at home for two years, and then worked as a errand for four years in the cashier of a ticket office owner in another village." "Okay, okay." Although Li Manku was a little nervous, he spoke fluently and clearly. Zhang Zhidong was quite satisfied with Li Manku's experience, and he already had an idea in his heart. "I'm in my twenties this year, have you married a wife?" "Twenty-six years old, the daughter-in-law I married the year before last." Zhang Zhidong nodded and said, "Okay, tomorrow Dagen will take you to weave layout to do something." "Thank you for your kindness!" Li Manku was overjoyed, hurriedly left the stool, and bowed again and again. "Weaving layout is a promising place. If you work hard, you will have a bright future. But you have to start with the hardest and most tiring things first, and you can't be opportunistic." "Yes, yes." Li Manku nodded and bowed again and again. "Manku." Zhang Zhidong stood up and said in a cordial tone, "You have to know that I have run many Westernization Bureau factories, and I have never recruited a single relative. If you say that you entered the bureau factory because of nepotism Yes, you are the first one. This is entirely on the account of your stepfather, Mr. Li. Peiyu can't always be by the side of the second elder. As an heir, don't live up to the expectations of the second elder. You must fulfill your responsibilities as a son of man. .” "My lord, please rest assured." Li Manku said, "I will remember your kindness and teachings. From now on, I will be closer to my stepfather and stepmother than to my biological parents." "Go ahead!" Zhang Zhidong watched Li Manku walk out of the signing room, and thought to himself that although Li Manku broke his own rules, this move thanked Peiyu's parents and paved the way for Huan'er to enter the mansion, so it was worth it.At this time, Zhang Zhidong didn't expect that since the gap was opened, it would become bigger and bigger in the future. Nanpi's distant relatives and Guizhou's close relatives would come to Wuchang one by one in the future, and it would never be like before. I resigned with confidence, and had to make arrangements one after another.Up and down.When the Governor did this, Si Daofu County smuggled more blatantly and openly.One by one, groups of people, groups of inexplicable people, all poured into various bureaus because of their relatives.The bureau factory seems to be a porridge pot that can never be scooped up. As long as it is close to the top, you can safely scoop it boldly and unscrupulously.张之洞更没想到，就是这个老实巴交的李满库到织布局后，被旁人以总督小舅子的身分看待，后来居然和别的一批蛀虫一道，硬是把个好端端的织布局给彻底弄垮。 第二天，李家二老亲自来向张之洞表示谢意，佩玉也因了却老父的一桩大心事而格外高兴，趁着这个极好的气氛，张之洞将环儿的事告诉了佩玉。佩玉先是一愣，很快也便想开了：他身为总督，三妻四妾本可听他的便，莫说自己身为妾，就是八抬大轿抬进来的正室夫人，总督丈夫要纳妾，她能阻止得了吗？与其无谓地吵闹，不如欢欢喜喜地接纳，为自己日后留一条退路。 佩玉平静地说：“我年龄大了，身体不好，照顾不周，你身边早就该添个人手了。什么时候进府，这个事交给我来办，我要把它办得热热闹闹、风风光光的。” “千万不要热闹风光！”佩玉这个态度，反而让张之洞心中有些歉意。他急切说，“纳进一个小妾哪能热闹风光，越平淡越好。” “房子总得布置一下吧，床呀，梳妆台呀，这些也得置办吧！”佩玉似乎比他本人还要热心。“三天吧，给我三天的时间，我会和大根夫妇把这事操办得熨熨帖帖的。” 张之洞感动得拉起佩玉的手，涨红着脸说：“佩玉，你这样的贤惠，真不知叫我如何感激你为好。她年轻不懂事，进府后凡事还要靠你指点关照。至于家事，还是像过去一样，一切由你为主，决不会让她插手的。” 佩玉不吱声。张之洞发现自己滚烫的双手所握的，竟是一只从冰窟里取出的玉如意，炽热的心立即凉了多半！