dognovel Chapter 576 Come on, let’s hurt each other
Chapter 576 Come on, let’s hurt each other
Liu Bei was speechless. He slapped the boy's forehead and laughed, scolding, "When did you become so greedy? Do I look like a rich man?"
He had Liu Shan when he was 46 years old, a true case of having a son late in life, and also the eldest son of the legitimate wife. He loved Liu Shan far more than Cao Cao loved Cao Pi. When he saw that his son wanted to do something practical, he was not angry at all, but happy.
Seeing that his father did not explicitly object, Liu Shan immediately seized the opportunity and continued to flatter him, saying, "Mi Wei said that sugar is a consumable like salt. Once it's used up, you have to buy more. The Jiangnan region, Sichuan, and the Central Plains grasslands are such huge markets. If we had enough sugar, we could make so much money. If we don't make that money, others will."
“I know you’re short of money, so I’m thinking of asking you to lend me some money and then asking others to contribute some, so we can set up a joint-stock company, like Anguo and Sun Luban.”
Money also held a fatal attraction for Liu Bei. After hearing this, Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then poured out some white sugar and licked it with the tip of his tongue. He tasted the sweetness and thought of the huge market. He immediately slammed his fist on the table and said, "Do as you say. I don't believe that Anguo can make poison every time."
When people become greedy, their eyes turn red, and they become blinded by huge profits, thus ignoring potential risks.
Liu Bei was the same; thinking of the huge market and enormous profits, he immediately forgot about the possibility of poison.
Liu Shan was overjoyed upon hearing this and tentatively asked, "Father, how much can you contribute? I've roughly estimated that the start-up capital will be around 10,000 strings of cash. Just give me 2,000 strings, and I'll find others to raise the rest."
Liu Bei immediately refused, saying, "What kind of talk is this? Why share the profits that I can earn independently with others? I've already given you all the money. I'll go borrow money from your mother (Sun Shangxiang) right now. Wait for me."
Liu Shan: "..."
Isn't that a bit too enthusiastic of you?
He's even resorting to scheming against his wife just to eat alone?
However, to be fair, at present, Sun Shangxiang is indeed the richest member of the Liu family. Wu Xian's money was swindled away by Liu Bei long ago, while Sun Shangxiang has accumulated wealth in Jiangdong for many years. Before the land reform, she owned both land and manors, so her family's wealth is definitely more substantial than they imagined.
As expected, Liu Bei easily obtained 20,000 strings of cash from Sun Shangxiang, handed all the money over to Liu Shan, and repeatedly instructed him that this money was borrowed and needed to be repaid, and that Liu Shan must not mess things up.
Liu Shan thumped his chest loudly, then pocketed two thousand strings of cash for himself and gave Mi Wei eighteen thousand strings to use to build a factory in Jiaozhou.
Meanwhile, Guan Xing, unaware that his sugar-making technology had been stolen, rushed to the Sun residence with the white sugar.
The current Sun residence is simply an area enclosed by a bamboo fence, with many tents set up inside; it is extremely rudimentary.
Although the exterior was simple, there were still guards at the gate. After explaining the situation to the sentry, the sentry went into the mansion to report and returned a moment later to bow and say, "Marquis Shence, Lord Qi said he is not feeling well and will not be receiving guests today. The Second Miss also said that she will live by herself from now on and will stay at her parents' home with her child and will not be coming back. Please return."
Guan Xing: "..."
It seems Xiao Hu already knows he's pregnant; this is troublesome.
Knowing he would be turned away, Guan Xing didn't say anything and turned to leave. He left decisively and without hesitation. But when he got back to his tent, he frowned. What should he do?
No, we need to call in outside help. You, Gongsun Quan of Qi, are claiming to be ill, so I'll find someone who makes it impossible for you to claim illness, or someone who, even if you are truly ill, will have to drag your ailing body out to greet you.
Thinking this, Guan Xing decisively got up and rushed to the palace, which was also surrounded by bamboo poles, but he did not see Liu Bei. Instead, he turned left and went to Sun Shangxiang's residence.
After announcing his arrival, he entered the tent and greeted Sun Shangxiang, who was sitting at the table, with a smile, "Aunt, your nephew has come to see you."
Whether it was because of the unification of Jiangnan, which freed her from being caught between her maternal and paternal families and suffering mistreatment, or because of Liu Bei's care, Sun Shangxiang's complexion was much better than when she was in Jiangdong. Upon seeing Guan Xing, she couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You little rascal, you don't come to the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. You must have something to ask me for help."
Guan Xing said with a forced smile, "As expected of you, Aunt, you have such keen insight. Here's what happened..."
Sun Shangxiang's face fell upon hearing this, and she instinctively touched her abdomen. Xiao Hu was already pregnant, but she wasn't. When would she be able to have a child of her own?
Looks like Old Liu's gotta step up his game. That bastard just took 20,000 strings of cash from me; that money's not easy to get, he'll have to pay me back with his body...
Sun Shangxiang pondered for a moment and said, "You should go back first. Come pick me up tomorrow morning and we'll go back to the Sun residence together."
"Alright, you're busy..." Guan Xing bowed again, took a few steps back, and turned to leave.
Sun Shangxiang smiled and said, "This kid, I knew he wouldn't think of me unless it was something."
Sun Shangxiang felt somewhat grateful to Guan Xing. Back in Jiangdong, it was Guan Xing who stepped in to ease her relationship with Guan Yu, allowing her to reconcile with Liu Bei and even be made empress.
If it weren't for Guan Xing's actions in Jiangdong, who knows what would have happened to her. In that respect, she owes Guan Xing a huge favor.
Guan Xing went home to rest for the night, and at dawn he rushed to the palace to pick up the empress. When he arrived at the palace gate, he was dumbfounded. Today, Sun Shangxiang was wearing the empress's crown and riding in the empress's carriage, and she was very imposing.
This isn't a visit to her parents' home; it's clearly an ostentatious display of power by the Empress at the Duke of Qi's residence. It seems Sun Shangxiang harbors quite a bit of resentment towards her brother.
Imagining the wonderful scene of Sun Quan bowing and scraping to Sun Shangxiang as a subject, Guan Xing was overjoyed. He jogged forward, bowed to Sun Shangxiang, and then followed the carriage happily toward the Sun residence.
When the news reached the Sun family, Sun Quan was furious and berated Guan Xing severely. "I just didn't let you in. Did you have to call in outside help? Can't we discuss things properly?"
Despite the scolding, the work still had to be done. Sun Quan, holding his nose, called his family to come out and greet the emperor. After waiting outside for a moment, when the imperial carriage appeared, he quickly stepped forward with his son, bowed, and said, "Your subject, Sun Quan, Duke of Qi, pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress."
That's incredibly frustrating. Before, he was the ruler and Sun Shangxiang was the subject. She had no choice but to obey whatever he said. Now, in this new game, he's the subject. It's so incredibly stifling.
Looking at the meek and submissive Sun Quan, Sun Shangxiang felt sweeter than if she had eaten the white sugar that Liu Bei had sent her. Damn Sun Zhongmou, you've finally met your match.
With Guan Xing's help, Sun Shangxiang stepped down from the imperial carriage and approached Sun Quan, saying, "Duke of Qi, please rise. I have nothing else to do today; I simply wanted to come back to offer incense to my mother. Is that alright?"
"It's convenient, Your Highness, please." Sun Quan quickly stepped aside, and only after Sun Shangxiang had passed did he raise his head and glare fiercely at Guan Xing.
Guan Xing retorted defiantly, "Father-in-law, are you feeling any better?"
Sun Quan was so angry he wanted to punch someone. "Don't you know I'm faking my illness?"
Sun Shangxiang continued forward, and after a few steps, Sun Deng and Sun Lu ran over and jumped into her arms, calling "Auntie, Auntie" repeatedly. Sun Shangxiang affectionately stroked their heads.
Then Bu Lianshi led the ladies and her daughter Sun Luyu to pay their respects. Sun Shangxiang helped them up one by one, and finally walked up to Sun Luyu, pinched her nose and scolded her with a smile: "You little girl, you're a mother now, why are you still acting like a child?"
Sun Luyu said coquettishly, "What?!"
While acting coquettishly, she didn't forget to glare fiercely at Guan Xing, who immediately gave her a flirtatious wink, only to be met with a roll of his eyes in return.