Shipin Dalizheng

Manager Du was also grateful and admired the Third Master. In short, he was very good at dealing with people and did not offend anyone.

Several people sat around a small table. Steward Du introduced himself, "I am from Duke Du's Mansion..."

Rong Tang took a deep breath.

"The steward of the Third House, named Du Zhong, has been ordered by my Lord to come and discuss the affairs of Fuxinzhuang with Prince Rong."

The Duke's Mansion is two realms higher than Rong Tang's Earl's Mansion. He has to stand on tiptoe to see it. Even though he is only the manager of the third house, if something really happens, the Duke's Mansion will be the one to take responsibility.

Rong Tang guessed that the third master of Duke Du's family was born out of wedlock. In a large family, it is usually the legitimate son who inherits the title, while the illegitimate son handles the family affairs.

The Third Master asked the Third Grandmother to set the table. Rong Tang discovered that Rong Erhe came out from the inner room to keep him company. He vaguely felt that today's events had something to do with Rong Erhe.

The Third Grandmother reluctantly killed a chicken again today. When the meal was served on the small table, the Third Grandfather pushed for it. "Steward Du, Prince Tang, eat first and we'll talk after dinner. Steward Du, life in the village is tight and we don't have much to offer. Don't be disgusted. Eat, eat."

Manager Du was a shrewd man and would not be picky about country food, so he started eating immediately.

Rong Tang took out the uneaten dry biscuit from his arms and chewed it a few times with some vegetables, which made Manager Du stunned.

"Prince Rong, are the days really so difficult?"

"It's okay, I have the help of the grandparents and uncles and aunts in the village, so I won't starve to death."

Steward Du looked at Steward Tao in astonishment, "Does the Jian'an Marquis's Mansion have no more money?"

Steward Tao lowered his head firmly. "The Bo Mansion has suffered heavy losses and has been unable to make ends meet for several years. It's all because of us servants that we deserve to die, and let the prince suffer with us."

"No, it's all my fault. I can't even afford to support the servants. I'm not worthy of being their master."

Rong Zhan, Rong Wanli, and Butler Tao silently took a bite of the pancake with heavy expressions.

The Third Master coughed and said, "Prince Tang, why are you saying all this? Come and eat some vegetables, especially a chicken drumstick."

"Well, Master, I'm still in mourning, I can't eat meat."

The Third Master forcefully placed a chicken leg in his bowl and said, "You're still young and growing. Madam is worried about you. Just eat. If anyone finds fault, I'll scold them."

Manager Du had a hard time swallowing the meal.

After the dishes were cleared away, it was time to get down to business. Rong Tang found that the Third Master had no intention of avoiding the conversation, and even Rong Erhe was standing aside.

Du Zhong looked at his father and mother and asked Rong Tang, "Why don't we go back to the prince's residence and talk?"

Rong Tang thought about it and realized that the matter of Fuxinzhuang could not be hidden from the villagers for a few days, so it would not matter if he told it in front of the Third Master and his son.

"This is what's going on, Steward Du. Fuxinzhuang was originally the retreat my grandfather left for the wounded soldiers of the Rong family army. In recent years, it's been occupied by outsiders, leaving the wounded soldiers without a safe haven. I want to sell Fuxinzhuang and find a new way out for them."

He couldn't take people to chase away the so-called "cousin" and embarrass Minister Jin, but wasn't it natural that he should sell his land to make a living since he was so poor?

Du Zhong had a strange look on his face. Although he had received clear instructions from his master when he came, he still didn't understand Master Rong's intentions.

"Sell it to our Duke's Mansion?"

"Yes, I sold all the farmland, farmland, and yards, and then the Duke's Mansion used the entire farmland as a stake in my new business, and I gave the Duke's Mansion 10% of the profits."

"What?" Du Zhong was dumbfounded. "We bought the farm, but it's not ours yet. Do you want to use it as a share?"

Even though he has received the order, as the steward of the Duke's Mansion, he can't just take all the losses!"

"As Steward Du said, the farmland definitely belongs to the Duke's Mansion. With the deed and official seal, there's absolutely no doubt about it. As for whether it's worth using the farmland as a stake, Steward Du can definitely make his own judgment. We'll discuss this in detail later. I only have one condition: in five years, the Duke's Mansion must sell the farmland back to me at its original price."

Du Zhong was not stupid either. This was equivalent to using the farm as collateral to borrow money from the Duke's Mansion. The 10% of the shares he gave was equivalent to the interest. All in all, it seemed that the Duke's Mansion was not at a loss.

It seems that what the Duke meant was that if the world is in need, we should contribute money and effort to help, which is almost at the expense of profitability. If this is the case, wouldn't everyone be happy?

"Twenty percent profit."

There is no way around it. It is the nature of businessmen. If there is profit, then they might as well make more.

Rong Tang and several of his subordinates took out some hard biscuits from their sleeves and started chewing on them.

"One and a half percent, no less."

Rong Tang put his hand on his shoulder and patted him. "Manager Du, the 10% I mentioned is a permanent 10%. If you want 20%, I'll only give you five years, or 15% for ten years. Do the math, which one is more cost-effective?"

Du Zhong frowned. The key point was that he didn't know what business was! What if this business was losing money? Wouldn't it be a waste of money?

But after thinking about it, I decided to do this today even if it means losing money.

He was about to ask for 15% when Rong Tang said, "Or you could first take a look at what I do for a living, and then decide whether to join me or not. No, invest in me."

"So what does Prince Rong do for a living?"

Rong Tang put his arm around his shoulders, led him to the corner, and took out an oil-paper bag from his arms.

From the Third Master's perspective, he saw Rong Tang gesticulating and pointing to the sky and the earth. Steward Du went from being shocked to respectful in just a few breaths.

He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he felt that what they took out was definitely not wine. Then what kind of livelihood could Rong Tang do?

Du Zhong's face was even more joyful than when he arrived. He respectfully took out ten thousand taels of silver from his pocket and said enthusiastically, "Prince Rong, please write the deed right away so that I can go back to the mansion and report to you."

When Rong Tang saw him take out the silver note directly from his arms, he knew that Du Zhong was the one sent by Duke Du to deliver the silver. Regardless of whether the contract was signed today or not, the ten thousand taels would be in his hands.

But money is a dead thing. Once you accept it, the favor will be gone. Only interests can bind people who are originally unrelated together. He will stand in front of you and protect you willingly.

The contract signed by Manager Du only promised a 10% profit, with a perpetual term. As long as the business continued, the profits would never cease.

The third master also pressed his fingerprints as a middleman. Du Zhong completely trusted him and did not doubt him just because he also had the surname Rong.

Rong Tang also took out the land deeds and house deeds of Fuxinzhuang from his pocket and handed them to Du Zhong solemnly. "Please, I hope you will do your best to ensure the livelihood of six hundred heroes."

Du Zhong was in a complicated mood. Their master, Duke Du, was also a retired soldier on the battlefield. If Prince Rong's high-sounding words reached his ears, he would probably give up this little bit of profit.

No, I can't say that in front of the Duke. Du Zhong got into the car without even looking back. He was going back to the city to transfer the ownership.

The carriage swayed slowly and soon entered the city. Du Zhong urged the coachman to drive faster so that the red deed could be exchanged before the government office closed.

The chief clerk did not make things too difficult. One was willing to sell and the other was willing to buy. The silver was paid and the deed was signed. Du Zhong paid more than ten taels of silver as deed tax, and with a big red seal, Fu Xinzhuang changed its owner.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Du Zhong left Jingzhao Prefecture and ran into Nangong Jing returning to the yamen. He asked him, "Is the matter settled?"

Du Zhong saluted quickly and said, "Sir, it's done. Here is the contract."

Nangong Jing looked at the land deeds and house deeds, then the sales deed, shook his head and sighed, "You, you've been tricked by that little rascal."

"Prince, what do you say? Prince Rong tricked me?"

"It's hard to say whether he's tricked you or not, but I'm afraid that tomorrow, everyone in Duke Du's Mansion will have to go out and chase him away."

Du Zhong was still a little confused, "Who are you chasing?"

Nangong Jing threw the land deed of Fuxinzhuang on his head.