After watching for who knew how long, Gu Zhongxun suddenly rose and walked over to a man who looked to be around thirty.
The man was startled by Gu Zhongxun, who was dressed in an official’s robes.
Just as he was about to kneel, Gu Zhongxun stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. Then he crouched down so they were at eye level.
“Do you get enough to eat?”
The man looked completely bewildered, then hurriedly nodded. “There’s plenty of food here. You can even go back for more after you finish.”
Gu Zhongxun asked again, “Where are you from?”
The man replied, “Qingxia County.”
Gu Zhongxun’s eyes widened in surprise. “That far?”
“What made you come all the way to Suining City for work? Who do you have at home?”
Seeing that Gu Zhongxun remained gentle and amiable throughout, the man’s tense nerves gradually relaxed.
“I heard they were hiring here, so I came. I’ve got an elderly mother, a wife, and children at home. They’re all waiting for me to bring my wages home for the New Year so we can have a prosperous one.”
Gu Zhongxun asked, “How long have you been working here? Have you received your wages?”
The man nodded. “I came half a month ago, and they paid me yesterday—more than three hundred copper coins.”
Then he added with a broad smile, “They provide food and lodging, so by New Year’s I’ll be able to earn a whole tael of silver. It’s all thanks to County Princess Linghui. Now there’s hope for better days ahead. I’ll come again next year.”
Gu Zhongxun’s eyes flickered, and for a moment he seemed lost in thought.
No one knew how long they continued talking. He only returned to himself after the man finished eating and left.
Gu Zhongxun sat on a stool without saying a word, staring blankly ahead. He looked as though he were lost in thought—or perhaps deep in contemplation.
After a long while, he suddenly stood up and said, “All right, let’s go back.”
It was the court’s money, after all. If it could bring smiles to the faces of so many common people and give them hope for the future, then it did not matter if Song Jinzhao made a little money from it.
As they departed, cries of “We respectfully see off County Princess Linghui!” and “We respectfully see off the Provincial Administration Commissioner!” rang out across the heavens and earth. Song Jinzhao had arranged it in advance.
Those in positions of power generally enjoyed being flattered to some degree. The higher the hat placed on their heads, the harder it was to take it off.
The day after returning to the post station, Song Qiming came to see Song Jinzhao in high spirits.
“Gu Zhongxun said that each bag of cement will cost fourteen copper coins. After the New Year, he wants the first one hundred thousand bags delivered to Songzhou City, with payment made in full upon delivery.”
Their bottom price was twelve copper coins. They had expected a lengthy round of haggling, but the final price had exceeded their expectations.
Song Jinzhao said, “Tell Gu Zhongxun that we already have one hundred thousand bags in stock. We can give them to him first, and he can take them with him when he leaves. I’ll arrange for people to escort the shipment.”
Song Qiming’s mind raced.
“Is Elder Sister worried that Gu Zhongxun will lower the price once the smokeless coal is produced?”
“Taking precautions is always wise,” Song Jinzhao replied. “If he tries to force the price down, we can use the same method again.”
“Still, based on what we observed yesterday, Gu Zhongxun does care about the common people. He has compassion for those suffering among the populace. You can play up their hardships a little more when you negotiate with him in the future.”
Song Qiming nodded. “I already sent a letter to Yukun yesterday and had someone deliver it. We’ll see whether he can find a way to have Gu Huaiyuan transferred to the capital.”
“With the Dongfang family’s help, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Song Jinzhao lowered her eyes and thought for a moment before returning to the desk and picking up her brush.
“When you ask someone for help, you have to offer them something in return. The Dongfang family is extremely influential in the imperial court, and your relationship with Dongfang Yukun alone won’t hold forever. We need to tie them to our ship.”
Curious, Song Qiming walked over to see what Song Jinzhao was writing.
When he saw that she intended to give the other party twenty percent of the coal factory’s profits, he was utterly stunned.
“Isn’t twenty percent too much?”
Elder Sister had said that the smokeless coal’s profits would amount to at least several million taels of silver. Twenty percent would be hundreds of thousands of taels, or even more.
Song Jinzhao’s expression remained calm, but her tone was firm.
“The Dongfang family has served in government for three generations. Dongfang Yuanbin’s former students and protégés are spread throughout the six ministries of the imperial court and all across the realm. Ordinary favors mean little to the Dongfang family. We have to offer them substantial benefits. If we keep asking for things without giving anything in return, even the best relationship will eventually develop cracks.”
Song Qiming nodded slowly. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Then we’ll wait until next spring. At that time, we’ll send them the coal factory’s profits together with the contract.”
Song Jinzhao gave a slight nod. “Very well. Have Lanxi deliver them personally.”
