EBE Chapter 123 Losing is Gaining
Chapter 123 Losing is Gaining
Zhou Chang didn't know if Pei Li would eavesdrop outside after he left. To be on the safe side, she had to pretend the purpose of her visit, so she took the initiative to speak first: "Master Yuan, I have something to ask you, please enlighten me."
Yuan Yu bowed on the plank bed as a gesture of respect: "Your Highness, may I ask, regarding the matter of making frostbite ointment for the court, I will speak frankly."
Yuan Qi had just met his father for such a long time, so he must have told his father everything that had happened.
Zhou Chang nodded: "It seems that Miss Yuan has already told Master Yuan that this matter concerns state affairs and the war situation, but time is too tight. I wonder if Master Yuan has a quick solution?"
Yuan Yu was confident and thoughtless: "I have already told He Xi just now. Your Highness, don't worry about the rest. Although it may not be possible to gather 10,000 snakes in such a short time, we still have more than half of them. Even if we really can't, we still have a backup plan."
There was only an oil lamp on the square table in front of Zhou Chang. The table was not big, and he was very close to Yuan Yu. While talking, he couldn't help but look at Yuan Yu a few more times, and suddenly he was surprised.
Yuan Yu was wearing a relatively clean white prison uniform with a large black word "Prisoner" written on the front of his chest.
He looked to be around fifty years old, with grey hair. Having been imprisoned with his life or death in danger, he must have been haggard and depressed, if not emaciated. However, his eyes were bright and he looked energetic.
What does it mean for a person to be optimistic and strong, and to what extent?
Zhou Chang had never thought about it carefully before, but now when he saw Yuan Yu opposite him, he felt a little touched.
Yuan Yu did not appear to have been subjected to any severe torture, but his mental state did not seem to be affected by the imprisonment at all. This showed that he must have experienced many ups and downs and would not be easily defeated.
"What's the backup plan?" Zhou Chang could still have an equal conversation with Yuan Qi, but he felt like an elementary school student in front of Yuan Yu.
"It doesn't matter if we can't make so much frostbite cream in a short period of time. Your Highness can still purchase a batch of ready-made ones and then improve and refine them. I have already given instructions to congratulate you in this regard." As a businessman, Yuan Yu naturally has a quick mind in this regard.
Zhou Chang nodded, she had also thought of this.
Yuan Yu continued, "In addition, there is always a way to solve problems. If we want to deliver the cream to the front on time, we don't have to prepare all of it in Jindu. Your Highness Prince Yi can make a promise to His Majesty if it cannot be completed by the deadline. As long as His Majesty gives a date for delivery to the front, the Yuan family will definitely deliver all the frostbite cream."
When he said the last word "Yuan family", his whole demeanor changed drastically. The humility and caution he had shown in front of Zhou Chang disappeared, and he suddenly became very heroic.
Zhou Chang couldn't help but bow to Yuan Yu and said, "Since Master Yuan said so, I feel much more relieved."
"Haha, that's nothing. Speaking of this, I heard that the court only gave 20,000 taels of silver, and there is only one month. No one can get such an order smoothly." Yuan Yu smiled, and his face, which was originally pale because of being in the cell without seeing the sun, flushed a little, and became more lively. "But in this world, if you lose, you gain..."
Zhou Chang had heard Yuan Qi say this before, but he never understood what it meant.
Yuan Yu seems to always say this, as if it were a catchphrase: "Loss is gain. Don't worry, Your Highness. The purchase price of the court has always been three to ten times the market price. There is always a way to think of it. Unfortunately, it is inconvenient for me to be here, but He Xi is the most capable steward of the Yuan family in Jindu. He will definitely cooperate with Your Highness."
"That's even better." Zhou Chang understood that Yuan Yu was worried that she would lose money or encounter difficulties, so he made this arrangement. "Thank you, Master Yuan."
Yuan Yu waved his hand: "How can I deserve a word of thanks from Your Highness? If it weren't for Your Highness, I would have died and become a ghost who died unjustly. Now that Your Highness can say that I am innocent in front of His Majesty, it is not in vain."
Zhou Chang was not humble either.
"Your Highness Prince Yi," Yuan Yu suddenly lowered his voice and approached from the other side of the table, "What do you plan to do about the other matter?"
Zhou Chang was unable to react for a moment and had no idea what Yuan Yu was asking.
Yuan Yu asked more clearly: "Your Highness Prince Yi is betting with Your Majesty on the outcome of this war, using one million taels of silver and his own demotion to leave Jindu. Are you sure?"
If it were before, Zhou Chang would blurt out the word "yes", but since the snow fell in June, she couldn't be sure.
So I can only remain silent.
Yuan Yu did not show any disappointment or worry, but his voice suddenly became softer, his eyes drifting away: "It doesn't matter, many things are determined by human effort, the same principle applies to the battlefield and the business world. As for other aspects, I have just instructed congratulations, the Yuan family also has a lot of exchanges with the Shen Kingdom, the Shen Kingdom is remote and has limited resources, most of the medicinal materials and food have to be purchased from our neighboring country. Our Yuan family will do our best to cut off the supply of medicinal materials and food."
Zhou Chang didn't expect Yuan Yu to be so calm and optimistic, and he felt a bit of respect for him from the bottom of his heart.
After Yuan Yu finished speaking, he withdrew his gaze, his expression suddenly became serious, he slowly stood up and looked towards the cell door.
Zhou Chang had a feeling that Yuan Yu had not yet opened his mouth to say what he really wanted to say.
Yuan Yu slowly walked to her side, took his teacup, dipped his fingers in the tea, and began to write on the table.
Zhou Chang could only watch.
There was a sudden silence in the cell, which was really weird.
After a while, Zhou Chang was barely able to recognize the words "Prince Duan", "bribe", "evidence", and "account book" in the reflection of the water stains on the table.
But he still couldn't understand what Yuan Yu wanted to say, so he could only make small talk: "It seems that Master Yuan is much more familiar with many officials in the court than I am."
Yuan Yu glanced at the door of the cell and began to beat around the bush: "Your Highness, the Yuan family can not only make money from the court, but also have other ways to make money. I wonder if Your Highness is willing to participate?"
Zhou Chang's eyes flashed with surprise, but he was still confused. He could only ask dryly, "How can I participate?"
The last trace of hesitation in Yuan Yu's eyes disappeared, and he said in a low voice: "In business, if you lose, you will make money. However, we still have to pay attention to the words 'honesty' and 'trust'. I believe in Your Highness."
"The secret of business lies in the word 'business'. Why does it mean that?" Zhou Chang was not used to playing charades like this.
Yuan Yu was afraid that Zhou Chang didn't understand, so he bent down and whispered quickly in his ear: "We have the account books and evidence of Prince Duan's bribery."
After saying this, he raised his body and raised his voice, and said another hint: "The way of doing business is like fighting a war. Going forward requires courage and the momentum of ten thousand men. Going backward requires defense and the caution of preventing danger before it happens."
Zhou Chang's eyes widened in surprise, and he said, "I see." "Which one is the one with extraordinary talent?"