Chapter 61: Generous Speech

"The two masters must have heard that shells were used as currency in ancient times, and since then, people have slowly moved away from barter. Pen Fun Pavilion www.biquge.info my generation of scholars say that money is not good, and they are proud of treating money as dung, and they think that treating money like dung is just a noble virtue of a gentleman, but if there is really no currency in the world, will this be a good thing? Wouldn't it be inconvenient for you to exchange a few buckets of corn for a sheep today, and tomorrow I will exchange a few buckets of corn for a few baskets of vegetables?

Moreover, money is like a scale, which can balance the relationship between all things. For example, this year is a bumper year, and every household has enough warehouses, so the price of grain will inevitably fall. For example, there have been prohibitions in all dynasties, but why can't they last? ”

"Why?" Yu Shi Zhongcheng at the next table blurted out. Just now, he was also slowly attracted by Wang Mai's remarks, and he couldn't help but ask.

"If there is a profit of one percent, money will circulate; With 20% of the profits, business can be active; With fifty percent of the profits, the businessman will take risks; In order to double the profits, the smugglers dare to trample on all the laws of the world; With more than three times the profit, the people dare to commit any crime.

The implementation of Prohibition did help to save food, so it initially appeared that the benefits outweighed the disadvantages. But trying to put an end to people's drinking habits with just a ban is tantamount to a dream. Originally, the profit of ordinary turbid liquor was very low, but with the promulgation of the prohibition of alcohol, the trading of liquor was transferred to the black market, and the profits soared, and the people saw that private brewing was profitable, and rushed to make wine. Prohibition became a dead letter, which not only lost the original liquor tax, but also corrupted the social atmosphere and lowered the morality of the people. ”

"Not bad!" An imperial historian stood up, "In the past, Cao Wei issued a ban on alcohol, but it had some effect in the early days, but not long after, more and more people were selling alcohol privately, so they had to order the abolition of this order. ”

Speaking of which, this matter is also related to Kong Yingda's ancestor Kong Rong. In order to save food, Cao Cao promulgated a ban on alcohol. Kong Rong wrote to Cao Cao to refute it, but what he said was not Wang Mai's economic remarks today, but quoted scriptures and cited examples of Emperor Yao, Confucius, Fan Xu, Liu Bang and others who were good at wine. The two went back and forth, and started a written debate like a dragon and a tiger, and Kong Rong also offended Cao Cao because of this incident, and was killed by Cao Cao a year later.

"Prohibition of alcohol can save food, but after the prohibition of alcohol, there will be endless troubles, in your opinion, what should you do?" Since his ancestors were involved, Kong Yingda had to speak.

"Balance it with money," said Wang Mai, "and impose a high tax on wine, so that the price of wine will naturally rise, and the number of people who drink alcohol will decrease, and the court will increase some of the taxes, so that it is not the best of both worlds." That's why I said that money is a university question, but the world spurns it in every way. What is the sin of money? Like a knife, it can kill people, and it can also be used to punish evildoers, is it good or evil? It's all taken from people. ”

Wang Mai's words are clear and coherent, and they have to be faced, and the scene is silent, and they are all reminiscing about the truth.

"Dayu in the past years of water control, it is to learn the lesson of the deceased father, understand the truth that blocking is better than dredging, and channel the river. Successive dynasties have promulgated strict laws restricting commerce, thinking that commerce will bring disaster to the country and the people, but it is ridiculous not to understand the reason. The Qin Dynasty promulgated draconian laws, eager to put people's every word and deed into the article, but in the end, what did they get in exchange? The soldiers shouted, Hangu lifted, the Chu people were torched, and the poor scorched earth was pitiful. ”

"Good!" A voice like a silver bell praised, and everyone turned their heads to look, but it was Liu Ning'er, the white-clothed girl who had just led everyone. When the girl saw that everyone was looking at him, she stuck out her tongue mischievously.

"That makes sense!" "Loud bang!" Everyone also applauded at this moment, vying to discuss the points in these words.

Wang Mai quietly went downstairs and found Rou Niang who was fiddling with the abacus in the account room.

"Official......" Rou Niang saw Wang Mai coming in, hurriedly bowed and saluted, got up and made a cup of tea for him and brought it to him.

"I'll do these little things myself, and you can concentrate on your own business." Wang Mai took the teacup and said.

"The slave family is too stupid, and he can't learn many things, so he is really entrusted by the officials." Rou Niang's tone was a little low.

"It's okay," Wang Mai comforted her, "It's only been a few days, and your progress is already very fast." ”

"The slave family is just an illiterate woman, I'm afraid that there will be negative officials, it's better for the officials to find someone else, the slave family just do something to serve tea and pour water." In the past few days, she has tried her best to do a good job of Wang Mai's instructions, and often stayed up until the third watch before going to sleep, but only these accounts, until now, there are still a lot of things that have not been understood, so she is a little disheartened.

"No one is born with this, learn slowly, just ask me what you don't understand, in short, this teahouse is handed over to you, you have to take responsibility, don't say something frustrating."

"But ......"

"You can," Wang Mai held her hand, "how many women in this world can be as strong as you and pull a child independently?" For that alone, you're the best candidate. ”

"Official ......" Rou Niang's face was red with shame, what should I do if people see it in broad daylight? He struggled to pull his hand out.

Wang Mai just grabbed it and refused to let go: "You promise me to do things well, and you are not allowed to say these frustrating words again." ”

"I ...... The slave family just agreed......"

"I've been busy lately, so I probably don't have time to be here. But Liu Ning'er is a clever girl, you might as well ask her for more advice. ”

"Good...... I promised, let go of the officials, don't let outsiders see you......" Rou Niang begged with a red face.

"What are you afraid of......

Before Wang Mai's words fell, he heard a sound at the door, and then he reluctantly let go of Rou Niang's soft and boneless hands.

"Sister Rou Niang, let's ...... today" Liu Ning'er had just entered the door, and she saw the sneaky two retreating separately, and looked at her suspiciously for a long time.

"What's the matter?" Wang Mai bluffed up the big man's shelf.

"It turns out that the officials are also here." Liu Ning'er bowed, "Those officials just left, and I was about to make an appointment with the shopkeeper where to eat?" ”

"That's it......" Wang Mai glanced at Liu Ning'er with a weak heart, and found that her expression was as usual, so he continued, "Just now I was discussing you with Rou Niang, but I didn't expect to say that Cao Cao Cao arrived." ”

"Yes," Liu Ning'er smiled when she heard this, "I don't know if the official is with Sister Rou Niang...... What is the matter with the little girl? ”

"Ahem......" Wang Mai choked on a mouthful of tea, and Rou Niang hurriedly patted his back to help him calm down, but she didn't pay attention to the meaning of Liu Ning'er's words.

After a long time, Wang Mai came to his senses and said in a threatening tone: "I just told the shopkeeper that if there is something wrong with the teahouse, I can't figure it out...... Just let her find you, understand? ”

Liu Ning'er looked up at him without fear, still smiling: "The little girl knows." ”

"It's for the best." Wang Mai glared at her and said, "Then you can talk, I won't bother." After speaking, he got up and was about to say goodbye, and walked to the door, but Liu Ning'er took a step sideways and blocked in front of him. Wang Mai couldn't dodge and almost crashed into her.

"Officials go slowly," Liu Ning'er held him and said with big bright eyes, "Today is the opening of our Guoshixuan, if the officials are free, why don't you enjoy your face and eat with us?" ”

This can be considered, Wang Mai looked at Rou Niang, nodded and agreed. went out and called Liu Da to come in, and asked him to buy some wine and food and come back, after all, eating with two women, it is too inconvenient to go outside, it is better to be in his own teahouse, there are tables, chairs and benches, everything is very convenient.

Liu Da went for a long time before coming back, although the commercial area of Guozijian had been built, it had not officially opened for business, and the wine and food were bought outside.

"Today's teahouse is officially open, thanks to the hard work of the two ladies in the past few days, I will do it first as a respect." Wang Mai raised his glass and drank it all.

The second daughter also picked up the wine glass, Liu Ning'er was very bold, and also drank the wine in the glass, but Rou Niang rarely drank alcohol, so it was just a light tea.

"Why did the officials say this? If it weren't for the attention of the officials, I wouldn't have been able to take on such a heavy responsibility. Although she only drank a little wine, Rou Niang's face gradually became a little ruddy.

"Today's big victory depends on the planning of the officials, and the little woman just does what she is ordered to do, and she doesn't dare to be greedy." Liu Ning'er filled the wine for the three of them.

"In short, the two ladies are hard workers, this second glass of wine, I wish our "Guoshixuan" a prosperous business and a lot of money. Wang Mai had another drink.

"If the officials don't say this, we will definitely have a lot of guests." Liu Ning'er turned her head to Rou Niang and smiled, "Sister Rou Niang didn't see it, those old men simply praised our tea to the sky." Originally, I was still a little apprehensive, this kind of fresh drinking method is not used to those people, but I didn't expect that today it was a big victory. ”

"It's all the official's idea." Rou Niang secretly glanced at Wang Mai and said.

"The tea we brew has a bitter taste, why are those officials so sought after, tell us about it." Liu Ning'er helped Wang Mai add wine and asked curiously.

"That's the science of marketing." Wang Mai said with a smile.

"Marketing?" It was the first time the two had heard such a fresh word.

"Marketing is to tap people's needs, and then create a certain atmosphere to promote products. For example, the product we market today is tea, which has always been regarded as an elegant thing by the literati. Then we cater to this so-called elegance and strive to create an atmosphere of elegance, which is the reason for its success. Wang Mai explained.

"And the officials also took these people to bask in the scorching sun for more than an hour," Liu Ning'er said with a smile covering her mouth, "Even if you give them cold water, you will think it is good wine." ”

"Clever." Wang Mai praised.

"Officials are profoundly knowledgeable, and even those imperial histories who are not easy to speak today have been moved by the officials' generous statements." Liu Ning'er said with a smile, and immediately told Rou Niang about Wang Mai's remarks and everyone's reactions.

Wang Mai hurriedly waved his hand and said that he didn't dare, but after a meal, he ate very warmly.