After showing the invitation to the servants at Earl Kron's court, Wickham and Bert entered the brightly lit hall without incident. At this time, the hall was already full of people, and the invited men and women gathered in small circles to talk about the latest news in London.

The new aristocracy, close to the bourgeoisie, spontaneously gathered, and they were more concerned with the development of mines in their territories and the recent boom in canal investment. The old-fashioned landed aristocracy talked about the new agricultural techniques they had adopted on their estates, but more often about the election of councillors in their constituencies.

From this small detail, we can see the subtle differentiation of the British aristocracy. The aristocracy, who were willing to invest their money in new industries, became more and more closely connected with the new bourgeoisie, and in the near future would represent the interests of both the aristocracy and the industrial and commercial bourgeoisie, and would take over the political and economic power of Britain. This new class of power, half aristocracy and half bourgeoisie was the cornerstone of the continued existence of English-style constitutionalism in the British Isles after the French Revolution.

The economic status of the conservative and stubborn old-style landed aristocracy was greatly affected by the two industrial revolutions that followed, and they lost their power in the parliamentary reforms a few decades later, slowly withdrawing from the core power class of the empire.

And what Wickham has to do in the future is to squeeze into the circle of the new aristocracy and grab his own place in the circle of power of the empire on which the sun never sets. However, at present, with the status of Wickham, he is not qualified to talk to those new nobles, and only by constantly increasing his strength will he naturally gain the recognition of these new nobles.

But before that, Wickham needed to obtain a hereditary title from the king, and to gain sufficient status and power in industry and commerce. And this acquisition of the textile mill is the first step in Wickham's plans to do so!

As soon as Mrs. Clemente entered the ballroom, she swam back to the sea like a fish starved of water, and completely ignoring Bert Chelsea's feelings, accepted the invitation of a middle-aged nobleman and slid onto the dance floor in pairs.

Wickham, on the other hand, was looking around the hall, trying to find the familiar figure in the crowd of guests, but he didn't see the pretty figure a few minutes later. Wickham had mixed feelings, a faint disappointment in his heart, but he was afraid of what to say when he met Daisy, who was already a wife.

Bert Chelsea saw that Mrs. Clement had no face at all, and was openly looking for her next lover in front of herself, with a look of resentment on her face. But Bert had nothing to do but be angry, for the Lady Clement was a rich widow who had no need to rely on Bert's money, so she could look for the lover she liked as she pleased, regardless of the feelings of her ex-lover.

Wickham looked at the deflated Bert and said with some schadenfreude: "I said Bert, your new lover seems to have brought you a green hat." ”

Bert reluctantly glared at the pair of dog men and women dancing on the dance floor, then turned his head and asked, "George, what do you mean by cuckold?" But judging by your expression, I don't think it's going to be a good word! ”

"Cuckold is a Chinese term that means that a wife has physically betrayed her husband. I don't think that Mrs. Clement seems to have found a new love so soon that she doesn't think of you as a legitimate lover. Wickham laughed twice, as the best friend, he would never let go of any opportunity to make fun of Bert in words.

Bert rolled his eyes angrily and shrugged his shoulders indifferently: "It's just fun anyway, it doesn't matter." Don't talk about this, it's better to get down to business, I seem to have seen Sir Wood, and I'll take you there. ”

Wickham took a glass of brandy from the waiter's plate next to him and took a sip: "Oh? Then please take me there. ”

"Sir Wood, it's a pleasure to see you here. I haven't seen you for two years, but your spirit is still as good as ever, and it's really embarrassing for us young people. Bert greeted an old man in his sixties, with some gray hair, who seemed to be Sir Wood, who owned the steaming mill.

Sir Wood said sorry to the man next to him, then frowned, not remembering for a moment who the young man who greeted him warmly: "I'm sorry, I don't know if you are?" ”

Bert's smile froze for a moment, and then he continued enthusiastically: "Sir Wood, my father is none other than your partner John Chelsea, and I am his son, Bert Chelsea, whom we met at a banquet two years ago. ”

Sir Wood reacted with an apologetic look on his face: "Oh, I remember, you're that kid from Chelsea." Haha, when you snuck away to join the army two years ago, your father turned all over London...... I'm sorry I didn't recognize you just now, but you know, this person doesn't have a good memory when he gets older......"

Hearing Sir Wood mention the embarrassment of running away to join the army two years ago, Bert's face showed an embarrassed look, after all, it was not honorable to say anything about it. Bert was afraid that the old man would continue to break the news, so he hurriedly motioned to Wickham to come forward: "Sir, this is my friend Major George Wickham, who is currently serving in the Quartermaster Department of the War Department. ”

Wickham smiled and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir Wood. ”

In order to attract Sir Wood's attention, Bert told Wickham's position when he introduced it, after all, many merchants in the textile industry have to deal with the quartermaster departments of the War Office and the Admiralty, after all, military orders are a big piece of fat. In particular, the uniforms used by the officers were cut from high-quality woolen wool, and the old business of Sir Wood's family happened to be the woolen textile industry.

Sure enough, upon hearing that Wickham was serving in the Quartermaster Service of the War Office, Sir Wood's attitude quickly became enthusiastic: "Hello, Mr. Wickham. I didn't expect you to be a major officer of the kingdom at a young age, you are really young and promising. ”

Wickham didn't take the other party's compliment to heart, the twenty-four-year-old major is still quite common in the British ** team, and the god who became the British Prime Minister at the age of twenty-seven is really young and promising.

"Sir Wood, I wonder if I have the pleasure of inviting you over there to taste the brandy of Earl Crown?"

Sir Wood knew that he had something to say, and that he also wanted to have a relationship with the Quartermaster of the Army, so he nodded in agreement, "Of course, Major Wickham, I have heard that the Earl of Crown has a good collection of brandies, and we can have a good taste." ”

So the three of them found a place to sit down in the lounge area of the hall, and then chatted while tasting the brandy in the cup. Sir Wood was a man of great knowledge, having fought in the Seven Years' War as a junior officer in his youth, and even personally killed several French Yankees during the conquest of Canada, and his knighthood was earned at that time.

chatting with this old man, Wickham didn't feel bored, but had a sense of getting more and more energetic in it. With Bert's gag on the side, the whole conversation was in a very good mood.

When the two sides became acquainted, Wickham stated his purpose: "Sir Wood, I heard that you have a medium-sized cotton textile factory that uses a steam engine?" ”

Speaking of the cotton mill under his name, Sir Wood looked moved, and then said quietly: "Major Wickham, you are right, two years ago I invested in a water-powered spinning mill outside London that was on the verge of closure, and then replaced it with new machinery and equipment. Although my cotton mill is small, the machinery is definitely one of the most advanced in England! ”

"Why, Major Wickham is interested in the textile industry? If you want to invest in the cotton textile industry, I can introduce you to a few machine manufacturers, definitely at the best price. "Sir Wood has been immersed in the mall for many years, and has long been slippery like a loach, and he has only been talking about Wickham's intentions for a long time.

Wickham didn't want to go around in circles with the old fox in the mall, so he said directly: "Sir Wood, let's be honest with you, I want to buy the textile mill under your name, I don't know if Sir has any intention of selling?" ”

Sir Wood's face flashed with joy, this was an opportunity for him to shake off his baggage! A few years ago, the cotton textile industry was in a mess, and many people who invested in the cotton textile industry made a lot of money. Sir Wood's business was mainly focused on the traditional woolen textile industry, but seeing that the cotton textile industry was so profitable, he also invested in a spinning mill.

While Sir Wood was constantly investing in the equipment of the factory and preparing to do a big job, Britain ushered in the first economic crisis since the Industrial Revolution, the textile industry was hit hard, the price of cotton yarn was faster than jumping off buildings, and a large number of textile factories closed down. The cotton mill, where Sir Wood had placed high hopes, was tragic, with a large backlog of products in the warehouse and no buyers, and the factory was forced to shut down.

After this blow, Sir Wood decided to be honest with the woolen textile industry he was familiar with, and he intended to sell the cotton mill with its new equipment.

It's a pity that today's cotton textile industry is full of sorrow, which one will not be long-eyed and jump into the pit? Even if someone comes to the door to make an offer, the price is outrageously low. Sir Wood spent a lot of money just to update the equipment, how could he sell the factory cheaply? So the sale of the factory dragged on, and Sir Wood was not in a hurry to ask for the money anyway.

"Really? But Mr. Wickham, this factory is completely brand new and to be honest I have no intention of selling it yet. "Sir Wood, who has been a businessman for many years, knows the human psyche very well, and he would not have agreed to Wickham's request with a sip of wine, or his factory would have depreciated considerably, and he would not do such a foolish thing.

Bert, who served as the assistant, didn't know whether it was really stupid or fake, and said with a big grin: "Sir Wood, with all due respect, everyone knows that the cotton textile industry is in a recession now, and besides, Sir Your factory has not been open for two months, so it is better to sell it to Major Wickham than to dry it up." ”

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Sir Wood's face at Bert's words, but he quickly returned to normal: "Although my factory is not yet open, as the seasons change, winter is followed by spring, and perhaps the textile industry will soon recover." ”

It has to be said that Sir Wood's instincts as a businessman are very sharp, but unfortunately, many people have fallen in the darkness before dawn, because no one can know when the dawn of the textile industry will come, except for Wickham, who has crossed over.

Wickham did not answer Sir Wood's words, but said directly: "Sir Wood, please believe that I have come this time with sufficient sincerity, not at all to amuse you. You and I all know what the textile industry is like now. If you are interested in selling, I will definitely give you a satisfactory price. ”

Sir Wood was silent for a moment before he spoke: "Since you have come with sincerity, Major Wickham, I have no choice but to cut my love. Well, I invested £80,000 in this factory, and now it's yours for £75,000. ”

In order to build a good relationship with Wickham, Sir Wood made a price of conscience. But Wickham didn't pay so much money, and no one's money was blown by the wind: "Sir Wood, your price is indeed not high, if it were in the prosperity of the textile industry, this factory would be worth at least 100,000 pounds." But the current economy is sluggish, and this factory is probably not worth the price, right? You know, there are still a large number of factories in Manchester that have been shut down for sale. ”

Sir Wood held back the unhappiness in his heart and asked, "How much does the Major think that factory is worth?" ”

Wickham held out five fingers and said, "Fifty thousand pounds!" ”

"Fifty thousand pounds? Major, you're not kidding, this factory is the latest steam engine factory, and the most you can buy for the equipment in the factory is this. Sir Wood snorted, and his tone began to grow a little cold.

Wickham shook his head and said to the old man with a blank look, "Sir, I'm not kidding! If you agree to the price, I will pay the £50,000 in cash in one lump sum, and I will never be in arrears! ”

The cash payment was made in full and there was no arrears, which was why Wickham was sure that the old man would accept the price. Therefore, at this time, including many acquisitions in later generations, it is relatively rare to pay full cash to acquire enterprises, and most large-amount company acquisitions are still traded by share swaps, stock and bond mortgages, etc.

"Oh?" Old Man Wood was a little moved, being able to pay the money in one go, which is indeed relatively rare during an economic crisis, "Well, if you can guarantee a cash transaction, I have no problem with this price." "Although they have lost some money, their Wood family can get out of the cotton textile industry as soon as possible.

Seeing that the old man agreed to his own price, Wickham raised his glass with some joy: "Sir Wood, happy cooperation." "Saving £25,000 in one fell swoop, Wickham is certainly in a good mood.

"It's a pleasure to work with." Sir Wood raised his glass with a relaxed face.

Of course, what the two reached was only a preliminary intention to cooperate, and the real deal would have to wait for Wickham to inspect the factory on the spot and feel that there was no problem, so that a professional lawyer and a notary public could complete the deal.

Later, Sir Wood regretted the deal, for he had just sold the mill and the cotton textile industry had bottomed out on the military orders, but he had become one of those who "died" before dawn.