After laughing, Zhang Xi Zhengse asked, "What are you going to do with those long-staple cotton?" Sell it directly in the border area, or transport it to the capital or Jiangnan, and then sell it at a high price? ”

Huang Yi'an smiled: "I'm going to leave some for my own use first." As you know, in recent years, the winter has become colder and longer, and it is always right to stock more cotton, let alone rare long-staple cotton.

The rest of the money will be used to compensate for part of the wages of the soldiers and civilians in the border areas, and the price will definitely be cheaper than the cotton they buy themselves.

The rest is sold locally at market price. ”

Zhang Xi nodded and praised: "You think very carefully. ”

After a pause, he smiled again: "However, I didn't expect you to sell cotton at the market price, I thought that with the love of the queen, I would sell it at a reduced price!" ”

There was no criticism in this remark, it was purely a joke between friends, and I was a little surprised.

Huang Yi'an explained with a smile: "If the price is low and the profit is insufficient, who will follow us and compete to plant long-staple cotton in the northwest?" Relying on the strength of the two of us alone is just a drop in the bucket, even if it solves the urgent need, it is not a long-term solution after all. ”

Zhang Xi's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands and praised: "You're right! How could I not have thought of this? Alas......"

Seeing this, Huang Yi'an joked and said: "You are a noble girl from a high family, you grew up in fine clothes and food, and you never worry about your livelihood, how do you know these calculations?"

"I thought you wouldn't know that!"

Zhang Xi thought about it, so he stopped sighing, and said with an open-minded smile: "What you said is also right, this is my blessing, I don't know how to cherish the blessing, but I still have a grudge!" ”

"Sister Zhang has always been open-minded." Huang Yi'an smiled and praised.

Zhang Xiyi raised his eyebrows and calmly accepted Huang Yi'an's praise.

"Is the cotton business in the northwest still to be handed over to Master Huang Er?" Zhang Xi asked with a smile.

Huang Yi'an nodded and said pleadingly: "It's just that my second uncle is used to being a rich man who is a little rich, and the cotton planting business in the northwest will expand in the future, but I'm afraid he won't be able to cope with it alone."

"The Huang family has been humble for generations, and now although it is gradually improving because of me, the foundation is insufficient. Therefore, I would like to ask Sister Zhang to help find a reliable steward to take care of this matter, and the second uncle is only responsible for the overall inspection.

"I don't feel at ease when this matter is handed over to others, so I can only entrust you to Sister Zhang."

Zhang Xi agreed: "What is this? Don't worry, I'll get you covered! If you really can't find a suitable one for a while, then just let Zhang Hong follow Huang Er, just have this year's experience, get started quickly! ”

Although she is already married, she is just a steward, and she still does such a good thing for the queen to benefit the country and the people, and her father and mother will definitely agree.

Huang Yi'an couldn't help laughing and said, "If Second Steward Zhang knew that you pushed him out so easily, I'm afraid he would cry sadly!" ”

Zhang Xi raised his eyebrows and said: "Doing things for the queen's mother, and wronging him?" He's beautiful! ”

Huang Yi'an took Zhang Xi's hand and said with a smile: "I know Sister Zhang's kindness. However, Zhang Er's steward is a servant of the British government, so it is not appropriate to give it out like this. I'm afraid that the British government will be willing to give it when the time comes, but my second uncle won't dare to accept it. ”

Relatives are already easy to be suspicious of the imperial power, let alone have a close relationship with the military power?

Zhang Xi said this, he didn't think about it deeply, but now when he heard Huang Yi'an say this, he suddenly understood, and hurriedly said: "Don't worry, I understand." It's just a steward, I promise to find a capable one for Huang Er's master! ”

"Then I'll thank Sister Zhang first!" Huang Yi'an thanked with crooked eyebrows.

……

The Chung Yeung Festival is coming in the blink of an eye.

Before the banquet began, the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces was considerate and specially granted Huang Yi'an's plea to reunite with her family.

After greetings, Huang Yi'an told Huang Lun about what he had agreed with Zhang Xi the day before yesterday.

"Niangniang is very thoughtful." Huang Lun replied, "When I leave the palace, I will send someone to the British Mansion to deliver the post." ”

"It doesn't have to be." Huang Yi'an said with a smile, "I entrusted this matter to Sister Zhang, although she is the daughter of the Zhang family, but now she is the wife of the Li family, and it is not suitable for the second uncle to go to the British Mansion; Second, it is not appropriate for our family to get too close to the nobles who hold real power, especially military power.

"Second uncle, just wait for Sister Zhang to find a suitable candidate, and send someone to inform you."

Huang Lun hurriedly responded.

Huang Yi'an said again: "It's just that this suitable candidate is not so easy to find for a while, and the cotton that can be harvested in the northwest can't wait in the field all the time." Fortunately, there are not many long-staple cotton plants this year, so the second uncle can write to the Yang brothers and tell them to dispose of it according to the regulations. If you don't understand, you can ask Zhang Hong, the second steward of the British government, to help. I have already entrusted the Duchess of England. ”

Although she had already told Zhang Xi the day before yesterday, Zhang Hong was from the British Duchess after all, not from General Li's Mansion, so it was reasonable that she should personally tell the British Duchess.

Huang Lun said yes again and again.

After the important matter was entrusted, Huang Yi'an didn't have time to gossip with his family, so the palace maid next to Empress Dowager Li came to invite.

Huang Yi'an had to suppress his full words, and reluctantly sighed: "When the banquet is over, I will let you talk." ”

Everyone in the Huang family said yes again and again.

But in the end, Huang Yi'an still couldn't talk to his mother's family properly, because there was an accident during the banquet.

At that time, Huang Yi'an was sitting at the head of the queen mother of the two palaces, socializing with the relatives and relatives of the same clan, Hongzhu suddenly came in quietly from outside the hall, walked to her in a hurry, and whispered a few words in her ear.

Huang Yi'an's face suddenly changed slightly.

Fortunately, she, the queen with a low background and an empty palm phoenix seal, has never been the focus of everyone's compliments, at this time, all the ladies are talking about the interesting stories of the Double Ninth Festival in the past few years around the queen mother of the two palaces, and the queen mother of the two palaces smiled, but no one noticed her change in expression for a moment.

Huang Yi'an walked around with a smile and saw that no one noticed her, so she used the excuse of changing clothes and withdrew without a trace.

Empress Dowager Li glanced at her, but didn't think much about it.

People have three urgency, just more clothes, what is there to care about.

As soon as he left the palace gate, Huang Yi'an immediately lowered his face, picked up the secluded path, and hurriedly walked towards the small garden in front of him, asking in a deep voice while walking: "Who is waiting in front of Your Majesty?" ”

Hongzhu kept up with small steps, and whispered back in a panting voice: "Only Grandpa Tian is following." However, after arriving at the Huxin Pavilion, His Majesty dismissed Gonggong Tian. Then the slave maid saw a woman sneakily approaching the Huxin Pavilion, and looked at the costume to see which maid it was. Because of the separation between the two sides, the slave did not dare to alarm His Majesty, so she hurriedly informed the mother. ”