Liverpool Old Docks, Gladstone Import & Export Trading Company.

With the sound of horses' hooves roaring in the distance, Gladstone galloped his horse, and as he saw that he was about to reach his destination, he skillfully tightened the reins and slowed down.

The servant who was in charge of parking the transportation for the guests in front of the door saw the appearance of the visitor, and hurriedly quickened his pace to take the reins from Gladstone, who had turned over and dismounted.

"Young Master, why are you here?"

Gladstone didn't explain much, he took off his leather gloves and asked, "Is my father here?" ”

"It's inside, but he's going to go to the Port Authority in a moment."

"To the Port Authority? Finished the morning meeting? ”

"Not long after it ended, you saw the wheel prints left by the guests on the ground, and they were all fresh."

"Don't rush to prepare the car, I'll go talk to him first."

Gladstone shoved his gloves into the servant's hand, and then hurried up the steps to the front of the door and ran towards the third floor.

Unexpectedly, before he reached the third floor, he met his father who was talking and laughing with others on the second floor platform.

The gray-haired gentleman held his cane in one hand and pointed to the sky outside the window with the other: "John, look at the weather today, the rare good sun in winter, accompanied by a slightly cold sea breeze with the smell of sardines, it doesn't look like the day we first met." Just east of the old docks, you bought a pocket watch from me, who was setting up a street stall. ”

Old Gladstone only pouted and shook his head slightly when he heard this: "Robert, you made me miserable that time." I couldn't walk the watch after two weeks, so I took it back to you, but I told me that the repair was an after-sales service, and I needed to add another half shilling. You know, at that time, I couldn't earn a lot of money as an apprentice in a trading company, how could your heart be so black. ”

The old gentleman, who was called Robert, laughed and said, "My old fellow, but didn't you give you a dime in the end?" Not only that, but you beat me up by the collar. However, we don't know each other. Who would have thought that a small clerk in a trading company and an apprentice watchmaker with little learning could get to where they are today. ”

Old Gladstone put his hands on his cane and joked with his old friend: "There is nothing unexpected about it, I have always believed that young people always have infinite possibilities." And I think the main reason why you're successful is because your nostalgia is mostly used for export. Customers can't swim across the Atlantic to settle accounts with you, right? ”

The old gentleman was not annoyed when he heard this, and he replied humorously: "It's not a big deal, John, don't you have a ship?" You ship the customers over, and we will split the after-sales service in half. You can rest assured, although I now sell tens of thousands of watches in North and South America every year, the yield rate is not as low as it used to be. If you bring me two boats a year, it should be about the same.

By the way, isn't William idle now? You can let him organize this. To be honest, every time I see William, it's like seeing you when you were younger. Whether it's a business or something else, your little son will always have a good time. ”

Gladstone was about to walk up, but when he heard himself mentioned in the conversation, he paused and froze in place.

"On the company's side, it is enough to have a few of his brothers to help him. As for him, I don't expect much from him, and it's enough to have a serious career. ”

"Hahaha, John, you and I are really in the same mood. When the children are older, they should arrange a serious career for their sons, and their daughters should choose a husband with a serious career for them. ”

"Hehe, that's right. The newspapers were all day long preaching the perverse heresy of free love, and the journalists and writers were talking like evil infidels, and Britain was now the poison of Middle Byron and Shelley. ”

"Alas...... Then again, John, I don't have a good fortune like you, I don't have a son who can inherit a career, only a few girls. Anna married Scotland and Alice married Sussex, although the two aunts were both talents, but because they were both eldest sons, they each had their own inheritance to inherit.

So much so that I can only pin all my hopes on the youngest Catherine. I thought Catherine was so beautiful that I didn't need to worry too much about getting married. But who would have thought that this was a strange girl, and that she didn't like any of the lads I looked up to be outstanding......"

Old Gladstone was alarmed when he heard this.

He asked why the old watchmaker, who had lost his conscience, suddenly became so enthusiastic about him after the meeting.

It's been a long time, and it's been waiting here.

Seeing that the other party did not speak, the old gentleman further hinted: "John, I think the marriage of the girl's family should not be delayed too late. According to our British tradition, girls begin to attend social occasions at the age of sixteen and are usually married before the age of eighteen. If you're over twenty years old, you'll be an old girl. ”

Old Gladstone didn't let go, he just stared at the window glass and said, "Hmm...... This is true for girls, but boys can be a little late. ”

When the old gentleman heard this, he was almost choked up.

Just then, Gladstone hurried up and took off his hat and greeted, "Good afternoon, Mr. Roswell." ”

The old gentleman turned his head and said in surprise: "William, when did you come back?" ”

"Uh......," Gladstone replied, "I only came back yesterday, so I haven't had time to visit you yet." Mr. Roswell, long time no see, are you okay? ”

"Tough! My body is as tough as an old pocket watch that has just been sold! ”

The old gentleman smiled on his face: "Actually, even if you don't come to visit me, it is estimated that I will have to visit you in London until the beginning of spring next year." ”

"You're going to London?" Gladstone asked, "Is there any business to take care of?" ”

"Hmmm! It's really going to talk about business! ”

The old gentleman coughed and said, "I also feel sorry for my little Catherine." The little girl is old, and her mind can't even fit the whole of Liverpool, and a city of London's size has to satisfy her. I thought she would go if she was going, but the social season that started in April would be huge, so I would just buy a watch factory in London and raise her. Anyway, when my old pocket watch can't move anymore, won't this money have to be left to her sooner or later? ”

When Gladstone heard that his sweetheart actually wanted to settle in London, he couldn't help but feel a little excited, and he asked, "Listen to you say that, Catherine will live in London forever in the future?" ”

Where could the young man's little pointer escape the observation of the old pocket watch, Mr. Roswell smiled slightly, and raised his finger in emphasis.

"Not necessarily, it mainly depends on where my future son-in-law lives, and doesn't my wife follow her husband? But one thing I can guarantee is that wherever the young couple goes, my watch business will be done. Alas...... I'm getting older, and it's long past the time to think only about profits. The matter of profit will be left to the new aunt to worry about. ”

Gladstone was about to speak, but before he could speak, his father interrupted him.

Old Gladstone shook his head slightly: "William, didn't you say that you are reflecting on the defeat in the party primary?" Why are you suddenly in the mood to come to the company? ”

"Ahh Gladstone then remembered what was going on: "Father, I do have something to look for you. ”

When Mr. Roswell heard this, he also took his own initiative to take his leave.

He raised his finger and touched the brim of his hat: "William, don't be discouraged, this is just a small setback in the journey of life, you still have a long way to go." When I first set up a street stall, I had no business for several days, and it was not until the fifth day that I opened a small clerk in a trading company, although I was punched in the nose for it. But overall, it's not my problem that honest business is treated rudely. William, my advice to you is also my own business experience for so many years, that is, to make your own money, let them cry. ”

With that, Roswell shook off his tuxedo and hummed a little tune down the stairs.

Old Gladstone watched him come up from the window, and then he said with a dark face: "William, my silly boy! What did you study in three years at Oxford? Even if you have to order this batch of goods, we can't leak the hole cards as soon as we come up during the negotiation! ”

Gladstone heard his father's reprimand, and only then did he wake up from his fantasies.

"I ...... Dad, but this is not a business, this is a marriage. ”

"Marriage is also a business, you have to sell it for a higher price."

Old Gladstone beckoned, and the secretary next to him hurriedly came up and lit his pipe: "William, if we take stocks as an example, you are now undoubtedly a high-performing stock on the stock exchange." Whether it's long or short, your uptrend is on the bright side. Your holdings include not only individual investors like the Duke of Newcastle and Sir Peel, but also strong and solid groups like Oxford and the Tory Party. In the case of long-term popularity, are you now ready to backstab your father, the original shareholder? ”

Gladstone knew that his father was a great trader from an early age, but he still didn't expect that the man in his sixties was still refining himself and even starting to enter the field of finance.

"I ......" Gladstone was a little discouraged, "Dad, I really like Catherine." ”

"Oh! Silly boy, what are you talking about? ”

Old Gladstone patted his son's face lightly: "Liking is just an emotion, but it can't produce value. If you like her and you want to have a love, you can develop a relationship with her. But the relationship doesn't have to be a marriage.

Do you know what marriage represents? Don't believe the newspapers and magazines, Blackwood and the Brit are a piece of stinking shit. Marriage is not an emotional union between two people, but a new social relationship for both husband and wife.

This kind of social relationship is completely positive, you can put it on the table and brag to outsiders, and you can justifiably help yourself to improve your social status and power. You can take advantage of this relationship and make yourself a stronger person.

But William, but you tell me now that you want to marry a watchmaker's daughter? If you just pursue this kind of marriage, then my life will be in vain. You don't have to be the son of Liverpool businessman John Gladstone, but King Street blacksmith John Smith to have such a marriage. ”

Gladstone was silent for a long time, but this time, he argued vigorously, "But, father, Mr. Roswell is no ordinary watchmaker. He's Liverpool's biggest watchmaker! ”

Old Gladstone frowned and asked, "Isn't the biggest watchmaker a clockmaker?" ”

Gladstone asked rhetorically: "Then Liverpool's biggest businessman is not a businessman?" ”

When old Gladstone heard this, not only did he not get angry, but his frown suddenly relaxed.

"That's right! That's right! William, you can think of the problem that way! Do you now know why I didn't let you get involved in the family business? I have been a businessman all my life, and your brothers will be businessmen all their lives. But you're different, you're going to be a nobleman! A British aristocrat in its purest form! And the first step to becoming a nobleman is to start by marrying a nobleman!

I know that it is very difficult to marry a nobleman, and the probability is very low, just as the royal family only intermarries with the royal family, and the daughters of noble families rarely marry. But rarely getting married doesn't mean not marrying, we always have to try it first. Liverpool's old pocket watch has taken out a watch factory, and I, more than him, as long as you can marry a suitable wife, I will pay 80,000 pounds! ”

As soon as Old Gladstone finished speaking, the Red Devil floated in through the window: "Just came and went into the climax?" Eighty thousand pounds, which is indeed a lot, and another twenty thousand is enough to buy a councillor in York. But this is also a matter of no choice, if you just have money, the price to be paid is so high. ”

Old Gladstone pressed his son's shoulders with both hands: "William, not only that, if you want to go further, you have to develop something other than marriage." Didn't you complain to me about the actions of your opponent, Benjamin Disraeli? You say he relied on Mrs. Climbers' skirt to get on the line with Earl Lindhurst and beat you in the party primary. You can't think of a better way, so why not join him? Stubbornness in business doesn't lead to good results, and it's the same in politics. ”

When Gladstone heard this, his jaw almost fell to the ground in shock: "But...... Father, you don't know, if you are old, Mrs. Sykes can be Disraeli's mother. ”

"Oh...... My William. Old Gladstone pointed out: "The charm of ladies is different at different ages, they are like flowers in different seasons, you can enjoy them all." Your opponent is better than you in this regard, he knows how to experience the scenery of different seasons, and therefore has a more complete life. ”

When the Red Devil heard this, he laughed so hard that his tongue dragged to the ground: "Old man, you really misjudged this point. That Jewish kid who likes to wear pants is just good for this bite. But the ladies who hold the power are all older, so let him beat him crookedly. ”

Gladstone disagreed with his father, either: "But you have just agreed with Mr. Roswell, that you have said that a twenty-year-old girl is an old girl. ”

"No, no, William, you misunderstood."

Old Gladstone denied it without blushing and heartbeat: "Those who have not married after the age of twenty are old girls, and those who have married after the age of twenty are ladies in their prime." Do you know how wine is made? The sake without yeast will only deteriorate after a long time, while the old wine with yeast will only become more fragrant with yeast. ”

When the Red Devil heard this, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and pat his legs and laugh: "After making trouble for a long time, it turned out to be a fellow Jewish boy." ”

At this point, old Gladstone did not forget to add: "And, William, you remember my words. For a businessman, it is not counted for anyone to say anything anywhere, unless it is written in black and white on a document. And for those politicians, even if it is written on a document, it is still possible for him to regret it. So, don't take what I say casually as a spotless dogma. You're already a great lad, mature in everything. ”

When Gladstone saw his father talk about this, he had to put Catherine's matter on hold for the time being.

But he wasn't as immature as his father said, but after a little thought, Gladstone came up with a new idea.

He spoke, "You've always interrupted me and made me forget about business." I have come to the company today to inform you that Mr. Arthur Hastings, the Anti-Smuggling Ombudsman sent from London, has some friendship with me. If you encounter any difficulties and it is difficult to speak directly, I can help you convey them. ”

Old Gladstone's eyes lit up: "Do you know Superintendent Hastings?" William! Why didn't you say it earlier? Oh, my God! The Liverpool Association had a problem that had not been solved in the morning, and who would have thought that my son would find a breakthrough as soon as he spoke. ”

Hearing this, Gladstone said slyly, "Don't be in a hurry to rejoice. Superintendent Hastings is not as easy to deal with as you think, and I can tell you that he is a very decent man, as advertised in the newspapers. Aren't you afraid? ”

"Scared?" Old Gladstone took off his pipe and smiled softly: "Of course I'm afraid." ”

Gladstone thought that his father would be hard-mouthed, but the other party's honesty made him a little overwhelmed.

Gladstone asked, "What are you afraid of?" ”

Old Gladstone didn't speak either, he just raised his hand and put it on the leather buckle on the servant's suitcase.

With a slight twist of Old Gladstone's wrist, only a clattering sound was heard, and the money in the suitcase flowed like a flood.

Old Gladstone stood in a golden glow, took a puff on his pipe, and smoke drifted beside him.

"I'm afraid he doesn't like money."

(End of chapter)