Chapter 393: 147. New Blessings Arrive Again

147. New Blessings Arrive Again

Xunyang Tower, lobby on the first floor, fell into a short silence.

Facing Ouyang Rong, Pei Thirteenth Lady forced a smile:

"Changshi Ouyang, why don't we go upstairs to chat, specially prepared the dishes you like today..."

Ouyang Rong remained unmoved and continued to question:

"Pei Madam, please answer me, who are these renovated new houses sold to?"

Pei Thirteenth Lady bit the bullet: "Naturally, ordinary people."

"Your renovated new houses, whether renting or selling, can you guarantee that they are lower than the current rent of those stinky small landlords, or on par?" He paused and looked around the audience: "If you can agree to this point, I naturally warmly welcome everyone, absolutely no objection."

Pei Thirteenth Lady and her companions looked at each other, their eyes a bit helpless, ambiguous: "Naturally, it will be a bit more expensive."

"A bit more expensive is how much more expensive, one or two percent, or one or two times."

Pei Thirteenth Lady moved her gaze away, dodging his clear and bright eyes: "Not too much... anyway, there will be ordinary people who can afford to live."

"Ordinary people who can afford to live... also, who isn't an ordinary person these days, Pei Madam is also a member of the ordinary people, buying this kind of house is naturally pressure-free, but..."

Ouyang Rong nodded and changed the subject:

"These cheap old houses in Xingzi Fang, all renovated by Pei Madam, sold to ordinary people who can afford them like Pei Madam. I will boldly guess, the poor ordinary people who are currently moving sacks and stone materials at Xunyang Ferry and Shuangfeng Peak, and returning to the cheap old houses to find a moment of peace and sleep after work, should not belong to the category of 'ordinary people who can afford to live' in Pei Madam's mouth, right?"

"Pei Madam's hard-earned and renovated houses are definitely not eyeing their money. They are already stretching their clothes to pay the current rent, and there is no oil left to squeeze. Let me guess, Pei Madam wants to earn, definitely wants to earn a big one..."

"Changshi Ouyang, I am preparing to rent or sell to wealthy people, but now Xingzi Fang is dirty, messy, and poor, and public security is not good, which is a recognized fact."

"Introducing scholars and wealthy families from all over Jiang Nan to move in will definitely revitalize the style of Xingzi Fang."

"If Xingzi Fang can become a high-quality neighborhood like Xunyang Fang and Xiushui Fang, clean and tidy, with polite and quality residents, it is a good thing for both public and private, and it is a hundred benefits and no harm to Xunyang City. The most critical point is that this can also be considered your bright political achievement. Isn't it your credit? I really can't understand what is wrong with it."

"This account is not calculated like this, and cannot be calculated like this."

Ouyang Rong shook his head and asked again:

"After introducing wealthy people from Jiang Nan to move in, then what? What about the low-cost laborers and poor ordinary people in Xingzi Fang now? In order not to affect the style and appearance of the city, where should they go to live?"

Pei Thirteenth Lady hesitated: "Naturally... naturally go to places they can afford to live. The world is so big, and it's not like they can only live in Xingzi Fang."

"But Xingzi Fang is already the cheapest place for land rent in Xunyang City, otherwise they wouldn't gather here. Now this place is also being eyed by you, where else can they go to live?"

She rolled her eyes: "At worst, leave Xunyang City. Jiangzhou is not the only place in Xunyang City where one can find a living. It's a simple truth to go to a place where one can afford to live, and moreover..."

Ouyang Rong laughed suddenly: "Heh, leave Xunyang."

Hearing the laughter, Pei Thirteenth Lady's face flushed, and she was a bit angry from being questioned:

"Changshi Ouyang, you are the Jiangzhou Changshi, you should think for Xunyang City, introducing scholars and wealthy people to make Xunyang City prosperous is one of your duties. Why bother with those poor people who need to be eliminated by the world? They have their own fate, and it's not that Changshi Ouyang wants to drive them away, it's just that they are not suitable for Xunyang, and have no money, then go back to the countryside. Although the house can't be afforded, they have hands and feet, and won't starve to death..."

Ouyang Rong looked at this noble lady who was calculating accounts, and suddenly interrupted loudly:

"Pei Madam, precisely because I am the Jiangzhou Changshi, the parent official of the people, and want to think for Xunyang City, I cannot agree with this matter."

"Everyone praises Xunyang, the mouth of the three rivers, convenient water transport, the most prosperous place in the middle of Jiang Nan, a Xunyang ancient ferry, revitalizing the whole city."

"But may I ask, the people who are moving goods from all directions day and night for the prosperity of Xunyang, the people who are digging earth and opening mountains at Shuangfeng Peak, the people who are moving stone materials at Xunyang Grottoes to build the Great Buddha for the Great Zhou Empress, are they the dignitaries and nobles who are pampered in Xunyang Fang and Xiushui Fang? Are they the monks and famous scholars who are chanting poems and having fun all night at the poetry gatherings in Mount Kuanglu? Are they the wealthy merchants and guests who are drinking and sharp-toothed in Xunyang Tower?"

"None of them."

Ouyang Rong shook his head, answered his own question, and said softly:

"The prosperity of Xunyang City is supported by these poor people in Pei Madam's mouth. Now, Pei Madam brings a large sum of silver, waves her hand, and wants to buy cheap houses to renovate, letting them all move away, don't be an eyesore."

"Pei Madam says this is for the good of Xunyang City, but I feel that Xunyang City can do without Xunyang Fang, can do without Xiushui Fang, but it cannot do without Xingzi Fang."

The whole audience was silent. With Ouyang Rong's words, Pei Thirteenth Lady's face gradually turned pale.

Ouyang Rong's face was calm, looking straight into her eyes and saying:

"Pei Madam, actually I can understand your thoughts very well, really, I truly understand your indifference."

"In your eyes, where these low-cost laborers and poor ordinary people driven out of Xunyang will go, what their lives will become, and what their final outcome will be, does not need to be paid attention to. According to the merchant's business scripture, this is the labor force clearing in the Xunyang market, a natural process of survival of the fittest. These people are just slightly unfortunate."

"Actually, as long as you don't treat these people as humans, but as cattle and horses for labor, such a statement is indeed correct."

"Even if they are gone, there are plenty of people outside willing to line up to come to Xunyang City. After all, three-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged cattle and horses are everywhere."

"However, I have a big problem, always can't help but treat cattle and horses as humans. I always feel that the builders of a city should not be treated like this."

"Transferring the cost of Xunyang's prosperity and development to them, keeping the benefits in Xunyang City, and then turning around and driving them all away when they have no remaining value... Sorry, I can't do it."

Pei Thirteenth Lady licked her dry lips, not knowing where to refute, her forehead covered in fine sweat.

The calm yet soul-questioning voice of the young man in the felt hat sounded again, echoing in the audience who were holding their breath:

"Pei Madam, you pointed out some problems correctly, Xingzi Fang is dirty, messy, and poor, and public security is not good, this is indeed an objective fact."

"However, if you attribute all the dirt, mess, and poor public security of Xingzi Fang to the poor people of Xingzi Fang, blame them for being poor, blame them for having no upbringing, and their work is not decent, and even say that they made Xingzi Fang the soil for breeding chaotic markets..."

"Heh, now that you want to renovate old houses, you even say directly that they are not worthy of living in Xunyang anymore, and even feel that as long as you use high land prices to squeeze out those who have contributed the most sweat to Xunyang's prosperity, you can stabilize the public security of Xingzi Fang and make the city look brand new..."

"Sorry, if this statement is correct, then may I ask, is the poverty of these people all their own fault? Why did it cause them to be poor while the rich become richer? Clearly, the work they do is heavier than anyone else, clearly they get up earlier than anyone else, clearly they are more diligent and cute than anyone else, why are they still so poor? Can Pei Madam tell me why?"

Pei Thirteenth Lady couldn't handle this kind of topic, explaining in a panic: "Changshi Ouyang, I didn't mean to blame them..."

"Didn't blame them?" Ouyang Rong suddenly interrupted, nodded lightly: "Oh, so to say, Pei Madam is really blaming... the imperial court that didn't make the people rich? It seems there is some truth to it."

Pei Thirteenth Lady stuttered, her face flushed, unable to argue: "No, I absolutely didn't mean that, I mean... I mean..."

Everyone in the lobby heard this, and some were lost in thought.

Xie Lingjiang turned her head to watch the calm expression of Ru Shixiong when he was narrating, and suddenly felt that beneath this face, Ru Shixiong's mood was actually... both angry and sad.

Ouyang Rong didn't wait for the noble lady to stutter, nodded lightly:

"I don't mean to target Pei Madam, nor target anyone. My tone might have been a bit heavy just now. How about this, I will punish myself with a cup of wine first."

After speaking, he reached out, but before he could pick up the wine cup nearby, Xie Lingjiang had already handed over a wine cup she had checked.

Ouyang Rong looked at her, took the cup, drank it down, wiped the corner of his mouth, and spoke again.

It was to Pei Thirteenth Lady who was also terrified and returning the toast, and also to everyone present today:

"Said so much, actually I want to say, if Pei Madam's renovated houses can be sold or rented, and can be on par with the old houses of the small landlords now, or even relatively cheaper, I will support it a hundred times, and the Jiangzhou Hall can even help for free, as long as you come up with a feasible plan."

"But, if it doesn't work, and instead you want to build luxury gardens, sell them to those wealthy people in Jiang Nan, invite them to Xunyang, and make Xingzi Fang like Xunyang Fang and Xiushui Fang..."

"Sorry, Xunyang City doesn't need icing on the cake. This matter, Pei Madam doesn't need to mention it again from now on, and all the noble guests present today, don't mention similar opinions again. As long as I am the Jiangzhou Changshi for one day, this kind of opening will never be allowed."

"This is my attitude, hope everyone knows."

The young Changshi's voice was sonorous and powerful, echoing in the silent lobby.

Many people had expressions of being lost in thought, chewing on his novel yet powerful arguments.

The crowd began to whisper, and the sound in the hall became noisy.

"Changshi Ouyang, it was my lack of consideration, hope you forgive me for your words, I will punish myself with three cups..."

Pei Thirteenth Lady lowered her eyebrows and pleasingly said, her mouth stuttering.

Ouyang Rong shook his head, unwilling to pay attention anymore, and swept his gaze over Pei Thirteenth Lady and the group of Yangzhou merchants behind her again.

He keenly saw that although Pei Thirteenth Lady was soft in posture, among this group of Yangzhou merchants who had come ashore from salt selling, there were a few men who didn't toast, their faces unhappy, as if they were a bit unconvinced.

Ouyang Rong's slightly cold gaze fell on their faces. Pei Thirteenth Lady realized it and turned her head to stare. These few thorns then slowly lowered their heads.

The young Changshi flicked his sleeves and turned away.

Under the respectful or complex gazes of the lobby, he and Xie Lingjiang strode out of the Xunyang Tower.

Returning to the carriage, Ouyang Rong leaned back against the soft couch, closed his eyes to rest, not knowing what he was thinking.

Xie Lingjiang ordered the coachman a few times, let down the carriage curtain, turned her head to size up Ru Shixiong, and suddenly brought up the topic:

"Ru Shixiong, that little girl in the red jacket didn't let you down."

Ouyang Rong didn't open his eyes and sighed lightly.

"Why is Ru Shixiong sighing?" She took his arm generously.

"Blocked many people's wealth today."

Xie Lingjiang lowered her eyelashes, grabbed his palm, and ten fingers interlocked. She pulled a curve with her pink lips:

"These Yangzhou merchants can bully honest people and small landlords, but they can't make waves in front of Ru Shixiong."

"As long as there are Uncle Li and Uncle Qin, in this Jiang Nan territory, these unscrupulous merchants can't turn the sky, right? To say a bad thing, if they are dragons, they have to coil, and if they are tigers, they have to lie down."

Ouyang Rong was about to speak, but just at this moment, he suddenly covered his ears, looked left and right, and then lowered his head.

"What's wrong, Ru Shixiong, where are you uncomfortable?" Xie Lingjiang asked softly with concern.

"No... nothing."

Ouyang Rong shook his head, put down his hand covering his ears, and restrained the subtle expression on his face.

In his ears... a familiar sound of a great bell was ringing.

Coming from the long-silent Merit Tower.

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips.

It was a new blessing.

Today is my birthday, met a few authors, Mijie, Mitian Dasha, Gugu, Tianbao... all are big shots, only Little Rong is the most miserable, only slightly better in terms of being young and handsome.

We were all coding in the e-sports hotel at night, the keyboard was clattering, I peeked secretly, except for the waste Mitian, everyone's typing speed was faster than Little Rong, damn it.

After twelve o'clock tonight, it won't be 18 anymore, a bit sentimental, recording it, hope to maintain the original intention of a teenager, encourage each other or2 ===== CHAPTER 395 =====

Ouyang Rong shook his head, put down his hands covering his ears, and restrained the subtle expression on his face.

Beside his ears... a familiar sound of a great bell was resounding.

From the Merit Tower that had been silent for a long time.

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips.

It was a new blessing.

Today is my birthday. I met several authors, Mijizhi, Mitian Mansion, Gugu, Tianbao... all are big shots. Only Xiao Rong is the most miserable, only slightly better in terms of being young and handsome.

I was typing in the e-sports hotel at night, and the keyboard was clattering. I glanced quietly, and except for the waste Mitian, everyone else's hand speed was faster than Xiao Rong's, damn it.

After twelve o'clock tonight, it won't be 18 anymore. I'm a bit sighing, recording it, hoping to keep the original intention of a teenager, encourage each other or2