Chapter 26 The pride and hope of a Weissenburger
The salt on the ship was quickly finished. The carriages here can carry twice as much cargo as other places. The carriages are not slow at all, and Steady and sure.
There is a place specializing in purchasing salt next to the pier. The staff randomly selected a few barrels, took a certain volume of salt, put it into a conical measuring cylinder, and added water to dissolve it all.
Wait for the brine to stand for a while, and the impurities in it will settle at the bottom of the measuring cylinder.
This batch of salt is of good quality and belongs to the first grade.
Because the wooden barrels are sold separately, it took a while to pour out all the salt, weigh it, and then find other containers to put it in.
When the two parties signed the contract, the owner of the cargo pointed to an item in the contract and asked: "What is this stamp duty? I have never heard of it elsewhere."
The agent immediately Explanation: "This is a type of transaction tax invented by our young master after he became a family. He bought a tax stamp in proportion to the price of the contract and affixed it to it. If there is a lawsuit, the court will first recognize the contract with the tax stamp as evidence. "
"If you add some taxes, the tax bureau will keep the attachment for one month to fifty years. Even if it exceeds the age limit, you can check the names of both parties, the types and quantities of the goods sold and the amount on the registration book. . ”
The cargo owner understood immediately and praised: “This method is good, it will be much easier if you want to litigate.”
"Yes." The agent brother said, "We don't have to argue so much when we ask for agency fees."
Armand studied a tax stamp aside, which was a small piece of white. Cotton cloth, with red roses and green flower vines printed on it, and the year and month underneath, can be glued onto parchment paper.
He couldn't help but ponder. The tax rate of this kind of stamp tax is not high, but it comes from a wide range of sources, and businessmen are willing to pay it. The income is quite a lot in a year.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but become curious about Frederick.
After selling out the salt and barrels, they started selling beans.
When he reached the edge of the city, Armand suddenly found many children on the grass beside the city wall.
The youngest of these children is more than 3 years old, and the oldest is almost 10 years old. They sit in groups of about ten on the grass. In each circle, the children wear hats of a certain color, and there is an adult teaching them. They recognize things, count, sing children's songs, and the older ones are taught literacy and arithmetic.
Armand asked in surprise: "Whose children are they?"
The agent replied with a smile: "They are our children here, and my little boy is also here. Look, it’s the one wearing the green clothes under the white hat with a red border.”
Armand saw the child, who was five years old, and he and others were putting their hands on their heads to imitate rabbit ears and singing. "The little rabbits are jumping around on the grass, their big ears swinging happily to the rhythm."
A smile appeared on his face and he said: "It's quite interesting."
The agent man smiled and said: "Basf's newly opened workshop was short of manpower a while ago, so he planned to recruit some women to work . ”
“But many women have to take care of their children at home, so Mr. BASF came up with a way to let his fiancée build this kindergarten so that women don’t have to take care of their children at home. Live.”
“This matter spread within two days. My family discussed it and decided to send the child there too.”
“My mother-in-law is a tailor and she originally took care of her at home. The child doesn’t have much work to do. Now if we give the kindergarten some money to take care of the child, and she can work in the tailor shop, the family will have several shiny silver coins a month.”
"I dropped off the child early in the morning and went to the pier. In the evening, my mother-in-law took her home after work. I bought some steam bread on the way. When I got home, I had the soup ready for dinner."
"Well, then The place where the house is built will be the kindergarten building in the future. Now the children can only make do in the big tent.”
“My little boy has not been able to enter the new house, but I heard that the young master is planning to move in nearby. Many schools have been opened in two years, and children over six years old can learn writing, arithmetic and so on."
"If you are promising, you can go to Weisenberg University to learn magic, and those who can't go can go to the trade union school. A craft..."
Armand suddenly discovered that there was a hint of pride and hope for the future in the old man's chatter.
He was no stranger to this. When he used to drink and brag with his classmates at the military school and talk about their future life, they were so proud and full of hope for the future.
However, they are all children of nobles. Their father is the king's favorite, and their godfather is the marshal of Gaul. The other families are also rich or noble, and they all have bright futures. As for this intermediary, for a civilian like him who has no force, no financial resources, and no status, what does a bright future look like, and why is he proud?
Armand could not help Sister Li.
The convoy pulling chickpeas soon arrived in front of the mill by the river. The agency man went over to find the mill steward to discuss business with the owner of the goods. After inspecting the goods, he weighed and signed them. contract.
The unloaded carriage was called away by another agency, and Armand and the others walked towards the Yelena Chamber of Commerce not far away.
Armand paid special attention to the waterwheels along the way and found that they turned very fast.
It was close to noon, the weather was very hot, and everyone was sweating a little.
"Yelena Chamber of Commerce" is the common name. The sign at the gate reads "Yelena Sugar Factory" and there is a white rabbit trademark.
This place looks a bit shabby, the houses have just been erected, and there are many houses under construction inside.
It was very lively here, and the carriages coming in and out occupied the road, requiring someone to direct the traffic.
The house next to the gate was an eye-opener for Armand. There was no wall on the side of this row of wooden houses facing the street. There were several waterwheels near the river at the back. There were only pillars inside, with many tables and chairs, and many people. While eating and talking, there was a counter in a section near the sugar factory with steam rising from the back.
These are not the important points. The important point is that the water wheel-driven fan on the wall blows through the water curtain, bringing bursts of cool wind to the hot summer.
After Armand and others sat down, the agency man called over the salesman from the sugar factory and some "ice crystals."
“What is this?” Armand looked at the cold jelly powder. He had never seen anything like this before.
After Frederick ate the jelly, he tossed the ice-cold powder made with agar-agar. The agar-agar cut into small pieces and mixed with frozen maltose water became Weissenburg's hot summer treat.
The agent said: "It's too hot. This ice crystal reduces heat and quenches thirst. It's a good thing invented by the young master."
Armand pointed to the sugar factory business sitting opposite. The clerk asked, "Then why didn't he?"
The salesman smiled and shook his head and said, "We have rules and cannot eat the food invited by the guests."
Armand nodded, Scoop some with a spoon and eat.
It's cold, sweet, and has an indescribable taste but it feels good. I've never tasted anything so interesting in the palace.
Before the ice crystals were finished, the deal of exchanging chickpea flour for Wesson syrup had already been negotiated, and the goods would be picked up in three days.
The agent paid the agency fee and was about to leave when Armand said: "I want to see the steel in the afternoon, please take me to see it."
"Okay! "The agent smiled brightly. The steel business is a big deal, and the agency fees are quite high.
He immediately went to order lunch and served the most expensive steam bread with salt and stewed pork knuckles with sauerkraut to the customers. The cheapest bran multi-grain steam bread with sauerkraut was placed in front of him.
The guests from the Kingdom of Gaul studied the steamed buns for about ten minutes before cutting them into slices and eating them like bread.
Armand glanced at the price list hanging on the pillar and couldn't help but ask the agent: "You have made a lot of money today, why are you still eating the cheapest one?"
The agent smiled and replied: "I heard from the kindergarten teacher that my little boy is quite smart. My family has decided to save some money and send him to Weissenburg University if he is really promising. The tuition there is not low."
< br> Armand felt that this man was skilled in work, neat and talkative today, and he wanted to give him a hand, so he said: "You can come to Balis City to find me then. I think Baron Wesson will recognize my letter of recommendation. "
The agent was stunned, shook his head and said: "The young master said that Weisenberg University does not look at recommendation letters or anything else, only test scores. "
Armand couldn't help Sister Li.
But he understood one thing, why this man was full of hope for the future.
(End of this chapter)