106, Silver furnace shines through the charcoal

It can be seen that Luo Shuihan has no need to say anything more, Xiaobai asked again: "Master, aren't Gu Ying and other people worthy of your trust?"

Luo Shuihan: "Of course I can't just arrange for you alone. Naturally, there are other arrangements for them. Now I will only talk about you - are you willing to accept it?"

Bai Shaoliu: "Didn't you say it just now? You will do this regardless of whether I accept it or not. I also asked Mr. Kaoluo, I have expressed your ideas, so now guess what I think?"

Luo Shuihan: "Then I just said, is this a bad thing for you? No! Will it hurt others? No!... In fact, I didn't force you. Even if I want to force you after I die, I can't force you. You can use this money or you don't care at all, and you can even get it back to Luo Xi. This does not violate any moral standards. Even if you don't care, wealth can still do a lot of things in the hands of everyone, and you must also want to do a lot of things?"

Bai Shaoliu: "Mr. Luo is right. There is nothing to be pretentious about. Rejecting may not be noble. I accept it!... In fact, if you don't give me these, I will try my best to protect Luo Xi. And I have always been grateful to Mr. Luo. You are my benefactor!"

Luo Shuihan sighed and stood up, walked around the table and came to Xiaobai's side, patted him on the shoulder and handed the small shovel to his hand: "Please give me!"

Bai Shaoliu: "Don't worry, I know what to do!... Have you told Luo Xi about your illness? Let me tell her earlier. Time is running out, so she is a little prepared."

Luo Shuihan: "I will talk to her about this tonight. Let's have a happy dinner first. It's rare that there are so many guests! It's time for us to go downstairs, and the others are about to arrive!"

Feng Junzi and Xiao Yunyi and his wife had arrived early and were chatting and laughing with Luo Xi in the reception room downstairs. Avtina stood by and looked at Feng Junzi, while Gu Ying stood beside Avtina and looked at Feng Junzi. Xiao Yunyi stood with Luo Xi on her shoulder, and Luo Xi stood opposite Feng Junzi. In the whole living room, only Feng Junzi was sitting alone.

Feng Junzi sat on the chair with a cigarette in his mouth. Luo Xi stood in front of him and stretched out one hand to make a ignition, but there was no lighter in his hand. Luo Xi did his movements for a long time, and of course Feng Junzi didn't lit the cigarette. He took the cigarette with one hand and said, "Miss Luo, is your trick not effective?" He touched his pants pocket with the other hand and was about to get something.

Xiao Yunyi bent down and slapped him on the back of his hand: "Don't take out the lighter, just let Luo Xi light you up a cigarette, okay?"

Feng Junzi: "I'm not taking out a lighter, it's more convenient to use this... Luo Xi, take your time, don't worry!" He took out an ivory cigarette holder that was as long as a finger from his pocket, inserted the cigarette into his mouth and held it in his mouth.

It turns out that Luo Xi has been learning magic with Gu Ying some time ago and has been able to awaken the power of communicating with "fire". In the past few days, he has received guidance from Avtena. The basic introduction to fire magic is not to set fire everywhere. The first step is to learn to control it. It is theoretically much harder to light a cigarette than to emit a piece of flame. If you can succeed, you will basically be qualified.

Luo Shuihan doesn't smoke, and of course Luo Xi and Gu Ying don't smoke either, so there is no cigarette in the entire Luoyuan. Today, Feng Junzi came to visit. After chatting for a few words, Luo Xi asked him if he smoked. Feng Junzi said he had smoked. Luo Xi asked him if he had smoked. Feng Junzi said he had brought cigarettes on him. Feng Junzi said he wanted to smoke for a long time, but he couldn't find the ashtray, so he didn't have the nerve to light it. Luo Xi's eyes lit up when he heard this. He wanted to try his new magic, so he found a tray and asked Feng Junzi to hold a cigarette.

Feng Junzi didn't know what trick she was going to do, so she held a cigarette and waited for her for a long time. Later, she realized that she was going to light a cigarette with empty hands and was waiting there with interest. After Feng Junzi put the cigarette mouth on, Xiao Yunyi smiled and said to Luo Xi: "If you have any methods, just use it. Just be careful not to burn his hair!"

Luo Xi pursed her lips and her cheeks, and she looked very cute. She blew her fingers in front of Feng Junzi, and the cigarette suddenly fell. The cigarette was caught but the position was wrong. Not only did half of the cigarette light up together, but it was in the middle of the cigarette. The thick smoke instantly raised and choked Feng Junzi. Luo Xi said sorry, but it made everyone in the room laugh.

Feng Junzi coughed a few times and took off the cigarette mouth, put the cigarette that he couldn't smoke into a crystal ashtray in Xiao Yunyi's hand, and took out another cigarette and said, "This one doesn't count. Just light another one, just light the cigarette butt, don't be so exaggerated... The key to controlling the technique when using magic is attention, not to be distracted, lighting the cigarette is to light the cigarette... Try again, the key is not what method you use, but what you want to do!"

Feng Junzi said something that Luo Xi felt as if she understood it. She nodded in a vague way: "I'll try again, this is not magic, it's magic!"

Feng Junzi smiled: "Okay, okay, it's magic. No matter whether it's magic or magic, just light the cigarette." After that, he put the cigarette mouth on.

Luo Xi didn't move as much as before this time. He reached out and pointed his hand and saw the front end of the cigarette suddenly lit up. Feng Junzi took a sip and let out a cigarette nodded and said, "It's very good, you don't need to buy a lighter!"

Avtena and Gu Ying looked at each other and nodded secretly. Luo Xi’s current fire spells are not very powerful, but they are already very exquisite. The most important skill to learn to awaken energy is how to control energy. Feng Junzi’s last sentence just now can also be regarded as a mantra. Does Feng Junzi pretend to be confused when he understands it? He insists on saying magic as magic!

At this time, applause came from the door of the reception room. Of course, Xiaobai was the one who slapped her. He and Luo Shuihan happened to see this scene when they came in. He admired Luo Xi very much. He hadn't learned this trick yet! His ability was much greater than that of Luo Xi, but the methods they learned were different. Xiaobai had also heard it when Gu Ying was in class. Later, Baimao said that Wu Zhu was getting started. It seemed that he needed to give it a try. When he got home, he found someone to tinker with the cigarettes!

At this time, someone outside the door said, "Marquis Lington is here and will arrive at the door immediately."

Luo Shuihan: "Mr. Feng, Mrs. Feng, please chat slowly first, Luo Xi, go and greet me."

Time was not long, and the father and daughter of the Luo family led the Marquis of Lington into the reception room. The Marquis of Lington was handsome and tall, and every move seemed graceful and handsome. No matter where he stood, he was the focus of people's attention. However, when he approached the living room with a smile, he stopped at the entrance, looking at one person, and he didn't expect that Feng Junzi was here too! Everyone stood politely nodded to him, only Feng Junzi sat there, holding an ivory cigarette mouth and sucking mist, and there was a woman next to him holding an ashtray.

Feng Junzi looked up and saw the Marquis of Lington walking into the door staring at him. He also felt that he was not polite enough. He took off his cigarette mouth and stood up to Luo Shuihan and said, "Mr. Luo, this person is..."

Luo Shuihan: "Marquis Punis Lington from the Kingdom of Spia."

Feng Junzi felt as if he suddenly reacted, and he crossed his left hand with his cigarette holder, stepped forward and stretched out his right hand, and said enthusiastically: "It's so rude! Last time I met Mr. Marquis at the airport, I thought you were a flower seller! It turned out to be the famous Marquis of Lington! Fortunately, I saw him again at Mr. Luo today, and I apologized to you!"

Luo Xi asked curiously: "What's going on? How could Mr. Marquis sell flowers?"

Marquis Lington had regained his usual demeanor at this time, and reached out to hold Feng Junzi, and said with kindness: "A little misunderstanding, Mr. Feng recognized the wrong person at Wuyou Airport last time."

Feng Junzi held his hand and continued to explain: "It's not that I recognized the wrong person, it's that I don't know him at all! Last time I got off the plane at Uyou Airport and saw this gentleman holding a bouquet of flowers and blocking a lady's way. The lady turned around and walked from another direction. I thought the Marquis of Lington was a flower seller. I feel embarrassed to see people and see them!"

Marquis Lington was so angry! Feng Junzi really didn't open any pot. Marquis Lington wanted to show his charm in front of Avtana. After all, it was not easy to have a private contact, but Feng Junzi told him what he was so disappointed at the airport.

At this time, Xiao Yunyi walked over and stood beside Feng Junzi and greeted: "Hello, Mr. Marquis, I am Feng Junzi's wife Xiao Yunyi. I am deeply honored to meet for the first time."

Marquis Lington: "It turns out to be Mrs. Wind, and it is also my honor to meet a beautiful lady like you!"

But Xiao Yunyi asked, "May I ask, you have never met my husband before?"

Marquis Lington nodded: "Yes, that time was to meet at the airport. Today is the first time to meet officially."

Xiao Yunyi: "Then why did you know him? Mr. Luo hasn't introduced him yet, so you just call him Mr. Feng?" She asked this question very carefully - since she had never met before, how could she know him as soon as she met?

Not to mention Marquis Lington, even Xiaobai felt that Xiao Yunyi was much smarter than she looked, and could tell the flaws with just one sentence. Marquis Lington gritted his teeth and explained with a smile: "Although he has never seen Mr. Feng Junzi before, he has long been famous!" There is obviously a problem with his words. Junzi Feng is not a world celebrity like Marquis Lington. If he can recognize and greet him for the first time, it can only mean that he has inquired about this person and even read his information specifically.

At this time, Luo Shuihan said, "The guests in Luo Garden are not names! Come on, let's sit down." This was a cover-up of this little embarrassment.

There were eight people attending the dinner, Luo Shuihan, Luo Xi, Gu Ying, Avtana, Lington, Bai Shaoliu, Feng Junzi and Xiao Yunyi. Of course, there were more than a dozen people serving them. The dinner was not in the restaurant, but on the beach in Luoyuan, which looked almost open-air. It is the end of February, and it still seems cold in early spring. How can a banquet be held on the beach, and you are not afraid of the guests being frozen? But the rich people have their own methods, which makes Bai Shaoliu amazed!

One afternoon, a large flower-like shed was built on the beach in Luoyuan. Most of the materials on the roof and most of the materials on the four sides were transparent plexiglass, and most of the four walls were open to the beach scenery, which was no different from an open-air pavilion. Although it was open on all sides, it was not cold at all when sitting inside. Above the portals on all sides were air curtains that sprayed out particularly double airflow downwards, separating the air inside and outside and constantly replenishing the flowing warm air into the shed, but it did not affect the sight at all.

What to eat for dinner? It sounds very ordinary, all over the streets and alleys of Wuyou, just barbecue. Of course, they don’t need to do the main dishes themselves. They all have special roasting chefs on the beach outside the shed and brought them in. But in order to experience the fun, four very exquisite silver-white ovens were placed around the table in the center of the shed. If you want to bake them yourself, you can bake them yourself. There are seasonings in front of everyone.

This kind of occasion is not to fill the stomach, but it is more of a social interaction. Luo Shuihan mentioned something during the meal that made Xiaobai very interested. Luo Ba Alliance Financial Group was preparing to invest in Wanguo Motong Bank as a strategic investor, while Luo Shuihan also wanted to subscribe to the additional shares issued by Wanguo Motong Bank but was politely rejected because Heluo Group is not an internationally renowned financial consortium.

So he wanted to discuss cooperation with Avtena, and in another way he still wanted to acquire shares of Wanguo Motong Bank. He even proposed that if Roba Alliance Financial Group is willing to acquire more shares, he could increase the price of 20% to acquire part or all of the equity from the financial group in half a year, even if Heluo Group first distributes funds to Roba Alliance Financial Group.

Luo Shuihan paid money to let the financial group buy shares, and it was 20% more than the purchase price. As long as the stocks could be transferred to him in half a year, it was clearly a deal to give money to others. Why is Luo Shuihan so stupid? There is nothing we can do about it. The restructuring of Wanguo Motong Bank has a choice about the identity of a strategic investor, and Heluo Group was excluded. If you wait until it is publicly listed in the future and then acquire it from the market, it will not only be very difficult but also have a much higher cost.

Luo Shuihan knew the importance of finance very well. As one of the most important commercial banks in Zhixuguo Country, Wanguo Motong Bank is also the largest bank in the area of ​​Wu, which is equivalent to controlling the life and death of many companies. The restructuring of Wanguo Motong Bank means a transformation from the previous official policy-based decision-making to the market-based decision-making of internal control. Then Heluo Group must also gain a say in it. Entering the board of directors is the best choice, so that it can continue to obtain the greatest financial support.

Avtena did not make any statement, but simply said that this matter could be negotiated, but Marquis Lington said: "Mr. Luo, in fact, the choice of introducing strategic investors in your country's commercial banks is correct. You must intervene in the operation of Motong Bank of Wanguo may not be beneficial to this bank. I don't think that businessmen in Zhixu Kingdom can master the concept of modern finance very well. The marketization progress and its economic development still require real guides."

Luo Shuihan smiled: "Is it? Our ancestors' money house was opened for 800 years, until the modern big tickets went bankrupt because of war rather than management. I think no matter how complicated things are, they are still the same thing to do. Zhixu Kingdom has gone through a period of time. I am the first generation to accumulate wealth again. When it comes to my daughter Luo Xi's generation, I should regain the path of self-confidence and autonomy."

Xiaobai was so impressed that he suddenly heard two pongs. Feng Junzi used a silver fork to hit the charcoal stove behind him, attracting everyone's attention. At this time, Feng Junzi asked, "What kind of charcoal is this?"

Marquis Lington replied: "This is the best charcoal. It is grayish white. It does not have any smoke or flame when burning. It also heats up very long. I have used this charcoal when I have been barbecuing since I was a child. Haven't Mr. Feng seen it before?"

Feng Junzi turned around and said, "I asked how it came about? Didn't anyone see the history?"

Marquis Lington shook his head, and Bai Shaoliu replied: "I know this, it is white charcoal."

Feng Junzi: "Of course I know white charcoal, but ordinary white charcoal is not white either!"

Bai Shaoliu: "On ordinary people probably don't know about this. This is the most special white charcoal of snowflakes and dragon-salting wood. I saw it when I was a child. There was a special kiln in the village that burned this kind of charcoal."

Feng Junzi: "Oh? Then tell us the story of the snowflakes falling from the dragon wood and white charcoal." He suddenly changed the topic just now and asked Xiaobai to tell the origin of the snow charcoal. Xiaobai glanced at Feng Junzi, thought about it and suddenly understood what he meant, and began to tell everyone the story of burning white charcoal in Xiaobai Village.

Xiaobai Village is in a place called Sanjiangkou. There are hills behind the river. The land is very barren. Some people in the village go up the mountain to chop wood to make kilns and burn charcoal to make a living. A shrub is grown on the hills near Xiaobai Village, called Snowflake Dragon Wood. A special high-temperature kiln can be used to make a kind of white charcoal. This white charcoal is gray-white, and when it is broken open, it is also gray-white inside. It is much cleaner than the gray-like appearance of ordinary charcoal. There are snowflake-like patterns on the surface.

It was about two or three decades ago that someone went to Xiaobai Village to buy snowflake charcoal and told the villagers how to cook it? At that time, there was no other business in the countryside. It was a relatively profitable business. A large number of villagers went into the mountains to cut down snowflakes and dragon trees and returned to the village to burn charcoal. Several charcoal kilns in Xiaobai Village were burning for more than two years, but the snowflakes and dragon trees on the nearby mountains were cut down and it came to an end.

The story is very simple, and it was finished in just a few words. Luo Xi asked curiously: "Are the snowflakes falling dragon trees gone? Will the trees grow again!"

Bai Shaoliu explained: "That kind of tree grows very slowly, even slower than boxwood. Branches as thick as white charcoal have grown for decades. They have been cut off in a few years. Now they are almost invisible on the mountain."

Feng Junzi interrupted: "Xiaobai, I am also from Wucheng. I heard that your Xiaobai village is the poorest village in the area. When you were a child, the people in the village were all poor and exposed their butts." He said a very indecent sentence at such a "elegant" dinner, and both Marquis Lington and Avtina frowned.

Luo Xi asked puzzledly: "How can you show off your butt if you are poor?"

Bai Shaoliu explained again: "There is a hole in my pants, and I was almost the same when I was a child!"

Luo Shuihan seemed to have heard something, and also asked Bai Shaoliu with a smile: "How could he be so poor that he didn't even pay for those who bought charcoal?"

Bai Shaoliu: "I gave it, I gave it higher than ordinary charcoal."

Luo Shuihan: "How to calculate the price, no one in the village has any objection?"

Bai Shaoliu: "The price is easy to calculate. The money for cutting wood in the mountains and the money for building kilns is several times more than ordinary charcoal. At that time, people in the mountains had no knowledge and thought it was quite cost-effective. They went up the mountain to cut dragon wood and burn charcoal. Several families who specialized in charcoal also had two good years. They built several new rooms, killed more pigs during festivals, and added a few new clothes for the family. Later, the snowflakes and white charcoal were burned and the life was gone. Life was similar to before. In recent years, the village developed the Sanjiangkou ecological tour. As for my family, they specialized in processing five-spice donkey meat to earn money for me to go to college."

Xiao Yunyi glanced at her husband and asked, "Honey, your father was the mayor of Wucheng City. Didn't your family use snowflakes and white charcoal to roast the fire at that time? Isn't this a specialty of Xiaobai Village in Wucheng?"

Feng Junzi: "I have never used this in my family. I have never seen it before. The charcoal came from Wucheng, and then I went to his house!" As he said that, he pointed at the Marquis of Lington with a silver fork, and the people at the table couldn't help laughing.

At this time, Luo Xi asked again: "Has the snowflake dragon-falling wood been cut down? Where did this white charcoal come from?"

Feng Junzi: "There is more than one small white village in the world. This snowflake dragon tree is a specialty from the hilly areas of the Feishui River in Zhixu Kingdom to Wucheng. The small white village is gone, and there are other places. As for where the snowflakes and white charcoal in your home come from, you have to ask yourself."

Luo Xi: "It turns out that Mr. Feng knows the origin of this snowflake white charcoal, and even the dragon tree is so clear. Did you deliberately ask Xiaobai to tell a story?"

Feng Junzi: "Of course I know that I have been to many mountainous areas and even looked for snowflakes and dragon trees in the deep mountains. The charcoal fire under the deer jelly now is not only the sweat of the charcoal burners, but also the blood and sweat of the mountains and rivers. Poor people must have something hateful. For example, the villagers of Xiaobai Village back then cannot just blame those who seem to give them good prices to guide them to burn charcoal and buy snowflakes and white charcoal."

Marquis Lington finally spoke at this time: "Mr. Feng is actually talking about a problem of protective development. Burning charcoal is an economic act. As long as it is profitable, the mountain people will do it. If no one spends money to buy charcoal, how can they make money?"
Chapter completed!