Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

162. Das Kapital 101

Translator: Sissy That Walk

In Lotus House.

Liu Heng gave Cao Mo a glare when he heard Cao Mo recommended him to manage the household since the couple was going to Hunan Hubei to raise grain for the army.

“Aren’t you looking trouble for me? Dowager Xiao, Lady Lu were all capable madams, and you have to recommend me?” Liu Heng looked disgruntled.

“Third Aunt, do you want the Lus to take over my soap, lotion and perfume business?” Cao Mo bantered, “Well, you can stay out of this if you don’t care for you share in my business.”

“I knew it, I knew you can’t be mooched off easily, all right, I’ll do it. But you know that Lady Lu, I’m not afraid there will be something missing, what scares me is what if something extra shows up out of nowhere.” what Liu Heng said made perfect sense, surely there would be drama as soon as the couple left the manor.

Cao Mo cared about his small group of loyal subordinates, “I’m sure Moqin will be fine since he’s got your protection. It’s just the few mammies and elder servants who are working for me, I don’t have the heart to see them suffer, please set them free if you have the chance.”

“But you will be deaf and blind in the manor without those elder servants and mammies.” Liu Heng said with concern.

“That’s not my priority any more, my hands are tied once I’m gone, I can’t stop Lady Lu from hurting them any more. You know they are all experienced workers, training newbies will takes us months, I just want them to be safe.” Cao Mo expressed his concern and went back to Magnolia House.

“Is everything settled?” Xiao Yi took hold of Cao Mo’s hand.

Cao Mo looked dejected, “It isn’t until now have I realized that there are so many people who I’d like to look after.”

“Shall I send them to the country estates to stay away from trouble ?”

“I’ve asked Third Aunt to set them free once he’s got the opportunity, hopefully they will be fine and wait for us.” Cao Mo rested his head on Xiao Yi’s shoulder, “I hope we will have a good trip.”

“I’m afraid it’s not going to be that easy.” Xiao Yi squinted his eyes.

The shadow guards had reported to Xiao Yi that the grain depots were only forty percent full. Merchants all claimed that they had just suffered a lean year since they had got the news, they didn’t have as much grain as usual, the market price would be three times as high as former years. And Xiao Yi thought it must be Prince Ning who had spread the news that they were going to raise army provisions in Hunan and Hubei, that was why the merchants cornered the market.

Cao Mo nodded, “You are right, that was why I insisted Prince Xing preside this. It’s true that we can lure the merchants by profits, but it won’t be easy to lure them now that Prince Ning has pulled the rug from under our feet. We definitely to punish some merchants as a warning to others. But on the bright side, we can fix the price after that’s done.”

Xiao Yi smiled, “You are optimistic, not no fish would hurl itself willingly into the net, especially when your bait is deadly.”

“The bait appears deadly for other people, but it’s actually a quite effective means for Prince Xing, money will no longer be an issue as long as grain coupon becomes a thing.”

Cao Mo didn’t lecture Xiao Yi about monetary theory, but he quoted ‘With adequate profit, capital is very bold. A certain 100 per cent will make it ready to trample on all human laws; 300 per cent, there is not a crime at which it will scruple, nor a risk it will not run, even to the chance of its owner being hanged’.

And Cao Mo believed the merchants in Hunan and Hubei were no exception, he had faith in this trip. Xiao Yi was smart as well, he knew exactly what Cao Mo meant, grain coupon for starters, Prince Xing could issue salt coupon, oil coupon… … Prince Xing could grasp powers in his own hands by grasping materials circulation, and it would be too late when Prince Ning realized what was going on.

“How can you think of all these?” Xiao Yi asked curiously.

Cao Mo curled his lips, “I’ve thought about this for so long, silver ingots are so heavy, and they are not easy to cast, bank notes on the other hand are easy to carry and issue. The only risk is to issue the right amount bank notes, otherwise people will suffer if inflation occurs.”

Xiao Yi was so engrossed, but then he was dragged back to reality by the pain from his finger. Cao Mo was trying to cut his nail on his pinkie stealthily.

Xiao Yi’s pinkie nail was two cuns (one cun equals about three centimeters)long, Cao Mo had tried to cut it multiple times, but Xiao Yi always refused it.

Cao Mo always played with that nail and imagined what Xiao Yi’s reaction would be if one day he really cut it. Xiao Yi had been very protective towards his nail, he would curl his fingers up and played with Cao Mo like Cao Mo were a kitten.

Xiao Yi got away this time again, he rose to his feet and said, “Let’s pack up now, we need to put a thick layer of cushion in the carriage for you.”

“We can cover the wheels with rubber, gutta percha produces rubber, but they aren’t easy to raise, unlike rubber trees in the South. Hmm, I will think of a way to ask the southerns to present rubber as tribute.”

Cao Mo just said it casually, but Xiao Yi had taken it to the heart. It was Canton region under Hubei and Hunan, it wasn’t impossible to get some rubber in Canton for Cao Mo.

“I will get you some rubber as long as you don’t target at my nail.”

“But why do you have such a long nail? Isn’t it inconvenient?”

“But I don’t need to do anything.” Xiao Yi raised his head high like a proud peacock.

Cao Mo was choked, ‘Ah~ the nail is a symbol of status! It means, hey I have servants to do everything for me!’

“I will have long nails, too.” Cao Mo murmured while he looked at his hands.

Xiao Yi laughed, “Half a month, you will cut them in half a month, I know you too well, Madam-I-do-everything-myself!”

“Are you laughing at me? I will cut your nail for sure today, we share happiness and suffering, and nail clipping with each other!” with that Cao Mo threw himself at Xiao Yi… …