Zhu Mo was still in a daze when a kindly old servant emerged, calling out, "Young master is back?"
Zhu Mo felt unaccustomed and couldn't help but ask, "Uh, this, is this Third Master Li's courtyard?"
Wu Feng nodded, simply smiling and saying nothing.
As Zhu Mo was about to ask, he heard Third Master Li's familiar voice,
"Yo, brother doesn't even know his own home? Haha, that's a truly rare tale in this world…"
Immediately, the old Daoist priest also walked over from the side, his wide sleeves fluttering, exuding an air of immortal grace. He chuckled, "Young Master Zhu, how about it? Don't you welcome two old fellows like us as guests at your manor?"
While Zhu Mo was bewildered, he also laughed, "Old Li, Old Daoist, what is this all about? Haha…"
The three of them burst into laughter, and in the cold wind of the darkening evening, a sense of warmth bloomed.
Seeing Zhu Mo's happy demeanor, the old Daoist priest felt infinite emotion—
This child deserves a home too…
After enduring so much hardship among the common folk, and helping his family so much, he shouldn't be mistreated further…
With that thought,
He suddenly said to Third Master Li, "Li San, we came in such a hurry today, we seem to have forgotten the congratulatory gift, haven't we? What do we old geezers need that aged Korean ginseng for? It's better for the young to supplement their bodies…"
"Oh my!"
Third Master Li patted his head, apologizing, "Young Master Zhu, this old servant's memory… Alas, I was thinking of it when I left. But, you see, I was busy with things and left the box on the incense table at the temple… I'll have Wu Feng deliver it to your manor tomorrow. Please, young master, do not blame me…"
"Haha…"
Zhu Mo laughed, "The two of you elder brothers are the closest people I have in the capital. What gifts do I need? I'm not establishing a new household, just moving to a new place to live… Besides, I can't handle such precious things… It would be better to sell it to a clinic so they can use it to heal the sick!"
Mmm, mmm,
The two nodded with smiles, deeply agreeing.
The old Daoist priest thought: This child truly has a good disposition, not concerned with food or clothing, showing the demeanor of the founding emperor…
As they spoke,
The servants led everyone inside,
First, a winding path led to a bamboo grove, with lush bamboo leaves on both sides. In the center was a waterside pavilion, elegant and serene. Tea had already been served on a table, along with a plate of small pastries.
Since Zhu Mo was the host, he stopped pretending and, in his capacity as host, invited them to sit. Wu Feng, however, had vanished.
The pastries on the table looked exquisite in color and aroma, and the tea was clear and fragrant. However, neither Third Master Li nor the old Daoist priest showed any inclination to touch them.
Zhu Mo, fully understanding their state of mind, immediately smiled and said, "It's the same as usual, I'll go roast these two fish first… You two sit here for a while, don't be formal, aren't we just chatting? Hahaha…"
The old Daoist priest nodded, "Indeed, it is Young Master Zhu who is so open-minded. Look at us two old men, we are becoming too attached… Haha…"
A moment later,
Zhu Mo returned with the roasted fish, and as usual, he served them with vinegar.
The old Daoist priest's appetite was indeed whetted, and after several bites, he praised, "It hasn't changed! The taste is still the same, good, very good…"
Seeing his delight, Third Master Li seized the opportunity to ask, "Young Master Zhu, my friend Wu Feng mentioned that yesterday morning he passed by Jinling Ji and saw you there distributing salt? That's quite odd… Having lived so long, I've truly never heard of such a thing… Later, a notice was posted on the street stating that a salt merchant involved with Japanese pirates had been apprehended… Hehe, this matter sounds rather strange, and we guessed it was you, Young Master Zhu, who did it? We're just curious about the intricacies behind it?"
The old Daoist priest chimed in, "Yes, yes, another strange person and strange event… You must tell us, come on!"
The old Daoist priest even personally poured Zhu Mo a cup of tea.
Zhu Mo took a sip, and recalling the anti-unfair competition law he had drafted, he couldn't help but chuckle and say,
"Elder brothers, since this matter has spread, I won't hide anything… The Xian Tong Ji, involved with Japanese pirates, had shares held by Yan Shifan and Gao Hanwen, and later it involved He Maocai from Jiangnan. They spread rumors that my salt was sea sand soaked in saltwater! How outrageous is that?
I was there distributing salt to let the common people taste it and verify its authenticity. The genuine cannot be faked, and the fake cannot be made genuine… In the end, we are all in the same trade, and they say competitors are enemies, haven't you heard that saying? But the problem is, enemies are not foes! Only foes will try to destroy each other, but am I an enemy of Xian Tong Ji? If merchants all acted like this, the market would descend into chaos…
Therefore, I immediately drafted an anti-unfair competition law yesterday, with the aim of preventing merchants from becoming foes! Let business have rules to follow!"
Oh…
"Enemies are not foes, that statement is reasonable…"
Third Master Li said with genuine admiration.
The old Daoist priest, however, was eager to hear those strange new terms. He couldn't help but ask, "Oh? What Young Master Zhu drafts is naturally good, but how can we old fellows understand it? Could you give us an example?"
Upon hearing this, Third Master Li couldn't help but admire him from the bottom of his heart—
The Emperor is indeed the Emperor.
His question is so opportune, I couldn't have asked it that way.
With this question, Zhu Mo would naturally use his own salt as an example.
Thinking of this,
He couldn't help but glance at the old Daoist priest, while the old Daoist priest glared back.
Indeed,
Zhu Mo said,
"Alright… Let's still use my salt as an example. My salt is made using the sun-drying method, and there are seven or eight processes that were not used before, which can be considered my invention. Elder brothers, this is the key point here—originality! Think about it, I invented a method, and if the government doesn't protect it, and everyone copies it, how can I make money? Won't my efforts in creation be in vain?
Pay attention, brothers. If the government protects my invention and grants me exclusive rights, prohibiting others from copying it freely, this is called a patent! If someone copies it without my permission, this is called infringement! Infringement, do you understand? It means infringing upon my patent rights…"
Zhu Mo found it difficult to explain to these people and felt a bit parched, taking a sip of tea.
It was precisely at this moment that the old Daoist priest interjected,
"Oh, I understand… But the problem is, you can't monopolize all the money in the world… Others are not allowed to use this method, only you can? I, the old Daoist, feel this matter is a bit unreliable…"
Third Master Li knew his thoughts well—
This is precisely what the Emperor couldn't understand, and thus dared not express his opinion. If one merchant were granted exclusive rights, wouldn't that cause chaos? This matter must be clarified.
The two feigned casualness, yet their ears were eager to catch every word.
But Zhu Mo's reply surprised them greatly—
"Hehe, you only understand one aspect. Patents are primarily to encourage intelligent and talented people to invent and create, allowing them to gain a significant portion, not to let them monopolize all profits! Take me, for example, have I ever thought of monopolizing the entire salt market?
It's not that others cannot use my method, but they have to pay! Do you understand? As long as they pay to acquire my method, they can naturally use it… For instance, Xian Tong Ji, if they hadn't spread rumors and had instead come to me beforehand, expressing their desire to purchase my method, then that would have been perfectly fine!
For example, I could say to them: From now on, if Xian Tong Ji sells refined salt and uses my method, for every jin sold, I will receive one fen of money… Do you understand? This is a win-win situation. Merchants in the world are not foolish, and none would be unwilling!"
Oh~~
So that's how it is.
The old Daoist priest's expression immediately relaxed—
So that's how it is!
This is quite good.
The method is promoted, the salt is sold, and the common people get affordable, good salt…
He couldn't help but glare at Third Master Li, mentally scolding: What nonsense were those useless individuals from the Ministry of Justice you found this morning spouting?
Third Master Li's face flushed, and he chuckled awkwardly, "So it's that profound… I think this 'patent' thing you're talking about is quite good. I wonder how the imperial court will react when it's presented?"
Damn it…
Zhu Mo spat, and said, "What else could they say? The other day I went to the Grand Secretariat, and Elder Grand Secretary Xu said it's not allowed, that one cannot monopolize the profits of the realm. He then brought up King Li of Zhou monopolizing the profits of mountains and forests, leading to great chaos, and so on… Alas, it's still quite difficult to get things done in the Great Ming dynasty."
Hearing this, the two exchanged glances and couldn't help but chuckle dryly—
As expected, Xu Jie is a Grand Secretary, able to cite classics even when rambling…