Miss Eugenie Grandet

Three days later, when Eugenie returned to Saumur, Father Grandet was in a good mood.

The reason why the father is in a good mood has nothing to do with Eugenie being taken to Paris in a court carriage to receive an honor from the emperor and become a nobleman.Although the father mentioned Napoleon now, he was no longer as sarcastic as before, but he didn't show too much enthusiasm for his daughter's entry into the aristocratic circle.After all, the title of Dame does not bring him any real benefits other than making the Saumurs feel great.Not to mention that the fiefdom he was counting on could actually produce real estate, and he didn't even have a decent bounty. This is really not attractive to the old man who has been used to making a fortune in silence all his life and regards "name" as a cloud.Therefore, when Eugenie came back and learned that she had indeed come back empty-handed except for a title, the old man couldn't help but despise Napoleon who was far away in the palace at the moment—it's really hard for the emperor to be so stingy. It is despised.

What made him feel good, and even smiled, was the large beet field planted at the beginning of the year after listening to Eugenie's words.

Is such that.Although the development of the current situation was unexpected, as Eugenie had predicted at first, Britain threatened King Louis to meet its demands through trade restrictions, but the result was the same.Because of the drastic changes in the domestic political situation and the ensuing war, the prices of a series of daily necessities, including sugar, skyrocketed.Although, Napoleon has ordered his finance minister and economists to consult urgently to formulate countermeasures to stabilize the price level of living materials.However, judging from the impact on the domestic economy after each previous coup d'etat, in the short term, at least within a year, the effect may not be significant.

The sugar price hike happened a few months ago.Old Grandet has been paying close attention.Now, the rising momentum has finally extended to sugar beet, and even better, there are not many people growing sugar beet this year, which makes it even more popular.Just a few days ago, Grandet dismissed two sugar producers who came to their door one after another and wanted to pay a deposit in advance.He decided to cover it again, and when the price rose to the peak, which is probably when the beets in the field could be harvested, he would sell it for a sum of money—there was no need to worry that his father would miss the opportunity because he did not sell it.For the goods in his hand, when to cover them and when to sell them, he is definitely an expert in calculating and precise.In his previous wine transactions, so far, there has not been a single doubtful transaction.

It was precisely because of this happy event that when Eugenie brought some strangers back and heard the purpose, although she was a little unhappy, but for the sake of her daughter, she reluctantly listened to Belle's request. The impromptu speech Na gave him.

"Aw... you said... what are you talking about... something that runs faster than... faster than a carriage..."

Whenever he encountered a topic that he was not interested in, Dad's stuttering disease would definitely attack on time.Probably because he had been pretending for a long time and got used to it. Sometimes, even he couldn't control himself.

"Yes! In my design, its speed can reach forty kilometers per hour!"

When facing the old cooper whom he met for the first time, he was a little intimidated by the prey-like gleam in his eyes.Fearing that he would block it, the engineer lobbied hard.

"That is to say, in the future, if the railway between Paris and Saumur is completed, you can still sit in Saumur in the morning, and in the evening, you can sit comfortably in a restaurant in Paris and have dinner! This is compared to your Isn’t it something worth looking forward to to go to Paris after three days and nights of hard work in a carriage?”

"It will be there in one day!"

Nanon, who was standing by the corner and listening with gusto, couldn't help shouting, "Holy Mother! What on earth is this? It runs so fast! What should I feed it? Dry bean fodder like horses?"

"It doesn't eat dry beans and grass," the engineer explained patiently, trying to make the woman who seemed very supportive of him understand his idea. "It burns coal and generates steam for power."

"What is steam? Sweet or salty?"

"Come on, Nanon! You fool! I'm not going to go to Paris just to have some supper!"

After Grandet interrupted the embarrassment of his maid, he muttered something in a low voice, showing little interest.

"Cargo transport! This must be useful for you!" The engineer hastily changed his lobbying strategy, "The locomotive can not only transport people, but also carry a lot of goods! I heard that you have a large vineyard, which produces at least a thousand barrels of wine every year. With locomotives, your wine can be shipped anywhere you want with ease..."

"That's even more unnecessary!"

Grandet interrupted the engineer rudely, and even yawned, indicating that he had reached the point where he could not bear the subject. “As long as I sit at home, merchants from the Netherlands and Belgium will come and buy.”

Bernard wiped his sweat and looked at Eugenie in embarrassment.

"You go and rest first, let Nanon take Ellie to eat something, she must be hungry."

After dismissing the frustrated engineer, Eugenie said in an unquestionable tone: "Father, Mr. Bernard has explained a lot to you just now. Believe it or not, I am still full of expectations for the prospect he described Yes. I decided to invest in this project—please believe that if it succeeds, compared with your hard work in growing grapes and sugar beets, the benefits it will bring are absolutely unimaginable. So, please Don't object. You can't stop me!"

Grandet was silent for a moment.

"Grow grapes, grow beets!"

He suddenly imitated his daughter's tone and repeated, his eyes widened, "What's wrong with growing grapes and beets! Eugenie, did you go to Paris twice and go to the palace once, and you look down on your grape grower?" Boss?"

Eugenie was very surprised that her father actually spoke to her in such a tone of dissatisfaction that seemed hurt.

This feeling is hard to describe in words.

The old father seemed to be complaining, but also kind of sad.

Thinking about it carefully, it was normal for him to have such a reaction.An iron-fisted father who has been used to saying one thing all his life, now because of his strength and persistence, he has to back down inch by inch.For him, every time he wins, it should be a difficult psychological process that is difficult to accept, but he has to accept it in the end, right?

Now, he should be feeling the hurt in yet another decisive strike of his own.

If it was the same as before, in another four or five years, but only four or five years, this old father who had a profound influence on his character throughout his life would pass away... Thinking of his helpless look when he was weakened, Ou Yeni suddenly felt her heart soften.

She immediately walked in front of him, squatted down, held his hand as rough as old bark with both hands, looked up at him, and said in a soft tone: "Father, please support me. I know You love me. I love you too. Therefore, I hope to get your support in everything I do. Once the locomotive comes out, it will have a profound and huge change on the world and people's way of life. Of course , this has nothing to do with us, nor is it our purpose. But if you think about it, once you have a new type of transportation that is faster, more comfortable, and more competitive in price, who will continue to spend a lot of money to What about taking a bumpy and slow carriage? Let’s just calculate the accounts of France. France has a population of 4000 million, even if only 40% of the people patronize, that’s 2000 customers, and each person spends an average of fifty francs a year , that's [-] million francs. Besides passengers, cargo is also a big revenue. And I dare say that the rate of [-] percent is too conservative. After cost and distribution to the government, how much money can you make every year, father You do the math."

After bowing his head for a while and doing mental calculations, he was stunned for a moment, and the old Grandet's eyes were ignited by flames.He stood up abruptly, rubbed his hands, and walked up and down the room agitatedly.

"Eugenie! My dear girl! You are right! That engineer, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-what, can he really build the thing you're talking about?"

Eugenie laughed.

"Father, I don't dare to guarantee it, and no one dares to guarantee it. But he is very confident. All I can do is to support him with all my strength."

"Okay, okay, full support!"

After the old man continued to walk back and forth in the room for a few laps, he stopped.

"Go and invite the notary first! Before you decide to vote for that guy a copper coin, you must first sign a contract with him. So as not to change your mind in the future. Listen to the old man, it's true that everyone cares about money. Make up your own mind. This is a golden sentence from your father who has been in business all his life!"

On this point, Eugenie also agreed very much.No matter what the result is, everything must be determined in the form of legal documents first, so that future disputes can be avoided.

----

Notary Crochet, who learned of the new move of the Grandet family, was stunned and took a while to react.

"Okay...ok..." Now it's his turn to stutter, "but you mean, you want to invest in that engineer and let him make...make..."

He didn't know what to call it for a while.

"Locomotive! A long locomotive that can carry people as well as pull goods!" Old Grandet looked at the old country bumpkin friend who didn't understand anything with a contemptuous look, "From now on, you are still at home in the morning Hang out at the door, and be in Paris at night to do what you want to do. Come to think of it, old friend, isn't that something to look forward to?"

"what--"

The notary let out an exclamation.After inquiring more inside information, and secretly helping Miss Grandet calculate the possible increase in her annual income in the future, he was so excited that he kept shaking, agreed immediately, turned around and hurried to tell the good news. He told his nephew, President Crosch.

The next day, in the presence of a notary, Eugenie and Bernard had a detailed discussion and finally concluded a legally binding contract.Of course, even if the engineer is completely disadvantaged, she is not the kind of businessman who takes the opportunity to sign unequal treaties with no conscience.On the premise of fully respecting the rights and interests of investors and intellectual property owners, Eugenie and Bernard concluded a contract that both parties were satisfied with.After the signing took effect, Grandet took away Eugenie's contract and locked it firmly in his treasure chest.

On the third day, under the urging of Grandet, Bernard and his party arrived at Floavon Manor and started their dream journey.

The author has something to say: Dad hasn't played for a long time, I miss it...