[Titanic] I can't help myself

James, who has no economic crisis at all, is also thinking about changing the production mode of the manor recently.Although he looks unreliable, he is very economical and has made a lot of money from various long-term and short-term investments. Regarding the increasingly bleak income of the manor, he is also planning to take back the land and use agricultural machinery for intensive production .

Uncle Connery never considered this issue. His father left two factories and a quarry for him. After paying the inheritance tax, the remaining assets can fully maintain all the manors and mansions under his name. The normal operation of the farm that cannot be rented out allows him to lead a romantic and undisciplined life leisurely.However, every man has his own ambition. After listening to a discussion on farm reform, he also began to sharpen his sword and prepare to revitalize those abandoned farms.

As for Robert, he was involved purely to keep up with the troop of gentlemen.This man with a delicate baby face chose a major in university that is difficult for others to understand-mathematics.He likes those complicated formulas and studies their derivation process, but he has no interest in worldly affairs at all, and he doesn't like to get along with girls. He always hides in the corner of the study with a collection of mathematics papers carefully study.Little Thomas followed behind him persistently, continuing his "why", and the very temperamental Robert didn't mind Thomas interrupting his reading, instead he held him in his arms, told him stories and various mathematics Knowledge.Seeing this, Uncle Connery breathed a sigh of relief. Thomas is a very naughty boy with active thinking and restless sitting. He tormented the ladies in the first two days. It is rare that someone can calm him down for a while. Thanks a lot for that.

What surprised me the most was Viscount Stewart. I thought he would be an unchanging person. I didn’t expect him to have changed the production mode of the manor. He still owns several large farms in the United States. Jointly opened a textile factory.Last year, when several families were in economic crisis due to high inheritance tax, they bought a lot of land.

"Hush, don't tell anyone." When he said this, even though there was no one in the study, Viscount Stewart still lowered his voice, the corners of his mouth slightly curved up, looking like he was joking, but I really couldn't get the person in front of me out of his hair. The old man with serious head from silk to toe is associated with the word "joke".

He has a lot of experience in the matter of the manor. Although he doesn't say much, he listens to our discussions most of the time, but every time he speaks, the suggestions and questions he puts forward are always sharp and thought-provoking.

"My God." I lowered my voice too. "You really surprised me, Uncle Patrick. I thought..."

"You think I'm just like those old antiques, looking at the family crest in front of the fireplace every day and remembering the Victorian era?" Viscount Stewart laughed twice, then sighed long, turned his head slightly, and looked at the wall Looking at the portrait of his father, "It's just because I'm bored. If I don't find something to do, I will be driven crazy by time. It's too difficult to live alone." He tapped the sofa with his fingertips Armrest, "I still think those Americans are rude and ridiculous, but it cannot be denied that they make a lot of money."

"If rudeness could make me richer, I'd let God take all my upbringing and give me a big gold mine," I muttered.

"Nonsense!" Viscount Stewart said with widened eyes, "Aristocratic demeanor and noble manners are wealth that money can't buy. They are treasures accumulated over hundreds of years!"

He looked so serious that it was scary, but after a few days of getting along, I was able to see his soft heart through his stern appearance.He is like a gentle father who supports the shell of a strict father, always inadvertently revealing a trace of kindness and doting to me.I don't like to judge others by myself, thinking that everyone likes the same sex, but in the face of these cares and concerns, I think it may not be explained by just "the son of a deceased friend".

"If you are short of money, I can definitely help you solve this problem." He said forcefully, "I have so much money, but I don't have a living direct heir. When I die in the future, I don't know where it will go. It’s better to transfer it to you quietly while I’m alive, to my old friend’s son, to help you tide over the difficulties and revive your family business. So you have to remember, you will always have a way out, But don’t do anything that shouldn’t be done and is irreversible.”

"...I don't think Acton needs me to take such extreme measures anymore, Uncle Patrick."

On purpose, I haven't spoken to Carl alone for almost a week.I think he seems to have discovered something, I always feel that he is looking at me with a thoughtful expression these days.Especially like now, when we are sitting at the poker table, this feeling is very strong, but every time I turn my head to look at him, he only shows a gentle smile, as if we just made a casual The line of sight between them is normal.Whenever our eyes met and I saw his dark eyes, I would frantically memorize the multiplication tables in my head to force myself not to think about what he was thinking, but to concentrate on the cards in my hand.

I think these should be my hallucinations, I put too much attention on him, so that I would nervously think of other places when he did anything.

In the past few days, my poker skills have improved by leaps and bounds, and I won't lose too badly anymore.In view of my stinking poker skills, Uncle Connery suggested that I not participate in the gambling at the poker table, where I won and lost (of course I never won), lest I spend the whole of Acton. All lost at this table.Although Viscount Stewart didn't want to get involved in bad habits, old gentlemen like them felt that it was a shame to gamble without money. He even participated in gambling activities worth [-] pounds at the White Gentlemen's Club. , and the content of the game is just which drop of water on the window will flow the fastest.But given the embarrassing reality that I haven't won a single game since I first sat down at the poker table, he acquiesced.

At this card table, the quiet, shy and gentle Robert became a dark horse beyond everyone's expectations. Because of his excellent mathematics level, he lost less and won more, becoming the biggest winner.And that immature-looking face was calm and almost expressionless from the beginning to the end. He was not excited when he won, nor depressed when he lost, as if he was just doing a simple math problem.This made Thomas, who insisted on participating in "gentlemen's activities", admire him even more.

"Nines of Four." Robert said softly, showing his cards.

"That's amazing, Uncle Robert! Five consecutive victories!" Thomas, who was crowded beside Robert, shouted happily.

"Don't yell, Tommy, what did your teacher teach you?" Uncle Connery immediately stopped his behavior, "Sit down, don't wriggle around like a monkey."

Thomas reluctantly sat up straight.Uncle Connery nodded in satisfaction, and then beckoned to the servant who was serving at the side to hand over a cigar to light.And within a few minutes, Thomas was lying on top of Robert again.

"Can you teach me how to play cards, Uncle Robert? Why do you always win?"

"It's not difficult, it's just a matter of mathematical probability." Robert explained while dealing the cards, "Based on the cards in your own hand and the cards played by others, you can estimate what is currently in the opponent's hand..."

As soon as he talked about the fields he was familiar with, Robert began to talk non-stop. He spoke quickly and logically, but the combination of these words that sound reasonable made people feel confused and understood in one sentence. no.If it is someone else, everyone may think that this is looking for an opportunity to show off, but they will never think of Robert in this way. After a few days of getting along with him, everyone has discovered his dull and simple nature. He said this is really purely teaching Thomas. How to play cards.Everyone exchanged a funny look and continued to play cards.As a result, under Robert's careful analysis, he won another round.

"Oh, please, Robert, put some water on and give me a way out." James backed his chips to Robert's side, shook his head, and sighed.

Thomas cheered happily, counting the high stack of chips in front of Robert, counting, he suddenly stopped, staring and asked: "Dad, how much did you lose to Uncle Robert?"

"This kind of question is impolite, Tommy. A real gentleman would not ask someone such a question, even if the person being asked is your family." Uncle Connery was sorting the cards on the table with a cigar in his mouth, " But let me remind you first, if we continue to lose, I am afraid that after this Christmas, we will have to spread newspapers on the side of the road to sleep at night."

I lowered my head and covered the curve of my mouth with the back of my hand.Cousin Connery had a special fondness for tricking two little kids to amuse them.Madeleine seems to have become accustomed to her father's convulsions from time to time, while Thomas Jr. has never learned his lesson and is very easy to deceive, taking the bait as soon as he catches it.

Thomas frowned and struggled to understand the meaning of this sentence for a while, then his eyes widened in surprise and he shouted, "Dad, Dad, are you saying that we have become paupers?"

"Yes, Tommy."

"Have you lost everything?"

"uh-huh."

"Dad, stop playing!" Thomas exclaimed, "or we'll have nothing!"

"It's okay, Dad will help you win it back. Be obedient and don't talk."

Then it was Robert who won the round again.