aristocratic engagement

That night in the prince's mansion, when they left, the lords changed their attitudes one by one, and some of them could be said to be tolerant and gentle even if they were not attentive.But Anne didn't think that just relying on the prince's attitude could change their minds all of a sudden, from extreme hatred to admiration in minutes.

In fact, Annie's guess was not wrong.

No matter how good the atmosphere at the party was, these days, only a few gentlemen handed over greeting cards and invitation letters, and they just wanted to make friends with Sir Richter. When Anne mentioned those business contacts, They pretended to be deaf and dumb.

Prejudice in their blood makes them have no trust in a young lady-even though they know she has done what many people can't.

But maybe that was just luck?

Maybe Mr. Darcy beside her is the real behind-the-scenes person?

Women are so inherently cunning, maybe she is a dishonest person?

Maybe……

All in all, they had thousands of reasons to exclude her from real business dealings.

Annie was angry and frustrated, yet she had prepared and anticipated all the difficult situations in her mind over the years.When Mr. Smith reported to her for the second quarter, Anne gave him an important task-to extend an olive branch to those factory owners who showed a willingness to cooperate in building trains and invite them to the party.

Annie was able to do those things without the help of the nobles, isn't it possible now?

Anne knew that a revolution was sweeping the world.

Now the aristocrats still control most of the wealth, but more and more capitalists have entered the parliament, and the right to speak has gradually declined.If she was a native noble lady, if she didn't have that experience, she must also think that the past situation is unshakable, but in fact it is not the case.

Annie plans to form a club, not because she wants to overwhelm the foundation of the nobility, but to give herself and those who try to change their destiny a living space.

"I'm worried that there won't be as many people as we expected." Anne said to Darcy beside her while riding a horse, "Despite my slogan, I'm also a viscount after all. They're afraid Don't want to take my word for it."

"Such worries are unnecessary, my dear. Even if they don't come, we are not helpless... The industry under my name is enough to support a train forging factory. Moreover, if they are sincere and hypocritical If you can't tell the difference, it may not be the right partner for us."

That's the way it is said, but the reality is cruel.

The indifference and discrimination she received after Anne revealed her identity prevented her from being so optimistic.

The two came to a tavern on the edge of London on horseback. At this time, the night was closing, just after the period when the nightlife of gentlemen had just begun.

There was bright and warm candlelight in the windows of the tavern. Annie got off her horse and looked in, but she couldn't see anything clearly because of the curtains.Seeing that she was so nervous that she tensed up and lingered in the same place, and dared not knock on the door to enter, Darcy suddenly approached her, and the distance between her face and her face was less than ten centimeters.

Anne was taken aback by his sudden movement which interrupted her contemplation.

I saw that face getting closer and closer, Annie's face became more and more red, and her eyes dodged——

But in the end, his lips didn't stick together.

"Let's go." Darcy suddenly let go of the hand holding her shoulder, straightened up, turned around and walked to the door of the tavern.

"Hey - are you teasing me? Kiss me if you want, you!" Annie's eyes widened, and she chased after her angrily.

Darcy laughed loudly, held the finger she was pointing at, and wrapped it in his palm: "Are you still afraid? Go in, and you will know the result when you open this door."

As soon as the words were finished, Darcy stretched out his hand and knocked rhythmically on the door three times.

Annie suddenly fell silent.

Darcy spread his hands, Annie took a step forward, walked in front of him, raised her hand and knocked three times.

After a while, the door creaked and opened.

A familiar face appeared behind the door.

"Liz? Why are you here?!" Annie exclaimed.

Liz, who was in the crack of the door, showed a sly smile.

Behind her, the entire tavern was almost completely occupied.

"Today's party is hosted by Viscount Richter and assisted by Mr. Darcy. I have already stated the reason for inviting you here in the invitation letter. I dare not say that you will be able to come here. I fully agree with Viscount Richter's plan, but I see your curiosity and excitement." Mr. Smith stood in front of the bar, looking at the men sitting around and said loudly.

"Stop talking nonsense, everyone here knows what you mean, otherwise we think life is too leisurely, so we want to waste time?" A middle-aged man shouted.

"Yes, I admit that I am very interested in Viscount Richter's plan, but based on your one-sided words, how can we hand over our family property for nothing?"

"Haha! I'm different from you. I came here to see what kind of beauty Viscount Hitt is. She actually turned the Bridgewater House upside down and made the prince stand up for her!" The young man said. The man hiccupped and laughed loudly.

His words made a group of people laugh wantonly.

The other people with cold faces knew it in their hearts, frowned silently, and exchanged glances with each other.

Mr. Smith still had a professional smile on his face, listening to the foul language of those people.Where these people can't see, there is a person who has recorded everyone's words and deeds.

There was a faint sound of horseshoes outside the window, and not long after, there was a short knock on the door.

The wanton laughter in the tavern gradually died down, and a man in a cloak stood up from the last row.The movement of this person getting up caused everyone to turn around. Only then did they realize that there was a woman sitting at the door—a woman in pants? !

She walked to the door expressionlessly and opened it.

Together with the cool evening wind, those who were drawn into the tavern were a man and a woman with well-dressed and stern faces.

After greeting Liz, Anne took a thick notebook from her.

Looking up, Mr. Smith saluted her in front of the bar.Annie nodded, and while flipping through the book in her hand, she walked towards the bar.

Everyone's words were neatly recorded in the notebook. Annie read it line by line, and couldn't help but sneer.

Her sneer made everyone froze in place when they got up to say hello.

Annie nodded to Liz and motioned for her to take the vacant seat at the front.Darcy and Anne stood side by side where Mr. Smith was originally standing. Mr. Smith bowed slightly to everyone and sat at the same round table with Liz.

Annie put the book upside down on the bar counter, facing everyone, her eyes flicked over everyone's face.

"I'm Anne de Bauer, you can call me Viscount Richter." Anne's speech was slow and clear, but there was an inexplicable deterrent force.

"I called everyone here today because I have a business to discuss. Business is something you come and go, what you like. If someone has a bad opinion of me, or is more interested in my scandal than business, Then please leave now, I have nothing to talk to you now, and there will be none in the future."

As soon as Annie finished speaking, the first person who laughed at Annie's pornographic news stood up, opened the door and left without looking back.

After he left, those people who agreed with the joke also looked at each other hesitantly. Seeing that Viscount Richter was flipping through the book with his expression unchanged, he thought that she might have mastered their previous information. Talking, turned around stiffly and left in twos and threes.

After about 10 minutes, finally no one stood up again.

There were only half of the people left in the tavern.

Annie closed the booklet, with a soft smile on her lips, and said, "Now, please introduce yourself? Although I am familiar with everyone's names, I can't recognize your faces clearly. also the same."

Mr. Smith stood up immediately: "I am Smith from Central Bank of London, everyone knows me."

Darcy took a small step forward: "Fitzwilliam Darcy, of Pemberley Park, Derbyshire."

Liz stood up: "Elizabeth Bennet, you may be more familiar with my other name-'Mr. Bennet'." Liz's voice was trembling, and Annie sent her an encouraging smile, and Liz also smiled opened his mouth.

Then, everyone stood up consciously one by one.

"Charlie Anderson, the head of the Anderson Mine."

"Taylor, I'm the owner of the Richard Taylor Iron Works."

"Harry White." The name caused an uproar, "White No. [-] Shipyard and No. [-] Shipyard are both properties under my name."

Mr. White is a well-known shipbuilding tycoon in the city of London. He started from scratch, did not rely on any lord, but relied on his own means to get ahead. He is a strong rival of Bridgewater Shipyard.

At this time, he unexpectedly appeared at this party, and the profound meaning in it made people secretly speechless.

Annie and him looked at each other, but they couldn't see any emotional fluctuations - also, how could such an old fox show his tail so easily?

The people who introduced themselves after him couldn't help becoming more cautious and serious.Annie matched the faces with the names on the book one by one, and was delighted to find that none of the people left was the one who had spoken rudely before.

After everyone introduced each other, Annie said loudly: "I think you must have discovered that everyone is from all walks of life, but they are not completely unfamiliar with each other. Maybe some people used to be competitors with each other, and some were upstream and downstream of each other's industries. Downstream... But, the business I want to talk to you is closely related to everyone."

As soon as the words fell, Mr. White lit his pipe: "Is it related to the 'train'?"

"train?"

"what is that?"

Whispering began.

Annie nodded and said, "Mr. White is very well informed. That's right, 'steam train' is the project I will invest in next, and it is also a business that I want to share with you all."

"You have such a background and you are not short of money. Why do you want to cooperate with us? Viscount Richter, I think you and Mr. Darcy can take this business. Are you a philanthropist? Take the initiative to share the matter with everyone?" Mr. White asked aggressively.

Annie was not angry, but secretly thanked Mr. White for questioning in her heart.He took the initiative to admit her identity and gave her a chance to explain herself.

Annie cleared her throat: "Of course it's not that I can't take this business alone, but... I know that if this thing can be done, it will benefit not only me and us, but also promote the progress of the whole world .It’s a big thing, but it’s a small thing. Many lords still look down on such a business that can shake the world situation, or they look down on me—a businessman, even if I’m working for the prince.”

Annie did not mention her female identity, but put herself and everyone present in one category.

"Where does the right to speak come from? In the past, it grew out of the land, so the lords who occupied the land hundreds of years ago snatched it first. But now, everyone has no less money in their pockets than the landlords , but still speechless."

The words had come to this point, but Annie stopped talking. The angry expressions on the faces of those people said everything.

Everyone has their own sad experience, whether it is a shipyard owner, a coal mine owner, a steel factory owner, a textile factory owner... No one will say that their journey has been smooth sailing.Even Liz nodded silently, just because her uncle was a businessman, Jane was also picked on by those gentlemen who thought highly of themselves when they were talking about marriage, even though she was beautiful and virtuous, and such prejudice would be accompanied by five A sister's life, and even the next generation.

"Then, Viscount Richter, you are already a viscount and rich in land, can you guarantee that you will always be on the same side with us?" Mr. White once again asked everyone's question.

After hearing this, Annie smiled slightly: "I'm not sure, I still think the same way 100 years later."

"I understand, thank you, Viscount Richter." Mr. White stood up and bowed slightly, "I am convinced by you."

The people present immediately signed the papers, established the "Sword Knight Club", and signed their names in the train construction plan.

Annie suppressed the excitement in her heart and sent everyone to the entrance of the tavern one by one.When Mr. White was about to leave, Annie stopped him: "Mr. White, please stay."

Mr. White looked back at her suspiciously.

"I appreciate your today's..."

"You don't need to say polite words, Viscount Richter, I'm a businessman and I understand what I'm doing." Mr. White smiled for the first time tonight, "If you insist on pursuing, then I can only say, Bridge Water Shipyard is my biggest opponent, you solved them for me, just consider me repaying you."

This reason is a bit ridiculous. The two men of the Egerton family are living a good life, and the business is fairly stable. How can they "solve" it?Rather than saying it is because of this reason, it is better to say that Mr. White has foreseen that the future of the train is not worse than that of the ship, and even this is a blue ocean that has not yet been discovered.

Annie looked at him fixedly, and after a long time, she sneered: "Okay, I won't ask."

Mr. White nodded, turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Annie closed the door and said, "Now it's your turn, Liz. You appeared here and exposed your identity. It seems that you have made up your mind and are ready?"

"Of course!" Liz lifted the cap of the cloak and winked at her playfully.

作者有话要说：最近沉迷山海情……_(:з」∠)_啊真好看感谢在2021-01-3000:30:23~2021-02-0104:03:10期间为我投出霸王票或灌溉营养液的小天使哦~

Thanks to the little angel who threw the landmine: one piece like a deer returning to the forest;

Thanks to the little angel of irrigation nutrient solution: 231552661 bottles;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!