[Comprehensive Classics] Detective Mary

"Aside from politics, why not talk about other things, what do you think, Miss Bingley?"

Mary opened her mouth with a smile, and as expected, Miss Bingley had a blank expression, as if she hadn't expected Mary to bring the topic back.

To be honest, after realizing that Miss Bingley regarded herself as a rival in love, Mary immediately felt relieved.

It turned out that the reason for tossing for a long time was because of my daughter's worries.

Mary is not angry at all.Think carefully about Miss Bingley's actions, pretending to be generous to provide Mary with a chance to show herself, but saying bad things about her "rival in love" behind her back-this kind of behavior in the 21st century, at best, is at the level of a junior high school student, okay?It can only be said that unmarried girls in the Victorian era were really innocent.

Moreover, Mary doesn't like Mr. Darcy, and Miss Bingley is completely dazzled by love, and even finds the wrong rival in love!

But her real rival in love is Mary's sister. In the original book, she not only slanders Elizabeth, but also looks down on the Bennet family in every possible way, and personally helps break up the marriage between Jane and Mr. Bingley.

Mary's thoughts changed, and she couldn't help but have a bad intention to tease her.

"Then why not," Miss Bingley cleared her throat, "how about talking about the books you have finished reading, Miss Mary."

"Most of the books I've read recently are tomes," Mary replied truthfully. "If you don't talk about Rousseau, you can only talk about Montesquieu."

"It seems that Miss Mary is really interested in politics."

"No," Mary shook her head, "I'm just interested in how the real world is created and changed."

After all, Mary came from more than a hundred years later. The world in the 21st century is completely different from the current world. She is genuinely curious about the current society.

"That's true."

Mr. Bingley nodded in agreement when he heard Mary's words: "The first time we met at the ball, Miss Mary came up and asked me what the factory in Birmingham looked like. This was the first time I met a lady who was interested in the factory."

Because now is the period of the second industrial revolution. Wouldn’t it be a waste of time not to know the machines and business models of this era?

"The times are developing really fast," Mary couldn't help but sigh, "Looking at it now, even Rousseau didn't expect that the emergence of machines would bring specific and brand-new social contradictions."

Darcy raised an eyebrow.

He still maintained a calm attitude: "You think machines have brought new contradictions to society."

Mary: "Yes."

Darcy: "So Miss Mary doesn't agree with capitalists to equip factories with machines."

Mary: "That's not what I mean. Contradictions are also opportunities. New contradictions will bring about new development and a new social outlook."

Miss Bingley was confused by these words.She didn't pay attention to Mr. Darcy's surprised expression, but felt that Mary was playing tricks, so she said directly: "In that case, why don't Miss Mary explain it carefully, giving an example or something."

"For example, that's easy."

"Like?"

Mary turned her head when she heard the words, looked at Mr. Bingley who was listening attentively, and suddenly smiled.

"For example, although I have never met Mr. Bingley's partner, and do not know his business methods, I know why he is unwilling to change the supplier of raw cotton."

"Oh?"

Her words were firm, and as expected, she got the attention of other gentlemen.Even Mr. Hurst, who only wanted to play bridge, turned his attention to Mary.

"Then please tell me, Miss Mary," Mr. Bingley said politely, "Why is Mr. Thornton unwilling to change the supplier of raw cotton?"

"In fact, the reason is very simple. Now the cotton raw materials of the factory come from Liverpool, which is a domestic supplier."

"Yes."

"The price is also much higher than in South America."

"That's why I want to change the origin of cotton."

"However, the cotton producing areas in South America have popped up suddenly in the past two years, and they are far less trustworthy than domestic suppliers."

"There is this risk, but I assured my partner, Mr. Thornton, that if there is a problem with cotton raw materials, I will take more responsibility. Even if the raw materials are cut off and the order cannot be completed on time, the loss I will pay the money."

"But Mr. Bingley, have you ever thought about the reaction of the workers?"

When Mary's question fell to the ground, Mr. Bingley was slightly taken aback.

He didn't seem to understand Mary's question: "You mean?"

"The price of cotton raw material is cheaper, but the price of the cotton cloth produced is the same. In this way, the profit of the factory will be higher, and then the question arises - after the income increases, should workers be raised?" Mary asked.

"Now that there is a surplus of income," interposed Mr. Darcy, "it is a matter of course to raise the wages of the workers."

"However, the origin of cotton in South America is very new and not necessarily stable. If the quality of raw materials declines after a few years, or the supplier goes bankrupt, even if Mr. The wages are going to be lowered again, how should I explain this to them?"

"What if it doesn't go up?" Elizabeth asked curiously.

"All the extra money went into the pockets of Mr. Thornton and Mr. Bingley," Mary said. "If you were a worker, Lizzie, what would you do?"

"There will be a strike," said Mr. Bingley gravely.

This is where the problem lies-whether wages are raised or not, as long as the unstable cotton raw material production area is changed, there will be the possibility of workers going on strike in the end.

There is no need to continue explaining, Mary raised a smile: "I think Mr. Thornton is too conservative. Opening a factory is always risky. Since there are money transactions, losses are inevitable, and then find a way to earn back That's it."

Elizabeth took a different view.

"I think," she said with emotion, "this Mr. Thornton is a responsible person. There are hundreds of workers in a factory, and the workers also need to live and raise their children. All he wants is that everyone can feel at ease." Work is not short of food and drink."

"In that case, I understand his choice." Mr. Bingley thought thoughtfully.

And Darcy looked straight at Mary, with some inexplicable meaning in his expression: "Who taught you this, Miss Mary?"

Of course Marx and Engels.

Such a simple truth, everyone in the 21st century understands it.Of course, Mary can't say this directly. Those present are either capitalists or big landlords. She must not let others know that she has read Marx's books.

So Mary just kept smiling: "I'm not good at dancing, and I don't have any other hobbies. I only have nothing to do to read. Think about these simple truths."

"Obvious, this is not obvious!"

Mr. Bingley couldn't help admiring: "I believe that even in London, your brains are better than many factory owners, Miss Mary! I didn't expect that in such a small place as Longbourn, you can raise such talented people. Economically minded lady."

At the same time, he couldn't avoid regretting again—why is Mary Bennet just a woman?Mr. Bingley knew the situation of the Bennet family. Without a son, the girls could only get a modest dowry. If they didn't get married, the situation would be even worse.

And to be honest, Mary Bennet's appearance is much inferior to her sisters.But if she had been a young boy, she would have made a name for herself with her courage and brains.

"Look, William," Mr. Bingley said to Mr. Darcy with a smile, "I said that Miss Mary Bennet is very intelligent and often expresses some insights. You didn't take it seriously after the ball before."

Being teased suddenly by his friend, Darcy was not in a hurry to argue.He just lowered his head indistinctly, and said after a while: "I won't deny that when we first met, that judgment was really rash, and it was my mistake."

Elizabeth: "..."

Mr. Darcy looked at Elizabeth who was sitting on the side, and the eyes met, and the latter took the lead to look away.

Of course Elizabeth knew that she was speaking to herself, but she didn't speak up.It was Miss Bingley, on the other hand, who could not hear the meaning of Mr. Darcy's words, and was sulky at the fact that Mary was indeed showing herself.

She also wanted to imitate her elder brother and make some comments, but an unmarried lady never cared about what Mary said.

Miss Bingley was the first to ask for boredom, so she simply exposed the topic directly, and then smiled politely: "What you are talking about, I am afraid that none of the ladies present can understand it except Miss Mary. I am really confused." I don’t understand, why not produce cotton cloth, everyone wears linen cloth, can this be sold?”

What is the price of cotton, and what is the price of linen?These words are exported, quite like why not eat minced meat.

However, Miss Bingley has no worries about food and clothing, so she naturally doesn't understand that poor people have a big problem with food and clothing.

Mary didn't hold on to this point, she just smiled, and allowed Miss Bingley to change the subject, and pulled Elizabeth to discuss embroidery pretending to be intimate.

In a few words, everyone's attention was taken away from the factory.The embroiderer, the card player, but Mary, who is not good at needlework, has placed orders with the arrogant Mr. Darcy, and really has a chance to be alone.

Seeing Mary's burning eyes, Mr. Darcy raised his eyebrows coldly: "What else do you have to talk about, Miss Mary?"

"Gone."

Mary was extremely straightforward: "I just want to ask, where is Mr. Holmes?"

Darcy: "..."

Even a blind person can see something from Miss Mary Bennet's bright eyes, not to mention that Mr. Darcy is very smart-an unmarried lady who doesn't even have much interest in the ball, stepped forward to ask a question The whereabouts of the gentleman, the reason for it is really obvious.

"Sherlock didn't want to delay," Darcy replied, "after breakfast, I went directly to look for little Geoffrey."

Well, no surprise at all.Mary had already guessed that Mr. Holmes hadn't been seen when she entered the living room.

But Mary was still a little disappointed: "So, will he come back?"

"If Netherfield still has a clue, I think so," replied Mr. Darcy. "With all due respect, madam, are you now curious about the answer to the burglary, or Sherlock Holmes himself?"

"So what if it's the answer, and what about the person?"

"If it's an answer, Charles Bentley will give it to you without Sherlock; if it's a man."

Mr. Darcy looked Mary up and down again, and his intention was obvious—he didn't think his detective friend would be tempted by such an ordinary, bold and unmarried young lady.

"I don't think you are a match for Sherlock Holmes."

Mary raised a standard polite smirk: "With all due respect, Mr. Darcy, now you simply feel that your arrogance does not respect Elizabeth, or do you realize that you made a mistake because you fell in love with her?"

Darcy: "..."

He was really blocked - Mr. Darcy couldn't have calculated that Mary would say that directly.

"If it's the former, it doesn't matter; if it's the latter, let me remind you that your apology last time offended Elizabeth severely again."

Darcy: "..."

"Wait," Mr. Darcy frowned immediately, "I don't understand, my apology offended her again?"

Haha, if you don’t understand, you don’t understand.

She won't explain, so that your straight man can't speak, just suffocate to death!