Xu Dehai didn't dally and quickly asked the question posed by the Tianxiang House Master.
Upon hearing this, Xu Ping was first startled, then shook his head slightly. To ask such a question, it seemed the Tianxiang House most likely belonged to Lao Bi Deng.
"Your establishment is arguably the foremost in the Northern Territory; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it earns a fortune daily."
Xu Dehai didn't answer, which was taken as an acknowledgment.
"Behind vermilion gates, wine and meat go to waste, while on the road, people freeze to death.
All the suffering in this world is not as great as the suffering of the common people. In times of peace, they suffer from corvée and taxes; in times of chaos, they suffer from military conscription.
Throughout their lives, they work from sunrise to sunset, just for a mouthful of food and a thin piece of clothing.
Born as humans, yet their lives are like ants. Your House Master is quite interesting, earning a fortune daily inside the House while lamenting the hardships of the common people!" Xu Ping's words carried a hint of sarcasm.
Xu Dehai wasn't angered by Xu Ping's sarcasm; instead, he carefully pondered Xu Ping's words: Behind vermilion gates, wine and meat go to waste, while on the road, people freeze to death.
While Xu Dehai was lost in thought, Xu Ping waved his hand. "Shopkeeper Xu, the seventh floor is not mandatory; the banquet can also be held on the sixth floor."
Hearing Xu Ping's words, Xu Dehai snapped back to attention. "Xu Shizi? Why is this so?" Just from Xu Ping's previous words, Xu Dehai knew this young man had a broad perspective.
Xu Ping thought for a moment. "No particular reason."
Xu Dehai was not giving up. "Is it because of the question posed by my House Master?"
Xu Ping stroked his chin, thinking carefully for a while. "I can answer the question your master posed, but it doesn't have much meaning."
"Why?"
"When the world falls, the common people naturally suffer. But when the world prospers, the common people still suffer."
Xu Dehai looked puzzled, cupping his hands in a respectful bow. "Please, Xu Shizi, do not hesitate to enlighten me!"
"I dare not claim to enlighten. When the world falls, the common people are ravaged by war, their lives are like grass, they have no food to eat, no clothes to wear, and naturally suffer unspeakably."
"Then when the world prospers, why do the common people still suffer?"
"Let me ask you. When the world prospers, who prospers? Is it the common people, or the officials, aristocratic families, wealthy merchants, and traders?"
"Xu Shizi, I don't quite understand your words. When the world prospers greatly, naturally the common people, officials, aristocratic families, and merchants all prosper. The common people have food to eat, clothes to wear, and no natural disasters or man-made calamities; isn't that enough?"
Xu Ping felt a bit awkward. As a transmigrator, his ideology differed fundamentally from that of ancient people. It was difficult to make ancient people truly understand the prosperity of the common people.
After a brief thought, Xu Ping said to Xu Dehai: "Being able to eat one's fill is not called prosperity.
Ordinary people have no means of education, are illiterate, and have impoverished minds, laboring all day just for a full meal. However, merely filling one's stomach is not prosperity.
The lives of domestic animals and wild beasts are solely for filling their stomachs; how can they speak of rise and fall? Appetite is merely an instinct for survival.
Over ninety percent of a nation's resources are controlled by the imperial court, aristocratic clans, officials, and merchants. Yet, these people constitute less than one or two ten-thousandths of the nation's population. How can the common people speak of happiness and peace? Simply surviving is already incredibly difficult."
Xu Ping's words left Xu Dehai speechless and deeply unsettled for a long time.
After a while, Xu Dehai finally spoke, asking, "Then, Xu Shizi, what do you think can make the world prosper and the common people wealthy?"
Xu Ping shook his head slightly. This was a question with an answer, yet no solution. Even in modern times, it couldn't be achieved.
As a transmigrator, the fundamental concept of modern people is equality. But even in modern times, this is only relative. People are still divided into different social strata, and the vast majority of the world's resources are still controlled by a minority. Survival of the fittest is inevitable. There is only relative equality and relative dignity.
Since Lao Bi Deng wanted to hear it, why not. After much consideration, Xu Ping still spoke his mind. "It's meaningless, but since you ask so sincerely, I don't mind chatting with you for a few words.
Kings of nations contend for the world, feudal lords contend for territory, high officials contend for power, and scholars contend for nothing more than status. Wherever there are people, there are disputes. Regardless of identity, regardless of status, in the final analysis, it is nothing more than personal desire.
Recalling what the common people contend for, a mere meal, yet how difficult it is. Happiness and stability, how easy is that?
Only without the turmoil of war can there be rest and recuperation; only without harsh taxes can there be surplus grain; only without class oppression can one rise above others; only without the exploitation of aristocratic families can the people's livelihood be stable.
The decline of any dynasty is inseparable from the eruption of underlying contradictions. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it."
Xu Dehai pondered for a long time, then sighed: Xu Cang's son perhaps possesses the ability of a king's aide.
"Since Xu Shizi has such insights, why do you say it's meaningless?" This point truly puzzled Xu Dehai.
Xu Ping spread his hands, looking a bit helpless. "Because everyone has selfish motives, you and I are no exception.
To achieve the above, it would affect the interests of those who control vast resources, which is far more difficult than establishing a nation. At best, one would be utterly destroyed; at worst, one's entire clan would be wiped out."
Xu Dehai nodded silently. "That's true! To move the interests of all upper classes, indeed no one would do such a thing."
"Xu Shizi, please wait a moment. I will immediately relay your words to my House Master."
"As you wish!" Xu Ping shrugged. Showing loyalty and demonstrating value was indeed appropriate.
Soon, Xu Dehai arrived on the seventh floor and relayed everything Xu Ping had said to the Tianxiang House Master.
The Tianxiang House Master took a while to digest Xu Ping's views. "I never thought he would have such insights. His talent is not small; even that Mr. Gongsun of Xuanji Pavilion would probably be impressed."
Xuanji Pavilion encompasses the world's heroes from the entire continent, with rankings such as the Literary Ranking, Martial Ranking, military god ranking, and Ingenious Strategies Ranking. This shows how highly the Tianxiang House Master evaluated Xu Ping.
Xu Dehai agreed even more deeply. "Miss, what next?"
"Relay his words back. When there's an opportunity, I will meet this Jingbei Prince's Xu Shizi. Tonight, I will depart for the capital. Let him arrange the banquet on the seventh floor. Go and do it!"
As Xu Dehai was about to leave, the Tianxiang House Master stopped him again. "His journey to the capital this time is long, and the intentions of those in the imperial court are unpredictable. There might be unforeseen circumstances on this trip.
Have the Royal City Guard follow him throughout. If anything unexpected happens, try your best to save him."
"Don't worry, Miss."
In a moment, Xu Dehai had returned. He happened to see Xu Ping flirting with a young lady, and his lips twitched slightly, sighing inwardly: How does Xu Shizi seem so unreliable?
To avoid awkwardness, Xu Dehai coughed twice.
Xu Ping, seeing this, didn't blush or skip a beat. "Shopkeeper Xu, do you have a throat ailment?"
Xu Dehai smiled unnaturally. "Xu Shizi is truly observant; you even know I have a throat ailment."
"No more idle talk, what did your master say?"
"My master said that the Prince's esteemed presence is an honor for Tianxiang House, and Xu Shizi is an exceptionally talented individual of this era. The House Master is naturally willing to lend the seventh floor for the Prince to host his guests.
Of course, all expenses for tonight's banquet will also be borne by Tianxiang House, as a token of respect."
"Your master is quite generous! Since that's the case, I won't decline and will accept this favor from your Tianxiang House."
"It's a small matter, Xu Shizi, you overstate it by calling it a favor!"
"Since that's the case, there's one more thing I'd like to trouble the Shopkeeper to handle for me."
"May I ask, Xu Shizi, what is it?"
Xu Ping tilted his head, and Butler Lao Gao took out a stack of silver notes from his In arms and handed them over.
Xu Dehai took the silver notes and glanced at them. Good heavens, it was a full thirty thousand taels of silver.
"May I ask, Xu Shizi, these silver notes?"
"Place the silver notes in a food box and have them appear in the hands of tonight's guests. You can decide how to manage the specifics."
Xu Dehai looked at the silver notes in his hand, then at Xu Ping. The Xu Shizi of Jingbei Royal Mansion, who had just been discussing the hardships of the common people, then turned around and bribed the current grand eunuch. This was truly speechless.
Inside the seventh floor, the Tianxiang House Master tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly upwards. "Xu Yongning, it's been many years, and you truly are impressive now."