Struggle in Russia

Igor would like to hear praises for Li Xiao, especially if it was said by Count Rostovtsev, so he would like to hear it even more.

If Igor's face was still cloudy a second ago, it is now sunny and joyful.

Count Rostovtsev couldn't hide such a remarkable performance. The count couldn't help shaking his head secretly. This old friend doesn't have the cunning of the arctic fox back then. Now he is just a hen protecting the chicks, okay? good.

"But don't be too happy too early. No matter how great your little master's contribution is, Nikolai Pavlovich will not reward you for meritorious deeds. The master has sent it away!"

This basin of cold water really made Igor very angry, and this was also what he was most dissatisfied with Nicholas I. Since he was a child, his little master has never had any glory in the Romanov family. Living in the worst house, receiving the most ordinary education, even promotion is more difficult than ordinary nobles.

Let me ask, which grand duke will only be given the rank of captain when he enlists in the army. Look at what ranks Nicholas I gave to Crown Prince Alexander and Grand Duke Constantine. Do these two brats have any real skills?

Favoring one another is what Igor is most dissatisfied with Nicholas I. The more he is like this, the more Igor wants to overturn him to the ground, and then step on his proud head fiercely, making him Also taste the taste of being trampled on!

"I'm not surprised by this at all!" Igor said angrily, "But even if he wants to suppress it again, at least he should be promoted to a major this time, right? At least one of the Order of St. Georgi must be given Bar!"

Count Rostovtsev was taken aback for a moment. He didn't expect that Igor's calculations were really accurate, because according to his estimation, Li Xiao would probably be able to get the rank of major and a fourth or third-class St. Georgy Medal. . Of course, based on Nicholas I's stinginess to his nephew, it is more likely to be the fourth-class Order of St. George.

It's just that from Igor's tone, he doesn't seem to pay much attention to these things. Instead, there is a strange pleasure in his tone, which makes him a little baffled. What makes him so happy?

Igor and Count Rostovtsev had completely opposite tempers, and they didn't mean to hide it at all, so they quickly explained the reason openly:

"It's been another year, and it's only a few months before His Excellency the Grand Duke. The things that Nikolai Pavlovich has occupied for more than ten years should be returned to His Excellency... That's a huge amount of wealth, With this wealth, it will be easier for the little master to do things. Then I will see how Nikolai Pavlovich will do it!"

Count Rostovtsev came to his senses immediately. Indeed, Li Xiao is only a few months away from adulthood. As long as 1848 is over,

In the new year, he will be an adult boy, and he can legitimately inherit the family business. At that time, the family property that has been occupied by Nicholas I for a long time will also return to his hands. With this money, Li Xiao can indeed do more things with his ability.

It's just that Count Rostovtsev didn't particularly care about this. Although money is indeed a good thing, and it is indeed difficult to live without money, it doesn't mean that you can't do things without money. At least Li Xiao has performed very well in the past few months without money.

Thinking of this, Count Rostovtsev suddenly smiled and said, "I'm afraid that young master of your family doesn't care much about that inheritance anymore. The money he makes in Wallachia is no less than what his father left him. Already!"

This time it was Igor's turn to be surprised. Although Li Xiao mentioned in his letter that he had made a lot of money in Wallachia, Li Xiao's so-called many were obviously different from what he understood. difference. According to Count Rostovtsev's tone, this is a lot of money?

"A large amount of land and other real estate. The cash is about 30,000 to 50,000 pounds. By the way, this is the income after he and a few friends divide it equally!"

This answer stunned Igor directly, because if the inheritance left by Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich is fully discounted, it would be about 1 million to 1.5 million rubles, which is about 1.5 million rubles when converted into pounds. That is about 100,000 to 150,000.

And his little master just took a trip to Wallachia and earned almost half of the inheritance? What kind of money-making ability is this against the sky?

"Are you surprised?" Count Rostovtsev laughed again. "Actually, your little master's plan to make money is still going on, and at the moment those poor wretches in Wallachia are trying to give him money." Sending money! If my estimate is not bad, when Mikhail Gorchakov's army takes back Bucharest, his property can still increase by 20,000 to 30,000 pounds!"

Igor's little heart was beating non-stop. This kind of money-making speed is no slower than stealing money. Why didn't he know that Wallachia is so lucrative!

"Indeed, many people didn't think of it!" Count Rostovtsev was a little amazed, "What's even more frightening is that your little master didn't steal by chance at all, and his method of making money is completely legal, so to speak. Wallachia rushed to give him money, which is even more powerful!"

And this is what Count Rostovtsev admires most about someone, who wouldn't scratch the ground! But someone's purse bulged without scratching the ground, just like the God of Wealth.

But Igor suddenly became worried: "With so much money, no one should be jealous!"

Earl Rostovtsev laughed out loud when he heard this, patted Igor on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry about that, your little master is more cunning than a fox, he used a foreign fake If his status makes money, he himself is still a penniless and down-and-out prince, no one will envy him!"

Igor suddenly became happy again, more and more happy for Li Xiao, this level is not a hundred times better than those grand dukes in St. I despised it.

"But don't be too happy!" Count Rostovtsev poured cold water on him again, "Although your little master can justifiably ask for inheritance when he is eighteen years old, but in terms of my respect for Niguel La Pavlovich understands, he will not hand over such a piece of fat happily!"

"snort!"

Igor also snorted coldly, and replied contemptuously: "You don't need to tell me, I know that that greedy villain will definitely play tricks, but we haven't given them for nothing these years! I even wish he could play tricks, That would just teach him a profound lesson!"