His Excellency the Count of Grandet

Although Charles felt that the idea he gave Alphonse was 12 percent correct, and that Alphonse would succeed if he followed it, but Alphonse obviously would not believe it so easily.

This is also normal, he doesn't know what kind of person Grandet is at all; taking a step back, everyone in Saumur has known Grandet for many years, and they haven't figured out the old man's temper Woolen cloth!

So Charles lit a row of small candles in his heart for the future of his friend, and went to see Eugenie the day after the reception.

Cousin and cousin haven't seen each other for a long time, and the atmosphere is actually pretty good.Knowing that his cousin was thin-skinned, Charles made a few indirect remarks, and stopped after seeing Eugenie's flushed face. "Ahem," he pretended to cough a few times, and then continued: "Some things were not elaborated in the letter. What my uncle meant was that, if it was appropriate, he would prefer to see the branch textile factory open closer to Saumur. .”

At this time, Eugenie was no longer the country lady who had set foot in the farthest range but the Loire River and the Noyer Abbey.She has seen the fickleness of the world under money supremacy, and also experienced the fickleness of human relationships when she and her mother went out to work hard.If she might have frowned when she heard this before, now she can control her emotions.

"I see." She mused, "Have you seen the terrain along the Loire Valley?"

This is right to the point.Charles nodded, and then handed her a prepared document. "I took a look when I came back, and there are already a few rough candidates. If you have time, you can go and have a look in person to determine the final location."

Eugenie took it and glanced it over quickly.She never doubted Shire's ability, especially when she knew that Shire had walked along the Loire River more than once—did the wines that Shire needed to buy before fly to Paris by himself?

"Let me get back to you in a few days," she said, looking up, "Also, do you have any preferences?"

His cousin was much more talkative than his dear uncle, thought Charles. "As you can see, it's just the Loire River," he said meaningfully, "France is more than the Seine River and the Loire River."

Eugenie stared at him intently, her brown eyes trembling slightly, evidently thinking.After a while, she said softly, "Is it because of my father?"

"Maybe, but that's not the point." Charles replied, his voice also softened. "If I'm not mistaken, Uncle looks like he'd like to see you and Aunt more often."

Eugenie pursed her lips slightly.

To be honest, even if she had the experience of managing a large estate by herself for nearly ten years, it doesn't mean that she can immediately become a fish in water in the textile industry; Gardens are two different things entirely.

Fortunately, she has a good mind and a hardworking and gentle nature; even if she developed the habit of being overly frugal since childhood, it did not bring her too much difficulty in her new life.

Compared to before, she feels that she can finally say frankly that she has earned everything she wants by relying on her own efforts——

She thought her return was a gift from God, an opportunity to protect and care for her mother, who had suffered all her life.And if both Charles and President Cruchot were entrusted by her, the current situation has also been reversed.

Madame Grandet successfully survived the severe winter in her memory, and Alfons slowly entered her life unexpectedly.She felt that this was enough for her, how could she expect more?

"Are you telling the truth?" Eugenie asked in a low voice, as if she couldn't believe it, "Father, he..." She didn't go on, but the following words were understood by both of them——Grande wanted to see Isn't there only gold?

"I know what you mean." Charles pressed her hand on the table and comforted her: "You are worried about the quality of life for your aunt at home. Even I have to say that my aunt is getting old and needs more careful attention." care, instead of living in one of those dank, gloomy stone houses—that's not doing you any good."

Eugenie lowered her eyes, and her eyes fell on their hands.Shire's hands were just as she remembered, white and slender, beautiful and well maintained.

"But things are different now," continued Charles. "What my uncle would have said two years ago is not necessarily as strong as it was before. Saumur's river is not suitable for factory construction. You can do it in another Settle your mother in the city, and go back to see your father when you are free."

Eugenie did not move or speak.She had stared blankly at Charles' fingers several times, and she blushed and looked away only when Charles found out. She had also felt the warmth from the palm of her hand, and at the same time heard the sweet words of love from the other party...

But that was just the past.Whether it is laughter, heartbeat, lovesickness, or tears, it has passed and will not come back.

"But of course, this is just my personal suggestion. The railway from Orleans to Nantes is also under construction, passing through Saumur; it may not take a few days for the first person to come and go, it depends on your own opinion." Charles finally Finished what he wanted to say.He believed that, with his cousin's usual temperament, she must have been persuaded——

His stingy, world-famous uncle misses his daughter, not to mention Eugenie, who is much softer-hearted?At best, Father Grandet wanted to save face; while Eugenie had a knot in his heart and didn't turn the corner.

Say good-bye to the past once and for all, Eugenie said to herself.But what she said was: "May I give you a hug, dear cousin?"

"Huh?" Charles raised his eyebrows slightly.From Eugenie's expression, he could be sure that the other party had no objection; but why was the response not a nod, but a request for a hug?

Although he was so doubtful, he stood up consciously and walked around the table. "Of course, my dear cousin." He bent down slightly and hugged Eugenie, who was also standing up and was shorter than him.According to the etiquette, he kissed the other party's brown braided hair very well.

Feeling the same warm embrace as in memory, Eugenie's tears already overflowed her eyes unconsciously.Shire's blow was very light, but in this case, it undoubtedly became the last straw that broke the camel's back.She grabbed Shire's skirt and buried her face in it; there was no sound, but her shoulders trembled slightly.

Ciel, who hadn't expected this development trend at all, was taken aback. "Cousin?" As soon as he opened his mouth, he realized that it was too difficult to ask Eugenie why she was crying at this moment, so he had to bite the bullet, hugged the person in his arms with one hand, and gently patted her with the other. with Eugenie's back.

...So, where is Alphonse at this time?He's very bad at coaxing women!

Then I need to find a good reason to change clothes later. If Victor knows about this, he must be so jealous that he will toss him twice more on the bed...

Maybe it was Shire's luck that he didn't run into Victor for the rest of the day—because Faraday suddenly came and asked to go for a walk with him, and of course he couldn't refuse such a request.

Eperna is located in the middle reaches of the Seine River, the scenery is quiet and beautiful.The riverside is full of low-level woods, and in autumn, there will be color gradients of different levels and shades, which is simply too beautiful to behold.Although it is not yet that time, the dam built for the factory to generate electricity is full of water, and the sea of ​​trees and the sky are reflected like a mirror, which is also a good view.

After handing over the task of showing people around the factory to Alphonse, the two walked down the path by the lake.

The surrounding area is very quiet, and the west slanting sun generously sprinkles a layer of gold on the mountains and the lake.Except for a few old people who are fishing, there is only the sound of the wind when the white gulls with orange legs and yellow beaks fly across the lake.

This would be a great place for a date, Charles thought.But at the same time, he also clearly realized that Faraday definitely had something to say to him, so he chose such a place.

The point is, is there anything worth talking to Faraday about so much?

As for Faraday, as much as he'd love to euphemistically mention certain things, he's never had that skill.So after opening his mouth three times, he reluctantly gave up this move. "I have been in France for some time."

With just such an opening sentence, Charles immediately understood what happened.The British came to Eperna, and Faraday was also a British... The joints in this are almost ready to come out!

Very good, Rothschild even dared to rob his people!Charles sneered inwardly.

Faraday has been paying attention to Charles' expression, seeing that he didn't respond at this time, he had to continue talking. "I think you must have guessed...someone came to see me last night."

"James, or Nathan? Or are they two together?" Charles guessed, and then got the correct answer from Faraday's eyes: "Both together. I should say, they really showed their greatest sincerity." ?"

It's no wonder that Charles mocked so directly.Originally Faraday would leave the UK, the biggest reason was that David could not tolerate him; now that Faraday has made great achievements, some people finally thought that Faraday is also a British?This change in attitude is the obvious utilitarianism, right?

Another reason why Charles dared to say so directly was that since Faraday was going to tell him, it meant failure.Not his failure, but Rothschild's!

"Sincerity? Please forgive me, I really didn't see it." Sure enough, Faraday said so. "If sincerity is only expressed with a pile of gold, then it probably has a little bit."

Charles keenly heard the disdain. "Isn't there more? Like a respectful attitude?"

"You really know those people." Faraday replied, with a gloomy look in his eyes, "but that's only on the surface. Maybe they think they're well disguised, but they still look down on me, or people like me. What they see Among them, there is only the great benefit that I can bring to them—that’s all. If it is not for the great success of the factories, they will never notice who is behind them in their lives!"

Charles didn't answer immediately.Faraday's attitude towards others has always been very sensitive, and the Rothschilds are obviously stepping on the thunder - on the surface they are polite and polite, but they think something else in their hearts!

"Maybe it's my one-sided idea, but I really think that neither money nor power is suitable for scientists." Faraday lowered his voice when he said this, obviously thinking of his mentor David-David was promoted to the royal family. It was only after the president of the society that he was excluded more and more. "If I want to achieve the heights I imagined before, I should resist the temptation from other quarters."

"I understand what you mean." Charles confirmed.

After a moment of silence, the two stopped and looked at the distant scenery.

"So, do you understand what I want to tell you today?" Faraday whispered.

"Don't worry." Charles replied quickly.

This answer seemed to be wrong, but Faraday laughed.