Arrangements

"Anyway, you got your information just by wandering around aimlessly. It's fine if you sell it to me cheaper. Once I get through these two political events safely, I'll give you points every day. All my points are yours anyway, and no one else can take them. Help me out when I'm in my most difficult time, isn't that good?"

The system had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but after carefully recalling Zhao Ruxi's words, it couldn't find anything amiss.

It asked, "So what do you want?"

"Set a reasonable price for the information. Don't try to rip me off. As you've seen, I've bought from many people and know many people. For example, when I wanted to find out about artisans, didn't I just rely on friends and intermediaries? It's not difficult. If your information is cheap, I'll buy it; if it's expensive, I won't. Even if it takes a little effort, it's not impossible to find out."

The system, which had initially intended to ask for an exorbitant price and haggle with Zhao Ruxi, pondered these words for a while before saying, "Very important, confidential, and difficult-to-obtain information will cost 3,000 points per piece; other information, such as the heir of the Earl of Zhongqin's Residence plotting against you, will cost 2,000 points per piece; and information about artisans will cost 1,000 points per piece."

The price is reasonable.

Putting everything else aside, news about how the Crown Prince plotted a rebellion in the palace cost 3,000 points, which isn't expensive at all; saving a life for 2,000 points is a great deal. She had the system monitor the three workshops and alert her if anything happened, which only cost her 1,000 points.

She can now earn eight points for practicing calligraphy; every morning she takes notes in class at the academy, easily accumulating over a hundred points. So these points are not difficult for her.

But given Zhao Ruxi's tendency to bully the Intellectual Disability System, not haggling is out of the question.

She sighed deeply, looking utterly disheartened. "I've said so much to you, and you still want it this expensive. Forget it, forget I said anything."

With that, she ignored the system and asked the waiter to bring out a book to look through.

"Then, how many points can you actually offer?" the system asked, sounding aggrieved.

Zhao Ruxi was waiting for this line.

She said calmly, "Half price on everything." Her tone left no room for argument.

"That won't do, it's too cheap. It's also very difficult for me to get information into the palace." The system was showing signs of getting angry.

"Then the first option is 2,000 points, the second is 1,000 points, and the third is 500 points. Anything more expensive, I won't accept." This was the price Zhao Ruxi really wanted to negotiate.

As expected, when the system saw that Zhao Ruxi had conceded, it added at least a thousand points. It knew that Zhao Ruxi was stubborn and inflexible, and might actually try to get those points by relying solely on herself and not the system. In that case, it wouldn't get a single point.

It reluctantly agreed to Zhao Ruxi's price.

Having gained a huge advantage, Zhao Ruxi finally changed her initial cold attitude and began to mentally praise the system: "Ah, my sweetheart is so sensible and considerate. There's no better system in the world than you, my sweetheart. Let me check my points..."

She opened the light screen. "Hmm, I'm still a little over 600 points short. Tomorrow's exam is tomorrow, and I'm sure I'll get first place. Tonight, I'll try combining my master's painting style with Western painting techniques to see if I can create a new style. If it works, I can buy the Agility Pill right away. I'll have 20,000 points in my account soon, Sweetie, Gao Xing? Aren't you excited?"

Her mentally challenged son was most susceptible to sweet talk, and after being coaxed like that, he indeed became happy, his mind making a series of mental tumbling sounds. "Haha, really? That's great, I'm so happy!"

After appeasing her mentally challenged son, Gao Weiqiang arrived with two guards.

"Miss, the others haven't arrived at the painting academy yet, but County Princess of Qingyang has. I borrowed two guards from her." Gao Weiqiang winked at Zhao Ruxi. "The princess heard that you were threatened and bullied by the Heir of the Earl of Zhongqin of Zhongqin, and she's very angry. She's determined to have the Princess Consort seek justice for you."

Zhao Ruxi couldn't help but laugh.

This was precisely why she sent Gao Weiqiang to the art academy to borrow guards.

Jia Junze dared to utter such outrageous and vulgar words only because the Earl of Suiping's Residence had fallen into ruin. But behind her stood not only the Earl of Suiping's Residence, but also her master, senior brother, and a group of "disciples" from the painting academy.

She didn't need these people to stand up for her and seek justice at the Earl of Zhongqin's Residence; they just needed to spread the word about Jia Junze's words and actions today.

She touched her chin.

Xiao Ruotong's words, which don't quite understand social etiquette, shouldn't be taken seriously. The Princess of Zhennan probably wouldn't offend the Earl of Zhongqin's Residence for her sake. But her master is fiercely protective of his own. If she's bullied, her master will definitely stand up for her.

The two guards from the Prince of Zhennan's Residence were not talkative; they bowed and then escorted Zhao Ruxi to the estate.

The carriage entered the estate and stopped in front of the house. Zhao Ruxi asked Gao Weiqiang to stay outside with the two guards while she went into the main hall and instructed Qingfeng, "Bring Ma Sheng and Zhou Chun in."

Qingfeng went out, and Zhao Ruxi looked up at the paper pasted on the wall.

Both sheets of paper were drawn with grids, with a person's name in front of each grid and a daily comment for that person behind it. At the end were small red flowers cut from red paper. One sheet was for each boy and one for girls.

This is a method Zhao Ruxi taught Ma Sheng. At a glance, it's easy to see who performed well and who didn't. Seeing this paper also serves as an incentive for the newcomers.

The little red flower list that's a staple in modern elementary school classrooms, used to motivate these grown men, still has a wonderfully effective way of giving them a pep talk.

"Miss." Ma Sheng and Zhou Chun came in from outside.

Zhao Ruxi didn't waste any words and told the two about the three workshops.

Then she pointed to the three people with the most red flowers and the best performance and said, "I plan to transfer these three people to be the managers of three workshops. What do you think?"

Ma Sheng nodded and said, "I believe they are capable of handling this."

"I think it's acceptable as well," Zhou Chun said.

There's a reason these three have so many red flowers. Not only do they perform well in training, but they are also literate. They acted as teachers when everyone was learning to read, demonstrating their abilities, and they are also very good at math.

Zhao Ruxi took a charcoal pencil and wrote names one by one in a small, homemade notebook, then tore it off and handed it to the two of them. "Take a look, is there anything else to add?"

Ma Sheng and Zhou Chun looked at the names written on the paper.

In addition to the three managers mentioned earlier, Zhao Ruxi also assigned an accountant, a purchasing agent, and four guards to each residence.

"We'll hire someone else to do the cooking. If they cook well, we'll hire them; if they don't, we'll fire them and hire someone new. Zhou Chun, you take care of this. Go to the middleman and have them recommend someone reliable," Zhao Ruxi said.