"Tony, what does this Russian serf mean? Is it the same as a black slave?" Heidi asked Tangning while reading the newspaper.

Downing knew that Heidi was reading the discussion and report in the newspaper about the "General Decree of Peasants Leaving Serf-dependent Relationships" issued by Russian Tsar Alexander II, so he took a sip of coffee and replied: "Although the name is different, it is actually similar! The serf owner can also order the serfs to do anything at will, and can also buy, sell and give to the serfs."

"Then are these serfs black slaves?" Heidi asked again.

Tang Ning shook his head and replied, "Of course not!"

"Where did you buy that?" Heidi asked.

"No need to buy it, these people are Russian farmers!" Tang Ning explained.

"What?! That means they use the people from their hometown as slaves?" Heidi couldn't help but exclaim.

Tang Ning nodded and replied, "Yes! So compared to these serf owners, we are still relatively noble, at least we don't bully people from the same skin color, the same country or even the same hometown!" (After writing this, I suddenly had a sudden idea, why don't the following book write about serf owners?)

Heidi nodded and echoed: "That's right, I really find it hard for me to use white people as black slaves!"

Just as the two were chatting, the housekeeper suddenly came in to report: "Boss, Mr. Zena wants to see you!"

"Oh? What's wrong with him?" Tang Ning asked casually.

The butler shook his head and replied, "I don't know this, but it should be a big deal to see how he looks!"

"Okay, let him go to the reception room to wait for me!" Tang Ning ordered.

A few minutes later, Tangning walked to the reception room and asked Zener: "Thomas, is there anything you have to do with me?"

Zena hesitated for a moment and then replied: "Boss, I, I want to quit!"

"Resign? Can you tell me why you quit? Is it because you are not satisfied with your salary or something else?" Tang Ning asked with a frown.

Zener quickly waved his hand and replied, "Boss, don't get me wrong. The salary you paid to Stevens and me is the highest among your peers. I resigned because I want to go to China to do business!"

To be honest, Zena's reason was really beyond Tang Ning's expectations, and he couldn't even believe his ears: "What?! Are you going to China?"

Zena nodded and replied, "Yes, I'm going to China in the far east. I heard a friend say that China has signed a contract with us now, so we can go to China to do business. There is nothing there, not even a cafe, but there are so many people in Europe, so I think it will be easy to make money there!"

Tangning reacted and felt that Zena was talking about the Treaty of Tianjin signed during the Second Opium War. Although the Second Opium War was dominated by Britain and France, Russia and the United States also participated. Therefore, in fact, the Treaty of Tianjin was signed by the Qing government and Britain, France, Russia and the United States.

Among them, what is attractive to Zena is that "the opening of ten cities including Nanjing is the trading ports", "foreign merchant ships can freely enter the trading ports in the Yangtze River area", and "foreigners can travel and do business in the mainland."

Although there are these contract terms, to be honest, Tangning is not optimistic about the prospect of foreign businessmen, especially small businessmen like Zener, going to China for business. However, such words are not convenient. After all, he has never been to China, so it is difficult to be convincing when he says it. In addition, this is not the question Tangning is most concerned about: "Will Stevens go with you too?"

Zener shook his head and replied, "Stevens said he felt that he was happy to think about how to improve his bike all day here, and after starting a flour mill before, he found that he was not suitable for business, so he didn't plan to go!"

When Tangning heard Zena say this, he breathed a sigh of relief, because as long as the great master Maxim did not leave, the others would not care. So Tangning encouraged: "So that's the case, Thomas, in fact, I really encourage young people to start businesses very much, especially if you have the courage to start businesses in the East, which is far away. This courage alone is already admirable!"

Then he kindly advised: "But I heard that Chinese people don't like drinking coffee. They like to drink tea, and the tea they drink is not much the same as ours, so I suggest you don't go there to open a coffee shop!"

"What?! Someone doesn't like to drink coffee? How is this possible?" Zena couldn't help but exclaim, but then he reacted: "Thank you for your reminder. When I arrive in China, I will investigate it first and then decide whether to open a coffee shop!"

Although Tang Ning knew that Zena was very likely not to listen, he had tried his best to remind him whether he should take it seriously or not is your problem.

After Zener left, Tangning thought about it and felt that for the sake of safety, he should go to Maxim to talk to him, so he came to the factory and found Maxim and said to him: "Stevens, I heard that Thomas is leaving, you won't leave, right?"

Maxim shook her head without hesitation and replied, "Boss, don't worry, I am very happy to work here, so I will not leave."

"That's good. Actually, I'm very optimistic about you. Not only the current bicycle factory, I will also improve some things after that, and I still need your help!" In fact, what Tang Ning said was the truth. Some of the small inventions of this form of improvement in his mind are.

When Maxim was very excited when he heard Tang Ning say this, "Boss, what else do you want to improve on?"

Originally, Tang Ning planned to wait until the bicycle project was completely completed before telling Maxim, but now seeing his expression, he thought about it and chose a project that was easier to complete and said: "For example, I want to improve my suitcase. Because I am too tired to carry the suitcase, I wonder if I can install four wheels under the suitcase and finally have a retractable metal pole on it, so that I can pull it on the flat ground!"

That's right, what Tangning is talking about is a trolley case. Although this little thing looks simple, it was not invented by an American pilot until 1991. However, Tangning thinks that the market for this thing should be quite large. After all, there are many people taking boats and trains now.
Chapter completed!