Hongwu Survival Guide

Chapter 334 Tea

The meeting in the imperial city was going on until noon. In Jinling City, a carriage stopped in front of Ruihe Restaurant at the north end of Xuefu Street by the Qinhuai River.

The tall and handsome Gao Sanchao stepped out of the carriage. Seeing several people coming to welcome him, he hurriedly cupped his hands.

The attitude is no longer as cautious as last year.

Ever since my daughter gave New Year gifts to the little prince's mansion a few years ago, the key point is that the Gao family, who had been worried for a year, finally settled down with a set of glass tea sets.

Even, not only settled down, entertained some guests with the glass tea set bestowed by the little prince during the New Year's Eve, and then let out some rumors, the Gao family, which was already favored by some people, immediately became more crowded.

This year... was simply the most glorious year in his life in the third year of high school.

Even the officials of the third and fourth ranks in the imperial court have seen a few of them these days, and they are all polite to him.

As for all this because of sending a concubine?
Gao Sanchao also reacted.

what is this?

In the wealthy circle of this place, no one has given each other concubines or concubines.

Myself... This is a good talk!

Ruihe Restaurant.

After greeting and saluting each other, Gao Sanchao came to the private room on the second floor side by side with a maritime merchant who was the host today.

The sea merchant's name is Chen Qi, and he is the legal person of Yizhen Ocean Trading Company from Guangzhou.

This 'legal person' has something to say.

The twelve maritime merchants appointed by the imperial court all have legal persons, that is, the face of a maritime trade company, the kind that is responsible for dealing with the imperial court.

Although some people see the risks involved, but also, behind the risks, it also means...power.

Besides, this Chen Qi is also a man of influence in Jinling City recently.

At the beginning of the year, when other merchants were still hesitating about the "Daming Monthly" advertisement, Chen Qi decisively shouted out a one-page advertisement willing to pay 1 taels, which attracted attention for a while.

Although the last sum of money was not spent, it made Chen Qi famous.

Gao Sanchao did not expect that the other party would contact him in a roundabout way.

Everyone sat down and chatted for a while, and when the food came, they gradually became more acquainted, and the topic turned to maritime trade, tea, etc. Chen Qi claimed that his family also had several good tea mountains in Guangdong, and hoped to cooperate with Gao Sanchao. In addition, As for maritime trade, if the Gao family is interested, of course they can discuss it.

Gao Sanchao knew very well that he was just a small businessman from Shandong, and he was completely incomparable with the big businessmen in these powerful places....

Therefore, during this period of time, facing the wooing of people from all walks of life, although Gao Sanchao was flustered, he did not lose his mind. Knowing that he didn't have such a big appetite, he basically dealt with it.

after all……

Now at home, he is not the one who keeps his word.

If you promise something indiscriminately, you will be punished when you go back.

After drinking for three rounds like this, after commenting on the court monopoly shark fin that was just presented, and enjoying each other, Chen Qi also turned to another topic: "Brother Gao, I heard that you have a maid in your family. She is fourteen this year, and she has also reached the age of marriage."

Gao Sanchao, who had just eaten a mouthful of shark's fin, immediately woke up from the slight drunkenness when he heard this, and almost spit out a mouthful of shark's fin.

Forcibly suppressed, Gao Sanchao was about to say something, but Chen Qi had already continued: "Brother Gao, listen to me, although I have more than one son, this son is raised by the next patriarch of the Chen clan. Still thinking, when he grows up, I will send him to Jinling... I also want to go to university, and if he can pass the exam, that would be good. Besides, in order to find a good match for my son, I have prepared enough sincerity The Chen family owns [-]% of the shares of Yizheng Ocean Trading Company, and I am willing to give [-]% as a dowry gift, what do you think, brother Gao?"

As a businessman, Gao Sanchao subconsciously calculated the value of the three-point share.

It is said that at the beginning it was only the license fee, one was 20 taels, and three points... was equivalent to 6000 taels of silver.

But... this is just a license, Gao Sanchao also vaguely heard how lucrative the benefits of returning the sea trade are, and if it is done well, it is not a problem to earn a million dollars a year. Tens of thousands of bonuses.

That's all the wealth of the Gao family now.

However, despite such calculations, Gao Sanchao still didn't have a feverish head, but became calmer, put down the tableware, and said with a smile: "Brother Chen, this...to tell you the truth, the marriage of the youngest girl in the family...is the next father, But I can't be the master, I... can only help you ask."

This is not the first time that someone has proposed a marriage this New Year's Eve, and it has been practiced in the third year of high school.

The answers were all the same.

Moreover, Gao Sanchao knew that under such circumstances, the other party would definitely take the initiative to associate a certain line with a certain little prince... the woman next to him, so he didn't need to say more.

It's the same this time.

When Gao Sanchao said so, the shrewd Chen Qi also naturally thought of some aspects, and didn't say more for a while, but hoped that Gao Sanchao could help convey it, and said that the Chen family was very sincere and so on.In addition, even if it fails, the friendship between the two parties can be regarded as a conclusion, and there will still be business contacts in the future.

Chen Qi's words revived the atmosphere.

This lunch lasted until the end of the day, both parties had a good time, settled the bill, and left the restaurant together, Chen Qi still personally sent Gao Sanchao to the carriage before turning to his own car.

The carriage travels from the northeast to the southwest of Xuefu Street.

The third year of high school who was still sober opened the curtain, looking at the crowds of people on the street that was about to enter the Lantern Festival, and the colorful lanterns that looked colorful in the daytime, one after another thought surged in his heart.

No matter what, the Gao family wants to gain a place to stand in Jinling City!

When the carriage passed by Zhiyongzhai, Shangshanju and another shop that was being renovated, Gao Sanchao's thoughts became stronger.

So go back to your home in the southwest of the city.

As soon as Gao Sanchao entered the door, a maid came up to greet her: "Master, you are back, the lady was looking for you?"

Hearing his daughter looking for him, the originally smug third-year senior seemed to shrink a little bit: "Tea...what's the matter, I'll go over here, I'll go over here...well, I'll go wash my face first, so I don't need to bring wine with me." Qi, smoke the tea."

Obviously, this is not the first time the servant girl has seen her master look like this, unknowingly showing a bit of pretense: "Master, you can save yourself from washing your face, let's go now, miss is in a hurry."

Gao Sanchao couldn't lose her temper in front of her daughter, the personal servant girl, so she nodded quickly.

Gao's house was only two acres in size, and soon came to a small courtyard to the east of the inner house.

In front of the main room, Gao Sanchao didn't dare to enter the door directly, stood at the door, bowed, smiled, and said to himself: "Cha'er, call dad, what's the matter?"

Another maid came forward, and her attitude was not as respectful as a servant should be: "Master, come in."

This is the entry.

Came to Westinghouse, here is a study.

Gao Lvcha was dressed in a water-green dress, and was sitting in front of the desk by the window flipping through the latest issue of "Daming Monthly". Seeing her father coming in, she asked her maid to move a stool for Gao Sanchao, and waited for her father to sit down before flipping it over. With a glance, he frowned and said, "Father went to drink again?"

"A friend invites you to a banquet, so we... have to go."

Gao Lvcha was not confused by his father, and asked: "That friend?"

Gao Sanchao paused, and then said: "It's a sea merchant from Guangzhou, named Chen Qi."

When the green tea girl heard the name, she turned her eyes away, flipped through a few pages of the magazine in front of her, found the marine advertisement page, and quickly said: "Yizhen Ocean Trading Company, Dad, did Cha'er know that you had this friend before? "

Gao Sanchao said awkwardly: "It's a friend...introduction, introduction."

The green tea girl didn't let go, and asked again: "What did you talk about?"

Gao Sanchao hesitated for a while, but still said: "Then Chen Qi...wanted to invite our family to do business together, he said...the Chen family is in Guangzhou, and they also have several tea mountains."

"Guangzhou...is there any good tea there?" The green tea girl curled her lips and said, "I'm afraid there are other things?"

"That's right," Gao Sanchao bowed subconsciously on the stool, and said, "Then Chen Qi...is... still...proposing marriage..." Seeing his daughter frowning in an instant, Gao Sanchao hastily added: "The tea is put away. Xin, father is not confused, I pushed it all for you, you are in charge of this matter, you can do whatever you want, father will not ask, and will not drag it for you."

The green tea girl, who was about to get mad, nodded slightly, and after thinking about it, she said: "Father, this year's festival is very beautiful, but after the scenery, you must not forget your identity. The little prince understands when I went to give the New Year's gift If you are found to be doing anything wrong in his name, you will not be forgiven lightly. The little prince, you big man, since you have said everything, if you don't take it to heart, you did something stupid... My daughter also said it clearly, because If you have a mother, your daughter will have nothing, but it’s hard for you to say daddy, and besides, daddy, it’s fine for you, and you have to think about it for your younger brother, so don’t let the house of Gao’s family be cut off all of a sudden.”

"That can, that can." Gao Sanchao broke out in a cold sweat when he thought of the dear son he had waited for all these years to finally have, and quickly reassured: "Cha'er, daddy is just going out to drink and chat with people. ...I, you, and you...Auntie, have made it clear about all matters, big or small, and you are in charge."

The green tea girl heard what her father said, hummed lightly, closed the "Da Ming Monthly" in front of her, turned around and said, "Father, since that's the case, there happens to be something that my daughter wants to discuss with you."

"No discussion, no discussion," Gao San shook his head like a rattle, "It's up to you to make the decision. Whatever you say, Dad will do!"

"That's it..." The green tea girl didn't give in, and said directly: "Father, I heard that the imperial court is in Gansu... about the great victory in Baihai?"

Gao Sanchao nodded: "Of course I heard it, that General Tang... a famous general in the world."

The green tea girl didn't turn the topic to a famous general, but said: "These days my daughter has been thinking about our family's tea business...Although the colleagues in Jinling also let go, we can let our Gao family get a share, But after all, there are some leftovers, and now that the imperial court has won Gansu, Cha'er feels that it is an opportunity to sell tea to Gansu... It will not cause trouble with the local tea merchants in Jinling, and the profits will definitely be more generous."

Gao Sanchao didn't nod immediately this time, but after deliberating, he said, "Cha'er, that Gansu...that Gansu...is exactly where, father doesn't know very well, the business is thousands of miles away, we...after all, it's a small business Hu, how can it be done?"

"One family can't do it, we just need to unite a few more," Gao Lucha said, "Maybe we can also set up a company, like that ocean trading company, and all of them will work together to sell tea to Gansu. If this is done , this original tea merchant in Jinling City... will no longer be on good terms with our Gao family on the surface, but will definitely follow my Gao family's lead in the heart."

Gao Sanchao fantasized about some scenes, looking forward to it, but also more uncertain: "Cha'er, this matter, this matter..."

The green tea girl didn't let her father continue stuttering, but said: "Father, if you agree here, Cha'er plans to go to Xuanwu Lake again immediately."

"Ah..." Gao Sanchao didn't realize it for a while, then he had an epiphany and nodded again: "Then... Dad agrees, yes, go, um... Dad sent you there, and took the carriage we just bought recently. Don't take the mule cart anymore, it's also shabby and makes people laugh."

"It's better to have a mule cart. Dad doesn't need to see me off."

Gao Lvcha said and got up.

Gao Sanchao hurriedly got up, knowing that her daughter was inconvenient to walk, she subconsciously raised her hand to help her: "Tea slower."

The green tea girl has already put on the shoulders of the petite servant girl who came over on her own initiative: "Cha'er is going now, daddy wait for the news."

Gao Sanchao agreed again, sent his daughter out of the house all the way, watched the green tea girl get into the mule cart, and told the accompanying coachmen and servants a few words, and did not return to the courtyard until the carriage left the alley.

From the southeast of Jinling to the outside of the northwest city, the distance is not close.

When they arrived at the mansion on Xuanwu Lake, it was already Shen Zheng's time.

Four o'clock in the afternoon.

After reporting, Gao Green Tea was able to enter very quickly this time, all the way to the reception flower hall in the south of the west garden of the inner house.

After entering this mansion, the green tea girl changed from bossy at home to mourning and mourning at this time, looking like she missed her mother very much.

However, this time, it was unexpectedly discovered that my mother saw her... It seemed that she was not so repulsive.

Not only did she not reject her, she dragged her to talk for a while in the flower hall, Qingniang also took the initiative to call a maid to send a message to a certain little prince, saying that her daughter had arrived, could she come over and kowtow to say hello.

The green tea girl waited for the maid to leave, she almost couldn't hide the weirdness in her expression, she paused, then asked obliquely, "Mother... little prince, didn't you take a nap today?"

"No, my lord has been meeting guests since he came back from the palace, and it's also a lot of work," Qing Niang took her daughter's little hand, said softly, and then looked at her face: "Chaer, why are you so thin this New Year's Eve?" gone?"

thin?
The green tea girl didn't turn the corner for a while.

During this period of time, I was at home...eating well, sleeping well, and being a young mistress who had to provide for the whole family, domineering, how could I lose weight?

However, thinking about it... In the eyes of my mother, I must have suffered.

Since my mother thought so, the green tea girl went along with the flow: "Mother, in fact... it is also at home..." As she said that, her eyes were red, she lowered her head and said: "...at home... Mother knows that when I came to Jinling, I have been here for a long time. I wanted to do some business, but it didn't go well. Cha'er... also came here with the cheek today, and wanted to ask Mother to tell the little prince."

When Qing Niang heard her daughter say this, she shook her head almost instinctively.However, after shaking it a few times, he paused again, avoiding his daughter's eyes and said softly: "If... if you wait for the adult to see you, you can tell him in person, if, if you don't see... forget it, tea Son, mother is here... this... the rules are big, don't dare to mess around."

When the mother said this, the green tea girl's expression suddenly became more miserable, but she didn't force it, and murmured: "Since that's the case, tea is just...fate."

Continuing to talk like this, after waiting for a cup of tea, the servant girl came back to report that the lord happened to be back in the inner house, and he could bring the green tea girl there.

Hearing the good news from the servant girl, both mother and daughter got up together quickly, left the flower hall here, and walked towards the inner house in the center.

Zhu Yuan came back from the palace in the morning, and after lunch, he hosted Chen Yu, the commander of Jinyiwei, and Zhuang Muxu, the dealer of Shaanxi, to discuss sending caravans to Gansu and even the Western Regions.

Having said this, I met with Wei Zan and Gu Zhongren again, and talked with the two heads of Jinling Paper Company about the construction of the paper workshop in the future, as well as the plan of planting twigs on Mufu Mountain to reserve paper-making raw materials. matter.

So busy, it's almost here now.

It's past four o'clock in the afternoon, it doesn't matter if you take a nap or not, Zhu Yuan returned to the inner house and came to the backyard. He was watching Hongsu and Huangteng dancing on the sofa, but he heard Qingniang's announcement .

what's the situation?
Zhu Yuan couldn't figure it out for a moment, so he ordered him to be brought over.

The last time the green tea girl saw Zhu Yuan was also in the backyard of this inner house. This time, she did not expect that after entering the door, the original tea room outside has changed drastically. This strange seat surrounded by a circle... Well, look It's very comfortable, but... I haven't seen it before.

Seeing the two of Qingniang coming, Zhu Yuan, who was leaning on the sofa with his legs crossed, patted the cute couple who were snuggling beside him like cats. When they left, he motioned to his side and said to Qingniang, "Come here."

Qingniang blushed immediately, but she walked over obediently and sat down beside the little man.

When the green tea girl saw her mother's movements, she subconsciously followed her. She got close to Zhu Yuan who was at the side of the tea table, then knelt down and insisted on giving a big gift to a certain boy: "Cha'er met the little prince."

The girl knelt down, her head was not far from her toes, Zhu Yuan could only put away her upturned legs, and said: "Get up, this time... well, tomorrow is Lantern Festival, do you want to wish your mother a happy Lantern Festival? "

Gao Lvcha stood up, tall, standing close, facing a certain young county king, suddenly a little condescending, which made her subconsciously back a little, hearing the words and said hastily: "Go back to my little prince, I miss my mother."

Zhu Yuan pointed to the sofa on the right: "Sit down."

It's been a while since I saw her, and I feel that this girl seems to have grown taller again, like a willow branch that has been pulled out. Zhu Yuan himself is not used to being so condescending.

The green tea girl backed away a little more, came to the east and sat down on the sofa, looked at the young man not far away, hesitated a little, and then said: "Little prince, Cha'er... besides visiting mother, I also have something to say .”

Zhu Yuan was very interested: "Huh?"

The green tea girl said: "When Cha'er heard that the imperial court had recovered Gansu, she wondered, since her family happens to be making a living from tea, can she make this business...to the Northwest."

What a coincidence!

Zhu Yuan thought that he had only talked with Chen Credit at noon, looked at him again, smiled, and said, "If I remember correctly, your family doesn't seem to have the ability to conduct such long-distance trade?"

The green tea girl hesitated for a while, she didn't dare to hide it, she nodded, but said again: "If the young prince can allow it, the Gao family wants to join forces with other tea merchants in Jinling City to establish a company like the Ocean Trading Company, and jointly Run this business."

Now, Zhu Yuan was a little surprised, and asked curiously, "Who thought of this?"

The green tea girl instinctively wanted to say that it was her father, but after a moment of hesitation, she still told the truth: "My lord, it's... Cha'er thought of it."

Zhu Yuan was even more surprised, looked up and down at the tall slender girl across from him, held Qing Niang's hand, rubbed it lightly, and said: "You are smarter than I imagined."

The green tea girl quickly shook her head: "Cha'er...don't dare."

Zhu Yuan thought about it for a while, and said: "Tea trade... has been one of the important types of trade in frontier fortresses in all dynasties, and the volume is very large. I recently read the information, and nearly half of the tea production in the Song Dynasty was sold abroad. As for the land of Hexi, at that time, through the exchange of tea horses, Song Ting brought shortage of war horses. If you want to do this, you must first understand that it is not just a simple business."

The green tea girl paused, knowing that the key was coming, she didn't dare to hide any more, she took the initiative to say: "Little prince, Cha'er knows about these things, otherwise, she wouldn't have come to ask."

If it weren't for asking in advance about the many sensitive aspects of the frontier tea trade, such as the tea-horse swap, the green tea girl wouldn't need to make such a trip today.It's just pulling the tiger skin of a certain little prince, contacting some people at home, and doing it directly.

Zhu Yuan looked at the girl beside him: "Since you know, then tell me, if you do it, what do you plan to do?"

The green tea girl said: "The trade involves horses, cowhide and other important items, so they must be handed over to the imperial court for disposal."

Zhu Yuan smiled, and remembered a certain stalk: "If you hand it in, you will lose money?"

When the green tea girl saw the little prince laughing, she also smiled shallowly, with a weak and pitiful smile: "If you want to come...the court is not in vain, and the business will definitely not suffer."

Among them, the green tea girl also knows about the joints.

According to the practice of the previous dynasty, the horses, cowhide and other materials that the merchants obtained from outside the customs were purchased by the imperial court according to the market price. Even if they had to pay a part of the tax, the profit margins of the merchants were still very large, otherwise, there would not be so many people going forward. do this business.

Zhu Yuan didn't expect such a girl who was very interested in business to appear beside him, and he wanted to see how far she could go. Hearing what the green tea girl said, he didn't continue to talk around, nodded and said: "In that case, You just go and try."

The green tea girl was still thinking about how to deal with the next problem. Hearing this, she didn't react for a while, she nodded subconsciously, and then came back to her senses.

That's... all right?
In fact, she still has a lot of details to say?
But Zhu Yuan didn't want to say any more, grabbed Qingniang's other hand, held it together for comparison, and said: "That's it, you go back, I just happened to be arranging some things about Gansu recently, Say hello to someone tomorrow and ask him to contact you. Remember, being able to start this business is already considered a privilege, don’t be greedy for more, only take what you should take, understand?”

The green tea girl nodded quickly.

Seeing that the little prince had nothing else to say, he stood up, took a few steps forward on tiptoe, and knelt down to salute: "Cha'er bid farewell to the little prince."

"Well, go back," Zhu Yuan glanced at the girl on the ground, and added, "Your mother won't send you off, I have something to talk to her about."

(End of this chapter)