country

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and Lao Song saw that the shopkeeper was looking at him, and hurriedly said: "The three major families in the south of the Yangtze River, the Fang family in Yangzhou, the Lu family in Hangzhou, and the Qiao family in Suzhou. In Suzhou, they are not like the Fang family and the Lu family who have people behind them. They have only flourished in recent years. This Qiao family is a century-old family. The Qiao family started doing business when the country was founded. After a long time, the money will be more. When the Fang family and the Lu family had no trace, the Qiao family’s business was also operating in Yangzhou and Hangzhou, but after the Lu family got up, the Qiao family’s business gradually withdrew, and only concentrated on doing business in Suzhou.”

Xue Poye laughed and said: "The Qiao family is really generous, giving up this large area to the Lu family and the Fang family."

Shopkeeper Meng San of Jiazilou sighed: "It's not a concession. I heard that although the Qiao family has been doing business for generations for a hundred years, they have no official background, so although they have money, their power is light. The Lu family has people from the imperial court behind them." People, that's why the Qiao family backed down. Outsiders also said that the Patriarch of the Qiao family was cowardly and cowardly. The Fang family didn't dare to do business in Suzhou, as the three families have formed an unwritten rule that each controls one state."

Shopkeeper Tian San hurriedly shook his head and said: "It's wrong to say that each is in charge of a state. Although the Lu family is the big one in Hangzhou, the Fang family is behind the Lu family. In the early years, Nan Huaiwu almost killed him. The Lu family collapsed, and it was later heard that the Fang family took the initiative to marry their daughter, who is now Mrs. Fang, so with the support of the Fang family, the Lu family forced Nan Huaiwu to quit the business world and retired from business. After all, Now this Lu family is also managed by the Fang family, isn't even the head of the family a daughter of the Fang family?"

"Nan Huaiwu?" Xue Poye became puzzled when he heard this strange name.

Several people looked at Xue Poye, seeming a little strange. Could it be that the shopkeeper doesn't even know who Nan Huaiwu is?

Xue Poye saw the doubts on everyone's faces, touched his nose, and smiled awkwardly: "I was young at that time, so I don't remember much."

Several people fell down, Lao Song chuckled, had been with him for a long time, and knew that the shopkeeper seemed to be unfamiliar with some things, so he explained: "Speaking of it, it was a few years ago, about five or six years ago, I am afraid that except for the business world Some old people, not many people remember him."

"Is it very powerful?" Xue Poye asked, immediately smiled and asked, "Is it very powerful?"

"It's amazing." The shopkeeper Tian San still expressed his admiration: "In those days, the young master of the Lu family was still there, and he was rampant. Unimpeded, extremely arrogant, in those days, the young master of the Lu family was the king of Hangzhou, if he fell in love with any girl on the road, he would be robbed directly to the mansion, and some money would be paid afterwards, no one dared to say, even The magistrate also turned a blind eye."

Xue Poye was startled and said: "Damn, there is such an awesome character?"

Although they didn't understand what "beautiful" meant, several people also heard surprise and anger from the voice of the shopkeeper. Tian San shopkeeper continued: "Although Young Master Lu has a bad reputation, he is a good businessman. It was also in his hands that he became a rich man in Hangzhou, and he was very popular for a while, and the young master became more rampant as he got more money, not to mention bullying men and women to occupy fields and pits. They just raped on the street, surrounded by their subordinates to cover them. At that time, many girls committed suicide after being bullied, and other girls even hid at home and did not dare to go out. The street in those years was not like it is now. There are hardly any women around."

Xue Poye could hear sweat dripping from his forehead. This young master Fang was extremely arrogant, but he didn't know why he hadn't seen him all this time. After wiping off his cold sweat, shopkeeper Tian San continued, "Just when the Lu family was in full swing, Nan Huai Wu suddenly appeared. He was originally a peddler who walked around the streets. It is said that one day when he passed by Hangzhou, he saw Young Master Lu being violent, stepped forward to dissuade him, and was severely beaten. After arriving in Hangzhou, no one paid attention at first, until Yuanzihao appeared and became more and more powerful, and then everyone knew that the person behind Yuanzihao was the little peddler who had been beaten up by the young master of the Fang family."

Lao Song nodded and said, "Speaking of which, this Nan Huaiwu is somewhat similar to the shopkeeper. He has accumulated wealth without making a fuss, and he has united with those small merchants who were suppressed by the Lu family. There is not much money and wealth, but there are many shops, so in just one year, Nan Huaiwu's power has been able to rival the Lu family, and the common people recognize the things of the Yuanzi name. Huaiwu was crushed, and Nan Huaiwu spent a lot of money to win over the magistrate, the Lu family was weak, and Young Master Lu was powerless, so he was so angry that he died."

Xue Poye couldn't help admiring Nan Huaiwu. This person is a business genius. It turns out that the young master of the Lu family has already farted. No wonder he didn't see this person. Think about it, if the young master of the Lu family is still alive Even if the Fang family married the Lu family, Mrs. Fang might not be able to be the head of the family, so she touched her nose and asked, "Did the Fang family propose marriage once the young master of the Lu family died?"

Old Song said: "That's right. When the Lu family was about to fall, the Fang family proposed a marriage, married a daughter, and betrothed to the second young master. In fact, the second young master is not a bad person. He has helped many people from time to time. Presumably it is to save the Lu family. The reputation of the Lu family, but she is a little cowardly. When the second grandma married, the Lu family's big and small matters were decided by the second grandma. With the support of the Fang family, the Lu family once again bribed the magistrate, and then fought back against Nan Huaiwu. With the use of Bai Dao, Nan Huaiwu was squeezed out in half a year, and he withdrew from the business world and went into hiding."

"Oh!" Xue Poye frowned, was silent for a moment, and asked, "Where did Nan Huaiwu go now?"

"I don't know where it is." Lao Song shook his head: "However, when he was prosperous, he married a wife and had children in Hangzhou, and now he lives in seclusion in the suburbs of Hangzhou, but no one knows where exactly."

Xue Poye sighed, slapped his head violently, and said with a smile: "Look where we are talking, how did we get involved in Nan Huaiwu, by the way, does this Qiao family also deal in silk?"

Lao Song said with a smile: "Qiao's family is the home of merchants in Suzhou, and this Jiangnan is the silk capital of our Great Chu. Seven out of every ten pieces of silk in our Great Chu come from Jiangnan. Jia, but this silk and hemp is from Suzhou House. The Qiao family not only buys and sells silk, but also has workshops specializing in making silk, and the clothes also have a workshop of the Qiao family...!" Suddenly reacted: "The shopkeeper... the shopkeeper, Do you want to do this business with the Qiao family?"

The two third shopkeepers were also taken aback. Looking at Xue Poye, only Xiao Pan sat quietly by the side as if nothing had happened.

Xue Poye laughed and said, "What do you think? I think the Qiao family is our best choice."

Lao Song frowned, and said with some concern: "The shopkeeper is right. In terms of it, the Qiao family is an excellent choice, but... hehe, don't blame me for talking nonsense. I'm afraid we have intentions, and the Qiao family No intention."

Xue Poye also frowned: "This business is not small, and it needs a lot of silk. Hangzhou and Yangzhou are helpless. The Qiao family is the best choice, rather than our only choice. Is it possible that he will push this great business outside?"

Shopkeeper Tian San sighed beside him and said, "I'm afraid the shopkeeper doesn't know something. Over the years, Qiao's family and Fang Lu's family have each done their own business. Although there are always some small businesses underneath, the big conflicts are indeed No, although the Lu family intends to take over the Qiao family, the Qiao family may still be content with the status quo. They are very satisfied with the current situation. The money in Suzhou is enough for them to earn, and they don't want to conflict with this side. Now the shopkeeper is looking for him Doing this big business, but I don't know that the bigger the business, the less likely the Qiao family will accept it. Once this business is done, it will definitely alarm the Fang and Lu families. , will definitely not agree.”

Xue Poye didn't frown. The Qiao family must have been overjoyed when they said that such a big business came to their door before. Unexpectedly, there were such talks in the middle, which seemed very tricky.

"Shopkeeper, why don't we go to the north to have a look, where silk cloth is also produced, but the material is not good enough." Seeing that Xue Poye looked unhappy, Lao Song immediately suggested.

There was silence in the office, and the atmosphere was rather depressing.

Xue Poye gently picked up the teacup, thoughtfully, took a sip of the cold tea, and finally said: "I've heard of silk cloth being produced in the north, but it's too far away, so let's not talk about how much it consumes." For travel expenses, even if the business is done over there, and then transported back to Hangzhou, if there is a bandit on the way who snatches the goods, I’m afraid I won’t be able to cry, and this is the autumn clothing of the army after all, and the material can’t be bad , cannot be dealt with at will.”

What Xue Poye said made sense, several people fell silent again, and it was Xue Poye who still opened his mouth: "You can't do it, no matter whether it is successful or not, this trip to Suzhou is a must. Convince the Qiao family to do business with me."

Lao Song finally said: "Shopkeeper, I know what you are capable of. Although this matter is difficult, but the shopkeeper will do it himself, and it will pay off. This time, I will go to Suzhou with you."

Xue Poye waved his hand and said with a smile: "You don't want to go, you can't get away from the things here, and now it's a tense time with the Lu family, you and I are leaving, I'm afraid something will go wrong."

Old Song asked anxiously: "Could it be that the shopkeeper is going alone?"

Xue Poye thought for a while, and said with a smile: "I have my own arrangements, and the matter is settled like this. It is not too late. I will leave tomorrow, and you have to take good care of me here. If Lanyuexuan is free, You also have to go over and have a look, as for the disbursement of money, you and Yuezhu can discuss it." Turning to the two third shopkeepers, he said, "Treasurer Song, I will trouble you to support me."

The two hurriedly said yes.

"Okay, it's getting late, you go first." Xue Poye smiled and waved, looked at Xiao Pan and said, "Xiao Pan, you stay, I have something to explain."