Lu Ming

Chapter 537
It is said that after the curtain call of the Baietan Merchants Fair that day, most of the guests dispersed and went home amidst discussions.However, some of them were eager to stay after the meeting at their own expense.The purpose of these people is simple: make more connections with the conference organizers and collect as much information as possible.

Zongben is one of them.

Zongben is an authentic native of Guangzhou City, from a wealthy family.He is 35-[-] years old, neither tall nor fat, with an average appearance, short beards on both cheeks, wearing an ordinary southern silk robe, speaking softly and politely, with a professional smile on his face, he is very inconspicuous at first glance. people.

Although he was the seventh young master from a wealthy family in Nancheng, Guangzhou, Zongben could only be regarded as a younger brother among the wealthy businessmen present at the meeting.Although Gein Zongben has a little background, he is just a big shopkeeper in charge of the family store business, so he can't actually represent the family.

In fact, even attending the meeting at Baietan this time was Zongben's personal act.He had visited the organizers of the conference many times before, and he got an invitation card through his relationship. This time, the target of the invitation is the "powerful" people in Guangdong. Zongben's net assets are not enough, and he can mobilize There are not enough social resources, so he was not originally on the meeting list.

After the meeting, Zongben stayed at the Baietan Hotel for another day.During this period, in addition to communicating with his peers, he tried his best to participate in every small event organized by the organizer, and tried his best to collect information.

It was not until the morning of the second day after the meeting that the treasurer Zong Benzong "harassed" the organizer's clerk for the last time, and then walked out of the hotel full of "big plans".

Standing on the transparent and reflective marble steps that can reflect human figures, Zongben first glanced at the misty Pearl River and Guangzhou City in the distance, and then looked back at the strange building that brought him endless ambitions and opportunities. Finally heaving a long sigh, he said to his companion, "Let's go."

After walking down the steps of the hotel, Zongben ignored the taxi parked on the side of the road.The drivers of these four-wheeled carriages all wore bright red double-breasted vests, and the carriages were equipped with double horses. The carriages also had glass windows, which were actually the kind that people often see in British film and television dramas in later generations.

Zongben, who deliberately didn't take a car, took two companions and walked on the Binjiang Road under construction not long after.

Binjiang Road, which was built a long time ago, is now slowly but firmly extending towards Guangzhou.On the road paved with machine-made blue bricks, there are exquisite stone railings on one side and long green flower beds on the other.Except for the difference in building materials, everything is built in a style familiar to later generations.

Zongben walked along the Binjiang Road in the morning like this.After about half an hour, Binjiang Road came to an end.Ahead is the construction site, the ground is full of blue bricks and stones, and many workers in orange vests are working.

Stopping in his tracks, Zong Ben sat down on the wooden bench that must be found at every other section of Binjiang Road.Facing Dajiang, he folded his hands on his lower abdomen and fell into silence.

On the surface of the Pearl River, there is an endless stream of civilian boats going upstream and downstream.During the period, occasionally a fast ship with black smoke and white sails would pass quickly from the center of the river. After seeing it from a long distance along the way, civilian ships gave way one after another.

Like looking at the scenery, like contemplating, Zongben just sat quietly in the warm wind of March in the southern country, speechless. The face of the shopkeeper, who was usually full of smiles, was now full of dignity, until he was interrupted by a burst of laughter. .

After suddenly awakening, Zong Ben turned his head and found that the loud laughter came from the mouths of road construction workers not far away.

In the new district built according to the standard urban specifications of later generations, although many places still cannot deviate from the basic appearance of the seventeenth century, all the places that can be changed have been changed.

This of course also includes road workers.

The not-so-bright orange vests dyed and woven with plant pigments, the labor protection gloves, cloth shoes and trousers made of local cheap earthen cloth, these workers first tried their best to travel through the era in the memory of the public. move closer.

There were smiles on the faces of more than a dozen workers.Each of them was holding a large coarse porcelain bowl, and there was a man who looked like a cook next to him, using a large iron spoon to scoop out the full food from the bucket and pour it into the bowl one by one.At this time, someone didn't know what to say, and the crowd burst into laughter again.

Zong Ben's eyes fell on the food in the worker's bowl.

As a successful businessman who always pays attention to the market, Zongben is no stranger to potatoes, a new ration that is related to the national economy and people's livelihood.

Legend has it that the new grain species brought back by Mrs. Cao from overseas was quickly popularized in Fujian and Guangdong, and the speed was astonishingly high. The yield is high and the taste is good. Not only the rich will try it, but more importantly, the poor will try it. People can satisfy their hunger (high in calories).The name of the image of the potato has long been known to the lower class people.

And in those porcelain bowls that Zongben saw just now, there was also half a bowl of golden potato cubes first, and then the cook covered it with a large spoonful of mixed vegetables and minced fish and shrimp.

In the new area, all those who work for the Cao family have three full meals a day, which is very clear.In fact, this kind of thing is the same as Potato and many news about the new area. No one believed it at first, but soon the natives knew it was true.

"Duandi is a good bowl of rice."

Zong Ben nodded secretly.Today, he not only saw the food situation of the people at the bottom of the new area with his own eyes, but also felt a vitality that had never been seen before the Ming Dynasty from the joyful faces and powerful movements of these people.

"Master Cao's words are good, rich and strong, rich and strong, first rich can be strong!"

Zong Ben thought of this, stood up, no longer hesitated, and said with his hands behind his back: "Go back to the house."

"Ah, master, why don't you go back to the shop first?"

"No, come back home with me first, I want to see my eldest brother."

"Yes!"

In this way, Zongben took Congren on the road to Guangzhou City.Having made up his mind, he stopped procrastinating this time, and quickly stopped a high-end taxi on the side of the street, went all the way to the pier, and then crossed the river by a liner boat. Before noon, the owner and his party returned to the Arrived in front of the gate of the Zongfu in the southern city of Guangzhou.

After getting off the slow sedan chair, Zong Ben felt more and more the incompatible slow rhythm of the old city of Guangzhou and the new district.

But now he has no time to think about these esoteric social issues—painted with black paint and matched with shiny brass door nails, the majestic and majestic gate of the Zongfu is right in front of his eyes.

After taking a deep breath, the concubine Zongben of the Zongfu didn't say anything else, and walked into the mansion that gave birth to him and brought him endless sufferings without hesitation.

(End of this chapter)