Joy of Life: Starting from Teacher Fan Xian

Chapter 153 Guests from Jiangnan
The Kyoto official ship is still in the vicinity of Yingzhou and is expected to arrive in Jiangnan in two days.

At the dock of Jiangnan Road, there were no less than ten large ships and a sparse number of small boats floating on the water, making it difficult to pass through.

The tea boat took great pains to finally reach the shore after a long while.

The coolies in the water fort helped with the work while observing the situation on the boat.

They would certainly not do the same sinister things as the bandits in Yingzhou who robbed people at night. After all, they were now open businessmen, even though they inevitably had the reputation of gangsters.

However, most merchants in Jiangnan are still willing to do frequent business with the Water Strongholds. First, the Water Strongholds control most of the water surfaces in Jiangnan. Second, the business capabilities of the Water Strongholds are indeed much better than those of independent people.

Over the past three years, Xia Qifei has established quite a reputation in the Jiangnan area. The growth of the water fort naturally aroused the vigilance of the Ming family.

However, the Ming family has always controlled the external supply channels of the inner treasury, so they are not worried that the rise of Shuizhai will affect their market share.

No matter what the situation, most merchants in Jiangnan have to follow the Ming family's orders.

However, since the eldest princess lost her power and was expelled from the capital, Xinyang's influence on the Jiangnan Neiku has become much smaller.

This also made many merchants who were not happy to see the Ming family monopolize the market want to make some moves, and Shuizhai got involved in this situation.

Although more than a year of struggle did not shake the Ming family's position in Jiangnan, it did cause considerable trouble to the Ming family.

As the imperial envoy headed south, the Ming family was undoubtedly caught in another crisis.

The Ming family must give a reasonable explanation for the deficit in the inner treasury.

Otherwise, there is a high possibility that the production and marketing rights of Neiku will be taken away. If the shares of Neiku are redistributed through bidding in Jiangnan, there will be no shortage of people who can be attracted.

At sunset, the merchants on the tea boats entered Suzhou, the most prosperous city in the south. They did not hide their strong financial resources at all and looked for the most comfortable and famous inns in the city to stay in.

It is inevitable that local big merchants will be attracted.

Tea growing is a major industry in Jiangnan, so many people want to hand over the young tea seedlings to this group of tea merchants.

But the strange thing is that this group of tea merchants were not in a hurry to purchase young tea. Since they entered the inn, they turned away all customers.

"Sir, aren't you being too ostentatious?" Ruoruo, who had just arrived in Suzhou, was obviously not used to being stared at by so many people. After dinner, they could not go out to do anything and could only stay upstairs and look at the night view of the bustling area from afar.

Compared with Kyoto, it has a different flavor.

"So what do you think?" The quiet upper floor had already been booked by them as tea merchants.

Fan Ruoruo said uncertainly: "Since we are going to Jiangnan secretly, we should hide our tracks and act in secret."

Lin Ruo smiled and said, "As long as the people of Suzhou don't know our identities, it doesn't matter whether we conceal our identities or not. After all, we are not going to secretly investigate the Ming family for evidence of their crimes."

"Then why did you go to Jiangnan two days in advance?" Ruoruo raised her eyebrows. She was actually thinking about the latter point.

"Since we are all pretending to be wealthy tea merchants, we will naturally have to interact more with Suzhou merchants and nobles in the next two days. If we want to break the Ming family's monopoly on business, it is definitely impossible to use political means alone. Winning over people's hearts is inevitable."

Fan Ruoruo raised her little face and said, "Sir, do you want to play a business war?"

Lin Ruo shook his head: "It's too far-fetched. If we use politics, supplemented by commercial law, and use both kindness and force, we will always embarrass the Ming family."

"You have to know that the Ming family is the biggest part of Jiangnan's economy. Although swift and resolute measures are effective quickly, once the Ming family is angered, the entire Jiangnan industry chain will suffer. We are not here to destroy Jiangnan."

"If we use the entire Jiangnan internal warehouse production line as a price to forcibly bring down the Ming family, I don't think any wealthy businessman in Jiangnan will stand on our side."

Ruoruo nodded, seemingly understanding: "Divide the Ming family's weight in the inner treasury." "That's right, we have to expand the inner treasury business, the benefits can't be enjoyed by the Ming family alone. Once competition arises, it will be much easier to intervene." Lin Ruoruo said in agreement.

"But the Ming family won't give it up easily." Fan Ruoruo said again.

Lin Ruo pondered for a while and said, "Then we have to make an effort to make use of the deficit and force the Ming family to release it confidently."

"By the way, there is one more thing we need to do tomorrow." Lin Ruo said.

"what's up?"

"I'll take you to find a teacher. We will go to visit the doctor tomorrow. You should study hard for the rest of your life and don't worry about the Ming family's affairs." Lin Ruo said.

Fan Ruoruo sighed: "Who is that teacher?"

"You'll know when you see it." Lin Ruo asked a riddle.

When the night was dim, the city of Suzhou was still brightly lit. After a long journey, the tea merchants who came from Kyoto went to bed early.

The oil lamp was out. In the dark room, Lin Ruo pushed open the window with the help of his eyesight. The bright moonlight shone into the room, revealing a hazy beauty.

Below the inn was a lake, clear and quiet, flowing slowly into the distance. A cool breath always came up at inopportune times, causing Lin Ruo to yawn.

"Have you found out clearly?" Lin Ruo said, staring at the dark shadow that seemed to appear and disappear in the corridor.

Hearing the voice, the black shadow slowly revealed his face. It was Zong Zhui, the first secret agent of the Supervisory Council.

"My Lord, I have found out that he is in Fulu Lane, a small alley in the west of the city. He has been in Jiangnan for quite some time."

Lin Ruo nodded: "That's good, at least I won't be disappointed if I go tomorrow."

"You should be more cautious, sir. We still have quite a few guests." Zong Zhui said, "Besides, choosing such a person as Miss Ruoruo's teacher is probably very risky."

Lin Ruo smiled and said, "Who told Master Fei to run around all day and not accept any disciples? Forget it, he's already over seventy, there's no point in bothering him."

"In any case, my lord, please be careful." The clan leader had no intention of continuing.

"You won't be discovered, right?" Lin Ruo thought.

Zong Zhui tilted his head, not liking being questioned like this: "No, unless they are great masters in the world, it would be difficult for them to detect the actions of their subordinates."

Lin Ruo did not respond, so Zong Zhui continued, "I don't know how the Lord knew that he came to Jiangnan. The spies of the Overwatch Council in Jiangnan have never noticed this."

Lin Ruo smiled slightly: "They are not here to do anything immoral, it is normal that you did not notice it. We can't check every normal person who comes to Jiangnan."

Zong Zhui accepted this reason and said, "Mr. Ming Qi, the documents and seals from the Supervisory Council have been sent over."

"After signing and stamping his seal, he will be an official of the Overwatch Council."

Lin Ruo hummed: "Just give him a name, so that he doesn't really think that he will be abandoned at any time."

After all matters were settled, Zong Zhui bowed and said, "Sir, I will go down to rest now."

After everyone left, Lin Ruo closed the doors and windows and continued to sleep.

(End of this chapter)