Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 201 Prepare for a Rainy Day (Subscription Request)

Beijing.

A private house not far from Huizhou Trading Company.

Qin Zhao, the head of the Qin family, a wealthy merchant family in Huizhou, is listening to Xu Gong's report on the progress of the construction of Zhang Yanling's workshop.

"...We have already transferred a batch of lime from the capital according to Master Zhang's instructions. The first batch has more than 20 carriages carrying about 30,000 kilograms."

"Where did they come from? How much did they cost?"

"Master, look."

Xu Gong then took out a list which listed the specific transportation procedures and related data.

After reading it, Qin Zhao couldn't help but frown slightly. It was obvious that she didn't understand what Zhang Yanling was going to do.

Xu Gong said: "In addition, he also needs a large amount of bittern, but there is not much bittern that can be transported around the capital. However, according to him, it is currently in the experimental stage and the demand is not high, so we first allocated him a batch of coarse salt, which is official salt with salt permits, and the quality is not very high."

Qin Zhao nodded and said, "Is everything recorded in the book?"

"Yes."

Xu Gong quickly replied, "The costs are all recorded and are set according to market prices."

Qin Zhao looked displeased: "You mean, selling coarse salt at the price of fine salt? Is this a business partnership, or is it cheating people?"

"No... Boss, please don't misunderstand me. Although this batch is at the market price, we actually didn't make any profit from it because of the transportation costs. After all, according to Master Zhang, we are also shareholders. How can we cheat ourselves?"

Xu Gong hurried to explain.

He also knew that his previous cooperation with Zhang Yanling had caused Qin Zhao a lot of displeasure.

If he fails again this time, he will really lose trust. A manager like him who was kicked out by the master will definitely have a bad reputation and will not be able to survive in the business circle.

Qin Zhao said sternly, "I hope you can understand that merchants in Huizhou never cheat or deceive others. We treat our business partners and competitors equally."

"Yes Yes."

Xu Gong quickly responded.

Qin Zhao then said, "I know what everyone below is worried about. The young master of the Zhang family has already sent the sample soap and soap here. I have personally verified that they are the best products that have never been seen in the world."

"Boss, have you... used it yourself? That thing..."

Xu Gong almost wanted to say that the thing had an unknown origin and had not been actually verified, and it was very easy to cause accidents after using it, such as corroding the skin.

But thinking about the fact that Qin Zhao was a serious person, now that he had already used it, it would be a joke if he continued to act as a wise man after the event.

Qin Zhao stood up and said excitedly, "Before the cooperation, when I saw the lists he listed, I knew he was not a person who made up things out of nothing. He was well prepared and did things in an orderly manner. The project was carried out quickly. Where can I find a business partner like this? Now that I have seen his samples, I am more determined. This business has great potential."

Xu Gong had a different opinion, and shook his head, saying, "I have seen samples before, and the appearance of that thing...seems to be very different from the soda ash that Young Master Zhang mentioned. It is hard to imagine how the two are related."

Qin Zhao asked coldly: "Have you seen the specific manufacturing process?"

“I have never seen it with my own eyes…”

Xu Gong was stunned for a moment and could only answer truthfully.

"Then how do you know that the two are not related? You don't think that to create something, you just need to simply mix several things together, and even maintain their previous form?" Qin Zhao asked.

"It was my negligence that I didn't verify it myself." Xu Gong apologized quickly.

Qin Zhao said, "The few samples he gave me are priceless. The most precious thing in the world is something that no one else has. In this wealthy capital, what can't be sold? Moreover, according to the plan given by Young Master Zhang, the cost of these things is not high. Once they are launched, they will quickly become popular. It can be said that they are very profitable."

"Boss, everything will be done as you say... I am just afraid of any accidents. After all... no one has ever done this before. I am just being cautious."

At this moment, Xu Gong still maintained the conservative thinking of traditional merchants.

Qin Zhao nodded in relief: "I understand what you mean. As a businessman, you really shouldn't be too aggressive, but if you stick to your old ways, you will only stagnate.

"Cooperation with the Zhang family is what I look forward to most right now. Now that the people around the capital are fighting over salt permits, I think we can put the salt permits aside for now."

"Ah? Boss... this... this... the salt permit is so important, how can you just give it away?"

Xu Gong became anxious when he heard this.

Whether it was the Huizhou merchants or the Shanxi merchants, the most respectable business they had was the trafficking of official salt.

If they don't even do the official salt business, it would be like a martial arts master cutting off his own meridians. They would basically cut themselves off from their fellow martial artists, and merchants would no longer have to do business.

"Ugh!"

Qin Zhao sighed quietly and said, "Do you think I want to give up? I don't know why, the price of salt permits has been so high recently, but there are still so many people rushing to buy them. I always feel that something is wrong.

"Instead of doing hard, unprofitable business and taking uncertain risks, why not wait and see what happens? One less season of business won't hurt anything."

"But... we have so many people to feed."

Xu Gong said with a bitter face.

"It's okay, it's okay... Isn't there a young master from the Zhang family paving the way for us? I have also consulted the young master Zhang on this matter. He said that the official salt business has indeed been difficult to do in the past two years, and the risk of losing money is very high. After a few years, the court may have a major change, and then the salt merchants will have a way out."

Qin Zhao said with approval, "I think he is right. With corrupt officials running rampant, Liang Kaizhong's path is indeed getting narrower and narrower."

Xu Gong was anxious and questioned again: "Even for such an important matter as salt trading, the shopkeeper has to listen to a child's words?" Qin Zhao asked back: "Then do you think that doing the official salt business, which is risky and has low profits, can really make a profit? Salt permits require official grain, grain requisitioned from various places, and grain produced by the northwest merchant settlements. The price has been rising wildly. After deducting the transportation costs, how much profit will be left? If there are any deductions at the water gate and bribes to the government, it may even lose money."

"It is difficult to do, but no matter how difficult it is, you have to do it! If you don't do it, it will be difficult to squeeze in later."

Xu Gong was almost crying with anxiety, and tried to persuade him, "Boss, the most important thing about this salt business is continuity. There are so many officials watching us. If we don't do it, someone else will rush to do it. It's a pity to give up now!"

Qin Zhao smiled confidently and said comfortingly: "Now that we have established a connection with the Eastern Palace with the help of Zhang, are you still worried that we won't be able to do the official salt business in the future? Just relax!"

"East Palace..."

Xu Gong shook his head helplessly.

In the eyes of ordinary businessmen, the powerless prince could never influence the business landscape of the Ming Dynasty.

Qin Zhao didn't want to waste time with Xu Gong, so he said firmly: "Hurry up and deliver all the goods that Young Master Zhang wants in time, and start production as soon as possible. Only in this way can our Huizhou Qin family have the opportunity to break a path that our ancestors have never walked before, trade all over the world, and strengthen the power of our Huizhou merchants!"

……

……

evening.

Outside a private house in the city, it was very quiet. Occasionally, pedestrians passed by and paid attention to a father and son standing on the side of the road.

Zhang Luan raised his head and looked at the low door lintel, and asked curiously, "Whose house is this?"

Zhang Yanling replied, "Tan Ji is the eunuch in the Eastern Palace and has a close relationship with the Crown Prince."

"what?"

Zhang Luan asked in surprise, "How do you know what's going on in the Eastern Palace? I wonder what the relationship is between Tan Ji and Tan Chang, the eunuch who holds the seal of the Imperial Household Department?"

"It doesn't matter... Dad, there are several common surnames among the eunuchs in this palace. Tan is one of them. In addition, there are also those with the surnames Wei, Dai, and Chen. There are quite a lot of them. Generally speaking... do you want to know these?" Zhang Yanling asked.

Zhang Luan shook his head in astonishment and said, "You can tell me in detail later. It's good enough for you to know that this eunuch Tan is from the Eastern Palace, but will he... come back tonight?"

Zhang Yanling said, "I have been following his return journey. He would come back every two or three days, returning in the evening and leaving early the next morning. He would come regardless of wind or snow. No, I should say regardless of wind or snow."

"You know this as well?"

Zhang Luan was shocked and asked, "Son, is this what you call preparing for a rainy day?"

Zhang Yanling sighed, "There are too few people who can influence the prince and have the opportunity to contact us. Even if my sister enters the palace, before the prince officially ascends the throne, we want to get in touch with the East Palace, and we need to manage our connections well. Tan Ji is one of the targets we need to strive for. Otherwise, how can the news be passed to the palace in the future?"

"you……"

Zhang Luan wanted to comment on his son's performance, but found that he was already at a loss for words and felt numb all over.

"The carriage is coming..."

Zhang Luan suddenly screamed, then perhaps realized that he was being too loud, and quickly asked in a low voice, "Is that Eunuch Tan's carriage? So low-key? Without even an escort?"

Zhang Yanling explained: "He is only a regular attendant of the Eastern Palace. Now he doesn't even have the official position of a eunuch. He is old and frail, and has no power inside or outside the palace. He has only gotten to where he is today by virtue of his seniority. It's good enough for him to have a private residence outside the palace. How grand do you think he can be?"

"Then I'll go right away..."

As Zhang Luan said this, he was about to walk forward carrying the things wrapped in the bundle.

Zhang Yanling hurriedly stopped him: "Dad, it's not appropriate for you to go, I'd better go. You can't relay some things, so let your son do it for you."

Zhang Luan stopped and asked in surprise: "If you go and tell him, will he meet you?"

Zhang Yanling said, "I just need to introduce myself. I don't believe that Qin Ji, who is so cautious, would not want to explore my purpose... unless he is really confident that the crown prince's position as the heir is now secure... but this is obviously not in line with his character."

"Huh? You even know his personality?"

Zhang Luan found it even more incredible.

Zhang Yanling shook his head. "Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you win every battle. Tan Ji is well-known in the palace for being low-key and cautious. He never crosses the line. Because of this, he has never had a feud with anyone and has a good reputation. This is why there is not even a spy at his house. If it were someone else, there would be spies from the East Factory or the Embroidered Uniform Guard at the door."

"Son, you know a lot, so go ahead."

After hearing this, Zhang Luan handed the things to Zhang Yanling with confidence.

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, when you see me enter the main gate of the Qin Mansion, go to the nearest teahouse to have some tea, or go to a restaurant to order some noodles and wait for me to come out."

Zhang Luan said, "I am in a hurry, how can I have the heart to eat noodles? I will wait here... Don't worry, I will pretend that nothing happened. Even if someone sees me, no one will suspect anything."

Zhang Yanling shook his head and said, "No, no, you see there are so many people coming and going on the street. If someone really recognizes you and the news leaks out, it will be fatal. Even if the possibility is not high, you still have to be on guard.

"On the contrary, even if I came to your house, people with ulterior motives would not suspect me. They would just think I was a descendant of the Qin family, who came to the capital to seek refuge and beg for a meal."

"Okay, I'll wait for you to go in."

Zhang Luan patted his son's shoulder and whispered, "You have to be careful too. If he doesn't believe you, give up first."

Zhang Yanling said seriously: "If I give up, that means I will give up the crown prince and the wealth and glory that our family has within our reach... Are you willing to see this?"

Zhang Luan swallowed, and then realized that he was really not suitable to speak, so he walked aside a few steps dejectedly and watched his son perform alone.

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(End of this chapter)