Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 228 Chivalrous and courageous
The crowd dispersed.

Zhang Yanling also entered the shop.

By the patio in the backyard, Lao Lin was sitting on a stool, still breathing heavily, while Zhang Heling was still practicing with the stick in his hand, occasionally striking hard, then shaking his head and staring into deep thought. Perhaps he was not very satisfied with his previous performance and was going to summarize it carefully afterwards so that he could perform better the next time he fought.

"The second young master is here."

When Zhang Yanling came in, it was like a boss coming to inspect the work, and everyone stood up to greet him.

Zhang Heling looked very proud: "Second brother, how was your performance just now?"

Zhang Yanling ignored him and looked at Lao Lin first.

Lao Lin said, "My two young masters, I will return the money to you as a thank you gift. You can also use this shop..."

Zhang Yanling laughed and said, "How can this be possible? We are not here to rob you... We will run the shop, but as for the silver... How about giving you another twenty taels?"

"what?"

Lao Lin was very surprised.

What on earth is this family trying to achieve?

Help me fight and drive away Peng Mianfu who was forcing me to buy and sell, just to rent my shop? But if it's 70 taels of silver... which shop around can't I rent? Why would I cause such a big trouble?

Is it simply to uphold justice and fight for justice?
Qin Zhao smiled and said, "Young Master Zhang rented your shop because he saw the good location of the shop and was afraid that the Peng family would come back to cause trouble for you... Why don't you thank them?"

"Thank you, thank you very much."

Lao Lin looked so grateful that he burst into tears.

Qin Yun brought people over to resign at this time: "Second Young Master, it's done. We will withdraw first. If people know that we are involved, it will not be good."

Zhang Yanling took out a ten-liang silver ingot and handed it over: "Give it to the brothers to drink."

"How dare you?"

Qin Yun hastily refused, "Brothers are here to do things for you, and that Peng is an accomplice of evil, doing all kinds of evil. Brothers have long disliked him and are looking for an opportunity to trick him... If I tell my men this time, they will definitely rush to come."

Zhang Yanling said, "When you ask someone to do something, you can't come back empty-handed. It's my honor to have you here. We will have opportunities to cooperate in the future. I'm not an ungrateful person."

Qin Yun then took the silver ingot and said, "So it is true that if you work for the Second Young Master, you will have meat to eat. If the Second Young Master has any orders in the future, just let him know. We brothers will go through fire and water without hesitation."

……

……

After sending Qin Yun and the others away, Zhang Heling came over and questioned: "He didn't say he didn't want it, so why did you force it on him? Isn't it better to save some money? Ten taels of silver, it will take me a long time to spend..."

Obviously, for the eldest son of the Zhang family, spending such a large sum of money to do things is really painful.

Even Qin Zhao looked at Zhang Yanling with his clever eyes, as if he wanted to know what the other party thought.

Zhang Yanling said, "Qin Yun doesn't have to take the money, but he has only been a captain of the Jinyiwei for a short time. If he brings his men out to do things this time, he won't get any benefits, which won't help him win people's hearts. He helps us do things, and we help him win the hearts of his men. Isn't it good for both of us to get what we need?"

"Oh."

Zhang Heling seemed to understand but not quite.

But when Qin Zhao heard this, he was a little dazed.

Is this the realm that a boy of twelve years old can reach?
Qin Zhao smiled and said, "This way, next time when you ask Captain Tan to do something, he will be more attentive."

Zhang Yanling said cheerfully: "That's right. Things are usually mutually beneficial. How can one party only want to take without giving back?"

Qin Zhao was stunned again for a moment.

She seemed to understand why Zhang Yanling had said those words to his brother in front of her.

Wasn't this said deliberately for her to hear... Zhang Yanling made his attitude towards his partners clear in order to reassure her.

It really kills two birds with one stone.

The calculations are so deep that one can't help but sigh.

"It's done. We have to leave now."

Zhang Yanling said, "Master Lin, you should hurry up and leave to avoid the limelight. This place is vacant, so there shouldn't be any problems. If the Peng family comes to cause trouble, it will be bad if they find you. After all, we can't protect your safety for twelve hours. Anyway, we are in charge of this place now."

"well."

Old Lin took the silver and vented his anger. He immediately felt that what the Zhang family said was true. Before leaving, he asked hesitantly, "What about the contract..."

"Just send it to Mr. Qin tomorrow." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.

"Row."

Lao Lin nodded and bowed.

Seeing that Zhang Yanling was about to go out with Old Man Lin, Qin Zhao hurriedly said, "Second Young Master, I have a request here. It's a personal request. Can we find a place to discuss it in detail?"

Zhang Yanling asked curiously, "Is it a business matter? Where is it different?"

Zhang Yanling didn't want to discuss any private matters with Qin Zhao.

Business partners are just partners. Why do you have to mix up public and private matters? Could it be that you, Sister Qin, have some improper thoughts about a little boy like me?
Boys must learn to protect themselves when they go out!
Qin Zhao sighed, "It was just a minor dispute among Huizhou merchants, but now it has become more and more serious and it is difficult to resolve. Today, I saw that you are chivalrous and resourceful, so I wanted to invite you to have a talk. You can either personally take action or give a good plan, all for the sake of better cooperation in the future."

"Well, that sounds reasonable."

Zhang Yanling thought for a moment and said, "Then let's find a teahouse and talk alone."

"It's better to do it tomorrow. I have an old friend I need to take with me and discuss it with you." Qin Zhao said.

"Row."

Zhang Yanling nodded. "It just so happens that I have to go to your place tomorrow to get the lease contract from Mr. Lin. Let's talk about it tomorrow."

……

……

the next morning.

As agreed, Zhang Yanling came to a teahouse not far from Zhang's house, and Qin Zhao had already prepared a lease drafted by Lao Lin.

Beside Qin Zhao stood a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl who looked very delicate and pretty.

The woman was dressed in plain clothes, her skin was white, her eyebrows, eyes and mouth were unusual in appearance. She was obviously a little girl, but she had a maturity that did not belong to her age.

Zhang Yanling thought that it was probably the shrewdness that is unique to business people, which is something that can only be developed after having to deal with people since childhood and struggling in the world of fame and fortune for many years.

"Master Qin, who is this...?"

Zhang Yanling asked doubtfully.

Qin Zhao smiled and said, "This is the daughter of an old friend of the Qin family... The matter I talked to the second young master about today is related to her family."

"Oh."

Zhang Yanling sat down leisurely.

Qin Zhao stood up and poured tea for Zhang Yanling.

The girl stood up, nodded slightly, and stood behind Qin Zhao.

"Go ahead."

Zhang Yanling took a sip of tea, raised his hand, and spoke in a businesslike tone.

Qin Zhao said: "It is like this. Huizhou merchants have expanded rapidly across the country in recent years, creating a great reputation for Huizhou merchants. This is a good thing, as it facilitates the integration of industries in various places and better development of industries.

"Unfortunately, there are several families in our group who, relying on their government background, do whatever it takes and rise dramatically. They have quickly seized most of the salt and tea business in the south and north of the Yangtze River. Since they have connections in the salt fields and tea fields, they have severely squeezed the living space of other business families."

Zhang Yanling shrugged and asked, "So what?"

Qin Zhao glanced at Zhang Yanling and continued, "I know that you are a chivalrous man. Now these scumbags in Huizhou merchants have violated the principles of business, so I would like to ask you to take action to punish evil and promote good."

"Oh?"

Zhang Yanling glanced at the girl next to him again.

The girl's eyes were as bright as gems, and she happened to be looking at him at this moment. When their eyes met in the air, the girl quickly looked away, not daring to look Zhang Yanling in the eye again.

Zhang Yanling hesitated for a moment and asked in a questioning tone: "Can we talk alone?"

Qin Zhao turned around and said to the bright girl, "Sister, please wait downstairs. I will discuss this with Master Zhang alone. You don't have to worry. I know how to help your family out of trouble."

"Ah."

The girl responded, bowed to Zhang Yanling, then walked lightly to the stairs and went downstairs.

After everyone left, Zhang Yanling said, "Master Qin, I won't ask about the details first. What exactly do you think of coming to me to do something?"

Qin Zhao said: "Second Young Master, please forgive me. When we were doing business together, what I, Qin, bought was just a future. But when the prince can be independent is still to be discussed... We don't have a better way, so we blindly choose our partners."

“It makes sense to invest in the future.”

Zhang Yanling nodded in agreement.

What you, Manager Qin, bought was definitely not the power of our current Zhang family. In fact, our Zhang family has no power at all at the moment.

Qin Zhao continued, "But now it seems that the Second Young Master is resourceful and resourceful, and he and your father complement each other. Even when facing the son of the elder, he is not afraid, and he can set up a trap to gain the upper hand. In view of this, I made such an unwelcome request."

Zhang Yanling asked with a smile: "You also know that this is an unreasonable request? Then let me ask you one more question, if this is done, what benefit will it bring to me?"

Qin Zhao said: "You will get the full support of Huizhou merchants... After all, more than one family was harmed by that unscrupulous businessman, and now Huizhou merchants need someone to stand up and clear the way for the evil. Besides..."

As he spoke, Qin Zhao glanced in the direction of the stairs, and then whispered, "You will get my old friend's entire family to surrender. They will... be willing to serve you." Zhang Yanling nodded.

He knew that it was almost impossible to completely recruit Qin Zhao now, because the business Qin Zhao worked for was huge and powerful, and the two sides could only use each other at most. People would not be willing to entrust their family business and future to him, a relative who had not yet risen.

But it’s different for those desperate merchants.

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "How did Mr. Qin know that I needed someone to stand in front of me to do business? Speaking of which, I am really tempted.

"If someone is willing to serve as a front for our Zhang family, and the business is ostensibly run by them, but all the profits belong to me, then I am willing to accept their surrender."

Qin Zhao said: "So, you agree?"

"Tell me first, I want to hear what the situation is."

Only then did Zhang Yanling allow Qin Zhao to explain the matter in detail.

Qin Zhao smiled and said, "Second Young Master is a cautious person. I really admire him. After doing business for so many years, there is no one like you..."

"No need to flatter me, just tell me the truth first... What strong background do those profiteers you mentioned have, and whose influence do they rely on? If I can't do anything about them, I may not be able to help you."

Zhang Yanling said this, but he was thinking in his heart, even if he couldn't help now, wait half a year... once the emperor died and the prince ascended the throne, the situation would change.

Can't I do whatever I want then?

Qin Zhao then explained the situation of the Tian family to Zhang Yanling in detail.

"…The Tian family was originally a large tea business in Huizhou. They traded in various parts of Jiangnan and also had businesses in Fujian and Guangdong. However, they prospered for only two generations before they began to decline…

"In recent years, due to the control of salt and tea trade by the powerful officials in the court, Tian's tea could not be sold smoothly in various places, and gradually began to suffer losses.

“In the past few years, the Tian family has also sought help from some powerful people in Nanjing and handed over a lot of money, but to no avail, and the losses have become increasingly greater.

"Then there was a local treacherous businessman named Zheng. He relied on the support of the eunuchs and used conspiracy and trickery to seize the salt and tea monopoly held by the Tian family, and made the Tian family owe a huge amount of foreign debt... Now the Tian family is in danger of being overthrown."

Zhang Yanling interrupted Qin Zhao and asked, "It is really heartbreaking to hear Mr. Qin talk about this thrilling inside story in such a nonchalant tone... I want to ask, how did that unscrupulous businessman get the salt and tea monopoly rights from others? What is the inside story?"

Qin Zhao said seriously: "The government sealed it."

Zhang Yanling nodded in understanding.

As long as the government intervenes, your things are no longer yours.

In a peaceful year, this matter is actually quite unbelievable. After all, plunder is against justice and the imperial court will not allow such a thing to happen. Once discovered, it will be dealt with seriously. No local official would dare to risk losing his official hat by openly looting.

The problem is that the Tian family was also bribing officials and making their fortune through collusion between officials and businessmen. In addition, in the last years of the Chenghua period, treacherous officials were in power, the government was corrupt, and the eunuchs sent from the palace to other places were extorting money everywhere. It is not surprising that this happened.

"Didn't the high officials behind the Tian family offer any help?"

Zhang Yanling asked.

"No, I'm going to fight back."

Qin Zhao said with a bitter face.

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "That means I gave you too little."

Qin Zhao was stunned.

The words are said so directly that it is really speechless, but the truth is there.

Qin Zhao said: "The Tian family is now at the end of their rope. Not only have all their goods been seized, but many of their properties in the south have also been seized by the government. The head of the Tian family has even been imprisoned in Nanjing, and no one can help him. Now his eldest son has brought his daughter and others to the capital to seek help. They have come all the way to me, but I don't think I can handle such a big thing."

"Money dispute?"

Zhang Yanling asked thoughtfully.

Qin Zhao nodded first, then shook his head, and sighed, "Yes, and no."

"How?"

Zhang Yanling asked again.

"The Zheng family not only occupied the ancestral property of the Tian family, but also planned to take over all of the Tian family's channels for their own use. You should know that although the Tian family has declined, it is still alive and well. The channels for buying and selling tea in the south are still there, with a large number of shops, carriages, boats, and shop assistants... I, your little sister, may be taken in by the Zheng family in the future. If so, the Tian family will be completely controlled by the Zheng family, and in the future... there will be no chance for them to make a comeback."

Qin Zhao seemed very regretful when he said this.

Zhang Yanling said calmly, "They want the family property, the people, and all the distribution channels and real estate behind it. They didn't spend a penny, but they let the Tian family control everything from top to bottom. This is really a despicable move... If you don't know, you would think that the Zheng family can cover the sky with one hand in this bright and clear world!"

Qin Zhao asked, "Second Master, do you also think that such behavior is against the harmony of nature?"

Zhang Yanling shook his head, "Business disputes should be discussed in the business arena. I won't mix in too much personal subjective assumptions. Mr. Qin, do you think I can help with this matter? I think you are the most suitable person to help them. It's nothing more than taking out some money to make the Zheng family stop. After all, isn't it something that can be solved with money?"

Qin Zhao smiled bitterly and said, "The Qin family is now alone and without a strong government background to support us. It's no problem to pay the money, but how can we guarantee that we won't be calculated by the Zheng family and the government forces behind them?"

"Oh."

Zhang Yanling suddenly realized, "Master Qin is afraid of getting into trouble, so he pushed the matter onto me?"

Qin Zhao blushed and felt extremely ashamed.

Although Zhang Yanling's words were very direct, the logic was correct.

Qin Zhao is the one who can manage but dares not to.

Tian's family fell into decline, and Qin's family was not much better. If the situation was really good, she, an unmarried woman, would not be allowed to run the family business.

"Tell me, how much silver do you need?"

Zhang Yanling frowned and asked, "There should be a number, right?"

Qin Zhao said: "At least 10,000 taels."

Zhang Yanling asked with a smile: "Do you think our Zhang family can come up with so much money?"

"But you are an official."

Qin Zhao said, "Zheng said openly that the Tian family only needs to submit and be attached to him, but once the Tian family submits, their assets will be completely emptied from top to bottom, and they will be replaced by someone else. There is no chance of them making a comeback."

Zhang Yanling said, "That's right. Didn't Mr. Qin say that what they want is the distribution channels behind the Tian family? Once they get them, they can get rid of them."

"My little sister, she..."

Qin Zhao also wanted to show his affectionate side and take the opportunity to move Zhang Yanling.

Zhang Yanling was not moved at all. She pursed her lips first, then shook her head: "What little sister? At my age, it's not appropriate."

"Um!?"

Qin Zhao was stunned at first.

She was thinking, what are you talking about, is it appropriate or inappropriate?

Then he seemed to understand something. Was Zhang Yanling planning to take the person away for himself? Was that why he said that?

At this moment, Qin Zhao finally understood that Zhang Yanling was not only mentally mature, but also well versed in matters such as power-for-sex transactions, which were totally beyond the understanding of his age.

"It's not impossible to help."

Zhang Yanling considered his words.

Qin Zhao immediately stopped thinking about it and asked anxiously, "What's going on?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Boss Qin, let me ask you, if we temporarily sell the soap business to someone else, how much do you think it will be worth?"

"This……"

Qin Zhao was confused for a moment. Why did he suddenly say he wanted to hand over the soap business?

Isn't that how we make money?
"You say, eighteen thousand taels should be enough, right?" Zhang Yanling said.

"more than."

Qin Zhao told the truth.

The total investment was five thousand taels, and the money could be recovered just from the soap business.

Zhang Yanling sighed, "It's a pity that we can't run this business for the time being. After all, soap has become a tribute and is coveted by others. If someone with ulterior motives knew that the soap was made by the Qin family, what do you think would happen?"

Qin Zhao wanted to say, don't make me guess, just tell me, but he still bit the bullet and replied, "It's a crime to possess a treasure."

Zhang Yanling smiled and nodded: "When the great eunuch Liang Fang finds out, he will definitely treat the soap producer as his lifelong enemy and put him in an irretrievable situation.

"You said that we should use the soap business to raise 18,000 taels of silver to help the Tian family out of trouble and recruit them. Do you think it is worth it or not?"

Qin Zhao thought about it for a moment and nodded immediately: "Even if the business channels behind Tian's are not worth 10,000 taels of silver, it's not much different."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Let Tian's people talk to Zheng later to see what they mean. If they think it's not enough, I can give them a glass business."

"You want to hand over the manufacturing process of the telescope to them as well?" Qin Zhao was shocked.

Are you trying to trick the Zheng family or the prince?
Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Who said that the glass business is just about making telescopes? Can't it be about producing some relatively pure glassware?
"Don't worry, that's just the casting process of colored glass. It doesn't involve the manufacturing of flat glass, concave lenses, and convex lenses. Even if they get the technology, they still can't build a telescope."

"But……"

Qin Zhao was a little unhappy.

This business is a partnership between our two families, so are we just going to sell it to the Zheng family?

Zhang Yanling smiled and asked: "If you keep these two businesses, you won't be able to run them for the time being, but they can help your old friend the Tian family get through the difficult times.

"Besides, without my technological improvements as support, this business will just be a decoration if they take it. Are you afraid that you won't be able to get it back in the future?"

(End of this chapter)