A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 157: The boss is often just a figurehead (Part )
Because Song Xuan's bookstore business is so popular, it has long boosted the business of people around him.

Even the vendors gathered here.

Song Xuan understood that the stall facing his bookstore and the small stall on his left were all set up by people from the Imperial City Bureau, and their craftsmanship was not very good.

But because it is cheaper, many people can bear it.

As government officials, they naturally don't care about losing money in business.

It’s not your own money anyway.

The most important thing is to complete the tasks assigned by the government. This is the top priority.

Gao Zunfu had just confirmed that the people who left were Yan Shu, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, and Fan Zhongyan, the president of Yingtian Academy.

He had no idea why these two people came to see Song Xuan.

But Gao Zunfu saw Song Xuan glance at him, and then subconsciously lowered his head to drink his bowl of cold tea.

"But Twelve Lang?"

Song Xuan just looked away when he saw an older man asking him a question.

"you are?"

"I am Zhao Yutang, the president of the Silk Guild, and I'm here to pay you a visit."

Song Xuan vaguely remembered that Mr. Lei said that he had joined the Silk Guild and was going to help promote it for him.

"Oh?"

Song Xuan looked at Zhao Yutang, the president of the Silk Guild, and bowed:
"President Zhao is here to see me, what's going on?"

"It's a little trivial."

Song Xuan understood that someone who couldn't hold back and wanted to get involved had finally arrived.

"If President Zhao doesn't mind, please come with me to that small tea shop and have some herbal tea. It tastes good."

Zhao Yutang obviously didn't expect Song Xuan to treat him like this, and he didn't even let him in.

However, Zhao Yutang also knew Song Xuan's ability. He was able to kill the Hanlin scholar and force Dou Chou's student, Yingtian Prefecture Tongpan Gu Zimo, to sever his ties with Dou Chou in public.

His background was said to be Zhang Kang, a magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture, which was obviously a lie.

It was possible that the person behind him was Yan Shu, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, who was protecting him, and he just happened to see Yan Shu coming out of his door.

Obviously there were some things still in the house that were inconvenient for him to see.

Thinking of this, Zhao Yutang also nodded:

"Shi Er Lang, that's quite elegant."

Gao Zunfu saw Song Xuan suddenly running towards him and felt a little panicked for a moment.

Could it be that I have been exposed?

impossible!
It is absolutely impossible.

Gao Zunfu quickly refuted the wrong idea that had just flashed through his mind.

I have hidden myself so well, no matter how sharp Song Shier's eyesight is, he will never guess that I am from the Imperial City Bureau!
Besides, why would the people from the Imperial City Bureau target him, an ordinary student with no power or influence and no threat of rebellion?

If you ask this question casually on the street, people will think you are mentally ill. You should go see a doctor as soon as possible to avoid harming others!
Gao Zunfu's heart was relieved when he caught a glimpse of Song Xuan sitting at another table.

Song Xuan arranged nine copper coins according to the rules:

"Boss, give me a pot of cold tea to cool down my body, and a plate of fried soybeans to lighten my appetite."

The shopkeeper quickly called him over, took the copper coins that Song Xuan had placed on the wooden table, and asked the guest to wait a moment with a big smile.

Gao Zunfu didn't expect the news to come so easily.

Song Xuan actually came to this small stall they set up to talk to others.

Gao Zunfu and Song Xuan were sitting parallel to each other. He glanced at the face of the person sitting opposite Song Xuan and winked at the person setting up a stall opposite.

After a while, when he got up and left, he asked his brothers to follow him and find out more about this guy.

"President Zhao is a renowned silk merchant in Song City. Why have you condescended to come and see me today? What is your business?"

Gao Zunfu nodded secretly, he never thought that Song Xuan actually knew his background.

Zhao Yutang smiled indifferently when he heard this. It’s enough for Song Twelve to know my background.

"I came here to discuss business."

Song Xuan hummed and raised his eyebrows slightly:

"President Zhao, please make your words clearer."

"Shi Er Lang's bookstore is doing very well. Have you ever thought about expanding it?"

"President Zhao's words are a bit one-sided. Everyone only sees the queues of people buying, but they don't see how much I spend."

Zhao Yutang didn't believe a single word Song Xuan said.

Before he came to talk with Song Xuan, he had done a lot of homework, especially sending people to his hometown, Lema Town, to find out a little.

Although this boy is young, he is very smart.

He has become the leader of the three evils in Lema Town. He is not someone who can be deceived like an ordinary scholar.

It is said that he could beat ten people with a stick and still hold his own.

The reputation of Song Xuan, the timely rain, was earned not only through spending money but also through publicity.

However, Zhao Yutang felt that it was a bit of an exaggeration to say that he could fight ten people alone. If he could only deal with half of them, even if Song Xuan was good at street fighting.

What kind of trouble can a street thug, a bad boy without parents, stir up?
But Zhao Yutang was sure that Song Xuan was a smart man.

Otherwise, such a profitable business would not be possible.

After years of business experience, the four principles of "don't show off your wealth" have been deeply imprinted in his mind. Even when the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, Yan Shu, came to talk to him and said that he was the chairman of the most profitable industry in the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Yutang also laughed it off.

They say that his position as president is just an empty title, as every day when he opens his eyes, there are hundreds of people waiting for him to serve them with food, drink, toilet and defecation.

How many bites can actually reach his mouth?

Zhao Yutang knew that Yan Shu would be unhappy if he said this, but if he made him happy, he would have to pay out real money.

In order to avoid losing real money, Zhao Yutang chose to make Yan Shu unhappy.

Of course, after Zhao Yutang refused, he didn't want to offend Yan Shu, so he gave him a good idea.

If the prefect is really anxious to make money, he has a good place to go.

That is Song Xuan’s three-star lottery shop, which will surely make a lot of money in the future!
He's willing to pay for it!
But Yan Shu was very disappointed, thinking that Song Xuan's shop would not make much money, so he left.

to this end.

Zhao Yutang was very happy.

Most people cannot see the ability of this small shop to make money, but I am the only one who predicted it, so how can I not make money?

He just asked a craftsman to study Song Xuan's lottery ticket, which could be imitated, but the mark he made unintentionally was impossible to imitate.

There are also digital numbers that can correspond one-to-one with the stubs.

In addition, the craftsman did not take apart the bellows for the lottery.

It is impossible to replicate it just by looking at the appearance.

Zhao Yutang asked craftsmen all over the city for help.

The result reported to him was that the lottery equipment was made by Song Xuan and his team themselves, and they did not look for other craftsmen at all.

Just to guard against this.

Zhao Yutang had no choice but to think of coming to talk to Song Xuan.

Otherwise, he would have done it himself long ago!

So far, there has been no news of punishment from the imperial court, which means they have tacitly agreed!

So when Song Xuan's words revealed the meaning of "don't show off your wealth", Zhao Yutang appreciated it even more.

Song Xuan is not the type of person who would reveal his true colors just because someone praises him a few times.

This kind of person definitely has a way of doing business. Especially since Song Xuan is still young, even if he has made achievements, he is neither arrogant nor impatient.

It’s a pity that he is not in the silk business, otherwise I would have to pull him into my circle no matter what.

Seeing that Zhao Yutang didn't respond, Song Xuan sighed heavily again:

"I believe President Zhao has always known that the boss is often just an empty shell."

"Every day when I open my eyes, I have to take care of the food, drink, defecation and urination of more than ten people, and I have to study and spend money on myself."

"In order to prevent counterfeiting, I bought a lot of raw materials at high prices."

"Just researching that absolutely fair lottery winning machine cost a huge amount of money."

"How much of the bookstore's profits will actually make it to my pocket?"

As soon as Song Xuan said these words.

The expression on Zhao Yutang's face changed slightly.

Weird!

How come this guy said all my words!

Could it be that Yan Shu, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, told him?

It shouldn't be like this. Yan Shu suffered a loss in silence. How could he be the kind of person who would not care about his face and tell others about his pain, especially a junior like Song Xuan?
It was precisely because of Yan Shu's character that he said those words.

This was indeed the case. Yan Shu had hit a wall outside and had no face to complain to Song Xuan.

He himself felt ashamed.

The conflicts of interest among the people are actually no worse than those in Tokyo's officialdom.

And it's even more naked!
However, when Zhao Yutang thought about how Song Xuan was able to make a way for himself at such a young age, he quickly reacted.

This set of rhetoric is really common.

Every shopkeeper would use these little words to say that he couldn't make money.

If you really make money, you don’t have any background.

How can you not be remembered by others?

If things go wrong, the whole family will die.

Do you really think that the rate of solving cases of robbery and murder in the Song Dynasty was very high?
Some people even paid money to have someone die in their place, and then pretended to return home in glory and live a wealthy life.

When Gao Zunfu heard what Song Xuan said, he felt that it made sense.

This guy invested so much in the early stage, but in just one month, he couldn't even make back the money he earned from running his shop.

As for that transparent glass, he had only seen it in the palace, but he had never seen one so transparent.

It can be said that it cost a very high price.

Song Xuan only chose one person to guard this thing. He was really careless.

However, Gao Zunfu felt that Song Xuan's business was booming and might be able to make a profit in a while. The old fox in front of him was just trying to trick the little fox.

"Song Twelve, please don't fall into the trap."

Gao Zunfu thought secretly that after all, the government still asked him to take care of Song Xuan, an ordinary student.

To prevent him from being targeted and assassinated.

Gao Zunfu guessed that the emperor was extremely angry about Dou Chou's wanton bullying and contempt for imperial power.

That's why they sent the Imperial City Division to look after Song Xuan, to prevent him from being harmed by the remaining forces of the Dou family.

"Shi Er Lang's initial investment is so huge, I really admire him."

Zhao Yutang also continued to agree with Song Xuan's "words" as a small communication technique to bring the two sides closer.

"Otherwise, why do young people have to be brave and daring? If I were to encounter such a situation, I would only be able to drink the broth from behind and would never be able to eat the meat."

Song Xuan took the initiative to pour Zhao Yutang a cup of cold tea:
"President Zhao is quite good at making fun of himself. In the entire Song City, everyone knows President Zhao's name."

"Even the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture can't gain an advantage in front of President Zhao."

As soon as Song Xuan said this flattering remark, Zhao Yutang was frightened again.

Could it be that Prefect Yan really told Song Shier everything?

It makes no sense!

They're not that close!

Otherwise, why did Yan Shu still look unhappy when he came out of his bookshop?

Perhaps Yan Shu listened to what he said, but he still ran into a wall with Song Twelve.

Song Xuan's words once again reached Gao Zunfu's ears accurately. He really didn't expect that the local wealthy businessman would be so bold.

He dared to disregard the imperial officials. Who is the umbrella behind him?

Gao Zunfu was determined to record all these words truthfully and present them to the emperor for review.

"Hey."

Zhao Yutang knew that this was on the street. There were some things you could do, but you absolutely could not admit them.

"Twelve Lang, you are embarrassing me. I dare not do this."

Song Xuan picked up the soybeans from the small dish and threw them into his mouth:

"President Zhao, try it. It tastes a bit salty."

Chairman Zhao was no stranger to hardship. He picked up some soybeans, threw them into his mouth, and chewed them carefully.

"If I could eat fried soybeans this salty in the early days, I would buy them every day. I would save money on salt and be able to eat an extra bowl of rice to fill my stomach."

Song Xuan also smiled. These people from the Imperial City Bureau were really unskilled in their work.

"President Zhao likes to eat, so please eat more."

"My teeth are not in good condition, so I don't like to eat hard food like this."

Zhao Yutang declined for a moment, picked up the cold tea and took a sip. The taste was really average.

I don’t know how I managed to get a stall so close to the Twelve Bookstores. Unfortunately, the stall owner’s skills are not good.

Perhaps the benefits he paid behind the scenes are simply not enough to support him in making money.

Make money.

Zhao Yutang did not forget the purpose of his trip. He knew that Song Xuan had been avoiding the topic.

So I brought up the topic again:
"Since the profit margin of Shierlang Bookstore is so low, have you ever thought about selling it at a high price?"

"You know, I have some connections in Songcheng. Maybe I can offer you a price you can't refuse."

"Instead of putting so much effort into it and still making very little money, why not sell it to someone else and run it? With that much money, you can focus on studying for the exam."

"Only by passing the imperial examination and becoming an official of the Song Dynasty can you live a life of ease and comfort, and benefit your descendants. This is the best way out."

Gao Zunfu sneered in his heart when he heard what the old fox said.

What connections are you talking about?
You just have your eyes on Song Twelve's business and want to get involved in it, and you even try to make friends out of nothing. It's really just making people laugh.

"Oh?"

Song Xuan also agreed with Zhao Yutang's words and also narrowed the distance between the two sides:

"I wonder how much Chairman Zhao's friend is willing to offer?"

Gao Zunfu really didn't expect that Song Shier, who was always known for his shrewdness, would be moved?
Considering what Song Xuan said just now, that Zhao Yutang didn't even give face to the prefect Yan Shu, how many connections does he have behind him?
Zhao Yutang realized that he had really met his match this time.

Not only did Song Xuan not refuse, he invited me to make an offer!
He must know how much money he can make if this business goes on.

So Zhao Yutang didn't think about the purpose of Song Xuan asking this question for a moment.

So he threw the question back directly:

"I wonder what price Twelve Lang can't refuse?"

(End of this chapter)