Now the salt merchant Zheng has taken Bai Ji and left Suzhou."
Second Master Shen threw Xu Yuanjing away and shouted: "Don't tell me, go and tell Lin Tai!"
Manager Xu knelt on the ground, hugged Mr. Shen's thigh and said:
"I really didn't expect the day before yesterday that the second master would make the decision today and ask me to give Bai Ji to Lin Tailai!
Seeing that the new oiran election is about to begin, if the current oiran Bai Ji is not exchanged for money, she will lose everything.
So when I saw the Yangzhou salt merchant offered me one thousand taels, I was obsessed with money and agreed."
Second Master Shen was a little irritated and said without hesitation: "What Yangzhou salt merchant came to Suzhou City to redeem the life of an courtesan after eating well? Then isn't Yangzhou's specialty thin horse!"
Manager Xu explained: "Yangzhou people also admire our Suzhou scenery the most, and what they want is the name Suzhou Oiran."
In the general concept of later generations, it seems that Yangzhou and Suzhou were the fashion twin stars of the ancient Jiangnan region. In fact, at some stages, this was not entirely true.
Although Yangzhou began to regain its prosperity in the middle and late Ming Dynasty due to its transportation conditions and the prosperity of the salt industry, and it was also a large and economically developed city, it still could not compare with Suzhou.
At least in the Ming Dynasty, Suzhou was the center of Jiangnan cultural trends and the birthplace of fashion.
Yangzhou, on the other hand, has been trying hard to imitate Suzhou, and what they imitate is very similar.
For example, they vigorously develop calligraphy and painting, they like to build gardens and create scenic spots, and they take the clothes and lifestyles from Suzhou as fashionable and call them "Su-style".
The real peak period of Yangzhou City was in the middle of the Qing Dynasty. Many of the humanistic imprints passed down to later generations were actually left by the Qing Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty was not so strong.
To give the most intuitive example, there were 405 Jinshi people in Yangzhou in the Qing Dynasty, while there were only 245 Jinshi people in Yangzhou in the Ming Dynasty. Some clues can be seen from this numerical difference.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Yangzhou salt merchants in the Ming Dynasty went to Suzhou, the birthplace of fashion, to buy an oiran out of vanity.
Not to mention it is a gift for the incoming salt official. Compared with the Suzhou oiran, the specialty thin horse, the former is definitely more prestigious.
Second Master Shen kicked Xu Yuanjing away and reprimanded: "You are just taking chances and just want to calculate small accounts and get your money back. You think that if you sell the person, everything will be fine!
But you never thought that everyone in Suzhou knew that Lin Tailai was obsessed with Bai Zhuangyuan, but if you sold Bai Zhuangyuan to an outsider, where would Lin Tailai's face go?
Get out now, I can't control you anymore!"
Immediately, Shen Yongjia quickly sent someone to report the situation to Lin Tailai.
When the news was received, Lin Tailai was bidding farewell to his nominal master Zhang Youyu.
Then Lin Tailai asked Zhang Youyu calmly: "Teacher, are you interested in replacing Wang Zhideng as the number one celebrity in Suzhou City?"
Zhang Youyu immediately responded: "I am the number one celebrity in Suzhou City. Do you always think that Wang Zhideng is the number one? You are really a traitor!"
Lin Tailai ignored Zhang Youyu's nonsense and said:
"Very good, the property of the school book office will be handed over to you, teacher. From now on, teacher, you will be the general manager of the school book office. I believe that the teacher will be qualified."
Zhang Youyu's old eyes suddenly shone, he rubbed his hands and said, "Can I just watch and steal?"
"Whatever you want!" Lin Daguan said nonchalantly, and quickly added: "Don't touch Sun Lianlian!"
I didn't take this office seriously in the first place, so Zhang Youyu could do whatever he wanted.
As for Xu Yuanjing, do you still want to take it back to the school book office? Go to hell!
It's just that Official Lin was about to leave and there was no time to deal with him directly.
The next day, Lin Tailai took six followers, including the Zhang brothers, and two thousand taels of silver and set off on a large ship.
When passing by Xushuguan, I stopped by to visit the royal tax envoy.
The main thing is to explain the matter of Mudu Port's customs clearance. Half a year after the opening and closing last year, thanks to Lin Daguan's personal supervision, the total tax amount was as high as 3,000 taels.
Before the royal tax envoy leaves office, it should not be a problem for the Mudu Port Customs Branch to complete the target of 5,000 taels.
Coupled with the increase in revenue from another branch of Likou Port, it is enough to make the annual tax collection of Xushuguan exceed 30,000 to 40,000 yuan, surpassing Hangzhou Beixinguan and Tongzhou Hexiwu to become the world's largest customs.
For the capital of kings, this is a political achievement visible to the naked eye.
After the visit, Lin Daguan also did another good thing and took the initiative to help the Wang Tax Envoy carry a family letter to the capital.
Later, when passing by Wuxi, Lin Daguan did not stop too much and still hurried on. After all, his time was really tight.
Then we crossed the river from Jingkou and continued northward from Guazhou for dozens of miles before arriving at Yangzhou City.
As a famous city that is inseparable from the canal, the Grand Canal goes from the water pass in the south of Yangzhou City to the east and then to the north, looping around the city.
Ordinary passers-by will not enter the city, but rest at the docks along the river outside the city. Similar to Suzhou City, the riverside outside the city is also very prosperous, no less than in the city.
And people like Lin Tailai who come to do things like this must go to the city.
When his boat arrived at Guangling Shuiyi outside Nanshui Pass, he planned to park the boat at the pier and then enter the city through the south gate.
The Zhang brothers were gearing up and said a little excitedly: "I heard that the area around the south gate of Yangzhou City is one of the most romantic places in the world."
Lin Tailai scolded: "It's not like you haven't entered the Qin Lou Chu Hall with me in Suzhou, it's like you haven't seen the world before!"
Zhang Wen replied philosophically: "Home flowers are always not as fragrant as wild flowers."
Lin Tailai said unmoved: "We still have business to do. Let's split up. I'll go to the school first to inquire about the situation of the college examination.
Zhang Wen, please inquire about the situation of the Zheng family, the salt merchant, at the dock and shop."
Happy Chinese Valentine's Day to everyone! Those who write code say hello to those of you who are celebrating the festival!
Chapter completed!