Like the business group Wan Shang, Lai Shang is just a general term for merchants engaged in trade with Japan in Donglai.

Everyone competes in cooperation, and there is cooperation in competition. Laishang competes internally for jobs. Today's Laishang boss Liu Chengyong was just a stinky coolie carrying sugar in the beginning. After thirty years of ups and downs in the business world, he has now become a rival in charge. A big businessman who excels in Japanese trade.

The headquarters of the merchant group is in Dongnaefu Castle, and the main store of Raishang is naturally also in the city. However, the merchants of Raishang generally do not stay in Dongnae Castle, but in Toyamaura.

Who knows that Toyamaura is close to the Japanese Museum, and it also happens to be a port, which is convenient for shipping.

As soon as the judge gave the order, Raishang ran over at the head of Toyamaura. He also brought a Japanese pearl as a meeting gift.

"I would like to ask you, is there a merchant named Li Xizhu among your Lai merchants?"

"Li Xi, please think about it." Lai Shangxing, who was sitting on his knees, raised his eyes.

"He went to the Qing Dynasty last year and brought back a lot of silk."

"Last year? Ah! Got it! There is a book in our store named Li Xi."

"Where are you now?" It's good to know, Hong Jinglai nodded.

"I made a contract with Mr. Obo at the Japanese Museum. We are going to Umwonpo, Duozhou. The ship should be released soon."

"Let's go, let's take me there!"

Tsushima is Tsushima Island, and Ikuhara-ura is the former headquarters of the Tsushima Fuchu Domain, Imohara Castle. If you go to Japan, you might not come back for a month or two, and that's a waste of time.

He picked up the leader of the line and dragged him out. He ordered Li Jichu to harness his horse quickly, while Hong Jinglai was in a hurry to go to the port.

"Sir, why are you in such a hurry?" The leader held his hat.

"Why are you not in a hurry? I owe money."

"Ah! He owes you money!"

"No, I owe him money!"

The head of the line was suddenly confused. Nowadays, when an official owes money, he is so eager to find his creditor. It shouldn't be a matter of delaying the payment as much as possible, or relying on it as much as possible. It's better to just waive it off.

Why are you so anxious to pay off the debt?

I looked at the sun and it didn’t rise from the west!

Toyamaura can be considered prosperous, but due to the Tokugawa shogunate's regulations prohibiting the construction of large ships exceeding 1,000 koku, the country's shipbuilding industry was forcibly destroyed. Therefore, the Japanese ships entering the harbor were not very large, and there were only a handful of Raisho's own ships. , they are all small sea-going ships of several tens of tons.

Naturally, there was no scene of thousands of sailboats gathering, there were only fourteen or five boats in total, but it was still very lively with people coming and going.

"Zheng Xingshou, Zheng Xingshou..." All kinds of people along the way seemed to know this Xingshou and greeted him one after another.

He grabbed a baggage merchant who was carrying a package and asked, "Have you seen the eldest uncle?"

"Hmm? Mr. Dafang? He's still delivering goods at the warehouse."

"Okay, let's get to work!" Xing Shou breathed a sigh of relief.

Knowing where to go, there was no rush. Zheng Xingshou led the way, giving full play to his businessman's expertise along the way. He and Hong Jinglai introduced everything about the port. After all, this was the foundation of their Laishang existence. Every plant and tree was very special. familiar.

The small traders who came and went handed the furs purchased from Badao, silk imported from the Qing Dynasty, engraved books, and precious ginseng to Lai merchants' warehouses and shipped them to Japan to obtain profits.

As far as Hong Jinglai is concerned, this kind of place full of commercial atmosphere has a more free atmosphere.

Compared to the depressing Hanyang, Tosanpo has a happy atmosphere everywhere, and everyone has a positive mental state.

Sixty-eight miles out to sea is to Tsushima-Gomehara-ura, one hundred and twenty-two miles to Akama Pass and Moji, and one hundred and sixty miles to Nagasaki. It only takes a day with a favorable wind.

As long as you are willing to work hard, a trip to the sea can provide your whole family with enough food and clothing, a bright future, and hope in life.

"Brother Hong? Is it Brother Hong?" Hong Jinglai was still browsing when a familiar voice suddenly sounded next to him.

"Happy!" Hong Jinglai shouted immediately.

"Oh, it's really Brother Hong!" Li Xi took three steps and two steps at a time, ran to Hong Jinglai's side, grabbed Hong Jinglai's hand, and almost hugged him up.

"Brother Hong, why are you here?"

"Li Shu (shield) remember, this is Mr. Hong, don't be rude." Zheng Xing first saw that the two people were so cordial, but he still reminded him.

"Master Hong? Brother, you passed the imperial examination and became a high official!"

"I won and became a minor official. I happened to be in Donglai, so I came over to see you."

The two people held hands and told each other about the past. It is impossible to overstate the friendship that lasted for many years.

"I wonder who you are, sir?" A rough-looking man in his forties walked over surrounded by several people.

"I am the new judge of Dongnae Prefecture. You must be Liu Dafang, the merchant of Lai."

"I didn't expect that Brother Hong, whom Li Shu (shielded) kept talking about, was actually the judge. Please forgive me for being rude." As he said that, Liu Chengyong bowed to the end.

"Hahahahaha, you still borrowed my money to save me from the emergency. It doesn't have to be like this." Hong Jinglai helped the person up.

Liu Chengyong couldn't help but take another look at Hong Jinglai and Li Xizu. He didn't expect that Li Xizu, who was usually ordinary, had the ability to recognize people with a keen eye. He released the official debt when Hong Jinglai failed to pass the Jinshi examination.

Occasionally, I met a person like Hong Jinglai who valued love and justice. Not only did he not rely on official power to borrow money, he also went all the way to find someone to repay the money.

What's more important is that Hong Jinglai is now stationed in Fushanpu and is the most current county magistrate.

Having a current manager who is friendly to Laishang is not just a matter of saving money for Laishang.

As the head of a Laishang business, Liu Chengyong knew how to behave appropriately. Seeing that Hong Jinglai and Li Xi could not finish their friendly words, he had no intention of disturbing them.

Instead, he got in touch with the Han brothers and Li Jichu, asking for news about Hong Jinglai.

When I heard that more than a year ago, Hong Jinglai was an ordinary Confucian scholar. His family was poor and he needed to borrow money to go to Beijing to take the exam. Now he is not only working as a fifth-grade civil servant, but he also looks good enough to make money.

The three members of his family are all top-notch capable men. Han Sanshi is steady and courageous, Han Wushi is smart and quick, and Li Jichu is tall and brave. By subduing such subordinates, you can also know what is outstanding about Hong Jinglai himself.

At this moment, Hong Jinglai was a fifth-rank civil servant in the imperial court, but he actually did not look down on Li Xizhu, a merchant. The two of them met as equals. Even though Li Xizhu knew that Hong Jinglai was an official, he was still so close to him, which proved that Hong Jinglai was like this before he came. Generally approachable.

This person can deliver!

Not only does Liu Chengyong have a keen sense of business, he also has a good eye for people. If there is such a good opportunity for government-business collusion, he will not let it go.
Chapter completed!