Chapter 241 The nobles came to visit, and the fish came!
Two days later.
On the second floor of Xu's shop, because the eaves are covered with special bark of grass trees, the sun is scorching outside, but inside the windows, not only is it cool, but it is also ventilated and comfortable.
Bai Yan sat by the small window of the private room on the second floor. After getting tired of writing bamboo slips, he put down his pen and ink.
He turned around and looked at the street outside the window, watching the people coming and going under the scorching sun. The scholars walked together in twos and threes, laughing and talking to the restaurants in the distance while giving pointers.
Carriages passed by outside the shop.
Rich people all huddled in their carriages in this weather, unwilling to get out and walk.
Although there was a war in Zhao State, looking at this scene, one feels that Handan City did not seem to be affected at all.
"Take a break when you're tired!"
Bai Yan opened his mouth and said.
Behind Bai Yan, there were three children around seven or eight years old, their hands trembling with fear.
"Gentleman, we are not tired!"
"Not tired, gentleman, we are not tired!"
The fans in the hands of the two children became faster again, and the weak little hand of the child who was squeezing Bai Yan's shoulders also used a little more force.
Naturally, the child's actions could not be hidden from Bai Yan.
When Bai Yan saw this, he didn't say anything. These children were already filled with fear.
There were three children, two girls and one boy, one of whom was a brother and sister. Bai Yan bought the three children, but only spent three thousand dollars.
Not even half a gold.
In the Qin State, a child cost 2,500 qian, while in the Zhao State, 3,000 qian was the price of three children together.
But that's it, it's a pity for both Ye and Gui, and some regrets why they didn't use the money to buy one or two women.
Bai Yan knew clearly that it was not because Karma and Gui were not kind-hearted, but because the world was like this.
Nowadays, there are shops, whether in the city or outside the city, where people are sold.
Zhao State suffered from drought for years and the people had no harvest. When they could not afford to support themselves, countless people bought and sold women and wives.
When people are dazzled by what they see, no matter how kind-hearted they are, they will become numb.
After all, at first glance, the whole street is full of children. How many children can you sell? What's more, there are several such streets not only in Handan City, but also in other cities in Zhao State.
Faced with this situation, faced with countless children.
Normal people, after feeling numb, will choose to use money to buy one or two Zhao girls who are good-looking and look good in front of the Zhao girls who are better at talking and have tearful eyes.
After all, adults are better at taking care of others, so if you get tired of being a maid, you can do it.
Now in Zhao State.
The most precious luxury items are definitely not jade and jewelry, nor are they swords and beautiful women.
But kindness.
"Gentlemen, the gentleman of the Cai family is Cai Sui, the gentleman of the Liang family is Liang Jin, and the gentleman of the Wu family is Wu Cheng, please see me!"
Ye walked up hurriedly, raised his hands to Bai Yan and said.
Looking at Bai Yan, Ye knew clearly that since the general moved into Xu's shop, in the past two days, no less than sixteen or seventeen people from the noble family had come to visit.
"Um!"
When Bai Yan heard this, he nodded and stood up.
After a while.
Bai Yan came to the first floor and saw Cai Sui, Liang Jin and Wu Cheng whom Ye had mentioned.
"Xu's Xu Zixiao, I've met three of them!"
Bai Yan walked slowly to the three of them and bowed his hands.
Behind Bai Yan, three children followed closely, two of them holding leaf fans in their hands.
"Cai Sui, the Cai clan of Wei State, has met Mr. Xu!"
"Zhao Guoliang, Liang Jin has met Mr. Xu!"
"Qi State's Wu family, Wu Cheng has met Mr. Xu!"
When Liang Jin and the others saw Bai Yan, they quickly returned the favor.
The three of them are all in their twenties, but Liang Jin and Wu Cheng's gentry sons, although they are gentry, are all wearing cloth clothes, not silk clothes.
The Cai Sui was wearing silk clothes, but the ornament around his waist was not a jade pendant.
Obviously these three people are all descendants of the noble clan, but the noble clan behind them should be in some decline, and their status and abilities are not very high.
Compared to the wealthy families that Bai Yan had seen in the Qin Kingdom, they were simply incomparable. The Li family, the Meng family, and the Wang family were the real aristocrats. All members of the clan, young and old, held important positions in the court and controlled real power.
After that came the Li family of Li Si, the Feng family of Feng Quji, and so on.
Even the Yang family, whose status was somewhat shaken, looked frightening when compared with the nobles in front of them.
"You all came here today, what are you doing?"
Bai Yan looked at the three of them with some confusion.
Although Bai Yan knew that these three nobles did not have much status or ability and could only be regarded as small local gangsters, Bai Yan still asked the three of them very politely.
That kind of thing of being superior to others will never happen here in Bai Yan.
"Junzi Xu, can you lend me a moment to speak?"
Cai Sui thought for a moment, looked at Bai Yan, and asked softly.
Obviously among these three people, Cai Sui, who was dressed in silk clothes, was the leader.
"please!"
Bai Yan held up his hands to the three of them, then turned sideways and motioned to follow him to the second floor.
The second floor of Xu's store.
Because it is a new store, there are no exquisite and expensive items in the room. A teapot, a table, and three seats, that's all.
When Cai Sui and Wu Cheng saw this, they naturally wouldn't think that Bai Yan had no money, because as long as they were not blind, they could clearly see the jade pendant hanging on Bai Yan's waist. That jade pendant alone looked valuable.
Not cheap.
Not to mention, the three children behind him.
Nowadays, if you want to buy a child to take with you in Zhao State, you either have a kind heart and good character, or you are not short of money at all and don't care whether there is a maid to show off.
"please!"
Bai Yan came to the wooden table and motioned for the three of them to sit down.
Bai Yan slowly put away the bamboo slips he had just written and handed it to the older girl among the three children behind him.
"Yan, pick it up and put it in the wooden box!"
Bai Yan named this girl Yan.
It is taken from Qu Yuan, whom my grandmother loved, and the Chinese character "at the end of the year" in Li Sao.
The word "Yan Yan Yan" means that Bai Yan hopes that the girl will be able to talk, laugh, and be gentle and gentle in the future.
"You three, Zixiao has only been in Handan for two days. Things are extremely shabby. Please forgive me!"
After Yan left, Bai Yan watched Liang Jin and the others kneel down and said with a smile.
"Why did you say this? We took the liberty to disturb you at that time. I hope you, gentleman, will not be offended!"
Cai Sui cupped his hands and smiled.
Liang Jin and Wu Cheng also laughed in agreement.
"I wonder if three of you are coming today?"
Bai Yan put down his hands, sat up straight, asked softly, and looked directly at the three of them with open eyes.
Since he wants to be a member of the noble family with great connections, abilities, and background, Bai Yan must not be timid. Only by being generous and straightforward can people be impressed.
inside the room.
Hear Bai Yan's words.
Cai Sui and Liang Jin looked at each other, then looked at Bai Yan.
"Now that the State of Zhao has been suffering from drought for many years, the land is not harvesting, and there is a war now, I wonder what kind of goods Mr. Xu is planning to sell when he comes to Handan to open this shop?"
Cai Sui asked in a low voice.
Bai Yan looked at Cai Sui and shook his head.
"Zixiao opened a shop just to make some small profits, which is not fair."
Bai Yan spoke with a hint of smile.
Cai Sui frowned slightly when he heard Bai Yan's gentle refusal.
Liang Jin and Wu Cheng also looked at the young Bai Yan. They had received news very early that someone was planning to come to Zhao to sell grain.
After inquiring from many parties and spending a lot of time, they finally got a somewhat accurate message in Yingchuan County.
That was the grain seller, the newly opened Xu's shop in Handan City.
This shop had been closed for the past few days and was only opened in the past two days. However, yesterday the nobles spread rumors that Xu's shop did not sell grain at all.
This made them very strange, so they were a little reluctant today and just came over to ask.
"We heard before that Zixiao came to sell grain?"
After Liang Jin got Wu Cheng's look, he asked.
When Bai Yan heard Liang Jin's words, he laughed again and shook his head repeatedly.
"Zixiao doesn't know where you got the news, but this is ridiculous. It is precisely because of the famine in Zhao that Qin just sent troops to attack Zhao. If Zixiao comes to Zhao to sell grain, wouldn't he be an enemy of Qin!"
After Bai Yan finished speaking, he sighed as if he was mocking himself: "Zixiao is just a commoner. He has no official position or power, and he has no connections. He dare not be an enemy of Qin!"
As Bai Yan's words fell.
Liang Jin and Cai Sui frowned. Just as they were sighing in frustration, Wu Cheng suddenly looked happy.
"It doesn't matter, then I won't disturb Mr. Xu today. I wonder if Mr. Xu has free time these two days? Wu Cheng is hosting a banquet in the Red Pavilion and is waiting for Mr. Xu to go and have a drink!"
Wu Cheng asked Bai Yan with his hands raised, his eyes a little excited.
This appearance made Liang Jin and Cai Sui full of doubts. Nowadays, there are many restaurants in Handan City, but the Red Pavilion is one of the few places with a good reputation.
Drinking and hosting a banquet can cost a lot!
If Wu Cheng wanted to have a private relationship, he would be too generous. Now that restaurant is not full of women, there is no need to go to the Red Pavilion.
"With such kindness, Zixiao should go to the appointment!"
Bai Yan looked at Wu Cheng, cupped his hands and smiled.
Seeing Wu Cheng getting up, Liang Jin and Cai Sui could only get up and say goodbye to Bai Yan.
Outside Xu's shop.
Bai Yan sent Liang Jin and the others out of the gate, said goodbye again, and watched the three people leaving.
"Finally the fish are here!"
Bai Yan said with a smile.
The news of selling grain was that he asked Lu Qi to deliberately reveal it to some "careful" nobles in Yingchuan.
His saying that he would not sell grain was also a little trick. Ordinary nobles would come to inquire and upon hearing his words, they would believe it and leave helplessly.
However, some nobles with important figures behind them came to inquire. Their positions were different, and a deeper meaning could be heard.
This is a simple filter.
Only after passing this screening can we have deeper contact later.
Otherwise, in Zhao State, which is extremely short of food, if we sell food directly, no matter how much food and grass is sold, it will not be enough.
It's like the big fish haven't even arrived yet, but the small fish have already eaten up all the food and grass.
the other side.
"I see!"
"Hiss~!"
On the carriage, Liang Jin and Cai Sui heard what Wu Cheng said, and then they understood and sighed.
"And I am certain that Xu Zixiao is from Qi!"
At this time, Wu Cheng continued to smile and said: "Although Xu Zixiao put away the bamboo slips just now, I was still standing together. I could recognize the neat characters "Qi" on it at a glance. The ink that was used just now is definitely not fake."
"Everyone! Okay, let's go back quickly and tell the others, so we can all contribute to buying food together!"
Liang Jin, Cai Sui nodded and said.
If Xu Zixiao is from Qi, they will naturally feel relieved, and since Qi people are rich, maybe Xu Zixiao can provide a lot of food.
Think of this.
Looking back on the experience, in terms of carefulness, compared to Wu Cheng, they are really ashamed and can only be filled with admiration!