The same backyard, the same courtyard water pavilion, a young man with an ordinary appearance but extraordinary temperament, with wet long hair spread on his back, and a loose Confucian shirt, the breeze blew by, everything looked extra special
It comes out of dust and has charm.
The young man was naturally Zhu Kui, but his mood was not as peaceful and beautiful as the scenery around him. Instead, he was embarrassed. It turned out that he had already become a soft-boiled boy and a door-to-door son-in-law among the townsfolk in the city.
This made him sigh slightly in his heart, and he was about to explain it to Zhao Ying'er out loud.
However, before he could explain himself, Shu Shu'er spoke up to help him: "Sister Ying'er misunderstood, the money is actually Brother Zhu's own." Then Shu Shu'er leaned into Zhao Ying'er's ear and whispered for a while.
.
Zhu Kui didn't know what the two of them were talking about just now. During this time, the two of them had met several times before, and they always had a strong atmosphere. They didn't say a word. Now, they started to treat each other like sisters.
Wang Cheng led Zhu Kui to dig up Yan Baihu's private wealth and transport it back to Tianxia Villa. He did not hide all this from Kaohsiung. Kaohsiung naturally revealed some of it to his children in private, so she only knew the details.
Seeing Zhao Ying'er looking at him in shock and disbelief, Zhu Kui nodded, acknowledged Shu Shu'er's words, and said, "I am fortunate to have received a windfall, and I hope Ying'er will not spread the word."
"I know this."
"Yingcai Ying'er mentioned the shop just now. I didn't expect that I hid behind it and asked Wang Zhong to do things for me. Your Zhao family found out about this." When Zhu Kui heard that Zhao Ying'er actually knew about his purchase of a shop in the city, he
Knowing that he had entrusted Wang Zhong to do business for him, he was found out.
"It seems that now that I'm gone, your spies have become much more knowledgeable."
"Actually, it was just a coincidence. Manager Li went to the salt farm to purchase goods and happened to see you two together."
At Zhu Kui's praise, Zhao Ying'er covered her mouth with a smile and explained: "Brother Kui, don't worry, my father has asked Li to take care of him and not to let anyone know about it. I know you have deep intentions, so you should have great development."
Zhu Kui suddenly realized that when making a living in the Yangtze River area, salt profit was the first among all merchants. Including the four major families in Jiangdong, other large and small business houses were more or less involved in the salt business as long as they had the ability.
As for Wang Zhong, who is unknown and has nothing to do, it is simply delusional to want to intervene in the salt business. He has to do this in person and use his identity and current reputation to negotiate with people. Only then can he have the opportunity to intervene in the salt business.
goods business.
The practice of salt monopoly in ancient China began as early as the Spring and Autumn Period in the State of Qi. Guan Zhong during the reign of Duke Huan of Qi is considered the founder of China's salt monopoly policy.
In the fourth year of Yuanshou, Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, in 119 BC, the imperial court officially issued an order that "salt will be divided into official and private parts." Official sales of salt were implemented, and private cooking was strictly prohibited. Until the Republic of China, the government still cracked down on private sales.
Salt.
"Brother Kui, I heard that you bought the store in the north of the city to sell sedan chairs, but tell me about the sedan chair in "The Marriage of the Water Dragon King"?"
Manager Li sent news that many carpenters had joined the shop and were working day and night. For the past two days, she had been thinking: "How to make profits from the sedan chair."
"Since you mentioned it, let's talk about it first. Originally, I would go to the house to discuss with your father some other time."
Zhu Kui took the wine jug and poured a glass for himself and each of them.
"please."
"I would like to ask your father to do a favor and give him a big sedan for four people. The bearer will also give it to you at the same time. I hope your father will go out on the street every day and travel in the sedan to spread the word for me. In fact, I gave Shu Shu'er
My father, as well as my acquaintances with high-ranking officials and wealthy friends, also gave me one. I just hope that a trend can be formed in Danyang, Wujun, and Lujiang in a short period of time, and then..."
"Then by being the first to lead this trend, you can make a fortune first. Even if the latecomers imitate, the pot will already be full, right?"...
Zhao Ying'er took over his words.
"Ying'er really knows my heart." Zhu Kui smiled and drank it all in one gulp. "Ying'er is here today only for this matter?"
"I miss you!" Zhao Ying'er naturally just thought about this in her heart. She had been educated in etiquette, and she did not dare to say disgusting words to express love in public. This should be the so-called boudoir education in post-modern times.
Zhao Ying'er blushed suddenly on her face and gave Zhu Kui a flirtatious look. She tried to calm down and said business: "I heard that Brother Kui also went to the Lianghuai Salt Farm. I know that you are also involved in the private salt matter. I want to hear what your plans are.
?”
"Oh, your father also sells private salt?" Zhu Kui was a little surprised. As soon as Zhao Ying'er said this, he understood a lot. Zhao Bancheng also secretly ran some private salt business, otherwise there would be no stewards going to the salt field and still
It happened to meet him. It seems that Zhao Bancheng still kept a secret. After all these years in his Zhao family, there are still some secrets that he has never been exposed to.
"Of course." Zhao Ying'er admitted with an embarrassed look. Zhao Ying'er had long known about the illegal sale of salt, but his father, Zhao Bancheng, had strictly ordered not to reveal anything about it to Zhu Kui.
So at this moment, she felt a little sorry in her heart. She said in a mosquito voice: "Actually, it's just a small scale. We don't have our own salt farm. Through the relationship with my sister's Lujiang Zhou family, we can buy salt at a low price, and the quantity is not a lot.
We only have a few stores in the Central Plains, so we sell some in Yuzhou to earn the price difference."
Zhu Kui nodded after hearing this, but did not pay attention to the fact that the Zhao family concealed the secret sale of salt from him and continued to talk about their opinions.
"Last time Wang Zhong and I visited the Gu family. We also looked at their salt fields in the Lianghuai area and the salt fields in Guangling County, and traded fifty of them."
"Brother Kui, how did you buy fifty salt fields? They are worth the price of gold and silver."
Zhao Ying'er was so shocked that she whispered the word "O". One salt field can earn more than 200,000 yuan a year, and fifty salt fields can generate an income of 10 million yuan. Add to that the wealth accumulated year after year, and the wealth is gold and silver.
Not an exaggerated adjective.
There are four major aristocratic families in Jiangdong: Lu, Zhang, Gu, and Zhu. Generations of people from these four families have entered the court as officials, ranging from minor officials to prefects. The previous generation of the Gu family, Gu Feng, was appointed as the prefect of Yingchuan and was Gu Yong's grandfather.
Most aristocratic families sell private salt, but among them the Gu family is the most popular.
"Does Ying'er know how this salt is made?" Zhu Kui suddenly asked.
"Ying'er has never been to the salt field abroad, but she doesn't know." Zhao Ying'er stared in surprise, as if she was asking for advice humbly. Naturally, she usually only reads famous Confucian classics, or books on business, farm work, salt work, carpentry, etc.
I haven't had any contact with it at all.
"I know." Shu Shu'er suddenly spoke, and both of them looked at her, "Shu Shu'er also went to the salt field with her father before. The paddy fields were filled with sea water and left to dry in the sun."
Zhu Kui nodded and said, "Shu Shu'er only talked about the general situation. In fact, there is a lot of knowledge in making salt."
Seeing that the two of them looked confused, he had no choice but to continue: "This salt production can be divided into five steps: passing the basket, blending, storing brine, crystallizing, and taking the salt. The five steps are to "cultivate the border and water the sun."
The production method is to first cultivate the land into a border and artificially dry the salt; then there is a secret in the drying process, which is to mix fresh water with the brine, which can improve the quality of the salt; at the same time, it speeds up the speed of salt formation, which usually only takes five or six times.
It can be made into salt in just one day."
"This five-step salt production method can produce salt twice as fast as the current decoction method."
Zhu Kui finished speaking in one breath, and the two of them were still at a loss. However, Zhao Ying'er heard something. The salt formation speed was doubled, and the profit would be doubled several times.
"Brother Kui, you used this method to exchange salt fields with the Gu family. This is a loss-making transaction." Zhao Ying'er had an idea and thought of something, but she asked in confusion...
Zhu Kui also understands the point of losing money. It's like ten yuan and one hundred yuan. After a lot of hard work, ten yuan and one hundred yuan have doubled ten times. You have earned ninety, and others have earned nine hundred.
.
"Ying'er really doesn't know?"
Zhao Ying'er understands, but she is unwilling to accept such a deal for a while. There is collusion between government and businessmen, collusion between government and businessmen. The four major aristocratic families are the largest government-business groups in this area. Private salt is a hugely profitable industry. How can you gain trust without paying any price?
Benefit.
"Brother Kui is willing to cooperate with Ying'er to specialize in selling your fifty-fifty salt farm to the Central Plains and Yuzhou. Zhao's Trading Company already has a trade route there.
"Let's divide it into six or four, you six and I four, okay?" Zhao Ying'er looked at him with a look of amazement.
"Then let's calculate it like this. There is no need to argue so clearly between us." Zhu Kui agreed without actually calculating the details of whether it was four or six points, whether it was five or five points, and so on.
"Ying'er would like to thank brother Kui on behalf of my father. Ying'er would like to toast you. I hope we will make more money and have a happy cooperation."
After the two discussed some details of cooperation, Zhao Yinger asked again: "Brother Kui, you are building a villa here, why are you here?"
"It's for training the escort agency." He explained the concept of the escort agency.
Speaking of this, he thought about it again and asked Shu Shu'er: "Has Gao Yi returned from visiting his former colleagues with your father's letters?"
"There is no news yet. Don't worry. Uncle Yi has been with his father for many years. He has many contacts with the heads of the family. There will be no problem. He should be back in the next two days." Shu Shu'er said confidently. Gao Yi was sent by Zhu Kui.
Go out and say hello to the scattered gangs of bandits on land and water, and make final preparations for the escort agency.
Looking at Zhu Kui's smiling face and holding his pearls of wisdom, Zhao Ying'er thought to herself: "My father is too worried. He is wary and friendly at the same time. Seeing how Brother Kui is making bold moves and spending money one by one, this idea, this
The ideas are unprecedented, and it seems that within a few years, his wealth will exceed what his father has accumulated in decades."
"In the end, Brother Kui may not be interested in my Zhao family's property. Go back and have a good talk with my father. Don't have any intention of being against me, otherwise it will be really difficult for me to get involved with them."
It was now afternoon time, and the three of them had eaten and chatted for a while. For Zhu Kui, the best thing was that although Shu Shu'er and Zhao Ying'er had not become close friends, they were no longer hostile to each other.