[Caiyun Kingdom] The beginning of people

"Why did you go in again?" I asked with a smile after leading Guan Feixiang and Zhong Jietong out of the prison.

"No, it's some nonsense." Guan Feixiang waved his hand, "Thank you, Zhang."

"It's easy, don't mind." This is the third time this month, and I'm used to having such troublesome friends, "You can't use a little..." I don't want to call them stupid, because their brains are real It's not stupid, but it's not smart to always send yourself to prison... I sighed, "Can't there be a better way to do things?"

"Zhangzhang," Zhong Jietong straightened his clothes, and bowed to me on the street, "Thank you this time, your great kindness, I can't repay you."

How about a promise?I couldn't laugh or cry, let Feixiang help Zhong Shusheng up.

"Let's eat first?" I rushed over to pick them up as soon as I finished my work, and I didn't have time to eat lunch.

"I don't want to go to Dongzhu Tower." Guan Feixiang put his arm on Zhong Jietong's shoulder, "The wine is not good enough, and the food is also tired."

Zhong Jietong said sternly: "Brother Fei Xiang said that, it's embarrassing. She hosted a banquet for us, how can we be more picky? Food is just a foreign thing, friends have a banquet, it doesn't matter if the food is good or bad? It's enough to have a heart."

Guan Feixiang didn't accept his tricks, so he choked directly: "Then don't eat it, just get what you want. Zhang, let's go, I'll take you to find good wine!"

"Yeah! Brother Feixiang's words are not very appropriate. Food and sex are sexual, people eat out of nature, and Xiaosheng is an ordinary person, so he must eat whole grains..."

Also "whole grains", Zhong Jietong, do you want to cultivate immortality?I covered my mouth and kept laughing, "Feixiang, I'm not very interested in wine, I'd better leave you to taste it by yourself." We talked and went to a tavern recommended by Guan Feixiang.

This tavern is located in a narrow alley, and there is only a piece of cloth with the words "deep alley" standing outside the shop to attract it.Could it be that the legendary wine fragrance is not afraid of deep alleys?I looked around and looked around, while raising my hand to let the servants who followed me stay outside for dinner at a nearby restaurant.It is said to be a tavern, but "Alley Deep" is actually a stall.There were three sets of wooden tables and chairs under the simple canopy. An old couple worked together to serve us wine and simple meals.Fei Xiang was chatting and laughing with them, he seemed to be a regular customer.

Zhong Jietong said: "The wines in this store are good and the prices are not expensive. I am ashamed to say that we will come to patronize when we have some spare money."

I hesitated before asking: "Excuse me for being abrupt, but I wonder if brother Jietong's family is struggling..." Out of respect for my friend, I did not send someone to check Zhong Jietong's family background.

Zhong Jietong turned to Guan Feixiang, "I said that Zhang Zhang would not do such trivial things, Brother Fei Xiang, you are treating a gentleman's belly with the heart of a villain."

ah?I looked at Guan Feixiang, and he confessed directly.

"Yeah, I told Ah Zhong that with Ah Zhang's caution, he would definitely investigate us all and find out everything before he would help us. I want him not to worry too much, and let you help us with peace of mind. that is."

"You make me look like a villain." I smiled and picked a dish for him.

"What? It's a compliment, it's a compliment." He threw the dish into his mouth in one bite.

"That's right," Zhong Jietong picked up a piece of meat for both of us, "Zhang Zhang is a gentleman, and he won't act sneaky."

...Except that I didn't investigate Zhong Jietong and Guan Feixiang's life experience, I actually did it after figuring out what they did every time. .Saying that I am a gentleman makes me feel a little embarrassed.I secretly glared at Guan Feixiang, he knew it well, but he didn't say anything, just laughed and raised his head and took another sip of wine.

I frowned.The smell of his wine was so strong that it made me feel sick, and I was in a trance just smelling it and getting drunk.

"Zhang Zhang." Zhong Jietong motioned me to change seats with him, so that I could sit farther away from Guan Feixiang.

"Hey! Are you despising me?" Guan Feixiang yelled.

I thanked Zhong Jietong, and replied with a smile: "I just dislike your alcohol smell, can't you?"

Guan Feixiang was humming to himself, while Zhong Jietong talked about his family background.

"My family is poor, and I only have two acres of lean land in the countryside, which barely supports me and my mother's expenses. Since I passed the state examination at the age of 14, I have failed in the general examination three times in a row. The travel expenses to Beijing and the cost of studying are not enough. It’s cheap, if Chunwei doesn’t win again in the next year, for the sake of the family, he will have to abandon his career as an official and find another way to make a living.” On this point, Zhong Jietong did not stubbornly say that he must take the imperial examination all his life, but knew how to think about his family .

At this time, everything is low-grade, only reading is high. Asking a scholar to give up the imperial examination is more miserable than killing him.I was short of words for a while, didn't know what to say, and secretly scolded myself for asking the wrong words.

Zhong Jietong smiled, and didn't care much, "There is a way to put filial piety first, and Xiaosheng also has to think about his old mother. If you fail the exam, you will be inferior. I am ashamed of my ancestors. If I can't Let my mother have a good life, then I have to hang on the beam." He stood up, rolled up his sleeves, "you use it first, and I will come when I go." Instead, he went to help the tavern owner who was moving things.

Guan Feixiang laughed and said, "If he was the official, wouldn't Ah Zhang have more confidence in this country?" He threw a peanut into his mouth, "Every time you give money to the government to help us, you You don’t say anything, you still laugh, but I know Zhang, you don’t like them. Never once did you think about going to the government for help to reverse the case, and you always found a way to do it in private.”

"What does it matter if I, a common man, have confidence in the country? No matter what people think, when the time comes, what should develop will develop; if the time is not up, no matter how hard you struggle, it will be futile. If you have enough food and warm clothes, you will be satisfied. Hey." I saw that Zhong Jietong's way of lifting things was worse than that of the old man, but it was a disservice and I laughed, "I think it's a good thing that Jietong can't enter the officialdom." Who would have thought that such a good person would do it? Will the officer change in the future?If you don't know how to adapt, maybe you will be eaten again until there is no bone left.

"Wow, you don't object to me taking the imperial examination to become an official. Is this derogatory?"

I pursed my lips and smiled, and said with a smile: "Yeah, you just realized it now?"

"What are you talking about, degrading or not?" Zhong Jietong walked back and sat down, sweating profusely.

I handed him a handkerchief, "It's nothing, Feixiang is just saying that my knowledge is not good, I am not satisfied that he is belittling me."

Guan Feixiang's eyes widened, "It's just that women and villains are hard to raise! The sages are good, I accept his words!"

I turned my head, covered my mouth, and laughed until my shoulders shook.Is this an alternative "Lao Tzu" asking for advice from "Confucius"?

"Brother Feixiang's words are inappropriate, Zhangzhang..." Zhong Jietong seriously refuted Guan Feixiang's words, and dragged Wen to say a lot.

We made an appointment to play together at the next temple fair, and we parted after we had dinner.I took people to the headquarters of the Heizhou All-Commerce Federation.

Today they have a meeting to decide whether to restrict coal exports to other states.As the time has entered November, the weather in Heizhou can already be expected to be colder than usual, and the coal consumption in Heizhou itself is likely to increase.Although reducing coal output will affect the operations of other states, the interests of black states must also be taken into account.Of course, some people say that the output should not be reduced, but the price of coal should be raised as compensation.

For large businesses like coal, the Heizhou All-Commerce Federation will have a unified standard price to reduce vicious competition while maintaining a monopoly.So in this kind of season, all the officers of the Black State All-Commerce Federation need to hold a meeting, and as a newcomer, although I don't have much weight, I have to attend.

"Miss Zelan." Fang Baili, one of the secretaries of the Heizhou All-Commerce Federation and the owner of Dongzhulou, stopped me as soon as I got out of the sedan chair.

"Old Fang." I greeted Yan Tian with a smile as I stepped over the sedan chair with her hand.

"Two days earlier, my grandson finally paid homage to Mr. Lin Mu." Fang Baili came over and walked into the Heizhou Branch of the All-China Chamber of Commerce with me.

"That's really congratulations."

"It's all thanks to Miss Zelan's recommendation! Lord Lin Mu and Lord Li Wenxian are celebrities. Since they became officials, they don't easily see foreigners. The old man asked to see him many times, but he couldn't get it. If it wasn't for Miss Zelan, my grandson wouldn't even You can’t even get in through the mountain gate.”

"Mr. Fang is just joking. I can't say I'm a formal student. How can I say anything? I'm making a point. Of the two adults, Lin Mu is the most arrogant. The young master can worship under him and become a formal student. He has to have the real ability to learn.”

"Hehehehe...Miss Zelan praised him too much. That brat is just naughty, and his mother was worried." Fang Baili blushed with a smile, "But don't say I'm boasting about my family. , this brat is really smart."

I smiled and said, "Of course. The young master is good, but Mr. Fang's requirements are too high."

Fang Baili smiled even wider.

After entering the conference room, Fang Baili said goodbye to me, went to sit in the front seat, and went to talk to other people.I walked to the last seat, greeted Cui Jing, another officer sitting next to me, and sat down.

"Miss Zelan, what do you think of today's topic?" Cui Jing, who is sixty years old, asked with a smile.

"I'm a newcomer, how can I talk nonsense? I'd better listen to what the seniors have to say. I don't know what Boss Cui thinks?"

"Hahaha, I don't have a lot of coal business in my hands. When will I get my opinion? Ms. Zelan is young and blue, so I should say a few more words."

I shook my hand lightly, "Don't dare to do it, don't dare to do it."

I played Tai Chi with him, and we went back and forth on the topic, but neither side told the truth.

"That's right, I don't know what happened to Boss Cui's batch of Dongzhu shipments?"

Cui Jing smiled until she narrowed her eyes, "Oh, there's nothing I can do about it, who told me I was stupid, I was cheated? Dongzhu can't be shipped, and the color will be ruined after a long time, oh, hahaha, be small I paid a fortune."

I nodded, "Yes, the business of pearls is not easy to do. You can only buy if you have a stable source of customers. A few days ago, I saw Officer Luo from Huangzhou come to Dongzhu Tower, and I heard him say that the business of pearls is difficult. .”

"Hehehe, is that right?" Cui Jing raised her teacup and bowed to me, "Come on, come on, Miss Zelan."

I also smiled and held tea in return.

Cui Jing has just entered the wholesale business of Dongzhu, but the buyer ran away when he bought the goods, and a huge sum of pearls was under pressure; Luo Guanshi, the head of the Huangzhou Quanshang Federation, started as a jewelry business, and he was about to exchange it for him. Merchants who supply Dongzhu.The two just hit it off, so I gave Cui Jing a little hint to show him how good he is.This news was all told by my subordinates. In fact, I had never been to Dongzhu Tower two days earlier, but I just said it casually because its name just fit my hint.

We chatted for a while, and then each chatted with other officers.No matter what the purpose of the meeting is, there will be a lot of information to digest and exchange when everyone meets. If someone is not well-informed or will not use the good news, they will miss business opportunities one by one.I have missed a lot, and there will be no place for you in this conference room. Every time I come, I have to work hard.Large-scale businesses strive to take the lead, and sooner or later those who only rely on "time-honored brands" will be replaced with new ones.

Fortunately, the flow of information and property in ancient society was slow. If the pace were faster, I would definitely be tossed to death with a lot of true or false information...

When we, the officials, had finished talking, Tian Gucheng, the president of the Heizhou branch of the All-China Chamber of Commerce, walked in with his hands behind his back.

"President Tian." All of us sitting or standing greeted Tian Gucheng.

"Hello everyone, everyone." Tian Gucheng was about fifty years old, with a strong body and bright eyes.

He is here, and our topic for today has just begun.At the meeting, you said a word and I said a word. The two factions who advocated reducing exports and those who advocated raising coal prices quarreled fiercely. I respectfully accompanied the last seat and said nothing.

"Reduce exports, and the price will naturally increase because rare things are more expensive. Why are you so stubborn?"

"Hey! I would like to ask, after raising the price of coal, won't there be fewer people buying it? I don't know why you don't want to let go?"

"It's cold this year, even if you raise the price of coal, it doesn't guarantee that fewer people will buy it. If the supply in the Black State ends up being insufficient, we will be blamed by the Black family alone. Dude, take the opportunity to make money, I think You have to pay attention to the limits."

"It's the same reason. It's cold, and we can't predict how much the outside price will rise when we reduce exports. If other states hold grudges or offend our partners, I don't think it's good. Come on, Zelan Miss, do you think so?"

Seeing that I am a newcomer and dare not refute your words, you want to pull me into the head?I put down the teacup in my hand, took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of my lips, and said with a smile, "I think the public is right when you say it, and the woman who says it is right."

"Miss Zelan, this business is not like a woman buying silk, you have to be able to think about it."

I still smiled, "Look, this black state, the outside world, and our profits all have to be taken into account at the same time. After all, isn't it a balance? Find a balance among them."

"It's easy for you to say. It's a little girl after all. It's a little easier to look at things. Apart from people's livelihood, our Heizhou industry already consumes a lot of coal. If we are not careful, it will affect other industries. "

I didn't want to say anything at first, but I suddenly remembered the matter of the Zhoumufu Copper Mine, and immediately decided to suppress the amount of coal in Heizhou, so I thought quickly, and said: "Actually, I think it's better not to reduce the export. The situation in Heizhou, do you think outsiders don’t know about it? I think the first few batches will be priced up as soon as they are shipped out. When the price goes up, it’s also made by outsiders, and has nothing to do with us in Heizhou. No, the partner can’t blame us. After the price goes up, we will raise the selling price according to the market price for the next batch of loans, which is only natural.”

"Using the market and news to secretly raise prices in batches?" President Tian Gucheng held up the teacup and flicked the tea leaves floating on the water with the lid, "Go on."

I nodded to Tian Gucheng, "When it comes to consumption, as long as we ensure the supply of coal for private use and suppress the increase in the price of coal for private use, black people, the government and the private sector will not say anything."

"Miss Zelan, it's not good to give random opinions." An officer with many coal-consuming industries under his banner retorted, "If you don't reduce exports and ensure civilian use, you mean to sacrifice coal for other industries? If there is no industry, I would rather Let’s see how many people will lose their jobs, and I’m afraid it will affect the livelihood of the people in Heizhou in the end.”

I looked at him, "The total quantity is low, so please follow the price rules to compete. The one with the highest price wins, and the one who can afford the price will always get enough quantity. If the price in Heizhou is high enough, it will naturally be able to sell the coal This will indeed increase the operating costs of other industries," my smile widened, "but the cold weather is the time for coal merchants to make money, and we can't prevent coal merchants from making money just to let others make money the way?"

Some officials involved in the coal industry will automatically join the team without me telling them.

Someone retorted, "Miss Zelan, are you going to see employees in other industries lose their jobs?"

I raised my eyebrows a little, "Is the coal merchant's responsibility for my poor management?" I couldn't let him put the blame on me. To the sky? This industry does not need so many manpower, and the manpower will flow to other industries. This is the normal economic situation. It is true that we have to take care of the jobs of our people, but I don’t think this should include that they have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of their lives?” I laughed, "We don't dare to say that we will have a good business all our lives. Doing business is not about opening a charitable hall. I really have to pity them. How about giving them money to settle them down? But after all, the reason is still someone. They can’t put the blame on the All-China Chamber of Commerce for firing workers to save their own costs.”

In the end, the matter was finally settled. It is foreseeable that the price of industrial coal in Heizhou will rise in the future, and the industries that consume coal will therefore need to invest more funds.These industries, of course, also include the copper mining industry that requires smelting.The State Shepherd’s Mansion urgently needs money for the copper mine they opened privately, and they want to force me to marry the Prefect Xiao’s family so that they can take away Zhang’s money. Now that I raise the price of coal, the State Shepherd’s Mansion will be even more anxious Even if something happened to the magistrate Xiao Jin last time, they will definitely contact me again in the near future as they are in a hurry and have no other choice.

That's the time for me to follow the appointment and explore the location of the private mine in Zhoumu again.

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