Go back to ancient times to engage in sideline business

The sky is getting brighter and brighter, and more and more people are gathering in the square.

Compared with the people who came late to watch the excitement, the merchants from other places entered the venue early and lingered in front of several rows of booths.

Some merchants got the news late, and stayed in the outskirts of the city the night before, and only rushed into the city at noon.

Hearing what credentials are needed to enter the fair, several merchants showed embarrassment to each other and hesitated at the entrance.

"Excuse me, sir, I don't have a proof of entry, where should I go?"

Tang Zhong picked up a small horse from nowhere, sat down to rest for a while, then stood up and greeted him: "It's okay! Just show the guide!"

The merchants felt relieved, and took out the road citation documents they carried with them: "It turned out to be a false alarm. I just heard from the official at the gate of the city that I must need an admission ticket. I almost thought that this time I will need a ticket." What a waste of time."

"The time and place of the fair are written on the admission ticket, in case some merchants miss the time, it doesn't matter if there is none."

Tang Zhong checked the passers-by one by one, invited them to enter, and then looked back at the city gate.

I saw Mr. Xie standing under the city gate, showing the swiss army knife hanging on his waist to the people around him.

Dare he be talking nonsense there!

Like most of the merchants who entered the fair, Mr. Xie came here for the nail clippers at first, but unexpectedly he was attracted by other products.

After finalizing the orders for nail clippers and Swiss army knives, he happily ordered jars of good wine and some kippers.

Come all the way, the good things have to be shipped back together.

Right now, Mr. Xie is hiring coolies to move the goods at the venue, taking the few spot goods at the fair first and pulling them back to Yongning Mansion earlier, so as not to be caught by others first.

Tang Zhong turned his head to the other side again. At this time, the venue was already full of voices. All the merchants in the city entered the venue, shouting one after another.

When planning the exhibition in the early stage, he and the servants knocked on the door to notify, and checked the products that each merchant was going to exhibit one by one.

For powerful merchants, such as silk and satin shops and cloth shops that have always had a good business, Tang Zhong suggested that they display a few classic best-selling models, and use powerful discounts to make a name for foreign merchants.

As for merchants with slightly weaker competitiveness, such as several small-scale wineries and pastry shops, he helped to come up with some novel marketing concepts.

Such as brewing wine from mountain springs, stuffing with spring flowers, and a refreshing taste of elegance can also attract a lot of popularity.

In addition, Tang Zhong also promoted the concept of tasting, drinking, and trial to various merchants, and moved the promotional methods of later generations of big supermarkets to this era.

It's not in vain for him to ramble before and after the past few days. The lively scene now is finally worthy of his hard work.

"It's ok, brother! The arrangements are well-arranged!"

Hu Touer had nothing to do, sitting on the tower in a deserted place, and simply wandered down to join in the fun.

"I've been busy all morning, and I haven't eaten the steamed buns I brought you. Go upstairs and eat something before talking. I'll take care of you here!"

He couldn't take care of it when he was busy, but now when Hu Touer said it, Tang Zhong's stomach grunted very cooperatively.

Really hungry.

"It's time for a boss, I'll come as soon as I go."

"What's the matter, we are brothers!" Hu Bingyi patted his chest righteously: "Fuck you!"

At the critical moment, you are still reliable...

Tang Zhong went up to the tower quickly, picked up the warm tea on the outside table, poured two cups into his belly, then grabbed a cold steamed bun left on the plate, smashed it into small pieces, and stuffed it into his mouth.

The outer door and the inner window were open, and the warm spring breeze passed through the hall, bringing the noise from the square into the house.

In a trance, I really feel like I am in a busy city.

But gradually, the voice outside became a little weird.In the humming sound, there seemed to be mixed with sharp curses.

Before he had time to stuff the remaining half of the steamed bun into his belly, Tang Zhong rushed out the door immediately.

Standing by the parapet of the city wall, he could see clearly from a high position.I saw that the open space in row five or six of the trade fair was already full of people, a man and two women were arguing and arguing constantly.

Take a closer look, the guy in the middle seems to be...

Beard!

"Isn't it just by seducing men to grab business? Do you really think your candied fruit is good? Don't think that you can put your nose on the face just because of your good looks!"

It was Granny Yu, the proprietress of Yuji Dried Fruit Shop, who started the scolding. She was about sixty years old, and she was not at all convincing when she scolded people.The business did not sell a few orders in the morning, and now there are some that can't be exhausted.

The business in the shop is usually pretty good, but when it came to the fair, it was so sloppy.In her opinion, it was all thanks to Mrs. Cui at the booth next door.

This little lady is so shameless, in order to sell her own crappy goods, she does not hesitate to use tricks to attract business from men.

With a delicate and soft voice, he started shouting from a long distance away, calling out the souls of passing merchants.

"Bah, I can't stand your tone of pretending to be weak the most. Who are you showing off to?"

Speaking of getting angry, Grandma Yu couldn't help but slap the other party.

Coincidentally, Mrs. Cui, who was scolded, seemed weak and wronged, but she was not a fuel-efficient lamp.

As soon as Grandma Yu's hand touched her shoulder, she threw herself forward with all her strength, laying down on the ground and crying miserably.

"Beating people! Granny Yu is bullying the market and beating people! Is there any law of heaven and kings!"

Hu Touer, who was watching the venue, rushed over and broke into the crowd of onlookers, "Who is making trouble at the venue? Everyone get up!"

After seeing clearly that it was the dispute between the two women, he didn't think too much, and immediately decided to pull them away first, so as not to delay other people's business negotiations.

Seeing Hu Touer approaching, Mrs. Cui, who was lying on the ground, took two steps, hugged his left leg, and began to cry and appeal for grievances.

"I beg the poor master to be the master. The women do business in a proper manner, but they are envied and hated for no reason. They are bullied by this woman so badly!"

Hu Tou'er is a reckless and rough man, who didn't expect that Mrs. Cui could be leaning on his lap like a pendant, so he subconsciously pushed it hurriedly, but felt inappropriate when he stretched out his hand, for fear of causing trouble.

"Quickly let go! Talk about something, let go!" As a married man, if his wife finds out, how will he explain it when he returns home!

Grandma Yu didn't want to let Mrs. Cui sell miserably, so she quickly walked two steps forward, and without giving in, she also grabbed Hu Tou'er's right arm: "I know her ways of doing business very well. The county government is also reasonable! I am not afraid of the shadows slanting, but I want to see how you two hook up!"

Hu Tou'er looked astonished: "You can eat shit and talk nonsense! Who the hell is hooking up?"

Mrs. Cui raised her head, crying like pear blossoms and rain: "Master, have you seen it? That's how women are slandered by her, take this old bastard away!"

Hu Tou'er gritted his teeth: "You don't even need to say a few damn words!"

When Tang Zhong and the patrolling guards rushed over, the circle of onlookers was getting bigger and bigger. Few businesses in the whole venue were doing business seriously, and they all stretched their necks to watch the excitement.

"It's gone, it's all gone! What's so interesting, I haven't seen a fight!"

Tang Zhong yelled twice, but it didn't help much, so he asked the guards to help evacuate the crowd, and he quickly got into the crowd to solve the fundamental problem.

"Hey, there's another one! Sir, you came just in time, please judge quickly, someone seduces a man at a trade fair, shouldn't he be kicked out?"

"Grandma Yu is talking nonsense, it's clear that you are playing tricks!"

The two women did not intend to truce, they were still full of energy across the human wall of Hu Bingyi, and it seemed that they could fight another [-] rounds.

Poor Hu Touer couldn't get away from the left and right, so he stomped on the spot in a hurry.

Tang Zhong didn't have the time to figure out what was right and what was wrong, he just wanted to quickly restore order in the venue.So he took a few steps forward and put on a serious official air: "It is necessary to inform you two that the first rule of the fair's participation rules is that if you maliciously disrupt the transaction order and affect the atmosphere of the venue, we will immediately expel you from the venue. Then give me the qualification to participate in the exhibition.”

"What? Obviously she was the first..."

"The woman is wronged, she is innocent..."

Without waiting for the two to defend, Tang Zhong continued to deal with business: "I think you are the first offenders, and you will not be expelled for the time being. If you don't rein in the precipice in time and continue to cause trouble, don't blame me for being rude!"

After some threats, Grandma Yu and Mrs. Cui were so frightened that they both shut their mouths and let go of their hands.

As if relieved from a heavy burden, Hu Tou'er quickly distanced himself from the two of them and hid behind Tang Zhong.

"Damn, it's even harder to deal with than that tigress in my family!" He patted his chest like the rest of his life, and asked in a low voice: "By the way, what are the rules for participating in the meeting? Where do you write them? If I had known, I would have memorized them in advance." A few, it’s also good to scare them.”

"I just made it up now, and it will be written on the sign tomorrow."

Hu Touer: ...

After a while, the onlookers dispersed, and the sound of shouting and bargaining gradually sounded in the venue.

Grandma Yu and Mrs. Cui looked at each other disgustedly, and they both went back to the stall.

Due to the current situation, the two of them couldn't say anything more, but in each other's hearts, this matter will never end!

The two-day fair ended successfully, and most merchants signed orders with foreign merchants as they wished, which broadened the market for their products.

Like a student waiting for his master to check his homework, Tang Zhong was returning to Liu Tongzhi in the side hall of the county government's backyard.

This side hall is exactly where Linzhi County interrogated him for colluding with businessmen more than half a month ago.

Unexpectedly, after a few days of absence, the furnishings in the hall have been greatly changed.

The rare curios on the antique shelves on both sides were removed and replaced with full books.

The set of chairs facing the door was also gone, replaced by a large table case and several boxes of volumes stacked against the wall.

At this time, Mr. Liu Tongzhi was burying his head in the sea of ​​literature on the table, carefully reading through the summary of the trade fair handed over by Tang Zhong.

"Well, it's really well done."

Mr. Liu had been carefully reading the last line of data before he raised his head and praised: "In two days, five orders of 410 were completed, and the transaction was 730 five taels. It's really amazing!"

Tang Zhong was not humble either, and generously received Liu Tongzhi's praise: "It's a good luck for my subordinates to live up to their fate! From now on, a trade fair will be held on the first two days of every month. If things go on like this steadily, Qingjiang's business will gradually become prosperous. "

In this way, he can be regarded as having completed the task, worthy of Master Liu's entrustment in prison that day.

Thinking that Liu Tongzhi still had other business to be busy with, Tang Zhong felt that since he was on business, he couldn't delay any longer, so he said goodbye: "This subordinate still has something to do at Dongcheng Gate, so first..."

"Wait a minute!"

Liu Tongzhi put down the summary, picked up another notebook at hand, and handed it over to him: "This is the newly-appointed Chief Detective Zhou, and you have a look at the registered conflicts in the city."

Under Liu Tongzhi's slightly raised cheekbones, he didn't keep much of a smile, but there was a little sadness between his brows.

Tang Zhong couldn't help wondering why, as a city gate guard, he was looking at other people's arresting workbooks.

On the opened page, there are detailed records of five incidents of brawls that occurred in various parts of the city during the fair.

Some made a private appointment on the river beach, some openly fought with hoes in the street, and even some couldn't fight and made a scene in the court, asking Mr. Liu to uphold justice.

It wasn't until he saw the word "merchant" written in Yishui's last identity registration column that he realized it.

"How dare these people go out to fight and make trouble because they don't do business at the fair?"

Master Liu raised his eyebrows disapprovingly, and corrected: "It should be said that they care too much about the business at the venue, so they fight and make trouble."

Tang Zhong rephrased the words: "My lord is saying that we set up a trade fair to make the competition among merchants more intense?"

"That's right, Zhou Butou reported back that both parties in the fight are business colleagues. Not everyone has a long-term vision. Some people focus on the small profits in front of them. For a merchant, a single business, they will have feelings for their colleagues. hostility."

Liu Tongzhi paused, and the worry in his eyes became more intense: "In the future, the fair will be held every month. If such signs are not restrained, there may be trouble."

Speaking of which, the conflict between Grandma Yu and Mrs. Cui the day before yesterday was not an exception, and Tang Zhong never considered it.

From a personal point of view, I thought there was nothing wrong with saying that colleagues are enemies.

But now, from the standpoint of Mr. Liu's manager, if the merchants in the city can't help each other and continue to develop, the so-called business boom will become a tug-of-war against each other.

"It seems that it is necessary to pay attention to the operating conditions of the merchants in normal times, so that they can reduce internal friction and focus on serious business."

"That's right, you have to practice virtue diligently, so as not to be rich and unkind in the future. Tang Zhong, it's rare for you to think of a meeting with this official! Since you have the heart, I will leave this matter to you. If there is a shortage of manpower , even if you come to the Yamen to ask for someone."

Tang Zhong?

"Okay, didn't you just say that you still have an errand? Hurry up and go!"

Seeing Liu Tongzhi sinking his head down again and continuing to clean up the mess left behind by the former county magistrate, Tang Zhong silently put the notebook back, saluted and exited the side hall.

The cool breeze blowing across the forehead made the whole person refreshed a lot.

Only then did he belatedly realize that those words just now seemed to be guided by Mr. Liu in a roundabout way!

This Mr. Liu Ruocun's style of doing things corresponds to the word Ruocun in his name, "Long as long as it is, use it infrequently", cut leeks one crop after another, and arrange errands one after another.

I am as busy as a top, and I don't forget to cheat people to work.

When meeting such a parental official, the common people have found a treasure. Pity a small official like him. I am afraid that he will be too busy to run away in the future!

Eh!

Grain Rain has just passed, and there is already a hint of summer heat in the air.After doing a little work, the forehead will be covered with a thin layer of sweat.

Even so, it couldn't stop the enthusiasm of most merchants in Qingjiang County to rush orders.

Only the restaurant and guest house on Baima West Street, because they did not participate in the fair, still took care of their daily business step by step.

Shopkeeper Liu came out of the house in a leisurely manner. As soon as he stepped into his restaurant, two servants came to the door.

"Excuse me, is this shopkeeper Liu? Please fill out this questionnaire to waste some time."

The guard who spoke was still young, and he had just been on the job for a few days, and he finished his speech like beans poured out of a bamboo tube. Shopkeeper Liu was stunned, and took two pages of paper in a daze, unable to understand a single word.

Fortunately, the person behind him seems to have some working experience: "Didn't Mr. Tang say that? You need to explain the reason clearly before asking everyone to fill out the questionnaire."

"Hey, I forgot about it as soon as I left the yamen!"

The young guard scratched the back of his head, turned his head, and said to Shopkeeper Liu again: "This is a job assigned by the Yamen. I want to understand the current business difficulties of various merchants and their opinions on the previous fair. There are twenty on the paper. Questions, please feel free to fill in the shopkeeper, these are all anonymous."

Shopkeeper Liu was still in a daze.

What is a questionnaire?Simply unheard of.

Although the officials in the county have changed a lot from top to bottom, who knows if they have changed the soup but not the medicine, or are they still the same as before?

He has been in prison, and he was afraid that something would happen to him somehow, so he seized the opportunity between the lines to resist instinctively: "I... I didn't participate in the trade fair? This matter has nothing to do with me!"

After speaking, he quickly stuffed the paper back in his hand, eager to get rid of trouble.

The young guard looked back hesitantly, seeing the encouraging eyes of his partner, regained his confidence, and organized his words: "This is the county government who specially considers the merchants and wants to put themselves in your shoes to help you solve business problems. The restaurant is indeed It’s inconvenient to participate in the trade fair, so why don’t you join the Qingjiang Chamber of Commerce in the future? Mr. Tang said that these issues are all prepared for the Chamber of Commerce.”

Shopkeeper Liu keenly grasped the key point in the last sentence: "The Tang you just mentioned...could it be?"

"Tang Zhong of the East Gate."

Various affairs in Qingjiang County are gradually getting on the right track.However, the governor's yamen, hundreds of miles away, is still revolving around the old case.

The Governor lowered his eyebrows and held his forehead, and took another look at the coffin merchant kneeling in front of him: "So you really designed the donkey-driven boat yourself?"

"If the villain tells even half a lie, he will be struck by lightning, and he will not end well!" Chen Yuanbao swore, straightened his back and swore firmly.

He has been in the governor's yamen for several days, and his injuries have long since healed. Now, as an important witness in Lin Yue's case, he is under strict surveillance.

In the past few days, he has heard from nowhere that the governor is looking for the person who designed the donkey-driven boat.

Thinking of Linzhi County's dedication of the ship before, he almost got promoted as he wished, if he recognized the credit for the invention, wouldn't he also be rewarded by the court?

Therefore, Chen Yuanbao asked the guard in custody to bring a message, and asked to see the governor again.

The governor thought for a while, as if he was dispelling the last hesitation. After a while, he stood up and helped Chen Yuanbao up himself, and his tone was much gentler: "I never thought that shopkeeper Chen would have such skills."

"It's just a trivial trick, not worth mentioning."

Chen Yuanbao thought he had passed the test by fooling around, and was secretly happy, only to hear the governor continue to say: "If so, then you can let them go!"