Go back to ancient times to engage in sideline business

As the servants who collected questionnaires from door to door said, the establishment of the Qingjiang Chamber of Commerce was exactly what Tang Zhong came up with to solve the vicious competition and internal friction among merchants.

Right now, merchants in the county are competing for business, just like when students in the class compete for rankings in later generations.

It is normal for students with similar rankings to compare with each other.People who are short-sighted often think that as long as they suppress the opponent, they can make progress.

As everyone knows, jumping out of the class, jumping out of the region, such behavior is futile, and it is useless to be a villain.

The existence of the Chamber of Commerce is to open the window for the merchants to see the outside world.Use various rules and various incentives to teach them to use a long-term perspective to expand a larger business territory.

After repeatedly scrutinizing and discussing the details, Liu Tongzhi generously allocated money from the county yamen's account to rent a courtyard next to the yamen as the office of the Qingjiang Chamber of Commerce.

This is a secondary yard. Tang Zhong took the four servants lent to him by Liu Tongzhi temporarily, and rearranged the inside and outside, ready to be officially used today.

"Boss Tang, the tables and chairs have been wiped clean, if you have any errands, just ask."

Jiang He, who had just become a servant for a few days, was also one of the four servants assigned to Tang Zhong.

The young man is only a few months younger than Tang Zhong, but he is really hardworking.I just wiped the tables, chairs and benches in the inner and outer yards, the sweat on my forehead was not dry, and I came here to ask for errands with a smile, full of energy, and I didn't feel tired at all.

Tang Zhong looked left and right, except for the last step of listing, everything else was almost tidied up.

The other three servants had already received their tasks and went to the street to invite various merchants to come to discuss matters, and it was estimated that someone would come soon.

"Otherwise, help me bring the ladder over here!"

"Alright! Head Tang!"

Jiang He yelled "Tang Touer" one after another, which made Tang Zhong very happy.Obviously, he didn't get a promotion and a monthly salary, but he was only temporarily leading four servants to work.But every time I hear this title, I still have the illusion of being a leader.

Tang Zhong took out a long plaque from the house, and directed Jiang He to stand the ladder on the left wall of the gate, and climbed up the ladder briskly, holding the plaque with one hand, and driving nails up with a wooden hammer in the other.

"Huh? This plaque must be done wrong, right? How can it be written vertically?" Jiang He held the end of the plaque with a puzzled look on his face.

"That's right!" Tang Zhong still picked up the small hammer and struck violently, without hesitation at all.

"You don't know, in my hometown, those associations and chambers of commerce committees are all erected signs."

The clerk turned his head, half-believingly, and scanned the plaque again, with black characters on a white background, "Qingjiang County Business Association", even the name is so strange.

In less than a cup of tea, the first batch of notified merchants arrived.

Like Jiang He, each of them was puzzled by the plaque hanging vertically at the door when they entered.

But as soon as he entered the courtyard and saw more strange furnishings inside and outside the courtyard, the doubts he had just now were immediately thrown to the back of his mind.

"Look at the door over there, it says law education room, what does that mean?"

"What is the training room? What is the arbitration room?"

"Oh, who knows! I'll find a chance to inquire later."

Not long after, many people were already standing in the yard.

Many of them made a lot of money at the previous fairs.So when Tang Zhong sent someone to invite them to discuss matters, they readily agreed.

Grandma Yu and Mrs. Cui, who were tearing their faces apart in public at the fair, are also here this time.

The two looked at each other across the crowd, and rolled their eyes at the same time.

It was estimated that they were almost all here, and all shopkeepers were invited into a hall with a "meeting room" sign.

The long table in the hall was more than two feet long, and the benches were filled to the brim, and many people kept clicking their tongues.

Those who knew it was here to discuss matters, but those who didn't know it thought it was a long seat at the head of the village!

"Everyone, please sit down!" Tang Zhong stood at the head of the long table and made a gesture of invitation.

After the shopkeepers sat down nearby in coordination, more than twenty pairs of confused eyes swept over, Tang Zhong unconsciously pursed his lower lip, and took out a stack of papers from his arms.

Fortunately, the manuscript was prepared in advance!

According to the questionnaires collected before, Tang Zhong had a comprehensive understanding of the plight of the merchants in the county's daily operations.

To this end, he set up a series of regulations and incentives for the chamber of commerce, all of which were written into the manuscript in hand.

"Dear guests, lovely bosses, boss ladies, welcome to the first round of mobilization meeting of the Chamber of Commerce in Qingjiang County! In the spirit of unity and win-win cooperation..."

There are many large and small merchants in the county seat, and Tang Zhong arranged the order of their meetings in batches. This time, all the shopkeepers of cloth, wine, and dried fruit and snacks came here.

In order to explain to everyone the purpose and function of the establishment of the chamber of commerce, Tang Zhong wrote a ten-page manuscript with great care.

However, after all, a meeting is no more than singing a big show. There are no wonderful chanting and passionate gongs and drums. Many shopkeepers listened to it and started yawning unconsciously.

Jiang He, the guard standing at the door, looked at the drowsy old and young people present, and then looked at Tang Zhong, who was still reading the manuscript, and couldn't help feeling sympathetic.

After spending so much effort, but few people can listen to it, why bother?

After touching a stick of incense, Tang Zhong finally read the last sentence dryly: "In summary, the Chamber of Commerce is a big family. I hope everyone can get rid of prejudices and actively participate. Alright, now I will ask everyone If you agree to join the Qingjiang Chamber of Commerce, please raise your hand!"

After finishing speaking, Tang Zhong finally closed the manuscript with a sigh of relief, raised his head, and looked at the participants.

Jiang He shook his head and sighed, with a look of helplessness on his face.

In all fairness, those words that Mr. Tang read just now include voluntary legal lectures, regular staff training, hiring experts from outside to give lectures, and setting up branches in other provinces to provide angel investment...

It was the first time he had heard some words and phrases, and he had no idea what they meant.

As for all the shopkeepers here, few of them listened carefully just now, so how can they actively cooperate now?

He silently turned his head away, unable to bear to see the embarrassing scene where Mr. Tang couldn't get off the stage.

But there were several thuds, as if someone was tapping on the table.

After a long time, Jiang He turned around again, and couldn't help but hasten to stabilize his chin.

On the long table, more than 20 arms were raised in unison. All the shopkeepers agreed, and no one had any objections.

how come……

Could it be that they really understood!

Jiang He scratched his head and scratched his head, and several shopkeepers at the venue were also whispering to each other.

"Hey, did you hear it just now? What did he say?" The shopkeeper sitting at the end of the table touched the shoulder of the person next to him and asked in a voice slightly louder than a mosquito.

"Hey, just like you, I also squinted and didn't pay attention."

"Then you still ask me to raise my hand! Don't you..."

The word "sloppy" has not yet been uttered, and the other party has already begun to dislike his mother-in-law: "Tsk tsk, what do you care about him! Mr. Tang was building a square before and holding a sales fair. Which is not a good thing? I also heard that , the reason why the business of Fuxing Restaurant is booming is thanks to Mr. Tang. What are you talking about? Follow him, you must be right!"

In the next few days, Tang Zhong successively invited shopkeepers from other industries in the county, and held three more chamber mobilization meetings.

Similar to the situation in the first session, except for a very few merchants who were still hesitant, the vast majority of people readily raised their hands in agreement, and did not even raise too many questions after the meeting.

Tang Zhong was a little surprised, unexpectedly, merchants in this era.For this kind of business organization of later generations, the acceptance rate is surprisingly high.

Although for a moment, he also doubted whether everyone didn't understand at all and just followed the trend blindly?

No, definitely not!

The framework of the chamber of commerce is basically set up, and the next step is to elect the president of the chamber of commerce and set up a commercial dispute arbitration committee and other specific matters.

Tang Zhong rubbed his face, looking outside, the sun was about to reach mid-heaven, it was almost noon.

Anyway, there are still a lot of chores, and I can't finish them in a while, so it's better to go home and have dinner first, and then come back to work in the afternoon.

The gate of the Chamber of Commerce was facing the Benxin Hall, and Tang Zhongcong walked out of the yard, just in time to meet Doctor Chu who was on the opposite side.

Tang Zhong cupped his fists and made a bow, which was regarded as a greeting. Dr. Chu held the medicine bowl and nodded his head in return.

Walking forward, passing the grain store, the owner of the store warmly greeted: "Tang Boss, have you eaten yet?"

"Let's go home and eat!"

The clerk at the dried fruit shop heard the sound and poked his head out: "Tang Boss is done with his work? Come, take a bag of freshly fried chestnuts and go back and taste them!"

"Don't, don't, don't... oh, what an embarrassment! Thank you!"

The name "Tangtouer" was originally called by the four helpers casually, but it didn't know when it spread, causing people who knew him all over the street to follow suit.

After a few days, when he finishes his business with the chamber of commerce and continues to go back to Dongchengmen to work, I really don't know if Mr. Hu will kindly kick him on the ass if he knows his new name.

As Tang Zhong walked home, many merchants along the way greeted him proactively.

It is obvious that since the change of parents and officials, the attitude of the common people towards the officials has become much warmer.

The freshly fried chestnuts in his hand exuded bursts of sweet aroma, which made his stomach growl a few times.

Guessing that the food from Huixin Restaurant should be delivered home, Tang Zhong quickened his pace, turned around and walked into the narrow alley beside him.

This is the shortest way to go home. Tang Zhong has been doing business in the Chamber of Commerce these days, and he always walks this way.

But for some reason, when he walked into the alley today, he felt a little uneasy.

It was the time when every household was eating lunch, and there was no one else in the alley, but Tang Zhong always felt that there seemed to be something following behind him.

But every time I looked back, I didn't find anything suspicious.

Maybe it's because I'm too busy these days and haven't slept well!

Tang Zhong rubbed his face vigorously, turned his head and continued walking.

Seeing that the entrance of Qingshi Alley was in front of him, suddenly, he felt a biting chill on the back of his neck, like a needle piercing into his flesh.

It was almost too late to call for help, he just felt the world spinning in front of his eyes, and then his five senses disappeared, and he passed out...

After groping in the dark for an unknown amount of time, Tang Zhong slowly opened his eyes after a violent shaking.

In front of him was a pile of sacks stacked randomly, and he was also thrown in the corner like a sack.

A faint tingling sensation on the back of his neck reminded him that this was not a dream.

When the Lingtai was fully restored to clarity, the sound of rushing water outside and the constant shaking of the wooden boards under him made him gradually understand:

I am on a boat.

More precisely, he was forcibly taken onto a boat.

The dazzling sunlight came in suddenly, Tang Zhong couldn't adapt to it for a while, and hurriedly turned his head away.

"Are you awake?" the man who opened the door asked loudly.

When his eyes gradually got used to the surrounding light, Tang Zhong turned his head and saw a tall and tall man standing in front of him. He was only in his early thirties, and his narrow and sharp phoenix eyes were full of wind and frost.

"Who are you? Why am I here?"

Tang Zhong was like a frightened colt, subconsciously shrank back, and was always vigilant against the approaching people.

The man didn't talk too much, straight to the point: "I'm Cheng Li, from now on, you can do things with me."

Tang Zhong had never heard of this name before, thinking that he was in the cabin now, he immediately thought of Shan Jiuye, who trafficked in private salt, and the Cao Gang behind Mr. Qi.

He found that he was not tied with a rope, maybe the other party had no intention of hurting him?

Maybe it's a friend rather than an enemy, it's a gamble!

"Did Master Jiu send you here, or the Cao Gang?"

Unexpectedly, the man who claimed to be Cheng Li just smiled, and then said seriously: "The rivers and lakes are reckless, and I am not worthy of being ordered. I am the commander of the Tiger Wing Guard hand-picked by the imperial court, and I directly receive orders from the Minister of the Ministry of War. It's from the Ministry of War."

Tang Zhong had just recovered from the clear Lingtai, but was confused by the sudden words.

Tiger wing guard?Ministry of War?

Still a big shot?

What irrelevant things!Where are they all?

It sounds like a lie, but looking at the other party's righteous words... Could it be that these irrelevant words... are true?

Surprised, he tried to organize the appropriate sentences in his mind.But the words that came out of his mouth were still stuttered by the strong astonishment and shock in his heart: "But...but I'm just a guard of the city gate, you, why are you arresting me?"

"I just said that you will do things with me in the future."

Cheng Li stood in the cabin with his hands behind his back, looking magnanimous.

"Don't worry, if Liu Tong knows where he is, someone will inform him, and someone will help take care of your family. You just need to work hard for the court."

Tang Zhong only felt that something was wrong. He was an [-]-year-old gate guard in a county town. He didn't know the slightest bit of military art, and he didn't have the slightest bit of force. What kind of commander of the Tiger Wing Guard under the Ministry of War, why did he kidnap him?

Until... Cheng Li took out a Swiss Army Knife from his pocket, twirled it between his five fingers for a few weeks, and said like a treasure: "Folding tables and chairs, nail clippers, Swiss Army Knife, making these things, I really miss you so much." .Since you can design a donkey-driven boat, why can't you make something more useful for the court? From now on, come with us!"

Tang Zhong was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously asked: "Where are you going?"

"A good man will fight the enemy on the battlefield and eliminate the Japanese chaos!"

It just so happened that a big wave came in, and the hull was violently pitched. Tang Zhong hurriedly grabbed the sack beside him.

Facing the sudden changes around him, and Cheng Li's awe-inspiring preaching, he couldn't tell north from south, west from east, and felt even more dizzy in his head...

The author has something to say:

Well, I corrected the typo——