Zhang Yu was stunned, and for a moment he didn't understand what Hong Huangnan meant. I could only mutter: "It's always small and useless..."
Hong Huangnan waved his hand and motioned for the secretary to bring him a large, bulging, sealed envelope made of brown paper and handed it to him.
"Inside this is a check for one thousand dollars and ten thousand silver dollars in currency notes."
Zhang Yu was so shocked that he almost stopped holding the paper bag. Although his business has become very big and his turnover is tens of thousands. Ten thousand yuan is still a big number to him. Ninety-nine percent of the people in Guangzhou will never be able to handle so much money in their lifetime, let alone being said to have it!
"The check of one thousand yuan here is what I lent to Zhang Ji's company. The cash of ten thousand yuan is what I lent to you." Hong Huangnan put a cigar in her mouth, asked the secretary to light it, and took a deep breath. One mouthful.
"What, how did this happen?" Zhang Yu was so frightened that he hurriedly held the heavy paper bag in his hand, like a hot coal.
Hong Huangnan blew out a smoke ring and said to herself: "Send someone to see Gao Ju and say you plan to buy a thousand yuan bond."
Zhang Yu was a little confused. He originally thought that Hong Yuanlao gave him an extra ten thousand to make the number of bonds he bought look better. He had an explanation for Gao Ju, but he didn't expect that he still asked him to buy one thousand. He didn't dare to question, so he just responded: "Yes."
"Then you tell Gao Ji that you plan to buy 10,000 shares when Nanyang Company shares are issued next."
"Ah?!" Zhang Yu's eyes widened.
He naturally knew about Nanyang Company's stock issuance. However, he and most of his colleagues from the Federation of Industry and Commerce share the same view: you can only buy what you need, not more.
Although stocks and joint-stock systems are popular in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, they are not unique to them. As far as Guangzhou City is concerned, most of the larger shops are jointly operated, with not only pure capital shares, but also "body shares" for shopkeepers and clerks. There are names for entities, and there are also trades. Especially for sea trade: small and medium-sized merchants who do not have their own ships mostly have to finance their purchase of goods through temporary joint ventures. And many of the shipbuilding capital of maritime merchants who build their own ships and do business are jointly owned.
Although the Ming Dynasty did not have a serious stock exchange, nor did it have supporting systems for stock trading, dividends, etc., and most of them were handled by the private sector according to custom, trading behaviors around stocks were not uncommon, and had even spread to the agricultural field. People in the Guangzhou business community are certainly no strangers to this.
If an existing large-scale brand sells "stocks", most of the big guys from the Federation of Industry and Commerce would be willing to do so. In other words, if any of the purple brands were to raise shares, there would be no need for mobilization or publicity. Just a piece of news would be enough to break the threshold of Ziminglou.
But now the Nanyang Company is going to Nanyang to do business and colonize. This made the wealthy people murmur in their hearts.
The maritime trade business is indeed very profitable, but the uncontrollable risk factors are too great, and there are countless incidents of shipwrecks and fatalities. It is not uncommon for businessmen to go bankrupt because of this. In other words, this is a trade with very high returns and risks.
For most wealthy people, investing and making profits is still a matter of "safety". Even if they invest money in maritime trade business, they would rather "lend" it. As long as you have collateral, you can borrow any amount. At least you won't lose everything.
Zhang Yu listened to their discussion and knew that the Nanyang stocks that were "about to be sold" were not very attractive. At that time, the big investors in the Federation of Industry and Commerce will buy 100 shares at best. As for myself, it goes without saying - I still received the bond money!
He had a quick mind and immediately understood what Elder Hong meant. Said: "Yes, I understand!"
Hong Huangnan nodded and said: "When you go back, make two IOUs and send them to me. The borrower of the one thousand yuan is Zhang Ji Food Company; the borrower of the ten thousand yuan is in your own name."
"What about the interest and term of ten thousand yuan..."
"There is no deadline, and no interest is written. I just write that when I want to use it, I will notify you thirty days in advance. No need to write interest."
"Huh?" Zhang Yu was completely confused by this. He had never even heard of such an IOU, let alone writing.
"Although it doesn't include interest, I still want to get it." Hong Huangnan smiled, "It's the annual dividends from Nanyang Company's stocks."
"yes."
"I will give you instructions on what to do with the stocks after you buy them back. Before that, all you have to do is keep them properly - and the same goes for dividends, but I guess there won't be any dividends in the first few years."
Zhang Yu understood that this was not to lend him money, but to ask him to hold shares of Nanyang Company on his behalf. He immediately said, "I understand, little one!"
Hong Huangnan glanced at him with a half-smile and said, "You bought 10,000 shares. Gao Zhi had to buy 15,000 or 20,000 shares anyway. Your contribution this time is not small."
"I don't dare, it's all cultivated by the chief." For some reason, Zhang Yu started to sweat on his forehead.
"I heard that Gao Ju is trying to have a relationship with you?"
"That's what happened." Zhang Yu said quickly, "The female relatives of his family often come to my mother's place now, and he often invites me to his home for banquets and gatherings..." He suddenly remembered the three concubines he held in high esteem not long ago. He acted as a matchmaker for himself and immediately told Hong Huangnan about it.
"Oh, the high-ranking official treats you really well," Hong Huangnan nodded and smiled, "He is really kind to the Senate."
"I felt that this was not appropriate, so I asked my mother to reject it. But my third aunt later came to act as a matchmaker..."
"Who were they introduced to you?"
"She is the daughter of a wealthy family and a scholarly family. She is probably related to his family."
"You rejected all of them?"
"Yes, it doesn't feel right."
"Oh, what do you think?"
"My father and I both have the same idea: my family has been a small businessman for generations, and now we rely entirely on the favor of the elders to make our fortune. We don't dare to go up to a big family, but we still want to work hard and find a girl from a small family to get married. .”
Hong Huangnan glanced at him, put out the cigar butt, and said, "You don't have to rush to get married. You are still young! Do business well and be careful, and you will have a bright future."
"Yes, I accept the chief's auspicious words."
"I trust you, go ahead."
Zhang Yu returned to Dajijie's office, called Zhang Ting, handed her his pocket, and told her to go to the bank to make the account.
"Brother Yu, how did you get so much money all at once?" Zhang Ting was surprised and happy.
"I borrowed it." Zhang Yu came out of the other world and walked only a few hundred meters to his office, but as soon as he sat down, he felt as if he had taken off his clothes, and the clothes on his back were already soaked.
"Did Mr. Hong borrow it?" Zhang Ting asked softly.
Zhang Yu nodded. He looked at the closed door of the office and whispered, "You have to keep this matter a secret."
Zhang Ting was a little nervous and nodded solemnly. After looking at the check, he added: "But this check was signed by Chief Hong. They will know it as soon as it is exchanged at the bank..."
"Checks are out of the way, cash is the key."
"I spread it over one or two months into the daily business funds paid by the company and my old account. I just save a little more every day."
"Okay, you can also create two more IOUs. Once completed, put them in envelopes and seal them." Zhang Yu explained the requirements for the IOUs in detail, "...have Yumai deliver them to the reception desk tomorrow."
After Zhang Ting left, Zhang Yu leaned on the armchair. I just feel my heart pounding. Today's meeting with Elder Hong made him a little confused, but he felt that he completely understood what Elder Hong meant.
There is no doubt that his relationship with Mr. Hong has taken another step forward starting from today. From the meaning of Hong Yuan's words, he heard several meanings: First, don't get too close to Gao Ji. This "exaltation" not only included high-ranking officials, but also the old wealthy people and old literati in Guangzhou. No matter what their attitude is towards the Senate; secondly, Elder Hong does not want him to get married soon...
Zhang Yu understands: Rich and powerful people will not get married casually. They must think carefully and consider the family background of the other party before making a decision. If you get married like this, you will lose a certain bargaining chip.
Could it be that Mr. Hong Yuan’s family has a daughter...
He immediately shook his head to get rid of the thought, laughing to himself that he was talking nonsense.
Although it is not certain that a daughter will be betrothed to him, Elder Hong expressed his opinion on his marriage issue, which once again showed that he will not only continue to support himself, but also deepen their relationship.
This really surprised and delighted him. Originally relying on chance and coincidence, he has reached a point that he never dared to dream of in the past. But now, Elder Hong has opened a door for him to a higher status and more wealth. It won't be long before even those who hold high positions will have to bow down...
Thinking of this, he was filled with indescribable tension, heat, and ecstasy... He felt that the blood was so hot that it almost burned through his skin. A wave of desire jumped up and down in his body. It made him hot and restless.
Somehow, the figure of the tofu shop lady Huo Sanyan appeared in his mind. Because he was too busy with work these days, he rarely went to the old shop. Huo Sanyan's shadow was already very indifferent in his heart. When I think about it now, I feel a desire that I have never had before.
Elder Hong Yuan had already said "no rush" when it came to marrying a wife, and the implication was that neither the daughter of a wealthy family nor the jade of a small family were suitable for him. Then just take Huo Sanyan home as a concubine! I am now the number one businessman in Guangzhou, so what does it mean to have a little wife? !
But thinking about it again, if I told my parents like this, they would definitely not agree. The Huo family and the own family have been neighbors for many years. They helped each other when they were poor, and the intention of the two families to get married was also vaguely revealed. Now that my family is prosperous, it makes sense not to marry the daughter of the Huo family. After all, there is no marriage contract between the two families; taking her as a concubine is a bit like "the villain succeeds". Even if the Huo family was willing, their parents would never be able to do such a thing.
Zhang Yu walked in circles in the office like a hungry wolf, thinking only about women. If others saw it, they would think that he was worried about business or financial problems.
(End of chapter)
