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As Old Master Xu finally arrived at the Zhao family's ancestral home, the sky gradually became clearer. The Zhao family's return ceremony, which had been prepared for many days, finally officially started.
The process of the celebration can be said to be the same, without any surprises or novelties, and does not need to be described in detail.
Although the Zhao family in Yangzhou has made thorough preparations and has been trying its best to create a grand and solemn atmosphere, Zhao Junchen has long been accustomed to various ceremonies held by the court and has long been accustomed to large scenes. For this event held by the Zhao family A "ceremony" naturally doesn't have too many emotional fluctuations, nor does it leave any deep impression. It just goes through the celebration process step by step.
The only thing worth mentioning is that during the celebration, Zhao Junchen once again solemnly introduced the identity of Old Master Xu to the guests, and "affectionately" reviewed his past experiences with Old Master Xu, saying that he would definitely do so in the future. He tried his best to repay Old Master Xu's kindness to him back then, and finally let Old Master Xu serve as a witness for this ceremony, which made Old Master Xu once again become the focus of attention.
It can be said that under Zhao Junchen's deliberate show, Old Master Xu stole the show in this celebration and attracted the attention of countless people. However, Zhao Junchen's "repaying kindness" and "remembering old feelings" The image has become more and more profound in everyone's hearts.
Unfortunately, everyone in the Zhao family did not like Zhao Junchen's show very much. Firstly, the Zhao family was robbed of a lot of limelight by Old Master Xu, and they naturally felt a little unwilling to do so. Secondly, the appearance of Old Master Xu also made the world aware of it. This revealed the "black history" of the Zhao family that drove Zhao Junchen and his son out of the family - a "black history" that the Zhao family had been trying their best to cover up.
No matter what. Given the disparity in strength, Zhao Junchen didn't care what the Zhao family thought at all, and the Zhao family could only silently endure what Zhao Junchen did, not daring to question it at all.
In this way, the return ceremony seemed to have ended smoothly. Although there were some twists and turns during the process, the final result was that the guests and hosts were happy.
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But he said that after the reunification ceremony, Zhao Junchen had just returned to his room when the former head of the Zhao family, Zhao Deqing, came to report that Dai Fengfu, the boss of Maosheng Trading Company, Bai Mingyu, the boss of Darong Shipping Company, and the general manager of the salt merchants. Lin Yunpu, the president of the association, and three others asked to see Zhao Junchen. I have something important to discuss with Zhao Junchen.
Zhao Junchen had already anticipated this, and could probably guess the purpose of these three people's visit - in fact, the reason why Zhao Junchen agreed to the Zhao family's homecoming ceremony was not just for show. It is also to create an opportunity to contact the salt merchants.
Therefore, after hearing Zhao Deqing's report, Zhao Junchen readily agreed, and without any delay, he directly asked Zhao Deqing to invite the three people to meet.
Zhao Deqing received many benefits from the salt merchants, and his attitude was naturally more attentive. He also quickly invited the three salt merchants without any delay.
that's all. Zhao Junchen made his first contact with the salt merchants in Hui and Zhejiang.
And Zhao Junchen's layout in southern Zhili has finally been gradually launched.
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When Dai Fengfu, Bai Mingyu, and Lin Yunpu entered Zhao Junchen's study, Zhao Junchen raised his head and looked at the three people carefully. His eyes were serious, without the slightest contempt.
After Zhao Junchen came into contact with the Shanxi merchant forces, he had already had a deep understanding of the shrewd calculations and influence of the merchant forces, although it was due to his profit-seeking nature and the environment of the times. The businessmen of this era lacked some foresight, but this should not be underestimated.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Hui merchants are a merchant group as famous as Shanxi merchants, and because they are located in the maritime border. Hui merchants have a broader vision and a more flexible mind, so Zhao Junchen dare not underestimate the three people in front of him.
Among the three people, Dai Fengfu, the big boss of Maosheng Trading Company, is the oldest. He seems to be in his sixties. His expression is quite calm and sophisticated, and his eyes are shrewd. However, since he entered the room, He has been following Bai Mingyu and Lin Yunpu step by step, and constantly adjusting his own pace according to the steps of Bai and Lin. It is obvious that he lacks courage, is too cautious by nature, and has no firm stance.
Compared with Dai Fengfu, Bai Mingyu is just the opposite. He is the youngest among the three. He is only in his early thirties and has a handsome appearance. He has become one of the top salt merchants in Yangzhou at a young age. His life experience It can be said that it has been smooth sailing, and I am afraid that he has never encountered any major setbacks, so his expression is inevitably a bit arrogant and arrogant - in fact, after the three of them entered Zhao Junchen's study, Bai Mingyu He was also the only person who dared to look directly into Zhao Junchen's eyes.
Compared with Dai Fengfu and Bai Mingyu, Lin Yunpu, as the president of the Salt Merchant Association, does not have any obvious characteristics. He is about fifty years old, has an ordinary appearance, ordinary temperament, low-key behavior, and reserved expression, which makes Zhao Junchen It was impossible to see his roots for a while, but Lin Yunpu could become the president of the Salt Merchants Association, and now he was standing among the three. He was obviously the leader among the three. It is conceivable that his methods must be extraordinary. Extraordinary.
And just as Zhao Junchen was sizing up these three people, these three people had already arrived in front of Zhao Junchen, and they saluted together and said: "Grassmen Lin Yunpu (Dai Fengfu, Bai Mingyu, pay homage to Mr. Zhao!"
Zhao Junchen also put on a smiling and friendly face at this time and said: "The three big bosses don't need to be polite, please sit down and talk."
"Thank you, sir." As he spoke, Lin Yunpu, Dai Fengfu, and Bai Mingyu sat down one after another.
However, just after Lin Yunpu took his seat, he stood up again, took out a gift list, and said: "Although we and other Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants are far away from the center of the capital and are just rural people, we have already heard about Zhao. My lord, I admire your great reputation in my heart. Now that I finally have the honor to meet you, I am naturally very honored, so I have prepared a small gift, which is not a sign of respect, but I hope you will accept it."
As the intermediary between Zhao Junchen and the salt merchants, Zhao Deqing was waiting aside. When he saw Lin Yunpu taking out the gift list, he quickly reached out to take it and handed it to Zhao Junchen.
While handling it, Zhao Deqing couldn't help but secretly glance at the contents of the gift list. Although it was only a very small part, it still made his breathing quicken.
...a blood-red coral bonsai with a height of two feet and one inch, two fine suet-fat jade vases, an authentic work by Huang Tingjian, and three hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum...
Each of these things is worth thousands of gold, but the salt merchants casually took out such a large number as a meeting gift. Everyone said that the Huizhou and Zhejiang salt merchants were as rich as the country, and Zhao Deqing was finally rich at this moment. Convinced.
Of course, Zhao Junchen was not like Zhao Deqing who had never seen the world. After taking the gift list, he just glanced at it briefly, then a trace of surprise flashed across his expression, and he said slowly: "If this gift is considered a small gift, in this world I’m afraid it won’t be a generous gift.”
As he spoke, Zhao Junchen put the gift list in his hand. He did not say that he would accept it, but he also did not say that he would not accept it. He just raised his eyes and looked at Lin Yunpu and the other three people, and asked: "Such a thick gift, I'm afraid you have something to ask for." Bar?"
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…(To be continued)
