Chen's daughter's carriage stopped outside Zhang Zhou's new courtyard beside the Shichahai Sea in the northwest of the city.
The lamp is now on.
The Chen daughter got out of the carriage and looked around. When she found that Jin Yiwei and others were approaching her, her face still showed a little nervousness.
"Miss, I'm afraid this is a dragon's pond and a tiger's den. You can't enter." The mother-in-law next to Chen's daughter reminded.
Ms. Chen said: "In this current situation, do you still have a choice?"
Then, guided by Jin Yiwei, she passed through the doorway, which looked like an arch bridge on a small moat, and entered the courtyard.
In her eyes, this place is a government palace, because from inside to outside, there are no ordinary servants, almost all of them are official servants, and most of them are royal guards.
When she arrived at the pavilion next to the front yard, she saw two people talking in the pavilion under bright lights. Zhang Zhou spoke in a loud voice. This was the first time Chen's daughter saw Zhang Zhou.
"...Don't worry, Eunuch Dai, I will go there early tomorrow morning. Whether it succeeds or not, I will come up with a plan. I will neither show off nor stand by and watch."
The person who met Zhang Zhou was Dai Yi, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony.
But Chen's daughter didn't know it.
But when she heard "father-in-law," she knew he was someone she couldn't afford to offend. Then Zhang Zhou sent Dai Yi to the door. Dai Yi kept saying politely: "Mr. Zhang, there is no need to send him off in person. It's our family that's causing the trouble. I'm the emperor's messenger. You need to have a good rest, it's going to be a hard journey to Xuan Mansion!"
Dai Yizheng said, and saw someone coming from a distance. He didn't know who it was, and thought it was a female member of Zhang Zhou's family.
Before Zhang Zhou left, he wanted to bring his family to the new house for a reunion. It was so reasonable and reasonable that Dai Yi even cupped his hand in the direction of Chen's daughter to show his courtesy.
If it were an ordinary man visiting Zhang Zhou's house, he would avoid Zhang Zhou's family members.
But Dai Yi is different. He is a eunuch. Although he is now a favored person in the imperial court, in the final analysis he is just a palace servant who serves people. Dai Yi still wants to have a good relationship with the female relatives of Zhang Zhou's family.
Sometimes it is necessary to make Zhang Zhou look at him differently, to give gifts to Zhang Zhou's pillowmates, and to ask them to help blow the pillow breeze.
It's just that he recognized the wrong person this time.
…
…
After Dai Yi left, Chen's daughter set foot in the pavilion.
The surrounding pavilions, gardens, rockeries, and ponds are not at all like the layout of a northern garden. Chen's daughter is from the south of the Yangtze River, so she is very familiar with this environment.
"Why, are you curious?" Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "It used to be the residence of the great eunuch Li Guang. After his death, this courtyard was occupied by me. This place looks pleasing to the eye, but it may not be comfortable to live in. To put it bluntly, it is The yin energy is too strong.”
Chen's daughter hurriedly saluted and said, "The daughter of the common people has met Mr. Zhang."
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "It's important to call me your lord. Although Zhang is in the government and the public, he mostly cares about the public affairs. You can call me Zhang Shishuo, who is an official, or simply Zhang Guan'er. That's fine."
"Folk girls don't dare." The Chen girl seemed very measured.
Although she was the daughter of an ordinary merchant, she was born in an officialdom. There was a huge gap in status between officials and merchants in the north, and they were clearly distinct from each other.
However, in areas south of the Yangtze River, especially in commercially developed areas such as Huizhou, it is common for the family members of officials to engage in business, which also reflects a sense of social identity.
In the minds of northerners, especially the people at the feet of the emperor, class concepts are very clear, and merchants are looked down upon.
People of the Jiangnan generation highly respected merchants, mainly because they were rich, and rich people could establish connections with the government in places where the mountains were high and the emperor was far away, creating a contrast in social status.
In areas south of the Yangtze River, there were more cases of grain being sent to the Imperial College.
"Sit down." Zhang Zhou was polite to Chen's daughter.
Chen's daughter obviously didn't dare to sit on an equal footing with a "big shot" like Zhang Zhou. She was born in an officialdom, so she had to observe etiquette and understand the rules of dealing with people in the officialdom. This was also the reason why she was able to thrive in the shopping mall before.
Zhang Zhou didn't force himself, pointed to the direction Dai Yi was walking and said: "Dai Eunuch, the official in charge of etiquette, known as Yin Gong, asked me to treat people's diseases, and the treatment was Hualiu. Tomorrow I will go on a long expedition. , but I can’t put it down, it’s really irritating.”
Mrs. Chen lowered her head and said nothing.
She obviously didn't understand why Zhang Zhou told her this.
"Earlier, you approached Mrs. Anbian Hou... she was the ex-wife. She came to me to discuss business matters... She said that she wanted to undertake the business of rebuilding the earthworks and timber of Pianguan Pass, but it didn't work out. I was also very sorry. In the end, you saw it, It’s not that the business contracted by people around me is all for bidding, the Jiang family’s bidding price is higher than yours, I want to help, but I am unable to help.”
Zhang Zhou seemed to have stated his intention.
I came here to "apologise" to Mrs. Chen.
He had previously promised Ning Tong to help the sisters complete the bidding.
In the end it didn't work out.
Ms. Chen said: "My little lady asked for too high a price. She originally wanted to make more profits for Mr. Zhang and Sister Ning. Who would have thought that someone would bid lower than the market price and deliberately suppress it."
"Profit making?" Zhang Zhou picked up the tea cup with a smile and shook his head, "I really don't look down on such small profits."
Chen's daughter seemed to suddenly understand why the business failed this time, or why Zhang Zhou didn't help them wholeheartedly.
The profit was too small, but there were policy risks behind it. I thought I could rely on Ning Tong's friendship with Zhang Zhou in exchange for this business... but Zhang Zhou didn't seem to take Ning Tong seriously either.
Zhang Zhou and Zhu Feng were just friends, Zhu Feng was still fawning over Zhang Zhou, and Ning Tong was just Zhu Feng's ex-wife.
Zhang Zhou seemed to have no reason to break his principles just to help Ning Tong.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "I heard that before the bidding, you purchased a lot of wood and stone materials together. After the bidding, have you sold them all now? I would like to advise, seeing that the summer flood is coming, the water level of the canal has risen, and the wood and stone materials from the south are moving north. The transportation is more convenient, and the price of wood and stone has been falling again and again, so we need to sell it sooner."
Mrs. Chen gritted her teeth.
She has been in a very difficult situation recently.
Zhang Zhou reminded: "If you feel that the price is low and it is not worth selling, you can wait until the price picks up at the end of the year before selling. It's not impossible. I just don't know your capital flow...or debt ratio, what about it?"
Although Chen's daughter didn't quite understand Zhang Zhou's words, she could still hear some clues about "debts." She said: "If the business fails, I have to sell the materials at a low price to repay the debt."
"Oh, that's a pity." Zhang Zhou said, "How about foreign debt? It's several thousand to tens of thousands taels, right?"
The Chen daughter was shrewd and knew that Zhang Zhou was exerting pressure.
With Zhang Zhou’s connections in the market, it wouldn’t be easy to check anything?
"Yes." Ms. Chen didn't hide anything.
Although he didn't say much, even Sun Shangqi, who was standing aside to watch the excitement, could tell that the Chen family was in trouble.
Zhang Zhou said: "I'm very sorry about this. Speaking of which, if I hadn't donated a lot of my family property to the imperial court recently, I might have been able to lend some to you for emergencies."
Of course, Chen's daughter cannot be indiscreet, she said: "People's women don't dare to ask for extravagant things."
"You shouldn't ask for it."
Zhang Zhou's expression was quite polite at first, but when he said this, his expression suddenly turned grim, "So what if the daughter of a small businessman was once an official? She actually made those shady people try to take advantage of others who just walked out of the house. Stand in the world and make calculations! If the business fails, then sell off all the property and pay off the debts. In the future, whether it is getting married or guarding one-third of an acre of land, it is a good idea to live in peace and contentment for the rest of your life. "
When Chen's daughter heard this, her heart was shaken.
Now she understands that it is a good thing that Zhang Zhou, let alone helping her, is not secretly causing trouble for her.
Are you talking about business with her?
He was scolding and lecturing her.
"The women of the people are not used by anyone." The Chen daughter also wanted to explain herself.
"That's right. The former wife of Marquis Anbian is also headstrong. Who does she think she is? A rich lady? She thinks that everyone must follow her wishes wherever she goes? That is to say, Marquis Anbian feels ashamed of her and always wants to Wanting to compensate her made her feel arrogant. Unfortunately, this world is not easy for you women to get a foothold in. Take my advice and get married earlier, and you may not see so many bad things in this world. "
Zhang Zhou said with a smile, as if he was teasing Ning Tong and Chen's daughter.
This is the gesture of a winner.
No matter how unhappy the Chen daughter was, she understood that she was not qualified to refute.
"Sir Zhang, I dare to ask, do you think the Chen family still has a chance to stand in this world?" Chen's daughter asked in return.
Sun Shangqi said sternly: "You have such a strong tone. You dare to question me here?"
Zhang Zhou said: "Well, let's go. I know I'm not here to entertain you. Tell me, why do you think I will give you a chance?"
No matter how stupid Chen's daughter is, she can still see that Zhang Zhou actually wants to take advantage of her.
Only by driving the Chen family to a dead end can she be "used".
To put it bluntly, the best she can do is be someone else's white glove, and she cannot control the entire business herself.
Chen's daughter said: "People's girls have no choice but to rely on others. If the powerful and powerful people in the court have no help, there will be no way to survive in this world. People's girls like Pu Liu never dare to ask for marriage to a wealthy family. If they can follow the master, You can also be plotted by adults."
"Haha, you are wrong. I am not interested in what you look like. As you said, you are desperate. Maybe I can give you a way."
Zhang Zhou pointed in the direction of the door and said, "Early tomorrow morning, there will be a carriage here. If you get into that carriage, you don't have to pay back your current debt for the time being, and the interest will be stopped for now!"
"I won't help you repay any debts. I can only help you talk about it. It also depends on whether they give you face. No guarantee."
"If you follow me, I will go to Xuan Mansion and do mining work. How much I will give you depends on my mood. It will be enough for you to pay off your debts and establish yourself in the world. Don't think about taking too much."
"There are countless businessmen who want to take over this business. It is not impossible for me to do it myself. It would be good to take a step back and let the Jiang family do it."
"But I don't want to put all my eggs in the same basket. It's easy to break them all at once. You are just a way for me to share the risk."
"As for the Ning family member, this matter has nothing to do with her. You are not allowed to see her in the future, and you are not allowed to talk about today's events. If you can do it... Haha, you can choose to go or not. Come here. ,see a visitor out!"
Zhang Zhou didn’t beep much either.
If you fall in love with the boat, get on it; if you don't, get out. Whether this boat has your Chen family or not, it doesn't matter at all.
The purpose of pulling you into the car is because you are a Jiangnan merchant and there is no powerful person behind you to help, so I think you are easy to control.
Then I push you into a corner and force you to do it together.
If you still want to keep talking, then leave as soon as possible and pretend that you have never seen her before. From now on, your Chen family will love you to death, as if no one cares about you.
…
…
Before Chen's daughter could give her opinion, put forward some conditions, negotiate, or anything like that, she was directly ordered to be kicked out by Zhang Zhou.
She also suddenly realized at this time.
In this cooperation, let alone the initiative, she had no autonomy at all.
When Chen's daughter left under the escort of Jin Yiwei, Zhang Zhou was still sitting there drinking tea, looking relaxed and at ease.
"Have you seen the yard? Call everyone over, it's time to go home." Zhang Zhou remembered that the women from the back house were still visiting their new home.
But Zhang Zhou didn't want his family to move here. As he said, he felt that the place was full of negative energy.
If he, a masculine man, was not around, his back house might not be able to suppress the aura of this yard.
"Go and inform the ladies." Sun Shangqi said to his subordinates.
When only Zhang Zhou and Sun Shangqi were left in the pavilion, Sun Shangqi asked: "Sir, Chen's father is just a small role in the Jiangnan salt administration. He has no powerful position in the officialdom now, so why should he care about such people? , and difficult to control.”
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Old Sun, what do you mean, do you want to go into battle and do it yourself?"
"No... I don't have the talent for business in my humble position, so I don't dare to have such delusions."
Sun Shangqi's implication was that he still coveted this business, but he knew his identity.
If you can serve as a royal guard for thousands of households and follow Zhang Zhou, you will have a bright future, and you don't have to go to the shopping mall.
"Isn't it because she is a female, has no background, and is ambitious that she is easy to control? What if she were a man, with a lot of dignitaries behind her, but she still did business like Anbian Hou just for fun, and it didn't matter whether she made money or not. If she can accept it happily, even with a lot of escape routes behind her...then what else should I do with her?"
Zhang Zhou smiled.
Sun Shangqi was surprised.
Only then did he understand that a person's shortcomings can turn into advantages under certain circumstances.
But Zhang Zhou has the eyes that are good at discovering advantages.
"well!"
Zhang Zhou sighed heavily, "It's not easy to do business these days. Brothers are feuding, fathers and sons are fighting, and even close relatives can't be trusted, let alone outsiders? There is only one kind of person in the world who is worthy of trust, and that is the one you can crush to death." He is a person who does not have to bear any conscience and moral precepts after squeezing him to death. This little girl from the Chen family fits my needs very well. "
Sun Shangqi smiled and said: "Yes, she is neither your close relative nor your friend. If she doesn't obey your orders, you can make her fall into eternal disaster at any time."
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "How can I say that I admire your grandson? Look, can I do this to my father-in-law? I have always been a soft-hearted person. I give benefits to others, but I cannot let myself suffer. I am still irresponsible. The partners are more in line with my heart.”
Just as he was talking, a guard in royal robes came over and reported, "Sir, the eldest grandson of the British Duke is outside asking for an audience."
"Is Zhang Lun here? Let him get ready. Those two from the Zhou family shouldn't go, right? Then let Zhang Lun make preparations alone! Follow me for treatment tomorrow... Arrange a place for him tonight It’s a place! Now show up as if you are marching and torment everyone!”
…
…
Zhang Zhou is about to go on an expedition.
Zhang Zhou first introduced the situation of his house to Jiang Pingyu and the others, just in case he could not come back from the northwest. It didn't mean that he would never come back, but he had been away for a year and a half... Wouldn't this yard be abandoned?
Of course, there is a courtyard outside Zhang Zhou, which was given to him by Pingjiang Bo Chen Rui. There is no need for him to let Jiang Pingyu and the others take over the courtyard.
Because Zhang Zhou himself has never been there.
"Madam, do you think this place is okay? It's very much like our Jiangnan water town. I've renovated everything and spent a lot of money. After I leave, you can come over and have a look at any time, but remember, don't stay here Bian Jiuliu...after all, something unknown happened here."
Zhang Zhou entered the inner courtyard and visited with Jiang Pingyu and others.
Han Qing blinked and asked, "Master, is there something ominous here? Has anyone died?"
Not only was she looking at Zhang Zhou, but Suisui was also looking at her father.
The eyes of mother and daughter are almost the same.
Zhang Zhou said: "Where in the capital has no one died? But if you want to say that he died in this house, it doesn't happen. The former owner of this courtyard was named Li Guang, and he died in the palace... Speaking of which, he has some connection with me. , it was me...hehe."
Hearing this, Zhang Jun, as the only man in the family after Zhang Zhou left, was already crawling into his mother's arms.
"You're not human. Your father and I have killed a lot of people. Your father and I have invented all kinds of gunpowder and firearms. What's the point of killing a lot of people? If you're afraid, it's best not to practice martial arts from now on and go back to Nanjing to farm." Go to the vegetable garden!”
Zhang Zhou instantly felt that Zhang Jun deserved a beating.
If you don't beat up your son before going to war, how can you show your dignity as a father?
Jiang Pingyu said: "The master is right, after you leave, I won't be able to come back..."
"No, I still have to clean up this yard, otherwise my money will be wasted." Zhang Zhou said, "I want to enjoy this yard before I leave. After all, I earned this with my hard-working hands. So, today We won’t go back at night and will occupy our respective rooms!”
"Um."
No matter how relaxed Zhang Zhou looked.
In the eyes of the women at home in the Zhang family, their husbands are all about to go to war immediately, and going to the battlefield is no joke.
Although they still don't understand why Zhang Zhou went to Xuan Mansion.
As Zhang Zhouren was the general manager of Xuanda, there was no need to be on the front line in any war.
"Also, bring the small box I prepared. I want to discuss the philosophy of life with you tonight." Zhang Zhou said.
Jiang Pingyu and Wang Mingshan didn't think anything of it. Two red clouds instantly rose up on Han Qing's cheeks. Under the white lantern and candlelight, they looked even more bright and delicate.
Apparently the contents of the small wooden box left a "deep" impression on her.
In Zhang Zhou's inner courtyard, she was both the teacher and the first participant in certain matters.
(End of chapter)
