"Okay, you go and have a rest. You don't have to wait for me." Chu Yan said, picked up his clothes and went out.
Su Liuye looked at the two sleeping children beside her and thought that Chu Yan was going to sleep in the next room soon. She had no point in waiting for him, so she simply went to bed.
When she woke up, it was already early the next morning.
Su Liuye was going out with Zhang after breakfast, but Chu Yan wanted to go with them temporarily.
Su Liuye was a little surprised, "Husband, we are going to the dock today. Don't you have anything else to do?"
Chu Yan has been going to the Yamen to help in the past few days. The two of them went to different places and often didn't see each other for the whole day. Su Liuye thought he was going to the Yamen today.
"I have nothing else to do today, so I will just follow you." Chu Yan said.
Hearing what he said, Su Liuye didn't think much and asked Mrs. Zhang to go out together.
What Ms. Zhang is going to find today is a boat shop owner who was acquainted with her father. This man had handed over his business to his son a few years ago, but Zhang was not very close to his son, so he had to rely on connections to meet him.
This man's surname was Zhou, and his first name was Zhou Changjiang. He was also a figure in Luoxi Town. He was once the owner of the largest shipping company in the town, but later Boss Liu got involved in shipping. Not only the silk shop, but also the shipping company was monopolized.
Zhou Changjiang's shipping company has also cooperated with Boss Liu for a long time. This time Mrs. Zhang brought Su Liuye to him, and she didn't know whether the negotiation could be concluded.
"Shopkeeper Su, this way."
Mrs. Zhang led her to a small restaurant near the pier.
The decoration here is simple, and the restaurant only has one floor. Many tables are placed on the street, but there are many customers. At a glance, they are all boatmen from the pier.
Mrs. Zhang took her to the yard behind the restaurant and saw an old man with half-white hair sitting under a tree drinking tea.
Seeing Mrs. Zhang coming, the old man immediately put down his tea cup and greeted, "Qing'er, you're finally here! I heard you were looking for me this morning, so I've been waiting here for a long time!"
"Uncle Zhou, you don't have to be so polite. I came to see you this time because I have something to ask for your help." After saying that, Mrs. Zhang handed out the box with pastries in his hand, "Uncle Zhou, these are Cyclamen pastries. , I brought it to you specially, do you want to try it?"
"Okay, okay!"
Zhou Changjiang seemed to particularly like Mrs. Zhang. When he heard that she had brought him pastries, he couldn't stop the smile on his face. He immediately took out a piece of pastry and praised, "Qing'er, your pastry is really exquisite!" After saying that, he put the pastry into his mouth, and his face immediately showed surprise.
"Uncle Zhou, is it delicious?" Mrs. Zhang took the initiative to pour him a cup of tea, "I know you like salty food, this is specially made for you."
"It's delicious! Haha, Qing'er, you are still the most attentive after all these years. You still remember what an old man like me likes to eat!"
Zhou Changjiang was very happy. He chatted with Mrs. Zhang for a while and then asked, "Qing'er, you didn't come to me today just to get me some cakes, right?"
"Uncle Zhou still has a sharp eye." Mrs. Zhang smiled, "That's it, Uncle Zhou, Shopkeeper Su is going to open a silk and satin shop in the town recently, but you also know that the fabrics in the town are shipped from other places. of……"
"Nowadays, most of the shipping companies in the town are owned by the Liu family. Boss Liu has opened so many silk and satin shops in the town that he has long stopped allowing others to transport fabrics." Zhou Changjiang answered with a solemn expression, "Qing'er, this It's not that Uncle Zhou won't help you, it's that he can't help you. Although there is a new Mr. Xiao in town, at present, we don't know if Mr. Xiao is on the Liu family's side again. In a hurry, I don’t dare promise you anything.”
As he spoke, he sighed, "It's not that Uncle Zhou won't help you. As you know, once the ship from outside docks, the Liu family will come over to check the goods. If there are too many, they will definitely know."
"Uncle Zhou, of course I know about this, but..."
Mrs. Zhang looked back at Su Liuye with a troubled expression.
Su Liuye also probably guessed his difficulty, and took the initiative to smile and said, "Uncle Zhou, you don't have to worry about this. I know that Mr. Xiao will not allow the Liu family to be so arrogant again."
"The Liu family's current monopoly approach is equivalent to allowing only the Liu family to make money, and others can only share a small portion of the soup."
"Indeed." Zhou Changjiang nodded, frowning more intensely.
He has been running a boat business in the town all his life. Due to the intervention of the Liu family, his business has plummeted. He can only take orders related to the Liu family. There are already boat shops belonging to them in other towns. Even if he wants to go to other places It is impossible to make a living there.
Taking orders from the Liu family was only enough for him to maintain an aggravated livelihood, and many old employees had to be laid off.
He had been friends with Zhang's father for more than ten years. After the Zhang family's accident, he originally wanted to take Zhang home to take care of him, but something happened to the shipyard. He was busy dealing with these matters. By the time they were settled, Zhang had already married. After leaving the Wu family, the two gradually lost contact over the years.
Now that Zhang Qing'er took the initiative to come to him, he didn't know how happy he was.
Hearing what Su Liuye said, he thought seriously for a moment, "Shopkeeper Su's awareness that the new Mr. Xiao will suppress the Liu family?"
"right."
He was silent for another moment and said, "Okay! As long as the Liu family doesn't get in the way, I will definitely help Shopkeeper Su transport the goods! I've also heard about the incident between Qing'er and the Wu family. I'm really ashamed to say it. . I have been friends with Qing'er's father for more than ten years. I promised him to help take care of Qing'er, but because of the Liu family's sudden involvement in the boating business, I -" At this point, he sighed heavily.
Mrs. Zhang knew what he wanted to say, and quickly stepped forward to comfort him, "Uncle Zhou, those things have nothing to do with you, and I didn't want to leave with you at the beginning."
"Why? Is it because of Tao'er?" Zhou Changjiang asked in surprise.
"..." Mrs. Zhang opened her mouth, but finally shook her head and said nothing, "Uncle Zhou, don't think about it, these things have passed."
"I knew you would definitely mind." Zhou Changjiang sighed, "I did want to let you get married to Tao'er at first, but if you don't want to, just tell me directly... It's all my fault that I wasn't attentive enough. It's a big mistake. Qing'er, don't worry, no matter what happens, I have already regarded you as my daughter. I am really happy that you are willing to come to me today. "
Seeing that there was an elder who cared so much about him, Mr. Zhang's eyes turned red and he said softly, "I know, Uncle Zhou, it's been me who has been bad these past years."
"Hey... It's all Uncle Zhou's fault. Now the boat business is entirely supported by Tao'er. But if Mr. Xiao can really suppress the Liu family, everything will be easy to say!"
"Uncle Zhou, don't worry, I will never lie to you about this." Su Liuye said.
