Snow is falling and the weather is getting colder.
Fan Li has been living in Beiting Lane for more than a month without knowing it.
In this short period of time, he adopted the pseudonym Fan Zhe and became a new upstart in Beiting Lane.
The several transactions he has personally handled are all beautiful win-win situations.
At the end of the dead winter, Ming businessmen were still able to make a fortune, which was an unexpected surprise.
Ming businessmen are all saying that shopkeeper Xiao Fan is indeed the nephew of old Fan Tou. This calculating and humane business experience is definitely passed down in the family!
Nowadays, the threshold of Fan Mansion in Beiting Lane is almost broken by the merchants of Ming Dynasty Imperial City.
"Young nephew, someone wants to see you."
Fan Li was checking the accounts in the study. The stove was burning in the room and it was very warm.
Hearing the servant's message, he only smiled slightly.
In this family, Fan Yingcai is the only one who knows Fan Li's true identity.
An ordinary domestic servant really regarded him as the so-called young nephew.
"I'm going to meet the guests, please rest more." Fan Li said to Lu Fubao.
"Um."
Miss Lu nodded tiredly.
Ever since she came to the Ming Dynasty capital, Xiao Diao Chan has become extremely annoying.
She went upside down day and night, sleeping during the day and crying all night long.
Thanks to Lu Fubao's patience, he coaxed little Diao Chan until dawn every night.
As a result, Xiao Diaochan's work and rest schedule gradually became regular, but Lu Fubao became increasingly thin and haggard.
Fan Li once advised Lu Fubao to hire a professional wet nurse to take care of the little Diao Chan, but for some reason, Lu Fubao refused.
She insisted on taking care of the children by herself, and as a result, she unexpectedly became known as a good wife and loving mother in Beiting Lane.
"Who wants to see me?"
When Fan Li came to the main hall, he expected to see an envoy from a merchant family.
Unexpectedly, the person who came was a pretty, smart and arrogant maid in green.
"Are you Fan Zhe, boss Xiao Fan?"
The maid in green raised her head and spoke to Fan Li almost with the tip of her chin.
Fan Li scratched the tip of his nose and thought it was so impressive.
But it seems that people's clothes are not as elegant as those from a scholarly family, nor are they as noble as those from a famous family.
She is obviously just a maid, but her makeup is glamorous, charming and frivolous.
Fan Li guessed that only women in the romantic field were accustomed to using this kind of makeup.
"The girl has good eyesight."
Fan Li is now a merchant, and he is not that grand. He is always smiling.
"I am Fan Zhe. Who is this girl?"
"I am from Yanbo Huafang, and I am here to deliver the invitation to you on behalf of my lady."
"oh?!"
Although Fan Li is a newcomer in the capital, he is also an upstart in the business world.
With this identity, he must know the name of Yanbo Painting Boat, the most famous romantic venue in the capital of Ming Dynasty.
If you deliberately pretend not to know, it will be strange.
Fan Li looked flattered, rubbed his hands together, and said excitedly: "Could it be...could it be...Master Xue?"
"That's right!"
The maid in green was very satisfied with Fan Li's reaction, and her face became even more arrogant.
She took out an invitation and handed it to Fan Li.
"My lady is holding a charity bazaar at Yanbo Huafang. Boss Fan is invited to attend."
"Charity bazaar?" Fan Li pretended to be confused.
"Yes! Bazaar."
"Yunzhou City was defeated, and many soldiers' widows lived in poverty."
"My young lady has a great compassion and organizes a charity sale. All proceeds from the charity sale will be used to comfort the widows of fallen soldiers."
Fan Li chuckled in his heart.
You've been making trouble for a long time. Are you here to ask for money?
Throughout the ages, there are thousands of people doing charity, but how many are there true philanthropists?
The so-called charity sale is either to make money, avoid taxes, or gain fame, but I wonder what the legendary Mr. Xue is trying to do?
Fan Li was about to accept the invitation when he heard the maid in green speak again.
"You are not allowed to be late for the charity bazaar, you are not allowed to make loud noises, you are not allowed to drink alcohol, you are not allowed to..."
She mentioned more than a dozen prohibitions in one breath, which immediately confused Fan Li.
Good guy!
A prostitute holds a charity bazaar and has so many rules?
It seems that Fan Li went to beg for help?
"Do you remember everything?" The maid in green said arrogantly: "Don't break the rules, otherwise you will be thrown off the boat on the spot, which will be embarrassing!"
"knew."
Fan Li dropped his smile, took the invitation casually, and threw it on the table.
"you!?"
Seeing Fan Li's perfunctory attitude, which was completely different from before, the maid in green became anxious.
"What's your attitude? You don't want to go, do you?"
Seeing her getting angry, Fan Li chuckled inwardly and turned cold on the outside.
"The new year is approaching, and Fan's Trading Company is too busy doing inventory and settlement."
"It's difficult for Fan to have time to participate."
He spoke coldly, clearly looking like he didn't intend to go.
After all, Fan Li was only interested in Hu Zongxian.
Xue Jiajia, the oiran from the capital, is worthless in his eyes.
Bazaar?
Rushing to give someone money?
Fan Li is not short of this little money, but a boat-painting maid is not qualified to ride wildly on the head of the Ming Dynasty general manager of Fan's Trading Company!
"How dare you not give my lady face?"
The maid in green showed an expression of disbelief.
She obviously didn't expect that Fan Li's attitude changed so much before and after.
She wondered if Fan Li had amnesia?
Is this an ordinary invitation?
This is an invitation from everyone at Yanbo Huafang Xue. Since Xue Susu became famous, no one in the Ming Dynasty has ever refused it, from the princes and ministers to the talented gentry.
How dare he refuse! ?
"dare."
Fan Li nodded and put on an expression that said, "I'm showing off my cards."
"Fan is not a prodigal in love, chasing butterflies and attracting bees. Nor is he a scholarly poet, conceited and romantic."
"Fan's family has a wife and a daughter recently, so he really has no interest in painting penthouses."
"In particular, Fan's Trading Company has never done hook-up business, and there is no need to make friends with Xue Huakui."
If you are polite to me, I will say "Xue Jia" to you.
Otherwise, do you count?
"see a visitor out!"
Fan Li was too lazy to waste time on the maid in green, so he just dropped two words and turned around to go back to the house.
…
…………
On the Qinhuai River, the water has frozen.
The famous Yanbo Painted Boat looks like a pagoda in the night. It is brightly lit all night long, making the dock as bright as the white ground.
On the top floor of the boat, there is a boudoir.
A woman was leaning against a short table, her beautiful cheeks lightly painted with powder, which made her look stunning.
The crystal white and tender skin is like mutton fat, and the eyes are as black as ink, which can't be written with spring and charm.
"Luzhu, have you sent all the invitations?" The woman opened her red lips lightly and her voice sounded like a fairy.
"Mr. Yan Ge's master and Mr. Xu Ge's master both accepted the invitations."
"Chen Zhuangyuan also accepted the invitation, and..."
The maid Luzhu rattled off many names, some of them were children of aristocratic families, some were talented and literary men, or some were wealthy businessmen.
The woman listened quietly and frowned until the maid shut up.
"Why are there two people missing?"
"yes."
The maidservant Luzhu lowered her head, a little nervous.
"The new shopkeeper of Fan's Trading Company in the Ming Dynasty, Fan Zhe, said... he said... the year is approaching, he is burdened with trivial matters, and he has a new daughter, so he can't spare time to attend the lady's bazaar."
Lu Zhu didn't dare to admit that it was her arrogance that made Fan Li angry.
"There is also Mr. Zhang Juzheng and Mr. Zhang Ge. He said that he is old and is an important minister in the cabinet. He is not suitable for competing with young people."
(End of chapter)
