In the late first lunar month, Quanzhou, Jinjiang County.
After the big ship was changed from Hangzhou to a sea-going ship, Zhang Erniu began to have symptoms of discomfort. Sailing on rivers and lakes is completely different from sailing on the sea. The waves rise and fall, and the big ship shakes accordingly.
Not long after boarding the ship, Zhang Erniu developed symptoms of discomfort. Fortunately, Wang Zhong was there and acupuncture was supplemented with decoction. It was not a serious problem. However, he was dizzy all the way there and could only sleep most of the time. Lying in the cabin.
After getting off the ship, it took several days to fully recover.
However, Xiao Wei, Wang Li, and several children did not suffer from seasickness at all. Among the escorts, servants, and maids accompanying them, there were also a few who suffered from varying degrees of discomfort, and they adapted quickly. , unlike Zhang Erniu, who still reacted all the way to Quanzhou.
Chen Jun has been looking forward to Wang Zhong's return as long as he looks forward to the stars and the moon. When he heard the news about Wang Zhong's return, he immediately jumped on it like flies.
"Brother Wang, you're finally back!" Chen Jun looked like an angry little daughter-in-law with tears in his eyes. He grabbed Wang Zhong's hand and said with sincerity, "Brother, you are leaving in style. , leave me alone in Quanzhou, if you don’t come back, my hair will turn gray!"
"Let Ming Gong worry about it!" Wang Zhong said sincerely, cupping his hands. There were many things going on in Quanzhou, and Wang Zhong was not here. Chen Jun could only keep an eye on these things, which was unavoidable.
Wang Zhong and Chen Jun exchanged pleasantries, then welcomed them into the house with a smile, served hot tea, and listened to Chen Jun pouring out the bitter water.
Today's Quanzhou is no longer the Quanzhou where you can live a leisurely life in the past. Whether it is the docks and salt fields that have been put into use, or the ports and streets under construction, you need to keep an eye on them. Although Wang Zhong's men have already pulled up the There is a team of people working at the grassroots level, but Wang Zhong is not here. Chen Jun, who used to be the hands-off shopkeeper, is afraid that the people below will take advantage of Wang Zhong's absence to deceive him, so naturally he can only take everything seriously.
With this focus, things will naturally come one after another as if they are endless.
Fortunately, when Wang Zhong left, the autumn grain collection was coming to an end. In winter, there were even fewer ships passing through Quanzhou, and the salt farm also had a three-month break. Although there were chores, they were not too many.
After listening to Chen Jun pour the bitter water of a stick of incense, Wang Zhong could only agree with Chen Jun's words. After talking for a long time, Chen Jun finally recalled the real purpose of his visit, quickly changed the topic, and looked at Wang Zhong with burning eyes. Zhong: "Brother Wang and his team in Tokyo, have they gained a lot?"
Wang Zhong smiled slightly, looked at Chen Jun and asked, "Is it possible that the official decree has not been sent to Quanzhou yet?"
Chen Jun laughed and said: "Of course the decree has arrived a long time ago. Brother Wang is so young and has such a holy family. The official personally issued an imperial decree to let him promote the Quanzhou Shipbuilding Department and take charge of all matters of the Shipbuilding Department. He also asked Quanzhou officials to Be sure to give your full assistance! Tut tut tut..."
"Congratulations to Brother Wang, congratulations to Brother Wang for taking another step forward!" Chen Jun congratulated with emotion on his face.
Wang Zhong also raised his hands and said with a smile: "It all depends on Ming Gong's guidance and care. Without Ming Gong's support, Zhong Zhong will have nowhere to put his talents and knowledge to use."
Chen Jun shook his head and said: "I am a thousand-mile horse, but I found that the boss of this thousand-mile horse is an official. How dare Chen dare to overstep!"
Wang Zhong was a new scholar and a serious disciple of the emperor.
Wang Zhong did not argue with Chen Jun about this, but instead cupped his hands and said with a smile: "The official family originally intended to transfer Duke Ming to Beijing, but considering that Quanzhou is now in a stage of vigorous development, Worldly World only promoted him to the deputy envoy of Fujian Road Transport. After the matter in Quanzhou is completed, Ming Gong can be promoted to Tokyo, and even entering the center directly may not be impossible!"
"It's a blessing to be able to go to Tokyo. As for the center!" Chen Jun hurriedly shook his head and waved his hands modestly: "I don't dare to ask for too much! I don't dare to ask for too much!"
In response to the reward and decree, Chen Jun was sent to Quanzhou as early as last year. Although Chen Jun still served as the magistrate of Quanzhou and had the same mission as before, his official rank had been promoted to the fourth rank, and he also had the title of Deputy Envoy of Fujian Road. head.
As a transfer envoy, you can already write to the officials directly. It seems that there is not much change, but the authority is very different from before. Moreover, with such a good resume in Quanzhou, after being promoted to Tokyo in the future, Fu Zi will not be the same. impossible.
The two exchanged a few polite words, and Wang Zhong got straight to the point and asked about the preparations for the establishment of the Shipping Department Yamen.
"Don't worry, brother, everything is as I discussed before. The shipping department is located next to the newly built No. 3 Pier outside the city. The required manpower and material resources are fully supported by the state government." Chen Jun also immediately expressed his position.
"The officials personally issued the imperial edict, and no one dared to interfere with it!"
Wang Zhong smiled and said: "Please worry about it, Duke Ming!"
Chen Jun said: "It's all a matter of responsibility, no matter how hard it is."
After working together for several years, the two have developed a certain tacit understanding. Wang Zhong also respects Chen Jun enough. He does not become arrogant just because he has received the imperial edict of Emperor Jiayou. Instead, he will discuss everything with Chen Jun, the governor of the state, and act appropriately. Excellent, this is what Chen Jun likes about Wang Zhong, and both of them are honest and upright officials. After getting along for several years, they seem to have become friends forever.
If Wang Zhong hadn't already been engaged, Chen Jun would have even wanted to marry his daughter to Wang Zhong.
The next day, Sheng Wei and Chang Song came to visit, but among the people who came, there was someone unexpected by Wang Zhong, and she was also a woman.
"Shulan of the Sheng family, I have met Tongpuan! Thank you very much for Tongpuan's help in Youyang last year, for saving Shulan from the sea of misery!" Shulan saluted Wang Chongfu, her pretty face no longer showed the sadness of the past. He said somewhat relaxedly with a serious look on his face.
"Sister, there is no need to be polite!" Wang Zhong said with a smile: "Given the friendship between our two families, calling me Tongsuan is a big deal. I am a little older than my sister. If my sister doesn't mind, how about calling me brother? "
After all, Wang Zhong has not married Minglan yet, so it is not easy to call him brother-in-law. However, Shulan is a woman who has been divorced, so her reputation will inevitably be affected. The Sheng family prides itself on being a scholarly family and a well-behaved family. Shulan naturally does not I agreed so rashly.
Shulan couldn't help but look at her father Sheng Wei when she heard this. Sheng Wei smiled and said softly: "Zihou is not an outsider, there is no need to see outsiders!"
Shulan also had a smile on her face, and immediately saluted Wang Chongfu again: "Sister has met brother!"
Wang Zhong also smiled and clasped his hands and called out "Sister Shulan", and then asked: "By the way, why did Sister Shulan come to Quanzhou?"
Shulan said calmly: "After Sun Zhigao and I reconciled, Sun Zhigao and his mother spoke ill of me outside and ruined my reputation. My mother was afraid that I couldn't stand the gossip. It happened that my father and second brother were going back to Quanzhou. Come on, let me come with you to relax!"
Speaking of Sun Zhigao, the smile on Sheng Wei's face couldn't help but become a little stiff.
"That's it!" Wang Zhong nodded and said: "But there is no need for my sister to care. Justice is in the heart of the people. No matter how loud Sun Zhigao is, it is just some incompetent barking. My sister just ignores it.
Even if someone really believes what Sun Zhigao said, it can only mean that those people are idiots who don't know right from wrong. My sister is a smart person, so naturally she won't fight with those idiots who only know what others say and don't know right from wrong. excuse. "
"Brother, that's right!" Shulan was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and then looked at Wang Zhong in surprise. Obviously, Wang Zhong's words far exceeded her expectations.
After hearing Wang Zhong's words, Sheng Wei couldn't help but nodded and comforted his daughter: "Zi Hou is right, that Sun Zhigao is a shameless person. People have seen the truth of the matter, so naturally they will not believe his words. !”
"Don't worry, father, my daughter has already let go of this matter!" Shulan said from the bottom of her heart.
Seeing that Shulan didn't look fake, the smile appeared on Sheng Wei's face again.
When Wang Zhong saw this, he changed his tone and said, "This time my sister-in-law and aunt from the Wei family have come with me. Now they are talking in the back hall. I will ask my sister to meet them and chat with them. How about chatting? "
Shulan asked: "Is sister-in-law here too?"
Wang Zhong said: "As my nieces and nephews are getting older, I thought of taking them with me to teach them, so I brought my sister-in-law's family here."
"You really should go and pay homage!" Wang Zhong's parents died young, and his brother was unreliable. In the eyes of outsiders, Wang Zhong was raised by his sister-in-law, Wang Li. Shulan could not help but feel sorry for the person who cultivated such a talented person like Wang Zhong. My sister-in-law became interested.
Wang Zhong immediately asked the female envoy to lead Shulan to find Wang Li and Xiao Wei. At the same time, he asked the female envoy to bring Wang Qier and Wang Xu out to greet Sheng Wei.
But Shulan followed the female envoy to the backyard. Wang Li and Xiao Wei were spinning and weaving in the house. Xiao Wei volunteered to sit behind the loom, using the fine yarn spun by Wang Li and holding a spindle. , operating a new loom.
As soon as Shulan entered the door, she saw two rather exquisite machines made of wood and iron placed in the middle of the room.
The Sheng family was originally engaged in the spinning and weaving business. Shulan had naturally seen the new spinning machines and looms in her family's workshop, but the two machines in the house were different from those Shulan had seen.
Not only have many parts been replaced with iron, but they are also much more sophisticated, with additional spindles, and the efficiency is much faster.
"Shulan of the Sheng family has met my sister-in-law and Mrs. Wei!" Shulan is a typical lady of the family, well-behaved and well-mannered.
"It turns out to be Sister Shulan!" Mrs. Wang Li's eyes lit up, she stood up and walked to Shulan, took Shulan's hand, and said with a smile: "I have long heard my uncle say that the eldest son of the Youyang Sheng family is In my room, there is a young lady with excellent appearance and beautiful heart. I finally met her today!"
"Brother and sister-in-law mentioned me?" Now it was Shulan's turn to be a little surprised.
Wang Li took Shulan to the side and sat down: "Of course I mentioned it before. My uncle also said that after meeting Sun Xiucai, I realized what it meant to put flowers on cow dung. He also said that Sun Xiucai really couldn't bear to see his sister like that. After being dragged down by that scholar Sun, I gave Uncle Sheng an idea!"
As he spoke, Mrs. Wang Li seemed to realize that she had made a mistake, and her expression became unnatural.
Shulan is not a green pheasant girl who doesn't understand anything. On the contrary, she has been in the Sun family for several years and has been oppressed by Sun Zhigao's mother and son. She has already become familiar with the world: "To me, the Sun family is a hell and a sea of misery. Now that I can escape from the Sun family, It’s like being out of the sea of suffering, and Shulan can’t even express gratitude enough for my brother’s great kindness!”
"Hey!" Looking at the strong-looking Shu Lan in front of her, Mrs. Wang Li couldn't help but sigh, thinking of her own experience and Wang Zhong's comforting words in the past, and said: "Sister, you can think about it better than anything else." "Qiang, this world is already difficult for us women, so we have to be more open-minded."
Only the little Wei next to her didn't know what was going on. She didn't know Shulan's past, and she was a little confused.
The experiences of Mrs. Wang Li and Shulan are more similar. They both trusted others. Fortunately, Mrs. Wang Li had a sensible brother-in-law. He took up the burden of the family when he was young. He went out to work hard and bought property. Along the way, he passed the Jinshi examination and became an official. Wang Li, the widowed sister-in-law, also followed suit.
Shulan's mother, Sheng Li, had no idea. Seeing her daughter being wronged by the Sun family, she could do nothing. Every quarrel ended with the Sheng family's compromise. Every time Sun Zhigao had an attack, he and Shulan When they quarreled, they threatened to divorce their wives, so Sheng Li gave them money, property, and a farm shop to feed Sun Zhigao and his grandmother until they could not satisfy their sexual desires.
It was precisely because of Li's handling method that Sun Zhigao, mother and son, tasted the sweetness. They felt more and more that the Sheng family was easy to handle. Anyway, when they were short of money, they had a fight with Shulan, and Shulan ran home in anger. To file a complaint, Sun Zhigao would just put on a high profile and say that he wanted to divorce his wife. For the sake of the reputation of the daughters of the Sheng family, Mrs. Sheng Li herself would send her daughter back to the Sun family within two days, along with an apology gift or A farm, or two shops.
Not to mention anything else, in these years, Sun Zhigao took Shulan's dowry and held banquets all day long to entertain those poetry friends. Shulan knew clearly that Sun Zhigao also took his dowry to go to the fireworks willow alley, He drank and slept with prostitutes every day, but he still had no choice but to let it go. There was nothing he could do about Sun Zhigao, so he went home to cry to his mother Sheng Li.
These experiences are basically no different from Wang Li's husband who was addicted to gambling and even lost his wife and children.
Listening to Shulan talking about the past, Wang Li and Xiao Wei were very moved, and after a while, they became close to Shulan.
As we chatted, we ended up talking about the machine in front of us.
Shulan looked at the machines in front of her curiously and said, "Sister-in-law, let me see how these spinning machines and looms are different from those in the factory?"
Wang Li said: "This is a new machine that has just been developed. It is still in the experimental stage and has not been officially launched yet!"
Seeing Shulan looking at the spinning machine and loom with great interest, Wang Li asked: "Sister, are you interested in these?"
Shulan said: "You and I have nothing to do. It's better to find something to do than to be idle all day long!"
"Miss Shulan is also restless!" Xiao Wei said with a smile.
The three women just discussed the two new machines.
A few days later, the news of the formal establishment of the Quanzhou Shipbuilding Division spread throughout Quanzhou. Once the news came out, businessmen from nearby prefectures flocked to Quanzhou.
On the second day of February, the dragon raises its head.
The Shipping Department Yamen was invited by Quanzhou magistrate Wang Zhong, and countless businessmen gathered in Taibai Tower, one of the seven buildings in Quanzhou.
"Everyone here today is either engaged in maritime trade or has business throughout Quanzhou, and even in the state capitals near Quanzhou. Some of the big businesses even spread throughout Fujian and even Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Fortunately, Wang was appreciated by the officials and was given the post of general magistrate of Quanzhou. He also ordered Wang to promote the Quanzhou Shipping Department. Everyone has been engaged in trade for many years. There is no need for Wang to explain what the Shipping Department does. Now that the Shipping Department has just been established, Wang still needs your full help..."
Wang Zhong opened the banquet with a rather concise opening.
"Why are Wang Tongpan being polite to us? If it weren't for Tongpan, our shops wouldn't be in the same situation as they are today, don't you think so!" Someone immediately responded.
As soon as these words came out, the businessmen at the banquet expressed their full support for Wang Zhong's work.
Seeing everyone's reaction, Wang Zhong also had a smile on his face.
The purpose of the banquet is also very simple. It is to formally announce to all merchants and common people that the Quanzhou Shipping Department has been officially established. It is also to tell those merchants engaged in maritime trade that from now on, those who return from overseas can not only stay in Guangzhou and Mingzhou , Hangzhou, and Quanzhou.
Moreover, the Shipping Department will expand two wharves again and build 50 large-scale storage warehouses in Quanzhou Bay.
After hearing Wang Zhong's words, the eyes of all the merchants shone brightly.
This group of businessmen are either locals or have been operating in Quanzhou for several years. Naturally, they know what the warehouses on the Quanzhou dock look like today. Two docks and fifty warehouses, how much goods can be put down?
Moreover, the establishment of the Quanzhou Shipping Department means that the trade routes from Quanzhou to Fujian and even surrounding areas will soon be opened. Goods returning from overseas trade can pass through Quanzhou and flow to Fujian and surrounding areas, while Fujian’s tea and other Specialties, when you go to sea, you no longer need to transfer to Mingzhou or Guangzhou. You can start directly from Quanzhou Bay and go straight to your destination.
The so-called trade is nothing more than moving different goods back and forth between different regions, and merchants earn the price difference. Now the establishment of Quanzhou Shipping Department has reduced a lot of costs for these merchants doing business in Fujian. The cost has been reduced. , the profit will naturally be higher.
Chen Jun, the governor of the state, did not know much about business, but he saw all the changes in Quanzhou in the past few years. Although most of the wealth went into the pockets of the wealthy merchants, only a small amount of it fell into the hands of the common people. It's just soup and water, but it's these soup and water that have improved the quality of life of the people in Quanzhou several times.
The establishment of the Shipping Department has made Quanzhou Bay Pier, which had become somewhat deserted due to the Chinese New Year, become lively again.
And as the news gradually spread, businessmen from nearby areas continued to flock to Quanzhou, and countless people brought their families to Quanzhou to seek life. The entire Quanzhou once again showed a prosperous scene.
With the establishment of Quanzhou Shipbuilding Department, various original business houses in Quanzhou began to expand their scale. Three years later, after receiving orders from shipyards, many companies continued to set up branches in Quanzhou, and some also began to purchase ships. The caravans are preparing to come out, and some are simply for the precious overseas goods that are about to land in Quanzhou.
But no matter what the reason is, the result is good. The establishment of a business and the expansion of a caravan require manpower and materials. There are a lot of daily needs. If there is demand, there will be consumption, and if there is consumption, it will be given to the local people. Bring in revenue.
After the Shipping Department was truly established, Wang Zhong did not put too much thought into it. He only assigned manpower to keep an eye on it, while Wang Zhong himself focused on living supplies.
With the influx of a large number of people into Quanzhou, from the common people at the bottom to the wealthy businessmen who have no shortage of money in their pockets, these people have to eat, drink and have sex. Their arrival will definitely affect the original prices in Quanzhou, especially in Jinjiang and Nan'an counties.
In order to prevent people from hoarding and affecting the normal lives of local people, the Yamen invested a lot of energy in this, issued policies one after another, and also sent people to patrol and record daily in various markets in the city and docks.
In addition to official duties, Wang Zhong had to take time out every day to teach Wang Qian'er and brothers Zhang Xin and Zhang Yi how to practice martial arts. From time to time, he had to check their academic progress and give advice.
February passed quietly in the busyness, and the time soon came to the beginning of March.
All matters in the Shipping Department are gradually getting on track, and Wang Zhong does not have to keep an eye on everything by himself. Instead, everything is left to his subordinates. Wang Zhong only visits regularly.
As for the salt field, although the salt production has started again, after so many years of precipitation, Wang Zhong no longer needs to keep an eye on it personally.
It happened to be the tenth holiday, so early in the morning, after having breakfast and watching the two brothers Wang Qian'er and Zhang Xin and Zhang Yi taking lessons under Wang Zhong's invitation, Wang Zhong, who had rarely had half a day of free time, , he asked someone to move a deck chair to the courtyard, and lay down on it. There was a table next to the deck chair, with tea and snacks on it. Next to the table stood a waitress, who looked about eighteen or nineteen years old. The appearance is delicate and pleasant, without makeup.
Wang Zhong was holding a small purple sand pot in his hand. He closed his eyes and was basking in the sun, feeling the warm spring equinox with a smile on his face. There was also a female servant who was about twenty years old standing behind the recliner and gently replacing Wang Zhong. He pressed and rubbed his head heavily, his technique was very skillful, and it looked like he had been trained.
Suddenly, a sound of footsteps reached Wang Zhong's ears, and then a orchid-like voice rang in his ears, waking Wang Zhong from his leisurely state of mind with his eyes closed.
"Shulan has met her brother!"
"Sister Shulan?" Wang Zhong opened his eyes, and what he saw was Shulan who was a little surprised and embarrassed. Obviously Shulan did not expect to meet Wang Zhong in this state in the courtyard.
Wang Zhong raised his head and looked at the sky. The sun had just risen not long ago, and it hadn't even arrived yet. How could Shulan appear in his home?
As if she could see the doubts in Wang Zhong's heart, Shulan immediately explained: "My sister-in-law and Madam Wei, I have made an appointment to go to the cloth workshop together today!"
Mrs. Wei is the Xiao Wei family. Xiao Wei family and Zhang Erniu opened a dyeing workshop with the support of Wang Zhong. Shulan and Wang Li family both contributed funds. Xiao Wei family took the majority. She was also the Xiao Wei family at ordinary times. Responsible for the operation, Shulan and Wang Li went to help when they had time.
Wang Dian nodded: "How is the business at the dyeing shop recently?"
Shulan said politely: "Thanks to the formula provided by my brother, the cloth dyed in our dyeing workshop comes in various colors and is very popular in the market!"
Wang Zhongdao: "Although Aunt Wei has a cheerful temperament, this is her first time and she lacks experience. My sister-in-law is too soft-tempered. The dyeing shop needs Sister Shulan to take care of her!"
(End of chapter)
