"Sister Azhu, are you Fujianese so hard-working? You start work on the seventh day of the first lunar month. People in Songjiang must still be visiting to pay New Year's greetings."
In the morning light, Fan Polu, who climbed up the hillside behind Guanyi with great interest, looked at the Yiyuegang pier where ships were rushing and merchants were bustling, and asked Zheng Haizhu, who climbed up with her, dumbfounded.
Zheng Haizhu took a deep breath of the salty air and said with a faint smile: "Fujian is very mountainous and we cannot grow as much food as the Suhu area. If we don't rely on fishing, hunting and selling goods at sea, how can we rely on drinking the northwest wind?" Survive?"
Fan Polu sighed softly, as if imitating an adult, lamenting how difficult people's livelihood was.
After she became Sister Azhu's little follower, her biggest experience was that this maid from a rich family and the owner of a poor family was not at all snobbish about bullying the poor and flattering the rich, but she often revealed a hint of compassion in her calm speech. meaning.
The parents told their daughter after the first few interactions with him that he was a kind-hearted person. A self-groomed girl with no husband to rely on can actually use her own money to run any school. You can go out with her to see the world with peace of mind. As long as she can have a mouthful of food, you will not be hungry. .
In front of Zheng Haizhu, who was stamped as a great philanthropist by his parents, Fan Polu quickly lost his nervousness and fear, and developed the habit of asking Zheng Haizhu for advice at any time.
"Sister Azhu, look, there are Thais on the pier called the Rating House at the foot of our mountain! Hey, the Thais either have yellow hair, or they have black hair like us. Why do those Thais have red hair? "
Zheng Haizhu said: "They are Dutch people. They were controlled by the Frankies in the past. Later, they rebelled against the Frankies. They elected a general and began to go out to sea to do business freely. We, the Ming Dynasty, are called These people are red because most of them have red hair."
Fan Polu stuck out his tongue: "It looks like the red-haired ghost in storytelling."
Zheng Haizhu pursed his lips: "It doesn't matter what color they look like, or what color their hair is, as long as they can afford the money to buy our Ming Dynasty goods. Without them to bring money, how can this Yuegang be called the Nanku of the Emperor?" Okay, go and check the stitching of the dress and fake collar you are going to show to Fan Shang today. I will go to the dock to check the market."
Fan Polu obediently returned to Guanyi.
Zheng Haizhu walked down the not-so-steep slope and walked less than a mile north from the Rating Hall Pier where foreign ships came in, to the road end pier.
Crossing the stone bridge, a tailor shop at the entrance of the alley is in front of you.
The woman who was repairing Fuzi's bamboo curtain at the door stopped her work and asked with a smile: "Is she Shi Yuelan's sister?"
"Well, let's see the people in my hometown." Zheng Haizhu also answered in Hokkien.
"Have tea inside."
The woman quickly stood up and let Zheng Haizhu into the house.
A young man came out of the room.
"Brother Guozhu."
Zheng Haizhu saluted the other party.
A few months ago, when he was still in Songjiang, Zheng Haizhu went to Uncle Tang in Nanhui to ask about Yan Siqi's current situation, and told him that he was going south to Yuegang with the Suzhou weaving eunuch to see if it was possible to meet Mr. Yan. Tang Bo immediately said that it was a coincidence. Master Yan's family originally sent a message saying that the business trip to Luzon was going well, but due to the winter wind direction, he did not go back to Zhoushan for now. Yuegang is really a suitable place, because Master Yan's family has already arrived this autumn. Manpower was deployed at Yuegang as a land connection point.
Uncle Tang was indeed Yan Siqi's right-hand man. Before departure, he came to inform Zheng Haizhu that everything had been arranged. After she arrived at Yuegang, she went to Lutouwei Pier, one of the seven major piers, and contacted Qijia Tailor Shop. Can.
But Zheng Haizhu didn't expect that the person in the tailor shop was actually Li Dan's eldest son, Li Guozhu.
As a maritime merchant leader who was entrenched in Hirado, Japan and was powerful throughout the southeastern coast, Li Dan was indeed very kind to Yan Siqi. However, on Daishan Island, the details of Li Guozhu, a rich second-generation man, left Zheng Haizhu with an arrogant, shallow, and calculating attitude. impression.
Therefore, when he saw that his contact person was him today, Zheng Haizhu didn't show it on his face, but felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.
Unexpectedly, Li Guozhu changed his previous nostrils and raised his hands to Zheng Haizhu and said: "Sister, the God of Wealth, after we say goodbye to Daishan, my sister becomes more and more energetic. We have heard from Old Tang that my sister is prosperous in Songjiang, otherwise He won’t win the favor of the Weaving Bureau. My little brother is so impressed!”
Zheng Haizhu heard what he said was artificial, held back her discomfort, and smiled lightly: "Guozhu is too polite, I am just tinkering with some small things in the south of the Yangtze River. How are the spices in the southern islands of Borneo this year?"
To the south of Borneo and Luzon (now the Philippines) is what is known as the Spice Islands. In today's world of 1617, whether it is the Portuguese and Spanish known as Frankie, the Dutch, or Chinese maritime merchants, they often land in that generation of transactions, but the Chinese maritime merchants are known as "without empire" "Businessmen" were completely unable to obtain support and protection from the Ming government. They relied entirely on merchants to purchase weapons and hire Japanese people to brave the vast ocean with their swords.
Zheng Haizhu directly asked about business matters because he didn't want to talk too much with the boy in front of him. However, Li Guozhu felt that this woman didn't even ask if she was thinking about Yan Siqi on the scene. She only cared about whether the investment she invested in the man was lost or whether she made a profit. Seriously? They are as cold as the Japanese people in Hirado.
However, no matter how warm she and Yan Siqi were, they were about to get cold.
It's cool in the true sense.
Thinking of this, Li Guozhu suppressed the vicious excitement in his heart and the greasiness on his face. He lowered his voice and said sincerely: "Brother Yan received a lot of high-quality goods on this trip. Thanks to the accurate information given by sister, we are here The Yuegangya people who caught up near Penghu Island indeed said that after the fire in the palace, the fragrant medicine storehouse was completely destroyed, and the prices of old materials on land have increased a lot. Our new goods were bought up by several big buyers in the blink of an eye. There is no need to go north and sell some back to Hirado, the empty ship can directly buy raw silk in Zhejiang and turn around to Luzon."
Zheng Haizhu said "hmm", but didn't seem to be happy.
Li Guozhu also understood that this girl was not a stupid little girl, and was wary and suspicious, so he patted his forehead and said sarcastically: "See, I am so happy that I have forgotten about the real thing. Sister Azhu, what does Brother Yan mean?" , you go to Longxi County to meet."
Zheng Haizhu asked bluntly: "Why not in Haicheng County? Isn't there already a pick-up point for our own people here?"
Li Guoshu explained: "There are all large merchant ships here. It is too obvious to mix in small sampans, and soldiers patrolling the sea route come and go frequently. Longxi County is not far away, and it is my sister's hometown. Brother Yan means that my sister may be able to On the pretext of returning to my hometown to pay homage to my parents, I announced my leave to the boss."
Zheng Haizhu stared at Li Guozhu: "Brother Yan was forced to leave his hometown because of trouble in Longxi County. Even though it has been seven or eight years, I am still worried that some fishermen there will recognize him."
Li Guozhu answered fluently: "Sister, don't worry, my brother Yan said that the place will be at Taoyuan Ferry Pier, five miles north of the county. He said you must know that place. Brother Yan is very careful and has made detailed arrangements."
Zheng Haizhu secretly thought that Taoyuandu, a slightly remote place at the mouth of the inland river, is indeed far away from the densely populated county town and the wharf where merchant ships come and go.
She then confirmed with Li Guozhu again: "Guozhu, Brother Yan will come to Taoyuan Ferry to pick me up in person?"
"Of course, didn't you tell Uncle Tang that you have something important to discuss with Brother Yan?"
Zheng Haizhu nodded and said: "Okay, just follow Brother Yan's instructions. I will take leave with the father-in-law in three days and rush to Taoyuan Ferry. If Brother Yan waits for me and doesn't see you for two days, he will leave the coast of Fujian as soon as possible. Thank you for your help. I Go back first."
"Hey, sister, have a cup of tea before leaving."
Before Li Guozhu's attentive voice could be heard, Zheng Haizhu waved his hand politely and turned to leave.
Li Guozhu walked leisurely to the door of the tailor shop, looked at the back of the meteoric strider, curled his lips, and said secretly: His appearance and figure are really interesting, so let's go underground and make love with my brother Yan, who is praised by his father as a god.
