The autumn sun is shining high, and the first sweet-scented osmanthus flowers are falling down. When people look up and down, the sky and the earth they see become golden.
Qin Fang met Shi Zhangfang from the dock who was traveling to Beijing from Nanzhili on a canal passenger ship.
When he rented a shop in Beijing, Zheng Haizhu made it clear to Qin Fang that there would be a counting house from the south.
She told Qin Fang that the accountant's name was Shi Yuelan, who she regarded as a relative like an elder sister. Several businesses in the south, be it trading companies or insurance companies, all reported accounts to Shi Yuelan and her husband, Old Tang. Even her own nephew, Tang and Shi, could not handle the payment of money.
Now the Zheng family branch in the capital has begun to receive goods and find new customers. Qin Fang is the external storekeeper for the incoming and outgoing of embroidery, cloth, porcelain, grain and rice, but the money accounts have to be managed by Sister Shi.
After Qin Fang listened to Zheng Haizhu's arrangement, how dare he not just accept it.
In just over a month, he, Lao Qin, worked as a tooth man by the Tong County pier to earn some lip service. He turned around and became a powerful general under the commanding lady. What else is there to be dissatisfied with?
Early this morning, Qin Fang personally drove out of Beijing and brought Shi Yuelan and the two boys to the shop.
Zheng Haizhu is already waiting in the front hall.
"Brother and Daishan, are everything okay?" Zheng Haizhu asked with a smile while holding a bowl of osmanthus and lotus root powder for Shi Yuelan.
"Daishan has always been peaceful. Four or five large ships have been added this year. The Yan family is doing very well. He wrote to us that no one in the Frankie Merchant Ship in Beigang, Taiwan dares to be dishonest. By the way, the Yan family is the second in command. The baby is about to fall to the ground."
"Oh? What a happy event! But after all, it won't catch up with you and Old Tang. Yuelan, your young master is about to get married, right?"
Shi Yuelan had an indifferent attitude: "Old Tang can make the decision. When I was on the island, I didn't like to worry about the baby. Madam knows that I like to go out and run around the dock."
Zheng Haizhu nodded: "That's natural. You are only in your early thirties, how can you go home and raise your grandson? When an official returns from Japan to Nanzhili and can take over Old Tang's work, ask Old Tang to come to Beijing immediately Here. The capital city is the largest dock, and one shop is not enough for us."
Shi Yuelan happily agreed and scooped up the lotus root starch to eat.
But I only tasted two or three spoonfuls before I put it down again.
She worked for Yan Siqi and Zheng Haizhu successively, and she knew that the two of them had the same temperament and got along with their subordinates in a tolerant manner, but she was always concerned about whether their subordinates understood the information and progress that the leaders really wanted to know.
Shi Yuelan then went straight to the topic: "So that Madam can rest assured, Old Tang was in Songjiang, accompanying Young Master Shoukuan to contact Cao Yibin from Prince Lu's Mansion, and then met Young Master Gu and Miss Han. Old Tang watched them board the ship with his own eyes , General Xu also placed about twenty sailors on the boat. Master Shoukuan told them that after the boat arrives at Beigang, the home of Mr. Yan, they must immediately send a letter to report that it is safe. "
Zheng Haizhu relaxed her eyebrows and raised her face.
She was indeed very concerned about whether the start of the Gem Trading Company's dungeon in Champa went smoothly.
Whether it is partnering with Yan Siqi and Mao Wenlong in maritime trade, or selling firearms and cotton armor to the Liaodong Army and the Minhai Navy with the permission of the imperial court, whether it is injecting manpower and technical factors into the Yanzhou Lufu Coal Mine, obtaining stock dividends, or now entering the cultural industry Hua Dian works as a lecturer for the prince and takes the route of making friends with the top power subjects. Zheng Haizhu is still not so arrogant that he thinks he has grasped the script of Shuangwen's heroine.
In this time and space full of opportunities but also full of variables, she still had to find a retreat overseas as soon as possible.
When Zheng Haizhu was talking to Shi Yuelan, Qin Fang stood at his head with his sleeves hanging down.
After listening to Shi Yuelan's clear report, Qin Fang also sighed in his heart. This woman of similar age to him really showed her ability to travel around the world, and she obviously had a close personal relationship with her employer.
There are no weak soldiers under a strong general. If he were an ordinary person, Mrs. Zheng would not move to the capital.
Zheng Haizhu glanced at Qin Fang, suddenly came to his senses, and said with a smile: "Old Qin is tired of picking up people, so we are doing nothing while standing. Let's sit down and have snacks together."
Shi Yuelan also carefully took out a beautifully embroidered silk bag from the bag next to her, and handed it to Qin Fang with a friendly face: "The craftsmen in the south are still known for their craftsmanship, so I made a silver bracelet for my sister-in-law of the Qin family, and a silver bracelet for our nephew." I put a small gold lock on it, and shopkeeper Qin accepted it with joy."
Qin Fang hurriedly put on an expression of surprise and appreciation and accepted the offer enthusiastically.
Before today, it was impossible for Shi Zhangfang to know whether he was a bachelor or a wife and child. Such a heavy meeting gift must have been ordered by Mrs. Zheng in advance.
If the madam is determined, she will not be able to let the Shi Accountant suppress Lao Qin in the future, right?
Zheng Haizhu pursed his lips, and when he spoke again, he was more serious: "Since I wear the red robe of an official, I can't show my face in trading companies on weekdays. Even if I have free time, I have to take Mr. Lu and General Zhang with me. , go and socialize with the ministers and gentlemen. I will leave the business of the trading company to you. Old Qin, look at the silk bag sent by the stone accountant, how fine is the embroidery?"
Qin Fang grinned and said, "There's nothing to say. Those left from the palace on the market are not as good as this."
Zheng Haizhu said: "This is indeed not an ordinary product. Our Songjiang painting and embroidery, coupled with Wuxi's green bamboo carvings, can be used by wealthy officials and the women of the wealthy Wan Guan family. It will not insult their status. Old Qin, you will do it tomorrow." Call the sellers who have been screened over time, one by one, and let the Shi Accountant take a look. The sellers used by the southern trading company were all recruited by the Shi Accountant, and there has been nothing wrong with them over the years. So this time she also has the eye. , after this period, she will mainly be responsible for accounting and will not be too involved in your duties as the shopkeeper."
Qin Fang said hurriedly: "Just follow Madam's arrangements."
When the first batch of velvet handkerchiefs and cotton shoes and socks from the trading company arrived in Beijing, Zheng Haizhu asked Qin Fang to search for resources from nearby women sellers.
Most women in today's world, especially those from families with luxury spending power, are still living a normal life of never leaving the house or leaving the house. The group of young women who love to dress up cannot go shopping freely all the time, so they mainly rely on their peers to do their shopping. A group of female sellers brought exquisite goods to the back house for the female guests to choose from.
After Qin Xiang expressed his attitude to Zheng Haizhu, he did not forget to lower his attitude to Shi Yuelan: "Sister Shi, I am originally from Pier Ya, and I am really new to the business of selling women. I rely on my eldest sister to control everything."
…
Zheng Haizhu returned to the house next to the trading company. Li Daniu and Hua Er were already waiting for a reply.
"Lao Qin and Sister Shi are in charge of the serious and respectable business affairs of our trading company in Jingzhong. From now on, you two will mainly be responsible for looking after intelligence. Let me tell you, I have been following Mr. Wang's men in the past few days to investigate some things. What?"
Li Daniu said: "Cui Wenjing from the patrol camp and Gu Qingquan, the clerk from Fusi in Beizhen, go back and forth between the barracks and the home, and there is nothing unusual for the time being. However, we found out that Gu Qingquan has never been married. , there was a matchmaker in the shop who wanted to propose marriage to him, and he said there was a young lady in his hometown who was engaged."
Zheng Haizhu muttered: "The ancient scribe is good-looking, he must be in his twenties, and his job as a Fusi official in Beizhen is not impressive. It is a bit far-fetched to say that he still wants to pass the Jinshi examination and get married."
Li Daniu said: "Yes, Mr. Wang's men also said so."
He continued: "That Shanxi doctor went to the Fahua Temple on the east side of Chongwenmen Street."
"Ah?" Hua Er's eyes widened a little, "What a coincidence, the Honglu Temple Prime Minister Li Kezhuo we followed has also been to Fahua Temple."
Zheng Haizhu stared at them: "Didn't you two talk about this just now?"
Hua Er said honestly: "I asked Brother Daniu just now. Brother Daniu said that when Manager Wu taught intelligence agents in the past, Manager Wu must be the first to know the information that everyone found. So..."
Zheng Haizhu's eyes softened: "Guanshi Wu taught you right, and Daniel is also very good. He remembers all the rules. Yes, if you are not the same sentinel, you can't cross each other before reporting to me after you come back. Fahua Temple... Well , I will go to the Wenhua Hall to give lectures tomorrow, and I will go visit that temple the day after tomorrow."
Li Daniu added: "Madam asked me to ask Mr. Wang's men how to get to Shanhaiguan. They said that if you can ride a fast horse and don't change horses, it will take about three days. If you drive there, it will take ten days no matter what."
"Well, okay, I understand. I have something to see General Ma, but it's not as urgent as the things in front of me."
