The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 274 Intimidation

Chen's daughter's carriage stopped outside Zhang Zhou's new yard by the sea behind Shichahai in the northwest of the city.

At this time, the lights have been turned on.

Chen's daughter got off the carriage and looked around. When she found that Jin Yiwei and others were coming towards her, her expression was still a little nervous.

"Miss, this is probably a dragon's pond and a tiger's lair, so you can't enter it." The woman next to Chen's daughter reminded her.

Chen's daughter said: "In the current situation, do I still have a choice?"

Then, led by Jin Yiwei, she walked through the gate like an arch bridge over a small moat, and entered the courtyard.

In her eyes, this is a government office, because from the inside to the outside, it is not an ordinary housekeeper, almost all of them are official servants, and most of them are Jinyiwei.

When she arrived at the pavilion next to the front yard, she saw that the lights were brightly lit, and there were two people talking in the pavilion. Zhang Zhou's voice was very loud, and this was the first time Chen's daughter saw Zhang Zhou.

"...Don't worry, Eunuch Dai, I'll be there tomorrow morning. Whether it succeeds or not, I will come up with a plan. I will neither show off nor stand by."

The person who met Zhang Zhou was Dai Yi, the eunuch who was in charge of the seal.

It's just that Chen's daughter doesn't know it.

But when she heard "father-in-law", she knew that she was someone she couldn't afford to offend, and then Zhang Zhou sent Dai Yi to the door, and Dai Yi continued to be polite: "Mr. On behalf of the emperor. You need to rest well, the journey to Xuanfu will be hard work!"

As Dai Yi was talking, he also saw someone coming from afar, but he didn't know who it was, he thought it was a female relative of Zhang Zhou's family.

Before Zhang Zhou left, he wanted to bring his family to the new house for a reunion, which was very reasonable, and Dai Yi politely bowed his hands in the direction of Chen's daughter to show his politeness.

If it were an ordinary man who came to visit, he would avoid Zhang Zhou's family members when they met.

But Dai Yi is different, he is an eunuch, although he is now a favorite in the imperial court, but in the end, he is just a servant of the palace. Dai Yi like this wants to have a good relationship with Zhang Zhou's family members.

Sometimes it is necessary to make Zhang Zhou look at him differently, give gifts to Zhang Zhou's pillow people, and let them help blow the pillow breeze, that is all necessary.

It's just that he admitted the wrong person this time.

……

……

After Dai Yi left, Chen's daughter stepped into the pavilion.

The surrounding pavilions, gardens, rockeries, and pools are not at all like the pattern of northern gardens. Chen's daughter is from Jiangnan, and she is very familiar with this environment.

"Why, are you curious?" Zhang Zhou smiled, "I used to occupy the mansion of the great eunuch Li Guang after his death. This place looks pleasing to the eye, but it may not be a comfortable place to live. It's too cloudy."

Chen's daughter hastily saluted, "Minnv has met Master Zhang."

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "To be called an adult is to be divided. Although Zhang is in the government and the public, he mostly cares about the affairs of the market. You can call me Zhang Shidao, an official, or simply Zhang Guan'er, it is all right."

"Ministers don't dare." Chen's daughter seemed very measured.

Although she is the daughter of an ordinary merchant, she was born in an official family, and there is a big gap in status between officials and merchants in the north, and there is a clear distinction between them.

However, in the south of the Yangtze River, especially in Huizhou and other commercially developed areas, there are many family members of officials who are merchants, which also reflects a sense of social identity.

In the minds of the northerners, especially the common people at the foot of the emperor, the concept of class is very clear, and they look down on merchants very much.

The people of the Jiangnan generation admired merchants very much, mainly because they were rich, and rich people could open up official relationships in a place far away from the emperor in Shangao, forming a contrast in social status.

In the south of the Yangtze River, it is more common for Nasu to enter the Guozijian.

"Sit." Zhang Zhou was also polite to Chen's daughter.

Chen's daughter obviously did not dare to sit on the same level as a "big man" like Zhang Zhou. She was born in an official, so she obeyed the etiquette and understood the rules of dealing with officials. This is why she was able to do well in the mall before.

Zhang Zhou didn't force himself, pointed to the direction Dai Yi was walking, and said, "Mr. Dai, the chief inspector of ceremonies, known as Yin Gong, asked me to treat people's diseases, and the ones he cured were Hualiu. He will go on a long journey tomorrow." , but can’t push back, it’s really frustrating.”

Chen's daughter lowered her head and said nothing.

She obviously didn't understand why Zhang Zhou told her this.

"Earlier you went to Mrs. Anbian Hou...it was the ex-wife, who came to me to discuss business matters... You said you wanted to undertake the repair of partial earthwork and timber business, but it didn't work out. I'm also very sorry, and you saw it in the end. It's not that the people around me take over the business, it's all for bidding, the Jiang family's bidding price is higher than yours, I want to help, but I can't help."

Zhang Zhou seemed to have expressed his intention.

He came to "apologize" to Mrs. Chen.

He promised Ning Tong before to help the sisters complete the bidding.

In the end it didn't work out.

Chen's daughter said: "It's the little girl who asked for too high a price. She originally wanted to make more profits for Mr. Zhang and Sister Ning's family. Who would have thought that someone would bid below the market price and deliberately suppress it."

"For profit?" Zhang Zhou picked up his teacup with a smile, and shook his head, "I really don't like such petty profits."

Chen's daughter seemed to understand suddenly why the business failed this time, or why Zhang Zhou didn't help them wholeheartedly.

The profit is too small, but there are policy risks behind it. I thought that the friendship between Ning Tong and Zhang Zhou would be used in exchange for this business...but Zhang Zhou didn't seem to take Ning Tong seriously.

Zhang Zhou and Zhu Feng were just friends, and Zhu Feng was flattering Zhang Zhou, and Ning Tong was just Zhu Feng's ex-wife.

Zhang Zhou seemed to have no reason to break the principle in order to help Ning Tong.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "I heard that before the bidding, you bought a lot of wood and stone materials together. After the bidding, have you sold all of them up to now? A word of advice, seeing the summer flood season is coming, the water level of the canal will rise, and the wood and stone materials in the south will go north. The transportation is more convenient, and the price of this wood and stone has been falling again and again, so we have to sell it earlier."

Chen's daughter gritted her teeth.

Her recent situation has been very difficult.

Zhang Zhou reminded: "If you think the price is low and it's not worth selling, you can wait until the price recovers at the end of the year before selling it. It's not impossible. I just don't know your capital flow... or debt ratio, how about it?"

Although Chen's daughter didn't quite understand Zhang Zhou's words, she could understand something about "debt". She said, "If the business fails, I have to sell the materials at a low price to pay off the debt."

"Oh, that's a pity." Zhang Zhou said, "How about foreign debts, there are tens of thousands of taels, right?"

Chen's daughter was shrewd and knew that Zhang Zhou was putting pressure on her.

With Zhang Zhou's relationship in the market, isn't it easy to find out what?
"Yes." Chen's daughter didn't hide anything.

Although he didn't say much, even Sun Shangqi, who was standing by and watched the excitement, could tell that the Chen family was in trouble.

Zhang Zhoudao: "I'm very sorry about this. Speaking of it, if I hadn't donated most of my family property recently to fold color money for the imperial court, I might have lent some to you for emergencies."

Of course, Chen's daughter can't be disrespectful, she said: "Ministers don't dare to ask extravagantly."

"You shouldn't have asked for it."

Zhang Zhou originally looked polite, but when he said this, his face suddenly became stern, "Small businessman's daughter, so what if she was born in an official? She made those shady ways try to take advantage of others who just walked out of the house and wanted Get a foothold in the world and do calculations! If the business fails, then sell all the property and pay off the debts. Whether it is getting married or guarding one-third of an acre of land in the future, it is also a good strategy. "

When Chen's daughter heard this, her heart was shaken.

Now she understands that it's good that Zhang Zhou didn't make trouble for her secretly, not to mention helping her.

Is this to discuss business with her?

He was scolding and admonishing her.

"Minnv didn't use anyone." Chen's daughter still wanted to explain for herself.

"That's right, the ex-wife of An Bianhou is also self-willed. Who does she think she is? Miss Qianjin? Do you think that everyone will follow her wishes wherever she goes? It means that An Bianhou feels ashamed of her in his heart and always wants to Seeking to make amends to her made her feel arrogant. It's a pity that this world is not easy for you women to gain a foothold. Listen to my advice, get married earlier, or you won't see so many dirty things in this world. "

Zhang Zhou said with a smile, as if he was teasing Ning Tong and Chen's daughter.

This is the gesture of a winner.

No matter how upset Chen's daughter is, she understands that she has no right to refute.

"Master Zhang, I dare to ask, is there any chance for the Chen family to gain a foothold in this world?" Chen's daughter asked back.

Sun Shangqi sternly said: "What a big tone, dare to question here?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "Well, Shangdao. You know that I didn't come to you to amuse you. Tell me, why do you think I will give you a chance?"

No matter how stupid Chen's daughter is, she can tell that Zhang Zhou actually wants to use her.

Only by driving the Chen family to a dead end can she be "useful".

To put it bluntly, she can only be someone else's white glove at most, and it is impossible for her to control the entire business by herself.

Chen's daughter said: "Minutes have no way out, they can only depend on others. If the dignitaries in the court have no helpers, there is no way to stand in this world. The appearance of Puliu, a commoner girl, never dared to expect to marry a wealthy family. If she can follow the lord Left and right can also be plotted by adults."

"Hehe, you're wrong. I'm not interested in what you look like. As you said, you have nowhere to go. Maybe I can give you a way."

Zhang Zhou pointed in the direction of the door and said, "Early tomorrow morning, there will be a carriage here. If you get into that carriage, you will not have to pay back your current debts for the time being, and the interest will stop here!"

"I won't help you repay any debts, I can only help you talk about it, and it depends on whether they give it face. No guarantee."

"If you follow along, you will go to the Xuan Mansion and do the mining work. How much I will give you depends on my mood. It is enough for you to pay off your debts and enough for you to gain a foothold in the world. Don't try to take too much."

"Originally, there are countless merchants who want to take over this business, and it is not impossible for me to join the battle in person. It would be good to take a step back and let the Jiang family come."

"But I don't want to put all my eggs in the same basket. It's easy to break them all at once. You are just a way for me to share the risk."

"As for the Ning family, this matter has nothing to do with her at all, and you are not allowed to see her in the future, and you are not allowed to talk about today's events. If you can do it... Hehe, you can choose to go or not. Come on ,see a visitor out!"

Zhang Zhou didn't beep too much.

If you fall in love with a boat, get on it, if you don't love it, get out, it doesn't matter if this boat has your Chen family or not.

The purpose of pulling you into the car is also because you are a merchant in the south of the Yangtze River, and you don't have any powerful people behind you to help you. I think you are easy to control.

Then drive you to a dead end, so that you have to follow along.

If you still want to beep and beep, then leave as soon as possible and pretend you haven't seen it. Your Chen family will love you to death in the future, as if no one cares.

……

……

Before Chen's daughter could give her opinion, or put forward some conditions, or do some negotiation, Zhang Zhou ordered her to evict her.

She was also stunned at this time.

In this cooperation, let alone the initiative, she has no autonomy at all.

When Chen's daughter left under the escort of Jin Yiwei, Zhang Zhou was still sitting there drinking tea, looking relaxed and at ease.

"Have you seen the yard? Call everyone over, it's time to go home." Zhang Zhou remembered that the women from the back house were still visiting the new home.

But Zhang Zhou didn't want his family to move here. As he said, he felt that the place was very dark.

If he, a masculine man, is not around, the aura in the yard may not be able to be suppressed in the back house.

"Go and inform the ladies." Sun Shangqi said to his subordinates.

When only Zhang Zhou and Sun Shangqi were left in the gazebo, Sun Shangqi asked: "Sir, this Chen's father is only a small role in the Jiangnan Salt Administration. He doesn't have much power in the officialdom now, so why bother? Such people , and it’s not easy to control.”

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Old Sun, I hear what you mean, do you want to fight by yourself?"

"No... I don't have the talent for business in a humble job, so I don't dare to make such delusions."

What Sun Shangqi implied was that he still coveted this business, but he knew his identity.

If you can follow Zhang Zhou as a thousand households in Jinyiwei, you will have a future in the future, and you don't have to go to the mall to fumble around.

"Isn't it just because she's a woman, with no background and ambition, that she's easy to be controlled? If she's a man, with a bunch of dignitaries behind her, she still does business like An Bianhou, just for fun, and it doesn't matter if she makes money or not. I can accept it happily, even with a bunch of retreats behind me...then why should I ask her?"

Zhang Zhou smiled.

Sun Shangqi was surprised.

Only then did he understand that a person's shortcomings can become advantages in certain situations.

And Zhang Zhou has the eyes that are good at discovering the advantages.

"Ugh!"

Zhang Zhou sighed heavily, "It's not easy to start a business these days. Brothers fight against each other, father and son fight, and even close relatives cannot be trusted, let alone outsiders? There is only one kind of person in this world who can be trusted, and that is you who can be crushed to death He, after crushing him to death, doesn't need to bear any conscience and moral precepts. This little girl from the Chen family fits my needs very well."

Sun Shangqi smiled and said: "That's right, she is neither your close relative nor your friend. If she doesn't obey your orders, you can make her fall into a catastrophe at any time."

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "How can I say that I appreciate your grandson? Look, can I do this to my father-in-law? I have always been soft-hearted. I give benefits to others, but I can't let myself suffer. It's still this kind of irresponsible A partner is more in line with my heart."

Just as he was talking, Jin Yiwei came over and reported: "Sir, the grandson of the British prince is out to see you."

"Has Zhang Lun arrived yet? Tell him to prepare. Those two from the Zhou family shouldn't be going, right? Let Zhang Lun make the preparations alone! Follow me tomorrow to get medical treatment... Arrange a room for him tonight The place! Now show the appearance of marching and toss everyone!"

……

……

Zhang Zhou is about to set off.

Zhang Zhou first introduced the situation of his own house to Jiang Pingyu and the others, in order to prevent himself from being unable to come back in the northwest, not to say that he would never come back, but to go for a year or so... Wouldn't the courtyard be abandoned?
Of course, there is a yard outside Zhang Zhou, which was given to him by Uncle Ping Jiang and Chen Rui, so there is no need for Jiang Pingyu and the others to take over that yard.

Because Zhang Zhou himself had never been there.

"Ma'am, do you think this place is okay? It's very similar to our Jiangnan water town. I have renovated everything and spent a lot of money. After I leave, you can come and have a look at any time, but remember, don't stay here. Bian Jiuliu... After all, there have been some unexplained things here."

Zhang Zhou entered the inner courtyard and visited with Jiang Pingyu and the others.

Han Qing blinked and asked, "My lord, what's the unknown here? Did someone die?"

Not only was she looking at Zhang Zhou, but Sui Sui was also looking at her father.

The mother and daughter have almost the same eyes.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Where has no one died in this capital city? But if you say that you died in this house, there is no one. The former owner of this yard was called Li Guang, and he died in the palace... Speaking of it, I have a little relationship with me." , I was...hehe."

Hearing this, Zhang Jun, as the only man in the family after Zhang Zhou left, was already slipping into his mother's arms.

"I'm not human. Your father and I have killed a lot of people. Your father and I invented all kinds of gunpowder and firearms. It's a big deal to kill people? If you're afraid, you'd better stop practicing martial arts and go back to Nanjing. Go to the vegetable garden!"

Zhang Zhou instantly felt that Zhang Jun was a bit in need of a beating.

Before the expedition, if you don't beat your son up, how can you show your demeanor as a father?
Jiang Pingyu said: "The master is right, after you leave, the concubine will not come here..."

"No, I still need to tidy up this yard, otherwise my money will be wasted." Zhang Zhou said, "I have to enjoy this yard before I leave. After all, I earned it with my hardworking hands. Let's do it, today I won’t be going back tonight, and occupy my respective rooms!”

"Ah."

No matter how relaxed Zhang Zhou's expression is.

In the eyes of the women in Zhang's house, husbands are all men who are about to go to war, and going to the battlefield is no joke.

Although they still don't understand why Zhang Zhou went to Xuanfu.

With Zhang Zhou as the general manager of Xuanda, there is no need to rush to the front line if there is any war.

"Also, bring the little box I prepared. I'm going to discuss the philosophy of life with you tonight." Zhang Zhou said.

Jiang Pingyu and Wang Mingshan didn't feel much, two red clouds rose instantly on Han Qing's cheeks, and under the light of the white lanterns and candles, she looked even more glamorous and delicate.

Obviously, the things in the small wooden box left a "deep" impression on her.

In Zhang Zhou's inner courtyard, she is both a teacher and the first participant in certain things.

(End of this chapter)