Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 122 Bordeaux Situation ([-])

PS: During the recommendation period, I think it’s better to be kind and update twice a day, otherwise I’m sorry for everyone, and I’m sorry for the editor.Oops

Xu Xin turned around in astonishment.

His French is not very good, but this sentence is still understandable.The person who asked the question was a hale and hearty old man. He was dressed in a dark woolen dress with a burqa made of the finest Indian dyed cloth.On the top of the head is a wide-brimmed top hat made of precious fur, and under the top hat is a white wig.Since the king of France lost all his hair due to a strange disease two years ago, wigs have suddenly become popular overnight.

The old man walked into the house, took off his top hat, and the servant behind him came up to catch it graciously.After seeing the old man coming in, the staff in the store also said hello: "Good day, sir."

"Michelle, what did old Pasquale send you to do?" The old man glanced coldly at Michelle who was standing aside, "My store will never sell products from the Pasquale family. For this , I think you have understood it ten years ago. So, tell me, what is the purpose of bringing these two Orientals to my shop?"

"Dear Mr. David Ludwig, as you can see, the two 'Guests from the East' are my host's distinguished guests, and they just want to visit your store out of curiosity. Of course, if you don't mind, we will immediately Leave." Michelle bowed slightly and said.

Ludwig didn't speak, and walked to the counter on his own, picked up the account book and looked at it briefly, and the servant brought over a pot of coffee, which was rare at this time.Ludwig took a sip, and the strong aroma of coffee filled the small space of the store.

"Oriental people, if you don't do a good tea business, why do you want to do the cotton cloth business that you are not good at?" Ludwig put down the account book and said suddenly.

Xu Xin and Xu Xin looked at each other in blank dismay. Their French skills were really poor, and they didn't understand what the old man in front of them was saying.

Ludwig frowned, and then asked in Spanish: "Young man, tell Ludwig, why are you disturbing the cotton cloth market? This market has been maintained for hundreds of years, and Ludwig promises that it will continue to Keep it going. I don't care where you got your cotton from, England, India or Italy, no one's going to get away with it against Ludwig's will, no one!"

"The cotton cloth is not surnamed Ludwig!" Xu Xin retorted neither hard nor soft.

"The price of cotton cloth in Italy is not low. Since the export of cotton from Turkey was cut off, the Italians can only import a little cotton from Cyprus. Their cost is very high. If you deal in Italian cotton cloth, you will not be worth the loss." Luther As if he didn't hear Xu Xin's words, Weige continued to speak on his own.

"The market will give us a fair answer." Xu Xin said calmly.

"Perhaps you have a way to import a lot of cheap white cotton cloth from India, but after the import price of 6 sous a bolt has traveled across the ocean and paid customs duties, how much profit margin can your agent leave you?" Ludwig He lowered his head and continued to look at the account book, but he was still saying some irrelevant words.

Shit, this old man is lying to me. He obviously doesn't know anything, but he pretends to talk a lot of nonsense.Xu Xin smiled secretly, he didn't talk nonsense, and said directly to Michel next to him: "It's getting late, let's go back." Then he nodded to Ludwig and said: "Ludwig Goodbye, Mr. Ge, I hope you can always have the good mood to enjoy the sweet coffee at this moment." After speaking, he took the lead and walked out of Ludwig's shop.

Ludwig raised his eyelids, did not speak, and continued to enjoy the fragrant coffee.

The rain outside the door seemed to be getting heavier.

Holding an oilcloth umbrella, Xu Xin slowed down and waited for others to follow.From time to time, some hurried figures flashed on the street. These people held a thick stack of cotton cloth in their arms and held a big oilcloth umbrella. They lowered their heads and walked towards the side door of Ludwig's store, which seemed to lead directly to the warehouse behind the store.

"Those are some urban weavers." Michelle walked over with an umbrella and said, "Ludwig gave the yarn to these weavers on credit, and they wove the yarn into cloth and sold it to Ludwig at a low price." Derwig, you can earn some hard money for each cotton cloth, maybe less than a sou. If you are lucky, you can weave ten bolts every month and earn half a franc."

Xu Xin nodded: "What can half a franc buy? A small piece of bread? A small spoonful of brandy?"

"Of course it's not the kind of bread you usually eat, honorable Mr. Xu, and they can't afford delicious brandy." Michelle smiled, with a lot of complicated content in his smile, "In fact, they can only get it from the market. Buy some cheap grains with a lot of impurities on the Internet, and some peas. Women and children can eat little or no breakfast in the morning. Only men who need to maintain physical labor can eat food in the morning. There have been famines in recent years , food prices have risen several times, and they even eat very little for dinner. As for luxury foods such as fish, meat, and chocolate, it is only possible to taste such a little bit when the church gives alms, provided you have Good luck enough."

Xu Xin remained silent.

"This is just the life of weavers. Compared with them, the life of those spinners may be a little harder." Michelle continued, "They usually rent and plant land, but they often don't have enough to eat. Sometimes they may need to borrow money from Jewish vampires like Ludwig. Then work almost non-stop during the slack to earn a little spinning income to repay the loans they owe. But many of them do not Failing to repay their loans in time, they went bankrupt and became debt slaves, reduced to miserable serfs or sold to the New World. They ate more crude and less food, and such people can be seen everywhere in the Gascony countryside. Many people's homes There are too many children born, but they can't support them, so they can only be sent to rich people's homes as free servants for no money."

"I've seen a lot of skinny kids wandering the streets." Xu Xin sighed, "So that's why you hate Jews?"

"They are all vampires!" Michelle yelled angrily, but soon he calmed down again, then bowed slightly and apologized: "I'm sorry, honored guest, I lost my composure."

"It's nothing, Michelle." Xu Xin said, "Do those children wandering in the wilderness have parents?"

"Some don't, some have, but it's almost the same as no, their parents can't afford their lives." Michelle raised her head and asked suspiciously: "Why are you asking this?"

"I want to do something for them." Xu Xin said carefully, "As you know, I am the Minister of Trade of the wealthy Eastern China Republic, and I can provide these children with sufficient food for their growth , a stable living environment and the best education, the premise is to let these children settle on the east coast. Can you help me?"

"Of course, I am very happy." Michelle looked into Xu Xin's eyes and said, "The premise is that you can treat these children kindly. Although you are not a believer in the Lord, I believe in your sincerity, honorable Xu. Maybe you I have a heart of redemption, because once the East Bank cloth is sold, the number of children wandering in the wilderness will increase several times and dozens of times, because their parents have gone bankrupt."

"Michelle, you are so straightforward." Xu Xin shook his head and smiled, "You are also very individual. You are also very knowledgeable, at least you are fluent in Spanish, which surprised me. I guess maybe you are from A merchant or a well-to-do citizen family?"

"You guessed it right, distinguished guest." Michelle said calmly, "I am indeed the second son of a merchant family. Unfortunately, I have no inheritance rights and was kicked out of the family."

"I apologize for bringing up your unpleasant past." Xu Xin bowed slightly and said, "Let's get down to business. The land of the East Coast Republic is extremely fertile and rich. Even if you raise tens of thousands of children, there will be no problem. If you let these The children are wandering in the wild, and perhaps they will someday die miserably from starvation and disease. If so, why not let them go to the East Coast? At least there, they can eat and live, and Get an education."

"Yes, this is a very good choice for them, at least they can have enough food. Moreover, they have zero chance of receiving education here." Michelle nodded, "Instead of this, then it is better to let them Go to the east coast. Don't worry, their parents will agree, after all, no one wants to see their children live in such misery. Of course, if you don't mind giving them a little compensation, they will be more I couldn't be more grateful."

"Compensation? How much compensation is needed? What kind of compensation?"

"Maybe a piece of black bread, maybe two pieces of grain and pea cakes, or maybe a little money compensation. In short, it's optional, I don't think it will cost you too much money." Michelle said.

"Of course, we don't mind paying a little fee for this." Xu Xin readily agreed, "Maybe we should act now, so that the living conditions of these children can be improved faster. It is likely to come from Dongfang Port next month The ship is about to arrive in Bordeaux, and we'd better get everything done before then, because we may be quite busy after that. So we don't have much time. Michelle, we have to hurry up , Now let’s go back to the store. Help me hire a few people, and then go to order 100 yuan black bread. Of course, I will explain the situation to Julian, and I will pay you a certain amount.”

"As you wish, honorable Xu." Michelle bowed slightly and said.

(End of this chapter)