"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 their respects during the New Year."
In the morning light, Fan Polu, who climbed up the hillside behind the official post with great interest, looked at the Yiyuegang pier where the ships were flying and the merchants were bustling. With a look of astonishment, she asked Zheng Haizhu who had climbed up after her.
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 realization 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 trace of compassion in her calm speech.
meaning.
After the first few interactions, the parents told their daughter that she was a kind-hearted person. A self-groomed girl with no husband to rely on could actually use her own money to run any school.
Feel free to go see the world with her, as long as she can have a bite to eat, 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 wharf called Rating House at the foot of our mountain! Hey, Thais either have yellow hair or 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 goods from the Ming Dynasty. Without them to bring money, how can this Yuegang be called the Southern Treasury of the Emperor?"
Okay, you go and take the dress, the fake collar, and the fake collar that you are going to show the merchant today and check the stitching again. 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.
"Guozhu brothers."
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 the head of the Yan family. Uncle Tang immediately said that it was a coincidence, Mr. Yan
The master originally reported that the business trip to Luzon was going well, but due to the winter wind direction, he had not returned to Zhoushan yet. Yuegang was indeed a suitable location, because the master Yan had already laid out manpower in Yuegang this autumn.
connection point on.
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.
Li Dan, as a maritime merchant leader who was entrenched in Hirado, Japan, and who was powerful throughout the southeastern coast, 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 careless 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 very prosperous in Songjiang, otherwise
You won’t win the favor of the Weaving Bureau. My little brother is so impressed with you!”
Zheng Haizhu heard what he said was artificial, held back her discomfort, and said with a smile: "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 (today's Philippines) is a place called the Spice Islands. In today's world of 1617, whether it is the Portuguese and Spanish people called Frankie, the Dutch, or the China Sea
Merchants often traded in that generation. However, Chinese maritime merchants, known as "merchants without empires", could not get support and protection from the Ming government at all. They relied entirely on merchants to buy weapons and hire Japanese to conquer the vast world with swords.
Ocean.
Zheng Haizhu directly asked about business matters because he didn't want to get into trouble 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 and 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 are, they will soon become cold.
It is 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 incense store was completely destroyed, and the prices of old materials on land had 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.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Li Guozhu also understood that this woman was not a stupid little girl, she was wary and suspicious, so he patted his forehead and said coquettishly: "Look at me, I am happy to say that.
I forgot about the business. Sister Azhu and Brother Yan mean that 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 Guoshu 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 striding figure, curled his lips, and said to himself: 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.