Everyone was stunned for a moment. When Old Song saw the big shopkeeper looking at him, he hurriedly said: "The three major families in the south of the Yangtze River are the Fang family in Yangzhou, the Lu family in Hangzhou and the Qiao family in Suzhou. The Qiao family in Suzhou is not weaker than the Lu family, and their business is spread all over the country.
In Suzhou, they are not like the Fang family and the Lu family who are behind them. They have become prosperous in recent years. The Qiao family is a century-old family. The Qiao family started doing business when the country was founded. As time goes by, the money will become more.
When the Fang family and the Lu family were still there, the Qiao family's business was also operating in Yangzhou and Hangzhou. However, after the Lu family came together, the Qiao family's business slowly withdrew and only concentrated on the business in Suzhou."
Xue Poye chuckled and said, "The Qiao family is really generous, giving up this large area to the Lu family and the Fang family."
Shopkeeper Meng San from Jiazilou sighed: "It's not like giving in. I heard that although the Qiao family has been doing business for generations, they have no official background, so although they have money, their power is light. The Lu family has people from the imperial court behind it."
People, that's why the Qiao family gave in. Outsiders also said that the head of the Qiao family was timid and cowardly, but speaking of it, the head of the Qiao family was not a simple person. For so many years, although he had not interfered in the business of Su and Yangzhou, the Lu family and the
But the Fang family doesn't dare to do business in Suzhou. The three families have formed an unwritten rule, each controlling one state."
Shopkeeper Tian San hurriedly shook his head and said: "It's wrong to say that each of us controls a state. Although the Lu family is obviously the largest in Hangzhou, the Fang family is supporting the Lu family. In the early years, Nan Huaiwu almost took over.
The Lu family collapsed. Later I heard that it was the Fang family who took the initiative to marry off their daughter, who is now Mrs. Fang. Therefore, with the support of the Fang family, the Lu family forced Nan Huaiwu to withdraw from the business world and live in seclusion. In the final analysis,
Now the Lu family is also in charge of the Fang family, isn’t even the head of the family the daughter of the Fang family?”
"Nan Huaiwu?" Xue Poye became confused when he heard this strange name.
Several people looked at Xue Poye and seemed a little strange. Did the shopkeeper not even know who Nan Huaiwu was?
Xue Poye saw the doubts on everyone's faces, touched his nose, and smiled awkwardly: "I was young at that time, so I don't remember much."
Several people were stunned. Old Song chuckled. After following him for a long time, he knew that the shopkeeper seemed to be unfamiliar with some things. He explained: "It happened several years ago, about five or six years ago. I'm afraid except for the business world,
Some old people, not many people remember him."
"Is it very powerful?" Xue Poye asked, immediately smiled and asked: "Is it very powerful?"
"It's amazing." Shopkeeper Tian San still showed admiration: "In those days, the eldest young master of the Lu family was still there and he was very arrogant. The then magistrate and the eldest young master of the Lu family had known each other for eight years. The Lu family was really rampant in Hangzhou.
Unimpeded and extremely arrogant, in those days, the eldest young master of the Lu family was the king of Hangzhou. If he fell in love with a girl while walking on the street, he would be snatched back to his house and given some money afterwards. No one dared to say, even
The prefect also turned a blind eye."
Xue Poye was shocked and said: "Holy crap, is there such an awesome person?"
Although they didn't understand what "awesome" meant, several people heard surprise and anger from the shopkeeper's voice. Shopkeeper Tian San continued: "Although Mr. Lu has a bad reputation, he is a good hand in business. The Lu family
It was also in his hands that he became a wealthy man in Hangzhou and became famous for a while. The eldest young master became more and more aggressive the more money he had, not to mention bullying men and women and occupying fields and land. Later, he fell in love with girls on the street in broad daylight.
They committed suicide on the street, with only their subordinates surrounding them for cover. At that time, many girls committed suicide after being bullied. Other girls hid at home and did not dare to go out. In those years, the streets were not like they are now.
There are almost no women around."
Xue Poye heard sweat dripping from his forehead. This young master Fang was extremely arrogant, but he didn't know why he never saw him. Wiping his cold sweat, shopkeeper Tian San already continued: "Just when the Lu family was at its peak, Nan Huai
Wu suddenly appeared. He was originally a small salesman walking in the streets. It is said that one day when he passed through Hangzhou, he saw Master Lu doing violence. He stepped forward to stop him and was beaten up. From then on, Nan Huai Wu stayed in Nan Huai.
When we arrived in Hangzhou, no one paid attention at first. It was not until the Yuanzi appeared later and became more and more powerful that everyone realized that the man behind the Yuanzi was the young peddler who had been beaten up by the eldest young master of the Fang family."
Old Song nodded and said: "Speaking of which, Nan Huaiwu is somewhat similar to the shopkeeper. He has accumulated wealth without making a move, and he has united with the small merchants who were suppressed by the Lu family. Although the small merchants
There is not much money and wealth, but there are many shops. Therefore, in just one year, Nan Huaiwu's power has been able to compete with the Lu family. The people all recognize Yuanzi's things. The Lu family is gradually declining, and they are only one breath away from being defeated by the Nan family.
Huaiwu was crushed, and Nan Huaiwu spent a lot of money to win over the prefect. The Lu family was weak, and Young Master Lu was unable to save his life, so he died of anger."
Xue Poye couldn't help but admire Nan Huaiwu a little. This man was actually a genius in the business world. It turned out that the eldest young master of the Lu family had passed away. No wonder he didn't see this man. Think about it, if the eldest young master of the Lu family was still alive.
, even if the Fang family and the Lu family were to marry, Mrs. Fang was afraid that she would not be able to be the head of the family. She rubbed her nose and asked, "Did the Fang family propose a marriage as soon as the eldest young master of the Lu family died?"
Lao Song said: "Yes, when the Lu family was about to fall, the Fang family proposed a marriage, married their daughter, and betrothed to the second young master. In fact, the second young master was not a bad person. He had helped many people from time to time. It was probably to restore the Lu family.
However, she was a bit cowardly. When the second grandmother married, the affairs of the Lu family were decided by the second grandmother. With the support of the Fang family, the Lu family once again bribed the magistrate, and then launched a vigorous counterattack against Nan Huaiwu. The underworld
Bai Dao was used, and Nan Huaiwu was squeezed out within half a year, and he withdrew from the business world and went into hiding."
"Oh!" Xue Poye frowned, was silent for a moment, and asked, "Where has Nan Huaiwu gone now?"
"I don't know where he is." Old Song shook his head: "But when he was in glory, he married a wife and had children in Hangzhou, and now he lives in seclusion in the suburbs of Hangzhou, but no one knows where he is."
Xue Poye sighed, slapped his head, and said with a smile: "Look where we have been talking about. Why did we get involved in Nan Huaiwu? By the way, does the Qiao family also deal in silk?"
Lao Song said with a smile: "The Qiao family is one of the merchants in Suzhou. Jiangnan is the silk capital of Chu. For every ten pieces of silk in Chu, seven come from Jiangnan. Speaking of which, in the three states of Jiangnan, the light gauze silk is the most popular in Yangzhou.
Good, but this silk and linen is from Suzhou. The Qiao family not only buys and sells silk, but also has a workshop specializing in making silk, and clothes are also made in the Qiao family's workshop...!" He suddenly reacted: "The... shopkeeper,
Do you really want to do this business with the Qiao family?"
The two third shopkeepers were also surprised. Looking at Xue Poye, only Xiao Pan was sitting quietly aside as if there was nothing wrong with him.
Xue Poye chuckled and said, "What do you think? I think the Qiao family is our best choice."
Old Song frowned and said with some worry: "What the shopkeeper said is right. If we talk about it, the Qiao family is an excellent choice, but... Hey, don't blame me for telling lies and ruining the omen. I'm afraid we have intentions. The Qiao family
Unintentional.”
Xue Poye also frowned: "This business is not small, and it requires a lot of silk. We have no choice in Hangzhou and Yangzhou. The Qiao family is the best choice, rather than our only choice.
Is it possible that he will push this good business to other countries?"
Shopkeeper Tian San sighed and said: "I'm afraid the shopkeeper doesn't know something. Over the years, the Qiao family and the Fang Lu family have each been doing their own business. Although there are always some small businesses, big conflicts are indeed
No, although the Lu family intends to take over the Qiao family, the Qiao family is probably still content with the status quo. They are very satisfied with the current situation. The money in Suzhou is enough for them, and they don't want to have a conflict with them. Now the shopkeeper is looking for him.
They are engaged in such a big business, but they don’t know that the bigger the business, the less likely the Qiao family will accept it. Once this business is done, it will definitely alarm the Fang and Lu families, and this situation of keeping things separate will be broken. The Qiao family knows this very well.
, I will definitely not agree."
Xue Poye didn't frown. He said before that such a big business came to his door. The Qiao family must have been overjoyed. He didn't expect that there were these words in between. It seemed to be very tricky.
"Shopkeeper, why don't we go to the north and have a look? Silk cloth is also produced there, but the material is inferior." Seeing Xue Poye's poor expression, Lao Song immediately suggested.
There was silence in the office, and the atmosphere was quite depressing.
Xue Poye gently picked up the tea cup, thoughtfully, took a sip of the cold tea, and finally said: "I've heard that silk is produced in the north, but it's too far there, let alone the waste.
Even if the business is done there and the goods are transported back to Hangzhou, if a bandit robs the goods along the way, I won't be able to cry. Moreover, this is the army's autumn clothing after all, and the material cannot be bad.
, cannot be dealt with casually."
What Xue Poye said made sense. Several people fell into silence again. It was still Xue Poye who opened the door: "It can't be done. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, this trip to Suzhou must be done. No matter what, we must do it."
Convince the Qiao family to do this business with me."
Lao Song finally said: "Shopkeeper, I know your abilities. Although this matter is difficult, but the shopkeeper personally takes action, it is quite profitable. I will go with you to Suzhou this time."
Xue Poye waved his hand and said with a smile: "Don't go. You can't get away from things here. It's a tense moment with the Lu family now. You and I are gone. I'm afraid something will go wrong."
Old Song asked anxiously: "Is the shopkeeper going alone?"
Xue Poye thought for a while and said with a smile: "I have my own arrangements. That's it. It's settled. Without further ado, I'll leave tomorrow. You have to take good care of me here. If Lan Yuexuan is free,
You also need to go over and take a look. As for the money expenditure, you and Yuezhu can discuss it." Turning to the two third shopkeepers, he said: "Shopkeeper Song, I'd like to trouble you two to take care of it."
The two hurriedly said yes.
"Okay, it's getting late, you go first." Xue Poye waved with a smile, looked at Xiao Pan and said, "Xiao Pan, you stay, I have something to explain."