"So, the Xie Chamber of Commerce among the four major chambers of commerce in Chang'an is also..."
"Your mother is the one behind the scenes, and the current person in charge is her brother, your uncle."
"No wonder I always felt that the people from Xie's Chamber of Commerce were a little weird when I came into contact with them before. Eh..."
Li Yan was stunned at first, and then realized that something was wrong!
In the past, he always felt that changes in his family background were due to changes in attributes.
But looking at it this way, his parents' background should have been determined long ago, and the improvement of his attributes is more like revealing the originally hidden side.
For example, if his family background is 3 o'clock, even if he is the direct grandson of Li Jing, he will never recognize him as the son of Liangzhou.
When his family background increased to 10, Qiu Ying, who happened to be working on a case in Liangzhou, met him.
But when you think about it, it’s quite strange.
If his family background keeps adding up to 20 points, what will happen?
"It can't be a prince, right? An illegitimate child is not worth anything..."
Li Yan shook his head, but from this promotion, he also roughly understood that the increase in family attributes was, to put it bluntly, fame and fortune.
Li Jing's direct grandson, the Li family of Longxi, is his name.
As for the actual situation, Li Derjian's downfall does not bring much benefit. Now, it is Li Yan who is flying with the Duke of Wei.
The prince and several princes are similar. On the surface, they are the most noble people in the world, but they are overwhelmed by the power-hungry father and mother. They are more famous than real.
And the benefits are much greater.
Political interests, financial interests, and even private soldiers and private guards can all be regarded as benefits brought by family background.
Monetary benefits should be something Xie can provide in large quantities now.
Li Yan asked: "Is Xie's Chamber of Commerce very rich?"
Li Derjian smiled: "Of the four major chambers of commerce, only the Xie family has no official background in the central government. A Jiangnan chamber of commerce can stand in Guanzhong, and your mother is a business genius. How much wealth do you think she will have?"
Li Yan was puzzled: "Then you have reconciled? I haven't seen any contact between the Duke of Wei and Xie's Chamber of Commerce?"
Li Derjian shook his head: "We are not at peace, but your mother has a strong personality. She would rather let the Xie family join forces with the Xiao family than accept the help of Duke Wei."
Li Yan couldn't help but complain: "The Duke of Wei couldn't help much before, right?"
Li Derjian: "..."
He had gone through many hardships and his temper had long been worn away, but now he had to show off in front of his son: "You have underestimated me as a father. If I really want to come forward, I can still get a lot of support."
Li Yan nodded: "I absolutely believe this, but business matters have not reached that level, so it is not necessary for big things, but you can help. Small things are needed, but you can't help?"
Li Derjian: "..."
Seeing that the atmosphere was tense, Li Yan hurriedly said: "Sir, don't be angry, don't be angry, I was joking!"
Li Derjian glared at him: "I really couldn't help with business matters before, but you are really powerful. You directly knocked down the Dou Chamber of Commerce. The Li Chamber of Commerce was unable to shrink due to the downfall of Li Shilang..."
Li Yan frowned: "So the current market share in Chang'an is taken by Xiao and Xie. Is this why she came to me?"
Li Derjian shook his head: "Absolutely not. I know your mother's temperament very well. She will not come to you when you ask for help. She really wants you to inherit the Xie family's wealth. In fact, it will be a matter of time."
"I just didn't expect that I, a Liangzhouzi who was once so poor that I couldn't even afford a book, is now so rich that I don't even know how much money my family has..."
Li Yan laughed, thought for a while and said: "Xie's wealth does not represent her wealth. It is a huge family with countless people waiting to be fed. I don't care about the interest disputes here, but it's just money.
I really need it."
The social status of ancient merchants was humble, but money had huge power no matter what time it was.
Otherwise, countless powerful people would not be secretly doing business. As a top relative, the Dou family would not be so ugly and would not even pay any taxes.
Li Derjian was very happy when he heard that he only wanted benefits and didn't want to take care of the dirty work, and he looked confident: "You have only been an official for a year, and you can say these words. It's really a shame for you."
Scarlet robe!"
Li Yan smiled and said: "I am not completely indifferent. I have a subordinate who hates corrupt officials and unscrupulous businessmen. Although he is somewhat overqualified and underqualified, if there are any problems within the Xie Chamber of Commerce, he can be let go.
"
Li Derjian said: "Qiu Shenji, right? I've heard about it. Many people in Chang'an have heard about it. This move is quite cruel... Anyway, let Manager Xie come in first!"
Not long after, Manager Xie walked in and saluted Li Derjian: "Duke Wei!"
He looked at Li Yan again and said happily: "Yuan Fang!"
Li Yan moved his mouth and said awkwardly: "Uncle...?"
Manager Xie was so excited that his body trembled, and he subconsciously said: "Don't dare to take it seriously... Ahem, I mean, Yuanfang, you are very good!"
Li Yan: "..."
As for what?
There is no way, for how many years the Xie family has been, no one has been appointed as a high-ranking official in the court.
At that time, if Li Derjian had not been so depressed that he was demoted to a commoner, no matter how outstanding the Xie family was, they would not have gotten married due to the huge status gap between the two parties.
But now that the fifth-rank official, who is the youngest in the imperial court and still holds the real power, calls him uncle, Manager Xie can't bear it.
However, Li Derjian understood how difficult it was to fall into despair after glory, and there was sadness in his eyes.
Li Yan first asked a few questions about his mother, such as how his health was, where he currently lived, etc. Anyway, he was very polite.
Thank you for your answers.
Relationships are cultivated, and since they have never even met in person, Li Yan really has nothing to talk about and starts to care about business: "How is the Xie Chamber of Commerce doing with the tea trade?"
Manager Xie hurriedly said: "I heard that Yuan Fang likes to drink tea, we have always been prepared!"
Li Yan smiled: "I actually like another way of drinking tea. A Liangzhou businessman invented a method of making tea... Go to my room and bring me the tea set."
The servant was ordered to go get it.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Everyone looked curious as a strange tea set appeared.
Li Yan's favorite is the kind of tea brewed in later generations.
However, making tea did not become popular until the Ming Dynasty, and tea has also undergone changes from generation to generation.
In the Tang Dynasty, tea cakes were steamed and pressed. In the Song Dynasty, tea cakes were made into finely pressed tea cakes. In the Ming Dynasty, tea cakes were made into strips of fried tea.
With loose tea, people want to make tea without many previous steps. They only need to put the tea into a cup and brew it with boiling water.
Not only is it simple, but it can also retain the fragrance of tea to the greatest extent, so it has been used until later generations.
Li Yan was ready to push forward slowly and not to take too big a step. He first focused on the method of making tea made by the tea sage Lu Yu sixty years later.
He started to operate.
First roast the tea cake, cool it and then grind it into powder. Add salt to the first boil, add the powder to the second boil, add ring stirring, and stop at the third boil.
Everyone looked at it and thought it was strange.
During this period, everyone still drank tea soup. When Li Yan brought goods to major temples before, he also used the method of making tea.
Li Yan was not very skilled, but he still finished it steadily. Compared with making tea, the time of making tea is much shorter.
He divided the tea between the first three bowls and poured a cup each for Li Derjian, Manager Xie and himself.
Li Derjian took two sips and then put it down, obviously not used to it.
Li Yan took a few sips and found that he was not used to drinking it. It was not as good as the boiled tea with a lot of seasonings before, but it actually overturned.
Only Xie Zhang frowned beforehand and slowly tasted it, but the more he tasted it, the more peculiar the taste became: "The taste is quite strange, but the aftertaste is endless, this method is valuable!"
Li Yan naturally knew the value of this method, but he also found that he had made a mistake: "It seems that not all tea cakes can be fried with tea. If you use inappropriate frying, it is better to use the previous brewed tea and develop a better method."
The seasoning ratio.”
He recalled for a while and said: "I heard from a businessman in Liangzhou that there is a kind of Yangxian tea in Yangxian County, Yixing (later Yixing, Jiangsu Province). Is it famous in the south of the Yangtze River?"
"How come Liangzhou merchants know everything?"
Manager Xie was stunned for a moment, then said: "This tea is indeed famous in the Jiangnan area. The best tea is produced on the top of the mountain, and its aroma is the best among other species. But outside of the Jiangnan area, it is not well known."
Li Yan said: "Excuse me, uncle, please send someone there to try the method of making tea. If it tastes really good, take it!"
Manager Xie was very direct: "Buy!"
Tribute Tea 1!
Li Yan added: "There may be a kind of purple bamboo shoot tea in the local area. The tea buds are tender and purple in color. Its shape is like a bamboo shoot. If it is not famous, get it quickly."
"purchase!"
Tribute Tea 2!
Li Yan continued to think about what useful tea leaves are available in this era.
He used to bring goods and use his own traffic to recommend to Buddhism, and then the influence of Buddhism would drive it outward.
Facts have proved that the idea is correct. Tea has become very popular in Chang'an and has spread to all parts of Guanzhong.
If tea can really become popular, and he has huge funds, he will definitely seize the supply first.
Unfortunately, even after thinking about it, he couldn't remember anything else. Li Yan simply asked: "Where does the best tea come from today?"
Manager Xie said: "The land of Sichuan and Sichuan has the most famous teas. I have selected quite a few and brought them to my house."
Li Yan asked: "What if I want to trade with people on a large scale?"
Manager Xie understood and frowned slightly: "Then we have to cooperate with Shu merchants, but those Shu merchants are too exclusive and difficult to buy..."
Just as Li Yang was about to say something, Xu Da walked in quickly from outside: "Li Jiyi, there is someone coming from the palace. The saint wants you to enter the palace quickly."
Li Yan's eyes darkened: "What happened?"
Xu Dadao: "The situation of the war in Tubo has changed."
Li Yan stood up, saluted the two elders, and walked out quickly.
Manager Xie was filled with envy: "Yuanfang is so promising. For such a national event, the saint is the first to think of him!"
Li Derjian sighed and expressed worry: "The position of internal guard is very dangerous..."
At this time, Li Yan had already climbed onto the lion's horse and rode out of the house.
The moment he stepped out of the gate building, his eyes were slightly dazed.
After working on it for a long time, the Jiangnan people who have suffered so much discrimination still deserve to be counted half of it?
Of course, the actual situation cannot be calculated like this.
Even though women in the Tang Dynasty, especially the head wives, had a high social status, they were still mainly patriarchal.
He is the direct grandson of Li Jing, a member of the Guanzhong gentry, but has some connection with Jiangnan.
Li Yan quickly put aside this idea and galloped on his horse. After arriving at the Daming Palace, he was led by the chamberlain all the way to the Zichen Palace.
As soon as he entered the hall, Li Yan saw five people sitting under the steps.
Qiu Ying, Pei Xingjian, An Yuanshou, Doulu Qinwang, Li Yiyan.
All five cabinet leaders of the inner guard were present.
The remaining empty seat is reserved for him.
As the only one who accepted the invitation, Li Yan calmly stepped forward and sat down.