In the cold moon of late winter, there was frost and snow in the courtyard. After traveling on the water for more than twenty days, Zhufeng and two cargo ships finally arrived at the capital of the Mu Kingdom.
It was still very hot when we left Yinzhou. Unexpectedly, halfway through the journey on the water, a cold current came suddenly. Even though the sun was still shining, the air-conditioning was coming from the river, so the people on the boat had to thicken their clothes.
Zhufeng got off the boat wrapped in a jacket and felt quite emotional when he saw the customs that were completely different from those in Yinzhou.
Although it is the capital of the Kingdom of Mu, when you look around, it does not have the bustling appearance of a capital city. On the boardwalk at the slightly dilapidated dock, there are the dark and suffering faces of porters who have experienced many vicissitudes of life walking back and forth.
Even though the cold wind blew at the pier and made their clothes bulge, these people were still topless, gritting their teeth and busy in the cold wind.
The sky was also gloomy, as if it was trying its best to hold back the heavy rain.
After staying in Yinzhou for half a year, Zhufeng almost forgot that he was living in an era of war and chaos.
At this time, he clearly realized that the prosperity and tranquility of Yinzhou gave him an illusion. The stability was only temporary. Leaving Yinzhou and looking at the entire continent, it was still in dire straits.
And in such a big environment, no one, anywhere, can be alone.
For the first time, he was worried about the future of his family. Can everything the family has worked hard to withstand the test of this troubled world?
"Boss Zhu Feng, hurry up and leave, it's going to rain heavily." One of the two ship bosses traveling with Zhu Feng urged.
Zhufeng quickly regained his composure and followed the pace of the two ship bosses. However, before the three of them could find their footing, heavy rain started to fall.
There had been no rain in Yinzhou for a long time, and suddenly they felt like they were being drenched in rain. Zhufeng and the two boat bosses even thought for a moment that they were in Yinzhou, and almost wanted to launch and cheer.
However, after seeing the Mu people in different costumes running around in the heavy rain, the three of them felt extremely disappointed. It would be great if this rain fell in Yinzhou.
With great difficulty, the three of them found a place on the eaves of a teahouse. As for the teahouse, it was already full of people, all of whom were trapped here because of the sudden rainstorm.
Zhufeng shook the water in his shoes, but his ears listened to various sounds inside and outside the teahouse.
"...I think Xuanlu, I'm afraid he won't survive."
"Hey...Boss Zhang is a good man, why did he get such a strange problem? If he leaves, the orphans and widows in the big house will have no place to stay."
"I should have adopted an adopted son if I had known it. It is a pity that no son can inherit such a large family business. Once Boss Zhang gives up and leaves, it will only be an advantage to those relatives."
Zhufeng listened, with some doubts on his face. He took out the contract for exchanging medicinal materials for food. It was written on the contract with the Zhang family and stamped with the seal of the Zhang family.
It couldn't be such a coincidence, right? Zhufeng didn't believe in evil, so he put the contract away, entered the teahouse, and walked towards the group of people who were talking.
"May I ask, which Boss Zhang is the Boss Zhang you just mentioned?"
The chattering crowd immediately burst into laughter, "There is only Boss Zhang here, who else can there be?"
Seeing that Zhufeng was dressed differently from them, someone said: "Oh, you are from out of town, no wonder you don't know. We are talking about our boss Zhang Zhengshan Zhang, the richest man in Shengjing."
"Where does Boss Zhang live? I have a business deal with the Zhang family, and I'm about to pay him a visit," Zhufeng said again.
Someone immediately replied: "It's on Xiaoye Street. But the Zhang family is closing its doors to thank guests, so I'm afraid you may not be able to see anyone if you go."
Zhufeng asked strangely: "Why is this? Since you are the richest man, why do you thank guests behind closed doors?"
"Boss Zhang got sick for some reason, and I heard that he will die soon. Now the whole family must only care about the property in Boss Zhang's hands, so how can we let outsiders into our house?"
"Hey, tell me, can we win the war with Minzhou? What if we lose? Will we cede territory and pay compensation or make a marriage?"
"Don't talk nonsense. What are the chances? If there is no chance, you will definitely win."
Seeing that the crowd had moved the topic elsewhere, Zhufeng had no choice but to give up, and then went to the eaves again, staring at the heavy rain in a daze.
I don’t know how long it took, but after Zhufeng squatted down countless times, the rain finally became lighter and finally stopped completely.
As soon as the rain stopped, people taking shelter from the rain took to the streets again, each going to do whatever they had to do.
Zhufeng and the two ship bosses chose a nearby inn, then Zhufeng asked them to wait in the inn while he went to Xiaoye Street alone.
...
On Xiaoye Street, as soon as you see it, you will see a huge courtyard. You can guess that it is the Zhang family without confirming.
Zhufeng came to the main gate and saw that it was closed. He walked up the stone steps again and listened to the sounds in the courtyard.
The yard was very big and there were many sounds. Zhufeng listened for a while but didn't hear anything useful, so he just knocked on the door.
Soon, a voice came from the door, but he refused, "It's very inconvenient for me today, so I won't see any guests. Please come back another day."
Zhufeng sighed helplessly. He thought this transaction would go smoothly, but he didn't expect that he would be rejected as soon as he arrived at the destination.
He had to say again: "I signed a sales contract with your employer, and I'm here to cash it in."
The voice that didn't want to guard the door still said firmly: "Please come back another day."
Zhufeng thought for a while and then asked: "Is there a guest named Xu in the house? Xu Ying, I know him, please let me know."
The sound inside the door stopped for a while, and then Zhufeng heard the sound of the bolt being removed. Soon, the door was opened.
It seems that Xu Ying is really taken seriously here. Zhufeng thought to himself.
The gatekeeper looked at Zhufeng and asked tentatively: "May I ask this master, what is his relationship with Mr. Xu?"
Zhufeng felt a little suspicious for no reason, but he still replied: "We are from the same hometown."
The gatekeeper muttered something, then bowed slightly to invite Zhufeng and took him to the front hall to have tea.
When the gatekeeper was about to leave, Zhufeng stopped him and asked, "I have a contract with your Zhang family business. Please allow your principal to meet me, or allow Xu Ying to come."
The gatekeeper responded and then stepped back.
...
Zhufeng waited for a long time, until he finished his cup of tea, and then a man dressed as a butler entered the room.
The two exchanged greetings, and then the housekeeper asked Zhufeng, "May I ask this boss, what business deal does he have with the Zhang family?"
Zhufeng took out the contract, handed it to the housekeeper, and explained: "The sale has been negotiated. Now your Zhang family's merchants are in Yinzhou, and they will be able to transport the medicinal materials back on the 15th. And I am here today to transport food."
.”
The housekeeper read the contract carefully, and finally felt very puzzled: "Oh, Boss Zhu, I'm so sorry. Our boss has been in poor health recently, and we have millions of catties of grain. This matter requires his personal nod.