Zhang Zhou's brother-in-law Jiang Shantong directed a group of people to carry large and small boxes of silver and copper coins into the yard, and then brought the accounts to see Jiang Dezhong.
"Haha, let's just say that this capital is full of gold, thanks to my virtuous son-in-law Bingkuan. Go and bring over the fine wine he sent. I want to drink two glasses of it today."
Jiang Dezhong was very proud.
Comrade Jiang Shan said: "Father, drinking can easily cause trouble. You will have to meet people from the Governor's Mansion later. It would be bad if someone smells alcohol all over you."
"My good son-in-law is the Commander-in-Chief of the Rear Army Governor's Mansion. I asked Bingkuan, even if he is just a false Commander-in-Chief, the weight of his words is much greater than those of the Commander-in-Chief of the Rear Army! Didn't you see that the Beijing Camp has been talking to
When we do business, we never owe money on credit? We even send money in advance! This is called power."
"But father, you said before that from now on, the decision-making power for family affairs rests with my brother-in-law."
Jiang Shantong was somewhat dissatisfied with this.
I am your eldest son, and you entrust family decision-making power to outsiders?
Jiang Dezhong glared at him and said: "Zhang, Jiang, as a father, you have to distinguish clearly. You don't have to tell me, you must have that strength first before you are qualified to talk about anything else. Go and get some wine, you will be knocked down if you don't drink."
"yes."
…
…
Zhang Zhou met Ning Tong in the teahouse before sunset in the afternoon.
At this time, Ning Tong was dressed very simply. She did not look like the wealthy person who once wore gold and silver. She seemed to have deliberately used coarse cloth and hairpin clothes to show that she was now "down and out".
"Mrs. Zhu, why are you in such a state? Are you afraid of showing your wealth in front of others?" Zhang Zhou said with a smile.
Ning Tong was very polite to Zhang Zhou and asked him to sit at the tea table. She also looked at the plainclothes guards standing at the door.
"The little girl is no longer Mrs. Zhu. Please don't call me Mrs. Zhang by mistake. The little girl has to get away and don't have to worry about the past. She has nothing to offer, so that's all she can do."
Ning Tong looked very emotional.
In other words, it is "cleansing oneself and leaving the house". Of course, in these days, it is impossible to divide the family property after reconciliation.
After all, Zhang Zhou felt that Zhu Feng was very affectionate.
"Miss Ning, do you think I haven't met Zhijie? He said that all your dowry will be returned to you. I heard that your Ning family gave you a lot of dowry. In the past few years, you have spent a lot of money on food and accommodation.
In the Duke's Mansion, personal use doesn't seem to cost much, right?"
"Um……"
Ning Tong's face didn't look good.
I originally wanted to pretend to be poor in front of Zhang Zhou, but Zhang Zhou exposed me later.
She felt annoyed that someone had seen through her cards.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "If your life is not going well, you can tell me, I... will tell you, he will be responsible for the rest of your life no matter what, and I will help you plan."
"No need." Ning Tong refused directly, "The little girl doesn't need Zhang Daguan to help her. In the future, the little girl wants to start a small business, be self-reliant, and no longer be dependent on anyone."
"oh."
Zhang Zhou nodded.
Ning Tong wants to do business and become a strong business woman, which doesn't sound bad. Ning Tong is one of the few independent women he has seen in this era.
You just do business, and you actually come to me... That only means that the project you want to run is related to me, and you want to get some political convenience from me.
As for you wearing Jingchai cloth in front of me, it is to show that you are poor and to arouse pity.
"It's difficult for a woman to manage for a long time in this world, or can someone give Miss Ning some pointers?" Zhang Zhou asked.
Ning Tong said: "When I was in the Chengguo Palace, I did business with outsiders for Anbian Marquis. I met a girl who was selling salt in the south of the Yangtze River. The business was doing well. Now she heard about the procurement of the governor's office in the north and other yamen.
It is conducted by bidding, and outsiders can participate and discuss with me to join in this business of buying high and selling low."
Zhang Zhou narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard this and nodded to express his understanding.
This means... she was probably the daughter of the Chen family who briefly appeared when Zhu Feng was engaged in the wood and stone business while purchasing for the reconstruction of Qingning Palace.
"Has she not returned to Nanjing yet?" Zhang Zhou asked with a smile.
Ning Tong frowned and asked, "Why does she want to go back?"
"Yes, she has done business with Zhijie, and she knows Zhijie's straightforward nature in doing business. In addition, she has a personal relationship with you. She would lend an olive branch to you when you were in trouble to make you appreciate his kindness and encourage you.
Doing business as a merchant... Having said that, you are not a merchant at all, you are basically a tooth merchant. It is best for you women to stay away from the business of buying and selling houses and shops. Without the support of the powerful people in the court, this business cannot continue."
Zhang Zhou saw it very clearly.
Does Chen's daughter have feelings for Ning Tong? Her husband has a man outside, and his wife has a woman outside?
The Chen family daughter was basically speculating, but Zhang Zhou actually had no idea what the relationship between Ning Tong and the Chen family daughter was like.
"So I came to find you." Ning Tong said.
Zhang Zhou picked up the tea cup and put it down before taking a sip. He frowned and said, "You are so direct. Why should I help you?"
Ning Tong looked at Zhang Zhou with wide eyes, her eyes seemed to say, don't you know why I came to you?
"Answer!" Zhang Zhou was not like Zhu Feng, who would tolerate her mistakes.
Ning Tong said with determination on her face: "Because only you can help me, unless you want me to live in vain or live on the streets in the future."
I wipe it.
Zhang Zhouxin said, this is moral kidnapping.
"Only I can help you, so I will help you. Miss Ning, are you too pushy to make things difficult for others? Collusion between officials and businessmen has always been something the imperial court wants to crack down on. With my current status and wealth, I can't look down on that.
Yinzi, there’s no need to make a fuss about helping you, why don’t you tell me, do you have any more impressive reasons?”
Zhang Zhou didn't want to be taken advantage of for no reason.
Ning Tong said: "There is another reason. Your father-in-law is not worthy of taking care of your business."
"Oh? Tell me."
"I learned from the sister of the Chen family that your father-in-law, the Jiang family, took over the procurement business of the Dudu Mansion. In the name of bidding, he secretly colluded with the people of the Dudu Mansion and found people to make fake bids, but those who really wanted to bid were disappointed.
There was no way out. In the end, the winning bidders were all Jiang family members or people around him. Do you dare to entrust such a person with important responsibilities?"
Ning Tong was chatting eloquently, and it was obvious that someone had given her a lesson before coming here.
The first step for a strong woman to enter society is to understand the dangers of this world.
Zhang Zhou smiled and nodded: "Very good, what you said is called bidding, because the supervision of bidding is not perfect now. To put it bluntly, someone wants to send money to me. If there is no way, just send it to me, Lao Taishan."
Even if I don't need these benefits, or I want to block the Jiang family's source of benefits, why should I give the benefits to you and the Chen woman behind you?"
Ning Tong bit her lower lip. After thinking about it, she couldn't answer.
"There are irregularities in the Jiang family, but the basic rules are still followed. Since there is no supervision, supervision will be strengthened in the future. Now you want me to move this kind of private giving and receiving from the Jiang family to you
The two of you are giving money to you, how is this possible?"
Zhang Zhou is smiling.
You, Ning Tong, only see the benefits, or the benefits I can bring to you, but you have not considered why I should give you the benefits.
Ning Tong said: "I don't ask you to help me all the time, I only ask you to help me once."
"once?"
"Yes, it is about rebuilding the city of Pianguan Pass, which requires a lot of stone, adobe bricks and wood. The capital will allocate a large number of wood and stone materials to Pianguan Pass."
Ning Tong is very purposeful.
Zhang Zhou made some calculations and said: "The wood and stone materials prepared by the capital are worth more than one hundred thousand taels. Can you and that Chen's daughter sustain this kind of business?"
"It all depends on man."
Ning Tong meant that he was certain of this business.
Projects such as rebuilding the Qingning Palace are basically taken over by powerful people, but a powerful person can't spend less than 100,000 taels. It is more necessary for the court to allocate the money before each family purchases it, so the person who takes the order must be Xungui.
One that has its own strength and credibility.
The Ning family daughter was just a salt merchant in the south of the Yangtze River. Considering the value of silver during the Hongzhi period before South American silver flowed into the Ming Dynasty in large quantities, the Ning family daughter wanted to monopolize this business, which was a bit like a snake swallowing an elephant.
"According to my estimation, you can't come up with too much money, so you need my help. In this way, after the bidding, the money can be transferred as soon as possible, and the wood and stone materials on the market can be purchased and completed as soon as possible, and then shipped to customs.
?”
"yes!"
Zhang Zhou thought to himself.
Ning Tong, Ning Tong, you are really a flower in the greenhouse.
Even though Zhu Zhijie didn't give you a married life, and he wasn't a good person, he protected you anyway, so that you had four high walls around you, so that you couldn't see how dangerous this world was.
When I came to do business, I just wanted to swallow up such a big business. I also wanted to "suck money from the bottom of the cauldron" and directly find me, a "powerful person", to run it for you.
As great as the sky is, so is the ambition.
"What can I get after everything is done?" Zhang Zhou did not refuse directly, but seemed to be seriously discussing the issue of "sharing the spoils" with Ning Tong.
Ning Tong said: "50% of the profit."
Zhang Zhou nodded and said: "It's very reasonable. If things don't work out, don't I have no responsibility?"
"With your help, can things be done?" Ning Tong felt that Zhang Zhou was just an excuse for not wanting to help.
"It makes sense. If I take action, it will succeed nine times out of ten. Then Miss Ning, what percentage of the profit will you get afterwards?"
"Thirty percent."
"Wow, that daughter of the Chen family is quite generous. She only got 20% of the profit after doing such a big round? Just giving you the 30% will give you at least several thousand taels or even tens of thousands of taels of silver. No wonder you said you wanted me to
I just need to help you once."
Zhang Zhou is laughing.
Ning Tong may have been PUA, thinking that if she does one thing, she can reach the top of her life, and she will have no worries in life and no longer need a man.
"Can you help?"
"I can help, but I agreed to do it once. How can I help?" Zhang Zhou did not refuse.
He even took the initiative to agree to it.
Ning Tong said: "You only need to tell us what the Jiang family's bidding price is, and... we can't let them know our bidding price. Except for the Jiang family, no one else seems to be able to accept this job. If so,
Please help to control it."
"Yes." Zhang Zhou nodded, "It sounds reasonable. In fact, as long as I go to the Governor's Mansion, the matter will be basically done. No one will give me this face."
"If the help is successful...I will thank you."
Ning Tong didn't expect that things would be settled so easily.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Don't thank me, just don't bother me in the future."
What else did Ning Tong want to say, especially when it came to her future marriage. After all, the Zhu family had warned that unless she went to Zhang Zhou, she wouldn't even have the right to marry and would have to elope.
But she didn't say anything in the end.
"Do I need to sign any agreement? If I refuse to pay or something..."
Ning Tong said: "As long as you help us with things, are you afraid that we will default on our debt? With the power in your hands, I'm afraid we two little girls can't fight against you, right?"
Zhang Zhouyi got angry when he heard it.
Do you still know that you are two little women? Do you still know that you cannot stand up to the powerful?
So he was dragged into a trap set by the Chen family's daughter?
Let me tell you now, the Chen family daughter is using you, or even trying to trick you. You will definitely think that I am trying to sow discord between your sisters, right?
"It makes sense, then this matter is settled. I will go to the Governor's Mansion to help you inquire about it in the next two days. I will also help you with the Ministry of Works. But I am a doctor in the Ministry of War, not a doctor in the Ministry of Works.
I don’t know if they will give me face there.”
"Um."
Ning Tong nodded but remained silent.
…
…
Ning Tong and Zhang Zhou parted ways at the door of the tea house.
After Ning Tong left in the sedan, Zhu Fengcai, who had been waiting in the rice shop opposite, ran over.
"Brother Zhang." Zhu Fengdui looked at Zhang Zhou with a smile.
Zhang Zhoudao: "Those who don't know think that your relationship is not over yet. Just come out and meet if you want. What does it look like to hide?"
"No... I just want to know what kind of business she wants to do?" Zhu Feng was very honest.
Ning Tong also took advantage of his reality.
Zhu Feng had always thought that when Ning Tong talked about doing business, he wanted to open a small shop or something. Because he didn't have enough money on hand, he wanted to ask Zhang Zhou to borrow it, and Zhu Feng wanted to help Ning Tong secretly.
Zhu Feng is quite generous personally. Even if his family can't give Ning Tong anything, he is willing to give Ning Tong part of his second family property.
Zhang Zhou also feels that there are too few "men" in the world who are as "emotional and righteous" as Zhu Feng.
Eh?
Why is this strange?
Zhang Zhou collected his thoughts and said: "She is just doing a small business. I am going to attend the court tomorrow morning. I have to go back to make some preparations. If you don't go, then we say goodbye?"
Zhu Feng said: "If Tong'er needs money, Brother Zhang, just tell me. She is married to me, and we have made a lot of money together... Of course, this is all your credit, Brother Zhang. I want to give her more."
, so that she can gain a foothold in the capital. I even want to help her buy a house."
"Why didn't you tell her yourself?" Zhang Zhou asked.
Zhu Feng looked ashamed and said: "She doesn't want to accept my kindness, so I can only help her through you. As a husband and wife... I am ashamed of her!"
…
…
After Ning Tong returned, he met the Chen family daughter.
The daughter of the Chen family lived in a business building in the capital. After learning from Ning Tong that Zhang Zhou would help, she couldn't hide the joy on her face.
"Can we really do it?" Ning Tong was a little unsure.
Zhang Zhou said that he would help, but Zhang Zhou also said that the business stall was too big and the two women might not be able to handle it.
The daughter of the Chen family said: "Sister, don't worry, my little sister will definitely be able to get things done. We can't let those black-hearted nobles take over the wood and stone materials we have, right? And the Jiang family! I thought they were all in Nanjing.
When they came, they would support each other, but now they are more like eating people without spitting out the bones!"
Ning Tong said: "Is Zhang Zhou's father-in-law really that excessive? Then his daughter..."
The daughter of the Chen family shook her head and said, "I have never met Mrs. Zhang, so I don't know what her character is like. Why would my sister care about this?"
"Um."
Ning Tong did not mention to the Chen family daughter why she wanted to think about Jiang Pingyu's character.
Ning Tong changed the subject and said, "Can I bid now?"
"No." Chen's daughter said, "We don't have much materials on hand. If we want to bid, we need at least 30 to 40% of the materials before we can negotiate with others, and we need to sign all the contracts in advance.
, after the money comes from the court, we can purchase all the materials as soon as possible."
Ning Tong said: "There won't be anyone who deliberately refuses to provide materials, right?"
Chen's daughter saw that Ning Tong still had a talent for business and probably knew the problems that might be encountered in business.
"Normally not, because the people we do business with are Huizhou merchants who often travel to Jianghuai, and they pay most attention to credibility. Even so, we still have to spend two to thirty thousand taels of silver to purchase..."
"Is there not enough money?"
"Try your best!"
It seems that the Chen family daughter is also trying to sell iron.
The mother-in-law who followed next to her said: "Miss, we don't have much money in our account. Previously, the Jiang family owed us five or six thousand guan, but we haven't paid it yet. If we use it again, I'm afraid the ancestral home will be lost."
All have to..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but Ning Tong also knew that for the little sister of the Chen family, this was a desperate move.
"It's okay. With the help of Zhang Zhuangyuan, there is nothing to worry about! All the contracts signed earlier have been honored. I will go back to the Jiang family to demand payment," said the Chen family girl.
Ning Tong said: "I still have some dowry items that I brought from my parents' home. Why don't I give them to you as well?"
"Sister, that is your personal dowry, how can you..."
"It's okay. It's good to be able to bring him out. I thought I had to come out alone. Even if it doesn't work out, I won't starve to death."
Ning Tong is also reasonable.
Since it was a desperate matter, why did everyone have to mortgage or sell their ancestral home, but she had to hold on to the dowry?
This is called sharing joys and sorrows.
The daughter of the Chen family said: "Thank you very much, sister. If we don't succeed this time, we will be successful."
"Um."
The two sisters clasped their hands together, as if they wanted to ride the wind and waves together without leaving a trace...
…
…
Zhang Zhou went to find Jiang Dezhong that night and found out about the old man Jiang.
But it happened that the Chen family sent someone to collect debts.
"Go out and say, is there anyone who can cash the money? Let them come back in half a month!" Jiang Dezhong took the wine jar and was about to pour the wine when he impatiently ordered the disciples.
Open the door.
Zhang Zhou said disdainfully: "Old Taishan, you are too shameless, right? When people come to ask for payment from you, you always resist them? Are you short of money now? Or is it that the Governor's Mansion owes you money?"
"That...that's not true..." Jiang Dezhong looked embarrassed.
Zhang Zhou said: "Then give it quickly! If you don't give me money, how can I do anything?"
"Xian son-in-law, what does she want to do?" Jiang Dezhong looked puzzled.
"Of course it's to make money with money!" Naturally, Zhang Zhou would not tell Jiang Dezhong his purpose.
Jiang Dezhong smiled and said: "Xianxiang, do you mean anything to that little girl by helping the Chen family so much? She has been recruiting a bride for several years, and she still hasn't..."
Being glared at by Zhang Zhou, Jiang Dezhong, as Zhang Zhou's father-in-law, was too embarrassed to say anything.
