Chapter 10: Maturity

What kind of business is conducted in Naguozi Alley and Mashijie? Feng Ziying's voice was not low, and those around could hear it.

He knows that Feng Ziying has been at the Guozijian for several months, but can a few months at the Guozijian really transform Feng Ziying completely

Guozi Alley is the most renowned silk street in Linqing City, where silk trade from Jinling and Suzhou-Hangzhou converges.

In this question-and-answer exchange, Keng Ge Er indeed displayed a certain level of orderliness and reasoned argumentation, thus Feng You allowed the other party to proceed.

The merchant with the surname Xue was not particularly concerned about the child's questioning, as they had at least provided a place of refuge, especially in such circumstances, where some requests were quite reasonable

Feng Ziying pondered for a moment, then noticed the thin, dark-skinned youth standing nearby, and gestured for him to come over

To be honest, Keng Ge'er’s performance surprised him; this young master was not at all like this in his impression.

"Brother Keng, how should these few individuals be settled?" In the past, Feng You would have made the arrangements directly, but today, he felt it necessary to seek Brother Keng's opinion.

In any case, these individuals are all under my control; should any unforeseen circumstances arise, I can easily subdue the enemy with a single move at any time

The brother is right; the family in Jinling has a modest reputation in the business of silver and silk. Additionally, they have some connections in the herbal medicine trade with regions such as Huguang and Bashu, so...

If it were merely the merchants affected by business, that would be one thing; at least they could endure it. However, for families like farmers, kiln workers, and laborers who rely solely on their physical strength to support their households, it truly drives them to the brink of despair

Upon hearing the words of the merchant with the surname Xue, Feng Ziying also realized the seriousness of the issue

Well, since you asked, I find it difficult to answer. To be honest, our family, the Xue family, has a certain reputation in Jinling, but in recent years, business has been challenging. We, the Xue family, are also looking to explore new avenues. We have made some contacts in the northern regions, and Linqing has always been known as the best water and drought port in the north. We have passed through here before, but we did not have much interaction. This time, our family hopes that we can come and understand the situation first, to see what business opportunities are available.

The young man was momentarily taken aback, as if sensing that Feng Ziying's attitude was not one to be refused. Considering the formidable master of the Feng residence, he felt somewhat reluctant, yet still approached.

When Feng Ziying first arrived, he also purchased five bolts of brocade satin, spending a total of forty gold coins, all for the purpose of returning to the capital to show filial piety to his parents

The youth pondered slightly - in the illustrations and the book index, it was mentioned: "Guozi Lane is entirely dedicated to selling silk, while Ma Market Street offers a more diverse range, including leather goods, fruits, and seafood. Of course, the section at the beginning of Ma Market Street also has the highest concentration of pawn shops"

Along the canal line, from the southern Daijiawan to the northern Wangjiashallow, there are countless brick kilns. At the peak of their prosperity, the number of kiln owners reached as many as two to three hundred households, and those who made a living by producing tribute bricks numbered no less than tens of thousands.

Linqing blue bricks are indeed used by the imperial court and prominent families in the capital, but they are also produced for wealthy families in the capital and other regions. The blue bricks shipped annually to various locations along the Grand Canal bring substantial revenue to the Linqing toll station

This question may not clarify much, but at the very least, it can prove that the other party is not lying

Since the Ming Dynasty, the cotton cultivation in the region where Hebei, Shandong, and Henan converge has been increasingly prosperous, and the cotton spinning industry has also developed, yet it does not compare to the Songjiang area in Jiangnan. Therefore, the transportation of cotton cloth to the north and the shipment of northern cotton to the south have become customary practices

Feng Ziying today feels as if he has become a different person to Feng You

The man with the surname Xue clasped his hands and replied calmly

If that is the case, this turmoil is likely difficult to bring to an end. Feng Ziying hesitated for a moment, "Uncle You, why not let them rest in the outer courtyard now, without making any noise, but..."

This practice of martial arts is at most just for strengthening the body and barely establishes a basic foundation

One cannot claim that the other party has no issues without lying, but if one lies, there is certainly a problem

When one truly reaches a dead end, if there are some with ulterior motives inciting from within, it is feared that it will indeed become difficult to control

What kind of business is Mr. Xue planning to engage in upon arriving in Lingqing?" Feng Ziying remained unfazed and continued to inquire.

It can be said that once the cotton and tribute brick businesses are affected, it is not only the merchants who are enraged, but also the cotton field owners and farmers, the kiln owners and workers, the dock laborers, and the ship owners along the route, all of whom are greatly impacted

Feng You shook his head, "Keng Ge'er, I do not know about this, but I believe it is not easy. With Wei Jun absent, those from the patrol office are likely too afraid to even step out of the city gates. Moreover, I do not understand how such a large mess has come about in the first place"

Feng Ziying observed that the merchant with the surname Xue seemed hesitant to speak, so he looked at the other party and asked, "Mr. Xue, are you aware of this?"

If one lies about these small details, it can only indicate that this person certainly has issues

What does Uncle You plan to do?" Feng Ziying pondered for a moment, "This city is in chaos; when will it come to an end?

Although under the strong pressure of the master, a few of us have practiced martial arts since childhood, to be honest, at this age, we cannot endure much hardship, and most of it is just for show. However, it is worth mentioning that the physician Zhang, who has a close relationship with the third master, is quite fond of Keng'er and has often imparted some medical knowledge to him.

Feng Youze leaned against the steps by the main gate and the courtyard wall, remaining silent all the while, with his hand resting on the narrow hilt of the dagger at his waist, coldly observing everything.

The pawnshop business is relatively simple; in the city of Linqing, there are at least seventy to eighty pawnshops of various sizes, and every year, at least ten to eight of them open and close their doors.

Under the large locust tree in the courtyard, it was quite cool. Feng Ziying stood on the corridor, while several others stood beneath the locust tree

Whether in dealing with others or in conversation and response, it seems that he has suddenly matured a great deal. It appears that just a few days ago, he was not like this. Could it be that a serious illness has awakened him?

The money business essentially consists of pawnshops and banks. If someone new arrives in Lingqing and claims they want to open a bank, it is unrealistic; without several years of business dealings and a reputation built up, no one would believe them.

Feng You did not speak much, directing Fu Bo to arrange for these people to find rooms and settle down. Only then did he say to Feng Ziying: "Keng Ge'er, I fear that this chaos cannot be resolved in a short time, and I am concerned that once the rioters from outside the city come in, it will only become more chaotic. If these rioters uncover our situation, we may not be able to escape unscathed. I plan to go out to assess the situation and also look for possible routes to leave the city."

"Well, I know a little about it." The man with the surname Xue did not conceal his thoughts, "In recent days, I have been walking around the city and heard that the tax supervisor in the palace intends to impose an additional 10% miscellaneous tax for the birthday celebration of the Grand Dowager Empress at the end of the year. Since the arrival of the Chief Eunuch in Qing over the past few years, the tax collection has increased day by day, leading to a decline in business transactions. The livelihoods of the artisans in the city and the brick workers outside the city have become increasingly difficult to sustain, resulting in significant resentment. I never expected that now there would be an additional miscellaneous tax. Many workshops and kilns have no choice but to close down, directly affecting the livelihoods of countless people, so..."

Since the early Ming Dynasty, Linqing tribute bricks have been the preferred choice for the imperial palace in the capital. However, with the establishment of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Linqing tribute bricks have gained increasing fame, becoming renowned alongside the gold bricks produced in Suzhou, and their scale has grown ever larger

Linqing is not merely a water and land port; it is also renowned for its local specialties, with Linqing North Flower (cotton) and Linqing tribute bricks being the two most significant commodities

"Uncle You, I have nothing else to do here." Feng Ziying did not ask further and went straight ahead

"Suzhou gold bricks" and "Linqing green bricks" have become royal tributes, with gold bricks used for flooring and green bricks for wall construction becoming the norm for the bricks used in royal palaces and tombs

Although it is said that we are here to take the lead, there should at least be a general range, right? Grains, cloth, salt, ironware, antiques, silk, medicinal materials, ...?" Feng Ziying casually asked, "Surely your family, the Xue family, does not engage in all of these, does it?

Feng Ziying nodded slightly