Chapter 249
The elders of the Liu family did not agree to exchange fifty thousand taels for property in the capital, leaving Deng Zhiwu conflicted. Taking all the money would solve the urgent problems of the Southwest Grand Camp, but not being able to make money from it made him feel he was letting Zhan Feiyu down. After all, if the money stayed with the Liu family, it would likely earn fifty thousand taels in ten years.
Compared to Deng Zhiwu's dilemma, Zhan Feiyu's attitude was casual. "Since that's the case, I will shamelessly accept fifty thousand taels. In the future, as long as it does not violate the laws of Daqing, if the Liu family encounters trouble, I will definitely help."
With a light promise, she took fifty thousand taels from the Liu family! The sixth elder was so angry his eyes were spewing fire. If this money remained with Zhan Feiyu, the sixth elder could have used it as leverage. But this money would be sent to the military camp by the Deng family, which was a matter of national righteousness. The Liu family spent money but bought Zhan Feiyu a good reputation. The sixth elder was so angry he wanted to vomit blood; he had never made such a losing deal in his life!
With that said, Zhan Feiyu stood up, and judging by her posture, she was about to leave. This almost made the frustrated sixth elder faint from anger. This brat was not only greedy and thick-skinned but also turned her back on them in an instant.
"Miss Zhan, there's no need for that. Everything can be discussed." The eldest elder gave the sixth and eighth elders a warning glance and slowly said, "The Liu family wishes to seek protection from Scholar Gu, and naturally, we will pay corresponding profits." However, exchanging all of Liu Hefeng's properties for properties in the capital was not acceptable; the Liu family would suffer too great a loss. In a short period, Zhan Feiyu might cooperate with the Liu family in business. But after a year or two, Scholar Gu would definitely send people to take over these businesses, and the Liu family, kicked aside, would have gained nothing. The Liu family was willing to part with money for Scholar Gu's protection.
Zhan Feiyu sat down again, her attitude humble. "Eldest Elder, please speak frankly. I don't understand business either." The eighth elder and a few others, with their impatient natures, were so angered by Zhan Feiyu's shameless attitude that they were about to vomit blood. How could she say she didn't understand when she had pushed the Liu family into a corner? Deng Zhiwu looked at Zhan Feiyu with shining eyes. No wonder his teacher always called him a blockhead. Now, looking at Zhan Feiyu, Deng Zhiwu finally understood what a smart person was. Even the usually composed eldest elder's wrinkled old face stiffened. It was fortunate she was a scholar; if she were a merchant, the Liu family would likely be in trouble.
"Miss Zhan, why don't we both take a step back?" The eldest elder revealed the Liu family's bottom line. The Liu family would give twenty thousand taels to Deng Zhiwu to take away. The tea garden would remain under Zhan Feiyu's name, but the Liu family would be responsible for its subsequent operation, with profits split equally between both parties annually. Zhan Feiyu could use the remaining money to participate in the Liu family's merchant fleet and wineries. She would receive half a percent of the annual profits, and she wouldn't need to be involved in the operations, essentially getting paid for nothing. After the eldest elder finished speaking, he picked up his teacup and slowly drank his tea. He didn't rush, knowing that any smart person would understand the Liu family's sincerity.
"The merchant fleet and wineries are our Liu family's two most profitable businesses," the fifth elder stated with a stern face. This was not an exaggeration. The Liu family's ancestors made their fortune through trade, transporting porcelain, silk, and tea from Jiangnan to foreign lands, and then bringing medicinal herbs, furs, and raw gems back to Jiangnan. This round trip would take several months, but it brought immense wealth to the Liu family. However, the dangers of the trade routes were also imaginable: enduring harsh weather, living outdoors, and encountering bandits. Even after enduring countless hardships to reach foreign lands, those foreign tribes were wild and warlike. Once, a Liu family merchant fleet lost their lives in a foreign land; not only were the goods stolen by the tribesmen, but all fourteen members of the fleet also died without a burial place.
"It's difficult to audit the accounts of the merchant fleet," Zhan Feiyu pointed out the problem directly. The merchant fleet indeed made money. A round trip might earn tens of thousands of taels. However, whether the merchant fleet made a profit or loss, and how much it earned, was determined by the Liu family and their accountants. Five taels of fur could be recorded as fifty taels in the books, which was a tenfold difference, and it would be impossible to detect through auditing. The hot-tempered eighth elder frowned, but before he could speak, the eldest elder, who had put down his teacup, stopped him. The Liu family was the one seeking a favor now. As if not seeing the eighth elder's fierce, man-eating expression, Zhan Feiyu continued with a smile, "As for the wineries, it all depends on the brewing formula and the brewers."
"If our Liu family descendants had even half of Miss Zhan's ability, we old bones would die with no regrets," the eldest elder praised with emotion. Even though they were in different fields, Zhan Feiyu had hit the nail on the head with her first words. The eldest elder was willing to let Zhan Feiyu profit from the wine business because the Liu family possessed the brewing formula. As for the brewers, even without indentured servitude contracts, their entire families, young and old, were under the Liu family's control. They could not escape the Liu family's grasp, and there was no need to worry about Zhan Feiyu causing trouble later.
"Eldest Elder, you flatter me. I'm just showing off my meager skills," Zhan Feiyu said humbly before continuing in a calm voice, "The imperial court is about to reform salt taxes. The four major salt merchants will not be able to make money in the salt industry and will inevitably switch to other businesses. Their first choices will surely be tea, wine, porcelain, and fabrics." As for tea, one first needed tea gardens and tea mountains. Large tea mountains and good tea trees were in the hands of other merchants. Even with money, the salt merchants would be like a clever cook with no ingredients. The silk and fabric business, besides the imperial weaving bureau, also involved two other imperial merchants, and the Liu family had no connection to them, let alone the salt merchants. Porcelain also made money, but similarly, the court had official kilns, and the provinces rich in porcelain had many small workshops. Moreover, a whole county might be selling porcelain. As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. Even if the salt merchants competed for business, they were outsiders and had no advantage. Therefore, when the salt tax reform truly occurred, the most likely industry for salt merchants to enter would be the wine industry. The Liu family elders allowed Zhan Feiyu to get involved simply to use Scholar Gu's name to deter the salt merchants.
The eldest elder's expression changed, and the other elders also looked grim. They had discussed this matter in the Liu family's study before. Once the salt merchants stopped selling salt, it would have a huge impact on all merchants. Small vendors would be fine, but imperial merchants like the Liu family would be the most affected. "Miss Zhan is indeed Scholar Gu's disciple. When it comes to having access to information, the Liu family admits inferiority," the eldest elder sighed, but he did not deny Zhan Feiyu's speculation. The eighth elder, who had been holding back his anger, couldn't help but ask, "What exactly do you want?" Zhan Feiyu did not seem like a nine-year-old girl; she was clearly an experienced businesswoman, cunning and shrewd! The Liu family members stared at Zhan Feiyu with complex expressions, but they could do nothing to her. The young girl could advance or retreat, while the Liu family was at a disadvantage, left to be at Zhan Feiyu's mercy. Liu Heyu couldn't help but smile at this, smoothing things over. "Miss Zhan, to speak presumptuously, if you didn't intend to cooperate with the Liu family, you wouldn't have said so much today. I wonder what Miss Zhan's plans are? I can agree on behalf of the Liu family." The elders maintained stern faces but did not object. Unless they no longer wanted Scholar Gu's protection but couldn't bring themselves to ask directly, they could only let Liu Heyu speak.
"Twenty thousand taels will be taken by Young Master Deng. I will keep the tea mountain. As for the remaining twenty-five thousand taels, I will put ten thousand taels into the Liu family's winery. The last fifteen thousand will be exchanged for property in the capital: a manor on the outskirts of the capital, plus a mansion and a shop in the capital." Zhan Feiyu also gave her final answer. Apart from the winery business, she would not participate in any other Liu family businesses. The manor and mansion in the capital, considering their size, would likely be worth nearly ten thousand taels. The remaining money would at most buy two small shops, and their locations would not be ideal. However, they were fixed assets. Once the property deeds were transferred, they would have nothing to do with the Liu family. The sixth and eighth elders felt like they could eat Zhan Feiyu alive, but they could only suppress their anger and resentment. The Jin family's aunt and niece were causing trouble in Huaian Prefecture, all to find a way out for the Jin family. Once the salt tax was reformed, the four major salt merchants would definitely change their lines of business. Just as Zhan Feiyu analyzed, the most profitable industries were those few. The salt merchants were all rich beyond measure, posing a great threat to other merchants, and the Liu family's winery was the first to be affected. Moreover, the salt merchants had close relationships with imperial officials. Therefore, the Liu family had to seek protection to prevent future problems, and Scholar Gu was the most suitable candidate, holding a high position, belonging to the Gu clan of Nanling, and being a trusted minister of the emperor. Thus, the Liu family had to endure this silent loss.
Three days later, the Liu family allocated ten thousand taels in cash, and the remaining ten thousand taels were given as vouchers. Deng Zhiwu could withdraw the silver from banks in various prefectures, while Zhan Feiyu, carrying the contract signed with the Liu family, left Huaian Prefecture. The news of the Liu family mobilizing so much silver naturally could not be hidden. Madam Wu, having lost the silver and gifts she received from the Jin family's aunt and niece, had essentially compensated Zhan Feiyu and also got herself into trouble.
"What's wrong? Who offended Madam?" Governor Wu asked with a smile, allowing his head maid to help him take off his official robes and change into a long gown before walking towards the sulking Madam Wu. Madam Wu snorted, "It's nothing. I just feel that scholars are all formidable. Zhan Feiyu came to Huaian Prefecture for a trip and took away money that many people can't earn in a lifetime." Upon hearing this, Governor Wu's expression changed slightly. He waved his hand to dismiss the maid serving tea and said, "She is a disciple of Scholar Gu. Moreover, this is in Huaian Prefecture. If Zhan Feiyu goes to the capital, she will definitely receive gifts until her hands are soft." Scholar Gu has only this one disciple, and it is expected that she will inherit the Scholar's mansion in the future. Governor Wu could imagine how many properties there would be. Madam Wu stood up and sat in the chair opposite Governor Wu, no longer throwing a tantrum. "The Liu family not only gave money, but I also heard they gave their manor and mansion in the capital. With Scholar Gu's protection in the future, the Liu family's businesses will surely grow bigger and bigger. Should we get involved?" Although Governor Wu was greedy, he acted cautiously and prudently. Madam Wu had wanted to cooperate with the Liu family before, but Governor Wu had stopped her. Although Madam Wu was shrewd, she was still far inferior to the imperial merchant Liu family. Governor Wu did not want to be used by the Liu family. However, now that Zhan Feiyu was involved in the Liu family's business, it was no wonder Madam Wu was tempted to get a share. The Liu family widely publicized this news with the intention of achieving this. They were not looking at the monk's face but the Buddha's face. With Scholar Gu's protection for the Liu family's businesses, those who intended to hinder the Liu family in the future would have to reconsider.
"What's wrong? Who offended Madam?" Governor Wu asked with a smile, allowing his head maid to help him take off his official robes and change into a long gown before walking towards the sulking Madam Wu. Madam Wu snorted, "It's nothing. I just feel that scholars are all formidable. Zhan Feiyu came to Huaian Prefecture for a trip and took away money that many people can't earn in a lifetime." Scholar Gu has only this one disciple, and it is expected that she will inherit the Scholar's mansion in the future. Governor Wu could imagine how many properties there would be. Madam Wu stood up and sat in the chair opposite Governor Wu, no longer throwing a tantrum. "The Liu family not only gave money, but I also heard they gave their manor and mansion in the capital. With Scholar Gu's protection in the future, the Liu family's businesses will surely grow bigger and bigger. Should we get involved?" Although Governor Wu was greedy, he acted cautiously and prudently. Madam Wu had wanted to cooperate with the Liu family before, but Governor Wu had stopped her. Although Madam Wu was shrewd, she was still far inferior to the imperial merchant Liu family. Governor Wu did not want to be used by the Liu family. Scholar Gu has only this one disciple, and it is expected that she will inherit the Scholar's mansion in the future. Governor Wu could imagine how many properties there would be. Madam Wu stood up. Upon hearing this, Governor Wu's expression changed slightly. He waved his hand to dismiss the maid serving tea and said, "She is a disciple of Scholar Gu. Moreover, this is in Huaian Prefecture. If Zhan Feiyu goes to the capital, she will definitely receive gifts until her hands are soft." Scholar Gu has only this one disciple, and it is expected that she will inherit the Scholar's mansion in the future. Governor Wu could imagine how many properties there would be. Madam Wu stood up and sat in the chair opposite Governor Wu, no longer throwing a tantrum. "The Liu family not only gave money, but I also heard they gave their manor and mansion in the capital. With Scholar Gu's protection in the future, the Liu family's businesses will surely grow bigger and bigger. Should we get involved?" Although Governor Wu was greedy, he acted cautiously and prudently. Madam Wu had wanted to cooperate with the Liu family before, but Governor Wu had stopped her. Although Madam Wu was shrewd, she was still far inferior to the imperial merchant Liu family. Governor Wu did not want to be used by the Liu family. Scholar Gu has only this one disciple, and it is expected that she will inherit the Scholar's mansion in the future. Governor Wu could imagine how many properties there would be. Madam Wu stood up.