Qi Zhenheng looked at Shen Qing and said to everyone, "Mr. Shen is very confident in reclaiming the raw silk, and he has a plan and methods. I think it's excellent! I personally recommend Mr. Shen as the president of the Raw Silk Chamber of Commerce!"
Everyone turned to look at Shen Qing.
Her disdainful expression seemed to say: What does a woman like her know about business? What does she know about smuggling raw silk?
But Qi Zhenheng had already spoken up to recommend her, and although the others were not convinced, they did not dare to offend the head of the textile bureau, so they remained silent.
Shen Qing guessed what these people were thinking and shook his head at Qi Zhenheng, meaning that he should stop speaking up for him.
Otherwise, these merchants would only agree to be her president on the surface, but they would not obey her in their hearts. Even if she had the title of president, she would have difficulty getting these people to do things.
Qi Zhenheng understood what she meant and frowned, thinking about how to take this opportunity to gain the trust of these people.
One of the merchants stood up, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Qi Zhenheng, and said, "Lord Qi, we trust your judgment in choosing people, but we can't possibly ask a bunch of grown men to take orders from a little girl!"
Taking advantage of the situation, the others also expressed their opposition to Shen Qing becoming the president.
Qi Zhenheng looked unwell.
Shen Qing quickly stood up and said, "It's alright, it's alright. We can discuss who will be the chairman. It doesn't have to be me. As long as we can work together to take back control of the raw silk business, that's fine!"
After saying that, he winked at Qi Zhenheng, signaling him not to force the others anymore.
A forced relationship will not be sweet.
Qi Zhenheng stood up and said, "Here's what we'll do. Give everyone three days to go back and think about who should be the chairman and how to regain control of the raw silk industry... We'll meet again at the Weaving Bureau three days from now!"
The group accepted the order.
After the meeting, everyone quickly went up to him to exchange pleasantries.
Whether everyone will be able to get the Qing government's quota next year, whether they will eat meat or starve to death, depends on this Lord Qi.
Shen Qing wanted to get to know everyone, but when she saw that no one paid any attention to her and they were all surrounding Qi Zhenheng, she quietly left.
Back in the carriage, Jiang Shen asked, "Are you going back to Jiangzhou or..."
Shen Qing said weakly, "Let's go back to Jiangzhou. I'll come back in three days."
The carriage slowly began to move, heading towards the city gate.
Shen Qing pondered the current situation.
Even with Qi Zhenheng, the official who provided sustenance for the merchants, speaking up, those bigwigs still couldn't decide whether to elect her or not.
Although Qi Zhenheng gave everyone three days to think it over, it probably won't be of much use. Those people still won't agree to her becoming the president after three days.
Unless she can bring benefits to everyone in three days.
To gain someone's obedience, you either need incentives or force.
Knowing he lacked military power, Shen Qing could only resort to tactics based on self-interest.
Now she needs to consider not only regaining control of the raw silk business, but also what benefits she can bring to these merchants...
If these merchants can obtain top-quality raw silk at prices lower than before, significantly reducing their costs, this would also bring them considerable profits.
Thinking of this, Shen Qing pulled back the curtain and called out, "Old Xu! Go back to the Weaving Bureau, and then go to Nanxun to see the silk farmers!"
"Okay!"
The carriage turned around and returned to the textile factory.
Qi Zhenheng was not at the Imperial Textile Bureau. The clerk on duty told Shen Qing that Qi Zhenheng had gone to have a meal with the merchants.
After finding out the location, Shen Qing quickly went there with Jiang Shen.
Upon disembarking from the carriage, I realized that this was not an ordinary place to eat, but a brothel like Lechun Pavilion, where geishas entertain guests.
Shen Qing knocked on the door and entered the private room, where he saw a geisha playing the pipa on the stage, while two other geishas were dancing in revealing clothing.
Qi Zhenheng was being urged to drink by the group of merchants. When he saw her come in, he immediately got up and walked towards her.
"Why did you leave just now? I was thinking of having lunch together so you could get to know each other."
Shen Qing coughed lightly: "Didn't you say today that the agreement between the silk farmers and the compradors was invalid? Could you lend me the judgment? I'll take it to the silk farmers to see, and I'll return it to you in three days."
Qi Zhenheng said, "Of course, I'll have the clerk go back to the textile bureau to get it. You can come in and have something to eat first."
After saying that, he gently pulled Shen Qing inside.
Let Shen Qing sit in his own seat.
The merchants who were originally sitting on the side immediately moved to another spot.
Seeing the ambiguous, fatherly gazes from everyone, Shen Qing felt a little uncomfortable and straightened her back.
The merchant sitting next to her smiled and poured her a drink: "Ms. Shen, come on, have a drink!"
Shen Qing raised her hand to block the view: "Sorry, I don't drink."
Immediately, someone laughed and said, "If you don't drink, how can you do business? How can you be the chairman?"
Shen Qing coldly said, "To be able to close a deal without wine, doesn't that prove you're capable?"
Everyone burst into laughter: "How can you do business without wine?"
Shen Qing was a little annoyed and said sarcastically in an unfriendly tone, "I've done business in Guangzhou, Fujian, and London, and I never do it over drinks. I still managed to close the deals."
The crowd clearly didn't believe her, their gazes becoming even more suggestive as they brazenly roamed over her body.
After a few drinks, someone grew bolder and said, "Boss Shen never drinks? Heh heh, I bet Boss Shen closes deals in bed, doesn't he?"
As soon as she uttered that lewd joke, the other merchants' eyes lit up with lust, staring at her like a pack of rutting dogs.
Shen Qing felt humiliated and was about to lash out when Qi Zhenheng casually picked up a wine glass from the table, walked up to the merchant who had made the lewd joke, and poured the entire glass of wine over his head.
After finishing one cup, he picked up a whole jar of liquor and continued pouring it over the man's head.
Everyone immediately sobered up and didn't dare to utter a sound.
The strong liquor slowly dripped onto the man's oily forehead, and the man shrank back, not daring to utter a sound.
Qi Zhenheng said expressionlessly, "If I ever hear you uttering any more vulgarities about Boss Shen in the future, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
After pouring out the entire jar of wine, he threw the jar on the ground and yelled at the man, "Get out of here!"
The merchant immediately knelt down and kowtowed.
Qi Zhenheng flicked the hem of his official robe and tried to sit back in his seat.
Just then, the clerk came in with the judgment and was shocked to see the scene in the private room.
He walked up to Qi Zhenheng and presented the judgment with both hands: "Your Honor, the judgment has been delivered."
Qi Zhenheng took it and handed it directly to Shen Qing.
He looked at the merchant kneeling on the ground and asked coldly, "What's your name?"
The merchant stammered as he gave his name.
Qi Zhenheng instructed his advisor: "Cancel his quota! Starting next month! If the Empress Dowager finds out that the silk she uses is made from such an insulting thing to women, she will definitely blame her!"
The clerk nodded: "Yes, sir."
Qi Zhenheng looked at the man again, narrowed his eyes, and roared, "Get out of here!"
The guards at the gate immediately came in and took the man away.
The other merchants were terrified upon seeing this.
Qi Zhenheng looked at Shen Qing and then softened his tone: "You should go back quickly and prepare well for the election of the president of the Raw Silk Merchants Association in three days!"
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