Chapter 3134: Far Gate
Uncle Shi was stunned for a moment before saying, "Our Shu fabrics, especially Shu brocade, are always easy to sell no matter where we are."
Because he gambled too much, he decided to turn over a new leaf and go out into business. The first thing he did was sell cloth. He would make a trip once a year, and as long as he could come back safely, he would make a profit.
"The worst that can be done is fine cloth, right?"
"Of course," said Mr. Shi. "The better the fabric, the more valuable it is. How much do you get for a batch of ordinary cloth and fine fabric? But if you sell silk, satin, and brocade, the price of one piece is equivalent to a whole cartload of fine fabric."
But the cost price is also very high.
Zhou Silang sighed and said, "I have no connections." He still had some money. Although the money he brought back was not much, he still had his second and third brothers here. He could embezzle their private funds first, and then return the money from the public treasury when he arrived in the capital.
Uncle Shi immediately said, "I have a way."
Zhou Silang's eyes lit up, and he immediately put his hand on his shoulder, saying like a brother: "Don't worry, my good brother. I'll have someone get Xiaolang a comfortable cart when the time comes. Well, the mule is steady, so let the mule pull the cart. I will definitely not let him suffer any injustice."
Uncle Shi exhaled, smiled, and put his arm around Zhou Silang's shoulder, saying, "I'm relieved to have your words, brother. Come on, let's go out for a drink, and I'll take you to meet some people."
The Shi family used to be one of the richest families in Luojiang County. Apart from the low-key Bai family, there were the Shi family and the Luo family.
The Bai family moved here later and had not settled in Luojiang County for long, unlike the Shi family, who were born and raised here and had always lived here.
So Uncle Shi knows a lot of people, and there are even more people who know Uncle Shi.
Although he has a bad reputation now and many people avoid him, that's because they are afraid of being implicated by him. But if they come to him to do profitable business, there are still many people willing to welcome him with a smile.
They don't have any real hatred towards Uncle Shi, let alone towards money, right?
But there wasn't much silk and brocade in Luojiang County, so Uncle Shi said to him, "If you want Shu brocade, you'll have to go to Yizhou City. I know a few shopkeepers there. Let's visit the cloth shops in Luojiang County today to see their fine cloth and silk, and then go to Yizhou City tomorrow."
Zhou Silang nodded repeatedly, indicating that it was no problem.
After they walked away arm in arm, Mrs. Shi hurried to find her son, "My son, it's too dangerous to go on a long journey..."
"Mom, I think the new medicine I'm taking is really better. If Divine Doctor Zhou could see me in person, wouldn't the prescription he prescribe be more appropriate?" He said, "Besides, I don't want him to stay in Luojiang County anymore."
"If he stays here, who knows when he'll start gambling again. It's better for him to leave and go somewhere where his friends aren't around." Shi Xiaolang's eyes flashed with hatred, and he clenched his fists and said, "Didn't you say that someone has been snooping around outside lately, and that someone even came to him to drink?"
"He can resist gambling now, but what about tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow?" Shi Xiaolang said, "Once he gets used to living here and becomes close to Master Zhou, I'm afraid he'll ask him for money to gamble."
It's not like this hasn't happened before.
As soon as this was mentioned, Mrs. Shi no longer objected. She was really scared by Mr. Shi's gambling addiction.
Uncle Shi took Zhou Silang to meet many owners and bosses of cloth shops, and bought a batch of goods, which were really of very high value.
Just a few boxes of silk and brocade were more expensive than his carts of tea, which made him feel heartbroken.
The Shi family had also packed up. Shi Xiaolang and his mother shared a car. The interior of the car was modified so that there were only two seats in the front left and right. The entire back half of the car was converted into a soft couch covered with a quilt, which would reduce the bumps when people lay on it.
Shi Xiaolang lay down for a while. The driver was a good driver, so he didn't feel uncomfortable. He soon fell drowsy as the car was swaying.
They did not go directly to Qingzhou City, but went to the capital first.
Zhou Silang handed the caravan heading north to his third son. After giving him repeated instructions, he only took two veterans with him, and the rest were all people he recruited from the village this time. They all took a batch of porcelain, cloth, and ointment and headed for Qingzhou.
Zhou Lijun escorted the man to the city gate and told him, "Be sure to take a close look at the dock. If it's good, I'll give some of my business there."
Zhou Silang agreed and also reminded her, "Ask Mingxue to look after the third child. This is the first time that the boy is on his own."
Zhou Lijun also agreed.
Then Zhou Silang led the caravan to Qingzhou.
When they arrived in Qingzhou, they found that there were quite a lot of caravans on the road, and they had to queue for a long time before they could enter the city.
Zhou Silang did not stay in Qingzhou City. After asking someone, he went directly to Beihai County.
Then he discovered that there were just as many caravans heading to Beihai County, and many of them came from other official roads.
Zhou Silang sat on the donkey cart, looking around. Taking advantage of the wide road and the absence of people on the opposite side, he asked the driver to drive over and talk to the people in the truck in front. "Brother, are you going to Beihai County too?"
"Yeah," the other person realized he didn't have a Qingzhou accent and asked with a smile, "Brother, is this your first time here?"
Zhou Silang chuckled and said, "Yes, I heard there's a new dock in Beihai County. Come over and see it."
The man leaned back and took a look. It was obvious whose convoy it was. Guards always had to guard the cars. He could tell at a glance that the five cars belonged to the young man in front of him. It wasn't large, but not small either. He became more polite and said with a smile, "Yes, the new county magistrate built it. Now the new ship is going to sea, and there's a warehouse there that allows free entry and exit for a period of time. Many people have gone to try it out. What kind of goods are you transporting, brother?"
Zhou Silang smiled and said, "Some cloth and porcelain."
Among the things that come in and out of the sea, these two items are the most common, so the other party is no longer interested and said with a smile: "Good business, I wish you a big sale, brother."
Zhou Silang congratulated them and asked the driver to slow down the car so that they could get back into the queue.
He leaned back, leaning against the goods behind him, swinging one leg and said, "They are all going to Beihai County. We can just follow them. No need to run around asking for directions."
Don't think that you can walk freely on the official road. There are forks in the road, and in some places there are no official roads, but more small roads. At this time, in order not to get lost, you need to keep asking people for directions.
You also have to ask a few more people, because some people don’t know the way, but because they are kind-hearted, they will enthusiastically point the way regardless of whether they know you or not.
Zhou Silang, who has been cheated countless times on the road, has now summed up a set of skills and experience in asking for directions.
The burly man walking beside the car asked happily, "Silang, are we heading to Beihai County?"
"Yes, Manbao said that Beihai County is not far from Qingzhou City. We should be able to enter the city before the city gates close."
"Then we can see Manbao?"
See you tomorrow, good night
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
