The Tao family's steward was someone that officials and gentry had to fawn over. Steward Zhong thought that the Niu family were nouveau riche who had turned from rough farmers into businessmen, and that they must have some bad habits and not know the rules.
I was surprised and very satisfied to be treated with such courtesy by the two hosts.
Butler Zhong is here to deliver the invitations.
It was because a very important relative of the Tao family had taken a liking to the Niu family's fragrance and spices and wanted to buy a large quantity to sell to a neighboring country.
Fearing that the Niu family would refuse, they wanted to use the Tao family's connections to make a connection, since the Tao family had been officials and gentry for generations, and their own daughter was the heir apparent of the Yongchang Marquis's mansion.
If the Niu family can establish a connection with the Tao family, it will also benefit the Niu family.
This is a classic case of giving someone a slap followed by a sweet treat.
Those who wanted to buy Niujia Xiangfa materials were trying to leverage the Tao family's influence, using both coercion and bribery.
It's already very kind of them that they didn't try to steal her hair fragrance recipe, and this matter is also extremely beneficial to the Niu family.
As soon as Niu Da and Shen Yu returned from the pickle shop, Niu Yong and Niu Cuihua told them about it. "The Tao family? Which Tao family?"
"It's the Tao family, the one whose daughter is the heir apparent's wife in a marquis's household."
She is Xie Jinyan's sister-in-law.
Niu Da almost dropped the cup, his hand slipping. He never imagined, not even in his next life, that his family would be connected with a noble family.
The next morning, Niu Da and Shen Yu dressed in their best clothes and wore their most exquisite and elegant jewelry.
They invited the whole family.
Xiao Fubao and Xiao Heng rode behind her on her half-grown pony, and today she was also wearing a headband inlaid with pearls.
Xiao Heng was still wearing the jeweled gold ribbon headband he always wore.
Niu Yong and the Niu sisters both went.
After all, the invitation was for the whole family.
The Tao family, Master Tao had no legitimate son, only one illegitimate son and three legitimate daughters, and two illegitimate daughters.
Master Tao's father was an official in the capital. Although he was a high-ranking official, Master Tao did not actually enter officialdom; he only held the position of Vice Minister in the court.
Commonly known as "receiving a salary without working".
Such families usually have deep roots and strong foundations.
It's a pity that in the next generation of Master Tao, there was only one illegitimate son who was seventeen years old.
"The Niu family will be arriving soon. Madam is currently ill, so you will be temporarily in charge of managing the household affairs. Although the Niu family are merchants, you must not neglect the guests I have invited."
This concubine of Master Tao, surnamed Yang, was the only one in the household to have given birth to a son. Moreover, she was quite beautiful and rose from a maid to a concubine. She was once greatly favored by Master Tao, so after giving birth to her son, Master Tao specially allowed her to raise him on her own.
Master Tao owns many shops and estates, all of which are managed by his seventeen-year-old son, Young Master Tao.
Therefore, Aunt Yang was quite arrogant.
She was tasked with entertaining a merchant family… and also with acting as a go-between for that wretched woman’s family.
Aunt Yang's handkerchief was now a tangled mess. She turned and went into the room, asking the accountant:
"How much Imperial Rouge Rice is left at home?"
Imperial Rouge Rice was distributed by the imperial court to the families of officials. The Tao family had a Minister, two Imperial Noblewomen, a Vice Minister, and a daughter who married into the Crown Prince's family, so they received an exceptionally large amount of Imperial Rouge Rice from the imperial court.
Master Tao often used this rice to entertain guests.
“There are still many more,” the butler said.
Aunt Yang said, "These days, we're making hats with just enough left over, where would we find any extra? We have guests coming today, so let's use red glutinous rice instead."
Red glutinous rice was the rice eaten by the servants of the Tao family.
"Auntie, isn't this a bad idea?" said Steward Zhong.
"Now, I manage the household in this mansion on behalf of my wife. I have the final say. If I say there's not much Imperial Rouge Rice left, then there isn't much." "Besides, the Niu family was originally just a farming family. Although they are now wealthy, they probably still lack knowledge and can't shake off their vulgar and impoverished air. Even in a dragon robe, they don't look like princes. Where have they ever seen anything from the imperial treasury?"
"They wouldn't be able to tell the difference even from the food our servants eat."
Steward Zhong hesitated, but then he thought that Concubine Yang was the only one in the mansion with a son. Once the master died, even the madam would probably only have a show of face.
Not daring to offend her, the butler meekly replied, "Yes, Madam."
Hearing the address "Madam" pleased Aunt Yang greatly, and she casually grabbed a handful of golden melon seeds to reward the steward, saying:
"Let's use this Imperial Rouge Rice for Master's meal!"
The butler smiled and left.
When Xiao Fubao and the others entered, the female housekeeper smiled and sized them up before saying:
"These are the guests the master has invited."
"Young Master and Master have been waiting in the guest hall for a while. This old servant will lead you there!"
Little Fu Bao thought to himself: The Tao family treats them quite politely.
Two men were sitting in the lobby.
The person who wanted to purchase large quantities of Xiangfa Fang's fragrance powder was none other than the nephew of Master Tao's first wife, whose surname was Fang.
The Fang family was not a wealthy family; they were small merchants, and none of the members had much talent for studying, so they had been doing business for generations.
Master Tao fell in love with Madam Fang at first sight, so over the years, Madam Fang's family has provided much support. Now, the Fang family is one of the top diplomatic and commercial families in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
By the time it came to Madam Fang's nephew, he had secured a minor official position in the imperial court, although it was different from the hereditary imperial merchant position granted by the Murong family.
But he was also an official who did business.
"I'd like to buy out your family's supply chain for incense," the young master of the Fang family said bluntly.
"Buyout?"
Chen Yu and Niu Da were somewhat surprised.
“That won’t do,” they said outright.
Little Fu Bao thought for a moment and said:
"Does the older brother just want to buy out the supply chain? But what about the original contract we signed?"
Young Master Fang noticed the fair-skinned and delicate young girl and said gently:
"The Fang family will compensate for all losses; however, we need to sign a twenty-year contract with you." "The Fang family's actions will not affect your business in Da Zhou; you can still retail Xiangfafang within Da Zhou."
The Fang family's current wealth and power are just like the Mu family's back then—booming and prosperous, like the sun at its zenith.
Little Fu Bao hesitated.
Niu Da and Shen Yu also hesitated.
Little Fu Bao wanted to open his hair fragrance shop all over the land and the Sixteen Kingdoms, but this dream was nipped in the bud.
To make matters worse, the person in front of them is someone their family can't afford to offend. How infuriating! How infuriating!
"Besides Xiangfafang, our Fang family won't compete with your other businesses. In fact, we'll support them. We've heard you also have a braised food shop and an ice cream shop? Our Fang family can help you smooth things over and ensure your braised food and ice cream businesses expand across the country within three years."
That sounds so tempting!
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