She began, "There's a mountain called Zhuofeng under the name of your government office. It's about ten kilometers away on horseback from here in the direction of Cangzhou. The mountain is full of sand and rocks. After you build your house there, go to the cement building and find a man named Min Zhi. He'll send someone to teach you."
After hearing this, Master Ji said, "Won't you go to the scene and take a look?"
Tong Wen Yao shook her head and said, "After I finish my business in the next few days, I will go to the south to find medicine for my brother, so you officials should pay more attention to it." After finishing her business, she went to Xuanfeng Teahouse, which was not only a teahouse on the surface, but also a base for information. This was also the shop she opened.
Rong Zhi was sitting in the box. He had planned to look for her the next day, but was delayed by something, so he sent someone to tell her to meet in Yuguan County.
When Rong Zhi saw her coming, he signaled the maid next to him to pour her a cup of tea.
Tong Wenyao got straight to the point and asked, "I wonder what Master Rong wants to talk to me about?"
There was a flowing fountain in the room, enough to block out the sounds of people talking inside. After Rong Zhi waved his hand to let the maid go, he finally spoke, "I want to do business with you."
She pretended to be clueless and said, "I wonder what kind of business Master Rong and I are going to have?"
Rong Zhi glanced at her with an expression that seemed to show he had no idea. If he hadn't seen her talking with the owner of Yiqing Pavilion, he would have really been deceived by her.
"The cement Miss Tong made is really good stuff, but I wonder if Miss Tong is planning to sell it?"
"To be honest, Young Master Rong, I've had this thought recently." Rong Zhi saw a good opportunity and quickly said, "I have a group of escorts under my command. I'd like to ask you to sell them to the south at the lowest price!"
Tong Wen Yao asked, "I wonder if Mr. Rong wants to sell the goods I have?" Rong Zhi heard her say that and wondered if the Tong family had a lot of goods.
He said, "Of course, it's your cement and lime. Of course, if you have other goodies, I can take them too." She nodded and said, "Master Rong, our cement is not easy to mine, and it's not cheap to manufacture! Can you afford it?"
After hearing this, Rong Zhi said, "Can you tell me about it?" Tong Wenyao nodded. The price they sell to others is 20 wen per catty, but if they sell to merchants, it's about 15% off, which makes it 18 wen per catty. She said, "When we sell to merchants, it's usually 18 wen per catty. If you're buying in large quantities, the price is negotiable."
Rong Zhi calculated quickly in his mind, and finally gave a price he could accept, saying, "I can accept fourteen cents per pound! Otherwise, my transportation costs will increase, and I may even lose money."
Tong Wenyao shook her head after hearing this and said, "Sixteen coins!"
"Siwen, let's talk if we can, but if we can't, let's just part ways amicably."
Seeing him say that, Tong Wenyao said directly: "Fifteen cents, otherwise, I can also find someone to take it to the south to buy it. Master Rong, there are many cargo ships in Cangzhou, so there is no shortage of sellers!"
Rong Zhi agreed and said, "Then you have to promise not to sell it to other merchants within three months!"
Tong Wenyao was so angry when she heard him say that that she laughed! She said, "Master Rong, let's not talk about whether you can swallow these three months' worth of goods. Besides, would I give up the whole sea just to take your lake?"
Rong Zhi also knew that he was forcing others to do something, and he couldn't even show sincerity. Thinking of his recklessness, he couldn't help but feel a little annoyed, but the words had been spoken, and he had to continue as he said.
Tong Wenyao shook her head and said, "You are not allowed to sell it to other merchants within these three months. Please forgive me, I cannot do that."
Rong Zhi said, "I'm sorry, it's my fault." Tong Wen Yao saw that he was sincere and said, "I promise you that I will not sell to anyone else except the merchants who have already signed contracts within half a month." Rong Zhi was pleasantly surprised when he heard this and thanked her quickly.
This half month was enough for him to seize the southern market. By then, others would only buy his product as the authentic one. However, the south was so big, so he would grab as much as he could.
After the discussion, the two signed the document on the spot. After Rong Zhi left, she walked towards the backyard.
In the backyard, Wen Jiang and Xin'er were sitting on the stools obediently. Xin'er was getting bored waiting and could only swing her feet back and forth.
When Uncle Dou saw her coming, he quickly pulled out a chair and asked her to sit down. "Is everything settled?"
Tong Wenyao uttered a "hmm" sound in her throat, then said, "Uncle Dou, I came here to ask you to find someone to deliver something to my eldest brother!" She handed Uncle Dou a small box that she had prepared earlier and said, "Inside it is a letter from me to my eldest brother, and a letter from my second aunt to my second uncle."
Uncle Dou took the box and put it away. He then said, "Okay, I'll send someone to deliver it tonight! I believe it will be received the day after tomorrow." Tong Wenyao nodded and asked, "Have Uncle Qi and the others settled down in the south?"
When he heard her ask this, he quickly said, "I received a letter yesterday saying that he has settled down in Dongsuizhou." Dongsuizhou sounds familiar?
Seeing some doubts on her face, Uncle Dou hurried into the room and showed her the map.
He spread a yellowed map on the table and said, "This is where we are now, Yuguan County. Head south, pointing to the Dongsuizhou Road. This is Dongsuizhou. If you take the official road, it will take about four or five days by carriage. If you take a boat to Cangzhou, it will only take three days."
The carrier pigeons we have trained will cross mountains and rivers and reach Dongsuizhou. It takes about three days for the carrier pigeons to travel from here to Dongsuizhou. Tong Wenyao nodded. The last message his second brother received was also sent from Dongsuizhou, and he also received it three days later.
Your uncle said that after half a month, after Dongsuizhou is settled, he will go to another place to open a Xuanfeng Teahouse.
There are currently three places to investigate. Dou Shu pointed to the map and said, "This place, Luzhou, is close to the Kingdom of Yue. It takes four days to get to Luzhou by boat from Dongsuizhou, and six or seven days by carriage along the official road."
Uncle Dou continued, "We also heard that the young master was poisoned and needed python gallbladder, so we thought of setting up Xuanfeng Teahouse in Luzhou."
Tong Wenyao nodded and said, "You're thoughtful. Let's book this place. I'll also be heading south in a couple of days." After hearing this, Uncle Dou immediately said, "Then I'll write to him now and ask him to leave immediately to take care of it. When you get there, you'll have a place to stay."
Uncle Dou's face looked a little strange, but he couldn't help but say, "Wen Yao, be careful when you go to Luzhou. The people of Yue live in the mountains and forests all year round. They drink blood like water and are extremely crude. Their behavior is like that of unenlightened wild monkeys."
Uncle Dou told her everything he had seen and heard, which really shocked her.
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