Chapter 267 The Ye Family of Suzhou
The prefect of Suzhou, along with Suzhou officials and local nobles, welcomed the delegation from the capital at the city gate.
Although they weren't imperial envoys, the presence of a princess, a county princess, and His Majesty's personal lady-in-waiting... this lineup is more impressive than that of an ordinary imperial envoy!
The prefect of Suzhou respectfully welcomed Song Zhimin and her entourage into the city.
As for Song Zhimian and the others, just like when they were in Jinling, they first went to do their official duties.
Song Zhimian convened a meeting with the owners of the weaving workshops and artisan workshops in Suzhou.
Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yong Xin went to a charity hall and Chun Bu Wan, respectively.
...
After the first day ended, the three of them gathered in the courtyard where they were staying to summarize the results of their busy day.
"The charitable halls in Suzhou are larger than those in other places, and both children and the elderly live quite comfortably."
I took a closer look, and it seems that the children in the charity halls in Suzhou are much better fed and clothed than those in charity halls in other places.
"And the schools, those next to the charity hall, are better than those in other places," Princess Shou Kang said.
Song Zhimian and Princess Yongxin were not surprised at all.
The conditions at Gusu Shantang were almost the best among all the charitable halls in Chongqing.
There was no other reason, because the charitable halls and the free school in Gusu were both supported by the Gusu Chamber of Commerce.
The president of the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce is the Ye family, the number one imperial merchant and the richest family in Chongqing.
I heard that their family allocates at least ten thousand taels of silver to charitable organizations and schools every year.
The Ye family has done a lot of good deeds. Whether it's donating money during summer floods or setting up soup kitchens during heavy snow in winter, the Ye family is always very proactive in contributing money.
Over the past century, the Ye family has received three plaques from the imperial court.
"Yes, the Ye family is indeed wealthy. I went to Chun Bu Wan today, and the manager there also told me about the Ye family."
Suzhou's commerce was highly developed, even surpassing Nanjing in the Jiangnan region.
All of this is related to the Ye family's merchant caravan. The manager of Chunbuwan said that the Ye family's trade covers almost all industries in Suzhou.
Half of the shops in Suzhou belong to the Ye family.
"And the Ye family pays the most taxes every year," Princess Yongxin added.
Song Zhimian hummed in agreement.
Of the owners and managers she met today, at least half were related to the Ye family.
Song Zhimian was not surprised at all.
For over a hundred years, the Ye family of Gusu has been the largest imperial merchant family in the Great Yu region. There is no place in the world that the Ye family cannot go. The Ye family also has a fleet of ships that specialize in overseas business.
Suzhou is also the Ye family's stronghold, so it's no surprise that its commerce is thriving.
"On the day we entered the city, the old lady of the Ye family asked the prefect of Suzhou to send us a letter."
"When shall we go to the Ye family?" Princess Shou Kang asked with a smile, holding up an invitation.
"Let's do it the day after tomorrow! Let's get busy with our business for a couple of days first, so that others can see that we're really here on official business!" Song Zhimian said with a smile.
Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yongxin both nodded in agreement.
The official duties still need to be performed, as for the matters His Majesty has arranged privately... take your time, there's no rush!
...
After spending another day wandering around Suzhou, everyone knew that these three distinguished guests from the capital were truly carrying out their mission diligently.
However, they weren't worried. The charitable institutions in Suzhou and Chunbuwan had nothing to hide, so they could investigate as they pleased without fear.
As for the so-called wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice, there are none in Suzhou.
...
A day later, Song Zhimian went to the Ye family with Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yongxin.
The Ye family's mansion is not small, but it is said that it has been this size for a hundred years. They did not buy the surrounding houses just because someone in the family became successful or gained imperial favor.
The Ye family's house is clearly an old house that has been around for a long time.
When Song Zhimian and her group arrived at the alley where the Ye family lived, the Ye family members were already respectfully waiting outside the gate.
"Greetings, Princess Shou Kang, Princess Yongxin, and Lady Shanggong!" The Ye family members bowed deeply as soon as the three of them stepped off the carriage.
The adult men bowed respectfully and then quickly left.
Led by the matriarch of the Ye family, the women of the Ye family very respectfully welcomed Princess Shou Kang, Princess Yongxin, and Song Zhimian into the Ye family's inner residence.
Song Zhimian glanced at it and secretly admired it in her heart.
The Ye family is indeed extremely wealthy; their wealth is evident from the moment they enter the gate.
But it doesn't seem that flashy.
Everything looks ordinary, but upon closer inspection, they are all quite valuable.
What surprised Song Zhimian even more was that almost nothing in the Ye family's diet, clothing, or daily necessities was beyond the bounds.
The branch of the Ye family that split off produced many talented people, but the Ye family in Suzhou always seemed to be very well-behaved.
The only thing that looked out of place was that the clothes worn by the women of the Ye family were made of Tencel satin.
Song Zhimian, who was familiar with palace etiquette, knew a little about this.
Baizhifang, the No. 1 weaving workshop in Dayu, was originally owned by the Ye family. Although it later became part of the dowry of that great fortune teller, the Ye family of Suzhou always helped manage Baizhifang because it was located in Suzhou.
The Tencel satin produced by Baizhifang has always been the most favored material of the royal family.
The Ye family had received imperial favor a century ago. Apart from the royal family, the Ye family was the only family that could enjoy Tencel satin, available in only two colors: bright yellow and rich purple.
Looking at the kind-faced but decisive old lady of the Ye family, Song Zhimian once again marveled at the importance of the patriarch of a large family.
Princess Yongxin had inquired about the Ye family, the imperial merchants, from Chun Buwan.
The Ye family, the imperial merchants, has virtually no internal strife, whether in business or in matters of the household.
In business, all branches of the Ye family work together as one, knowing that only when the Ye family prospers will everyone be better off.
As for the inner quarters...
The infighting and power struggles between different branches of the family that occur in other large families, and the conflicts between legitimate and illegitimate children, would never happen in the Ye family.
No matter which branch of the household it is, if such a trend even begins, it will be nipped in the bud by the matriarch.
Because of this, the Ye family's inner quarters are more united than any other family's.
"Princess, Lady, and Headmistress, please have a seat! You've had a hard time these past few days." The old lady of the Ye family smiled and invited the three of them to sit down.
After the three of them took their seats in order, they gestured for everyone else to sit down as well.
"Is the old lady in good health? His Majesty specifically told me before I left the capital that I should come to the Ye family to pay my respects to the old lady!" Princess Shou Kang said with a smile.
The old lady of the Ye family quickly got up to express her gratitude.
"His Majesty still remembers me. A year ago, when His Majesty came to Jiangnan on official business, I even met with him!" Old Madam Ye said with a smile.
"His Majesty said that the Old Madam is a rare heroine, and he specifically instructed me to visit her if I have any business to attend to," Princess Shou Kang continued.
Grandma Ye understood that the three guests' visit to Jiangnan was definitely not just for the sake of it.
"Your Highness, you can tell me anything."
I can't speak for other places, but I do know a bit about what's happening in Suzhou.
"I have an estate outside the city. If Your Highness is willing to stay there for a couple of days, you can. It has a unique and beautiful scenery." The old lady of the Ye family immediately expressed her opinion.
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