Jinzaofang was a major brocade weaving company in Jiangnan, with its dyeing workshops, weaving workshops, and embroidery workshops scattered throughout the region.
Although he was a merchant, he wielded considerable power.
Of course, it is also very low-key, never causing trouble or competing. In the eyes of outsiders, Jin Zaofang relies on its strength to make a living.
There is no cloth that Jinzaofang cannot dye, no cloth that Jinzaofang cannot weave. Some people even say that the best embroiderers in the world are from Jinzaofang.
After reading the information about Jin's visit, Zhao Shu sneered. The public relations were really well done; she had to give it a thumbs up.
"Has the person been invited?" Zhao Shu put down the scroll in her hand, leaned back in her chair, and took a bite of the double-skin milk made by Suzhou embroidery. The taste was so-so; Xing'er's was much better.
Indeed, everyone has their own area of expertise, and the sages were right.
Xiao Guozi had been standing to the side pretending to be dead for two hours, holding a whisk. Their princess was different from other people's masters; she never let him, her personal servant, fan her.
Often, he had nothing to do and envied Xiao Zhu Zi for no reason. At least Xiao Zhu Zi could lead people to do things outside. He heard that Xiao Zhu Zi was quite famous now. Every family with some ability knew Xiao Zhu Zi, the chief steward of the Yongwang Mansion.
Upon hearing Zhao Shu's question, he cleverly replied immediately, "Your Highness, I have already gone to invite them, and the chief should be arriving by now."
Not long after he finished speaking, the head of the Jin family was invited to Jiangnan Prefecture. She was a woman in her fifties.
Today, the status of women in Dayong is still extremely low, but there are a few bright pearls who are different from ordinary women and children.
Zhao Shu was quite surprised by the woman in front of her; it was hard to imagine that Jinzaofang would be run by a woman.
Unlike many family businesses, Jinzaofang was similar to Zhao Shu's Sanguzhai and Chunyuan, with many people holding shares.
The so-called "big boss" is the president.
"This humble woman, Zhong, greets the Princess." She said neither humbly nor arrogantly, her head bowed. Zhao Shu could only see that her head was covered in jewels and that a deep red begonia was pinned to her temple.
With Wei Tingsi absent, Zhao Shu met with him alone in the courtyard prepared by Chen Jianbo.
In a society divided into scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, Zhao Shuqing was fortunate to be at the top. Jinzao House had been in business for decades and was definitely richer than her.
The Zhong family? A cold smile flashed across his face.
It's the Zhong family again, the wealthy Zhong family. But what good is wealth? Zhao Shu doesn't know if she hates the rich or what, but seeing the woman in front of her bowing her head and kneeling before her makes her feel very happy, not because her surname is Zhong.
Zhong also sensed Zhao Shu's undisguised hostility towards her, making her even more hesitant to move. With the world in chaos, everyone needed the protection of the imperial army. If the imperial court did not protect them, the rebels could easily plunder all their savings accumulated over the years.
"Get up," Zhao Shu said calmly. "Show Madam a seat." In Dayong, the hierarchy was quite particular, with rules in every aspect, such as the way one addressed others.
Only those of high status and position can be called "Madam," while the mistress of an ordinary household can only be called "Mrs."
Zhao Shu secretly felt that "Madam" sounded better than "Madam," and that there was only "First Madam," not "First Lady"...
Zhong did not react to the title. In fact, she was a shrewd person. She thanked her, sat down on one side of the chair, and looked up slightly. "I should have come to pay my respects to the princess earlier this morning, but I only learned today that the princess has arrived in Suzhou. I am truly sorry."
Zhao Shu suddenly realized that those who knew her true identity were trustworthy and reliable. She usually dressed as a man when she went out.
"It's nothing. I heard that Madam is now in charge of Jinzao Workshop. I wonder how much of the decision-making power Madam has?" She did not reveal the purpose of inviting people here.
Zhong was unsure of Zhao Shu's plans, but she had made many preparations in recent days. Whatever Zhao Shu's plans were, she was confident that she could handle them.
Zhao Shu was investigating her, and she was also investigating Zhao Shu. She had done an in-depth analysis of Zhao Shu's personality. In fact, she had known about Zhao Shu's arrival in Jiangnan for some time.
After considering it for a moment, she said, "Absolutely."
In other words, she can't make decisions about matters of life and death, but she can make decisions about most other things.
Nodding, "Very good," he leisurely sipped his tea, the lid lifting the tender, slender green leaves, releasing a delicate aroma.
These actions took a considerable amount of time, and Zhong's forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, but she remained calm.
Under the system of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants naturally have all sorts of concerns when dealing with people from the scholar class, with very few exceptions. If there is an exception, it must be an extraordinary person.
Zhong was quite a figure.
It should be known that merchants are of low social status. People like Zhao Shu can be killed or taken away at will, entirely at their whim. At most, killing her would result in being punished by being confined to the house to reflect on one's actions. In more serious cases, they would only have to pay some money. They would not be punished at all.
In this era where powerful families dominate, it is difficult for even those from humble backgrounds to rise above their station, let alone merchants who are not even qualified to participate in the imperial examinations.
If a nobleman kills a poor scholar from a respectable family, and someone is willing to uphold justice, the nobleman will still be made to pay with his life, but a merchant would never receive such treatment.
These are the privileges that come with different ranks.
Of course, theory and reality are different.
Zhao Shu leisurely put down her teacup. "If that's the case, then summon the person who is truly in charge."
After saying that, she stopped talking and didn't even bother to see her off. The longer she spent with this Zhong woman, the more uncomfortable she felt, extremely uncomfortable.
It's as if they were born to be incompatible.
Zhong stood up, curtsied, and said, "This humble woman takes her leave."
"I'm not asking you to go and call someone. Just tell me their name, and I will send someone to fetch them." Zhao Shu changed her mind and decided not to let her go.
Madam Zhong looked at Zhao Shu in surprise, "Princess, that person is nowhere to be seen, only this young lady."
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