A group of guards and a carriage left Linjiang City at dawn and headed towards Xiacun.
There were a master and a servant sitting in the carriage. The master was naturally Dong Shulan, and the servant was Xiaoqi, one of her personal maids she brought with her on this trip.
Xiaoqi peeled an apple with a knife and handed it to Dong Shulan, asking, "Miss, I don't quite understand. Yesterday, the four major cloth merchants and three major grain merchants showed up uninvited to the Linjiang Poetry Gathering... This clearly shows they're planning to withdraw. In my opinion, if you had given Qu Ji another visiting card last night, the cloth merchant alliance would have completely collapsed. As for the price... naturally, we can negotiate whatever we want."
Dong Shulan munched on an apple and smiled, "My little flag is making rapid progress, but... think about it again. If I had sent a visiting card to Qu Ji last night, wouldn't I have seemed a bit too hasty in the eyes of those old foxes? Also, don't forget that Qu Sumei, the second daughter of Qu Shanglai, the head of the Qu Ji family, is the daughter-in-law of the Zhang family, and the youngest daughter of the Zhang family's main wife is engaged to the eldest son of the Liu family's main wife. The son of the Huang family's concubine is marrying the eldest daughter of the grain merchant Yang Ji... It's a web here, and the interests of these merchants are tied together through marriage. Do you think it can be easily broken?"
Dong Shulan shook her head and said lazily, "Over the past two months, what they have shown is just what they want me to feel."
Xiaoqi frowned for a few breaths and asked, "So, those concessions were actually negotiated among themselves?"
"Not entirely. They also have their concerns. After all, I only want one cloth merchant and one grain merchant. The pie is so small, and whoever can eat it will be the winner. In the face of huge enough interests, relationships like in-laws will not be strong."
"So what's the significance of our trip to the lower village to meet the Fu family?"
"First, I want to let them hang out. Secondly, I want to tell the three major grain merchants that since they won't take the initiative, I'm going to cut off their supply."
“What if the Fu family doesn’t accept it?”
"I will accept. The Fu family owns tens of thousands of acres of land in Linjiang, and their grain production accounts for 20% of Linjiang's total. If the Fu family becomes an imperial merchant, their grain will basically be enough for father to dispatch to the south. Perhaps their profits will be a little less, but the title of imperial merchant is the most important. I don't believe that Mr. Fu only wants to be a large landowner in Linjiang and not want to run other businesses."
Dong Shulan did not say that she had ever received a letter from her father. She was a little confused about how this big landlord in Linjiang got to know her father.
Of course, this was just curiosity. The main thing was that she made her attitude clear, causing the three major grain merchants in Linjiang City to become suspicious.
Even if the Fu family does not accept the offer, as long as they remain ambiguous about the outcome of the trip, it will be enough to throw the three major grain merchants into disarray.
It was also very simple to make the Fu family express their attitude, because his stupid son had really offended her.
Official Fu has only this one son. As long as he can control his son, Official Fu will have no choice but to obey.
So this time, she had already won from the moment she left Linjiang.
…
Xiacun, Xishan Villa.
"Master, Master!"
Chunxiu ran towards Official Fu with the two pieces of paper.
"What's all the fuss about?"
"Master, Master, Master is the God of Literature!"
Official Fu stopped and was stunned. Wenquxing... This didn't seem to have anything to do with his son.
"Master, look, these are the two poems that the young master wrote last night."
Official Fu's heart tightened. "Let me see... these words... these two poems, were they really written by my son?"
"Yes!" Chunxiu nodded firmly and continued, "Last night, I was grinding ink for the young master, and he spent three breaths thinking before composing the first Nan Ge Zi. At the time, I...didn't quite believe it, so the young master immediately wrote the second one, but without a title."
Official Fu held the two pieces of paper and looked at them over and over again. His hands trembled slightly, his face flushed, and there seemed to be tears in his eyes.
"My son... my son, this is... this is... a long-term accumulation of experience!"
Chunxiu was very happy in her heart, "Yes!" She nodded firmly again.
In this era, the literary style is rich and the status of literati is high. If a talented person appears in a family, it is a great thing.
The Fu family was the richest family in Linjiang, but their three generations were good at business but lacked literary talent.
Without literary elegance, one does not have the background of a wealthy family, and is seen as a profit-seeking businessman. The status of a businessman is extremely low. Even if he is wealthy, in the eyes of the world, he is just a money-grubber and inferior to others.
In order to let Fu Xiaoguan get a touch of literary atmosphere, Fu Daguan tried his best, but finally gave up - because the facts proved that Fu Xiaoguan was really not cut out for studying.
Official Fu didn't say it, but he felt regretful in his heart.
Who would have thought that this early spring show would bring him such a big surprise? This really is... God has opened his eyes!
"God has opened his eyes! My son, my son, has made great progress!"
"Go to the next village and have these two calligraphy pieces framed. I need the best craftsmen. This is a testimony to my son Wenchang, so I must not be careless."
"OK."
Chunxiu took the order and ran out happily. Official Fu walked back and forth in the corridor, his excitement still surging.
When I return home, I will offer a grand sacrifice to Yunqing!
Where's my son? I need to go ask him.
Fu Xiaoguan had finished his morning exercise and was sitting on a stone block in the martial arts training ground, watching Bai Yulian perform swordplay.
The blade is sharp and imposing, showing the style of a great man.
After half an hour, Bai Yulian put away her knife and sat side by side with Fu Xiaoguan.
"Can I practice this?" Fu Xiaoguan held the knife and weighed it. It was a bit heavy, estimated to be about thirty pounds.
Bai Yulian shook her head, took out the wine naan from her waist and took a sip. It was filled with Xishan nectar.
"First, martial arts training doesn't happen overnight, especially internal strength. As you age, your body's skeleton is basically fixed and there's no room for flexibility."
"Secondly," Bai Yulian glanced at Fu Xiaoguan, "You're too weak. Even if you wield the sword, you don't have enough strength and momentum. A sword requires an unstoppable and domineering spirit, a determination to be the best. With your skinny arms and legs..." Bai Yulian shook her head again, "No way."
"Finally, you're a young master of a big landlord family, you're rich and idle all your life, why would you practice martial arts? This crappy job is very hard, and it takes time to learn."
Fu Xiaoguan stood up with the knife in his hand, shook the blade, took a few steps, swung the knife a few times without any pattern, and then walked back.
This body is indeed too weak. After just a few cuts, he felt powerless.
Putting down the knife and sitting down, he asked again, "I don't want to become a peerless master, I just want to practice internal skills... being able to fly is enough."
Bai Yulian was silent for a moment, "My internal energy is combined with my sword skills. It's a domineering way. Your body can't bear it."
Fu Xiaoguan nodded slightly disappointed. Bai Yulian thought for a moment and continued, "Of the four major factions in the Jianghu, I belong to the Daoshan lineage. There's also the Jianlin, Daoyuan, and Buddhist sects. Of these, the Daoyuan and Buddhist sects are the most suitable for you, as their internal cultivation techniques are generally gentle and mellow. On the other hand, the Daoshan and Jianlin factions are more about killing, and their internal cultivation techniques are fierce and violent. While it's certainly possible to practice from a young age... If you practice now, it's going to be stressful."
"There's no rush. I'm really weak, and I need some time to recuperate. Xiaobai..."
"Don't call me Xiaobai!"
"Oh, okay, Xiaobai, here's what I'm thinking. When we return to Linjiang, I'll leave all the guards at the mansion to you. Train them like crazy. Of course, I'm not talking about turning them into outlaws, but just training them to be able to fight ten enemies at once. How do you think that is?"
Bai Yulian looked at Fu Xiaoguan's handsome face, tied the wine bag around her waist and stood up.
"You are more beautiful than me, but don't think so."
After saying that, he turned and left. Fu Xiaoguan touched his nose and laughed.
This guy is a master, and masters certainly have the dignity and style of masters. This guy is also a treasure trove, and Fu Xiaoguan will not be willing to do so without digging something out of it. However, this matter cannot be rushed. It's like boiling a frog in warm water. I'll boil you to death!
He stood up, patted his butt, and walked back leisurely.
Mr. Fu was sitting in the pavilion, brewing a pot of good tea. When he saw Mr. Fu coming in, he waved to him.
"Son, I have decided to end this trip early."
"Why?"
"My son is a gifted writer. I, as his father, have decided to return to Linjiang as soon as possible to hold a poetry gathering for him, so that he can become famous. What do you think?"
Fu Xiaoguan's hand holding the teacup suddenly stopped. What was going on?
"Please don't!"
"My son is humble. I have read the two poems you wrote. They are like the descending of the literary star. This is a sign of the prosperity of our Fu family... Since my son has such talent, he should not be buried."
Official Fu poured tea from the kettle, his face full of joy. He continued, "The Yu Dynasty conquered the world with military might and prospered the nation with culture. It has been over two hundred years now. The way of literature has been passed down to this day, and many celebrities have emerged and the country has flourished. My son's literary talent is beginning to show, so it is natural that he should be here..."
Fu Xiaoguan waved his hands and quickly stopped Fu Daguan from speaking.
"Dad, don't you know your son's worth? As for me... I have no literary talent. Those two poems were just a flash of inspiration. My brain is injured. Sometimes I have a flash of inspiration, but most of the time I don't. If you really hold a grand poetry gathering, and I don't have any inspiration, how will I leave? Wouldn't it make the world laugh at me and bring shame to the Fu family?"
The smile on Fu Daguan's face gradually faded. Yes, my son has a brain disease, and occasionally composing a poem or two is not a sign of long-term accumulation... I can't help but be happy.
"My son is right. I was reckless. Thank goodness you reminded me... But don't worry, my son. Poetry has always been a gift from nature. Only a skilled hand can come up with it. Once you have a flash of inspiration, record it on paper. When you participate in poetry gatherings in the future, you can easily use it. That's the best way to be sure."
After the father and son drank tea for a while, Fu Daguan took Fu Xiaoguan to the west building of the villa. It was a three-story building with nothing inside except food.
"These are all yours!"
Mr. Fu was very proud, and Mr. Fu looked at the huge granaries in the huge building and immediately swallowed his saliva.
There is no need to worry if you have enough food at home, especially when there is so much food.
But it’s a bit dangerous to have so much grain piled up in one place!
It was already noon when Chunxiu came to the villa in a carriage holding two framed calligraphy pieces, but the carriage stopped at the gate of the villa.
She opened the curtain and looked out, and saw a carriage in front of her, with dozens of guards.
"Who is this?"
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