14
"We are all going to transport grain together. Why don't we go and meet Mr. Lu together to support Brother Cheng?" Li Niu said this, but everyone knew what he was thinking.
If Cheng Xi were to take the Lin family with him, wouldn't they have the final say on the grain transport? After all, they had already provided a ship, and Li Niu was unwilling to hand over power just like that.
Before Cheng Xi could speak, Sun Erlang frowned and scolded her, "This matter was negotiated by Master Fu. Why are you interfering?"
Li Niu didn't like what he heard and snorted, "If there's no boat, how can we transport the grain? Besides, isn't this just a coincidence of meeting a victim? How can it be the work of one person?"
Sun Erlang said coldly, "If you were to encounter such a situation, would you choose the 30% discount on grain? Or worse, would you choose to buy grain from the grain store?"
Li Niu choked at this, feeling a bit stumped. Indeed, if he were to choose, he would never give up the 150 taels of silver. Instead, he would try to negotiate a 30% discount and share the profits with others.
Likewise, he wouldn't have thought of transporting the grain back and selling it locally to make a profit. If it weren't for this kid named Cheng, such a good opportunity would have been impossible.
But Li Niu was unwilling to completely relinquish power and let a young man command him. Now the Lin and Sun families were all obedient to this young man. If he didn't act tougher, the entire fleet would be taken over!
Cheng Xi saw this reluctance. She thought for a moment and suddenly said, "It's okay for you two to go along. The grain transport is a joint effort of the three companies, and you should know the inside story. However, in business, internal strife is the most taboo. Once people see that we are not on the same page, there may be changes. Therefore, you can't speak without permission, and you must not show any dissatisfaction. If you have any problems, even if you come back and tell them, you must not tarnish the reputation of the fleet in front of outsiders."
This made Li Niu's eyes light up. "Look at what you said. We are used to doing business. How can we not know the importance of things? As long as I can go with you, I will definitely keep my mouth shut and not say a single word!"
Sun Erlang knew the temperament of the Li family's leader very well and was a little worried, but Lin Meng didn't think it was a big deal: "After all, only the benefactor can talk to Mr. Lu. We just need to listen."
Seeing that everyone agreed, Sun Erlang frowned and stopped talking. Logically, everyone should have set off immediately, but Cheng Xi unexpectedly sent someone to Lu's grain store to ask if their boss was there first.
Not long after, the Lu family's shopkeeper returned with them. Seeing Cheng Xi, he smiled and said, "I didn't expect Cheng Xiaolang to come back so soon. My master is not at the dock right now. Could you please come over to our house for a chat?"
"Thank you for your help, shopkeeper." Cheng Xi answered swiftly. She had guessed that Mr. Lu would not stay in a small shop, and since the shopkeeper had personally invited her, it was a great honor for her. How could she not go?
Cheng Xi answered calmly, and Lin Meng didn't find it strange, but the other two captains were a little surprised.
Why did he even have to visit? The owner of this shop is really too arrogant. Is this how business is done?
But since they've come and even specially provided a carriage, it would be a bit inappropriate not to go. Li Niu whispered, "Should we take some people with us?"
"We are here to discuss business, not to fight. Why bring so many people? Only four people will be enough." Cheng Xi smiled slightly, not caring at all.
Seeing how confident he was, Li Niu scratched his head and said nothing. The four of them got on the carriage directly.
The Lu Mansion's carriage was not luxurious, but it was very spacious inside, with a small table for food boxes.
But no one was in the mood to eat at the moment. Li Niu's eyes wandered around, looking outside and then at everyone from time to time. Sun Erlang half-closed his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.
Cheng Xi didn't care about these people. He just lifted the curtain to identify the road and observe the passers-by.
There were not many people on the road, most of them were covered in dust and had no clothes to wear. There were some mule carts or ox carts, but very few horse carriages. The seats they had were already quite good, and passers-by who saw them all avoided them.
It seems this place isn't wealthy, a world apart from Panyu City. After all, Hepu isn't a legally recognized trading port, and without the imperial court's support, the so-called port city is nothing more than a larger fishing village.
The profits gained from smuggling will never be able to circulate through legitimate channels. It will only lead to more serious market decline and polarization, with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, just as she saw before her eyes.
Cheng Xi sighed inwardly, but said nothing more. After nearly an hour of travel, the carriage finally arrived at their destination. When Li Niu saw the large house with pink walls and black tiles, his eyes widened. He swallowed hard and whispered, "Isn't he the owner of a grain shop? Why is his house so big?"
This courtyard wall seems to have no end in sight. Even if it is not in the city, it is still a mansion.
Is this person really in the grain business, not a salt smuggler?
"Mr. Lu may have some background, so you should be careful with your words." This house did not surprise Cheng Xi.
In fact, she had anticipated this situation. The last time they met, she was just a small role in Lu Jian's life, but this time, she would become a long-term partner.
To be able to travel so quickly across the perilous seas must be taken seriously, both logically and practically, and probing and intimidating were inevitable. In this class-divided society, displaying one's class status was the most intimidating, and such a show of force was entirely within her expectations.
Seeing that the young man remained calm, the shopkeeper beside him was a little surprised. Suppressing his curiosity, he politely led a few people into the mansion.
Since it is a mansion, naturally no one would skimp on the decoration, but the house is decorated in a simple and elegant style, without carved beams and painted rafters, or magnificent splendor. Instead, it has winding paths and changing scenery with every step, which has the flavor of a Jiangnan garden.
The three captains were now afraid to breathe loudly, and even their steps were a little awkward. They couldn't appreciate this kind of elegance, but even elegance without the smell of money was built with money.
This "nobleness" that was deeply ingrained in their bones made them feel uneasy and lost their confidence. How could this be the residence of a wealthy man? Could it be the residence of a young master from an aristocratic family?
He trembled all the way to the main courtyard, and when he entered the hall and saw the owner of the house, Li Niu regretted following him. How could the owner of this house look like a businessman? He was clearly a nobleman!
Lu Jian smiled and asked everyone to sit down. He asked the servants to serve tea and water. Then he said, "I am surprised that you returned so soon, my dear brother."
Unlike the other three who were timid, Cheng Xi calmly took out the wooden box and said, "The letter has been delivered. Thank you for fulfilling your mission. Here is the reply from Manager Yang. Please check it, Master Lu."
The servant immediately took the box and handed it to Lu Jian. He didn't care that there were outsiders present. He removed the mud seal, glanced at it, and put it down with a smile: "My dear brother, you have helped me a lot. I am very grateful to you."
"Mr. Lu, you are too polite. We are on our way here, it's just a piece of cake." Cheng Xi said frankly.
No matter how convenient the journey is, there will definitely be some twists and turns. Pirates are standing in the way, so the risks are self-evident.
But the young man didn't look like he was taking credit for anything, as if it was just a piece of cake.
Lu Jian smiled and said, "I must accept this favor. How much rice and grain are you planning to bring back from Hepu this time?"
"About 2,000 shi. I wonder if the shop has any stock?" Cheng Xi asked.
This much food could fill four or five ships. Lu Jian raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Brother, are you planning to transport it all back at once?"
"Yes, there are four ships in this fleet. Mine is a two-masted ship, and the other three captains also came with me." Only then did Cheng Xi introduce everyone to Lu Jian.
Introducing each other is actually what should be done when meeting, but neither of them followed the etiquette. If they bring it up now, it would sound like introducing a subordinate.
Cheng Xi behaved naturally, seemingly unaware of what was happening. This made Lu Jian take a second look at the three of them. However, no matter how hard he looked, Lu Jian didn't detect any displeasure on their faces. Instead, they seemed terrified and uneasy.
Although they were wearing the same clothes, the youngest one was not restrained at all and was able to command the other men who were sailing at sea to follow his lead. The meaning behind this is worth pondering.
Looking at the young man who was much more handsome than himself and could be described as "as pretty as a girl", Lu Jian's smile deepened: "Since my dear brother wants it, I can certainly get it together. The price is 3.5 yuan per stone."
A 30% discount on 5 cents is only 3.5 cents, right? It was clearly a good deal, but when Li Niu heard this, he couldn't help but gasp.
Two thousand koku, and he's willing to give a 30% discount? He gave up three hundred taels in one breath, and the other party didn't even blink an eye. He's really generous!
Sun Erlang and Lin Meng were also somewhat moved. Cheng Xi only nodded slightly: "We still need a few days to clear the inventory. We can sign the contract first and pay for the goods when we are ready."
The young man still put the contract in front of him. Lu Jian smiled and nodded: "Of course."
With the help of a manager, the two business contracts were quickly written. Lu Jian picked up his pen to sign, and Cheng Xi also took out his quill pen to sign.
Seeing the quill in her hand, Li Niu was shocked. He kept winking at Sun Erlang, with a string of question marks in his eyes.
Can Brother Cheng read? This brush looks quite expensive, and it's not even a writing brush. Could it be a Western treasure?
Of course, Sun Erlang didn't understand this anxious thought at all. He just glared back at him and told him to calm down.
After signing the contract, the matter was concluded. Lu Jian then asked, "Now that we have the rice and grain as ballast, what else do you plan to buy, Brother Cheng? Perhaps I can help you with some advice."
These two thousand dan of rice are only worth seven hundred taels of silver. Their fleet has four ships. As long as they are not empty-handed, the cost will definitely be more than this.
Cheng Xi said: "I haven't decided yet. I plan to take a look at the pepper market first."
All ships have load capacities. These two thousand shi of grain are enough to fill four ships. The rest can only be used to buy some light and space-saving items.
Cheng Xi couldn't tell the difference between other goods, but he ate pepper frequently and could taste the good and the bad.
Even if it couldn't fetch the high price of fifteen taels, it would still be a sought-after commodity. Besides, if you bought more, you might even be able to get a discount.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Lu Jian was surprised and said, "Brother, you're actually planning on getting Pepper. Aren't you afraid of getting in trouble with the Long Whale Gang?"
Hearing the words "Long Whale Gang," Li Niu, Sun Erlang, and Lin Meng's expressions all changed. Cheng Xi, however, showed no sign of confusion or surprise. He simply asked seriously, "I'm a little-known person, and I hope Brother Lu can enlighten me."
Seeing his expression, Lu Jian suddenly became curious. A maritime giant like the Long Whale Gang would have been known to even a child on the coast, not to mention a seafaring captain. Hearing him mention it, he should have been as shocked and frightened as the three captains.
But the young man was not surprised or afraid at all. Instead, he asked for advice seriously.
Had he never heard of this name? Where did he come from, and how did he become the owner of a fleet?
Thoughts raced through his mind, but Lu Jian's expression remained unchanged as he explained with a smile, "The Long Whale Gang has been active on the sea for ten years. They are a formidable force, brutal by nature, and have killed countless people. It was only after the arrival of General Qiu that they were driven to Southeast Asia.
Somehow, they managed to seize the pepper market, and now they're the sole controller of all bulk trade in Hepu. If you try to get involved, you'll probably be targeted."
These weren't just pirates, they were also part of a merchant gang. Cheng Xi frowned slightly, "Pepper is a big business. How can one gang monopolize it?"
This is a commonly used seasoning. How large a fleet would be needed to completely control the source?
"Of course there is no monopoly. There are also caravans that go to Southeast Asia to transport goods, but they will not stay in Hepu. They usually go directly east." Lu Jian explained.
Cheng Xi now understood completely that Hepu was the Changjing Gang's sphere of influence, and that any pepper trade there was under their control. Buying ten or twenty pounds might not raise a question, but if he really wanted to buy by the stone, he would probably be targeted.
Thinking about it this way, when I was selling pepper in Panyu, the shopkeeper Yang had a strange expression on his face. I'm afraid he knew the reason.
It's just that small coastal captains like Lin Meng and Li Niu have never been involved in the spice business, and no one has reminded them of these twists and turns, so she neglected it.
Understanding the situation, Cheng Xi said, "Thank you, Brother Lu, for reminding me. If I want to buy spices, which one would be better?"
He actually asked him openly. Lu Jian's smile deepened. "Cloves and nutmeg are controlled by foreign merchants. Even in Hepu, the price is not low. Benzoin or agarwood are worth considering. If you don't want spices, camphor or shellac are not bad either."
Foreign merchants? Western caravans? They've already taken control of the clove and nutmeg channels. So how long will it take for them to control the straits and even begin trading here?
However, just as the thought was about to arise, Cheng Xi suppressed it. After all, this world was not something she knew, and she was even less familiar with its historical development and geographical environment. Survival and development were the key.
She exhaled lightly and nodded, "I'm grateful for your advice, kid. Without Brother Lu's guidance, I'm afraid I would have taken some detours."
His expression didn't seem like he was going to obey him completely. Lu Jian didn't point it out, but just said, "Since you're going to sea, these brothers will know sooner or later. It's me who is being taught by them."
With these pleasantries, the business was concluded. Cheng Xi stood up and bowed, "In that case, we will not disturb Brother Lu any further. If you have any more letters, please send them to the dock."
Lu Jian was surprised: "Why are you leaving? Aren't you going to stay for dinner?"
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