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Standing under the plaque of "China Merchants Bank", Boss Liu took a deep breath and stepped into the gate.
For a ship owner who travels long distances on the sea, this year's South China Sea can be described as turbulent and makes people feel uneasy.
It’s not that there haven’t been powerful tycoons who dominated the sea before, but the Red Flag Gang is just too powerful and has too many tricks, which makes people feel a little at a loss.
As soon as his boat arrived in Panyu, it was stopped and he had to pay a "flag-hanging fee".
Arriving at the private port, he discovered that the number of merchants buying and selling goods was half of what it usually was. Frightened, he quickly inquired and learned of the existence of the "trading ground." As someone whose livelihood depended on maritime trade, despite his concerns, Boss Liu gritted his teeth and personally traveled to Panyu City, spending several days figuring out the ins and outs of the business.
It turned out that only those who deposited money in the newly opened Merchants Bank were eligible to enter the trading grounds to buy and sell goods. The entire process was guaranteed by the Red Banner Gang, and all they had to do was pay a small deed fee, which was much lower than the commercial taxes collected by the government and was also more secure. If they didn't want to deposit money, they had to find a merchant who had deposited money with them to trade on their behalf, and they had to pay a small intermediary fee to get the deal done.
After much deliberation, Boss Liu finally gritted his teeth and went to the bank to deposit the money. After all, the money was nominally his, and it was said to earn 5% interest annually. Even if the Red Flag Gang swallowed it up, it would only cost him an extra 200 taels, which he could consider as a tribute to the overlord of the South China Sea.
After completing all the formalities, receiving the receipt and the badge, Boss Liu finally qualified to enter the trading floor. Although he was still a little nervous, his steps became much more steady. The Red Flag Gang was a powerful force in Panyu City. It was said that even the government dared not investigate cases involving murders of entire families. Now that he had paid two "protection fees" and had both the flag and the deposit, he felt protected, which made him feel much more at ease.
However, those thoughts were shattered upon entering the hall. The so-called trading floor was a vast hall, comparable to the main halls used by the wealthy for meetings. Despite its size, it was packed with people. The rows of chairs were filled, and many stood against the walls, tiptoeing to peer at the signs. If it weren't for the respectable attire of everyone, it would have looked like a country market.
After being stunned for a long time, Boss Liu finally reacted and quickly squeezed into the crowd. When he got there, he could clearly see the words on the signs on the wall. It turned out to be the goods and their prices!
From bulk commodities such as rice, soybeans, raw silk, tea, coarse salt, and cotton, to popular Southeast Asian goods such as raw lacquer, shellac, fragrant wood, camphor, and tung oil, even precious items such as coral, pearls, ivory, and porcelain have water signs. Below them are a series of bids, some high, some low, and some buying. Everyone stares at the signs intently, hoping to get a bargain or sell the goods as soon as possible.
"Five hundred dan of raw silk, I'll buy it! I'll buy it!"
"Oh no! How come the price of Tuancha has dropped? It was only 4 taels and 3 cents just now!"
"It looks like the price of shellac is going to rise. I'm afraid the route to Jiaozhi will be blocked..."
"The rice price must be raised by another liter. Alas, there are too many places plagued by banditry."
Countless voices buzzed in his ears, countless arms were raised and then quickly dropped. Boss Liu felt his heartbeat quicken, his mouth watered, and his face flushed. Any businessman would be thrilled at such an event. For them, "information" was worth a fortune. And in this trading arena, all information was freely available, how could it not be dazzling?
After standing there for a moment, Boss Liu suddenly realized what was happening and ran to the small room nearby where the goods were listed. He had to list the goods on his ship as soon as possible. If he waited a few more days and the goods increased, the price would drop!
It was like a raucous casino, some already sweating as they entered the arena, others watching from the sidelines. The noise was relentless and non-stop.
In the private room next door, Zhu Ming withdrew his gaze and sighed, "I never expected such a sensation in just two months."
He spoke from the heart. Thanks to that massacre, so many merchants had flocked to the market, saving money just to protect themselves. As a result, with so many people, it was inevitable that they would go to the trading floor. Didn't this make the place prosperous?
"Now is the time to go south, so it's inevitable that there will be a lot of people." Lu Jian had a smile on his face, and it was that kind of smile that was well-measured. It didn't make people feel unfamiliar or polite, nor did it have the air of complacency or superiority. It made people feel good just by looking at it.
Zhu Ming stroked his beard and laughed: "Mingde, you are too modest. If it weren't for you, this bank wouldn't be so prosperous."
These words immediately attracted the agreement of several people in the room. They, the shareholders, came here today because they really had something to discuss. Now they just wanted to take a look at the grand occasion of the trading field so that they could make plans for the next step.
Lu Jian smiled and said, "I dare not take credit for it. This bank was built by everyone. It would not have been possible without anyone. For its future development, we must all work together."
This statement may sound like a polite remark, but it also carries a certain amount of sincerity. After all, controlling the market is not something that can be accomplished by just one or two people. For example, in the case of major trades like tea, salt, wine, and rice, without someone to control the market, the business would likely be taken over by someone else. How could it be so smooth?
Everyone laughed when they heard this. How much money they invested and how much dividends they could earn were no longer important to them. The real lucrative business was controlling the market through the trading floor, buying low and selling high, and regulating materials. The waters in it were simply unfathomable, making people unable to stop.
Of course, the Red Flag Gang also contributed to this. If that woman hadn't demonstrated her skills in public, the trading market would have been copied by others the moment it opened. These days, no one dares to touch the tiger's whiskers. Even if they wanted to learn, they would have to move to places like Quanzhou or Yuhang, away from the corners of the South China Sea. However, such a large-scale event isn't something anyone can learn. They have the guarantor of a giant like the Red Flag Gang. Do others have that luxury?
Zhu Ming naturally understood what he meant and laughed heartily, "Whoever dares to disrupt this family inheritance will be the first to be punished! However, the entrance fee to this trading ground must be raised. Two hundred taels really won't stop many people."
"I think we should just raise it to five hundred taels. It's better not to let those vendors in." Someone immediately joined in.
"Isn't five hundred taels a bit too little? In fact, the trading floor should be separate from the bank, and the pledged money should be calculated separately..."
"What if we collect too much and the market becomes deserted?"
"Aren't there still wealthy people who can enter the market?"
Several people were talking excitedly, but Lu Jian didn't take their words to heart. What they were arguing about was actually a seat at the entrance. If the threshold could be raised, small vendors would have to borrow other people's places to trade. There was no telling how much profit there would be, so naturally, people would flock to it. However, if it really wanted to be implemented, Cheng Xi's approval was needed. From his understanding, the other party would probably not give in easily. For these merchants, the exchange was just a means to manipulate the market, but for Cheng Xi, it was a powerful tool for her to find out about the cargo entering and leaving Panyu and the scale of ships. Moreover, if the threshold was restricted too much, it would inevitably allow some people to become too powerful, and then it would be difficult to control.
He was more concerned with the construction of the weaving mill. This was the first workshop the bank had built using deposits and the assets of its shareholders. If successful, it would be able to produce at least one-third of Panyu's raw silk. Furthermore, according to Cheng Xi's plan, the looms would also need to be improved to increase weaving efficiency. Lu Jian wasn't sure if this would succeed, but he could sense Cheng Xi's determination. Now that the bank was on track, this matter needed to be expedited.
After talking for a long time, everyone finally decided to set a limit of five hundred taels and let Lu Jian ask the gang leader for instructions.
At this point, Zhu Ming smiled and said, "Mingde is already 22, right? Why hasn't he gotten married yet? Are you waiting for someone to act as a matchmaker?"
This immediately aroused everyone's interest, but Lu Jian's smile remained unchanged: "Mr. Zhu, you are joking. The bank is just starting out now, and there are so many things to do. Who has the time to think about this?"
Normally, as an elder, Zhu Ming should have offered some persuasion, explaining the benefits of starting a family, or even personally arranged a matchmaking. However, the old man chuckled, "First establish a career, then start a family. Mingde's ambition is unmatched by others."
The people around him also laughed, praising and flattering him, and two of them were almost winking. Lu Jian naturally knew what they were thinking. Cheng Xi could hand over such an important bank to him, and was present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to support him. They were also of the same age, he was unmarried and she was unmarried. If he said there was no secret, he was afraid that others would not believe it.
However, Lu Jian did not care about these rumors, and even deliberately fanned the flames. After all, if some things are spread too much, they can become real.
After finishing the business, a banquet was held, and everyone drank and enjoyed themselves until nightfall. Lu Jian drank quite restrainedly and did not get drunk. He went straight back to the bank's study to deal with the paperwork. Not long after, there was a knock on the door.
The person who came turned out to be He Ling. Lu Jian smiled slightly and said, "Miss He, why haven't you gone back to rest yet?"
He Ling took a few steps forward and placed a stack of account books on the table. "These are today's accounts. I saw the light was on in the study, so I brought them here first."
With the market booming, the number of accounts to be processed naturally increased, and working all night was normal. However, Lu Jian hadn't expected He Ling to be able to persevere. He took the account book, flipped through it casually, and said with a smile, "Thank you for your hard work, Miss He. If you need any help, just let me know."
He Ling refused as usual: "Don't worry, Mr. Lu, we can still handle it. The new people are also being trained and will be able to take over soon."
The people who came to Panyu with her were all smart and hardworking. The replacements were already in place, and only needed a month or two of training. They were accountable to the gang leader, so how could they just use people who were shoved in by others?
Seeing that she was still so stubborn, Lu Jian didn't try to persuade her any further. This girl was truly devoted to Cheng Xi. If he said too much, it would only make her suspicious. Such a confidant should be won over.
With a gentle smile, Lu Jian said, "Then Miss He, go and have a rest first. Don't get tired."
He Ling saluted and walked out briskly. As soon as she left the house, her face darkened.
Although Tian Yu was sharp-tongued, sarcastic, and somewhat condescending, he would sincerely guide his "slave" and taught her a lot.
No matter how gentle Mr. Lu's smile was, or how considerate he behaved, he was actually "making the best use of her" and treating her like a chess piece to be wooed and controlled.
The difference here is really huge. No wonder the gang leader said that people who are "nice" to you may not really have good things for you.
But the more this happened, the more she had to pay close attention, so that her spy would be effective.
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