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After trekking over a thousand miles, dodging two wars, and living among refugees for more than ten days, he finally managed to escape.
Seeing that he was about to arrive in Dongning, and hearing that the Changjing Gang had started a war, Shi Yifei was also very brave. He rushed straight to Dongning in one breath. However, when he finally arrived at the place, he found that the battle was over and the Chiqi Gang had won a great victory.
Finally feeling relieved, he went to the door with the letter.
"Brother Shi, are you in good health? How are your sister-in-law and the children?" Knowing that it was an old friend coming, Tian Yu pushed his wheelchair out to greet him. Seeing his ragged and thin appearance, he couldn't help but ask with concern.
Shi Yifei sighed deeply. "It was also a stroke of luck that we didn't get caught up in the rebellion. Although we fell ill twice along the way, our whole family is safe and sound. My wife is resting outside with the children." He glanced at Tian Yu's legs again and asked sympathetically, "How are you now?"
He had heard that Tian Yu's mother had passed away, and he was involved in a major case and suffered torture. Now he saw that even his legs were lame and he had difficulty walking, which was really a pity.
Such a straightforward look made Tian Yu purse his lips, but he did not get angry. He just said: "Now that food, clothing, housing and transportation are taken care of, it's not a big deal. Besides, doing something is better than lying in bed waiting to die."
This was a bit harsh, but Shi Yifei slapped his thigh heavily and said, "My dear brother, you are right. If it weren't for the Minsheng Bank mentioned in your letter, I wouldn't have come all the way here. You must talk to me properly."
The two were born in the same year and lived together when they went to Beijing for the imperial examination. Later, they took the examination together and entered the imperial court together. They really had a good relationship. Tian Yu did not make any formalities with him. He ordered the servants to entertain his wife and children, and he pushed the cart into the house with Shi Yifei.
After everyone was seated, Tian Yu explained the recent developments of the Red Flag Gang and their plans to open a bank. Shi Yifei listened for a long time and couldn't help but ask, "Did Miss Qiu really come up with this all by herself?"
"Yes, we are just helping out a little. She has great ambitions and is a wise leader." Tian Yu answered solemnly.
Shi Yifei also knew Tian Yu's character. This guy was a man of his word and seldom admired anyone. The woman who could be recognized as a "wise leader" by him must be an extraordinary and remarkable woman.
After a long moment of contemplation, he finally said, "I don't want to be kidnapped by some bandits and forced to become a legal advisor. Since you've said so, why not meet me and see if I can find a place for you here?"
Tian Yu had sent the letter precisely because he knew of Shi Yifei's situation. Now that he had come all the way here to seek refuge, how could he let him go? He immediately said, "The gang leader has gone to the East Gate Salt Fields for inspection and will be back in a few days. Brother Shi, why don't you stay here first, settle your family, and also take a look at the Red Flag Gang."
Shi Yifei barely listened to the second half of the sentence, his focus squarely on the East Gate Saltworks. Could it be that even the East Gate had been taken over by the Red Flag Gang? What a grand gesture! He was determined to take a closer look at this Miss Qiu.
I thought so, but after settling my family and getting ready, I waited for four days before Miss Qiu showed up.
Even after asking Tian Yu a lot, Shi Yifei was still surprised when he actually saw her. This Miss Qiu was much more delicate than he had imagined. She didn't look like a ruthless person capable of killing or fighting. She was just an ordinary young lady, with a slightly dark complexion due to her lack of makeup. If there was one thing that looked strange to him, it was probably her expression that was too calm. Her eyes were dark and bright, and her age was hard to tell. She didn't look like a girl in her teens.
Seeing Shi Yifei coming in, Cheng Xi smiled and said, "I've heard from Danhui a long time ago that there's a good friend of the same age. I didn't expect Mr. Shi to come all the way here. Please take a seat. Is everyone at home settled? If you feel unwell, please tell Danhui."
These words were quite enthusiastic, and Shi Yifei felt a little awkward. The other party was so young, yet she acted like a master, and even addressed Tian Yu by his courtesy name, which made him feel at a loss. After sitting in the chair for a moment, he said, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Qiu. After all the trouble, I finally have a place to stay. There's nothing wrong with that."
Hearing him say this, Cheng Xi smiled and said, "I heard that Mr. Shi was also an official in the local area before?"
Shi Yifei's expression darkened. "Back then, I was impulsive and offended many people. Only then did I realize that all my life's learning was useless."
Tian Yu had already explained this man's background, and Cheng Xi's question was deliberate. Shi Yifei, a fellow Jinshi (Jinshi) student, was unyielding and too straightforward, embroiled in officialdom's political intrigues. Ultimately, he was blamed and dismissed from office. As expected of Tian Yu's friend, they shared a similar personality.
Upon hearing this answer, Cheng Xi immediately said, "It's not that your knowledge has no place to be used, sir, but that the court is unworthy of your position and has failed to honor your talent."
This statement was somewhat outrageous, but she sounded surprisingly convincing, because everyone knew about the unjust case of General Qiu. Even such a loyal and good man could not have a good end. Isn't it the fault of the court?
However, this was not the time to dwell on such matters. Shi Yifei stared at the woman before him and asked directly, "Excuse me, Miss Qiu, why did you establish Minsheng Bank? And why do you pay interest to wealthy depositors instead of charging interest like other money houses?"
Cheng Xi calmly corrected him, "Sir, you're wrong. Minsheng Bank doesn't rely on this little bit of interest. It relies on absorbing surplus wealth from the people and investing it in workshops and even maritime trade. Those wealthy families hoarding gold and silver just bury it in the ground or use it to lend out, swallowing up the wealth of the poor. No one can change their nature unless there is greater benefit. Only by taking their eyes off them can the poor families in the countryside have room to breathe. Combined with those low-interest Qingmiao loans, it is enough for them to recuperate."
The clear logic of her words opened Shi Yifei's eyes. No one could have thought of such a method. Even if there were kindhearted people who wanted to help the poor and needy, they couldn't set the interest rate too low. This would be a serious offense and could even lead to the destruction of the family. Yet, the woman before him went ahead and did it. And she didn't just use her army to force others to surrender, but threw out a fatter bait. Such cunning and shrewdness was unbelievable for someone of her age.
Nodding thoughtfully, Shi Yifei pressed on, "Are the banks and trading venues in Panyu also for this?"
"There are some differences. People's livelihood improvement is for the people, and investment promotion is naturally for the business. Rich businessmen in the city and wealthy families in the countryside should be treated differently. However, no matter how things change, the essence remains the same. I still hope that the people along the coast will be stable and the market will be prosperous." Cheng Xi answered frankly.
Shi Yifei had only served as a county magistrate, so his understanding of these matters was somewhat vague. Even so, he knew the difference between the wealthy merchants and landlords in the capital, let alone in a place like Panyu, which was known for its maritime trade. Being able to devise different strategies for different individuals was a rare talent, and her heart was pure, worthy of being a descendant of the Qiu family.
After a moment's silence, Shi Yifei suddenly said, "If these two banks become too powerful, they will inevitably be feared by the government. Miss Qiu, have you thought about how to deal with this?"
"The Red Flag Gang has tens of thousands of soldiers and dominates the South China Sea. I also plan to establish farmland on the shore to raise soldiers, which I think will help protect this piece of territory." Cheng Xi smiled slightly.
Is this an exaggeration? Not at all. Because of our dynasty's maritime ban, the South China Sea has always been a remote and desolate region, plagued by bandits and thieves, much like the borderlands, where wars are frequent. The imperial court wouldn't have the time to meticulously govern a place like this, let alone now, with wars raging everywhere and bandits and refugees everywhere, it's hard to keep them under control. Who would even bother with such a place?
What difficulty could a large shipping gang with tens of thousands of soldiers and dominating a region collude with officials and businessmen? And the woman in front of him, despite possessing such a large force, was still willing to do her part for the people, which was already rare and precious.
"If Miss Qiu is right, the future scale of this bank will certainly not be underestimated. If it starts to amass wealth and harm the people, it will probably be a disaster that will be difficult to eradicate." Although he knew that this was inappropriate, Shi Yifei spoke out anyway. Some things have good intentions, but wealth can attract people. If someone is blinded by gold and silver, it will become a disaster.
"That's why I asked Danhui to search for old friends," Cheng Xi said seriously. "I've heard that Mr. Shi is upright and can judge right from wrong. Could you please supervise the operations of Minsheng Bank for me and act as a censor?"
This was beyond Shi Yifei's expectation. He originally thought that when he came to the Red Flag Gang, he would just be in charge of some tasks, and at most be a staff member in charge of money and grain like Tian Yu. Without military talent, he might not even be able to reach the core.
This was the reason why he hesitated despite having traveled so far. And now, after just one encounter, she had entrusted him with the important task of supervision.
Words have always been of great importance. To be a close minister to the lord, one must have outstanding character and extraordinary talents.
Even though Shi Yifei's heart had long been worn down by the world, it couldn't help but warm up at this moment.
This was an assignment that could truly bring peace to the people, how could it not be tempting? It was only at this moment that he understood why Tian Yu was so devoted to serving a woman, simply because her manners were truly unlike those of a woman, rather bold and heroic.
Pursing his chapped lips, Shi Yifei slowly said, "All I've ever hoped for in my life was to serve as an official and bring benefits to the people. Although I'm no longer an official, my resolve has never changed. I'm grateful that the gang leader hasn't abandoned me, and I'm willing to do my part to help the people."
He bluntly said that it was for the benefit of the people, not the Red Flag Gang itself. However, Cheng Xi did not take this small difference to heart. He just smiled and said, "Being able to benefit the people is worth the effort I put into Minsheng Bank. Sir, just take up your post with peace of mind. If you have any questions, you can directly ask Dan Hui or the bank's manager Wang."
The word "Dan Hui" actually made Shi Yifei react, and he quickly said, "I serve the gang leader, how dare I call myself a sir? My courtesy name is Ziyu."
How could Cheng Xi miss this obvious gesture of surrender? She smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Zi Yu. Oh, there's one more thing I want to ask you."
Accustomed to her frank way of speaking, Shi Yifei said, "Boss, please speak."
"I wonder if Zi Yu's wife is literate? If she can read and write, can she also come out to work?" Cheng Xi asked with a smile.
Shi Yifei: "Ah?"
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