Chapter 209 Master Chang'an

After a young man, Qin Mubai and his party stood in front of a big store.

"Yongye Salt Square, the name is good." Qin Mubai said.

"Teacher, the apprentice has made it clear." Pang Fei whispered, "This Yongye Salt Square is the official salt number of Xiangzhou City, and this shop is their main store. In addition, in other counties and towns under the jurisdiction of Xiangzhou, they also have subcolons.

Qin Mubai nodded, turned around and looked at another big business directly across the street from Yongye Yanfang. He couldn't help laughing and said, "Zhengchang Grain Account, depending on the situation, it should also be an official grain seller? These two big stores are sitting opposite each other, which is also interesting.

Pang Fei said, "This street specializes in firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and tea, as well as a vegetable market, cloth and clothing bureau, and miscellaneous goods in the south and north. I didn't expect that the small Xiangzhou was so prosperous and rich.

"You have stayed in Chang'an for a long time, so you are used to underesing local states and counties!" Qin Mubai smiled and waved to everyone, "Let's go and take a look at this Zhengchang grain number. Remember not to show your feet. We are businessmen now.

"Yes, General!"

"Hmm?"

"Yes, owner!"

......

Zhengchang Grain is a large business, just like a courtyard. The entrance is a large open floor, and there are many carriages parked around. There are many people coming in and out, some ordinary residents who come to buy rice, and some businessmen who come to talk about business. Several other carriages have been dragged to the entrance of the large warehouse on the left, and many laborers are loading grain on the cart.

Qin Mubai first looked around, and then walked to the grain cart. He casually picked up a few pieces of white rice scattered on the car and crushed them in his hand. He also licked it in his mouth and said to himself, "This rice is good!"

Someone next to him immediately came up for a conversation. A 40-year-old man, with kindness and shrewdness written on his face, arched his hand and smiled, "This Langjun dares to be a businessman!"

"Oh, I can't talk about it. If you go south and north, try to do any business." Qin Mubai smiled and replied, "The first time I came to Xiangzhou, I saw that the business trip here was active, so I went to the city and saw the grain number, so I came to have a look."

The man looked up and down at Qin Mubai - a noble prince with luxurious clothes; and then looked at the group of people behind him, calm, capable, respectful and obedient servants, so he became more enthusiastic and said, "Do you want to enter the business and talk to our shopkeeper? At the beginning of spring, food prices are soaring, and it's time for merchants!"

"It's good." Qin Mubai answered cheerfully, "I don't know what your name is?"

"I dare not. Just call me Wang Saner. The small one is a handyman in this grain number. Please!" Wang San enthusiastically led Qin Mubai and his party into the main hall.

The main hall is quite large, with a long counter, where several businessmen are talking. There is a striking wooden sign in the middle, with a few black and ink characters on it - "Doumi Jiuqian".

"Surealy, the price of grain has risen. We just came to Xiangzhou from Chang'an, where the white rice in the West City is only sold for ten yuan." Qin Mubai said, "The land of Xiangzhou has also been sold for nine yuan."

Wang San nodded and smiled: "Lang Jun is really a big man in the world. He dares to specialize in big business. Our small shop is naturally not comparable to the big business in Chang'an West City. What kind of place is Chang'an? It is luxurious and expensive in the world. The white rice in the small shop is sold for nine yuan, and the silver number in the West City must be more than fifteen yuan for more than 15 yuan. Mr. Lang, please sit down and have tea for a while. When you are young, please invite a shopkeeper to talk to you.

"Okay, it's up to you." Qin Mubai sat down with a swagger.

Pang Fei and others behind him laughed. A guard whispered, "General Pang, why do you think the second brother believes that the general is here to talk about big business, not to watch the flowers or buy three or five catties of rice?"

"Wang San'er is a businessman, and those eyes are specially made for customers to earn copper coins. What does our general look like? At this glance, he looks like a big customer who goes back and forth in business. Of course, he wants to do business. Pang Fei laughed.

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Don't say anything. We'll buy three or five catties of rice and leave later. I'd like to see what the shopkeeper's expression is."

"Haha!"

"My boss, Wang Saner is back."

Qin Mubai looked back and saw that there was also a rich 50-year-old middle-aged man with Wang Saner. He had a face and a few thin beards were very smooth. His facial features seemed to be squeezed together. He smiled very kindly and bent down to Qin Mubai and arched his hand: "In the next paragraph, Laoqi, it's a pleasure to meet Lang Jun. I don't know Lang Jun. How do you call it?"

Wang Saner next to him took over and said, "Lang Jun, this is one of the shopkeepers of our Zhengchang Grain number in Xiangyang, known as the Seven Shopkeepers."

"Zhengchang Grain is really a big store. The shopkeepers are ranked seventh." Qin Mubai got up and laughed easily. He arched his hand and replied, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Wu Yuanqing in Chang'an. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Pang Fei and others behind Qin Mubai couldn't help laughing - actually pretending to be their brother-in-law!

"Oh, it turns out that Lang Jun is the lord from Chang'an. What a disrespectful!" Duan Laoqi was in awe and hurriedly arched his hand, "Wu Langjun, are you interested in using tea in the back hall?"

"It's better to obey than to respect, seven shopkeepers, please!" Qin Mubai responded cheerfully.

"Please!" Duan Laoqi showed a happy face and led the way in person.

Businessmen from Chang'an are not ordinary. They must be doing big business. If you can make a deal, you don't need to talk about the profit; even if you can't make a deal, it's not good to make one or two friends in Chang'an.

Businessmen have always been like this. Zhengchang Grain can make such a big store, which is very clear about this business philosophy.

Qin Mubai and his party followed Duan Laoqi to a simple room in the back hall and provided a portrait in the middle, which was Fan Li. Duan Laoqi first burned incense in front of the portrait, and worshipped the incense with Qin Mubai separately, and then sat down with the guests and served tea.

After sitting down, Qin Mubai held the tea bowl with his right hand, gently scratched the tea noodles with the lid of the cup, took three sips, and then put it on his left. Duan Laoqi looked at it carefully and smiled after reading it: "Wu Langjun is indeed a big businessman in the north and south, and he is doing big business. I haven't seen the right-handed tea master for a long time!"

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "It's just that I'm used to it. The seven shopkeepers don't have to care. In Chang'an, when businessmen engage in big business, they are used to this kind of opening. Drink three sippings of tea with your right hand to show sincerity and respect.

"Mr. Lang is really good-looking, so disrespectful!" Duan Laoqi also picked up the tea like Qin Mubai, drank the whole cup of tea slowly and put it down. He laughed and said, "Okay, we can talk about business openly!"

Pang Fei and others have opened their eyes. Qin Mubai, a general who has never done business, is familiar with these things. He shows that there is no trace of dew and astringency, and they secretly call themselves strange in their hearts. This is like a mountain, but you can't dress up whatever you want.

Fortunately, Qin Mubai has been with Wu Mei Niang for a long time and has learned a lot from her. Otherwise, if there is no diamond, how dare he take the porcelain work randomly?

"The seven shopkeepers, to be honest, I went south this time to buy a batch of grain to sell in Beijing." Qin Mubai said, "Jiangnan is a place where rice is produced. The price of rice has always been low and the quality of rice is excellent. I was going to go to the area of Huyang to pick rice and pick some lake silk, but the time was in a hurry, so I settled in Xiangyang. Xiangyang is a good place. North and south grain and salt are transported here. There must be a good price, right? In this way, I don't have to run to the area of Huyang again.

"Lang Jun is really shrewd. If you come to Xiangyang to pick up goods, that's really right!" As soon as Duan Laoqi heard this, some excitement flashed in his eyes. Ru Jiazhen said, "Unto tell you the truth, the rice goods in Xiangyang are not more expensive than those in the Huyang area!" First, our land of Jingxiang produces its own rice, and the quality is not bad. Second, the official rice and military grain going south and north are transshipped in Xiangyang Port. With more than this meter, the price will naturally come down. It's just... The rice of my number is not sold to whoever you want. This rule must be known by Wu Langjun?"

"That's natural." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Since I dare to enter your Zhengchang grain account to talk about business, I must be able to afford this business. To tell you the truth, I have some business dealings with the Zheng family in Chang'an. I asked them to take care of them and gave me a grain store to run in Xianyang County, Gyeonggi Province.

"Ah, Chang'an Zheng's family?" Duan Laoqi exclaimed, "What Wu Langjun said, but Chang'an Zheng Fengchi?"

"Not bad." Qin Mubai said with a smile.

Duan Laoqi inadvertently took a breath of cold air, and his eyes widened a little. He said in surprise, "Chang'an Zheng's family... That's the court unloading business! They are in control of more than half of the grain and salt business in the world. If you can have a little connection with them, it's hard to fight for money in the future!"

"Ha ha!" Qin Mubai smiled casually and said, "That being said... But after all, the Zheng family is a big family. We small merchants and hawkers will not starve to death if they follow them, but it is extremely difficult to make a fortune. Because what we earn is a little bit of money they earn. Take my grain number in Xianyang as an example. When the grain is distributed, let the Zheng family deduct a layer first. How much money can I earn?

Duan Laoqi is an old ashes who has been rolling in the business for decades. Hearing Qin Mubai's words, he was thrilled and understood what he meant. He thought: Dare to think that the grain given by the Zheng family was too expensive, so he privately came out to collect a batch of grain to buy goods and then earn some surplus. This is a very good idea. On the one side, it has the grain management rights given by the Zheng family, and on the other side, it has its own cargo channel, which reduces costs and increases profits!

"Ha ha... Wu Langjun, what a shrewd businessman!" Duan Laoqi smiled and said, "Isn't you afraid of offending the Zheng family if you just do this?"

"It's okay." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "I have a good relationship with Zheng Anshun, the young master of the Zheng family. I actually got his approval for this trip. In fact... If I can get the low-priced official grain of Big Brown, the Zheng family will also be happy.

Duan Laoqi was excited and hurriedly said, "Lang Jun's words... I just don't understand it very well."

"Oh, the seventh shopkeeper is a smart man. Why do you need to make it clear?" Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Businessman, who doesn't want lower-priced goods?"

"That's... reasonable!" Duan Laoqi nodded thoughtfully, blinked a few times, and asked, "How much food is Wu Langjun going to have this time?"

Qin Mubai smiled and stretched out a slap: "All the good Huyang white rice!"

"Five hundred stones?" Duan Laoqi said with some joy.

For general county-level grain numbers, the monthly purchase volume of good business is about three or four hundred stones. The Tang Dynasty is based on agriculture, and most of the people are self-sufficient in planting grain. Official grain is mainly used to distribute official salaries, supply the army or state storage. The proportion of real urban residents buying grain to eat is not very heavy.

Qin Mubai smiled and shook his head.

"Do you want... five thousand stones?" Duan Laoqi was a little surprised.

Qin Mubai still shook his head and smiled without saying a word.

"Fifty thousand?!" Duan Laoqi was shocked.

"Ha ha!" Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Seven shopkeepers, don't joke anymore. At least he is a Beijing businessman. Will he make a special trip to Xiangzhou for tens of thousands of thousands of stones of grain? - 500,000 stone lake white rice!"

"500,000!!!" Duan Laoqi was shocked and said to himself: This, this... We have never met such a big customer!

"You heard it right. It's 500,000." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "I'll tell you the truth. My own shop really can't eat such a big brown grain. You know what I mean."

Duan Laoqi's forehead oozed a layer of cold sweat and suddenly nodded.

Qin Mubai's words are quite clear. The implication is nothing more than that he is helping the Zheng family "smuggling"!

The biggest merchant in the Tang Dynasty wants to "smull", which sounds a little appalling. In fact, there is nothing strange for businessmen.

It is said that there is no treachery and no businessman. Business people understand one truth, that is, horse night grass is not fat. People who are really honest and do not dare to take more than half a step in the thunder pool will either make a mediocre life for free or lose money.

If you don't speculate in business, don't turn the target, and don't hoard and smuggle goods, what do you rely on to make a fortune? At that time, didn't Zheng Fengchi rely on politics to favor Li Yuan, thus becoming the Tang royal merchant and becoming the richest man in the world? He even dares to speculatively in the National Games. What's so strange about smugglers of a few bags of rice?

Duan Laoqi is a businessman. He understands this truth, or the rules.

With the grain management rights given by the Tang Dynasty, while collecting the official grain sent by the government for sale, it privately collects cheap grain to fill the goods and sell it at the market price. Among them, the profit difference will come out. Anyway... There are several grain numbers and salt numbers in the world. Don't you do this? This has almost become the unspoken rule of the grain and salt world.

Looking at Duan Laoqi's stunned for a long time, Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Can't the seven shopkeepers make the decision?"

Duan Laoqi took a deep breath: "To tell the truth, Wu Langjun, I really can't make a decision on such a big business. Why don't you go down and invite the big boss and talk to Lang Jun in detail?

Qin Mubai frowned unhappily: "Let's do it another day!"

After saying that, he got up and was about to leave.

"Mr. Lang, please stay!" Duan Laoqi hurriedly got up and stayed with him, "Lang Jun, please forgive me. I don't know Lang Jun's true face. How negligent! We should have directly invited our big boss to consult with Lang Jun.

"I don't blame you." Qin Mubai put on a little airs and said lightly, "I'm still busy with common affairs. If you dare to come to your account for negotiation, please!"

"Lang Jun insists on leaving... Why not leave an address? When our big boss comes back, we will definitely visit!" Duan Laoqi asked eagerly.

Qin Mubai stopped and frowned in embarrassment: "I'll come to you again. Please don't disturb. Thank you!"

After saying that, he raised his foot and left. Pang Fei and others followed closely.

Duan Laoqi swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva and hurriedly called a few servants and ordered, "Keep up with this group, and be sure to find out where they live!"

Half an hour later.

These little guys came back with a disgrace and said that they had lost someone. Duan Laoqi was so angry that he wanted to cry without tears. He really wanted to look up to the sky and roar. Now there is no other way, so I have to wait for this "big boss" to take the initiative to come again.

In the inn, Qin Mubai, Pang Fei and others changed their clothes and makeup with a smile. Qin Mubai tore off the fake beard on his mouth and smiled, "That Duan Laoqi must be extremely entangled now. Let's hang him for three days. Let's see what happens in three days."

Pang Fei smiled and said, "Master, you are really amazing to pretend to be a businessman! Even the veteran like Duan Laoqi couldn't see the flaw. Now his appetite must be full, and I just hope you will come to the door. I wonder why you promised to meet his big boss when you were not present?

"This is called a trick commonly used in business." Qin Mubai said, "The more the big brown business is, the more careful you should be and not be eager. As soon as you are in a hurry, people will know that you are eager to ask for goods and pressure the price; and if you are not careful about such a big brown business, it will seem fake. What's more, we are talking about illegal business, and we have to be more cautious. The first time we met and cooperated with others, we either waited to be slaughtered or suspected.

"So that's it!" Pang Fei smiled and said, "The apprentice has learned something new again!"

One of the guards smiled and said, "The general is indeed an outstanding figure. He just pretended to be a businessman. Even the people around us should believe that you are the real customer of Chang'an. Also, that Duan Laoqi actually sent someone to follow us... Haha! It's so funny that someone wants to follow Baiqi!"

"Haha!" The whole room burst into laughter.

"What are you laughing at, so happy?" Chen Yan came in and smiled.

"Are you awake?" Qin Mubai came forward and smiled, "Is the injury better?"

"Good." Chen Yan nodded and smiled, looked at the clothes they threw aside, and said with a smile, "How dare you go for a private visit again?"

"No, and I'm very happy to visit this time." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "We will go to Bagudu for a military parade later. Are you interested in coming and have a look?"

"No. That kind of occasion is not suitable for me. Chen Yan said, "I'm here to say goodbye to you. I'm going to Tanzhou."

"What, are you leaving again?" Qin Mubai frowned and said, "You are seriously injured. You should be cured before you leave. Besides, the military registration file I applied for you hasn't been delivered yet!"

"No." Chen Yan smiled and said, "Every time I meet you, I will cause you a lot of trouble. I'd better go quickly."

"No." Qin Mubai stared at her domineeringly, "This time you must listen to me, stay in Xiangzhou, and don't go anywhere to recover. If you want to retire and return to your hometown to be a good woman, I won't stop you. But now I can't let you go like this. Didn't you say that since you are a friend, you should do everything for the good of each other and for each other's sake? Don't worry, you can't cause me any trouble. Today is different from the past. It's not me talking big. What trouble can I have in Xiangzhou? And I still have something to do. Maybe I need your help!"

"Ha ha!" Chen Yan smiled and said, "It's rare to see you so nervous and long talk."

"That proves that I treat you as a good friend. I care about you, don't I?" Qin Mubai said with a smile.

Pang Fei hurriedly waved his hand and took a group of people to touch the corner of the wall and slipped out.

Chen Yan looked back at Pang Fei and others and couldn't help smiling: "You will be misunderstood like this."

"What's the misunderstanding?" Qin Mubai smiled indifferently, "You give me a peach, and I will repay you with Li." Isn't it normal for you to treat me the way you treat me? Well, you don't have to talk about it anymore. You can stay here to recover. In a moment, I will ask Pang Fei to send someone to rent a private house for you to rest alone. It will be more clean and more comfortable than staying in an inn.

"You still know me." Chen Yan smiled gratefully and said, "I'm used to coming and going alone. It's just that... this will cause you a lot of trouble again."

"Don't keep saying this sentence." Qin Mubai said, "What's the trouble? I have so many people who are idle all day long, so I just want to find something for them to do!"

"Ha ha!" Chen Yan smiled, stared at Qin Mubai, and whispered, "Thank you, Mu Bai..."

"If you really want to thank me, you can take good care of yourself. There will be a time when you can help me." Qin Mubai said with a smile.

"Alleed." Chen Yan smiled and nodded.