Chapter 32: Accidental Gain (Middle)

  On the top of Dongsi Paifang, Lin Chun is in full bloom. The building has three layers up and down, with painted beams and flying clouds, beaded curtains rolling up rain, all those who come and go are dressed in brocade, it is the first-class teahouse in the eastern city.

  In a luxurious room with two-story windows, Ye Zhaoyang smiled and sipped tea while listening to a refined middle-aged man introduce the situation of setting up a factory in Shanghai.

  The old man sat on the other side, the middle-aged man was brought by him, called Huang Wenshu, word Dongge, originally a famous businessman in Shanghai County, the owner of Yifuxiang Money House. The Small Knife Society made trouble, and Yifuxiang suffered heavy losses. The silver in the money house was almost looted clean.

  Nowadays, many businessmen think that reputation is more precious than life. Several decades later, the Beijing-based Yihetuan Silver Bank was severely damaged when the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing and had to close down in a sorry state. Nevertheless, it rented out its storefront and continued to exchange silver notes for cash, returning customers' money, and persisted in doing so for over a decade, which shows how much importance it attaches to credibility.

  Huang Wenshu's situation was similar. After the Qing army recovered Shanghai, Huang Wenshu took out all his property to refund the silver to his customers and retrieved the silver tickets that had become worthless. Now he not only lost everything but also owed a huge debt. He had no choice but to enter the concession to make a living, and coincidentally met Lao Fuzi.

  After listening to Lao Fuzi's situation, Ye Zhaoyang couldn't help but like his character. When Huang Wenshu introduced the canned goods factory and glass factory that were being prepared, Ye Zhaoyang nodded repeatedly, after all, he was an open-minded businessman, much more efficient than Lao Fuzi.

  Lao Fu Zi found Huang Wenxiu for help, but he had already let out a sigh of relief. He wanted to say that he would go outside the pass to help Han Jin Chun raise funds and grain to win over the local gentry, and he still had some ideas about it. However, when it came to doing business, he knew that he was not really cut out for this line of work.

  "East Pavilion, it's inconvenient to exchange letters back and forth. From now on, you can make decisions on your own when necessary, I trust you!" Ye Zhao said with a smile, shaking her folding fan.

  "Don't worry, Ye Gongzi. Western technology and factories, if I say that we can't make money in Shanghai, then I, Huang Wenshu, would be too ashamed to face you! However..." Huang Wenshu hesitated for a moment.

  Ye Zhao smiled and said: "Here with me, don't be polite, just speak directly, we don't like to beat around the bush."

  Huang Wenshu hesitated and said: "However, Ye Gongzi, Huang thinks that you have invested a lot of money in these two transactions, it seems...it seems..."

  Ye Zhao burst out laughing and said, "Isn't it foolish? Isn't it muddled? Dong Ge, I'm more and more fond of your temperament. It's said that people have affinity with each other, I think we're quite compatible."

  It's delightful to see Little Prince Wang so pleased, and even Old Master couldn't help but smile. It's rare for someone to be looked up to by Little Prince Wang like this.

  Ye Zha took a sip of tea and said, "You just go ahead and do it, we're not after the money. Whatever profit this factory makes, you don't have to give me an account, just put it all into expanding the business, the bigger the better."

  Although he hadn't met Ye Zhao for a long time, Huang Wenshu felt that this boss was not a second-generation rich kid who had lost his way. The things he saw were probably much farther than himself. It seemed that he had previously worried in vain about the boss's lack of understanding of the business and blindly worshipping foreigners, which was why he spent a lot of silver to set up these two factories.

  "Now that the master is magnanimous, I can rest assured." Huang Wenshu was increasingly polite to Ye Zhao without realizing it.

  Lao Fuzi introduced Ye Zhao, and naturally wouldn't mention the identity of this Dongjia. Not to mention that members of the imperial family were not allowed to engage in business, but even someone as noble as Xiao Wangye would not easily open up to others.

  Ye Zhao looked at Lao Fuzi and smiled: "You also arrived just in time, if you were half a day late, I would have gone to Zhigu already, and it's likely that I won't be back for three or two days."

  The old man hesitated slightly and worriedly said: "This, I'm afraid it's not suitable." The sons of the imperial clan were not allowed to leave Beijing without a reason.

  Ye Zhao smiled and said, "Don't worry, I understand what the old master means. Come on, let's have some tea. This Shanglin Chun is not a person to be trifled with, he says it's from the top of Wuyi Mountain, that's for sure. Just looking at it, there seems to be some aura about it." As he spoke, he picked up his teacup and smiled at the two of them.

  ……

  Tianjin Jinghai Yangliuqing, the town is located in a strategic location of the capital, and it is a must-pass place for merchants coming from the south and north. However, there are rows of shops, and commerce is prosperous.

  The west end of Nan Street, adjacent to the Chuyun Gate, is the Zhao family's home, which has been shrouded in gloom and doom. The courtyard of the Zhao family's quadrangle seems to have been echoing with intermittent sobbing sounds for days.

  While all the neighbors closed their doors and didn't come out, even the lively ones didn't dare to look. Suddenly, seven or eight fierce-looking men kicked open the Zhao family's gate and entered the courtyard. The several old women who were chatting under the archway quickly dispersed, went home, locked their doors and windows, and pretended not to hear anything.

  Living in the neighborhood, it would be embarrassing to say that I won't help the Zhao family by saying a few words. But now who dares to speak up for the Zhao family? Can only make a fortune in silence, pretending not to hear or see anything.

  "What are you doing?!" Suddenly seeing several thugs rushing into the yard, Zhao's second son plucked up the courage to ask, but was kicked in the head and since the day his father was beaten until he spat blood, Zhao's second brother had been scared out of his wits and would never dare fight back.

  "Waaaahhh..." A 7 or 8 year old little girl standing next to the eaves was so scared that she stared at them in horror, and the string of candied hawthorns in her hand fell to the ground with a "pa" sound. She suddenly burst into loud tears. She was Zhao Lao Er's daughter, named Ping'er.

  Several strong men carried a long saw into the yard, two in front and two behind, holding the saw and starting to "hiss" at the ancient juniper tree beside the sky well.

  "Shut up!" A burly man with a ferocious face, who was standing aside directing the laborers, glared at the little girl and growled, "Cry again! Cry again and I'll sell you to a brothel!"

  The little girl cried even louder, and the big man walked over with large strides. Zhao Lao Er, who had been pretending to be dead on the ground, could no longer pretend. After all, she was his own daughter. Although he usually disliked her for being useless, he couldn't just watch as she was bullied.

  Besides, everyone in Yangliuqing knows this villain, Shi Jia's guard, surnamed Zhang, named Zhang Quan, ruthless and cruel, it is said that he was a great thief in the past.

  Zhao Lao Er scrambled up and blocked his daughter behind him, turning back to scold: "Get back home, what are you running out here to die for?"

  "Ouch!", his lower abdomen was kicked by that ruffian, and he squatted on the ground with a painful belly.

  "Father, father." Ping'er hugged his arm and cried out, while the entire courtyard seemed empty, with no one else coming out.

  Zhao Lao Da spat blood and was recuperating at home, with everyone in the house fussing over him. The old lady got so angry that she had a heart attack and was sent to the hospital by Er Niu. Now, only Zhao Lao Er and Ping'er were left to take care of the old mansion.

  "Your mother's old man will make you cry!" Annoyed by Ping'er's crying, the villain Zhang Quan stretched out his hand to grab Xiaoyao's collar, wanting to throw her out.

  "Hmph! Who is this, so arrogant!" Suddenly a cold laugh came from the entrance, and a thin, monkey-like figure swaggered in, with yellow teeth and a cold smile on his face, exuding an air of arrogance.

  "Get out!" Zhang Quan saw that the person who came in was a stranger, and he knew it must be an outsider who didn't know better, coming here to stir up trouble, really not knowing how to write the word "death".

  The thin monkey didn't even bother to acknowledge him, and instead turned around to respectfully greet a slender young man who had just entered: "Sir, how did you come in? A few rough country folks like us aren't worthy of your presence. Why didn't you wait for me to send them away?"

  The young man fanned himself with a folding fan, as if all the noise in the courtyard had nothing to do with him. He leisurely walked over to Xiaoyazi's side, squatted down, picked up the sugar gourd on the ground, and immediately frowned: "It's dirty." Then he smiled at Xiaoyazi: "Little sister, don't cry, brother will buy you a new one later, a big string of them, okay?"

  Ping'er was just hugging her father's arm and sobbing, Zhao Erge still hadn't caught his breath, his lower abdomen was still in severe pain, but he could see the situation in the yard clearly, and was very surprised, who was this person coming again?

  "Looking for death!" Zhang Quan's eyes saw the young man's nonchalant appearance and couldn't help but ignite with anger, swinging his fist to heavily punch the young man in the face, determined to knock out a few of his teeth.

  Yeah, Zhang Quan's fist had just been raised and not yet struck out when he felt a pain in his wrist. He turned around to see an iron tower-like man staring at him coldly, with a hand like an iron clamp firmly grasping his wrist.

  "Hit him, hit me!" Rui Si saw that these rural people were lawless and actually wanted to lay hands on Young Master Wang, so he stomped his foot and shouted loudly!

  In the courtyard, a chaotic fight broke out, with figures darting back and forth in a melee.

  Ye Zhao smiled and said to Zhao Er Ge: "Let's talk at home, don't scare the child."

  Zhao Lao Er was stunned, "Bang" a sound, the man who was sawing the tree was hit hard on the head, stumbled back several steps, and fell to the ground at Zhao Lao Er's feet. Zhao Lao Er came to his senses with a start, and hastily said: "Alright, alright, you, follow me."

  Entering the side room, Zhao Lao'er secretly looked at the outside movement through the gap of the carved flower window frame. Ye Zhaoyi smiled and asked Ping'er what her name was, how old she was, etc., and soon became familiar with the little girl.

  However, seeing Ping'er and Zhao's mother-in-law in general, from a young age, they were bound by their feet, and in their hearts, they would lightly sigh. Although Ye Zhaung knew that the three-inch golden lotus had a different charm, later generations circulated photos online, first because the owner was old and ugly, second because they intentionally highlighted its ugliness. If it really made people feel nauseous, wouldn't the men from over a hundred years ago, as well as the elegant scholars from even earlier times, all have psychological disabilities?

  But Ye Zhaonaturally appreciated the natural foot, and also knew how painful it was for girls to bind their feet from a young age. Fortunately, Hongniang was a Hakka from Guangxi, and Rong'er was a Banner person, neither of whom had bound feet.

  But it's hard to say when I can shout out "let go" with confidence, and that has to wait for the right timing.

  "Uncle, why are you frowning? It's not pretty!" Ping'er was bold and reached out to smooth Ye Zhao's eyebrows, making him laugh.

  Zhao Erge was too busy watching the commotion outside and didn't have time to scold his daughter for not understanding the rules.

  At the time when Ye Shuang and Ping'er were chatting and laughing, Rui Si lifted the door curtain and came in, bowing his body: "Master, a total of seven bandits have been captured, and I let one go back to report the news."

  Ye Zhao smiled and said: "Alright, let's go beat up Shi family's Ao Feng today and see how arrogant the Shi family can be!"

  "Ah!" Rui Si slowly got up and backed out.

  Zhao Ergou was startled and took a step back, this demeanor is not ordinary, looking at Ye Zhaoyang carefully and asked: "Sir, where did you come from? Do you know the Shi family?"

  Ye Zhaoming smiled and said, "You don't have to worry about this, anyway, I won't let you lose out. If there's no Gao Mo, give me a bowl of it, my mouth is a bit dry! Riding a horse over here, how can my body withstand the tossing?"

  "Ah! Yes! I'm really muddled, muddled! Wait for me, I'll go boil water right away. These two days at home have been chaotic, not a single person has boiled water." Zhao Ergou said, and hurriedly went to boil water. Meanwhile, in the courtyard, those robust and spirited young men, each like a small tiger, made Zhao Ergou extremely fearful, so he could only take a detour to walk away.

  ……

  Drinking tea, Ye Zhao and Zhao Erge chatted for a while, but then another commotion broke out in the courtyard. Zhao Erge was nervous all along, and he almost jumped up in fright.

  Ye Zhao shook his folding fan and smiled: "It doesn't matter." Before he had even finished speaking, a loud crash was heard from the courtyard, followed by a blood-curdling scream.

  Zhao Ergeo was like sitting on pins and needles, not knowing what to do. Rui Si came in again to report: "Master, 23 people from the Shi family's guard were captured, four were injured by firearms, and I let one person go back to deliver a message to the Shi family - one life for 200 taels of silver, asking them to come and redeem their people."

  Ye Zhaoming smiled and nodded.

  Zhao Ergou's legs went soft, and he secretly looked at Ye Zhaowei, really didn't know where this young master was from.

  Ye Zhaoming instructed Rui Si, "Go and buy a few strings of sugar gourd, I've heard that Tianjin's sesame seed balls and sugar gourds are the most famous, let's have some to crack our teeth."

  Rui Si responded with a sound and backed out.

  Rui Si bought sugar gourds, and Ye Shao and Ping Er were laughing and eating when there was another commotion outside the courtyard. Rui Si hurriedly ran out and came back after a while to report: "Master, the runners from Jinghai County have been blocked by the Bakshi's bright nameplate!"

  Ye Zhao just smiled: "Good! It's really a matter of course. What happened to Jinghai County? To handle the case, they still need to ask Shi Jia for instructions!"

  Rui Si's awkward smile, didn't dare to respond.

  Baqi is the third-class guard of Zheng Wangfu, a fifth-rank military officer. Even if it were the magistrate of Jinghai County himself, how would he dare to offend him? Not to mention the small fry in the yamen.

  If Ye Zhaorou was conferred as the Crown Prince last time, according to the rules, he would be entitled to four first-class guards, four second-class guards and eight third-class guards. According to the rank of the royal family's guards, the first-class guards are from the third rank, and the second-class guards are from the fourth rank. That is to say, at a young age, he can bring a group of three or four product martial officers to stroll around Beijing city.

  Now, however, it can only rely on the protection of the royal family to intimidate people. To tell the truth, this time in Tianjin, it was originally relying on the protection of Bakshi and others to intimidate people. Ye Zhao would never reveal his identity and cause controversy, being guessed by people is one thing, and openly showing off is another matter.

  It's really boring in Beijing, Ye Zha came to Tianjin just to relax a bit.

  ………………………

  Comrades, vote!