"Vincent said that a Chinese asked him a lot about our business house a while ago," Lin Hongwen said, "Qingzhi and I both felt that it should be his person, so I came over to take a look." ”

"He Gui also opened a trading house on Zhengyang Street, he has a thick foundation, and he does a lot of business, he does rice, flour, grain, oil, hardware, satin and cloth," Zhou Shiying said, "But he is very domineering, does not pay attention to the rules, and often robs other people's business." So some people in the Chamber of Commerce have a lot of criticism about him. But it's useless, he even dares to rob Ji Fanchen's business, let alone someone else's. ”

"Isn't being so domineering about anger?" Lin Hongwen asked.

"There are both those who are willing to abide by the rules and those who are unwilling to abide by the rules in business," Zhou Shiying said, "There are actually many people like Yao Shunchang back then." He Gui is rich and generous, and many people want to slap him, if such a person is really allowed to gain power, I am afraid that we will not have a good life in the future. ”

"If you don't mention it, I'm about to forget about Yao Shunchang", Lin Hongwen sneered, "I still wonder where I offended him, he was about to come at us before he first arrived." ”

"You mean", Zhou Shiying rolled his eyes, "It was Yao Shunchang who provoked it." ”

"We don't know what the relationship between the two of them is", Lin Hongwen's fingers knocked on the table, "But we have to take precautions as soon as possible, are these people in the store still reliable?" ”

"It's all about knowing the roots," He Mu said, "but the important thing is that we go in person." ”

Lin Hongwen nodded, "That's fine, it will take a lot of trouble to come up with another Xu Maocai like that." ”

"Yes, I hope these people don't think wrong", Zhou Shiying said, "By the way, you came just in time today, and I have something to discuss with you." ”

"What's the matter?"

"The railway built by the Russians is about to be opened to traffic, and I want to wait for it to open to traffic first," Zhou Shiying said, "Suifenhe, Manchuria, and Lushun, I will go to see what is going on along the road, and I will work together if I can do it." ”

"It is really necessary", Lin Hongwen said, "after the opening of the traffic, it is estimated that more people will come, and it will be easier for our goods to get in and out." ”

"It's just that as soon as I leave, the three of you will be busier," Zhou Shiying said, "Now I have to watch out for He Gui, I'm really not at ease." ”

"Don't worry", Lin Hongwen said with a smile, "This kind of person who can only learn from others is not afraid for a while, you just have to go." Qingzhi is definitely going to stay on China Street, but I can run back and forth, and besides, there is He Mu here, you don't have any scruples about anything, you should go. ”

Zhou Shiying said okay, some people came to the store again, Lin Hongwen said, "You guys go get busy." Zhou Shiying didn't talk to him politely, turned around and walked out, Lin Hongwen looked up at He Mu, He Mu walked a few steps slower in understanding, Lin Hongwen walked over, whispered to his ear, "Take the time to inquire about He Gui's details, I don't believe that he can make a lot of money by selling his land." ”

"Yes", He Mu replied in a low voice, and walked out.

58.

When Lin Hongwen returned to China Street, it was already dark, there were oil lamps lit in the trading house, and Xu Qingzhi was frowning and writing something. Seeing Lin Hongwen come in, he put down his pen, "Is it okay over there?" ”

"It's not a big deal for the time being", Lin Hongwen looked at him carefully, "Why are you frowning?" ”

"Shenlan City came in the afternoon", Xu Qingzhi said with some distress, "said that there is a business I want to discuss." ”

Shenlan City also opened a cloth shop, and used to only sell homespun cloth, and later learned from Zhou Shiying to sell some foreign cloth. He is honest and kind, so business has been good. But he doesn't have any dealings with the United Commercial Bank on weekdays, and today he suddenly said that he had business to discuss, which was really a bit confusing.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Lin Hongwen asked with a smile.

"It's about the newly opened drunken rouge."

"Poof", Lin Hongwen came out, "You've been bothered by this for a long time, don't bother, isn't it a brothel, if you don't want to go, I'll go." ”

"Would you like to go?" Xu Qingzhi asked curiously, "I haven't seen you before." ”

"If you don't go, I won't go, how can we talk about business", Lin Hongwen said, "Speaking of which, Shi Ying is the best at this, but he has been very busy recently, so let's not make trouble for him." By the way, what day is the appointment? ”

"Tomorrow night at seven o'clock."

Lin Hongwen nodded and glanced at the table, "What do you write?" ”

"A reply to Chen Yuexuan", Xu Qingzhi pulled out a few pieces of thick paper, "You see, this is what he sent me." ”

Lin Hongwen took it and looked at it, it was a few patterns of Western clothes, using the method of Western painting, which was very fresh, "Where did he get it?" ”

"Guangzhou opened its port early, and there are many foreigners' factories," Xu Qingzhi said, "I wrote to him before, saying that if there is any new style, I will send it over to see." ”

"These styles are really fresh," Lin Hongwen said, "and I'll give them to Shi Ying early tomorrow." ”

"Let Shi Ying find a tailor to see, can you use silk in some decorative places?" Xu Qingzhi said, "In the afternoon, the Jewish Chamber of Commerce came and bought 50 horses, but they didn't make much. ”

"Okay, I'll let him ponder tomorrow", Lin Hongwen sat down next to him, holding his chin a little tiredly, and a fragrance wafted by. Lin Hongwen sniffed hard and found the source, which was floating out of the cup in front of Xu Qingzhi. The cup was different from the usual tea cup, with gold rims and some flowers painted on it. The cup was empty, and only a few drops of liquid stuck to the bottom of the cup. Lin Hongwen picked up the cup curiously and sniffed it, "What is this?" It's very fragrant. ”

"I forgot if you didn't mention it", Xu Qingzhi took out a small cloth bag from the drawer, "I bought some coffee beans from Vincent and drank some in the afternoon." ”

"I want to drink it too," Mr. Lin said.

"It's so late", Xu Qingzhi glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, "Let's talk about it tomorrow." ”

"Is it troublesome?"

"It's not troublesome," Xu Qingzhi said, "I'm afraid you won't be able to sleep after drinking." ”

"No," Lin Hongwen said, "go quickly, let me taste something fresh." ”

Xu Qingzhi had no choice but to grind coffee beans and boil hot water. After tossing for a while, a cup of coffee was placed in front of Lin Hongwen. Lin Hongwen picked it up and sniffed it, "I always see foreigners drinking on weekdays, but it's the first time for me." ”

"Don't be hot", Xu Qingzhi instructed.

Lin Hongwen's tongue has always been more afraid of burning than others, and he usually eats together, and when everyone else has drunk almost half of the soup, he starts to drink it. Sometimes I was so hungry that I couldn't take care of these things, so I burned my tongue and it took two or three days to get better.

Lin Hongwen put down the coffee and looked at the patterns carefully, "You said that these dresses look good one by one close to the waist, but our women's clothes have never seen the waist." ”

"I also discussed this matter with Chen Yuexuan", Xu Qingzhi said with a smile, "Didn't he say that dressing like that made people think about it?" ”

"Huh", Lin Hongwen disdainful, "I can't control my own mind, do you blame others?" If you are really a righteous gentleman, you don't necessarily want to think about it if you strip naked. If he is really a womanizer, no matter how tightly wrapped he is, he can come up with something pickled. ”

"Your mouth is amazing," Xu Qingzhi said with a smile, "but I'm the same as you think." ”

The two chatted about the pattern for a while, and the coffee was a little colder, Lin Hongwen picked it up and blew it and took a sip, so bitter that his whole face collapsed.

Xu Qingzhi looked at him happily, Lin Hongwen frowned and said, "It smells very fragrant, why is it so bitter?" ”

Xu Qingzhi got up and brought the sugar jar over and put a spoonful of sugar on him, "The first bite must let you taste its original taste, but since you are bitter, it is okay to put some sugar." ”

Lin Hongwen stirred it with a spoon and took another sip, it was better, but it was still very bitter. After a few more sips, I got used to it, but I didn't feel bitter, "I like the smell." ”

"You, you have to try anything new", Xu Qingzhi said helplessly, "The same cigarette last time, obviously I can't smoke it." ”

"I will now", Lin Hongwen argued, "After you teach me once, I will." ”

"It's not a good thing, why are you so interested in learning it?"

"I just think it's fun", Lin Hongwen drank the coffee clean, "Actually, it's still very delicious to drink a few more sips." ”

"Don't blame me tomorrow morning", Xu Qingzhi got up and washed the cup and put it away.

"Okay, why should I blame you?" Lin Hongwen looked at him puzzled.

A few hours later, Lin Hongwen knew why he blamed Xu Qingzhi, he tossed and turned in bed all night, and when exhaustion finally hit, it was dawn. Lin Hongwen didn't care about those, and fell asleep under the quilt.

Xu Qingzhi only saw Lin Hongwen in the afternoon, dressed neatly, staring at himself faintly, as if there was a resentment lingering between his eyebrows.

"I persuaded you yesterday", Xu Qingzhi said, "you have to drink it yourself." ”

Lin Hongwen ignored him and poured himself a glass of white water, "If I hadn't had to go to a brothel with that surnamed Shen at night, I would have slept until tomorrow morning." ”

Xu Qingzhi knew that he hadn't slept well, so he reached out and pressed his temples for him, "This time I have a long memory." ”