It is said that Xue Ruizu, the shopkeeper of the Xue family's trading house, was the founding general Xue Xiang, who once followed Emperor Taizu to fight the world, but because his relatives angered Emperor Taizu and were implicated in the court staff to death. The four sons Xue Qi, Xue Neng, Xue Zheng, and Xue Xuan were also charged to Qiongzhou by Zhulian and became the "people" of the eternal army.

After years of operation, the Xue family has branched out, and Xue Rui's branch has gotten rid of the military. Now he is a well-known businessman in Qiongzhou Mansion. Because he is a famous family, many forces will also give him some convenience, and his business can be regarded as one of the largest businessmen in Qiongzhou. With these legendary stories, coupled with the name of the largest trading house, Ji Xinyu wants to take a look.

Ji Xinyu entered the shop area of the Xue family business house and found that the Xue family was really the largest business house in the city, with seven or eight shops connected, from rice, flour, grain and oil to cloth and spices. Ji Xinyu found that there were still a few shops selling the four treasures of the study, pigments, minerals and so on.

I found a place to sell grain, called the guy in the store and asked, "I don't know how to sell this rice and noodles, and how much stock does your store have?" ”

The guy replied: "I don't know how much the guest officer needs, our inventory is still very sufficient, if the guest officer needs a large amount, you can order this number from other semicolons." ”

"I need a large amount, and it's a long-term business, I don't know if your shopkeeper is there?" Ji Xinyu wanted to talk to the shopkeeper not only about rice noodles, but also about the cinnabar and green alum he had just discovered in the pigment area.

"Since the amount of guests needs is large, let the villain go and invite our shopkeeper to come and talk to the guests in detail. The guest officer, please follow me into the inner hall to rest for a while, and the villain will go to meet the shopkeeper. After saying that, the man bowed down in front and led the way to the inner hall.

I sat down in the inner hall, and the man let people serve tea, and then went out. After a while, there was the sound of footsteps outside the door, and a man in his thirties wearing a black silk silk robe was seen walking into the inner hall. Behind him was an old man about fifty years old, and the old man's clothes looked like fine cotton.

"The contemptible Xue Rui happened to be discussing with the shopkeeper in the store today, and I heard that a distinguished guest came to meet him, and he looked at Haihan if he didn't entertain him well." When someone came in the door, he bowed and said.

Ji Xinyu also got up and saluted back and said, "I have admired Mr. Xue's name for a long time, and I am fortunate to meet Sansheng unexpectedly today." ”

After the two finished greetings, they sat down separately, Xue Rui looked at Ji Xinyu, and said: "I heard that your guests need a lot of rice noodles, how much do you need, so I can let people prepare?" ”

"Mr. Xue, we have a long-term demand for rice noodles, and we need about 100 stone per month. In addition, there are pigs or raw meat that also need 2,000 catties per month, and vegetables also need a lot, I don't know if you can supply them for a long time? Ji Xinyu asked first with the demand for food.

Xue Rui saw that it was a long-term business, so he was naturally very happy, and said with a smile: "We can provide what your customers need, but where does this pig need to be sent?" ”

"The contemptible people have established a mansion in Nandu Jiangdong, and I will ask Steward He to hand over to your account later, don't worry about these." Ji Xinyu said and pointed to He Xingwang behind him. Then he changed the topic and asked: "I see that your account is selling cinnabar and green alum, I don't know how much inventory your company has for these two goods?" ”

"I wonder how much you need? There are hundreds of catties of goods in stock of these two goods, are you not enough? Xue Rui asked with some curiosity.

Cinnabar has been used as a pigment for a long time, mainly used in painting and writing, and there are also Taoist priests who use it to alchemy, and now some people have used it to make cinnabar ink, which has become a kind of ink. And green alum, the Compendium of Materia Medica also records that "if it has been calcined and turned red, it is alum". Alum is a pigment used in murals and colored sculptures.

"I want the inventory of these two pigments in your number, if you need it in the future, I will ask Steward He to contact your number, I don't know what the price of these two goods is." Ji Xinyu is not ready to supply for a long time for the time being, and he is going to go back to the test for these hundreds of pounds of goods.

Seeing that Ji Xinyu didn't explain the specific use, Xue Rui didn't ask much, nodded and said: "The price of cinnabar and green alum is generally 200 wen a catty, and the price of distinguished guests can be 150 wen a catty." ”

The silver and copper coins of Zhongzhou are converted into 1 tael of silver, which is equivalent to 1,000 wen, that is, 1 copper coin, 1 cent of silver 10 wen, and 1 coin of silver 100 wen. This cinnabar and alum are relatively expensive.

"Then thank you Mr. Xue, and ask Mr. Xue to let you count the inventory of your account, and everyone wants it." Ji Xinyu didn't make a counteroffer after listening to the price, so he bought it directly.

Xue Rui raised his hand and asked the old man next to him to count the inventory, and Ji Xinyu also asked He Xingwang to discuss the purchase of grain and the transaction of the two pigments this time.

"Thank you for taking care of the small business, I don't know your customer's name?" Seeing that the business was negotiated, Xue Rui also chatted happily with Ji Xinyu.

"Contemptible Ji Xinyu, just arrived in Qiongzhou, I have to trouble Mr. Xue in the future, and I hope Mr. Xue will take care of him." Ji Xinyu replied with a smile.

"Brother Ji is polite, Xue is a small person, what kind of dispatch does Brother Ji want, Xue will not refuse." Xue Rui also replied with a smile.

The two chatted for a while, Ji Xinyu also felt that Xue Rui always made people feel comfortable when talking, and he was a business material, and it didn't take long to see He Xingwang come over and reply that the goods had been loaded, Ji Xinyu smiled and said: "Mr. Xue, that contemptible person will leave today first, and visit another day." ”

After leaving the Xue family firm, I went shopping for a while and went to the pharmacy to buy some miscanthus salt. Soon the two teams had already bought their own back. Ji Xinyu had lunch with them, and asked He Xingwang to lead a team of people to bring the goods back to Lingchuan Mansion first. He took a few guards with him, preparing to meet Ji Yushan, the prefect of Qiongzhou.

Ji Xinyu took the guards in a carriage from the West Market to the West Street, and went straight to the Qiongzhou Mansion on the East Street. It didn't take long for Master Li Huai to personally come out and take Ji Xinyu to the second hall of the mansion, and the prefect Ji Yushan was sitting in front of the hall.

Seeing Ji Xinyu come in, the prefect didn't get up to greet him, but just stood up and bowed, and said with a faint smile: "I don't know if the prince will miss the welcome, I hope you will forgive me." ”

Ji Xinyu sat down and looked at Ji Yushan, arched his hand and said: "Lord Ji is polite, Young Master Ben came here today to listen to the report of others, saying that Lord Ji does not allow Young Master Ben to build a mansion in the city, I don't know if there is such a thing?" ”

"The prince doesn't know, the matter of the king of Shu is now making the civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty cautious, and the official does not dare to let the king of Shu build a mansion in Qiongzhou City at will. If the saint is to blame, I really can't afford it, and I hope the prince will forgive me," Ji Yushan replied with a respectful bow.

"This son is not building a palace, but a private mansion of this son?" Ji Xinyu stared at Ji Yushan tightly and asked.

"Please forgive me, the official doesn't dare to agree." Ji Yushan turned sideways, took a step to the side and continued.

"Young Master Ben heard that the subordinates reported that Lord Ji said that there are blessed and fertile fields everywhere outside Qiongzhou City, and Young Master Ben can build a mansion and open up fields at will, and the prefect will never interfere, yes or no?" Ji Xinyu looked at Ji Yushan coldly and said.

Ji Yushan didn't take Ji Xinyu in his eyes at all, a down-and-out prince of Shu, he didn't feel any threat to him. Then he squinted at Ji Xinyu and replied: "This official did say that Qiongzhou City and its subordinate state capitals did not dare to let the Shu king's family build a mansion in the city, and I hope that the prince will forgive me." ”

"In that case, would you like to make a note?" Ji Xinyu looked at Ji Yushan, also took two steps forward and continued.

"Notes? What note? "Ji Yushan is a little inexplicable.

"Since the lord said that my son will never stop him from building a mansion outside the city, then there is still a need for a note." Ji Xinyu continued with a smile on his face.

Ji Yushan was stunned for a moment, this prince of Shu really wants to build a mansion outside the city? It's really bold, he doesn't know how peaceful Qiongzhou is, what about the written evidence, if you find death, you will be fulfilled. Without much thought, he replied: "What kind of documents does the prince want from this government?" ”

Ji Xinyu took out a written note from his arms and handed it over, Ji Yushan took it, "Ji Yushan, the governor of Qiongzhou Prefecture, agreed that Ji Xinyu, the son of the King of Shu, would build a government on Qiongzhou Island, but the location of the government should not be in the county capital of Qiongzhou Prefecture at all levels. In addition, there is no restriction on the recruitment of personnel in the open land, and the officials of the Qiongzhou Prefecture and the state governments shall not stop it, which is hereby proved. ”

"Since the prefect agrees with Young Master Ben to establish a mansion outside the city, and my son also wants to do his part for the safety of Qiongzhou, in order to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings in the future, please also ask Lord Ji to set up a letter as proof." Ji Xinyu stood with his hands in his hands and said.