Zheng Sheng's mind was full of questions, how could it be a disaster when Steward Xia came?

This Xia Xin housekeeper has not been to Qingzhuling. He's here to "give money".

At the end of last month, Xia Xin took away the second batch of fireworks totaling 300 pieces, and then he paid Zheng a total of nearly 40,000 yuan in bills, which was the first payment of the second batch of fireworks and the final payment of the first batch of 100 fireworks.

The reason why there is a first payment and a final payment is that Xia Xin found an excuse for repaying his debts when he first came to Qingzhuling in the first month.

Xia Xin kept saying that the palace had no money, and then came up with the idea of taking away the fireworks first and paying after the palace was sold out.

Zheng Sheng, who was busy building roads, didn't bother to deal with Xia Xin, he handed over this trouble to Zheng Wen to deal with.

In the end, the result of the discussion between the two was that every time the palace got a batch of fireworks from Qingzhuling, it would deliver half of the total price of Zheng's fireworks and the final payment owed by the previous batch of fireworks.

Zheng Sheng doesn't care about this result, anyway, it is not a trouble to collect money for a batch of fireworks in two parts.

But at the end of last month, Xia Xin just came and took away 400 fireworks, and he sold out of fireworks so quickly? Unlikely.

If not, what is he here for? But Zheng Sheng faintly felt that Xia Xin was not good.

It is not easy to ship these 400 fireworks, sell them, and then come back to Qingzhuling to buy the next batch. The last time Xia Xin came, Zheng Sheng asked about the first batch of fireworks.

Xia Xin was vague, but Zheng Sheng could hear that the fireworks were not easy to sell.

In fact, Zheng Sheng had already gotten the news that after the first batch of fireworks arrived in Shunyang, Sima Chang let go of half of them that night, and the beautiful name said: Happy with the people and filial piety to the mother.

In public and private, he can stand up, but a "generous" prince like him is not a material for doing business. This is Zheng Sheng's idea. Therefore, he took this batch of fireworks as half sold and half given to Sima Chang, and he didn't have much hope for the next fireworks business.

But Xia Xin came a second time, not only did he settle the balance for the first time, but also took away three hundred. Ren also told him that Sima Chang didn't set off fireworks anymore.

Zheng Sheng was a little relieved.

But this time it came faster, could it be that Xia Xin met a big customer, and all three hundred were sold out?

Zheng Sheng asked him if Xia Xin had said what he meant.

Wang Zhong shook his head and carefully reminded him, "Steward Xia's expression is very unpleasant, Shizi, you must be careful." ”

Zheng Sheng hurried back to the small courtyard, and Xia Xin greeted him, "Zheng Shizi, it's been a long time." ”

Zheng Sheng smiled and saluted him: "Steward Xia, you don't have to be polite. ”

Seeing that Xia Xin's expression was not unusual, Zheng Sheng was even more suspicious in his heart. Wang Zhong said that his face was embarrassed, why did he see him, and his face was as usual? There's a problem. Zheng Sheng thought.

After seeing the ceremony, Zheng Sheng got straight to the point and asked him about his intention.

Xia Xin took a sip of tea slowly: "Zheng Shizi, the old man came here to ask you for something." ”

"Please."

"Zheng Shizi, you also know that most of the fireworks bought by our palace are now sold to Nanyang and Xiangyang." Zheng Sheng nodded, he knew. Sima Chang was very cautious, he chose to test the water in Jingzhou to see how fireworks were sold. It's sold well, and then go to Luoyang.

"As a result, a spring rain came as soon as it was said, and the person in charge of the team mishandled it, and nearly half of the fireworks were rained, damaged by moisture, and could not be fired." Xia Xin sighed, "Zheng Shizi, how do you say this is good?" ”

Zheng Sheng felt that this matter was ridiculous: "Didn't I remind Steward Xia?" Although this firework is flammable, it is not easy to use when it is damp. How could the head of the palace still make such a mistake? ”

Xia Xin apologized with a smile: "It's all my fault, it's my majesty who is not strict and didn't make it clear to them." ”

Zheng Sheng nodded, and Xia Xin continued: "But the matter has come to this, and our fireworks business will continue to be done." In Xiangyang and Nanjun, there are already many people who want to buy fireworks. The old man has little goods in his hand, and this time he came to buy the third batch of fireworks. ”

Zheng Sheng nodded, "Yes, you can just talk to Wang Zhong about this." "Zheng Sheng thought that when Xia Xin came last time, he directly handed over three hundred fireworks to Wang Zhong, Zheng Sheng only found out about it that night, and he was looking for him today?

Thinking of this, he only heard Xia Xin sigh sadly: "Zheng Shizi, at the beginning, you said that this business could make a lot of money, and our king was convinced. But today, this old man is no longer able to sustain his business! ”

Zheng Sheng asked in surprise: "It's unsustainable, how is this possible?" ”

Xia Xin explained to him: "Zheng Shizi, you see, from the beginning of the first month, the royal palace paid tens of thousands of money to your family to transport and sell fireworks, horses, and manpower. Coupled with the destruction of 200 fireworks, not only did the old man not make any money, but the money and food that the king gave me were also exhausted! ”

Zheng Sheng understood, did he come to cry to him about the poor? Zheng Sheng felt ridiculous, there was a problem in your house and you asked me to pay? Zheng Sheng pretended to be stupid, "Uh, I know, but the damage to the two hundred fireworks is not all Steward Xia's fault, right?" It's just an accident, you don't have any money now, you tell the king, will the king be inconsiderate of you? ”

Xia Xin continued to sigh, "My king is now busy building the palace, and this money is still allocated by the king with great difficulty, I haven't earned money for the king, so what kind of face do I have to ask for money again?" ”

In other words, Sima Chang has no money left now. Therefore, Zheng Sheng, a business partner, became the object of Xia Xin's money. Zheng Sheng felt speechless.

"Zheng Shizi, this business is very important to the king, otherwise, the king would not agree to the old man to manage this matter. Nowadays, you and I are both prosperous and lossy. When the money is abundant, will the old man still owe you this money? Xia Xin showed a sincere face.

Zheng Sheng was moved by him, although he didn't have a good impression of Xia Xin, but this fireworks business can be exchanged for Sima Chang and his harmonious relationship, and it is nothing for him to suffer a loss.

"Everything is difficult at the beginning, I hope that next time the palace will store fireworks, and there will be no more accidents."

"Okay, Zheng Shizi really understands the righteousness." Xia Xin laughed, Zheng Sheng didn't see a strange smile on the corner of his mouth, as if he had achieved something.

"I'm going to take 500 fireworks with me this time, but I can only pay the 38,000 money that the prince owed last time, so okay?" Xia Xin asked cautiously.

Zheng Sheng thought about it, not bad. He could still get 40,000 yuan, he nodded, "Okay." After a while, Steward Xia can go and hand over to Steward Wang. Then, a thought flashed through Zheng Sheng's mind, and he suddenly remembered something, "Those fireworks that were drenched are still there, right?" ”

Xia Xin didn't think too much, he nodded and said, "Yes." ”

"Anyway, these fireworks are useless, let's trouble Steward Xia to send someone to pull them back." I'm willing to buy them back for one hundred and eighty dollars. Zheng Sheng thought to himself, although these fireworks are raining and can't be set off, but after all, there is * in these fireworks, and the ones that can't be set off are thrown outside, and they are dismantled and carefully studied, and the * is imitated?

Although this is not very likely, Zheng Sheng does not want to take the risk.

In his opinion, it was an easy thing to deal with. But Xia Xin suddenly spoke unfavorably, "Huh? Those fireworks, well, those fireworks are raining, and the pulp is scattered, what else does Zheng Shizi want it to do? ”

Zheng Sheng glanced at him twice, "Those papers can't be used, but there are some things in the fireworks that can still be used if you deal with them, so I want to take them back." ”

Zheng Sheng looked at Xia Xin's expression becoming more and more nervous, and he was even more suspicious: "Then I will recycle them at the original price, what does Steward Xia think?" ”

Xia Xin wiped the sweat on his face with his cuffs, picked up the tea and took another sip, "Okay." However, those fireworks are still in Xiangyang, and after a while, the old man will send them again. The old man stayed for a short time, and when I handed over to the king's housekeeper, he took his leave. ”

This old guy wanted to run and delay, Zheng Sheng said quietly: "Steward Xia, don't be in such a hurry. Coming from Xiangyang, it was only a few days, and I said that I would buy it back at the original price, so that Steward Xia would have more money in his hands? ”

Xia Xin frowned, "When the time comes, I'll come again." ”

"Steward Xia, you give me 40,000 yuan today, and in a few days, I will give you another tens of thousands of dollars, is there any meaning in pouring this money around?" Zheng Sheng tilted his head and said.

Xia Xin stood up and said in a deep voice: "The sooner I take this batch of fireworks, the sooner I can repay the money." Although the old man is old, he can still afford to run back and forth. ”

Zheng Sheng smiled and said, "It's okay, I believe it's not bad for a few days." Or is that good, the next time you come, I'll give you eight hundred fireworks. ”

Xia Xin's face softened slightly, he thought carefully for a while, seemed to weigh the pros and cons, and nodded: "Yes." ”

Zheng Sheng watched him ride away in the carriage and muttered, "Something is wrong, there is a problem here." ”

He returned to the small courtyard, found the letters sent by Zheng Wen in the past two months, and read them one by one.

However, Zheng Yuan and Zheng Wen easily controlled the affairs of the Zheng family because Zheng Miao was young, and during this time, they were busy cleaning up family affairs, because Zheng Miao took the initiative to give up many family affairs.

In the past two months, he has been busy with the affairs of Qingzhuling, and when Zheng Wen's letter arrived, he only swept it hastily and did not read it carefully. But after reading it today, I found that there is no difference between watching it and not watching it. Zheng Wen didn't mention anything else at all, only a lot of emotion.

He had no choice but to write to him again to inquire about the Shunyang Palace's trading of fireworks in Nanyang and Xiangyang.

Zheng Sheng knew that this firework was a consumable, not a gold or silver jewelry, and if he bought it for collection, he would inevitably set it off if he bought it. Besides, Zheng Wen also has some energy in Jingzhou, and it is not difficult to investigate these things.

At noon the next day, the white pigeon flew back, and Zheng Sheng received a reply from Zheng Wen.

After reading Zheng Wen's letter, Zheng Sheng's heart suddenly tensed.

"Long's bought twenty fireworks for 13,000 yuan......"

"The rest of the families are more or less, all of them have bought, and the price is not less than five hundred yuan, and Ke Wu sold it to the king of Shunyang for less than two hundred yuan, which is really cheap, but in this way, it is not bad to be able to win the trust of the king of Shunyang......"

"Nanyang, Xiangyang, in the past two months, less than 40 fireworks, Long's eight, Fang's eight... Long's Longyun once said that when buying fireworks, one is curious about this thing, and the other is that the king of Shunyang comes to sell them, and he always has to give the king some face. But Long Yun also said that the price of a firework is indeed too high, and he Long can't afford too much......

After Zheng Wen stated the results of the investigation, he began to talk about the business experience, and he wrote very worriedly: "On the night of the first day, the fireworks amazed Wancheng, but today, this business is difficult to do." Jingzhou has witnessed the beauty of fireworks, but in the past two months, only more than 100 fireworks have been sold, and once everyone's interest in them fades, I am afraid that they will not be able to sell in the future......"