In June, it had just rained, the grass was quiet, and the canal was covered with white mist.

It's the rainy season, and sometimes the sun is fierce, and sometimes it's suddenly raining heavily.

The canal is lined with boats, and along the perimeter of the wharf, there are rows of houses. Early in the morning, along the canal line, it was lively again. A horse-drawn carriage came out of the west gate of Huai'an New Town, stepped over the water stains on the ground, and drove to Hexia Town at the gate.

This is a famous town in Huai'an, because the salt merchants live together, and supply a lot of shipbuilding raw materials, this piece is located in the west of the new city, the northwest of the city, belongs to a part of the ancient Beichen town, as early as the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the merchant ships are barged, the sails are gathered, and the Banzha Town, Qingjiang Town are listed as one of the three major towns in Huai'an.

The street is winding, the bluestone paved street is moist and fresh, although the sky is just bright, but the "Huzui Street" in this Hexia town is already full of people coming and going, and the people are mixed. Due to the rain, many travelers are still wearing clogs or boot shells, which are waterproof and non-slip, and the sound of clicking.

"Whew-" The carriage whirled through a puddle of stagnant water, making a large splash. The town is located on the side of the canal, the terrain is humble, although there are many canals, and there are lakes such as Guanjia Lake and Xiao Lake, but every time there is rain, the water is still inevitable.

The bamboo curtain is half rolled, and the vehicle is low-key and luxurious, with a long escort carrying bows and arrows and long knives beside the car, and a steward on a horse to follow.

Wang Qiong'e glanced outside, and then looked at the account book in her hand. At this time, she pulled her hair in a bun, pinned the hosta, the head flower was the same as the earrings were jade, and she had a simple half-arm, elegant and capable with wisdom, as well as a trace of charm.

In terms of figure, Wang Qiong'e's height of 1.65 meters is considered tall in later generations, and her dress temperament is more like a representative of elite women. At this time, she was reclining comfortably, with exquisite curves, and she couldn't hide the waves on her chest.

She slowly flipped through the account book, her eyes showed a hint of shrewdness, and from time to time she was thoughtful, and there was an indescribable charm and charm.

After a long time, Wang Qiong'e put down the account book, frowned at the outside world, and said, "Uncle Huang, is that all there is to Su Gang for Yang Xianggong?" ”

Listening to her pleasant and magnetic voice, Uncle Huang Wenyuan, who was riding a horse beside the carriage, replied: "Miss Hui, the world is not good at the moment, the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce has only supplied us a few times for the sake of our Wang family and Yan family." If you want to buy this kind of good steel, you can't buy it. ”

Wang Qiong'e sighed lightly, the production of Suzhou Iron and Steel is not easy, and the finished product needs to be continuously forged and repeatedly poured many times before finally some good steel bars and ingots can be obtained.

And this kind of steel is called "Suzhou Steel", in fact, the origin is in Wuhu, because Suzhou craftsmen founded the name, belongs to a kind of steel filling, considered this era of better quality high-carbon steel.

It is not surprising that after the great prosperity of Suzhou Iron and Steel, the control is still in the hands of the people of Suzhou, even in later generations, the production area does not have the right to price goods, it is a very common thing.

Wang Qiong'e got the news that recently there are many bandits on both sides of the Yangtze River, the roads are not quiet, and the Suhui side intends to sell it, I am afraid that it will be more and more difficult to transfer Sugang in the future.

That's it......

When Wang Qiong'e was working and pondering, her personal maid Wang Tian'er had been obediently silent, and when she was empty, she poured a cup of frightening incense for Wang Qiong'e.

Wang Qiong'e took a sip, the fragrant fragrance made her refreshed, seeing that the tea leaves in the cup were curled like snails, and the tea was light green, she said softly: "You can't miss Yang Xianggong's affairs, you have to think about it." ”

The wheels swirled, and the carriage continued on.

Wang Qiong'e went to her mother-in-law's Yan Mansion, a big mansion located on Zhuxiang Street.

Although Hexia Town is a small place, the Huaibei Branch Office that manages the salt industry in the middle of the Ming Dynasty is stationed thereafter, the town is the place where Huaibei Salt Jin must pass, and the merchants live around the place, and Hexia Town quickly becomes a famous town. There are more than 100 streets and alleys, more than 40 bridges, more than 100 large gardens, and many celebrities. For example, Wu Chengen was born here, and Shen Kun, the champion of the anti-Japanese war during the Jiajing period, was also born here. There are also more than 100 people such as Jinshi, Juren, Bangyan, Tanhua, etc.

Because of the salt transport, a large number of salt merchants and wealthy businessmen gathered, the local market is very prosperous, from the high altitude to look at it from afar, this east and west is about five or six miles wide, north and south about two or three miles of towns, only to see countless rich merchants' mansions, the salt merchant's garden is even the clouds.

Although Wang Qiong'e's mother-in-law's Yan Mansion has a big mansion on Zhuxiang Street, a few in and out, but it is nothing in Hexia Town, where the rich gather.

All the way through the street and across the bridge, soon, the carriage turned from Huzui Street to Zhuxiang Street.

This street is very magnificent, both sides of the bluestone slab streets and alleys are full of painting pavilions, the courtyard gardens facing each other, and the residences of all the wealthy merchants. There was only one cold door, the thatched hut was despicable, and the poor people lived together, and the rich merchants thought it was unsightly, and after the forced purchase failed, the merchants took out the money and helped them build a high gatehouse on the street. It is exquisite, but it is nicknamed "fake gate" by the locals, which also makes the street show a nouveau riche atmosphere.

The literati who think they have an identity are actually unwilling to live here, and the real literati gardens in Hexia Town are mostly concentrated in Huzui Street, Xiaohu, Luojiaqiao to the west and other locations.

Wang Qiong'e came back from her mother's house, her hometown is in the old city of Huai'an, Shanyang County, by the Wenqu, the house is not as rich as her mother-in-law's house, but in terms of level, it is higher.

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of a large mansion, the brick carved shadow wall, the tall gatehouse, the stone lion gate pier with the drum stone, the seven-step blue stone steps, the upper horse stone and the lower horse stone, the blue bricks and tiles, and the surrounding ancient alleys are twisted and curved.

The mansion built on the stage is magnificent, in fact, this pattern has been transgressed, but it doesn't matter at the end of the Ming Dynasty. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, it was stipulated that merchants were not allowed to wear silk and yarn, and they were on the same level as servants and prostitutes, but now they all dress like officials.

Looking at the familiar mansion in front of her, the word "Yan Mansion" on the plaque, for some reason, Wang Qiong'e always had a very depressed feeling.

She sighed lightly, and got out of the carriage, and was greeted by a doorman, and flattered her.

Entering the house, all the way was full of maids and mothers-in-law with low eyebrows and bowed their heads, respectfully calling her the eldest and youngest grandmother.

Looking at all this, Wang Qiong'e is always unhappy, whenever she enters this mansion, her heart is always heavy.

She also knew that she didn't look at these subordinates respectfully in front of her, and she didn't know how to chew her tongue behind her back.

There are often rumors that she is a woman, but she is running around and is not in a proper manner.

Some people even like to talk about her figure.

For example, two concubines.

Even more than once she heard a maid whispering behind her back, saying that she was a "wet nurse".

The wind is cold, Wang Qiong'e can't care about it.

She wondered, what's wrong with her big breasts, does it have to be flat?

In this era, the big families are thin and weak, because of the profession of a nursing mother, and they are not worried about the problem of breastfeeding when they give birth to their children, so it is better to have a flat chest. But Wang Qiong'e felt that there was nothing wrong with her doing this, she knew that they were jealous.

But despite this mentality, depression is inevitable after returning to her mother-in-law's house.

In this big mansion, the only people she can get close to and rely on are her personal maid Wang Tian'er, and Uncle Huang who watched her grow up.

All the way into the house, several into the compound, the decoration is gorgeous, everywhere revealing the words "I have money".

The land price in Huai'an is expensive, and the town under the river is even more expensive, and the halls with "one-stop" here are considered rich, and the houses with three and four heads are considered rich. However, the courtyard is only standard among the salt merchants, and there are too many rich people in Hexia Town.

Soon the front is the pendulum door, into the pendulum door is the inner courtyard house, the so-called "the gate does not go out, the two doors do not step" of the two doors, refers to the pendulum door.

Uncle Huang took the elders to stop here, no more than Wang Qiong'e's mother's house, the sleeping building can be arranged into a tent, there are many rules in Yanfu, and some commercial accounts can only be set up in the front yard.

Wang Qiong'e always felt inconvenient, she wondered whether to build a general number outside, after the marriage of the two families, there were many affairs, just relying on the branch shopkeeper and patrolling by herself, many affairs could not be taken into account.

I heard that there is a so-called "company" in Fujian and Guangdong, which takes "the meaning of the public, the wealth of several people, the secretary, and the operation", and Hongyi also has a "public class" structure. Wang Qiong'e felt that this form could be considered, and she had thought of a name, and it was called Huai'an Xinglong Company.

Her father had agreed to this, but he had to ask her father-in-law what he meant.

instructed Uncle Huang to check the account books and materials for Yang Xianggong again, and the gifts prepared for him must be meticulous, so Wang Qiong'e took Wang Tian'er into the inner courtyard, preparing to give her mother-in-law a little rest after asking for peace.

She is already preparing to go north in the next day, and she can't stay in Huai'an for a few days, but in Huai'an for a day, as a daughter-in-law, daily greetings are indispensable.

Although it is very depressing and uncomfortable every time I see my mother-in-law, as a daughter-in-law, what can I do?

Especially after the marriage of the two families, the bigger the business, even if you don't think about the Yan family, you have to think about your own mother's family and your parents.

As soon as I entered the Hanging Flower Gate, I saw a middle-aged man with a cold expression, and a young man wearing a six-in-one hat, a big green robe, an exaggerated expression, and a pale face came out, but it was Yan Steward and his brother-in-law Yan Shangbin.

Seeing Wang Qiong'e, Steward Yan looked cold, although he worked under Wang Qiong'e, like the role of assistant to the chairman, but he was sent by the master, saying that it was assistance, and it was more of a surveillance.

Just plainly said that the eldest and youngest grandmothers are back? said that the master had instructed that if he saw the young grandmother, he would invite her to the hall to discuss matters.

Yan Shangbin's eyes lit up, and he smiled and arched his hand: "I've seen my sister-in-law, but my sister-in-law has worked hard all the way?" ”

Wang Qiong'e gave a blessing, but looking at Yan Shangbin's eyes with evil intentions, there was disgust in her heart.

Her little brother-in-law, a typical gentleman, doesn't do anything serious, only knows how to eat, drink and have fun, and is particularly ill-intentioned, and seems to covet her sister-in-law.

He even proudly declared that the fertilizer and water do not flow into the fields of outsiders, and it is okay for the brother to end up with the brother.

And the other uncle, Yan Shangyu, is a talented and sparse person, who has not achieved enough things, has more than enough failures, is self-righteous, and has collapsed many businesses, which is blamed on her.

Everything in this house is tiring, but fortunately, she is in charge of business and can go out from time to time, so she is not driven crazy.

And.

Thinking that she was going north soon, Wang Qiong'e's heart was inexplicably a little excited.

……

With her personal maid Wang Tian'er, Wang Qiong'e turned around the long verandah and entered another house through a screen door.

The courtyard is deep, and her in-laws' residence is in the third place in the mansion, where there is a courtyard where two people rest, a hall, a study, and a Buddhist hall that has been established.

Here, her mother-in-law, Cheng Zhonghui, recites the Sutra of the Past to her dead eldest son every day for seven years.

Entering here, the trees are lush and quite shady, but it gives a more eerie feeling. Coupled with the expressionless mother-in-law standing in the shadows, the whole house was lifeless. Wang Tian'er has always been active in Wang Qiong'e's mother's house, and she has been silent a lot since she entered the Yan Mansion, and she is even more silent at this time.

Soon, the two came to the front of the hall, and before they entered, they heard the sound of scolding inside, as well as the voice of his uncle Yan Shangyu, with a strong dissatisfaction: "...... How can I be blamed for this? It's all the fault of the bandits, the goods were robbed, what does it have to do with the son? ”

Then the father-in-law Yan Jiannian roared angrily: "Rebel, dare to quibble, look at you, look at your sister-in-law, you disappointed me too much...... I really hope you don't go to this home...... Get out of here...... cough cough cough ......"

With a cough, Yan Shangyu rushed out of the hall angrily.

Seeing Wang Qiong'e, he was stunned for a moment, his face was blue and white, and then he snorted coldly: "Chicken Si Ming!" ”

As soon as he flicked his sleeves, he passed by Wang Qiong'e angrily.

Watching him go away, Wang Qiong'e was silent, Wang Tian'er originally lowered her eyebrows and bowed her head, but when no one was paying attention, she made a grimace at Yan Shangyu's back. In Wang Qiong'e's opinion, she stuck out her tongue and returned to her well-behaved appearance.

In the hall, Wang Qiong'e saw her father-in-law Yan Jiannian.

This is a short and thin businessman of about fifty years old, wearing a silk shirt and a Dongpo scarf on his head, his face is furrowed, and his eyes are full of vicissitudes and depth.

Like Wang Qiong'e's father Wang Changlong, Yan Jiannian is also self-made, especially starting as an apprentice in a shop, and has his current foundation step by step, and his shrewdness in business is naturally needless to say.

However, like Wang Changlong, he may have worked hard since he was a child, coming and going in the wind and rain, and when he is older, his body is not very good.

And because the Yan family has no talents, it seems that Yan Jiannian and Wang Changlong chose the same, and they both handed over the family's livelihood to Wang Qiong'e one after another.

Two mothers-in-law, a housekeeper stood in the distance expressionlessly, Wang Tian'er stood beside him, Wang Qiong'e and Yan Jiannian sat and talked.

Yan Jiannian first asked his in-laws if it was good, and then lamented that his body and bones were not very good in recent years, and he rarely moved around with his in-laws.

He spoke with emotion and was quite gentle towards Wang Qiong'e.

However, he may not be aware of it, no matter how gentle he is, the tone of his voice will always have a trace of gloom.

Then Yan Jiannian's words changed and mentioned the matter of Pizhou, especially the commercial trade with Na Lian General Yanghe.

“…… That Yang Xianggong's business, E'er, you have done a good job, this is a big businessman, you have to be careful to wrap up. ”

He also sighed and said: "I heard that this young talent is not simple, even Shi Du praised him, maybe he will be transferred to Huai'an in the future." Even if he is not transferred, at least in Pizhou, he is also a powerful person. Wealth and power, the future is limitless! ”

Seeing her father-in-law's gaze on her face, Wang Qiong'e was shocked for some reason, and she carefully said: "The daughter-in-law remembers, the daughter-in-law will definitely use her heart to find more financial resources for my Yan Mansion." ”

Yan Jiannian said: "I believe in you, all these years, thanks to you, our Yan family has not declined." ”

He said meaningfully, took a sip from the teacup, and changed the subject. However, Shi Kefa, the governor of Caoyun, is now in Suqian, where the "Barrage River" is being dug there, and the rations of the migrant workers are purchased locally in addition to being transported from Huai'an and Nanjing.

However, at present, grain is expensive, wheat costs two or three dollars for one stone, and rice costs two or two or five dollars for one stone, Shi Kefa once said a few words about this matter.

His every move is not to mention the attention of the world, at least Huai'an, the official, private and businessman, Jia Na is very concerned, Yan Jiannian has an idea.

In addition to operating salt, coal, iron, and money villages, the two Wang Yan families also made a living of grain, rice and all kinds of groceries, and at least they had their own grain stores in every prefecture and county in Huai'an Prefecture.

Yan Jiannian thought about whether the grain store in Suqian would reduce the price, maybe the news would reach Shi Du's ears and win the favor of his old man.

At this point, he put his thoughts out.

Wang Qiong'e pondered for a long time, shook her head and said: "This matter is not appropriate, the price of grain in various places has been discussed by peers, and in business, you must not break the rules." Besides, if we lower the price of food, what will happen to others? If you cut off the financial route of others, you will invite disaster if you can't say it. ”

Yan Jiannian was taken aback, and Wang Qiong'e continued: "If you donate some grain and rice directly, our family will be friendly with Mr. Yan, Mr. Yao, etc., and after donating grain and rice, it can also reach the ears of Shi Xianggong and win favor." In this way, it will not offend your peers, and you can kill two birds with one stone. ”

Yan Jiannian nodded, and he sighed: "It's still E'er, you are thoughtful, just do what you say." ”

He sighed in his heart, he is really old, and sometimes even confused? Cause and effect are not taken into account.

He looked at Wang Qiong'e with complicated eyes, seeing that her eyes were shining, elegant and capable, and her every move had an indescribable grace and wisdom, thinking to himself, could he, the eldest daughter-in-law, really stay in the Yan family forever?

In the end, Wang Qiong'e mentioned the matter of running the general number.

Wang Yan's two families have a lot of affairs, and in their current form, there are businesses in many places, but they are chaotic and do not have a unified order.

For example, if the current shop is bigger, it will build a semicolon, and if there are more semicolons, there will be a general number, and a series of general number shopkeepers, semicolon shopkeepers, and daily management stewards will be set up.

In the current situation of Wang Yan's two families, Wang Qiong'e is considered to be the big shopkeeper who leads the whole number, but in fact, it is not counted. Because her power is often limited, she can't manage many human, financial, and supervisory matters, and she can't interfere in many planning aspects.

For example, the younger brother-in-law Yan Shangyu, he is in charge of several businesses, and Wang Qiong'e can't take care of his affairs.

For a family business to grow, many aspects must change.

“…… The daughter-in-law thinks like this, the livelihood of the family must be refined, the person in charge of grain is in charge of grain, and the person in charge of salt is in charge of salt. If the ground is large, you can also add a piece of shopkeeper, all of whom are appointed and exempted from rewards and punishments by the general number. The shopkeeper is a big man, and he can be appointed and dismissed by the shopkeeper......"

Wang Qiong'e told her that the structure of the business at this time is generally composed of the owner, the big shopkeeper, the shopkeeper, the buddy, the apprentice, etc.

If the scale of the domestic business is small, the proprietor and the shopkeeper are one.

If it is large, the proprietor appoints a big treasurer, who is equivalent to the chairman or general manager of the later generations.

This is management.

Generally, the big shopkeeper and shopkeeper are men, if the old employees, those who have worked for many years can be called big guys, or called the standing cabinet.

The lowest rank of the firm is the apprentice, also known as the trainee in the ticket number, who works in a three-year shift and a four-year shift, during which he does not receive a salary, only eats, and cannot even go home for several years.

The status of apprentices is below the fellows, and they are also called junior fellows, and they can only be promoted when the class is over, and finally become fellows with a salary.

In this era, the proprietor or the big shopkeeper is very tight about personnel, and even many times recruit some apprentices to ask, Wang Qiong'e thinks that it is not necessary, and the semicolon can be handed over to the semicolon shopkeeper.

Wang Qiong'e feels that the most important thing now is the general number, unified appointment and dismissal of apportionment affairs, what to do, what to do, and what to do.

As for the things in the semicolon, you don't have to grasp it too tightly, anyway, the semicolon shopkeeper or even the big shopkeeper will be rewarded for doing a good job, punished if you don't do well, and replaced if you don't do well.

And Wang Qiong'e's inspiration also comes from the Xin'anzhuang set up by Yang He, his praise hall and council hall firmly control power, draw up strategies, and make the upper and lower unified, like an arm and a finger, Wang Qiong'e feels that she can learn from one or two.

Yan Jiannian listened carefully, his eyes were unpredictable, his fingers tapped on the tea cup, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

After a long time, he laughed and said, "E'er's idea is very interesting, but this matter is very important and needs to be discussed again." In this way, I will go to my in-laws' house another day, and the two of us will discuss it. ”

……

Coming out of her father-in-law's place, Wang Qiong'e went to the Buddhist hall where her mother-in-law was.

Her mother-in-law, Cheng Zhonghui, has been chanting scriptures here since her son's death, and then she has to fast, rain or shine, for many years.

At this time, the two concubines were also there, the second young grandmother, Yan Shangyu's wife Zhou. The third young grandmother, Yan Shangbin's wife Sun. There are also a few maids, all of whom look cautious.

Cheng Zhonghui is a mean person, he often slaps his mouth, makes people kneel with stones, and in front of her, many people often dare not come out.

When Wang Qiong'e entered, everyone's eyes came, Cheng Zhonghui's eyebrows did not move, and he still muttered and recited the "Sutra of the Past Life".

Wang Qiong'e invited An, and seeing her curling Nana, her graceful appearance, both the Zhou family and the Sun family showed jealous expressions.

Both of them were about 20 years old, and one wore a bikini and a gold bun. One was wearing a gown and a black pocket. Their appearance is beautiful, but they may have been infected in the past few years, and their appearance has become more and more like their mother-in-law's mean taste.

On weekdays, the two concubines have nothing to do in the house, and their biggest hobby is to say that the east family and the west family are short, especially Wang Qiong'e.

Wang Qiong'e asked for peace and stood aside silently, Cheng Zhonghui was still chanting, her expression was gloomy, and she didn't know what she was thinking.

For this daughter-in-law, she usually scolded and was bitter and angry, but one day her mother-in-law, He, came to make trouble. When the two of them hit the street, she was scratched on the face and her hair was torn a little, but after that time, she was much better, and she didn't dare to scold casually.

Coupled with the importance of the old man, the more the family's livelihood is inseparable from this eldest daughter-in-law, the more restrained she is.

But on weekdays, yin and yang are indispensable, and the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is only cold.

After a long time, Cheng Zhonghui stopped chanting, she looked at the scriptures in a daze, but suddenly wept: "Last night, the old woman dreamed of my son Shangxian again. It's been seven years, and my wife has been chanting scriptures every day, but I don't know if my son has been overrun. ”

She cried: "The old woman's life is miserable, and the good son has been killed!" ”

Wang Qiong'e's heart was stabbed again, and it was bloody again.