Happy New Year. Ten chapters were released today, two chapters every two hours. I wish readers and friends a happy Chinese New Year and all the best!

The Fan family that the world sees is just the tip of the iceberg, and what is recorded in this ledger is the iceberg under the water. The account book is divided into several parts, the front is the wealth accumulated by the Fan family for several generations, not counting land, shops, all kinds of jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, etc., only the gold and silver stored are nearly seven million taels. You must know that the average annual treasury income of the Ming Dynasty is only about four million taels, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the Fan family is rich and rivals the country. The second part is the trade routes. It is mainly to Mongolia and the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the secret passages, checkpoints, and various forces are clearly marked. Finally, the Fan family has connections, in addition to the business, what really shocked Fan Yubin was the official connections. Including the Ming Inner Court, the six cabinet departments, local governors, Mongolian, and Manchu Qing. Some of them were great eunuchs, cabinet ministers, and some Mongolian tribal leaders, Manchu Beile Zhangjing, and some of the names that were once famous in history made Fan Yubin's eyes shine.

Some of them own dry shares in the Fan family's business, and some accept the Fan family's annual respect... The last one is the nail that the Fan family has planted in the government and the army for generations. Although their official and military positions are not high, they are all powerful figures. Incredibly, among the Mongols of the Mongolian tribe and among the Jurchens of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, there were also nails of the Fan family. It seems that in the troubled times, the Fan family was not without ideas at first, probably because they saw that the Manchu Qing Dynasty was too powerful, and out of the consideration that those who knew the times were Junjie, they decisively chose to go from the dragon to the Manchu Dynasty.

"Done?" Fan Yongdou asked with a smile, with a little pride and pride in his tone.

"I took it to heart." Fan Yubin picked up the account book with both hands and handed it to his grandfather, his tone was respectful, and his eyes were full of reverence.

"Yubin, what do you want?" Fan Yongdou didn't stretch out his hand to take the account book, but asked suddenly.

Fan Yubin replied respectfully: "What I think doesn't matter, what matters is what Grandpa wants?" ”

"Hmm." Fan Yongdou nodded, took the account book, and no longer played between words, he said gently: "Yubin, what are your plans in the future?" ”

"It is better to read 10,000 books than to travel a thousand miles. At present, the child just wants to do something practical and do a few things on that plan first. It's just that in this way, the child needs to have some rights, and it will cost a lot of money in the early stage. The so-called spring sowing and autumn harvest, I hope that the grandfather and father will have more confidence in the child and give the child more support. Fan Yubin whispered confidently.

Fan Yongdou stood up, carefully and solemnly re-put away the account book, and said hehe: "Okay, good! Your father and I know what you mean and what you think. You go back first. ”

Fan Yubin re-bowed, slowly exited the study, and gently closed the door.

Out of the study, Fan Yubin exhaled a heavy breath in his heart. Although there was a chill on his back, he was still a little excited in his heart: no matter what, it seemed that this first level had finally passed smoothly!

"Profit is really a good thing!" Fan Yubin thought with emotion: "No wonder a famous family in the West has a famous saying: Once the voice of money sounds, all doubts and bad words will retreat." ”

In the study, Fan Yongdou and Fan Sanba, father and son, were still sitting opposite each other, and the broken porcelain pieces on the ground were gone.

"Father, did you deliberately arrange it today?" Fan Sanba broke the silence first, until now, he still couldn't believe that his son would change like this, thinking that this was just a play deliberately arranged by his father. After saying that, he pointed to the pile of paper and said, "Father, are these credible?" Yubin, he's just a teenager. ”

"Sanba," Fan Yongdou glanced at his son and said slowly, "I know that you have a lot of questions, but many things are just like the Buddhists: don't say, don't say." There are some things you shouldn't have seen today. Some of today's words you shouldn't have heard. However, there is one thing you have to keep in mind, I believe in Yubin, and you have to believe it too. Fan Yongdou really didn't dare to say it, after all, this matter was too shocking. He can't say that once this kind of unbelievable thing leaks out, not only will Fan Yubin die without a place to be buried, but the Fan family will also be pushed to the forefront. For the sake of the Fan family's reputation and Fan Yubin's life, Fan Yongdou decided to keep this secret forever, even if it was his own son.

"Yes." Although Fan Sanba was puzzled, he still answered very simply.

"Three pulls" Fan Yongdou continued to say softly: "For my father, you are already in the sixtieth year, and your health is not too good. Yubin is a material that can be made, he is not small, we should give him some opportunities, let him experience more. Sooner or later, the Fan family will still be handed over to him. ”

"Yes. It's all up to my father. Fan Sanba's eyes flashed, and he replied in a trembling voice, with irrepressible excitement in his voice.

The ninth day of the seventh month of the eleventh year of Chongzhen. A round of red sun rose from the east, and the glow of Wandao put on a brilliant robe for Zhangjiakou Fort.

In the courtyard of the Fan family, the lights are colorful and lively. Today is the 60th birthday of the Fan family's grandfather, although he does not feast on outsiders, the Fan family is also solemn and does not dare to be sloppy at all.

Early in the morning, eight of its gorgeous carriages came to the Fan family's compound one after another, and as soon as the people in the carriage came, they were taken into the Fan family's VIP hall by the housekeeper who had been waiting at the gate for a long time. These eight people are not only in Xuanfu Town, but also in the business community of the Ming Dynasty, and even in history. They are Wang Dengku, Jin Liangyu, Wang Dayu, Liang Guest, Tian Shenglan, Zhai Tang, Huang Yunfa, and the other seven of the eight Jin merchants.

These are the eight famous Jin merchants in history, and today they are all gathered in Fanfu.

The only special visitor was Zhang Biao, the garrison of Zhangjiakou Fort. Zhang Biao was born as a military general, and he is a martial arts heirloom. But he looks white and fat, and he smiles when he sees people, and he is a smiling tiger who is alive and well, and at first glance he is a typical businessman, without the demeanor of a military general. He is the hereditary garrison of Zhangjiakou and Zhang Yongdou's maternal uncle. Although Zhang Biao is a hereditary military attache with a family background, his family has also been in business for generations, and he has been influenced by the strong business atmosphere in Zhangjiakou, and he has long been a half-businessman and half-official.

These eight people received an invitation from Fan Yongdou a few days ago, saying that they had a big matter to discuss. Today they came together, one to celebrate their birthday, and the other to get together.

In the VIP room, large ice cubes are placed all around, and the breeze is cool. Fan Yongdou sat at the head of the hall, Fan Sanba stood beside him, and the other eight people sat on either side. Behind each of them was a maid who waited diligently. The entire VIP hall is decorated with carved beams and paintings, which is magnificent, and the atmosphere of great wealth can be seen at a glance.