The government of the Ming Dynasty stipulated that all personnel traveling 100 miles away must go to the local yamen to issue a road guide. This guide is actually today's letter of introduction or a pass or something. There is no road guide, that is to be arrested by the government as a homeless person.

Moreover, the route also stipulates the date and itinerary, which cannot be exceeded. Of course, this is only a restriction for ordinary people, if you have fame, although you also need a guide, but there is no limit to the itinerary and date, you can travel the world.

Zhou Zhi heard Hu Zhe say that it was very difficult to open the road guide, so he asked in surprise, "Brother Hu Zhe, it is common for people to go out, why is it difficult to open this road guide, and as far as I know, the management of the road guide in my court is not very strict now." ”

What Zhou Zhi said is true, Lu Yin's management was very strict in the early Ming Dynasty, but in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, it was really not too strict, and now there are almost impostor personnel.

Hu Zhe frowned and said, "Brother doesn't know, the management of this road guide is indeed not very strict now, but our Qingdu County is different from other places, especially if a businessman wants to issue a road guide, it is even more difficult."

Do you know who opened the silk cotton shop in Qingdu County? ”

Zhou Zhi shook his head slightly. has grown so big, the farthest place I have been to is this Gaochang Town, but as for the county seat of Qingdu, I have never been there.

Hu Zhe continued, "The person who opened this huge silk and cotton shop in Qingdu County is a big man, he is the county official of Qingdu County, named Yang Tong.

It stands to reason that the road guide is issued by the household department of the county government, and the issuance of the road guide was really not a difficult thing before, and the little official who spent two or three dollars of silver at most was very happy. But since Yang Tong became a county magistrate this year, he has firmly controlled the household department. But all the residents in Qingdu County, if they want to get a road guide, they all have to pass his pass.

What do you think, he runs a silk cotton store and wants to monopolize the silk and cotton trade in the entire Qingdu County, where will he open a way to lead us silk and cotton merchants? ”

After listening to this, Zhou Zhi was speechless for a long time.

Isn't this county's Cheng Yang Tong the youngest daughter of the Yue family in Baiyue Village who married him as the third concubine. It is no wonder that the Yue family was able to sell back silk cotton from Zhending Mansion more than 300 miles away, all thanks to this county Chengyang Tong.

The county is the eighth official of the imperial court and the second-in-command of Qingdu County, how can ordinary people afford to provoke him?

Zhou Zhi naturally has no way to deal with such a thing, could it be said that Zhou Zhi should reason with Yang Tong of the county? Just kidding, Zhou Zhi is now a poor boy, a white body with no strength, how can he meet the county Cheng? Even if he saw it, how could the county take Zhou Zhi in his eyes?

Hu Zhe seemed to pour out all the depression that had been suppressed in his heart these days, and at this time, a smile slowly appeared on his face, and said, "Look at me, I really shouldn't talk about these troubles when I met Brother Zhou Zhi for the first time. Come, Brother Zhou, please have tea! ”

Zhou Zhibian also picked up the tea bowl with a smile on his face, drank a few sips of tea, and suddenly his eyes lit up, and said, "Brother Hu Zhe, we naturally can't afford to provoke that county, but your family has been open for some years in the trade of silk cotton, so you can't give up like this, in my opinion, I might as well think of some other ways in this silk cotton trade." ”

Hu Zhe smiled bitterly again and said, "Where is there any other way, if there is, the three of us merchants have already thought of it, why bother with such a recession and still struggle to support it." ”

"Huh! Brother Hochul, what did these people do when they bought lint? Zhou Zhi asked with a smile.

"Naturally, I want to make some winter clothes, make some quilts and so on." Ho Chul said.

"That's right, if you just make these lints into quilts, padded jackets and the like. This is a deep processing of lint, it is best to make some tricks, in short, it is brighter than what the people do at home, and there will be a business to buy and sell. ”

"This ......" Hu Zhe hesitated, he was a shrewd man, and after a moment of thought, he clapped his hands and said, "This should work, there are tailor shops now, but there are no ready-made shops such as cotton clothes and quilts."

I hired some people to make some popular padded jackets and quilts, hehe! ”

After speaking, he immediately stood up, bowed deeply to Zhou Zhi, and said, "Thank you Brother Zhou Zhi for your guidance today." ”

Zhou Zhi hurriedly stood up and said with a smile, "Sit down Brother Hochul, speaking of which, this is just an idea of mine, in addition, Brother Hochul can actually hire someone to spin lint into cotton thread, and then make some knitted goods, such as thread clothes, scarves, etc." ”

Hu Zhe immediately frowned and asked, "Knitwear?" What is a thread garment, a scarf? ”

Zhou Zhi suddenly said that there were no words such as thread clothes and scarves in Daming. Anyway, since the crossing, Zhou Zhi has not seen such a thing.

Regardless of whether there are other places or not, there is no business opportunity near this Gaochang Town.

Zhou Zhi then patiently explained the thread and scarf. As for the method of hand-knitting, Zhou Zhi often saw women knitting sweaters in later generations, so he studied curiously for a few days. It wasn't a difficult thing to do, so he explained it to Ho Chul by analogy.

Hu Zhe was a smart man, and he quickly understood what Zhou Zhi meant, so he pondered it carefully. Naturally, a clever person like Hochul can learn it quickly. He learned to teach the hired women again, and he quickly made things like threads and scarves.

You must know that at this time, Daming has actually been very developed, especially those women from slightly wealthy families, who are very particular about dressing and very fashionable. Neckbands and threaded shirts are fashionable. If Hochul sells it properly, it will definitely make a difference in the business of the existing store.

When Hu Zhe heard Zhou Zhi's words, he immediately admired Zhou Zhi and thanked Zhou Zhi again and again.

Zhou Zhi smiled and said, "Brother Hu Zhe, what are you talking about?" I'm helping you with ideas today, and I'm actually helping my sister! ”

Of course, Hu Zhe understands that the reason why Zhou Zhi is so dedicated to himself and helps him find a way to guide him is naturally because he is Zhou Zhi's future brother-in-law.

But now Zhou Luyun and him are not married after all, but Zhou Zhi said this, which couldn't help but make Hu Zhe's face blush.

Hu Zhe admired and liked Zhou Zhi at the same time, and forced Zhou Zhi to eat at his house for lunch. Zhou Zhi said that there were many things to do at home, and besides, it was still early, and he needed to walk around the town, so he took his leave and came out of Hochul's silk and cotton shop.

First, he weighed five catties of fine pork hind leg meat from the butcher shop, and then pushed a small cart to take a look along this commercial street.

Soon, Zhou Zhi saw a pen, ink, paper and inkstone shop called "Sibao Zhai".

In later life, he was an amateur of calligraphy, especially for Guan Sheng and Zhao Mengfu's Xiaokai. Although there was still pen and ink at home, and there were a lot of papers that Wang Ding gave him to write on one side, Zhou Zhi couldn't help but stop in front of this store.