"Brother Ye, don't use the set of your merchants to lower the price on Brother Zihan, let's say, this batch of rosewood, how much silver and two plates will your Dafeng Commercial Bank produce?" Zhang Mingxia has an elegant appearance, but the people he is familiar with are very casual, and he is very frank when he says this, without beating around the bush.

Ye Wensheng put down the teacup in his hand embarrassedly, and shouted: "Brother Mingxia, I didn't expect that I was a powerful businessman in your eyes?" You can rest assured, since Brother Zihan and you have a lifelong friendship, it is my friend Ye Wensheng, and I, Ye Wensheng, will never let my friend suffer. Fauber, you know more about this aspect of the market, you can tell me. ”

Wickham glanced around the room a little strangely, but found no one else, and couldn't figure out who Ye Wensheng was talking to for a while. As soon as Ye Wensheng's words fell, a cyan curtain on the side wall was lifted, and an old man with gray hair and a somewhat rickety body walked in, hit the three of them a thousand, and said, "The villain has seen the young master and the two sons. ”

The old man's attitude was respectful, and he looked like an ordinary subordinate. It's just that after facing those seemingly cloudy eyes, Wickham is clear, this subordinate named Fauber is not as simple as it seems.

Zhang Mingxia was very familiar with the old man, and joked with a smile: "Fu Bo, you are always so elusive. Zhang Mingxia understood that the reason why Ye Wensheng was so successful had a lot to do with this inconspicuous old man, and Fu Bo's identity was very mysterious, and his kung fu with a gossip palm was unpredictable, so Zhang Mingxia was very respectful in his words.

Fu Bo thought for a while, and then said to Ye Wensheng: "If one hundred and fifty rosewood are sold together, it should be worth two hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver." If there were only 100 of them, they would be worth 300,000 taels of silver. If there were only fifty of them, it would be worth 400,000 taels! ”

Then Fauber turned his head and said to Wickham: "What kind of way to buy and sell, Lin Gongzi, you have the final say." ”

Zhang Mingxia took a breath of cool air: "Fifty rosewood can be sold for 400,000 taels of silver?" There are so many rich people in this Qing Dynasty! It's just why the smaller the quantity sold, the more profitable it is? Zhang Mingxia has made great achievements in the Four Books and Five Classics, and his kung fu is not bad, but he knows everything about business, so he has great doubts about Fu Bo's statement and can't figure it out.

At this time, China's trade surplus had lasted for thousands of years, and the amount of private silver reserves was huge, and compared with the silver cellars of those wealthy merchants and landlords all over the country, 450,000 taels of flat silver was really nothing, and the new rosewood was indeed a rare thing that had not been seen for more than two hundred years.

Wickham, who specializes in international trade, knows very well that what Fauber said is not untargeted, and that rare and rare luxury goods are more valuable. People of status and wealth like to pursue something unique in order to show their extraordinary taste, and this rule is valid both in modern times and in ancient times.

When the American submarine salvage company caught the foreign trade porcelain in the ancient shipwreck of the Song Dynasty in the South China Sea, it directly smashed more than nine-tenths of it in one go! Because those foreigners know better than anyone that the value of the remaining one-tenth of porcelain will be dozens of times the value of those porcelain that have been smashed! The same is true for some stamp collectors who deliberately burn one of the only two stamps in existence. No matter what kind of commodities, their value is not strictly in accordance with the law of value, because they all have certain social attributes, which cannot be estimated.

"Old man, you're right. Originally, I didn't plan to sell 150 rosewood at once, so the market would seriously underestimate the value of these rosewoods. So I only plan to sell fifty rosewood in Guangzhou, and the other fifty will all be made into furniture, and Ye Gongzi, Brother Mingxia and I can keep it for our own use. I will ship all the remaining 50 sticks back to Europe to treasure them, and have the right to pass them on as a family collection. ”

The idea of selling only a part of the rosewood, Wickham had it before he arrived in Guangzhou, after all, the amount of rosewood this time is relatively large, and it must be unwise to put it on the market at the same time.

The idea of using rosewood to make furniture for Zhang Mingxia and Ye Wensheng was a temporary idea. After all, Zhang Mingxia told him about this financial route, and Ye Wensheng is the actual operator of this transaction, so you can't let others help you in vain, and you can't even get some soup, right?

Judging from Zhang Mingxia's attitude just now, I am afraid that he will not accept the money directly, so Wickham thought of a way to send furniture. Giving this thing not only does not look tacky, but is easier for people to accept, which is why some officials in later generations do not accept cash when they accept bribes, but like to collect antique calligraphy and paintings, both sides can have a quick fig leaf.

Fauber glanced at Wickham appreciatively, and thought that although this young man was a man, his brain turned quickly, and he knew how to advance and retreat, and he was a rare talent, so he said: "So good, then the old man will run the Liangguang Governor's Mansion for you, and at most fifty rosewood trees will be able to deal with it the day after tomorrow." In addition, I will find a group of skilled craftsmen to process another 50 rosewood into three sets of furniture as soon as possible, which will be completed in about two months. ”

Lin Wensheng originally wanted to refuse Wickham's kindness, but after seeing that Fauber agreed, he stopped talking. He has always trusted Fauber's decision, and Faubern must have his own reasons for doing so.

Zhang Mingxia hurriedly refused: "Brother Zihan, I appreciate your kindness, but I won't accept such a valuable thing!" ”

Wickham waved his hand and said in an unquestionable tone: "Brother Mingxia, don't refuse, and don't give you silver." It's just a set of furniture, that is, the normal exchange between friends, it's nothing. If you're refusing, you don't, I'm going to be a friend! Wickham's words were very firm and could not be refused, and Zhang Mingxia didn't say anything anymore when he saw this, which was regarded as acquiescence.

Lin Wensheng thought for a while and said to Fu Bo: "Then it's hard work Fu Bo, you can always run the door of the Liangguang Governor's Mansion." A few days ago, I heard that Lord Fukangan was going to be transferred to the Beijing Division, and he had been coveting the position of Minister of Military Aircraft for a long time. These rosewood were sold to him at a high price, and it was also convenient for him to take them back to Jingshi to have some relations, and it was much better to give rosewood than for him to sprinkle silver like a dirt bun. This old fox and the Guangzhou Customs Inspector have been working in the customs for a few years, and we just happened to bleed him. ”

Lin Wensheng is not worried at all that Fukangan, a first-class official, will rely on his account, and the development of the Thirteen Banks in Guangzhou to this day has been inextricably linked with the bigwigs in the DPRK and China, and a network of intertwined relationships has long been formed. Even if Fukangan is deeply favored by the emperor, he does not dare to play tricks in the thirteen elements with sensitive status, the water in this is too deep.

After agreeing on the time to pick up the goods, Wickham and Ye Wensheng said goodbye, he is still a special adviser to Magalny, and he can't always find people, which will make the other members of the mission dissatisfied. As for Zhang Mingxia, he did not go back to the dock with Wickham, but went to the city of Guangzhou, and he urgently needed to get in touch with Hongmen after leaving Guangzhou for more than a year.

However, it was a pity for Wickham that before he left Dafeng Trading House, he never saw that Miao Man again.

After Wickham left, Ye Wensheng asked Fu Bo with some curiosity: "Fu Bo, why did you agree to accept the rosewood furniture given by Mr. Lin just now?" That's tens of thousands of taels, and I, Ye Laosi, can't owe favors for this. ”

Fu Bo stroked his gray beard and smiled: "Young master, the goods exchange between England and the Qing Dynasty is completely in the hands of the English East India Company, but Lin Gongzi can bypass the East India Company and trade with us directly, will such a character be a simple character?" ”

Looking at Ye Wensheng, who was pondering, Fu Bo continued: "The master is a person with soft ears, he can't help the pillow wind of the eldest lady, firmly grasp the right to speak in the trade of foreign goods, and let the Ye family be inseparable from the young master, you are the top priority at the moment." Multiple friends and many roads, young master, it's not a bad thing for you to have a lot of contact with this Yiren, maybe when you will use it. Accepting his gift will also lay the foundation for the next exchange. ”

Fauber, as shrewd as he was, miscalculated one thing – Wickham wasn't a big man at all. The East India Company's monopoly trade privileges, which encompassed the vast area from the Cape of Good Hope in Africa to the Drake Strait in South America, were already undermined by Wickham's private work.

But Francis Balin didn't bother with Wickham and other Marine officers, it was entirely for the sake of Lord Margarny's face, which was why Wickham dragged Barnett to do this business with him at that time.

In the wing room in the backyard, Ye Shihan was holding a book of Li Qingzhao's poems, but she couldn't concentrate on it, as long as she thought of her holding Wickham's arm and crying just now, her cheeks were about to bleed with shame. I have to say that Wickham's skin is very feminine, and there may be slight differences in aesthetics between the East and the West, but Wickham's face with a hint of charm is quite lethal even in China.

Ye Shihan admitted that she was slightly stunned the moment she saw Wickham, although that man was a Yiren who was not very valued by Chinese people.

How could the maid Xiaolian not see her young lady's thoughts, and said kindly: "Miss, your behavior in the carriage just now was too bold, fortunately, no one was present at the time, otherwise Miss, your reputation would be ruined." That Yiren didn't understand etiquette and shame at all, so he looked at the young lady so directly, and he was not a good person at first glance. ”

Xiaolian's hostility towards Lin Zihan made Ye Shihan a little confused, so she had to say softly: "Xiaolian, no matter how you say that Lin Gongzi is also our life-saving benefactor, if he hadn't risked his life to jump into the carriage to restrain the crazy horse, maybe the two of us wouldn't be able to laugh here!" If you meet Lin Gongzi in the future, you don't always target him. ”

Xiaolian pursed her lips and said unconvinced: "Miss, I am also grateful to Lin Gongzi for saving our lives, but I just don't like the way he looks at Miss, like a hungry wolf." Anyway, Miss shouldn't have too much contact with him in the future, otherwise how would Miss get married? ”

Speaking of getting married, Ye Shihan's originally bright eyes suddenly dimmed, and she said leisurely: "Marry? Marry Pan Shijie, the unlearned and unskilled son of the Pan family? A few days ago, the Pan family came to the door to ask for Pan Shijie's marriage, and my father listened to the words of the eldest lady and intended to marry me. What reason do I have to refuse? ”

Because he is not the eldest son and does not have to take on the responsibilities of the family, Pan Shijie has developed a full temperament since he was a child, and he and a group of rich children go in and out of Fireworks Willow Lane all day long to compete for the wind and jealousy, and it is even rumored that the second son of the Pan family has incurable flower willow disease because of this.

The old man of the Pan family was also very sad for this unsuccessful son, and finally thought that if he became a pro, Pan Shijie might be more restrained, so he was cheeky to propose marriage to the Ye family. Master Pan's wishful thinking in his heart crackled, if his second son became the son-in-law of the Ye family, he would also have the help of the Ye family in the future.

It's just that this Pan Shijie is notorious, how could the ladies of the Ye family be willing to marry such a scumbag. But the old man of the Ye family couldn't erase his love for many years, and after listening to the eldest lady's pillow style, he decided to marry Ye Shihan.

Sixteen-year-old girl who is not pregnant with spring, Ye Shihan also imagined that her future husband would be a handsome and dashing young man with five cars of learning. So after learning that he was going to marry that scumbag, Ye Shihan cried and fainted in the boudoir several times, but his brother couldn't do anything about it. As soon as she thought of these bad things, Ye Shihan couldn't help but feel sad and sobbed in a low voice.

Xiaolian understood that she had said the wrong thing, which aroused the sadness of the young lady, and explained in a little panic: "Miss...... I...... I didn't mean to. That matter is not very uncertain now, the fourth young master has always been very methodical, and when the fourth young master returns to the old mansion and says, maybe the old master will change his mind. ”

When these words came out, Xiaolian herself felt that there was no convincing power, although the fourth young master was very capable, but after all, he was a concubine, and this kind of family event did not have the place for the fourth young master to speak.

After crying for a while, Ye Shihan slowly stopped crying, and her expression gradually became firm: "Xiaolian, I'm fine, really." ”

Xiaolian was a little unconvinced: "Really, Miss? ”

Ye Shihan wiped his reddened eyes with a handkerchief, and grabbed the knuckles of his fingers beside the bed, which turned a little pale: "Well, I'll be fine!" She has already made up her mind that she will definitely not marry the second young master of the Pan family who is squinty and obscene, even if she escapes from marriage and leaves the Ye family!

PS: Finally fulfilled the promise of today's two watches.