At the door of Imperial Physician Li's house, a carriage stopped.

Out of the carriage came a young man with clear eyebrows. Behind the young man, four servants were followed, carrying two wooden boxes.

Doctor Li was not at home at work, and Mrs. Li met with them.

The young man introduced himself and said, "I am the son of the head of the Li family in southern Fujian, Li Chengxian. My father and mother unfortunately contracted the plague this year, and our family is grateful to Dr. Li for his best efforts. This time I came to the capital, and my father specially asked me to bring some special products to Mrs. Li to express our gratitude!"

Old Madam Li smiled and said continuously: "It's so polite." You don't have to send anything. ”

Li Chengxian instructed the servant to put two wooden boxes in the guest hall.

Li Chengxian said: "This is mostly some medicinal materials and some specialties of southern Fujian that my family operates, not a valuable object, be careful, please accept it." ”

Mrs. Li temporarily accepted it and waited for Imperial Doctor Li to come back and deal with it.

Mrs. Li was a warm-hearted person, and she asked Li Chengxian kindly: "How are your parents doing now?"

Li Chengxian said: "My parents are in good health. ”

Old Madam Li asked with concern: "This year's plague, Minnan City is the most serious, are the rest of your family okay?"

Old Madam Li was polite greetings, but when Li Chengxian heard this, his face suddenly became a little sad, and he reluctantly spoke: "My grandmother and son died of the plague, and more than 20 servants died in the family. ”

When Mrs. Li heard this, her eyes were moist, and she said sadly: "Alas, it's really pitiful, so many people have died. ”

Li Chengxian felt grief and guilt in his heart, if he had returned home a few months earlier, maybe his grandmother and son would not have died, at least he could see them for the last time.

Old Madam Li wiped her tears and comforted: "Master Li, people can't be resurrected after death, don't be too sad." Alas, poor child. ”

Seeing Mrs. Li crying, Li Chengxian's heart became more and more sad: "I ......"

He couldn't help crying.

Li Chengxian wiped away his tears and found that there was an extra young girl in the room. He was very embarrassed and asked, "Isn't it embarrassing for a big man to cry?"

Liu Lu replied seriously: "No." When you say something sad and cry about it, the pain will be less. ”

"Really?" Li Chengxian was stunned, as if he was really relaxed in his heart.

Liu Lu said: "Hmm. When one shares the pain with others, it will not be so painful. If you're upset, just cry a little longer, that's okay. ”

Li Chengxian didn't want to cry anymore, crying in front of strangers, how embarrassing, he had already been embarrassed, and he couldn't be embarrassed anymore.

Liu Lu saw that he was not crying, so she chatted with him.

Liu Lu asked him, "Which countries have your merchant ships been to?"

Li Chengxian said: "I have been to many countries, and the countries on the southwest sea, basically my family's merchant ships have been there. Closer countries such as Chenla and Bagan, farther such as Ceylon and Xiandu, and even farther are Mughal and Umayyad countries in Europe, and even the Ottoman kingdoms in Africa. Together, there are almost twenty or thirty countries. ”

Li Chengxian is very talkative and eloquent, and his voice has some soft accents unique to the south, which makes people feel more friendly.

Liu Lu's eyes widened in surprise: "So many places! Where are these countries on the map, do you know?"

Li Cheng said, "Do you have paper and pen? I'll draw it for you." ”

Liu Lu said: "Yes, you wait for me." ”

Liu Lu quickly went back to the room and brought paper and pen out.

Li Chengxian spread the paper on the table and drew it. Soon after, a simple map of the sea was drawn.

Liu Lu exclaimed: "Hey, you seem to have drawn a nautical map." ”

Li Chengxian said proudly: "Well, every generation of my Li family in southern Fujian has to draw a nautical map. In order to draw maps well, I have been learning to draw since I was sensible. ”

The Li family in southern Fujian drew the most sophisticated nautical map of the Hux. Because of this map, the merchant ships of the various maritime merchants in Hux followed the merchant routes of the Li family in southern Fujian.

Li Chengxian pointed to the map and said to Liu Lu: "Most of the countries that my merchant ships have visited are on these seafaring routes. This is the country of Zhenla, this is the port of Jianming, from here you can go directly to Yuncang, and then take the tea horse road by land to the Western Regions. This is the country of Sirona and Bagan, and the last time we passed through here, we heard that there was a war going on here. This is the Strait of Malacca, with several small island nations on both sides, through which merchant ships can reach the country of Hyundu and the island nation at its southern end. ”

Speaking of this, Li Chengxian stopped.

Liu Lu felt that Li Chengxian's mood suddenly became bad. Liu Lu looked at the map, this place is the country of Ceylon, located in the far southwest of the Hux country.

Li Chengxian continued: "This island country is called Ceylon, and the island is very beautiful, warm like spring all year round, and full of blooming flowers. It is rich in gemstones, especially rubies and sapphires, and there are many beautiful gem mines. ”

Liu Lu asked, "How long does it take to get here from Quanzhou Port?"

Li Chengxian said: "It's hard to say. If the wind is smooth, the clipper will go all the way and it is estimated that it will be there in more than a month. However, it is generally necessary to stop at ports along the way to load and unload goods and replenish the supplies needed on board. The last time I traveled from Quanzhou Port to Ceylon, the wind was smooth, and it took nearly three months. However, on the way back, there were many strong winds and waves, and the merchant ship had to wait at the port, and a merchant ship was slightly repaired, and it took seven months to return to Quanzhou Port. ”

Li Chengxian's last voyage to sea was from Quanzhou Port in May last year, and it was not until July this year that the merchant ships returned to Quanzhou Port and traveled at sea for more than a year. When he returned to Quanzhou, it coincided with the plague prevention and control period, and he stayed in the port for more than ten days before returning to his home in southern Fujian. At this time, Li Chengxian's grandmother and son had been dead for three months.

Liu Lu said: "Then how long does it usually take for you to come back after a trip to the sea?"

Li Chengxian said: "Half a year in the short period, more than a year in the long time. The longest I ever had took me a year and seven months. ”

Liu Lu sighed: "It's really long. ”

Li Chengxian said lightly: "I'm used to it." I started going to sea with my father when I was 10 years old, and I have been floating at sea for more than 10 years, but now I am a little unaccustomed to not being on a boat. ”。

Liu Lu asked, "How much time do you spend at home in a year?"

Li Chengxian said: "At most, I stay at home for one or two months a year, and sometimes I am outside all year round. ”

Liu Lu's beautiful eyebrows furrowed.

It turned out that this was the rumored Chinese businessman Li Ji, the world's No. 1 merchant.

Chinese businessman Lee Kee donated the most during the plague, accounting for nearly half of the total amount.

But who would have thought that the owner of the Chinese businessman Li Ji, the Li family in southern Fujian, worked so hard to earn this money?

Liu Lu asked, "Do you have any brothers and sisters?

Li Chengxian said: "I have two sisters. They are women, so they can't be like me. However, my eldest sister has sailed with ships a few times before, and she has been to many countries. My eldest sister is very talented in business, and when my father was not at home, she was in charge of the family's business. It's a pity that she stopped doing business after she got married. ”

Liu Lu asked, "Why? Can't a woman do business after getting married?"

Li Chengxian said: "Of course you can." Many of our merchants in southern Fujian are headed by women, many of them are married women, and many businesses will also hire women to work. ”