Walking through the winding, narrow and muddy alleys, it is easy to know that it is enough to look at this small county under his rule with a critical eye, it is indeed only a small county town, compared to Guangzhou, Shanghai at this time is only an inconspicuous small county, just because of the advantages of geographical location and port, it is more prosperous. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

No one in the Qing Dynasty and the opposition realized that this small county town had huge development potential, and no one thought that Shanghai would open a port, and no one would have thought that after the opening of the port, Shanghai would become the largest foreign trade port of the Qing Dynasty and the largest port city in Asia in just over a decade.

Originally, Yi Zhizhi only wanted a Jianghai Customs as a foothold in Shanghai, and he didn't want Daoguang to directly give him a Shanghai Dao and make him the de facto chief official of Shanghai County, of course he couldn't spoil this rare opportunity, promotion or something, he didn't want to do it at all, he just wanted to firmly drag this Shanghai Dao in his hands, at least before Shanghai was developed, he didn't want to move his nest.

Passing through a narrow alley, a wide in front of you, a big river appeared in front of you, Yan Shikuan introduced: "This is Zhaojiabang, the most important river in the county, this bridge is called Yuxing Bridge, not far in front of the county government." ”

Slowly climb the stone bridge, easy to be content and look at the railing, but see the river in the large and small boats densely, the shops on both sides of the river, pedestrians like weaving, it is obvious that it is the most prosperous commercial street in the county, looking at it for a while, he asked: "Which industries in the county are the most profitable?" ”

Yan Shikuan said casually: "In Shanghai, if you want to say that the most profitable industry is naturally the local industry, followed by the sand boat, and the money village can only rank third." ”

"Dirt walk?" Yi Zhixiang said suspiciously: "Smoke and soil? ”

Yan Shikuan nodded and said, "The smoking ban in Jiangnan is not as strict as in Guangzhou. Saying that, he smiled, "However, now that Lin Butang has been transferred to Liangjiang, I'm afraid this rumor will be tightened." ”

"Not necessarily." Yi Zhizhi said: "The price of tobacco in Guangzhou has now completely fallen, and it is not much higher than before the smoking ban. ”

The price of tobacco soil has fallen sharply, indicating that tobacco is not out of stock, and the supply is sufficient, which undoubtedly means that the smoking ban in Guangzhou has failed, Yan Shikuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, of course he knows what his old man is doing, and he can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Yi Zhicontent changed the conversation and asked, "The sand boat is so profitable?" ”

Yan Shikuan nodded and said: "The Beiyang trade of sand boats is to win by quantity, cotton cloth and yarn in the south, tea sugar cigarette paper, beans, wheat skins and wood in the north, etc., especially beans, the amount of bean cakes is quite large, whether it is the south goods to the north, or the north goods to the south, are all profitable, in Shanghai, the sand boat is second only to the local bank of the profiteering industry, a Huangpu River, rough estimates, there should be four or five thousand large and small sand boats. ”

Groaning slightly, Yi Zhizhi was puzzled: "What does Jiangnan need such a large number of beans and bean cakes for?" ”

Hearing this, Yan Shikuan couldn't help but smile, "I was also puzzled at the beginning, but after inquiring, I learned that beans can be used to make soybean oil, soybean cake, and soybean milk, and soybean cake is mainly used for fertilizing land." ”

It turned out to be used as fertilizer, no wonder the demand is so great, Yi Zhizhi smiled: "I forgot, bean cake is the best fertilizer." ”

The two of them walked and stopped all the way, until the sky was a little dark, and then they arrived at the Yan Mansion on Mayao Street, and entered the courtyard, Yan Shikuan said with a smile: "The courtyard of the three entrances, with a cross-courtyard, is a little shabby, and the big shopkeeper can be condescending." ”

Yi Zhishu looked at it as he walked, and said with a smile: "It's a little smaller, don't you want to buy land, you can also buy a piece by the way, and build a big garden in the future." ”

While the two were talking, Yan Xiaomei greeted her, squatted down and said, "I've seen the big shopkeeper." ”

"No need to be polite." Yi Zhixiang said with a smile, "It's late, my little sister has been waiting for a long time." ”

"The big shopkeeper is now a distinguished ......." Yan Xiaomei said and found that her tone was wrong, so she quickly stopped and said, "Big shopkeeper, please." ”

Entering the house and sitting down, Yan Xiaomei didn't need to wait, she personally served tea and cigarettes, and set up wine with vegetables, and after Zhang Luo finished, she stepped forward and said: "Big shopkeeper, fifth brother, you can sit at the table." ”

The two of them sat at the table, Yan Shikuan diligently persuaded the wine, Yan Xiaomei waited on the side with a pot, making the boss feel uncomfortable, after three rounds of drinking, he looked at it, and saw that there was no one in the room, so he spoke: "Little sister doesn't have to wait on the side, let's eat together, there is no need to pay attention to so many rules." ”

The woman has never eaten at the table, and when he invited the little sister to the table, Yan Shikuan was a little surprised, and then smiled: "Even if the third brother invites her, the little sister doesn't need to be polite." ”

Yan Xiaomei was really not polite, she sat down with Yan Shikuan and said, "Fifth brother, let's go add a few dishes that the big shopkeeper likes to eat." ”

I can't wait to catch people away, Yan Shikuan scolded a sentence, immediately smiled, and said, "Third brother, eat first, I'll come when I go." ”

Yan Shikuan, who was waiting, left, Yan Xiaomei poured herself a glass of wine and said, "I have been in Shanghai for three years, and the slave family is already twenty this year. With that, he dried the wine in one gulp.

Twenty women, in the next generation, is nothing at all, but in this year, she is already an old girl, Yi Zhishu sighed lightly, and said: "Marriage is a major event, and the life of parents is ......." ”

"Slaves don't want names." Yan Xiaomei said: "Then you don't need your parents' orders." ”

"Little sister has you considered Ling Zun?"

"Guangzhou and Shanghai, thousands of miles apart, coupled with the deep courtyard, do not deliberately promote, who knows?"

Yi Zhizu stretched out his hand, and it was suitable for her to bring the wine jug, but Yan Xiaomei got up and poured him a glass, and said: "The slave family understands the difficulties of the third brother, although it is a hard wait for three years, but there is no complaint, with the current status of the third brother, the slave family does not dare to think about it." ”

After a slight sigh, Yi Zhizhi sighed lightly: "I am no longer the third brother of Xiaomei, why is Xiaomei so troubled?" ”

Yan Xiaomei sat back and said faintly: "The slave family has long been the third brother's person, no matter how the third brother changes, the slave family is dead." ”

It's been the third brother's person for a long time? Yi Zhicontent was speechless for a while, and his luck for several years was shattered by her words, and he finally figured out the relationship between the two, but it was the worst one, what else could he say? After drying up the wine in one gulp, he said slowly: "I came today, that is, I want to make this matter clear, the third brother is the treasurer of Yuanqi, and he is still an official of the imperial court."

Whether it's for Yuanqi's sake, or for his own sake, it's impossible for the media to marry the little sister who is marrying through the door, and I hope the little sister will forgive me. ”

"The slaves understand this." Yan Xiaomei said softly, she had indeed thought it out a long time ago, the Yan family smuggled crows. The film not only has a bad reputation, but also has unforeseen disasters at any time, Yi Zhishu sent his two brothers and sisters to Shanghai, to put it bluntly, he just wanted to protect his two brothers and sisters, with Yi Zhi's current identity and status, Ming Media is marrying her, this is simply impossible, this matter has spread, not only Yi Zhifen's reputation has been discredited, but even Yuan Qi has to be implicated.

"Well, I can give you anything except the name." Yi Zhizhi said: "The backyard of the Daoya, welcome the little sister at any time, Ling Zun is there, I will say, I can't make you embarrassed." ”

Is this promised? Yan Xiaomei paused for a moment, then got up and left the table, and ran out of the room as if she had fled, so that Yi Zhizhi was at a loss, could it be that she said something wrong again? He took out a cigar and lit it slowly, feeling a sense of relief, Yan Xiaomei's matter, pressed on his heart for a few years, this time in Shanghai, he was already determined not to delay, decided to ask face to face, make it clear, although this is the worst result, but it is better than always hanging.

After a long time, Yan Shikuan walked in slowly, didn't speak, picked up the wine jug and poured a glass for Yi Zhicontent, and then poured himself a glass, felt that the cup was respectful, and took a dry mouthful, and then said: "Old man, what are you going to say about the third brother?" ”

"What else can I say? Of course, cheekily said. Yi Zhizhi said: "You go to the letter to persuade the old man to stop, retire, don't miss your future, as for the little sister, even if she has no reputation, can you still wronged her?" ”

This is also true, Yi Zhishu categorically did not let the little sister be wronged, Yan Shikuan let out a long sigh, and said after a while: "Is the third brother's marriage an eyebrow?" You're not small anymore. ”

"Don't open any pot and mention which pot." Yi Zhishu said and stood up and said, "If you are full of wine and food, you will leave." ”

Yan Shikuan hurriedly got up and said, "I'll send the third brother." ”

Out of the gate, Yan Shikuan took the lantern from the hands of his subordinates and said, "Let's go, eliminate food?" ”

Yi Zhicontent was reluctant to go any further, and said, "Take a boat." ”

Two days later, Yuanqi Shanghai branch was opened in Shanghai County, and on the same day, there were 32 branches, all over the county, covering all the bustling neighborhoods and business centers in Shanghai, causing a great sensation in one fell swoop.

The whole county is boiling over at the time, large and small teahouses, guild halls, industry clubs, and wharves are talking everywhere, and there are not no officials doing business, but quite a lot, most of the officials have pawnshops, money houses, and even teahouses and restaurants, but no one will blatantly publicize it, they are all openly covered, like Yi Zhicontentment is so blatant, as soon as he takes office, he will open Yuanqi branches all over the county, it is definitely a scorpion - the only one.

Discussion is discussion, slander is slander, many gentry and merchants and guild offices are in a hurry to prepare gifts to go to the branch to celebrate, Yi Zhicontent Since this new Taoist has blatantly opened the Yuanqi branch to the county seat of Shanghai, they dare not pretend not to know, even if they are not happy, they also pinch their noses to celebrate.

Liu Guangdou, the magistrate of the county, was a little difficult, he really didn't expect Yi Zhishu to hide it at all, not to celebrate, can't say it, Shangguan has a birthday and New Year's Festival, he is a subordinate official to give gifts, such a big event, not to go, it must be inappropriate, but to celebrate, it seems that it is not appropriate, Dong Qianqiu went to the Taoist Ya again, there was no one to discuss, in the county government tangled for a long time, he had an idea, and simply went directly to ask Yi Zhizhi to be content, and immediately dared to go to the Daotai Yamen.

Nanshi Dongjiadu Majia Factory, Shanghai Merchant Marine Hall, small conference hall.

After learning that the Yuanqi branch was listed and opened in Shanghai, a group of sand boat owners rushed to the hall to discuss, all the sand boat owners are well-informed people, what is the situation of Yuanqi in Guangdong, they are quite clear, after hearing that Yi Zhizu took over Shanghai Dao, they have already guessed whether Yuan Qi will take the opportunity to open the branch to Shanghai, no one expected, Yi Zhifen just arrived, Yuan Qi was publicly listed in Shanghai.

Shen Wanxiang, the owner of the "Shen Shengyi" sand ship and one of the directors of the Merchant Marine Association, glanced at the shipowners and said loudly: "Yuanqi monopolizes the money industry of a province in Guangdong, and since he has come to Shanghai to be publicly listed this time, it is obvious that he also wants to unify the ...... of Shanghai's money industry. ”

Before he finished speaking, Yu Taifeng, the owner of the "Yu Sensheng" sand boat line, interrupted him and said: "Whether Yuanqi dominates the Shanghai money industry has nothing to do with our merchant ship club, for us, even if Yuanqi unifies the money industry of the Qing Dynasty, it will only be good for us and no harm.

Now this Jiang Customs can be said to be in the hands of Yuan Qi, this gift is light, I am afraid that Lord Yi will deliberately make things difficult for us in the future, and I am afraid that Lord Yi will take this as an example, after all, this is the first time to give a gift to Lord Yi, but there is no precedent to follow in this matter, and this matter is really not small. ”

Wang Renbo, the owner of the sand boat "Wang Gonghe", said with a smile: "I have long heard that this Yida shopkeeper is not a good stubble, but I didn't expect to give us a problem as soon as he came. After a slight pause, he continued: "Yuanqi is not a trivial matter to open a branch in Shanghai, and it is impossible for this posture to be limited to Shanghai, at least Suzhou and Songjiang must be unified."

Yuanqi has a currency exchange business, and the fee is far lower than our local bank, which is a good thing for our shipowners, and can save a lot of silver, so you might as well give a heavy gift. ”

"I'm also in favor of giving a big gift." Yu Taifeng echoed: "Yi Daoxian is not an ordinary official, he is a businessman, he should know all kinds of customs situations, he is in charge of Jiang Customs, I am afraid that our life will not be easy, and giving a heavy gift can be regarded as a good fate." ”

"How much is a big gift?" Shen Wanxiang glanced at him and said, "Don't forget, he is the big shopkeeper of Yuanqi, and his eyes are not small." ”

Wang Tongchun, the owner of the sand boat "Wang Yongsheng" and the owner of the Merchant Marine Club, coughed lightly and said: "The day before yesterday, the county government issued a notice to recruit 2,000 volunteers. It is estimated that you have to raise donations with us, this gift is not heavy, nine families, two hundred, other small boat dealers make up two hundred, two thousand taels, how about it? ”

Whose silver is not blown by the wind, although the sand boat is profitable, the risk is not small, and it is possible to donate and lose, everyone is closed, seeing that no one is silent, Yu Taifeng said in a deep voice: "Donation and gift are two different things, no matter how much you donate to the county government, Yi Daoxian may not appreciate it, but he has to appreciate it, which is beneficial to our merchant marine hall." ”

Wang Tongchun glanced at him and was silent for a moment before saying, "Then let's discuss it again." ”

The county seat, the east of the Chenghuang Temple, the inner garden, the Shanghai Qianye Office.

"Bang." Wei Desheng, the general director, slapped the table, and the tea cups on the table jumped up, "Shameless!" Shameless! (To be continued.) )