Chapter 167: Master Zhang's Request
The courtyard was full of joy. Sister-in-law Zhang and new bride Xu Jingqiu were busy with their work. Qiao'er was running around them mischievously, letting out bursts of silvery laughter from time to time.

It has been half a month since Zhu Shenzhui got married. After the lively wedding, everything has gradually returned to its former tranquility.

The addition of Xu Jingqiu to the family didn't seem to change anything, and the family was still as harmonious as before. Xu Jingqiu, who had a good personality, quickly adapted to the environment after marrying into the Zhu family. Not only did she and Zhu Shenzhu live a good life, but even her sister-in-law Zhang and niece Qiao'er liked her gentle and generous personality.

Especially when Zhu Shenzui decided to let his sister-in-law and Qiao'er continue to live in the main house, Xu Jingqiu didn't say a word and gladly accepted the arrangement without any complaints, which made Zhu Shenzui think more highly of his newlywed wife.

After getting married, Zhu Shenzhui gradually became familiar with Xu Jingqiu. They did not know each other before getting married. The only time they met was when Zhu Shenzhui came to visit and they happened to meet. Moreover, the two did not speak that time, they just met each other. When Xu Jingqiu learned that the visitor was Zhu Shenzhui, she hurriedly avoided him.

Only after they got married did they really start to get in touch with each other. After that, Zhu Shenzui had to admit that the marriage his sister found for him was really good.

Compared with ordinary women of that era, Xu Jingqiu was not only gentle and generous, but also literate. The Xu family was a scholarly family. Although Xu Jingqiu was only a girl, she had been educated since childhood, and had read a lot of books. She also had beautiful handwriting, which was no worse than that of ordinary scholars. If she were not a girl, with her level, it would not be impossible for her to take the examinations for a tongsheng or a xiucai.

In addition, Xu Jingqiu was not petty in her attitude towards people and things. Zhu Shenzhui also had his own opinions when chatting with her on weekdays, which surprised Zhu Shenzhui. He himself did not expect Xu Jingqiu to be so different. Although she still had the traditional virtues of women of this era, she also had some independence of later generations. The combination of the two did not seem contradictory at all.

The newlyweds lived harmoniously, and Zhang gradually felt relieved. In addition, Xu Jingqiu had been respectful to Zhang since she came into the family, and treated Qiao'er as her own daughter. The family got along harmoniously, which also made Zhang gradually feel relieved.

After the two of them got to know each other, they got along well. Qiao'er liked this new aunt very much. After a few days, the child became familiar with her. Every day as soon as she opened her eyes, she would follow Zhang and Xu Jingqiu and have fun. Just like now, she was running around in the yard without feeling tired at all.

Seeing how well they were getting along, Zhu Shenzhui smiled and felt relieved.

In the past few days, the caravan went back and forth to the grassland again, and everything went as smoothly as expected.

Business on the grassland was indeed easy to do, and it was profitable after several attempts. But as the business of the company gradually expanded, some bad things happened one after another. However, before Zhu Shenzhui could take action, Kang Youfu dealt with them one by one.

Although Kang Youfu is young, he has great talent in business. As the general manager, he has arranged everything properly. It can be said that Kang Youfu has made great contributions to the current situation of the company.

As Kang Youfu gradually gained more experience, Zhang Xijun, who was previously sent to assist the company, was no longer as useful as he was at the beginning.

Zhang Xijun is a very smart person. He has been doing things very efficiently since he followed Zhu Shenzhui. He also did a lot of things in the early days of the establishment of the company. It can be said that Zhang Xijun has made an indelible contribution to the development of the company to its current scale.

However, compared to Kang Youfu, Zhang Xijun himself was not very interested in doing business, and his background and personality were not suitable for being a businessman who was in the spotlight. Yesterday, Zhang Xijun sent a message to Zhu Shenzhui, saying that he wanted to meet Zhu Shenzhui. Zhu Shenzhui guessed his thoughts and agreed. After breakfast, Zhu Shenzhui went out and went straight to the business.

The current Hengtong Trading Company is no longer the original shop. In just over a year, Hengtong Trading Company has become a large-scale trading company in Pingyang City.

Today, Hengtong Trading Company owns a salt shop, two pawnshops, a rice shop, an inn, and a carriage and horse shop in Pingyang City. In terms of scale, it is several times larger than the original Hengtong Trading Company. In addition to these, there is also a warehouse inside and outside Pingyang City for the storage and transportation of materials.

The head manager of the business was Kang Youfu, and Zhang Xijun was nominally the second manager. On weekdays, Zhang Xijun usually stayed in one of the pawnshops, and sometimes he would go around to look around.

Today, Zhu Shenzhu went to this pawnshop, which was originally suggested by Kang Youfu. After the establishment of the pawnshop, it not only absorbed a large amount of goods transported back from the grassland, but also made considerable profits.

When he arrived at the place, Zhu Shenzhui walked in. The pawnshop clerk who had just entered the door came up to him and greeted him politely.

This clerk was recruited by the firm, and was not one of Zhu Shenzhui's old team members. With the rapid development of the firm, Zhu Shenzhui was short of available men. Now, except for a few shop owners and caravan workers, most of the clerks were recruited from Pingyang City. Although they were also Zhu Shenzhui's subordinates, because Zhu Shenzhui was low-key, not many people in Pingyang City knew that Zhu Shenzhui was the boss of Hengtong Firm.

Zhu Shenzhui told the clerk directly that he was here to see Zhang Xijun, and the clerk immediately invited Zhu Shenzhui to sit inside. Zhang Xijun had told his subordinates early this morning that if someone came to see him, they should be taken inside to sit. The clerk remembered it, and seeing that Zhu Shenzhui was dressed in ordinary clothes but had an extraordinary demeanor, he did not dare to neglect him at all. Going around the front counter of the pawnshop from the right, along the passage to the back of the pawnshop, this is the private room of the pawnshop, and it is also the place where the pawnshop usually discusses big business in private.

Everyone knows the role of a pawnshop, which is nothing more than pawning. Ordinary business can be done right in front of you. Bring the things you want to pawn, and then the pawnshop manager or shopkeeper will look at them and give an estimate based on the pawning requirements and deadlines. If the other party agrees, then they will accept the things, issue a pawn ticket, and give the pawn money on the spot, completing the pawning.

However, in some cases where the amount is relatively large or the pawned items are not ordinary, it is not so appropriate for the two parties to meet at the front counter. Generally speaking, they will be invited to the private room at the back, served tea and have a detailed discussion behind closed doors, and the private room that Zhu Shenzhui is going to now is used for this purpose.

When Zhu Shenzhui arrived at the private room, it was his first time here. He looked around and took in the place. Although the place was not big, it was decorated very elegantly. It looked somewhat similar to a small reception room. In addition to the basic furniture and chairs, there were some calligraphy and paintings on the wall, giving people a relaxed feeling.

After sitting down, the waiter served some good tea and then left. A moment later, Zhang Xijun hurried over and apologized as soon as he entered the door, saying that he was busy in the warehouse at the back and was unable to entertain Zhu Shenzhui immediately.

"It's okay, sit down." Zhu Shenzhui said, pointing to a chair beside him.

"Thank you, Sixth Master." Zhang Xijun bowed and then sat down.

Picking up the tea, Zhu Shenzhui drank it slowly and asked, "What do you want to see me for?"

"Sixth Master, I haven't seen you for many days, and I miss you so much..."

Before he could finish his words, Zhu Shenzhui waved his hand and said, "There's no need to talk about these. It's not the first day we've known each other. Master Zhang, you're not such a boring person. Now that I'm here, just say whatever you want to say."

Zhang Xijun smiled, nodded and said, "Sixth Master is very observant and saw through my little thoughts at a glance. To be honest, Sixth Master, I do have something to ask you..."

Zhang Xijun did not beat around the bush and told Zhu Shenzhui directly that he planned to follow Zhu Shenzhui to do something else and no longer wanted to stay in the firm.

Zhu Shenzhui asked with a smile. He had done well in the past year or so in the company. The company was developing rapidly. He, the second shopkeeper, was the actual second in command of the company. Even the head shopkeeper Kang Youfu needed to discuss many things with Zhang Xijun. In addition, Zhu Shenzhui, apart from paying more attention to the caravan, basically entrusted all the affairs of the company to him and Kang Youfu. The two of them had high status and Zhu Shenzhui was generous. With the prosperity of the company, the two of them had a lot of income. How could they not do such a good job?

Zhang Xijun smiled bitterly and said, "Sixth Master, others may not know my status, but you, Sixth Master, how could you not know? I am not a businessman, and I am not good at doing business. Sixth Master arranged me here because the business was just being established and you had no one under your command, so you only needed me temporarily."

"Now the situation of the company has stabilized. Manager Kang is not only loyal to Sixth Master, but his business ability is a hundred times better than mine. If I stay here, there is not much I can do for Sixth Master. I think I am smart. Although I am not as good as Manager Kang in business, I can help Sixth Master with other things to repay Sixth Master for taking me in. After thinking carefully these days, I think it is better for me to leave the company. If Sixth Master does not abandon me, please forgive me."

Zhu Shenzhu glanced at him, smiled and shook his head: "Master Zhang, according to what you said, do you think the temple of the business is too small? Is it a waste of talent in the business?"

Zhang Xijun said quickly, "Sixth Master, what you said is wrong. No matter how you use me, I am willing to do whatever you want. I just want to do a better job for you."

"Hehe..." Zhu Shenzhui laughed without commenting: "In that case, how about I let you stay in the company?"

Zhang Xijun showed no reluctance at all, and replied without hesitation, "If Sixth Master arranges this, I will naturally obey."

After saying this, Zhu Shenzhui looked at him deeply, as if trying to read something on his face. However, Zhang Xijun's expression was calm, as if he had just said something very ordinary, without any ripples at all.

Zhu Shenzhui rested his left hand on the chair ring and tapped it lightly, looking thoughtful, but thinking secretly in his heart. For a moment, there was no sound in the room, and Zhang Xijun did not speak either. He sat aside with his head slightly lowered, waiting for Zhu Shenzhui to speak.

(End of this chapter)

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