In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 764 The Arrival of Master Li!

"Oh, sir, it's been a long time! Please come in. May I ask which shop you are?"

Bi Yun stood at the door.

Seeing that the two people who stepped down from the carriage possessed extraordinary bearing and exuded a subtle aura of power,
He quickly came forward, a practiced smile spreading across his youthful face.

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped in his tracks and looked the child up and down.

At sixteen or seventeen years old, he had an ordinary appearance, but his eyes were bright and piercing. What was most striking was his dark and rough skin, as if he was used to doing heavy work.

He was wearing a simple gray robe with the four large characters "Li's Brokerage Firm" printed on the chest.
The embroidery was crooked and uneven in size.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and pointed, "Did you embroider the characters yourself?"

Bi Yun was taken aback, looked down at his clothes, smiled sheepishly, and readily admitted:
"Sir, our shop has just opened, so every penny saved counts."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and reminded him:
"The newly opened shop is in the province."
But clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse; you absolutely cannot skimp on things that shouldn't be skimped on.

When doing business, one cannot be shabby when traveling.
If you go out to solicit business dressed like this, you'll be looked down upon, and you'll have to go to great lengths to explain yourself, which will only make things more difficult.

Bi Yun was taken aback, blinking in confusion, wondering who the person in front of him was and why he was saying such things.

However, he felt that the person in front of him must be the head manager of some family, because he spoke with a strong voice and an air of authority.

“Sir, our small shop sells peace of mind and service; we focus on the inside, not the outside.”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, looked at the gate and the bustling scene around him, and said:

"The worst thing you can do in business is to explain yourself."

Like the Yingtian Trading Company not far away,
They were dressed in the uniforms of Yingtian Trading Company, and anyone could tell at a glance that they were wealthy and powerful, and that they would definitely not suffer any losses; business could be discussed directly with them.

When you go to discuss business, others don't know your background or your financial resources.

Every time you explain, it takes you a lot of time and effort.

"This gentleman is right!"

The group looked over and saw a shopkeeper in his fifties smiling and nodding as he slowly walked over.

As soon as Bi Yun saw him arrive, he quickly went to greet him.

The man before me was the biggest fruit vendor on Xintian Street, with sales channels throughout Yingtian City.

A large part of the Li family's brokerage business relied on the people they were dealing with.
"Master Chen, you've arrived! Please come in quickly."

"Oh, no rush." ​​Master Chen stood at the door, glanced at Bi Yun's attire, and nodded.
"This brother is right, we should change these clothes from today onwards."

Not necessarily do you have to dress extravagantly, but you should at least dress neatly.

The characters for "Li's Brokerage" should be larger now; they're too small and crooked.

If I didn't know your background, I wouldn't be so sure about doing business with you, hahaha.

Seeing that both of them said so, Bi Yun also became serious.

Although he could not fully understand the reasoning behind it,
But in any case, the two gentlemen in front of me will always be more powerful than me.

Having understood this, he quickly bowed deeply to the two of them:
"Thank you for your guidance, gentlemen. I will remember it and tell the shopkeeper later."

"Sigh, no need to say anything more."

Mr. Chen smiled and waved his hand, then looked behind him.

Two waiters behind him quickly stepped forward and handed over the two boxes they were carrying.

"Take these quickly. I ordered them for you from Gudaoxuan. They're made from the same material as those from Yingtian Trading Company, just with slightly different designs."

Tell your boss, now that you've opened a shop, you can't be as sloppy as before; people will look down on you.

Bi Yun received the two large boxes of clothes, still in shock:
"Thank you, thank you, Mr. Chen!"

Seeing this, Wen Cheng's eyes showed a strange look. He leaned closer and whispered:
"Sir, the Li family brokerage firm has a good reputation. Everyone here looks to be either rich or noble."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced around and nodded slightly:

"He's a kind person, so he's bound to make some friends. Go in."

After saying this, Zhu Yuanzhang stepped inside, and Wen Cheng bowed and followed, carrying the box.

Manager Chen observed this scene and seemed to be deep in thought.
"Who is this person?"

He looked at the carriage parked at the door; although it appeared unremarkable,

But since he was in the fruit and vegetable business, he had the most contact with carriages and horses.

The carriage in front of us is luxurious yet understated; those two large wheels alone are worth tens of taels of silver, not to mention the exquisite carvings on them.

Manager Chen felt that without ten thousand taels of silver, his family simply couldn't afford such a carriage.

Thinking of this, Manager Chen pursed his lips and followed.
The Li family's brokerage firm wasn't large; it was just an ordinary three-room hut.

The first thing you see when you enter is a series of small wooden plaques hanging on the wall, which are very eye-catching.

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped in front of the wooden sign and examined it carefully.

The document lists the goods to be transported, the expected delivery time, and some requirements for the transport vehicles.
"Twenty bushels of rice will arrive at Huai'an granary around the fifteenth of summer. Three two-wheeled oxcarts are needed, along with all the oxen's equipment and tarpaulins."

"A hundred baskets of tea will arrive in Danyang in ten days. Five mule carts will be prepared, and the drivers will be skilled on mountain roads."

"Three hundred baskets of tribute lychees were to be delivered to Yangzhou within two days, with horses changed every fifty li but riders not."

Zhu Yuanzhang watched quietly, his expression growing increasingly strange.

He pointed to the sign above and asked:

"Isn't Jiujiang doing all these things?"

Wen Cheng lagged behind by half a step, staring at the signs ahead with an extremely strange expression:
"Sir, you're right. Most of these businesses are done by Singaporean and Malaysian trading companies. Could it be that the Lee family brokerage firm also has connections that reach the highest levels?"

As he spoke, Wen Cheng glanced thoughtfully at the old man beside him, the meaning of which was obvious.

"I didn't know about this. I only found out that Li Wu had opened a shop after the invitation arrived."

"Then I would not know."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked around. Several long tables had been set up inside the room, and many people were sitting there chatting and laughing, creating a festive atmosphere.

He then looked at the path leading to the backyard.
You can see large tables set up in the backyard.
Li Wu was busy running around, his hands holding two stools and carrying a large basket, his brow beaded with sweat.

"Go and call Li Wu out."
"It's outrageous for a small shop to open with the owner hiding in the backyard instead of at the counter."

Wen Cheng nodded quickly and rushed over.

After he left, two guards immediately stepped forward, vigilantly watching their surroundings.

This situation shocked Mr. Chen, who had followed them.

The two guards had large, calloused hands, and several scars on their exposed wrists; they were clearly not to be trifled with.

He stood there, hesitant to step forward, muttering to himself:
"Who is this person? Could he be the manager of some merchant house in Midtown? Why is he making such a grand entrance?"

Before long, the shopkeeper, Li Wu, rushed out from the backyard.

He was also wearing the clothes of the Li family's brokerage firm, but they were tattered and faded from washing, clearly his original clothes.

He spotted the person standing behind the counter immediately, his eyes lit up, and he rushed over, shouting as he went:

"Master Li! You've arrived!"

Upon seeing him, Zhu Yuanzhang finally smiled, looked him up and down, and patted him heavily on the shoulder:

"Not bad, you've become a manager in just one year."

Li Wu stood there chuckling to himself, scratching his head incessantly.
"Mr. Li, I've been busy this year and made some money, so I'm thinking of opening a small shop so that business will be easier in the future."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly:
"You're capable, a hard worker who's good at making money."
But from now on, I'll be the manager, and I'll have to do what a manager should do.

Look outside, so many people have come to watch, you should at least greet some of them.

Whether or not a deal is made, it's always good to get to know more people.

When you become successful in the future, you can make a lot of business just by virtue of this one meeting.

Li Wu listened attentively, his expression shifting between nervousness and restraint.

He knew he wasn't cut out to be a manager and didn't know what he should do.
He thought that made a lot of sense.

“Mr. Li, you’re right. I was too stupid and didn’t know what to do. I’ll go to the door right now.”

"Um"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and nodded, then waved his hand gently.

Wen Cheng stepped forward and placed the wooden box in front of him:
"Manager Li, please accept this gift."

Li Wu stood there, stunned, and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang:

“Master Li, I am already extremely grateful for your presence, why did you bring a gift?”

"Hahahaha." Zhu Yuanzhang burst into laughter:

"In the countryside, whenever there's a happy occasion, a piece of meat is always brought out."

In Yingtian City, how can one neglect etiquette?

Take it, you'll need it.

After several attempts to persuade him, the man finally accepted the wooden box with trepidation, noticing its heavy weight. "Mr. Li, this is so heavy, it's far too valuable."

"It's not valuable, open it and take a look."

"it is good."

Li Wu placed the wooden box on the counter, opened it, and his eyes widened slightly.

The shopkeepers nearby also came over, tiptoeing to see what the gift was.

Zhu Yuanzhang stepped forward and said in a deep voice:
"The most important thing in doing business is accounting."

Once the accounts are in order, it becomes clear which businesses should be done and which should not.

This is a set of accounting books and stationery; you can use it.

Below is a book of accounts used by Yingtian Trading Company to train its accountants and clerks; you can use it as a reference.

Upon hearing this, the previously noisy room fell silent for a moment.

The shopkeepers, who had been watching the commotion from the back, suddenly rushed forward, craning their necks to peer into the contents of the wooden crate.
At just one glance, they knew that this thing was genuine.

The account books on display all had large characters printed on them.

The accounts, details of goods, accounts receivable and payable, and vehicle and horse losses are all meticulously recorded.

Beside it were also purple-haired writing brushes, pine soot ink sticks, and bronze paperweights.
The paperweight is also engraved with the four characters "Honesty is the foundation," which makes it look very valuable.

Master Chen stared intently at the last book in the box, which bore the words "Yingtian Trading Company Income and Expenditure Records" in large print, his face showing a look of covetousness.

Nowadays, all the shopkeepers in the capital know that Yingtian Trading Company's accounting practices are unparalleled.
Starting with the accounts can actually improve the operation of a business, but this method has always been kept secret and has never been leaked.

Even the shop assistants and accountants who left the business were strictly forbidden from spreading the word by the government.

How did I end up here?

Li Wu was a coachman in the city, well-informed and aware of the importance of this matter. He quickly widened his eyes and spoke:
"Master Li, this is unacceptable! If the authorities find out, they will arrest you."

Li Wu made a move as if he was about to frantically put the roster back.
Zhu Yuanzhang stepped forward, pressed his hand down, and gave him a reassuring look:

"Don't worry, if I say it's nothing, then it's nothing. Just take it and study hard."
If you have any questions, go to Yingtian Trading Company and ask.

These words shocked everyone present, who stared at the person before them in disbelief.

The man in front of me was over sixty years old, tall, with broad shoulders and long legs, and calloused hands; he looked like a soldier.

Moreover, upon closer inspection, many people noticed that the silk threads on his clothes were arranged in a unique way, with smooth and well-proportioned lines, unlike anything found in any tailor shop in the city.

Then there is only one possibility: either the person in front of you is a powerful figure from out of town, or he or she has a tailor at home who makes clothes for you.

Thinking about it this way, many people backed down and became somewhat wary.

Many powerful and wealthy people in the city have this financial strength, but without exception, they are all related to high-ranking officials in the imperial court or have a deep family background.

Even if someone is the head of a household, they wouldn't dare offend such a person.

Li Wu glanced around, sensing the change in atmosphere, and became increasingly uneasy:
"Master Li, please come with me. We have some excellent tea inside."

"Okay, I happen to have some questions for you."

Zhu Yuanzhang, with his hands behind his back, followed Li Wu to the backyard, with Wen Cheng and two guards quickly following behind.

The atmosphere eased somewhat after they had completely left.

"This Li Wu is truly a man of appearances; how could he know such an important person? And even come all the way here for him?"

"Hey, guess who this is?"

These days, the city's powerful and wealthy never leave their homes, yet this person is making such a grand entrance, isn't he afraid of being arrested?

“You’re wrong. Didn’t you see that carriage at the gate has no decorations at all? They’ve tried their best to cover it up, but it still doesn’t fit in with us.”

Listening to the group's rambling, Manager Chen looked at his attendant and said softly:

"Twenty percent of the remaining fruits and vegetables from this year will be delivered by Li Wu."

"Thirty percent? Master, the ten percent he gives us is enough to feed the workers."

"Stop talking nonsense, go back and tell the accountant, it's settled then."

"Yes!"

The waiter hurriedly left. Manager Chen stroked his beard. It didn't matter who the fruit was delivered to; as long as it was delivered, the car dealership was a good one.

But if you can make some connections during the trip, you can make a fortune.

The backyard was quite spacious, with six cars parked in the corner.

Nearly ten tables were set up in the courtyard, with bowls and chopsticks on them.

There were a few other people busy cooking nearby.

Upon arriving, a fragrant aroma wafted towards them, causing Zhu Yuanzhang to sniff and exclaim in admiration:
"Food cooked in a large pot is still the best."

Li Wu, leading the way, said with a smile, "Master Li, this communal meal smells delicious but tastes awful."

Especially the first few times I ate it, it was incredibly delicious!

But after a few days, it becomes tasteless and bland.

"Hahahaha, you're absolutely right!"
Even the most exquisite delicacies become tiresome if eaten every day.

“Master Li, please come inside and sit down. If it weren’t for you, I would never have been able to turn my life around.”

Li Wu led Zhu Yuanzhang to the inner room, which was very simple.
There were only simple tables, chairs, and benches, but they were very clean, with an old teapot and teacups on the table.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, sat down, and without any ceremony, picked up the teapot, poured himself a bowl of tea, and said with a smile:

“You’re a hard-working person. You’ll buy a cart sooner or later, it’s just a matter of time.”

Li Wu also sat down, but he shook his head solemnly:

"Master Li, I've been working my way up in the capital for almost ten years now."

I increasingly feel that if you're slow at one step, you'll be slow at every step.

If we're even a little late, it will take a lot of time later.

"Oh? Tell me."

"Master Li, you see, if it weren't for the cart you provided..."
The petty person wouldn't be able to seize the opportunity of thirteen years, nor would they make any money; they'd probably have to go home long ago.

Thirteen years?

Hearing this sensitive year,

Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat dazed; before he knew it, ten years had passed.

What opportunities are there in thirteen years?

Li Wu cautiously looked around, leaned closer, and whispered:
"You've forgotten, that year when Prime Minister Hu was arrested, tens of thousands were implicated, and ten thousand were killed."

At that time, I worked as a porter for the Guangming Trading Company in the north of the city. They monopolized all the carriage and horse business in the entire north of the city.

If anyone dares to interfere or take on the job themselves, they will be severely beaten at best, and at worst, they will lose their lives.

The manager of Guangming Trading Company was said to be a relative of the person in charge of the Hu family, and the government dared not interfere.

If it weren't for Lord Hongwu killing Hu Xiang, the Guangming Trading Company might still be dominating the north of the city to this day, and we would only be able to do manual labor, how could we dare to take on jobs ourselves.

At that time, Master Li gave me a carriage, and it just so happened to be a good time.
No one cared about the entire north of the city. It was during that time that I was able to establish myself in the north of the city, gain some reputation, and support my family.

If it had been a year or two later, all the work would have been taken, and I might have had to go home early too.

Zhu Yuanzhang listened silently, taking a sip of his tea, his face deep in thought.

Wen Cheng, who was standing to the side, had already lowered his head, wishing he didn't have ears.

"So, it's a good thing Hu Weiyong did the killing?"

"Of course!"

A glint flashed in Li Wu's eyes, but as if realizing something, he quickly lowered his voice:

"Master Li, this matter cannot be discussed outside. Even if Prime Minister Hu is a corrupt official..."

But officials protect each other, so you can't say anything.

"Humph"

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted lightly, a hint of mockery in his expression.
"The capital is in chaos right now, so your little shop has opened at just the right time."

Li Wu burst out laughing and slapped his thigh hard:
“Master Li, you don’t know, I was slow to realize what happened thirteen years ago, and it took me a long time to figure it out.”

This time, the scoundrel seized the opportunity and quickly opened for business.

To be honest, I wasn't planning on renting a shop at all, but so many people have been arrested these past few days that some jobs have become available.

When a petty person goes to a shop to take on a job, they are often refused because they cannot answer which shop it is.

After much deliberation, I decided to open a shop. It sounds better that way, and I might even be able to take on some work for the government offices.

A strange glint flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, and he chuckled softly:
"You're quite clever. So, according to you, this arrest was the right one?"

(End of this chapter)