Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 116 Business is booming
'Enamel Beauty Festival~'

'Purple Jade Filigree Rose Dew~'

'Snow falls on crystal and amber~'

'Enamel Bamboo Pattern Silver Firework~'

'Azure Sea Auspicious Self-Ringing Clock~'

'Azure Jade Moonlight Glazed Wall~'

Inside the Jubaolou restaurant, a group of guests who had received invitations were admiring the exquisite exhibits.

The Enamel Beauty Festival is a pink cosmetic box.

Since there was no plastic in this era, it was mistaken for enamel.

"Bijin-sai" is a type of red-glazed porcelain, used to describe the color of a powder box.

To put it simply, it's a bright red enamel box.

Purple Jade Filigree Rose Dew is a perfume.

Purple Jade refers to a dark-colored perfume bottle, filigree refers to a rotating cap with a floral pattern, and Rose Dew is the perfume inside.

"Snow Falls on Glass Red Amber" sounds beautiful, but it's actually just red wine in a glass bottle.

Red amber, a reddish-brown liquor.

The enamel bamboo pattern silver firework is actually a plastic lighter.

The Azure Sea Auspicious Clock is a large grandfather clock.

The "Azure Jade Moonlit Glass Wall" refers to the coating on the back, which was the same standing mirror that was previously sold to eunuchs.

There are also various other products, all with localized names.

Shopkeeper Tian Wen, with dark circles under his eyes, introduced the rare and precious items in his shop to his customers.

He didn't sleep a wink last night, spending all his time familiarizing himself with the goods in his shop.

It was the kind of thing that became more and more shocking and unbelievable the more you looked at it.

They're all treasures!
The owner must have been to the Heavenly Court and obtained these rare items from there.

That's really impressive, they're incredibly capable.

In the back hall, Lin Dao was receiving distinguished guests.

Old friends came to support us, and we also brought new friends.

"Zihou".

Qian Qianyi introduced him to an old man dressed in a Confucian robe, wearing a square turban, but with a face that looked like a thunder god: "This is Chairman Long Huamin."

During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, with the rise of the Maritime Silk Road, more and more missionaries came to China.

Among them, the very famous Matteo Ricci, Nicolas Trigault, and Royal Fernandes had already died young.

Johann Adam Schall von Bell was still serving as an official in the capital.

Long Huamin, from Sicily, is the president of the Society of Jesus.

He was preaching in the north when he happened to pass through Nanjing and happened to arrive just in time for the opening of Lin Dao's shop.

"Oh." Lin Dao smiled. "So it's Mr. Jinghua in person."

"I have some rare and precious items here. If you are interested, Mr. Essence, you may comment on them."

The Maritime Silk Road was very prosperous, and European pirates who went around the world to expand their colonies plundered countless precious metals.

Lin Dao was very interested in the gold they had.

Long Huamin, who has lived here for decades, speaks fluent Mandarin.

"I have already looked at the products in your store."

"The workmanship is excellent, and it's also very novel."

"However, I've noticed that many of these products bear traces of European craftsmanship. I wonder where these things come from?"

You can really blow!
Lin Dao scoffed inwardly, "I bought this wholesale from a small commodity market. What kind of European craftsmanship does it have?"

Seeing Lin Dao smile without saying a word, Long Huamin stopped asking and instead said, "I know some businessmen who frequently travel back and forth, and I can introduce them to come and discuss business."

"Thank you very much."

"Prepare a sample catalog later and give it to Mr. Jinghua."

After they finished talking, Ruan Dacheng introduced someone to Lin Dao.

"Zhao Shouzhong, the heir of the Marquis of Xincheng."

Upon hearing about the Marquis of Xincheng's residence, Lin Dao raised an eyebrow slightly.

The Ming Dynasty had many nobles, some of whom died from torture, some were killed by the Burmese while escorting the emperor to flee abroad, and some even surrendered wild boar skins.

Among the nobles who had been granted the title of Marquis of Xincheng, Zhao Zhilong fared the best.

When Dodo arrived outside the city, Zhao Zhilong led his officials out of the city to kneel and welcome him.

They offered up numerous treasures and beauties, and provided provisions and military supplies for wild boars to enjoy.

Zhao Zhilong himself rose through the ranks to become a scholar and then Minister of Rites.

After his death, he was given the posthumous title of Wen'an.

It can be said that their family enjoyed the wealth and glory of two dynasties.

"Master Lin," Zhao Shouzhong said, fanning himself with the arrogance of a superior, "you've acted unethically."

"Oh?"

Lin Dao's expression remained unchanged as he gently moved his fingers. "Didn't you ask?"

"That Dong Xiaowan is the top courtesan of the Meixiang Pavilion. You took her away without a word. Do you look down on the Marquis of Xincheng?"

Now you understand.

The backstage area of ​​that Meixiang Pavilion was actually their family's.

No wonder Zhao Zhilong was able to send so many beauties when Dodo's army entered the city.

"It was indeed my rashness in doing so."

Lin Dao nodded. "Send the money for your redemption immediately."

“Hey~~~” Zhao Shouzhong shook his fan. “The Marquis of Xincheng’s mansion is willing to befriend you.”

"I'll give Dong Xiaowan to you. Her indenture will be sent to you in a couple of days."

Lin Dao smiled, realizing that Lin Dao's unsolicited kindness was a sign of a much larger scheme.

Sure enough, Zhao Shouzhong then said, "From now on, you can put your business under the auspices of the Marquis of Xincheng."

"I will protect you in Jiangnan, and no one will dare to touch you."

That's quite a boast; they're trying to swallow up the entire industry right off the bat.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding crowd all paled.

The most embarrassed person was Ruan Dacheng, as this was not his intention.

Chen Zhenhui stepped forward and said, "I was unaware that the Marquis of Xincheng's mansion could be in charge of the Meixiang Pavilion."

"May I ask, Your Highness, what is the relationship between the Marquis of Xincheng's residence and that pleasure boat?"

Zhao Shouzhong's face immediately turned ugly.

It is common knowledge that some things can be done, and everyone is even aware of it.

However, it cannot be exposed to sunlight.

Once it's exposed, their reputation will be completely ruined.

"Your Highness doesn't know?" Chen Zhenhui feigned doubt. "In that case, I'll have to ask my relatives and friends."

The term "relatives and friends" here refers to intellectuals who have a voice in society.

If they stir things up and make a big fuss, the Marquis of Xincheng will lose face. "Hmph!"

Unable to save face, Zhao Shouzhong glared at Chen Zhenhui resentfully before turning to leave.

These nobles wouldn't provoke scholars unless they were driven to desperation.

After all, the scholars of the late Ming Dynasty were incredibly skilled at verbal sparring, to the point that even the emperor was forced to stop collecting taxes from them.

They'll only truly behave themselves after they've personally experienced how their verbal skills can't withstand the force of a wild boar's hide knife.

Lin Dao bowed to Chen Zhenhui and said, "Thank you."

"Zihou, there's no need to be so polite."

Chen Zhenhui shook the watch on her wrist. "Let's get together when we have time. I have many old friends and acquaintances. I'll introduce them to Zihou."

"When I have time," Lin Dao replied dismissively.

Most of Chen Zhenhui's old friends are trolls.

He's a master of verbal sparring, but never goes to the battlefield.

He took a box of Lianhua Qingwen capsules and handed it to Chen Zhenhui, saying, "If you have any headaches or fevers, you can try taking two capsules."

This is a reward for his previous words of help.

Lin Dao is a man of action; he always repays kindness and avenges wrongs!

After the business closed, everyone left.

Shopkeeper Tian Wen, beaming with satisfaction, brought the account books to report.

"Master, today's shipments total several thousand taels."

Lin Dao frowned as he flipped through the ledger. "What does this mean?"

Tian Wen asked, puzzled, "Huh?"

"I'm asking you, what does this bookkeeping mean?"

“Wealthy families keep accounts when they buy things,” Tian Wen quickly explained. “The accounts are settled one by one during the three major festivals.”

"This is the rule, it has always been so."

Lin Dao laughed in anger, thinking, "How is this any different from overdue payments in later generations?"

He desperately needed the money; how could he allow others to delay paying for his goods?

"I don't have that rule here."

Lin Dao immediately put down the ledger. "If you want to take the goods, you must pay in cash."

"And I don't accept money."

Tian Wen was dumbfounded by these words: "If you don't accept money, how do you settle the account?"

"The checkout area is over there in the back hall."

“Gemstones, gold, precious woods, medicinal herbs, and fragrances are all acceptable; you can handle the specific valuation and conversion yourself.”

Tian Wen was completely speechless.

Not only did they break the rules, they also refused to accept money.

Buying all sorts of things and then offering discounts—isn't that just pointless and unnecessary?

He couldn't understand and tried to persuade him repeatedly.

But the employer wouldn't listen, so he had no choice but to do as he was told.

Tian Wen dared not resign and leave.

The current business environment is not good, and it's really too difficult to find a shopkeeper job again.

He has a large family to support, and he needs this job.

However, the worry in my heart was hard to dispel.

'Will this business even have any customers in the future?'

As it turned out, there really were guests.

Although many households have expressed dissatisfaction with Jubaolou's payment methods.

But the goods here are really delicious.

Some people even engage in wholesale, purchasing in large quantities and then shipping them to places like Suzhou and Hangzhou for resale, making a fortune in the process.

The news caused Jubaolou's reputation to soar.

Not only did the wealthy and powerful continue to buy, but even middle-class families would come to watch the spectacle.

They couldn't afford a full-length mirror, but they could still buy a makeup mirror.

The wine in glass bottles isn't expensive either; buying a couple to keep at home makes you look good.

I might not dare to buy luxury goods, but I can easily afford two pounds of pure white sugar, a bag of cheap spices, and some novel snacks and trinkets.

The only thing I'm not happy about is that they don't accept silver or copper coins here.

Middle-class families couldn't afford medicinal herbs, rare fragrances, or precious gems, so they had to exchange them for gold.

This also led to a rapid shortage of gold in Jinling City.

The commercial tradition in the Jiangnan region is truly strong.

Soon, gold and various treasures from almost the entire Jiangnan region were rapidly converging on Jinling City.

The real big buyers are those in the same industry.

Outside the gate, there is a porridge kitchen.

Tens of thousands of refugees gathered on vast stretches of wasteland.

They either built tents out of rags or dug out dugouts to take shelter.

At first glance, it was full of potholes and craters.

The refugees from all over sat blankly on the ground, gazing at the city walls of Jinling in the distance.

They are not allowed to enter the city.

There were about a dozen sheds scattered around.

In each broken pot, a thin porridge-like liquid was being simmered, so thin that it reflected one's image.

Thousands of displaced people here rely on this porridge to survive.

You might feel terrible.

But in reality, even this kind of porridge for charity is not available in the north!

As soon as Lin Dao stepped off the carriage, he was greeted by a mixture of unpleasant odors.

Several large trucks passed by him, with rows of upright corpses placed on them.

The weather is hot, and the area must be cleared away, otherwise a plague will break out and threaten Jinling City.

There was no burial or anything like that.

The tattered straw mat covering their bodies was their last possession in this world.

"Master~"

The servants who accompanied the group, after eating their fill for a few days, were also in high spirits.

Upon seeing the arrival of the richly dressed people, the surrounding refugees' eyes lit up with hope.

They struggled to get out of bed, pleading that they would serve the master like slaves, just for a bite to eat.

As the news spread, more and more people gathered, frightening the yamen runners of Yingtian Prefecture, who hurriedly stepped forward to disperse them.

The scene before him reminded Lin Dao of the various desolate scenes he had witnessed in Yonghe Time and Space.

'What have the people of this land done wrong? Why do they always suffer such calamities?'

(End of this chapter)