Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 149 Shi Kefa's Visit to Jinling (Part 1)

Harbour City Jewelry Store.

The manager in the meeting room complained repeatedly.

"Mr. Lin, as you know, the economy has been sluggish lately."

"The business owners are all withdrawing their investments, and our store's profits are also declining."

"I understand." Lin Dao paused for a moment. "I want to lower the price."

The manager waved his hand repeatedly, saying, "Mr. Lin has misunderstood."

“We have been working together for so long, and your business in Africa is so large, you are the best partner for our store.”

"You can't possibly get a discount from me."

It's true that some large businesses bully their customers.

Suppliers like Kelindao, who frequently import large quantities of jewelry and jade from Africa, are partners of jewelry stores.

Although there are many gemstones and jades among them that Africa has no record of storing or mining, they still manage to acquire them.

Such supplier relationships need to be carefully maintained; how could prices be arbitrarily reduced?

They are building a century-old brand, not making quick money.

"That's it."

Lin asked in confusion, "Then what do you mean by this?"

"Mr. Lin," the manager gestured to the numerous jadeite, Tianhuang stone, and chicken-blood stone pieces Lin had brought, "you've brought too much; our store can't handle it all."

Compared to various gemstones, people in ancient times preferred all kinds of jade.

These things certainly have value, but the market size isn't as large as one might imagine.

After all, these things only have a market within this circle.

If you take it outside your circle, few people will recognize it, which shrinks the market invisibly.

In addition, the recent economic environment has been unfavorable, and the wealthy have tightened their belts, further shrinking the market.

"understood."

Lin Dao nodded. "How much can you accept?"

"At most half," the manager explained honestly. "Even if it's half, it will take a long time to sell."

"Actually, gold is still the best store of value right now."

"Not only are prices skyrocketing, but the wealthy also like to buy them to preserve their wealth."

"Lin Sheng has his own gold mine; mining more gold would be much more convenient than using these things."

"Okay." Lin Dao stood up. "Half it is. Settle the bill and make the payment as soon as possible."

He has been busy stockpiling supplies on a large scale lately.

Especially grain, cloth, medicine, ironware, etc.

In the Chongzhen era, the north had already been ravaged by natural disasters and man-made calamities.

The army marched north, not for fighting, but for disaster relief and efforts to restore production and daily life.

These supplies need to be prepared in advance as much as possible.

After leaving the jewelry store, Lin Dao took a taxi back to the hotel.

Looking at the various buildings lining both sides of the narrow street, he had an idea: "I should buy a house here. Staying in hotels all the time isn't a good idea."

Harbour City is an important node in his trade loop.

The import and export of goods here is large-scale, convenient, and fast.

Moreover, Harbour City harbors a vast amount of wealth and is an important shipping point for Lindao Time and Space Trade.

If you're wandering around the hotel all day and happen to run into a security camera, that could be a real problem.

Buying a house definitely makes things much more convenient.

"too expensive."

The only problem is that the housing prices here are too high.

As a career-oriented man, Lin Dao prefers to invest his money in his career rather than start enjoying life now.

'I'm not a jerk~ I really like Lei~'

His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts.

It was a call from my ex-girlfriend.

Lin Dao's lips curled into a smile, and he coughed lightly to answer the call.

"The baby's born." His ex-girlfriend's voice was slightly hoarse, full of exhaustion. "It's a boy, weighing seven pounds and six ounces."

"Great news!" Lin Dao said with a bright smile. "Congratulations!"

A woman with a son is a major liability in the marriage market.

If even the regent can't be tamed, which man would dare to take over?
Especially since his ex-girlfriend has high standards, she'll definitely go after a rich man.

But rich people aren't stupid; at most, they'll just try it but not buy it.

In the days to come, she will understand what suffering is.

"You."

A complaining voice came through the phone: "You didn't come with me for my prenatal checkups, and you didn't come with me when I gave birth. Didn't you say you would raise the baby after it was born?"

Lin Dao pursed his lips, his tone still gentle, "I'm very busy with work, I really can't find the time."

He then changed the subject, saying, "Congratulations! If you tell this good news to your domineering CEO, you'll be able to marry into a wealthy family."

The ex-girlfriend on the other end was clearly in high spirits: "I will definitely succeed!"

She didn't forget Lin Dao's encouragement: "When the time comes, I'll ask him to give you a raise."

"Thank you very much. I look forward to your wedding."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Dao spat, "Idiot, your domineering CEO is almost bankrupt!"

With Su Tongtong acting as an inside man, Lin Dao has been constantly thwarting the domineering CEO's business dealings.

Many times, even if it means losing money, we'll still mess with him and drag him down with us.

The popularity reached its peak when the domineering CEO took a desperate gamble and shifted from ready-made clothing to exporting cotton fabric.

In the Chongzhen era, Lin Dao confiscated a large amount of cotton cloth.

They directly launched a price war, dragging down the domineering CEO's company.

According to news from Su Tongtong, the domineering CEO's mother has lost control, the company's shareholders have started auditing the accounts, and it's estimated that the company won't last much longer and will have to dissolve.

Without the company and the wealth, the domineering CEO who played around during his studies abroad will finally be exposed for who he really is.

In high spirits, Lin Dao instructed the driver to take him to Mingdu Restaurant for a nice meal.

The Chongzhen era.

North of Jinling City, at Yanziji Ferry.

The official boat, with its blue flag bearing a red sun and a yellow moon, slowly approached the pier.

Standing on the deck at the bow of the ship, Shi Kefa looked at the city of Jinling getting closer and closer, feeling melancholy.

Last year, when I passed through this place, I met up with some friends in the city and had a great time eating, drinking and having fun.

Unexpectedly, when I returned this time, the king on the city wall had changed.

He still finds it hard to believe. How could such a powerful secondary capital, with so many troops and so many people, have been lost?
The eunuch led several Imperial Guards forward and said, "Governor Shi, let's go."

Composing himself, Shi Kefa straightened his official robes and stepped off the boat with his entourage.

The ferry crossing was filled with armored soldiers who looked wary.

Qian Qianyi, whose face looked rather grim, sighed and stepped forward to greet him.

“My virtuous younger brother Xianzhi.”

Qian Qianyi stepped forward to greet him, saying, "How have you been?"

Looking at the official robes of the Ming Dynasty he was wearing, Shi Kefa asked with a strange expression, "Mr. Muzhai, are you in Cao's camp but your heart is with Han?"

"Be careful what you say, be careful what you say~"

Qian Qianyi quickly waved his hand, "I hope my brother will spare me some face."

He had no choice but to wear Ming Dynasty official robes.

Lin Dao focused all his energy on the military and didn't pay any attention to these things at all.

Even the government offices set up in various places wore military uniforms.

Qian Qianyi and others not only did not hold any specific official positions, but they also did not even have the clothes of the new dynasty.

Being ordered to welcome Shi Kefa was also a major headache for him.

He's a man who cares about his reputation; for him to side with a rebel is something that doesn't sound good.
Shi Kefa, his gaze slightly disdainful, sighed softly, "Thank you for welcoming me, Mr. Muzhai. Let's go."

He came to offer appeasement.

Emperor Chongzhen kept urging him every three days to retake Nanjing.

This is the opposite of what Zhao Gou did hundreds of years ago, when he issued twelve imperial edicts in succession.

Unfortunately, Shi Kefa was not Yue Fei, nor did he have the Yue Family Army under his command.

His forces, including newly recruited soldiers, numbered over ten thousand.

However, most of them were new recruits, and they lacked both food and pay.

It's already a blessing if they can maintain the status quo and not plunder the local area.

With such limited strength, how could they possibly be a match for Lin Dao, who had defeated the Jurchen army?

Even after Emperor Chongzhen sent Lu Jiude and Huang Degong to provide assistance, it was still not enough.

If a war is unwinnable, then according to the tradition of the Ming Dynasty, appeasement should be the course of action.

Shi Kefa repeatedly submitted memorials advocating for appeasement, and finally obtained the emperor's approval.

He came here in person to recruit Lin Dao.

“Brother Xianzhi, please.”

"Please~~~"

Shi Kefa only brought his entourage, along with the eunuchs and Imperial Guards responsible for monitoring him.

The two rode together in a carriage, entering Guanyin Gate at the foot of Guanyin Mountain.

Afterwards, walk along Xiaoling Mausoleum and enter the inner city through Taiping Gate.

Throughout the journey, Shi Kefa carefully observed his surroundings, especially the people he encountered.

"Mr. Muzhai".

Shi Kefa, lifting the carriage curtain, asked in confusion, "Why are there so many new clothes among the people of the city?"

Qian Qianyi glanced at it and replied with a smile, "This was sent by the Marshal."

"The commander felt that many families lacked clothing and food, so he distributed cloth to each household according to their household registration."

"Half a bolt for the child, and one bolt for each adult."

"The commander-in-chief has said beforehand that the clothes must not be sold, but only made for the family."

Shi Kefa was greatly surprised: "There are actually such traitors in the world?!"

No wonder he couldn't accept it.

I've only ever heard of rebels looting everywhere, their bodies draped in silk and satin.

I've never heard of any rebel giving benefits to the people.

This is no rebel, he's clearly a great philanthropist.

Qian Qianyi chuckled awkwardly and whispered a reminder, "Brother Xianzhi, be careful what you say."

"It was I who misspoke."

Shi Kefa composed himself, glanced at the street not far away, and saw people queuing in front of a grain store. He immediately instructed the driver.

"parking."

He jumped out of the carriage, picked up his official robe, and headed towards the grain store.

The people in line were quite surprised to see him coming.

Some ordinary people even instinctively wanted to bow.

But they quickly realized that this was no longer the Ming Dynasty's territory.

Shi Kefa ignored them, cut in line, and went to the grain seller to ask, "How much is the grain?"

The waiter, who was filling a customer's bag with grain, responded without even looking up.

"Get in line to buy food!"

"Those who don't queue, watch out for a stick!"

Shi Kefa was so angry he laughed.

How dare a mere shop assistant speak to me like that?

“My virtuous younger brother Xianzhi.”

Qian Qianyi, who had hurriedly caught up, grabbed him and pulled him aside.

"Don't do that."

"The king has set a rule that you have to queue to buy things."

"If you don't stop, and the patrolmen see you, you'll get a beating."

Shi Kefa wasn't interested in any of that; he just wanted to know what the price of grain was in Nanjing.

"look by youself."

Qian Qianyi reached out and pointed to the wooden sign hanging in front of the shop.

Shi Kefa looked over and saw that it was written on the wooden sign.

Today's grain prices.

'White rice, sixty coins per dou (a unit of dry measure).'

'Beans, forty coins per bushel.'

Wheat, fifty coins per bushel.

'Potatoes, three hundred coins per bushel.'

Faced with this grain price, Shi Kefa shook his head.

He exclaimed in shock, "How is this possible!?"

(End of this chapter)