bookrandom Chapter 151 Returning to Yueming Prefecture
Chapter 151 Returning to Yueming Prefecture
[The prices at which Master Cui purchased moisturizing oil and other items in the last paragraph have been changed!]
Two-fifths of the price?
Gu Lin picked up the teacup, his fingers gently rubbing the delicate surface of the cup. He neither immediately agreed nor refused.
Upon hearing this, Cui Jianda continued, "After I purchase the moisturizing oil and other items from Zhenyulou, I will not sell them in the capital and steal Zhenyulou's business. Our Cui family has a caravan that will transport these items to shops in other prefectures for sale."
Taking a sip of tea, Gu Lin pursed his lips, placed the teacup on the table, raised his head slightly, and smiled, saying, "I understand what Third Master Cui means. I can provide the fragrant dew and fragrant milk, but the production of the moisturizing oil is limited, and I'm afraid I can't supply it in the short term."
Seeing that the other party had relented, Cui Jianda knew that the deal was halfway done, but before he could relax, he heard the second half of Gu Lin's words.
He frowned slightly, twirling the thumb ring on his thumb. After a moment, he asked, "Could Boss Gu provide the Cui family with one hundred bottles of moisturizing oil every month?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Lin looked troubled. He shook his head slightly and said helplessly, "To be honest, the moisturizing oil at Zhenyulou is now sold in limited quantities. Even the wives and husbands of high-ranking officials can only buy two bottles of moisturizing oil each."
“One hundred bottles of moisturizing oil is far too much,” Gu Lin said to Cui Jianda. “If we supply one hundred bottles of moisturizing oil to the Cui family, our Zhenyulou will be short of goods.”
At this point, Gu Lin paused for a moment, then looked up at Cui Jianda and said, "How about thirty bottles a month?"
The other party immediately reduced the number of bottles of moisturizing oil from one hundred to thirty. Cui Jianda stopped turning the ring on his finger, and a hint of helplessness appeared on his face.
While shaking his head, Cui Jianda said to Gu Lin, "I don't mean to make things difficult for Boss Gu, but thirty bottles are too few. How about adding fifty more bottles of moisturizing oil? I'll buy them at the original price."
Gu Lin pondered for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly, as if he was hesitant and conflicted, looking extremely troubled.
Cui Jianda did not suspect that the other party was deliberately making things difficult. He had heard of the reputation of Zhenyulou skin oil, which was always snapped up by wives and husbands whenever it was put on the shelves.
However, Cui Jianda saw a huge business opportunity in the moisturizing oil.
He didn't back down easily, but instead added fuel to the fire, saying, "Boss Gu, think about it. It doesn't matter who you sell this moisturizing oil to. If you sell it to our Cui family, and our Cui family then distributes it to various prefectures and cities, wouldn't your Zhenyulou's reputation become famous throughout the country?"
"Once this reputation is established, a steady stream of customers and merchants will come knocking on the door. At that time, won't Boss Gu be able to live off his wealth?"
Seemingly moved by Cui Jianda's words, Gu Lin's brows twitched, and his tone softened. "Although fifty bottles of moisturizing oil already exceeds the monthly production of the craftsmen, Third Master Cui is different from others. He is honest and straightforward, and he treats me and my nephew with sincerity. So, fifty bottles of moisturizing oil it is!"
"We became friends through a fight," Gu Lin replied with a smile, echoing Cui Jianda's earlier words.
Cui Jianda laughed twice, picked up a teacup and drank tea instead of wine, then said to Gu Lin, "That's excellent. I hope to have a pleasant cooperation with Boss Gu!"
Gu Lin smiled and picked up the teacup in return.
After finishing his business meeting with Cui Jianda, Gu Lin returned to Zhenyulou by car.
Upon seeing him, the waiter stepped forward and whispered, "Master, Madam Fang has arrived."
Gu Lin nodded slightly, then went upstairs to the second floor.
Mrs. Fang was sitting by the window. When she saw him come up, a slight smile appeared on her fair face, which had become a little plumper: "You've arrived."
As Gu Lin walked over, he said, "Just now, the Third Master of the Cui family invited me to discuss business. He wants to purchase goods from Zhenyulou and sell them to other prefectures."
"...The Cui family..."
Upon hearing this, Madam Fang's beautiful face showed a thoughtful expression. Then, she looked up at Gu Lin and asked, "You agreed to his request?"
Gu Lin sat down and nodded: "I agreed to the deal because I saw that Master Cui offered generous terms and that the products would not be sold in the capital."
Gu Lin had no intention of hiding this from Madam Fang. Zhenyulou was not just his business; Madam Fang also had a share in it. Moreover, Madam Fang had made a significant contribution to Zhenyulou's ability to establish itself in the capital in such a short time. She not only had the right to know about the Cui family's business, but she would also have the right to know about everything that happened to her in the future.
Madam Fang gently placed her hand on her belly and stroked it back and forth. Then, she raised her head slightly to look at Gu Lin, a smile appearing on her lips, and said, "You did the right thing. The Cui family is not an ordinary merchant family. Their main branch is the branch of General Cui Ran, the General of the Northern Garrison. Because the General of the Northern Garrison hates evil and cannot tolerate any dishonesty, their family has always been trustworthy in business. Since their family has personally stated that they will not compete with Zhenyulou for business, then it is true."
He was fiercely opposed to evil and could not tolerate any injustice. How could he possibly condone his clansmen running a gambling den? Gu Lin couldn't help but voice his thoughts.
Mrs. Fang chuckled upon hearing this, but she liked Gu Lin's tactful yet straightforward nature.
She turned her gaze and gestured to the maid beside her. Upon receiving the instruction, the maid immediately walked towards the second-floor staircase. After a moment, Madam Fang spoke to Gu Lin, saying, "The Great General of the North has guarded the borders of the Great Qian for generations, resisting the invasion of the Northern Barbarians into the territory of the Great Qian."
"but"
Madam Fang said in a low voice, "Even a clever woman can't cook without rice. The imperial army's grain is not delivered to the border on time. If the Cui family doesn't acquire some property of their own, let alone defend against the enemy, the Zhenbei Army will have a problem surviving."
Madam Fang stopped there, but those few words were enough to stir up a storm in Gu Lin's heart.
He never imagined that these officials would not only embezzle disaster relief grain, but also tamper with military rations.
With the matter closed, the two fell silent for a moment. A cool breeze blew in through the window. Gu Lin noticed that the other woman was dressed lightly, so he got up and closed the wooden window. When Madam Fang saw this, she raised her eyes slightly, her previously indifferent expression now showing a hint of a smile.
Back at his seat, Gu Lin poured a glass of warm water for the other woman. Then, he said to the other woman, "Because of the opening of the new store, customers have flocked in. Zhenyulou has made a lot of money in the past two weeks. In a little while, sister, please send someone to collect the dividends first, so that you won't miss out on your dividends when I go back to my hometown to visit my relatives."
Hearing Gu Lin's words, Madam Fang put down the warm water from her lips. She looked slightly surprised and asked, "The appointments for this year's newly appointed Jinshi have come down so quickly. Are they ready to go back to their hometowns to visit their families?"
This was also unexpected by Gu Lin.
The day before yesterday, on the eve of the housewarming banquet, Zheng Hao returned from his duty at the Hanlin Academy and told him that the Ministry of Personnel had already arranged the appointments of all the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and that they would be able to return to Yueming Prefecture in a few days.
The round trip between the capital and Yueming Prefecture would take about a month, so before leaving, Gu Lin tried his best to arrange everything, leaving the trivial matters to his subordinates.
However, with Madam Fang in charge at Zhenyu Tower, Gu Lin wasn't too worried.
He instructed Madam Fang, "Before I return to my hometown to visit my family, I will arrange everything. If you have time, please come and sit at Zhenyulou. If you are not available, the manager of Zhenyulou will come to you if he encounters any difficult decisions."
Gu Lin said, "I'll be troubling you for the next few days."
Mrs. Fang waved her hand dismissively and said, "Alright."
Before the Ministry of Personnel's appointment was announced, Gu Lin was always thinking about returning to Yueming Prefecture, feeling that each day was like an eternity. But after embarking on the journey back to Yueming Prefecture, Gu Lin suddenly realized that more than half a year had passed since he came to the capital.
Before setting off, they bid farewell to Zhen Cheng, Zhen Yuan, and the others who came to see them off.
After saying a few words to them, Gu Lin stepped back, giving them space to talk.
After saying goodbye with words of farewell, Peng Zhizhi looked at Zhen Cheng, who had a cold expression and a paler complexion than before, and said with regret, "I thought the four of us would gather in the capital in the future, but I didn't expect Brother Zhen Cheng to request to be transferred to a remote place, such as Youzhou."
"After this parting, I wonder when the four of us will be able to reunite again," Peng Zhizhi sighed softly.
Unlike Zhen Cheng and Zhen Yuan, who were sent to other prefectures with Prefect Zhen and whose hometowns were in other prefectures, Peng Zhizhi and Zheng Hao were both from Yueming Prefecture. Therefore, the two of them went home together to visit their relatives.
Zhen Yuan said in a sharp tone, "My own brother, who can be abandoned by his elder brother so easily, how could he care about his friends?"
Zhen Yuan, as the younger brother, could not understand why Zhen Cheng would give up the opportunity to become a probationary official and instead volunteer to take up a post in Youzhou.
When Zhen Yuan learned of the appointment to be transferred to Youzhou, he realized that his elder brother had been keeping it a secret from him all along, unwilling to stay in the capital and determined to be transferred to a post outside the capital.
Faced with the rebukes of his uncle and grandfather, the elder brother was unwilling to back down.
I really don't know how my brother could be so bewitched.
Zhen Cheng's bloodless lips parted, and he uttered a rare tender word, saying, "In the future, we will definitely meet again in the capital."
Being sent to the capital was his way of quickly accumulating political achievements. If he wanted to defy the family's arranged marriage to marry the person he loved, the first step was to step out of the sphere of influence of his family and be free from anyone's control; otherwise, it would all be empty talk.
Zhen Cheng's gaze swept over the young man in the distance, and then he met Zheng Hao's eyes. After a moment, Zhen Cheng said, "I hope Brother Zheng's wish will be fulfilled."
Zheng Hao remained expressionless and looked back at him, saying, "May Brother Zhen Cheng's wishes come true."
Then, after a moment of contemplation, he said, "No matter what it is, having it by your side is what gives you the most peace of mind."
Zhen Cheng paused slightly, his fingertips twitching slightly.
Seeing the two exchanging riddles, Peng Zhizhi, who was standing to the side, said with dissatisfaction, "Brother Zheng, Brother Zhen Cheng, what are you talking about?"
Zheng Hao and Zhen Cheng did not answer.
Zheng Hao cupped his hands slightly and said goodbye, "Take care, everyone. We're leaving now."
Peng Zhizhi bid farewell together.
A young man not far away saw the two approaching and asked, "Have you finished saying goodbye?"
Zheng Hao nodded, reached out and helped the other person into the carriage. After the two were seated in the carriage, the carriage began to move.
Gu Lin sat opposite Zheng Hao and saw his usual calm face. He thought about Zhen Cheng's upcoming transfer to another post. For Zheng Hao, Zhen Cheng was a good friend who would be away for several years and he must be very sad.
Gu Lin pondered for a moment, then comforted him, "Don't be sad. With Zhen Cheng's abilities, it will only take a few years for him to be promoted and return to the capital. You will be able to meet again soon, and you won't be separated for too long."
Zheng Hao, who was deep in thought about the matter entrusted to him by Emperor Jian'an, was slightly taken aback when he heard the young man in front of him comforting him. His furrowed brows relaxed.
He said to Gu Lin, "All good things must come to an end. Although I am friends with Brother Zhen Cheng and others, we have our own aspirations and pursuits. As friends, we respect each other's wishes and have never thought of spending every day together."
At this point, Zheng Hao paused for a moment, then continued, "They are different from Uncle Gu. Friends and colleagues are, after all, outsiders. Uncle Gu is like family to me. As long as Uncle Gu doesn't leave me, that's enough."
Gu Lin originally wanted to comfort him, but he didn't expect Zheng Hao to be so open-minded. However, after hearing the latter part of Zheng Hao's words, Gu Lin felt that Zheng Hao was still a bit childish.
He smiled with a slight sigh and said, "Even family members can't always be with each other. The closest relationship is with your spouse. When you get married, you will have someone who will accompany you through thick and thin, through life and death."
Zheng Hao's dark eyes suddenly turned deep, and he said, "Uncle Gu, how do you know that the other person isn't someone who is like birds in the same forest, who will fly away when disaster strikes?"
Most couples can share the good times but not the bad.
Gu Lin said, "Judging from your judgment of people, the woman you marry must be of excellent character."
Upon hearing this, the dark clouds in Zheng Hao's eyes dissipated, his cold expression softened, and he smiled, "Uncle Gu is right."
The person he set his sights on was none other than the kindest and most virtuous person in the world.
As summer approached, the ice on the rivers had already melted. Gu Lin and his party traveled by carriage to the riverbank in the capital and then took a boat back to Yueming Prefecture.
After nearly ten days, they finally arrived at Yueming Prefecture. Zheng Hao helped the young man, who was feeling seasick and had a pale face, out of the boat house. It was almost evening, and the sunlight on the horizon was orange-red. Zheng Hao led Gu Lin to the deck.
Pointing to the shore not far away, Zheng Hao turned his head slightly to Gu Lin and said, "Uncle Gu, that's Yueming Prefecture over there."
Following the direction the other person was pointing, Gu Lin's expression relaxed slightly. He felt that the air was much fresher, and the chest tightness he had been feeling for days had eased a bit.
Before boarding the boat, Gu Lin never expected that he would get seasick. As soon as he boarded the boat and it started moving, Gu Lin became extremely seasick and vomited uncontrollably. He could only lie listlessly in the room.
Fortunately, they brought six servants with them when they left the capital, including two young men. Otherwise, Peng Zhizhi and Zheng Hao, who were surrounded by men, would not have known where to find people to take care of Gu Lin.
When the ship reached the shore, Zheng Hao and Peng Zhizhi's servants surrounded the three of them, walking in front to clear the way. Only after Gu Lin disembarked and stepped onto the ground did he feel as if he had gone from the clouds to reality.
The servants in Peng Zhizhi's household were already waiting on the shore. Upon seeing Peng Zhizhi, they immediately came to greet him.
Seeing that no one from the Zheng family had arrived yet, Peng Zhizhi said, "Shall I escort Brother Zheng and Uncle Gu into the city together?"
Zheng Hao turned his head slightly and saw that Uncle Gu, who was being supported by two young men, still looked unwell. Just as he was about to agree, a voice came from not far away: "Uncle Gu".