Daiyu of the Red Chamber raised a cat

There are countless large and small salt merchants in Yangzhou, which can be roughly divided into four categories: nest merchants, cloud merchants, field merchants, and general merchants. Among them, the general merchants are the most powerful and have the closest contacts with the government.

These general merchants are all well-off, with assets of at least one million or more.Since ancient times, power and power have been inseparable. With money, these rich families want to seek some political preferential treatment, so they have more contacts with the government.Whenever the national treasury is empty and there are major expenses, such as military expenses, disaster relief, and major projects of the court, etc., the salt merchants will generously donate their money, and the court often rewards them with official titles and titles.Although it is only a false position, but he is also an official. He finally got rid of his status as a merchant, and his descendants can take scientific examinations and become officials. Compared with ordinary merchants, it is a great honor.

You must know that businessmen, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen are at the bottom of the list. Once you become a businessman, you will inevitably be discriminated against in society.No matter how rich they are, some luxurious clothes and jewelry cannot be worn, and their descendants cannot study and take imperial examinations to enter official careers.

But those big merchant families who were awarded official titles, that is, the so-called imperial merchants, were not the same. Although they were still merchants, they had already lost their merchant status and belonged to the family of scholars, so there were no such restrictions.

It's just that, although the word "Emperor" is hung, in the final analysis, he is still a businessman who is doing business, and those decent families still look down on such people.

Because of the relationship between officials and merchants, the government often entrusts the general merchant to collect the salt tax money on its behalf whenever it is time to distribute salt.

There are four general merchants in Yangzhou City, namely the Gao family, the Qin family, the Wu family, and the Chu family.The Gao family who sent the pearls is the head of Yangzhou salt merchants, and their strength is also second to none among the four general merchants.Although the magistrate is also surnamed Gao, the two Gaos are not of the same family.The current head of the Gao family is Mr. Gao, who is in his seventies this year. I heard that he has been ill in bed for several months. His children and grandchildren are all blushing and thick-headed when it comes to who will inherit the family property. Willing to let it go, there are signs of falling apart.

The person who gave the pearl was Gao Chongguang, the second master of the Gao family. He was over forty years old and the direct son of Master Gao. He was frivolous, ignorant, and a standard dude.He also has an elder brother Gao Chongcai who was a concubine. Although his talent cannot be compared with that of Master Gao, he is more capable than the second master who is illiterate and only knows how to linger in the alley of fireworks and wine.

When Mr. Gao was seriously ill, the salt farm of Gao's family was watched by this uncle.

Although there is a difference between the concubine and concubine, according to the normal patriarchal system, the family business should be inherited by the concubine, and the concubine can only share part of the property and go out to establish his own family.But who is willing to let go of the sweetness you get?Even if the name is not right and the word is not right, Gao Chongcai is still reluctant to let go of the power he has acquired even if he is pointed at his nose by some honest gentlemen.Gao Chongguang was spoiled and raised by Mrs. Gao when he was a child, and he developed a violent, irritable and arrogant personality. He thought he was his son, and never took this brother-in-law seriously.

In this way, no one would accept anyone, and no one would be disadvantaged. Once they came and went, the Gao family became lively.

There are countless large and small salt merchants in Yangzhou City, but there are only these four general merchants.Mr. Gao is also a tough one. In the past, relying on his family's power, he ignored the other three general merchants and tried his best to suppress them. The general merchants did not have a good life, and those small salt merchants did not. Early days.

Now that Mr. Gao is dying, his descendants are all incompetent, and the Gao family is in decline. The other three families have already moved their minds and wanted to replace them. thoughts.

Which one will be the general merchant and which one will be the retail merchant is closely related to the property power of each family, but in the final analysis it is the Yanzheng Yamen that plays a decisive role.

After all, without the approval of the Yanzheng Yamen, no matter how fierce and furious they fought, it would be in vain.

Therefore, recently these large and small salt merchants all want to follow Lin Ruhai's path, even if they can't follow Lin Ruhai's path, they will try their best to follow Lin Ruhai's subordinates' path.Lin Ruhai is in charge of the Jiangnan Salt Administration, a word can make a family of wealthy people rise to a higher level, even if it is just to show up with Lin Ruhai and leave a name, let him know that such a person exists, and there will be many benefits in terms of salt transportation .

Putting down the pearl box, Lin Ruhai couldn't help but shook his head and smiled, the two brothers of the Gao family are really, should we say they are stupid or weak-minded.At this time, the two of them may not be able to keep the position of the Gao family if they unite together. Not only do these two people not unite, but they want to fight to the death first. Isn't this rushing to expose their flaws to others?

Those salt merchants who are not blood-sharp and want to get into the ranks of the general merchants, can they let this great opportunity pass?They didn't want to suffer for themselves, but the final result was that the Gao family was overthrown and lost their leadership position in Yangzhou City.

Although the two brothers of the Gao family, Lin Ruhai, didn't have much contact with each other, they knew something about them, and they were both useless people.The Lianghuai salt industry is well developed, and there are countless large and small salt merchants. It is impossible for the imperial court to regulate and guide them one by one, but a medium is needed to coordinate them. The general merchant acts as a bridge between the imperial court and the salt merchants.

This bridge is very important, directly related to the national economy and the people's livelihood; too strong will not work, if the general merchants are too strong, the government will not be able to control them and will be constrained by them; If the situation is huge, it will become a trend that cannot be lost; if it is too greedy, it will not work. The general merchants will increase the price of salt if they are greedy, and the price of salt will rise.

But the current situation is that once Master Gao is gone, and the Gao family has no children who can support the lintel, this bridge will appear too weak, and the two brothers of the Gao family are too greedy.

For the salt merchants' open and secret struggles, Lin Ruhai saw it in his eyes, and he was also thinking in his heart. The Holy Majesty entrusted him with such an important matter, and he must handle it properly.

"Daddy, I'm just celebrating my birthday. Isn't it too grand for the Gao family to present such a box of pearls?"

Daiyu asked a little anxiously, "Although these people give gifts on New Year's Day even worse than this, but Dad also said that the gifts received on the second birthday and the third festival are not considered bribes, besides, they have already written a secret report. Your Majesty, I donated all the proceeds from the annual gift to the national treasury, so it doesn't matter. But now it's just my 12th birthday. I felt a little terrified in my heart. People know, don't they say it's about dad?

"

Lin Ruhai waved his hand, and said, "It's okay, it's a courtesy, and I'll just send it back when I have a chance." As he spoke, he thought to himself that the gift from the boss of the Gao family would probably arrive soon.Unexpectedly, after a while, someone came to report that the Gao family gave gifts again, this time it was the uncle of the Gao family.

Daiyu glanced at Lin Ruhai, stared at him and pouted, spreading her hands helplessly.

Lin Ruhai knew that he was impatient with socializing. These businessmen like to give gifts when they have nothing to do. Usually, they would find some messy names to give away when they don’t have a clear purpose. What’s more, it’s their daughter’s birthday this time. Salt merchants, big and small, have to give them away one by one, so that people will not be bored to death by then.

Therefore, he called Li Feng's wife and said: "If someone comes to give a gift, you bring a few people to collect it, collect the bill and send it to the girl for review. You don't have to go back and forth with the girl one by one. Going back and forth, the girl is exhausted after dealing with these things, how can she maintain her health?"

Li Feng's daughter-in-law hurriedly bowed and said: "Yes, this old slave has made a note. It was the old slave who was negligent and made the girl tired, but the master was thoughtful. No wonder the old slave saw that the girl's complexion has improved a lot these days, and she is also very tired." If you are fat, whoever has such a loving father will have to eat fat?"

Lin Ruhai was very happy when he said this, he twisted his beard and smiled, and looked at Daiyu seriously:

"It's a bit fatter, the key is to look good, the water and soil in the south of the Yangtze River support people!"

Having said that, all the servants and maids in the room couldn't help looking at Daiyu, Daiyu felt a little embarrassed, she turned her head and pouted, "Daddy!" Lin Ruhai laughed so hard that he couldn't see his teeth, Daiyu Yu snorted slightly, and looked at the maidservants: "I know you're going to see my jokes, girls, so why don't you all go down!" The pouting frowns, annoyed and groaned, very charming and charming, cute Zhou Hang With blood all over his face, he almost jumped up and took a bite on that powdery peach cheek.

Lin Ruhai laughed, and the maids all pursed their lips and retreated.

"Meow~" Zhou Hang called out, jumped onto Daiyu's lap, and rubbed the back of Daiyu's hand with the tips of his ears.The latter reached out to grab the kitten, put the kitten away, dragged the furry little butt with one hand, stretched out the other hand, and rubbed the little head with the palm of his hand.

The kitten grabbed Lin Daiyu's clothes and climbed up, finally climbed onto the other's shoulder, stretched out its pink and tender tongue, and licked the pink and tender cheek that Xiao had been thinking about for a long time.

Daiyu glared at the kitten, not very angry, but with a slight warning in her eyes.

Be quiet, I'll be really angry if you make trouble again!

Zhou Hang shrunk his neck and stared at the slightly pouting... pink cherry lips, and his eyes were full of struggles. If he could kiss on them, he would be happier than being a god...

After a long while, he tilted his head, rubbed and rubbed to please, and compromised.

Sister Lin, I was wrong, don't be angry.

Lin Ruhai's heart was sour and relieved seeing the one person and one cat making eye contact as if no one was watching.The sour thing is that the daughter's intimate behavior was given to a kitten instead of her own father, which made him a little jealous; the good news is that although the daughter is a bit arrogant, fortunately, there is still a little life that can walk into her In my heart, it is more or less a kind of comfort.

No wonder he sent her daughter to the capital, made her suffer so much, and missed her most important growth process. When her daughter was in the most difficult time, it was not him, the father, who was by her side, sheltering her from the wind and rain, listening She narrated her thoughts, alas, she deserved to be replaced by this kitten!

Daiyu hugged the kitten for a while, and served Lin Ruhai to drink tea, because she asked: "How is Daddy, do you feel lighter recently?"

Lin Ruhai said that she looked better, but she also felt that Lin Ruhai looked better, otherwise, her cheeks became more rosy, and she looked more energetic, which must be the effect of the spiritual spring water.

The author has something to say:

Sorry, little angels, it has been off for many days, Mo Mo apologizes~

I have been ill for a while, and I have been recovering for many days. In addition, my work is not satisfactory, and I am not in the mood and have no energy to type.Now that I have recovered from my illness and quit my job, I don't plan to look for a job for the time being (within a month or two), so let's take a rest first.At present, I am exercising and exercising, and adjust my work and rest time.

I may have seen it, and in addition to the irregular work and rest in the past two years, I often fell ill, either with colds and fevers or stomach pains and diarrhea.This time I had a cold and gastroenteritis, and I vomited after eating. For two days, I barely ate anything and just drank some water. It really tossed me.

Alas, I dare not stay up late in the future~