Chapter 320: Luoyang flowers are like brocade

"It's one thing for an unmarried girl to meddle in the inn's business, but now she's even obtaining strange goods from the North of unknown origin and selling them privately. Although it's said to be for her own private savings, if it spreads, what kind of decorum is that? My Fu family has been a family of poetry and etiquette for generations; how can we engage in such lowly merchant business?"

Third Master Fu sneered in his heart. Goods of unknown origin? They are all pretending to be stupid here! I'm afraid they have been eyeing this piece of meat for a long time!

Although he himself hadn't handled this business, it was ultimately in his daughter's hands, which was better than giving it to this bunch of old immortals.

Moreover, the phrase "lowly merchant business" was even more laughable. Among us scholar-gentry, which family doesn't do business?

It's just that it looks good on the surface, all showing an appearance of a scholarly family, thinking that merchants chasing profit are not presentable.

Privately, they are wishing they could earn more money, almost sleeping on silver as misers!

Another clan elder also said: "Third Brother, you dote on her because she is frail and gave her an inn to manage to relieve her boredom; we have nothing to say. But now she is using the inn to have close dealings with that Northern merchant, this... is feared to attract gossip."

These words were half-true and half-false. In their view, the women in the family were tools for marriage, and reputation was naturally very important, but the ultimate goal was still eyeing the business in Fu Ruyan's hands.

Third Master Fu held his tea, feeling a bit annoyed by what was said. If Fu Ruyan had obediently handed over the business, he wouldn't have to deal with these people today!

The profit of this business was frighteningly high; after all, the Yan Family was a lesson from the past.

His original intention was to wait for his daughter to hit a wall and then take over smoothly, which would both preserve the father-daughter relationship and gain real benefits.

He didn't expect Fu Ruyan to be abnormally persistent, and he couldn't force her; if it spread that he, Third Master Fu, snatched his daughter's business, how could he face people?

"What the uncles and brothers said, how could I not know?"

Third Master Fu put down his teacup and sighed, "It's just that this girl has a stubborn temper and a frail body. If I forcibly obstruct her, I fear she will harbor depression in her heart and hurt her body instead. But I have been keeping an eye on this matter, and when the time comes, if there is anything improper, or if she is unable to handle it, it must be handed over to the clan for disposal.

For now, let her be; consider it as letting her relax. I have also sent people to keep an eye on that Jiang Shi; if he has any ulterior motives, I will certainly not be lenient."

Anyway, if the work isn't in my daughter's hands, it must be in mine; you bunch of old things don't even think about getting your hands on it.

Several clan elders looked at each other. They didn't expect Third Master Fu to withstand the pressure to speak for Fu Ruyan; they were father and daughter after all, and they were of one mind!

Immediately, they could only say: "Since that's the case, you keep a close eye on Ruyan's side, and by the way, investigate the background of that merchant Jiang Shi."

Third Master Fu was even more disdainful. Are they investigating the other party's background because they want to end this business at the source?

If you really end it, then you will have to be a step lower than me in the clan in the future; after all, you didn't do this matter righteously, and others wouldn't dare to speak for you.

Just by this, I can eat you for a lifetime!

The Fu family members with different thoughts dispersed. The clan elders didn't achieve their goal, and Third Master Fu withstood the pressure for his daughter, but he was still thinking about this business in his heart.

Jiang Jinshi, who had just arrived in Luoyang, didn't know that he had already entered the eyes of some people, and even if he knew, he wouldn't take it to heart.

His purpose for this trip had been achieved, and Shen Mo's group followed the merchant caravan, making the crowd a bit larger.

Looking at the empty carriages, Jiang Jinshi said to the crowd: "We have only one purpose for coming to Luoyang: buy!"

"Buy what?" Huang Yan scratched his head.

"Buy whatever you like! Once the carriages are full, we'll go back!"

Han Xiao reminded: "Big Brother means, our identity is that of merchants, how can we return empty-handed? That would make others notice clues."

"Exactly!" Jiang Jinshi nodded, "So it's fine to buy anything. Besides, it's not easy to come out once, so it's not bad to bring some specialties back for the brothers."

Immediately, Jiang Jinshi took out silver notes and gave 200 taels to each person, including Shen Mo and others!

200 taels was not a small amount for everyone, and they were all planning in their hearts what to buy. Shen Mo and others were a bit embarrassed; after all, they hadn't made any contributions since joining, yet they were treated the same as the others!

Jiang Jinshi smiled: "Don't decline. If you can find some rare books, it would also be a good thing for Beijiang!"

Several people bowed in thanks, and only then did they gradually leave.

Jiang Jinshi found a small boat by the river with a nice view, boarded an old man's small boat, and enjoyed the Luoyang scenery while sipping tea!

When they were far away from the hustle and bustle, the old man turned around and bowed: "Commander!"

Jiang Jinshi nodded and asked: "How is the situation in Beijiang? Is everything well?"

This person was a scout in the Luoyang area under Wang Hou's command. Wang Hou had told Jiang Jinshi in advance that he would send people to contact this person regularly to inform him of the situation in Beijiang.

If Jiang Jinshi was worried about Beijiang, he could contact this person to understand the dynamics of Beijiang!

The old man respectfully replied: "According to Captain Wang's letter, everything is well in Beijiang! It's just... there are more people in Beijiang asking about you, Commander!"

Jiang Jinshi filled his cup with tea, "It seems they aren't that reassured about Beijiang!"

The old man continued: "Captain Wang has already sent people to investigate these people secretly, but there are no results yet!"

"Hmm!" Jiang Jinshi nodded. In fact, the origin of these people wasn't hard to guess. If it wasn't the Imperial Court, it was the scholar-gentry's people!

If they were Beijiang people, with the Ming Army's current ruling power over Beijiang, it wouldn't take long to strip the other party's underwear color!

People who could make Wang Hou spend time investigating could only be from outside Beijiang. The only forces outside Beijiang that had the guts to investigate him, the master of Beijiang, were these two.

"Commander, the Imperial Court... is this going to take action against us?" The old man frowned and asked.

Jiang Jinshi shook his head with a smile: "Impossible! The Western Liang King is enough to give them a headache. With Da Qian's current strength, it's not enough to fight on two fronts!"

Although it was unknown how many troops Da Qian had now, Jiang Jinshi thought it shouldn't exceed a million, and many troops couldn't be easily mobilized, such as the Forbidden Army in the capital!

The Western Liang King's side had already contained 300,000 of Da Qian's troops; this part couldn't be easily mobilized, so how many troops were left? Wanting to move against Beijiang, I'm afraid they weren't qualified yet!

Then the scouts coming to Beijiang might be because of the chain reaction caused by his trip south.

Was it Cui Wangshu? Or the Yan Family? Or someone else?

Everything was unknown, but Jiang Jinshi had long instructed Wang Hou that if anyone came to inquire, there was no need to deliberately hide it.

Beijiang now was not what it used to be; showing off muscles appropriately could reduce a lot of trouble!

The small boat moved forward slowly, and a small boat came toward them, with two people playing chess at the bow.

Jiang Jinshi didn't care, just looking at the scenery around him, when he suddenly remembered a poem!

"People say Luoyang flowers are like brocade, but I didn't meet spring when I came!"

The person at the bow of the other boat smiled slightly upon hearing this and said to Jiang Jinshi: "Then why doesn't the young master come again in spring!"

Jiang Jinshi smiled slightly and bowed to the other party: "That is very true! I am Jiang Shi, may I ask the young master's name?"

"Si Qi! Courtesy name Wushuang!" (Appeared in Chapter 130) ===== CHAPTER 321 =====