novelSusiti Chapter 277 The Fei Family
Chapter 277 The Fei Family
Chapter 277 The Fei Family (Part 1)
In late June, the Jiangnan region was very humid and hot, and the air felt sticky and uncomfortable against the skin.
There was not a breath of wind on the willow branches by the roadside, which hung drooping dejectedly. Several black dragonflies flew very low close to the water's surface, their wings flapping rapidly and in a fragmented manner, as if they couldn't stand the weather, or perhaps foreshadowing a heavy rain that would come that evening.
As Shao Shuyi walked deeper along the bluestone path, he could hear the sound of string and wind instruments in the distance.
No, it wasn't just the sound of string and wind instruments; there was also the clinking of glasses and the sounds of revelry, drifting through several walls, mixed with faint chanting.
Is this what a gathering of literati and scholars is like? Music, fine wine, and poetry?
The steward led the way with his head down, guiding him around the screen wall. Instead of heading towards the main hall, they passed through a narrow passage and entered the east courtyard.
The courtyard was small, with a few clumps of banana trees planted in it. Two horn lamps hung under the eaves, casting a dim, yellowish glow that made the square bricks on the ground appear damp.
The voices from the garden were becoming clearer. Through a moon gate, Shao Shuyi could see a glimpse of the banquet scene: several long tables made of huanghuali wood were arranged in a goose-wing shape, with cups and plates laid out on them, and wine pots warming in copper basins, with wisps of white steam rising up.
Several young scholars sat on either side, some engaged in lively discussions, some drank wine with their heads down, and some were writing something on paper, probably impromptu poems composed during the gathering.
The sound of string and wind instruments came faintly from behind the screen—these people were professionals; the music was louder when the scholars were drinking and eating meat, and slightly softer when they were talking.
Shao Shuyi also noticed a screen in the western corner, framed in rosewood and inlaid with flowers, birds, and peonies. There seemed to be some movement behind the screen, like the soft rustling of fabric.
He glanced at it only once before looking away.
"You just wait here and don't wander off," the steward instructed after leading Shao Shuyi into a side hall on the east side.
He then looked at Liang Tai and the other two and said, "Come with me and take the gifts to the storeroom."
The three of them looked at Shao Shuyi.
Shao Shuyi nodded to them.
I observed on the way here that the Fei family is indeed a typical wealthy but unmanned family. There are quite a few people in the mansion, but they are obviously untrained servants. They might be able to scare off petty thieves, but they would be doomed if they faced a notorious bandit like the Huashan bandits.
Therefore, he wasn't very panicked.
The three gathered the gifts together, and Liang Tai and Bian Yuanheng carried them away, while Tie Niu stayed behind and stood by his side.
The manager saw this but said nothing. He simply had a pot of tea brought over, then bowed and took his leave.
The tea is this year's new tea, not a cheap one. It's served in a celadon cup from the Longquan kiln, with a clear and bright liquor and a fragrant aroma.
The furnishings in the side hall were simple: a long ebony table, two armchairs, a bamboo and rock painting in the style of Li Kan hanging on the wall, and a display shelf in the corner with a few pieces of porcelain scattered around. Shao Shuyi glanced at them and saw that they were all ordinary items, not worth much money.
Shao Shuyi sat down leisurely and waited slowly.
Cicadas are chirping outside the window, chirping urgently, as if they know they won't live to see the summer.
He calmly picked up his teacup and took a sip. The steam hit his face, but he didn't feel hot; instead, he felt a burning sensation in his heart.
In the eyes of important people, I'm no longer considered a "filthy and worthless person," but rather a "pretentious and arrogant one," right? If they knew that Cao Luo and Shao Shuyi were the same person.
He waited quietly, without any rush, calm and composed.
After waiting for about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, a series of footsteps suddenly came from outside the door. It wasn't just one person, but several, accompanied by laughter and chatter.
Someone glanced into the house from outside and said, "Huh? We have guests today?"
Shao Shuyi glanced at them and saw that they were three scholars who were half-drunk.
The person in the lead was dressed in a moon-white Taoist robe, with a silk sash around his waist and a newly styled turban on his head. He had a handsome face, but his cheeks were flushed and his eyes were somewhat unfocused.
Shao Shuyi didn't get up, he just nodded at them.
While the fighting raged in Jurong, the scholars in Songjiang, Jiaxing, and Pingjiang continued to live peacefully. Different people have different fates; one cannot follow their path, nor can they follow one's own. That's all there is to it.
"Guest?" The scholar in the Taoist robe paused, seemingly a bit drunk, and said, "What are you doing lounging here? They're composing poetry over in the garden; Master Fei has set the theme as 'sympathy for the farmers.' Why don't we go together?"
Shao Shuyi shook his head and chuckled, saying, "I only know about the rise and fall of rice prices, but I don't know how to write poetry."
Seeing his mercenary manner of speaking, the group lost interest and staggered away.
Shao Shuyi picked up his teacup and continued drinking.
The Jiangnan region is truly accommodating to scholars.
While others might be reprimanded for making such a fuss after drinking too much, it is seen as genuine expression by a scholar.
If an outsider saw a beautiful woman and followed her, he would be called a lecher, but to a scholar, it was a refined and elegant affair.
To put it bluntly, they have a voice and often have more right to act recklessly.
Given Fei Xiong's status and wealth, the fact that he invites these people to gatherings every day speaks volumes.
I heard that some famous scholars had rather foul mouths and didn't have any nice things to say about Fei Xiong, but Fei Xiong was not angry but pleased and respected him even more. Of course, after he made this gesture, Fei Xiong's image in literary circles improved and he was no longer seen as mercenary.
Shao Shuyi sipped his tea as he pondered.
After an unknown amount of time, a deep voice rang out from outside the door: "Has Cao She arrived?"
Fei Xiong walked in.
Shao Shuyi put down his teacup, stood up, and bowed: "Greetings, Master Fei."
Fei Xiong was not wearing his official robes today, but only a dark blue straight robe with a rhinoceros horn belt around his waist and black boots on his feet. He walked with large and steady steps.
His gaze swept over Shao Shuyi, then he sat down and asked, "Should I call you Cao Luo or Shao Shuyi?"
"Either is fine," Shao Shuyi said.
When did you go to Jiangyin?
"It's been two years."
Do you know why I saw you?
"I don't know." Shao Shuyi was genuinely curious.
He didn't make an appointment; he just showed up on short notice, hoping to try his luck and maybe even get a couple of shots. To his surprise, they actually invited him in.
"I've been hearing your name frequently lately," Fei Xiong said. "The Jiangyin and Changshu garrison of the Grand Canal reported that you sent people to buy ships from seafarers, but they didn't go to the government office to collect the goods or deliver any sea freight. Some seafarers even fled with their entire families to work for you, but the garrison couldn't find them when they tried to locate them. In the end, it was all your doing—"
"It's just a rumor, Mr. Fei, you're wise to see the truth," Shao Shuyi said.
The Changshu Garrison in Jiangyin was one of the thousand-household garrisons under the jurisdiction of the Grand Canal Administration, so it naturally had seafaring boat owners. I never expected that the people in this garrison would report on me so many times; I don't know if it started this year or if it was something that happened before, but I suspect it was the former.
Fei Xiong didn't dwell on the matter and quickly changed the subject, asking, "What do you need so many ships for?"
Shao Shuyi pondered this sentence in secret.
Fei Xiong did not accuse him of undermining the court by bribing ships and protecting seafarers, which shows that he himself was not particularly loyal to the court.
This is understandable. Is Fei Xiong any different from maritime merchant families like the Chen and Pu families of Quanzhou? There might be differences in minor details, but there is no essential difference.
To put it bluntly, the Yuan Dynasty had a strong business culture, and many merchants held official positions. The Fei family of Shanghai had close ties with the Maritime Trade Office, had many relatives and friends, and even held an official position in the Grain Transport Office. They were simply a family that combined official and commercial power.
They prioritized self-interest, which differed from the literati families. They were not as loyal to the court. Historically, after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, many literati in Jiangnan missed the previous dynasty.
Thinking of this, Shao Shuyi replied, "It's just sailing and doing business."
"7
"Shipping goods?"
"Yes."
"Shengye Trading Company is yours, isn't it?"
"good."
After replying, Shao Shuyi thought to himself that Cao Luo's pseudonym could probably be dropped. Officials with some status knew that he was synonymous with Shao Shuyi, and after a while, even more people would know.
"Which places do you go to?" Fei Xiong asked.
"Starting from the old Yicang Wharf, the route goes to Suzhou, Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Tongzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangyin, Wuxi, Jiangning, and Wuhu."
"Going to Wuhu too?"
"Yes, I went," Shao Shuyi said. "I just went to Wuhu in March. In April, I went to Anqing and Chizhou."
Jiangzhou and Jingdezhen.
"how?
,
"It's not an easy journey," Shao Shuyi said. "A ship was attacked by fire and forced to dock in Chizhou for repairs, which cost a lot of money. In the past few months, two of the cargo handlers have died and two have been injured, especially in the Yuxikou area, which is a place that people are terrified of."
Fei Xiong closed his eyes and pondered.
As a veteran sea dog with decades of experience in the waterway industry, Fei Xiong is also very familiar with inland waterway transportation routes. After a moment, he sighed and said, "I used to have relatives who were in the inland waterway transportation business, but they transferred it to someone else two years ago and stopped doing it."
Shao Shuyi suddenly realized. So Fei Xiong had a profound understanding of the changing situation.
Indeed, these families of officials and businessmen are the most astute when it comes to the business environment; officials who get their positions through education and examinations may not have such a clear understanding.
He enjoys dealing with these kinds of people the most; it's not tiring, and there's no need for endless small talk or profound discussions—just naked self-interest.
But Fei Xiong seems to be transforming into the scholar-official class in recent years, trying desperately to squeeze in. This seems to be a problem. As Zhao Mengfu's son-in-law, Fei Xiong actually has an easier time getting in than the Shen Wansan family.
"What brings you here today?" Fei Xiong suddenly asked.
Upon hearing this, Shao Shuyi's spirits lifted, and he said, "I have long heard that there are many rare and precious things overseas, which are loved by the people of China. When these goods arrive at the port, they are often sold out, and the profits are so great that people flock to them. I have two ships and wish to go overseas to trade, but I have no way of doing so. I wonder if you, sir, could help me?"
Fei Xiong glanced at him.
With a smile, Shao Shuyi cupped his hands in greeting and said, "I will share the profits from shipping the ships and goods equally with the Fei family."
That's quite a boast, because there are plenty of people who can provide the cost of ships and cargo, so why would they choose you or take you along?
But Fei Xiong didn't immediately refuse after hearing this. Instead, he asked, "I heard that you led the bandit suppression campaign at Qinwang Mountain in Jiangyin last year?"