Chapter 145 Matters of the Chamber of Comrce
"Uncle Wei?" Lin Wanrong was taken aback, his sleepiness instantly dispersed. He turned towards the carriage, "Miss, I've run into an acquaintance. I'll be back shortly." The Eldest Miss hastily lifted the curtain, only to see him dismount and rush towards the tavern.
Upon entering the tavern, Lin Wanrong imdiately headed upstairs. This third floor, quite spacious, was where he spotted the location earlier. However, there was no one there, not a trace of Uncle Wei to be found.
How strange, he thought. Could my eyes have deceived ? That blind old man had clearly returned to his hotown. How could he be here in Hangzhou? Pondering this, he left the tavern dejectedly.
From one of the private rooms above, several pairs of eyes had been observing him. A sowhat pale middle-aged man, dressed in a yellow satin robe, carrying an air of elegance, watched Lin Wanrong depart, and spoke faintly, "Is this the Lin Wanrong you spoke of?"
"Master, it indeed is him," replied an old man standing next to him. He was blind. On hearing the middle-aged man's inquiry, the blind old man answered respectfully.
The middle-aged man gave Lin Wanrong an interested look, nodded, and said, "The lad is quite shrewd. I decide to have a leisurely sit and he happens upon . Are all of the recent dealings of the Xiao family his idea?"
"According to my informants, it indeed seems to be the work of Lin Wanrong," replied the blind old man.
The middle-aged man laughed, "He does have his ways, making so money. He carries himself with pride and determination, not soone easy to provoke. He fits your description, quite intriguing indeed. The person in the carriage, is she from the Xiao family?"
"Yes, in my opinion, that should be the Eldest Miss Xiao," the old man responded with great respect.
"Miss Xiao?" A hint of nostalgia crossed the middle-aged man's face. He sighed, "Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. I never thought her daughter would grow up so quickly."
He seed to be lost in his mories for a mont, then asked, "You've been in the Xiao family these years, how has Miss Guo been doing?" His expression changed swiftly. After asking this, he resud his tranquil, undisturbed deanor.
"Master, in my opinion, Miss Guo has had a hard ti these years. The elder and younger masters of the Xiao family passed away one after the other, and it's been tough on her managing the household. It wasn't until the Eldest Miss grew up that she had so respite."
The middle-aged man nodded, "I wonder if she still rembers ? I was too cautious back then and missed my chance."
The blind old man hastily said, "Master, it was your restraint back then that made great things possible. I admire you imnsely."
"Restraint? I've endured too much." A fierce light flickered across his face, then he asked, "Does Miss Guo know about your identity during your ti at the Xiao's?"
"She does not. I only ntioned that I was a servant of an old friend of the elder Master Xiao. Miss Guo trusted entirely. When I left the Xiao family, I recomnded this Lin Wanrong to them," the old man explained.
The middle-aged man's face returned to its calm deanor. "Considering what you've ntioned, this Lin Wanrong does seem to have so capabilities. Let him protect the Xiao family for now. We will observe the rest slowly."
Receiving praise from the middle-aged man was no small feat, and the blind old man quickly agreed, his hollow eyes shining with a profound light.
Lin Wanrong returned to the Eldest Miss's carriage. Xiao Yuruo glanced at him, asking, "What were you doing? You were quite rash."
Unable to find Old Wei, Lin Wanrong was not in the best mood. He nodded, saying, "I ran into an old friend. Oh, Uncle Wei. Miss, you should know him, right?"
"Uncle Wei?" Miss Xiao frowned, "Of course I know him. He served under one of my grandfather's closest friends and stayed with us, the Xiao family, for many years. He left only a few months ago. How do you know him?"
So, he was a servant of her grandfather's old friend. No wonder this Old Wei could retire comfortably at the Xiao's. Lin Wanrong recounted his association with Old Wei, to which the Eldest Miss nodded, saying, "So you were recomnded by Uncle Wei. That explains it. Uncle Wei has always had a keen eye, and my mother has always respected him."
Lin Wanrong laughed, "Eldest Miss Xiao also has good judgnt."
"You are quite thick-skinned," Eldest Miss Xiao said softly.
The Xiao family's branch in Hangzhou had a large estate, located right by West Lake, considered a pri location within the city. The steward was a capable woman in her forties or fifties.
"Eldest Miss Xiao, you're finally here," the steward greeted her, gripping her hand with a smile.
"Mada Zhang, it's been a while. How have you been?" Miss Xiao seed very fond of the steward.
Mada Zhang replied with a smile, "I've been well, thanks to Madam Xiao and Eldest Miss Xiao."
"This is my wet nurse from when I was a child," Eldest Miss Xiao introduced Mada Zhang to Lin Wanrong.
Ah, her wet nurse. No wonder they were so close. Lin Wanrong greeted Mada Zhang, "Mada Zhang, nice to et you. Just from your kind and gentle look, I can tell you have a warm heart. My na is Lin San. I hope you can take care of ."
Mada Zhang burst into laughter, "So you're Lin San. I've heard about you from many people in the house. You're indeed handso. Now that you're here in Hangzhou, you and Eldest Miss Xiao can live here without worry. I'll take care of everything."
"Mada--" Miss Xiao blushed and called out abruptly, perhaps detecting a potential misunderstanding from Mada Zhang's words.
Eldest Miss Xiao was being too sensitive. I hadn't even thought about it in that way. Lin Wanrong chuckled to himself, causing Eldest Miss Xiao to blush even deeper and glare at him.
The reputation of the Xiao family was indeed well-deserved. Their Hangzhou branch was not only in a pri location next to West Lake, but also occupied a large area with several courtyards of various sizes.
Mada Zhang led the group into the residence. Miss Xiao assigned rooms for everyone before turning to Mada Zhang and asking, "Mada, when is the Hangzhou Chamber of Comrce's eting scheduled according to the invitation?"
Mada Zhang replied, "It is set for the day after tomorrow, at the Qingyu Tower on Su Causeway. Chairman Yu from the Hangzhou Chamber of Comrce has already delivered the invitation."
That ant there were at least two days left before the event. Xiao Yuruo nodded, saying, "In that case, let's stay here in Hangzhou for two days. It will be an excellent opportunity to promote our soap and perfu."
Mada Zhang exclaid with delight, "Miss, is the perfu ready for delivery? Many ladies and young misses from various families have been asking about it. I've had to turn them away several tis."
Miss Xiao laughed, "Given that they've waited this long, they can wait a little longer. There are only one hundred limited edition bottles available in Hangzhou. Register the ladies' nas and we can notify them when the perfu arrives."
Mada Zhang acknowledged the instruction. Seeing how well the perfu was selling, Eldest Miss Xiao felt thrilled. She glanced at Lin Wanrong and asked Mada Zhang, "How did the soap I sent you a few days ago fare?" It turned out that the day after Lin Wanrong completed the experints, Eldest Miss Xiao had quickly dispatched a ssenger to deliver the soap to Hangzhou, to gauge its reception.
Mada Zhang replied, "Miss, everything you send is exceptional. After the perfu, the soap is the most popular item. Unfortunately, we didn't have many samples, so only a few close acquaintances received them for trial. The response was quite good, and the price was just right."
Eldest Miss Xiao smiled slightly, saying, "The soap will be available in large quantities within half a month, Mada Zhang, so there's no need to worry."
After conversing with Mada Zhang, Eldest Miss Xiao was in high spirits, even her fatigue seed to diminish. Noticing everyone looking weary, she suggested, "Everyone has traveled a long way today and must be tired. Let's rest tomorrow. The West Lake is world-renowned. Why don't we take a stroll there?"
As she proposed this, her gaze fleetingly t Lin Wanrong's.
Lin Wanrong, having visited Hangzhou several tis in his previous life, wasn't unfamiliar with West Lake. He laughed, "In that case, we'll accompany Eldest Miss Xiao tomorrow to avoid any mishaps."
Seeing the popularity of her perfu and soap in Hangzhou, Eldest Miss Xiao was in high spirits. She laughed, "Excellent. Everyone can co with tomorrow. Despite my many trips to Hangzhou, I haven't had the ti to explore West Lake. Tomorrow would be a good opportunity."
Eldest Miss Xiao was in high spirits and it was a chance to tour at the company's expense. Who would refuse? Lin Wanrong retired to his room and was about to sleep when a knock at the door disturbed him. A maid nad Xiao Cui called from outside, "Brother San, Miss Xiao requests your presence for a chat."
What was going on? It was so late and they weren't even allowing him a mont's rest. This Eldest Miss Xiao really was a workaholic.
Miss Xiao's room was situated directly across the courtyard from Lin Wanrong's. As he entered, he saw her freshly bathed and grood, her eyes twinkling with delight as she smiled at him.
The faint scent emanating from Eldest Miss Xiao stirred sothing within Lin Wanrong. He found her charming and beguiling when she was in such a gentle mood.
Xiao Yuruo glanced at him and said, "Lin San, please have a seat."
Perhaps because it was late, Miss Xiao's voice was soft and gentle. "We've been traveling all day, you must be tired," she said. "After we finish our talk, you should head back and rest."
Lin Wanrong laughed, "If a lady like you can hold up, why would I feel tired?"
Xiao Yuruo gave a bitter smile, "I'm used to traveling like this. I called you here today to discuss the annual eting of the Hangzhou Chamber of Comrce. In a couple of days, I'll take you to the event. It's a rare opportunity; you should observe carefully and learn as much as you can."
Lin Wanrong asked curiously, "Miss, what exactly is this Hangzhou Chamber of Comrce?"
Eldest Miss Xiao nodded, "In simple terms, the Hangzhou Chamber of Comrce is an alliance of prominent Hangzhou rchants. They lead various industries and control the business affairs of Zhejiang Province. They wield considerable power."
Understanding dawned on Lin Wanrong, and he asked, "Does Jinling have a similar association?"
"Of course," Miss Xiao nodded. "The Jinling Chamber of Comrce is no less powerful than its Hangzhou counterpart. A few years ago, our Xiao family was at the forefront of the Jinling association. However, as our fortunes dwindled, the chairmanship was passed to others. With its abundant resources, the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang control the economic lifeline of the country. The Jinling Chamber of Comrce is arguably the most powerful in the nation, and they have a close relationship with their Hangzhou counterpart. They invite each other to their annual etings. Last year's eting was held in Jinling; this year, it's Hangzhou's turn."
Lin Wanrong understood that such interactions were common among business organizations. He asked, "What happens at these annual etings?"
Eldest Miss Xiao replied, "They mainly discuss the business climate in Jiangsu and Zhejiang over the past year, as well as erging industries and the rchants. Both associations hold considerable power, so Chamber of Comrce from both provinces take pride in attending these annual etings."
Lin Wanrong pondered for a mont, "Eldest Miss, did you call over so late because there's a problem with this annual eting?"
Eldest Miss Xiao gave him an approving look. "Lin San, if this were like previous years' etings, I would have nothing to worry about. But this year is different. Our recent business direction has undergone significant changes, which haven't escaped the notice of those with a keen eye. The profits from our perfu and soap are substantial, and I fear they may stir up waves at this year's eting."
Lin Wanrong understood Eldest Miss Xiao's concern. The Xiao family had been declining in the past few years, despite their involvent in the textile business. Suddenly, they had found two incredibly lucrative ventures, which would certainly spark jealousy among others. The annual eting was a grand gathering of wealthy rchants from Jiangsu and Zhejiang; not attending wasn't an option, yet attending could invite trouble. This was indeed a predicant.
Lin Wanrong pondered for a mont, then said, "Eldest Miss, since our Xiao family is part of the Jinling association, shouldn't the chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Comrce protect you?"
Eldest Miss Xiao gave a bitter smile, "Under normal circumstances, perhaps. But I fear this year might be different."
Lin Wanrong asked curiously, "Why?"
Xiao Yuruo glanced at him, "After all the trouble you've stirred up, how do you expect them to support ?"
Lin Wanrong looked surprised, "Is the chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Comrce Tao Dongcheng?"
Miss Xiao shot him a glance, "At least you're not completely clueless. After our Xiao family fell, Tao Dongcheng took our place and beca the leader of the Jinling Chamber of Comrce."
Suddenly, Lin Wanrong rembered sothing. "Tao Wanying is Tao Dongcheng's younger sister, right?"
Miss Xiao nodded, and Lin Wanrong let out a sly smile. Just as he expected, Tao Wanying's wild temperant was a sign that she wasn't exactly a straightforward person. He then asked, "Miss, I have one more question. Given the Hangzhou Chamber of Comrce's national importance, will people from the capital be attending this annual eting?"
Eldest Miss Xiao looked at him in surprise, "You do have a point. Given the unique status of the Hangzhou Chamber of Comrce, the Emperor sends a representative to the annual eting every year. I wonder who he will send this year."
As expected, the Emperor would not ignore the "Granary of the South". There would undoubtedly be important figures attending the annual eting of the Hangzhou Chamber of Comrce.
While Lin Wanrong pondered, Eldest Miss Xiao sighed softly, "I'm telling you all this to prepare you, so you're not caught off guard."
Seeing Eldest Miss Xiao's worried expression, Lin Wanrong reassured her, "Eldest Miss, every problem has a solution. Don't think too much about it. Have you forgotten what I told you today? You need to learn to relax and vent."
Eldest Miss Xiao gave a faint smile, "It was because I took your advice that I visited West Lake. If I had acted according to my usual temperant, I wouldn't have had the ti."
Lin Wanrong laughed and fell silent, his mind still on the issues surrounding the Chamber of Comrce. Human greed was limitless. If things were indeed as Eldest Miss Xiao suggested, with everyone now watching the Xiao family, it might spell trouble for them.
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