GBP Chapter 213 Lin Shiyue's Thoughts
Chapter 213 Lin Shiyue's Thoughts
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After a period of silence following the change of ownership, Hongtu Money Shop reopened for several months, only under a different name: "Qiongzhou Money Shop." Merchants and wealthy families in Guangzhou assumed that Qiongzhou Money Shop was simply a change of ownership, with nothing more than a rebranding. However, the money shop stood out from the start, proclaiming that deposits were free and even offered interest – a practice unheard of in Guangzhou, and indeed, throughout the entire Ming Dynasty.
Just as Lin Shiyue had predicted, people were always hesitant and wait-and-see about new food. No one was willing to be the first to try something new. On the first morning of the opening, the bank was surrounded by crowds of onlookers, but no one was willing to go inside Tiannan Bank to deposit money.
The onlookers were abuzz with discussion: "The money exchange doesn't charge us for storing silver, but instead gives us money. What kind of good deal is this?"
"Exactly! No matter who owns the money exchange, they're all the same, always trying to squeeze money out of us. Do you think these cunning guys would be so kind?"
Someone kindly reminded him: "Words can be dangerous. Do you know that the real owner of this money shop is the Qiongzhou Camp, which has killed countless soldiers and officials, and that the governor is backing them up?"
"So what? I just made a few comments. Which law of the Ming Dynasty did I break? The silver is in my pocket. If I don't deposit it, can he just rob me?"
Some people think on the bright side: "If there really is an interest rate of two or three percent, you can just put the money in the bank and collect money without lifting a finger, and the interest alone will be enough."
"Didn't you see the notice posted by the money exchange? It's written clearly in black and white: deposits under one year are considered current accounts with only 0.5% interest. If you want more than 0.2% interest, you have to deposit for more than two years and you can't withdraw it—what if they run off with our money after two or three years?"
The person who had spoken first immediately backed down: "That's true. The world is in such a mess these days. Who knows if this money exchange will close down in a few years? Who will we ask for our money then?"
Some bolder individuals retorted: "Fortune favors the bold; you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. If you want to make money, you have to take some risks. Even farming depends on the weather; if you're afraid of this and that, you deserve to never get rich!"
These remarks struck a nerve with some people. Everyone wants wealth, but everyone fears risk. Immediately, someone jumped up and said, "If you're so bold, go and deposit it! If you're so brave, throw your entire savings in and let us see what you've got in three years!"
“I’ll go! I’ve already prepared the money. As long as someone goes in first, I’ll follow immediately.”
The entrance was bustling like a market, but no one actually went into the money exchange. The manager and clerks standing at the door, waiting for the opening, craned their necks and looked around. When their necks ached and no one came in, they looked a little embarrassed.
In the crowd, Duan Mengrou whispered to Aunt Jiang, "Mother, didn't you want to deposit your money? Now that the money exchange has opened, why don't you be the first to make the deal? These people are itching to get started, just waiting for someone to take the lead!"
Aunt Jiang, clutching a bundle, said timidly, "I'm just a woman, it's so embarrassing with so many people watching. Can I secretly follow behind someone after they go inside?"
Duan Mengrou said with exasperation, "You talked so enthusiastically before, but now that it's time, you're all afraid of this and that. Mother, do you know how much we've suffered in the Gao family for over a decade? We finally have a chance to turn our lives around, and our hopes for the rest of our lives are all tied to this money exchange. If the money exchange goes out of business, we'll have nothing left. Do you really want to go back to the days when we were bullied like this?"
Although Aunt Jiang was meek, she absolutely refused to live a life of subservience. Recalling the times she was bullied by the wives and concubines of the Gao family, she shook her head repeatedly: "I've had enough of that kind of life..."
"Then let's go!" Duan Mengrou reached out and gently pushed her from behind.
Aunt Jiang was pushed out of the crowd and stood in front of the money shop's gate, attracting attention. The crowd immediately fell silent, with hundreds of eyes staring at her.
Feeling uneasy under the watchful eyes of so many people, Aunt Jiang gritted her teeth. It was just depositing money; it wasn't anything shameful. She stepped into the money exchange.
The shop assistant at the door, unaware that she was the new female manager's mother, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the first customer arrive and hurriedly ushered her inside with great fanfare. "Please come in, sir. May I ask if you prefer to deposit your money in a current account or a fixed deposit? Our interest rates are very generous..."
As soon as she went inside, the crowd erupted in a frenzy.
"If they're not afraid of a woman, what are we men afraid of?"
"This money exchange has the backing of the Qiongzhou Military Camp and the Governor's Office, so it certainly won't go bankrupt. Let's go, let's give it a try."
The man who had previously claimed he would enter the money exchange as long as someone took the lead stomped his foot, grabbed a package, and followed Aunt Jiang into the money exchange.
Once someone took the lead, the others also became uneasy, and one after another, people carrying large and small bags followed them inside.
Duan Mengrou breathed a slight sigh of relief. She had finally opened for business, although the results were not ideal. But this was just the beginning. There was still a long way to go, and things would gradually get better.
Only a small number of people entered the money exchange; most remained hesitant, discussing among themselves and trying to find a more convincing reason.
Just as the onlookers were hesitating, a path suddenly parted in the crowd, and a man who looked like a steward, with his chest puffed out, led five or six strong men carrying several boxes through the crowd and headed straight for the money exchange.
A sharp-eyed person recognized them: "Isn't that Zhao Shanren's steward? Their family is here too?"
"Zhao the Benevolent? Is that the Zhao the Benevolent who owns thousands of acres of fertile land and often sets up porridge stalls to distribute food?"
"Exactly."
Before everyone could react, another group of people carrying boxes walked into the money exchange.
"It's actually the Fang family! The Fang family produced two Juren (successful candidates in the provincial examinations) and five Xiucai (successful candidates in the county-level examinations)!"
As if they had planned it all out, one wealthy family after another suddenly appeared, leaving the audience overwhelmed with their presence.
"This is Master Li, who is said to have made a fortune in the sugar business in Leizhou..."
"Master Sun is here too. His family has been maritime merchants for generations, and I've heard they've made a fortune..."
……
Duan Mengrou was dumbfounded. Where did these big shots, whom she could never invite normally, come from?
Just then, someone tapped Duan Mengrou on the shoulder from behind. She turned around and saw it was Lin Shiyue. She immediately recognized her and asked excitedly, "Shiyue, did you find all these people?"
Lin Shiyue smiled faintly: "I don't have that much influence; it's all thanks to my uncle. When the governor speaks, the people below naturally have to give him face."
Duan Mengrou was moved to tears: "The governor only helped me because of you. In the end, it was you who helped me."
Lin Shiyue blinked: "You're overthinking it. I don't have that much influence to persuade my uncle to work so hard. Your Master Liu is the real shrewd one. My uncle has a stake in this money shop, so helping the money shop is helping himself. But let me make it clear first, these people are just there to keep things in order. They'll withdraw the money after a month, so don't get too excited."
Duan Mengrou was still very excited: "Saving it for a month is fine, as long as they step in and give these people who are watching and waiting peace of mind, that will be enough."
With these important figures stepping in, the onlookers could no longer remain calm.
"These big shots are all depositing their money here, so there must be something wrong with the situation."
"I'd better hurry home and get the money. I don't dare to deposit it in a fixed deposit account, so I'll try depositing it in a current account first."
"Look at your cowardice! People like Zhao Shanren and Fang Juren are far more knowledgeable than you, yet they dared to invest their money. What are we little shrimps afraid of? I'll just deposit a thousand taels of silver in a three-year fixed deposit!"
The crowd gradually dispersed, most of them going home to get their money.
The money exchange was getting busier and busier. The clerks were constantly greeting and seeing off customers, their faces stiff with smiles, but they were secretly delighted. The new owner had set new rules: wages were tied to the amount of money deposited. The more silver deposited, the more they would earn. In their eyes, these customers who came to deposit silver were walking money barrels!
That evening, after taking stock, including those whom Lin Shiyue had brought to support the event, the total amount of silver deposited that day was 76,200 taels.
In the backyard of the money exchange, after listening to the report from the front desk manager, Duan Mengrou exclaimed in astonishment, "There are still many people observing today, yet there is still so much income. Once everyone trusts Qiongzhou Money Exchange, how much silver will be deposited in a year?"
Lin Shiyue said leisurely, "Your master has set up a very big scheme. Once this is in operation, most of the silver in Guangzhou will flow into the money shops. At that time, he will control tens of millions of dollars. With such a strong capital, he can do any business he wants with ease. Even a fool can make money until his hands are sore. In addition, he has troops under his command. In the future, the Qiongzhou Camp will be too large for Guangdong and Guangxi to contain."
Duan Mengrou was taken aback, then said, "No matter what Master does, I just want my mother to live a good life. The important matters of the world are not something that women like us can control."
Lin Shiyue laughed, "You're not stupid, but you're pretending to be. You clearly know what I'm talking about..."
Duan Mengrou smiled and said, "I'm very naive; I can only see what's in front of me. When I've saved enough for my dowry, I'll marry into a family in style and bring my mother with me. You're a woman who's just as capable as any man, while I'm just a little woman. I'll leave these important matters to you to think about!"
Hearing her mention marriage, Lin Shiyue suddenly thought of Liu Ye, sighed inwardly, and reached out to pinch her cheek: "You little rascal, I'm trying to help you, and you're making fun of me. Do you think I'll never get married?"
Duan Mengrou laughed and dodged the question: "It's not that you, Miss Lin, can't get married, it's just that no one has caught your eye. If you ask me, since there's no one suitable anyway, why not just settle for Master Liu? You yourself said he has a limitless future..."
Lin Shiyue blushed for no reason and spat, "Even if I become an old maid, I wouldn't look at this flirtatious scoundrel. He's not even married yet, but he already has a concubine at home..."
"Hey, how do you remember so clearly? Have you been eyeing the position of the eldest son of the Liu family for a long time?" Now that there were only the two of them in the room, Duan Mengrou had no more scruples and teased Lin Shiyue.
Lin Shiyue stomped her foot: "You still dare to talk nonsense? I'll tear your mouth apart..." She was completely unlike her usual aloof and calm self.
The two chased each other around the room, their laughter echoing. Only in this secluded setting could a haughty young lady from an official family and a precocious young lady from a wealthy family fully reveal their original, radiant girlish nature.