NCCnovel Chapter 221: Lost 52
Chapter 221: Lost 52
Zhu Wen patted the snow off his body and looked humbly at the person in front of him.
"Madam Fang, I feel deeply ashamed of what you say. I have come here today to apologize to you."
As he spoke, he took out a silver note that he had prepared in advance from his pocket.
"This is a sum of five hundred taels of silver that I specially gave to apologize to you, my wife. Although it is not much, it is a small token of my appreciation. I hope you will not find it offensive!"
Zhu Wen originally intended to give more money to Fang Xiaoxiao as compensation, but he has encountered some problems, and the shops throughout the Dayu Dynasty have suffered serious losses.
The main reason is the sudden arrival of extremely cold weather.
Normally, the weather wouldn't be this cold at this time of year; winter wouldn't arrive until at least January. This winter is exceptionally cold, with many places experiencing extreme blizzards that are rare to see in a century.
In the Guangdong and Guangxi regions, rivers and lakes were frozen, making shipping impossible and the flow of goods even more difficult. Many shops did not have enough winter clothes or firewood for heating.
Many of his shops were restaurants and shops selling everyday goods, and those everyday goods were almost all stocked for summer and autumn.
"Manager Zhu, it's too cold today. Come inside and warm up."
When the door opened, Fang Xiaoxiao couldn't help but shiver in the cold weather.
Zhu Wen didn't stand on ceremony and strode towards the square table.
Beneath the square table was a charcoal brazier.
Close the door.
Fang Xiaoxiao sat down and looked at Zhu Wen, who looked somewhat haggard, and couldn't help but ask.
"Manager Zhu, it's been so long since I last saw you, you look so haggard."
"Alas, my lady, you are unaware of the extent of this extreme cold. Many of my businesses have suffered significant damage. I should have compensated you with a thousand taels of silver, but..."
As Zhu Wen spoke, he sighed heavily and swallowed back the words he was about to say.
He felt it was best not to tell Fang Xiaoxiao about this.
After all, everyone should mind their own business.
Looking at the five hundred taels of silver notes on the table, Fang Xiaoxiao did not take them immediately, but instead pondered Zhu Wen's words repeatedly in her mind.
Some time ago, she also noticed that the weather was getting colder and colder, even exceeding the temperature she could tolerate after living in the north for many years.
You should know that she had also lived in Northeast China for a period of time. In winter, the temperature there can drop to tens of degrees Celsius, but as long as you heat the kang (a traditional heated brick bed) at home, you can feel very warm.
During this period, even with the kang (heated brick bed) heated, people still felt extremely cold, and dared not even take off their cotton-padded coats to sleep.
"Manager Zhu, I'd like to ask, is it always this cold in the Great Yu Dynasty?"
Zhu Wen shook his head, poured himself a cup of hot tea, and took a small sip.
"As far as I know, I have never encountered such extremely cold weather. Even the usually scorching Guangdong and Guangxi regions are now frighteningly cold, and the rivers are frozen solid with thick blocks of ice!"
Liangguang? Could it be Guangdong and Guangxi from a past life?
Fang Xiaoxiao was somewhat surprised and pressed for an answer.
"Then may I ask, when you mention 'two Guangs,' do you mean Guangdong and Guangxi?"
Zhu Wen lived in the Dayu Dynasty for many years, and the two provinces were called Guangnan and Guanghu.
These two places are located in hot climates year-round, producing abundant seafood and a wide variety of fruits, making them indispensable economic centers for the Dayu Dynasty.
Think about this.
Zhu Wen put down his teacup and continued speaking with a solemn expression.
“Madam Fang, the lands of Guangnan and Guanghu have always been the richest places in our Great Yu Dynasty. Now, with this extreme cold weather, fishing has come to a standstill, fruit has frozen to death, and the people are struggling to make a living.”
Fang Xiaoxiao frowned, feeling worried about this sudden natural disaster.
"Manager Zhu, what about the situation in other places?"
Zhu Wen let out a long sigh.
"In the north, heavy snow has blocked roads, hindering the transport of grain and causing prices to soar. Even in silk-producing areas, countless silkworms have frozen to death, resulting in a sharp decline in silk production. My restaurant is also suffering from the cold, with few customers and insufficient food supplies."
Fang Xiaoxiao fell into deep thought, and after a moment she spoke.
"Manager Zhu, does the imperial court have any countermeasures for this situation?"
Zhu Wen shook his head.
"We have not yet heard of any effective measures taken by the imperial court. This disaster came suddenly and covered a wide area, and the imperial court is probably unable to cope with it in a timely manner."
Fang Xiaoxiao stood up and paced around the room.
"Manager Zhu, we don't know how long this extreme cold will last. If it continues, the people will suffer and there may be trouble."
Zhu Wen nodded slightly.
“What Madam Fang says is absolutely right. Many of my business partners are facing bankruptcy, and many workers are unemployed and homeless.”
Fang Xiaoxiao stopped and looked at Zhu Wen with a firm gaze.
"Manager Zhu, is there any way we can get through this difficult time together?"
Zhu Wen smiled wryly.
"Madam Fang, it's easier said than done. Nowadays, all industries are suffering heavy blows, with a shortage of funds and a depressed market."
Fang Xiaoxiao pondered for a moment and then said.
"Why don't we start by adjusting our own business strategies? For example, your restaurant could introduce some winter-appropriate specialties and add warm clothing to attract customers. And for those daily necessities shops, could we purchase some winter clothing as an emergency measure?"
Zhu Wen's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again.
"Madam Fang's idea is good, but where will the funds come from?"
Fang Xiaoxiao bit her lip.
"Perhaps we can join forces with other merchants to raise funds together and get through this difficult time. Alternatively, we can borrow from large, well-funded businesses and repay them when the situation improves."
Zhu Wen stroked his beard.
"That's one way to do it, but I don't know if other merchants will be willing."
Fang Xiaoxiao said.
"Where there's a will, there's a way. We might as well give it a try. If we succeed, we can not only save ourselves from our current predicament, but we might also find new business opportunities in adversity."
Zhu Wen nodded.
“Madam Fang’s courage is commendable, and I am willing to work together with her. However, the process will surely be fraught with difficulties, and we need to make full preparations.”
Fang Xiao smiled slightly.
"Manager Zhu, as long as we work together, we will surely get through this once-in-a-century winter."
At this moment, the cold wind was still howling outside the window, but the two people inside the room had a spark of hope ignited because of their shared goal.
Zhu Wen looked at Fang Xiaoxiao in front of him with a strange expression in his eyes.
The woman in front of him seemed like a completely different person, bearing no resemblance to the Fang Xiaoxiao who used to act rashly and haggle over petty gains.
You should know that Fang Xiaoxiao used to be the kind of person who would argue with him for half a day just to earn a few more coins. She had nothing in her eyes except profit.
She recalled an incident where an elderly man fell to the ground. Upon seeing this, she not only refused to help him up but also prevented herself from doing so.
She was muttering some strange words, saying that there were also old people in ancient times who extorted money from others.
Fang Xiaoxiao, who was pondering how to both make money and save lives amidst this disaster, had no idea that Manager Zhu would have such a high opinion of her.