Sui and Tang Dynasties: Awakening the Supreme Skills at the Beginning

Liujiatai Township is a small town thirty miles southwest of Chang'an City.

Because the town is surrounded by the endless Guanzhong Plain, it is a grain-producing area and the first choice for wealthy families in Chang'an to buy grain.

When Li Zhen and others arrived, it was almost noon.

Their convoy quickly attracted people's attention, but most people stood far away and did not dare to approach. Occasionally, some brave people came forward to ask questions.

Li Zhen was dressed in bright clothes and looked very respectable. He had three large carts and more than ten followers behind him. He did not look like an ordinary person.

He stopped the convoy on the side of the road and asked Li Erhai to go out to inquire about the news. He got off the carriage and let the horse run free to observe the town.

Soon, he frowned.

Li Zhiyong noticed it keenly, "Boss, what's wrong?"

Li Zhen said, "Isn't this a grain-producing area? Why are the people around here so poor? It shouldn't be like this."

On the street, except for the occasional person wearing fancy clothes, most people are half-naked, pale and thin, no different from ordinary people.

There were also many beggars begging for food with broken bowls in their hands. Some of them could not even walk steadily and looked like they might fall down at any time.

Li Zhiyong pondered for a moment and said, "Boss, this is a big grain-producing town, but most of the benefits are taken away by grain merchants and village heads, so most people can't even get enough food and clothing. In addition, there have been droughts or locust plagues in recent years, and there has not been a good harvest in the fields, which is even worse."

Li Zhen frowned.

The people of the Tang Dynasty suffered a lot!

At this time, Li Erhai came back with his men.

"Boss, I understand clearly. There are 18 villages here. Each village has a village head who manages the people. Grain merchants buy grain from the village heads. Generally, the village heads are local tyrants and wealthy people who live in luxurious courtyards."

"Well done!"

Li Zhen looked at him approvingly and said, "Let's go find the village head to buy some food."

After a period of deliberate training, Li Erhai's vision and ability to handle affairs have increased dramatically. Although big things are still a little difficult to handle, he can handle small matters with ease.

The group set out to visit the largest village - Lost City Village.

The amount of land in a village directly determines the wealth of the headman. Micheng Village is a large village with about four hundred households and more than one thousand people.

Upon hearing that they were merchants coming to buy grain, Li Zhen and his companions quickly found out the location of the village head's house.

Under the guidance of the villagers, the convoy drove to a large courtyard with a high gate and stopped.

Li Zhen gestured, "Er Hai, go forward and knock on the door."

As soon as Li Erhai knocked on the door, it creaked open and a servant came out.

"I wonder why you guys come to my Liu family?"

The servant bowed.

Li Erhai stepped forward and handed over a hundred coins. "My son is a merchant from Chang'an City. He wants to buy some food from your place. Please let me know."

"Chang'an City?"

The servant was startled, took the copper coin, ran into the mansion, and came out again soon with a happy face, "Sir, please follow me."

"Oh well."

Li Zhen stepped forward and entered the Liu family mansion.

The Liu family mansion has three courtyards and is approximately ten acres in area.

The courtyard walls are made of blue bricks and black tiles, and the white walls are towering. There is an ancient stone-carved screen wall, and thriving mosses and cacti are growing in the cracks.

Under the guidance of the servant, Li Zhen came to the reception room.

The reception room is decorated in an elegant and simple style, with only two desks and an incense burner inside.

At this time, a voice came from the inner room, and the voice was extremely cheerful.

"It's not surprising that a friend comes from afar!"

"Sir, please come in!"

As he was speaking, a wealthy middle-aged man walked out from the inner room and bowed to Li Zhen.

Li Zhen hurriedly bowed in return, "Hello, Mayor Liu."

"How much food does this gentleman want to buy?"

Liu Fugui said with a smile.

"I want five hundred bushels of wheat and five hundred bushels of corn."

Liu Fugui's eyes lit up. This is a big business!

"Someone come here," Liu Fugui shouted softly.

At this time, a maid came forward and bowed to Liu Fugui.

"master?"

"Hurry up and serve this gentleman a cup of tea."

"Yes."

The maid retreated.

After a moment, the maid came forward with a cup of turbid tea and placed it on the table in front of Li Zhen.

"Enjoy your meal, young master."

Li Zhen hummed softly.

Businessmen are profit-driven, and now that a big customer has come, they naturally dare not be careless in the slightest, for fear of neglecting Li Zhen.

The two sat down again.

Li Zhen opened his mouth and asked, "Excuse me, Village Chief Liu, how much does it cost for the quantity I want?"

"Wheat is twenty-six cents per dou, corn is sixteen cents per dou."

Liu Fugui replied calmly.

Then he said again.

"We are a grain producing area here, so the price is naturally much cheaper than buying it separately in Chang'an City. I wonder if you are satisfied with this price, young master?"

"I opened a winery and need a lot of grain. If Village Chief Liu is honest and trustworthy, I will buy the grain I need from you in the future."

Li Zhen nodded and said softly.

Liu Fugui pondered for a while, and Li Zhen looked at him straight in the eyes with no expression on his face.

Finally, Liu Fugui gritted his teeth and said, "For long-term cooperation, the price of wheat and corn will be reduced by one cent."

"Okay, deal!"

Li Zhen clapped his hands and answered readily.

"Wish we can co-operate well!"

Li Zhen bowed to Liu Fugui.

Liu Fugui took the counting sticks, dialed a few times, and then a number popped out.

"Five hundred bushels of wheat and five hundred bushels of corn, a total of twenty taels of silver."

Li Zhen took out twenty taels of silver and placed it on the coffee table.

Liu Fugui took out the pen, ink, paper and inkstone that he had prepared long ago and began to draft the document.

"I wonder what I call you, young master?"

"My name is Li Zhen, also known as Yunqi!"

Li Zhen said seriously.

"Are you the owner of the Li Family Winery in Chang'an City?"

Li Zhen was slightly surprised. Oh no, could it be that the Cui family also has power here?

"Exactly."

Li Zhen said seriously.

Liu Fugui's face changed immediately, and his hands holding the paper and pen became a little stiff.

"Mr. Li, I'm really sorry, my family's food has all been reserved by the Cui family. Mr. Li, please find another buyer!"

"Oh, bye!"

As expected, I didn't expect that even in this remote area, there is Cui family's influence. It seems that today's trip will be in vain.

Li Zhen was well aware that the grain in Chang'an City was monopolized by the Cui family, but he still had a glimmer of hope. What if there were some that slipped through the net?

Li Zhen walked out of the Liu family's gate and said coldly.

"Next one!"

Li Zhen and others continued to move forward, and when they reached the next village, they encountered a situation similar to the previous one.

After changing three villages in a row, the situation remained the same.

Behind him, Li Zhiyong and others were furious and greeted all the female ancestors of the Cui family for eighteen generations along the way.

It seems that every village head has greeted the Cui family.

Li Zhen said secretly.

what should we do?

Li Zhen was in a dilemma.

Li Erhai was so anxious that he scratched his head, and the others could not think of any good ideas except cursing.

However, after pondering for a while, his eyes suddenly lit up and he got it.