The next morning, Xiao Fan asked someone to notify Xiao Wen and the two brothers of Xiao Wu to come.

This time I went back to Suzhou with Zhao Paner. In addition to representing Qian to attend the polo meeting organized by Mrs. Sun, there is another purpose to let Zhao Paner thoroughly understand the industry in Suzhou.

Moreover, after the polo club, he had to go to various farms and salt villages to inspect them. He also wanted to expand the scale and buy two more boats to go to Nanyang business.

It is no trivial to buy a ship. After all, even a medium-sized merchant ship with a capacity of 3,000 yuan is a cost of tens of thousands of guan. His cousin Qian Lang wanted to buy a large merchant ship with a capacity of 5,000 yuan, which cost 25,000 yuan per thing.

However, for the money earned from ocean trade, the cost of buying a ship is nothing.

His previous merchant ships traveled to and from Nanyang once a year. When he went there, he transported silk, tea and porcelain, and when he came back, he brought Nanyang's coral, spices, pearls and other specialties.

Excluding the market tax and crew wages, you can earn about 30,000 to 40,000 yuan in one trip, which can be considered a real huge profit.

However, although the profit is large, the risk is not small. Once you encounter an accidental shipwreck or a pirate who kills and robs, you will lose all your money. Many small sea merchants are destroyed because of this.

Not long after, Xiao Wen and Xiao Wu brothers rushed over immediately after receiving the summons.

"I wonder what instructions did the young master summon my brothers to come?"

Xiao Wen is in his thirties and is calm and has always been in charge of the salt farm and shops for Xiao Fan. Knowing that with Xiao Fan's personality and trust in them, he would definitely not be so anxious to come to them.

Therefore, as soon as he saw Xiao Fan, he asked Xiao Fan about the reason for calling their brothers.

As for Xiao Wu, he stood behind his brother and looked indifferent. For him, he just came over to obey the instructions, and he could do whatever the young master asked him to do.

The two brothers with different personalities in front of him were the sons of the Xiao family. They grew up with Xiao Fan since childhood and were his right-hand man.

"Brother Wen, don't be so reserved. Today I asked you brothers to come here to meet you and Pan'er. After all, she will take care of the family's property in the future. You will explain the specific situation to her later." Xiao Fan patted Xiao Wen's shoulder and said.

"Madam!" Xiao Wen and Xiao Wu hurriedly greeted respectfully.

"Brother Wen, Brother Wu, it's okay for me to call you like an official? You don't have to be polite. In the future, the business of the salt farm and shops will depend on you two." Zhao Pan'er smiled.

"Madam has ruined us. Since the young master asked you to take over these industries, no matter what happens in the future, it depends on the instructions of the wife." Xiao Wen said respectfully.

Xiao Wu looked at it and clasped his fists and said, "So much me."

"Since you are the confidants of my family, I naturally trust you. You can sit down first," Zhao Paner and Xiao Fan sat down and signaled to Xiao Wen, Xiao Wu also sat down, and then ordered Xiao Zhao, "Xiao Zhao, go and serve tea quickly."

"More ladies!" Xiao Wen and Xiao Wu said nothing after seeing Xiao Fan greeting him. He knew that Xiao Fan was asking Zhao Paner to be fully responsible. After looking at each other, he sat down and waited for Zhao Paner's next order.

"By the way, when Brother Wu went to Qiantang, he said to Brother Wen, you want to expand our salt farm business, and then the official asked him to return to Suzhou to assist Brother Wen. I wonder what the situation is now?" Zhao Paner asked.

"Madam, we have hired a lot of salt workers and guards during this period, and have temporarily returned to the previous level." Xiao Wen replied.

"Then tell me about the specific situation of the shop in the salt farm you are in charge of."

"Our five salt farms are all in Xiuzhou. Although we lost a lot of guards before, because our reputation is still there, it has little impact in a short period of time. After recruiting guards again, we calmed down again."

"As for the shops, our shops are mainly salt and grain shops along the canal. Suzhou, Hangzhou, Yuezhou and Xiuzhou have several shops selling spices and jewelry we brought back."

"What's the profit situation?" Zhao Paner asked again.

"The grain shop and salt shop combined had an income of more than 35,000 guan last year, and the spice and jewelry shop also had an income of 20,000 guan last year. However, the money I made before was used to expand business, and now the cash in the warehouse is less than 100,000 guan."

"One hundred thousand guan? Then remember to prepare 50,000 guan for backup at any time. We will buy two more large merchant ships that can travel to Nanyang this time."

Xiao Fan had previously mentioned to Zhao Paner that Qianlang wanted to buy two more ships, but the money was not enough to buy the goods behind the ship.

Qian Lang sent someone to Qiantang to ask Xiao Fan, so Zhao Paner asked Xiao Wen to prepare the money and planned to check if he bought a boat after understanding the situation.

"Buy a boat? Did my cousin tell his wife?"

"Yes, I think it's quite profitable to go to Nanyang. My cousin said he wanted to buy two more boats and hire more people. He would be able to form a fleet and go out to sea in two years." Zhao Paner, like Xiao Fan, was optimistic about the trade in Nanyang.

"Madam, don't look at Nanyang's profits, but the risks are also high. Xiuzhou has lost all its money every year due to ship disasters. It's better to continue to expand its business on the mainland. If it really doesn't work, it's better to buy more farms. Although you make less money, you can't lose money!" Xiao Wen didn't quite agree to make money through sea trade, so he argued with Zhao Paner.

"How can we do business without risks? Our ship goes out to sea with the Qian family's fleet, and we are not afraid of pirates at all. We are also taking familiar routes, which are not comparable to those small sea merchants." Zhao Paner said uneasy.

"Also, our on-land business is not going to continue to do it. We can use the remaining money to continue to expand these stable businesses in grain and salt farms."

"Yes, follow the instructions of the wife." Although Xiao Wen was still unhappy that Zhao Paner had reduced his investment in land business and instead strengthened the maritime trade, he decided to do it honestly as Zhao Paner told him. Anyway, he had already done his best to dissuade him.

"Okay, don't be sad. I mean to stay for dinner and increase investment in sea trade." Xiao Fan walked to Xiao Wen and patted his shoulder, and said with a little melancholy: "My father was demoted from Beijing this time, so we should be low-key. The business on the sea is not as conspicuous as on land."

"Don't worry, my master, I will do what my wife told me."

"Young Master, let's go and practice now?" Xiao Wu saw that the main thing had been discussed, and began to make an appointment with Xiao Fan.

"Let's go, practice, let me see if you have made progress these days?"

The result was obvious that Xiao Wu was no match at all. He couldn't resist it after a few moves and waved his hand to indicate that he would not fight anymore.

…………………
Chapter completed!