Chapter 581: Just wait
Fang Zhijun unlocked the door of his shop.
Shi Qingluo walked in and saw that there were many tables and chairs inside. There was also a counter for the shopkeeper to collect money.
This place indeed occupied a large area.
The first floor was about two to three hundred square meters.
"Your wine shop is quite big." she said.
"This is our family's biggest wine shop." Fang Zhijun replied with a smile.
"Back then, Northern City had not yet become Prince Jin's territory. Although it was a prefecture city, it was not very lively, so the price of a lane was not expensive. My great-grandfather bought land in Northern City and built this shop here. Later, this place gradually became the main street of Northern City."
"Ever since Prince Jin came to Northern City, this city has undergone tremendous changes. It has become more and more prosperous and lively. My family's shop is also the biggest shop on the main street."
Therefore, its current value is many times higher than when it was built.
The price of land and shops in Northern City were rising every year.
If the Tu family only wanted to suppress their distillery, then even if they stopped making wine and selling it, they could still rely on renting out a dozen distilleries to make a living.
However, the Tu family had even targeted their family's wine shop, wanting to buy it at the price they had paid ten years ago, which was very difficult for their family to accept.
They didn't want to sell their wineries and shops to the Tu family, even if they had to close their shops and leave them vacant.
Originally, they had also thought of renting it out if no one took over.
There were quite a few people who were interested, but every time they contacted their family, they would be targeted by the Tu family.
After that, there was no more follow-up.
They were all threatened, bribed, or intimidated by the Tu family.
It was also because they were unwilling to sell the wine shops to the Tu family that a few of his uncles had their arms and legs broken when they went out.
So he had no choice but to go to Xiao Hanzheng.
When Shi Qingluo bought their wineries and shops, their family sold them at a price 10% lower than the market price.
Even if she preferred to buy it at the market price, they wouldn't agree.
If she hadn't taken over, they would have to sell their wineries and shops at an even lower price.
Fang Zhijun knew that if Shi Qingluo didn't buy them and he didn't manage to get anyone to help their family, they would have no choice but to sell their distilleries and wine shops to the Tu family in order to pay for their family members' treatments and set aside some travel expenses to return to their hometown.
This was also something that the Tu family had already pre-planned, so they were very daring.
"Not bad, I'm very satisfied." Shi Qingluo was very satisfied with the size of the wine shop. The tables and chairs were also readily available.
It could be used to set up a buffet after some renovations.
Then a few of them went upstairs to take a look.
The upstairs area was the same as the downstairs, but it was not used to entertain guests in the past but to place wine jars.
There were still many wine jars on display.
"Why didn't you sell these wines?" she asked.
"If you lower the price, there should still be people who will buy it."
Those at the northern border were valiant people, and there were many who liked to drink.
There were also tribes from the grasslands who often came to buy wine.
If the price was lowered by a few percent, there would always be people who would buy it.
It was better than holding back the stock.
She knew that the Tu family had poached a few of the winemakers the Fang family had hired.
These masters had even taken the Fang family's winemaking techniques with them.
After that, the Tu family found a few people to pretend that something had happened after drinking the Fang family's wine, and even let someone die from it.
This ruined the Fang family's winery's reputation, and Fang Zhijun's father was even taken to prison for a period of time.
If her young husband had not been appointed as the magistrate and released him, who knew how long his father would have been locked up?
However, when he returned, he was so angry that he fell ill.
"I was thinking of selling the rest of the wine at a low price." Fang Zhijun said with a bitter smile.
"If we put it out for sale, many people would want to buy it, but the Tu family bribed some local ruffians to cause trouble. They will beat up whoever dares to buy our wine."
"I went to report it to the officials, but the former magistrate didn't dare to care at all and played deaf and mute. Other than cutting off our escape route, the Tu family also wants to buy the rest of our wine at a low price."
"When the time comes, they can make a lot of money from a resale." he continued.
If they bought the wine at a lower price and sold it at the original price, the Tu family could make a fortune without much effort.
That was why they had ruined their wine sale.
Upon hearing this, Shi Qingluo frowned.
"The Tu family is too overbearing and shameless."
They simply didn't give the Fang family a way out, blocking their family's survival.
They could only choose to sell everything to the Tu family, but they would also lose the accumulated results of the family's business over the years.
The key was that these tactics were too dark.
If the Tu family defeated the Fang family in winemaking and crushed them openly, it could only be said that the Fang family's skills were inferior.
However, the Tu family's wine was not much better than the Fang family's wine.
They used their family history to dominate the largest market in the northern border, and they even suppressed others with dirty tactics.
They were really shameless.
Fang Zhijun nodded in agreement. "That's right. I heard that the reason why the Tu family knew how to make wine was that they stole the recipe from a wine-making family in the previous dynasty."
Otherwise, the Tu family's wine making history wouldn't have been as long as the Fang family's.
Shi Qingluo's impression of the Tu family was even worse.
"It's alright. This time, we'll give them a taste of their own medicine."
Fang Zhijun nodded. "I'll support you fully."
After looking at the shop, Shi Qingluo asked Fang Zhijun to take her to see the distilleries and other wine shops.
After reading it, Shi Qingluo understood why the Tu family not only wanted to drive the Fang family away, but also lowered the price to buy their distilleries and wine shops.
The Fang family's wine workshop occupied a large area.
It was in a good location in Northern City, and had a full set of equipment for brewing wine. There was even a large wine cellar.
Every wine shop was located on a busy street, and there had been a period of time with a fixed number of customers.
They could earn money once they took over the business.
Shi Qingluo was quite satisfied after seeing the wineries and the wine shop.
Then she asked someone to go to her house to get the silver notes, and she went to yamen with Fang Zhijun to handle the procedures of transferring the ownership of the distilleries and wine shops.
When they came out of the yamen, all of the the Fang family's distilleries and wine shops belonged to Shi Qingluo.
Now that the wineries belonged to Shi Qing, it was naturally impossible for it to hang the Fang family's plaque.
Hence, Shi Qingluo ordered someone to make a new signboard and was prepared to hang it up in a few days.
She was too lazy to think of a name for it, so she just named it "Nanxi Winery."
The place where she came to this world was Nanxi County.
That was the place she met her young husband's family and had a home.
She felt that it was quite memorable.
So when everyone told her to give it a new name, this was the first thing she thought of.
Shi Qingluo did not try to cover up her actions.
Hence, the moment they left the yamen, those from Prince Jin's manor and the Tu family's manor knew of this matter.
Tu Lihuan, who had been waiting to reap the fruits of his victory, heard the report from those who had been keeping an eye on the Fang family.
His face darkened.
"Fang Zhijun, Shi Qingluo, just wait." he gritted his teeth.
After planning for two years, he wasn't only going to trample over the Fang family, but also to take over the Fang family's distilleries and wine shops.
Who would have guessed Shi Qingluo would jeopardize his chances of success? How could he not be angry?
Chapter 582: This move was really good
Tu Lihuan's face was dark as he went straight to Madam Tu's courtyard.
Madam Tu's face darkened after she heard this. "Is Shi Qingluo deliberately going against our family?"
Her son had put in so much effort to set up this trap for so long, but Shi Qingluo had gone overboard just like that.
She was really furious.
"She must have done it on purpose." Tu Lihuan said.
"Mother, do you think she really knows how to brew wine?"
"I've never heard of Shi Qingluo being able to brew wine." Madam Tu said after some thought.
"I was previously thinking about how Shi Qingluo will serve good wine at a banquet if she doesn't know how to brew wine? Now we know her plans. Perhaps she's already set her eyes on the Fang family's winery."
When Tu Lihuan heard this, he immediately reacted.
"You mean the wine Shi Qingluo bring to the banquet will be from the Fang family, rather than the wine she brewed herself?"
Madam Tu nodded. "That's right. Otherwise, how could you explain that she wanted to buy the Fang family's distilleries and wine shop? Your men have heard that the Fang family has sold their distilleries and wine shops to Shi Qingluo. She also ordered people to make a new plaque. Since it's called Nanxi Winery, it means that she still wants to use these shops to open a winery. Then she'll be using the Fang family's wine."
She sneered. "Send someone to keep an eye on her. If I'm not mistaken, Shi Qingluo has most likely persuaded the Fang family to stay and assist her."
She had thought that Shi Qingluo was very powerful, but it turned out that she was also using someone else's wine.
Tu Lihuan thought about it and felt that it made sense. "Alright. If that's the case, we'll get someone to expose the wine being brewed by the Fang family on the day of the banquet. By then, Shi Qingluo will also be embarrassed."
After all, the Southern Marquis had said in front of everyone that the wine Shi Qingluo brewed was much better than the one his mother brewed.
Shi Qingluo had also agreed tacitly to this matter, stating that she would allow everyone to drink the truly good wine at the banquet.
Shi Qingluo would be bragging in front of everyone if she used the wine brewed by the Fang family, and it would be equivalent to slapping herself in the face.
"It's necessary to expose her in public, but we also must let everyone know in advance." Madam Tu sneered again.
"I'll have someone spread the word that Shi Qingluo will be using the Fang family's wine in her banquet. Many people have tried the Fang family's wine before. When those attending the banquet drink it, they will know that the rumors are true."
"When the time comes, I'll get someone to expose her. If someone else goes along with it, I'll see how Shi Qingluo will be embarrassed. Even Mr. Xiao, the magistrate, will be embarrassed. If we can destroy the Fang family, we can also destroy Shi Qingluo, who still has to rely on the Fang family to have a leading edge."
She narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "When their distilleries and wine shops are ready for operation, we'll make sure they can't sell any wine. They'll lose money every day. I don't believe they can last very long. At that time, Shi Qingluo will have to return the distilleries and wine shops that are now under her name."
Now, she hated Shi Qingluo completely and said, "Go and prepare a few women with outstanding looks and unique characteristics. Look for an opportunity to present them to Magistrate Xiao."
She had heard that Shi Qingluo and Xiao Hanzheng had a good relationship and he even supported her all along.
What would happen to Shi Qingluo if Xiao Hanzheng suddenly had another woman?
She was waiting for Shi Qingluo to break down and cry after Xiao Hanzheng's love for her was snatched away by another woman.
It was obvious that this was not the first time Tu Lihuan had done something like this.
He smiled knowingly and said, "Alright, I'll get it done right away."
Since she had ruined their plans, he naturally had to take revenge.
According to the news the Tu family was spreading, Shi Qingluo had taken over the Fang family's distilleries and wine shops very fast.
Those who were well-informed naturally knew that the reason the Fang family was in such a miserable state was because the Tu family targeted them.
In Northern City, other than the Prince Jin Manor, the Tu family was the most powerful.
The other aristocratic families would not take the initiative to offend the Tu family, let alone the small and medium-sized aristocratic families.
Therefore, even if everyone knew what was going on deep down, no one dared to interfere in the Fang family's affairs.
Of course, many people secretly complained that the Tu family did things with no specific reasoning, but this was also the benefit of being in power.
However, no one had expected Shi Qingluo to be so arrogant.
Not only had she slapped Madam Tu in the face at the banquet, but she had also snatched the fruit that the Tu family wanted.
They were really in a conflict.
However, if Shi Qingluo used the Fang family's wine to entertain guests, it would also fall short.
Most people believed this news. After all, no one had ever heard that Shi Qingluo knew how to brew wine.
Moreover, the wine brewed by the Tu family was already very good.
Even if Shi Qingluo knew how to brew wine, the possibility of her surpassing it was not high.
It was also because of this that when everyone received the invitations from Shi Qingluo and Xiao Hanzheng the next day, no one declined or refused.
Everyone was ready to go see if Shi Qingluo and the Tu family put on a good show at the banquet.
Prince Jin also received an invitation from Xiao Hanzheng and said that he would be there to show his support.
In fact, even he had not expected Shi Qingluo to take over the Fang family's distilleries and wine shops.
The Tu family had completely submitted to him.
Over the years, they provided him with a lot of money every year to raise his troops.
As a result, he ignored the Tu family's attempt to force the Fang family with no way out and subsequently absorb the Fang family's assets.
Who knew that Shi Qingluo would get involved and go against the Tu family?
He was still thinking about how to deal with it when he received another news.
Shi Qingluo had spent money to buy the Fang family's distilleries and wine shops, and his bastard brother, Xi Rui, Liang Youxiao, the fifth prince, and Xi Rong had each paid a portion of it.
Afterwards, Shi Qingluo would give each of them 10% of the monthly profits.
It was the same as tying their interests to the winery.
This also made it a little difficult for him to make a move.
After all, the few people involved were not ordinary people with no power or influence.
They all had strong backgrounds.
He still had to accumulate strength for a rebellion, so it wasn't appropriate to offend the Xi and Liang families now.
The fifth prince and Xi Rong had the emperor behind them, so he couldn't do anything to them for now.
As for his bastard younger brother, it would be even more difficult to deal with him.
Last time, he had sent people to kill Liang Yulin, but they had failed.
In the end, this guy took revenge on him.
Not only had he suffered heavy losses, but he had also lost several places where he had raised capable people.
This caused him to suffer a greater loss.
Thus, before he had the confidence to kill Liang Yulin, he wouldn't make a move.
Shi Qingluo's tactic was so good that he couldn't do anything to her.
Very soon, Master Tu came to visit.
Master Tu was also bearing a grudge against Shi Qingluo for ruining his son's plan.
He was about to take revenge, but he found out about Shi Qingluo's winery and that she pulled Prince Yi and the others into her scheme.
Other than the Fang family, none of the other people who had boarded on Shi Qingluo's boat was within his control.
He had no choice but to find Prince Jin.
When Liang Yujun saw him, he did not promise to help and only said that he would provide support behind the scenes.
Regarding how to deal with Shi Qingluo and reclaim the distilleries and wine shops under her name, the Tu family had to rely on themselves.
He didn't keep useless people by his side.
Although Master Tu didn't receive any assistance from Prince Jin on the surface, he was relieved to learn that Prince Jin would support him in secret.
Hence, he helped his wife and youngest son find someone who would deliberately pick a fight and cooperate with them at the banquet.
He had also received an invitation and would be attending the banquet.