Qiu Yizi saw this and felt relieved. She put the meat on the chopsticks into her mouth, but immediately a fishy smell came out of her mouth. She spat the meat on the table and exclaimed, "What? This meat is raw?"
His shouting immediately frightened Lin Shuhan, Wen Lingjiao and the others. He'er, who was standing by, was the most innocent among the crowd. She immediately took a step back and looked at the dishes on the table carefully. She said with wide eyes, "It's not just this plate of meat. Half of the vegetables here are raw! These people are eating raw meat and drinking blood. We're on a pirate ship!"
As soon as He'er finished speaking, the ship owners Li Zhi and Li Shengjie looked at each other and burst into laughter.
After laughing for a long time, Li Zhi said, "No wonder Master Qiu and this girl are surprised. This is Japanese cuisine, and the most important thing is freshness. If it is overcooked, it will lose its original flavor, so it must be eaten raw. Master, don't underestimate these plates of fish. They were just caught from the sea, killed and cut on the spot. If they were in Japan, they would be sold at a high price."
Li Shengjie also said: "Don't be afraid, Lord Qiu. It may taste a little fishy if you eat it raw. It will taste much better if you dip it in soy sauce or mustard." As he said that, he picked up a piece himself, dipped it in a plate of green mustard, and then swallowed it.
Qiu Yizi also imitated him and put a piece of meat into her mouth, but she didn't dare to swallow it down her throat at once. Instinctively, a pungent smell of mustard rushed through her seven orifices, making the fresh scent of fish spread, but there was not a single fishy smell. She immediately felt refreshed, and it tasted even better when she swallowed it whole. She picked up another piece and tasted it carefully.
Yuchi Jiming at the side also imitated him and ate a piece, and immediately exclaimed: "It's delicious, completely different from what I've eaten before." He turned to Wen Lingjiao and said, "Sister Wen, you should try it too!"
Wen Lingjiao and Lin Shuhan then plucked up the courage to taste it, and they both praised it highly.
Although the raw fish was delicious, it melted in the mouth and was not very filling. Everyone had to eat half of the dishes on the table before they were just barely full.
Qiu Yizhi's mind became clearer after she had some food in her stomach. She put down her chopsticks and asked Li Zhidao, "Captain Li, although I was saved by the captain and the young captain today, I still have many doubts in my heart. I hope the captain can give me some advice."
Li Zhi already knew that Qiu Yizi had something to ask him, and a smile appeared on his face: "I dare not. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me, Mr. Qiu."
Qiu Yizi nodded, tapped the edge of a dish of raw fish with chopsticks, and said, "Captain Li, I'm not afraid of being offended. Although eating raw fish like this tastes great, it is unheard of in the Central Plains. The captain just said that such dishes all come from Japan. This is strange to me. Why is Captain Li so familiar with Japan?"
A complicated expression appeared on Li Zhi's face. After a moment of deep thought, he said, "No wonder you are suspicious. When I tell you my life stories, sometimes even I don't believe them myself! Since you are willing to listen, I will talk more. Let's just treat it as a storytelling in a teahouse."
He calmed himself, took a sip of wine, and said, "I am a native of Jiangnan, originally from Songjiang County, Suzhou Prefecture, and my ancestors were farmers. Master Qiu is a Jinshi, and he knows the rules of the Han Dynasty. If young people want to stand out, the only way is to study hard. However, I am not a good student, and Songjiang is a place with a strong literary atmosphere. I took the Tongsheng exam seven or eight times, but still failed."
After listening to this, Lin Shuhan secretly laughed: "This old man is talking so lively, but it turns out he is just a stupid scholar who can't even pass the examination to become a scholar..." However, his face was still serious.
Li Zhi continued, "Even though I couldn't study and become an official, I still had to make ends meet. When I was young, I spent all my time studying and didn't know how to do farm work. I was about to become a parasite raised by my parents in vain. Then an uncle from the same clan came to my house and said he was doing business outside and needed a literate accountant, so he wanted me to help. I thought at the time that this uncle had opened a restaurant or a pawnshop. Although it wasn't a legitimate business, it could fill my stomach, so I followed him."
"If my guess is correct," Qiu Yizi continued, "I'm afraid the uncle of the old ship owner is doing the same maritime business that the old ship owner is doing now."
Li Zhi smiled faintly: "Master Qiu is giving me face. What is the business on the sea? It is actually smuggling. Master, don't underestimate the word smuggling. You can make a lot of money here, and the money you make is from the Japanese, Westerners, and Southeast Asians. Although it is just an unorthodox way, the money earned is clean."
Qiu Yizi asked, "I grew up in Youyan Dao when I was young, and I have seen many merchants from Bohai, Turkic and even the Western Regions in Guangyang City. If everyone does business according to the law, they can still make a living. Why do they do something illegal like smuggling?"
A gleam of inspiration flashed in Li Zhi's eyes, and he immediately covered it up with a smile. Just as he was about to answer, he heard Lin Shuhan say:
"Trade in the north may seem similar to trade in the south, but in fact, there is a world of difference. In the north, the Han people want to do business with foreigners. In other words, the main purpose is to control several nomadic tribes in the north, so that they can concentrate on trading with the Han people and not invade them. It is also a good way to exchange a few horses. In the south, foreigners and barbarians want to do business with the Han people. What they are interested in is the silk, porcelain, tea and other things produced by the Han people..."
"No wonder Mr. Lin is so famous. A scholar is so familiar with the way of governing the country and benefiting the people! Every word you said is on point, and it is more profound than what I have thought for so many years!" Li Zhi flattered, "It's not just silk and porcelain. Take Japan for example. Let alone silk, even an ordinary piece of paper, a needle, or a clay pot, as long as it can be sent to Japan, it will be a profitable business! Unfortunately, Japan has nothing but gold, silver, and Japanese swords, so they have to trade with us with these things. These things are all valuable in the Han Dynasty, and both sides can benefit from the exchange. This is how this profitable business is done."
Qiu Yizi nodded and asked, "What the old ship owner said is very insightful, but it only answered the second half of the question. Since trading with Japan is so profitable, why would the old ship owner want to save a few customs duties? Going around the prefectures and provinces to get a customs clearance document, even if it costs more money and energy, can save you from being so worried now." As he spoke, Qiu Yizi raised his glass and toasted Li Zhi.
Li Zhi also raised his glass and clinked it with Qiu Yizhi's glass respectfully, then drank it all in one gulp, and then said, "Your Excellency is a government official, so it is reasonable for you to say so. However, things are not as easy as you say. I don't know about other places, but these officials in the officialdom of Jiangnan speak with silver in their voices. How can such a profitable business as doing business with foreigners escape their eyes? The customs documents of the Han Dynasty are only two or three hundred in a year, and the officials still think it is not enough for themselves!"
Li Zhi sighed and continued, "A few years ago, we could still get a few documents by chance. But since Governor Yin—that Governor Yin who had some conflicts with Lord Qiu—came to Jiangnan, he has completely monopolized the maritime trade of Mingzhou Port. Seeing that Governor Yin had made a fortune, the King of Lingnan followed suit and tightly controlled the customs documents of the two ports of Quanzhou and Guangzhou. Apart from the close friends of these two, merchants with connections could not get customs documents..."
The more Qiu Yizi listened, the more surprised he was. He did not expect that overseas trade was not only related to Yin Chengliang, who had previously controlled the Jiangnan area, but also implicated Zheng Gui, the King of Lingnan.
So Qiu Yizi hurriedly turned her head to look at her think tank Lin Shuhan, and saw that he was also looking at her tacitly, pursed his lips and shook his head, indicating Qiu Yizi not to talk about this topic in depth.
Qiu Yizi understood what he meant, and said with a smile: "In this case, Captain Li's business should be getting harder and harder. But I think since the captain can afford such a big ship, a few customs documents should not be a problem for the old captain."
Li Zhi smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "I had thought of buying documents from officials before. But I had to rely on my reputation to find the son of Governor Yin. When I asked him the price, I was shocked. He didn't offer a price, but asked how much he could make from one trip, and he wanted to take half."
Qiu Yizhi was shocked again when he heard this: "The son of Governor Yin that Captain Li mentioned, is he the one named Yin Tai?"
Li Zhi opened his eyes wide: "Why? Master Qiu also knows Master Yin?"
Qiu Yizi laughed at himself: "More than knowing each other, we are sworn enemies."
Li Zhi seemed to be relieved and said, "Fortunately, Lord Yin Chengliang has ruined the matter. If he was still in power and knew that my son saved Lord Qiu today, then I would not have to do business in Jiangnan anymore."
"Now that we've come to this point," Qiu Yizi frowned and said, "I'll dare to ask one more question. This Yin Tai is said to have some connection with the Japanese. Even the massive invasion of the Japanese pirates this time was instigated by him. I wonder if the old ship owner knows about this matter?"
Li Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Since Master Yin is in charge of overseas trade for his father, it's not surprising that he knows some Japanese. As for how close his relationship with the Japanese is, I'm not sure."
Uncle Lin laughed coldly, "Old Captain, don't be so modest. I saw clearly just now that although those Japanese pirates were extremely vicious, they all fled when they saw the white whale red flag in your hand. Since the Li family has such a high reputation among the Japanese, don't you really know the relationship between Yin Tai and the Japanese?"
"It is said that Mr. Bansong is resourceful and resourceful, and his reputation is well-deserved. Alas!" Li Zhi sighed and smiled to himself, "To be honest, the Li family does have some reputation among the Japanese. This is a long story, I wonder if you are willing to listen to my nonsense?"
Qiu Yizhi knew that although he didn't know how much of what the old man said was true and how much was false, everything he said was strange and bizarre that he had never heard of before. The more he listened, the more interesting he found it, so he quickly agreed, "Captain Li, please enlighten me."
Li Zhi heaved a sigh of relief and said, "I have already said that I am in the smuggling business. The bigger the business, the greater the crime. The uncle who led me to the sea was caught by the navy and was chopped to death at the Quanzhou dock without any trial. I am afraid that this day will come, so I moved my parents, brothers, wife and children to Japan a long time ago. Although I live overseas, at least my life is not in danger."
Li Zhi took a sip of wine and continued, "Japan is different from the Han. They don't care about hierarchy or ethics. They only care about strength. I have been doing business for a long time and have good luck. Soon I have accumulated a considerable industry. My merchant ships and sailors are among the best on the sea. I am not bragging, but there are not many people in Japan who are as strong as me!" (To be continued)