Throughout history, Jiangnan has been a land of great scholars, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties. According to the Ming and Qing Jinshi Examination Records, from the first examination in 1371 to the last in 1904, there were 201 imperial exams held, producing 51,681 successful candidates. Of these, 7,877 were from Jiangnan, making up 15.24% of the total. This means that one out of every seven successful candidates came from Jiangnan, a remarkable proportion.
From a modern perspective, Jiangnan's cultural leadership was closely linked to its economic prosperity. In the northwest, where each person might have dozens of acres of land and still go hungry, a few acres in the water-rich Jiangnan could easily support a scholar. In such conditions, a rich cultural atmosphere naturally developed.
Wealthy scholars in Jiangnan often spent their money on more than just seeking beautiful companions or building grand houses; they also invested in books, amassing collections of rare and precious volumes. The region, known for its rich culture, saw many families and scholars dedicated to preserving and expanding their collections, even as the tides of history swept many of these treasures into obscurity.
One such figure was Zhou Shuming, who, like many in Jiangnan, had a deep love for books. When he heard that Huang Xuan was looking to purchase rare and valuable books, he laughed heartily and declared, "This is no problem! In Jiaxing, we may not be known for many things, but when it comes to books, we are unmatched."
"But I'm unfamiliar with this area…" Huang Xuan hesitated.
"You can leave it to me," Zhou Shuming assured him, eager to help. "In Jiaxing…"
Before he could continue boasting, Huang Xuan interrupted, adopting a serious tone, "My father already has a substantial collection. This time, I'm here to purchase rare editions, and if possible, some unique manuscripts."
Zhou Shuming, stroking his beard, smiled. "And which ones might those be?" In this turbulent time, many ancient books from Jiaxing had been lost or scattered, but the ongoing political unrest meant there were still many valuable texts to be found.
Huang Xuan gently shook his head, pointing towards the warehouse. "I've brought over 1,500 stones of grain this time. I've already sold 200 stones to Xieqiao Grain Store. If you can handle it, the rest is yours in exchange for just ten books."
The clamor of the dock workers echoed around them, but Zhou Shuming stood frozen, as if struck by lightning. The grain was worth over 20,000 yuan, meaning this young man was willing to spend 2,000 yuan on a single book. Zhou Shuming licked his lips and responded loudly, "Young Master Huang, give me a few days, and I will make sure to purchase the entire warehouse of grain."
"That would be best," Huang Xuan replied with equal volume. "But I can only stay for five days at most, so don't keep me waiting."
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
While Huang Xuan was busy protecting the cultural heritage of mankind, Manager Zhu of Xieqiao Grain Store was practically running himself ragged. His store didn't have enough capital, so after informing his boss, he and the steward of the Zhu family gathered 1,000 silver dollars from the warehouse and discreetly contacted friendly shops to pool their resources and buy all of Huang Xuan's grain. Manager Zhu knew those were top-quality seed grains, far more valuable than the asking price, and he suspected there was even more on the way. Even his usually indifferent boss was eager to make a big profit.
By the afternoon, rumors of large shipments of grain arriving in Jiaxing had spread like wildfire, causing a stir in the city's grain market. Manager Zhu, initially determined to find out who started the rumor, quickly realized it was futile and instead focused on rushing to the dock with the silver.
After confirming the quantity with Jiang Yisheng, Huang Xuan ordered the workers to place the crates of silver coins inside the warehouse, then quietly transferred them into the dimensional corridor. Only after everything was secure did he step outside and say to Manager Zhu, "So, it's a deal. The grain in this warehouse now belongs to Xieqiao Grain Store."
"Good, good," Manager Zhu responded, rubbing his hands together in excitement. Watching his men tally the inventory, the cold wind finally cooled his enthusiasm. He hurried back to Huang Xuan, bowing slightly. "Young Master Huang, I hear you have another shipment of grain on the way?"
The silver was still in the dimensional corridor, so where had Manager Zhu heard that? Huang Xuan smirked but maintained his polite expression. "Indeed, there's another thousand stones on the way. But Mr. Zhou Shuming has already claimed it all. I'm about to finalize the deal with him."
"That old fox," Manager Zhu muttered, baring his teeth. "Young Master Huang, we've had a good transaction, and our store is sincere. Might you reconsider and sell this next batch to us instead?"
"It's not impossible," Huang Xuan repeated what he had told Zhou Shuming earlier, ignoring the stunned expression on Manager Zhu's face. "I'll be waiting at the inn in town for your good news."
Since ancient times, merchants have been driven by profit, and the so-called national capitalists of China were no exception. Upon receiving the report from his manager, the head of the Zhu family and current owner of Xieqiao Grain Store, Zhu Hongren, picked up his cane and began pacing his small garden. As for the other grain stores that had already fallen behind the Zhu family, they too were scurrying around, trying to gather information.
A thousand stones of grain might not seem like much, even during today's grain shortage. But the idea of trading a thousand stones of grain for just ten books stirred the merchants' imaginations. Like sharks smelling blood or wolves sensing prey, they began circling, eager for a share of the profit.