Chapter Seventy-Nine: Guiding the Lost

According to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty government, anyone traveling more than a hundred li from their residence was required to obtain a travel pass from the local yamen. This pass functioned much like a modern letter of introduction or travel permit. Without it, one could be arrested by the authorities as a vagrant or a bandit. Furthermore, the pass specified both the dates and the route of travel, which could not be exceeded. Of course, these restrictions generally applied only to ordinary citizens; those who held official rank were still required to carry a travel pass, but theirs did not restrict their itinerary or timing, allowing them the freedom to roam the realm.

When Zhou Zhi heard Hu Zhe mention how difficult it was to obtain a travel pass, he asked in surprise, “Brother Hu, travel is a common occurrence, so why is it so hard to get a pass? From what I know, the management of travel passes isn’t as strict as it used to be in our dynasty.”

What Zhou Zhi said was true. In the early Ming period, travel passes were strictly managed, but by the mid-dynasty, the regulations had relaxed significantly, and there were even cases of impersonators using false identities.

Hu Zhe frowned and replied, “Brother, you may not know this, but although the management of travel passes is indeed not as strict as before, our Qingdu County is different from other places, especially for merchants. For them, it is exceedingly difficult to obtain a pass.

“Do you know who owns the silk and cotton guild in Qingdu County?”

Zhou Zhi gently shook his head. In all his life, the farthest he had traveled was to this very Gaochang Town; he had never been to Qingdu County itself.

Hu Zhe continued, “The person who owns the largest silk and cotton guild in Qingdu County is an influential figure—Yang Tong, the county assistant magistrate.

“By right, travel passes are issued by the household registration office of the county yamen. In the past, it wasn’t so difficult; a few coins would be enough for a clerk to readily write one. But since Yang Tong took office this year, he has seized control over the issuing office. Every resident who wishes to obtain a travel pass must get past him.

“Think about it. He owns the silk and cotton guild and wants to monopolize the entire market in Qingdu County. Why would he issue travel passes to other merchants like us?”

Zhou Zhi was silent for a long while after listening.

Wasn’t this Yang Tong the man whom the Yue family’s youngest daughter, Yue Chan from Baiyue Village, had married as his third concubine? No wonder the Yue family could transport silk and cotton from as far as three hundred li away in Zhendin Prefecture—it was all thanks to Assistant Magistrate Yang Tong.

An assistant magistrate was a proper eighth-rank official under the imperial system and the second-in-command in Qingdu County. How could ordinary people afford to cross him?

Faced with such a situation, Zhou Zhi naturally had no solution. Was he supposed to reason with Yang Tong, the assistant magistrate? What a joke—he was just a poor youth with no connections or status. How could he ever hope to meet the assistant magistrate? And even if he did, why would Yang Tong pay him any mind?

It seemed that over these days, Hu Zhe had finally unburdened himself, and a faint smile returned to his face. “Look at me—complaining about such vexing matters the very first time we meet, Brother Zhou. I shouldn’t have done that. Come, Brother Zhou, have some tea!”

Zhou Zhi smiled as well, raised his teacup, and took a few sips. Suddenly, an idea came to him, and his eyes lit up. “Brother Hu, it’s true we cannot challenge the assistant magistrate, but your family’s silk and cotton business has been running for years. You can’t just give up now. Why not think of another approach to the silk and cotton trade?”

Hu Zhe forced a bitter smile. “If there were other ways, the three of us merchants would have thought of them long ago. Why else would we keep struggling when business is so bleak?”

Zhou Zhi chuckled. “Brother Hu, what do the common folk do with the raw cotton they buy?”

“Why, they make winter clothes and quilts, of course,” Hu Zhe replied.

“Exactly. Why don’t you process the raw cotton into finished products—quilts, padded jackets, and such? That would be a form of deep processing. Add some variety, make them brighter and more attractive than what people make at home, and surely customers will come to you.”

“This…” Hu Zhe hesitated. He was a shrewd man, though, and after a moment’s thought, he clapped his hands. “That could work! There are tailoring shops around, but there aren’t any stores selling ready-made quilts or padded clothes. I could hire some workers to make the popular styles of padded jackets and quilts. Ha!”

With that, he stood up and bowed deeply to Zhou Zhi. “Thank you, Brother Zhou, for showing me the way.”

Zhou Zhi quickly rose as well, laughing. “Come now, Brother Hu, please sit down. It was only a suggestion. You could also hire people to spin the raw cotton into thread and make knitted goods—like undershirts and scarves.”

Hu Zhe immediately frowned. “Knitted goods? What are undershirts and scarves?”

Zhou Zhi realized that such terms probably didn’t exist in the Ming Dynasty. Ever since he had arrived in this world, he hadn’t seen any such items.

No matter if they existed elsewhere, the absence of these items around Gaochang Town was an opportunity.

So, Zhou Zhi patiently explained what undershirts and scarves were. As for knitting by hand, he had often seen women making sweaters in the world he came from and had even learned the basics out of curiosity. It wasn’t difficult, so he demonstrated the method to Hu Zhe.

Hu Zhe was quick-witted and soon understood Zhou Zhi’s idea, thinking it over carefully. With his skillful hands, he would have no trouble learning, and once he did, he could teach the women he hired. Soon, items like undershirts and scarves could be produced.

It should be noted that by this time, the Ming Dynasty was already quite advanced, and the women of wealthier households were especially particular about their attire, always seeking the latest fashions. Scarves and undershirts would certainly be considered trendy. If Hu Zhe marketed them well, his shop’s fortunes would surely improve.

After hearing Zhou Zhi’s advice, Hu Zhe’s respect for him grew immensely, and he thanked him repeatedly.

Zhou Zhi laughed, “Come now, Brother Hu, what are you saying? By helping you, I am also helping my sister!”

Hu Zhe, of course, understood that Zhou Zhi’s eagerness to help was because he was to be Hu Zhe’s future brother-in-law. Still, since Hu Zhi and Zhou Luyun weren’t yet married, Zhou Zhi’s words made him blush a deep red.

Hu Zhe admired and liked Zhou Zhi even more, and insisted that he stay for lunch. But Zhou Zhi explained that there was much to do at home, and as it was still early, he wanted to look around the town, so he took his leave from the cotton shop.

He first bought five jin of the best pork leg from the butcher, then pushed his small cart along the commercial street, glancing here and there.

Soon, he came upon a shop called “Four Treasures Studio,” selling brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

In his former life, Zhou Zhi had been an amateur calligrapher, with a particular passion for the small regular script of Guan Daosheng and Zhao Mengfu. Though he still had some ink and the sheets Wang Ding had given him, he couldn’t resist pausing in front of the shop.