As a result innkeepers raised their prices for artisans who depended on credit.
Various sections of this powerful innkeepers' confederation, especially those of the capital, responded favourably.
As we have seen, innkeepers also performed this service.
Next came the ' clean ' retail trades (innkeepers, and large-scale shopkeepers and wholesalers), then prosperous ' dirty ' manual trades (tanners, butchers, or skilled metal and wood workers).
Therefore, innkeepers, clients and neighbours played their own part in settling disputes.
By providing these services, the innkeeper was able to make connections with the yamen, establishing ties with the clerks and runners there.
Some enterprises appear to have commonly required a couple's involvement : alehouse-keepers, innkeepers, clothing producers and shoemakers often worked as couples.
However, if not, the court's analogical reasoning might have made the grouping of innkeepers and steamboat owners salient for future purposes.
