Infrastructure masters in the red building

"You want to ask, why does my grain business maintain high grain prices in Beijing?" Shui Xian sat in the Sifang Pavilion, waving his sleeves casually on the chessboard, and the "Zhenlong" chess game in front of him immediately fell into disarray. up.

Jia Fang noticed that the chess pieces used by Shui Xian were slightly different from the Go chess pieces of later generations.Each of his chess pieces is black and white, with black on the front and white on the back.This explains why Shui Xian only needs a basket of chess pieces - he is alone, playing chess with himself, and it may be more convenient to use this kind of two-color chess pieces.

Shui Xian grabbed a handful of chess pieces and sprinkled them on the chessboard. Seeing that most of them were black, he stretched out his fingers and turned over a few white ones, and the chessboard was completely black.

"This is the capital city." Shui Xian pointed to the chessboard full of sunspots, "All food prices are fixed at 130 Wen."

Both Jia Fang and Lin Ruhai listened to Shui Xian's explanation with bated breath.

"At this time, an honest grain merchant came into Beijing. I took a look, yo, everyone is 130 Wen. I have grain, I love the people, and I lower the price——"

With a sound of "pa", Shui Xian hit a white piece on the chessboard. "A batch of grain worth 120 Wen appeared in the city."

"One day later, the food in this honest man's hand was bought out." Shui Xian stretched out his hand and picked the white ones into black ones. "The food is still in the capital, but it's all changed to 130 Wen."

Jia Fang understood: "It turns out that this low-priced grain is not only robbed by the common people, but also by the grain merchants." 120 coins, as long as the grain merchants receive it, it is equivalent to a net profit of ten coins per bucket, which is a stable profit No loss business.

Shui Xian raised his head, glanced at Jia Fang coldly, and seemed to say: You finally understand.

Jia Fang also finally understood why Shui Xian's grain store couldn't sell grain at a lower price in the city - the more he sold, the more other grain stores would earn, and it was useless to alleviate the current crisis.The food in the hands of good people with a sense of justice will only become less and less.

"It's the same principle to distribute grain for free in the city, or to collect grain at official prices in official warehouses." Shui Xian continued, "It's impossible to tell whether the buyer wants to use it for himself or hoard it. As long as these grain merchants are willing to pay and hire people— - Ordinary people can only buy their high-priced food."

Jia Fang understood it completely. No wonder Shui Xian said earlier that his food business was in Beijing, and the way to reduce the price was completely unfeasible. He simply handed over a large amount of stored food to the fourth prince and Jia Daishan, and let them come forward to help the people.

"Now the only thing that really cares about the common people is going out of the city to set up porridge sheds. Only in that way can we really help the most helpless people." Shui Xian continued.

Jia Fang not only thought of his elder brother Jia She, but his elder brother usually looks like a dude and unreliable, but what he does is really good.Jia Fang's admiration for Jia She suddenly increased a little.

"It's just that, how many people can be saved by a big pot of porridge? 50 people? 100 people?...How can we give up the porridge to hundreds of thousands of hungry people inside and outside the capital?" Shui Xian sighed a little anxiously.

"However, the grain banks in the city have joined forces to maintain high grain prices and are hoarding them. Couldn't the government do something about them?" Lin Ruhai asked confused.

Jia Xin also had this question in his heart. Looking at all times, disrupting the market and economic order in extraordinary times is a serious crime, and they are all targets of severe crackdown by the government. How can it be a different situation here?

Shui Xian was probably amused by the two young faces eager for knowledge in front of him, he chuckled lightly, and said, "What they rely on is nothing more than these four words—the law does not blame the public."

"The grain stores in the whole city act in the same way. If you don't join them, you will be bought out immediately and you will be closed. How will the government manage it? Will all the grain stores in the capital be closed? In the whole capital, there will be no grain store open since then?"

Obviously it can't be done, and the common people don't agree!

"Besides, these food companies dare to do this, but relying on the words 'there is someone behind', thinking that even if something happens, someone will be able to fish them out of prison, even if they travel three thousand miles, they can earn enough money. Money to feed his wife and children for the rest of his life."

"Even if the government can really get hold of one or two grain stores, they can't just seal them up at will. After all, the laws and regulations of the country are there, and there are people in the prince's place, the procuratorate and the Yushitai. You are staring brightly."

"This year's disaster relief and relief, the emperor has been living in the Li Palace on the outskirts of Beijing, and has never asked about it. But who dares to say that the old man has not been keeping an eye on the situation in Beijing?"

"The Fourth Highness was in De'an, and the things he did were quite risky, but he made some achievements. But the prince was more afraid to act rashly in Beijing—most people in the world are like this. Move, I'm afraid that if you move, you will make a mistake... The fact is true, as long as he moves, it is equivalent to giving others an excuse and giving others an excuse to criticize him."

Lin Ruhai was obviously disappointed when he heard this, and said dejectedly, "It's said that the water in Beijing is deep, but I didn't expect it to be so deep."

This young man who came to Beijing from a wealthy place in the south of the Yangtze River obviously did not expect so many twists and turns in Beijing.Lin Ruhai was considered perceptive enough among her peers, but she still didn't expect that a simple disaster relief event in Beijing would turn into so much trouble.

Jia Fang didn't show any frustration at this time, he stared at Shui Xian's Heizi Baizi ecstatically, and said slowly: "I left Beijing a few days ago, went north from the west road until the Yellow River, and then turned east. , and return to Beijing by the East Road. The two of you can imagine what I saw—”

Shui Xian was obviously moved, and also stared at Jia Fang, pursing his lips tightly.And Lin Ruhai also turned pale, looking at Jia Fang eagerly.

Jia Fang continued: "Zi Heng said just now that gold, silver and wealth are of no value at the time of death and life. I also think so—although I have no regrets about wealth, but facing the people of the world, I dare not spare my life." .”

The young man of thin stature spoke resoundingly in this square pavilion.

When Jia Fang was talking, he was actually very happy in his heart - because he knew that what he thought in his heart would definitely be answered.

People's preferences and tastes can be very similar, but the three views may not always be so consistent.If you can find a friend with the same views in this world, it must be a lifelong friend.

After Jia Fang realized that he had completely wronged Shui Xian earlier, he felt relieved.

"By coincidence, I happen to have some grain in my hand." Jia Fang continued, "I finally learned something after listening to you today. I must not just take all the grain to the market so recklessly, otherwise it will become a waste of money. Help the treacherous villain."

At this point in Jia Fang's words, Shui Xian finally nodded slowly, with calm eyes, the unhappiness caused by the misunderstanding earlier has long since disappeared.

"Zifang, how much is the food you mentioned just now?" Shui Xian asked.

Jia Fang answered honestly, "One hundred thousand stones."

"I, me, me, and me..." Lin Ruhai also raised his hand, "I have already sent an urgent letter to Gusu's family, asking for their help, quickly gather a batch of food, at least [-] shi, and send it along the waterway as soon as possible. Send it to Beijing."

"Ziheng, Zifang, you have the final say on how to use this batch of grain!" Lin Ruhai directly explained to Shui Xianjiafang.

"I have also ordered the chief manager of the grain bank in the south of the Yangtze River to collect the folk grain storage as soon as possible. This batch of grain storage will also be transported to the vicinity of Gyeonggi before the end of this month-the total is about 30 shi." Shui Xian said calmly, but He is a wealthy businessman and prince, and he is different from others when he makes a move.

"So we have a total of 45 shi of grain, which is enough confidence." Shui Xian said while tapping his index finger on the chessboard, as if he was calculating something. "Maybe we can fight against those arrogant bosses in the capital."

The so-called "World War I" is naturally to open a warehouse and release grain at a fair price. Even if the other party comes to collect, let the other party take it anyway. The price of food in the capital can be stabilized.

"It's just that I have been thinking, is there any other way to force the opponent to spit out all their food obediently without bloodshed."

Shui Xian's fingertips continued to tap lightly on the tabletop without stopping, obviously he hadn't thought of any particularly good solution yet.

"No, I haven't figured out a solution yet, but the one who came to the door to inquire about the crime came first." Shui Xian looked at Jia Fang and said, Jia Fang could only smile embarrassedly.

"However, there is a problem with the rice grain sent from the south this time. I haven't figured out how to deal with it. Of the 30 shi stored grain, a large part should be old rice." Thinking of this crop, Shui Xian, I couldn't help but frowned, "It's only natural for old rice to be sold in the market, but I'm afraid that some other grain companies will deliberately make a big fuss about it."

Ganqing is in the same situation as Jia Fang, there is grain in hand, but old grain—but then again, new rice will always become old grain, and now when there is no harvest, who still has so much new rice?

The Master said: Do not do to others what you do not want yourself to do to yourself.The three people sitting in this Wuzhu secluded house didn't like the musty smell of Chen Mi, and naturally they didn't want the people affected by the disaster to be forced to endure it.

Jia Fang recalled the vague idea in his mind—calculated, the harvest time of Champa rice should be coming soon, and when he transported the grain from Taoyuan Village, there would be both old grain and new grain.

What did those servants from the Rong Mansion say back then?Cook rice mixed with old and new rice, and add a spoonful of lard at the end?

Just thinking about it, Jia Fang's eyes lit up——

He remembered!

Taoyuan Village.

With a burden on his back, Jia Fang came out of Xianliang Temple and shouted towards Taoyuan Village, "How are you all? I, Jia San, am back from an outing!"

Didn't you come back from an outing?Not only is his face full of spring, but he also carries a burden of the boss on his back, square and upright, returning with a full load.

Everyone in Taoyuan Village came out to welcome him.Village head Tao was the most enthusiastic: "Hey, Mr. Jia, where are you going to come back with such a good thing?"

Jia Fang was ambiguous, and briefly explained his "outing" experience to the old village head, and then confessed: "Old man Tao, when everyone finishes working in the field, please come and do me a favor: luck." The food stored in Ershishi Village is sent to the Xianliang Temple: I...I want to sacrifice to the gods."

Directly using food to sacrifice to the gods, Jia Fang's operation is quite direct and rough.

Village head Tao did not give Jia Fang any ambiguity in his instructions: "Okay! Let everyone do it when they come down from the field."

He didn't forget to explain to Jia Fang the new things that happened during his "outing". The village has officially salted a hundred jars of rice flower fish for export, so that in the future, it will be used for big girls and young wives to pull flower cloth...

Jia Fang smiled and listened to Village Chief Tao finished speaking: "Master Tao, this time I came and brought you a good thing."

He untied the burden from his back, held it in his hand, and said, "Come on, Mr. Tao, which sister-in-law in the village is the best at cooking and has a stone mill at home?"

Mr. Tao thought for a while: "When it comes to cooking, it must be my old woman!"

He immediately led Jia Fang to his Diaojiaolou.The living form of Diaojiaolou is different from other places—every household has a firepit, but most of these firepit are built on the second floor.Near the firepit is the most important activity space for every household, where cooking, dining and other activities of each family are completed.

While talking, the two went to the Diaojiao building. Mr. Tao called out his wife, and followed Jia Fang's instructions, and took out the stone mill at home.

"This is the steamer." Jia Fang untied his bag and took out the contents.I saw that it was a boxy, wooden utensil, the size was right, and it could just stand on a pot.

This steamer consists of a wooden cage and several very flat drawers. Each layer is made of flat drawers made of wood.

"Ma'am, please go and get a bowl of new rice, and another bowl of old rice, soak it in water for a while, and then use this stone mill to grind it into rice milk."

The wife of the village head did what Jia Fang said, but Jia Fang couldn't sit still, so he ran to see the wife of the village head grinding the stone with his own eyes. Jia Fang's sense of accomplishment is also full of rice milk - after a while, Taoyuan Village will know how to use the old rice, remove the musty smell of the old rice, and at the same time cook extremely wonderful delicacies.

When the rice milk was ground, Jia Fang taught the village head's wife to pour the rice milk into a flat drawer, covering the entire surface of the drawer to form a thin layer, and then put the whole steaming drawer on the fire to steam. The rice milk inside will be steamed soon.

Jia Fang instructed the village head's wife to take out the steamer, scraped off the translucent layer of "powder" that had condensed into white jade at the bottom of the drawer, put it in a bowl, poured it with a kind of miscellaneous sauce that the villagers eat daily, and dripped a drop of sesame oil. , and sprinkle with a handful of shallots.

Jia Fang handed this bowl of "delicious food" to the old village head: "Master Tao, come and have a taste, there is still a little taste of old rice in the noodles here?"

Village head Tao originally wanted to decline, but seeing the steaming hot noodles in the bowl were so cute and translucent, he couldn't hold back for a while, took a sip from the bowl, and asked in surprise, "Why is it so slippery?"

Jia Fang was very proud: "This is the characteristic of this kind of powder. It is delicate and smooth in the mouth, and has a little bit of toughness. Tell me, how does it taste? Can you still taste the old rice in it?"

Village head Tao tasted with his eyes closed. After tasting for a long time, he finished all the noodles in the bowl, and finally stretched out his hand to his wife with a shy face, asking her to make another one.

"Really... I really haven't tasted the taste of old rice. By the way, the rice is fragrant and smooth. I, Lao Tao, have never tasted such a good rice noodle in my life..."

Jia Fang stopped Mrs. Tao, who was about to make a second bowl for the old village chief, and asked her to make a rice milk made entirely of new rice, then steamed it in the tray, and handed it to the village chief.

Village head Tao hurriedly begged for it, adjusted his usual favorite flavors, sprinkled sesame oil and shallots in the same way, tasted it, smashed his mouth, showing a bewildered expression.

"Mr. Jia, why...why is it all made of new rice, and it doesn't taste as good as the powder made by mixing old and new rice?"

Jia Fang smiled and said, "Isn't that good? In the future, even if the village can't finish eating old rice, it can be used to make this kind of snack, and you don't have to worry about the musty smell of the cooked rice."

Village head Tao thought for a moment that it was indeed the case. He was overjoyed and asked Jia Fang, "Third Master, what is the name of this... powder?"

Jia Fang replied: "Intestinal rolls, the ones made in drawers are called drawer rolls."

Earlier, when Jia was placed in the Beijing Palace, he heard the other party mention the troubles about Chenmi. He suddenly had a flash of inspiration and remembered a rice product that is a milestone in the history of Chinese cooking-intestine rolls.To be precise, it is a variety of flour foods made of rice milk: rice noodles in Guangfu, rice noodles in Chaoshan, rice noodles in Hakka... There are also various rice noodle rolls, bran sausages, drawer intestines, pig intestines pink……

These rice products all have a characteristic: a certain amount of aged rice needs to be added.If only new rice is used, the finished product will not have the powdery smooth Q-bomb made with the old and new rice in proportion.

Jia Fang read a report before and explained the scientific principle, which is that the amylopectin in rice will undergo certain changes after aging to reduce its stickiness.But it has been a long time, and Jia Fang has long forgotten what the specific theory is—but he remembered the conclusion that old rice and new rice must be mixed.

"In addition to the simplest rice roll with mixed sauce, there are many ways to make this kind of rice roll." Jia Fang instructed Mrs. Tao to carry out cooking practice activities, "For example, the pickled radish you use to serve porridge can be cut Diced, sprinkled on the rice milk, steamed together with the rice milk to soften; for example, after the rice milk is slightly formed, you can crack an egg in this drawer and sprinkle a handful of chopped green onions..."

Jia Fang said that Village Chief Tao's eyes are shining, which shows that he is also a full-fledged foodie.

Mrs. Tao stared at her husband: "How do you know that our chicken just laid two eggs this morning?"

Village head Tao stretched out his hand and gestured: "Three! I went to the chicken coop just now and picked up another one."

Previously, Jia Da vigorously encouraged the villagers to develop sideline businesses and raise some chickens and ducks by themselves. From this, it can be seen that Village Chief Tao took the lead and implemented it well.

Only then did Mrs. Tao relax her stern face a little, and said: "The third master is a distinguished guest, so he naturally wants to try our freshly made... rice rolls. As for you... Hurry up and get our little grandson Sun called back from outside the village to let him try grandma's handicraft."

The old village chief shrank his head and went down the stilted building in a flash. His legs and feet were sharper than those of young people.

And Jia Fang also successfully passed on the technique of drawer rice rolls.Later, he finally tasted the drawer rice rolls made by Mrs. Tao herself, with beaten eggs and shallots, and sprinkled with finely diced pickled radishes, not to mention how fragrant it was.

But to be honest, Jia Fang still misses the sesame paste, soy sauce, and... hot peppers of later generations.