[Red House Chai Dai] Salted Pork Knuckle, Crab Rice Wine

When Baochai heard about it, it seemed as if a big stone fell to the ground in his heart.Seeing that Xiaohong was speaking eagerly, she hurriedly said to her, "Speak slowly, don't be in a hurry. I don't know where Brother Yun asked for the news, and which fleet in the capital was in trouble?"

Yao Jing heard Xiao Hong say this before, she was frightened, but now she saw Baochai's unshakable expression, Fang gradually calmed down, and said angrily, "Yes."I paid too much attention to it, and got confused instead.The family's business has not gone overseas this time, so what does it matter to us even if other people's family suffers?If you really care about it, you will be chaotic.It can be seen from this that there is a specialization in the art industry, and I definitely can't do business.

Sure enough, Xiao Hong panted for a while, and said, "I heard that it is the business of the Wu family in the capital, that is, the Wu family with a girl who is a concubine in the palace. Brother Yun also eats wine on the road, and listens to others occasionally. I mentioned it. I heard that the young master of their family saw that shipping can make a lot of money, so he begged his mother and prepared a few shipments. He also made a lot of money before. It is said that the garden where Concubine Wu Guifei visited her relatives was built with the money here. Yes, now that there are no people and boats, I'm afraid it will be a loss."

Baochai sighed: "As far as I can see, it's more than just a shortfall. I'm afraid they will lose all the money they earned in the previous few encounters. I don't know. Not to mention, where did the ship go to sea? It is the joint capital of several families. Now that we are in trouble, and it is too late to pay for the deceased, how can we scrape together a lot of money and return the capital to each family one by one, and there will be a lot of trouble in the future."

When Sun Mu and the others heard that something happened to the ship, they came over to inquire about the news. After hearing this, they sighed, "How can you know the history of the Jia family so clearly?"

Baochai explained: "Businesses in the capital can be counted and counted. To put it bluntly, there are only a few items. Because the imperial concubine spends a lot of money in the palace, his family gave up their face to make a living with small capital and quick money. It is inevitable that you are eager for quick success and quick benefits, and most of them will harm others. Who does business in the capital don’t know? It’s just for the sake of being a concubine in the palace, and they don’t care about other families. Narrow-minded and secretly wishing. It can be seen that there are unpredictable things in the sky, and people have misfortunes and blessings." After thinking for a while, he said: "We are talking behind closed doors, although we didn't say anything bad, but if we say something like this If it spreads out, sooner or later it will change its taste, and people will misunderstand it and cause disasters, so it’s better not to spread it.” Seeing that Ying’er, Qianxue and others also came to hear the news, she was afraid that people would talk too much. There is such a saying.

Sun Mu smiled and said: "Don't worry about that. Who among us likes to go out and chew their tongues? It's just that I saw how luxurious the Wu family in the capital was. When Concubine Wu Guifei was visiting relatives, she also made the money flow like sea water. I wonder, now that I heard you say that, I realize that it came from above."

Grandma Zhang also said: "Back when Concubine Wu Guifei was visiting relatives, the Wu family was so rich and noble. Now that the ships at sea are in trouble, they are about to collapse. Could it be that Concubine Wu is not thinking of helping in the palace?"

Baochai was silent when she heard the words.Sun Mu glanced at Nanny Zhang, walked in front of her, took Zhang Nanny's hand and said, "Madam has lived in the deep house for a long time, so I don't think I know anything about this palace. The rules in this palace are very strict, and it is more incompatible with the folks." It's different, when the concubine can get a golden book, the dowry gift to her natal family is also a lot of things, but there are so few things, although it seems a lot, but apart from gold and silver, it can only be offered for a living, which is inconvenient Use it, and secondly, in this capital city, there is a great deal of human affection, and the momentum of hosting banquets and entertainment is also known to the mother, how can I stand up to such extravagance? In addition to the rewards at the time of canonization, there are also rituals during the New Year and festivals. They are nothing, but the father-in-laws in the palace are out this time, don't they dare to flatter and filial piety, they don't even have enough money for filial piety."

After listening to the chanting of the Buddha, Zhang Momo repeatedly said that it was a pity that the crime was a pity, and suddenly said in a low voice: "Since this is the case in Concubine Wu's house, can it be said that the mansion is free from vulgarity?"

Sun Mu knew that she was asking about the Jia family in the Rongguo Mansion, but the Jia family was different from the Wu family, and had a lot to do with them, so it was not easy to gossip about people behind their backs, so he just shook his head and smiled, but refused to say anything.Nanny Zhang also knew that she had made a mistake, she smiled lightly, and hurriedly covered her words.It was only after she reminded her that the clever maids around Baochai, such as Xiaohong, Qianxue, etc., had already begun to calculate the expenses of the Jia family over the years. I have also seen a small scale and a half claw, and now I am secretly shocked when compared with Sun Mu's words.

Xiaohong is more bold, and she has already started to think to herself: Could it be that the second wife was trying to get Miss Bao for Second Master Bao a few years ago, and the old lady insisted on marrying Second Master Bao and Miss Lin in recent years, all for the sake of making up for it? Is there a deficit here?But she also knows the seriousness, and understands that such thoughts are worth thinking about in her heart, and she must not show it on the surface, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble.

Xiao Hongshang thought so, Baochai, as one of the parties involved, can imagine the feeling in her heart.But after all, she has been a human being in two lives, and she has tasted most of the ups and downs in the world. At this time, she has a kind of indifference that can break the world, and said with a smile: "Mother Zhang is wrong. After all, money is nothing but The things outside the body are not brought with you when you are born, and you don’t take them with you when you die. Those ignorant vulgar women are so scheming and scheming for the clothes. All things are dead things, but people are alive. As long as Brother Bao treats Sister Lin well, it doesn’t matter if he is not good at economics and official career. It’s enough not to cause trouble. Isn’t Sister Lin’s dowry enough for the two of them? Sister Lin is such a noble person, do you actually worry about this for her?"

To Baochai, no one in Jia's mansion is as important as Daiyu.Therefore, as he talked, he wanted to talk about some important principles before, but gradually he inevitably brought the topic to Daiyu.Daiyu wants to marry Baoyu, and Baochai herself wants to marry Feng Yuan. This is a helpless matter for Baochai. The law has been like this for thousands of years. of.It's just that there is inevitably some grievance secretly accumulated in the chest.These words seem to be to persuade everyone, but in fact they are also to appease himself.

Both Sun Mu and Yao Jing understood Baochai's mind, seeing her like this made them very sad, but they were helpless for a while.Qianxue and Xiaohong only knew that Baochai and Daiyu were very close, but they didn't dare to think about it. But seeing Baochai's description, they didn't know why, and secretly felt sorry for her.

The atmosphere on the court was quite tense for a while.Seeing that everyone was silent, Yao Jing had no choice but to raise the issue and asked Baochai, "Since it's a matter of Wu Guifei's family, it probably has nothing to do with us."

Baochai's eyebrows became more dignified, and she shook her head and said: "Everything in the world affects the whole body, and it is also the way of business management. It belongs to the sea, how can it have nothing to do with us? We only care about the big and the small. Do it. There are always losses and losses in business, and winning or losing is a common matter in military affairs. I only hope that those people will be more courageous and not be scared out of courage by these news."

Baochai has always been a prudent person, even if he has a huge burden on his shoulders, he is used to the calm and calm, and can always think of wonderful ways to save the day.So after such a long period of time, everyone felt that such a big event was not considered a big deal after Baochai handled it so skillfully.Therefore, at this time, everyone didn't really take the news seriously, only Xiao Hong nodded and said: "What the girl said is very true. Brother Yun also said that he was afraid that the people who partnered with us were not in the same mind, because of this news, there would be troubles." Come, so I want me to report early and inform the girl, so that it is convenient to deal with it."

Baochai nodded and said, "It's hard for him to think about it. Just tell him for me, and say that I have written down his painstaking efforts." This is the meaning of acknowledgment.

Xiaohong knew that Baochai was a person who gave thanks to a drop of water and a fountain to repay. After saying this, she would have to promise Jia Yun some benefits in the future, and she was secretly happy for Jia Yun in her heart. At this moment, she heard Mammy Zhang again. Laughing and joking: "Brother Yun, I've seen this kid before. He looks good, he's capable, and it's rare that he understands things. Miss Xiaohong is so lucky."

Although Xiao Hong has always been used to being eloquent, after hearing this, she couldn't help but her cheeks flushed, and she was teased by Ying'er, Qian Xue and others.

But in fact it was a disaster.Good things don't go out and bad things spread thousands of miles away. The ship in Wu Guifei's family was shipwrecked, and the news that she lost a lot of money spread far and wide in the city as if she had grown wings.At first, all the merchants rushed to the door with some gifts to express condolences, but after some people found out, they turned to dote on the newcomer, and Concubine Wu received a cold reception, so no one wanted to rush to the door of Wu's house and beat them with meat buns. dog.

That's all, anyway, Baochai is very familiar with the number of roads he runs in the capital, so he didn't need to go to his house to pay homage to him. Yao Jing was still glad that the matter had nothing to do with her, but after a few days, Chang The princess sent someone to inform Baochai, saying that the shipping business was too dangerous and she was unwilling to do it, and she wanted to charge some money to do other things, and asked Baochai if she had an idea that was safe and could make a lot of money.

Yao Jing was so angry that she cursed when no one was around: "Profit and risk always come together. The greater the profit, the greater the risk, and vice versa. How can there be a safe and profitable business in this world? Who doesn't compete to do it? It's her turn? Even if she is the eldest princess, there are emperors, empresses, empresses, empresses, empresses, empress dowagers! Worse still, there are still a few old princes. Don't tell me everyone treats money like dung? Can't be a gentleman? Even if they are, can their subordinates not eat or drink, live in poverty and live in peace?"

Sun Mu heard that Yao Jing's words were very contradictory, so he rushed over to stop her, but Baochai praised: "Profit and risk always come together. The greater the profit, the greater the risk. It is incisive, and in just a few words, it can't be more apt to describe the hustle and bustle of the world, the pursuit of fame and fortune, and it can be handed down as an aphorism. I don't know if it is Mr. Yao's own quotations?"

Yao Jing is a person who likes to be praised by others, but she blushed when she heard the words, and shook her head: "Of course not. I heard it from the side, it is really not easy to steal beauty. I have also heard that capital always chases profit. If there is enough profit, it is enough to defy all the laws of the world and take risks."

Baochai sighed after hearing the words: "These words are extremely true. Let's say something without fear of losing our heads behind closed doors. The safest and most lucrative business in the world is controlled by the imperial court. It is the business that can make a lot of money with some risks, such as shipping, and you have to establish a relationship with the royal family in order to be unimpeded. However, if you go deeper, these businesses cannot be completely safe. In the previous dynasty, the Song Dynasty Wasn't the Zhao family lost because it was too rich and coveted by neighbors? Even if there are millions of soldiers on the border, they are not afraid of powerful enemies, and the inland bandits are rampant. On the throne, it is not absolutely safe. Just now Mr. Yao said that if there is enough profit, it is enough to fight against all laws in the world. The battle for the succession is the state affairs of the imperial court. Don’t the mobs of the White Lotus Sect and Tianli Sect all covet the power of the person on the Dragon Throne of the imperial court, so they are crazy and want to usurp the throne?”

Baochai's words made Sun Mu's heart tremble with fear, but they were so subtle and reasonable. Sun Mu couldn't refute for a while, so he just smiled and sighed: "You child is getting more and more crazy. Anyway, the affairs of the court are all It has nothing to do with us weak girls. Could it be that in order to make a lot of money, you are so crazy that you want to unite with the people of Tianlijiao and rebel?"

Baochai kept saying that she didn't dare, saying that she was just playing a random joke to meet the occasion.Sun Mu was only joking.Everyone closed the door and laughed for a while, and revealed the words, but Baochai was very annoyed when the eldest princess wanted to quit the sea when there was no one else.In Baochai's view, the world is unpredictable and unpredictable. After weighing it all, the shipping business is the best. There are always profits and losses, but if you persist for a long time, you will always earn more. Now if the eldest princess insists on quitting , the royal family has no one to take the lead, and it is naturally difficult for them to accomplish anything, which is very regrettable.I also asked Han Qi, Wang Gongzi and others. They had not yet separated from their family and lived alone, and they needed a lot of money on weekdays, so they wanted to earn some private money for themselves. It was beyond their expectations.They thought that doing business was not as good as being an official, and they had a lot of troubles. They only wanted to hide behind and collect the money. Now they have already made a lot of money. It was a big surprise. Seeing that His Royal Highness the Eldest Princess wanted to withdraw, they retreated bravely heart of.

In the middle of the night, Baochai took advantage of the light to check the accounts of the past few days, frowning from time to time.In addition to the shipping accident, the business of the cotton cloth shop started by Grandma Liu is also under planning.Grandma Liu had tasted the sweetness of refurbishing second-hand goods before, and she followed the path of small profits but quick turnover. Baochai thought that these things were not commonly used by rich and noble people, and felt that the profits in them were too thin, so she simply let Grandma Liu and others press them. There are old examples.

Now that the shipping was blocked, Baochai rethought about the matter of silk, satin and cotton, and suddenly recalled that in his previous life, he had had a casual conversation with a comprador on a Western ship. It's called Yingjili, and someone made a weaving tool called a flying shuttle, saying that the weaving speed is much faster than before.Because Baochai was busy in the deep house and compound at that time, she did not think about it carefully.After all, the profit from cotton cloth is too meager, and Baochai is someone who is used to large-scale transactions, so he has never really paid attention to it.What's more, with China's manpower, why use a flying shuttle? You must know that everything needs to be balanced. If the weaving speed is faster, what if the supply of cotton yarn is insufficient?

While Baochai was frowning and thinking, Sun Mu had already knocked on the door and came in with a post in her hand. Before she could open her mouth, Yao Jing who came with her shouted, "What are you worrying about? If you can’t get through, let’s do something else! I don’t believe that with your talent, ability and knowledge, you can only take the road of shipping! The road is made by people. Now that there are so many of us supporting you, you are still afraid What?"

Baochai smiled, shook her head and said: "The sea transportation is not impossible, but there is still a difficulty. Let's not mention this for now, you came just in time. Judging by your conversation and knowledge, I think you have traveled far and seen some foreign lands. Dear, let me ask you, do you know that there is an island country in the West called England?"

Yao Jing was stunned and said, "I know too well! Britain! But if you think about it carefully, what kind of industrial revolution is still going on in Britain? It's a long way, thousands of miles away, and there are two whole oceans, so it shouldn't be able to fight. .” As he said that, he subconsciously shrank his shoulders.I would rather be a peace dog than a troubled person.Thinking of the bad things after the Opium War, Yao Jing felt painful and irritable, unwilling to think deeply.

Baochai laughed when she saw Yao Jing's appearance: "What are you afraid of? Even if some island country really came to attack, is it true that the army in our court is just eating military pay and not working? Is the western long hair a monster that can eat people?" No way? We fought a battle with the north a few days ago, didn’t we win?” She has never experienced the era when cold weapons and cannons competed, although she knew that the princes and grandsons who served in the imperial army were idle, In fact, he couldn't hold a gun, but firstly, he expected that the world was as black as crows, and Western long hair might not be so strict in military discipline, and secondly, he knew that among the low-level generals there were always people who could do practical things, so he was still full of confidence in the imperial army.

Yao Jing hesitated to speak, but did not dare to say anything depressing at this time, so Baochai asked again: "I heard that someone in Yingjili made some kind of flying shuttle weaving, the speed is much faster than before, I don't know if you can do it." know?"

In fact, Baochai just saw Yao Jing coming, so she asked casually, she felt that Yao Jing was knowledgeable, but apart from medical skills, most of the talks were general, specious, and there were many fallacies in the middle, and she was inaccurate, let alone wrong. As a basis for doing things.Who knows that Yao Jing is like seeing it with her own eyes this time, eloquently, like a few treasures: "I don't know very well about the flying shuttle. But I can figure it out. At this time, someone in England invented the spinning jenny, which is a British industry. One of the hallmarks of the revolution."

Yao Jing has always been so chattering, whether it is Baochai or Sun Mu, they have already seen it.At this time, Baochai heard what Yao Jing said about the spinning machine, her eyes lit up and she said, "This is a bit appropriate. I was thinking that if we used that flying shuttle to weave cloth, the production of cotton yarn would not be able to keep up. What to do. Now you say that they built some kind of spinning machine, which is supposed to be a magical tool that can increase production. Putting the two phases together, things will work out. It’s a pity that England is too far away from us. If it weren’t for this, Wouldn't it be better for us to go and have a look in person?"

Yao Jing said: "The key to the spinning machine is to turn the horizontal spindles into vertical ones, so one yarn wheel drives more spindles to spin and improve production efficiency. What's so difficult about this? Let's find a spinning machine , according to the words concocted."

Baochai thought carefully about the spinning machines she saw in daily life, but she still couldn't figure out how to make them. Thinking that the spinning machines in England were slightly different from the spinning machines here, although they were similar in purpose, they couldn't imitate them at this time.In the middle of the dilemma, Sun Mu laughed beside him and said: "After all, you just think that the speed of spinning and weaving is too slow and you want to improve it. What's so difficult about it? Why do you need to learn the method of Western long hair? Our ancestors originally handed down a lot of precious treasures, but after the change of dynasty, many practices are out of fashion now." Sun Mu was originally from the south of the Yangtze River, so he told Baochai what was passed down in his hometown when he was young, and said that he would expand the textile workshop The scale, recruiting many workers, let them each be responsible for a part of it, said: "As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, those workers are only responsible for a very small part of it, firstly, it is not easy to make mistakes, and secondly, it is fast."

Yao Jing flaunted from the side: "It's nothing more than the budding of capitalism, the transformation of handicraftsmen into workshops, assembly line operations, and intensive management. I know this too. Speaking of it, Jiangnan is the holy land of textiles. It was the time when capitalism was sprouting in the last years of the previous dynasty. , This kind of workshop was also popular for a while. Then the dynasty changed, um, everything was brought back to its original shape.”

Baochai listened to her playful and interesting words, but there was a helpless sense of heavy vicissitudes in her ears.After all, she was young, and she hadn't realized it for a while, so she asked: "Since the speed of spinning and weaving is so fast, why didn't this dynasty follow suit?"

Sun Mu smiled slightly: "Well. Back then, when Emperor Tai Zu raised his troops to enter the customs, there were many rebels in Jiangnan and other places. They killed several times, blood flowed into rivers, and they refused to change after repeated admonitions. Therefore, the government will inevitably be a shadow of a snake. There are some troubles, and they are worried that someone Gathering crowds to seek rebellion. The workshop recruited many workers. It seemed to them that they were conspiring to rebel, so it was strictly forbidden a few times. Over time, no one did it anymore. Now the government is not as frightened as before, but Dousheng Xiaomin We are afraid of trouble, and this practice has not been promoted again in a while."

Baochai couldn't help sighing when she heard the words, and asked: "The government is afraid that there will be too many workers in the workshop, and they will misunderstand that they are plotting to rebel, but if we count our daughter's family as the female workers in the workshop, I think they will not misunderstand it."

Sun Mu and Yao Jing didn't dare to confirm Baochai's intention until now, Yao Jing couldn't help but said happily: "It turns out that you are planning this idea. That's good. From now on, there will be more people in our daughter's valley, and they will have nothing to do all the year round. It’s always impossible. Could it be that if we raise them for a while, we can still raise them for a lifetime, and we have to find a way for them to make a living. It’s so good, it’s not publicity, and it’s all about the obedience and obedience of those stupid women. Secondly, the production efficiency can be greatly improved. Once the production efficiency is high, the cost will naturally come down, and the profit will increase. It really kills two birds with one stone!"