The husband's son-in-law

The concubine's daughter of Tangzhou Zhizhou was engaged to the concubine of Mr. Liang's family who transported salt from the two Zhejiang provinces. The concubine's concubine's daughter of the fifth rank in the local area was supposed to be married to the concubine. The Liang family is also the Liang family from Chuzhou, so it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a Zanying family.

You especially took care of the salt, and it has not been touched in its position for many years, which shows the deep heart of the emperor.

The magistrate of Tangzhou was very satisfied with this marriage.

He has met the concubine of the Liang family. He is a good-looking talent. If he can pass the imperial examination this autumn, with the influence and relationship of the Liang family, he will be a Beijing official no matter what. The future is limitless.

Zhizhou was satisfied, but his wife actually had some complaints.

Zhizhou Fuzhong.

Fifth Miss got up early in the morning, first went to mother's yard to say hello.Mrs. Zhizhou rubbed her forehead, Miss Wu looked at it, and stepped forward with concern, "Mother, is your head hurting again? I'd better invite the doctor to see it."

"I'm sick, I can't see anything after looking at it." Mrs. Zhizhou took her daughter's hand and asked her to sit down, seeing her beautiful Wu Niang, who was born in a young age, and sighed inwardly.

She gave birth to three children in total, two daughters and one son. The eldest daughter was already married. She married early, and her son-in-law was not of a high family background.At that time, she thought that if she had a daughter again in the future, she would be raised with gold and jade, and she must find a husband.

Now Wuniang's husband's family is much taller than them, but this high-ranking family is also an aristocratic family, and there are strict rules in it.

"Ma'am, are you worried about my marriage again? It's still early." Wu Niang said coquettishly.

Mrs. Zhizhou said lovingly: "It's getting late, it's just past the appointment. This is sewing a wedding dress and buying a dowry. I'm so busy at the end of the year, I'm afraid it will be too late. My mother is here, so you don't care."

He also said lovingly: "Your elder brother has not been working for the past few days, so I let him stay in the mansion. If you want to go out for a stroll, call your sister-in-law and let him take you to play."

Wu Niang was immediately happy, no longer worried about getting married, and coquettishly said that A Niang is the best, and went to the sister-in-law's yard to tell the sister-in-law that she could go out to play.

This is a great joy.In the past, A Niang would not let her go out to play so easily.

As soon as the daughter left, Madam Zhizhou sighed, and the mother beside her knew why, Madam felt sorry for Fifth Miss.

For the dowry matter.

The concubine of the Wuniang's family married a poor family. It is said that Mr. Liang and the other's father were life-and-death friends. , the widowed mother pulled the big one, and at the age of seventeen, he still hasn't found his in-laws.

Mr. Liang remembered it after he was busy with his affairs, and sent the housekeeper back to Chuzhou with a letter, and issued a letter of appointment to the woman, fulfilling the promise made by the baby on that day.

The one who married was still the third son.

The family was already dilapidated, so one could imagine the dowry that the daughter gave when she got married, even if the Liang family added some, it was also very shabby, and the dowry was made up of thirteen loads, most of which were worthless things on the surface of clothes.

"No matter how you say it, it's Wu Niang's third sister-in-law. We got married only two years ago. The dowry gift from Liang's family didn't exceed that of the third son. If we give the dowry now, if it surpasses the first one, we will beat the first son." I'm afraid Mrs. Liang won't like Wu Niang, so she'll make Wu Niang look at her face." Mrs. Zhizhou told the mother next to her, and sighed heavily after she finished speaking.

Comparing her heart with her heart, she doesn't love the one born by her aunt in the back few yards.If any aunt's son marries a wife, and the dowry surpasses her son's reputation, she will not be willing to lose face, and she will definitely not like the bride.

"Ma'am, don't worry. If it doesn't work, let's prepare thirteen bags, but it's solid." Mom gave an idea.

"I can't lift it at thirteen, I need to be short, and I can lift it at twelve."

My mother also feels sorry for Miss Fifth. This Miss Fifth, who has been raised so pampered, can't live happily ever after she gets married. If there is no such condition in the house, I won't talk about it. But now there is, and it is still like this. Bored all day.

"Gold, silver, jewelry, silver tickets, clothes, I can't go to the clothes. If I go to Liang's mansion, I won't be able to wear clothes that I don't know well. No matter how I press it, I can't press it to twelve." prepare.

Then my mother came up with an idea: "Madam, do you want to exchange for something rare that is worth more money?"

What is more valuable?

Xishi Neighborhood is undoubtedly the most lively and prosperous place in Tangzhou.

Miss Wu and sister-in-law were sitting in the carriage, and the eldest brother rode a horse to open the way. From time to time, he bent down and said something lively to the wife and sister inside, "If you go to the rouge shop, I will send someone to clear the place in advance."

"No hurry." Wu Niang acted like a baby, and said to the sister-in-law: "Brother must think we are annoying, so he came out and went straight to the rouge shop to leave us there. Didn't you really want to accompany us to go shopping and play?"

The eldest brother outside laughed when he heard this, and wanted to say that Fifth Sister is quite smart, so he said: "Wu Niang, eldest brother will teach you a good thing today, even if you know in your heart that I think so, don't say it, you see that your sister-in-law is not explain."

"Sister-in-law is with you." Wu Niang joked.

The sister-in-law laughed, knowing what her husband meant, she shouldn't have said that, but Wu Niang was about to get married, and she was not a naughty little sister-in-law in the mansion on weekdays. Even if you know some things in your heart, you have to be confused."

"I know you are doing it for my own good, but you all came out, don't talk about getting married, okay?" Wu Niang gently shook her sister-in-law's arm and said coquettishly, "I don't want to be home."

Who can bear it.The eldest brother is also reluctant to part with this dear sister.

The atmosphere was getting low, and someone outside said: "What Zhaozhou's coconut soap? It's only one hundred yuan?"

"What is coconut soap? I've never heard of it."

"I heard it's the same as soap."

"Soaps are sold for a hundred yuan each?"

"You don't know, the merchants from Zhaozhou occupied a piece of land outside the Yunlai Inn, and set up a few tables. I don't know all the things on them, and everything is expensive. The coconut soap Baiwen, shredded coconut and coconut sugar are so expensive, who will buy them?"

"You don't even have a shop, how dare you ask for such a price? It's ridiculous."

"Let's go, I'm going to take a look at the excitement, and I want to see what a hundred-cent coconut soap looks like."

People on the street began to pass by, and Wu Niang in the car heard it too, and said curiously: "Brother, let's go too."

The eldest brother didn't want to go there, it was inconvenient because there were so many people there, it would be bad if he bumped into the sister and wife in the car while watching some excitement.

"Go, let's go, my sister-in-law and I won't get out of the car, we'll park a little further away, and I'll take a look in the car." Wu Niang said coquettishly.

In such a compromise, the eldest brother backed down and always let the fifth sister enjoy watching the fun. He also knew about the Liang family's dowry, and he must have wronged the fifth sister. Now he can enjoy himself at home as much as he can.

So he drove the carriage over and stopped two feet away.

There was already a sparse circle of people around the entrance of Yunlai Inn, all of whom were watching the excitement. Wu Niang lifted the curtain and peeked there with half of her face exposed. First, a flag was hung vertically on a pole, which read "Zhaozhou" Coconut goods.

"Brother, where is Zhaozhou?"

"I-I've never heard of that either."

Wu Niang became even more curious. Fortunately, there were few people, and she could see through the gap between people. The tables were put together, and there were various bamboo boxes. The things that were taken out at the front were—

"Hey, sister-in-law, look, didn't you say the pancreas? This pancreas looks so white." Wu Niang gave up her seat to let the sister-in-law watch the excitement.

The sister-in-law declined at first, but Wu Niang took a look at it. It was as white and clean as milk, and it looked cleaner than the soap. She said curiously, "I don't know what it is made of."

"You go to the front and ask, and buy another one." The eldest brother heard what his wife and sister said, and sent a boy to run errands to buy it.

The young man took the money, and he thought it would cost a hundred cash, but as a servant, he didn't dare to show his face, so he rushed over and squeezed into the crowd.

……

Early this morning, Li Zhouzhou asked his fourth brother to measure the total length of the three tables at the bottom of the inn, and then asked him to buy cloth, "The cloth doesn't have to be very good, coarse cloth is fine, and the color should be darker."

The fourth brother hurried to run errands when he got it.

Several managers were puzzled, and one person said: "Mrs. Gu, should we rent a shop?"

"Need not."

Need not? !Several managers were stunned, how to sell goods without renting a store, how to sell goods?It costs twenty yuan to stay here for one night, and thirty yuan for Mrs. Gu, so don't delay, one extra night will cost you extra money.

A few people wanted to talk to Mrs. Gu about their business experience, but then they saw that Mrs. Gu ignored them and went straight to the innkeeper. After they followed, they heard Mrs. Gu say that they would rent an empty space in front of the entrance of the inn. , Five taels of silver a day, even the tables and stools, as well as the kitchen, flour, dishes and dishes...

Why are you giving five taels of silver a day? ! ! !

The few in charge almost jumped up on the spot. They all wanted to stop them from saying that if they can't do it, they dare not do so. As a result, two people came from left and right, Su Shiyi and Meng Jianyun who were in front of Mrs. Gu. Don't tell the truth.

"Master Gu said, who dares to disrespect Madam, just wait when you get back." Meng Jianyun threatened with a stern face.

The words that were blurted out by the several managers immediately swallowed them, and finally they got together and sat on the bunk complaining non-stop, you said: "I have already said, how can a woman brother know how to do business."

I said: "I can't bear hardships. It looked good all the way, but when I arrived in Tangzhou, a rich place, I spent a lot of money to stay in a hotel. I bought such expensive snacks yesterday. Now they cost five taels of silver." Huafa, where can I find a place to live here?"

"No, these six carts of coconut goods can earn three to five hundred taels. I don't know why I have to travel all the way here. I said that it would be nice to go to Wuzhou before. It's close and the roads are flat. It’s very convenient, if you don’t go to Mozhou, you can also go to Shaozhou, but they won’t let you go, so you have to go to the Central Plains.”

"The state city of the Chief Secretary of Jindu that I passed by before was quite lively. Although it is not as good as Tangzhou, it is not bad. You can sell it there. If you want to go to Tangzhou, it will be a toss again. A few days."

"Isn't it? I have to talk about it when I go back. I don't think this coconut business can be done. My legs are running thin. How much can I earn? Can it be 1000 taels of silver?"

"Return 1000 taels of silver? What are you thinking about? Coconuts are worthless, and they are kept for two pennies. Mrs. Gu bought a piece of soap yesterday. It was mixed with flowers. It sold for thirty pennies. Let's take it for three Ten Wen, I brought more than 1 pieces of coconut soap, no matter how I sold it, it was more than 300 taels. Besides, the shop was decorated in a grand and open way, and it only sold for thirty Wen. Thirty cents?"

It can't be uncomfortable to settle the account.

"No, no, I won't come next time. I need two factories to split the money. How much can I get? This is not a good deal."

"No matter what, the family can share a hundred and ten taels. It's better to do it alone. It's not far from selling it in Muzhou."

That's far worse. Mozhou is close, and if you don't care about coconuts, you can't sell them for thirty yuan.

Several bosses made a lot of complaints.But everyone else was busy, bodyguards and guards moved goods and tables, carried heavy boxes out of their common shop, and hung signboard banners, and packed coconuts according to the instructions of the nursing wife. The big wooden boxes of soap are placed at the bottom first, and the small jars of shredded coconut are placed on top of them. They must be placed neatly and stably, against the wall of the inn, so as not to fall and smash them.

And coconut sugar.

The palm-sized pieces were neatly wrapped in oiled paper, and a knot was tied at the end of the fine hemp rope.The sugar was placed on the cloth-covered table in front, and a jar of desiccated coconut was poured on the plate of the inn, and the coconut soap was also taken out...

These small preparations will take more than an hour, and when the busy work is over, there will be more people on the street.

"What is this? Seeing that I have never seen it before, it is still white."

Su Shiyi greeted people and introduced them one by one. This is Zhaozhou's coconut products, their specialty, this white one is coconut soap, this is coconut sugar, and coconut desiccation...

"How much?" The visitor asked casually, looking at Qiqi.

Su Shiyi: "Coconut soap is one hundred yuan a piece, and a can of desiccated coconut—" Before he finished speaking, the person who came came and stared round his neck, "What?! A piece of that thing costs one hundred yuan?!"

"You guys are more expensive than Tang's rouge shop."

"Come and see, the coconut soap for this thing is only a hundred cents."

Hey, there is no need for Su Shiyi to say anything else, people from outside have already started talking in a hurry, and some want to scold, but when they see that the people working behind them are all fat and strong men, looking at the man's arms Thicker than their thighs.

There was a small stall in front of the Yunlai Inn, and a piece of broken coconut soap was worth [-] renminbi. They heard the excitement, and when they heard that the coconut soap was similar to soap, they were shocked. ?He told it again.

Ever since, a lot of spectators came to the stall set up next to the Yunlai Inn, and asked again in a hurry. Su Shiyi also said the price over and over again in a good temper. Once he said, those spectators became more lively, exaggerating Said: "Yo, it's really a hundred Wen."

"Did you hear me, I'm not wrong, it's really a hundred coins."

"This coconut soap is whiter, why is it so expensive."

The managers of Datong's shop came out early-could they not know about the guards moving things.Seeing that Mrs. Gu is determined to rent the empty space in front of the inn for five taels of silver a day, she can only go out and have a look, otherwise what else can she do.

But when Mrs. Gu said the price, not to mention the lively visitors, even the bosses fainted.

What is only one hundred yuan a piece?

Their coconuts are not worth a penny, but this trick can be sold for a hundred pennies?

Madam Gu, what are you doing!It must be that they didn't know that the price of this sale was set randomly.But the managers were angry. They thought that Mrs. Gu would not listen to their experienced managers after she arrived in Tangzhou, and make decisions indiscriminately. They didn't remind or waste their time, and just watched from the sidelines. They wanted to see the price. Who will buy Baiwen?

Only fools buy it.

No, even a fool would not buy it, so no one would buy it.

Waiting to see the excitement came round and round, but a piece of coconut soap was not sold. The person in charge was very proud, mainly because he thought, "Look, they are right, Mrs. Gu really doesn't know how to do business", 'The price is so expensive that no one will buy it. It's not easy to drop the price after a while. People think you can't sell it so they can sell it cheap', 'Don't listen to the old man' and so on.

Li Zhouzhou smiled at the lively people, and said gently: "I don't understand, we are in Zhaozhou, which is the southernmost point. This coconut is our local specialty. It takes more than 2000 miles to transport it from Zhaozhou. It's a long way."

"Of course, if our coconuts are not good, why would we spend so much effort to send them here?"

"This coconut grows on trees. Some trees are three feet high, and villagers need to climb up to pick them. Coconuts are only available in July, August, and February a year. They are not ripe at other times, and they are considered rare. The coconuts that have been cracked are refreshing. Coconut fragrance, it is a good thing to drink for heatstroke in summer.”

Li Zhouzhou spoke in a leisurely manner, with a smile on his face, and looked very friendly. The onlookers had never seen coconuts or coconut trees, and now they heard it as a surprise.

"Coconut soap is made of coconut meat. Our coconut soap is white and clean, and it smells of natural coconut. If girls use it to clean their skin, after a long time of use, their skin will be soft and fair."

Some people are tempted, but it is too expensive to think about a hundred coins, and no one will buy it, so he would look like a fool if he bought it.

"Is it true? Could it be a lie." Someone muttered.

Just as he was talking, a man dressed as a servant came out from the crowd, and the big guy recognized the clothes from Zhizhou Master's mansion at a glance, so he politely gave up his seat.The young man was holding a money bag, and poured out a hundred coins on the table. He received a lot of attention, coughed his throat, and said loudly: "My young master said, buy a piece and see, if it doesn't work, you can buy it." Wait, then."

Li Zhouzhoudang didn't hear the threat, and said with a smile: "Thank you for your patronage. It's the first day of opening today. If you don't rush, the coconut dumplings in the back will be ready soon. I will give your master a few to taste."

"Who cares about your coconut-flavored dumplings? Our young master has never eaten anything." The boy looked down on these foreigners. Hearing the voice, Zhaozhou is so remote, it must be poor, what good food can there be?

I took the coconut soap and left.

Suddenly, I smell a special fragrance.

"It smells so good, shopkeeper, what do you make here?" The guest in the inn asked first.

The shopkeeper was stunned, this smell is indeed coming from their kitchen, but it is not the smell of their inn - he has been in business for more than 30 years, he doesn't know which dish smells like in the inn?

"I don't know." The shopkeeper remembered that the businessman who rented the space outside their inn for five taels borrowed their stove for use.

When the businessman came, he looked dusty, and the whole group was shabby, and he looked like he had no money.But I didn't expect that today's move is very generous, and I will give five taels of silver a day.So he was surrounded by people outside to watch the excitement, and the shopkeeper of the inn didn't chase him away, nor did he think too much of it.

Five taels of silver.It seems that it can't be sold out in one day, so how many days?This is a good thing to do nothing and get money for nothing.

"Why is it getting more and more fragrant, I have never smelled this smell before, it's so strange." The inn guest said.

Those who watch the bustle outside also ponder, what is it like?But I have no idea, because I don't know, I have never smelled it.After a while, a young man inside brought out a steamer. The fragrance became stronger and stronger, and it came from here.

"What is this food for?"

"Shopkeeper, I want one too."

The innkeeper apologized to the guest, "This is not made by my family, it was made by a merchant outside."

"Fourth brother sent a plate to the innkeeper." Li Zhouzhou opened his mouth.

Later, the fourth brother took the plate and picked ten of them with chopsticks and sent them to the innkeeper, or sold, gave or ate the ones that followed the innkeeper.He still has to go ahead.The fourth brother hurried outside.

Those who watched the excitement in the crowd had already lost their attention.

"What is it made of here, why is it so fragrant?"

The fourth brother said: "Coconut is mixed with some milk, and our coconut sugar is sold here..."

On the carriage three feet away.

Wu Niang unwrapped the greased paper and said, "Brother, this coconut soap is really white, it looks so clean."

Immediately, the eldest brother is not curious about these women's toilet utensils, he just needs to clean the white and black ones.But the big lady raised in the deep boudoir has nothing else but clothes and jewelry, lip rouge and rouge.

To tell the truth, Wu Niang didn't like Jianzi. She heard from her mother that it was made of pig offal—she didn't know what offal was before, and her mother said that it wasn't clean and inferior, so don't dirty the ears of the nobles.

Hard to tell her.

Later, Wu Niang found out when she asked her elder brother's servants, but she was so disgusted that she didn't like to use soap in the bath, and it was because flowers were added to the soap later that it was fragrant and she reluctantly used it.

Now this piece of coconut soap is milky white, and Wu Niang loves it when she sees it, so she shows it to her sister-in-law.

"It's still delicious."

My sister-in-law also likes it, the color looks clean at first glance, she nodded and said, "I don't know if it's good or not."

"Big brother, big brother, buy some more. I haven't seen this rarity. I'll buy one for Aunt." Wu Niang called her big brother in the car.

The eldest brother had no choice but tossed a piece of silver to the boy, "Ten yuan."

But this time, the boy couldn't squeeze in, no one made way for him, why was there still a smell of fragrance wafting in when he was standing outside, why was he still cooking food?

The person in front asked, "How much is this jar of minced coconut?"

"Seventy coins a can."

"One piece of palm sugar is eighty cents."

The diners who ate coconut dumplings in the inn all ran out now, and they joined the queue first, "Give me one each."

The fourth brother went to make a bag, and the man knew the fourth brother, so he asked how he did it?Is it really possible to do it with these two?Don't you want to lie to me?

"We will stay in the inn for two more days. Customers can try it now when they buy it back. When I first made it, the innkeepers were all around and didn't avoid people. It's easy, but I added milk and it smells like milk..." The fourth brother said while packing.

After hearing this, the guest said happily: "No need to pack, I will let them do it now."

Most of the people who live in this inn are not short of money.If I'm really poor, I'm just like a few bosses, looking for an inn at the gate of the city with ten yuan a day to live, and I won't run here.

With this start, the bustle is also a little loose, and I want to buy it.

Why is Yezao hesitant - all the people who see the excitement are men, there are no women and children, and women and children stay away when they see that there are all big men around here.Men are used to being rough, and a handful of acacia beans can be used for bathing, so what kind of coconut soap do you use?

It's not expensive.

But eating is different.That jar is not small at all, buy a jar of minced coconut, and give a jar when you run out, not to mention sugar, sugar is a rare commodity, the largest pastry shop in Tangzhou City costs forty yuan for a cube of sugar.

They have never seen this coconut sugar before, and they brought it all the way here, so buy a piece and try it first.

It's really delicious.

This Coconut Sugar Coconut is on sale.The fourth brother Su Shiyi got busy, Li Zhouzhou glanced at the dumbfounded managers standing by the wall and said, "Don't help me yet."

Those in charge just woke up like a dream, and went to help with work.

"Coconut soap coconut soap, I want another ten yuan." The servant from Zhizhou Mansion finally squeezed in.

Li Zhouzhou wrapped ten yuan, and wrapped eleven coconut-flavored dumplings with pastry wrapping paper. The boy just insisted that there is something so special about these coconut-flavored dumplings, but now he swallowed when he smelled the aroma. , Immediately blushed with embarrassment, and took the dumpling paper.

Show it to the uncle first in the past, and explain why.

This elder brother never liked to eat sweets, especially when he was still on the street, and he didn't have any chopsticks, but he was sitting on the horseback, and he could smell the smell from there, which was really strange.

"..." Due to his identity, the eldest brother took it, turned his head to the sister and wife in the car, and said: "What kind of coconut dumpling are these, I don't know if they are sold outside, so try it and don't eat too much .”

"Understood, brother." Wu Niang unwrapped the paper, there was a special fragrance, she wiped her hands with a silk handkerchief, and now in the carriage, it was only her and sister-in-law, not afraid of breaking the rules, she just took a bite when she thought about it , try the taste.

As a result, after taking this small bite, he nodded his head immediately, and said after eating what was in his mouth: "Sister-in-law, try it, it's really delicious, I've never eaten this before."

The sister-in-law didn't move, and Wu Niang pinched one to her sister-in-law's mouth, while eating her own, she said, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I won't tell anyone that we are secretly eating."

Everything was on her lips, the sister-in-law opened her mouth, continued with a handkerchief, and finally didn't stop.

"Am I right? It's delicious and special."

"Yes, I haven't tasted this taste."

Finally, Wu Niang shouted: "Big brother, big brother, buy some more coconut palm sugar?" She heard the boy in the car.

Hey, buy coconut palm sugar again.

Wu Niang from Zhizhou Prefecture took a trip to the street, but didn't go to the Rouge jewelry shop that she likes to visit on weekdays. She stopped outside the Yunlai Inn for more than half an hour. She bought a lot, and she couldn't wait to urge her elder brother to go back .

"...I want to try if this coconut soap is really so good. I also have coconut paste. I made dumplings later, and I will send it to my elder brother—no, my elder brother has his sister-in-law to take care of him." Wu Niang said wittily.

The sister-in-law smiled and said, "You, I can still have fun with you."

It was too early to return home. Before the elder brother set off, he had planned not to return home until sunset. He didn't expect to spend too much money this morning. Those things were only two taels of silver.

Wu Niang sent coconut soap to all the younger sisters in the house, of course the first one was for A Niang.I used this coconut soap to take a bath that day. When it met the water, the foam that came out was fragrant and delicate. After washing, Wu Niang felt that her skin was tender and white.

In the main room in the backyard.

Madam also used coconut soap to wash her face. It was Wuniang's filial piety. When it was used up, Madam wiped her face and said, "This coconut soap is really strange. It tastes good, but it's too cheap."

My mother knew earlier that one hundred Wen was more expensive than that scented soap. In her opinion, this coconut soap was too expensive, on top of two months' expenses of an ordinary family, but for the wife of the mansion It's not too expensive for a lady.

"That's right, ma'am, it's not the fifth lady's dowry."

"It's just a small item that Wu Niang likes to use. I'll buy a box and bring it to the Liang Mansion in the coming year," said the madam.

Mom replied: "I heard from the servant next to my uncle that this coconut soap is something from the south, and it ripens in seven or eight months a year..."

"Then go and buy some more equipment tomorrow, Wu Niang likes to use it, so just replace it with this one, I can't miss these things for her."

"Yes."