The husband's son-in-law

There is no great danger on the way to Tangzhou. The Zhaozhou merchant team has a large number of people, and they are all mature and strong men.The inns at the gate of the city greeted them warmly when they saw that they had a lot of people and goods.

Run before and after.

Have a smooth and safe journey.

The difficulty of delivering goods from merchants is actually the "suffering" on the road. The goods are moving slowly. It takes more than a month to go. The weather is hot and it is normal to not be able to wash. In addition, I have not reached the destination. I always dare not take it lightly along the way. , this is the hard part.

When they finally saw the Tangzhou city gate, every face in the team was smiling.

I can go to the city and settle down.

The soldiers guarding the gate already knew Boss Li, and they only came to Tangzhou once or twice a year. In addition, they said that they met Li's family in Zhaozhou, and it was convenient for them to travel.The little soldier thought, this Zhaozhou boss is really powerful, and he got on board with their Tangzhou officials after only a few visits.

This will check the household registration book and let it go.

"Boss Li delivered so much goods this time." Old Tang, the captain of the doorkeeper smiled and took the handle, pushed the car in front, and said, "The coconut soap is very good earlier, and my daughter also likes to use it. I bought it at that time. There are fewer."

Li Zhouzhou laughed back and said, "Captain Tang, if you want to buy coconut soap for your own use, you can come to our Shangli House in Zhaozhou, and I'll pay you the wholesale price."

"That's a good thing, I'll go down the value." Old Tang immediately agreed.

The caravan's entry into the city attracted a large crowd of people from Tangzhou, and the big guys chattered loudly.

"Oh, such a big caravan, where did it come from?"

"Look at the head is not a husband? That's Zhaozhou Shang."

When it comes to Zhaozhou merchants, most of the local people know about it, and they talk about coconut palm sugar, thinking about buying some more this time.Naturally, there are also foreigners. I don't know what happened to this Zhaozhou merchant, so I ask carefully.

"It's the state city in the south. I haven't seen some products that I haven't seen before. It's expensive, but it's really easy to use."

"Our Lord Wu, the prefect of Tangzhou, got married, and I heard that he sent two carts of coconut soap there."

"Huh? The dignified magistrate's daughter is getting married, and the dowry is two carts of coconut soap?" The outsider was surprised, no matter how good the coconut soap is, it's just for soap.

The people of Tangzhou were not happy, and said: "Who said that coconut soap is a dowry? It means that the small things that a lady uses are not a dowry. When it comes to dowry, it is beautiful and decent."

"Yes, someone has seen it and said it's colored glaze, which changes from one color to another in the sun."

Really so mysterious?

What the common people said was true, and the outsider was surprised to hear it, and believed it.

Talking about the excitement of Miss Wu’s marriage, it happened a few months ago, and everyone couldn’t forget it, and the higher-ups were happy about it, but the outsider was brought back, “I haven’t said whether this coconut soap is really so good make?"

"Naturally, the rich and well-to-do girls in our Tangzhou family, everyone uses this."

"I heard that some people in the north also use it, and it costs 150 Wen for a piece."

"Ah? Isn't it a hundred words?"

"They resell it in the past, and it's a long way, so can it not be expensive? Let me tell you, if you want to use it, you should go to Li's house in Zhaozhou Shang as soon as possible and ask."

……

"arrive."

Wang Jian jumped down from the frame, this time Brother Lin didn't come, the goods were too much and the road was far away, Brother Lin couldn't bear the hardship, so he didn't come with him, and it's better to ponder the pattern of embroidery at home.

Knocked on the door, and the door opened after a while.

The man from the Tang family opened the door. The eldest son of his family helped to unload the threshold. A few guards helped and entered the courtyard. After that, they boiled hot water for washing and eating.

Wang Jian recruited three people at the beginning, and he thought it was too many before, but now he is too busy.

"Sister-in-law Tang, if you have someone you know nearby, they will be fast and quick, and hire two part-time workers. These days we have a lot of people, so we need to work more, and we can pay you fifteen cents a day." Wang Jian found Mrs. Tang and said .

"Sure, I'll take care of it in a while." Mrs. Tang said simply.

This time there are too many people, there are over a hundred of them. If she and Aunt Wang are going to keep their hands and feet to boil water for meals, they will not be able to keep up with the work. It's not because they are afraid of being tired, but because they are afraid of being delayed if they can't eat and drink. thing.

The quota for these two people is naturally not for outsiders. Sister-in-law Tang first asked Aunt Wang to see if your daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law would like to come over.Her natal family is in an outside village, so she doesn't have time to go there, and there are so many people that no one will be troubled.

It's better to give Aunt Wang this favor.

Mrs. Wang was naturally happy, and she called for someone when she returned, but was stopped by Mrs. Tang, "The master and his party just arrived, and it was time to boil water and eat. I asked my Dalang to come and call for someone."

"Cheng Cheng, thank you."

Mrs. Wang was someone nearby, and Tang Jia Dalang ran to call for someone, and after a while, two young women came.Sister-in-law Tang was about to make arrangements, first she looked at Aunt Wang's unhappy face, and after an introduction, she found out that this was Aunt Wang's daughter-in-law, and the sister-in-law of her natal family.

Wang's wife and daughter were not called up to make this money.

This……

Sister-in-law Tang stopped interfering. How should I order the housework? First, get busy with cooking. "The staple food is pancakes and steamed buns. My man went to buy meat and made meat toppings. I kneaded some noodles. If it wasn't enough, I kneaded some more."

This will all get busy.

The two large stoves were burning vigorously, and the steamer on top of them didn't stop.One person kneads the dough to make steamed buns, one person washes vegetables and meat, chops vegetables and meat, and waits for the steamed buns to come out of the pot...

Li Zhouzhou first wiped his hands and face with clean water, and wiped his hair with a towel dipped in water.After eating, I settled down and washed up slowly.

As soon as it gets dark, the rice is ready.

There are big steamed buns in the bamboo dustpan, each of which is the size of a fist. It is made of meat and diced vegetables. The soybean paste used is sandwiched in the steamed buns. If you eat like this, the guards who are hungry will eat less after one bite. More than half.

"This steamed bun is delicious."

When the team members arrived in Tangzhou, they loved to eat noodles, such as pancakes, dumplings, steamed buns and noodles. Zhaozhou only grows rice, not wheat. This flour is a rare commodity in Zhaozhou, and it is very expensive.When you arrive in Tangzhou, you must have a good meal.

Li Zhouzhou also loves pasta, so he eats the same as everyone else, but he and Wang Jian sit at the same table.

"Boss, Captain Tang is here outside."

"Let me in." Li Zhouzhou put down his chopsticks and asked Wang Jian to continue eating.Wang Jian was unwilling, so he took the bowls and chopsticks and moved them to the table next to him, tidying them up temporarily to entertain visitors.

Old Tang entered the big courtyard, and the house was really spacious and big. Walking around, there were people from Zhaozhou sitting on the railings of the corridors with bowls and eating.

This is strange.

He didn't walk through the corridor, but walked in the courtyard, but a smell of fragrance rushed into his nose.After the value came, he hadn't eaten yet. This is a big steamed bun with meat and pickles. Okay, this is a good skill.

Old Tang thought that he was hungry, and saw Boss Li coming out.Old Tang greeted people first, but before he said a few polite words, Boss Li said: "We are eating, if Captain Tang doesn't eat, we can use some together, we can talk about it after we finish eating."

"Wang Jian asked the kitchen to send some steamed buns and a bowl of meat sauce."

Old Tang wanted to decline, but he swallowed as soon as he spoke, it was too sweet.So he just had a meal like this, and he was embarrassed to use it with Boss Li - after all, a husband and a brother.

Finally, they entered the room in charge and sat down to eat together.

Really fragrant.

After finishing eating, Lao Tang came to buy coconut soap. He asked for coconut soap at 50 yuan per bite, and asked if he could buy some coconut sugar and minced coconut...

After Old Tang left with his things, Zhaizi also lent him a cart.

Director Wang said: "Boss, Captain Tang is not in his own household. We just had dinner together. It sounds like he wants to give it away to curry favor with others."

"I know." Li Zhouzhou nodded, "Captain Tang's shoes are all torn and patched. When he came here, he smelled the food and made him hungry. I'm afraid it's a frugal life. It's not like spending five taels of money. Yinzi buys coconut soap for her daughter to wash with.”

Director Wang wanted to laugh, but what the boss said was sympathetic. At the beginning of the meal, Captain Tang wolfed down the bowl of meat sauce, wanting to lick it——

"Let's just deal with the business. Find a table tomorrow and put it outside the gate. Watch it. Our goods will be sold at the original price. We won't sell more than [-] pieces." Li Zhouzhou said.

Give some benefits and convenience to the people of Tangzhou.

"It's clear."

Wang Zhangshi nodded and said he understood.Boss Li is still kind-hearted.

When he rested early at night, the next day, as Li Zhouzhou said, a table was set up outside the gate with coconuts on it.The people who saw Zhaozhou merchants entering the city yesterday originally wanted to buy some palm sugar and desiccated coconut. Now they came here to try their luck. After seeing it, hey, there is really a stall, so they went up immediately.

"Sold separately, still at the old price, one hundred cash for coconut soap, eighty cash for coconut sugar, and seventy cash for shredded coconut."

"More than one hundred pieces will not be sold."

The common people are puzzled, why not sell more?

"We have signed a contract with several bosses for our goods. They go all over the world, and they want thousands of pieces. If we sell the things now, I'm afraid they won't be enough."

The common people naturally understand that a dozen or so pieces are enough for their own use.

"Then I want five of each."

"No coconut soap, ten for the other two."

"I just want coconut soap, ten yuan."

After a while, there was an endless stream of Tangzhou people in front of the stall, all of which were for their own use, so they didn’t buy more this time. If they ran out and wanted to eat, they would buy it from the shop again, and it would be ten cents more expensive.

Li Zhouzhou came late this time, almost in mid-August.At first, I was worried that Director Liang in Beijing, Boss Hu in Liangzhe, and Boss Qi in Wannan might miss you.

But in fact, he doesn't need to worry about it, Zhaozhou's reputation for coconut goods has spread.These three didn't come, but some other business owners came to the door with gifts. Why, they bought coconuts.

If you want to bargain, ask if you can buy more and get cheaper.

There is also a close relationship. I heard that Boss Li is from Ningping. Can I make it cheaper?

Wang Jian said: "Last year, Boss Liang in Beijing bought [-] items, and he didn't lose half a penny. It's not that I said it badly. The three treasures of coconut products are sold by people with some money at home. You can buy them back." Yes, if you take it to a town in the prefecture or county, you can sell it for an extra ten or twenty.”

"If you are afraid, buy less this time, we will buy and sell clearly."

As for the boss in Ningping County, Wang Jian didn't answer, but looked at the boss.Li Zhouzhou said: "In business, the price remains the same, but since you are from the same prefecture and county, I will personally give you two pieces of coconut soap."

"...It will work." The boss of Ningping Prefecture was happy, two yuan more is a lot.

These merchants are all small merchants, just like the original Boss Hu, but not as courageous as Boss Hu. When they bought three treasures of coconut products, they were all two or three hundred pieces away. of.However, there were so many scattered small merchants, and within two days, more than 30 people came.

On the third day, Liang Cong first arrived.

We greeted each other.Li Zhouzhou only found out that Liang Cong sent his subordinates to go there in July, but it was a waste of time. His subordinates stayed in Tangzhou for more than half a month and did not return to Beijing, so Liang Cong set off for Tangzhou state.

"Just in time."

Li Zhouzhou said: "This time there are too many goods, and I wasted some time." He asked Wang Jian to get the silk and linen cloth, and said: "Look first, I haven't sold it yet."

There are two types of silk and linen cloth, those with woven flowers and those without pure colors.The ones without straps are light and thin, and the colors are soft, like peach blossoms and green willows in spring, and the materials are also light and breathable, especially the solid color ones, which are slightly thicker than gauze, and it feels a bit hazy when worn on the arms.

When Liang Cong saw the fabric, he immediately put his stomach full of coconuts behind him.

He was engaged in women's business in Beijing, so he knew that the fabric was good, and the girls would rush to take it home to make clothes.

"It's made of silk and hemp, with ramie and silk inside." Li Zhouzhou introduced.

Liang Cong read two lines of Si Ma Si Ma, then shook his head and said: "This Zhaozhou Si Ma is not good, and the homonym is not good, I think it should be changed."

"How to change it?"

Liang Cong felt that the material was soft and smooth, like a woman's skin, and the color was beautiful, so he said, "How about Chunrijiao?"

"..." Li Zhouzhou was silent for a while, and then said: "Then it is Zhaozhou Liuguang silk."

Boss Li didn't accept his name. Liang Cong was a little bit disappointed. After reading "Boss Li got it", he quickly clapped his hands and said, "This material is soft and smooth, and it is even more radiant in the sun. It's called Liuguang." Good silk."

The name has been decided, and it is the turn of the price.

Liang Cong is a piece of this kind of streamer silk, six taels of silver for plain color, and eight taels of silver for woven flowers.Li Zhouzhou was silent again, no matter how much Liang Cong asked for, they took the middle route when they first released this streamer silk, so that the middle class people could wear it.

"Two and a half pieces of plain color, four liang of woven flowers."

Liang Cong felt that Boss Li didn't look like a businessman, and there was no one who would keep money and not make money.Li Zhouzhou said: "The material itself is here, and rich people are not fools. I want to go a long way and make it more popular. When the time comes, people who can wear streamer silk in Dali will know Zhaozhou."

So it was decided.

Liang Cong bought a lot, [-] horses each in patterns and plain colors, which are easy to put away and not easy to attract insects. He also ordered three treasures of coconut products, especially coconut soap. Here, a few stores are worth a cent, not much.”

Zhaozhou brought more than 40 vehicles of goods, all of a sudden went to a large book.Liang Cong is the main force.Then Boss Hu and Boss Qi came, and seeing the streamer silk, they naturally wanted it.I haven't seen him for more than a year. Boss Hu has lost weight, but he is full of energy. He said, "I have established a shop in Liangzhou City, and it will be settled in the future."

He also brought his family over.

Li Zhouzhou is naturally congratulated, I heard that he is settled in Liangzhe, please ask Boss Hu for help, "I met a Boss Qian in Liangzhe City, and I got his favor and convenience. If Boss Hu is convenient, please help me. A carload of goods goes by, so naturally I will pay for the carriage.”

Of course there is no opinion.Boss Hu readily agreed.

Li Zhouzhou prepared three and a half truckloads of coconuts for Boss Qian, and half a truckload of Liuguang silk, and wrote another letter.

Outside the Li residence of Zhaozhou Commercial Bank.

The people passing by stopped and did not leave, and surrounded them to watch the excitement.

"This is your product too? Why is it so good-looking, a clothes maker?"

Wang Jian said with a smile, "Yes, it's called Liuguang silk. Ladies and gentlemen make summer clothes. You can feel the material is cool and comfortable."

People don't have the nerve to touch her, don't let others touch her rough hands.

Wang Jian took a sample and handed it over to the woman to feel it. Seeing that the neighbor was also curious, he handed another piece of streamer silk and said, "It's okay, this is a sample cloth, let everyone feel it."

After he said that, the big guy dared to touch it, and when he touched it, he exclaimed.

"This material is too soft."

"Slippery."

"It's so comfortable, it must be cool to wear."

Now in mid-August, when the weather is hot, if you change into this outfit, it will be extraordinary, it is beautiful and cool, and some people will be tempted, but you can tell the price by looking at the color and texture of the material.

"How much is this?"

Wang Jian said: "Auntie, if you buy it in pieces, you can buy it in pieces. A plain one costs two and a half taels of silver, and a horse costs four zhang. That's 620, five Wen and one zhang."

More than 600 yuan per ten feet, she bought cloth, and the ten feet of cloth was less than half the price.

But you can't think of it this way, cloth can't compare with this material.The cloth becomes hard after a few washes, and the color is not good. Without this, it looks pleasing, and it is still flimsy——

"Our flowing silk is mixed with silk." Wang Jian said.

Be good, no wonder it is so good and slippery, it turned out to be mixed with silk.Everyone doesn't think it's expensive anymore. Anything with a little silk on it is a good thing, and only the rich and the noble wear it.

"It's not expensive. In our Tangzhou silk shop, the cheapest silk costs three and a half dollars a piece."

"Yes, then why are you so cheap?"

Wang Jian smiled: "Everyone knows that our Zhaozhou is far away. If it is all made of silk and sent over thousands of miles, how could it be possible to add this? Don't hide it from everyone, our business in Zhaozhou is innocent. This streamer silk is mixed with our famous ramie thread from Zhaozhou."

"Hemp, this hemp is not worth much." Someone wanted to lower the price, so naturally they first belittled the streamer silk.

Wang Jian was not annoyed, and still said with a smile: "Auntie, hemp is not the same as hemp. The ramie in Zhaozhou, from harvesting to silk production, requires a twelve-step process. The hemp thread that comes out is white, not the same as cotton. What a difference, the woven fabric is soft and light, which is different from ordinary linen clothes."

"We have a lot of rain there, and to be honest, we can't grow much cotton."

"Don't you wear cotton clothes? There is no cotton here, so how can you freeze to death in winter?" The people were amused to hear this.

Wang Jian: "It doesn't snow in Zhaozhou in winter. I don't know what snow looks like if I didn't go out with my boss and come to the Central Plains to see the snow once."

Everyone was amazed, is there any place where it doesn't snow?

Seeing everyone's curiosity, Wang Jian was also willing to talk more about Zhaozhou. He said: "It's cold in winter and wear more layers of unlined clothes. If it's colder, there are also cotton-padded clothes. It was a brazier to keep warm."

"In our Zhaozhou, the fabric spun from ramie is first-class." Wang Jian gave a thumbs up.

This is also true.Zhaozhou is much poorer, and the people working in the fields are mostly wearing burlap clothes, and they don't feel sorry for them if they are broken.This ramie is mostly worn by urbanites.

"The benefits of ramie clothing are great. It is white and warm, and it is light and thin, so it is not afraid of being bitten by insects. It is also tasteless. Now it is mixed with silk, which is very difficult. It is not easy to color, and all kinds of procedures are troublesome. Flowing silk." Wang Jian took out a piece of pink - it might be the aunts.

He shakes off in the sun.

Everyone saw the material slipping away, like water patterns, glistening in the sun, so beautiful, and the pink color is really beautiful, bright but not dazzling, soft and soft, the pink is as hazy as the fog .

"Auntie, Bibi, this pink color complements people, it doesn't look dark at all, and it looks much younger and fairer."

Wang Jian's mouth made the aunt happy, and the color was indeed so beautiful, he said immediately: "Give me a pink one."

"Okay, auntie."

Wang Jian took a ruler to measure, gave enough, and gave a small piece of green, "Auntie took it back to make a handkerchief, and now I will give this small piece when I buy it. Our Luyuan really can't afford a low price, and I can give it away. It’s a gift from our Zhaozhou merchants.”

"Is it okay to change the light yellow?"

"It happened naturally." Wang Jian changed his aunt into a light yellow handkerchief.A small, boxy piece.Take it back, lock the side, embroider some flowers and plants, and this is a beautiful little handkerchief.

This is a good start, and more will be bought next.

Wang Jian sells goods in front of the stall every day. Later, the women who came to his place had much better clothes, brighter colors and soft fabrics. They hadn't worn new clothes for a few years. They were from well-to-do families.

Sometimes there are some clothes that you can’t just look at but buy. Most of them are dressed in ordinary clothes. Although some clothes are washed clean, they are patched.This is a family that is not rich, just talking about it, there is a daughter in the family who is looking for a husband, looking at the streamer silk, she probably wants it, but the price is not affordable.

This can't help.

Wang Jian could only sigh in his heart, and told his aunts and sisters-in-law who couldn't afford it some things about Zhaozhou, the customs, customs, marriages, everyone loved to listen, and sometimes they came here to chat with Wang Jian after they had nothing to do.

"Are all the boys in Zhaozhou so tall?"

"Of course not. There are tall and short people everywhere. The ones who can come are to escort us all the way. Naturally, they are strong and sturdy." Wang Jian said.

"Little brother, how old are you? How could you be a brother in the family to run a business?"

Wang Jian: "It's fifteen this year, and my family is also in business. The family is not poor, and it can be considered wealthy in Zhaozhou. I love this. I run with my boss and see more of the world. Otherwise, how could I see snow in Tangzhou? Woolen cloth."

The big guys all laughed, thinking that this little brother looks good and can talk, even if he can't think about running out to suffer, the family doesn't persuade him.It can be seen that the little brother does not feel bitter at all. He comes out to sell goods every day, and there is no trace of impatience on his face when there are too many people asking questions. They are all smiling, which shows that he really likes this business.

I didn't know what to say for a moment.

There are plain-colored flowing silks, but we also sell woven floral flowing silks.This is due to the fact that many people saw it, but few bought it. For a few days in a row, I didn't buy a single horse.As for the Li Zhai of Zhaozhou Commercial Bank, there has been an endless stream of visitors and merchants in the past few days. They came in empty-handed.

Within six days, there were fewer people, and it should be sold out.

"Brother, are you going back soon?" Auntie was still a little bit reluctant.

Wang Jian said with a smile: "Yes, the goods are almost sold out, we pack up and leave. But don't worry about it, Auntie, I will come next time, it's autumn."

"Happy autumn, when the time comes, I'll bring you chestnuts to eat. The chestnuts on the mountain are as sweet as honey."

"Okay." Wang Jian agreed.

Next time I bring this aunt a coconut, I don't know if there are any.Or change to something else.

On the day of departure, Wang Jian found his aunt who gave him chestnuts to taste. This aunt was the one whose daughter wanted to choose a son-in-law but had no money to buy streamer silk. The cloth was packed and sent over, "Auntie, don't be disgusted, this cloth adds up to ten feet, but the colors are different, it's a coincidence that you can wash your hands when you go back..."

Naturally, this aunt didn't dislike her, and left with a thousand thanks.

Director Wang looked at everything and murmured, "I'm afraid this aunt sees that Brother Jian is young and soft-hearted, so she deliberately comes to talk to Brother Jian every day. The chestnut is only worth a few dollars, and I exchanged it for more than ten feet of streamer silk."

Li Zhouzhou actually knew that Wang Jian even asked him when he sent samples.

"After all, it's not a trap. Even if the aunt lied to deceive Wang Jian's heart and sympathy, it would mean losing some samples and not costing much money. If it was true, it would be considered a good deed."

"As long as he can bear it, let him do it. He can't do business. His heart is as cold as iron, and he has no tenderness."

Listening to Boss Li's last words, Director Wang somehow thought of him when he was young. He was in business, and was introduced by his master. The first thing he learned was hard heart and cold heart, less useless sympathy, Merchants make money by doing business, and they have to look at money.

Boss Li's business is really different, but there is nothing wrong with it.

The goods brought here were sold out within a few days.

Old Tang at the gate of Tangzhou City had a happy expression on his face, and everyone who had a good relationship and acquaintance knew what was going on.Old Tang was capable, so he sent his son to study with the most famous Peng Juren in Tangzhou City. Peng Juren was very strict in accepting apprentices. In the past two years, he had accepted two disciples, one of whom was a famous child prodigy.

The other one, of course, is Old Tang's son.

"Hey, if we two brothers don't talk about it, what should we do? Peng Juren's place is difficult to enter. The city gentry can't get in even if they have money, and they are scolded for money."

Money, where does the money stink, I don’t understand.

Old Tang saw that he was an old man, so he said, "It's a coconut product from Zhaozhou. Peng Juren is strict with others. No one knows, this master Juren is like this." He twisted his ear.

"Are you afraid of your wife?" This is really embarrassing.

Old Tang said solemnly, "You are not allowed to spread the word."

How can a woman not love pretty.Peng Ju is upright and serious, he doesn't care for money, and doesn't give anyone's favor. He only selects bright children to enter the private school to be his disciple.Old Tang also wanted to give it a try, instead of sending money, he would send coconuts as a gift, just to give Da Lang a chance.

"It's also the material that my Dalang is studying."

This is true, otherwise nothing will work.

Just as he was talking, far away, the team of Zhaozhou merchants arrived at the door.Old Tang smiled and said, "Boss Li is going back, please go on the way."

The author has something to say:

Liang Cong: Listen to my Chunrijiao, I want it to be sixty-two eighty-two [this is still cheap

Loyal sellers of Jingzhong Lanxiang Pavilion.

Noble girl 1: The Lanxiang Pavilion has been getting better and better in the past two years, but the price has not risen, but it is cheaper.

Noble girl 2: She is sincere.

Lady 3: It’s out of stock, and it’s so cheap that anyone can buy it, why don’t you buy it for 30 taels, so no one will grab it [Rich!