Chapter 977: Gu Qianfan gets promoted and the teahouse opens
Ouyang Xu's escape was either a good thing or a bad thing for Zhao Pan'er and the others.
But the most important thing is that Zhao Paner confirmed his intention to stay in Tokyo.
When Zhao Pan'er told Sun Sanniang and Song Yinzhang about this idea, they were both extremely excited.
"Pan'er, have you really decided that we will stay in Tokyo instead of returning to Qiantang?"
Sun Sanniang couldn't wait to ask. Anyway, she didn't want to go back to Qiantang. Her husband and son didn't want her anymore. She had nothing to remember in Qiantang. She would rather stay in the more prosperous Tokyo.
Song Yinzhang was also very happy: "Yes, sister Pan'er, can we really stay?"
She wants to leave her country, want a new life, and more importantly, if she stays in Tokyo, she can have the opportunity to meet Lord Zhou.
Zhao Pan'er nodded solemnly and said: "Yes, I have thought about it. Anyway, there is nothing worth remembering in Qiantang. Since we can live well in Qiantang, we can also live well in Tokyo."
Sun Sanniang agreed very much: "Yes, Pan'er, I know your abilities well. If others say this, I may doubt it, but if you say it, I will definitely believe it."
Her fruit production was good, but she wouldn't have been able to make money without Zhao Pan'er's help when she was in Qiantang.
So she firmly believed that as long as they followed Zhao Pan'er, they might not necessarily be rich and powerful, but they would definitely not go hungry, and Zhao Pan'er would not treat them badly.
"Sister Pan'er, have you thought about what we will do after we stay?"
"Yes, Pan'er, we must make a living. The courtyard we live in now is provided by Lord Zhou, so we can't live in vain. How about we continue to open a teahouse? We are familiar with this business."
Zhao Pan'er smiled and said: "Sanniang, you and I have come together. What we can do best is to open tea houses, and I have also walked around the inner city these days. Although there are many tea houses, most of them are
It’s a local tea-drinking fruit, and basically you can’t see our Jiangnan specialty.”
"My idea is that our Jiangnan tea-drinking fruits are no worse than those in Tokyo. If we open a teahouse focusing on Jiangnan tea-drinking fruits, the business will definitely be good."
Sun Sanniang looked surprised: "Pan'er, when did you go to investigate? Why didn't we know?"
"I just walk around casually. I am relatively familiar with this aspect. I take a look and smell it, and sometimes I understand it."
"But Pan'er, we have to consider a problem. We don't have much money now. It's not that easy to open a teahouse. Not only do we have to buy all kinds of goods, materials and spices, but we also have to rent
House, etc., do we have enough money?" Sun Sanniang looked worried.
Zhao Pan'er sighed: "I did some preliminary calculations, and it's enough to open it. As long as I can make money, I can continue to open it. And I have already figured out the business method. It will still be the same as when we were in Qiantang."
"You're in charge of the tea, and I'm in charge of the fruit cakes and desserts?"
"Yes, if we can be number one in Qiantang, we will definitely do well in Tokyo."
"Pan'er, I believe in you. I will do whatever you tell me to do."
"Ms. Zhao, Mrs. Sun, I can be responsible for cleaning and serving tea and water." Even the maid Yin Ping happily joined the discussion.
Song Yinzhang saw Zhao Pan'er and Sun Sanniang discussing excitedly, and even his maid Yin Ping had already thought about what she was going to do, which made her very anxious.
"What about me, Sister Pan'er, what can I do? I also want to be with you."
Zhao Pan'er smiled and said: "Yinzhang, even if you don't say it, I will definitely add you. You are the trump card in my plan, the best pipa master in Jiangnan. This is an important means to attract customers."
"ah?"
Song Yinzhang was stunned. She thought that Sister Pan'er had forgotten her, but she didn't expect that she was not. Instead, she said that she was very important. This feeling of being needed made her very satisfied.
"Okay, Sister Pan'er, I will listen to you. I will do whatever you ask me to do."
She said the same thing as Sun Sanniang, because she also felt that Zhao Paner must have thought more about them and understood more than them.
"Pan'er, have you chosen a location? I heard someone said that there seems to be a tea soup alley in the inner city that specializes in this business. Should we go there too?"
They have been in Tokyo for more than ten or twenty days. When they were at the inn, they chatted with people a lot and learned a lot about the things in Tokyo.
Zhao Pan'er said: "I have inquired about it. The rent of the shops there is too expensive. We don't have enough money at all. I have taken a fancy to a shop on Mahang Street. There are many pedestrians passing by that street every day, and there are many selling spices."
Yes, it’s convenient for us to purchase.”
"And it is located between the outer city and the inner city. It is very convenient. There is also a large school nearby. It is popular enough, convenient for purchasing, and the rent is cheap. So my idea is to open the teahouse on Ma Xing Street.
side."
Song Yinzhang was confused after hearing this, and Sun Sanniang also seemed to understand, but this did not prevent them from agreeing with Zhao Paner's decision.
"Pan'er, you decide."
With Zhao Paner taking the decision, the three women quickly made the decision to open a teahouse.
Zhao Pan'er and Song Yinzhang contributed the money, and Sun Sanniang contributed the efforts. The three had a clear division of labor and were counted as three shares, while Yin Ping was the laborer.
After making the decision, they started taking action, first renting a house, looking for purchases, then decorating and so on.
More than half a month passed in a flash. Because they had limited funds and many things in the tea house were made by themselves, the speed was relatively slow.
Zhou Chen naturally knew that Zhao Pan'er and others were going to open a teahouse, but he didn't bother him.
…………
"Commander Gu, no, you should call me Deputy Envoy Gu now. You have been promoted to Deputy Envoy of the Imperial City Department and have put on a scarlet robe. Why don't you hold a banquet and make it fun?"
In the private room of the restaurant, Zhou Chen and Gu Qianfan sat together, drinking tea and listening to music.
Gu Qianfan laughed at himself: "How exciting? I am alone now, with no relatives, and I am also the 'Living Yama' of the Imperial City. If there is a banquet, how many people will come? How exciting?"
He was very happy to be promoted to the fifth rank, but he was also happy to be able to uphold his own mother's honor, to have her included in the Gu family tree ancestral hall, and to enjoy the incense of the imperial court in the future.
As for other things, they are not that important to him.
No, it had been many days since his promotion, but apart from his colleagues in the Imperial City Division, Zhou Chen was the only one who sincerely congratulated him.
"Deputy Commander Gu, don't belittle yourself. I know your abilities. To be honest, I think you are really a bit underserved in the Imperial City Division."
This is not Zhou Chen's compliment, but his sincerity.
Gu Qianfan entered the Imperial City Division only for Qi Mu. Otherwise, with his status as a Jinshi and his own abilities, it would definitely be much smoother for him to take the civil service path than it is now.
"The Marquis is too high-minded and looks down upon the subordinate officials."
Gu Qianfan is very humble. In the eyes of many people, his achievements are indeed great. However, Zhou Chen was able to lead an army alone to guard the border a few years ago and almost destroyed the Xiazhou Dingnan Army. Just for this alone, he
Far from comparable.
"I wonder what the important matter is because the Marquis specially asked the official to come here today?"
Zhou Chen smiled and said: "It's nothing serious, I just want to find someone to chat with, but I have been staying at the border in the past few years, and I have been staying in the Hou Mansion for more than two years. I don't see many guests, except
Some relatives really don’t have anyone to talk to.”
"No, after thinking about it, I thought of Deputy Ambassador Gu. Although we have not met each other many times, we can be regarded as sharing weal and woe. In the eyes of others, Deputy Ambassador Gu is some kind of 'living Yama', but in my eyes
In fact, I feel that it is easier to get along with people like Deputy Gu."
Zhou Chen's words made Gu Qianfan not know how to respond for a moment. Ever since he was called 'Living Yama', after so many years, Zhou Chen was the first one to say that he was an easy person to get along with, which gave him a very special feeling.
What a wonderful feeling.
"Master Hou, I also have the same idea."
"Haha, is that right? Then when we think of it together, does this count as sympathy? Haha."
Gu Qianfan's serious expression of compliment made Zhou Chen very amused.
These words made the relationship between the two people become much closer, and they started chatting familiarly with each other.
After a long while, Zhou Chen finally said: "Let's get here first today. I am relatively free, but Deputy Ambassador Gu must be very busy recently, so I won't waste your time."
Gu Qianfan did not refute. Zhou Chen was right. After his recent promotion, he has indeed become much busier. Recently, he sleeps in the office every day and does not even go home. He is a complete workaholic.
Gu Qianfan stood up and was about to leave when Zhou Chen suddenly said: "Deputy Ambassador Gu, we had a great time chatting today. I also treat you as a friend. I want to give you a warning. You must be careful with Qi Mu."
Gu Qianfan's expression suddenly changed, and he looked at Zhou Chen in disbelief, but Zhou Chen just smiled and walked out of the private room.
Gu Qianfan didn't leave until Zhou Chen left for a while, but was thinking about what Zhou Chen just said.
'Has he known about what happened between me and Qi Mu? Or did he know something?'
If it were anyone else, with his suspicious character, he would definitely be suspicious, but Zhou Chen is a loyal and brave man, and their acquaintance was accidental. The other party even saved his life, so there is no reason to harm him.
But what puzzled him the most was how Zhou Chen knew about his relationship with Qi Mu. You must know that every time they meet, they are very secretive, and they rarely communicate in private.
He couldn't imagine what was going on.
"Deputy Ambassador Gu! Qianfan?"
"Um?"
Gu Qianfan quickly regained his cold expression: "Company, why are you here?"
The person who appeared in front of him was the company of the Imperial City Division. His boss was a Shangguan who lacked ability but had first-rate skills in courtship.
Lei Jing had a Maitreya Buddha smile on his face: "It's a coincidence. I made an appointment with someone to drink tea today. I was just about to leave when I suddenly saw you. Why don't you come over and say hello?"
"That's right."
Gu Qianfan showed a look of relief, but he was sneering in his heart. He knew exactly who Lei Jing was.
"By the way, Qianfan, who was the person who had tea with you just now? He looks familiar to me?" Lei Jing suddenly asked, pretending to be casual.
Gu Qianfan knew that this kind of thing could not be hidden from Lei Jing, so he said truthfully: "The company has good eyesight. The person just now is the Zhongyong Hou Lord Zhou."
Lei Jing's face trembled: "Zhongyonghou? Is he the Zhongyonghou of the young general of the Song Dynasty?"
"Exactly."
"Oh, Qianfan, you actually know Lord Zhou, why haven't I heard you talk about him before?"
Lei Jing's attitude suddenly changed. Although Zhou Chen has no official position now, just being a hereditary loyal and brave marquis is enough for people to take him seriously, not to mention that Zhou Chen is only in his twenties now. In the future,
It is destined to have a bright future.
If he could be friends with such a person, he would be happy with it.
Gu Qianfan said: "Company, you may not know that I was a Jinshi in the same year as Lord Zhou."
"Really? Is there still such a thing?"
Lei Jing looked surprised. He had never investigated this matter before.
"Qian Fan, you are in the Imperial City Department, I treat you well, right? If you have a chance to meet Lord Zhou again, how about introducing him to me?"
Although Lei Jing said that thanks to Gu Qianfan, he had put on the scarlet robe and his power had been improved this time, he knew better that there was still a big gap between him and Zhongyong Hou Zhou Chen.
Because the Imperial City Department he led was mainly based on military positions, it was destined that it would be difficult for him to be of the same mind as the civil officials in the court. On the contrary, if there was an opportunity to make friends with the Zhongyong Houfu from a family of military generals, he would definitely not hesitate.
"Your Majesty, I will remember it."
Gu Qianfan replied casually, but in fact he didn't take it to heart. He had always looked down upon him, a Shangguan who was corrupt, bent the law and wanted to climb up the ladder.
After Zhou Chen and Gu Qianfan parted ways from the restaurant, they did not go back directly to the Hou Mansion, but came to Ma Xing Street.
Zhao Pan'er and their newly opened Zhao's Teahouse opened yesterday. He couldn't come yesterday, but today, he can still come and support it.
Arriving at the door of Zhao's Tea House, Zhou Chen looked at the small two-story building, which was not large in area, and couldn't help but think of Zhao's Tea House in Qiantang.
In fact, if we really compare it, Zhao's Teahouse in Qiantang has a larger area, better environment, and wider view.
But Tokyo is Tokyo after all, and it is far from being comparable to Qiantang. The cost of this tea house is much more than that of Qiantang's tea shop.
"Guest, please come inside..."
Yin Ping, who was in charge of welcoming guests, suddenly widened his eyes and said, "Zhou, Zhou, official"
Fortunately, she reacted in time, covered her mouth, and did not call out the word "Master Hou".
Zhou Chen glanced inside and said with a smile: "Not bad, there are quite a lot of people."
As soon as I entered the tea house, I heard the sweet sound of pipa playing from upstairs.
After serving the fruits, Sun Sanniang was very surprised when she suddenly saw Zhou Chen.
"Mr. Zhou, why are you here?"
"Pan'er, Pan'er."
"What's wrong, Sanniang?"
"Look who's coming?"
Zhao Pan'er walked over and saw that it was Zhou Chen. He was also surprised, and then said directly: "Official Zhou, you are here. Come on, please come upstairs."