This soup is a bit turbid, with some white rice grains floating in it.
Although it smells like wine, when you drink it, it only tastes sour and sour. When you drink the whole soup, it tastes almost as bland as plain water, so it can't be called wine.
Li Yi smacked his lips and said, "This soup is quite fresh."
"That is to say, the prohibition on alcohol was relaxed a few days ago. Apart from not allowing it to be sold in public, I can brew it in private and drink it without others knowing. It doesn't matter."
Huang Langjun smiled and explained, "This restaurant is not a violation of the order."
Li Yi shook his head and said, "Even if you brew it yourself, you still need to have food. This year's food has just been planted. How can there be so much food wasted?"
"In Sichuan, there are always some people who have food in their hands. The price of food rose sharply last year. Who would believe that no one is hoarding food? Then the price of food fell sharply again. Is it possible to pay back the food that fell into their hands?
Is it really stored in the granary and getting moldy?"
Huang Langjun said pointedly.
Sichuan is hot and humid, and it is located in the south. There are many kinds of rice and wheat, and the storable corn accounts for only a third at most. The rate of grain moldy is naturally much faster than in the north.
"Last year's summer grain was ripe, and the autumn wheat was not delayed. As long as there is no war, the grain can still be enough. Seeing that this year's spring plowing did not encounter a cold spring and the farming went smoothly, so those who have stocked up on grain are also panicking."
Although Huang Langjun looked young, his analysis was very clear, and Li Yi couldn't help but look at him in surprise.
Although he has been following his brother for the past few months, he is still someone who has worked for the Prime Minister, so he naturally knows the ropes.
The big man is now paying a tax of fifteen to one. Maybe the life of the court is a bit tight. If the war in Nanzhong is not included, the life of Cangtou and Guizhou can only be said to be harder than before. He gritted his teeth and could still survive.
But those whose families had acres of land were not affected much.
Before the late emperor entered Shu, luxury was common in Shu. People competed with each other and could not restrain themselves.
To put it bluntly, aren’t you full after eating?
From 100% tax on 30% to 150% tax on 15% tax, how many years did it take?
Although the late emperor listened to Liu Ba's plan, made a lot of money, and severely cheated the big families in Sichuan, he still wanted to empty out those people's wealth. How could it be possible?
Of course, speaking of it, my family originally had a lot of fields, but when Nanzhong became chaotic, there was no difference between having it and not having it.
On the contrary, Huang Langjun dared to say these words in front of him, which surprised him a little.
"I remember that Huang Langjun's home seems to have a lot of fields, right?"
Li Yi put the food on the table in his mouth, chewed it, and put down his chopsticks. The longer he stayed with his brother, the more unpalatable the food outside was.
I saw Huang Langjun smiled bitterly, nodded, and admitted generously, "There are indeed many. Although the Huang family does not deliberately hoard food, the food collected from their own fields in the past two years has not been sold.
I’m hoarding it.”
"So," Li Yi pointed to the private room and said, "this restaurant also belongs to Huang Langjun's family?"
I dare to say these words here, and I am not afraid of outsiders hearing it. I think Huang Langjun is also confident.
"I dare not say that."
Huang Langjun waved his hands repeatedly, "The Huang family is a family of farming and studying. How dare you run a lowly business? I do know the manager of this restaurant."
This is a disguised admission that this restaurant is related to the Huang family.
Li Yi smiled, aristocratic families say they don't engage in lowly businesses, but if we really dig into it, which of the larger businesses is not inextricably linked to the wealthy families? This is the usual method used by aristocratic families.
.
Li Yi knew this, but did not point it out, and asked again: "Why did Huang Langjun call me here?"
"Nature is food."
Huang Langjun looked over and said, "I heard that before my brother arrived in Jincheng, someone spread the word that he had a lot of fine cloth and wanted to use it to buy food?"
"You are quite well informed."
Li Yi nodded and said, "Yes. It is indeed fine cloth. I wonder if you have ever heard that the young lady in Zhang Junhou's house has two special sets of clothes?"
"Of course I've heard of it."
Huang Langjun nodded and said, "I heard that the clothes that little lady Zhang wore last winter were very different from others. She didn't even need to wear fur clothes. It's really a good thing."
Li Yi felt a little emotional when he heard this.
This mansion can be regarded as one of the best in Jincheng.
And this little lady is the Queen's sister, so what she does naturally attracts attention.
After this whole winter, although this kind of fabric has not spread to Jincheng yet, because of the Zhang family's young lady, all the upper-class people in Jincheng who are somewhat well-informed know about it.
Originally, Li Yi still didn't understand why his brother was so doting on the little lady Zhang. Now that things have happened, he has become even more confused. He doesn't know whether his brother did it intentionally or not?
Thoughts flashed through his mind, but his face was expressionless. Li Yi said slowly, "Having said that, I won't hide it from you. The cloth used in these clothes was made by Feng Langjun who went to Hanzhong to get the wool and used a secret method.
Made. The cloth in my hand is exactly this kind."
"really!"
Huang Langjun's eyes shone and he stretched his neck even longer, "But I don't know how much it costs?"
Li Yi seemed not to notice Huang Langjun's anxious eyes and continued to say calmly, "I am the only one who has this piece of cloth this year."
Then he looked at Huang Langjun, "Huang Langjun, what do you think the price is?"
"My little brother is not good at breeding goods, so I don't dare to say anything about the price of this piece of cloth."
Li Yi frowned slightly and thought to himself, this man was talking about food and cloth, but now he didn't look like he wanted to buy cloth. Could it be that he was playing tricks on me?
"I don't dare to hide it from my brother. I just heard that my brother exchanged this good cloth for food, and I was thinking, is there any use for this food?"
Seeing that something was wrong with Li Yi's expression, Huang Langjun's eyebrows were clear and he spoke immediately.
"You want to know?"
Li Yi glanced at Huang Langjun lightly.
The fact that my brother will need a lot of food in Hanzhong will definitely not be concealed in the future, but being unable to conceal it does not mean that he can leak it out at will.
Most of the surplus grain in Shu is controlled by the big clans, and the big clans in Shu may not treat his brother much.
Not only do I dislike seeing him, but I also have a lot of grudges.
Anyway, Li Yi felt that his brother's ability to offend aristocratic families was generally something that others could not learn.
Therefore, for this matter, it is best to take advantage of the time when the big families in Sichuan are worrying about last year's grain hoarding and collect as much grain as possible.
If they wait until they realize that their brother is behind them, the price of food will probably rise again.
"I don't want to know. But if my brother really wants food, I have a batch in hand. If it's not enough, I can come forward and prepare some more for my brother."
