The persimmon trees in Yongxingfang turned into a rare bright color. The persimmons turned red and hung high like lanterns.
Huaiyu looked up at the tree full of persimmons.
“Has the brewing of this year’s persimmon wine started?”
The big shopkeeper Zhao Yi came to greet him early in the morning, accompanied by a group of shopkeepers from various branches of the Wu family, "Well, we have made preparations in advance this year. In the summer, we started to send people to various places to reserve persimmons. In addition, according to Alang's instructions,
I have also stored a lot of the sweet potatoes I planted this year after harvest, preparing to use them to make sweet potato roast..."
The price of grain in Chang'an has dropped a lot this year. Nowadays, a pound of rice in Chang'an costs thirty cents, and a pound of millet costs eighteen cents. Although I can't say that this price can be compared with that of the Emperor's reign, it is indeed the lowest grain price in Chang'an in the past twenty years.
The ban on brewing has also been relaxed, but except for home brewing, those large breweries still have food quotas.
The Wu family uses persimmons, sweet potatoes, grapes, pears and other fruits to make wine. It is not affected, and the business is more and more prosperous. Now it has a good reputation. Although the Wu family shochu has fewer truly high-end wines, nobles still prefer rice wine.
However, this kind of shochu is still very popular in the middle and lower-end markets, especially among the military. There are many troops stationed in Chang'an. When they are not on duty, they are willing to buy a pot of shochu and make some braised vegetables when they are out.
Enjoy it or something.
Liquor is even more popular at city gates, docks and markets.
Fruit wine made from fruits also has some niche markets, and it is mainly popular among women.
However, now Wujia Distillery has also developed alcohol, using the wine heads to purify it to produce higher alcohol, which can be used to make medicinal alcohol or Wujia perfume.
A big family and a big business also have big expenses.
Fortunately, although the Wu family is new, there are many profitable industries now, such as Qianjintang's medicine, Bingyutang's wine, Meiyutang's soaps, perfumes, soaps, rouges, etc., and Baoyuhao's salt, and the Wu family's tea.
It's quite profitable, plus those manors.
However, I did some calculations yesterday and found that I made a lot of money, but Wu Huaiyu still owes money to famine on the books.
The stalls are relatively large, and a lot of profits are invested in them.
He bought a lot of land, bought a lot of slaves, cattle and horses, etc. These expenses were not small.
The money I borrowed when I married my wife and became a concubine has not yet been repaid.
Of course, if you look at it carefully, the Wu family has a lot of assets now, and that little debt is nothing.
Carrying many Wu family specialties, Huaiyu first went to visit Qin Qiong's house in the same house.
The two families were not far apart. They were in the same house, but Qin Qiong's house was larger than Huaiyu's.
After loading several carts of gifts, Huaiyu rode forward slowly, taking a look at the changes in Yongxingfang. It was dark when he came back yesterday, so he didn't look carefully.
Looking around now, I find that Yongxingfang has changed quite a lot.
There has been a lot of rain recently. In previous years, the streets in Fangnei would have been muddy and difficult to navigate. But now, the streets, alleys, and cross streets in Fangnei are all covered with sand transported from the Chan River. The muddy water roads have turned into sand embankments. You no longer have to worry about getting stuck in the mud.
Walking in the street wetted my boots and clothes.
The streets are quite clean, there is no littering, and no one is defecating anywhere.
"Our family took the lead, and together with the Duke of Qi and other large aristocratic families in the village, we hired villagers to dig sand from the Chan River and transport it for paving,"
This project cost a lot of money. The noble families contributed money and the villagers contributed their efforts. But the villagers' efforts were not in vain. They had wages. In this way, the road in the village was repaired, and many ordinary people in the village also got a
Worked and made some money.
Digging sand, transporting sand, and spreading sand were busy for half a month.
In addition, the reason why the square is so clean now is because a lot of money has been spent this year to build many new public toilets, public bathhouses, and many garbage points. We have also hired some disabled and elderly people in the square to clean and clear away garbage.
wait.
This change was achieved only after real money was invested, including replanting many willow, elm, and locust trees, regularly cleaning sewers, ditches, and digging more seepage wells.
"It's all the rich and noble people in the city who pay for it?"
"Um,"
After hearing this, Huaiyu felt that this was not a good way. After all, just relying on noble merchants to donate money might not be satisfactory over time. Don't think that nobles are really generous if they have money.
Although the nobles have money, they pay more attention to returns.
Now the main thing is to have a name, but how to make them continue to spend money is a problem. According to the urban management philosophy of later generations, investment must be rewarded, and even profits must be generated, in order to be sustainable.
The best way is, of course, to sell land, rent it out, or get advertising revenue, etc.
Yongxingfang is close to the Imperial City and the East Palace. It is a prime location, the real Upper East District. There are many noble officials in this place now, and of course there are also many ordinary people, craftsmen, etc. In fact, there are still a lot of open spaces.
There are both private ones and those in the name of the government.
Huaiyu felt that if it could be put into operation, such as taking out some vacant land or building houses directly, and renting them out to students or scholars in Beijing, or officials who came to Beijing to work as planners, or businessmen, the rent would be a good sum.
income.
Part of this income can be used for the maintenance of infrastructure and public facilities in the neighborhood.
Of course, the land can also be sold directly, or it can be a public-private partnership, where the government provides the land, businessmen contribute the money, build apartments, rent them out, and share the profits.
Or we can build some shops in the square, such as small shops that are convenient for the people, selling some vegetables and daily necessities, which can not only provide convenience to the people, but also not affect the residents. You can't go to the East and West markets for everything.
In fact, with the overall planning and construction, the environment of Yongxingfang will be better, and the rent will even increase.
When they arrived at Qin Qiong's house, the two men had not seen each other for more than a year, and they chatted happily.
Qin Qiong even checked Huaiyu's trump card.
"I haven't practiced much, I'm not proficient enough." Qin Qiong saw through it at a glance.
"I really haven't practiced much."
Although Wu Huaiyu was granted the title of Duke for his military exploits, compared with Qin Qiong and other generals who fought in hundreds of battles, he did not actually fight many battles, let alone sent troops into battle. Last year, he defeated Luoyi and destroyed Liang's capital, but he actually did not even go into battle.
Moved hands.
Many military officers in the court were dissatisfied with Wu Huaiyu being granted the title of Duke. Because of this, they felt that his achievements were too light. It sounded like he had done a great job, pacifying a county king and killing the last separatist rebel king, but there was no real sword.
If the gun is used, they will not accept it.
Especially generals like Qiu Xinggong and Wei Chigong, who have fought for many years and have countless scars on their bodies, are not as young as Wu Huaiyu.
Qin Qiong's health is very good now.
I have been in the countryside for more than a year, not having to worry about the military and political affairs of the DPRK and China, and resting in peace of mind.
In addition to riding and shooting, he also practiced the Eight Parts of Vajra Kung Fu. Qin Qiong swam in the river near Bailu Plateau twice a day, no matter the spring, summer, autumn or winter.
Although his body now looks less muscular than when he was at his peak, his belly is not as big, and he has less fat on his body, but he looks better. He was very ill last year and couldn't wear the clothes he used to wear. But now, Qin Qiong is very
So majestic.
Even her hair is black and shiny, and her voice is full of energy.
Qin Qiong got better and his wives and concubines became pregnant one after another.
All this is also due to the conditioning recipes prescribed by Wu Huaiyu.
"My foster father is going to make a comeback when he returns to Beijing this time, right?"
"I'm actually used to the life of idle clouds and wild cranes now," Qin Qiong said with a smile. The emperor repeatedly called him to go out to work, but Qin Qiong hesitated.
With an official title like his and meritorious deeds, it is actually very good to retire now. Once he has achieved fame, he will come out again. Although he is not yet old, he is only a military commander after all. If he wants to be a governor, he feels that he may not be able to do so.
This ability.
"I feel that I am a little unsuited to the current situation. I am a general and I will do my duty in fighting. But if I want to help the emperor rule the world, I don't know how to start."
When the moon is full, it wanes, and when the water is full, it overflows. In fact, Qin Qiong is also a smart man. He can also understand the current situation of Li Xiaogong, Li Daozong, Duan Decao, Liu Hongji, Sun Shunde, Liu Zhenghui and others.
"Let's not talk about that anymore," Qin Qiong smiled, picked up his maces, and began to dance on the martial arts field. The maces were like dragons, dancing in his hands in a superb way. These were the real maces.
"When you have free time, you still need to practice more, especially with horses and bows and arrows." Qin Qiong put away his mace and said to him with a smile. "You know that His Majesty led the army to fight and was the commander-in-chief of the three armies, but he is still sharp with his sword and his bow.
She Wushuang, no matter how many times he was in danger, His Majesty was always unstoppable with his sword and powerful bow."
Go back to the hall and drink tea.
Qin Qiong talked about Li Sanniang.
"Sanniang is a very nice child. She lives in my house now. The county boss also likes her very much and intends to adopt her as his adopted daughter."
Huaiyu sat there and listened honestly.
It seems that what Qin Qiong said has been expected for a long time.
"I also want to hear your thoughts and true feelings."
Huaiyu did not hesitate and said bluntly, "Sanniang is a very good girl. She is also the apple of my teacher's and mistress's eyes. She is the eldest granddaughter of the eldest daughter of the Danyang family of the Li family in Longxi. Her identity means that I am destined to have a close relationship with her."
Yes, I can't possibly have anything to do with her."
Qin Qiong sighed, "The pharmacist came to sit with me for a while that day and talked a lot. They really felt sorry for Sanniang. Now that Sanniang is like this, they are very heartbroken. The pharmacist even said, if, if you have to be here,
Together, he will forget it."
Huaiyu shook his head.
"How can we be together? It doesn't matter if we don't know for sure. This is very bad for the Yongkang Palace and the Wu family. It's even worse for Sanniang."
"If you really think about it, can you cut it into two pieces?"
"I thought very clearly from the beginning, so I never expressed any inappropriate behavior. It was Sanniang who couldn't figure it out at the moment."
Qin Qiong nodded, "A man does something and doesn't do something. It's a good thing for you to know so well. In that case, let me deal with it for you. I will accept Sanniang as my adopted daughter and you will become brothers and sisters. How about that?"
"Okay." Huaiyu didn't hesitate at all.
He can accept girls from the Qiu family, even Cao Shisanniang, Tang Liuniang, Duan Wan, etc., and he can also be with Forresta, Han Lady, etc., but the nature is different.
After all, it was Li Sanniang's identity that made Wu Huaiyu dare not cross the Leichi lightly.
Qin Qiong clapped her hands.
At this time, a person suddenly appeared from the back of the hall. Li Sanniang had been hiding behind the hall. Qin Qiong deliberately arranged for her to be here, and then let her hear Huaiyu's heartfelt voice with her own ears.
"Sanniang, did you hear what Erlang said?"
Li Sanniang knelt down in front of her, tears streaming down her face.
Although she had always been unwilling to give in, she finally understood now that if Wu Huaiyu didn't accept her, there would be no chance at all.
Heartbroken, I woke up from my dream.
"How about you becoming brother and sister?" Qin Qiong asked.
Li Sanniang bowed her head.
"Sanniang thanks her adoptive father for his love,"
"If Erlang doesn't give up, Sanniang is willing to marry Erlang, and from now on we will become brothers and sisters." Li Sanniang, who was wearing Taoist robes, almost cried to tears.
Huaiyu felt distressed when he saw it, but he still hardened his heart and continued to break up, only to suffer the consequences.
"Okay, I'll let someone make arrangements, and you will officially become brother and sister today."