Walking into the house in Chongyongfang, Li Shan was a little curious. He knew little about the historical details, but he remembered that there should be a screen wall behind the gate of the ancient house.
I didn't expect it to be so ordinary. There are two small huts on the left side of the door, a kitchen on the right side, and a main hall on the front. Looking at this shape, Li Shan even thought of a courtyard house.
Wang Renbiao and his wife Li came to greet them. Zhu and Li Shan came to the door to salute. After a polite greeting, they entered the main hall.
There was a stove in the corner, and various utensils were placed on the small table. Li Shan couldn't understand it for a moment. Wang Renbiao beside him whispered: "Wait a moment."
The contract was officially made today. Li Shan came on behalf of Dongshan Temple. Wang Renbiao specially asked the Yue family to arrive a little later to show the difference... In the Tang Dynasty, in fact, all high-ranking families and aristocratic families were involved in business, but they would never do business in person.
To avoid being ridiculed by others and hindering your official career.
Li Shan looked around and saw that the furniture was old and there were no servants to serve him. Even his wife had to come out to greet the guests. Although this meant that the family was well-connected and because the guests had female relatives, it was a bit shabby compared to the status of a child of a noble family.
Li Shan thought about it and realized, well, the decoration is much worse than the brothels in Pingkangfang.
After a while, Mrs. Li came over with a plate with two bowls on it. A pungent smell hit his face, making Li Shan frown.
"Brother Li, don't blame me. I don't have good tea in my humble house now."
Hearing Wang Renbiao's words, Li Shancai understood that this was the tea soup of the Tang Dynasty. It is said that onions, ginger, dates, orange peels, dogwood, and mint were added to it. It was boiled and drank hot.
"Thank you, Madam Sister-in-law."
Wang Renbiao smiled and said: "I'm lucky today, I got bites from both bowls!"
"Lang Jun..." The smile on Mrs. Li's face was a little distracted, "It was prepared by Madam Zhu."
When making tea in the Tang Dynasty, it was important for the tea foam to condense with the edge of the tea vessel without overflowing. This is called biting the cup. Only those with superb tea skills cannot guarantee success every time.
Li Shan looked at the tea bowl carefully and was speechless. It looked a bit like high foam. Well, it was just the bit of broken tea left at the end of the tea tube.
Zhu laughed and said: "Lingnan people only boil the picked tea leaves for drinking. The tea-making skills have been out of use for ten years. Today I bite the tea cup again and again. I am really lucky."
Such craftsmanship must be passed down by a family. Wang Renbiao remembered that in Zhujiagou a few days ago, Mr. Zhu blurted out about his father Wang Yushang and Princess An...
Faced with Wang Renbiao's questioning look, Li Shan was speechless. I don't know either. He could only pick up the tea bowl and take a sip.
This taste is amazing!
If someone hadn't been there, Li Shan would have vomited like a goddess!
What kind of tea is like life, with all five flavors... Come and taste it before you talk nonsense.
"Good tea, good tea." Li Shan looked a little pale, thinking he wouldn't have a stomachache if he went back tonight, right?
Wang Renbiao took a big sip and couldn't help but praise: "My aunt's tea art is comparable to what I did when I was a guest at the Marquis's Mansion in Nan'an County a few years ago."
Li Shan naturally didn't understand. Zhu thought for a while and then asked tentatively: "Are you the grandson of Zhuang Gong of Hebei in the Northern Zhou Dynasty?"
Wang Renbiao's expression was even more strange, and he nodded and explained a few words to Li Shan. The so-called Marquis of Nan'an County was Zhang Cong, who was accompanying Li Shimin on the expedition to Hebei. His mother was from the Fufeng Dou family, and his grandmother was Princess Xindu.
"His wife is the eldest Sun." Mrs. Zhu said with a smile, "All generations of the eldest Sun family like to drink tea, so all the girls who came out of the pavilion were good at making tea, and it became a legend for a while."
"Changsun family?" Li Shan huffed, "It is said that Princess Qin..."
"Yes, he and the King of Qin are brothers-in-law. His eldest son Wude got married in the second year of his marriage. At that time, I congratulated him on behalf of my father and had the honor to drink a bowl of tea soup."
Li Shan exclaimed in his heart, "Awesome, this is an important person, please knock on the blackboard and write it down."
The Fufeng Dou family is the wife of the saint Li Yuan. Princess Xindu is the daughter of Tang Taizu Li Hu and Li Yuan's aunt.
In other words, Zhang Cong and Li Yuan are cousins, and they are also cousins with Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, and Li Yuanji, and they are also Li Shimin's brother-in-law!
Although the relationship is a bit messy, the background is really solid.
After chatting for a while, except for Li who was silent, the other three were secretly frightened.
Both Li Shan and Wang Renbiao were surprised by Zhu's detailed understanding of the officials in the court, which was far inferior to the wives and daughters of ordinary officials.
Zhu was surprised by his son Li Shan's special attention to certain people, such as the little-known Fang Qiao Fang Xuanling in the Qin Palace, and the prince Xima Wei Zheng in the East Palace.
Mrs. Li came up again holding a tea bowl and said softly: "Husband, why don't we have lunch at Dongshi today..."
Wang Renbiao looked a little unswerving, but before he could speak, Zhu said first, "I'm afraid it's too late to book a table now, so there's no need to go out. Dalang has already made arrangements."
What a waste... Li Shan's face was a little stiff, he just smiled and said to Wang Renbiao: "You and I hit it off as soon as we saw each other, there is no need to meet outsiders."
Mrs. Zhu went out and said hello. Three or two villagers who had followed the mother and son into the city had already purchased meat, vegetables and drinks. Although they were not luxurious, they were rich.
At this time, Wang Renbiao's father-in-law Li Fu had also arrived. Although he was an elder, he saluted repeatedly. When Wang Renbiao vaguely introduced Li Shan's ancestral home in Chengji County, Longxi County, he was even more overjoyed... Li Shan deeply felt the influence of the powerful family.
The influence of this era is unimaginable by future generations.
During the formal banquet, both Zhu and Li took refuge in the inner room, leaving only three men sitting in the main hall.
Li Fu is about thirty years old, not tall, with a fat face that seems to have a smile that never fades all year round. He sits modestly at the bottom... His ancestors were merchants for three generations. If it hadn't been for Princess Tong'an's use of some tricks,
Where can I get the chance to marry my daughter to a descendant of the Wang family in Taiyuan and make her the official wife?
"Dongshan Temple, the Li family will make a 50-50 profit." Wang Renbiao first set the dividend ratio, "Dongshan Temple produces a secret recipe and transports it to Dongshi every morning for sale by the Li family."
Li Shan smiled and said: "I heard that Uncle Li has a restaurant in the Dongshi store?"
"Yes, I don't dare to call you such a young master."
"It doesn't matter, Brother Wang's Taishan is naturally my elder." Li Shan waved his hand and said: "I wonder how Gewürztraminer is priced?"
Wang Renbiao glanced at his father-in-law, "Three coins a bowl?"
Li Fu was a little hesitant, "I've tried it a few days ago. It's indeed novel, but it's hard to fill my stomach..."
"Nowadays, a bucket of rice only costs four or five yuan, which is too expensive." Li Shan shook his head and pointed to the long yellow strips on the table, "If you have a bowl of Gewürztraminer with a fried dough stick, it will be enough to fill your stomach."
He was absolutely full. In his previous life, when Li Shan was in the hospital, he had a bowl of tofu and fried dough sticks every morning.
"Gewurztraminer and fried dough sticks cost one penny each. Gewürztraminer and a fried dough stick cost only one penny." Li Shan looked at Wang Renbiao, "Gewurztraminer is made from soybeans, so it is difficult to keep it secret for a long time. Soybeans are cheap. If you buy them, you can buy them for one penny."
The price is high and the gain outweighs the loss.”
"Gewürztraminer and Gewürztraminer are transported from Dongshan Temple to Dongshi every day, and the fried dough sticks are handled by Uncle Li's restaurant in Dongshi. How about that?"
It doesn’t matter whether it’s soy milk or tofu, Zhujiagou can make it, but deep-fried dough sticks require a lot of vegetable oil. Even if it can be used repeatedly, the cost is not something Zhujiagou can afford, and Zhu Wei doesn’t have that much vegetable oil.
Channel work.
Li Fu looked at Wang Renbiao's expression before nodding in agreement, "I will send people to buy soybeans from all over the country and send them directly to Dongshan Temple."
After the business was finished, the three of them chatted while drinking. Li Fu tentatively talked about Wang Yu in Suizhou, but Wang Renbiao covered it up with a nonchalant remark.
Wang Renbiao now figured it out. His father, Wang Yu, left this house for him before taking office. He was afraid that he would be kicked out. It was useless to write a letter to inform his father. His only two friends were not in Beijing.
.
No one would offend Princess Tong'an for the sake of his concubine. He could only endure it...Wang Renbiao thought of this and glanced at Li Shan. Likewise, no one would offend the Hedong Pei family for Li Shan. This was also him.
The main reason why I cherish each other’s feelings towards Li Shan.
Until the afternoon, Li Fu and Li Shan both said goodbye and left. The half-drunk Wang Renbiao sighed and returned to the inner room, saying softly: "Let's wait for now. If the sales are good, at least it will be enough for daily expenses."
In the past seven or eight days, Wang Renbiao had lived a very miserable life. With the thirty guan he had, he bought some half-used furniture, bedding, cooking utensils, and rice and noodles. There was not much left. If he hadn't brought the tea set with him that day,
Now that we are out, we can only treat guests with water today.
Mrs. Li struggled to carry a bundle on the table, "This is fifty strings..."
"You got it from your parents' house?!" Wang Renbiao scolded sternly.
Li Fu married Queen Renbiao and managed to establish a relationship with the upper class. His business was bigger than before. In the past, Wang Renbiao would accept some routines sent by the Li family with peace of mind, but now... he is willing to make connections with Li Shan and Dongshan Temple.
, Li Fu cooperated to share the profits, but found it difficult to accept the money sent directly from the Yue family.
"No, it's not." Ms. Li knew what her husband was taboo about and said hurriedly: "Ms. Zhu left it behind. She said Mr. Li asked his entourage to bring it."
"What?"
"Ms. Zhu said that Mr. Li said last night that the most important thing in making friends is sincerity. He said it frankly and frankly that day, so there is no need to be stingy."
Wang Renbiao stood dumbfounded for a long time and sighed: "It's a matter of urgency. This man really has the style of ancient justice."
In the past, fifty strings naturally did not hold much weight for Wang Renbiao, but now... Wang Renbiao has mixed feelings in his heart. If he only regarded Li Shan as a collaborator before, now he has regarded Li Shan as a friend.
This is a righteous man who can be associated with others.
Even if Li Shan heard Wang Renbiao's comments with his own ears, it would still be difficult to heal his inner trauma. He looked at his proud mother with resentment... Fifty Guan!
Fifty strings!
I really don’t know how much money I have. Could it be that I am the eldest lady of some family?!