With a smile on his face, Zhou Xihu listened to his nephew talk about what kind of business he did, how he did it, how much he earned, how much he spent, and what he bought for his family.
Seeing that his nephew was so happy, he didn't disturb him and just listened. In fact, he didn't care how much his nephew earned. He only cared if his nephew bullied people on the street like Hai Zhouli and didn't do anything for a day.
From these words, he knew that his nephew, who had always been a bad learner, had changed into a different person ever since he started doing business with the Zhang Family's manor. He no longer played with the people he used to play with. All day long, he was thinking about how to sell things.
Also, when he sold things, the local people praised him. For example, although his nephew made money, the local people always said that he was good.
When talking about this, Zhou Xihu was especially energetic. He said that if the people didn't have money and still needed to farm, he would ask for less money. Some people even rented to the people first and wait for the autumn harvest. There were also people who came to buy plows who kept coughing. He even found a doctor to treat them.
For the first time, Zhou Xihu dared to speak to his uncle so confidently. He felt that he didn't do anything wrong, unlike before when he had nothing to do all day long. Every time his uncle asked, he didn't know what to say and could only lower his head.
"In the future, this nephew is going to do business with Zhangjia Zhuangzi. They said that there are still many business deals. I saw a necklace made of big pearls in Zhen Bao Pavilion. The asking price is six hundred taels of silver. I originally had that much money, but I was afraid that after spending it, I wouldn't have enough capital to do other business, so I didn't buy it.
The next time I do business with Zhangjia Zhuangzi, I will buy that necklace and give it to my mother. My mother's birthday is in two months. Tomorrow, I will go and urge Zhangjia Zhuangzi to complete a business deal within this period of time.
There is also a bracelet that is not bad. When I earn enough money, I will buy it and give it to my aunt. These days, I didn't spend much money to eat at the restaurant. It was all the people who wanted to buy things for me. I brought home the food that I couldn't finish and gave it to the servants. They all said that I am good. "
Zhou Xihu didn't stop talking. He couldn't wait to tell his uncle everything that had happened to him.
Zhou Qiong had been listening the whole time. Suddenly, he asked, "Why did you bring her back? Aren't you afraid that others will call you stingy?"
"What do you mean by petty? Even if they don't eat it, they'll throw it away. The servants at home can't eat it even if they want to. It's not spoiled. Last time, I personally went to deliver a plough to a villager. I saw that the food they were eating was from the day before yesterday. They were still eating it even after two days.
I didn't get sick after eating it. When I looked at it, I thought that I shouldn't have thrown away so many things in the past. In the past, when I bought things to eat, I spent my family's money. Now I know that it's not easy to make money. I have to manage the craftsmen and look at the price. Selling a plow only earns a few copper coins, so of course I have to be frugal. "
Zhou Xihu started talking again. He even stretched out his hand for his uncle to see. There were two wounds on his hand that he had accidentally touched with the plow.
When Zhou Qiong heard this, he finally smiled. His nephew was sensible. He knew that it wasn't easy to make money. He knew how to be filial to his parents. He also knew how to be considerate of the common people. Nothing could make him happier than this. As for the money he earned, it didn't matter if it was more or less. Even if he lost it, he could accept it.
"Uncle, please don't tell my mother that I want to buy things for her. My mother will definitely complain that I'm wasting money. When I went back, I measured it. That necklace on my mother's neck made her look even better. She's even prettier than my father's new concubine.
And that bracelet as well. Uncle, you'll know once you put it on my aunt. My aunt is fair, so with that light green bracelet, she'll look even younger. Uncle, what's wrong? Why are your eyes red? Is it because it's too dry? Is it because it's stuffy in the carriage?
It's like this now, but when we get there, you'll know. The well water is very delicious. It's very cooling. Just one sip and you'll feel comfortable from inside out. Winter here is different from other places. Nephew learned how to make a kang from Zhangjia Zhuangzi. Lying on it is really warm. "
Zhou Xihu saw that his uncle's eyes were a little red. He thought that it was stuffy in the carriage, so he lifted the curtain a little and continued talking.
"Yes, it's stuffy. It's good to see the well water. Xiao Hu, tell uncle, what do you plan to do in the future?" Zhou Qiong used his sleeve to wipe the corner of his eyes and asked with relief.
"Plan? Nephew, I really don't know. I just want to do business with Zhangjia Zhuangzi. They gave me all the profitable deals. Actually, I know that if I was alone, they wouldn't even bother with me. It's all uncle behind me. They want to curry favor with uncle.
I did earn some money, but I didn't keep all of it for myself. I returned some to them. Uncle, that Zhangjia Zhuangzi is really amazing. They come up with one idea after another to make money. I'm not afraid that I won't have anything to do in the future. Uncle, you have to protect that Zhangjia Zhuangzi well. Only with them around can I do business. "
Zhou Xihu became shrewd at this time. Zhou Qiong shook his head. How could he not know about his nephew's little cleverness? Zhangjia Zhuangzi indeed had to be protected. It wasn't that they cared about the little money his nephew earned, but that his nephew had become more sensible after working with them. A prodigal son had turned over a new leaf. No amount of money could buy that.
"Uncle, you have to say something. Zhangjia Zhuangzi doesn't have it easy. They will react at the slightest sign of trouble. The wood ear that I gave you last time was also from them. You might not know, but that wood ear was planted by them. They even said that they will let me help them sell the mushrooms they grow in the future.
Amazing, right? Wood ear can be planted. Now that there's a drought, there are even less wood ear here. The same goes for mushrooms. They are now telling me how to make the mushrooms into delicious dishes. I bought some and made them for my mother. My mother even praised me for it. I made it myself and didn't let anyone else help. "
Speaking of this, Zhou Xihu felt very happy, especially when he saw his parents constantly praising him when they ate. He wished that he could cook every day.
"Good, Xiao Hu's cooking will definitely be delicious. When we go back, Xiao Hu will also make a meal for uncle." Zhou Qiong could imagine how terrible his nephew's cooking would be. His nephew had never cooked before, and his knife skills were not good enough. However, he knew that if he cooked for his parents, it would be the best thing in the world. Even the imperial chef could not compare.
Zhou Xihu saw the expression on his uncle's face and knew what his uncle was thinking. He sighed and said, "Uncle, I know what you are thinking. Don't you think that I don't know how to cook?
Let me tell you, it's not like that. In the recipe that Zhangjia Zhuangzi gave me, he wrote down how much to put in each ingredient. I let the accountant read it and used a scale to weigh everything. He even wrote down the temperature of the fire. They also gave me something. It's a light yellow thing that looks like a grain of rice. If you put it in the dish, it will taste more delicious. "
"Oh? There's something else? What is it? Is it really that delicious when put in the dish? " Zhou Qiong still did not believe it, but he followed his nephew's words to make him feel better.
"Aiya, uncle, why don't you believe it? All the restaurants in the county want to buy that thing from them. It costs one tael of silver per tael, and they only buy one tael of silver per month. They use it on special dishes. I didn't even ask for the recipe. Even if I did ask, they wouldn't tell me."
Zhou Xihu was a little helpless. Why didn't his uncle believe him?
As they were talking, the carriage stopped. Just when everyone thought that they had arrived, someone brought a bowl of hot soup in front of them. There were fungus, soaked cucumbers, and eggs. There was a layer of chopped green onions floating on top of the soup. There were two youtiao beside it. Of course, they did not know that it was called youtiao.
At this time, County Magistrate Cheng came to the side of the carriage of the three most important people and said, "Sirs, it will take an hour to get there. I was afraid that you would be hungry, so I casually prepared some food to eat first."
After hearing his words, everyone understood. They had rushed all the way here without rest, so they were indeed a little hungry. Smelling the soup, they ate a mouthful of the youtiao, drank a mouthful of the soup, and ate all kinds of small dishes. Now, they all felt that they were not satisfied. However, they had eaten all the food and drank the soup, so it was not good to ask for more.
"Why is this soup different from the ones we drank before? It's fresh. Dried cucumbers can be so fresh after soaking them. What is this staple food? It's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The small pickles also have a special spicy taste. "
Commander Si Cang, Zhou Qiong, finished the food but still did not have enough. He glanced at the food that his nephew had not touched and praised.
Zhou Xihu seemed to have known that this would happen. He pushed the food in front of his uncle and said, "Uncle, have a taste. Isn't it very delicious? Especially the soup and the small pickles. The taste is better than the ones made in the same big restaurants."
"It's good. Little Hu, you eat." Zhou Qiong really wanted to eat, but he felt a little embarrassed.
"Uncle, your nephew has already eaten. I have that thing that can make such a delicious soup. You can eat it whenever you want. The soup and pickles are like this because of that thing. It's a pity that they sell very little of it and only sell it to the three restaurants here.
The county yamen will send some to me, but they don't sell the rest. They only started selling it last night. It is said that they are going to build a restaurant and sell it there in the future. Uncle, you should eat quickly. Otherwise, it will get cold. "
As Zhou Xihu spoke, he took out a small paper bag from his chest and carefully opened it for his uncle to see.
Zhou Qiong did not hold back this time. He picked up the bowl and drank. He exhaled and asked, "Is it really because of the thing in your hand? You can't get the recipe? "
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