In the hot summer, Liu Yan didn't have time to take advantage of the cool air to escape the heat. Instead, he patrolled every household in Wangjiazhuang for more than ten days.
It was midsummer and the demand for soap was greatly increased. Liu Yan rushed to Dapanbao first and inspected the soap workshop accompanied by Chen Jiangshi.
The current soap workshop has occupied an entire street in Dapanbao, employing more than 300 people, with a huge output, and a monthly net income of more than 4,000 taels of silver.
"Sir, not only are merchants from the Ancient Town Inspection Department and the Qianhu Office in front of Xiahe Village coming to buy goods, but there are also many merchants from Lingshanwei and Jiaozhou City and other cities. Although the output of our soap workshop is now very large, But demand still exceeds supply, and production is sold out every month.”
After listening to Chen Jiangshi's report, Liu Yan nodded with satisfaction and said, "I see there are still some empty houses in the workshop. Are they all newly zoned?"
"Your Majesty, the empty houses over there were the former residences of military households. Later, those military households were transferred to Huangshandun. These houses became empty and were transferred to the soap workshop by our old Chen."
"Then continue to increase production. If there is insufficient manpower, you can recruit some from elsewhere. However, the quality of soap must be strictly controlled, and quality cannot be sacrificed for the sake of production."
With a smile on her face, Chen Jiangshi said respectfully: "Don't worry, sir, my subordinates will definitely do a good job."
Then Liu Yan came to the wine shop again. The boss Qian Zao was leading people to prepare the wine. When he heard that Liu Yan was coming, he didn't bother to get dressed and hurriedly ran out shirtless to greet him.
"Haha, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Qian. You still have to distill in the distillery in such weather, so you have to be careful about your health."
Nowadays, Qian Zao and his subordinates are living a good life. Their monthly salary is almost several times that of their counterparts elsewhere. Everyone is grateful to Liu Yan.
"It's hard work for adults. You still come here to patrol in such weather."
Qian Zao clasped his fists and said, "Sir, please go to the front and have some tea. It's too hot in the winery..."
Liu Yan said, "What's the matter? Let's go see the Tianguo. I haven't smelled the aroma of wine in a while."
With that said, Liu Yan strode forward, and Qian Zao had no choice but to follow closely.
At this time, the room where the liquor was distilled was steaming hot, and the busy guys were all shirtless, wearing only boxers underneath. But even so, everyone was still sweating profusely from the heat, and everyone's cheeks were flushed, as if they had been burned.
Liu Yan inspected for a short time, and his clothes were soaked due to the heat, so he said to Qian Zao: "It's too hot here. Guys can't work here for too long. They have to take turns to go out to rest and breathe, otherwise they will easily get damaged by the heat." of."
"Yes, I have remembered it."
"In addition, the winery must prepare a summer-relieving soup every day, and prepare light salt water with a little sea salt. It is stipulated that all the workers must drink it in time, do you understand?"
Qian Zao said with emotion: "I have traveled to many places, but there is no superior who cares about my subordinates like you do. I am so grateful!"
Liu Yan was also sighing. In fact, these are just the most basic guarantees. With the guarantee, the craftsmen can make more finished products and earn back the little money they invested.
But even though the truth is very simple, not many people in this world are willing to do it.
Liu Yan encouraged Qian Zao and others, then left the winery and went to the salt drying field accompanied by Chen Xun and Wang Yue.
At this time, the salt drying field is even hotter, and the sunshine on the beach is so strong that almost everyone who works here has lost a layer of skin.
Liu Yan even saw that some working women were like this. There were a lot of dry, cracked and peeling dead skin on their hands and cheeks, and he felt very unbearable.
So Liu Yan said to Chu Yunfei who was following him: "Go back to Wanfu Oil Shop to buy some oil. Divide it all into small portions and distribute them to everyone to apply on the skin for sun protection."
"yes."
Chu Yunfei said: "Your Majesty is really considerate of my subordinates. Sun-drying sea salt is hard work in the first place. Everyone knows the hard work involved, but no one is like Your Majesty, who even specially buys oil and sunscreen for us."
Liu Yan said: "Actually, I am buying it for you. Don't say it was me who asked you to buy it later. You have to be the good man to do it. Do you understand?"
Chu Yunfei was stunned for a moment, then clasped his fists and said, "Your Excellency has worked very hard, and I will bear this in mind."
Chu Yunfei was originally a salt owl, and many of the men who worked in the salt field were military households in Dapanbao and other places. They were not very convinced of Chu Yunfei, an "outsider", and were very resistant to it, both covertly and covertly.
Chen Xun once took the opportunity to tell Liu Yan about this matter, and Liu Yan also remembered it. This time was a good opportunity for Chu Yunfei to be a good person.
"Haha, I can help you this time, but it will be up to you in the future. You have to know how to sympathize with these guys. The reason why they work hard here is just to make some money to support their families. It is not easy. You, the boss, must learn how to do this. Love people, pay more attention to them on weekdays, these military households are all kind-hearted, if you treat them well, they will naturally take you as their chief in mind."
Chu Yunfei cupped her fists and accepted the instruction.
Liu Yan then visited Huangshandun, Fenghuandun and other places. By the time he returned to Wangjiazhuang, it was already mid-May.
At this time, it was very close to Liu Yan's marriage to Wang Yunhe, and all preparations were in place.
As soon as Liu Yan returned to the Hundred Household Hall, the director, Zhao Min, came to the door and brought a list.
"My lord, please take a look. This is the wedding process prepared by my subordinates, as well as all the required items. Please take a look at it."
Liu Yan took a look, and suddenly one was bigger than the other. Although it was the end of the Ming Dynasty, ordinary people had problems with food, but there were really a lot of things to pay attention to in weddings and funerals, just the wedding process drafted by Zhao Min. There are more than twenty items.
"Here, Director Zhao, can this process be streamlined?"
"Your Excellency, you are saying that the cost is too high and we need to make it simpler?"
Liu Yan waved his hands repeatedly and said: "It's not about the money, it's about the process being a bit cumbersome, so I think..."
"grown ups!"
Zhao Min directly interrupted Liu Yan and said: "Although your Excellency is only an official of a hundred households, he is also a general with real power in the Qianhu Office in front of Xiahe Village. How can we streamline the process for such an important matter as a marriage? To be honest, my subordinates The drafted procedures are no longer cumbersome. In order to avoid suspicion, I have dispensed with a lot of etiquette. If it were streamlined, it would be too shameful and would make outsiders laugh."
Liu Yan looked at the serious Zhao Min, couldn't help but smile and shook his head, saying: "Okay, let's do it like this."
"Yes. This subordinate will go to Mr. Yue Qi to discuss the payment of money and food."
Zhao Min then took out another list and handed it to Liu Yan, saying: "This is the final banquet list, please take a look."
Liu Yan looked over it and saw that Dai Baihu from the Qianhu Office in front of Xiahe Village was also on the list, so he nodded with a smile and said: "The list is fine, remember to keep accounts when the time comes. I want to see if everyone follows suit." How much gift money?"
Zhao Min said with a smile: "In that case, I will send someone to send the invitations out today, so that you can arrange the time in advance."
The place where thousands of households live in front of Xiahe Village.
Wang Wenzhen was sitting in his house, leisurely enjoying the cool air. A wicker chair was placed under a big tree, just to avoid the scorching sun. There were two maids beside him serving iced fruits and a pot of iced honey. Wang Wenzhen was lying on the water with his eyes half-closed. He didn't know whether he was asleep or thinking about something.
At this time, although Wang Wenzhen was not wearing the fifth-grade official uniform of Deputy Qianhu, he still hung the official uniform on the hanger and placed the hanger next to him.
After a while, Wang Wenzhen opened his eyes and took a sip of honey water. A cold feeling went down his throat, which was so refreshing. And when Wang Wenzhen glanced at the official uniform, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"grown ups."
At this time, Deputy Baihu Jia Hongyu came over sweating profusely with a smile on his face: "Sir, there is something happy."
Wang Wenzhen asked Jia Hongyu to sit next to him, waved his hand, and the two maids also handed over iced honey water and fruits.
Jia Hongyu wiped his sweat, then grabbed the fruit and started chewing it. At the same time, he took out two invitations from his body and said: "Four days later, Liu Baihu will get married in Wangjiazhuang. These are the invitations that were just sent. Sir, please take a look.”
Wang Wenzhen took the invitation with a smile and said as he read it: "Is this Liu Yan really married to Wang Yunhe from Wanfu Youfang?"
"Yes, this Liu Baihu is really single-minded. He is an official of Baihu, but he didn't get married until now. Moreover, he is not ready to take a concubine. This is not good. I will have to wait until I have the opportunity. Please advise him, this man should get married more often, so that he can flourish!"
Wang Wenzhen said with a smile: "Liu Yan is different from you. It's good for you. How long have you been here in Qianhu House in front of Xiahe Village? Not only do you have a wife, but you also have two concubines. You are really unsatisfied. .”
Jia Hongyu said with a smile: "Haha, sir, you are making fun of me. Taking a wife will become addictive."
The two of them laughed non-stop, and then Wang Wenzhen stood up and said, "Do you know who else Liu Yan invited?"
Jia Hongyu said: "This subordinate didn't ask, but I think Inspector Song of the Ancient Town Inspection Department and the defense master of Qianhu Station will definitely send invitations, and others won't know."
Wang Wenzhen nodded, and Jia Hongyu over there raised his head and said, "By the way, sir, the flag official who came over just now to deliver the invitation seemed to have mentioned that Liu Baihu also sent an invitation to Dai Baihu!"
"What?"
Wang Wenzhen looked at Jia Hongyu in surprise, then laughed and said, "Liu Yan, it's true. I want to see if Dai Jingbin goes!"
At the same time, in the inspection department of the ancient town, Song Gongming also received the invitation sent by Liu Yan and was discussing the matter with his nephew Song Guan.
"Uncle, this is a great opportunity to get closer to Liu Baihu. In my opinion, uncle should prepare a big gift and go to Wangjiazhuang himself."
Song Gongming frowned slightly and said, "Liu Yan is an official of hundreds of households, and I am also an official of hundreds of households. Isn't it too disrespectful to act like this? If others see it, they will think that I am deliberately currying favor with Liu Yan."
"Uncle, what you said is wrong."
Song Guan was sitting there dressed in white, holding a oscillating fan in his hand, which looked like a feather fan and turban. He said, "Most of the money our Song family earns now is earned through Liu Yan. He is the God of Wealth of our Song family. What's more, Liu Yan still holds a strong army in his hands. The world is in chaos right now. There are thieves inside and corrupting the provinces, and there are slaves outside looking at him. Maybe there will be a war in Shandong at some time. If something happens, be friends with Liu Yan so that we won’t panic if something happens in the future, and we can even get some credit through Liu Yan!”
Then Song Guan whispered: "Uncle, haven't you seen how Wang Wenzhen rose to the top? Isn't it because of Liu Yan's military exploits?"
Song Gongming immediately clapped his hands and said, "Guan'er is really the think tank of my Song family. This is how we will handle this matter. You go get a big gift immediately and come with me to Wangjiazhuang."
"Haha, uncle, don't worry, my nephew will take care of it right away."
Some people died, but not completely...
