Magistrate Shen stood on the steps at the door of the study and saw his son approaching from a distance.
After seeing each other for more than half a month, he obviously felt that his son had gained a lot of weight, there was flesh on his cheeks, and his shoulders were thicker.
Turning his eyes, he saw Zhao Ergou. This boy looked very talented in his new shirt.
For some reason, Magistrate Shen felt a little guilty when he saw the boy from the Zhao family.
"father!"
Shen Zheng walked over quickly.
"The yellow matchmaker you found said that you should give Aunt Zhao three days to think about it, and then propose marriage after three days. Please tell the matchmaker not to go." He said quickly, "I have agreed with Aunt Zhao that we will accept the marriage." , I can still call Aunt Zhao mother in the future."
Magistrate Shen frowned.
He mused: "I don't agree with the marriage."
"Huh?" Shen Zheng stared, "Why don't you agree? Why don't you agree?"
Magistrate Shen spoke slowly: "I came to propose marriage not only because I want to find you a stepmother, but also because my Shen family needs a mistress. Zhao Cheng is smart and wise, and I admire her very much."
"In other words, the county magistrate wants to marry my mother because of his appreciation." Zhao Ergou said boldly, neither humble nor arrogant, "Appreciation is not like it, nor is it the basis for marriage. The county magistrate appreciates intelligence and wisdom. I believe that there are many qualified women in Ping'an Town."
Shen Zheng snorted and said: "Dad, let me tell you a cruel fact. According to my observation after living in Dahe Village for so many days, at least half of the hundreds of elders in the village admire Aunt Zhao. According to you, So, can all these people find someone to propose marriage to Aunt Zhao’s house?”
"Nonsense!"
Magistrate Shen glared at him.
This matter was obviously brought up by this bastard boy. It was better not to mention it. As soon as it was mentioned, he began to think about the possibility of it.
In the past half month, he thought about it for a long time, and the more he thought about it, the more feasible it became. So he went to the temple, chatted with the old lady alone for a long time, and finally convinced the old lady, so he immediately asked a matchmaker to come to propose marriage. In his opinion, , this matter should be no surprise.
Unexpectedly, Matchmaker Huang told him in disgrace yesterday that Mrs. Zhao Cheng had rejected the marriage.
"When I finish what I'm doing, I will go see Zhao Cheng in person." Magistrate Shen said slowly, "I will let Zhao Cheng see my sincerity."
Zhao Ergou wanted to say something, but finally held back.
He thought of his elder brother's words, which said that mother has the right to choose.
Even if she wanted to refuse, it would be my mother who would make it clear to Magistrate Shen, not his son standing in the middle.
He opened his mouth and said: "Xiaomin still has something to do, so I'll leave now."
Shen Zheng patted Magistrate Shen on the shoulder: "Dad, as a son, I can only support you unconditionally."
If dad really marries Aunt Zhao, then Aunt Zhao will be his stepmother.
Even if dad fails, he can still call him godmother.
In short, he can attack when advancing, and defend when retreating. He will not suffer any loss no matter what.
Shen Zheng and Zhao Ergou got on the ox cart and headed to Hekou Town together.
The braised food business has not been expanded yet, and currently it only delivers goods to Jixiang Restaurant and Zuixian Restaurant.
Jixiang Restaurant is the only one. Thirty or forty pounds a day is just right. No more can be sold.
Zuixianlou is located all over Huzhou. They had previously requested at least 300 kilograms of braised meat a day. Today, more than 100 kilograms were delivered. Zhao Ergou thought that shopkeeper Yang would accept it without saying anything.
"Brother Zhao, this is really unfortunate. The carriage delivered by Zuixianlou went to Huzhou today." Shopkeeper Yang was very annoyed. "The dishes and dishes in the shop need to be replaced with new ones. Both carriages went to Huzhou to transport the dishes. I just left, I’m afraid I’ll have to come back at night… I really want these braised foods of yours, but I can’t spare the manpower to send them to other Zuixianlou…”
The weather is not very cool, so the braised food will not taste so fresh after being left out overnight, which will affect the reputation of Zuixianlou.
Zhao Ergou was even more upset: "This is my fault. I should have come to tell Shopkeeper Yang yesterday that it's okay. The braised food is good. I'll try it elsewhere."
Shopkeeper Yang didn't want the braised food to be taken to other restaurants, but he really had no choice now. Not everyone had a carriage, and those who had a carriage were unlikely to be willing to lend it to him to transport the braised food. He could only sigh. Said: "I'm leaving sixty pounds today, I'm really sorry."
Zhao Ergou still had about eighty or ninety kilograms of braised meat in the basket on his back.
He wasn't worried at all about not being able to sell the braised food. He just set up a stall on the roadside and it could be sold out in about an hour.
Or find a restaurant to cooperate with. Eight or ninety pounds will cost you almost four teahouses and restaurants...
"Let's go, I'll take you somewhere." Shen Zheng showed a mysterious smile, "Look, Zuixian Building has two floors. It is the largest restaurant in Hekou Town. There is another building over there with three floors. It's bigger than Zuixian Tower is bigger and has more people. There can be close to a hundred guests a day, and their family can eat your eighty or ninety kilograms of braised food."
Zhao Ergou was doubtful: "I come to Hekou Town every day, why haven't I heard of a restaurant bigger than Zuixian Tower?"
Shen Zheng led the way: "You'll know when you get there."
This road is the main street of Hekou County. There are restaurants, noodle shops, grain stores, banks, pawn shops... everything.
When you reach the end of the main street, go to the right and you will see another wide street. There are many fine houses on the street. In broad daylight, while other places are full of people coming and going, it is very quiet here.
Zhao Ergou asked curiously: "Where is this?"
"Remember the Yihong Building I mentioned before?" Shen Zheng pointed to the tallest building in front of him, "Did you see it? This is the Yihong Building, the largest brothel in Hekou Town. Shengxiao is played every night. The richest people in Hekou Town A man’s favorite place.”
"Qing, brothel!" Zhao Ergou took a few steps back, "My mother said you are not allowed to come to this kind of place."
"Look at your worthless look. Brothels don't entertain customers in broad daylight, okay? There's nothing to be afraid of." Shen Zheng's eyes were full of contempt, "We are here to discuss business, and we are serious businessmen. . The braised food at Zuixianlou costs a few hundred cents per plate. Do you know how much it sells here? A plate of food and a bottle of wine start at at least two taels of silver. That’s why it is said that Yihonglou is a sales place for men. Golden Cave.”
Zhao Ergou was stunned.
"Your braised meat is sixty-five cents per catty in Zuixianlou. Here, I estimate it can be eighty or ninety cents." Shen Zheng hugged his shoulders, "Straighten your back, open your shoulders, and raise your head. , we have to pretend to come here often, but we can’t let others look down upon us.”
Zhao Ergou recited calmness in his mind more than a dozen times, and then he really calmed down.
He shook off Shen Zheng's hand and followed him up the steps and into the lobby of Yihong Building.
The lobby is very large, with more than a dozen tables. On the tables are the leftovers from last night. The food on the plates is very rich, and they are all meat dishes, but they are basically untouched. The old lady who cleans up the mess will just finish the unfinished food. The food was poured into the wooden barrel. Zhao Ergou felt a little sad for the wasted food. How many people in Dahe Village had never eaten a few bites of meat in their lives, but here, the meat was thrown away casually.
When the rough lady saw the two of them, she said in a rough voice: "The girls are all asleep now. Come back in the evening."
