When Luo Jinhu saw Mrs. Xiao again, the smile on his face became even more kind. He took the recipe from Mrs. Xiao and took a cursory glance and knew that this item could only be consumed by the upper class nobles. It was just lard. One piece is already unaffordable for ordinary people, not to mention the addition of salt. Salt and iron have always been sold at official prices. Youzhou has been relatively peaceful these years, so the price of salt is not bad. Lard, but ordinary people don't have it. Then take the luxury of putting salt on everything you need for bathing. Salt and plant ashes are not included. If it is a special soap for bathing, you need to add flower juice, fragrant powder, and several other soap recipes, one of which can be slightly whitening. , several medicinal materials need to be added to it... none of which are affordable for ordinary businessmen...
But because Luo Jinhu had the support of the Jiedushi adults, he felt that his back was stiffening at this moment. He was originally a powerful maid in a small place who gave birth to a son, but when he became an adult, he came out with more than a dozen domestic slaves to work hard.
Later, he started making spices and silk. Because Youzhou is located in the north and is close to the Tibetan state, just past Yingmen Pass are the Turkic barbarians. They have a bad relationship with the Turks, but they will be friendly with the barbarians who came from the Tibetan state. People do business, and most of the spices come from small Tibetan countries. Luo Jinhu has a team of his own that comes back and forth on this spice road, and then sells the precious spices to distant places from the Xunjiang River, and also sells silk on the way back. Sold to the nobles in the small country in the Fan Territory, they would occasionally exchange spices to earn a price difference. After decades of hard work, they finally had a decent home.
Although the word "zhou" can only be engraved on the corner of the soap now, it also implicitly represents his relationship with Jiedushi.
Luo Jinhu's mind was spinning, he put away the formula, took out three banknotes and a contract from his arms and handed it to Mrs. Xiao, saying: "Mrs. Xiao, take a look at this contract. If there are no problems, you can write Put your name on it.”
"In addition, you and Miss Xiao handed me five formulas in total. Although you sold the formula to me, you two also gave me many different kinds of soap recipes as gifts. Luo pays attention to fairness in doing business. These silver coins Think of the ticket as a thank you for the gift of soap you gave me."
Xiao Luolan thought for a while after collecting the banknote and then read the contract carefully. She found that Luo Jinhu's name had been written at the end. After the soap is released, a steward will be sent to deliver the share on the 20th of every month. Read it carefully. Later, Xiao Luolan wrote her name on it, and then asked her daughter to write her name on it.
"Luo Langjun, thank you very much." Xiao Luolan said with great blessing.
Luo Jinhu didn't dare to accept it, so he got out of the way and said, "What did Mrs. Xiao say? We are a cooperative relationship and we each get what we need. You are serious."
After the people left, Xiao Qingxue took the banknote in her mother's hand and looked at it. She said that the banknote looked more like a bill to Xiao Qingxue, with a square and red Roche seal stamped on it. This bill can be exchanged for 100 silver at Huitong Money Shop. Three bills are equal to 300 silver.
"I feel like I suddenly became a rich man." Xiao Qingxue sighed, while Xiao Luolan was amused by her daughter.
Xiao Qingxue's cheeks were slightly red with excitement: "Mom, let's go out and play today." She hadn't gone out for a long time in order to make soap.
Xiao Luolan thought of the missing herbs and the clothes her daughter wanted and nodded: "Okay, don't worry, let's bring a curtain first, and after we exchange the money, mom will take you to buy a riding robe. "
Seeing that the master and the mistress rarely went out, Fang Yun quickly got ready. The master and the mistress put on their curtain hats. She had prepared the round fans, honey, water and other things in the carriage for later use.
When they arrived at the place where the carriage was parked in the east yard of the front yard of Dou Mansion, Xiao Luolan suddenly found that Sect Leader Zhou was also there.
Zhou Xu wore a black robe, a wide-sleeved coat, and a black whip around his waist. His hair was meticulously tied into a sapphire crown. Because he had shaved his beard, his upright and resolute face was fully exposed, and his smile lines at the end of his eyes were slightly exposed. Shen: "Mrs. Xiao, Miss Xiao, do you want to go out?"
Xiao Luolan suddenly thought of what Sect Master Zhou had said to her yesterday afternoon, that he would accompany her after his busy work these days. Did he come here specially to accompany her? Xiao Luolan felt a little flustered for no reason, her daughter was also with her today.
Xiao Qingxue hadn't seen Sect Leader Zhou for a long time. When she looked around, she didn't know if it was an illusion. She always felt that he was younger than before, although he was still a middle-aged man.
"Yes, Aniang and I are going to go out on the street to have some fun." Xiao Qingxue replied crisply.
Zhou Xu's smile lines deepened: "Well, I have nothing to do today, so why don't I escort you two." After saying that, he got on his horse and took the lead: "Let's go."
Xiao Luolan took her daughter Fangyun into the carriage, and the Zhanfeng Duo on the carriage jingled with the sound of horse hooves and sang in the calm wind.
Xiao Qingxue opened the window and looked outside through the curtain. They lived in Xinchangfang. This street was a residential building. The wide bluestone road could accommodate three horses and carriages. Xiao Qingxue thought it was very grand. .
Zhou Xu sat on the horse, his back straight, his hands half loose and half holding the reins. Behind him were ten Lei clan servants, each wearing light armor and carrying swords, following the sect leader quietly and silently.
The carriage was not very fast, so Zhou Xu walked slowly alongside the carriage.
Xiao Qingxue watched for a while and found that Mr. Qingshan, who had been following Sect Leader Zhou, was missing.
Seeing that Miss Xiao was lively and smart, Zhou Xu took the initiative to talk to her, "What does Miss Xiao want to buy on the street?"
"I want to buy a horse and learn to ride a horse." Xiao Qingxue leaned against the window and replied: "I also want to buy some more clothes, but we have to go to the money shop to exchange some money first."
Zhou Xu found it interesting after listening to Mrs. Xiao's words: "Learning to ride a horse is very hard and dangerous. If you learn to ride a horse alone, you may get kicked by the horse before you even get on the horse, or you may accidentally fall off after getting on the horse. By then, fractures will only be a minor matter, and more serious injuries will cause the legs and feet to become disabled."
Xiao Qingxue was startled by Sect Master Zhou's words, and Xiao Luolan's expression also changed.
Zhou Xu couldn't see Mrs. Xiao's expression clearly through the curtain, but he knew from her suddenly clenched hand that she must have been frightened as well.
"So Miss Xiao, there is no need to rush to buy horses. I have many docile mares at my horse farm in Langge. When the time comes, I will personally select one and sell it to you, and then let an experienced female jockey ride it. It’s safe.”
Seeing that Mrs. Xiao was disappointed, Zhou Xu said, "But you can buy a few sets of riding robes first."
Xiao Qingxue's eyes widened slightly, and she suddenly smiled: "Sect Master Zhou, why do you talk like my mother-in-law? My mother-in-law also said to buy riding robes first and some boots."
Zhou Xu glanced at Mrs. Xiao and smiled: "It means that Mrs. Xiao and I both care about you."
Xiao Luolan listened with fear, fearing that Clan Master Zhou would say something suspicious again, so he had to speak: "Qingxue, Clan Master Zhou is right, let's go to Langge to buy another horse."
"Okay." Xiao Qingxue was actually not in a hurry. She thought that there seemed to be no horse riding stable in Dou Mansion, and there would be no place to practice if she bought one, so she gave up the idea for the time being.
Zhou Xu led people directly to the West Market.
Not long after they left, two young men in bright clothes and angry horses entered the Taiyang City Gate with hundreds of songs. The inspector who guarded the gate was a little frightened when he saw Zhou's iron plate and listened to the names reported by the young men. Finally, he Not daring to stop him, the leader of the young man, who had a whip attached to his waist, led the rest of the people into the city while roaring. Passers-by hurriedly gave way. The young man randomly found someone to ask about the location. After asking for the location, he came straight to the city with everyone behind him without any scruples. Dou Mansion, then patted the door.
The doorman opened it and saw a strange young man.
Lang, a young man of about eighteen or nineteen years old, dressed in brocade and white robes, with handsome features, smiled and said, "This is the Dou Mansion."
Dou Haitao came with his eldest son Dou Shengming. When Dou Haitao saw the servants of the Qu family behind the young man, all of whom were strong and powerful, his heart suddenly twitched and he cupped his hands and said, "I am the master of the Dou Mansion. I don't know what this little boy is." Who are you looking for?"
The young man dismounted and said, "My name is Zhou Yanzhi, and I'm looking for my uncle. I heard that my uncle is temporarily staying in your Dou Mansion. Is it true or not?"
As soon as Dou Haitao heard that his surname was Zhou, before he could speak, Dou Shengming took a step forward and said, "Well, Sir Sixteen, Master Jiedushi has gone out."
"Uncle, where has he gone?" Zhou Yan asked.
"I don't know." Dou Shengming replied.
Xu Yunkun walked out from behind Dou Shengming and saw that it was a junior from the Zhou family. He touched his beard and said, "Sixteenth Master, aren't you studying at Nanji Academy? Why did you end up in Taiyang?"
When Zhou Yanzhi saw Judge Xu, he bowed and replied with a smile: "Hello Judge Xu, I thought my studies were too boring, so I ran out with some people."
Xu Yunkun twitched the corner of his mouth. He could talk about skipping school so confidently. Isn't this sixteenth son afraid of being beaten by his father? He looked at the foreign young man next to Shirokuro for a few more seconds, then looked away and said calmly: "Master Jieduzhi went out with Mrs. Xiao."
Zhou Yanzhi had already heard about Mrs. Xiao, but when he heard Judge Xu use the word "accompany", he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
This Mrs. Xiao seemed to be more...favored than he imagined.
Zhou Yanzhi's smile did not change: "I understand, Amu, you follow me to find uncle, and the rest of you will find a place to live nearby."
A foreign boy with long, curly, light yellow hair said, "Okay."
The two left on horseback. Seeing that there was no one else, Zhou Yanzhi hooked up with the foreign boy. The two brothers said politely: "Hey, I never thought that my uncle would go shopping with a woman one day. I will find Xiao later." Madam, I must take a good look."
The foreign boy was silent. There were some things that the Zhou family could say but others could not, not to mention that he was still a foreigner.
The West Market occupies a large area, with numerous restaurants and wine shops, and is bustling with people coming and going.
The carriage stopped at Huitong Qianfang.
Xiao Luolan took her daughter to exchange money inside, and after a while she exchanged it for one hundred pieces of silver. Xiao Qingxue picked up the money bag, which felt like it weighed seven or eight pounds. Fang Yun specially brought a wooden money box, Xiao Luo Lan took out a purse and put some pocket money for her daughter, then took some with herself and put the rest in the money box.
The carriage was walking on Xishifang Street Avenue, and people around him did not dare to get too close when they saw the guards with knives.
Zhou Xu took Mrs. Xiao and the others directly to Jiangnan Clothing Factory.
When the shopkeeper saw the big customer, his face suddenly burst into smiles, and he led them to the third floor. Lei Shan and his servants guarded all the exits.
Some of the guests on the first and second floors recognized Mr. Lei, and many people had already guessed the identity of the person in front of them, including many female relatives. They all looked sideways at Mrs. Xiao and Mrs. Xiao, who had left their simple home.
I saw the woman in front of me wearing a white curtain, covering her face. The gauze was heavy and could not be seen clearly, but the figure that was exposed looked thrilling. The woman did not have a head full of pearls, only piercing her temples diagonally. I picked up a rose, but it was indescribably charming. The hand holding the stairs was not dyed, and it looked as if it was snowy and plump, like a handful of melted snow. How could I have such white skin? The female relatives in the Jiangnan Clothes Shop were secretly envious and somewhat sour. People who had some relationship with Taishou Li even knew why Taishou Li said that.
But they would never dare to tell them at this moment.
Mrs. Xiao's figure is slim and slender, like a February lotus, and her skin is fair and moist. Although her face cannot be seen, both mother and daughter must have good looks.
Xiao Luolan went upstairs stiffly. Xiao Qingxue felt uncomfortable following her mother. She couldn't even walk properly. When they reached the third floor, they both breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Qingxue took the He took off his hat, patted his chest, and exhaled.
Fang Yun poured water for the master and the young lady.
Zhou Xu smiled and said: "Mrs. Xiao, the third floor is full of women's shirts, skirts and riding clothes. Come and choose." The shopkeeper also smiled and asked: "The clothes in our store are the most expensive in Taiyang County. Women are welcome, you have everything you want.”
Xiao Qingxue was moved after hearing this. She had long wanted to change into a round-neck crotch-less robe for easy mobility.
Xiao Luolan also took off his curtain hat: "Then you and I will go and have a look."
"Please, both of you," the shopkeeper said with an enthusiastic smile.
Xiao Qingxue looked at the dazzling array of clothes, picked up a light blue round-neck robe and a red one and wanted to try them on. The shopkeeper took people into the inner room, and Fang Yun followed the young lady in to serve her.
"Don't you have any clothes that Mrs. Xiao is interested in?" Zhou Xu stepped forward and asked.
Xiao Luolan looked at the clothes: "My clothes are enough."
Zhou Xu picked up a green round-neck robe and handed it to Madam Xiao: "Why don't you try this one? This color suits Madam very well."
Xiao Luolan looked at Clan Master Zhou and saw that they were the only two people left on the third floor again. She felt very nervous: "No, Clan Master Zhou, thank you for your kindness."
"Miss Xiao wants to learn to ride a horse, doesn't Mrs. Xiao want to learn? It will be convenient to change into riding clothes and ride a horse then." Zhou Xu asked.
Of course Xiao Luolan knew that being able to ride a horse would be a lot more convenient, but now she was wary of Sect Leader Zhou, and she didn't dare to refuse too much, so she found an excuse: "I'll wait until Langge takes a look at the horse first."
Zhou Xu looked at the green round-neck robe in his hand, and he really felt that it was very suitable for Mrs. Xiao. Mrs. Xiao was like spring water. Isn't spring water the same color?
The more Mrs. Xiao didn't want to change, the more Zhou Xu wanted her to put it on for him to see.
Zhou Xu looked closely at Mrs. Xiao, smelled the smell of snow cream, narrowed his narrow eyes, and then asked in a low voice: "Are you really not wearing it?"
Xiao Luolan shook his head and made up his mind not to wear it.
Zhou Xu suddenly said: "Mrs. Xiao, yesterday afternoon I..."
Xiao Luolan thought of what Sect Leader Zhou had done to her yesterday afternoon and quickly reached out to cover his mouth. Her daughter was still changing clothes in the inner room not far away. She looked nervously to the right and saw that she didn't hear any movement. Then he glared at Sect Leader Zhou.
Zhou Xu weighed the green round robe. Seeing Mrs. Xiao's angry eyes, he coaxed in a low voice: "Mrs. Xiao, let me wear it once."
Xiao Luolan's face turned red with anger, fearing that Sect Master Zhou would say shameless words again regardless of his face, he held back his anger and entered the inner room with his round collar robe.
Zhou Xu stood outside the door and waited for a while but didn't see Mrs. Xiao coming out. Then he knocked on the door and asked, "Mrs. Xiao?"
Mrs. Xiao's voice soon came from inside: "Don't come in."
Zhou Xu frowned: "But what happened."
"It's okay, I'll be fine soon." Mrs. Xiao's breathing was a little quick.
Zhou Xu carefully calculated that Mrs. Xiao's monthly letter should not have arrived during this period. So why is Mrs. Xiao so nervous? Is there a thief in the house? Although he knew that his last guess was impossible and Zhou Xu didn't hear the breathing of the second person in the room at all, this guess still made him suddenly tighten his grip on the black whip.
Zhou Xu pushed the door and found that it was locked. His brows furrowed even more. Why would Mrs. Xiao lock the door when he was outside? Zhou Xu jumped in from the outer window of the inner room and took the initiative to say: "Mrs. Xiao."
Xiao Luolan was startled by the sudden sound, and turned around suddenly to look at Sect Leader Zhou who came in from nowhere.
Zhou Xu quickly checked inside the house and found that there was no outsider, so he put down the black whip.
When he saw Mrs. Xiao, he couldn't help but be startled.
Mrs. Xiao stood barefoot on the flower mat. On the chair next to her was a shirt and skirt she had changed into. She was wearing a green round robe, but the clothes were a bit messy because they didn't fit very well.
Xiao Luolan's face turned red, she covered her front with her arms and turned around.
After a while, Zhou Xu stepped forward and apologized: "It's my fault. The clothes I brought don't fit. Madam Xiao, please change them quickly."
The bright moon is trembling, but it must be very uncomfortable to be squeezed into such a small piece of fabric, Zhou Xu thought.
Xiao Luolan lowered his head: "I'll change myself. Sect Leader Zhou, please go out first."
