Hu Shun handed over his oxcart to the two idle men who were responsible for keeping an eye on the Chu family, and asked them to guard it on the way out of the village. Next time he saw Chu Yi going to buy goods, he would follow him directly and be sure to record the goods. the address of!
Sure enough, within two days, Chu Yi drove the bullock cart out of the village again. The two followers were sitting in the woods by the roadside. When they saw Chu Yi's bullock cart passing by, they quickly brought him from the woods. The old cow that was eating grass set up a cart and followed quietly.
Following all the way to Lin Ji's papermaking workshop on the outskirts of the town, I saw Chu Yi driving the ox cart directly in, so I immediately returned to Wufang Village, told Hu Shun the news, and received today's wages by the way.
"What did you say?" Huang Liang doubted his own ears and asked Hu Shun again.
"The two of them said they followed him all the way to the outskirts of the town. That area was full of paper-making workshops. The one Chu Yijin went to was called Lin Ji or something."
Huang Liang thought, there were indeed many paper-making workshops on the outskirts of the town, but the one called "Lin Ji" couldn't be the Lin Ji he knew!
There are many families with the surname Lin in the town, and there are also those who do business, but that is probably the only one with the "Lin Ji" sign. Huang Liang has heard that the Lin family has many industries, and they are involved in a little bit of everything, but after all, they are not on the same level. Yes, I really don’t know if their family is in the paper money business!
"Are those two sure?"
"They don't know much about literacy, but what they said is quite certain. Besides, the word "lin" is so simple that even I know it, so there shouldn't be any mistakes. I asked them to draw the route, so even if they make a mistake, they should be able to find it. "
Hu Shun said and took out the road map from his arms.
Huang Liang took it, held it in his hand and looked at it: "Okay, I'll go back and take a look. You have been watching the shop at home these days, and those two people. Don't stare at the Chu family for now, let them Don’t hang around there in the future!”
"knew!"
The burnt paper, rice paper and linen paper that they needed for the time being were almost ready. The young couple went to town again. In addition to ink sticks and paints, they also bought some food and cloth and other items to prepare paper money.
The two of them planned to visit the Shen family and their grandfather Cui's family before the Double Ninth Festival before the shop became busy. Otherwise, if they got busy during the Winter Clothes Festival, they would have to wait until mid-October to have some free time.
Grandma Cui is very happy every time she sees her two grandsons and grandson's wife. She touches this and looks at that, and the corners of her mouth never drop. Even the lunch meal seems to taste a lot better.
After talking to several juniors all morning, after lunch, Grandma Cui was obviously tired but in high spirits. She only agreed to take a break after hearing that Shen Luzhu and the others would have dinner at home before leaving.
After sending Grandma Cui back to her room, Shen Luzhu was taken to her house by her second aunt Sun.
"The Winter Clothes Festival is coming next month. I don't know if Lu Zhu and you are busy right now. My second aunt has something to do and wants to ask you for a favor."
"I'm not busy yet, so don't worry about my second aunt. If you have anything to do, just tell your nephew and wife."
Shen Luzhu looked at his elegant second aunt sitting opposite him. Every time they met, he would feel that his second uncle Cui had really found a treasure!
Ms. Sun didn't mince words: "Then let me tell you straight away, my second aunt thought it was really good when she saw the paper ingots you brought to my family during Qingming Festival. My grandmother's death anniversary is coming soon. It is also the twentieth anniversary. My mother-in-law's plan To make a big deal, I was wondering if I could order some special paper ingots from you?"
"What does Second Aunt want? Do you have any specific ideas?"
Something special? Shen Luzhu couldn't think of anything special at the moment.
"There's no need to change the look. It looks great as it is now. I want it to be bigger. I wonder if it can be made?"
"There's nothing wrong with enlarging it a little bit. I just don't know how big my aunt wants it to be."
Mrs. Sun covered her mouth and chuckled: "I'm not afraid of making you laugh when I say it. If the family is going to have a big event, then there won't be only relatives of the family, and some people with business dealings will definitely come over. Let me tell you. With such a big battle, even the original intention has changed. But how can I stop my father? He wanted to show off in front of everyone, so he came to me for advice, so if possible, naturally The bigger the better!”
Shen Luzhu nodded: "I'll try to help my aunt make it as big as possible. How many do you think are enough?"
"Grandma's death anniversary is on September 27th. If your normal business is not delayed before then, please help me make as many as Luzhu can make. How many raw materials are used and your crafting fee? I will remember them all. Okay, I'll settle the settlement for you together."
"My aunt is serious, it's just a few paper ingots. I make these things at home. How can I still ask for your money? Just think of it as Chu Yi and I!"
Mrs. Sun waved her hands: "That can't be done. Just because you are in this business, we can't let you do it in vain. What happened to the second aunt? Besides, it's my father who wants to save face and be in the limelight. You don't understand him. That man, the more you let him spend on this matter, the more respect he will feel! We don’t have to save it for him. The younger generation should know how to fulfill the respect of the elders, eh?"
Shen Luzhu was amused by what his second aunt said. Seeing that his second aunt was really insistent, he had no choice but to agree and plan to do it first.
After returning from Cui's house, Shen Luzhu tried to make several large ingots out of waste paper. However, the support strength of the paper was limited. If it was too big, it would collapse. Even if the paper was made with paint and turpentine, the support would be better. , but it’s not much better.
But if he is not old enough, he is afraid that he will harm his second aunt’s father, and he will not be dignified enough!
Seeing that his wife was worried, Chu Yi helped him think of an idea: "How about I go to Linji tomorrow and bring back some thicker paper?"
Shen Luzhu, who was still lying on the table thinking hard, suddenly sat up straight and looked at Chu Yi aside: "That makes sense! If it is thicker, the support will be better! But there is no need to buy it yet, I There’s a way!”
Shen Luzhu said and found some more pieces of paper, and tried folding a large paper ingot by stacking two pieces of paper together. The support was better, but it was still far from enough!
Then I tried stacking a few more pieces, but it still didn't work, but there was no way to continue stacking them. If I added more, after more than two steps, it couldn't be folded!
Shen Luzhu pursed his lips and turned to look at Chu Yi beside him: "It seems that I thought this matter was too simple. I should come back and give it a try before agreeing to my second aunt."
Chu Yi rubbed his wife's head and comforted him: "It's okay, don't worry."
Shen Luzhu fell into Chu Yi's arms, raised his head and asked him: "Chu Yi, how about I make one tomorrow, as big as I can make it, and show it to my second aunt first, okay?"
"Of course."
Early the next morning, Chu Li had breakfast and was going to school. Shen Luzhu handed him an apple so that Chu Li could eat it when he was hungry during class. Chu Li thanked his sister-in-law and lowered his head to open the book Shen Luzhu made for him. bag and stuffed the big apple into it.
Shen Luzhu looked at the propped up book bag and was lost in thought. He didn't even realize that Chu Li had walked out of the courtyard.
Maybe she found a way to make a bigger paper ingot!
Shen Luzhu found a large piece of uncut paper, took a lot of finished paper ingots from the warehouse, returned to the house, sat on the kang and folded them.
Soon the big piece of paper was folded into a big paper ingot. Shen Luzhu was at the bottom again, using a carving knife to avoid important parts, and gently made a small opening, and then took out the small paper ingots one by one. Stuff it inside.
Chu Yi went to the river to fetch water and came back. He saw that the shop was not open and there was no sign of Shen Luzhu in the kitchen. After pouring the water into the jar outside the kitchen window, he went back to the house to look for her.
When I entered the house, I happened to see my wife half-lying on the kang, stuffing small paper ingots into the big paper ingot!
After a while, the big paper ingot was held up by the small paper ingot in his belly, and it no longer looked as soft as before. Shen Luzhu sealed the incision, and when he turned around, he saw Chu Yi, pointing at the big ingot, Excitedly waving him closer.
"Chu Yi, come and see!"
Chu Yi walked forward obediently, stood on the edge of the Kang, held his wife's hand that was calling him over, and asked with a smile: "How did you come up with this?"
Shen Luzhu chuckled: "I saw Ah Li's book bag! Do you want to take it to your second aunt to see now?"
"good."
Mrs. Sun was very pleasantly surprised when she saw the big ingot. She felt it completely exceeded her expectations: "This is a big one and a small one, and the belly is full of paper ingots. It's so special! My dad will definitely like it!"
The shape and method have been decided, and the subsequent work is not difficult. Shen Luzhu only needs to fold out a certain amount of large ingots and wait for the small ingots to be stuffed. The workshop must hurry up and produce more paper ingots!
On this day, Shen Luzhu took advantage of nothing to do and taught Xiu Xiu how to read in the shop. Shen Luzhu's method was good and the books he chose were interesting. Xiu Xiu's interest in learning was particularly strong. When her cousin-in-law was busy, she would also read by herself. Holding a book and reading on the side.
As he was teaching, another customer came to the door. It was Feng Laizi's mother-in-law, Aunt Feng. Before Shen Luzhu could say anything, Aunt Feng asked, "Daughter-in-law of the Chu family, how do you sell your paper money now?"
"It's still the same as before. What's wrong, aunt?"
Shen Luzhu was puzzled. Aunt Feng's question was a bit strange. It was not the first time that she came to her house to buy things. She was so good, so why did she suddenly ask this question again.
Aunt Feng frowned: "Isn't it cheaper?"
Shen Luzhu was a little confused and asked tentatively: "Auntie, do you want some discounts? Our banknotes, paper money and paper ingots all have discounts when you buy more. Auntie, don't you remember?"
"Who asked for it from you! I thought your family's business was quite real, but I didn't expect that they all sold it to us at a high price! You don't feel guilty for earning this dirty money. No wonder you have been married for so long and have no stomach. The noise! It’s all retribution! With a shabby shop like yours, you’ll end up in trouble sooner or later! Bah!”
After Aunt Feng finished talking to herself, she turned around and was about to leave, but was stopped by Shen Luzhu who came out of the counter!
Shen Luzhu was so angry that if he didn't want to buy it, he wouldn't buy it. If he thought it was expensive, it didn't matter. That was all people's freedom!
But there is no such thing as someone who comes to someone’s door and points at someone’s nose and curses them if they don’t want to buy something!
"Don't even think about leaving! Tell me clearly! Who sold the goods at a high price? You have a dark heart! It's your family that will suffer retribution! I think you are just looking for trouble! Is there anything going on in other people's stomachs? Is it related to you? How much does it cost for a few copper coins? I think your son is the one who has suffered retribution. He can’t get a wife because of a mother-in-law like you!"
Shen Luzhu held Aunt Feng's arm tightly, refusing to let her go. She didn't have any time to spare, and she didn't have the brains to speak, and she retorted all of her back!
Aunt Feng is a notoriously greedy and difficult boss in the village. How could she tolerate Shen Luzhu talking about her like that!
He turned around and started fighting with Shen Luzhu, shouting in an unclean manner: "You fart! You will be punished, and your whole family will be punished! You have earned so much dirty money from me, you give it back, give it back to me!" "
Shen Luzhu was unforgiving: "You took half of my copper coins to burn paper for nothing, so you gave me the money back!"
Chu Xiuxiu, who was originally standing aside in shock, was shocked to realize that her cousin-in-law was going to suffer. She hurriedly ran up to help Shen Luzhu and fight with Aunt Feng!
By the time Chu Yi heard the noise and ran to the shop, Shen Luzhu and Xiuxiu had already pushed Aunt Feng to the ground. Chu Xiuxiu held one of her arms, and Shen Luzhu pressed the other while covering Aunt Feng's body with her hands. Stop swearing!
