It wasn't until the fighting stopped and the group of children dispersed that Zhang Yang and Cheng Chumo stepped forward and looked at the children who were struggling to get up from the ground and were covered in bruises.
Zhang Yang smiled and said, "Child, what's your name?"
This child looks to be about the same age as Li Tai, with a stubborn look in his eyes, "What does it have to do with you??"
Cheng Chumo looked at him with interest.
Zhang Yang added: "You were beaten by such a person just now and you didn't say a word. Why didn't you ask for help?"
“If I can’t beat others, I’m not as good as my own fists and feet.”
Listening to what he said, Zhang Yang put his hands in his hands and asked again: "But they are all older than you."
"I can't beat them now, but I've already experienced how powerful their punches and kicks are. I can beat them when I'm two years older."
Still a little unconvinced after hearing his words, Cheng Chumo handed over the golden sore medicine, "Put this on and your wound will heal faster. I'm Cheng Chumo. You can ask about the Braised Pork Gang in Chang'an City. If you can't find anyone who is outstanding. If you get a chance, go find the man selling braised pork on the street.”
He took the golden sore medicine and applied it to his wound without ceremony, "My name is Li Xiaoyi."
Zhang Yang smiled and nodded, "I remember."
The child left, looking back from time to time as he left.
Cheng Chumo added: "Among Li Daoyan's younger brothers, there are also older ones. Li Xiaotong and Li Xiaocha are both doing well. They are both sons of General Li Shentong. Among these children, Li Daoyan has the highest military merit."
Zhang Yang hesitated and said: "Since you are a descendant of the clan, you are bullied by people on the street like this?"
Cheng Chu sighed silently: "It's a pity that General Li Shentong passed away too early, but a certain family still appreciates Li Daoyan and will take care of him if he can."
"If someone is beaten, you won't help?"
Cheng Chumo walked, "We are all the children of military generals. We all have a spirit of spirit in our hearts. No one should interfere in the fight between men. If you go to help him, he will feel that you look down on him. This is the arrogance in the hearts of the children of military generals." .”
"What if someone beats him to death? For example, a vendetta or something."
"Then..." Cheng Chumo hesitated for a while and then slowly said: "What I'm talking about is a fight between warriors. Of course I want help in this vendetta."
"If Brother Chumo gets beaten up, will he help?"
"Hehehe..." Cheng Chumo laughed and said: "Looking at Chang'an, no one dares to fight with me, Cheng Chumo, and I don't even take them seriously."
Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said, "Recently, the Prince of Hejian County is helping me transport cotton. I'm worried that there is not enough manpower."
"We have enough manpower. How many do you need?"
"It doesn't take much, just a team of more than a dozen people escorting each time is enough."
Cheng Chumo hesitated for a long time and said, "Someone will arrange it."
"Trouble."
"There is no need for trouble between you and me."
"General Cheng, the people from the Ministry of Rites are looking for Mr. Zhang." A man dressed as a knight-errant came in a hurry.
Cheng Chumo kicked the person, "How many times have I told you to call me brother outside."
"yes, Sir."
"Bring the people."
"Here."
Now Cheng Chumo still doesn't have the aura to be a big brother. Instead, he is becoming more and more like a villain who works for others. This guy doesn't seem to have the talent to be a big brother.
Xu Jingzong and Zhang Xiangxiang were walking here with the Kucha envoy.
Since he is the biggest investor in Cheng Chumo's entire gang, he still needs to say what he needs to say. Zhang Yang patiently said: "Chu Mo, how many people can come to see you directly now?"
Cheng Chu thought silently: "A dozen or so."
Zhang Yang put his hands in his hands and smiled at Xu Jingzong, and said in a low voice: "Okay, you should go on with your business and do what I asked you to do well."
Cheng Chumo nodded, "Don't worry, I'll get it done right away."
After regaining his composure, Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said, "Secretary Xu, long time no see."
Xu Jingzong saluted and said, "You're welcome, Master Zhang."
After glancing around, Zhang Yang added, "This is a busy street. It's too noisy. Why don't we talk somewhere else."
Xu Jingzong also nodded, "That's exactly what I meant."
Several people came to a wine shop in Chongrenfang. There were few customers in the wine shop at the moment.
Chang'an City is very large, with a total of 25 streets running from north to south. Just the east and west cities alone are said to have 108 cities. In fact, people who have lived in Chang'an City for a long time know that there are not many cities that are actually lively. .
Li Shimin still attached great importance to public security, but he did not pay attention to the construction of cities and towns. Many cities and towns have not been repaired since Li Yuan took over Chang'an City, and they are still in ruins today.
Chongrenfang is right next to Pingkangfang and relatively close to Hongwen Hall. There are more literati coming in and out here, and it seems quiet.
Several people sat down, and Zhang Xiangxiang spoke first: "I don't know what the envoy from Qiuci has to say when he comes to see us this time. The court has not started yet, so we, the Ministry of Rites, can leave the words for now, and we will inform His Majesty after the court starts. .”
The Qiuci envoy first glanced at Zhang Yang, and then whispered: "Last year, Gaochang's continuous campaigns in the Western Regions caused many tribes in the Western Turks to lose their land."
Seeing Xu Jingzong wink, Zhang Yang said: "I am a close minister of the prince. I only care about the affairs of the Ministry of Rites and will not interfere in the affairs of the Ministry of Rites."
The envoy from Qiuci nodded and said: "I heard from Tubo Ludongzan that you are a talented person."
Zhang Yang waved his hand and said, "He does miss me a lot, but it's not what he said."
The envoy from Qiuci looked at Xu Jingzong again, "We hope that Tian Khan can uphold justice and hope that Gaochang will not start another war for the sake of the stability of the Western Regions."
Zhang Yang said puzzledly: "I remember that Qiuci used to be one of the four towns in Anxi."
The Kucha messenger nodded.
Zhang Yang smiled again and said: "It's okay to ask us Datang to come forward, but we have one request, that is, you Qiuci, Yanqi, Khotan, and Shule should be renamed as the four towns of Anxi of our Datang, and let our Datang's With officials and soldiers stationed there, the whole trouble can be solved.”
Seeing that the other party was very hesitant, Zhang Yang said again: "Look at how simple it is. As long as you, the Four Towns of Anxi, nod, we, Datang, will naturally help you solve this problem."
The envoy from Qiuci sighed: "This matter is very big. I have to go back and talk to many envoys."
Xu Jingzong nodded and said: "We know all your requirements and will inform His Majesty later."
The envoy from Qiuci was about to leave after saluting again. Zhang Yang asked, "How much do you know about Gaochang?"
The other party turned around and said, "We know that the owner of Gaochang is actually someone else, and we will tell your Majesty the same thing after we meet him."
Watching the people walk away, Zhang Yang frowned and said, "Actually, the whole place in Qiuci is pretty good."
Zhang Elephant nodded seriously, "Since ancient times, all Central Plains dynasties have gone to capture the four towns of Anxi."
Xu Jingzong ate mutton, "It is said that if we capture the four towns of Anxi, we can take Persia directly?"
Zhang Elephant nodded and said: "There is also Tianzhu. Qiuci is located on an important trade route in the Western Regions. Any war in the Western Regions cannot avoid Qiuci. Whoever can capture the four towns of Anxi will control the richest road in the Western Regions."
Zhang Yang thought about it: "Do you think Songtsen Gampo is interested in taking over the four towns of Anxi? Or we should kill the Kucha envoy to silence him."
After the words fell, Xu Jingzong had not yet swallowed a sip of wine. He choked in his throat and kept coughing, "This matter is too big and must not be done. Let's not say whether Qiuci will take advantage of this to start an army, or even Tibet and Tibet." The Western Turks will also take advantage of this to cause trouble."
】
Zhang Yang frowned and said, "I'm just talking casually. Didn't you ask me to be the consultant of your etiquette department? Isn't it enough to just give me an opinion?"
Xu Jingzong calmed down and said, "Please Sir Zhang think again."
Zhang Yang stood up and walked out of the wine shop.
"Master Zhang, where are you going?"
"Go home." Zhang Yang replied lazily.
In a house in Chang'an City, Princess Changguang listened to Yang Shidao's story. Her family also ran a cloth business. "Once the cotton from Lishan comes out, our cloth shop business will definitely be affected."
Yang Shidao listened to Princess Changguang's story and still looked at the book in his hand.
Seeing him like this, Princess Changguang sighed: "When my father betrothed me to you, even though we are a half-way couple, you can't ignore the family business."
Yang Shidao said in a low voice: "I have already said that I would sell off the family property. You want to keep it. You don't have to ask me about business matters."
Faced with such a husband, Princess Changguang hated herself.
At that time, when his father betrothed him to Yang Shidao, although he was the son of Yang Xiong of the former Sui Dynasty, he was still considered a member of the royal family of the former Sui Dynasty. He fled to Luoyang and was captured by Wang Shichong.
At that time, Yang Shidao was still impoverished.
But at that time, I was also a widow and remarried with a child, so I had no choice but to get married without any other plans.
After being married to him for so many years, Yang Shidao has always ignored her efforts to accumulate a family fortune.
There was silence in the yard for a long time, and a boy on the side said: "I heard that many people are talking about Lishan today because of the cotton matter."
Princess Changguang lowered her face and told the servant beside her: "If you keep spreading the word, I will pull out the tongue of anyone who dares to criticize Lishan."
The boy went down to do something in a panic.
------------------
The relaxing days of the New Year passed quickly. Lishan's cotton cloth began to be sold, and the three thousand pieces of cloth that were rushed out were quickly sold out. Li Yue looked at the accounts happily, and Xiao Wu's mood also improved.
The factory in Lishan was completed last year, and now it has finally made progress. The couple breathed a sigh of relief and felt relieved.
It’s also very exciting when your efforts pay off.
Zhang Yang first bought a duck from Chang'an City and killed the duck on the spot. The couple sat together and plucked the duck's feathers.
"How about roast duck?"
"The duck is too fat and it seems inappropriate." After Zhang Yanggang finished speaking, he saw Li Yue pursed his lips and looked a little regretful, and then said: "Then let's make roast duck. You go and prepare some rice wine and put it on the stove. Once warmed up, the duck should be ready in about two hours."
"good."
Zhang Yang then asked: "Remember Daomi, and ask my aunt to call the King of Wei and the King of Hejian County."
Of course, we should celebrate the days when we have a harvest. This also shows that our business has successfully transformed from selling food in bulk and has become a real industry.
In the past, whether it was braised pork or flush toilets, these were short-term benefits, and these transactions were too sporadic and could not last long.
Now that we have a profitable factory in our hands, we have jobs that the entire village can rely on for survival.
Whether it is for the cohesion of the entire village or for future development, this is a rare good thing.
It's different now. Having a factory is like having a foundation and the scale of the enterprise.
The transformation process was painful, and Lishan did not make any money for a long time.
The most painful thing is Li Tai, who is almost bankrupt.
When it gets dark and the lid of the earthen stove is opened, the roasting duck is ready.
Use an iron fiber to lift the duck up and put it into a large basin.
Xiao Wu helped move the chair. It was difficult for her with her short legs to move the chair. She struggled to push the table and put the two tables together so that more people could sit for dinner.
Zhang Yang cut the roast duck and changed the knife, and Li Tai and Li Xiaogong also came together.
"Hahaha! I smelled the aroma of wine as soon as I walked to the door." Li Xiaogong smelled the aroma of wine and came to the small stove, opened the jug and smelled it carefully, "Good wine."
Zhang Yang explained: "They are all brewed at home, and I don't know if they suit my taste."
He saw Li Xiaogong holding a package in his hand. When he opened it, he saw it was a big lump of beef, pepper, and some fine salt.
"Everything is ready at home, why are you bringing so much beef?" Zhang Yang said, and naturally accepted the big lump of beef.
Li Xiaogong smiled and said: "I know that you and your wife live in poverty, and finally you have a cow that can no longer plow the land, so I killed it. My wife ordered me to send it to your family no matter what."
Zhang Yang grinned, "I'll make some soy sauce beef and send it to you when it's done. Have a few bites when you drink in the future. It tastes delicious."
Li Xiaogong stroked his beard and nodded, with a smile on his face, "I know you are sensible."
Li Tai's energy is also much fuller. The factory has made a profit, which is also a good thing for him. From last year to now, if there is no income, Li Tai's life will be difficult.
Several people sat around the table, and Zhang Yang poured drinks for Li Xiaogong and Li Tai.
"Why just a little bit!"
Seeing that Li Tai was not convinced, Zhang Yang snorted coldly: "It's my family's rule. Why do you, a kid, drink so much alcohol? The rice will be ready later. After drinking, you can eat honestly."
Li Tai picked up the wine bowl and took a sip, "I'm in a good mood today so I don't care about you."
The skin of the roast duck is crispy and salty just right.
Bite open the skin, and the tender and smooth duck meat enters your mouth, leaving you with a mouthful of fat.
While eating the duck, no one spoke a word until the whole big fat sheep duck was reduced to its skeleton. Everyone held their stomachs full and let out a sigh of relief.
Xiao Wu was very sensible and poured a few bowls of tea.
Zhang Yang brought the tea bowl to Li Tai and Li Xiaogong, "The duck is a little fatter and tastes a little greasy. Drinking tea can relieve the greasy taste. He handed him a toothpick. This is a toothpick I made from bamboo to pick. The meat couldn’t be better, the main thing is hygiene.”
Li Xiaogong used a toothpick to pick out the meat stuck between his teeth, "It's indeed a lot more elegant, and it's more convenient than fingernails."
