Movie: Get Alpha Dog at the start

Chapter 142 Soap?

Sheng Hong sat at the head seat in the front hall, complaining: "Oh, didn't I tell you that Zhuang Xuexue went to play by himself, so you children don't have to go there, the weather is so cold."

Qin Hao and Qi Heng looked at each other and smiled: "What did Uncle Sheng say? We have troubled the Sheng Mansion for a year, but it doesn't matter if we come to see you today."

"Haha, okay, it's rare for you to come here, let's have lunch here." Sheng Hong stroked his beard and smiled in satisfaction.

Then Sheng Hong started to discuss calligraphy with Qin Hao and others, and Sheng Changfeng was inevitably taught a lesson because his handwriting was the worst among the four.

Qi Heng was also very envious of Qin Hao's handwriting: "It's ashamed to say, my nephew is crazy and the eldest son Han is four years old, and Zi Han's calligraphy already has the potential of a famous master, but I have no choice but to be incapable of it."

Qin Hao said with a smile: "No, no, Wang Youjun's handwriting is naturally talented and rich. I can't write such a character. It's just that I have more experience in the face and style."

Seeing that he finally found an excuse, Sheng Changfeng quickly said, "That's right, I don't dare to practice Wang Youjun's copybook, for fear that I will be discouraged."

"You're just being lazy." Sheng Changbai complained.

"Haha~~~" Everyone looked at each other and laughed.

The backyard was also very lively, Mrs. Yu's family also came to visit today, and they brought Yu Yanran, the eldest daughter of the Yu family, to play in the backyard.

Of course, Rulan and Molan's minds were no longer in the backyard, and their eyes kept drifting to the front hall. Wang Ruofu stared at Rulan several times, but unfortunately, her daughter didn't see her at all, which made Wang Ruofu Foo was embarrassed.

On the other hand, Minglan and Yu Yanran had a great time, they were about the same age, they had already become handkerchief friends.

After a while, someone came from the front hall and reported to the old lady of the Sheng family: "Old lady, today the lord has left the young master to have lunch with the young master, and it is almost time to start the meal."

Old Madam Yu asked with a smile: "But the two sons of Dongchanghou's Mansion and Duke Qi's Mansion?"

Wang Ruofu couldn't help being proud of himself, but he said: "Exactly, these two children are really, but they have studied at my house for a year, and Zhuang Xuexue is not here, so they have to come for a trip in this cold weather." .”

Old Madam Yu smiled enviously. Qin Hao's birth in this year has already attracted a lot of attention in the noble circle of Bianjing City, and he has become a noble son with the same reputation as Qi Heng.

If there are girls of the right age in the family, they want to recruit Qin Hao as a son-in-law, and if there are boys in the family, they will use it to "motivate" their own dudes, and take care of other people's children.

Mrs. Sheng couldn't stand Wang Ruofu's face, she waved her hands and said, "It's because of his children's success. Speaking of which, it's our parents, Bai and Changfeng, who are proud of him. Improved a lot."

"Not necessarily. As the saying goes, a bird follows a phoenix and a bird flies far away, and people who are virtuous and good-natured are proud of themselves. It's still the Sheng family's family style." Mrs. Yu praised her.

Wang Ruofu's originally embarrassed face was suddenly full of smiles, she loved hearing these words.

Seeing her appearance, Old Madam Sheng couldn't help shaking her head secretly, but said nothing more.

Soon it was time for lunch, and a screen was set up in the front hall. In ancient times, men and women had to sit separately. The female relatives were inside the screen, and Qin Hao's table was outside the screen.

Before leaving the table, Qin Hao and Qi Heng came across the screen to greet Old Madam Sheng.

Mrs. Yu finally saw Qin Hao and Qi Heng, and her eyes could not help but drift to her granddaughter Yanran.

Old Madam Sheng helped them up kindly: "It's cold here, so there's no need to be so polite."

Qin Hao and Qi Heng met with Mrs. Yu and Wang Ruofu before they backed out.

It's just that when the two left, the souls of Mo Lan and Ru Lan were also taken away, and they were both absent-minded about eating, and their eyes drifted to the screen from time to time, as if they both had clairvoyant eyes that could see through the screen.

Ming Lan started to eat and drink without any scruples, this girl is now like a hamster eating madly, her chubby face and cheeks are also swollen, old lady Yu laughed out loud.

"The girl raised by your side is the most interesting."

Minglan's good interest in eating was instantly broken by such a talk, she could only lower her head pretending to be shy, and lamented in her heart.

"My pork knuckle, my steamed sea bass."

Seeing her like this, Old Madam Sheng couldn't help being delighted, and it was rare for her to burst out laughing.

Sheng Hong glanced behind him in surprise.

The host and guest enjoyed the meal, and after sitting for a while, Qin Hao and Qi Heng left, and Mrs. Yu brought Yu Yanran back home.

Sheng Mansion returned to calm, but it was only superficially calm.

Seeing Rulan's distraught look, Wang Ruofu decided to test Sheng Hong's attitude again.

"Officer, the house hasn't been this lively for a long time, why don't you have a few more drinks today?"

Sheng Hong waved his hand: "How can I drink freely with a few children? It's just a couple of drinks."

"Why don't we drink together as husband and wife?" Wang Ruofu asked Mama Liu to prepare the food and drinks.

Sheng Hong's interest also came, and he agreed wholeheartedly. After a few glasses of wine, Wang Ruofu pretended to be emotional.

"Hey, these days go by so fast, a year has passed in a blink of an eye, and these children are also one year older."

Sheng Hong also nodded approvingly: "Yeah, we moved to Bianjing three times, and now thinking about the situation of being a general judge in Yangzhou, it seems like it was yesterday."

Wang Ruofu refilled another glass of wine for her husband: "Officer, seeing that the daughters in the family are all grown up, and it's time to talk about marriage in a few years, shouldn't we make plans early?"

Sheng Hong hesitated: "Aren't you still young now? The oldest Mo Lan is only 11 years old."

Seeing that Mo Lan was the first thing her husband thought of, Wang Ruofu couldn't help but secretly jealous, but she still had bigger plans, so she could only suppress the fire first and continue to induce.

"It's not too young. This marriage is no less than a second reincarnation for a daughter's family. The officials and officials in Bianjing City have been seeing each other since a very early age. If they wait until they are of the right age to look for them, I'm afraid it will be difficult to find a suitable one." gone."

Sheng Hong also thought about it: "Well, since that's the case, Mrs. Lao will watch first, and I will pay attention to it."

Although Sheng Hong didn't have a bowl of water for his sons and daughters, he was still unambiguous when it came to their lifelong affairs.

Wang Ruofu was overjoyed when he saw this, and put some side dishes in his husband's bowl: "Officer, I'm afraid I didn't see it today, but the old lady Yu stared at the young master and the young master for a long time, maybe she wanted to do it for you. Her granddaughter looks at her with a smile."

Sheng Hong was not stupid, he immediately reacted, and frowned: "Didn't I tell you that our family is not enough, why are you still thinking about it?"

Wang Ruofu did not give up and said: "Officer, I know we are considered high climbers, but the young duke and the young duke are really rare talents. You see, after only one year of class at our house, the pedantic Zhuang praised him relentlessly. There is bound to be a bright future in the future, such a good son-in-law candidate, is the official willing to hand it over to others like this?"

Sheng Hong was struggling in his heart. To be honest, he was also very optimistic about Qin Hao and Qi Heng, but it was because of this that he knew how many people were paying attention to them. What would the Sheng family do with them? fight?

"Okay, stop thinking about this matter, our family doesn't have that blessing!" Sheng Hong couldn't help but stand up and leave.

Wang Ruofu was so angry that he swept away all the food and drink on the table afterwards, and became a master of table cleaning.

Sheng Hong came out from Wang Ruofu's place and came to Lin Xi Pavilion, but it turned out that Lin Xiaoniang told him the same thing.

Sheng Hong scolded Lin Xiaoniang severely, and then went straight to another concubine's room to sleep.

As for Shou'an Hall, the old lady is teaching Minglan a lesson.

"You will be 10 years old soon, you can't eat and drink like this anymore, or your body will be out of shape in the future, and your hair will have to be combed up, so you can't be so casual anymore."

Minglan lamented that the days of pretending to be stupid and being obedient would be gone forever.

On the other hand, Qin Liu's family is also worried. For her, the eldest lady of the Dongchang Hou Mansion, to celebrate New Year's Day every year, it is like passing the customs. Human relations are not counted. After the Lantern Festival, the documents of the Qin Lou Chu Pavilion Just give her a headache.

The Dongchang Hou Mansion has been in decline for a long time since the death of the old Hou Ye, but Qin Junye is used to being extravagant, and often spends a lot of money outside, talking about the ostentation of the Hou Ye. For reneging on debts, you usually only need to sign the bill, and after the Lantern Festival, you will come to the door to settle the settlement.

"Why is mother sighing?" As soon as Qin Hao entered the door, he saw Qin Liushi sighing there.

Qin Liushi forced a smile: "It's nothing, brother Hao is back, are you tired? Let's rest for a while and talk to my mother."

For this son, Qin Liu's family is quite satisfied, and he can earn face for himself, and he is filial, and people praise him wherever he goes.

Qin Hao said sternly, "Is my mother still treating me like a urchin?"

Seeing this, Qin Liushi sighed: "Brother Hao, it's not that mother doesn't want to tell you, it's just that you should focus on your studies now. After you become a scholar in high school, our Dongchang Hou Mansion will have hope. It will get better."

Qin Hao shook his head and asked back: "Does mother want to wait for the boy to become an official before handing over the mess of the Hou Mansion to the boy?"

"This..." Qin Liu was immediately stopped by the question.

Qin Hao took the opportunity to say: "Mother, running away from problems is not the way to go, otherwise it will be hard to get back, and maybe it will hinder my future in the future."

Qin Liushi was taken aback. Her whole life's hope was pinned on her son. How could she hinder her son's future?
Therefore, the Qin Liu family told Qin Hao about the financial situation of the Dongchanghou Mansion.

To put it bluntly, it’s just that it’s not enough to make ends meet. Dongchanghou’s mansion had a lot of properties when the old man was there, but they were almost wiped out later. It’s not all done by Qin Junye alone, there are also a few people from the second and third rooms He is also an expert at chewing on the old.

"Now the property in the mansion is only two silk shops, one restaurant, three cosmetic powder shops and some fields, which seem to be a lot, but they can't sustain such a large expenditure at all."

Qin Hao nodded and asked, "How much foreign debt does the family still owe?"

The Hou Mansion of Dongchang was unable to make ends meet and was able to maintain the dignity of the Hou Mansion for so many years, mainly relying on cash flow. The output of several shops is not bad, plus the income from the land, but even so, it is inevitable to borrow foreign debts.

Qin Liushi wiped away tears: "I owe a full eighty-seven thousand guan."

Qin Hao couldn't help being speechless. Copper coins were the main currency in circulation in the Song Dynasty, and the consistent money was one thousand Wen copper coins. Based on the calculation that the consistent money is equal to one tael of silver, it means that he owed 7000 taels of silver.

It doesn't look like much, but if you consider the purchasing power, it's quite scary. According to the current price, the price of a stone of rice is 120 yuan, that is, [-] catties of rice only sell for [-] yuan.

The foreign debts owed by Dongchanghou Mansion can buy 12.4 shimi, which is 1491 million jins when converted into catties.

Qin Hao was speechless. He had seen someone cheating his father, but he had never seen someone cheating his son so much. If he didn't ask a question, he wouldn't know that he was actually a negative second generation.

No, you have to make money, otherwise the debt will fall on him in the future.

Of course, Qin Hao didn't panic too much. As a traveler, the most indispensable thing is the means to make money.

"Mother, can you give me some carpenters and blacksmiths?" Qin Hao thought for a moment and said to Qin Liushi.

Qin Liu asked suspiciously: "What do Brother Hao want these for?"

"Of course it's to make money!" Qin Hao said seriously.

Qin Liushi burst out laughing: "You kid made my mother happy again."

Qin Hao didn't speak, but just looked at her seriously, and the smile on Qin Liushi's face gradually froze, and he said hastily.

"Brother Hao, don't be too hard on it. Mother will figure out how to deal with money matters. At worst, you can sell some dowry to maintain it. You are a scholar, how can you manage such a cheap business."

Qin Hao said sternly: "Mother is worrying too much, the boy is just making suggestions, and the other production and sales are still handled by the mother, and the boy will not come forward in person."

"But why does Brother Hao need some craftsmen?" Qin Liushi breathed a sigh of relief, and then asked again.

Qin Hao made a fool of himself: "Mother will know afterward."

Qin Liu's family couldn't resist and had to ask some carpenters and blacksmiths in the mansion to be called.

"The villain has seen the eldest lady and the young master." Six or seven craftsmen stood cautiously in the hall and saluted, not daring to lift their heads.

Qin Hao asked in a low voice: "Are these people reliable?"

Qin Liushi nodded: "They are all born in the family."

A child born in the family is a servant who has been a servant in the mansion since his ancestors, and the deeds of prostitution of his parents and relatives are all in his hands, so his loyalty is naturally much higher than that of ordinary people.

Qin Hao nodded in satisfaction, and led a group of craftsmen back to his small courtyard.

For the next two days, Qin Hao's small courtyard could only hear the sound of tinkling bells.

Two days later, a huge iron pot appeared in the small courtyard. There was also a hand crank for stirring, a huge wooden barrel, and some molds in the iron pot.

That's right, what Qin Hao wants to do is soap.

The reason for choosing to use soap is also very simple. One is that the production cost of soap is low and it is easy to mass-produce. The other is that the demand is large. During the Song Dynasty, saponin was a common washing product, and the washing effect of this thing is far inferior to that of soap. This is a piece of The blue ocean market is rich in profits. Three, there are no wealthy and dignitaries in this industry to participate, so it is impossible to touch someone's cake and make enemies with others.

Qin Liu's family also heard the news and came to see Qin Hao asked the craftsman to set up an iron pot, pour water into it, and then add a bucket of oil sludge. Oil sludge is the precipitation of lard after it has cooled. The reason why lard was chosen is because of this Cheap.

The Song Dynasty mainly ate mutton and beef. Pork was cheap meat, and only ordinary people would buy it to satisfy their greed.

Making soap is not so particular, of course, use whatever is cheap.

Qin Liushi was confused, and the maids and mothers who followed behind were also full of doubts.

And as the temperature in the pot rose, an unpleasant smell made everyone subconsciously step back a few steps, and they could only cover their mouths and noses to cover them.

Qingmei covered Qin Hao's nose with a handkerchief, and held her breath, but after a while, her chest rose and fell violently, and she couldn't help coughing. The smell was really sweet.

Qin Hao took her hand away, motioned her to take care of himself, and instead walked a few steps to observe the situation in the iron pot.

At this time, the temperature in the iron pot was already very high, and the sludge had been completely cut apart and merged with the clean water. Seeing this, Qin Hao asked the craftsman to pour a large piece of caustic soda into it.

Speaking of which, it took Qin Hao a lot of effort to make this piece of caustic soda. In later generations, this thing was a chemical product and could be bought, but in the Song Dynasty, he could only make it by himself.

The main cost of caustic soda is "sodium bicarbonate" and "calcium oxide". "Sodium bicarbonate" is baking soda. It's fine without moisture.

And "calcium oxide" is actually quicklime, which can be bought directly.

Heat the quicklime to turn into lime slurry after reaction, then add baking soda, continue to stir, and get caustic soda after cooling and standing still.

To ancient people who had no knowledge of chemistry, all of this was as mysterious as Taoist alchemy. No one knew what Qin Hao's purpose was, and it was easy to keep it secret.

With the addition of caustic soda, the smell in the air became even weirder, and Qin Liushi had already retreated to the gate of the small courtyard.

At this time, Qin Hao had already asked the craftsman to drive the rocker arm to fully stir the mixture in the pot.

As the water in the pot continues to evaporate, the liquid in the pot gradually becomes viscous, and the color gradually turns yellowish brown.

Qin Hao looked at it for a while, and asked the craftsman to add edible salt, and then stir it thoroughly.

"Extinguishing."

After the craftsman quickly extinguished the fire, the liquid in the pot gradually cooled over time.

After about an hour and a half, the liquid in the pot had become very viscous, so Qin Hao asked the craftsman to mold the semi-finished soap.

After another two hours of waiting, Qin Hao knocked out the soap from one of the molds and handed it to Qin Liushi.

Qin Liushi touched the soap and it felt smooth and tender, but she didn't know what it was for, so she looked at Qin Hao suspiciously.

Qin Hao asked someone to bring a basin of water, and then said to the craftsman who had just watched the fire, "Come here."

The craftsman walked over carefully, Qin Hao pressed the craftsman's hand into the water to wet it, and then rubbed his hands with soap.

A miraculous scene appeared. The hands that were originally full of dirt became extremely clean after just rubbing them lightly.

The original clear water was already turbid at this time, and there were still some soap bubbles floating on it.

"What does mother think of this item? Can it sell well?" Qin Hao looked at Qin Liushi with a smile.

Qin Liu's complexion changed, and he glanced at the people present, his eyes were stern: "If anyone says a word about today's matter, they will all be killed including their family members!"

The servants were so frightened that they knelt on the ground, trembling.

(End of this chapter)