Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

Chapter 579 Blending
The aroma from the bakery on the street passed through the curtain of the carriage, and Cai Dingshan took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to ask the servant to buy two cakes to satisfy his hunger.

"I am already a person of status, and a person of status is not allowed to buy cakes in this kind of place!" Cai Dingshan reminded himself that he was already hungry after running for half a day, but his spirit was extremely high. A great sense of mission and accomplishment filled his body, making him forget his physical exhaustion.

"Master!" The servant's voice interrupted Cai Dingshan's thoughts: "Fan Chang'an and Dongzhu Fan's house is in front of you, but it's almost noon now, do you think you should go back and rest for a while, and let the little one go to invest first?" Famous Assassin, come visit again in the afternoon or evening?"

"It's almost noon? No wonder you're so hungry!" Cai Dingshan looked at the sky outside and hesitated for a while. According to the etiquette of the upper class at that time, it was rude to visit rashly and be an unexpected guest, and it was even more rude to come to the door without an appointment during lunch. rudeness, but it was nothing compared to the urgency of the matter at hand.

"The matter is urgent, so I don't care about it!" Cai Dingshan shouted, "Fan Changan is a sensible person, so he won't blame me!"

The place where Fan Changan stayed was a village house in Langzhong in Chengdu. Because the local area was rich in well salt, the house was built quite grandly, especially Fan Changan lived in a side courtyard behind the house. It's not big but it's well-kept, with all kinds of flowers, trees, ponds and pavilions. Cai Dingshan couldn't help nodding secretly as he walked along. He had heard about the reputation of salt merchants in Langzhong a long time ago, and now it seems that it is true.

"Cai Dongzhu!" Fan Chang'an had already received the news, and stood at the courtyard gate to greet him: "Why do you have time to come here today? Why didn't someone let you know earlier, so that I can be prepared!"

"It's really a temporary incident, so I have to be a bad guest!" Cai Dingshan hurriedly returned the gift: "I'm reckless, please forgive me!"

"Prosper Cai is such an honored guest that you can't even invite them on weekdays. If you come here today, I'm too happy!" Fan Changan smiled and took Cai Dingshan's arm, and stretched out his hand to invite him: "It just so happened that someone sent a pig's head today. It's already steamed thoroughly, and Master Cai is also very lucky!"

"Steamed pig's head?"

"Not bad!" Fan Changan said happily, "the fattest meat on this pig is the pig's head, but it's troublesome to make, and non-veteran gluttons can't understand the beauty. A friend picked two good pig's heads yesterday. Here it is. The old man asked the cook to clean it up, and as soon as it was served on the table, Master Cai came, wouldn't it be a blessing?"

While talking, the two had already entered the flower hall, and saw that the square table in the middle had already set up bowls, chopsticks and dishes, and a pig's head was placed on a large plate in the middle, split in half, and spread out, with four-color dishes on the four sides As for the side dish, Fan Changan first sat down Cai Dingshan in the host and guest seats, and said with a smile, "Come on, Master Cai, please try it!"

Cai Dingshan was already hungry. Seeing Fan Changan's enthusiasm, he stretched out his chopsticks and took a piece. He felt that the pig's head was like tofu, and it fell apart when he touched it. He took a chopstick and put it in his mouth. It is extremely sweet and has endless aftertaste, and I couldn't help but praise: "Yes, this pig's head is really extraordinary, without the slightest earthy smell. It is better than the venison, beef, and mutton I have eaten on weekdays. I don't know how it is made!"

Hearing that Cai Dingshan praised the deliciousness of the pig's head, Fan Chang'an couldn't help laughing and said: "This is an ancestral method in my family, and there is no other place. The pig's head is washed in boiling water first, and the brush is very clean, and then the inside and outside are rubbed with salt. Put it in the pot for two or three hours, then put cold water in the pot, boil it until it is very cooked, then add the salt rubbed on the pig's head, do not wash it off. Boil it until it boils three to five times, pick it up, and wipe off the external moisture with a clean cloth. Wash Clean the inside machine, stuff raw green onions with roots, spread the outside with a good sweet sauce evenly, put it in a pot with a wooden frame, put water on the bottom, about one or two inches away from the pig's head, and do not submerge. Cover the top with a large porcelain pot, Use cloth to cover the surroundings very densely, so as not to let out any air. Steam over low heat until it is extremely rotten, and then remove the shallots and that’s it!”

Cai Dingshan heard Fan Changan say that the method of steaming pig's head is so cumbersome, he couldn't help sighing: "Brother Fan is so particular about every pig's head, he really is a son of a noble family, Cai is amazed!"

Hearing Cai Dingshan praise his family background, Fan Changan shook his head with a smile: "Forget it, it's different now. Speaking of aristocratic family, Dongzhu Cai's Shanyaoju has been in Chengdu for a long time, right?"

"A pharmacy, a daily necessities, how dare it compare with Fan Laoxian?" Cai Dingshan shook his head and sighed: "By the way, the old man came to bother you today because of a matter, and I want to ask Fan Gong to lend a hand!" After finishing speaking, he stood up and bowed to Fan Chang'an.

"Cai Dongzhu!" Fan Changan waved his hand: "Our Fan family ancestors had a rule that we don't talk about things when we eat, and we have to wait until the meal is over before talking about things! Or else, let's taste this steamed pig's head first? "

Cai Dingshan saw that although Fan Changan had a smile on his face, but his attitude was very firm, and his stomach was not full, so he nodded: "If that's the case, then let's bother!"

The two sat down at the table, only a maidservant waited on him, Cai Dingshan didn't talk too much when he saw Fan Changan, he just drank and ate. It’s not that he just made it up to prevaricate himself, so he picked it up and started to eat. After about two minutes, the two of them finished their meal, and the maidservant brought tea soup up. Fan Changan drank a few sips and said with a smile: “ Dongzhu Cai, this yard is still clean, some things can be whispered!"

"Very good!" Cai Dingshan knew that Fan Changan didn't want others to know the content of their conversation, and he was secretly happy. The two came to the yard and sat down at the stone table under the old locust tree. went inside.Fan Changan poured a glass for both of them: "Cai Dongzhu came to me, presumably because of Wang Xiaolang-jun's affairs?"

"How does Duke Fan know?" Cai Dingshan was taken aback.

"It's not easy!" Fan Chang'an said with a smile, "Master Cai's pharmacy business has been in business for several generations, and he has already made a name for himself in Chengdu, and the shopkeepers under him are all acquaintances. You just don't do anything, Mr. Cai. Lying at home all day, this business can't go wrong? Besides, Dongzhu Cai also has a lot of friends in Chengdu, and recently he got on the line of Wang Dudu. What can't be handled by himself? Unless it is for Mr. Wang Xiaolang's affairs, otherwise How did you come to my door?"

"Sure enough, I can't hide it from Duke Fan!" Cai Dingshan sighed: "Yes, this visit is indeed for the sake of Mr. Xiaolang!" After that, he dedicated 30 pieces of silk that Wang Wenzuo asked for to the emperor, and told Wang Ence to do it himself. I recounted the things I ran for it, and finally said: "Wang Dudu has now become the Jiannan Zhidu Yingtian Disposal Military and Horse Economic Envoy. These silks are related to the safety of our people in Xichuan. Fan Gong is the leader of the Langzhong business community. Please also lend a hand to help, and there will be rewards in the future!"

Fan Chang'an didn't give an answer right away, he just stroked his beard with a smile, as if he was planning something, Cai Dingshan didn't dare to push him by the side, after half a cup of tea time, Fan Chang'an sighed: "Master Cai, what's the matter?" This is something you really shouldn't be holding on to!"

"Why did Fan Gong say that? For this matter, Cai is willing to destroy his family!"

"It's not a matter of destroying the family or not!" Fan Changan waved his hand: "Cai Dongzhu, have you ever thought about how much silk there is in the market in Sichuan? They are all much higher? Why is that? You are willing to destroy your house for the sake of Mr. Xiaolang, but if there is not so much silk cloth in the market, what is the use of destroying your house?"

"This—" Cai Dingshan was stunned when he heard this, "Could it be true that Sichuan can't produce 30 more pieces of silk a year?"

"Of course there is, but the price is different!" Fan Changan said with a smile: "Let's put it this way, the imperial court has always regarded our Xichuan as the emperor Xiku, asking for nothing, and this Shu brocade can be directly used as money." Yes, how can there be so much left after the annual collection, Mr. Cai, you take this matter on yourself all at once, it is really a little thoughtless!"

"Then, what should we do then?" Cai Dingshan was in a state of confusion when he heard this, "Didn't I harm Mr. Fan, is there no other way?"

"It's not that there is no way, but I don't know if you are willing to use it, Mr. Cai!" Fan Changan laughed.

"Fan Gong, do you have a solution?" Like a drowning man grabbing a straw, Cai Dingshan hastened to grab it firmly: "Don't worry, as long as I can pass this test, I will definitely thank you!"

"Hehe!" Fan Changan laughed twice, patted his palms twice, and the maid who was standing in the distance came over and bowed down to Fan Changan, "What is the master's order?"

"Take off the cloak and show it to Master Cai!" Fan Changan laughed.

"Yes!" The servant girl responded, untied her shawl and handed it to Cai Dingshan. It was a kind of clothing accessory for women at that time. It was worn on the back of the shoulders, with both ends hanging around the arms.Cai Dingshan didn't know Fan Changan's intentions, took the shawl, and looked at Fan Changan blankly.

"Cai Dongzhu, how do you see the texture of the silk?" Cai Dongzhu smiled.

Cai Dingshan looked at it and touched it. He didn't know much about it, so he smiled wryly: "I really don't know, Fan Gong, so don't test me!"

"Hehe!" Fan Changan smiled: "You can say that this fabric is silk, but in fact only half is raw silk, and the remaining half is kudzu silk, blended together!"

"Half raw silk, half kudzu?"

"Well, this kind of fabric is much cheaper than ordinary silk. In addition to this kind, there is also a blend of raw silk and hemp silk. Many people who can't afford silk, satin and silk use this kind of fabric to make Clothes look similar to silk, but you can still feel the difference if you touch them!" Fan Changan laughed.

As Fan Changan said, Cai Dingshan tried to grind the cloth carefully with his fingers, and he really felt that it was different from the satin clothes worn by his wife and concubine, and was rougher. At this time, he already understood what Fan Changan meant: "Fan Gong What do you mean, use this blended fabric instead of silk?"

"Not bad!" Fan Changan nodded, "Compared with real silk, this kind of fabric is much cheaper. 30 bolts of Sichuan silk is indeed difficult, but if it is 30 bolts of this kind of fabric, then you have to work hard." It's not impossible!"

"But this can't be regarded as real silk, right?" Cai Dingshan smiled wryly, "If the court finds out, wouldn't it be a catastrophe?"

"You!" Fan Changan sighed, "I ask you, what will the imperial court do with these silk cloths when they are sent to Chang'an?"

"It's either rewarding the officials, or rewarding the generals, and most of them are for the generals. After all, just now Ijilian Bode said that it is for military purposes!"

"That's it!" Fan Chang'an said with a smile: "It's common for soldiers in the army to be blackmailed by their superiors. If you reward a piece of silk, it's good if you can get five feet for a soldier. If you send it out, you will be bitten by insects and rats." Yes, moldy and rotten silk is even more common. No matter what we hand in, it is full-size new silk, if they are not satisfied, it would be too much!"

"Yes, but this isn't silk? It's half silk at most!" Cai Dingshan smiled wryly.

"This is silk!" Fan Chang'an said in a very firm tone, "Did you know that when many Xiyi merchants bought silk and satin from Zhonghua back home, they dismantled the silk and satin into silk thread, and then blended it with their own homemade hemp thread. Then sell it as real silk to the nobles of the country. The nobles of Xiyi don’t care. What can the soldiers complain about when they wear it? Besides, it’s not that we deliberately deceived, but that there are not so many Shu silks now. , we are also dealing with errands. If you think it's still not enough, Mr. Cai, then I can't help it!"

Hearing Fan Changan say "I can't help it", Cai Dingshan also knew that it was the end of the story, and he nodded: "Forget it, I'll go back and discuss with Mr. Xiaolang first, if it really doesn't work, I'll bother Fan Gong later. !"

Fan Changan also knew that such a big matter could not be decided in just a few words, so he nodded with a smile: "It's okay, Master Cai can go back and discuss it slowly, and I will wait at home!"

After leaving Fan Chang'an's place, Cai Dingshan was not in the mood to continue asking about the next one. He returned home quickly and sent his servants to invite Zhuge Wen. As soon as the two met, he told the story in detail. Finally, he said: "Brother Zhuge, I only traded medicinal materials before, and I don't know much about the silk market. Is it really as Fan Changan said, it is so difficult to buy 30 bolts of silk in Chengdu?"

Zhuge Wen nodded solemnly: "That guy is right, Mr. Cai, you really did something wrong with this matter!"

"Then I can't help it! The burden is on Xiao Langjun, I can't just stand aside and pretend I didn't see it? Now we are already on the same boat with Xiao Langjun. If he is unlucky, All our previous hard work was in vain!"

　Thanks to the book friends such as Tumu Short, Poor, Ugly, Hayek, 20220903074742838, etc. for their rewards.By the way, it is very troublesome for me to input the names of some digital book friends, so I don’t thank you in many cases, please forgive me!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)