A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 232 Sister-in-law
Ruixue is a prosperous year.

Since the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, there have been several snowfalls, each heavier than the last, and the weather is getting colder every day, and thick icicles have formed under the tail eaves.

It's cold and snowy, and red plums are blooming.

The nobles in Chang'an City are admiring the snow, and the scholars are also reciting poems and composing Fu.

But for the people at the bottom, what they feel is the majesty and ruthlessness of God. One night the north wind blows, and at dawn many poor people and beggars freeze to death.

Many people were shivering at home, unable to even go out, and their clothes were too thin to keep out the cold. Only the dilapidated houses could keep out the wind and snow.

Huaiyu got up, and still slept soundly last night.

The warm kang is really a treasure for winter, and people who lie on it don't want to get up.

Fan Xuanfu was really pregnant. After Wu Huaiyu confirmed that she was pregnant with the happy pulse, Fan Xuanfu now isolated herself in the small courtyard and served her as a maidservant. No one else could enter the courtyard. Let alone diet.

For this caution, Huaiyu has nothing to say, and the smart Runniang and the others never approach the small courtyard, let alone send any food at this time, in case there is something to do with it.

Although Huaiyu felt that Xuanfu was a bit petty, but after all, it was justifiable to be cautious with the first child.

Now he can only see Xuanfu once or twice a day at the gate of the courtyard, or when she comes out for a walk to chat through the gate.

The tabby and the golden chow suddenly ran over from the snow and jumped on Huaiyu. These two dogs like snow very much. The bigger the snow, the more excited they are, running and rolling in the snow.

I've been very busy recently, so I don't have time to go hunting. These two dogs were originally good hunting dogs, but now I can only fatten up in this yard every day. Fortunately, the yard is big enough.

Three sisters, Fan Wuniang, a monk and a maidservant, came over, each wearing a fur cloak.

"Ah Lang is not afraid of the cold."

Since the eldest lady Xuanfu raised her baby with peace of mind, these three concubines and four concubines were able to soak in the rain and dew. For ten days, there were seven of them, one concubine for two days, and one concubine for one day. The line was just full, but Wu Huaiyu suffered. Can only often find excuses to rest.

The arrangement was full and there was no spare time left. It was all done by the county lord Wuliu.

Only when the concubines happened to come to work, they could have a breather, but now Wu Liushi actually confessed to seven of them, and let them arrange for their personal maids to pass through the room in case of any inconvenience.

Huaiyu firmly opposed it.

"Are you here for a snowball fight?"

"We don't have snowball fights, it's too cold."

Huaiyu, however, still has a childlike innocence, so she directly grabbed a handful of snow, squeezed it into a snow ball and threw it at the monk-servant Fan Wuniang. , Shocked from the cold, and screamed.

Fan Jiuniang King Kong immediately grabbed the snow ball and fought back to avenge his cousin. Huaiyu relied on his skill, moved flexibly, and fought back while walking. Several concubines were screamed and screamed by him.

"Thirteen, come and help."

Those who couldn't beat them hurriedly called their sword maids to join the battle. These maids also knew that Huai Yuping had a gentle temper, so they all joined the battle one after another.

Huaiyu was also outnumbered for a while, and was besieged by a group of women, snow balls flew around, and the snow powder was scattered everywhere, and the whole body was covered with snow powder marks.

The two dogs also joined in the battle to reinforce Huaiyu, knocking down one after another.

After playing for a while, it finally ended. Everyone was playing with smoke above their heads and their faces were flushed.

It's not cold at all, it's even a little hot.

"Go back to the house quickly, don't catch cold."

Go back to the house and change clothes, and breakfast is ready.

Haggis soup, millet porridge, served with some sour radish and sour seaweed side dishes, a little moldy tofu, and steamed buns, which are rich and nutritious.

The Gao Hui'an sisters are about to have double chins now, and they are fat and have a little baby fat. Although they are not one hundred and twenty, they are not a few catties less.

Fortunately, Huaiyu let them exercise every day, and their bodies are only plump but not obese. Although Wu Liushi thinks it would be better to be fatter and fatter, but Huaiyu thinks they are fine now.

"There are a lot of guests who have come to give gifts these days, and our family's Zhuangzi and tenants have also come to give gifts one after another," Run Niang was in charge of Huaiyu's hospital's accounts, and reported to Huaiyu during breakfast time.

"Isn't it difficult for everyone this year? Why do tenants still come to give gifts?"

"It's difficult for everyone this year, but it's the end of the year, and we have to show something. This is both a custom and a courtesy. It is indispensable. If you can't pay the rent this year, you can send some local products at home, such as chickens and ducks, dried mushrooms, firewood, etc. It’s also expressive.”

"Many neighbors in our Yongxingfang also came to give gifts."

Yongxingfang is adjacent to the East Palace of the Imperial City. Most of the residents here are noble officials, and some are officials from the Chang’an government offices, and a small number of craftsmen, and some are rented scholars and students. Relatively speaking, it is still a group of people with better conditions.

But this year's situation is not very good. Many people have come to Wu Huaiyu in the workshop to borrow money and food before. If you want to come to sit and sit, you can pay back the money if you have money, and say hello to those who don’t have money. Even no matter how high or low, you have to give some New Year’s gifts to show it.

The Wu family is considered an upstart in Yongxingfang, the official status is not the highest, the highest is Qin Qiong, and there are several royal relatives, but Wu Huaiyu is the best to everyone in the workshop, not to mention borrowing food and money, there is even a Neighborhood disputes, family conflicts, Wu Huaiyu and his son are also willing to help mediate.

As an upstart, the Wu family is very willing to make friends with their neighbors in order to improve the reputation of the Wu family.

Before the Wu family married their daughters and got married, they even invited the neighbors to have a banquet, and distributed noodles to each family. Even the leftovers from the banquet were also given to the poor families in the workshop.

Nowadays, many ordinary people in Yongxingfang send their children to Huaiyu's shop as apprentices, or directly to Wufu as servants, so Huaiyu is not only their neighbor, but also their boss.

Don't look at Qi Guogong Qin Qiong as the fourth real hero, his wife is also the county head, and several other royal relatives are also of high status, but in Yongxingfang, the Wu family has the best reputation.

"By the way, the Wei family next door also sent some gifts. There is a set of books and two jars of Weigong wine. Mrs. Pei personally delivered them to the door. She said that she is very grateful to Erlang for the previous incident."

"Oh, did you return the gift?"

"I made my own decision and gave back a set of soap, two bricks of Longyou salt, and two bricks of Jiannan tea, and Mrs. Pei accepted them."

Huaiyu took a sip of haggis soup, it was very delicious.

After the emperor repaid the one thousand coins for Wei Zheng last time, Huaiyu naturally settled the bill, and returned the deed and books to Wei Zheng.

After this matter was over, Wei Zheng seemed to have changed his attitude towards Huaiyu, at least he would say hello when he met him at the door.

Mrs. Pei often came to visit Wu Liu's family from time to time.

"Ah Lang, shopkeeper Zhao from Qianjintang, shopkeeper Fan from Changshengtang, shopkeeper Liu from Baoyutang, and shopkeeper Yang from Meiyutang have all come to the house. When it comes to the end of the year, do you want to use some of the profits on the account to pay for it? Everyone?"

Huaiyu's various industries, there are self-operated ones and partnerships, but they all use the Donghuo model, which is mainly managed by the shopkeeper. The boss is only responsible for selecting the shopkeeper, investing money, and auditing accounts. The usual affairs are ignored. .

The dividend payment period is agreed to be every five years, but a proper part can be withdrawn every year.

Huaiyu is naturally not short of money, but the shopkeeper and senior staff still want to share some for a festive and fat year.

"How much profit is on the account?"

"Several companies and shops have made a lot of money this year. After deducting the expenses of opening a branch, purchasing raw materials, etc., there is still a lot of surplus. It is useless to put it in the account for the time being, and it is idle."

There is money in the account that is idle, the best use is of course to expand the scale and open a semicolon, but Huaiyu also understands that everyone is actually very concerned about the benefits in front of them.

Especially those shopkeepers and fellows who are qualified to take stock, they all want to divide the money early to improve the status quo.

"The billing period is five years, and the billing period has not yet come, but everyone has really worked hard, so let's take out half of the bonus and divide it first."

Half of the bonus, the owner gets nine of the silver shares, and the shopkeepers get one of the body shares, among which the big shopkeeper gets half of it exclusively.

"Buddies, apprentices, and doctors, medicine workers, and craftsmen who don't have a net worth, in addition to Xinjin, they also need to give out some welfare rewards during the Chinese New Year. Run Niang, work hard to get these accounts out."

"By the way, don't forget our family too,"

The Wu family is also a large house now, with many masters and servants. Although Wu Liu's family is in charge of the common area of ​​the family, Huaiyu still insists on paying the money from the courtyard and giving everyone monthly money.

There are four old Wu Huaiyu Huaiyi and Huailiang masters, each with [-] yuan a month.

Wu Liushi, sister-in-law Chengshi, wife Xuanfu, and younger sister are also three thousand dollars each.

The Fan family married the three sisters and the old Wu concubine serving the Wang family. Each of them paid two thousand dollars. As for Runniang, the Gao sisters, Irina, and Huaiyi's three concubines, and the old Wu Xinna's two concubines, It is [-] yuan per person.

Further down, there are servants and servants in the family. The sword maids are five hundred yuan per month, and the rest are three hundred, two hundred and one hundred yuan.

This money is monthly money, that is, pocket money, and it is not considered salary.

Especially those slaves, normally speaking, they don't have wages, including food, housing, clothes and everything, but Huaiyu still gives a little bit every month, which is equivalent to a reward, and they can buy something they want.

Although there are not many people in the family, there are many people in the family now, and it will cost tens of thousands of dollars a month. Although Lao Wu and his wife think it is unnecessary, Huaiyu still insists on distributing them. He has a lot of property now, so this is not a small expenditure. burden.

If the money goes on, the effect is still good.

Runniang, monks and maidservants are in charge of money and food accounts, and Huaiyu even has an additional subsidy. For example, Runniang was originally paid [-] yuan a month, but Huaiyu made an extra [-] yuan.

Usually, she would often buy some jewelry for her, and even give her some money directly. After all, she was his concubine, and she was also a big accountant, and it was very hard to manage the accounts.

Sister-in-law Cheng will also give a monthly payment to the servants in her courtyard. Huaiyu does not interfere with this matter. Sister-in-law is also a rich woman, the eldest daughter of Cheng Yaojin, she was married with a lot of red makeup, and her dowry was several million. A thousand mu, the private house is rich.

Yesterday, Huaiyi took his sister-in-law to Cheng Yaojin's house to give off the New Year's gift, and Huaiyu followed him. Cheng Yaojin told Huaiyu that he would go to Jiannan Luzhou in the next year to be the governor of the four prefectures. The emperor sent him to In central Shu, the main reason is that the barbarians in Jiannan have been making trouble.

Dou Gui, the governor of Yizhou, had already played before, and wanted to send troops to guard the rebellious Liaoren. Li Shimin didn't allow it, and only let him appease him, but the effect was obviously not good.

Now that Cheng Yaojin, a confidant, is sent to be the governor of Luzhou, it is estimated that many unruly and savage Liaoren tribes will be wiped out, and there may be tens of thousands of Liaoren slaves in Chang'an by then.

Anyway, before Cheng Yaojin left Chang'an, he had already asked Huaiyi and Huaiyu brothers how many beasts they wanted, and he would buy them for them.

It is said that this is not the first time for Cheng Yaojin to discuss this business with someone. He has a good relationship with the Cheng family, and he accepts reservations.

It is said that the Qinghe Cui family has a big appetite, and they want to find Lao Cheng to get a thousand or eight hundred barbarian slaves to come back to farm.

The gentle and gentle Mrs. Cheng was not polite to her father, she slapped her face directly, "Aye, leave five hundred for me, I want young and strong."

"Not just five hundred, no problem," Lao Cheng readily agreed.

But the sister-in-law continued, "It's not five hundred, it's five hundred rooms."

Five hundred houses, that is, five hundred slaves, at least a young and strong couple with two or three children, or one or two parents who are not very old, even if one house is counted as five people, wouldn't that be 500 people?
Huaiyu was surprised.

"A house of slaves counts at [-] yuan, and these [-] houses are not worth [-] yuan?" Even though the sister-in-law has a large dowry, she can't afford so much, right?

"Young and strong slaves will still be sold by house. They will be very popular in Chang'an. By then, we will sell [-] houses and keep [-] houses. Almost the [-] houses will not cost money." The sister-in-law said quite plainly. .

Huaiyu called out, shit.

It can't be seen that my sister-in-law still has this talent, this abacus is good.

Get the first-hand source of goods from his father, the first-hand price of the original place, no middleman to earn her the difference, or the best quality slaves, and send the package to Chang'an, she can find a good buyer in advance, and then let the buyer pay the money and withdraw the loan. She doesn't need to worry about it, the profits she makes are really possible to prostitute these hundred slaves for nothing.

That's worth up to [-] guan.

The place of origin of this slave must be cheap, especially if it is a prisoner of war, but Chang'an is not cheap, so according to Chang'an price, it is worth at least [-] guan.

"Erlang, why don't you book five hundred rooms too?" the sister-in-law said to Huaiyu.

"Uncle Cheng, can there be so many prisoners?"

Old Cheng laughed, "Since I went out in person, I can spare some rebels lightly. When Duan Lun, Dou Gui, Guo Xingfang, and Wei Yunqi went to conquer the rebels, when did they not want to capture tens of thousands of them? How can it be worse than them, not to mention one hundred thousand captives, but thirty to fifty thousand must be demanded."

Huaiyu didn't doubt Cheng Yaojin's words at all. This guy really did it. Anyway, in the eyes of the Tang people, the Liao, Man, Qiang and other aborigines in the southwest are not considered human at all.

No matter how many people you rebel, since you are doing something and attracting a large army to conquer, those generals and managers will not check it so clearly. When the army passes by, they will all be razed to the ground, and everyone will be captured and sold into slavery. But the operation.

"Then I also book five hundred rooms?"

"No problem." Old Cheng laughed loudly. In his words, he said that he had already made a thousand Liaoren tribes in the southwest into slaves.

Huaiyu also knew that if he could earn [-] guan from it, he would definitely give [-] to [-] to Cheng Yaojin and his subordinates later.

this is the right,
Dou Gui, Duan Lun, Guo Xingfang, etc. have all done this before.

(End of this chapter)