Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 18 Delicious
In the evening, Cao Yong returned to Zhizao Mansion.

Wei Xin went home on vacation, and was detained for several days, so he had to relax.Before leaving, Cao Yong asked Gu Na to give him 1000 taels of silver, and told him to keep the matter secret.Buying a servant with ten thousand taels of silver is too ostentatious to spread the word.Even if he didn't mention it, Wei Xin wouldn't say it, and if he didn't say that the money was in his own hands, his parents would plunder him if he said it.

Cao Song returned to the West Mansion, and Gu Na returned to his Dianshizhai.Although he regards himself as a companion, everyone in the Cao family regards him as the cousin.Cao Yin arranged a clean yard for him, and also chose two honest book boys for him.

Cao Yong didn't directly ask for his own residence, but went to the Xuan Ruitang of the old lady in the backyard.

The old lady is 72 years old and looks a little richer than previous years.When Cao Yong arrived, the old lady was sitting on the soft floor of the kang on the west side, listening to Mrs. Li's report about the recent arrangements in the mansion.Shengjia arrived in Jiangning on March 28. There are less than ten days left, and he still has to be busy.

Zhao Jia, Cao Yin's sister-in-law, was sitting on the chair next to Li. During these days, she came here every day to help her sister-in-law manage the council.Except for Li's and Zhaojia's sisters-in-law, Cao Yin's concubines are all there.Cao's family has picked up more times in recent years, and everyone has experienced it. Anyway, there are regulations from previous years, so they don't seem flustered.Under Li's arrangement, everyone took charge of the beach with their mother-in-law, and everything was done properly.

Seeing Cao Yong coming in, the old matriarch's face was a little more joyful.Cao Yong greeted the old lady first, then met his mother and aunts, and finally met several aunts.After the aunts returned the salute, they all retreated, and Liuli walked at the end, looking at Cao Yong thoughtfully.Seeing her slightly protruding belly, Cao Yong couldn't tell what it was like, thinking of adding a half-brother or sister, he felt like swallowing a fly.This is Xiaosan who entered the house on the stage. Thinking of this, she felt more and more sympathy for her mother Li.As a big wife, not only can't be jealous, but also treat the concubine's children with grace and generosity. Isn't this stabbing a knife in people's hearts?

The old lady pulled Cao Yong to sit on the edge of the kang, and said with a smile: "Today, Linxiazhai sent Jiuzhuan morning dew. The color is good, the name is good, and the food is good. My precious grandson, don't worry!"

Cao Yong hurriedly said: "You don't dare to take credit for it. It's all thanks to Yu Tian's two masters. The ancestors eat well, so just reward a few more coins." It's not a good name for him to show his fondness for cooking.

The old lady is an old man, and she still doesn't understand her grandson's thoughts. It is very gratifying to see that he is neither arrogant nor impetuous, but also mature and restrained.

Mrs. Zhao Jia flattered and said: "Old ancestor, Lin Xia Zhai is very important now. How many dignitaries want to book a table but can't. The wife of Cui's Cheng's family went to her daughter-in-law and wanted to have a table in the near future. Lin Xiazhai packed a table to clean up Zongbing Ha!" As he spoke, he looked at Cao Yong intentionally or unintentionally.

Sitting beside the old matriarch, Cao Yong twirled a piece of dried peach from the fruit plate on the Kang table and put it in his mouth, as if he had never heard of it.

Linxiazhai was created by Cao Yong before the old matriarch's 8000th birthday in February the year before last.He used the [-] taels of silver from the pawn to buy the private house of an official returning to Beijing, packed it up and started Lin Xiazhai.In fact, to put it bluntly, Linxiazhai is a private restaurant.However, because of its novelty and uniqueness, it introduces new food every month, and orders one table every day, and two tables for takeaway. Many people can't get it, so it has become famous.

Going to Linxiazhai for dinner has become a kind of face-saving behavior for the rich and powerful families in Jiangning City.You know, Cao Yong, the boss behind Linxiazhai, believes in "not seeking the best, but seeking the most expensive".Lin Xiazhai does not accept existing customers, and anyone who wants to eat needs to make a reservation in advance.In addition, only one table of guests is entertained there every day, and the tip is not counted. The order fee for each table is 190 nine taels of silver, or you pay when you order.

Seeing Cao Yong's response, Zhao Jia was unhappy, but he didn't dare to be presumptuous in front of the old lady, so he changed the subject with a smile.

Cao Yong said a few gossips with the old lady. The old lady knew that he had just come back and didn't have dinner, so she ordered someone to wait for him to change his outer clothes, and then called someone to bring the food left for him.

Mrs. Li had other things to do, Mrs. Zhao Jia also went back home, and her sister-in-law accompanied her out.

After dinner, Cao Yong left Xuanrui Hall, and just after leaving the old lady's yard, he was stopped by two maids, who were playing calligraphy and painting by Cao Yan's side.

"Grandpa, it's time to come out. Our girl has been waiting for you for a long time!" Nong Shu said with a smile.

"Sister looking for me?" Cao Yong was slightly surprised, Cao Yan's personality was a little cold, except for the old lady and Cao Yi, Cao Yong rarely took the initiative to get close to his family, and the two siblings did not have close contacts.

Listening to Cao Yong's question, Nongyu and Pinhua nodded their heads.

Outside Yunyong Zhai, a little maid stood outside the door, saw Cao Yong approaching from a distance, and hurriedly turned to the door to announce: "Sister Wenqin, the uncle is here!"

The maid at the door Wenqin listened, her face was full of joy, she walked to the desk, and said to Cao Yan: "Miss, you should rest assured, the uncle is the most modest person, as long as the girl asks, how can you refuse to obey?"

Cao Yan looked a little bit disappointed, and said in a low voice: "My younger brother spent all his lucky money over the years to build Linxiazhai. As an older sister, I didn't do my best, and I was ashamed to get a five-cent bonus every month for nothing. No end. Now it’s really wrong to embarrass him again, if it’s not for the reunion with the sisters of the Jizhu Society, I don’t have to bother so much.”

The Jizhu Society was initiated by Cao Yan a few years ago. Its members are all ladies from various powerful families in Jiangning, with a total of more than ten members.Every month, the ladies of each family take turns to post posts, recite poems and paint pictures, which is really elegant.But the good times don't last long. Next year is the year of the draft. This year, many ladies from official families are locked up by the elders to learn the rules. Cao Yan is no exception. Except for the birthdays of the ladies, there is really no excuse to get together.

Cao Yan's birthday is March [-]th, and during Shengjia's stay in Jiangning, Zhizao Mansion will become a "Daxing Palace", not to mention inviting ladies from various families to form associations, even celebrating birthdays as usual.Therefore, Cao Yan thought of asking his younger brother Cao Yong to set up a table in Linxiazhai to celebrate his birthday in advance.However, it is well known that Lin Xiazhai's dinner party is very popular. Anyone who wants to treat guests there usually has to make a reservation one month, or even two or three months in advance.

There are three main rooms in Yunyongzhai, the middle is the hall, the west is the bedroom, and the east is the study.

Cao Yong knew that this sister was buried in the pile of books all day long, so he walked to the East Room without being told.

Although I am reluctant to call a 14-year-old girl my sister, but what can I do, who made Cao Yong's little body only 11 years old.

Cao Yan was wearing a lotus-colored shirt and skirt, her thick black hair was braided into a whip and hung casually behind her head. Apart from a pair of pearl earrings, she had no other jewelry.

"Sister!" Cao Yong bowed his head and said hello.

"It's really a distinguished guest. Ask Qin, and quickly take the glazed cup on the Baibaoge, and make a cup of Yuqian Longjing for the uncle!" Cao Yan put away the disappointment in her eyes, smiled and beckoned Cao Yong to sit down.

After all, it is a family relationship, thinking that the little girl in front of him will get married next year, Cao Yong's heart softens, and he can't help but start to worry about her. She will become a princess at the age of 15 and manage a large family.Fortunately, Mr. Kangxi did not marry Cao Yan to his sons because of Cao Yin's face. Cao's family was born in a coat in the house of internal affairs, so he is not qualified to be the prince's wife, at most he is a side Fujin.

When Wenqin brought tea, Cao Yan was very embarrassed and said what he had entrusted.Cao Yong frowned slightly and didn't respond immediately.

Cao Yan's heart sank, that's right, no brother can agree with just one word.Lin Xiazhai's ordering was postponed for a month or two, and those who could eat a meal with a thousand taels of silver, how could there be no status? Only Cao's family knew that Lin Xiazhai's behind-the-scenes boss was Cao Yong. The boss is just Cao Fang, a member of the Cao family, so how can he directly offend all the guests.

"It's really embarrassing, forget it, brother, just don't forget to prepare a big gift for sister's birthday!" Cao Yan sipped his tea and smiled.

Cao Yong replied: "It's really embarrassing. It's not a big deal for my sister to use Linxiazhai to entertain ladies from various families. It's just that the servants there are servants and servants. There are no maids. This is very inconvenient. At that time, I will have my sister Scheduling, arrange enough manpower to serve in the past."

Cao Yan was already in despair, but after hearing this, her eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but feel a little more worried: "Brother, will it be too much trouble, if no one is willing to unsubscribe, don't force it, don't ruin Lin Xiazhai's integrity , sister just find another place to entertain guests."

"It's nothing. Tomorrow, I'll go to Linxiazhai to discuss with Cao Fang. It's only five or six days at the latest. Sister, relax and prepare a banquet." Cao Yong replied casually, but he was very happy in his heart.Fortunately, I have the foresight to not forget that both ancient and modern China is a country that pays attention to human relations.The ordering at Linxiazhai is empty every five days, just to deal with various related households. Of course, the interlocutor needs to have a big face and a strong relationship, and the ordering fee cannot be less.Cao Yan is fine, she spoke up as a sister, and she has to agree to make the little girl happy.Forget about Zhaojia's, how can I allow others to use my store for favors and relationships.A lazy person like Cao Yong would never do something thankless.

In the West Mansion, Mrs. Zhao Jia returned to the mansion with a displeased expression on her face. She didn't even bother to care about her youngest son Cao Fu's acting like a baby, so she asked the nanny to carry her down and resettle her.

When Cao Quan returned to the room, he was very puzzled to see his wife like this, and asked, "Why are you unhappy, the old lady beat you again?"

Mrs. Zhao Jia snorted and complained: "The old lady is really biased, she only has a big grandson in her eyes, and she can't see other people, so I don't even bother to talk about it!"

Although Cao Quan and the old lady were not close, they were respectful in their hearts, unwilling to tell her right and wrong, and did not answer her.

Zhao Jia's heart was unwilling: "I also recognize Lin Xiazhai's five-point stake in Sanya. After all, she is Yong'er's savior, and she is listed on our family tree. But what's the matter with the Gu family boy? He also got a share." He thinks he is a Bodhisattva? Like an idiot!" Seeing that her husband still didn't say anything, he said, "Since everyone has a share, why do we only have Yinger and Songer in the West Mansion, but no one? There are three Shuo'er brothers!"

Ever since Cao Ying and Cao Song received a monthly dividend of five or six hundred taels of silver from Linxiazhai, Mrs. Zhao Jia has been nagging about this a lot. Cao Quan has heard it ten times, but he has heard it eight times. I didn't care about it, but seeing my wife repeating the old story, I was a little curious: "Why do you think of saying this, isn't it the day when the interest is paid in the middle of the month?"

Mrs. Zhao Jia sighed: "It was Mrs. Cui Fucheng who spoke. She wanted to have a banquet in Linxiazhai. I told the old lady. Your nephew just pretended not to hear it, and he didn't see me at all. Really, Yinger and Songer have [-]% of Lin Xiazhai's shares, they are considered as the small bosses there, so what's the point of asking Lin Xiazhai to spare a day for the Cui family!"

Cao Quan looked at Zhao Jia and said with a half-smile: "I don't know if Yong'er is a Bodhisattva, but he is definitely not a fool. Whoever said that Ying'er and Song'er have Lin Xiazhai's shares, don't forget what he said But the bonus, I added pocket money to my brothers and sisters, but I never mentioned dry stocks or not dry stocks!"

Zhao Jia's eyes widened: "It's so?"

Cao Quan nodded: "And there is still a deadline, until Yinger and the others get married. As brothers, of course there is no reason to distribute pocket money to married sisters and brothers."

Zhao Jia said "tsk tsk": "I didn't expect that Yong boy still has such a scheming, so what, now there is no separation, even if you make money, it is also the property of the Cao family. It must be returned to the public, right?"

"It's the Cao family's property, but it's also Yong'er's own property!" Cao Quan said, "Our nephew is unusual. We used all the jewelry, antiques and pawns in our room to buy such a big stall. It costs half a penny. I didn’t use the people in the public school, and I even used the banner of making snacks for the old lady, so I earned a lot of face. Whether it’s the eldest brother or me as an uncle, whoever dares to scheme against Lin Xiazhai will have to shame it!”

Mrs. Zhao Jia frowned: "The monthly five-cent bonus is five or six hundred taels of silver, and the total bonus is about ten thousand. One year's 600 can't beat it. One store is worth the profit of a dozen or so stores outside. That's cheaper, boy."

Cao Quan glanced at his wife and said sternly, "Yong'er is a measured person. If you respect him, he naturally respects you as an aunt. He is the grandson of Cao's parents, and he looks like an elder brother. From now on, our family will respect you." All the boys have to rely on this brother to pull them together. Don't be blinded by the money, you won't be able to tell the seriousness."

Seeing her husband's seriousness, Zhao Jia nodded in agreement, with a smile on his face, and the husband and wife took off their coats and settled down.

(End of this chapter)