Do you know that it starts with Meng Tong?

When the couple first raised Wei Chen, it was certainly because they were entrusted by their benefactor, but over the years, the feelings they have accumulated for each other have become extremely deep.

Although there is no blood relationship between Wei Chen and them, the relationship between them is more sincere than those relationships where blood is thicker than water.

Seeing that the two men's attitude had relaxed, Wei Chen quickly struck the iron while it was hot: "Aunt, uncle, you also know that I will study in the future, and I can't focus on this wine shop. Moreover, as a scholar, I am obsessed with business affairs. It wouldn’t sound good if it was spread out.

The closest people to me in this world are you and A Xu. Other than that, I really can’t find anyone I can trust.Aunt and uncle, just help me, okay? "

Zhang Ming was shaken in his heart, but he still hesitated and said: "We have never been exposed to these things. If we don't do it right, it will ruin your business..."

"I'll definitely do it well!"

Wei Chen said resolutely, "My aunt is resourceful and can be called Zhuge among women, and my uncle Kong Wu is as powerful as Zhang Fei. A female Zhuge and a fierce Zhang Fei. As long as you are husband and wife and work together, nothing can be difficult for you."

"Brother Chen is right. Your uncle and I are not good at anything else, but I still have plenty of strength in my arms."

Zhang Ming was a little overwhelmed by Wei Chen's praise, and proudly rolled up his sleeves to show off his muscles.

Wei Ruyi stretched out her finger, poked Wei Chen's forehead hard, glared at him and said, "You, you, you know how to say nice things. It's really strange. Your father is obviously a square and elegant man. Where did you learn your glib tongue?"

Wei Chen chuckled and said, "It doesn't matter where you learned it, as long as it works. Look, aren't my aunt and uncle convinced by me now?"

Chapter 30 Provincial Capital Jiangning

After convincing Wei Ruyi and Zhang Ming, Wei Chen began to teach them how to make glycerin.

In fact, the steps to extract glycerol are not difficult. The first is saponification reaction, the second is filtering impurities, and the third is distillation and purification.

Under Wei Chen's patient guidance, Wei Ruyi and Zhang Ming learned it in just two days.

After that, they started to do it themselves. After several failures, they gradually became proficient in their techniques and soon produced the first batch of glycerin that met the usage standards.

Sheng Wei was overjoyed and immediately ordered his people to mix the first batch of glycerin with a batch of sample wine, pack it into small jars, and arrange for his capable men to sell it to large households, food shops, and restaurants in the provincial capital one by one.

Sheng Wei has been immersed in shopping malls for decades, how can he not understand that the smell of wine is also afraid of the deep alley?

His previous attempts to test the waters in Youyang were just a small effort. His real target was the largest wine consumption market in Jiangnan Province, the provincial capital Jiangning.

Sheng Wei rented a store on the busiest street in the provincial capital, placed a long table at the door of the store, filled the amber wine in small cups, and gave it to passers-by to taste for free.

Where had Zhou people ever tasted this new type of fruit wine that was neither bitter nor astringent, sour and sweet, and looked particularly good?After tasting this, I was immediately conquered by the taste of amber wine.

In this way, thanks to Sheng Wei's efforts, amber wine has become popular in the provincial capital before it is officially launched.

Word spread throughout Jiangning that the Youyang Sheng family had obtained a recipe for a new wine, which was sweet and delicious, shaped like amber, and would be available soon.

Servants from wealthy families and restaurant stewards who ordered wine from all over the place came in droves, almost leveling the threshold of Shengjia Trading Company.

In just a few days, Sheng Wei received orders worth eight thousand kilograms of amber wine. You can imagine how popular amber wine is.

After Sheng Wei's warm-up publicity, Shengjia Trading Company suddenly became unparalleled in the business community of Jiangning Prefecture, and countless people were looking forward to the amber wine.

On July [-]th, which was the day when the new wine ordered by Sheng Wei was officially launched, Wei Chen was also invited to go to the provincial capital.

Standing outside the provincial capital, Wei Chen couldn't help but feel solemn in his heart when he looked up and saw the tall towers standing majestically.

Jiangning, as a former metropolis and a land of beauty, has Jiangnan Gongyuan, Jiadi Lianyun, the smoke and water of the Six Dynasties, and the romance of Qinhuai.

The prosperity of Jiangning City is undoubtedly the highest in the southeast, and the prosperity near the Bell and Drum Tower is the highest in Jiangning City.

Every decent city in the Zhou Dynasty will have a bell and drum tower, so that the people in the city can clearly hear the morning bells and evening drums every day. To have this function, the bell and drum tower must naturally be built in the center of the city, and Jiangning City is no exception.

After Wei Chen entered the city, he walked all the way to the foot of the Bell and Drum Towers, where a majestic square paved with bluestone came into view.

Many literati and tourists from all over the world gathered in the square, all of whom came specifically to admire the majestic Bell and Drum Towers.

At the end of the square, there are several bustling streets six to seven feet wide, leading to all directions of Jiangning City.

Baotai Street, where Shengjia Trading Company is located, is one of the busiest streets.

The streets are bustling with people, and there are all kinds of eye-catching signboards and advertisements. In addition to countless teahouses and restaurants, there are also gold and silver stores, southern goods stores, pharmacies, bathhouses, silk shops, carriage shops, grain shops, etc. Grain and oil business..., there are countless.

卫辰

I was squeezed here and there by the crowds of pedestrians, and my ears were filled with the noisy sounds of hawking and shouting.This experience is really no different from visiting those bustling commercial streets in later generations.

After walking around for a long time, Wei Chen finally found the store with "Shengjia Trading Company" on it. He found that the crowds here were several times more dense than on the street. There were so many people in front of the store that Wei Chen couldn't squeeze in even if he wanted to squeeze in.

Wei Chen inquired with others and found out that it turned out that the amber wine was on the market today, and Sheng Wei had specially organized a special sale on the new wine, with the price being half price on the first day of the market.

As soon as the news came out, customers who came to buy wine immediately blocked the Shengjia Trading Store. The traffic jam on the entire Baotai Street today is probably related to this.

After understanding the situation, Wei Chen couldn't help but admire in his heart that Sheng Wei was really a genius in business.

He came here just to take a look at the sales of amber wine. Now that he saw such a busy scene at the entrance of the trading house, he finally felt at ease. There was no need to go in and experience the feeling of being squeezed into a human pie.

Moreover, Sheng Wei was probably already busy in the store and probably didn't have time to receive Wei Chen, so Wei Chen didn't bother him.

Wei Chen thought for a moment, found a teahouse on the side of the street, went in to find someone to ask for directions to the Tixue Road Yamen, and then turned around and left Baotai Street.

Nowadays, the biggest official that Wei Chen can reach is Wang Wenqing and Wang Xuezheng of Ti Xuedao Yamen.

Wei Chen could barely cooperate with Sheng Wei on an equal footing, but it was mostly because he was pretending to be powerful and borrowed the reputation of this academic and political master.

Although this scholar and Wei Chen did not have the name of teacher and student, they had the friendship of teacher and student. Wei Chen finally came to the provincial capital, and he should pay a visit due to emotion and reason.

Wei Chen groped his way to the Tixue Road Yamen, and when he was about to step forward, he was stopped by the doorman.

The so-called seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister's door. Although this Tixue Yamen is not as honorable as the prime minister, it is still very impressive. He looked down at Wei Chen with a condescending look: "This is the Tixue Dao Yamen. You are a small boy." Why are children trespassing?”

Wei Chen handed over the name card and said, neither humble nor arrogant: "I am Youyang Wei Chen, please let me know."

The disciple took the name card, glanced at the seal on his head, his expression changed drastically, and he said with a flattering smile: "It turns out he is a disciple of Master Xuezheng. Please wait a moment, I will go in and report."

Wei Chen nodded lightly. The doorman didn't even ask for the customary door bag. He simply took the name card and went inside.

After a while, the door returned, leading Wei Chen across the threshold, past a screen wall, and then to a side hall.

"While you're here, please don't move around."

After Menzi finished speaking, he left and Wei Chen had to sit on the chair and wait.

Fortunately, it didn't take long for the maids and servants to come in and serve Wei Chen refreshments.

Produced by Ti Xuedao Yamen, it is naturally a high-quality tea, which is much better than the tea foam that Wei Chen usually drinks to refresh himself.

Wei Chen picked up the tea and tasted it carefully, feeling relieved all over.

After an unknown amount of time, the door opened again, and a middle-aged scribe with a goatee came in: "Sorry, sorry, Dong Weng is busy with the college examination and has no time to come here. My surname is Shen, and I am Dong Weng's secret servant. What can I say to you?" I said the same thing."

Wei Chen took a quick look and felt that the person who came there looked familiar. After recalling it carefully, he remembered that this was one of the masters who accompanied Wang Xuezheng to the Sheng Family Volunteer School that day, and had once commented on his own poems.

Wei Chen knew in his heart that Mr. Shen must be Wang Xuezheng's confidant, so he did not dare to neglect him. He stood up and saluted and said, "It turns out to be Mr. Shen. I'm glad to meet you."

Mr. Shen couldn't help but nodded secretly when he saw that Wei Chen had been waiting for such a long time without any trace of anger on his face.

At such a young age, he has such a calm demeanor, which is rare and worthy of being a talent appreciated by Dong Weng.

He smiled and said: "That day at Sheng's Volunteer School, the children showed off their talents. I still remember it fresh. It's true that a hero comes from a young boy! I'm afraid I will call you an old friend next time we meet, hahahaha! "

The "little friends" and "old friends" Mr. Shen said did not refer to age, but to fame. Scholars called Tongsheng "little friends", while scholars called each other "old friends".

If Wei Chen is admitted as a scholar, even if he meets an old boy with a bright head and white hair, he can still call him "little friend" calmly.

Mr. Shen himself has a reputation as a scholar. He said that he and Wei Chen would become old friends. In fact, he was expressing an expectation and wishing Wei Chen to pass the scholar examination as soon as possible.

Wei Chen said humbly: "How dare you? You sir often accompany academics and political leaders, and you are a senior figure. I am a junior and still have many things I don't understand. I need to ask sir for advice."

"I already know your talent, so there is no need to be too modest."

Mr. Shen stroked his beard and smiled, and said straight to the point: "I wonder what you are doing here, little friend, in the provincial capital?"

Chapter 31 Mr. Shanda’s heartache

Wei Chen said seriously: "We have been separated from each other for several months. The students have been thinking about Master Xuezheng very much. They just regret not being able to listen to his teachings all the time. Since we are in the provincial capital today, we have to pay a visit to Tixue Dao Yamen no matter what to ask about Xuezheng." Well, sir."

Mr. Shen's face was full of smiles: "You are thoughtful, don't worry, I will relay your words to Dong Weng."

The two chatted for a while, during which a scribe came in to report and whispered a few words in Mr. Shen's ear. Mr. Shen frowned and nodded, and then the scribe withdrew.

When Wei Chen saw this, he knew that Mr. Shen must be busy with official duties and probably had no time to entertain him.

Since Wang Xuezheng is not here and his thoughts have been brought with him, there is no point in staying any longer.

At that moment, Wei Chen stood up and said goodbye to Mr. Shen.

Mr. Shen did not persuade him to stay, but he revealed to Wei Chen before leaving: "Dong Weng's term in Jiangnan has expired. In June next year, he will be transferred back to the capital and promoted to Minister of Dali Temple."

Until he came out of Ti Xuedao Yamen, Wei Chen was still thinking about the news provided by Mr. Shen.

Wang Wenqing's transfer means that he will not preside over the college examination next August. This has both advantages and disadvantages for Wei Chen.

The good thing is that Wang Wenqing's transfer this time was not a demotion, but a promotion, and he went to the central government to hold an important position like Minister of Dali Temple.This shows that Wang Wenqing is highly valued by the court officials and has a bright future.

Since Wang Wenqing will not be the examiner for the next college examination, Wei Chen no longer has the need to avoid suspicion. In the future, he can call Wang Wenqing as teacher without hesitation, and the relationship between the two parties will become closer from now on.

In short, Wei Chen's official backer not only survived, but also grew stronger. When Wei Chen became an official in the court, he would be able to get more help.

Of course, there are disadvantages, and they are very close.

As the saying goes, the county magistrate is not as good as the current manager. Although Wang Wenqing was promoted to Beijing this time, he is no longer in Jiangnan. His face will definitely not be so easy to use in Jiangnan Province.

There was a new person in the academic administration of Jiangnan Province, and Wei Chen's reputation as a scholar was naturally no longer as secure as before.

Mr. Shen told Wei Chen in advance that Wang Wenqing was going to be transferred. His intention was very clear. He hoped that Wei Chen could prepare early and not panic again.

However, Wei Chen had no intention of relying on connections to pass the test. He was only slightly surprised when he heard the news, but he didn't feel much worried.

Now, under Lin Yan's careful guidance, Wei Chen's studies are making rapid progress, and it is still nearly half a year before the county examination next February.

With such a long preparation time, even without Wang Wenqing's support, he was confident enough to pass the exam with his own strength in the examination room.

When Wei Chen returned to Baotai Street from Xuedao Street, where Ti Xuedao Yamen is located, it was almost dusk, and it was also the time when the stores of major commercial banks were closing.

The crowd at the entrance of Shengjia Trading Company gradually dispersed, and Wei Chen finally saw Sheng Wei inside the business.

In the business bank, several stewards from the Sheng family were left alone. Sheng Wei sat behind the counter and started doing the calculations himself, flipping through the account books and dialing the abacus, already smiling from ear to ear.

Even though Sheng Wei had been in shopping malls for a long time and was used to big scenes, he was also frightened by the popularity of this amber wine.

Jump.

Only one hour after it was put on sale, ten bottles of amber wine were sold. You know, this bottle of wine weighs four to five hundred kilograms!

If this continued, the amber wine prepared in advance in the store would definitely not be enough. Sheng Wei had to quickly send people to Wuquan Winery to adjust the goods, and at the same time use purchase restrictions to control sales, which stabilized the situation.