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Chapter 43 I wish to visit the Duke of Ji!

Watching Xiao Ran's figure disappear into the night, the three siblings returned to the house.

San Niang is usually sleepy at this time, but she is unusually energetic today.

I've been raving about how sweet the rock candy Xiao Ran gave me was; I still have a few pieces left to eat.

The little girl also fondly remembers the food Xiao Ran cooked.

I still mumble a few words in my sleep at night.

In the morning, Third Aunt carried Kaolao and fed the chickens, ducks and geese in the yard.

They were all low-quality millet.

Although I'm still a little reluctant, I can't stop feeding them.

Every time she fed the animals, Third Aunt would carefully count the amount to make sure it was enough and not too little.

Now, Third Sister can count to one hundred.

There were numbers written by Xiao Ran and San Niang on the ground in the courtyard.

Zhang Erya couldn't understand it, and Zhang Jinhe didn't know what it was either.

While San Niang was feeding the chickens, ducks and geese, Zhang Dalang was busy preparing firewood, and Zhang Erya was preparing chestnuts.

I still need to stir-fry five bushels of oil in the morning.

At roughly the same time as usual, Xiao Ran brought Xiao Hei to the courtyard.

She also brought a small bag of white sugar. "Second Aunt, put two spoonfuls in the porridge when you cook it. Don't add salt; this is sugar."

“Okay, young master, I’ve got it!” Zhang Erya took the bag.

It's a bit tiring to roast chestnuts by yourself, so Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Dalang will help stir-fry them.

They're all physically demanding jobs.

Xiao Ran didn't say how much money he would give Zhang Dalang and Zhang Erya; all the money was kept in a cloth bag at home.

He didn't keep a single penny on himself.

While the others were busy, Zhang Erya also cooked a pot of millet porridge.

I didn't put anything else in it, because I was afraid Xiao Ran wouldn't like it, so I just added sugar.

"Hmm, it's a little sweet, but it tastes pretty good." Zhang Jinhe took two sips.

“The young master gave me candy,” Zhang Erya said.

“It’s the one from yesterday,” Zhang Jinhe said, unsure how to describe it.

“Yesterday’s was rock candy, in chunks, this is white sugar, in small granules,” Xiao Ran continued.

Don't add anything random; adding a little sugar makes the millet porridge quite good.

I don't even ask for red dates or goji berries; this is all the money we have at home.

"Young master, what's the difference between rock sugar and white sugar?" Zhang Jinhe asked curiously.

"No, the taste is the same, except the rock sugar is in chunks. If I had to say what's different, it would be that the rock sugar is a bit purer!"

Sugarcane produces brown sugar, which is then refined into white sugar, and further refined white sugar becomes rock sugar!
After delivering the roasted chestnuts, Zhang Jinhe pushed the deer cart, preparing to continue collecting chestnuts.

"Jinniang, Second Aunt, you two help me collect some persimmons. The price will be slightly higher than usual," Xiao Ran instructed. "Collect a little from each family, not too much. We'll make more money later when we can make persimmon cakes."

Zhang Jinhe nodded, "Okay!"

"Third Sister, let's go find Grandpa," Xiao Ran called out.

"Okay!" Third Sister ran to Xiao Ran's side.

"Young master, is something the matter? I don't even know if Grandpa is up yet." Zhang Jinhe was unsure.

"I want to ask about something." Xiao Ran was considering building a house.

It's cold in winter, and the Zhang siblings' house doesn't feel warm.

Let's go take a look together!

The group arrived at Zhang Jinhe's house together.

Previously, Zhang Jinhe would wander around watching others work, but now he prefers to follow Xiao Ran and make roasted chestnuts.

Zhang Mingde was lucky and rose to prominence.

The group sat down, and several plates of pastries were brought out. They weren't as good as the sesame cakes and flower cakes in the palace, but they were clearly much better than the millet cakes they had eaten before.

Zhang Mingde was very enthusiastic. "Young master, shouldn't the land be re-divided? Young master's five hundred mu, and your second wife, as the head of the household, also has twenty mu."

“Grandpa, there’s no rush.” Xiao Ran picked up a piece of pastry and handed it to Third Aunt. “I want to ask who owns the pond on the east side of the village and the nearby mountains. I want to buy them.”

“East of the village.” Zhang Mingde squinted his eyes, pondering for a moment.

“Grandpa, you said before that it was bought by someone two months ago,” Zhang Jinhe reminded him.

"Oh, I remember now, this might be hard to buy, I'm not short of money!"

"We should give it a try. I like that area, so I might as well go and ask." Xiao Ran smiled.

“Yes, the owner bought it,” Zhang Mingde said.

"The Duke of Ji's Mansion!" Upon hearing that it was the owner, Zhang Jinhe instantly understood.

The land they contracted, as well as the shops in the West Market, all belonged to the Duke of Ji's mansion.

Xiao Ran, a duke in the early Tang Dynasty, only remembered Li Jing, the Duke of Wei, and couldn't remember the others.

Many of them have one title at the beginning and then a different one at the end. I don't quite understand why they would change the title when they are both dukes.

"Who is the Duke of Ji again?" Xiao Ran couldn't remember.

"General Qin Qiong, the Left Guard General!" Zhang Mingde exclaimed with reverence; this was an unapproachable figure.

The founding dukes of the early Tang Dynasty were all of the first rank, second only to the princes of the first rank, and the same rank as the princes of the second rank.

What the hell!

Qin Qiong didn't know Xiao Ran, but Xiao Ran was very familiar with the name.

"I see." Xiao Ran hadn't expected that Zhang Mingde's family were tenants of Qin Qiong's household.

"Who is the Duke of Su again?" Xiao Ran still didn't know the answer to this question.

"It's General Cheng Yaojin, the commander-in-chief!" Zhang Mingde knew that Kaolao Village was not far from Chang'an City.

Some things that weren't familiar, Zhang Huaicai would mention when he came back, and people would gradually learn about them naturally.

I lost it!

A relative of Cheng Yaojin?

Xiao Ran had no idea which of Cheng Yaojin's relatives had come to visit.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to see the Duke of Ji." Xiao Ran had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on. Qin Qiong was now a top nobleman in Chang'an, and someone of his status definitely wouldn't be able to meet him.

Countless people want to see him every day.

“Young master, you can actually give it a try. My eldest son rents a shop in the Duke of Ji’s mansion in Chang’an City. He occasionally goes there to deliver things and keep in touch. Young master, you improved the curved plow and have also obtained a title, so it is probably possible to meet him.”

The "elder brother" that Zhang Mingde mentioned was naturally Zhang Jinhe's father, Zhang Huaicai.

"Then I'll trouble you, old man, to ask around for me. If possible, I'd like to make a trip to Chang'an to pay a visit."

"Alright, alright, it's nothing serious. Jinniang, bring me pen and ink." Zhang Mingde readily agreed.

"Okay!" Zhang Jinhe got up and left.

It's essential to maintain good relationships with Zhang Mingde and Zhang Jinhe; they've already put those relationships to use so quickly.

"Whether the Duke of Ji will meet with the young master is unknown, so the young master should be prepared." "Grandpa, I understand, I'll give it a try." The Duke of Ji's mansion is naturally not short of money, and Xiao Ran plans to try using Shu brocade to see if he can exchange it for the pool and mountain over there.

After Zhang Mingde finished writing the letter, Zhang Jinhe arranged for someone to deliver it to Chang'an.

The group didn't disturb Zhang Mingde, as they had many other things to do.

"Second Sister Jinniang, I won't be going to collect chestnuts and persimmons. Third Sister and I need to go to the river to collect some sand and pebbles," Xiao Ran said as he walked out the door.

"Okay, my second aunt and I will do it."

Zhang Jinhe pushed the deer cart. Zhang Erya was not as strong as Zhang Jinhe, nor was she as eloquent.

When Zhang Jinhe harvests chestnuts, he also asks about persimmons.

Hearing that the price was significantly higher than usual, they hoped to sell more.

The fourth grandmother looked at Zhang Jinhe and said, "Jinniang! I still have quite a few persimmons at home. I'm getting old, and the children don't usually like to eat them. Why don't you buy some more?"

"Fourth Grandmother, the young master is trying to make persimmon cakes. We don't know if he'll succeed yet, but it should be fine. He said that once he succeeds, he'll teach everyone how to make persimmon cakes, since they're more profitable. If you give them all to me now, won't you be losing out big time?"

Fourth Grandmother smiled helplessly, "Young Master, you've thought this through. Very well, we await your good news."

Watching Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Erya walk away, Fourth Grandmother murmured to herself, "What a kind person has come!"

Zhang's Grain Shop
Business at the shop is so-so; it's not that they're losing money, but they're not making much either.

They stayed in Chang'an because it was a place where they could meet high-ranking officials and dignitaries. They definitely wanted to stay in Chang'an and didn't want to spend their whole lives in the village.

Upon hearing that roasted chestnuts were coming, Zhang Huaicai immediately perked up.

Zhang Huaicai enjoys the feeling of his goods selling well; selling chestnuts is a great pleasure for him.

Before we knew it, it was all sold out. There wasn't enough to go around. There simply wasn't enough.

Many of them are repeat customers who bought from them before.

"Madam, go find your maid and send the money back for both transactions. Also, tell Jinniang and the others to hurry and send more."

That's ten dou in two batches. Each dou sells for about 240 wen, so Zhang Huaicai now has about 2400 wen.

"My lord, another letter has arrived," Qin called out.

Do you have any roasted chestnuts?

"No, it's just a letter." Qin handed the envelope to Zhang Huaicai.

Zhang Huaicai took it, opened it, and frowned. "Go see the master."

"Does my father-in-law wish to see the master?"

“It’s the young master. I have to make a trip to ask him. He’s been a great help. Father said he must help him no matter what.” Zhang Huaicai put away the letter.

I've made a lot of money selling roasted chestnuts these past two days; half of them are from my own farm.

"Wait a minute, find someone to come and take these things back to him. I've already prepared everything."

"Okay, I've got it." Madam Qin nodded.

This grain store is small; it's a husband-and-wife business, so it doesn't need any help from employees.

The two of them can manage.

Although Qin was a woman, she came from the countryside and was strong enough to work, otherwise Zhang Huaicai wouldn't have brought her along to help out at the shop.

Unfortunately, he is illiterate, which is inconvenient in many situations.

Zhang Huaicai realized this, which is why he insisted that Zhang Jinhe must learn to read and write no matter what.

Upon arriving at the Duke of Ji's mansion, the towering, gray-blue wall stretched as far as the eye could see. The blue tiles atop the wall gleamed coldly in the autumn sun, towering three heads higher than any shop Zhang Huaicai had ever seen in the West Market.

The vermilion gate, studded with gilded copper nails, was a full two zhang tall. The four large characters "Ji Guogong Fu" (Duke of Ji's Mansion) on the black background with gold lettering hung above the gate, the strokes of which were so sharp they seemed to pierce through the twilight.

Stone lions, about half a person's height, crouch on either side, their manes carved with each hair distinct, exuding solemnity and majesty.

Zhang Huaicai took a deep breath before walking towards the side gate, as his status prevented him from using the main gate of the Duke of Ji's mansion.

Upon seeing the servants, Zhang Huaicai greeted them with a smile, saying he wanted to see the steward and introducing himself.

After waiting for a long time, Qin Tai finally came out unhurriedly. "Oh, Manager Zhang, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I had something to attend to and couldn't leave."

Zhang Huaicai hurriedly clasped his hands in a respectful bow, his face crinkling with smiles that reached his brow bones: "Steward Qin, you flatter me! You manage all the affairs of the Duke's mansion, both inside and out; you're always busy as bees. It's me, a rough fellow, who has come so abruptly, that I've delayed your important business."

"Oh, don't be so formal. What's the matter, Manager Zhang?"

Zhang Huaicai was slightly embarrassed. Although Xiao Ran had created the curved plow and roasted chestnuts and was still a baron, the difference in status between him and Qin Qiong was too great.

"We're all family, so feel free to speak your mind!" Qin Tai said with a smile.

"It is so. There is a young man named Xiao Ran in our village who has long admired the Duke and wishes to pay him a visit."

Qin Tai was familiar with the name. "Xiao Ran? Qu Yuanli, isn't that right? His Majesty even issued a proclamation to the world?"

“Yes, yes, the sugar-roasted chestnuts were also made by the young master,” Zhang Huaicai quickly added.

They didn't bring up Xiao Ran's title or such, for fear of upsetting Qin Tai.

"I can't make that decision. I need to ask my husband. Wait a minute."

"Thank you for your trouble, Steward Qin."

Qin Tai found Qin Qiong in the backyard martial arts arena. "My lord," he said, "the manager of Zhang's Grain Shop just said that a young man from the village wants to visit you. He's Xiao Ran, the one who improved the curved plow. His Majesty previously bestowed upon him the title of baron."

Qin Qiong naturally wouldn't care about this title, but if it were Xiao Ran, that would be a different story.

Qin Qiong smiled.

The steward, unaware that Qin Qiong had met Xiao Ran before, was puzzled and said, "The Baron is indeed not presentable in front of A Lang. I will refuse him now."

"No, tell him he can come anytime!" Qin Qiong didn't take the initiative to find Xiao Ran out of respect for Li Shimin, but if Xiao Ran came looking for him, that would be a different story.

Qin Tai was quite surprised, not expecting this outcome.

Let alone a baron, even a marquis might not be able to meet Qin Qiong.

"Young Master Xiao Ran has arrived. We must not neglect him. We must greet him with the courtesy due to an honored guest." Qin Qiong knew that Li Shimin and Cheng Yaojin had come again later.

According to Cheng Yaojin, Li Shimin and Li Lizhi both thought highly of Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran's culinary skills were enough to win over Li Lizhi and several princesses.

Qin Tai was startled and didn't ask any further questions. "It's Ah Lang!"

Qin Qiong laughed, wanting Xiao Ran's fishing rod, wondering if there was any chance.

Naturally, he would not seize by force. Firstly, it was not in keeping with his status as a Duke, and secondly, he would not dare to rob in this way. Even Li Shimin did not rob, so it would be unreasonable for him to do so.

Qin Qiong was willing to buy it, or exchange it for something else.

When Qin Tai returned to the side gate, his attitude towards Zhang Huaicai was quite different. "Manager Zhang," he said, "my master said that Young Master Xiao Ran can come anytime, and he will be waiting for you."

Ah? ? ?
Zhang Huaicai was startled, thinking he had misheard.

"Alright, alright, thank you for your trouble, Steward. I'll go back and tell the young master right away."

"Oh, don't be so polite. My wife and son both love roasted chestnuts."

Zhang Huaicai smiled and said, "We don't have any now, but we should have some more later. I'll bring them over as soon as they're hot."

Zhang Huaicai was still in a daze when he left the Duke of Ji's mansion.

Qin Tai's attitude was completely different on two separate occasions, which must be because of Qin Qiong.

In other words, Qin Qiong valued Xiao Ran highly.

Zhang Huaicai was at a loss for words when it came to evaluating this young man.

I'm so glad that my father and daughter have a good relationship with Xiao Ran in the village.

Right now, I only have one thought in my mind: this is a powerful figure, I have to stick with him tight!
(End of this chapter)