Traveling to an ancient peasant family: I got rich by doing business

Unlike Nanzhou Prefecture and Jiangyang County, the city wall of the capital is very majestic, about twelve or thirteen meters high. There is a moat about ten meters wide next to the wall. The riverside is planted with weeping willows, but because it is winter now, the willow branches are bare and do not look very beautiful.

A few days before leaving, Li Yu wrote a letter to Mr. Su who had already returned to the capital. That was why when she stood outside the city gate, a middle-aged man in his forties came up to her and asked if her surname was Li.

After getting the confirmed answer, the man immediately took out a note and handed it to Li Yu, saying it was written by Mr. Su, and then introduced himself: "I am the housekeeper of the Su Mansion, Madam Li, you can just call me Lao Cui. The master and the mistress have prepared a yard for Madam Li, Madam Li, you can put your luggage there first."

Li Yu flipped open the note and saw that it contained the code agreed upon between him and Mr. Su. He smiled at Old Cui with relief and said, "Then I'll trouble Butler Cui."

*

There were eight other people coming with Steward Cui, all dressed as servants. When they heard Steward Cui's call, they gathered from the shade of the trees on the roadside in the shortest possible time, and then helped the escort team to lead the horses.

The soldier guarding the city gate must have known Steward Cui, as he checked the pass very quickly and let us pass in a short while.

Afterwards, Li Yu saw the largest city of this era.

*

The capital city as a whole is a quadrilateral structure, divided into two cities, the inner and outer cities. Li Yu is standing now in the outer city, and there is an inner city inside. In the inner city there are the imperial palace, various government offices, residences of the dignitaries and ministers' mansions. Of course there are also shops, temples, schools and the like. Some wealthy businessmen also live in the inner city.

In comparison, the outer city is not as luxurious as the inner city, but it is much more prosperous than the inner city, with all kinds of shops, stalls, and workshops.

Li Yu walked on the street, looking at the shops on both sides of the road, feeling overwhelmed.

Han Xiaomei and a few others were sitting in the carriage, and they excitedly lifted the curtains to look outside.

*

The car drove slowly for about half an hour before arriving at the residence that Mr. Su had prepared for them.

This residence consists of two connected courtyards. The courtyard on the left has fewer bedrooms, just enough for a few female family members. The courtyard on the right has more bedrooms, which is just enough for Lu Xuan, Pei's father and the escort team to live in.

The group unloaded their luggage and put it away, and they settled down temporarily.

Seeing that there was no problem, Li Yu said a few words to Steward Cui, then took out a silver note for one hundred taels and gave it to Uncle Zhang, asking him to take Lu Xuan, the escort team members, and the servants from the Su Mansion to have something to eat and drink.

Uncle Zhang waved his hands when he saw so many of them, "Many foods in the capital are not expensive, and are about the same as those in Nanzhou Prefecture. One hundred taels is too much, you should take it back."

Li Yu smiled slightly: "It's not easy for everyone on this journey, we all deserve a good meal. Uncle Zhang, please take everyone to the restaurant to eat, and you can give me the extra food when the time comes."

The first time she invited people to dinner in the capital, she would rather take more banknotes, otherwise she would be embarrassed if it was not enough.

Uncle Zhang thought this was a good idea and didn't refuse.

After this was settled, Li Yu was ready to give money to Cheng and Madam Yan. Madam Yan had been absent-minded since entering the capital and did not answer. Cheng and the others quickly refused: "We still have a lot of meat and vegetables left from what we bought yesterday, so we'll eat them first. Xiu Wen's wife, go and do your thing first, don't worry about us."

Li Yu thought about it, and after making sure that they would not go out, he took Han Xiaomei and followed Butler Cui to meet Mr. Su.

*

Mr. Su, Han Zheng and Si'er did not live in the Su family, but in Mr. Su's private residence.

The house is at the foot of the mountain west of the outer city. It is not very big, but the environment is quiet and very suitable for studying.

When Li Yu went over, Mr. Su was carrying a plate of snacks into the house. When he saw Li Yu and the others, he was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "I thought you guys should be here these two days. Han Zheng, come out quickly, your second sister-in-law and sister are here."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door facing them was opened from the inside and Han Zheng walked out quickly.

He seemed to have grown taller in the past two months, about 1.75 meters tall. He was still thin, but you could tell he was not suffering and he looked healthy.

Li Yu patted his shoulder and turned to thank Mr. Su.

Mr. Su stroked his beard and said, "No need to thank me. Just make me some delicious food when you have time."

Li Yu smiled and said, "Don't worry, sir. When my restaurant opens in the future, I will send someone to deliver food to you every day."

*

Because it was already afternoon, it was not suitable to visit Mrs. Su at the Su family, so Li Yu decided to go tomorrow.

Mr. Su wanted to eat the food she cooked. Seeing that there was still time, Li Yu asked Si'er, who was familiar with the place, to lead the way and went to the street to buy the ingredients.

In the evening, several people sat in the dining room to eat together.

In addition to the braised meat, there were also the spicy diced chicken, stir-fried pork intestines, dry-pot shrimps that Mr. Su specifically requested, as well as a few vegetarian dishes and a serving of corn soup.

Since Butler Cui and Si'er were not sitting here, Li Yu prepared a separate portion for them.

In the dining room, Mr. Su ate happily.

Li Yu and the others put down their chopsticks, but he was still eating. He was obviously spicy, but his chopsticks were still moving. Li Yu looked at him and thought to himself that it was a good thing that less chili was used in the spicy chicken this time, otherwise Mr. Su's stomach would definitely be upset at night.

After Mr. Su finished eating, they started talking about business.

*

This time, Li Yu didn't plan to open a braised meat shop, but a restaurant.

She also sells braised meat, of course, but that’s not the only thing she sells.

As for what to sell in the restaurant, Li Yu had observed the food in various places along the way from Huangmei Town to the capital. Today in the capital, she also took a deliberate look and asked Butler Cui about the situation of restaurants in the capital. Now she decided to follow her original idea - sell hot pot first!

There was no hot pot in the Dayu Dynasty, which was a good opportunity to develop the market.

Moreover, hot pot is easy to make. As long as the base ingredients are prepared well, everything else is a piece of cake.

*

Li Yu told Mr. Su and Han Zheng about his plan.

Han Zheng and Han Xiaomei have eaten hot pot at home and understand its value, so they have no objection.

Mr. Su didn't know what hot pot was, but he thought that Li Yu's hot pot must be delicious and agreed with her plan.

"I'll arrange for Lao Cui to help you find a shop when I get back. He has already found a few suitable ones. You can go and have a look tomorrow when you have time."

Li Yu thanked him again.

*

It was already evening, and the few of them talked for a while before going their separate ways.

Li Yu did not live here, but returned to the courtyard.

Business is not allowed after midnight in the capital, so the streets are very busy at this time.

Li Yu wanted to go shopping, but when he thought about having to pay the Su family a formal visit tomorrow, he gave up the idea.

We still have a lot of time here, so it’s not too late to visit again later.

*

On the second day, Han Zheng went to the courtyard to find Li Yu. After Li Yu and Han Xiaomei had packed up, the family of three took the visiting cards and carried the gifts to the Su family.

The Su family also lived in the outer city, but in the east. That area was mostly populated by rich people, and there were also some officials who did not have the money to buy houses in the inner city.

The Su family is not big, about the same size as Boss Hua's. Only Mrs. Su and Mr. Su live in the house. As for Mr. Su's two sons, they have already gotten married and achieved success. They now live outside and come back every few days to reunite with their parents.

Mrs. Su is only two years younger than Mr. Su, but she takes good care of herself and looks seven or eight years younger than her actual age. She is also in good spirits and gives people a very comfortable feeling.

She liked Han Zheng, and also liked Li Yu and Han Xiaomei. She held their hands and talked happily.

Mr. Su wanted Li Yu to help him cook a dish, but she caught him and scolded him.

Li Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

*

After staying at the Su family for one day, on the third day in the capital, Li Yu took Han Xiaomei and Lu Xuan out to look after the shop.