Crossing the famine, I am a poor fish, and my descendants have to work hard

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, let the dough rise.

Because we eat steamed buns at noon during the Chinese New Year.

So, today I will start making dough.

The weather is cold in winter and the dough is not easy to rise, so it is usually rised one day in advance.

Let the dough rise fluffy today, so that you can steam big steamed buns tomorrow.

There are so many people in the family, more than 60 servants, and including my own family, there are more than 70 people in total.

If each person has three steamed buns, it would cost more than 200 buns.

Several large pots of dough were made here.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, steamed buns.

I woke up early and it was snowing.

Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest!

And it rained all night.

The snow is now more than 20 centimeters thick.

Zhang Xinbai has already asked people to clean up the snow in the yard.

The cowshed also needs to be cleaned in time, especially the top of the cowshed. The snow is still falling, and if it is not cleaned, the roof will slowly collapse.

Zhao Yuanzhen looked at the heavy snow and asked everyone to put the cleared snow next to the gate.

Some of them are childish and are preparing to build a big snowman.

Zhang Qingyan and Lan Ying helped her roll the snowball, and Xiao Zijin also came over to help, combining the university ball and the small snowball.

The snowman's head and body came out.

I broke off a few branches to make the snowman's arms, and then rolled a small snowball, which was the nose. I soaked red paper in red water and dyed the snowball red. The little red nose looked vivid and lifelike.

And a bun was given on the top of her head.

Zhang Qingyan also found a piece of cloth to wrap the bun, and the snowman looked like a little book boy.

I admired it for a while with satisfaction.

I have to go to the Third Prince's Mansion. It's the end of the year and it's time to divide the money.

The servant drove the carriage. Because today was a day off, he had to go pick up people from the shop, so he drove three carriages and brought Lan Ying with him.

Halfway through the journey, the servant suddenly stopped the carriage.

"Ma'am, it looks like someone is robbing someone over there."

"Go and see."

"Yes, ma'am."

Zhao Yuanzhen got out of the carriage and looked over.

A team of about 10 people surrounded a carriage, and the two teams were fighting fiercely.

Zhao Yuanzhen looked carefully and it seemed to be her own carriage.

It’s Zhang Xinbai!

"It's the eldest son, go and help."

When the servant and Lan Ying heard that it was the eldest young master, they immediately jumped off the carriage and went over.

Zhao Yuanzhen also took the Red Cherry Sword from the carriage and chased after him.

"Mom, why are you here?"

Zhang Xinbai, who was fighting, looked at his mother and suddenly felt relieved.

My mother is here, you are dead.

"Handle it carefully and don't get distracted."

Dealing with the bandits from the outside.

Robbery is also very annoying. They have been eyeing this big fish for several days. This carriage goes to various mansions to deliver milk every day. Today, they have collected money for milk for seven days, and all the major mansions have settled the bills until the sixth day of the New Year.

The younger brother who was sent over said that it would take more than 3000 taels of silver.

If you grab this, you can have a happy new year!

That’s more than 3000 taels.

There are 5 of them in total, and we have 17. The chances of winning are great.

Faced with the huge temptation, this group of thugs who usually do nothing and bully men and women gathered together and followed Zhang Xinbai and others, planning to rob them when the opportunity arises.

It was snowing today and the carriage was not moving very fast, so they caught up quickly.

I found a secluded section of the road and started.

Zhang Xinbai and his men had no weapons and could only fight back with bare hands, while the opponents were armed with axes, butcher knives, etc.

Although Zhang Xinbai had learned swordsmanship and was very strong, it was difficult for him to get close to the opponents because they were all armed and he was unarmed.

The other side had more people and it was impossible to subdue them immediately.

Just when the situation was at a stalemate, Zhao Yuanzhen came over.

Zhao Yuanzhen held the Red Cherry Sword but did not draw it out. Instead, he used the scabbard to pick up the weapons of several people on the periphery and kicked them to the ground.

The servant quickly took the rope and started tying them up one by one.

Zhang Xinbai was inside, so the pressure was reduced and he also started to exert his strength.

Together with the servant, they quickly subdued the group inside.

Looking at 17 bandits tied together like dumplings.

Zhang Xinbai kicked him a few times angrily. He was so strong that he basically broke the bones.

"Bah, if you dare to attack me, I will kill you."

"Send it to the government!"

"Okay, mother."

"Bring weapons with you when you deliver goods next time, and ask them to bring weapons too. I can't guarantee that this kind of thing will happen again."

"Okay, mother, we were negligent and thought that everything was fine in the capital."

"Well, the capital is a place where good and bad people mix together. We need to be careful."

"Got it, Mom. I'll be more careful next time."

"Let's go and send them to the government office."

"Ah."

Zhao Yuanzhen's carriage followed behind, and Zhang Xinbai's carriage was in front. The string of rice dumplings was tied to the back of the carriage, pulling them as they walked.

When he arrived at Shuntian Prefecture, he beat the drum to file a complaint.

Soon he was taken in by the bailiffs.

"Who is here? What are you telling me?"

"I am Zhang Xinbai. On my way home today, I encountered this group of robbers. I have come to the government office to file a complaint."

Then he recounted what had happened in detail.

The prefect looked at the string of rice dumplings below and found a few familiar-looking ones among them, who were none other than the usual ruffians.

Interrogated.

The scoundrel wanted to deny it, but the other party had both witnesses and evidence.

Finally, under the severe interrogation of the prefect, he had to confess.

According to the laws they have violated, all of them will be tried and imprisoned.

After all this commotion, it was almost 10 o'clock. Zhao Yuanzhen had to hurry to the Third Prince's residence as it was not appropriate to visit him in the afternoon.

"You guys go back first, tell the servants and Xin Baixinshu about this matter, and ask them to bring some weapons and be careful when they go in and out in the future."

"Okay, Mom, I understand. I'll go back first."

"Well, let's go."

She also hurried to the Third Prince's Mansion.

"Hello, Madam Zhang. Butler Xiao has told you that you can just go in now."

"OK, all right."

There was no need to report this time, I just went there directly.

The third prince is in the main room.

"May the Third Prince be blessed with good health."

"Please sit down. Butler Xiao, please take out the accounts and show them to Madam Zhang."

"Yes, Your Highness."

He gave Zhao Yuanzhen the account book of the glass shop that had been prepared long ago.

Zhao Yuanzhen took it and looked through it carefully.

You have to be careful, this is your own money.

After more than half an hour of checking, I found nothing wrong.

"I can trust the account book made by Your Highness."

The Third Prince: If you hadn’t seen it before, I would have believed you a little.

"Butler Xiao, take the money."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Then he took out a stack of banknotes.

"This month's total profit is 108 million taels of silver. According to the agreed distribution, Madam Zhang will receive 43.2 taels of silver."

He handed the counted silver bills to Zhao Yuanzhen.

The profit was 108W, of which the Palace’s turnover accounted for almost half.

Zhao Yuanzhen took the silver happily and counted it carefully.

Even brothers have to settle accounts clearly, but there's no harm in counting them yourself.

Butler Xiao twitched his lips. Madam Zhang's money-grubbing look was really unbearable to watch.

Count them and put them up.

"Yes, that's right. The New Year is coming to an end. I should have brought some gifts to His Highness, but His Highness has everything, and I don't have anything to give."

The Third Prince: You don’t want to take the gift, but you still have to tell me so that I can appreciate it?

"It's okay, as long as Madam Zhang is willing."

"The gift still needs to be given. I have prepared a recipe. Consider it a New Year's gift to Your Highness."

As he spoke, he took out a recipe for cement.

There is no other way. Cement requires iron ore, which cannot be produced by ourselves. Giving it to the third prince can benefit the country and the people. It involves issues related to people's livelihood. Zhao Yuanzhen hopes that the third prince can carry forward it.

"Oh? What recipe?"

Hearing that it was another recipe, the Third Prince became interested.

"It's a recipe called cement. It says that after it's made, it should be mixed with sand, soil, water, etc., and then used for paving roads or building. After it dries, it will be smooth, beautiful and solid. Because the material is limited, I made a small handful and used it according to the recipe to make a small piece of road.

I hope that His Majesty the Third Prince will not sell it too expensively so that ordinary people can also afford it."

Pull out a 30X30 cement block from your sleeve.

Handed it to Butler Xiao.

Housekeeper Xiao stared at her sleeves and wondered why Madam Zhang put anything in her sleeves. Who would put mud in their sleeve pockets?

Butler Xiao glanced at the cement block and handed it to the third prince.

Smooth, beautiful and high hardness.

If this is used on the road, it will not only make the road surface flat but also reduce dust, which is a good thing.

"This cement is not afraid of water. Even if there is a flood, as long as it is solid when it is poured, it will not be washed away."

"Okay, I promise you, it won't be too expensive. This is a matter of great benefit to the country and the people. I thank Madam Zhang on behalf of the people of the world. I accept this New Year's gift. Butler Xiao, go and prepare a New Year's gift for Madam Zhang."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"How can this be so embarrassing? There is no need to trouble Your Highness to spend money."

Zhao Yuanzhen said to the Third Prince.

Then he turned and looked at Butler Xiao.

"Nothing too expensive. Just something casual will do."

The Third Prince, Butler Xiao: . . . . .

After a while, the butler came over holding a wooden box.

Then he handed it to Zhao Yuanzhen.

Zhao Yuanzhen opened it, took a look, and then closed it again happily.

Holding the box, he said goodbye with a smile.

"What did you get as a return gift?"

The end of the year is approaching, and there are many gifts given to our house. We have already prepared various return gifts. Therefore, when returning the gift, you only need to pick one to bring back.

"Your Highness, these are the gold leaves that have been prepared."

Butler Xiao intuitively felt that this must be Madam Zhang's favorite.

"No wonder."

No wonder Le’s eyes were narrowed into slits.

This woman really loves money.

"Copy the recipe a few times, take one to the chef to start studying, and make it as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Zhao Yuanzhen went out happily holding a box of gold leaves.

This box is worth at least a hundred taels of gold.

I really like the way Butler Xiao does things!

Go to the dessert shop and have a look.

When I entered the shop, there weren't many people here today, but the kitchen was bustling with activity.

"Hello, sir."

Zhao Yuanzhen nodded all the way.

"Madam, you are here."

"Well, how were the past two days?"

"The store's profits have skyrocketed in the past two days. Especially today, many people came to order take-away this morning. Some came by themselves, and some needed us to deliver. I'm still thinking about how to deliver it!"

"I drove a carriage out today. You can take the servants with you. Others are not familiar with the roads and mansions in the capital."

"Okay, ma'am."

"Well, it's snowing heavily today. After we finish the pre-orders for the various mansions in the afternoon, let's give them a day off."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Has everything else been arranged? Is there anyone to guard the shop?"

"Yes, we found our own servants."

"Okay, then you go and deliver it, I'll watch here."

"Yes, ma'am."