In ancient times, I just wanted to be a salted fish

After the meal, Chen Ruotong found Old Lady Chen, took out a thousand taels of silver and said with a smile, "Grandma, this is for you. You have worked hard these days!"

Old Mrs. Chen pushed the banknote back and whispered, "Grandma is not short of money, you can keep it as your dowry!"

"Grandma, this is your grandson's gift to you. My business is very profitable, and I have to spend the money on grandpa and grandma. By the way, grandma, please leave all the vegetables you harvested in autumn to me. I have a way to keep them fresh. I guarantee that we can eat juicy and fresh vegetables in winter, which are better than those grown in the greenhouse!"

Old Mrs. Chen said happily, "My grandson is really smart. Not only will we have fresh vegetables to eat, but we can also sell them for money. Okay, grandma will leave all these vegetables to you and won't dry them anymore!"

Chen Ruotong stuffed the banknotes into Old Lady Chen's arms, ran to the threshing ground to find Old Man Chen, and discussed with him the purchase of the new farm.

"Grandpa, I want to buy the farm next door and expand the scale of planting." Chen Ruotong expressed her idea.

Old man Chen was a little surprised, "Grandson, do you really have such ambitions?"

Chen Ruotong nodded and said, "The harvest on the farm is good now, and we have enough funds to expand. In addition, I want to try to grow some new crops. If the effect is good, we can promote it to other farms."

Old Man Chen thought for a moment and said, "Well, since you have this plan, then go ahead and do it. However, this matter needs to be considered carefully, after all, it involves a lot of things."

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I will be fully prepared." Chen Ruotong said confidently.

With her grandfather's support, Chen Ruotong became more determined. She began to prepare for the purchase of a new farm and looked forward to future development.

The next day, Chen Ruotong and Qiao Zien went to Linzhuang in the west to inquire about the news. It turned out that the village was owned by Ding Wangchun, the shopkeeper.

Ding Wangchun was the head shopkeeper of Wangchunlou. Chen Ruotong remembered that when she first bought the house, Zhang Yishun invited her to Wangchunlou to eat hot pot. At that time, she also had the idea of ​​doing hot pot business. Could they discuss the two things at the same time? So she sent Zhou Qian to Zhenpin Pavilion to find Zhang Yishun.

When Zhang Yishun heard that Chen Ruotong wanted to see him about something, he hurried to the farm with Zhou Qian.

Zhang Yishun has been busy at Zhenpin Pavilion these days, receiving foreign merchants and individual customers as usual. Seeing that the business is getting more and more prosperous and the money is getting more and more, he is so happy. As soon as the little God of Wealth called him, he came over immediately.

When Zhang Yishun saw Chen Ruotong, he really wanted to hug her. He smiled with fiery eyes and said, "Brother Chen, is there something urgent? Just give me the order!"

"Brother Zhang, I have something to ask of you!"

"Look at what you said. Isn't it too formal for us two brothers to talk about this? Tell me what's going on. I, Zhang Yishun, will go through fire and water for you!"

"Brother Zhang, you are too polite! I want to buy the farm to the west and plant more land next year. I heard that the farm belongs to Manager Ding of Wangchun Tower. I am not familiar with Manager Ding, so I would like to ask Brother Zhang to help me buy it. It doesn't matter if it is a little expensive!"

Zhang Yishun said, "Oh? That manor is not bad either, it is also built by the river, but there is no artificial river in the manor, which is a pity. But it is also good, if necessary, we can dig a river ourselves. Then let's go and talk to Manager Ding right away!"

"Well, okay, let's go now!"

Chen Ruotong was a man of action and decisive in what he said. So the three of them took a carriage into the city and came to Wangchun Tower. "

It was late autumn and the weather was getting cooler, so Wangchunlou's business was becoming more and more prosperous, because their signature dish was the antique pot, or hot pot.

There were quite a few customers in the store, and it was bustling and lively.

Zhang Yishun led Chen Ruotong and Qiao Zien to the backyard and met Ding Wangchun who was busy.

Zhang Yishun stepped forward and said with a smile: "Brother Wangchun, as a big shopkeeper, what are you busy with?"

Ding Wangchun saw Zhang Yishun leading two famous people in Pingyang City, Chen Sigongzi and Qiao Zien, to the backyard, and he must have something to talk to him about, so he said, "Brother Zhang, Chen Sigongzi, Qiao Gongzi, welcome to Wangchun Tower. Brother Zhang, what do you want to talk to me about today? It's been a long time since we have had a drink together. You are very busy in the Treasure Pavilion. You must have made a lot of money, right? I'm so envious!"

Zhang Yishun said, "Brother Ding, you are quite busy, so I will not waste my words and will just say it directly. The fourth master Chen has taken a fancy to your farm in the western suburbs and wants to buy it. Name your price!"

The farms in the western suburbs were all fertile fields, and the fruits and vegetables he planted were fat and strong, just right for supplying vegetables to Wangchunlou. So he would not sell them, and refused, "Brother Zhang also knows that my farm is basically all vegetables, which are the dishes needed for our antique pot in Wangchunlou, so I can't sell them!"

Ding Wangchun took the three people to the reception room in the backyard and chatted while drinking tea.

Chen Ruotong bowed and said, "Shopkeeper Ding, I want to buy that farm because my farm is just separated from yours by a wall, which is convenient for management. That's why I want to buy it. I know it's difficult, but I can pay a high price and use my own antique pot bottoms and dipping sauces to do antique pot business with Shopkeeper Ding. What do you think, Shopkeeper Ding?"

Shopkeeper Ding was very interested and asked, "What kind of base?"

Chen Ruotong took out a piece of hot pot base from the prepared package, removed the packaging bag, and wrapped it in oil paper and placed it on the table. Then she opened the oil paper, and the aroma of the hot pot base spread in the air. The rich aroma made everyone swallow their saliva.

Shopkeeper Ding couldn't wait to ask someone to bring the antique pot. Chen Ruotong broke it into four pieces and put one of them into the antique pot. The boiling antique pot melted the base ingredients, and the aroma became stronger.

Several people started eating hot pot in the living room, putting meat and vegetables into the pot. After a while, the meat and vegetables were cooked, and the four people picked up chopsticks to grab the vegetables. Chen Ruotong took out a porcelain pot of dipping sauce from her bag, scooped the dipping sauce with a spoon, and poured it into the four people's plates.

Everyone dipped the food in Chen Ruotong's dipping sauce and ate it with relish. It was so satisfying!

Everyone praised the taste of the hot pot base and dipping sauce, saying that they had never eaten such a delicious antique pot. If this kind of antique pot was sold in the store, it would make a lot of money.

Shopkeeper Ding's eyes glowed green as he laughed, "Hahaha, Fourth Master Chen, your base and dipping sauces are truly unique and delicious. I'll sell that farm to you. I, Ding, have another farm in the western suburbs, so this one doesn't matter!"

Chen Ruotong quickly raised her glass and said, "Thank you, Brother Ding, for your kindness. I hope our business cooperation will be more prosperous!"

Of course, Chen Ruotong was not short of money, so she bought Ding Wangchun's farm at the market price of 7,000 taels. After the grain and vegetables on the farm were harvested, she could bring people into the farm to rest.

Chen Ruotong sells her hot pot base and dipping sauce together, and sells them to Wangchunlou for two taels of silver per set. Of course, the supply is limited. If it is unlimited, the warehouse in her store will be emptied out soon. She has to hold on until next autumn, when the tomatoes and peppers she plans to grow are successfully harvested, and then she can make her own hot pot base. Then she can open a hot pot base workshop again, so that she can continue this business for a long time.

Chen Ruotong accidentally found two jobs for herself. It is so difficult to be a salted fish!