Traveling to Ancient Times: My Space Contains Weapons

"Brother Chu, this is the first time I've ever seen this way of eating. Does it have a name?"

Zhou Shicai asked, holding a beef meatball between his fingers.

“In our rural area, this is called a mixed stew, or hot pot, and it’s perfect for winter,” Chu Chen replied.

There is no such thing as hot pot in this world. After hearing this, Zhou Shicai and others agreed that the countryside must be a place where immortals live, which is beyond the reach of mortals.

"Hmm, it's a bit bland, add some salt."

After saying that, Chu Chen turned around and went back to the kitchen, took out a ceramic jar, and sprinkled some salt on it.

Zhou Heng was so stunned by this scene that he snatched the pottery jar away.

He then excitedly shouted, "My second uncle told me this before, but I didn't believe it. Brother Chu, can you really have as much refined salt as you want? What's the cost?"

Finally getting to the point, Chu Chen looked at Zhou Heng with a smile.

Damn it, your second uncle calls me Brother Chu, and you call me Brother Chu too. This generational hierarchy is all messed up.

He then said, "Young Master Zhou, I can't produce in large quantities right now, but it should be about the same in three months. As for the cost, it will be lower than you can imagine."

“It was Zhou who was too hasty. But Brother Chu, there are some things you may not understand. Our Great Xia Dynasty has been established for over a hundred years, and salt has been controlled for over a hundred years. The people of Great Xia have suffered too much.”

"So this time, you absolutely have to help me. In return, I'll split all the profits with you fifty-fifty."

Should we split it 50/50? We'll discuss that later.

However, salt shouldn't be difficult to make.

During his trip to Qingyun City, he made a point of checking the price of salt.

Fifty coins for one ounce, and it was coarse, yellowish salt—ordinary families simply couldn't afford it.

So most people settle for second best and buy that smelly and sour vinegar cloth.

The best refined salt on the market costs as much as 500 coins per ounce, and its quality is nowhere near as good as mine.

It's probably because salt merchants like Zhou Shicai controlled the market and deliberately inflated the prices.

In fact, Chu Chen guessed wrong; Zhou Shicai was not a legitimate salt merchant.

He was at best a middleman; he didn't have the method to make salt.

So they went to buy large quantities of coarse salt as merchants and then sold it at a fair or low price.

The goal was to break the monopoly held by the powerful families who possessed the salt-making techniques.

It should be understood that controlling such essential resources is a powerful check on imperial power.

In fact, Zhou Shicai was not only a wealthy merchant, but also the second prince of the Great Xia Dynasty and the emperor's younger brother.

The man before them, Zhou Heng, was the current Eighth Prince.

The Eighth Prince has always cared for the people and could not bear to see their suffering. He is a prince with an excellent reputation.

This time, I saw Chu Chen's refined salt at my second uncle's place and learned that a second person in the Great Xia Dynasty had appeared who knew how to make salt.

So he couldn't wait and asked his second uncle to bring him to Chu Chen's place.

"Brother Zhou, I'll say it again: I'll be here within three months, and I'll give you a satisfactory answer then."

Looking at Zhou Heng's eager expression, Chu Chen realized that salt was actually more important than he had imagined.

Therefore, I cannot agree so quickly.

In fact, Chu Chen had his own plans; he wanted to live a good life in this ancient world.

Therefore, it is necessary to have one's own territory, and Mashan Village is a very good location.

To have land and people, one must make money. Salt is indeed a good opportunity to make money, and he plans to develop it into an industry.

Before that, we need to solve the housing problem first, and then recruit more people and expand our influence.

Seeing Chu Chen say this, Zhou Heng was not in a hurry.

"It seems that I, Zhou, have been rash. After all, the method of salt production may be the foundation of Brother Chu's career. How can we reach a cooperation agreement so easily with just a few words?"

In fact, Zhou Heng had previously discussed with Zhou Shicai the idea of ​​arresting Chu Chen and interrogating him about the salt-making method.

Zhou Shicai rejected it without hesitation. What a joke! He had witnessed Chu Chen's miraculous skills firsthand.

Arrest him? Don't you want to die? Besides, if he refuses to talk, the result will often be even worse.

Also, if that powerful family finds out and tries to win them over beforehand, things will get complicated.

"Brother Zhou, you flatter me. As you can see, this place is in such a dilapidated state. So I need time to build a workshop and recruit staff."

Chu Chen addressed the two of them.

"Alright, alright, the wine's all opened. Boss Zhou, Brother Zhou, and all you heroes, I, Chu Chen, thank you all for helping me out of this predicament. Otherwise, I'd probably still be in jail right now."

After saying this, Chu Chen raised his wine glass and addressed the crowd.

Everyone had barely eaten a little bit when Chu Chen took out the salt, and they all stopped eating.

Only now did I remember that we still had some good wine.

After Zhou Heng raised his glass, everyone else raised their glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

“Hey, Brother Chu, this is Immortal Wine. I, Zhou Shicai, have traveled all over the country for half my life and I have never drunk such good wine.”

The strong liquor goes down your throat, a fiery sensation travels from your mouth to your throat, then to your stomach, and finally to your heart.

Especially the guards, all of whom were martial arts practitioners and were also heavy drinkers.

After the first cup, everyone began to eat heartily.

Zhou Heng pretended not to know that these people were his loyal followers, and he treated them very leniently.

On the surface they were guards, but in private Zhou Heng didn't treat them like servants at all.

"Young Master Chu, your wine is good, but there's not enough."

One of the guards shouted.

One bottle of wine for five or six people is indeed a bit too little, so Chu Chen turned around and went to the kitchen.

They took out two bottles and placed them on their table.

The guards expressed their gratitude while continuing to drink.

What a joke! Something that can be contained in a glass bottle is far superior to ordinary wine.

Several people couldn't wait to drink a few more cups.

Halfway through the meal, another guard rode up on horseback, whispered a few words in Zhou Heng's ear, and then turned and walked towards the table.

At this moment, Zhou Heng looked at Chu Chen and said, "Brother Chu, the trouble has been resolved. At least in Qingyun City, no one should bother you anymore. As for that Sanhe Gambling House, it has also been shut down."

Without thinking, Chu Chen asked, "Thank you, Brother Zhou. You're not just a salt merchant, are you?"

"Haha, nothing can be hidden from Brother Chu. However, it's not the right time yet, after all, we haven't cooperated yet."

Zhou Heng raised his glass, smiled at Chu Chen, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Although I didn't personally handle the Sanhe gambling den, once it was resolved, it would save me a lot of trouble.

Now I can focus on my own things without worry.

The meal lasted a full hour before everyone finally left, satisfied.

“Brother Chu, it’s getting late. We need to hurry back to Qingyun City. I will be staying in Qingyun City for the next three months. If you have any trouble, you can come to me.” After saying this, Zhou Heng led everyone to leave.

Chu Chen generously gave him a large earthenware jar of salt and four bottles of wine.

Consider this payment for their intervention in resolving the problem today.

After everyone left, Chu Chen looked at the wine in his hand and thought to himself: Perhaps, brewing wine is also a good path.

Although there are many supplies in the space, they will eventually run out.

As for glass and similar materials, you can only make some money in the first few transactions. Once there's a lot of them on the market, they become worthless.