Jiang Sheng kept his word and actually set up branches of Jiuzhenfang in the surrounding cities.
First, observe the environment to determine if the people in the city have purchasing power, then visit the surrounding area to investigate whether the people are simple and honest.
In today's world, where travel is difficult, if you want to expand your business to all corners of the country, you have to learn from the methods of You Ran Ju: take from the local area and use it for the local area.
It's not just about raw materials like flour, but also about long-term workers who can support the shop.
If the shopkeeper is the soul, a trusted confidant sent from Fengjing, then the farmhands are the support, the key to the operation of the shop and workshop.
There are many kinds of people. Some are born cunning, lazy, greedy and slippery, and no amount of money can change their nature.
If you lend a hand to those who are willing to endure hardship and suffering, they will be able to break free from the mire and become completely devoted to you.
Jiang Sheng brought Jiang San and Jiang Si, along with Miao Zhaoying and her daughter who insisted on coming along, to Luoyang County.
This was the first time she had run such a long distance alone. The moment she landed, she felt that the wind was different, carrying a novel feeling.
“The wind can be different from south to north.” Miao Zhaoying covered her mouth and laughed. “I think the young lady has been cooped up in Fengjing for too long and is taking this opportunity to come out and relax.”
“Auntie, that’s not right.” Jiang Sheng shook her index finger, speaking righteously, “Smell carefully, there really is a fragrance in the air.”
Daya had grown into a graceful young woman. She turned her head slightly to look around and finally saw a shop on her right. The shop's name was simple and clear: "Xu Family's Unrefreshing Soup".
Young and strong men were stirring the thick soup, and an enticing aroma wafted on the breeze—it was a truly novel flavor.
Unable to contain herself any longer, Jiang Sheng rushed over and pointed to the stacks of pancakes on the griddle, asking, "Boss, what's this?"
"This is a 'Bu Fan' soup made with mung bean flour." The young man looked up. "It's a specialty of Luoyang Prefecture, made with many kinds of ingredients. Would you like to try a bowl?"
"Come on, give me five bowls!" Jiang Sheng said boldly, pressing down the copper coin.
Jiang San and Jiang Si were still tying up the carriage, and Miao Zhaoying felt sorry for her employer and wouldn't let her carry the bowl no matter what.
Five servings of "Bu Fan Tang" (a type of soup), one person has to make three round trips.
Daya was well-behaved and sensible. She took the initiative to take on the responsibility of serving her mother two bowls, but pulled her hand back when she ate the hot food.
The young man immediately put down his ladle and offered to help carry the soup, saying, "Let me take over for you, young lady. The soup is simmering right now, and you need calluses to handle it."
Da Ya thanked him shyly, but before she could finish speaking, Jiang San and Jiang Si jumped out from behind her like monkeys, cheering and holding up the soup bowl.
Perhaps it was the delicious taste, or perhaps it was because it was so fresh, but Jiang Sheng drank it all up and still felt unsatisfied.
"Alright, young lady, we still need to check out the nearby villages. We can't delay the shop's opening," Miao Zhaoying advised with a smile. "Besides, what if we come across something even better after we've eaten our fill?"
Jiang Sheng agreed wholeheartedly and waited for the others to finish eating before wiping her mouth and getting up.
As they passed the entrance, the young man stirring the soup hesitated for a moment before asking, "May I ask what you gentlemen are going to see in the village? Are you going to buy land? Or settle down?"
"Neither," Jiang Sheng replied with great care. "I just came to take a look around."
“Then you should head south of the city; my home is there,” the young man continued stirring the soup. “If you’d like.”
What's there to be willing or unwilling about? Since we're just wandering around, it doesn't matter where we go.
Jiang Sheng immediately instructed Jiang San to drive the carriage to the village in the south of the city.
As you walk along, you'll find the local people to be honest and simple. They are not afraid of strangers and will return anything they find. Adults chat idly, children run around, and the neighborhood is quite harmonious.
However, even the best places have bad people, and even the most harmonious villages have quarrels.
The group stopped in front of a house at the east end of the village, listening to the man's shouts, the woman's cries, the child's wails, and the sounds of things breaking.
Miao Zhaoying endured it for a long time, but finally couldn't bear it any longer and gestured to Jiang San and Jiang Si, "Go kick it."
"Alright!" The two boys, whose soles had been itching for a kick, immediately leaped up and kicked half of the wooden door away.
The crying and commotion inside stopped abruptly.
After a brief moment of panic, the man, shirtless, came out and saw several children and women. He immediately shouted menacingly, "Are you out of your minds? How dare you kick down my door! Can you afford to pay for this? You won't rest until you've paid a tael of silver! Pay up!"
Jiang San shrugged. "I have no money, but you can take my life."
"Good heavens, you've come to bully me, even Liu Ergou!" The man roared in anger, carrying a hoe out from behind the door. "Give me your money or pay with your life!"
He lunged forward.
Jiang San was about to kick when a woman with a bruised and swollen face rushed over and stopped him, saying, "Husband, you can't do it, you can't!"
In the blink of an eye, she was pushed onto the water bar again, unable to move.
The little girl inside the house was only seven or eight years old. She cried and protected her mother, saying, "Don't hit my mother, don't hit my mother anymore."
Why is a woman's life so bitter?
Miao Zhaoying wiped her eyes clean and signaled Jiang San and Jiang Si to rush forward, knock the cursing man to the ground, and tie his clothes behind his back.
She stepped forward, took the woman's hand, and asked, "Sister, why won't you get a divorce? Why do you insist on continuing this marriage?"
All those who give birth and raise children, and cook and clean, should have the respect and love of their spouse.
A marriage contract is a constraint, but not a shackle; it should be broken when necessary.
"Sister," the woman said weakly, "what will happen to my child after the divorce? I can't bear to leave him, but I can't raise him myself. I can't selfishly drag him to his death..."
Miao Zhaoying burst into tears again. She held the woman tightly, as if holding her original self, or as if she were being held by Zhang Xianglian, or as if the former Zhang Xianglian was being held by Jiang Sheng.
"If I could provide you with food and lodging, would you dare to divorce me?"
"If I can help you survive, would you be willing to break your shackles?"
The same tone, different voices, similar words, resounding in different times and spaces.
Jiang Sheng grinned, while Da Ya sobbed softly.
After a long silence, the woman finally responded, "Okay..."
Just like Miao Zhaoying's response.
Just like Zhang Xianglian's response.
Like countless women who have been mistreated in their marriages, this is the response.
They will rise up sooner or later.
Liu Ergou was still cursing and shouting on the side, threatening to report them to the authorities and send them to jail to be beaten to death.
The woman was still somewhat panicked, but Miao Zhaoying calmed her down.
Daya wiped away her tears and gently comforted her seven or eight-year-old sister.
Jiang Sheng then strolled over to Liu Ergou and suddenly felt a pang of emotion.
I still remember when we rescued Miao Zhaoying, we had to use all sorts of tricks and schemes, and even go to the yamen twice to change our status to slaves.
But now, she simply bent down and kicked the man, then whispered, "Go ahead and sue him. The Crown Prince is my brother."
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