After Zhao Zhe left, Tao Wanniang examined the small box of gold. Hmm, there was no official seal, so it was safe to circulate.
"There are only two hundred taels here. Does this mean I have to pay for the thousand taels of gold in five installments?" Tao Wanniang muttered to herself as she carried a box of gold back into the house.
During her stay at home, Tao Wan's mother had Xiao Qiao'er help her draw up the menu of Zhaixinglou into a recipe book.
Even if she doesn't go out, people will still come to her door. Hua Manru learned that Tao Wanniang had returned and hadn't had time to visit her before, so she came with two jugs of wine that afternoon.
"Manager Tao, it's been a long time. This is sorghum liquor. I've tried it several times using your method, and this one tastes the best. I brought it here especially for you to try." Hua Manru didn't know why Tao Wanniang didn't go to the restaurant, but the Hua family's liquor business was entirely supported by Tao Wanniang.
“If you say it tastes good, then it must be good. Zhang Liang, bring me a bowl,” Tao Wanniang called out.
"Now that the distillery is up and we have enough staff, you two siblings shouldn't be as busy as before!" Tao Wanniang asked. "Or is there something else you came here for besides the distillery?"
"Manager Tao, the wine from Hua Family Tavern was previously supplied to Zhaixing Tower and some individual taverns. During your absence, many taverns have come to us asking for more wine, but I haven't agreed to any of them," Hua Manru said. "However, now that the distillery's production has increased significantly, we'll be brewing a lot more wine in the future. Manager Tao, what do you think about this wine..."
“Sell it, of course we’ll sell it. I, Tao Wanniang, get a share of the money from every bottle sold by the Hua family’s winery, so why wouldn’t we sell it?” Tao Wanniang looked at Hua Manru and said it quite frankly.
“There are… Ziyang Tower and Chaoyang Tower.” Hua Manru knew that these two restaurants were in competition with Zhaixing Tower, so she naturally preferred Zhaixing Tower.
"So what? When doing business, you have to have a broad perspective," Tao Wanniang said nonchalantly. "Hua Manru, you need to know that you are a businesswoman. No matter who you sell to, it's still business."
“I am a craftsman,” Hua Manru retorted. “My purpose is to pass on the Hua family’s brewing methods from generation to generation.”
“Oh, but you can’t get enough to eat if you don’t have money, right?” Tao Wan’s mother didn’t mock Hua Manru. “And then you can open a tavern and promote the Hua family’s wine, right?”
Hua Manru nodded and said earnestly, "I want to recreate the glory days of Hua Family Wine."
"That's good. Anyway, there's something to make money from, so it's not a loss for you or for me."
Tao Wanniang replied, and just then Zhang Liang brought over a bowl. Tao Wanniang asked Hua Manru to pour the wine, and she took a sip herself. "Zhang Liang, you should try it."
Zhang Liang did not refuse, took the bowl, and drank.
"The taste is smooth and the aroma is wonderful. What kind of wine is this?" Zhang Liang said, taking a sniff.
“It’s liquor. Since it’s brewed by your Hua family, you can name it yourself.” Tao Wanniang looked at Hua Manru.
Hua Manru was surprised. The sorghum for brewing wine was given by Tao Wanniang, as was the brewing method. Although she had suggested that it be called Hua Family Wine, she did not expect Tao Wanniang to so naturally give her the naming rights as well.
"I have no idea, so you should make the suggestion, Manager Tao," Hua Manru declined.
"Hua Niang, since it's brewed by your Hua family, let's just keep it simple." Tao Wanniang had thought of many famous wines, but after thinking about it, she decided that something casual was better.
"Just that simple?" Hua Manru was surprised again, but since Tao Wanniang had spoken, she went along with it. "Besides the previous wine, I will also launch this flower wine. How about we sell it at your Zhaixing Tower for a while first?"
“There’s no need for that. We’ll sell it to anyone who wants it. However, you can’t drink too much of this wine,” Tao Wanniang warned. “The more mellow the wine, the faster you get drunk. If you drink too much, you can die.”
The alcohol content of this baijiu is much higher than that of huangjiu, so please don't overindulge and cause a fatal accident.
"I suggest that anyone who wants to drink this wine should start with about two ounces. If you get drunk, you'll know your alcohol tolerance."
"Two ounces!" Hua Manru frowned. When would they ever finish this jar of wine? "How much would two ounces of wine cost?"
“When you get to each restaurant, just set your own price. You might as well send some of this flower wine first, see how the restaurants react, and then set a price,” Tao Wanniang suggested. “This wine is easy to get drunk on.”
As he spoke, Zhang Liang drank the bowl of wine down in one sip, and even let out a burp.
"It's alright, this wine is pure and smooth, but a bit strong when it goes down. Um... Sister Tao, why are you two? What are you shaking for?" Zhang Liang said, swaying as he spoke.
"Look, they're drunk!" Tao Wanniang said to Hua Manru, pointing at Zhang Liang. "Aren't you drunk?"
“My younger brother and I have been drinking since we were kids. We always drink the wine we brew first, so we guess we have a high alcohol tolerance.” Hua Manru said this with utmost sincerity as she looked at the swaying Zhang Liang.
"Yang Bai, pull Zhang Liang back into the house," Tao Wanniang called out to Yang Bai in the courtyard.
Hua Manru watched Zhang Liang being helped down, still muttering that he wasn't drunk, and seemed to be deep in thought.
"Manager Tao, I understand. This wine is indeed strong. I will follow your advice. Flower wine is quite suitable for our Hua family."
Tao Wanniang didn't care about fame. As the saying goes, "People are afraid of becoming famous, just as pigs are afraid of getting fat." She was afraid of being targeted by others.
After seeing Hua Manru off, Tao Wanniang thought about visiting her own estate. She planned to grow her own vegetable garden, and all the vegetables needed by Zhaixing Tower would come from her estate.
But when she thought of Zhang Liang being drunk, she had no choice but to give up. She really had shot herself in the foot!
If it weren't for Ling Yunzhou's uninvited arrival, Tao Wanniang's good mood would have lasted a long time.
Seeing Ling Yunzhou's somber expression, Tao Wanniang said sarcastically without any politeness, "What do you think my Tao family is, that you can come here so casually?"
"Can't I come to see my grandchildren?" Ling Yunzhou retorted. "My eldest grandson and granddaughter are much cuter than the two little brats in the General's Mansion."
Tao Wanniang rolled her eyes; she didn't believe Ling Yunzhou had come to see the child.
"Just say what you want to say. I don't like people beating around the bush," Tao Wanniang said with a displeased expression.
“My general’s mansion is closed off, but the princess still comes to ambush me from time to time. If I can’t afford to offend her, can’t I at least avoid her?” Ling Yunzhou didn’t hide anything. “I came here thinking that if she goes crazy and comes after you, I can protect you. Is that wrong?”
"I'm afraid your presence here will only cause me more trouble," Tao Wanniang said bluntly. "What do you think would happen if the Princess found you here?"
Ling Yunzhou glanced at Tao Wanniang with a somewhat sullen expression, but then asked, "The Emperor... has he been here?"
Tao Wanniang raised an eyebrow. Was Ling Yunzhou spying on her?
"His Majesty himself brought it up, Tao Wanniang, what exactly do you need so much money for?" Ling Yunzhou asked, puzzled. "If you really need money, don't I have it?"
"I earn money through my own abilities, so what? How is that bothering you?" Tao Wanniang said bluntly. "I like to earn money myself, is that not allowed?" Tao Wanniang spoke frankly and freely. In the future, she will only be richer than Lingyunzhou, and you shouldn't doubt it!
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