Chapter 265 Whose Money Came from the Wind
"Mr. Hu Erlang, what are you doing?" There were more than a dozen ox carts parked outside the house, all loaded with large boxes, and even two live sheep and two cages of chickens, ducks and geese.
More exaggerated than Magistrate Hu, Madam Hu, and Governor Lu.
"Hehe, this is just a little gift from Mr. Fu and me!" Hu Erlang smiled.
"Is this a token of your appreciation? Uh, isn't it a bit too ostentatious?" Su Ying held her forehead with her hand. Could this small house hold all of it?
"Not many. Most of them are settlements from a few days ago, some are collected toys and books, and some are for your daily use." Hu Erlang said.
"Settlement?" Su Ying was confused. "Didn't I settle everything with Shopkeeper Zhu? Even your share in Huanggou Village is settled every month."
I really can't think of anything else to settle.
"Yeah!" Hu Erlang pulled Su Ying aside, "Don't ask, it's what you deserve anyway!"
"What I deserve has been paid off every time. You can keep the gifts and collected items, and take the rest back!" Su Ying declined politely. She was not used to taking advantage of others.
"Hey, hey, hey, why are you so rigid? I was able to do big business with the Fu family because of you.
"I've made a lot of money traveling all over the country, so I'm going to give you a piece of my mind. It's not much, but it's a token of my appreciation!" Hu Erlang explained.
"You do business with Mr. Fu because he values your kindness. It has nothing to do with me!" Su Ying refused to admit that it had anything to do with her.
"Hey, this is what I discussed with Mr. Fu. If it weren't for your vermicelli, honey, tea oil, and brown sugar, we wouldn't have been able to squeeze into Jiangnan so quickly.
Do you think it's so easy for outsiders to enter Jiangnan? It's all thanks to these precious goods, especially brown sugar, that so many people make friends and do business with us.
"Why do you say it has nothing to do with you? Just take it. Who would push money away? You say I'm showing off, but if I take it back, wouldn't that be even more showing off?" Hu Erlang advised.
"Okay, I can't argue with you! I'll accept it for now, but don't give it to me again. No one's money comes from the wind.
You traveled far and wide, worked hard to earn it, and I get it for free! Are you businessmen at all? "Su Ying said helplessly.
"Of course we are businessmen! You said that no one's money comes from the wind. We are just trying to fool you. If you have anything good in the future, just sell it to us! Haha!" Hu Erlang joked.
Mr. Fu, who was standing by, found it funny. It was rare to see someone pushing money away so hard.
Xiaotao and Atang brought a bowl of winter melon candy and asked Fu Dongjia and Hu Erlang to taste it.
The winter melon candy I made last time was divided among the Minister of the Temple, the Governor, the County Magistrate Lin, and the County Magistrate Hu when they left.
This was made later after I asked Gao for winter melon. The elderly and children like to eat it.
He gave some to the Yang family and kept some for himself to entertain guests.
"What is this?" Mr. Fu was amazed by the taste that was different from brown sugar.
"Winter melon candy, made of winter melon and brown sugar. What do you think of the taste, Mr. Fu?" Su Ying knew that Mr. Fu had some ideas.
"Great! Do you have any stock? Sell them all to me?" Fu Zhong looked anxious.
"Mr. Fu, what you said is true. You and Mr. Hu Erlang gave my Su family so much wealth, how come the Su family is so stingy? Not willing to spend a penny? Even this little bit of winter melon candy has to be counted?" Su Ying said with a smile.
"Mr. Fu likes it, so I'll give it to you. But the weather is getting warmer, and the winter melon candy will melt easily when heated. It's not as firm and non-sticky as it is in winter."
"It's okay, thank you, Miss Su!" Fu Zhong thanked.
"How is this winter melon candy made? Is it made by pickling the sugar and then boiling it?" Hu Erlang took the winter melon candy and studied it while tasting it.
"When winter melons come on the market in the fall, make more and we'll have another great thing to sell!"
"Madam has already agreed with us that we will produce as much sugar as the sugar factory supplies. We will sell most of it to you and a small portion in Wu County to attract customers." Su Ying said.
"However, if you calculate it this way, your costs are too high. Since you're here, why don't I teach you the recipe and you can make it elsewhere, using fresh ingredients and saving unnecessary costs."
"What should I do?" Hu Erlang stood up. "Aying, your gift is too great! How can I take advantage of you for nothing?"
"Okay, aren't you and Mr. Fu considered part of me? I have to show my appreciation, right?" Su Ying interrupted Hu Erlang.
"Grandma, hehe, the last big winter melon in your house still couldn't escape the clutches of the devil!" Su Ying smiled at Gao.
"It's a worthless winter melon. If you want it, just take it!" Gao said readily.
Gao and Old Man Yang went back and quickly brought the winter melon.
Su Ying taught Fu Zhong and Hu Erlang how to make winter melon candy on the spot.
"The secret to making this winter melon candy is soaking it in lime water to harden the winter melon strips so they don't become mushy when boiled later!
As for pickling and boiling, that's much simpler. As long as you control the heat well, there's no problem. "Su Ying explained.
"Look, just such a detail, how could others think of it? Who would come up with this method?" Hu Erlang clapped his hands in praise.
"This winter melon candy can not only be eaten as a snack, but also used to make pastries! It can be used as filling for rice dumplings or pastries, or you can add vegetable juice to make it red or green and use it as decoration on pastries." Su Ying introduced.
"When you make them, you can add rouge radish juice or spinach juice to make them red or green. The colorful candies will look even better!"
"Good, good!" Fu Zhong was moved when he heard it. The masters in the palace must be very happy.
There are distinguished guests today, so Su Ying goes to the stove to cook a new dish. Because Second Aunt has morning sickness and can't stand the smell of greasy food, she decides to make sour radish and duck soup.
The sheep stayed in the cowshed, living with the oxen and horses, and they all ate grass.
The chickens, ducks and geese were brought to the old house to be raised. They were too noisy and made too much trouble, cackle, cluck, and uh-uh sounds all the time.
Su Ying killed two ducks, plucked their feathers, and left the fluff inside.
In the Tang Dynasty, poultry was not considered meat and was not as expensive as mutton.
But it is basically not sold in Heifeng Township, and rarely seen in Wuxian County. This was brought by Hu Erlang from Wuzhou.
I feel that it is inconvenient to enter and exit the Su family's house, and raising pigs and sheep is too slow, unlike poultry, which takes a short time to raise and can be used to eat eggs.
When passing by Wuzhou, he bought all the poultry in the market and took them away.
It was very lively along the way, with chickens, ducks and geese cawing non-stop, feces and urine everywhere, and the stench was overwhelming.
"What's the use of keeping this fluff?" Hu Erlang knew that Su Ying would not waste time.
"Save them. When you have enough, make a down vest and wear it to keep warm." Su Ying said.
"You know this too?" Hu Erlang was surprised.
"The wealthy families in Chang'an come from all directions, including the Western Regions. Wearing down jackets to keep warm is not uncommon. If they are sold, they will naturally know about it."
This time when I went out, I experienced the coldness of the north. If I hadn’t bought fox fur and other furs, I really couldn’t bear it.
However, in the Jiangnan area, down quilts are mainly used, which are soft and warm.
The areas around Wuxian and Wuzhou mainly use kapok as filling for warmth. Hu Erlang has also seen animal furs such as fox fur, but down is the only way to keep warm, and it is only found in the south of the Yangtze River. He didn't expect that Aying would know how to use it.
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