In the backyard of "Drunken Immortal Residence", Han Lian walked out of the steaming house and wiped his sweat. Looking up and seeing a figure flashing outside, Han Lian said to Du Xun on the side: "I heard that the Wu family of 'Qixiangju' has a reward and wants to learn our method of steaming wine." There seemed to be someone outside just now, didn't they just come to learn how to steam wine? This is the key to our business, try to be careful in the future so as not to be stolen. ”

Du Xun nodded: "These days, 'Qixiangju' is very deserted, and it is not surprising to think of these crooked ways." Be careful in this matter, when steaming wine in the future, a few small people will patrol around, and the idle people will rush away. ”

Han Lian nodded again and again and said yes, which was exactly what he wanted. The business of the restaurant has started, and a few small servants have been hired, and there is no shortage of manpower. Nowadays, there are many unemployed people in the city, and it is very easy to hire them, especially small servants.

While the two were talking, Du Zhongxiao came out of the steaming room and stretched.

Du Xun saw it and said to his son: "Da Lang, now the business of the restaurant is like a day by day, and every day is just a chore. In the future, it will be good for me and Brother Han to take care of your daily life, and you will still study if you have leisure. The last time I fell behind, I was seriously ill, and it was difficult for me to embark on the road of the imperial examination again. The son inherits the father's business, and the burden of studying the imperial examination will fall on your shoulders in the future, so don't spend your mind on these miscellaneous things. ”

Du Zhongxiao agreed, but he didn't think so. In the past two or three months, his side has become more and more prosperous day by day, and "Qixiangju" has seen it fall. As the saying goes, those who walk a hundred miles are half ninety, and it is time to add a little force to push the Wu family down and let out a bad breath, how can you be willing to let go? As for studying, it's never too late to work hard after these few months.

Seeing that his son didn't take his words to heart, Du Xun only sighed in his heart. This restaurant was set up by Du Zhongxiao, and everyone gradually got used to letting him call the shots, and other people's words became more and more useless. Life was difficult before, and the two families were all focused on how to make money, but now that the days are gradually stabilizing, Du Zhongxiao is still working this, and everyone feels uneasy.

Du Zhongxiao himself also knew that he should focus on studying for the imperial examination, but the past few months had been too hard, and it almost became instinct to have the opportunity to make more money, where could he stop for a while?

Han Lian didn't want to continue this topic, so he slapped his waist and said, "Now there are more and more steamed wines every day, and relying on a few of us, it's a little too busy." Always think of a way to find someone to help, and not let other restaurants know the steaming method. ”

Du Xundao: "This matter is a little difficult. Steaming sake is so easy that anyone can steam it out if someone sees it. Both of us are from small families, where can we rely on them? ”

Han Lian looked sad and couldn't think of a way. Small families are not as good as big families, there are fewer people in the family, and there are fewer relatives. Han Lian moved from other places when he was young, and he didn't have any relatives in the local area. Du Xun rushed to take the exam last year, and his relatives borrowed money, and then there was no news, and all the relatives had a tense relationship. The debt was repaid in the past two months, but the relationship could not be restored for a while.

At this moment, Du Zhongxiao saw a figure flash by, and shouted: "What person? Come to my house and be a thief! ”

Han Lian and Du Xun were taken aback, and ran to the courtyard wall with Du Zhongxiao.

When he arrived at the wall, Du Zhongxiao jumped suddenly, grabbed the edge of the wall with both hands, and looked outside.

It was early in the morning, before dawn, and I saw a man, very agile, running quickly along the alley behind the house.

The courtyard wall was too high, Du Zhongxiao estimated that he touched it, and was afraid that he would be injured if he climbed over the wall, so he had to jump down.

Han Lian stepped forward anxiously and asked, "Da Lang, is there really anyone?" ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Yes, a man, go out of the wall from here." I want to come to us to make money by steaming wine, and some people are red-eyed and come to peek. It seems that it has been planned for a long time, and I don't know how much I have peeked at. Alas, if one is not good, the method of steaming wine will not be saved! ”

Du Xun was silent, and only said after a while: "If you think about this, nine times out of ten, there are several other restaurants in the county, especially 'Qixiangju', which is the most suspicious." Their business has been robbed a lot by us, and it is not getting better day by day, and it is difficult to keep bad intentions. ”

Han Lian was so anxious: "What can I do about this?" What can I do? We all rely on this method to make money by steaming wine, and if we are looked at, how can we make money if other companies also steam wine in the future? Alas, that's broken! ”

Du Zhongxiao frowned and thought for a while, and comforted Han Lian: "Daddy Han doesn't have to worry. Although we started this restaurant by steaming wine, we don't rely on steaming wine now. In addition to 'Qixiangju', 'Yaojiazhengdian' sells our family's wine like the official restaurant, and the business is still far inferior to ours. Others are not afraid to learn it, it's just that we sell less wine. ”

Although he knew that Du Zhongxiao was telling the truth, Han Lian still sighed. This is like a person who once drowned, grabbed a straw and went ashore, and never dared to put down that straw again. In fact, the business of "Drunken Xianju" is booming now, not because it sells liquor, but also because it can be bought in two other restaurants and some foot shops. If there are restaurants that learn to steam liquor, it is nothing more than that the profits of the liquor are lower, and the business of the restaurant is not affected.

The Han family and the Du family were worried because of the possible leakage of the secret method, but in the "Xiangju", Wu Kejiu was very happy about the past.

Grabbing the shoulders of the thin man who came in, Wu Kejiu's eyes lit up: "You said, you can see clearly how the 'Drunken Immortal Residence' filters the wine?" ”

The man smiled: "That's nature. I waited in the alley behind their restaurant for a few days, not just one day. Today they are awake, they have seen through my hiding, and they can no longer hide. But it doesn't matter, I've seen their methods clearly, it's all in my eyes! ”

This person is an idler in the county, named Teng Dalang, who is thin and small, very flexible, and often does some things like flying eaves and walking on the wall. This kind of character is famous in the county government, and when there is a robbery, he will be arrested and questioned first, so he will not dare to commit a crime in his hometown. Wu Kejiu had the idea of stealing the secret method of "Drunken Immortal Residence" to filter wine, so he let out the word to find these people, and finally paid off after more than a month.

Invited Teng Dalang to sit down, and served tea again, Wu Kejiu said: "Dalang, you tell me this method, just open your mouth for as much money as you want." ”

Teng Dalang took a sip of tea slowly and methodically, and said: "Outside the junior staff, 'Drunken Xianju' makes wine from the lees, and there is almost no capital, but the wine is twenty yuan a catty, and the money earned is really amazing. With this method in the restaurant, the money will come in like flowing water—"

Hearing this, Wu Kejiu's mind calmed down a little, sat on the chair, looked at Teng Dalang and said: "Ming people don't say dark words, now there are four restaurants in the county, and only one of them does not sell spirits." Your method, the Yao family and the official wine business are useless, they are already selling the wine of 'Drunken Immortal Residence', which is nothing more than to suppress the price. Only I am here to pay for this secret method. Da Lang, don't be too greedy! You say a reasonable price, and I will give you cash here, and God will not know it. If not—"

"How else? With this secret method, I can't make any money! ”

Wu Kejiu smiled coldly: "Where are you going to make money?" Do you want to open a restaurant in other states and counties? It's not that I look down on you, with your family background, you can't afford to open a restaurant anywhere! Besides, since I know that you stole the secret method of the 'Drunken Immortal Residence' and didn't sell it to me, which one can you hide? ”

Teng Dalang looked at Wu Kejiu, and after a while, he smiled: "Little member, drink tea, why bother saying something frustrating!" I have gone to great lengths to see this secret method, and I am going to offer it to you. Usually the little staff takes care of me a lot, how can they not repay the kindness? It's just that this method is not easy to come by, and I hope that the little ones are pitiful, and I will buy wine with more money. ”

"That's good, we take what we need, we have the best of both worlds." Wu Kejiu knocked on the table, "You were in my restaurant before, and you owed three or five yuan for the wine, right?" As long as the wine is made, it will be written off. I'll make up a few more dollars with you, and ten more dollars with the wine money I owe. Shiguan is not a small amount of money, Da Lang, enough for you to live happily for a few months. What do you think? ”

"Ten runs—" Teng Dalang shook his head repeatedly. "Outside of the junior staff, it is not easy for me to do things, what is worth it! If this happened today, the 'Drunken Immortal Residence' must be doubly careful, and if you want to find someone to see it, you can't. ”

Hearing this, Wu Kejiu's heart became angry. What is his family's status in the county? If it was before, these idlers ran errands for their own families, and it would be good to have wine and meat, which one dared to talk about money? The yamen is full of people from the Wu family, and it is natural and honest to catch it and beat the board. It's just that this time is different from the past, the officials in the yamen are gone, and they are changed, the new magistrate is watching closely, and the Wu family has lost its former majesty. Unexpectedly, even Teng Dalang and these people dared to sit on the ground and raise the price here.

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Wu Kejiu said: "Okay, Da Lang will tell me a price!" ”

Teng Dalang stretched out his palm: "Outside the junior staff, fifty yuan, no counteroffer!" However, a few hundred catties of wine are not earned back quickly! ”

"A few hundred catties—" Wu Kejiu took a breath. "How many catties of wine are sold in my restaurant a day now! That's it, I don't have to worry about you, even if it's thirty dollars. Just make the wine and put it with you immediately! ”

Teng Dalang saw that Wu Kejiu was already angry, so he pushed the boat with his hand: "Okay, thirty times is thirty times, just ask for enough money!" ”

The usual provincial rule is 770 Wen, and Teng Dalang wants enough money, which is close to 40 yuan. Wu Kejiu gritted his teeth, stopped worrying about him, and agreed. The method of steaming wine is a long-term business, and you can always make money back.

After drinking tea for a while, Wu Kejiu said: "The county magistrate said before, except for the official liquor business, all the liquor lees in this county are sold to the 'Drunken Xianju' to make wine. There are no lees in the restaurant today, so we have to wait for tomorrow to make wine with your secret method. If you don't go out today, just rest in my restaurant, and naturally there will be good wine and meat. Just wait for the early hours of tomorrow morning, let's make wine together! ”

Teng Dalang said with a smile: "Don't worry, I am also about to prepare some utensils so that you can see my means." ”