"Ah, I'm finally home..." Yun Si Man smiled as he climbed the steps, carrying bags of gifts.
Little Jie Kong followed closely, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Big brother, is this your home?"
Yun Si Man paused, turned back, and ruffled his hair. "My surname is Yun, and this is my home. Come, let's go in..."
Little Jie Kong stared with his big, round eyes, looking a bit bewildered.
So, someone he randomly met in the capital was actually a child of the Yun family.
What a coincidence...
In the main hall.
Madam Gu looked at the table full of gifts and pastries and smiled helplessly. "Si Man, why did you buy all these things? We don't lack anything at home..."
After speaking, Madam Gu stepped forward, took Yun Si Man's hand, and examined him closely. "You've lost weight, and your face is chapped from the wind!"
"Mother!" Yun Si Man's smile was warm as he helped Madam Gu sit down. "The climate in the northern border is harsh, especially in spring. The wind blows every day, and some soldiers' eyes have been damaged by the sandstorms..."
Madam Gu's heart fluttered with worry upon hearing this, afraid that her son might have suffered some harm. "Then, when will your uncle let you come back?"
Staying in the military camp all the time wasn't a solution.
Besides, all three of her sons were married, but Si Man was still unmarried.
Although she knew Miss Xin Ling liked Si Man, she was a princess, and she wasn't sure of the Emperor's attitude...
Yun Si Man pursed his lips and smiled. "Mother, there's no more war in the northern border. I believe I'll be back soon!"
Whether he returned wasn't up to Gu Zhen Shan, but depended on the Emperor's decision.
Madam Gu said "Oh" and quickly instructed Niu Cai Xia, "Cai Xia, hurry and pick some cucumbers from the garden, wash them, and make a cold dish. The weather has been hot lately, and it hasn't rained. Old son of Niu Er from our village has had heatstroke..."
Yun Si Man loved this kind of family atmosphere; he would be willing to eat coarse food even if it meant living on it every day.
Old Man Yun went to the fields himself. Er Man went to the county town to buy oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. Guan Zhong Bo had left last night, saying he had to find a way to chase back Xiao Xi Tian's soul...
Prefect Qin and Old Man Sun were playing chess in the back garden. Xiao Xi Tian took out the brewed wine from her space and slowly savored it in Xiao Jin Heng's study.
"Little village girl, you'll get drunk if you keep drinking!" Xiao Jin Heng frowned and reminded her.
Seeing Little Village Girl gulp down several mouthfuls, Xiao Jin Heng was anxious, afraid she would drink herself into unconsciousness...
Xiao Xi Tian smacked her lips. "If I don't taste it myself, how will I know how it tastes?"
As she spoke, she handed the wine glass to Xiao Jin Heng. "Here, you stinky boy, have a couple of sips too!"
Xiao Jin Heng: "..."
"Just try a sip, it's very sweet!" Xiao Xi Tian pushed the glass closer to Xiao Jin Heng again.
"So troublesome!" Xiao Jin Heng couldn't help but complain, took the cup, and took a small sip.
The unique sweetness and mellow aroma of the wine spread through his mouth, a taste Xiao Jin Heng had never experienced before...
The fruit wines brewed by the imperial wine masters were already delicious and pleasant to drink, but the wine brewed by Little Village Girl was more mellow and delicious than any fruit wine (drinking is prohibited for minors!).
"How is it, is it good?" Xiao Xi Tian asked.
Xiao Jin Heng licked his lips, still wanting more. He hummed and said, "No wonder Bu Yi went to such great lengths to get the recipe. Once this wine is sold on the market, it will definitely be very popular..."
It seemed buying a shop for Little Village Girl was the right decision. The more money she earned in the future, the more she could silence those old officials.
Xiao Xi Tian's eyes curved with joy upon hearing this. "Then, how much silver do you think this bottle of wine should sell for?"
Although a price had been set before, Bu Yi, being greedy for money, raised the price, selling a bottle of wine for fifty taels, or even a hundred taels...
Xiao Xi Tian felt this price was unreasonable. The wealthy and influential were rich, and fifty taels of silver was nothing to them.
But ordinary people couldn't afford it...
"How about five taels of silver?" Xiao Jin Heng said thoughtfully.
This was already the lowest price he could accept...
Xiao Xi Tian pondered for a moment in her heart and nodded. "Okay, five taels of silver it is!"
A bottle of wine is fifteen hundred milliliters, and it's filled to the brim, which is indeed a good deal.
The key is that the wine tastes good, doesn't cause headaches, and is suitable for both men and women. The Huadiao wine and Huangsu wine on the market are sold for seven or eight taels of silver...
"Remember to pay the rent!" Xiao Jin Heng pinched Xiao Xi Tian's chubby face and smiled slightly.
Xiao Xi Tian rolled her eyes. "I know, I know, you debt collector!"
The two little buns had already discussed that when Kong Xing Zhuo returned, they would have him transport the wine to the shop in the capital, and then trouble Brother Jiang Tun to find a manager to help manage the shop...
"Your Highness, Your Highness, Commander Kong is back!" Granny Jin called from the doorway of the study.
Xiao Jin Heng's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "Speak of the devil, have him come in..."
A moment later, Kong Xing Zhuo walked in, panting, with sweat beading on his forehead. "Phew, this weather is so hot and dry, like hell!"
If it weren't for the water wheels helping with irrigation in Da Shui Village, the crops in the fields would have probably all withered from drought...
"Hello, Brother Kong!" Xiao Xi Tian greeted sweetly.
"Hey, hey, little county princess, hello!" Kong Xing Zhuo quickly bowed, then took out a small toy from his embrace and handed it to Xiao Xi Tian with both hands. "Little county princess, I bought this from the capital for you..."
Xiao Xi Tian hummed, took it, and looked at it.
It was a small bone china piece shaped like a rabbit, exquisitely made and cute, perfect as a toy.
"Thank you, Brother Kong..." Xiao Xi Tian happily accepted the gift, her face beaming.
Xiao Jin Heng coughed lightly upon seeing this. "Commander Kong, let's talk business!"
Kong Xing Zhuo took out a handkerchief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then recounted the news he had gathered in the capital in detail...
Xiao Jin Heng was slightly surprised upon hearing this. "Where did the Huang Residence get so many nuns?"
"That's what I'm saying! Huang Fu Lin said that his master has never shown his face. Every time he comes to collect money or give instructions, he sends nuns to handle it, so... so there must be something suspicious about this!"
When things are abnormal, there must be a demon; when words are not from the heart, there must be a ghost.
"Where is Huang Fu Lin?" Xiao Jin Heng frowned.
Kong Xing Zhuo said, "I... I threw him to the Censorate!"
Xiao Jin Heng: "..."