"Heh heh, Xiao Qing has grown up and knows to help the family make money?"
Fang Er teased her by lightly scraping her nose.
Xiao Qing's face flushed red again. "Ah! Young master, you're so annoying! I'm talking seriously. On such a hot day, this ice cream is sure to make a lot of money!"
"There's no one at home! Zhuzi has gone outside the city, and tomorrow Huzizi and Zhang Bo will also depart for Jiangnan. Only Dali and Ergou are left at home."
Fang Er said helplessly.
"Oh." Xiao Qing nodded regretfully and continued to eat her ice cream.
"However, it's not impossible. When the restaurant opens, we can sell it there. It will just take a little longer, perhaps into the evening."
Fang Er finished the mung bean ice cream in his bowl and comfortably slumped back in his chair, rubbing his cooling stomach.
The next morning.
Zhang Bo and Huzizi led their men, along with a few new male servants from the household, and retainers from the Cheng and Yuchi families. A group of over twenty people departed from Chunming Gate, heading towards Jiangnan.
Fang Er, followed by Dali and Xiao Qing, arrived at the neighboring residence of Magistrate Zhang.
Without any announcement, Old Man Zhang led Fang Er directly into the courtyard.
Magistrate Zhang was discussing business matters with his servants. Upon seeing Fang Er enter, he quickly rose to greet him.
"Hahaha, Brother Fang, what a rare guest! Please, sit. Someone, serve tea!"
Fang Er looked with surprise at the chairs in the courtyard, identical to those in his own home.
"I visited your residence a few days ago and found these chairs much more comfortable than the Hu stools. So, I had some made to match. I hope you don't mind, Brother Fang."
Magistrate Zhang, noticing Fang Er's expression, knew the reason for his surprise.
"What is there to mind? They are just ideas. You're welcome to copy them."
Fang Er shook his head and sat down in a chair. He had no intention of profiting from this idea, so let them learn. It was a simple design that any carpenter could replicate after seeing it once; there was nothing to keep secret. Otherwise, he wouldn't have displayed them so openly in his courtyard.
"I'm glad you don't mind, Brother Fang."
Magistrate Zhang took a cup of tea from a maid and personally handed it to Fang Er.
Fang Er quickly accepted it. "Elder Brother Zhang, you are too kind."
"There's no need for politeness. I must thank you again for your miraculous medicine. To tell you the truth, these past few days, I've felt like a truly superior man!"
Magistrate Zhang glanced at Xiao Qing, who stood behind Fang Er, and then leaned in to whisper in Fang Er's ear.
Fang Er laughed heartily. "Elder Brother, be careful not to strain your back. Qing'er, you can go back now and prepare some wine and dishes."
Since the topic had been broached, Fang Er found an excuse to send Qing'er away so they could speak privately.
Seeing Qing'er leave the courtyard, Magistrate Zhang no longer held back and boomed, "How could my body possibly strain my back? The day before yesterday, a fellow townsman invited me for drinks at a pleasure house. He intended to make a fool of me, but I always carry your miraculous medicine with me. I made that fellow wait outside for a full two hours! Just thinking about his expression makes me feel better than doing the deed itself!"
"Damn it! Is this guy not afraid of exhausting himself to death!"
"Elder Brother Zhang, two hours, that's a bit much for you!" Fang Er gave him a look and then continued, "Are you not afraid your wife will be jealous, speaking so openly about this in your own courtyard?"
"Jealous of what? She's practically begging me to go out and find someone else. She hasn't gotten out of bed these past few days! Hahahaha!"
Magistrate Zhang looked at Fang Er smugly and whispered.
"My goodness, this guy has no discretion at all, talking about his private affairs in his own courtyard."
Fang Er decided he needed to distance himself from this fellow. Who knew when this loose-lipped man might blurt out his own business?
"Alright, Elder Brother Zhang, let's not talk about this anymore. I came today because I wanted to visit your horse farm. Is that convenient?"
"Convenient! Absolutely convenient! Nothing is more important than you, Brother Fang. Let's go now!"
Magistrate Zhang finished his tea and stood up.
"Then thank you, Elder Brother Zhang!"
Fang Er stood up and followed Magistrate Zhang outside.
As they exited, Old Man Zhang had already hitched up a carriage. Fang Er and Magistrate Zhang got in, and the carriage set off towards the outskirts of the city.
The ride was incredibly bumpy, and Fang Er felt as though he was about to fall apart!
Half an hour later, the carriage stopped at a manor outside Chang'an City.
The two of them alighted from the carriage.
Magistrate Zhang pointed to the manor. "This entire manor belongs to me, Elder Brother. Everyone here takes care of and raises horses for me. What do you think, it's quite large, isn't it!"
Fang Er was astonished. "Elder Brother Zhang, this whole manor is yours? How many horses do you keep here?"
"Not too many, just one or two hundred. But at its peak, I can easily manage five hundred horses!"
When it came to raising horses, Magistrate Zhang was filled with pride. He was arguably one of the largest private horse traders in Chang'an City. Most people only had ten or so. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that even with today's advanced technology, few people could raise over five hundred cattle; it was usually around a hundred. Considering the feeding conditions and lack of any epidemic prevention measures in this era, it was an absolute industry leader to be able to raise five hundred horses!
"Come, I'll take you to see the horse farm."
Magistrate Zhang led Fang Er towards the outside of the manor.
Emerging from the manor, they saw a dirt wall enclosing a vast expanse of land. Upon entering the dirt wall, Fang Er exclaimed, "Wow! So many hindquarters!"
A herd of horses roamed freely in the open space enclosed by the dirt wall, happening to pass by Fang Er and the others.
"These are all fine horses from the grasslands! Take a look, Brother Fang, pick whichever you like!"
Magistrate Zhang pulled a horse from the herd and brought it before Fang Er.
This horse had a thick nose, a high neck, strong bones, a deep and long chest, short legs, and well-developed joints and tendons. Its hooves were solid, and its coat was dense. Although Fang Er knew nothing about horses, this one looked incredibly powerful. Fang Er was instantly smitten. Compared to these, the two nag horses at his home were practically fit for slaughter.
Fang Er, still not knowledgeable about horses, simply followed the herd, observing them. He would choose whichever caught his eye.
As he was about to select the tenth horse, a small colt suddenly trotted over from a distance. Its coat was pure white, without a single blemish. A pair of large eyes blinked as it stared at the group, occasionally snorting, giving off an air of intelligence.
"This little colt was born last month. It's the offspring of the lead mare. What do you say, Brother Fang, are you interested?"
Magistrate Zhang saw Fang Er looking at the colt with apparent interest and asked.
"This entire herd has only this one pure white colt. Elder Brother Zhang, are you really willing to give it to me?"
Fang Er extended his hand towards the colt. The little fellow was unafraid and walked over, sticking out its tongue and licking Fang Er's hand twice.
"Hahahaha, Brother Fang, do you look down on me now? Never mind this one, even the lead mare, if you like her, just take her!"
Magistrate Zhang chuckled twice and said generously.