The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 19 The Honest and Reliable Partner

The environment on the second floor of Zuixiang Building is really good. There are screens between each table, and all kinds of green plants and exquisite porcelain are placed around it ingeniously.

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Isn't Brother Tie Niu not used to it?"

Tieniu scratched his head, and said a little embarrassedly: "I'm not afraid of your jokes, Mr. Huan, I usually don't even want to go to a restaurant. This is the first time I have come to such a grand place."

Jia Huan laughed at himself: "Actually, it's also my first time."

Tie Niu smiled foolishly, although he was honest, he was not stupid, Jia Huan's calm demeanor did not seem like he was here for the first time, not to mention that Jia Huan was the son of the Duke's Mansion, so he had never seen anything in the world?

In fact, Jia Huan did not lie. It was indeed his first time to visit Zuixianglou. As the concubine of the Jia family, he only had two taels of silver a month, and was still under the supervision of Aunt Zhao. The minimum consumption on the second floor of Zuixianglou was two taels of silver. How can he afford it?However, in his previous life, he traveled abroad with his family at a young age, and stayed in top hotels at home and abroad. He really didn't pay attention to places like Zuixianglou, so he was very calm. Of course, the 30 taels of silver he just earned from Xu Xiaopang was his real confidence.

Soon, a table of sumptuous dishes was served one after another, including Zuixianglou's signature roast goose, stewed elbow with ham, duck with goose feet, chicken skin soup with sour bamboo shoots, fish with pine nuts, and marinated civet cats.It was so fragrant and hot that even Jia Huan couldn't help moving his index finger, while Tieniu's eyes widened and he couldn't stop swallowing his saliva, and Qian Huai was already salivating.

"Get up the chopsticks!" Jia Huan held up the chopsticks in a very considerate manner, and Qian Huai and Tieniu immediately switched on the mode of wind and clouds, and within a short time, a table full of delicacies was swept away.

Tieniu hiccupped happily, his eye sockets were a little moist, he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and said a little embarrassedly: "I have grown up so much, I have never eaten such delicious food."

Qian Huai said triumphantly, "So you have entrusted the blessing of my third master today, kid."

Jia Huan glanced at Tie Niu's big hands full of chilblains, and couldn't help sighing secretly about the suffering in the world. There are always only a few people in society who are truly comfortable with food and clothing, and most people are busy with three meals and one night every day.

"How many people are there in Big Brother Tieniu's family?" Jia Huan asked with concern.

After a few bowls of turbid wine, Tie Niu was not as embarrassed as before, and replied in a buzzing voice: "There are only three people, besides the old mother, there is also a younger brother."

"Where's your father?" Qian Huai asked out loud, but Jia Huan gave him a glaring look.

A gleam flashed in Tie Niu's eyes and he said sadly: "It's long gone. I didn't have it when I was five years old. My brother was born not long ago."

As soon as this remark came out, Jia Huan fell silent, and Qian Huai couldn't help but show sympathy. He lost his father when he was young and has a newborn brother. Just thinking about it, you know how difficult it is.

Tie Niu is obviously not a talkative person, but he probably has been pent up in his heart for too long. It is rare for someone to confide in front of him. He continued with a bit of alcohol, "My father is originally from Shandong. That year, he met a group of naughty women molesting women on the street. He couldn't see it and stopped him. Unexpectedly, he angered the other party and started fighting. The other party even used a knife. My father got red-eyed and hit hard. One was killed on the spot, two were seriously injured, and five were slightly injured."

Qian Huai stuck out his tongue and said, "One hit eight? Is your father so good at hitting? It can't be bragging!"

Tie Niu said disdainfully: "My father is a hunter in the mountains. He is not only good at archery, but also has good martial arts. If ten or eight men can't get close to him, how can those rascals be his opponents!"

Qian Huai suddenly said: "So that's the case, what happened later?"

Tie Niu's eyes darkened and he said: "Later my father was arrested by the government and sentenced to be executed in autumn. My mother was worried that those rascals would retaliate, so she took me and my younger brother away from home, and came to the capital, relying on helping others to do handyman, sewing and mending. Due to years of needlework, my eyesight is not very good now, so I stay at home and do some housework within my ability. Fortunately, our brothers have grown up now and are able to serve her elderly."

Although it was just a few words, the bitterness in it can be imagined. In contrast, Jia Huan felt that he was really lucky. He was born in a wealthy family in his two lives, and he really didn't suffer much.

Qian Huai didn't open any pot and lifted that pot, he slapped his forehead and said, "No wonder you are afraid of those two rascals, it's because of this."

Tieniu shook his head and said: "I'm not afraid of them, I'm just worried about hurting someone and getting a lawsuit. My old lady has no one to take care of me. My younger brother is only 13 years old. Although he has some strength, this kid is restless. He plays with knives and sticks with those gangsters all day long. He is very brave. I have been wiping his ass since I was a child. This kid may be folded in that day."

Jia Huan smiled and comforted him and said, "That's not the case. Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin and Tang Taizong Li Shimin also liked to play with knives and sticks and make friends, but later they became emperors. My brother may be famous in the future."

Tieniu shook his head and smiled wryly: "If no one's head falls to the ground, he will burn incense, and if he still stands out, don't even think about it in this life."

"There are no absolutes." Jia Huan chuckled, and changed the subject, "Brother Tieniu is in the ice business?"

Tieniu quickly shook his head and said, "Ice business is not something ordinary people can afford. I just help people transport ice and earn some coolie money."

Jia Huan asked strangely: "It's freezing outside, the river is frozen, and ice cubes can't be taken casually. How can ordinary people not be able to do business in ice cubes?"

Tie Niu smiled wryly and said, "Master Huan lives in a mansion, so he didn't know the way of doing it. The ice business is not that simple."

Qian Huai interjected with a smile: "Third Lord, ten fingers don't touch Yangchun water. How did you know that the business of making ice cubes is controlled by the government, and ordinary people can't do it."

Jia Huan said in amazement: "Can this be handled?"

Tieniu nodded, and explained it to Jia Huan in detail, and the latter suddenly realized.

It turns out that ordinary people can’t get involved in the ice business, because ice harvesting in winter requires government approval, and the largest ice mining rinks near Beijing are still managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, namely Beihai, Yongding River and Tongzi River. Every year after winter, the rivers are cleaned and dams are built to store water. When the river freezes after the severe cold, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will organize ice mining.

Of course, in addition to the official business -operated ice rinks, there are also some people with doors that can get the approval and open private ice rinks. Those who have no approved privately open river ice are illegal. Tieniu is currently helping to transport ice cubes in a private ice rink. The wages are calculated according to weight and road. Nothing can be earned. Of course, there is a help of animals, but buying animals is also a lot of investment.

"Brother Tieniu can earn more than 100 coins a day, isn't it about three taels of silver a month? Oh my god, I only have five hundred coins a month!" Qian Huai immediately became jealous when he did the calculation.

Jia Huan said: "If you are envious, Brother Tieniu can introduce you to work in the ice rink. As long as you can stand the ice and snow, the cold wind and rain, and have the strength to move two hundred catties of ice, you can earn money."

Qian Huai shrank his neck, and said with a sneer, "I'm afraid this servant can't stand it."

Tie Niu smiled and said: "Brother Qian Huai, I'm a coolie, and I earn hard-earned money. It's not as light as you are in the Duke's Mansion. You have food, housing, clothing, and monthly money. Moreover, the annual ice-harvesting period is only one month after the severe cold, not all year round."

Thinking about it, Qian Huai suddenly became less envious, and said with a smile, "That's right!"

Jia Huan's heart moved, and he asked, "Is there an ice cellar at Brother Tieniu's house?"

Tie Niu shook his head and said, "Ice cellars are different from other common earth cellars. It costs a lot of money to build an ice cellar, and it's useless to have an ice cellar. I can't afford it."

Indeed, the only people who can afford ice cubes in summer are those rich and noble families. Ordinary people can just play fans, and those who use ice cubes to cool off the heat and drink ice-cold wine are all upper-class nobles.

Jia Huan pondered for a moment before saying: "Brother Tieniu, how big is your yard? Can you dig an ice cellar?"

Tie Niu was slightly stunned and said: "Our home is in a village two miles away from Dongzhimen. There is a small farmyard and a place to dig an ice cellar. Why does Mr. Huan ask this?"

Jia Huan said happily, "How long will it take to build a small ice cellar with a square of two feet?"

Tieniu scratched his head and said, "This...it will take at least ten days and a half months, but my house used to have a small cellar. If we renovate it, it should be enough in seven or eight days."

Jia Huan was overjoyed and said, "Brother Tieniu, do you want to cooperate and do business to make money?"

Tie Niu was taken aback, and said with a sneer: "Master Huan is joking, right? I don't know how to do business, and I don't have the capital!"

Jia Huan said with a smile: "I have the capital and the ideas. Brother Tie Niu only needs to contribute. How about I give you [-]% of the shares?"

Tie Niu looked embarrassed. Although the Third Master Huan in front of him is approachable and generous, but he is old and has no hair on his mouth.I'm afraid that even myself will be tricked!
Jia Huan obviously understood Tie Niu's concerns, and said confidently: "Brother Tie Niu, I am sincerely partnering with you in business. If you are worried, I can put the capital with you first, and you can just tell me how much it costs. If you don't want to be a stockholder, I can pay you one tael a month. When the business starts, I will talk about two taels a month. Although it is less than your ice mining, the work is easy and long-term, unlike you who only earn a month's profit from ice mining."

(End of this chapter)