The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 62 Yinzi Money

The bunk that Tie Niu was looking for was in Nanju Xianfang. Because it was close to Dongzhimen, it was convenient for him to get ice when he went home. Jia Huan was very satisfied after seeing it, because this bunk was facing the main street, and the traffic was very busy.

"It's not bad here, how much is the rent?" Jia Huan asked.

Tie Niu hummed: "It's a bit expensive, it costs four taels of silver a month, there is a family not far away, much bigger than here, only two taels of silver, but the location is a bit remote, do you want to take a look and make a decision?"

Jia Huan shook his head resolutely and said: "No need, let's just stay here. We are in business, not choosing a house to live in. Naturally, we are looking for a place with a lot of people. Don't be greedy for cheap. If you can't make money, it's useless to rent a shop."

Tieniu scratched his head and smiled, "Hongling also said the same thing, let me find a place with a lot of people, that's right!"

Jia Huan laughed and said, "Sister Hongling still understands me. By the way, how is sister Hongling?"

"Well, she also asked me to say hello to you, Third Master." Tieniu smiled shyly.

Tieniu was always honest and honest, but when he found out that Hong Ling was still perfect that night, he felt like he had found a treasure, and he cherished and loved him even more. When his daughter-in-law pointed east, he turned east, and when he pointed west, he turned west, not daring to disobey in the slightest.

Next, Jia Huan signed a one-year lease with the landlord, renting two and depositing one, a total of 12 taels of silver. After paying the money and pressing his fingerprints, the formalities were completed.

"By the way, the third master hasn't said what kind of business he plans to do yet?" Tie Niu asked a little worried. The shop rent was four taels of silver, plus the wages of himself and Tiehu, it was six taels of silver a month, which was not a small amount, so he was very worried that the money would not be earned back, and the business would fail in the end.

Jia Huan smiled mysteriously and said, "No one has seen this thing before. It's called ice cream. It's a great summer treat. I'm sure many people will rush to eat it."

"Bingjilin?" Tie Niu and Tie Hu looked at each other with puzzled expressions on their faces. So, what is this all about?
Tie Hu licked his lips and said, "I've only seen roasted chicken, roasted chicken, beggar's chicken, and Yanju chicken, but I've never heard of iced chicken. Besides, can this chicken taste good when it's iced?"

Jia Huan laughed and said, "It's not chicken. Forget it. Let's call it ice cream. Here's the list of ingredients. Prepare it at home tomorrow. I'll teach you how to make it after school. The recipe is very simple, but it must be kept secret, and no one else can steal it. Otherwise, this business will not be possible."

Seeing that Jia Huan handed over such an important formula to him, Tieniu was both nervous and moved, and he solemnly patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry, third master, I will keep the secret recipe well and never let it out, even if the emperor comes to ask for it."

Jia Huan said with a smile: "That's not the case. If the emperor really wants it, I can give it to him. Although money is good, but he only has one life, and the emperor will not fancy our three melons and two dates."

Tie Niu said with a simple smile: "That's right, by the way, I can't read, third master, please read it to me, what is written on it?"

Jia Huan then read the materials that needed to be prepared, and the Tie family brothers couldn't help but say, "This thing even needs milk, eggs, and sugar. How can ordinary people afford it?"

Jia Huan nodded and said: "The cost is a bit high, but there are not a few people who can afford it under the feet of the emperor, and after you become a proficient hand, you should be able to do it for less than ten cents."

Tie Hu heard the words and said: "That's about the same. Although it's a little expensive, but if it's really delicious, I believe there are still many people who are willing to spend money to try something new."

"It's getting late, I have to go back to the mansion, Brother Tieniu, tidy up here, buy what you need, just report to me when the time comes, Huzi, give me a ride." Jia Huan winked secretly, turned and walked out.

Tie Hu was a clever kid, and immediately followed him out.

Jia Huan and Tie Hu came to the street, first took away Qian Huai who was waiting there, and then said in a low voice: "Qian Huai is not very reliable, we must keep important things from him in the future."

Tiehu nodded and said: "Is there any urgent matter for the third master?"

Jia Huan nodded, took out a portrait and handed it to Tie Hu, and said solemnly: "This man is called Lai Wang, you find someone to watch him first, and I will make arrangements then."

Tie Hu just opened the portrait and glanced casually, then nodded without hesitation and said: "No problem, just leave it to me. This guy has a big black mole on the corner of his mouth, which is easy to recognize."

Jia Huan stared at Tie Hu and said, "Are you not afraid that I will let you kill and set fire?"

Tiehu shook his head and said: "I believe that the third master will not harm me, and you let me kill and set fire to the third master, you can't escape the third master, what are you afraid of!"

Jia Huan explained with a smile: "This Laiwang is a steward in the Rongguo Mansion. I have a problem with his master, and this person is responsible for helping his master put loan sharks outside. Just keep an eye on him, and then I will try to deal with him."

Hearing this, Tie Hu said angrily: "I hate three kinds of people the most in my life. One is the corrupt officials who fish and meat the common people, the other is the tortoise (gong) who forces the good into prostitution, and the third is the bully who lends money at usury. Since this person is a loan shark, he will definitely not be a good bird. To deal with this kind of bastard, I Tie Hu is obliged. Even if the third master asks me to kill him, I will not blink an eye."

Jia Huan was sweating secretly, he didn't expect Tie Hu to hate loan sharks so much, guessing why, he quickly said: "That's not the case, killing people will pay for their lives, in the imperial city, at the foot of the emperor, it's very difficult to get away with a human life, there's no need to risk your own life for this kind of person."

Tiehu gritted his teeth and said: "What the third master said is right, but I just hate these rich and unkind animals. I think my mother took me and my brother to flee to the capital. I didn't know the place well and had no relatives. I happened to be sick again, so I had to borrow twenty cents. Putting poisonous snakes, using everything, even took me away a few times and threatened my mother and brother, if it wasn't for my fate, I would have burped a long time ago!"

Recalling those hellish and dark three years, Tie Hu was still afraid and hated, and said with red eyes: "I was only two or three years old, or I would have to crush the eggs of those beasts."

Looking at the deep hatred in Tie Hu's eyes, Jia Huan guessed that the debt collectors did more than just do those bad things back then, and there must have been more outrageous actions.

Just like a folk saying: loan sharks, one repays three;
Therefore, Tiehu and his family were able to pay off the usury within three years, which is already a blessing in misfortune. Just in this capital city under the foot of the emperor, there are countless poor people who are forced to death every year because they can't pay off the usury.

Although the inhuman usury of loan sharks was illegal in the Jin Dynasty, and the law of the Jin Dynasty also explicitly prohibited it, but because of its high profits, it still lured many unkind people to take risks for the rich, and generally those who dared to lend loan sharks were people with big backgrounds and backers. They colluded with the government, and ordinary people could not sue them even if they wanted to.

According to the original description in "Dream of Red Mansions", Wang Xifeng handed over her own private money, plus the monthly delayed monthly payment to Laiwang for private lending. The annual interest income was more than 1000 taels of silver. It is conceivable that the profit is so high.

However, lending loan sharks is illegal after all, and has a bad reputation, and people often scold her at the back, so Wang Xifeng has been doing it very covertly. Not many people in Jia's mansion know about it, except for Laiwang and his wife, only Ping'er knows.

And the big move Jia Huan planned was Wang Xifeng’s loan sharks. Ning Rong and his father were heroes in the founding of the country. Jia’s mother always cherishes feathers the most, and cares about the reputation of Jia’s family the most. Mrs. Wang also considers herself a good person. If these two know that Wang Xifeng releases loan sharks outside and ruins the reputation of Jia’s family, hehe, what do you think they will do?
In this way, even if Wang Xifeng doesn't sue for a lawsuit, she will be abolished, at least she won't want to be a housekeeper anymore, and she who has lost the right to manage the back house is no fart to Jia Huan, so she can rest easy from now on!

Besides, Jia Huan gave Tie Hu a few more careful instructions, and then he asked Qian Huai to take a carriage back to his house.

Qian Huai probably sensed that Jia Huan didn't trust him, so he didn't ask any questions along the way, and even offered to show his loyalty: "Don't worry, Third Master, the servant will never reveal to anyone about your renting a shop for business."

"What if the wife asks?" Jia Huan asked rhetorically.

Qian Huai's expression froze slightly, and he said in an embarrassing way: "Madam...you don't even ask."

Jia Huan patted Qian Huai's shoulder calmly and said, "That's the best, work hard, I won't treat you badly."

This kid Qian Huai is not very reliable, Jia Huan already intends to replace him, but this kid knows a lot of things, such as Bao's second daughter-in-law, so even if he wants to replace him, he has to find a way to get the best of both worlds.
When Jia Huan returned home, it was already evening, Ping'er had already prepared the meal, and was looking forward to seeing it through. There was a clear look of worry on her pretty face, but seeing Jia Huan came back, she neither complained nor asked much.

　This is the last free chapter and it will be available tomorrow.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)