In the middle of the twelfth lunar month, there was finally some fireworks and excitement in the city.

No matter how difficult the days are, the New Year must be passed. After the fifteenth day, people will still come out to buy things for the New Year.

This year, the merchants are a bit conscientious. Perhaps the business has been sluggish for a long time before, and the prices of things that are bound to increase at the end of previous years are only raised a little this year.

The hatchback is well-equipped, and there are more people who are struggling to buy things to prepare for the New Year.

Compared with ordinary days, Chinese New Year is a big deal for every household.

Zhang Fangyuan looked at the thick snow that was being shoveled out every day in the city, and he looked up at the dark sky. In the city surrounded by red lanterns, it was rare to have some happiness. After the new year, it will be better. It will turn sunny after one or two months of cold, which just means that next year's spring will come later.

The charcoal fires hoarded in the warehouse have almost been sold out. Zhang Fangyuan transported all the charcoal fires from his family to the city before the Chinese New Year, and discussed with Xu He. The people are all preparing for the New Year. The price will be lowered by two yuan, and the price will be returned after the next year. First, the charcoal must be sold out in the winter of the new year, and second, it should be a reward to the people.

As soon as the news came out, the common people were really pleasantly surprised. A large wave of people poured into the warehouse to buy charcoal fire, and the business returned to its peak.

Zhang Fangyuan didn't go over and stare at it. He came to the city to buy some new year's goods and go back to prepare for the New Year. The village can buy the best chicken, duck and fish meat. It's not necessary to work too much, but there are fewer at home. Cake and fruit, some precious meat.

Xu He confessed that he was asked to buy some good mutton and go home. It was cold this year, and a group of women and husbands in the Zhang family discussed that they wanted to eat mutton pot.

This year is probably more lively than last year. The two cousins ​​of the uncle's family are back, and the first cousin has added a daughter.

Not only that, Zhang Fangyuan's sixth uncle and his family will go back to their hometown for New Year's dinner this year. Although they don't expect to see the sixth uncle and his wife, but this year the family has no charcoal to burn, so they asked him to come.

Zhang Fangyuan neither agreed nor refused, and asked his sixth aunt to beg Xu He by herself.

Previously, his sixth aunt looked down on the farmer and Xu He, and when the child was full moon, she shabby Xu He, and asked her to ask Xu He for charcoal, which was ashamed of her face and her arrogance.

Xu He is a magnanimous person, no matter how estranged he was, his father-in-law's generation had always been close brothers, and now that there was a disaster, it would be unreasonable not to help him, so he gave dozens of catties of charcoal.

Aunt Six felt that she was inferior to others. Seeing Zhang Fangyuan in full bloom, the neighbors in the city boasted that Zhang Fangyuan was a kind person. Knowing that she was a cousin of the Zhang family, she became more polite to their family members. If there is anything, I also know that I have to rely on relatives in my husband's line.

His sixth uncle was able to move to the city before because his wife's family gave him a lot of subsidies. He was always short in front of his daughter-in-law and was often called around. Li Ke is much more diligent than before.

This time for the New Year, the whole family must go to the countryside.

Xu He didn't say anything, but only asked Zhang Fangyuan to prepare more New Year's goods, so that he can show his skills even if there are many people during the New Year.

In the past, I originally said that I would undertake the banquet in the village. The men in the family slaughtered pigs, and he would be the cook. They are all businessmen, so life would not be too bad, but I didn’t expect that once the business was done, it would become more and more The older he got, and the takeaway family had two big cubs, the previous plans would only come to nothing.

In addition to purchasing these matters, Zhang Fangyuan also needs to check the account books of the two shops in the city. After the liquidation, next year will be a new start.

In the second half of this year, the business of the toothbrush shop is not very good. Over the years, there have been people making their own toothbrush, and some people have been leisurely grinding and mixing tooth powder by themselves. This shop can be regarded as a time-honored brand, but some people still buy it.

Although it is not as rich and powerful as before, but every month, there is still enough food and clothing for ordinary people to eat for a year.

After Zhang Fangyuan checked the account, he sent some rewards to the two buddies. The buddies are very grateful. This year, whether ordinary people or merchants, life is not easy. The old boss gave rewards during the Chinese New Year. It is a hundred times more happy to get the reward.

Zhang Fangyuan's bounties are also increasing every year, and they are all old buddies who have been with him for several years. It is not easy for people in the city to find errands, and it is not easy for merchants to find sincere buddies.

Only by cherishing both ends can it last for a long time.

After inspecting Linglong's shop, Zhang Fangyuan went to his own poultry store, which was full of daily grocery stores. Today's market is busy, and their shop is even more lively, which surprised him a little.

In the second half of this year, many businesses have shrunk, and the people have tightened their pockets. There are few people who are big fish and big meat.

The poultry raised in the village was originally delivered to their poultry store by relying on Zhang Fangyuan. No one complains, the year is not good, everyone is the same, we have to be considerate of each other.

Previously, Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He were all focused on the charcoal fire business. After all, more than half of their property was on it, so they had no other thoughts to manage the business that has been depressed due to the general environment. Today he has to come over to check the accounts. , I thought I was in the wrong place for a while.

It was supposed to be a sparsely populated place, but now there are people coming and going, people buying chickens and ducks, and people carrying fresh fish can be found everywhere.

"Get out of the way, out of the way, the fresh fish from the fish pond is here!"

Hearing the sound, Zhang Fangyuan subconsciously avoided some bullock carts that were passing by. The poultry shop is not big and there are many people busy, but Zhang Fangyuan has not been spotted yet. Hearing the fresh fish coming, a few people jumped on the cart, He swiftly moved a large jar of fresh fish down and placed it at the door.

People who came to buy new year's goods swarmed around.

During the Chinese New Year, there are only a few kinds of food from the poultry shop on the table of ordinary people. Zhang Fangyuan expected that the business would be better than the previous two months, but he did not expect that so many people would come to buy, and they all lined up Come, come along the way, but I don't see poultry shops in other places also have this kind of business.

Zhang Fangyuan wanted to shrink to the side to see what was going on, but unfortunately he was so big that he couldn't hide if he wanted to. Soon, people who had nothing to do in line saw him.

"Boss Zhang! You are here today too!"

The woman made a loud voice, and all the people in line looked at Zhang Fangyuan. Because he had been selling charcoal in a charcoal shop for half a month, many people who had bought charcoal recognized him.

When they saw people, they all greeted each other warmly.

Zhang Fangyuan nodded with a smile: "Come over and have a look. Are you all out shopping for new year's goods?"

"Isn't that right, the year is still worth living. It is a year to live with sorrow and worry, and it is also a year to live with joy. Maybe next year will be fine."

Zhang Fangyuan responded: "It's very good to have such a mentality."

"We specially came to the poultry store here to buy. Boss Zhang is kind and has never raised the price of charcoal fire. Instead, the price has dropped a little after the Chinese New Year. Everyone is grateful and will buy it in Boss Zhang's poultry store. thing."

The woman was talkative, and she spoke cheerfully, and a line of ordinary people who lined up also echoed.

"That's right, the chickens, ducks, ducks, and fish of Zhang's Poultry Shop are fresh and fresh. It's the most conscientious thing that the prices haven't risen yet during the Chinese New Year."

Zhang Fangyuan laughed. The reason why the price didn’t increase was because he didn’t come over in time to announce the price increase. The words of the common people made him embarrassed to raise the price: “This year’s drought is over and there will be snowstorm again. It’s not easy for everyone. Buy with confidence. That is, the prices of items at Zhang’s Poultry Shop will not increase during the Chinese New Year this year.”

As soon as the words fell, the people in the poultry shop cheered.

Zhang Fangyuan chatted with everyone here before going in. The manager had heard the boss's arrangement early, took the account books, made tea, and tidied up the inner room early for Zhang Fangyuan to check the accounts.

"Is there really no price increase this year?"

Zhang Fangyuan looked through the account books and looked at the accounting on it. Their poultry business started to go uphill since the beginning of the twelfth lunar month.

A smile floated on the steward's face: "My boss is kind-hearted, so it's no wonder everyone is full of praise when they come to buy these days. They all say that you are keeping the common people alive and doing good deeds."

Zhang Fangyuan said: "The other houses didn't raise a few pennies. Our shop has sufficient supply. Instead of raising the price to earn a few pennies more, it's better to make small profits and sell the goods in the village. As far as the current business is concerned, It will not earn less than the price increase."

"See you, sir."

In fact, Zhang Fangyuan did not expect that the stability of the price of charcoal fire would make the common people so grateful and keep it in their hearts, so that the business of Zhang's other places also improved. This is not an effect that can be bought with money.

He closed the account books, and a flash of inspiration suddenly dawned on him. The so-called fame and fortune, no wonder fame came first, while profit came second. He had tasted the sweetness deeply.

It's no wonder that those big businessmen who are officials are very good at whitewashing their faces even though they are dirty behind their backs. It's not for their own good looks, but for a name.

As the saying goes, a big tree attracts the wind, and the benefits are great, and the top needs a name as a cover, otherwise, no matter how much profit it is, it will be blown by the wind.

Zhang Fangyuan felt that he had got the idea, and he was in a good mood. He gave out rewards to the guys in the poultry shop, and ordered to give away ten eggs for every purchase of two hundred cash in our shop. Everyone was even more happy.

It was getting late when I was driving a large cart of New Year's goods back to the village, and when the unitary hour was approaching, the snowflakes slowly drifted down again.

Zhang Fangyuan drove an ox cart to the city, and returned to the house covered in snow.

The door of the side hall was wide open, and Zhang Fangyuan jumped off the cart with licorice and astragalus to move the new year's goods into the house. He looked up and saw the two children who were wrapped up tightly today, and the fluffy little brocade covered their heads. Circled, the face is more rounded.

At this moment, the two guys were sitting in front of the charcoal brazier to warm up, stretching and shrinking their little hands, looking like adults warming up.

"Daddy, come and roast chestnuts!"

Brother Xiaoli raised his head when he heard the footsteps, and saw the old man standing at the door hastily got off the stool. Charcoal fire basin: "Dad, quickly pick it up."

Zhang Fangyuan squatted down, and poked the big chestnut with a small opening in the brazier with a small wooden stick: "I said how to warm up the fire so obediently, but you are thinking about eating, you are too greedy."

He pinched Brother Li's cheeks, the two children had a good appetite since they were young, and they have always been chubby.

It will be three years old in the beginning of spring next year. Although brother Li has grown a lot taller than when he was held in his arms, he is still round, but his elder brother is much faster, even though he is the same age. , but when the two children stand together, it is obvious that the elder brother is going to be a bit taller, maybe Tiaoer is taller, and looks thinner than the little brother Li.

Zhang Fangyuan joked before that one cared about growing tall, and the other only cared about getting fat.

Xu He scolded: "Little brother is different from a boy. I couldn't tell the difference when I was born, but I can't tell when I'm older?"

Zhang Fangyuan promised that the elder brother's skeleton is much bigger than that of Xiao Li's brother. It is true that boys and younger brothers are different in nature. Jin put it among the children, and no one would believe him when he said he was four years old.

Ruijin is smart and smart, and his playfulness is not as big as that of ordinary children. Zhang Fangyuan plans to find a wife for him when he is three years old next year to prepare for enlightenment. He is also very interested in his little dad teaching counting these days. After studying for so long, I don't feel tired of learning.

Nowadays, there is no one in the Zhang family who can study well, but his mother was a woman who could read poems and books. When she was alive, his mother urged him to study, hoping that he could make achievements in the imperial examinations. It's a pity. He has some brains, but he is not willing to delve into the article. It is very happy to go up the mountain and down the river.

No matter what his mother said, it didn't work, and in the end, he had to follow him. Now he doesn't ask Ruijin to get into the imperial examination, but anyone who can read and write, and when he is in his twenties, he can pass the exam as a scholar, so does his Zhang family. It was very consummated, and it should be regarded as the fulfillment of Ruijin's grandmother's wish.

Xu He was originally studious, and Zhang Fangyuan wanted to send his child to Kaimeng. He was very happy, so the couple agreed to send Ruijin to Kaimeng when the weather was warmer next spring.

"Is that sent to Kaimeng in the city or something?"

Zhang Fangyuan knew what Xu He meant by asking this question: "There is no village school near our village. I don't plan to send the one in my village. It's not because of past grievances."

It's really Fei Lian's misbehavior, not the material to be a teacher.

Ever since the little child in the family was lost, Fei Lian had been depressed for a while, and after the scar healed he forgot the pain and then spent all day entangled with that little idiot, leaving Xu Shaochun in the cold.

But Xu Shaochun is very open-minded, with the only son in the family, Fei's mother looked at the child's face, and because the little one was really out of shape, she treated Xu Shaochun well and lived well.

"At that time, let's send him to study in the city. I'll run around to find out. Whether it's a school or a private school, the teacher must be selected."

Xu He also thought the same way: "I will go with you at that time, but I just thought about something, if the child is to be sent to the city to start Meng, it will be very inconvenient to go back and forth."

One sentence clicked on Zhang Fangyuan: "You mean you want to buy a house in the city?"

"It depends on what you want." Xu He laughed: "I alone can't be the master."

Zhang Fangyuan pondered for a moment, in fact, this house in the village is quite comfortable to live in, and even if the money spent on repairing the house in the village was used to buy a decent house in the city, the previous business was **** in the city. On the other hand, he considered money and convenience, so he did not consider houses in the city.

Now that Xu He mentions it, he feels that it is very important to have a house in the city. One is that there is already a lot of business in the city, and he often has to run there. Now that the child is older , I want to study in the city, it is more convenient to have a place to live.

Another thing is that ordinary people like to have a house in the city, and it will be nice to talk about it in the future, and it will be easier to find a wife.

The beloved son of the parents has a far-reaching plan for it, and Zhang Fangyuan can be considered to have experienced it.

You don’t need to think too much about it. After a little thought, I feel that it’s time to buy a house in the city. I used to worry about money, but now I want to buy a house in the city. It’s just a matter of size.

The two discussed it and calculated it after the next year. If you have a lot of money on hand, you should buy a big one. If your money is tight, you should buy a small one for emergency.

At the end of the first month, all the charcoal fires that Zhang Fangyuan had hoarded were sold out, more than half a month earlier than expected, and he went to return the warehouse.

After the beginning of the new year, the snow is still falling, and the people are already worried, but Zhang Fangyuan knows that it is the end of this severe cold, so he is like a tiger in autumn, after such a storm, the sky will change.

There are so many people affected by the disaster this year, and those who can buy charcoal fires can survive. However, there are also many poor families who cannot afford charcoal fires and rice.

Those who survived the fate were also suffering from illnesses. Passing by Qingshui Alley, mournful coughing could be heard everywhere.

The county government has done a good deed, raising money after New Year's Eve to help the victims of the disaster.

Originally, there were thousands of catties of charcoal in the warehouse of the Zhang family. He felt sorry for the victims, so he simply donated it to the Yamen as relief supplies.

The county government took the lead in fundraising, and the big households in Siyang City all bought it. It can not only give the county government a good impression, but also win the hearts of the people. Such a matter of fame and fortune, all merchants who have seen it are willing to do it.

For this reason, many people donated rice, cloth, money, candles, and medicine, and the amount of donation was not small. Zhang Fangyuan seemed a little unknown among them.

But he didn't want to rely on a little intention to intend anything.

After cleaning up this business, Zhang Fangyuan didn't intend to continue to operate the charcoal fire. He took advantage of the time to make a fortune instead of doing a long-term business.

After the couple settled the settlement, they bought more than five hundred taels of charcoal fire and invested in it. Now they are all sold out, and the profit has tripled.

At the end of the year, the business of the poultry shop was good, and the income was quite good. After years of hard work, the family has saved several thousand taels.

Zhang Fangyuan didn't dare to slack off either. After the snow melted and spring began, the 100 mu of land that had been vacant for a year would have to be cultivated, otherwise it would be a loss if the money wasted and abandoned in one place.

External business requires money to turn around, and the two plan to spend 1,000 taels to buy a house in the city after careful calculation.

In the village, one or two hundred taels can build a house with several acres of land, and in the city, one thousand taels can still buy a house with two entrances. The exact size depends on the location.

Although they already have a house on hand, but they are planning to buy a new house, which is still a house in the city, the couple are still very excited, just like the first house they built back then.

The couple went for a trip to the city together, with a budget in mind, but Xiao Ruijin's Mr. Kai Meng hadn't been found well, and there was no conclusion on where to buy the house. It looked like headless chickens.

Fortunately, due to the disaster, the introducer who sold houses in the city had no business, so he was extra patient with the two of them, guiding people to see the houses in the city with every detail.

After looking for a few days, I looked at all the houses that could be bought in the city. The couple picked and picked, and chose three places.

One is a house close to the largest Baixiang Academy in the city. Once you enter a larger house, you can reach the academy in a few steps across the street. If you live here, you can hear the voices of scholars reciting poems every day, and the reading atmosphere is very strong, and children will enter school very quickly.

The disadvantages are that the place is small, the price is expensive, the students get up early and stay late, the sound of reading often sounds, and the master teaches a series, which is somewhat disturbing for people to rest.

The second is a second-entry house in the east of the city. The house is very large, the surrounding is very peaceful, and the environment is also very quiet. There are many masters and officials living here, but the location is a little remote, and they want to go to the city to have fun. What to do, it is very inconvenient without a carriage.

The third is that in the busy city, the price is still moderate, you can eat, drink and have fun when you go out, and it is very convenient to go anywhere, but noise is inevitable. However, there is a curfew in Siyang, and it will be quiet after the appointment, but it will be noisy during the day.

For a while, the couple hesitated, not knowing which one to choose.

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