Chapter 51: Big Background (Second Update)

  There is still one more chapter, possibly after midnight.

  Brothers who still have work tomorrow, rest early... Staying up late is not good for your body, don't delay tomorrow's work and study.

  By the way, I'd like to ask you to recommend and collect this article.

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  Guancha in Shanyang (now Shanyang District, Shangqiu City, Henan Province) is a century-old wine-making family.

  Known as a drunkard, he was quite famous in the local area. By the time of Guanque's generation, they had even opened up a wine tavern, and business was booming.

  However, the emergence of Shuihuajiao had a huge impact on the existing wine industry.

  Generally, the brewing family's investment will not be too large, and can only have an impact on a small area. However, Liu Quan and Shen Shi invested more than 100,000 yuan together. At that time, it was a huge investment, and with the return of funds, Shen Shi continued to expand the workshop scale. With the spring water as the center, a workshop covering twenty hectares of land was opened.

  There were dozens of people who were just hired as helpers.

  Of course, the helpers in the workshop are only responsible for simple physical labor. Some specific craftsmanship is known only to Liu Quan and Shen Shi.

  It is precisely because of its firm grasp on those details that the taste of Suishui Huadiao has been unmatched for a short period of time.

  The quality is not up to par, and the quantity cannot be reached either.

  The wine business of the Guan family was declining day by day, and in the end, it was almost deserted. Guan Que knew that if he wanted to revive the business, he had to have a good wine as its facade. Moreover, ordinary loose wine would not do... because every restaurant and tavern had it. It would be best to get some cellar wine, which might just make the declining business flourish again.

  As long as business can continue, Gu's family will be able to catch their breath and slowly study and improve the craftsmanship.

  Then, Guan Que borrowed a large sum of money and rushed to Pei County, intending to buy some cellar wine.

  But who would have thought that this cellar wine was actually gone...

  The old man was already anxious and irritable due to business matters, and when he heard that only loose wine was left and he had to queue up to wait, he became even more anxious and fell ill. However, although the cellar wine was gone, it would still be good to bring some of the loose wine back. So, Guan Que let Guan Yin take a number plate and waited outside the winery every day. Incidentally, he himself rested at the inn to recover from his illness, and would return home after getting the wine.

  Guan Yu was young and vigorous, had been practicing martial arts since childhood, and had developed a set of excellent skills.

  While waiting for the number plate, I kept hearing people talk about Liu Jian, and I felt a bit unconvinced in my heart.

  Young people, full of vigor and vitality, love to compete and fight fiercely.

  Adding that it took a bit long, the breath in his heart became more and more unsmooth, so he ran to the roadside wine shop to drink.

  The wine shop of Wang Ji and Wu Ji has closed down.

  There are also many wine shops opening at the same time... All the wine shops uniformly sell Suishui Huadiao, which is considered one of the scenic spots in Pei County.

  You've heard of Suishui Huadiao being good, but you haven't tried it before and can't make up your mind to buy it?

  It's very simple, just find a tavern in Pei County, sit down and have a cup of Huadiao wine, paired with the local flavor of Pei County, and savor it.

  Whether good or bad, you will know after trying it!

  There is a mutually beneficial advertising relationship here, and also a most primitive parasitic relationship.

  As long as the business of Du Ling old wine is good, there's no need to worry about Pei County's tax revenue. Even a series of related industries have been generated around Du Ling old wine. Many people make a living by relying on Si Shui Hua Diao, and Si Shui Hua Diao has also gained huge benefits from it.

  The sparrow asked with a serious face: "You drink and drink, why did you think of coming to Mr. Liu's store to make trouble?"

  The young man knelt down in front of his father, crying with a sad face: "It was the son who drank too much... That day, the son was drinking in the tavern and heard people say that Mr. Liu was so capable. He felt unhappy in his heart. When he was drunk and confused, someone came over to drink with him and said many bad things about Mr. Liu. He said that Mr. Liu relied on killing his own family members to achieve today's success.

  At the time of Zhao Yang's great calamity, Mr. Liu killed a fellow villager and pretended to be the leader of the bandits.

  Later on, he even broke the leg of the master's son... The more the child listened, the angrier he became, and so he started talking to that person.

  That person said his surname is Liu, from Fengyi, and now he's making a living in Pei County. He also said that Mr. Liu doesn't have no cellar wine, but has hidden it away to wait for the price to rise. The child got angry as soon as he heard this, so he ran to Mr. Liu's store and made a scene.

  Is your surname Liu?

  Fengyi people?

  Liu Kuai's first reaction was: Liu Bang!

  Wait a minute... no...

  Liu Bang wasn't doing business with Zhou Bo and Lu Wan, how could he suddenly appear in Pei County? Besides, if Liu Bang really appeared in Pei County, wouldn't there be any rumors at all? It's not Liu Bang, it must be someone framing him.

  Liu Quan half-closed his eyes and listened quietly on one side.

  After a long while, he suddenly let out a cold laugh: "What a clumsy frame-up and scapegoat plan, killing two birds with one stone!"

  Gu Nian was taken aback, his eyes wide with anger, and he shouted: "I'm telling the truth! If you don't believe me, let my dad beat me to death with one stick!"

  "Shut up!"

  His face turned pale with fright, and he let out a loud shout of anger.

  Then he turned his head and said to Liu Gong: "Mr. Liu, although this child of mine is a bit reckless, I can guarantee that he will not tell lies."

  Liu Kan smiled and said: "I'm not talking about him, but that person who is secretly instigating."

  As he spoke, Liu Quan walked out of the inner hall and let Zhou Chang enter.

  "Guagua, do you still remember what that person looked like?"

  Guan Ying made an effort to recall, shaking her head and thinking for a moment before saying in a low voice: "He's not very tall, about my height... He can't be too old, probably around 25 or 26. His accent is a bit strange, doesn't sound like the local accent of Pei County... His face is fair and clean, with a mole between his eyebrows. It's not very big, if you don't look carefully, you might not even notice it. And, and... He seems to walk with some difficulty, one leg appears to be lame."

  Liu Kan originally thought this matter was related to Yong Chi.

  But upon hearing this, it seems that something is still off... Turning his head to look at Zhou Chang, he found that Zhou Chang had a bitter smile on his face.

  Walked up to Liu Gan's side, leaned in close to his ear, "Ah Gan, sounds like it's Lü Ze."

  Lü Ze?

  Liu Kuang stood up and clenched his fists involuntarily.

  "However, I heard that Na Lu Ze has been getting close to Yong Chi recently. Whether there is a connection between the two of them, it's not certain."

  Yong Chi, Yong Chi...

  Liu Kan suddenly burst out laughing and gently patted the small table once.

  "This guy is not simple at all."

  Let Lü Zhe take the lead. If Liu Gong angers Lü Zhe, Liu Bang will certainly not stand idly by. When the time comes for two tigers to fight each other, one must be injured.

  At that time, Yong Chi was making a move, but it was Yu Weng who benefited.

  However, Lü Zhe and Liu Bang... why did he want to do this?

  Liu Jian hesitated for a moment, then stood up and took out a seal from his bosom and placed it in Old Zhou's hand. "Old Zhou, I'm troubling you to make a trip to the Lü family to pay respects to Lü Weng. Just say that next year I will present tribute wine and need 20,000 dan of rice... This matter will be handled by the Lü family, and it must be prepared within 20 days. If it's overdue, it will be punished according to the law. If he asks about anything else, just say you don't know."

  Lü's family had been in the grain business for years.

  But now that grain is controlled by the imperial court, the Lu family's business is no longer as prosperous as it used to be.

  Twenty thousand stones of grain, saying more is not much, saying less is not a small amount... but to make up for it within twenty days is not an easy task.

  Now that the expedition against the Hundred Yue is imminent, if the Lü family were to collect grain on a large scale, they would certainly attract the attention of the authorities.

  Lü Weng should be able to see this point. If he really can't understand even this, then it's fitting that the Lü family is unlucky and no one can save them.

  Liu Jian didn't want to make too much trouble with the Lü family. But a necessary warning was indispensable. As for that Yōng Chǐ...

  Gently rubbing her cheeks, Liu Yan wandered around in the room.

  After a moment, he suddenly sat down, "Mr. Guan, the matter of Guan Yu smashing my store, I can let it go. At the same time, I have another business deal that I want to discuss with you... You also saw that my wine is now in short supply, but unfortunately, Pei County is remote, and for some people, it may be a troublesome thing. I plan to divide the region according to each county's territory to sell.

  Sir can act as my agent, but what he acts as an agent for is not Huādiāo.

  I've heard that some places mix water into the Shaoxing huadiao, and in the long run, it will definitely ruin my reputation. I can let you act as an agent for the leftover wine here... Hehe, what is meant by "leftover wine" is the dregs of the huadiao. Although not as good as the huadiao itself, it's a hundred times better than that mixed-with-water stuff. Leaving this leftover wine here would be a waste, I can give it to you at a very low price.

  "Sir, would you consider it carefully and see if you are willing to cooperate with me?"

  Cellar wine is a high-end market, Huadiao is a mid-range market... So the "leftover" wine mentioned by Liu Quan is facing a low-end market.

  It's all about contributing wine!

  I'll just go ahead and create a true monopoly, what's wrong with that?

  Liu Jian's idea was like a pie falling from the sky for Guan Yu, and he was immediately stunned.

  Chen Yu, who had been silent all along, reacted the fastest.

  He quickly calculated the benefits and suddenly spoke up: "Mr. Liu, may I ask how much this leftover wine costs?"

  Liu stretched out one finger, "One hundred coins."

  "A jug?" Chen Yu's eyes lit up.

  Liu Kan shook his head, "One pot!"

  In ancient times, containers were named according to their capacity. A weng was three times that of a yi, so one weng was roughly equal to three yi in volume.

  "This price is too cheap, isn't it?"

  Liu Kan licked his lips and chuckled: "A poor peddler like you, how much money can you possibly have on you? Chen Sheng, I said it earlier, keeping the leftover wine is just a waste, why not give everyone another chance to make some money, and for me, it's better to save face."

  "Dare I ask, Mr. Liu, are you also interested in this leftover wine? I wonder..."

  "If you're interested, Mr., I don't have a problem. I can produce 8,000 jars of wine per month. If the scale expands in the future, there will be more. How many can Chen take?"

  "Two thousand yuan per month!"

  Chen Sheng didn't say another word and quoted a price.

  On the side, the sparrow also reacted and hastily said: "Liu Sheng, the old man can take out 2,000 yuan every month... no, 3,000 yuan."

  Liu Kan heard this and burst out laughing.

  "Alright then, it's a deal!"

  The sparrow hesitated for a moment, "It's just three thousand jars, requiring fifteen taels of gold. The old man may not have that much on him. I wonder if Mr. Liu can allow me to take the wine first and bring it back afterwards? Can he let the old man send over the remaining gold immediately?"

  When he said this, Guan Que's face turned bright red.

  Chen Yu also stood up and said: "I will return to Yangwu immediately, take care of this matter. After I go back, I will order my brother to bring money to buy wine, and please ask Liu Sheng to reserve some for me."

  Liu Jian ignored Guan Que and smiled at Chen Yu, "This is naturally no problem. It's just that your brother..."

  "My brother's name is Chen Ping, and when the time comes, I'll have to trouble you, Liu, to take care of him."

  Liu Kan smiled and nodded, "Alright, alright..."

  He turned around, just about to speak to the sparrow. Suddenly a chill ran up from the bottom of his heart and he shivered with a cold sweat.

  "You said your brother's name is Chen Ping?"

  Liu Kan's eyes widened as he stared at Chen Yu, shouting in surprise.