Chapter 20： Make money

Chapter 20 Making money

Jiang Sanlang Ma Liu picked up the boning knife, made a mark on the fish, and asked: "Which piece does the guest want? The backbone is delicate and can be used as fish meat, and the belly of the fish is thick and can be braised or grilled. You see..."

Foxskin Hat reached out and circled the fish, "Right here, cut two more fins, cut deeper, and stick more live meat."

The piece of meat under the fins is the most delicious, especially the fin meat of big fish. It is delicious when stewed. This is the best in his master's house.

"Okay." Jiang Sanlang raised his knife and cut off a large piece of fish meat. He also cut off two pieces of fish fins, tied them with a thin hemp rope, and put them on a hook and scale.

"A total of twenty-one catties and three taels. If you remove the hemp rope, I will give you twenty-one catties, and I will give you two hundred and ten cents."

Huskin Hat took four bunches of money from the money bag wrapped around his waist, counted ten more copper coins, and handed them to Jiang Sanlang.

Jiang Sanlang took the money and counted it. There were four bunches of fifty in total, plus ten coins, which was exactly two hundred and ten coins.

“Thank you for your patronage.” Offering the fish and meat with both hands, Jiang Sanlang sent away the first guest with a smile.

The first order was successfully placed, and the rest became much smoother. The few people who were waiting and watching also bought a large piece each and took it away.

There are more and more people at the market, and the Jiang brothers have almost sold out all the fish on their trolley.

At this time, the tax collector also came. He stood in front of the cart, looked at it, and asked to collect twenty cents.

Jiang Dalang was displeased and just wanted to argue, but was pulled back by his third brother.

Jiang Sanlang counted out 20 coins and handed it to the township official. He also cut a piece of meat from the fish head and handed it over: "Our brothers first came back to the town to set up a stall. It's not respectful at all."

Xiangzhi looked at him, smiled, took the fish and meat, and asked: "Which village is it from? Will you come next time?"

“If you from Chencun catch another fish, you will definitely come back.” Jiang Sanlang also smiled.

"That's okay." The village official said, "If you come back later, your stalls will still be set up here. I'll count you as business tax, and you'll just have to pay ten cents each time."

Jiang Sanlang thanked him: "Thank you very much."

After Xiangzhi left, Jiang Dalang said dissatisfied: "Every household in the surrounding stalls only charges three and a half cents. Those who carry baskets, sell vegetables and eggs only get one or two cents, but they ask us for twenty cents, why do you still give it to him?" ?”

“A strong dragon cannot overwhelm a local snake. Our village is far away from the town, and we are not familiar with these people. If we want to successfully set up a stall and sell fish in the future, we can only stay away from them temporarily.”

Jiang Sanlang explained: "Besides, we don't have time to bother with him."

“Sanlang is right, we might come again next time, and now it’s good to have a fixed place arranged by the township rank.”

Jiang Dalang was silent for a moment and asked: "Are you coming again? Can we still catch such a big fish?"

Jiang Sanlang scratched his head and made no sound.

I don’t know if I can catch big fish, but ordinary fish should be fine.

My little girl still has two pieces of fishing bait left, which is probably enough for two uses.

By noon, the last bit of fish and meat was sold out, and even the fish heads and bones were sold at low prices. The three brothers pushed the empty cart home.

Back at the mansion, the three brothers hurriedly hid in the house to count money.

The money bag fell down with a clatter, and a pile of copper coins dangled in the air.

Several people count together and quickly come to a conclusion.

“Forty-five hundred and thirteen taels, a fish was sold for more than 4,500 taels!” Jiang Dalang was pleasantly surprised.

This is almost as much as his family’s annual income.

Jiang Dalang was digging food in the fields, and his total harvest in a year was only fifteen or six guan. After excluding the land tax and household taxes and some miscellaneous taxes, and then deducting the seed expenses, there were only about 5 or 6 guan left. The days are quite tight.

Fortunately, I and my brothers are good at hunting and hunt small game every winter to supplement the family income, otherwise we would definitely not be able to survive. I didn’t expect to be so lucky this year. In the summer, I earned more than two guan with my third brother, and today I earned more than 4 guan, adding up to seven guan.

Although the money was eventually divided equally among the three people, the money was also divided among the Jiang family.

Hehehe, Jiang Dalang couldn't help but laugh out loud, and asked his third brother expectantly: "Sanlang, are we still going fishing tomorrow?"

Jiang Sanlang scratched his head and said, "Why don't we go there in a few days? There will be a big market in about ten days. Let's go fishing before the market and we can sell fresh food the next day."

The first and fifteenth day of every month is the day for the temple fair. Almost all the villagers come out in droves. You have to take advantage of that time to sell fish at a higher price. What’s more, it will be New Year’s Day in a while, and the pre-holiday fair is even more lively. Everyone Everyone has to prepare New Year’s goods, and they are even more willing to spend money.

“Yes, yes, yes! Third brother is right.”

Jiang Erlang nodded repeatedly, "New Year's Day will be in a month. Let's catch fish before the festival. We will definitely get a good price at the market."

Jiang Dalang felt a little regretful, but he still agreed with what his brothers said: "Well, that's fine. We have already caught the big sturgeon. The same one will definitely not appear in the river for a while. We'll see again in a few days." look."

After the three brothers agreed, they started to divide the money.

If four guan is too much money, first remove the loose ends and divide the whole four guan into three parts. Each family will get 1,334 wen.

The remaining 511 Wen, 200 Wen should be given to his parents as a filial piety, and the remaining 311 Wen, Jiang Dalang requested to leave to Ying Bao.

Because yesterday he saw that the two big fish swam over because Yingbao put something in the river.

"Is it okay for us to divide up like this?" Jiang Dalang is the eldest brother, and his words are full of the dignity of an elder brother.

Jiang Erlang nodded quickly: "I agree, the big fish comes for Yingbao. Without the eldest niece, we wouldn't be able to catch such a big fish."

Jiang Sanlang said with a smile: "Thank you two brothers. I will accept it for Yingbao first and give it to her when I get home. However, there is one more thing that I want to inform my brothers about."

Jiang Dalang and Jiang Erlang were stunned, "Sanlang, tell me, my brothers are all listening."

Jiang Sanlang coughed and said: "I speak outright, and the eldest and second brothers must be more careful, but when it comes to my daughter, I have to speak first.

Well, we brothers are our own family members, so we have no scruples about what we say. But outside, don’t say that Big Fish is here for Yingbao. Your niece is still young, so I’m afraid that someone will make up something unpleasant and spread it out. "

"I understand." Jiang Dalang patted his third brother on the shoulder, "You are right to remind me. I have forgotten this, and my brothers will pay attention to it in the future."

Jiang Erlang also promised: "Second brother, I will talk about it in front of you and won't mention it outside. Don't worry, Sanlang."

Jiang Sanlang arched his hands towards his two brothers and said with a smile: "Thank you, brother, for your understanding."

“This is not considerate, but it gives us a wake-up call. Later I will tell the second boy not to go out and talk nonsense.”

"Uh-huh."

After returning home with the money, Jiang Sanlang immediately told his wife and daughter the whole story. He also took out his daughter's share of the money and gave it to her.

Yingbao happily collected it and put it in a small wooden box on his bed.

Haha, she finally made her first money.

Although it is not much, for a child less than two years old, she is already a rich young woman in the village.

Sister Dani is almost ten years old, and her family has already started looking for a husband for her, but they don’t have any money at all.

Compared to my cousins, I am extremely rich.

Hmm, after a while, she will definitely ask her father to take her to the market to buy some colored damask and silk flowers for her cousin to tie her hair.

(End of this chapter)