Linmo Xuan, inner room.

An Rong sat on the small couch, put his hand on his cheek, closed his eyes and pondered.

Outside the window, the bright sunlight shines on the old locust tree, sprinkling mottled shadows.

Outside the bead curtain, Begonia walked over.

She held the tray in her hand and walked slowly.

When the bead curtain was hit, the bead curtain of the jasper vine flowers collided, making a pleasant sound.

"Young grandmother, the salt has been brought," Begonia called.

Hearing this, An Rong hurriedly stood up.

By the time she got to the table, Begonia had already put the tray down.

On the tray were five or six blue and white porcelain jars.

Xiao Qian asked An Rong if he had been to the kitchen before, and after he left, An Rong wanted to go to the kitchen to see what was going on.

But Begonia stopped her from going, the kitchen was full of fumes, and there were many people, so there was no need to go.

If she wants to see something, she just goes and brings it.

Yes, An Rong only waited in the house.

Begonia opens the jar.

Only then did An Rong see the salt in the jar.

There are coarse and fine, some clean, and some with impurities.

Begonias are introduced one by one, the uses of various salts.

In fact, there is no need to introduce, An Rong can see the difference at a glance.

Although she had never entered Lin Moxuan's kitchen, he had entered the kitchen of the Dongqin Marquis' Mansion, and more than once.

An Rong stared at a salt jar without taking his eyes off.

A note was attached to it: Pearl salt.

The salt was as white as snow, and as fine as pearl powder.

This is a veritable snow salt.

The real snow salt on the side is yellowish in color.

An Rong tried the taste. Snow salt has a slightly astringent taste, but the salt unique to Xiao Guogong's Mansion does not.

Snow salt, Nagong salt.

It is the best salt in the Great Zhou, in addition to the perennial consumption of the family, ordinary families, all eat slightly fine and clean salt.

Poor families who can't even afford to eat salt.

Why is Xiao Guogong's Mansion exceptionally better?

An Rong asked Begonia, Begonia shook her head, "The slave doesn't know, the kitchen steward's mother is out of the house." Others don't know much. I only know that the masters in the house eat pearl salt, and the snow salt is used to burn the dishes eaten by the people in the house. ”

An Rong, "....... ”

Eat a salt, and divide the three, six, nine and so on?

"Peony went to the front yard to ask Manager Xiao. Mr. Xiao must know. Begonia said again.

Grace bared your teeth.

cursed Xiao Qian in a low voice in his heart. Since it was different, why didn't you just tell her all about it, in case the peony couldn't find out. She must not be curious to die?

Fortunately, Peony came back after a while.

Peony ran and ran back, blushing and panting.

Holding his knees with both hands, he was out of breath and said, "I asked out, pearl salt, also called Mrs. Tai salt." ”

"Mrs. Salt?" An Rong's voice unconsciously raised by three points.

Peony nodded like pounding garlic, while taking the tea poured by Begonia for her, grunting two sips to dry, before saying, "It's Mrs. Tai's salt, the slave maid went to ask Mr. Xiao, and he was still a slave and maid to find him to ask for salt, Mr. Xiao was still very embarrassed to tell the slave maid, Mrs. Tai's salt was divided in each courtyard half a year ago, and only two large vats were left, which were for Grandpa Guo's cooking, and no one was allowed to touch it, Xu remembered Grandpa Guo's advice, no matter what young grandma wanted, you had to give it, and Mr. Xiao changed his mouth and said to give Lin Moxuan a small jar of ....... ”

Peony pouted, feeling that Mr. Xiao was very stingy.

Isn't it just a little salt?

As for being stingy, is it like that?

An Rong was also quite speechless, "In addition to these, what else do you ask?" ”

Peony shook her head, "Before the slave could ask anything else, Mrs. Jingbei Hou came, and Manager Xiao went to greet her first, saying that she would be free for a while, so she would come to see you, young grandmother." ”

An Rong nodded.

After waiting for about two quarters of an hour, Manager Xiao came.

He was followed by two small servants, carrying a large vat.

You don't have to guess, you know, what's inside?

In this regard, An Rong was embarrassed.

She didn't lack salt to let Peony go to him.

The manager of Bixiao was right, and he explained when he entered the door, and An Rong, who was noisy, didn't know what to say.

After Manager Xiao finished explaining, it was An Rong's turn to explain, and An Rong sneered, "Manager Xiao misunderstood, I asked Peony to find you, not to ask you to get pearl salt, but to listen to the eldest young master that the salt eaten in the house is different from that outside the house, I am curious, let Peony ask you." ”

Manager Xiao smiled suddenly, and he said, the salt given to Linmoxuan at the beginning was the same as other courtyards, and the young master was alone, and he didn't eat in Linmoxuan every day, so how could the salt be used so quickly.

Manager Xiao looked at An Rong and said, "Young grandma has something to understand, but it's okay to ask." ”

An Rong was not polite, waved his hand, and asked the maid in the room to withdraw before asking.

After asking, An Rong understood why pearl salt is also called Mrs. Tai's salt.

This salt is made by Mrs. Tai.

The origin of salt has to start from 30 years ago.

At that time, the Xiao family declined, even more than people can imagine, and the old man Xiao was stubborn and unbearable, and he was sick in bed.

At that time, the doctor said that Mrs. Tai couldn't survive it, so he asked the Xiao family to prepare the coffin.

Who would have thought that Mrs. would be good.

Not only is it good, but a delicate lady who has been delicate for decades actually cooks soup.

At that time, the Xiao family did not have snow salt to eat, and the rough salt used by the Xiao family now used to rub pigs into the water.

Cook with brown salt, which has a bitter taste.

I don't know what method Mrs. Tai used to turn rough salt into pearl salt.

Hearing this, An Rong's eyes lit up.

How big the profit of salt is, just look at the Li family, Mrs. Xiao has this secret method, and the Xiao family cannot decline all the time.

In fact, the Xiao family has not declined, it is just pearl salt, which is only available in the Xiao Guogong Mansion, not on the market.

Manager Xiao nodded and said, "Indeed, Mrs. Tai has this secret method in her hands, and it is only a matter of time before the Xiao family develops." ”

Mr. Xiao fell into the memory.

At the beginning, Mrs. Xiao did sell pearl salt, but Manager Xiao followed Mr. Xiao to sell it behind Old Duke Xiao and sold it secretly.

To know. Salt is controlled by the imperial court, and it is illegal to sell smuggled salt.

In that year, pearl salt caused a sensation in Kyoto.

Unfortunately, it was just a flash in the pan.

How many people are staring at such a delicate salt, especially those salt merchants and the imperial court.

I inquired in many ways and wanted to take it for myself.

It's a pity that the Xiao family has declined, and Xiao Laoguo is handsome and domineering, and he has no military power in his hands. His domineering is a blade hanging over his head.

Those powerful people want to grab the secret recipe. Can the Xiao family not give it?

Mrs. Xiao gave up the idea of selling salt at that time.

Not for anything else, because of Xiao Laoguogong's temperament, he is not suitable to be a businessman and negotiate business with people. Two sentences don't sound good. Immediately lost his temper. When you quarrel with someone, who wants to talk about business with him?

But the Xiao family is such a pillar, if he keeps being on the street. The Xiao family is really finished.

Mrs. Xiao thought about it, but decided to let Xiao Laoguo's son inherit his father's business and go to the battlefield to be domineering.

The matter of pearl salt was delayed like this.

Later, Xiao Laoguo went to the battlefield, was invincible, and soon became a general.

The Great Zhou Dynasty was established, and he was named the Duke of the Kingdom.

At that time, Xiao Laoguo Gong brought up the matter of selling salt again, because before Xiao Laoguo Gong went to the battlefield, Mrs. Tai told him like this, "The Xiao family is in decline, and you are afraid to do business, I don't ask you to be a marquis, I just ask the Xiao family not to be bullied, you are the son of the Xiao family, and it is your responsibility to protect the Xiao family." ”

Old Duke Xiao wanted to prove himself by selling salt and proving that he had met Mrs. Xiao's expectations.

However, Mrs. Xiao still did not sell salt.

Because Xiao Laoguo is too domineering and has military power in his hands, if he sells salt, the Xiao family will definitely be rich.

A man who has made great achievements in war and is rich enough to rival the country.

Will the emperor keep him?

The Xiao family is not short of money, so there is no need to do things that anger Long Yan and make people jealous.

But Xiao Laoguo insisted, and Mrs. Tai also insisted, and no one could help anyone.

Later, Xiao Laoguo went out on an errand.

Mrs. Tai called her confidant mother and made a bunch of salt in the kitchen......

At that time, Mrs. Tai said that Xiao Lao Guogong would eat salt as a meal for a lifetime, and he was not allowed to mention the matter of selling salt.

This matter made Xiao Laoguo angry enough, and he ignored Mrs. Tai for a few days.

At that time, Xiao Laoguo was angry and only ate the salt he bought, not the salt made by Mrs. Tai.

It wasn't until Mrs. Tai died, and at Mrs. Tai's funeral hall, that Mr. Xiao ate the meal cooked with pearl salt until today.

An Rong, "....... ”

Raising his hand to stroke his forehead, An Rong's heart became more and more puzzled.

What does Xiao Qian mean?

Mrs. Tai didn't allow Xiao Guogong's Mansion to sell pearl salt, why did he still tell her these things?

After Manager Xiao left, An Rong brought Xiao Qian again.

Twisting a pair of brows, An Rong swept Xiao Qian, and asked him, "Mrs. Tai doesn't allow Xiao Guogong's Mansion to sell pearl salt!" ”

Xiao Qian coughed lightly twice, his eyes wandered, and he sneered, "Sister-in-law, don't stare at me, Mrs. Tai is not allowed to sell salt in the Guogong Mansion, and I didn't let you sell it, sister-in-law." ”

"Then what are you suing me for?" An Rong's brows were still wrinkled.

Xiao Qian said with a smile, "Sister-in-law doesn't know, grandfather has a bad temperament, and his great-grandmother doesn't allow him to sell salt, how could he just give up like this?" For so many years, I have been thinking about how to turn coarse salt into pearl salt, but I have been unable to do it, last time, my grandfather also sighed, I don't know how my grandmother got it, thinking sister-in-law, you may know, I didn't hear you say that there is a lack of salt, did you mention it casually? ”

After speaking, Xiao Qian paused and asked, "Sister-in-law, will you?" ”

An Rong's brows moved.

Whether she will, she doesn't know.

However, the principle of refining coarse salt should be similar to that of refining the essence of medicinal materials, which is to take its essence and remove its dross.

Even if she doesn't, there are wooden bracelets.

Seeing that An Rong didn't speak, Xiao Qian's eyes were slightly pityful, and said, "If the sister-in-law will, you can go into the palace to find the emperor to ask for a salt mountain, and it will be more than enough for the eldest brother's army to eat." ”

"That's it?" An Rong was a little unconvinced.

Who let Xiao Qian beat around the bush, just for this reason, just say no generously?

Xiao Qian's face was slightly embarrassed, "In addition to the eldest brother, there are two reasons, one is that the salt sent by the imperial court to my grandfather, when passing through Lizhou, it was originally a sunny day, but it suddenly rained, and the salt loss was heavy, and my grandfather's army, because of the heavy training task, sweated too much, and gave the soldiers light salt water to drink, as well as bandaging wounds, and the cost of disinfection with alcohol was too great, and it was generally disinfected with salt water. Therefore, the salt is used more than that of the general army, and the court feels that the grandfather has done more, and the things that the court gives to the border pass have never been less ....... ”

Salt, for the army at the border passes, is very important and is used in large quantities.

But the salt of the imperial court is used to sell it for money.

Every year, the Xiao Guogong Mansion would post a lot of silver to buy salt for the army.

Xiao Qian felt that this money could be saved.

An Rong nodded when he heard this, "What about the second?" ”

Xiao Qian blushed. His eyes were even more wandering. An Rong looked at him.

Xiao Qian had no choice but to say, "The taste of the dishes cooked with pearl salt is not comparable to snow salt, and I have eaten ...... pearl salt." ”

The corners of An Rong's mouth twitched.

She thought of Xiao Zhan. It's okay to have a good mouth. I couldn't help but ask. "The food in the barracks is extremely poor, what will you be able to eat on the battlefield in the future?"

Xiao Qian replied, "This time and that time. When you go to the battlefield, you just need to fill your stomach, how dare you expect the food to taste good? ”

An Rong had nothing to say.

Then, he took the salt sent by Mr. Xiao and let Xiao Qian carry it back.

Then, An Rong continued to be in a daze.

It is undeniable that Xiao Qian said that in An Rong's heart, the money to buy salt can be saved, why not save it?

The reason why table salt is expensive is that there is very little edible salt, especially snow salt, which is more than 10 times more than 100 times the price of coarse salt.

If coarse salt can be turned into pearl salt, its profits are so huge that An Rong can't even think about it.

No wonder Mrs. Tai is reluctant to earn this money.

But is she going to be in the salt business?

Is it really good to disobey Mrs. Tai's wishes?

An Rong rubbed his temples and instructed Peony to say, "Go and get a few inedible salt stones." ”

Peony took the order to go out.

Half an hour later, a basket of salt ore was brought into the pharmacy.

An Rong asked Begonia and Peony to crush the salt ore and melt it into the water.

First, the large particles of ore are filtered with a sand net, and then the small impurities are filtered with seven or eight layers of white yarn.

The salt water is turbid, and the pearl salt can't be beaten.

Peony looked at An Rong and said, "Young grandma, do you want to continue?" ”

She didn't think it was necessary.

An Rong walked around the room, looking at the salt water in a daze.

Finally, he was instructed, "Go and fetch the charcoal." ”

Peony sighed, and An Rong urged, "Go quickly!" Take more. ”

Peony didn't dare to delay and rushed out.

Soon, Peony and Begonia carried a large bag of charcoal.

An Rong filtered the brine with charcoal, and soon, the brine was much clearer.

Filter it a few more times, and the salt water will be very clear.

The next step is to evaporate the water from the brine, leaving behind crystalline salt grains.

Peony was stunned, "Young grandma, the salt ore that can't be eaten can really be turned into table salt." ”

After saying that, Peony's eyes lit up again.

It's going to be a fortune!

Haitang glanced at the peony, looked at An Rong and said, "Young grandma, do you really want to enter the palace to find the emperor and ask for Yanshan?" ”

"Let's go see the old lady first."

An Rong took the salt ore and salt to the Rosewood Courtyard.

The maid who was waiting for her, An Rongcai and the old lady made their intentions clear.

The old lady smiled when she heard this, patted An Rong's hand and said, "This matter, you just look at it and make up your mind, it was not that Mrs. Tai didn't have the idea of selling pearl salt, but it was just that Grandpa Guo's temperament was not suitable for business, so she gave up." ”

That is, whether An Rong is in the salt business or not, the old lady agrees.

The old lady also said another thing that Mr. Xiao did not say, she smiled, "In fact, when the pearl salt was in an uproar, Mrs. Tai had the idea of handing over the secret recipe of salt making to the imperial court, hoping that everyone would eat good salt, but the faint monarch was in power, and the traitors in the court were rampant, and the secret method was in the hands of the imperial court, not for the benefit of the people, but to help the imperial court collect money, and promote the extravagance of the imperial court. That's it. ”

An Rong was slightly stunned, "Then the Great Zhou Dynasty was established, why didn't you hand over the secret method to the imperial court?" ”

The old lady shook her head and smiled, "Why not, Mrs. Tai once knocked on the side of the emperor, the emperor said that the salt tax accounts for a large part of the treasury's income, and he can reduce the tax, but he will not reduce the salt tax, Mrs. Tai gave the secret method of salt making to the imperial court, and it is estimated that it is the same as snow salt, but the rich and noble people can eat it." ”

Mrs. Xiao only seeks benefits for the people, not for the court.

Listening to the old lady's words, An Rong still didn't understand.

As long as she has a generous heart, not for herself, but for the good of Da Zhou, she is the same as Mrs. Xiao, as for how to do it, she doesn't have to be restrained, she has too many concerns.

Therefore, An Rong decided to enter the palace to ask the emperor.

I didn't rush to go today, it's not early at this time, it's easy to say when I enter the palace, but it will be very late to come back, and the old lady asked her to go again tomorrow.

In order to enter the palace the next day, An Rong did not enter the wooden bracelet at night.

Who would have thought that An Rong's entry into the palace was not coincidental, and it was hated.

A bunch of people hate An Rong because of the itchy roots.

In other words, that group of show girls have been in the palace for more than ten days, and they are looking forward to the emperor's draft every day.

The queen is also urging every day, but the emperor's interest is not high, or there is a military situation at the border, and he is not in the mood.

It's not easy today, there is good news at the border gate, and the queen congratulates and brings up the draft again.

The emperor was in a good mood, just nodded, and didn't say yes yet.

Okay, the eunuch came to report, "Your Majesty, Grandma Xiao Biao asks to see you." ”

The emperor's brows tightened at that time, thinking that An Rong's entry into the palace was something important, and immediately said to the queen, "The draft will be another day." ”

Then, the emperor got up and went to the imperial study.

The emperor's footsteps are still a little impatient, because An Rong is not an ordinary person.

The two things she and the emperor told came true.

The king sent a recital.

Dongyan and Beilie and Qin's recitals were also sent.

An Rong waited in front of the imperial study and saw the emperor from a distance.

An Rong took a few steps to greet him, and was about to ask for peace, when he heard the emperor ask, "But what happened to the border pass?" ”

There was still some nervousness in his voice, and his eyes were full of worry.

An Rong, "....... ”

Stuck there, An Rong didn't know how to reply.

It's not that something happened at the border, it's something wrong with her.

If she answers like this, will she please the emperor?

An Rong scratched his forehead, trying to think about what was going on in the barracks in the past two days.

Doesn't seem like a big deal?

An Rong raised his eyes, looked at the emperor embarrassedly, and said, "Ying Cheng is fine, nothing happened...... ”

The emperor was a little relieved, and then his brows tightened again, "Yingcheng is fine, what about the prince of Jingbei, he has a moth?" ”

An Rong was embarrassed, "He's fine, the evening before yesterday, the prime minister sent him to Cotton City." ”

"What are you going to do in Cotton City?" The emperor asked.

"Xianggong is afraid that Dongyan will attack Cotton City, so let Lian Xuan remind him."

The emperor nodded and stepped into the imperial study.

Behind him, An Rong patted his chest.

Just as he was about to step into the threshold, An Rong's eyes flashed, and his feet were on the threshold.

Not far away, an officer and soldier squinted slightly, with doubts in his eyes.

Why is it so natural for the emperor to ask Xiao Biao's young grandmother what happened at the border?

The matter of the border is the military situation.

The emperor should be the first to know, right?

In the imperial study, the emperor walked in front, and Gonggong Xu walked behind, he glanced back and reminded the emperor, "Your Majesty, Grandma Xiao Biao is distracted." ”

The emperor raised his eyebrows, and before he could turn around, he heard a voice coming.

"Your Majesty, the cotton city has lost ......."

PS:~~o(>_