"Tianwen" is just an episode. For the vast majority of people who don't know much about Chinese mythology and ancient history, Qu Yuan's poem is really hard to arouse much interest. Even Tian Xiu felt that "Tianwen" was both awkward and difficult to understand, not to mention Nanyang and Chen Pu. Even if Shang Cheng explained word by word next to him, they still found it difficult to understand. Soon two more princesses and their horses arrived, and as soon as there were many people in the study, the topic naturally turned to some recent events in the capital.

If you want to talk about the recent major events in the capital, the first thing is of course the burial of the prince some time ago. But before the death of the prince, the hospital was almost empty, and the officials around the prince and some people who worked in the Ganquan Palace were also arrested by the criminal department one after another, and these people have not been heard from so far, and even the relatives in the family are not allowed to visit. The criminal department behaves like this, even the most dull person knows that the matter is serious, who dares to squeak indiscriminately in this kind of thing? The matter is big, even Nanyang and Chen Pu, the princes and princesses, are also careful, and they will never dare to mention half a word in front of outsiders, even Shang Cheng and Tian Xiu. Both of them were so cautious, not to mention the other clans. Otherwise, Nanyang, as one of Emperor Dongyuan's favorite daughters, celebrates her birthday, and the scene is at least much more lively than now. Because of the fear of being misunderstood and slandered, many clans who were familiar with Nanyang and Chen Pu did not come to congratulate in person, but only sent people to send gifts. Nanyang can also understand this. What's more, she didn't think about how to handle this birthday in the first place.

Shang Cheng originally thought that when there were more guests, he would have a reason to leave. Although he is just a Shangzhu country without troops, he can't be mixed with a bunch of clans, right? Who knew that there would be two princesses and horses today, and he would be a little too much to say if he wanted to say goodbye. The study was small, and the princesses and Tian Xiu were talking together, and he and the two horses and the king of Dingzhou, the four of them could only avoid the hall in the front yard.

But what could he say to the two colts? The two horses are the first Jinshi, and now they are giving a lecture in the Hanlin Academy, and one is doing the main thing in the Ministry of Officials, and they have known each other for a long time. Shang Cheng was bored, and after three or five polite words, he could only look at the sunlit courtyard in front of the hall in a daze with a cup of tea and soup.

With less than half a cup of tea, he really couldn't sit down. Instead of sitting like this, he thought, he might as well go home! As soon as he said to go, he didn't say hello to the two horses, he stepped out of the hall, and he didn't even want to say goodbye to Nanyang, so he was ready to call the old knife back.

Before he could take two steps, he was stopped by Tian Xiu.

Tian Xiu approached, looked at him with a smile and said, "Uncle Ying, where are you going?" ”

Shang Cheng glanced at her angrily. Isn't that knowingly asking?

Tian Xiu smiled and persuaded in a low voice: "You can't do this. If you really want to throw your sleeves and leave, as the master, Princess Nanyang's face will be ugly. You and Princess Changsha are robes of bloody battles, and if you leave, her face will not be bright. ”

Shang Chengleng paused. He really didn't expect this to happen. It seems that he really can't go!

He smiled helplessly and thanked Tian Xiu for his reminder. But he didn't want to go back to the hall and continue to be in a daze, Princess Nanyang's mansion couldn't be wandering around by him, and he couldn't stay up until noon under the sun?

Tian Xiu said again: "Uncle Ying, I came today, firstly, to congratulate Princess Nanyang, and secondly, I was appointed by Lord Chang, and I want to discuss some things with you......" She glanced at the moon cave door when she came. “…… Let's go over and talk. There's a kiosk over there. ”

Shang Cheng nodded gratefully and followed her footsteps. There is no doubt that Tian Xiu expected that he and the two concubines had nothing to say, so they came to help him out of the siege.

Passing through the moon cave gate, bypassing a few small pieces of bamboo bushes, a small bamboo pavilion is quietly half-standing in the water by a pond the size of three or four acres. When you arrive at this place, you can see the green bamboo and green water in front of you, the birds and cicadas in your ears, and you can't even see a single figure around.

Shang Cheng followed Tian Xiu to the pavilion and sat down.

This place is probably the place where Nanyang often comes, there is a small stove next to the stone table on the pavilion, there are all kinds of charcoal by the fireside, sickle, velvet, tongs, charcoal, and then there is a small wooden shelf next to it, on one side is a pot and cups and saucers, and on the other side is tea, onions, ginger and garlic. Tian Xiu skillfully lit a fire, put the teapot full of water into the stove, waited for the pot to make a sound and spit out hot steam in the mouth, poured some hot water to clean the tea cup, and changed the pot, first put the ground tea foam, then add green onions, ginger, garlic velvet and other ingredients, add boiling water and then put it on the stove, while the water is not yet boiling, use a silver spoon to skim off the white foam on the water surface, wait for the water to boil slightly, and immediately pick up the copper kettle......

Tian Xiu presented the first cup of tea to Shang Cheng and said, "This is the Yaoshan tea technique I learned in Jiangnan, please taste it by Ying Bo." ”

Shang Cheng smiled and said, "I don't know how to taste tea." But he took a sip of it. He understood the meaning of this tea: Tian Xiu was saying that from now on, the past "grievances" of the two people will be settled. As for why Tian Xiu suddenly figured it out, he didn't understand it very well; He didn't bother to think about it.

Tian Xiu smiled and said, "Come to think of it, Uncle Ying also knows what Master Chang wants to discuss with you, right?" When it came to business, she changed her tone and tone.

Shang Cheng shook his head. Is he a valet in the Ministry of War, or a fictitious squire who only receives a salary and does not do anything, a person who rarely goes to the yamen once, how can he know what the squire of the Ministry of Industry is looking for him?

Tian Xiu was silent for a moment, and then said straight to the point: "...... All right. Mr. Chang asked me to ask Uncle Ying for the patent money for coke. ”

Shang Cheng was learning to taste tea, and suddenly heard her say what patent money, and he didn't swallow it hard in a mouthful of hot tea soup. Chang Xiu plans to help him apply for a patent for coke? He was speechless in astonishment. There's nothing wrong with these guys from the Ministry of Labor, why do they think of giving themselves the coke patent money?

Tian Xiu said: "The technology of refining coke was proposed by you, and the Ministry of Industry is just doing it step by step according to the method you said, and the patent money for this coke should of course belong to you." Master Chang sent me here to ask you, if the Ministry of Industry wants to obtain the authorization of the technique like Huo's liquor, does Ying Bo have any regulations and plans? "The Ministry of Industry has gained experience in the matter of liquor, and this time of course it is impossible to take precautions.

Shang Cheng didn't care about thinking about what the charter was going to do, so he asked Tian Xiu first: "Does Chang Wenshi know the true value of this thing?" ”

"It is a tool for the benefit of the country and the people, and its benefits are not much better than Zhuhuo's liquor." Tian Xiu said succinctly, "Although it is not clear what kind of benefits coke will bring, the results of using it in iron smelting are extraordinary." Presumably, it can also come in handy in the copper mountain iron mountain. I haven't had time to find other uses yet, but I think it should be about the same as what Uncle Ying said at the beginning. ”

Shang Cheng scratched his head. The fat man can figure it out, and send the Tianxiu tribe over to talk to him about what kind of money patents! His dignified Shangzhu country and Ying County Uncle came to talk to a woman about bullshit royalties, is this because he is not annoyed enough or because he is not depressed enough? He is ambitious, but he was imprisoned by Zhang Pu in the capital to "recuperate", and he has long hated it so much that he wants to pick up a knife to cut people, and Chang Fat is not afraid that he will open his mouth in a lion in a fit of anger? Okay, good for you. You wait!

"Five thousand." Shang Cheng spit out a number dryly, "Five thousand, the patent money for this coke or something, it will be your Ministry of Industry in the future, and it has nothing to do with me!" ”

Tian Xiu didn't speak. She lowered her eyes, and after a while, said, "Uncle Ying, actually, ......"

"Six thousand runs, no discussion!" Shang Cheng interrupted her. He threatened viciously, "If you say I have to raise the price again!" ”

Tian Xiu stared at him, shook his head helplessly for a while, and said, "Okay, I'll tell Master Chang when I go back that the coke is six thousand." One by one, what about glass? That's your first initiative. Although it has always been the Ministry of Industry that has been paying for the work, you have also pointed out a lot of the skills of firing glass, so ...... the firing of glass has been recognized, and its patent has naturally been put on the agenda by the Ministry of Industry.

"Three thousand! Like coke, three thousand guan buyout! Shang Cheng said impatiently.

“…… All right. Tian Xiu sighed.

Shang Cheng picked up the lamp, drank the remaining tea soup in the bowl, and then let out a long sigh of relief. Damn, I really shouldn't have said goodbye just now......

Tian Xiu also stopped talking, and concentrated on boiling the tea soup again.

In this way, two people, one makes tea, one drinks tea, and neither of them speaks anymore.

Until Chen Pu came over.

She had come to ask the two of them to sit down.

Chen Pu walked to the pavilion, looked at the two of them curiously, and asked, "What are you talking about?" ”

"Didn't say anything." Tian Xiu said, "I was entrusted by Master Chang to come and discuss something with Uncle Ying. The Ministry of Industry wanted to buy the refining technology of coke for 14,000 taels and the firing technology of glass for 20,000 yuan, but I didn't know what Ying Bo meant. She stopped talking and gave Shang Cheng a funny look.

"Tut, the Ministry of Industry is rich, so much at once! One by one, but your Ministry of Industry doesn't think that this money is too small? Chen Pu said. She asked Shang Cheng, "Did you promise them?" ”

Shang Cheng squeezed a smile on his face.

Tian Xiu said: "Of course Uncle Ying agreed. Uncle Ying had the world in mind, not only agreed, but also said that these two things are not worth so much, coke is only 6,000 for us, and glass is only 3,000. ”

Chen Pu opened his mouth wide and looked at Shang Cheng. It can't be, right? This guy looks quite shrewd and capable on weekdays, how can he turn something that is at least 100,000 yuan into 10,000 yuan?