In the third year of Yonghui (652 AD), at dusk on August 15, Wuzhou Chengnan craftsman alley, Wukang's house was very lively. There is a large round table in the living room of the main house, full of delicacies, and high-backed chairs are full of people, all of whom are Wukang's fox friends and dog friends: Cui Wu of the Cui Thorn History family, Lu San of the military family, and the second generation of the six military families.

They learned that Wu Kang was injured yesterday and came to visit them together today. For the sake of the large and small packages of condolences, they naturally held a feast and received them diligently, and Wu Yuan's daughter-in-law, Xiaocui, Wu Mei, and Wu Lan served on the side.

According to the law of the Tang Dynasty, slaves and maids are more important than animals, and they cannot have surnames, and the master names them. Wu Kang followed the customs of the locals, and at the same time changed slightly, so that they followed the surname Wu, and the name was "Kaiyuan Tongbao, Meilan Zhuju".

The family sent by Zheng Dalang has indeed practiced medicine for generations, and their ancestral home is in Fengjie, Kuizhou, and the Chongqing area of later generations. The old man was named Wu Kai, the young man was named Wu Yuan, the two teenagers Wutong Wubao, the girl Wu Mei, and the little liar Wu Lan.

In line with the principle of making the best use of people's talents, their future work is also arranged. Preparing to open a small clinic at home, Wu Kai, Wu Yuan and his son sit in the hall, and when they make a kang to hatch chickens, let them feel the temperature of the kang. As for the two women, they were in charge of washing and cooking.

Wu Mei and Wu Lan followed Xiaocui, raising the white dragon horse, occasionally doing chores, embroidering and embroidery. They are all girls around ten years old, and they should have a common topic. Wutong Wubao, who is responsible for distilling alcohol in large quantities. Yesterday, I caught bad people as coolies, and I was dizzy and dizzy, and finally distilled 75 degrees of medical alcohol.

The way to determine the concentration is very simple, just taste it and know the approximate degree. Cleaning up the wounds all over the body with alcohol is somewhat comforting. Stockpiling enough medical alcohol is a top priority at this stage of the plan.

Chen Shuozhen rebelled next year, and the war soon burned to Wuzhou, and alcohol can save soldiers' lives; Secondly, when the chicks are hatched on the fire kang, sterilize each egg. Uncle Lao Zhu of the chicken farm in later generations said that potassium permanganate and formalin are generally used for disinfection, because the price is cheap, but unfortunately they can't make it themselves.

Today, all the second generations gathered together, and Wu Kang specially blended 45-degree liquor for them to taste. By the way, give some advice to determine whether there is a market for high-count shochu. Unexpectedly, they all vomited, and Wu Kang was very depressed.

Cui Wu said with a smile: "We are not used to drinking such strong soju, and ordinary people are probably not used to drinking it." I think only a large amount of Erlang is used to drinking such strong wine. ”

Lu Mushan took over and said: "Cui Wu is right, this kind of soju is not easy to sell in the south, and it should be okay in the north." Especially the barbarians in the steppe, where the winter is particularly cold, and spirits can ward off the cold. However, selling alcohol to the north is too risky and troublesome, and I feel that the gains outweigh the losses! ”

The plan to make a fortune was poured cold water, Wu Kang was a little discouraged, thought for a moment and said: "Spirits can't adapt to the market, and we are not competitive in ordinary wine, so let's start with raw materials!" Nowadays, wine is brewed from rice, and rice is expensive and wine is expensive, twenty catties of wine... That is, a bucket, the price is about 300 Wen. If we use sorghum to make wine, the cost is about 80 wen per bucket. ”

All the second generations were stunned when they heard this, and they all twisted their eyebrows in contemplation, and the wine table fell silent. After about five minutes, Zheng Hong whispered: "If you fight for eighty words, it is absolute violence." I believe in Erlang's ability to turn stones into gold, and may not be able to tell me, what is sorghum? ”

Now it's Wu Kang's turn to be stunned, these goods don't even know about sorghum? couldn't help but say disdainfully: "The outside world is so big, Da Lang should go and travel thousands of miles." The limbs are not diligent and the grains are not divided, the sorghum is not known, and he is not afraid that others will laugh off his big teeth? Just outside the city, on the official road, the ones that grow on both sides of the road are very tall, and the top is black and purple sorghum ears. ”

"Erlang, you're wrong, that thing is not called sorghum, it's called green millet", Qin Yu laughed: "Green millet was transmitted from the Western Regions to Middle Earth through the Silk Road during the Han Dynasty and the Han Dynasty. In our Wuzhou, it was originally brought over by Kunlun Nu. Hey... I think Erlang is not divided into grains! ”

Wu Kang recalled carefully for a moment, as if the title "sorghum" did not appear in the Ming Dynasty. couldn't help but blush, and replied with a stalk: "What is the yellow book and the green book, I said it is sorghum, it is sorghum." If Gorou has any opinions, he can quit this business! ”

Qin Yu immediately confessed, and said with a hippie smile: "Don't don't, as long as it's profitable, Erlang will call it whatever it says." But then again, does that thing really make wine? Wuzhou basically grows rice, and rarely grows green... Sorghum. That Sun San'er, what do you think? ”

Sun San's name is Sun Li, his father joined the army in Sicang, and he is in charge of the Wuzhou warehouse, so he naturally knows sorghum. This one coughed dryly twice, cleared his throat and said: "Qin Wu is right, the yield per mu of sorghum is not high, and it is particularly unpalatable, and fertile land will not be planted." Only the inferior fields in the dry fields, because the yield of rice per mu is too low, the common people are forced to plant sorghum. ”

Wu Kang said with a smile: "As long as someone grows it, let's buy it at a high price, or go to other states to buy it." I heard Ruyan say, a bucket of rice is forty wen, and two beans and rice produce a bucket of wine; Each bucket of sorghum is fifteen wen, and one bucket and a half are out of one bucket of wine. Even if we buy 20 yuan per bucket, the cost can be controlled at about 80. Don't talk nonsense, if you don't do it, I'll do it myself! ”

"Of course you have to do it, who will have trouble with Kaiyuan Tongbao?" , Lu Mushan put down the wine glass in his hand, and said in a changed voice: "But Erlang, making wine is not a trivial matter, and the manpower and financial resources invested are too great, and the adults in the family must agree." If you want to impress them, you have to take out the brewed wine! ”

Cui Wu took over and said: "Lu San is right, they don't scatter eagles when they don't see rabbits, and they won't trust anyone easily." This topic ends here, and everything will be discussed when sorghum wine is born. The next topic, when will my "Thirty-six Strategies" be delivered, it's been two days, and adults are in a hurry! ”

"What is the monkey anxious, since I have received your money, I will definitely deliver the goods. If the smoke is coding, about noon tomorrow, I will ask Wu Yuan to send you to the house", Wu Kang glanced at him angrily, grabbed the wine glass and drank it all. Yesterday afternoon, he made an outline, such as "besieging Wei to save Zhao", which was summarized in one sentence: Sun Bin surrounded the capital of Wei and forced Pang Juan to withdraw his troops from Zhao.

As a lazy late-stage cancer patient, the work of filling in the polishing story is naturally handed over to the versatile Ruyan. Seeing the time, the sun set immediately, and said to everyone: "The dishes are all ready, eat them with your belly open before it gets dark." If it's dark, you have to fight at night, and if you eat it in your nostrils, you won't be responsible! ”

At the banquet, there was a lot of laughter, and everyone began to eat and drink, pushing cups and changing lamps. If you want to say that this friend dinner, whether it is Datang or future generations, the most difficult thing to control is time. People talk a lot when they drink, and the usual stuffy gourd can also fight the crowd with the strength of wine.

The banquet finally reached the moment of the palm lamp, and Xiaocui and the others lit yellow wax. The more everyone drank, the more enjoyable they became, the chatterbox was all opened, and Wu Kang also drank a lot. Twelve candles lit up in the living room, three people held scissors, each responsible for four, and kept cutting the wick ashes.

In this situation, Wu Kang couldn't help but think of the sentence "Why should you cut the candle in the west window", the core of the candle is kapok thread, and there are more ashes after burning, so you must cut it with scissors frequently.

Under the brain, I thought of something interesting. It is said that a long time ago, the Egyptians twisted three thin cotton threads into a wick that did not need to be cut when burning. This is based on science, in Xingye's Journey to the West, Zixia and Qingxia are the wicks screwed together.

I wanted to tell everyone the tricks, but I was a little entangled, and without the phenomenon of cutting candle wicks, it was difficult for Li Shangyin to write this poem. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to say it, and use the time spent cutting wax cores to write poems, maybe I will make other good works.

Everyone was dumbfounded when they heard this, and Sun Li patted his thigh and applauded: "Erlang turns decay into magic, which is amazing!" When I go back, I will tell my lord, if it is successfully promoted, our yellow wax in Wuzhou will be sold for at least a penny. ”

Wu Kang didn't answer, looked at the yellow wax with interest, and asked Sun Lidao: "The candles in my hometown are by-products of oil refining. Does Saburo know what yellow wax is made of? ”

Sun Li burped and started a tirade: "Yellow wax is also known as beeswax, and the material is a beehive. Wuzhou has wildflowers all over the mountains and is full of beehives. From early spring to late autumn, people go up the mountain to pound beehives, which contain ready-made beeswax. Put it in a pot and boil, pour it into the mold and it's done. ”

Wu Kang suddenly realized that under the abdomen of the worker bee, there were four pairs of wax glands, and the substance secreted was the yellow wax material.

Sun Li was still unsatisfied, and continued to popularize science: "The yellow wax armor of Wuzhou is still the main medicine offering handed over to Chang'an Tugong, and the saints and the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty basically use Wuzhou yellow wax. ”

Wu Kang glanced at everyone, and said in a strange manner: "Then dare to ask you, how much is a yellow wax?" ”

The second generation looked at each other and looked up in embarrassment. Sun Li giggled and said smugly: "One article of yellow wax in the field, one article of our three articles." Such an expensive thing, not to mention ordinary people, wax makers are reluctant to order! ”

Three pennies can buy twelve cooking cakes, how can ordinary people be willing to get some wax? At night, the entire Wuzhou City is blinded by black lights, like a ghost town. Those who make candles cannot afford to use candles. A poem flashed through his mind, and Wu Kang subconsciously chanted: Those who are all over Luo Qi are not silkworm breeders.

Listening to the bang, he was scared, and the second generation applauded. They are all readers, and they can understand the true meaning of poetry, Cui Wusheng blushed and clapped his hands: "People who really raise silkworms can't afford to wear silk, which is very sad!" ”

Unintentionally, he became a literary porter again, Wu Kang pouted and said: "I can't afford to write poems, this is written by Zhang Yu in the Song Dynasty, don't ask me who 'Zhang Yu of the Song Dynasty' is." We shouldn't pay attention to poetry, we should pay attention to yellow wax. I have an idea, artificial bees, both honey and candles, kill two birds with one stone! ”

"I can't agree with Erlang's words", Sun Mingji, who was half drunk and half awake, shook his head and said: "Let's not talk about whether bees can be raised, just where to raise them." Where they haunt, they must be full of mountains and flowers, definitely not in the city, even more so in the barren mountains and mountains, there are often wild beasts and strongmen infested, and if you don't do it, you will lose your life! ”

Wu Kang admits that beekeeping does have great limitations. Then he remembered another wax and asked the people: "There is another white wax, which is similar to yellow wax, which is made from the discharge of termite larvae, have you heard of it?" ”

Everyone stared at each other again, and after a while, they all shook their heads, and Lu Mushan said: "Please forgive me for being lonely and unheard, I have never heard of white candles. Whether it is in Wuzhou, Chang'an, or Fanyang, it is unheard of. If ants can really make wax, you can give it a try. ”

Wu Kang asked Xiaocui and Wu Lan again, and even asked Wu Mei to ask her grandmother, but the result was still no. It seems that Datang doesn't have this thing, so he sorted out his thoughts and said: "Termites are easier to raise, they survive in a family and tribal way, and they feed on wood and straw." We can build a brick pool..."

The words stopped abruptly, Wu Kang smiled bitterly, shook his head and said: "Don't do it, this thing is too fierce, and the demolition is more fierce than Erha." The embankment of a thousand miles was destroyed in an anthill, and that is what they are talking about. I don't want to go to work in the yamen in the morning, and when I go home in the evening, the house is gone, and there are only a few doors left alone..."

Everyone was dumbfounded, and said in their hearts that this is too evil! After being silent for a long time, Qin Yu said: "Erlang is alarmist, is it so powerful? I don't believe in this evil, go back and build a few iron boxes, can they still eat iron? ”

Wu Kang smiled: "That's not necessary, just use green bricks to build a big pool." Gorou wants to try it, this thing looks like an ant, generally white or pale yellow. They can not only secrete white wax, but also secrete a kind of thing called 'chicken fir', which is the best delicacy in the world. In addition, when the chicks hatch successfully, put a batch next to your pool and come out to eat one by one. ”

The two agreed, finished talking about business, and then drank. At about ten o'clock in the evening, everyone said goodbye and left. Although there is a curfew in Wuzhou City, and it is forbidden to go out at night, these guys have a hard backstage and have never taken the curfew seriously.

Datang also has a fang market system, which separates residential areas from trading areas, restricts the time and place of transactions by law, and prohibits residential areas from doing business. However, in Wuzhou, it is also a virtual existence, the mountain is high and the emperor is far away, the government turns a blind eye, Wukang is ready to open the clinic at home, and it is estimated that no one will come to find fault.

Sending the guest back to the bedroom, like smoke reading in the candlelight, he immediately got up to greet him when he saw him. Propping him up in the chair, he asked Xiao Cui to prepare tea, pouted and complained: "Lang Jun has drunk too much again, and he should have a headache tomorrow!" Xiaocui, they are really, can't they stop it? ”

Wu Kang rubbed his temples and said, "How much wine is this, can you get drunk with me, is "Thirty-six Strategies" finished?" ”

Seeing her nodding, she took out the envelope from her arms, handed it over with a smile and said, "Little lady Cui gave it to me and invited me to participate in the Liyuan Poetry Club the day after tomorrow." It's a big joke, I'm just a mountain horseman, how can I do any poetry? She's not afraid of my stinky meat, and the poems will stink? Help me reply to the letter, just say that she is busy with official business, thank her for her kindness. ”

"The letter that people give you, slaves can't read it", Ruyan put the letter in the bedside drawer, covered her mouth and said with a smile: "Cui Xiaoniang has a good impression of Lang Jun, and gave Lang Jun a horse, if you live up to someone's affection, people will be sad." In addition, my Langjun, there is a rule in the Wuzhou Liyuan Poetry Club, if the invitee fails to make an appointment, he must write a poem in reply, otherwise he will be laughed at by the scholars. ”

"Shame is shame, I don't care what others think, and I don't bother to be a literary porter", Wu Kang's face was full of disdain, and he suddenly remembered that yesterday, Cui Xiaoniang seemed to scold herself for being a toad...

The corners of his mouth gradually showed a weird smile, and he coughed dryly twice and said: "Since it is a rule, let's follow the customs." Isn't it just a poem, while the text is surging now, I will make a poem for her, and I will be tired of writing it! ”

"Yikes... Lang Jun is really powerful, Cao Zijian, who is only eight buckets tall, is only seven steps into a poem", like smoke frightened by heaven, happily ran to the desk, took a blank piece of paper and prepared with a pen, and said impatiently: "Lang Jun hurry up, the slave has long wanted to understand Lang Jun's masterpiece!" ”

Wu Kang held his head high, pouted and said, "Isn't it just a poem, it comes at your fingertips in minutes." Well... You'll have to think about which one to move, and there you have it! Smoke listens up... Daming Lake, Ming Lake is big, there are lotus flowers in Daming Lake, and there are toads on the lotus flowers, poke and jump! ”

With a snap, the brush fell on the white paper, stunned like smoke, and the old man covered his mouth and smiled, and his shoulders trembled with laughter.

Wu Kang couldn't hold it on his face, and snorted coldly and said, "What's so funny? This poem is Zhang Dashuai's masterpiece and is well-known in my hometown. Zhang Dashuai is amazing, known as 'the mudslide in the poetry world', Wen can lift the pen to settle the world, Wu can go to the horse to determine the world, go to bed to know the girls, get out of bed to know the shoes! ”

"Oops... Laughing to death, slaves", Ruyan covered his stomach with his hands and lay on the table happily.

"Okay, okay, what's so funny? Cui Xiaoniang scolded me for being a toad, so I replied to her with this poem", Wu Kang's face was full of bad taste, he came to the desk, set her up and said: "It's late at night, hurry up and go to sleep." I suddenly wanted to write a diary, and I slept after writing, and I had to go to the government tomorrow. ”

"No", Ruyan stopped laughing and persuaded him: "Lang Jun is injured, he can't go to the state office, heal his injury and go again!" ”

Wu Kang was right when he thought about it, there were too many things a few days ago, so he should have a good rest, and he sighed for a moment and ordered: "I'll write a leave note and give it to Xu Sanlang tomorrow, so that he can transfer it to Zheng to join the army." Oh yes, yesterday I caught a Muzhou liar and injured several brothers, you can take some time tomorrow and give them gifts. ”

Yan'er nodded and said, "Okay Langjun, the slave goes to bed first, and you go to bed early." ”

Wu Kang nodded, changed the blank paper again, took out goose feathers from the pen holder, dipped it in ink and wrote a leave note. Anyway, now that the law and order are good, I can still be idle when I stay in the yamen, so I can simply take ten days off and heal my injuries before going to work.

After writing the leave note, prepare to write a journal. It's rare to travel once and record what you do every day, and maybe it will become a precious cultural relic. After thinking for a moment, he wrote: On August 15 of the second year of Yonghui, Cui Wu and others were entertained at home, and the feasibility of sorghum wine, ash and other businesses was discussed, and I hope it will be smooth sailing...