() In the northeast corner of Qianlong County, there is a peaceful small city called Muzhou. This is already the northernmost point of the Qinglong Continent, and further north is the vast ice field. Spring, summer and autumn are all short throughout the year, with the exception of winter, which lasts for five or six months a year. Due to its remote location, cold climate, and frequent snow closures, Muzhou is deserted most of the time.

Now Muzhou has a vast snowy scene, every household has burned charcoal stoves, and people have stored food for the winter. Muzhou is surrounded by frozen soil, and it does not produce grain, but the people live very richly. That's because Muzhou has a discerning city lord Wang Jingyang.

When Wang Jingyang first took over the position of the lord of Muzhou, Muzhou was still a poor and remote place, with barren land and inconvenient transportation. But he had a unique vision and found business opportunities in the eating habits of the residents.

It turns out that there is a mountain in the southeast of Muzhou called Xueleng Mountain. Xueleng Mountain is the northernmost mountain in the Wuling Mountains. The top of the mountain is covered with snow all year round, and the melted snow water flows down the slope of the mountain, forming a small river called the Leng Xun River. A few miles northeast of the city of Muzhou, the Lengwei River flows into a lake called Qinglian Lake. Qinglian Lake is not big, but the strange thing is that no matter how much river water flows into it, there is always so much water in the lake.

There are many fish in Qinglian Lake, and the residents of Muzhou City often come here to fish. Since the surface of the lake is frozen several feet deep every winter, people will catch more fish in autumn, remove the internal organs and dry them into dried fish for winter consumption.

Year after year, people felt that salting dried fish alone was too monotonous, so they invented various spices to flavor the dried fish, and it was fragrant all over the city at mealtime.

When Wang Jingyang first arrived in Muzhou, he once asked his subordinates about the smell of fish in the city's streets, and showed great interest. He felt that the delicious dried fish unique here would definitely bring great wealth to Muzhou. In order to improve the living conditions of the local population as soon as possible, he quickly put his ideas into action. At first, he called on people to hand over a small jar of dried fish for their own consumption, and then invited chefs from several famous restaurants from Fuzhou, the royal capital of Qianlong County, to taste the dried fish and classify them, and found that there were more than 100 flavors. Wang Jingyang removed some dried fish that was too pungent and rounded up to leave a hundred flavors. After asking the residents about the specific recipe of the seasoning and the detailed pickling method, he led the residents of the city to make a large number of these dried fish, and named it "Dried Baiwei Fish".

After tasting it, the celebrity chefs from Fuzhou all felt that the flavor of Muzhou dried fish was unique, and they each brought some back to the restaurant to entertain the guests, and it was really well received, and the guests were full of praise. Many guests come here to taste the delicious taste of top-quality dried fish. The several urns of dried fish brought back by the chefs were obviously in short supply, and they hurriedly contacted Wang Jingyang to buy a large number of them. "Dried Fish" has a total of Baiwei, where can customers taste all the dishes at one time, so they come again and again, and the business of several restaurants is unprecedentedly hot. Since then, the "dried Baiwei fish" produced in Muzhou has become famous.

The number of fish in Qinglian Lake is limited, and Wang Jingyang has contacted many other fish-producing prefectures to buy a variety of fish. In this way, some people need to go to Muzhou to sell fish, and some people need to go to Muzhou to buy dried fish. Before Wang Jingyang started to build the road, several nearby state cities jointly raised funds and took the initiative to help Muzhou build a wide and flat road, and every time after a heavy snowfall, they would send people to quickly clear the snow on the road.

The people of Muzhou have become rich, but Wang Jingyang does not want to break the original quiet living atmosphere, so he does not allow outsiders to open shops in Muzhou. The people of Muzhou, who were originally suffering from the hardships of the natural environment, no longer complained, and who didn't want to live a rich and peaceful life?

After Muzhou's dried fish production gradually stabilized and got on the right track, Wang Jingyang planned to hand over the industry to a family in the city to take care of. As soon as this news came out, there was some turmoil and unrest faintly under the peaceful atmosphere in Muzhou. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that taking care of the dried fish industry is a beautiful difference. Although Wang Jingyang demanded that the family he took over must take care of the people of the city, how many people were there in Muzhou? Compared with the windfall profits of "dried Baiwei fish", it was only a drop in the bucket. Several larger families in the city were gearing up and trying their best to curry favor with Wang Jingyang, but Wang Jingyang didn't want money or profit, so he didn't eat that at all.

So, several families set their sights on Yan Guangyu, the king of Guangxing, who was in charge of Qianlong County, if Yan Guangyu personally ordered it, then it would be a sure thing to take over the "dried Baiwei fish". Even Wang Jingyang's takeover of the position of the city lord of Muzhou was an order issued by the Guangxing Palace, how could he dare not obey? What's more, Wang Jingyang was very old, and if he won Yan Guangyu's favor, he might let the head of the family take over as the city lord of Muzhou in the future.

There are three big families in Muzhou City, namely the Ma family, the Niu family and the Yang family. It is not unfortunate that the surnames of the three families happen to be animals. Because "horses, cattle and sheep" belong to the three treasures among the six animals, the people of Muzhou jokingly call this matter "three treasures fighting for fish".

Once there is a conflict of interests, the original harmony no longer exists. While maintaining a good relationship with Wang Jingyang, the three families continued to send people to the Guangxing palace in Fuzhou. But Muzhou City is small, and if the three major families move to other places, they will be medium families at best, and Muzhou is newly rich, and the three major families are obviously lacking in confidence, and it is not easy for them to impress Yan Guangyu, who has been rich for a long time, by giving gifts. What kind of gift should I give? The three major families are all overwhelmed.

It seems that giving rich gifts will not work, Yan Guangyu is the king of a county, what precious things have not been seen? If you want to touch his heart, the gift must be very special.

In a study room in Muzhou Ma Mansion, the head of the family, Ma Changxing, was frowning at a page of stationery in his hand. This is a secret letter sent by the little maid arranged by the Ma family in the sheep family.

"That shameless thing...... Ma Changxing became more and more angry the more he looked at it, and clenched the letter paper fiercely.

With a "squeak", the door opened, and Mrs. Ma walked in. "Husband, why are you so troubled?" she asked softly when she saw her husband frowning.

Ma Changxing sighed: "Madam, in two months it will be Yan Guangyu's sixtieth birthday, do you know what congratulatory gift Yang Yucheng is going to give to Yan Guangyu?"

"What else can he send? The people of the Yang family have been running back and forth to Fuzhou, and there is not necessarily any progress. Could it be that there are any ancestral treasures in his Yang family?" Mrs. Ma was slightly disdainful.

Ma Changxing smiled bitterly: "The sheep family has not run less, and we have not run less." Yan Guangyu is obviously extremely greedy, and he has to pretend to be high, it is too difficult to feed him. ”

Mrs. Ma comforted: "Husband, you have to think about it from a different angle. It is precisely because of Yan Guangyu's greed that we have this opportunity to please him. If he is as brainless as Wang Jingyang, it will be difficult for us to do it. ”

"What's so difficult to do? If he is the same as Wang Jingyang, our three major families don't have to be so intrigued, whoever 'Baiwei Dried Fish' should belong to, and it will save me from worrying!" Ma Changxing was very depressed.

Mrs. Ma pursed her lips and smiled, "Husband's words are really insincere. If the industry of 'Baiwei Dried Fish' falls into the hands of the Niu family or the Yang family, can you be willing? Can you not be jealous? Muzhou is different from before, and will get richer and richer in the future, and the struggle between the three of us will come to the surface sooner or later, and if we can't fight for 'Baiwei Dried Fish', the loss of wealth is small, and the loss of family power is the greatest. ”

"Well, yes. It would be even worse if Niu Chengchang or Yang Yucheng got the position of city lord, who would be willing to share a piece of fat with the other two? No matter who the two of them were, the first thing they would do after they took the throne would definitely be to suppress the status of the other two families. No, I've got to figure it out. ”

Mrs. Ma nodded: "That's nature." If we were in power, we would definitely do the same. By the way, after all that, you haven't told me yet, what kind of gift is the Yang family going to give?"

Xiao Han secretly reported that Yang Yucheng planned to marry his twin daughters to Yan Guangyu's two sons. Ma Changxing said.

Mrs. Ma was taken aback: "Are the two girls Yang Huiqi and Yang Huilin?" ”

"Who else but the two of them?" Yang Yucheng is really shameless, and he actually used the despicable means of marrying his daughter!" Ma Changxing waved his fist hatefully.

"Oh, what's despicable about marrying a daughter? You say people are despicable, do you blame me for not giving you a beautiful daughter?" Madame Ma said angrily.

"Nonsense, I didn't think that much. Besides, I don't do it if I have a daughter, don't say anything about it, and lose the happiness of my daughter's life. ”

"What's the shame of becoming an in-law? What's wrong with marrying into the Yanwang Mansion? Glory and wealth are not lacking. By the way, which of the two sons are you marrying Yan Guangyu?" asked Mrs. Ma.

Ma Changxing sneered, came to the window with his hands down, looked at the pine outside the window, and said, "Madam, you only know one thing, but you don't know the other." The letter said, 'It may be married to the third and fourth sons of Yan Wangfu', but it's just 'maybe', I suspect that this is not the case, Yan San and Yan Si are two sons with prominent status, good conduct, and outstanding appearance, and the people who go to say that the matchmaker are about to break through the threshold of Yan Mansion, and it is true that the two girls Yang Huiqi and Yang Huilin are beautiful and virtuous, but who dares to say that this kind of thing will definitely be done? There is another point, it is said that Yan Guangyu is extremely lustful, just looking at how many wives and concubines he has, you can guess. ”

Mrs. Ma's eyes widened: "Husband is saying that Yang Yucheng plans to give his two daughters to Yan Guangyu?"

Ma Changxing nodded: "Those two girls are beautiful and cute, they know everything about piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and they look exactly the same, do you think Yan Guangyu can not like it? I think this matter is a bit hanging, there are not many days left until Yan Guangyu's birthday, if we can't get a better gift, I'm afraid it will ......" He fell into thought before he finished speaking.

Mrs. Ma sighed regretfully: "If it weren't for the dispute over 'dried fish', I would have wanted those two sisters to be our daughters-in-law." The two of them are well-read, well-behaved, and they really can't find such a good daughter-in-law with lanterns. I really can't figure it out, how could Yang Yucheng, that ruthless guy, be willing to give two flower-like daughters to the old man?"

"People think differently. Yang Yucheng wants to sacrifice the happiness of his two daughters in exchange for the prosperity of the family. I must not let him succeed so easily, I have to quickly go to Niu Chengchang to discuss countermeasures. After Ma Changxing finished speaking, he hurriedly prepared the carriage and went straight to Niufu.

After seeing Ma Changxing in the living room, Niu Chengchang smiled and said, "Master Ma, what kind of wind blew you here? You haven't come to sit with me for a long time." ”

Ma Changxing also returned the salute: "Master Niu, you have nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace." I'm here this time to have important news to tell you about the sheep family. As he spoke, he glanced to the left and right.

Niu Chengchang understood his intentions, withdrew the little maid and Yahuan, sat down and asked, "What did the chief detective of the Ma family hear?"

"Yang Yucheng wants to marry his two daughters into the Yanwang Mansion, do you know about this?"

Niu Chengchang nodded slightly: "I have also heard of it." ”

"It seems that the Niu family also has an internal response in the Yang family. Ma Changxing said secretly in his heart.

Niu Chengchang paused for a moment and continued: "I heard that Yan Guangyu is lustful, Yang Yucheng's move is exactly what he likes, but he pities the two talented and good-looking girls of Huiqi and Huilin!"

"That's true. I don't know what the head of the Niu family can do? We can't sit back and wait for Yang Yucheng to win over Yan Guangyu. "It's normal for the other two to join forces to stop the momentum when the three-thirds are in favor of one side.

But Niu Chengchang's attitude was unexpectedly negative: "Master Ma, what else can I do? Besides, why should we manage the affairs of marrying women? I think this matter will be natural. ”

"Let it be? If you let it be, 'Baiwei Dried Fish' and even the Muzhou City Lord will be in the Yang family's pocket! Hasn't the Niu family master thought about how Yang Yucheng will deal with you and me after becoming the city lord?" Ma Changxing was a little anxious.

Niu Chengchang smiled faintly: "Master Ma, please forgive me for not being able to do anything." Well, if you think of a great idea in the future, let me know. Now I still have something to deal with at home, so I won't stay longer, Master Ma, please go back. ”

Niu Chengchang said so, and Ma Changxing was too lazy to speak, but he was very depressed in his heart. On the way home, he secretly thought: "When did Niu Chengchang become so negative? No, there must be something strange about this matter......"

Niu Chengchang, who returned to the bedroom, sneered in his heart: "Yang Yucheng, Yang Yucheng, don't think that you can win by sending two daughters." I want to see if Yan Guangyu will choose me or you after reading the gift......"

......

More than a month has passed in a blink of an eye, and the 60th birthday of Guangxing Wang Yan Guangyu is approaching. The ceremonial team of the three major families of Muzhou has embarked on the journey to Fuzhou. Among them, the sheep family's gift team is the most strong, there are twenty carriages alone, and the first one sits on the head of the sheep family, Yang Yucheng, and twin sisters Yang Huiqi and Yang Huilin, and there are more than a dozen servants and maids in the back three. The carriage behind carried large boxes tied up in chains. The way to open the way and break the team were some martial arts people hired by the Yang family, and there were many strong family members holding swords and riding horses to guard the gift-giving team. The whole procession was half a mile long, and all of them were dressed in festive red clothes, which looked very spectacular.

Compared to the Niu family and the Ma family, the scale of the ceremonial team is much smaller, and there are only a dozen people, including the servants. The Niu family team went one day first, and the Ma family and the Yang family were on the same day. Because Ma Changxing was reluctant to walk with the swaggering Yang Jiali team, the Ma Jiali team deliberately slowed down and rested for half a day while passing through a village.

In the only tea shop in the village, Ma Changxing sat at the table with his wife and tasted tea. Ma Changxing swallowed a sip of fragrant tea, couldn't hold back his joy, and laughed.

Mrs. Ma also smiled: "Husband, where did you go a few days ago? You just said that you were looking for a gift, what good things did you find that made you smile like this?

"Ma'am, I wanted to surprise you. Bring your ears to me, and I will listen to you. ”

"It's still mysterious. Madame Ma groaned and pressed her ear to it.

Ma Changxing said this in his wife's ear, and Mrs. Ma immediately looked at Ma Changxing dumbfounded, and was surprised that she didn't say anything for a long time. Ma Changxing laughed, and Madame's surprised look had already been expected by him. It's no wonder that the things he accidentally found a few days ago were extremely rare, and it was perfect for Yan Guangyu as a birthday gift.

"Husband...... But really?" asked Mrs. Ma in a whisper.

Ma Changxing said proudly: "Of course, I have already tried, it is true." ”

Mrs. Ma's eyes lit up with excitement: "Using this as a gift, it is useless for Yang Yucheng to send ten more daughters." 'Dried Baiwei Fish' is our Ma family's, and so is the City Lord of Muzhou!Husband, should I change my name to 'City Lord'?"

"Madam, just wait to watch a good show in the Yanwang Mansion. I can't wait to see the portrait of Yang Yucheng with two daughters, hahaha!" Ma Changxing laughed heartily.

"Husband, do you think there will be a problem with the Niu family?"

Ma Changxing waved his hand: "I also doubted at the beginning, whether Niu Chengchang found some treasure to pretend to be negative, now it doesn't matter, what treasure can compare to this thing? I have already guessed what Yan Guangyu wants most, this thing can just achieve his wish." Madame need not worry. ”

Mrs. Ma thought for a moment and nodded with satisfaction.

......

Fuzhou Yanwangfu has been a crowded city these days, and it is very lively. On the sixtieth birthday of King Guangxing, the kings of the other six counties all sent congratulatory gifts. Among them, Kong Ying, the king of Dingjun of Shenglong County, temporarily lived in Jingzhou, northwest of Fuzhou, Qin Yongshan, the king of Youlong County, temporarily lived in Wenzhou, Tenglong County, and after the death of Bai Wenchao, the king of Angui of Feilong County, he was succeeded by his eldest son Bai Yunbo and temporarily lived in Shizhou, Xianglong County.

In addition, there were countless dignitaries and wealthy gentry who came to give gifts and celebrate their birthdays, and Yan Guangyu's birthday banquet had hundreds of large tables that were not enough. The three major families of Muzhou can only be regarded as the "three small families" here, and of course they are not eligible to participate in Yan Guangyu's birthday banquet.

When the others heard that they couldn't attend the birthday banquet, they signed the roster and left a congratulatory gift and then went home, but the three patriarchs of Muzhou had something to do with each other, so they all stayed outside the Yanwang Mansion and waited for the birthday banquet to end.

It was not until the night that the drunken guests were helped out of the Yanwang Mansion one after another, and the three patriarchs of horses, cattle and sheep hurriedly stepped forward and asked the housekeeper to report on their behalf. Hearing that there were precious congratulatory gifts, Yan Guangyu invited the three of them into the living room.

The Yanfu Hall has just been cleaned up, and the air is still filled with the smell of wine and meat. Yan Guangyu, who was full of red light, sat on the Taishi chair, and when he saw the three of them coming in, he stretched out his hand slightly and motioned for them to sit down.

"I heard that you have a special gift for me, take it out," Yan Guangyu said with a smile. He knew all three family heads, and they had all come to Yanfu several times for the matter of "Baiwei Dried Fish".

Yang Yucheng got up and bowed first: "Lord Yan, in order to celebrate your 60th birthday, my Yang family specially sent a big gift. Bring it up!" he beckoned to the back, only to see dozens of families carrying up large boxes, more than four rows.

"Lord Yan, there are six boxes of gold, six boxes of silver, six boxes of jade, six boxes of agate, six boxes of pearls, and six boxes of silk, all of which are six, to congratulate the prince on his 60th birthday. Yang Yucheng said respectfully.

Yan Guangyu was a little impatient, and waved his hand: "Although things are valuable, they are not special, right? "Gold jewelry and the like, someone sent sixty boxes and sixty boxes like this, only more than thirty boxes, Yan Guangyu didn't pay attention to it at all.

Yang Yucheng smiled slightly and bowed again: "Lord Wang, of course my congratulatory gifts are more than these. ”

"Oh?" Yan Guangyu suddenly found a problem, so he asked Yang Yucheng, "You only said the contents of thirty-six boxes of congratulatory gifts just now, but now there are thirty-seven boxes here, and what is in one box?"

"Look at it. Yang Yucheng said, opened the big red box in the middle of the first row, and stood up two slim girls from the box.