Chapter 20 Making money
Jiang Sanlang Ma Liu picked up the boning knife, made some gestures on the fish, and asked: "Which piece does the guest want? The fish spine is delicate and can be used as fish dumplings, and the fish belly is thick and can be braised or grilled. You see..."
The fox fur 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 owner'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 fine hemp rope, and put them on a hook and scale.
"A total of twenty-one kilograms and three taels. If you remove the hemp rope, I will give you twenty-one kilograms. Chenghui will give you two hundred and ten cents."
Fox Fur Hat took four strings 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 strings of fifty in total, plus ten pieces of change, 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 to watch each bought a large piece and took it away.
There are more and more people at the market, and the Jiang brothers have almost sold out of 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 coins.
Jiang Dalang was displeased and was about to argue, but was pulled back by his third brother.
Jiang Sanlang counted out twenty 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 asked, "Which village are you from? Will you come next time?"
"If I catch another fish from Chencun, I will definitely come back." Jiang Sanlang also smiled.
"That's ok." The township official said, "When we come back in the future, your stalls will still be set up here. I'll count you on the 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 back next time. Now it's good that Xiangzhi has arranged a fixed place."
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 said nothing.
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 counted together and quickly came 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 dug food in the fields, and his total harvest in a year was only fifteen or six guans. After excluding the land tax, household taxes, and some miscellaneous taxes, and then deducting the seed expenses, there were only about 5 or 6 guans left. The days are quite tight.
Fortunately, my brothers and I knew some hunting skills and hunted 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 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! 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 his brothers: "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 there is too much money for four guans, first remove the odd bits and divide the whole four guans into three parts. Each family will get one thousand three hundred and thirty-four coins.
The remaining 511 coins were given as filial piety to his parents and 200 coins, and the remaining 311 coins were left to Ying Bao by Jiang Dalang's request.
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 carry 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 Ying Bao first and give it to her when I get home. However, there is one more thing that I would like 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 patient, but it concerns my daughter, so I have to speak first.
Well, we brothers are our own family members, so we don’t have any scruples about what we say, but outside, don’t say that Da Yu is here for Ying Bao. Your niece is still young, and I’m afraid someone will arrange something unpleasant to spread. "
"I understand." Jiang Dalang patted his third brother on the shoulder, "You're right to remind me. I've 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 cupped his hands towards his two elder brothers and said with a smile, "Thank you, brother, for your understanding."
"This is not considerate or considerate, but it has given 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 the small wooden box on her 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 little 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.
Well, 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.