The young man was wearing a washed-out green robe, had a thin figure, sword-like brows, and deep eye sockets. He had a tough and energetic appearance, but he seemed to have something on his mind, with his brows half-furrowed, making him look a little depressed.
"Shopkeeper Chang..." The young man, Xie Chen, looked around and found that the shop was almost empty, with only a few wooden shelves left standing there alone.
"His grandson was appointed as the county magistrate, and his family went to seek refuge with him. Who are you?" Jiang Yunzhu asked.
Xie Chen hugged the scroll tightly in his hand, "Shopkeeper Chang said before the New Year that he wanted some paintings of plum and orchid, I..." His voice slowly fell. He had been painting these paintings during the New Year, thinking that he could use these paintings to exchange for some money for his tuition, but who knew that Shopkeeper Chang would actually pass away.
I guess he should have forgotten about this!
Jiang Yunzhu listened and roughly understood what had happened. It turned out that the young man came to sell paintings.
"What kind of paintings? Can I take a look?" She became interested. Just now she had really thought of hanging a few paintings in the shop. But just like the words on the plaque, she didn't want them if they were not well painted.
"Miss, do you want to buy it?" Xie Chen raised his eyes and asked.
"I rented this shop and want to open a restaurant. I want to hang a few paintings on the wall. If you don't mind, I'll take a look." Jiang Yunzhu said frankly. Some scholars really don't want to hang paintings in a restaurant.
Xie Chen really hesitated. He was a student of Wenyuan Academy across the street. If his classmates saw his paintings hanging in the restaurant, they would definitely say something strange.
Jiang Yunzhu didn't urge her, nor was she in a hurry to buy the painting; she just happened to come across it.
After a while, Xie Chen said, "Please look at the paintings, young lady." After all, her belly and studies are more important.
As he spoke, he opened a painting. This painting depicted a few clumps of orchids growing on a cliff, with a staggered arrangement and an elegant composition. Moreover, he portrayed the orchid's blazing character vividly and vividly.
Jiang Yunzhu was not good at calligraphy or painting, but she knew how to appreciate it. As soon as she saw the painting, she knew it was a good one. Seeing a painting is like seeing a person. It can be seen that this young man also has a lot of ideas in his mind.
When she opened the second painting, it was a picture of cold plum blossoms. The third one was a picture of clear bamboo. As for the fourth one, Jiang Yunzhu had already guessed it. When she opened it, it turned out to be a picture of cold chrysanthemums.
There are two pictures left, one is the Blue Luan Picture and the other is the Wanli Jiangshan Picture.
These two pictures are more vivid and fluent than those of plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum. Perhaps it is because the former is a topic-based composition and is somewhat deliberate, while the latter is the author's direct expression of his or her feelings.
"How much?" Jiang Yunzhu liked the paintings, but they were too expensive and she couldn't afford them.
"Five hundred coins each." Xie Chen said.
Five hundred coins was a bargain considering the level of the paintings. Jiang Yunzhu said, "I want these two." She was referring to the Picture of Blue Luan and the Picture of Jiangshan Wanli.
Xie Chen was stunned for a moment. He thought that Jiang Yunzhu would definitely want the plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum paintings when she opened a restaurant.
"I think these two paintings are well done." Jiang Yunzhu said with a smile.
Xie Chen's frowned brows slightly relaxed. It turned out that this girl really understood painting. So his paintings would not be buried if they were hung with her.
"Okay," he said.
Jiang Yunzhu immediately gave him one or two taels of silver. Xie Chen took the silver, handed the two paintings to her, rolled up the remaining paintings, and prepared to leave.
At this time, Jiang Yunzhu thought of something else. "I like your paintings very much. I am going to make a batch of porcelain for use in my shop. I wonder if you would be willing to draw the pattern for me?"
Jiang Yunzhu felt that Xie Chen's paintings were good and cheap, so she naturally wanted to get more money from him.
Xie Chen frowned, "I might be a little busy recently."
Jiang Yunzhu understood that he was declining politely, so she didn't force him and immediately smiled and said, "It's okay."
Xie Chen left the shop with the painting in his arms. Jiang Yunzhu was admiring the painting of Jiangshan Wanli when suddenly a female voice said, "What a nice painting! How much is it? I want it."
Jiang Yunzhu almost laughed. She just bought it and someone wanted to buy it from her
Looking up, I saw a girl standing at the door of the store. She was wearing a light blue dress, with almond eyes and rosy cheeks, and her eyes were shining. She was about fifteen or sixteen years old, and she looked very innocent.
Jiang Yunzhu was stunned, for no other reason than that she knew this girl. Her surname was Qin, her given name was Yao, and she was the daughter of the Qin family, a wealthy merchant in Luzhou.
The Qin family specializes in rice business and is considered one of the richest businessmen in Luzhou.
In the dream, Qin Yao married He Qing, the son of the prefect of Luzhou, and later met Jiang Yunzhu.
She didn't care about Jiang Yunzhu's background and treated her sincerely, so Jiang Yunzhu naturally treated her differently from others.
But Qin Yao's life was not easy. In the first two years after He Qing got married, he wanted to sleep in her room every night. But after those two years of novelty, he got tired of her and ignored her. He went out to sleep with other prostitutes all day long. He had more and more concubines and maids in his house.
Qin Yao was not like this at that time. Except for smiling in front of Jiang Yunzhu, she usually had a cold face.
Jiang Yunzhu felt that she couldn't live like this, and vaguely advised her to just get a divorce.
What did Qin Yao say at that time? She said that this was her fate and she deserved it.
Jiang Yunzhu didn't know where she came from and she wouldn't say anything when asked.
Unexpectedly, she met her here this time. Looking at her lively and romantic appearance now, it is really hard to imagine how she will become like that in the future.
Jiang Yunzhu smiled, "Miss, do you know it's a good painting before you even see it?" Of course not. Qin Yao was standing at the door and Jiang Yunzhu was facing her looking at the painting. She could only see the back of the painting. How could she know it was a good painting
Qin Yao's face turned slightly red, but she snorted, "If I say it's a good painting, it's a good painting. I'll take it, no matter how much you pay." As she spoke, she took out two ingots of silver, one ingot weighing ten taels, and the two ingots weighed a total of twenty taels.
Jiang Yunzhu put the painting away and said, "I didn't know this painting was so valuable. Looking at it this way, I can't sell it at all." She guessed that Qin Yao must have other reasons for buying her painting.
"You!" Qin Yao's face turned pale with anger and she turned and ran away.
Jiang Yunzhu took a few quick steps and stood at the door of the store, staring at her back, with her thoughts in turmoil.
At this moment, someone suddenly said, "It's you!"
Jiang Yunzhu looked to the left and saw a young man standing there. His face was powdered and he was wearing a dark blue brocade robe, which made him look like a beautiful woman, handsome and elegant.
Jiang Yunzhu didn't know this person.
Lin Yubai waved his fan and looked Jiang Yunzhu up and down. He remembered her. That day in Wanyue Tower, he and Lin Ting'an and others looked up from the upper floor and saw her standing in the fireworks.
It was just a moment, but it was enough to amaze everyone.
Later, they actually wrote poems about the beauty, lamenting that the girl disappeared in an instant, just like the good times that could not be grasped.
Of course, those poems were written by others, he wrote them... Well, forget it.
Lin Yubai really didn't expect that he would meet Jiang Yunzhu again in this small place of Wuling County today.
"Who is the young master?" Jiang Yunzhu asked.
"My last name is Lin." Lin Yubai looked at Jiang Yunzhu again, his eyes fell on the painting in her hand, and asked with a smile, "Can I see the painting in your hand?"
Jiang Yunzhu raised her eyebrows, "Okay."
As she spoke, she opened the painting and showed it to him.
Lin Yubai admired it as if he was really doing it. He wanted to praise it, but couldn't think of the right words. Finally, he clapped his fan and said, "What a good painting! What a good painting!"
So, he also wants to buy her paintings? Jiang Yunzhu wanted to laugh.
"Miss, can you sell this painting?" Jiang Yunzhu finally smiled when she heard Lin Yubai ask this question.
"Not for sale!" she said firmly.
Lin Yubai was choked, and his handsome face turned red, as bright as peach blossoms in March.
"Girl, won't you consider it?" Lin Yubai asked.
"Not considering it."
"Miss..." Lin Yubai winked at her and took out a jade pendant from his sleeve. This was his usual method. Most people, whether it was his mother, his aunt, or the uncles and aunts passing by, would agree to his request when they saw him like this.
Jiang Yunzhu had to admit that Lin Yubai's blink was like three thousand peach blossoms in full bloom, really beautiful. Moreover, he was not the kind of seductive flatterer, but had a little boyish anger, his eyes were pure, and had a faint sense of youth.
Jiang Yunzhu looked at him twice more.
Lin Yubai was holding the jade pendant and was about to buy a painting when he was suddenly caught by a cold light. He saw the man walking out of the shop. The man was like a sharp knife, a steep peak, and a violent sea, making people breathless.
Lin Yubai immediately became well-behaved, even more well-behaved than when he met his father.
"Miss, sorry to bother you." After saying this, he disappeared in an instant.
Jiang Yunzhu saw that the direction he was heading was exactly the direction Qin Yao left.
"What's wrong?" Shen Fengming asked.
Jiang Yunzhu shook her head, she was also confused. By the way, she showed the painting to Shen Fengming, "Look, I just bought it, I want to hang it in the store, what do you think?"
Shen Fengming looked it up and down and said, "It's a good painting."
"I think so, too."
“Actually, I can draw, too.”
Jiang Yunzhu: ... Can he draw? As a son of an aristocratic family, he should be able to.
Shen Fengming's calligraphy and painting were taught by Shen Daxueshi himself, so naturally they were both excellent. However, he seldom painted, and he spent more time with the knife.
Since everything had been bought, Jiang Yunzhu decided not to bother him anymore.
On the third day, Jiang Yunzhu was instructing people to renovate the store when the young man selling paintings came again.
"Girl, you said last time..." Xie Chen hesitated.
"Could you please help me draw the pattern?" Jiang Yunzhu asked.
"What kind of picture does the girl want?" Xie Chen asked.
"Something elegant will do."
Xie Chen nodded.
Jiang Yunzhu asked again, "A set of plates and bowls, a soup bowl, six large plates, six small plates, twelve bowls, and twelve saucers, with five different designs, how much would it cost?"
"One tael of silver will be enough." Xie Chen said.
Jiang Yunzhu felt it was okay. The mine started operating two days ago, and her takeout business started to pick up again. She made five cents of silver every day. She felt it was worth it to spend one or two taels of silver to get something pleasing to the eye.
"That's it, sir. When can you finish the painting? I need it urgently for my business opening."
Xie Chen breathed a sigh of relief, "It can be done tomorrow."
Jiang Yunzhu took out a piece of silver and handed it to him, "Consider it as a deposit for you, young master."
Xie Chen took it and left.
Jiang Yunzhu continued to work. After a while, she saw a blushing figure in the shop opposite. It could be Qin Yao or someone else.
Jiang Yunzhu looked at the direction Xie Chen left and made some guesses.
The next day, Xie Chen came to deliver the design as expected. Jiang Yunzhu was very satisfied after seeing it and gave him the remaining silver.
Just as Xie Chen was about to leave, Jiang Yunzhu suddenly said, "Sir, I'm opening a new store and I'm in need of someone to do the accounting. Would you be willing to come and help me out in your spare time?"
This time Xie Chen didn't hesitate, "I'm willing."
"About five cents of silver per month." It's a bit higher than a handyman's salary, after all, this is a brain-intensive job. But it's not particularly high, after all, the accounts are not counted every day, and Xie Chen only needs to come and count the accounts of the last few days when he has time.
"Okay, thank you young lady." Xie Chen said.
Jiang Yunzhu nodded, "You can come back when my shop opens."
Xie Chen left.
The sixth day of February is auspicious and suitable for opening a business.
Qishanju has a brand new look. Jiang Yunzhu, Jiang Cheng, Chen... including old man Chen, all put on new clothes and stood at the door of the store with smiles on their faces.
When the new store opened, Jiang Yunzhu invited Gu Yongde's family, Old Lady Feng's family, Li Biaotou's family, Liu, Wang De and others.
Originally, she was afraid that the Gu family would have a rift with them because of her refusal of the marriage proposal. As a result, not only did Gu Yongde and Lin come, but Gu Yanzhou also called a group of friends to help out, and the left side immediately became lively.
On the right, Li Biaotou and his men stood there, a row of burly men, looking very imposing. Those rogues who had been eyeing Qishanju and wanted to make trouble and earn some money when it opened, had already run as far away as possible after seeing this scene.
Jiang Yunzhu's face was full of smiles. She looked at the two rows of people on the left and right. There were many scholars on the left and a row of strong men on the right, which looked quite like the civil and military officials on both sides of the Golden Palace during the court session.
She felt amused at herself for having such a mischievous thought at this time.
The sound of firecrackers popped, and the time had come. Jiang Yunzhu climbed up the ladder next to her, grasped the red silk and pulled it, revealing the three big words "Qishanju".
At this time, gongs and drums sounded and the lion dance team became lively.
"Congratulations, congratulations on the opening!" "Good luck on the opening!" Everyone congratulated Jiang Yunzhu together.
It was the time when students from the academy were leaving school at noon. Many students saw how lively this place was and looked over here.
At first glance, they saw the three big characters on the shop sign, "Qishanju". These three characters were as cold as the north wind blowing through the pass, as majestic as Mount Tai pressing down on one's head, straight and vigorous.
They were all educated people, so they could naturally tell the good from the bad. They immediately praised in their hearts that even if their teacher came to write such good calligraphy, he would probably only applaud!
These people immediately became interested, came over to the store and looked at it carefully.
Does anyone remember that this used to be a calligraphy and painting shop, but at some point it became a restaurant
It seems to be a restaurant.
The store was newly decorated and the windows were covered with fine white gauze. It looked clean and more like a teahouse than a restaurant.
No, teahouses are not that elegant.
Through the wide open door, you can see a painting of a vast landscape hanging on the back wall in the middle. It is majestic and magnificent, and instantly makes this restaurant stand out from the crowd.
Not to mention the elegant decoration, exquisite chairs, and delicate dishes. This restaurant is just like the two pots of daffodils in the restaurant, elegant and noble without being arrogant.
Isn't this what they like? I just don't know how the food tastes and how much it costs.
When Jiang Yunzhu saw many scholars coming over, she immediately winked at Jiang Lin.
Jiang Lin and others immediately began distributing flyers.
"Everyone, please come and support us when you have time." "Thank you very much, thank you very much!"
Jiang Yunzhu's flyers are all handwritten, with the name of Qishanju on top and some of the restaurant's dishes below.
The most eye-catching one is the Mapo Tofu, which costs six cents per serving.
The prices are so cheap! Everyone who saw the prices were stunned. In such a good store, are the vegetable prices so cheap
In fact, the other dishes are not cheap. This is a marketing trick to make you think that the food in the store is cheap.
At this time, Li Biaotou and others had already gone in and sat down. The kitchen immediately became busy with frying, roasting, and deep-frying. All kinds of aromas went straight into people's noses, as if to arouse people's appetite.
Some people were hungry and couldn't help but go into the store.
Speaking of the students in the academy, they are the most special group of people in the county. Children from ordinary families are here, and children from the richest families in the county are also here. But generally speaking, these students still have money in their hands. After all, studying is a costly thing.
The seats in the restaurant are also different from those in other restaurants. Other restaurants are either in private rooms or in the lobby, but the seats in Qishanju are all independent spaces separated by elegant small screens, which are quiet and comfortable.
Sit down, there are two fresh dishes today, braised hairtail and spicy octopus.
Someone ordered these two dishes. On the snow-white porcelain plate, there were delicate gardenias painted, like falling flowers. In the middle, there were rosy and tender fish pieces neatly arranged. There were also decorative radish flowers in front of the plate, which instantly made the dish look more exquisite.
The dishes in this restaurant are basically like this. Just looking at them makes you salivate, and eating them...
Take a bite of the braised hairtail, the bones are crispy and the meat is tender, with a flavor you have never tasted before that makes you unable to stop.
Spicy octopus, the octopus looks a bit strange, but when you put it in your mouth, the chewy texture and fresh taste will make you feel addicted.
Of course, the most ordered dish is Mapo Tofu.
Although this dish is cheap, it is cooked to perfection and has a spicy taste. It is a hundred times more delicious than the ones you buy at other places for just a dozen cents.
In addition, you can order any of the dishes in this restaurant, such as steamed pork with rice flour, Kung Pao chicken, Dongpo pork, and stir-fried cabbage. There is not a single dish that you would like to eat and then find unpalatable. All of them are cooked to perfection.
"The food at Baofulou isn't as delicious as theirs." Someone exclaimed.
"That's right. Let alone Baofulou, I've been to Beijing and I feel that the food there is not as good as theirs."
"The name of their restaurant is also interesting, Living in the Mountains, lying on the mountains listening to the rain, reading thousands of books at leisure, it has that meaning."
"Speaking of names, the three characters on the plaque outside are written so well. I wonder who wrote them."
…
Many people immediately recognized this restaurant and decided to bring their parents here to try it next time.
When it was time to pay the bill, I was told that if I deposited ten taels of silver or more, I would become a member of the restaurant and get an 8% discount on every meal thereafter. If I deposited fifty taels, I would get a 95% discount.
Some people had many servants at home and could spend several taels of silver on a meal. They didn't care about the money at all. They just thought that this membership was interesting, so they just deposited fifty taels.
Some people were more careful with their money and thought that they would definitely come to this restaurant to eat again in the future, so they might as well save some money first so that they could save some money on this meal, so they saved ten taels.
Of course, there are even more people who don’t exist.
But, this is only the first day of opening!