I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 51: New Rebellion and Stubborn Feudalism

Song Kai returned to the palace to report on the progress of the project, and finally expressed the gratitude of the tenants of Mingxia Manor to the princess.

"Some tenants even wanted to erect a longevity tablet for the princess."

You don't have to.

Tang Zhao sighed, the people of Dayu are so simple and honest. She felt that she had been very unscrupulous. In modern society, which boss would dare to work 7610 (7 am to 6 pm, 10 days off)? He would probably have been reported by his employees and put in jail for operating a sewing machine.

Boss Tang felt that his employees were so helpful and grateful, and thought he should do something, but when he thought about his financial resources, he became discouraged.

Song Kai didn't understand why the princess suddenly lost interest.

Tang~no money~Zhao waved his hand, gave a few dry words of praise, and sent the person out.

"Haven't you found the star anise yet?" Tang Zhao asked.

"Dongmei has asked all the grocery stores in Lanzhou City, and they all say they have never seen star anise," Chunfeng said with a pursed mouth. "Don't worry, young lady. Dongmei has already asked foreign merchants to see if she can find it."

Speak of the devil, Dongmei ran into the inner room in servant's clothes and said excitedly, "Miss, I found it!"

"Really?" Tang Zhao stood up suddenly.

Dongmei carefully took out a handkerchief from her bosom, and when she unfolded it, a small handful of reddish-brown things with eight corners appeared in front of her.

"Really!" Tang Zhao was surprised. "Where did you find it? How much did you buy?"

"At the pharmacy," Dongmei said, "I bought all the star anise in the pharmacy and put it into two large sacks."

Tang Zhao praised, "Well done, reward!"

Dongmei laughed happily.

Xia Mo rushed over after hearing the news, took the star anise, mixed it with other seasonings, and boiled water.

After boiling over high heat, add seasonings and simmer over low heat for an hour. The aroma of the marinade will dominate the taste buds of everyone in the small kitchen.

"It smells so good!" Qiuyu couldn't wait to take a sip.

In late summer, put in all the bean products such as bean curd sheets, tofu puffs, fried tofu, dried tofu, etc. that you just made this morning, and take them out after the brine has penetrated them.

Everyone watched Tang Zhao eagerly as he started eating.

Although the taste is not that authentic, it is already very good considering the lack of seasoning.

“Try them all!”

Qiuyu picked up a piece of fried tofu with chopsticks and put it in her mouth. As she chewed, she said, "Girl, this is so delicious!"

Chunfeng Dongmei nodded.

Tang Zhao hadn't eaten braised food for a long time. He was so greedy that he ate a whole pot of braised food with the maids.

"No need to prepare lunch today," Tang Zhao burped, "Go call Mr. Song."

Dongmei held up her round belly to deliver the message.

Song Sheng came quickly, his face beaming as he held the account book in his arms, and was about to report to the princess on the tofu shop's earnings during this period.

But Tang Zhao didn't want to listen.

The amount of tofu produced by the tofu shop every day is fixed and the price remains the same. Tang Zhao knows exactly how much money he can make every day.

Song Sheng asked anxiously, "The princess asked me to come here, but did she have something to tell me to do?"

Xia Mo served him a plate of freshly made braised food. After eating it, Song Sheng was amazed and said, "Princess, this is called braised food, it must be a big hit!"

"Go back and pick a few reliable ones. Xia Mo will go to the tofu shop to teach them how to make soy products. By the way, bring the brine with you," Tang Zhao instructed. "Vegetarian brine is 9 coins per catty, 5 coins for half a catty." Song Sheng thought for a moment and asked tentatively, "What about the meat brine?"

"Mutton is forty cents a pound, and pork is twenty-five cents a pound."

This price is a bit high, but Song Sheng quickly convinced himself that they are the only ones selling it in the world.

Want to eat? You have to buy it!

Too expensive? Then take your leave!
The unique braised food gave Song Sheng courage. He returned to the tofu shop excitedly and picked out a dozen skillful ones from the Song family's children and sent them to the back kitchen to learn how to cook.

Tang Zhao gave the remaining twenty chapters of The Legend of the Condor Heroes to the Crown Princess.

Ming gave her the royalties she had prepared long ago, "Your writing is truly remarkable. Scholars in Jiangnan are all wondering which great scholar, Mr. Jin Yong, used a pseudonym to write such a moving story."

Tang Zhao laughed awkwardly.

Ming asked again, "Do you want to continue writing, sister-in-law? If you do, I will accept your money no matter how much it is."

Of course she had to write, as she had several hungry children who needed her to feed.

"I'm going to start a sequel tomorrow, 'The Return of the Condor Heroes.'"

Ming smiled and said, "That's a good name!"

Money has eroded the noble aura of the Ming family, a family of scholars from the south of the Yangtze River. Tang Zhao sighed and changed the subject, "Sister-in-law, do you think selling books is not very profitable?"

Ming was surprised. "The Legend of the New White Snake" and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" brought in more than 100,000 taels of silver to the Ming family bookstore. In the eyes of his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, wasn't this enough to make money?
She couldn't help but show a hint of respect in her eyes.

I have to say, this is a beautiful misunderstanding.

In his previous life, Tang Zhao was once scolded by someone for being a vulgar businessman with no artistic talent and the stink of money all over his body. But Tang Zhao was so thick-skinned that he was not ashamed of it but proud of it. He even sent the person who scolded him into the hospital out of anger.

Although this is just a small episode in Tang Zhao's business life, it is not difficult to see that Tang Zhao really has nothing to do with elegant things such as books and flowers.

So she didn't know that this storybook was so profitable, and she suggested with a motherly heart, "Sister-in-law, why don't you turn this storybook into a film or TV series?"

Seeing Ming's puzzled expression, Tang Zhao explained, "We're just looking for a troupe to perform. Sister-in-law, think about it, how many people in this world can actually read? Those wealthy businessmen are incredibly shrewd at reading account books, but they don't have the cultural background to read storybooks."

In the previous dynasty, merchants had a low status and their descendants were not allowed to serve in official positions. How could those merchants have the opportunity to read the Four Books and Five Classics?

Although Dayu abolished the system of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, and allowed merchants to take the imperial examinations after two generations, Dayu had only been established for 38 years, and this law had been promulgated for less than 20 years. Even if merchants saw the light at the end of the tunnel, they would only hope that their sons would become successful.

"Those wealthy masters, ladies, young masters and young ladies who are rich, don't like to read, and are in urgent need of entertainment to pass the time are also our potential customers!"

If a fool has a lot of money, it would be a shame not to make some!

Ming felt as if a big door had been opened, and inside the door was golden and silver, glittering with white, emitting a dazzling light!

Ming was stunned by Tang Zhao's promise. "I'll write back soon."

Tang Zhao was very disappointed. How could a grown-up girl, who had accomplished something great, interfere in everything her father and brother did?

But Ming was not her. The feudal dregs of "obey your father at home, obey your husband after marriage, and obey your son after your husband's death" were instilled into her mind by her family since childhood and were deeply rooted in her mind.

A family of scholars, the most innovative and rebellious, but also the most stubbornly feudal.

"Okay, sister-in-law, you have to hurry up. If someone else gets there first, we're doomed."

After all, Dayu has no copyright awareness.

Of course, if Mr. Jin Yong had copyright awareness, he would probably be the first one to send her to the sewing machine.

Tang Zhao left in disappointment.

(End of this chapter)