Jiang Chen did not expect that Song Huizong would go back on his promise and stab him in the back mercilessly;

Nor did I expect that Cai Jing would not only use his secret recipe to make money and gain political capital, but also use him as a scapegoat and a prop for political performances.

After going to the Inspection Department, delivering Jinbo Yuye and formally thanking Liu Feng and Zhou Wei, they returned home.

…

As soon as he stepped off the carriage, his cousin Liu Zongyuan greeted him warmly from the door: "Brother Chen, are you back? Many rewards were sent from the palace today, including twenty sheep, as well as some silks, satins, and spices. and medicinal materials, etc.”

"Um."

Jiang Chen nodded.

Although he only sold wine to Song Huizong for the price of two dairy goats, Song Huizong thought that he had made a contribution to the secret method and rewarded him with an additional thousand taels of gold.

The so-called thousand taels of gold is not the real one thousand taels of gold, it just means that the reward is relatively generous.

So he didn't have high expectations. After giving his cousin a strange look, he asked, "Didn't my cousin go to Wangyue Tower today?"

"He went and came back."

My cousin smiled awkwardly, and while leading Jiang Chen to the backyard, he said, "Shopkeeper Pan was going to promote me to shopkeeper, responsible for the sales of the new sugar.

But there is no trustworthy person to look after such a big house like ours, so I really don’t feel at ease;

And aren’t you going to help Mingjie enter the palace? I’m afraid that she will be looked down upon if she has a father who is engaged in business, so I plan to come back and discuss it with you before making a decision!”

Jiang Chen understood his thoughts as soon as he heard it, nodded and said: "In that case, my cousin will help me manage the front house in the name of the elders."

After saying that, he asked again: "Has Shopkeeper Pan's sugar been made? Has anyone contacted Wang Zhen and Gaofu?"

"The white sugar has been made. Not only does it taste pure, it is also as white as snow. It is indeed a good product!

Shopkeeper Pan asked me to bring some back for my own use at home, and asked me to tell you that he has sent people to introduce you to the nobles, and the results will be available tomorrow, so you can wait with peace of mind."

As his cousin spoke, he took out a small bag of white sugar from his sleeve and handed it to Jiang Chen, saying, "Brother Chen, look, this is the white sugar made by Shopkeeper Pan according to your secret recipe. It's very sweet."

Jiang Chen twisted a little, put it in his mouth, tasted it, and nodded with satisfaction.

After chatting with my cousin for a while, I came to the back house.

Seeing Xiang'er helping Liu Yueniang and the girls organize the warehouse while staring at the twenty sheep tied next to the garden and drooling, he couldn't help but smile and stepped forward to touch her little head and said: "Little girl, I want to think again." Have you eaten meat?”

"ah?

My uncle, are you back? I have met my uncle! Congratulations on your promotion!"

Just when Xiang'er was getting immersed in her thoughts, Leng Buding was startled by Jiang Chen and hurriedly blushed to greet him.

When Liu Yueniang, Liu Mingjie, Liu Minghui and their aunts and daughters met, they wiped the sweat from their foreheads and came forward with joy on their faces: "Congratulations to the official (cousin, master, brother Chen) on your promotion!"

"Haha, good! Good! I'm so happy today. I'll reward you with ten guan each, and I'll treat you to a whole-sheep feast!"

Jiang Chen waved his hand boldly and asked Liu Yuancheng to share the money with everyone.

He enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded and worshiped by beauties, big and small, and was also happy to give his family more happiness during the rare peaceful days before the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, so he did not hesitate to take action.

"Thank you, uncle!"

"Thank you cousin!"

"..."

The girls were overjoyed and thanked him one after another.

But when Jiang Chen asked them to make a whole-sheep feast, they couldn't laugh anymore.

After looking at each other, Fourth Aunt Liu smiled bitterly at Jiang Chen and said: "Brother Chen, a pound of mutton costs more than nine hundred yuan. We have never even eaten it. How can we cook it? Look at this..."

"Brother Chen, why don't you invite two cooks to come back? Mrs. Wu and her daughter Huniu from Luwei Lane are the best candidates."

My aunt suggested with an expectant look on her face.

"Hmm? Hu Niu?"

Jiang Chen twitched the corner of his mouth and looked at Liu Yueniang inquiringly: "What do you think, Madam?"

Liu Yueniang nodded in approval and said: "Madame Wu and Huniu were the cooks in the mansion of Grand Prime Minister Zhao before. Later, when the Zhao mansion fell, they returned to Luwei Lane and made a living as servants.

Both mother and daughter are famous for being straightforward and kind-hearted people. If my husband wants to hire a cook, they are indeed rare and good candidates!"

Hearing this, Liu Mingjie laughed and said: "Cousin, Mrs. Wu has said that she will give you Huniu as your concubine! As long as you obey her, maybe the cook's wages will be saved.

Hahaha!"???

"Naughty!"

Jiang Chen rubbed Liu Mingjie's little head angrily and funnyly.

After thinking for a while, he said to his cousin: "Since everyone praises them mother and daughter, my cousin will take Pan Shun to invite them. If they are willing, they can come over for a while to see them.

Also, please help me fetch Mr. Wu. In addition to treating him to mutton, I also have some official business to ask him for help."

"Okay! I'll take Pan Shun over."

The cousin promised and was about to leave. The delicate Liu Minghui suddenly stepped forward and stopped him: "Fifth uncle, please help me give the ten coins that the master rewarded me to my father. I must hand it over to him personally."

.Sorry to trouble you!"

"Okay! Don't worry!"

The cousin agreed, took the money and left with Pan Shun.

When Jiang Chen saw this, he glanced at Liu Minghui appreciatively, and then smiled at Liu Yueniang:

"Madam, it seems that dinner will be served later today. Why don't you go shopping on the street with your husband? I will buy you some sets of clothes and hairpins."

After saying that, Jiang Chen directly took Liu Yueniang's little hand.

"Officer, don't be impatient. Wait until I return to my room to clean up."

Liu Yueniang was ashamed and happy, but she did not refuse.

She knew that after becoming an official, Jiang Chen would have to attend various banquets. If she didn't dress appropriately for her status, she would definitely make officials laugh at her.

So after going back to the room to tidy up, Xiang'er and I put on the power fence and followed Jiang Chen out.

This made Liu Mingjie look envious.

A deep sense of regret arose in the aunt's heart, and she sighed secretly:

Alas! If I had known that Brother Chen was so capable, I shouldn't have regretted the marriage in the first place! Going into the palace to compete with three thousand beauties for a nobleman who will be favored for who knows how many years, how can I be a stable and comfortable wife of an official?

…

With Liu Mingjie's eyes full of envy and his aunt's heart filled with regret, Jiang Chen, accompanied by Liu Yuancheng, took Liu Yueniang and the cheerful Xiang'er out of the alley and arrived at the bustling Dongmiao Street.

After walking not far, they saw a large Lu's clothing store, so the group walked in.

Unexpectedly, they met Zhang Hongwen on the wrong road with his wife Sun Cuiyun and two younger sisters Zhang Yuexin. Zhang Yuee was shopping for clothes here.

The moment Jiang Chen frowned, Zhang Hongwen looked unkindly at Liu Yueniang, who could see her face at close range even though she was wearing a power fence, and sneered:

"You, an unchaste and unfaithful person who doesn't know how to honor your late husband, actually have the nerve to show up and come to a place like this? Get out of here!"
Chapter completed!