Chapter 4 Beiping scolon

On March 20, Yan Shengrui, with his daughter Hui Niang, said goodbye to his family and led his salt team from the waterway to Beiping. Because of his daughter, Yan Shengrui specially sent ten bodyguards to escort him.

Before going out, Hui Niang betrothed her close maid Xiaoxi to her younger brother Zhiyuan. After planning to marry Miss Shen next year, he took Xiaoxi's house. Hui Niang herself only brought four little girls who were originally bought from the north from the house, all of whom were only twelve or three years old. The little girls were very happy to hear that they were going to Peiping. Talking and laughing along the way, he relieved some troubles for Hui Niang.

The salt team took three days to get to Yingtianfu. After a day's rest in Yingtianfu, he gave food and fresh water, and continued to walk north by land. The journey was smooth. I arrived in Beiping on the eighth day of April. Yan Shengrui arranged for Hui Niang to live in the home of Chen Shoucai, the shopkeeper of Beiping Branch.

Chen Shoucai is young and has been promoted to the shopkeeper of Beiping Branch at the age of 25. Naturally, there is a special reason for this.

Ten years ago, Chen Shoucai was a 15-year-old child. Because his hometown was flooded, he fled all the way to Yingtianfu. At the gate of Yanxing, he met Yan Shengrui, who came to inspect. Yan Shengrui saw that the child was ragged, but his eyes were very bright, and he was a lonely person, so he took him in and arranged for him to be a handyman in the day. After three years of master, Chen Shoucai was directly promoted to running on the street because of his hard work, down-to-earth and cleverness. Later, he was appreciated by Lao Qian, the big shopkeeper of Yanxing, and recommended him to be the second shopkeeper in Zhenjiang, thinking of putting him under the eyes of his host. Chen Shoucai really lived up to the value of the shopkeeper of Qian, assisted him in properly managing the general number of Zhenjiang, and patiently and thoughtfully taught everything in the salt shop to the young master of the Yan family. In private, Zhiyuan has great respect for this good teacher and friend who is nine years older than him. Yan Shengrui is very satisfied with Chen Youcai's shrewdness, ability and loyalty, and intends to cultivate him to be the successor of old money. Under the matching of Yan Shengrui, at the age of 20, Chen Shoucai married Yan Shengrui's distant cousin and another young lady surnamed Huang. In those years, he got a big fat son and named Chen Enze. When Chen Enze had just turned one year old, Chen Shoucai went to Beiping to be promoted to the shopkeeper of the Beiping division. I just got another daughter this year, and her daughter's name is Huize.

The alley where Chen Shoucai's home is located is not far from the Yanhao, but it is quiet. The whole alley used to be a big house, which is said to be a royal palace in the previous dynasty. For some reason, after the change of dynasty, it was divided into two families. The outer courtyard, with more than half of the inner house, was bought by Mu Ying, the emperor's adopted son, to go to another courtyard. Because it is resident in Yingtian, the house has always been empty. Chen Shoucai's home is the small half of the inner house. My in-law, Huang, and a pair of children live in it. There is a high wall between the two houses. Usually, they go in and out from each gate, one at the east end of the alley and the other at the west end of the alley. The two families have never had contact.

Yan Shengrui sat in the account room behind the salt number, first asked about the business in the salt number, and then withdrew left and right, leaving only Chen Shoucai alone, and mysteriously told the purpose and purpose of the trip.

Chen Shoucai was shocked after hearing this, then quickly calmed down and asked tentatively, "Son, do you really want to do this?"

Yan Shengrui asked helplessly, "What else can I do?" When Chen Shoucai saw his boss saying this, he shut up. The most urgent thing now is to arrange to meet the King of Yan as soon as possible.

Chen Shoucai answered softly and began to think about a feasible way in his heart. Dongjia, I am familiar with several close acquaintances of the kings of Yan. I'm going to visit tonight. You have worked hard all the way. Would you like to take a break first?

Yan Shengrui nodded tiredly and closed his eyes. Chen Shoucai retreated respectfully.

He walked back to the front and watched the guys in the salt number move in and out of bags of salt that had just been shipped. Chen Shoucai thought in his mind which one he should visit first in the evening.

When he didn't reach Xu, Chen Shoucai hurried back to the salt number. Seeing Yan Shengrui, who was still waiting anxiously, he quickly saluted. Yan Shengrui walked over and took his hand. The two of them walked through the hall and went to the account room behind. After closing the door, we talked in a low voice.

"Dear owner, I've found out." Chen Shoucai stopped, approached Yan Shengrui's ear, and said in a voice so small that he could hardly hear, "The King of Yan is not in Peiping now!"

Yan Shengrui was disappointed when he heard this, and then he was worried again. He sighed and said to himself, "God's will!"