After Adrian Tang traveled through time and solved the problem of food and clothing, he found that although this era was also called Song, it was not any dynasty in Chinese history. There was the flourishing literature of Tang and Song, the strong cavalry and strong soldiers of Yuan and Ming, and although there were foreign enemies, they were not as submissive as the Southern Song. It was an era of prosperity and strength.
Master Zeng suddenly said a name that Adrian Tang didn't recognize at all. He was confused but didn't show it on his face.
Zeng Fuzi also realized that it was impossible for a 13-year-old boy to know who Liang Bowen was. He sighed and said, "You wasted such a good opportunity!"
Adrian Tang disagreed.
Since the old gentleman was willing to give him his name card, it meant that he was not completely indifferent to him.
Adrian Tang: "Sir, why would such a distinguished guest come to Zhaojia Village?"
Master Zeng: "Last year, Liang Daru came to Suzhou Prefecture to serve as the prefect. Recently, he seems to be collecting books about the customs and people of Jiangnan. Although I am just a poor scholar from the countryside, I still have one or two books passed down from my ancestors at home. Last night, Liang Daru's followers copied all night and took away my ancestral books."
It turns out he came to borrow books.
In order to borrow books, the governor of a prefecture traveled thousands of miles to Zhaojia Village in person, which shows how much importance Liang Daru attached to books.
Zeng Fuzi still did not give up: "You are right, don't think I don't know how much money you can make selling fruit juice in the herbal tea shop every day. This money is enough for you to study here for a year! You are a scoundrel, earning money instead of studying, what do you want to do?"
Adrian Tang bowed and said, "Sir, please don't force me anymore. I have my own plans."
"Don't you want to come back to study?"
Adrian Tang just smiled.
Master Zeng looked at Adrian Tang seriously for a long time, then waved his hand.
"Go away, I'm not in a good mood today."
Adrian Tang was not afraid, but laughed and asked, "Sir, how can I feel good?"
Master Zeng opened the bamboo tube and drank a mouthful of fruit juice: "It is good to drink a glass of fruit juice every day!"
There are five counties in Gusu Prefecture, and Zhaojia Village belongs to Wu County. Zhaojia Village is adjacent to the county seat, and one of the two temple fairs every year is always held in Zhaojia Village.
As a transportation hub for the surrounding villages, Zhaojia Village is very wealthy. Adrian Tang and Tang Juan worked for more than half a month, and three days before the temple fair, they finally made 20 kilograms of fruit juice. At first, the little girl was worried that the fruit juice would go bad if it was not ready before the temple fair, so she was anxious for two days. But Adrian Tang was not anxious at all.
"The shelf life of fruit vinegar is not that short."
Ivy Don: "What?"
Adrian Tang said calmly, "Your brother has cast a spell. The fruit juice will not go bad until the temple fair is over."
Ivy Don: ...
I think there's something wrong with my brother's brain.
However, as time went by, the fruit juice did not go bad. Ivy Don was very happy, as if he had seen two hundred dollars of money. However, Adrian Tang did not stop and continued to make fruit juice.
Ivy Don was surprised and asked, "Brother, isn't this already twenty pounds?"
Adrian Tang: "Isn't there still three days until the temple fair?"
"But we've already made twenty pounds."
Adrian Tang put down the tools in his hand, looked at the curious and sincere eyes of the little girl, and said: "The village chief wants 20 kilograms, and you give 20 kilograms, what will you get?"
Ivy Don: "Two hundred grand!"
"The village chief wants 20 kilograms, how about you give 21 kilograms?"
Tang Juan subconsciously wanted to say "I lost a pound of fruit juice", but Adrian Tang interrupted her directly: "Think about it carefully. There are still a lot of fruits on the fruit trees at the door. Making an extra pound is just a hassle and does not cost too much."
After all, she is just a nine-year-old girl, and Luna Ah really can't understand it.
The next day, the village chief brought people to get the fruit juice. After Adrian Tang handed over 20 kilograms, the village chief was surprised and said, "Little Tang Lang, I only ordered 20 kilograms."
Adrian Tang: "The temple fair is a big event in the county. Luna Ah and I have loved temple fairs since we were young. We were so happy that we forgot the time and did more. Uncle village chief, we agreed on two hundred yuan."
The village chief smiled and said, "Okay, you take this money."
The village chief brought four men to Adrian Tang's house to pick fruit juice. Before they left the house, one of the men said to his companions, "This little Tang Lang is really good. How could a pedantic man like Tang Xiucai give birth to such a cute son? Look, the village chief's eyes have changed."
The goods were delivered and the money was received.
That afternoon, someone came to Adrian Tang's house to order fruit juice, saying that it was recommended by the village chief. Xiao Tanglang's fruit juice is unique in Wu County, and it would be more impressive to use the fruit juice made by Xiao Tanglang at a banquet at home.
Adrian Tang calmly accepted the deposit, and Luna Ah's mouth was so wide that an egg could be stuffed in it.
Adrian Tang was just thinking about whether to borrow an egg from next door and stuff it into Luna Ah's mouth to try it out, when the little girl clapped her hands: "I understand!"
Adrian Tang: ...
What do you know? You know.
"There is still a lot more you need to know."
Luna Ah ignored Adrian Tang. She was quick to snatch the deposit from Adrian Tang. "I'm saving it for you. Don't spend it carelessly!"
Adrian Tang didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The water town of Jiangnan is blessed with outstanding people and beautiful scenery.
Among the five counties of Gusu Prefecture, Wu County is the richest and has a stronger scholarly atmosphere, excluding the prefectural capital. It is said that of the 131 top scholars in the previous dynasty, 23 came from Gusu Prefecture, and five came from Wu County. The temple fairs held twice a year in Wu County are attended not only by Wu County locals, but also by people from the other four counties of Gusu Prefecture and even the prefectural capital.
The temple fair will last for three days, and the village chief has set up a stall for Adrian Tang's fruit juice at the entrance of the temple fair. The village chief asked the Tang brothers and sisters to help distribute the fruit juice, and the brothers and sisters agreed immediately. Adrian Tang wanted to take the opportunity to see what the ancient temple fair was like, but Ivy Don's heart had already drifted to the temple fair.
As expected, Luna Ah couldn't sit still. He didn't stay at the stall for long before going to the temple fair.
July was a hot summer, with hot sun. Fruit juice was selling very well, and many people from other villages came with copper coins to buy juice. When they heard that the fruit juice was free, they were even more amazed at the wealth of Zhaojia Village and Wu County.
Adrian Tang sold fruit juice all day. As evening approached, a small figure slowly walked back.
Adrian Tang took a look and said jokingly, "Boss Tang, after visiting the temple fair, have you come back to check out your stall?"
I waited for a long time but got no answer.
Adrian Tang frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
Luna Ah lowered his head, twisted the corners of his clothes tightly with his hands, and refused to speak.
Adrian Tang threw away the things in his hand, squatted down and checked carefully: "He is not injured, and he didn't fight with anyone."
"Master Zeng said that you really don't know how to study anymore."
Adrian Tang was silent.
The little girl raised her face, not looking tough as if she had chased away the scoundrels and secretly saved the treasury. She looked at Adrian Tang with tears in her eyes: "Adrian Tang, you must not stop studying. We have made a lot of money, and we can let you go to school. You make that money but don't study, is it... is it to save a dowry for me to marry you a wife in the future? I don't want a dowry, you can use my dowry to study."
Adrian Tang was amused: "What nonsense, who told you that?"
"That's what they all say."
Adrian Tang was too lazy to ask who this "they" were. There were always some people who liked to gossip, and this would not change even if the times changed.
"What do I need your dowry for?"
"Then why don't you study?"
"Who said I don't study?"
Luna Ah opened his eyes wide: "Ah?"
"It's just that I'm not studying now. Ivy Don, what do you want me to do when you ask me to study?"
The little girl thought for a long time and said: "Take the exam for a good position!"
"What is the purpose of taking the imperial examination?"
"To live a better life!"
Adrian Tang: "Did I ever say I wouldn't take the imperial examination?"
Ivy Don was dumbfounded: "But you refuse to go to school!"
"If you don't study now, you will go there later. I have to pass the exam and become a scholar anyway."
Ivy Don burst into laughter, but the laughter didn't last long. The little girl cleverly realized: "Only the examination for the scholar?"
"Yes, only the scholar exam."
"Why!" My brother was able to pass the imperial examination. My brother is more powerful than that county magistrate!
Adrian Tang said calmly: "I would rather have my family be scholars for generations than have my descendants become Hanlin scholars."
Ivy Don: "?"
"Become a scholar and you can live a good life. What do you know, little girl? Go sell your fruit juice."
Ivy Don was furious: "Ivy Don, be careful!!!"
Adrian Tang didn't dodge and accepted his sister's soft iron fist.
I would rather have my children become scholars than have them become Hanlin scholars. I only wish to be a farmer and a scholar, and live out my life in peace. Although I am not as noble as a noble family, I am more prosperous than ordinary people.
Adrian Tang looked at the fruit juice on the stall, basking in the sun, and felt that life was extremely comfortable.
After a busy day, Adrian Tang was about to close the stall as the fruit juice was almost sold out. He caught a glimpse of a tall and sturdy figure in his peripheral vision. Adrian Tang raised his head alertly and saw a sturdy man in ragged clothes approaching the stall.
The man was a burly man with a stocky appearance and dark skin. He wore a ragged linen shirt with holes all over it and a pair of worn straw sandals with his big toes exposed. He walked to Adrian Tang's stall, hesitated for a long time, and asked, "I heard that the things in this stall are free."
Adrian Tang winked at Ivy Don. The little girl was a little scared when she saw the man, but she still poured a glass of fruit juice.
"Here, remember to return the bamboo tube. We need to wash it and continue using it."
"I want two..."
Ivy Don opened his eyes wide: "Two cups?"
The strong man pointed to the distance. Under the big mulberry tree at the entrance of the village, there was a hunchbacked old woman lying against the tree, looking as thin as a stick.
Before Ivy Don could react, Adrian Tang had already poured another glass of fruit juice and handed it to him.
"Thanks, little brother!"
The strong man held two cups of fruit juice and hurried back to the mulberry tree. He fed the old woman one cup. The old woman seemed to have not drunk water for a long time. After drinking a cup of refreshing juice, she sat up straight. The strong man fed the second cup to the old woman without hesitation. He did not drink a single sip and returned the cup.
Adrian Tang: "Don't go. I'll give you another drink."
The sturdy man was stunned and looked at the cup in Adrian Tang's hand.
Adrian Tang smiled and said, "Only if you take good care of yourself can you take care of others."
The sturdy man looked at him gratefully, held the cup and drank it all in big gulps.
The brother and sister packed up their stall and went home.
On the second day, the temple fair was still crowded with people. Adrian Tang's fruit juice was well received and he had received many large orders.
Ivy Don counted the orders he received in the past two days with his fingers. "One hundred dollars, two hundred dollars... Adrian Tang, we can make at least ten hundred dollars. I have never seen so much money!"
"It's ten strings and seventy coins."
Ivy Don was overjoyed: "So much money."
"Yes, more than enough to leave here."
Ivy Don was still counting the money. After a long while, she suddenly looked up and asked, "Leave?"
"Have you been to Gusu Mansion, Mr. Tang?"
Ivy Don licked his lips: "No, no."
Adrian Tang bent his fingers and flicked Ivy Don's forehead: "It will be there soon."
Ivy Don covered his forehead and rushed forward angrily: "Adrian Tang! What do you mean? Tell me clearly!"
Adrian Tang laughed and dodged his sister's punches and kicks.
Life was peaceful. The brother and sister received many orders and had work to do for the next month. The three-day temple fair was about to end, and the number of people in the village gradually decreased. Ivy Don poured a glass of fruit juice and handed it to a villager. When her hand was halfway raised, it was suddenly touched by someone. The brown juice was all spilled on the man's clothes. The little girl was startled and opened her mouth, at a loss.
"What did you do? You made my clothes dirty. You have to pay for it!"
Ivy Don looked up and found that it was an acquaintance, the scoundrel who was chased across the river by Adrian Tang with a kitchen knife three months ago.
The little girl straightened her back and said, "I didn't do that. You bumped into me on purpose. Everyone saw it."
Before the man from another village who was taking the juice could say anything, the ruffian glared at him viciously. He trembled all over and ran away quickly.
Soon, five or six hooligans surrounded them.
Adrian Tang noticed the commotion here and saw the scene. He immediately knew that the other party was well prepared.
A gentleman's revenge is never too late, but I didn't expect these scoundrels to wait three months for revenge. He walked up with a cold face and pulled Ivy Don behind him: "What do you want to do?"
The hooligans spat on the ground: "What are you doing? You think you are being unreasonable by dirtying my clothes? Brothers, smash them!"
Six hooligans rolled up their sleeves, ran up and picked up benches to smash. Adrian Tang gritted his teeth and hugged a bench with both hands. He didn't bring any weapons, so he could only pick up things at random. At worst, he would fight to the death and let Ivy Don run first.
The leader of the gangsters took a bench and smashed it hard against the juice stand. With a bang, the juice stand was intact, but the bench fell on a sturdy body and broke into pieces.
Adrian Tang stared blankly at the person standing between him and his sister.
The dark-faced man raised his arms to shield his face. The bench had just hit his arms. His arms were red, but he didn't say a word. He slowly lowered his arms, staring fiercely at the group of hooligans with his bright eyes.
The hooligans were frightened by his gaze, and someone shouted, "He's alone, what are you afraid of? Beat him up!"
The ruffians rushed forward again.
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