Chapter 418 Cao Mansion proposes marriage
The decline of sashimi in Han Chinese recipes has a lot to do with the birth of the iron pot.
A series of new cooking techniques such as iron pots, grease, onion and ginger seasonings, etc. have made cooked fish dishes less fishy but more delicious than fish soup, thus significantly reducing the competitiveness of sashimi. .
"Gentlemen, how does this dish taste?"
Liu Feng looked at the powerful Xiapi nobles who were in silence around him and asked with a show off look on his face.
Hearing Liu Feng's voice, Cao Bao was the first to come to his senses and immediately replied: "It is truly the most beautiful thing I have ever tasted in my life."
Chen Yu also nodded and praised: "If you eat this dish today, I'm afraid you will never know the taste of meat again."
When the powerful scholars in Xiapi saw Cao Bao and Chen Yu taking the lead in praising, they all naturally followed suit and praised this ordinary fried shredded pork to the sky.
Liu Feng was very happy and immediately introduced the sesame oil, iron pot and coal stove to everyone present, and also briefly introduced the cooking techniques of stir-fry.
Later, Liu Feng changed the topic and said to the envious Cao Bao: "Uncle, this set of objects is exactly the gift brought by my nephew. Please don't dislike it."
Cao Bao was overjoyed when he heard that Liu Feng actually gave him all this set of objects. However, after thinking of his daughter's words, he suppressed his inner joy and pretended to decline: "Bao has heard that a gentleman does not take away what others like. This thing is so precious, how can I ask General Zuo to keep it for his own use?”
"Although this is the first finished product, it is not unique."
Liu Feng smiled and said: "Besides, I came here to ask for my uncle's daughter. In the past, I made a promise to my uncle for a thousand gold, and today I came here specifically to fulfill my promise."
When Cao Bao heard this, he was immediately overjoyed, while Chen Yu and others around him were so jealous that they could not maintain their smiles.
It should be noted that Chen Yu also has a legitimate daughter. Last year, he tested his nephew Chen Deng, hoping to marry her daughter to Liu Feng.
However, he was rejected by Chen Deng. Chen Deng knew very well that unless Liu Bei spoke in person, it might be okay for the Chen family to ask for a side room, but to ask for the main room would be overestimating one's ability and being arrogant. At that time, Chen Yu clearly came for the wife, so how could Chen Deng look good on her?
For a moment, Cao Bao couldn't close his mouth with joy, but he still had to force himself to look calm, stiffened his head and nodded in agreement: "In this case, uncle will be disrespectful."
After saying that, Cao Bao, who was still dissatisfied, clicked his tongue and continued: "In the blink of an eye, several years have passed, and the young master's generous words when he came to my house are still ringing in his ears. Only Bao's loyalty has never changed."< br>
Chen Yu and other scholars all showed disdain on their faces. This flattery was too inferior. On the other hand, the wealthy families present all looked happy, and they all paid more explicit compliments to Cao Bao.
Chen Yu was partly jealous and partly because the pictures taken by these powerful men were so mean. He asked Liu Feng: "General Zuo, this thing is very rare. I don't know where to buy it, so I can wait." A little more elegant than General Zuo."
Cao Bao was naturally a little displeased with Chen Yu's interruption, but now he was a little more generous and did not argue with Chen Yu. Instead, he helped: "That's right. How can Bao Bao be so virtuous? How can he do that?" If you can specialize in the beauty of this thing, I would like to ask General Zuo to take pity on the people of Xiapi and give me some advice."
Liu Feng glanced at the other party approvingly, and then comforted him: "I fully understand your wishes. This product has been mass-produced in Pengcheng and will be sold in shops all over the country soon. It will definitely fulfill your wishes. .”
Cao Bao and Chen Yu immediately left the table and bowed down, leading all the scholars in Xiapi to bow down together.
"We would like to thank General Zuo for his virtue."
Liu Feng pretended not to be worried and left the table to pay his respects: "Why are you doing this? Please get up quickly."
Cao Bao and others bowed again and said: "Thank you General Zuo for your kindness."
All of a sudden, the host and guest were enjoying themselves.
From then on, Xia Pi Shihao also knew that Liu Feng came here to marry Cao Bao's daughter.
After the banquet, Liu Feng placed many powerful nobles on the ship, and then the fleet headed straight for Xiapi.
That night, Liu Feng stayed at Cao Bao's house in Xiapi City.
The next day, Liu Feng invited Cao Bao to discuss with him the time and specific etiquette details of the wedding.
Although Cao Qing's identity is a concubine, Liu Feng's main concubine is still vacant. Cao Qing's status is naturally higher, not to mention that she is still Liu Feng's first concubine. Strictly speaking, her status is still behind Mi Yue. superior. In addition, Liu Feng had already made up his mind to erect Cao Bao as a horse bone, so he was naturally very attentive and came to Xiapi to set the time and ceremony.
Liu Feng took the matter so seriously, Cao Bao was naturally overjoyed, with a smile on his face, and couldn't help feeling that he really made the right choice.
Liu Feng and his son really have the style of a high emperor, and Liu Feng is even more grateful to repay his kindness. What else can he be dissatisfied with?
The rare treasures that Liu Feng had displayed at the inn were all betrothal gifts for this request. In addition, there were also a large amount of snow salt, frosted sugar, antiques, and even twenty pieces of precious Sichuan brocade, which showed his sincerity.
Naturally, Cao Bao did not agree with anything. He fully agreed to Liu Feng's request and cooperated with Liu Feng in everything.
"Uncle, there is one more thing I need to tell you."
Liu Feng's solemn look made Cao Bao feel nervous.
"What do you have to say, my dear nephew?"
Cao Bao immediately expressed his stance: "I will never refuse anything I can do."
Liu Feng smiled and said: "My nephew knows that my uncle will help me."
Later, Liu Feng explained the public debt issue in detail.
In fact, Liu Feng was helpless. There were too many places to use money nowadays, and in troubled times, the loss of coins was particularly large.
Fortunately, Liu Feng finally preserved Xuzhou, most of Yuzhou and Yangzhou, and a large number of coins were preserved.
It's just that among this massive amount of coins, in addition to part of it flowing back to Liu Feng's hands through taxation and trade, a large part was also hoarded by the powerful nobles.
Hoarding is one of the biggest problems with metal currency. It will cause the entire country's social system to fall into a money shortage, but there is no good way to solve it.
The best way is naturally to replace it with credit currency, but you have to do it slowly with credit currency.
Corvee service has been a stubborn problem throughout the feudal era and is extremely difficult to solve. Liu Feng just set ambitious goals and then slowly rectified and solved the problem.
But compared with credit currency, the complexity of this thing is much more terrifying than corvee, and it is also much more dangerous.
There are many opportunities to make amends if the corvee goes wrong, but if the money goes wrong, the difficulty and effect of making amends are much worse.
Therefore, at the current stage, Liu Feng is developing encrypted banknotes similar to Jiaozi in the Tang and Song Dynasties on the one hand, and on the other hand, he is trying every means to dig out hoards from powerful nobles.
Frosted sugar, snow salt, sesame oil, and even current coal stoves, iron pots, cooking methods, etc., in addition to their own value, they also have an unexpected advantage, that is, they force the nobles to use the metal they have stored away. Money was used to purchase these supplies.
It was the role of frost sugar and snow salt that gathered a large amount of coins for Liu Feng, which also gave Liu Feng the basis for selecting elites and distributing military pay to the entire army.
But this alone is not enough. After all, not all powerful nobles are willing to buy frosting sugar and snow salt. The public debt Liu Feng took out was another method.
"The annual interest rate is five percent?"
Cao Bao read: "Is the interest rate too low?"
Liu Feng chuckled in his heart. Sure enough, it was still my Uncle Bao. If it were the Mi family sitting across from him, he would never ask such a question.
Cao Bao felt a little regretful when he asked about it himself. He could only say: "Don't blame me, my dear nephew. I'm not worried about the money and interest, but I am worried that the interest rate is so low that it may be difficult to attract Shihao to buy it."
Liu Feng smiled and shook his head: "Uncle, this public debt is guaranteed by the taxes and properties of the Hussar General's Mansion, Zuo General's Mansion and the four southeastern states. Although the interest rate is low, we are in troubled times now. Who else can lend such a large sum of money besides my family? "
When Cao Bao heard this, he nodded repeatedly, feeling suddenly enlightened.
Indeed, as Liu Feng said, in today's troubled times, even commerce is difficult to do, communication between most princes is difficult, and tariffs are extremely heavy.
That is to say, Liu Feng now has a large territory and has become the target of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao's vying to win over. The trade with Liaodong Gongsun and Jiaozhi can also provide the other party with urgently needed supplies, which can be said to be a monopoly trade.
As a result, a large amount of money poured into Liu Feng's hands.
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"My quota for Xiapi is 200 million yuan, while supplies last."
Liu Feng told Cao Bao: "If you are willing to buy, my uncle can record the name and family background. If you are unwilling to buy, don't force it."
Cao Bao didn't understand, but that didn't stop him from nodding in agreement: "Don't worry, good nephew, my uncle will follow Cao's instructions and act accordingly."
Liu Feng laughed, not realizing that his future father-in-law could actually use idioms.
Later, Cao Bao resigned first in the name of hosting a banquet.
Liu Feng happened to have to deal with government affairs. Although he returned to Xuzhou, documents were delivered by water to his case. Moreover, those who can receive this kind of treatment are often relatively important matters. He always hopes to handle them as soon as possible and send them back to Wuzhong.
Now that Cao Bao has resigned, he is happy to have time to deal with government affairs.
But Liu Feng didn't know that after Cao Bao left, he didn't go to the kitchen, but to Cao Qing's residence in the backyard.
After listening to Cao Bao's narration, Cao Qing almost held his forehead and sighed. Fortunately, Liu Feng didn't look angry when he heard what he said.
Seeing his daughter's reaction, Cao Bao asked cautiously: "Qing'er, what did you say wrong as a father?"
"I never said anything wrong, father, don't worry."
Cao Qing shook his head, and first made Cao Bao feel relieved, and then continued to ask: "Father, how much wealth can the family use now?"
"Why did Qing'er say this?"
Cao Bao's face was full of surprise. Then he thought of something and joked with a smile: "Qing'er, please be at ease. Your father has already prepared your dowry for you. The richness of the dowry will definitely not disappoint Qing'er."
As soon as he heard this, Cao Qing knew that his father had misunderstood, and had to explain: "The child will remember his father's favor in his heart, but when he mentions it now, it is not for the dowry, it is really a hidden reason."
"Oh?"
Cao Bao's eyes widened, and he became more confused and said: "But Qing'er is responsible for all the property in the house, and you don't know about it as a father."
Cao Qing had the idea of helping his forehead again, and explained helplessly: "It is indeed the child who is responsible for counting and making a list of the family's belongings. The child also knows his father's daily expenses, but what the child wants to know now is what his father will be able to do in the next year. Is it useful? ”
Cao Bao was stunned. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head and said, "I'm afraid your dowry will only be used for it. As a father, I won't hide it from you. Ninety percent of the family's wealth should go into your dowry."
Cao Qing was shocked. He didn't expect his father to be so generous to him.
However, Cao Bao smiled and waved his hand: "I only have you as a daughter. No matter how much wealth there is, what's the point? It's better to pave the way for my son. Besides, even 10% left is enough for me."
Cao Bao's words are really not a boast. In the past two years, the profit from sugar alone has been worth hundreds of millions in dividends.
These dividends were paid to Liu Feng in real terms, and Cao Bao was an exaggerated billionaire, with several new money warehouses in his family.
If Liu Feng marries Cao Qing at this time, he may not be able to bring back a lot of blood.
Although according to etiquette and law, the money belongs to Cao Qing personally, Cao Qing is a concubine, not a concubine. Even if he is dead, if he has children, the dowry will also belong to the children. If there are no children, the dowry will have to be returned to the Cao family.
But there was a huge disparity in strength between the two sides. If Liu Feng asked to borrow it, how could Cao Qing refuse to borrow it?
When Cao Cao started his career and suffered successive defeats, he borrowed all of Mrs. Ding's dowry.
Now Cao Bao only gets 10%, which is indeed very generous to Cao Qing, but just this 10% is still a huge sum of 10 to 20 million, and he has not treated himself badly.
Cao Qing's bright eyes were moved with tears, and Cao Bao felt soft in his heart: "Why do you have to be like this, a good boy? I am a father willingly."
Immediately, Cao Bao deliberately changed the subject and said, "What did Qing'er mean just now?"
Cao Qing suppressed the emotion in his heart and bowed to Cao Bao: "Qing'er, I sincerely ask my father to grant my request."
"That's why."
Cao Bao was shocked, and hurriedly stepped forward to help Cao Qing up. Looking at the blush on his snow-white forehead, he felt distressed and said: "If you have anything to say, just say it, why is it necessary? How can I not allow it as a father? ”
Cao Qing then said: "The child wants to ask his father to use all the wealth he has prepared to buy public bonds as a dowry."
Cao Bao was shocked when he heard this and asked in confusion: "Why is this?"
Cao Qing had no choice but to explain: "The dowry prepared by the father for the child is very rich, and there are many goods in it. But after the daughter enters General Zuo's house, her happiness is really due to General Zuo's favor. In this case, these goods If there is no need for it at the moment, why not buy all the public bonds, which will not only win General Zuo’s gratitude for our Cao family, but also win General Zuo’s favor for Qing’er.”
After hearing this, Cao Bao suddenly realized that he understood Cao Qing's hard work and nodded in agreement: "What Qing'er said is true."
Immediately, Cao Bao couldn't help but sigh: "It's a pity that Qing'er, you are a woman, otherwise your achievements will be higher than being a father."
Cao Qing lowered his head and said nothing, his beautiful face stained with red clouds, giving him a gorgeous and colorful appearance.
(End of chapter)