On September 18th, Yang Sichen asked Manager Li to accompany him to the brown sugar workshop. He planned to find an opportunity to confirm the production process of activated carbon.
When they arrived at the brown sugar workshop, Yang Sichen told Manager Li about it. Manager Li knew that Yang Sichen was in the business of activated carbon, so he thought for a while and replied,""Young Master, it's best to let someone you trust do this in the residence. After all, this is our family's unique skill. Moreover, according to what you said, the method of making this thing is not complicated. What if…Look at this…"
Yang Sichen didn't mention it again after hearing that. He went to the workshop for a walk and then came to the river from the back door. The waterwheel had been set up, the juicer was being set up, and the water reservoir and diversion channel on the ground had been formed. They were laying bricks.
Yang Sichen asked Carpenter Li a few more questions, and Carpenter Li patted his chest and promised to finish the work on time.
After a quarter of an hour, Yang Sichen was accompanied by Steward Li to the Tai Ji Blacksmith Shop. He took out a piece of paper with a strange iron pot drawn on it. He asked to make the iron pot according to the drawing on the paper. The iron pot was 2.8 feet in diameter, flat and shallow, and the bottom of the pot was 40 centimeters thick. It also had an iron lid with two handles. There was a groove on the bottom of the iron lid, which was just enough to buckle the edge of the pot.
After returning to the Yang Mansion, he went to the Greenwave Courtyard's study to practice his calligraphy. When it was almost noon, Yang Sichen instructed Rongguang to invite Xia Zhong over.
Fifteen minutes later, Xia Zhong followed Rong Guang into the Blue Wave Courtyard. Yang Sichen was already waiting in the front hall.
"Young Master, what can I do for you?" Xia Zhong stepped forward and bowed.”
Yang Sichen moved aside and asked Flowing Mist to bring the white sugar that he had made a few days ago to Xia Zhong to taste. Then, he asked,""Uncle Zhong, if I were to sell my Frost Candies, what would the price be?”
Xia Zhong had heard from Rong Guang on the way that Yang Sichen had made white sugar a few days ago, but he wasn't surprised. He pinched it with his fingers and tasted it before replying,""Young Master, this Frost Candy can be sold for at least 350 wen per envelope.”
Yang Sichen ordered the servant girl to take out the activated carbon that he had prepared that day and said,""This is something that turns brown sugar into frosting. The preparation method is quite simple. You only need to seal the charcoal and soak it in water. After cooling, you can dry it. He had wanted to do it in the workshop, but it would be hard to say if any of the workers told anyone. You see…"
Xia Zhong immediately understood Yang Sichen's meaning, but he didn't express his opinion. He only said that he needed Old Master Yang's approval. Yang Sichen also understood that this was the Yang Residence, after all. He was afraid that Old Master Yang would not be happy with the mess. Hence, he asked Rongguang to send Xia Zhong back first and let this matter go for the time being.
Xia Zhong could only carefully smile."Old Master, you see…"
"Alright, just give the southwest corner to Ping Boxuan. I'd like to see what he can get out of it.”Old Master Yang waved his hand and smiled.
After lunch, Yang Sichen asked the servants to go to the wooden shop in the city to buy leftover wood pieces for making furniture. He then ordered the servants to come back and chop the wood pieces into small pieces, soak them in water for a day, and then dry them.
Xia Zhong came to teach Yang Sichen martial arts and told him about Old Master Yang's decision. Yang Sichen didn't expect Old Master Yang to agree so readily. He felt a little uneasy, but when he thought about what his cheap father had done, he understood Old Master Yang's decision and felt relieved. Hence, he asked Xia Zhong to bring a human servant over the next morning. He wanted to buy people, both men and women.
Yang Sichen and Rong Guang lay in the courtyard, not wanting to move at all.
…………
The next day, Xia Zhong indeed brought a man over. That person was a fat woman in her forties. She spoke in a soft and pleasant voice. When she saw Yang Sichen, she smiled and said,""Eldest Young Master, this servant greets you.”As he spoke, he bowed to Yang Sichen.
Yang Sichen nodded at her in return and asked,""How should I address this granny?"
"My husband's surname is Deng, and I'm the third oldest in the family. Eldest Young Master, you can call me Third Granny Deng."”
Yang Sichen did not stand on ceremony with her." Mrs. Deng, I want to buy someone. I wonder if you've brought the person?"”
"Yes, yes." Granny Deng hurriedly agreed and then turned around to leave the Jade Wave Courtyard. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he brought eight children over, four boys and four girls.
"Eldest Young Master, these three kids are from the same mother. They work together and have a tacit understanding. These two girls are twins. Their father's surname is Fei, and they are the children of a family that has been trained. Because the original master's family was defeated, they were sold to me along with their parents." This girl…" Granny Deng introduced the children to Yang Sichen.
Yang Sichen looked at the eight children and couldn't help but feel emotional. The oldest was thirteen years old, and the youngest twin sisters were only eight and a half years old. For various reasons, he was sold here…
Yang Sichen couldn't help but agree with Lu Xun's words," This was a dog-eat-dog world…In fact, the living conditions of servants in this era were much better than that of the low-level farmers. At least they could eat and wear warm clothes. It was not a problem for them to save more than ten taels of silver a year if they met a rich master.
Yang Sichen retracted his thoughts and sized up his two servant girls. They were both seventeen or eighteen years old and would be released to marry in three years at most. Instead of choosing them later, it was better to let them train the two of them to their heart's content. It was not difficult to prepare activated carbon. Three kids were enough. It seemed that the three brothers were quite honest. It would not be bad to keep one by his side in the future and let the other two do things.
So he asked for the names of the five people and asked Yanhong and Flowing Mist to bring the five people to take a shower and change their clothes before carefully observing them.
Yang Sichen was very satisfied and said to Granny Deng,""How much are these five children worth?”
"Five taels each for the three boys, and twenty-five taels for the twin sisters," answered Granny Deng.”
Xia Zhong nodded and took out an ingot of silver and gave it to Granny Deng. Granny Deng took out the five children's indentities and handed them to Yang Sichen. She then left with the three children, expressing her gratitude.
Xia Zhong looked at the twin sisters, then thoughtfully glanced at Yang Sichen before leaving the Emerald Wave Courtyard.
After Xia Zhong left, Yang Sichen ordered Rongguang to bring the three boys to the study room to wait for him. He would go over after giving instructions to the twin sisters.
Yang Sichen asked Liu Lan to leave the twins in the front hall while he sat on the armchair and said,""I don't have many rules here. There's only one rule. Loyalty. If anyone dares to betray me, don't blame me for being ruthless. When I'm not in the study, you can't go in. You've just arrived. If you don't understand anything, ask Big Sister Liu Lan. Also, my monthly salary here is different from other places. It's divided into three classes and eight grades. Big Sister Yanhong will tell you the details later. Do you understand?"
The twin sisters looked at each other and replied,""Understood!"
Yang Sichen added,"Also, from now on, your elder sister will be called Yun Shui, and your younger sister will be called Yun Lan."?I'll let Sister Yanhong bring you guys to make some clothes later.”
The twin sisters quickly knelt down and said,"Yun Shui (Yun Lan) thanks Master for bestowing the name!”
After instructing the twin sisters, Yang Sichen called Liu Lan over and whispered,""Follow the example of the Young Lady of the residence and secretly make a few extra clothes for them. Tell them that they can only wear them in the Jade Wave Courtyard.”Then, he gave Flowing Mist a knowing expression and walked towards the study without waiting for her reply. Flowing Mist's face was filled with black lines. Young Master was still so young, yet he already knew…
Looking at Yang Sichen's back, Liu Lan sighed helplessly.
When Yang Sichen entered the study, Rong Guang hurriedly stood up from behind the desk with a fawning smile on his face. The three brothers knelt down and kowtowed, shouting,"Young Master!"
Yang Sichen ignored Rongguang and waved his hand to signal the three of them to get up. Then, he sat down behind the desk and cupped his fists to support his chin as he looked at the three brothers. The three of them had just changed into short combat suits, and they looked very thin and weak. Their faces were pale, and it was obvious that they had been malnourished for a long time. The eldest was not tall, and his face was gloomy and expressionless. The second brother was slightly taller than the eldest brother. He had a friendly and humble expression on his face. The third brother's body had yet to grow, and there was still a trace of childlike interest in his eyes.
These three brothers were originally disciples of a farmer in Longyou. Their family name was Du, and their parents had died in a refugee riot three months ago. The three brothers were brought to Song Jiang by a middle-aged man. Three days ago, they were sold to Nanny Deng for nine taels of silver.
Yang Sichen couldn't help but sigh and said seriously,""I didn't buy you out of kindness. I bought you to work for me. Here, this Young Master doesn't want anything else from you. I just need you to promise me one thing-loyalty. To you new servants, don't ask what you shouldn't ask, don't say what you shouldn't say, and don't think about what you shouldn't think. If you ask, say, or think about it, don't blame me for being ruthless! This Young Master will definitely give you what you deserve. Don't even think about what you don't deserve. Do you understand?"
"Understood!" The three of them answered in unison.
"The treatment of my Jade Wave Courtyard is pretty good. I get one tael of silver a month for food and accommodation, two sets of winter clothes, two sets of summer clothes, two sets of spring clothes, and four sets of undergarments every year.”Yang Si's expression softened and he continued," If you do a good job, you will be rewarded with a month's worth of silver. The silver and items that are rewarded will all belong to you. After working for 45 years, this Young Master will give you 50 taels of silver and 2 Mu of land for your retirement. Rongguang will tell you the specific rules. You will stay in Ping Bo Xuan. I will arrange work for you tomorrow. Let's go down first!"
" Thank you for your kindness, Young Master!!" The three of them looked at each other, then Rongguang led them out of the study.
Yang Sichen calmed down and read a book for a while before practicing a few words. Granny Zhao came to invite him to lunch. Rongguang had to follow the rules with the three brothers, so he made an exception and didn't come to eat with Yang Sichen. Yang Sichen asked Yanhong and Liu Lan to eat with him, but the two of them said that there was a difference in seniority and that they couldn't break the rules, so they both refused. The two of them glanced at Yang Sichen from time to time and pursed their lips. Granny Zhao was baffled by what she saw, but she suppressed her curiosity in front of Yang Sichen.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。