"After going to court tomorrow, take me to a few shops at your house to see what?" Chu Ci's eyes turned and made this request.

He always felt something was wrong. He heard that those shops were all managed by the Kou sister who was dowry back then, so it would be better to go and take a look first and then make a judgment.

Kou Jing seemed a little embarrassed: "Huai Jin, I will take them to Vice General Li's house tomorrow to discuss matters, and I'm afraid I can't take you there."

"Go to Deputy General Li's house again? Who is Deputy General Li?" Chu Ci was a little puzzled.

"He is a general of Shenji Camp. He was once a powerful general under Marshal Qi. Later, he was seriously injured during the battle and could not go to the battlefield again. Marshal Qi found a position in Shenji Camp for him." Kou Jing explained

road.

"So that's it, then you go. However, I still want to go to the shops in your house to take a look. Write me the name and location of the shop and I'll go and see it myself."

When Kou Jing heard him say this, he immediately took out a sign from his body, then pulled Chu Ci's hand and put the sign on his hand.

Chu Ci was a little uncomfortable when he pinched it. He pretended to look at the sign and retracted his hand. Kou Jing let go of his hand and only savored it in his heart.

The brand is quite heavy, with a black and smooth surface. I don’t know what metal it is made of. It has a character called Kou and a concave and concave at the bottom, which seems to have a character engraved.

"Is this brand a token? Can you mobilize the industry and issue orders with a brand?" Chu Ci guessed based on the experience gained in the novel.

"Everyone from Kou's family has this brand, but only the head of the family can mobilize the industry and issue orders. Others can only move a certain amount of money. If you hold this brand, those shopkeepers dare not ignore you."

"I heard you talk about it last time. There is another uncle in the Ministry of War. Is he a member of the head of the family?"

"No, he is from the main family. Our Kou family's grandfather's generation has been divided. We are the family members, but my family is deserted, and now I am the only one left in the family.

Many, but most young and strong people are not in the capital, and only some elders are still there. Among the young and strong people, in addition to the uncle who stayed in the capital, there are also several cousins. The one who came to the military camp to find me last time

So is my cousin,” Kou Jing said.

When Chu Ci heard this, he remembered the man with peach eyes who called him "A Jing" last time. He felt that this scholar who didn't know where to hit him was very annoying. It turned out that he was Kou Jing's brother!

He was in a mess at the time, otherwise he could understand from the name that no one could call others' names except his elders.

"Huai Jin, what are you thinking?" Kou Jing asked when he saw his eyes floating and he didn't say anything for a long time.

"I'm thinking, in this way, you are the token of the head of the family? You give it to me, aren't you afraid that I'll empty your shop?" Chu Ci came to his senses and smiled with a bad intention.

"What's wrong if you move it away? If you want it, just take it. This brand will be given to you. In addition to the few shops in Kou's family in Beijing, industries in other places can also be mobilized." Kou Jing said generously,

It sounds like a joke, but in fact it is full of seriousness in my eyes.

"Hahaha, I don't dare to ask for such a valuable thing." Chu Ci threw the sign back to Kou Jing, "You just need to write the address to me."

Kou Jing took the sign and stuffed it into Chu Ci's hand, saying, "I am not good at managing my business. I have never checked the accounts since I took over. You hold this sign and after visiting, check it for me.

.”

Chu Ci thought about it, stuffed the sign into his arms, and then said, "It's OK, so I'll take it. But what if there is any problem with this account, what should I do then?"

"You hold the order of the head of the family and everything is up to you."

Chu Ci smiled. At that time, he still had to seek Kou Jing's opinion. I hope that what happened back then was really a coincidence.

...

The dynasty on July 15th did not last long, but it ended in about an hour. Chu Ci came out of the palace, changed his clothes and went straight to Xida Street to find the shops of the Kou family.

West Street is very big, with nine main streets in total. If you walk and walk, you might not have to spend a day. Chu Ci didn’t have time to go shopping, so he went directly to Kou’s shop.

"Customer, what spices do you want? In our store, there are all kinds of spices. Whether it is placed in the wardrobe to smoke clothes or wear them on it, it is very good." A shopkeeper with a kind face came.

When he arrived at Chu Ci, he saw that although his clothes were not good, he should have a wealthy family background. He led him to the container of mid-range spices and introduced him enthusiastically.

Chu Ci picked up a box of spices and smelled it. He found that the smell was light and it smelled a little like an orchid.

“It smells pretty good.”

"Oh, the customer is very good at savoring! This kind of spice is the best sold in our store, and many high-ranking officials and nobles come here to buy it!" The shopkeeper spared no effort to praise it.

"Is that?" Chu Ci smiled, then put down the box in his hand, "It seems that the shopkeeper's store must be very good, right? I see that among the spice shops nearby, your business is the best.

Now.”

The shopkeeper also smiled: "The customer observed it very carefully. Although our store is not big and has not been opened for a long time, it is not inferior to those century-old stores at all when it comes to reputation. This is mainly because

The things in our store are genuine. Leng Yuexiang was brought from Xixiang Country by our caravan from thousands of miles away. In this capital, it is a liang of gold and a liang of fragrance!"

"So that's it. The shopkeeper's management is very good, and I really admire him." Chu Ci nodded with a smile.

The shopkeeper looked at Chu Ci carefully for a while, and then said, "Customer, who are you? I feel that you don't seem to be here to buy things."

"Haha, I just walk around and take a look. The fragrance is good, so I ask the shopkeeper to pack a box for me." Chu Ci did not reveal his identity, so he took the fragrance and left.

Zhang Hu was a little curious. After he got out, he immediately asked in a low voice: "Master, didn't you agree to Mr. Kou to check the accounts? Why didn't you check again?"

"Master, I don't have that long time to read the account books one by one. This shopkeeper is a honest person, so I won't look at him for now."

Afterwards, Chu Ci went to several other stores, one was an ice charcoal shop, which only did summer and winter business, one was a silk shop, and the other was a dry goods store. These stores were similar, although the store was not big, the business was

It's very popular, and the shopkeepers are all good-tempered and good at speaking.

Chu Ci followed the address and came to the last house. The last house was a rouge shop, but the door of the shop was tightly closed at noon.

Chu Ci looked around and found that there was a family selling wontons nearby, so he went over to have a chat while eating wontons.

This big brother who sells wontons is also a talkative person. After hearing Chu Ci's random question, he immediately started talking.

"The guest official doesn't know anything. The shopkeeper of this Rouge shop is lazy. Others stay here every day when they open shops. He is good. He often can't find anyone if he fishes for three days and has a dry net for two days.

Fan Ji's business was very good in the past two years, and Zhang Manager Zhang was easy to talk to. Our stall was next to them and never scolded him. Sometimes he even helped us introduce the business. But this guy named Liu, huh, he was not harmonious.

It’s fine, but you always use inferior products as good as good products. If you want to buy things, don’t buy them at this store..."

The elder brother complained while making wontons. It seemed that he really disliked this shopkeeper Liu.

Chu Ci just smiled and saw that Zhang Hu had finished eating, he paid and left.

"Master, this person surnamed Liu is really not a person." Zhang Hu said angrily.

"How do you know he is not a thing?" Chu Ci turned his head and asked with a smile.

"Didn't that brother say a lot just now? Master, have you not heard it clearly?" Zhang Hu was very surprised. How long did he eat and how long did the elder brother say it? Why didn't the master hear it?

"You must know that if you listen to both sides, you will be clear, and if you believe in them, you will be secret. The elder brother was so indignant just now, but because he had not allowed him to set up a stall next to the store since Manager Liu took charge of the store. If there was no grudge, how could he be so angry?

”

Zhang Hu scratched his head in confusion: "Then... is Manager Liu a good person?"

"That's not necessarily the case. What he just said is about seven points true and three points false. Everything needs to be seen with your own eyes to distinguish the truth from the false."

Zhang Hu was confused when he heard this. So is this shopkeeper Liu good or bad?

"Is it good or bad? Just go and have a look?"

"Where to see it?"

"Didn't that brother just said that Manager Liu likes to drink and always goes to the tavern at Qianmen? Let's go to the tavern to find him."

"Hey!" Zhang Hu agreed, then led the carriage to a place to store it, and then followed Chu Ci to an alley.

"Did you smell it?" Standing at the door of the tavern, Chu Ci sniffed deeply, and then asked Zhang Hu.

Zhang Hu raised his nose and smelled it, then nodded: "It smells like wine, it smells so fragrant."

Their appearance was seen by the waiter in the door, and hurried out to recruit guests: "Please, please, please, what are you going to come? The wines here are all first-class and good wines. You two just now

Did you smell it too?"

Chu Ci hit the folding fan in his hand and fanned it in front of him, looking very handsome.

"As the saying goes, you can drink a thousand cups of wine. I am a little drunk today, but I am a book boy. Oh, I can't drink it well. I'm not happy. Brother, what kind of guests here are who have a lot of alcohol?

The young student went to invite him to have a drink together.”

The second brother looked embarrassed. He looked left and right, his eyes lit up and said, "Most of the guests come in pairs, only this shopkeeper Liu, every time he drinks, one person and one table,

He left drunk. You might as well go and ask him."

"Okay, please recommend me to me."

The waiter led Chu Ci to Manager Liu's desk and said with a smile: "Manager Liu, you always drink alone. Today I found a drinker for you. Do you think this is feasible?

”

Manager Liu had a pair of upside down eyebrows, his eyes were slender, and he always felt a little gloomy when he looked at people. He raised his head and glanced at Chu Ci, and snorted: "Just like this, I think it's only two or three cups.

I just fell down. What kind of wine friend is he? I'm afraid he didn't want to come to trick me into drinking?"

Chu Ci looked at Storekeeper Liu, then looked at the things on his desk, and said with a smile: "Hahaha, Storekeeper Liu is too careless. How could Xiaosheng cheat you for drinking? I'm obviously here to invite you.

Drinking. My second brother, bring a jar of the best wine here. I want to have a good drink with this shopkeeper Liu."

Although Manager Liu was a little vigilant, his vigilance disappeared immediately when he saw the twenty taels of jar of wine.

"I saw this brother as a happy person. Since you invited him with kindness, I would be more respectful than obedient."

Manager Liu poured himself a cup, put it carefully on the tip of his nose and sniffed it, then showed an intoxication on his face, and said, "It smells so good." Then he tilted his neck and drank it all. After drinking it, he still

A look of endless aftertaste.

He was the shopkeeper of this Lao Shizi. The monthly money was only twenty taels a month, and he had to take it back to support his family. He only drank one or two cents and one pot of mixed wine on weekdays. Today, it is rare that someone has become a sucker. He must have
To be continued...