Chapter 25: Equal emphasis on kindness and power
For the rest of the day, the four people who came had a very fulfilling time. Mr. Gao sent a banquet with "big four pieces" and twelve dishes.
The dishes are not quite the same as modern Cantonese cuisine, but they are better because of the natural ingredients and careful cooking. They are sweet, fresh and juicy, especially the Xishi Tongue Soup, which made several people nod their heads.
Bei Wei thought that it would be good to be a leader, because the opportunities for corruption in the Ming Dynasty would not be available to ordinary people. Just as he was thinking about it, Gao Qing's wife Gao Qian brought the reheated main course from the kitchen, but it was full of food.
A plate of meatballs the size of pigeon eggs, soaked in a shallow clear soup, soft and translucent, with green chopped green onion sprinkled on top.
Wen Desi first picked up the spoon and put one in his mouth. He bit it down and his mouth was full of freshness. The aftertaste was slightly spicy from Sichuan peppercorns. Mr. Wen was also a figure who hung out in this time and space, although it was not a three-day banquet.
It was a big feast for five days, and the dining experience was one of the best in the world. But I couldn’t tell what this bite was made of. It felt like it was both chicken and aquatic products. I asked:
"What is this?"
"This is Shui Lu Zhen." Gao Qian said softly, "It is made with yellow meat, big whitebait, chicken, frog, and white shrimp mixed together. Does the master like it?"
"Okay, it tastes really good."
"Yeah, it's really good."
"The landowners just live a rotten life." Wang Gong said this with an envious look on his face, an expression that clearly meant he wanted to be rotten but couldn't get it.
"You're so good at making meatballs!" Bei Wei curled his lips.
"Almost every one of these dishes contains Sichuan peppercorns, which ruins the originally good taste." Wen Desi shook his head, as if he felt it was a pity, "The raw materials are so fresh and purely natural..."
"This seems to be the cooking habit of the Ming Dynasty. In the spice export trade in Southeast Asia, the Ming Dynasty was also an important market."
"This re-export trade can be done."
As he was talking, Gao Xian brought six more small plates, which were all smoked snacks and the like, used to help the wine. He came to heat the wine, but he saw that the jar of Jinhua wine that had been brought with the banquet had not been touched.
, hesitated and asked:
"Don't you need wine, gentlemen?"
"No need to drink." Because they were afraid that drinking would cause trouble, they did not drink at all during the Ming Dynasty.
"The master doesn't want to use wine. I steamed the flower dew myself. Can I order some water to use it?"
"Flower dew, toilet water?" Everyone asked.
"Yes, the slaves steam them themselves. There are only two kinds of rice leaves and perilla at the moment. If you don't mind, please try it first."
When I took it out, I saw that it was an essential oil liquid distilled from the leaves and flowers of plants. The distillation process of the Ming Dynasty had matured. In addition to making shochu, small distillation pots were also used for making flower dew.
Mix it with water and drink it, it will have a refreshing and elegant taste.
Xiao Zishan had doubts in his heart. This Gao Xian was obviously the wife of a tenant farmer and a rough maid in the Gao family, but she knew how to make flower dew and the recipes for cooking... He couldn't help but look at this woman carefully.
I found that she had a certain grace in every move she made when moving forward and backward, and was not as clumsy as her husband.
Wanting to investigate, he stopped her and asked, "Sister-in-law Gao, have you ever been an errand in the government?"
But Gao Xian trembled and whispered: "Yes, I have been in Gao's house..."
"No, you work as a servant in a high house. How do you know the recipe for this Shui Lu Zhen? And where did you learn how to make flower dew?"
Gao Qian became more and more panicked and hesitated: "It's all...it's all taught by the sisters...it makes the master laugh..."
"How old are you?"
"This slave is thirty years old."
Xiao Zishan looked at her face, which had become dark but still had the charm of a girl. Thinking of Colgate's appearance and the age difference between the couple, he already understood eighty-nine points, but there was no need for it at this moment.
Tell the truth.
After pondering for a moment, he looked outside the hall. There was no one else. Gao Qing was probably working in the backyard. He said:
"Does Gao Qing often go to Mr. Gao's place these days?"
"..." Gao Xian was startled, but said nothing. Xiao Zishan knew right: Mr. Gao must often ask Gao Qing for news about them.
"Then Guanshi Yan comes here often." Xiao Zishan only asked slowly.
"Never been here...just by chance..."
"Have you never been here before, or is it just a coincidence?!"
"Yes...I came here by chance, just an acquaintance walking around..." Gao Xian lied bravely. She was at a loss under this wave of questioning. Master Xiao's words implied that he knew everything, including her past affairs.
How is this possible? While he was hesitating, he saw Xiao Zishan's face gradually darkened. Knowing that something was wrong, he knelt down in front of the table with a plop:
"This slave deserves to die, you shouldn't lie to the master..."
Bei Wei was once a revolutionary soldier under the red flag. How could he get used to such things? Just as he was about to speak, Wen Desi stopped him. Although Xiao Zishan's question was sudden, it was also part of their plan to win people's hearts.
"He's been here quite a few times, right? I'm afraid he's also gone in and looked at the courtyard where we live."
"No, no." Gao Xian was so frightened that his face changed.
"I also promised you that if one day I go back to Australia, I will take you back to the Gao family, but is that right?!"
Gao Xian was trembling all over - the gentlemen knew everything! She couldn't help but secretly resent her man for not having any idea. Every time he was coaxed and frightened by Manager Yan, she agreed to take him for a search. Although nothing was found, it was behind the scenes.
The Lord's crime!
"You deserve to die, it's all slaves and men who are bad..." Gao Qian was so frightened by Xiao Zishan's words that he fell to the ground and begged for mercy. He told everything that Manager Yan had said when they were away.
"Slave man has a soft ear and a soft heart. He should not mistakenly listen to other people's nonsense," Gao Xian said with a tearful tone, "I beg you, Master, because he is old and has leg problems, please spare his family's rights, slave."
I am willing to be repaid twice as much.”
What everyone heard was not much different from what they had expected in advance. Seeing her begging for her husband, they couldn't help but feel pity in their hearts. People who haven't been to the old society really don't know the sweetness of the new society.
Xiao Zishan deliberately waited for a long time, and then deliberately sighed:
"Sister-in-law Gao, your whole family has been transferred to our name. Can I feel sorry for you?"
"My slave has been killed. My whole family is deeply grateful for your kindness."
"Your family doesn't have enough food, so we give them monthly rice. When the children grow up, they have no expenses, and we give them monthly money. We don't ask for repayment. We just hope that after traveling thousands of miles to settle here, we can have a safe place to rest. I don't want to give
People can see everything down to the smallest detail.”
Gao Xian didn't answer, he just sobbed and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Get up."
"I don't dare, please master. Please use the family law to enforce the family rules."
Xiao Zishan thought that this woman was really all things to do. It seemed that she was not an ordinary farmer's wife.
"Nothing can happen without rules. Although you and Gao Qing are wrong about this matter, we have not set any rules beforehand. Even if you don't know, you are not guilty. Get up."
"Thank you for your kindness, Master." Gao Qian changed her mind after hearing the Master's words. She probably won't drive them away. She is not afraid of being spanked, so she is afraid of being driven away if she angers the Master, even if Master Gao is willing to take them in.
, they will not have a good life in the future.
"Do you understand what will happen next?"
"Yes, this slave knows."
"I know that you are not from a small family, and you are much more sensible than Gao Qing. You must teach him well in the future to know how to advance and retreat!"
"I know, I know." Gao Xian nodded repeatedly.
"As long as we work hard and be loyal to our master, no matter whether we return to Australia in the future or not, we will not leave you with no results. Just take care of yourself."
"Thank you, slave..." Gao Qian was about to kneel down to thank him again, but Xiao Zishan stopped him - it was better that the landlord's majesty was less visible in front of everyone, "Go and call Gao Di."
When Gao Qian left, Xiao Zishan turned around and said to everyone: "How is my acting skills?" He was eager to change the atmosphere in the hall. He didn't want to give people the impression of being domineering.
, it’s just acting.
Wen Desi opened his mouth: "Zishan, are your ancestors really poor peasants?"
"of course."
"You are simply the Golden Horse Best Actor." Wang Gong also praised.
"It's okay to scare that girl so much." Bei Wei couldn't bear it anymore.
"Yes, but we must pay equal attention to kindness and power. This level is the minimum." Xiao Zishan nodded, "We are surrounded by eyes. We will not be able to carry out work in the future unless this situation is reversed."
Wen Desi said: "In the past, giving them benefits was considered 'favor', but now is the time to show 'power'."
"Yes," Xiao Zishan explained. Since they couldn't dig out these "eyes" yet, they could only twist the "eyes" around.
"Is this okay?"
"Just start. Loyalty can't be established with just a few words. It's hard to accept a younger brother."
To gain loyalty, the first thing is to have strength - no one will be loyal to a weak individual or organization; the second thing is to have benefits, and only with benefits will there be motivation to work hard. They have given benefits in the past, and now they have to express themselves
When the power reaches a certain level, it will naturally fall into place.
"I think it's very easy for the seniors to travel through time. After just a few words, the younger brothers will bow down to you."
"Aren't we bastards?"
"You have it, but I don't want it..."
The atmosphere at the dinner table became lively again, and Xiao Zishan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, he was not very sure about this conversation, but he took advantage of the woman's fear of the past.
After talking for a while, Gao Di came. Although he was young, he was very smart. Seeing his mother's red eyes, he knew something was wrong, so he quickly brought the account book to see.
Wen Desi casually asked about the situation at home, and then looked at the account book - this account book was just a running account, and the entry and exit of the house was simple, so it didn't take long for him to understand it, so he praised him a few more, and saw that his uneasiness gradually grew.
After it subsided, I asked:
"Do people from the Gao family come here often recently?"
"Come often!" The boy made no secret and nodded vigorously, "That Yan Xiaomao comes often, and he always talks to dad about it."
"Yan hat?" Wen Desi was stunned for a moment before he realized that he was talking about Manager Yan - he often wore a Liuheyi unified hat.
"What did you say?"
Gao Di hesitated for a moment, then Xiao Zishan said, "Just say so."
"It seems that Yan Xiaomao is always asking for news about the gentlemen," Gao Di said, "but dad doesn't allow me to be around to listen to them."
"Are the people in the Gao family nice to you?"
"Okay?" Gao Di didn't quite understand the question, "I don't know if it's okay or not. I... have never been an errand of the Gao family. The gentlemen in the accounting room treat me well, and there are a few children. We often play together.
"
"Are they all slaves of the Gao family?"
"Yes, there are families who have children, and there are also people like me."
"Is there anyone among those children who is particularly close to you?"
"There are quite a few, Xiao Li, Xiao Qian, the Wang brothers..."
"Okay, come to the study later and open a list." Wen Desi ordered.