If it were someone else, Gu Zhao would definitely not ask for this, but he would ask for his own people, and in Beijing, there were Zheng Hui’s family, Yan Jinxin’s family, and Liang Zizhi, the senior brother. The first two were similar to him, and Zheng Hui’s family gave him money to support him, otherwise, with Zheng Hui’s monthly salary, it would be tight to support the whole mansion.

　　Not to mention the Yan family, who had no foundation or roots in Beijing, and the second brother was not a businessman. He was devoted to studying and serving the country. The family lived a very tight and poor life, all thanks to Liushu.

　　After counting, it turned out to be Senior Brother Liang.

　　”Brother Liang’s family is also engaged in business? How did you know about this, husband?” Li Zhouzhou was curious, but this was not a good question.

　　Gu Zhao said, “Brother Liang is a seventh-rank official, and his monthly salary is the same as mine. His house has three entrances, and he grows orchids, crabapples, peonies and other valuable plants in the yard. He has hired a cook and servants. When he went to work every day, I never saw wrinkles in his official uniform, which was always ironed. He also ate according to his taste, not caring about money.”

　　Such living habits are developed from being pampered since childhood.

　　When Gu Zhao asked, Liang Zizhi did not hide anything. After listening to him, Gu Zhao was surprised that his senior brother said that the three shops were not worth much, and the rouge and powder shops were all located on the main street.

　　”…I’ll give you a manager to work with first.” Liang Zizhi finished speaking, and then said: “I have another farm outside the city. Although it is a little small, it has hot running water. I built a hot spring pool. When winter comes, you can go there to soak in it.”

　　Senior Brother Liang is noble and rich!

　　Li Zhouzhou felt relieved after hearing this, but then again, “Now that we have received help from Senior Brother Liang, shouldn’t we go visit him?” He was referring to the interactions between family members later on.

　　”Senior Brother Liang’s wife is in Chuzhou.” Gu Zhao said politely, because it was all his guess. He followed Zhou Zhou and said it was okay. He couldn’t talk nonsense outside. He said, “Senior Brother and Teacher seem to have a knot in their hearts. I don’t know the details. The servants in Liang’s house are very tight-lipped. The first time I went to Senior Brother’s house, I asked casually. If you are a guest, you must meet Senior Brother’s wife. Senior Brother looked normal and said very politely that she was in Chuzhou.”

　　Li Zhouzhou: “Will it be similar to what happened to Brother Zheng?”

　　”Not like that.” Gu Zhao shook his head. “When he mentioned this Madam Liang, it sounded like you were talking about an outsider. With Brother’s character, he wouldn’t do anything foolish.”

　　Zheng Hui was in his rebellious period back then, but Liang Zizhi did not seem to be in his rebellious period. He was aloof and had a clear vision. He was somewhat like his teacher, both of them were noble people who did not seek fame or wealth.

　　Even if he didn’t love her anymore, after marrying her, Brother Liang should have treated his wife with respect. How could they have been separated for ten years? Gu Zhaogeng felt that he didn’t know whether the Mrs. Liang in Chuzhou really existed or was fake.

　　These words cannot be said anymore. It is enough for Gu Zhao to know that Senior Brother Liang is a good person with reliable character.

　　On that day, he and his second brother were in “disaster”, and the entire review department, including Lord Zhao and Lord Tian, ​​were polite and distant. Only Senior Brother Liang was worried about him. He asked him to go to the mansion to help him figure out a way out, and told him not to be afraid, and that he could ask his uncle for help if all else failed.

　　Gu Zhao knew about Senior Brother Liang’s “official network”.

　　Uncle Liang was not an official in the capital, but in Zhejiang, where he worked as the head of the Salt Transport Commissioner’s Office. Even though he was a third-rank official, he had a very good salary. In the Dali period, the common people paid salt at the official price, which was controlled by the imperial court. To be the head of the salt commissioner meant that he was trusted by the emperor.

　　The small Hanlin Academy is home to many hidden talents.

　　Later, Gu Zhao was fine, and he thanked his senior brother. Liang Zizhi waved his hand and said, “I didn’t help much. Besides, even if I wrote a letter to ask my uncle, I’m afraid the reply would only be a scolding. I am the most useless branch of the Chuzhou Liang family. Let’s not talk about this. Senior brother, let me ask you about your knowledge on behalf of the teacher.”

　　But at that moment, Gu Zhao was grateful for what Senior Brother Liang said.

　　The steward of Senior Brother Liang’s household also has the surname Liang. He is a servant brought by the Liang family from Chuzhou. He is a middle-aged man, neatly dressed in an old robe with narrow cuffs. He is different from the other servants and is both respectable and capable of work.

　　He can read, use an abacus, and keep accounts, and has sharp eyes. After all, he used to sell powder and rouge, so serving those ladies who were clearing out their shops was no problem for him. Now, it is also easy for him to manage a braised duck shop.

　　The most important thing is that Manager Liang is a man who does not hide his abilities and has taken great pains to teach the four members of the Su family.

　　He also never went to the kitchen at the back where braised duck was prepared.

　　After watching these for a few days, he came back and told Brother Zhou Zhou about it, and kept giving thumbs up to praise Manager Liang, “…I learned a lot from you.” He had been too impetuous in handling things before, but just looking at Manager Liang, he knew how to be tactful.

　　”Manager Liang also taught me how to read the accounts. He couldn’t understand my account book, so he compared his account book with mine and taught me how to read the accounts. If the shop becomes bigger in the future and I can’t manage it myself, I can prevent the shopkeepers from tampering with the accounts. The details in the account book can be seen.”

　　Li Ji Lu Zhu originally sold 30 ducks a day, but within 10 days, under the management of Liang, two more women were hired to slaughter and wash ducks, and 50 ducks could be sold a day. Of course, the cost of renting a yard was not included in the previous cost, which was too expensive. After deducting the labor cost, the cost of the ducks, and the aniseed and firewood, the daily income was 40 taels.

　　The duck washer woman gets half a tael of silver per month, which is one tael for two people.

　　The four members of the Su family also gave half a tael, which is two taels.

　　There are more, and the monthly wage is still two taels of silver according to the prefecture and county wages.

　　Manager Liang initially declined, but after some thought he said, “Then give me half of my original shop. Madam Gu is just starting to make a living now, so Madam Gu need to focus on the business. If the business is good, I’ll ask Madam Gu to give me a big bonus at the end of the year.”

　　Liu Shu was quick to answer. He asked, “Three taels of silver.” So, Manager Liang only made six taels of silver a month?

　　Liang, the shopkeeper, agreed with a smile. He managed three shops. The one with the best location made more than 700 taels of silver a month. The one with a worse location made less, but still 300 taels of silver. He built a large yard in Chuzhou and followed the young master. At the end of the year, the young master gave him 100 taels of silver.

　　Let’s not talk about these things anymore.

　　Liu Shu learned from Manager Liang that the servants of wealthy families were richer than those of their poor families, but he did not think too much about it. Although his family was poor and life was a little tight, his husband was an official and Dabai would also be an official in the future. Manager Liang could eat and drink well and the family had no worries about money. But there were other ways to worry.

　　When the four younger brothers of the Su family heard about the monthly salary, their blood boiled. They were illiterate and did not understand reason. They could not understand Liu Shu’s thoughts, such as their descendants becoming officials instead of servants, their stomachs not being able to fill, and their house being a mess. How could they have such lofty ideas? They only remembered the six taels of silver a month.

　　The four of them couldn’t sleep at night, so they talked in the dark in two rooms.

　　”Manager Liang originally had six taels of silver, which covered my family’s expenses for three years.” Su Jiayu’s eyes were bright in the night, and he turned over and looked at his uncle sideways, “If we study hard, can we have two taels of silver a month in the future?”

　　Su Jiaying couldn’t sleep either. “You have no backbone. I also want to be a shopkeeper. Why can Su Shiyi and Su Shilei succeed, but not us? Anyway, the mole on my brother’s head is not obvious. If I can earn six taels of silver a month as a shopkeeper, I won’t get married and will be a man and take care of things!”

　　”You’re not going to get married?” Su Jiayu turned over and sat up.

　　Su Jiaying: “Keep your voice down, don’t let anyone hear you.”

　　”Uncle, do you know how much you said? If you say that, how scary it is, how can I not get married?” Su Jiayu was only thirteen years old. Seeing that his uncle was silent, he was scared and secretly crawled into his bed.

　　Su Jiaying said angrily: “What are you doing?”

　　”Don’t be angry with me.” Su Jiayu hugged his uncle’s arm and whispered, “Actually, I also want to be the shopkeeper. If I become the shopkeeper, everyone will listen to me, and I can do my job well and make more money. How great is that.”

　　Su Jiaying nodded. Actually, he was not very angry. He just felt it was weird and a bit embarrassing that Xiaoyu shouted out the words he just blurted out.

　　”But boys and girls all have to get married. When I was in the house before, I secretly heard grandma and my mother say that I ate too much and looked dark, so I should get married as soon as possible to save food. My mother felt sorry for me and said that I was only twelve years old and I should wait for a few more years…”

　　Su Jiayu put his head on his uncle’s shoulder and said, “I don’t want to go to another family. I’m afraid. If I can earn two taels of silver a month, I’ll save it. When I have saved enough, I’ll take it back to show grandma that I can make money. My family doesn’t need me to eat. Don’t chase me away.”

　　Su Jiaying touched Xiaoyu’s hair. His family was not much different. He muttered, “Even if we can’t be the shopkeeper, we have to work hard.” But in his heart, he wondered why he couldn’t be the shopkeeper. He was smarter in speaking than Su Shiyi.

　　In the next room, Su Shiyi and Su Shilei were also talking.

　　”Six taels of silver! I never dared to dream before that I could earn six taels of silver a year.”

　　”Manager Liang has made six taels a month. Brother, do you think we can make it?”

　　”I don’t know.” Su Shiyi clenched his fists in bed, “I don’t want to go back, Shi Lei.”