Chapter 3: A beauty visits, the ice shop opens

The ninth year of the Tang Wude era, August 1st.

Inside the Su Fu in Changan City.

Su Liang is lying leisurely on a rocking chair.

"Young Master, Young Master."

"A woman is asking to see you outside the mansion gate, she claims to be the maid of the Red Light District courtesan, Miss Ruyan."

The servant hurried to report, knowing that his young master had often stayed in the Red Light District, he naturally dared not be negligent.

After a while, a woman enters.

She is twelve or thirteen years old, a proper little beauty.

"Young Master Su, my young lady has an item she entrusted me to pass on to you."

The woman slowly steps forward and respectfully hands over an object, a rectangular sandalwood box.

Su Liang opens it and sees a lock of black hair inside, already understanding its meaning.

"I already know your young lady's heart; I will compose a poem, you take it back and give it to your young lady, she will understand its meaning."

Su Liang wields his brush, and after a while, a poem is finished.

"Once having seen the vast sea, other waters are hard to compare; except for the clouds of Mount Wu, no other clouds are clouds."

"Passing through the flowers, I am too lazy to look back; half for the sake of cultivation, half for the sake of you."

"Go back and tell your young lady, if she is willing, I can help her redeem herself, and from then on, she can follow me and be a maid."

Su Liang sighs helplessly.

"A few days ago, the gold and silver rewarded by the Young Master was already a lot; my young lady had already redeemed herself, but she was afraid of disturbing Young Master Su's peace, so..."

The woman is now restless, but exceptionally happy.

She was restless for fear that Su Liang would not like it, and happy naturally because she could see Young Master Su.

Which young maiden in Changan City is not in love, all wanting to witness the heroic appearance and smile of the Banished Immortal.

"So you were sent?"

Su Liang frowns slightly, his tone showing no dissatisfaction.

"By the way, what is your name? I can't remember for a moment, I see that although you two are mistress and servant, your relationship is like sisters."

"Returning to Young Master Su, my name is Yu'er. My parents died when I was young, and two years ago there was a drought in my hometown, so I followed the villagers to Changan City. It was Miss Ruyan who took me in; Miss Ruyan is two years older than me, and seeing that my life was pitiful, she has always treated me as a younger sister..."

"Alright, alright, you two sisters move in together today."

One hour later.

The Su Fu welcomes two women.

The leader is none other than the Red Light District courtesan, Liu Ruyan.

With moth-like eyebrows, white teeth and red lips, ice-like skin and jade-like bones, charming and enchanting, she is truly a peerless beauty.

"Thanks to Young Master Su for not abandoning me, I am willing to follow you and serve you by your side."

Ruyan steps forward slowly, bows, her tears falling like pear blossoms in the rain.

"Alright, don't cry, it won't look good if you ruin your face."

Su Liang hates seeing women cry the most; women are meant to be cherished.

"Don't cry, the Young Master will give you candy."

"What candy, is it delicious?"

"Deoxyribose... it's very sweet."

Hearing this, Ruyan is shy.

Su Liang smiles slightly, wraps his arms around Ruyan's slender waist, picks her up, and walks toward the bedroom...

At this moment, Ruyan wraps her jade-like fingers around Su Liang's neck, her beautiful eyes trembling slightly.

Waking up the next day.

Su Liang stretches, he tossed and turned for too long yesterday.

This girl Ruyan has no sense of proportion when she bites, she is really a charming little demon.

Hiss... should I also eat some Six-Ingredient Rehmannia pills?

Cough, cough, this business can be started.

Hey... it will take some time to marry that girl Changle.

Su Liang sighs helplessly.

It seems he needs to think of a way to get Changle to marry him sooner.

After washing up, Ruyan has already brought breakfast.

"Young Master, drink some beef soup to replenish your body." Ruyan giggles.

"Ruyan, come here, the Young Master will tell you a story." Su Liang says.

Ruyan smiles mischievously: "I know what the Young Master wants to say, don't drain the pond to catch the fish, don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs."

Su Liang is speechless; she knows the truth, but every time she bites, she is so ruthless.

"Alright, Ruyan, come here, the Young Master has serious business to talk about; the shop opens today, and I have to go help watch it."

"You and Yu'er stay at home well, and wait for me to come back."

Su Liang smiles slightly.

Changan City East Market.

A new shop opened today.

This shop only sells ice cubes.

This is naturally Su Liang's shop.

The shop is named Summer Cooling Pavilion!

Creak...

Accompanied by the door of the shop slowly opening.

A peerlessly handsome youth walks out from inside.

This youth is eight chi tall, in a brocade robe, walking slowly.

A head of jet-black hair tied high, as beautiful as jade, sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, peerless and refined, with an innate noble spirit, truly like a Banished Immortal, like poetry and painting.

This person is none other than Su Liang!

"Welcome, fellow villagers, to Summer Cooling Pavilion."

"The new shop opens today, with ten thousand jin of ice cubes, only ten qian per jin!"

Su Liang says generously and heartily.

"Ten qian per jin? So cheap? Is it true or false?"

"Where are the ice cubes, take them out and show us!"

Many people shout one after another.

Among them, there is no lack of many aristocratic children and second-generation officials.

They all want to see if Su Liang can really take out ice cubes.

After all, in this scorching summer, only the imperial family and the wealthy have stock in their cellars.

And it's not enough to use.

Only a fool would take it out to sell.

"Cheng Chumo, Qin Huaiyu, take the ice cubes out." Su Liang laughs.

After a while.

Large boxes are carried out one by one.

"Such a big box, it must be at least a thousand jin, right?"

"Hurry, hurry, hurry, open the box and see."

Instantly, the crowd swarms up, and the surrounding villagers are already excited.

"Hehe, open the box, let them see clearly." Su Liang laughs.

Instantly, a wisp of white smoke rises.

White ice cubes appear before everyone's eyes.

Each piece is about the size of a watermelon, about ten jin each.

"Hiss... it's really ice cubes!"

Everyone gasps one after another.

At the same time, the cool air emitted from the ice cubes instantly makes everyone feel happy.

Within half an hour, all the ice cubes were sold out.

Taiji Palace, Ganlu Hall.

"Your Majesty, after court was dismissed today, Young Master Su sent many ice cubes, a full thousand jin."

Eunuch Wang De hurried to report.

"Where did that kid get so many ice cubes, could it be that he can really make ice in summer?"

Li Er is full of disbelief.

"Fuji, follow me to see tomorrow!"

Li Er looks at Zhangsun Wuji standing to the side and says in a deep voice.

"I have summoned him to be an official many times, promising him high positions and generous salaries, but that kid refuses to agree no matter what; I will also ask him face-to-face why he doesn't want to be an official."

"Fuji, do you know that kid is a peerless monster? After I ascended the throne, I sent people to inquire in many ways, only to learn that the kid is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and is peerless in medicine and martial arts!"

"His mother passed away shortly after giving birth to him; when he was ten, his father was killed by mountain bandits while doing business. Upon learning that his father was murdered, he found the bandits' hideout and slaughtered all two hundred of them with one sword, leaving no survivors."

"After that, he dismissed the servants, scattered his family wealth, and traveled the world! He is also a pitiful child."

The next day, Summer Cooling Pavilion.

At the entrance of the shop, thirty boxes of ice cubes were already prepared.

Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaiyu sat on both sides, preparing to collect money.

Today, there were ten times more people coming to buy ice cubes than yesterday.

"I'm really sorry, everyone, I didn't expect so many people to come today. Today, each person is limited to fifty jin, there will be more tomorrow, don't worry!"

Su Liang looks at the customers outside the shop and expresses his apologies.

"It's fine, it's fine, fifty jin is not a little, it can keep cool for several days."

"It's okay, it's okay, as long as Young Master Su supplies ice cubes every day."

Everyone expressed their understanding and had no dissatisfaction.

Then the ice business continued.

Every jin of ice cubes sold is one guan of money, the speed of making money is comparable to a money printing machine.

Money in the Tang Dynasty is really easy to make, Su Liang couldn't help but sigh.

"Brother Su, this ice business can only make more money in these two months, what business should we do next?"

Cheng Chumo asked in a deep voice while counting money.

Qin Huaiyu, standing to the side, was also full of confusion, like a curious baby.

Su Liang smiled indifferently, his eyes fixed on the empty restaurant opposite.

The restaurant was naturally bought by Su Liang yesterday, for which he paid double the price.

A brewery and a restaurant must be opened; the alcohol content of the Tang Dynasty is really too low, only about ten degrees, and the strong liquor is only ten degrees or so, no higher. Su Liang usually drinks it as water to quench his thirst.

He doesn't have much of his own high-alcohol liquor left. Su Liang, who is addicted to alcohol, will definitely not miss this business.

It just so happens that he bought a lot of grain yesterday, and some of it is already piled up in the backyard of the restaurant opposite; he can start brewing today.

Just as Su Liang was thinking about how to build a business empire.

He also noticed His Majesty Li Er, Empress Zhangsun, Zhangsun Wuji, and others on the periphery of the crowd.

"Ding: The system issues the latest task: recommend the curved-shaft plow to Li Er."

"Complete the task reward: three thousand jin of potatoes, three thousand jin of sweet potatoes, three thousand jin of chili peppers... one thousand jin of various crop seeds."

"Damn, damn, damn."

It's really whatever he thinks of, Su Liang thinks to himself.

Unknowingly, Li Er and the others had walked up to Su Liang.

"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty, the Empress, and the Duke of Zhao. I wonder why Your Majesty has come?"

Su Liang bows slightly.

"Su Liang, such a magical method of making ice in summer will surely be coveted by many people."

"Now you have a title but no official position; how many days can you protect your business?"

Li Er says calmly.

"Hehe, Your Majesty, you can speak directly."

Su Liang smiles and says softly, feeling that Li Er is here to take advantage.

No, this guy Li Er still hasn't given up, wanting to pull him into the government as an official.

However, the system gave a new task, the curved-shaft plow must be recommended to Li Er.

There are also potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other crops that can solve the current food shortage, so he has to be an official.

"Give me the method of making ice in summer, and I will be your backing!"

"This way, you can also do the ice business all over the country, wouldn't that be wonderful!"

"I only want 50% of the profits, how about it?"

Li Er looks at Su Liang and asks in a deep voice.

After thinking for a night yesterday.

His Majesty Li Er determined a strategy he thought was very good.

That is, under the guise of protecting Su Liang, with the imperial court as backing, he thought Su Liang would refuse.

His Majesty Li Er was secretly proud of himself.

Hearing His Majesty say this, Empress Zhangsun and Zhangsun Wuji, standing to the side, also had black lines on their faces; it was obvious that he was jealous of his subject's business and wanted to get involved, speaking high-sounding words, all looking disdainful; how can an emperor be like this.

"Hehe, Your Majesty, you don't know that the ice shop business is done by me, Cheng Chumo, and Qin Huaiyu together."

"I take 50% myself, and the remaining 50% is split between them; I wonder whose 50% Your Majesty wants?"

Su Liang laughs to himself.

At the same time, he is also calculating that with His Majesty's support, many business plans can be implemented smoothly.

"Cough, cough..." Li Er is slightly embarrassed; this kid doesn't give him any face at all.

"Your Majesty, please wait a moment, let me discuss it with them."

Just as Li Er was embarrassed, Su Liang suddenly spoke.

"Good, good, good... I will wait." Li Er said "good" three times in a row, feeling that there was a chance, and it was indeed not a wasted trip.

After a while.

Su Liang walks over slowly.

"Your Majesty, we will have other businesses in the future; we can give you 30% of all profits, as long as the imperial court can protect our business, how about it?"

When Li Er heard that there were other businesses, he beamed with joy, a proper big money-lover.

"Good, good, good, this is wonderful; as long as I am here, no one can have any ideas about your business."

His Majesty Li Er said happily.

"Alright, let's not talk about this, I ask you why you don't want to be an official?"

"The time for morning court is too early, I can't get out of bed." Su Liang answers.

"Is that all?" Li Er is full of confusion.

"That's all!" Su Liang shrugs.

"Your Majesty loves talent, no one in the world doesn't know it, but have you thought about what official position you want me to take?"

Su Liang asks.

"This..." His Majesty Li Er is speechless for a moment; he really hasn't thought about what official position to give Su Liang.

The Empress and Zhangsun Wuji, standing to the side, are also silent.

They are also clear that His Majesty has summoned Su Liang to enter the government many times; it is a pity that such great talent is not used.

But they haven't thought about what kind of official position to give Su Liang.

"If Your Majesty insists on giving me an official position, it's not impossible, just allow me not to attend the morning court."

"Since Your Majesty is here today, there are some things I can tell you, can you move to my mansion?"

After a while, Su Fu backyard.

"Does Your Majesty want to be an emperor for all eternity?"

Su Liang smiles and asks in a deep voice.

"Presumptuous, could it be that His Majesty wants to be a muddled emperor?"

Zhangsun Wuji slams the table and stands up, saying sternly.

"Fuji, it's fine, let Su kid speak in detail."

His Majesty Li Er is not impatient.

"Your humble servant has traveled the world for five years, I think Your Majesty knows that."

Su Liang says.

"Indeed, this is also the reason why I want you to enter the government, but I don't know how to arrange an official position for you."

"Proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; peerless in medicine and martial arts, it is rare in the world."

Li Er says in a deep voice.

"The Great Tang has been initially stable for several years, how long has it been since Your Majesty walked out of this Changan City to see the people of the world, to see how the people of the world live today, are you still the Qin Prince who loved the people as his own children?"

Before Li Er can speak, Su Liang continues to say slowly, word by word.

"Because Li is the national surname, the imperial court issued a law prohibiting the consumption of carp. The carp in the river have grown to seven or eight jin, and even ten or twenty jin are not rare, but the people dare not eat them, just because of this law, how many people have starved to death, whose fault is it?"

For a moment, the scene was extremely quiet, and no one spoke.

After a long silence, His Majesty Li Er speaks slowly.

"It is my fault, Fuji, help me draft a decree, from today on, the people of the Great Tang can eat carp, and announce it to the world."

Su Liang laughs, worthy of being an emperor for all eternity. ===== CHAPTER 4 =====