Chapter 2: Household Trifles

"Master!" "Master!..."

In the reception hall of the Su Manor, loud and respectful greetings are heard constantly. The object of their greetings is only the eleven-year-old Su Fan, which shows Su Fan's current prestige in the Su Manor.

Indeed, after his several methods of combining kindness and severity, he has brought these servants of the Su Manor into complete submission. The carrot and the stick have also made the servants endlessly grateful to him.

"Sit!"

Su Fan sits in the seat of honor in the living room, with a high-quality fur blanket spread on the grandmaster chair, while the others sit down in order.

The closest to Su Fan is Yang Xing, the Su family's three-generation veteran and the Su family's head steward. Next is a man with a long knife scar on his face; this person is the leader of the Su family's guards.

The Su family is a gentry family in Huayin County. Although the clan is not prosperous, there are sixty or seventy servants in total. After Su Fan became the master, he spent money again to purchase thirty guards. Now, the entire Su Manor has over two hundred people.

Among them, there are no fewer than forty guards watching the house.

Even this number is still increasing. Knowing that this is a martial arts world, Su Fan naturally attaches more importance to the safety of the Su family. After all, in ordinary planes, there are often mountain bandits and robbers who like to rob landlords and gentry in the countryside.

Not to mention the martial arts world, where there are more mountain bandits and robbers, and a group of martial arts "heroes" who like to "rob the rich and help the poor."

Su Fan doesn't want to be the target of these people's robbery.

Of course, being within the scope of the Huashan Sect, those "martial arts heroes" will not come to "commit crimes," and even mountain bandits and robbers are rare.

But that doesn't mean there are none, especially during famine, there are still many people who take risks. The Huashan Sect cannot take care of everything.

Su Fan will never hand over his safety to others.

"Old Yang."

"Here, Master, please speak." Hearing Su Fan call his name, Yang Xing stands up.

"Since the experimental fields have been completed, next, our family's three thousand mu of land can be fully implemented. I think those tenant farmers have all seen it, and they won't have any doubts."

"Yes, Master. These two days, those tenant farmers run to find this old servant every day, hoping to get guidance."

Speaking of this, a smile appears on Yang Xing's face. The Su family has a hundred tenant farmers, and of the Su family's three thousand mu of land, almost two thousand mu are handed over to these tenant farmers to plant.

"Very good!"

Su Fan nods. The Su family's three thousand mu of land—if his cheap father were still alive, then he wouldn't need to pay too many taxes, after all, he was a Provincial Graduate.

But his father died, and he is not a Provincial Graduate, so naturally, he has to pay taxes. Originally, with three thousand mu of land, excluding the tenant farmers' share and some harsh taxes from the imperial court, he could leave behind about one thousand shi every year.

But now, it is estimated that it is at most six or seven hundred shi.

Converted into silver, it is only five or six hundred taels, which is not much. His Su Manor has nearly three hundred people, and the food and clothing for a year are not cheap.

So this increase in yield of fertile land is a big deal. According to his method, at least every year, he can harvest several hundred more shi, which is several hundred taels of silver.

Before, it didn't matter; several hundred taels were enough for him to eat and drink.

But right now, he wants to practice martial arts, so that won't work.

Although he hasn't practiced martial arts yet, he knows that the poor study and the rich practice martial arts, especially if he wants to achieve a certain level, money is indispensable.

So he needs to open up new ways to make money. Relying solely on the output of the fields, I am afraid it is not enough for future cultivation.

Although he has a cheat, this cheat only has a blessing on the internal aspect, and cannot bless the external aspect. Therefore, if he wants to cultivate faster and higher, then taking pills is the mainstream.

These days, he has been thinking about how to make money.

In fact, there are many businesses that make money quickly, such as the salt and iron business, which is absolutely the best way. Which of those salt merchants in Jianghuai doesn't sit on millions of taels of silver? The eight great families of Shanxi rely even more on smuggling to the grasslands and have millions in family assets.

However, with his current small stature, he certainly cannot get involved in these.

So after thinking for a long time, Su Zhe thought of starting small, such as snacks and restaurants.

With the knowledge of later generations, not to mention anything else, just in terms of food, he is confident that even the emperor wouldn't have his refinement.

Naturally, he thought of braised food. In the current dynasty, trade is developed, and spices are still very expensive, but they are no longer as they were in the Sui and Tang dynasties, when only nobles could afford them.

So he is prepared to expand this business.

In fact, he had already added this braised food to the Su family's restaurant in Huayin City, and the business was indeed quite good.

Therefore, Su Fan is prepared to take it out and do it as a separate business.

So he looked at a middle-aged man on his right and said: "Steward Hu, how is the business of the Su family's restaurant now?"

"Master, ever since you provided the braised food, our business has greatly increased, and it has become the second-best restaurant in Huayin City, second only to Xinyue Building."

"Then what is the monthly income now?" Su Fan asked.

"Every month, after deducting costs, there is a balance of sixty taels," Steward Hu said with some pride. A net profit of sixty taels per month, seven or eight hundred taels a year—this income is not low.

Before, having one hundred taels a year was already quite good.

From this, we can see the popularity of this braised food.

Su Zhe nods upon hearing this, his heart already understanding that the dishes of later generations can be brought over completely.

"In that case, Steward Hu, I am prepared to take this braised food out separately and open a specialized braised food shop."

"What? Master, this... how can this be? What about our restaurant?" Steward Hu was suddenly anxious. Now the Su family's restaurant relies on this braised food. If there were no braised food dishes, I am afraid it would become like before again.

"Steward Hu, don't worry. Although I am taking it out separately, your restaurant will remain unchanged. In addition, I will arrange for the kitchen to add a few new dishes to your restaurant."

"Is what the Master said true?"

Steward Hu was pleasantly surprised upon hearing this, regardless of the previous ones. As one of the Su family's stewards, he had eaten the Su Manor's family banquet and naturally knew the deliciousness of those dishes.

"Hmm!" Su Fan nods and continues: "That braised food will be opened as a separate small braised food shop. My meaning is, not only in Huayin City, but also in the nearby counties, one will be opened in each."

"What do you all think?"

"No problem."

Several stewards nod. Everyone understands that this is a profitable business, no one stops it, and they all know that the Master makes money and is never stingy with them.

"In that case, this matter will be handed over to you, Yang Zhen."

Su Zhe looks at a young man sitting at the very bottom.

"Master, this is not good, Yang Zhen is still too young."

After Su Fan finished speaking, Yang Xing stood up, wanting to object.

"Hehe! Old Yang, Zhen'er is already over twenty, not young anymore. And he handles family matters very properly. I am very relieved to hand it over to him."

Yang Zhen is Yang Xing's youngest son, who grew up in the Su family since he was a child, so he is naturally relieved.

"This..."

Seeing this, Yang Xing was superficially embarrassed, but his heart was still very happy. After all, he also knew that this was a good business, and if done well, it goes without saying.

"Alright, it's settled."

Su Fan decided with a single word. Immediately, he looked at the scar-faced man; this person is the leader of the Su family's guards.

This person is named Liu Tong, in his forties. He was originally a flag officer under a battalion commander in Datong Town. Because he offended his superior, he was hostile and forced to fight to the death with the Tatar cavalry on the grasslands. He escaped by luck and was saved by Su Fan's father.

He has always served as the Su family's guard.

Although this person was a flag officer, his ability is not bad, but his personality is a bit upright. After Su Fan understood, he was actually a bit happy.

This guy's strength is not bad. If he is given a set of good equipment, he could even become a match for a hundred men on the battlefield. His battlefield skills are not even inferior to second-rate martial artists in the martial arts world.

"Guard Liu."

"Subordinate is here."

Hearing Su Fan call him, Liu Tong immediately straightened his back, looking at Su Fan with bright eyes. He saw the changes in the Su family these days, and he also knew Su Fan's importance to him.

Especially recently, Su Fan reorganized the Su family's guards, and he was even happier. He knew very well what the Su family's guards were like before; most of them were just eating and drinking.

Some were relatives of the Su family, not even as good as the hooligans in the city.

Now, after a reorganization, the number is only forty, but they are all hardworking children of farmers. If he trains them, not to mention becoming elites in the army, they can at least protect the safety of the Su family.

"Guard Liu, the Su family's guards will all be handed over to you. You are originally from the army and should know a little bit about training soldiers. I need you to train these guards into soldiers who can fight."

"I wonder if Guard Liu has any confidence?" Su Fan looks at Liu Tong and says.

"This..."

Liu Tong hesitated for a moment.

"I know Guard Liu's concerns. How about this, as long as Guard Liu needs anything, I will provide it all. You don't need to worry about logistics; I will give it to you without missing a cent. I just want a guard team that can fight for my Su family when they encounter a crisis."

Su Fan looks at Liu Tong, and a majesty that does not match his age appears on his young face.

"Master, don't worry, subordinate will definitely be able to train them."

Hearing that he could provide all the logistics, Liu Tong suddenly became confident. He knew that the future Su family would not lack food. With three thousand mu of land, plus the shops the Su family has in the county, it is not difficult to build an elite guard team of fifty people.

He has this confidence.

"Good! Guard Liu, the Su family's guard team will be handed over to you. For now, it will be based on sixty people, but it will increase in the future."

Su Zhe said lightly, but it made everyone in the hall have different expressions. ===== CHAPTER 3 =====