A Journey Through the Worlds of Film and Television.

Chapter 402: The Wu Brothers of Qinghe County

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After learning about the medicinal materials merchants in Yanggu County, Lu Cheng brought Lai Fu and Lai Wang directly to visit the rich man Wang.

Mr. Wang's real name is Wang Baocai. His family has been in business for three generations. He owns thousands of acres of fertile land and more than a dozen shops. He is considered one of the most powerful families in Yanggu County. Even the county magistrate has to give him some face.

Lu Cheng is quite interested in the old mountain ginseng and deer antlers from the north, as these two medicinal materials are needed in many elixirs, especially those for strengthening the body, such as the strengthening pills.

So, this time, Lu Cheng asked Lai Fu and Lai Wang to prepare gifts, and also brought some perfumes and dragon and tiger pills, and visited in person.

Hearing that it was Mr. Lu, the newly rising figure in Yuncheng County, who came to visit, Mr. Wang brought people out to greet him in person.

Mr. Wang is a wealthy man in his 40s, of medium build, with a kind face and seems easy to get along with.

But Lu Cheng judged from the other person's face, the pace of his walk, and the gleam in his eyes that this person did not really want to appear kind.

How could someone who could go to the north to do business with the Liao people be a simple person?

"This must be Mr. Lu from Yuncheng County, right? He is indeed handsome and has an extraordinary appearance. Please come in."

When the two entered the house, Mr. Wang was very enthusiastic and immediately asked someone to bring tea. "I have heard that Mr. Lu is young and promising, and that the things he made, such as Hundred Flowers Jade Dew and Dragon Tiger Pill, are all good things. I asked someone to buy some of them before, and they are indeed useful. It's just that the sales volume is a bit small, so it's not easy to buy. Since I have met Mr. Lu in person today, you must sell me some of these good things."

"No problem. Since Mr. Wang likes it, I just happened to have some with me. I'll give it to Mr. Wang as a gift."

"How can I accept this? Then I will accept it. Mr. Lu came all the way from Yuncheng County to Yanggu County. I believe he didn't come here just to drink a few cups of tea. If my guess is correct, Mr. Lu should be looking for me to discuss business, right?"

"That's right. We at Huichuntang have a great demand for deer antlers and wild ginseng. I heard that Mr. Wang can get them from the north, so I came here to discuss cooperation."

"No problem. As long as Mr. Lu can provide me with a certain amount of Golden Gun Pills and Rejuvenating Pills, I can also provide you with all the herbs you need."

"Of course, no problem, it's just this price..."

"The price is negotiable..."

Next, the two of them had a verbal exchange and bargained, and decided on the terms of cooperation between the two parties, exchanging medicinal materials for elixirs and then making up the difference.

Lu Cheng gave Wang Yuanwai several bottles of perfume and some Dragon Tiger Pills. Wang Yuanwai also gave Lu Cheng two pieces of the best old mountain ginseng.

Afterwards, Mr. Wang took Lu Cheng for a walk around his farm and let Lu Cheng stay overnight.

Mr. Wang had been doing business with the north for many years and raised some good horses on his farm. When Lu Cheng left, he bought three good horses from Mr. Wang to replace the three inferior horses he and his two companions had, and sold the inferior horses.

Lu Cheng ignored the great official Ximen for the time being.

With these three good horses, Lu Cheng and his companions traveled much faster.

Afterwards, Lu Cheng headed north, sometimes going to the mountains to hunt, sometimes going to the city to find medicinal herb merchants to discuss business. He traveled along the way, feeling the customs and habits of this era, and did all the business he needed to do.

Before they knew it, the three of them had walked out of Jingdong Road and arrived at Hebei East Road.

The administrative divisions of the Song Dynasty were based on three levels: roads, states (prefectures, military regions, and prefectures), and counties.

In the early years of the founding of the Song Dynasty, the world was divided into 13 regions, which were later changed to routes, and were successively divided into routes, routes, routes, etc., and the route was equivalent to a province.

Below the road is the state. The units at the state level are also called prefectures, armies, and prisons depending on the local conditions, such as Jeju Prefecture, Yongxing Army, Taiping Army, etc.

Yuncheng County, where Lu Cheng was located, belonged to Jizhou Prefecture. Yanggu County belonged to Yunzhou Prefecture.

Judging from the name alone, Yuncheng County should belong to Yunzhou Prefecture, but the fact is not the case, which is quite special.

"Master, Qinghe County is just ahead."

"Come on, let's go into the city."

When the three entered Qinghe County, it was noon, so they found a restaurant, filled their stomachs, and rested for a while. Lu Cheng ordered: "Laifu, Laiwang, go ask if there are two brothers with the surname Wu in this city. The elder brother, Wu Dalang, is a pancake seller, and the younger brother, Wu Song, is a better fighter."

"Yes, Master."

Lai Fu and Lai Wang first asked the waiter of the restaurant and got a rough idea. Then they went out while asking for information along the way.

Lu Cheng was sitting in the restaurant, drinking wine and listening to the storyteller talking about some events from the past dynasties.

Storytellers appeared as early as the pre-Qin period and began to develop during the Han Dynasty. By the Sui and Tang Dynasties, there were folk storytellers.

By the Song Dynasty, storytellers had become a profession and could be seen in restaurants and teahouses in many places.

"...Speaking of Qin Qiong, Qin Shubao, since he surrendered to Wang Shichong, he was named the Dragon General. But Wang Shichong was a treacherous man, and Qin Shubao disdained to associate with him, so he discussed with Cheng Yaojin and others and prepared to surrender to Li Tang..."

Lu Cheng just listened to a part and shook his head.

At present, "The Romance of Sui and Tang Dynasties" has not yet been published, and the storyteller only recited some history verbatim, adding some unofficial history, which was half true and half false, and not very interesting.

But even so, the people in the restaurant still listened with great interest.

There is no way around it. There are so few entertainment options these days that it’s good enough to just listen to them.

Half an hour later, Lai Wang ran back and reported to Lu Cheng: "Master, I have already found out. In Qinghe County, there are indeed two brothers named Na Wu. They live in an alley in the south of the city. The elder brother makes a living by selling pancakes. I just ran to their door to check, and no one is home at the moment."

Lu Cheng nodded: "Okay, sit down, have a glass of water and take a rest."

"Yes, Master."

Half an hour later, Lai Fu came back with a small bag wrapped in a lotus leaf in his hand.

"Master, I have heard about the two brothers surnamed Wu. They were originally from Qinghe County. Their parents died early in life. Wu Dalang made a living by selling pancakes and raised his younger brother.

Now, Wu Dalang is already twenty-four, and Wu Song is eighteen or nineteen. Wu Dalang is short, while his brother Wu Song is tall and strong.

Wu Dalang was good at making pancakes and was well-known in Qinghe County. He was also hardworking and quick-handed, so he could earn a lot of money every day, which was how he supported his two brothers. However, Wu Song was idle all day, liked to fight with others, and often injured people. His brother often had to pay compensation to others, which was not easy.

I just asked around and found out that Wu Song went out for a drink with his friends and is currently in a wine shop in the west of the city. By the way, this is the pancake I just found Wu Dalang and bought from him. It's still warm. Young Master, would you like to try it?"

Lu Cheng nodded, very satisfied with Lai Fu's performance. He took the pancake and tasted it. It tasted really good, much better than the pancakes he had eaten on the way here.

After resting for a while, Lu Cheng took Lai Wang and Lai Fu and walked outside, ready to walk around the city and meet Wu Song...