Early the next morning, just as the market was opening, Liu Dazhuang and Liu Erzhuang came carrying their luggage, and their mother came with them as well.
When Zhang Nuo saw the two brothers bringing their mother, he didn't understand at first what it meant.
It wasn't until Liu Dazhuang nervously spoke up and explained that the brothers were worried about their mother being alone at home, so they hoped to find her a job washing vegetables and cleaning, as long as she was provided with room and board. They didn't need any pay, the main thing was that their mother would be in their sight, and they would be at ease.
Zhang Nuo was quite satisfied with this filial behavior.
Of course, he wouldn't skimp on the wages either. With a big wave of his hand, Dazhuang's mother, also known as Liu Sanniang, was given the same three hundred coins wage as Zhang Erniang.
It just so happened that Liu Sanniang's arrival could also keep Zhang Erniang company. Even if they didn't need so many people in the kitchen for the time being, once the wine business started up, they wouldn't have enough people.
It was just a matter of keeping a few extra people for a few months, and they could be trained in advance. Later, these experienced employees could even train the new employees, and they might even be able to create a standardized production process in the Tang Dynasty.
Seeing that even the mother who was the most worried was now the family's servant, the Liu brothers almost knelt down to thank Zhang Nuo, and Liu Sanniang was also effusively grateful.
Zhang Nuo was a bit embarrassed by all this. In modern times, it would just be hiring a couple of chef apprentices and laborers, but now it was like saving a life.
Doggy went out to buy groceries, followed by Liu Dazhuang to lend a hand and also learn the way. Liu Erzhuang went into the kitchen to start cleaning up.
Zhang Erniang and Liu Sanniang picked up brooms and rags and began sweeping the already spotless lobby.
Zhang Xiaomei went to the backyard. She had to wash the clothes that Zhang Nuo had changed yesterday and take time to wash her brother's clothes. After that, she would help Zhang Nuo tidy up the room.
At the moment, Zhang Nuo felt a bit inflated as he watched these people work swiftly and voluntarily. It was as if he were the head of a wealthy household.
This only further solidified his determination to open a brewery. If he could get the brewery up and running early, he would definitely make a fortune!
Thinking about earning pots of money in the future, Zhang Nuo felt extremely happy at the moment.
Looking at the bottle of alcohol in his hand, which was packed in an ordinary white porcelain bottle, Zhang Nuo had an idea. He needed to go out and buy some ingredients because he would need to flavor the alcohol later.
It is rather sad that in the future, most of the wine available on the market is actually mixed by perfumers hired by large distilleries at high salaries.
However, the process involved is too complicated, and at the moment, even Zhang Nuo, who is still studying in middle school, could not handle it.
Nevertheless, in the future, some dishonest businessmen could mix alcohol with water and fragrance and still manage to produce good-tasting wine. As a senior catering professional, how could Zhang Nuo, who would always mix his red wine with Sprite, not be able to do so?
Cocktail making is currently the most suitable wine development plan for him.
Thinking about the future, Free Cuba and Long Island Iced Tea sound so classy. They sound like high-end cocktails, but they are actually just wine mixed with cola and lemon.
At the moment, Zhang Nuo didn't have any lemons on hand, but he had osmanthus honey, tangerine peel, and ginger, which are common ingredients for making cocktails.
With these things at hand, Zhang Nuo felt very confident in developing one or two popular wines from the Tang Dynasty.
He put on his white flamboyant brocade suit, hung a jade pendant, a purse, and a sachet on his waist, and even wore the look of a police officer who patrolled the streets in the past. Then, he took his little sister, who had just finished cleaning, and walked out with his head held high.
This time, in addition to purchasing supplies, he also intended to buy back the old house that he had sold before.
He remembered that he had sold the old house to a neighbor in the same neighborhood, who had taken it over out of goodwill but hadn't moved in yet.
The old house was located in Yongping Alley. Most of the people in the alley were commoners and small vendors who made a living by doing small businesses and some skilled labor.
The Zhang family had also come through it in the past. If they could reclaim the old house now, they might be able to recruit a group of good craftsmen.
He thought of the old house as a workshop. The neighbors were all acquaintances, and it was safe to leave it there.
Moreover, when the workers went to and from work, they only needed to cross the street. Even second- and third-level dealers lived not far away.
The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed to Zhang Nuo. So, he simply turned and go.
But not long after they started walking, Zhang Nuo started to feel pain and discomfort in his legs.
Chang'an City was not a small county town. As a big city with a population of over a million people, the area of Chang'an City at this time was over 80 square kilometers.
Which was larger than the 60 square kilometers of the capital during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
From the location of Yongping Fang, Zhang Nuo had to walk from the city center to the second ring road, which was quite a distance to travel on foot.
So Zhang Nuo quickly found a car rental agency and rented a carriage for the day, feeling very generous and carefree about it.
Sitting in the swaying carriage, watching the busy street scenes of Chang'an City outside the window, and with a lively little white cabbage bouncing against him as the carriage jolted, Zhang Nuo felt very happy!
He didn't know where this little girl learned her coquettish ways from. Even though she was sitting right beside him, she was swaying so much that she was practically in his arms.
Blinking her big, watery eyes and looking at him with a confused expression.
This little fairy was really using her magic to captivate him!
Oh! Damn!!
Can't stand!!!
It should be noted that Zhang Nuo at this time was not like the middle-aged men of the future who occasionally did some health exercises and always carried a cup of wolfberry tea.
He was just 18 years old and was like a hot-headed rooster, ready to burst into flames.
With a little fairy like this in his arms, even if she was still underage in his eyes, he was already on the verge of a nosebleed.
Helpless, the weather was dry, and his nose was too dry, yes, that's right, it had nothing to do with any bad thoughts!
Really!
Zhang Nuo raised three fingers to the sky and swear!
In the midst of both pain and pleasure, Zhang Nuo almost turned red and made it to Yongping Fang.
As soon as he arrived at the market entrance, Zhang Nuo quickly jumped off the carriage in a panic.
Looking back at the slowly dismounting little girl, who looked like she knew nothing about what had just happened, Zhang Nuo couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Damn, it's already this times and the little girl is still pretending. If you weren't so young, I'd drag you inside and take care of you!
Reciting a few lines of poetry in his mind to suppress his desires, Zhang Nuo walked unsteadily into Yongping Lane.
Unlike the Kaihua Lane where Zhang Nuo currently resided, Yongping Lane was mostly inhabited by commoners and small households.
The houses here were mostly old and rundown, and the pedestrians on the streets were mostly poor people in shabby clothes.
Dressed entirely in white and looking like a dandy, Zhang Nuo stood out, accompanied by an obvious maid.
However, Zhang Nuo felt perfectly at ease and greeted people he recognized along the way.
"Auntie San, it's me, Zhang Nuo! I'm back to visit the old house!"
"Brother Liu, going to work so late?"
"Grandpa Fang, is everything alright at home?"
...
Under Zhang Nuo's greetings, people gradually realized that the well-dressed young man was the same little boy from the old Zhang family. They were amazed by his transformation and wondered how he had become so successful in such a short time.
It took Zhang Nuo some time to extricate himself from the crowd, and even then, several families invited him to dinner.
He was delighted to see such a close-knit community.
This was the power of a strong grassroots network. When his workshop was up and running, people from all around would come to work for him, strengthening the community even further.
If any troublemakers or gangsters came to cause trouble, Zhang Nuo wouldn't have to intervene, as the locals would take care of it and send the troublemakers to the authorities.
This would save Zhang Nuo a lot of trouble.
After saying goodbye to his warm and friendly neighbors, Zhang Nuo finally headed towards his old house.
Zhang Xiaomei, the little fairy, was now blushing and smiling shyly, following him closely. If you didn't know her, you would think she was a young lady from a wealthy family.
Zhang Nuo was really helpless with this little fairy. In his heart, he was still the little restaurant owner who can be fascinated by women with just a few words.
Although he complained about how embarrassing Zhang Xiaomei made him feel, deep down he was enjoying her company.