Return To 1977 Chapter 435: Secret History
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Because of the past events that were brought out by the hook, as I walked around and looked at it, the memory became closer to the past time.
After everyone left the second courtyard, they visited the third courtyard, the backyard, the Western-style building, the courtyard across the north road to the west, the courtyard across the north road to the east, the flower hall courtyard, and the large garden.
Everywhere was explained to the children by Hong Lucheng or Wang Yunlin like tour guides.
In Sanjin Courtyard, Hong Lucheng told Hong Yanwu and others that the main room here faces west and was used as the ancestor hall. As for the north room, it was used as an office by their grandfather.
I remember that their grandfather would come here every day to handle court affairs, but at that time it was not called the manager's office, nor was it called an office, it was called a business room.
If there are outsiders here, they must be negotiating a big deal worth tens of thousands.
Personally, since he was in high school, he has been basically his father's secretary, helping with all practical matters here.
It is precisely because of this that he has benefited a lot. I learned the tricks of business from my father and learned the real way of doing business.
For example, their grandfather had the habit of imitating the British and drinking afternoon tea here. However, they never use Western pastries, but exclusively use the cream pastry produced by "Yan Mei Zhai".
This is not because he is afraid of spending money, but because the old man insists that credibility is the foundation of business and values being consistent inside and outside.
His reasoning is, "If even the Hong family doesn't use their own things, how can others think the Hong family's things are good?"
And for similar reasons, the old man has always been quite disdainful of the Yue family of "Qirentang". He often used it as a counterexample to warn the Hong family.
"The descendants of the Yue family are unworthy and believe in Western medicine when treating their own illnesses. So why sell Chinese medicine? Hypocrisy! That is deceiving the people! It is also equivalent to them slapping themselves in the face and smashing the sign of their ancestors. You must not imitate them... …”
After hearing this, Hong Yanzheng and Chen Liquan both pursed their lips and smiled. There was no doubt that the image of an old man who was both stubborn and cute appeared before their eyes.
Only Hong Yanwu was very surprised, not for any other reason, but because in the future "Qirentang" would not only be the leading stock of listed companies, but also open many Chinese medicine hospitals.
There is also a TV series that spreads its reputation all over the country. Even people in the south know that there is a "Qirentang" in the capital.
Its reputation not only surpasses the "Qingrentang" and "Heniantang" in the capital, but is also far superior to the "Shiji Tang" in the northwest, the "Hu Qingyutang" in the south, and the "Xinghe Tang" in Guangdong. "It's great. It can be called a model of Chinese medicine.
Why do they even believe in Western medicine?
"Dad, is this true or not? The Yue family, aren't they also palace doctors? I heard that they are genuine and have a good reputation. Do they still believe in Western medicine? No, right?"
Facing Hong Yanwu’s question, Hong Lucheng still answered in the affirmative.
"Yes, the Yue family's medicines are pretty good, but then again. This is the foundation of all time-honored brands. Which of the serious medicine shops in Beijing is full of fraud?
"As for saying they believe in Western medicine, that is definitely correct. It refers to the eldest family. Their eldest brother, Yue Xiyuan, believes in **** and hangs a statue of **** all day long. Before eating and before going to bed, he kneels there every day. Everyone in the capital knew that their daily life was of a Western style. Whenever their eldest son got sick, they would only use Western medicine. The first was two foreigners from Minxiang in the east suburbs, one from Italy, Dr. Jula. They were doctors with the army. There was also Dr. Bei from Germany. Later, their second uncle Zhu Guangxiang and Lao Jiuyuekui were both Western medicine doctors. It is no exaggeration to say that they even served as assistants. You have to ask the foreigner Bi Huade for the glasses."
"Also, the Yue family is not a palace doctor, but only serves the Qing palace's imperial pharmacy. What does this mean? To put it bluntly, their medicine can be sold to the palace. But they don't understand the palace's prescriptions. The Yue family's The palace secret recipe was actually given by the uncle of the Ma family of Xinglong Wood Factory. He was an official in the same dynasty as your cousin's family, so he was the official imperial doctor. So why did you give them the prescription? Because the Ma family and the Yue family. They have been family friends for several generations. My uncle is willing to give the prescription just for the sake of the Ma family. Otherwise, the Yue family wouldn't even have a 'zhibao ingot'..."
(Note: Zhibao Tablets. For children’s medicine, Amber Powder can be added or subtracted. It has the effects of clearing heat, guiding stagnation, dispelling wind and reducing phlegm. It is said that the traditional method requires ten strips of gold and medicine to be boiled together to achieve sufficient potency. But boiling the medicine It’s over, no trace of gold is missing, just used as a catalyst)
"But the Yue family didn't know how to be grateful, and the younger generation gradually lost respect for them. Later, they not only pushed Uncle Ma's uncle out of the door of Qirentang, but also made fun of others and used their hats as a urinal. The old shopkeeper of "Xinglong Wood Factory" stopped working when he found out. In anger, he opened a "Tongji Tang" for Uncle Ma's family just opposite the old shop of "Qirentang". 'If it's a dime, they'll sell it for nine cents."
"The Ma family is the richest man in the capital. Now Qirentang couldn't stand it anymore, so it asked a big businessman in the capital to make peace. The lawsuit went all the way to Dali Temple, and the final verdict was over the decoction pieces sold by Tongjitang. , 'Qirentang' was not allowed to sell, and could only sell Wan San Gao Dan, and it had to raise three hundred deer for my uncle in Xiannongtan. The Yue family surrendered with both hands. Later, the two families reconciled. , the Ma family stopped pursuing it, and the operation of 'Qirentang' returned to normal."
After hearing these words from his father, Hong Yanwu had three thoughts.
First, you really have to be low-key as a person. There are people outside the world, and there is heaven outside the world. If you are too proud and arrogant, you will be punished at any time.
Second, everyone is the same. Things that show off one's face like to be publicized, but things that are embarrassing must be kept tightly covered. Why was it so awesome to just play the seventh son of the Bai family in the TV series? Why didn't these things get mentioned at all?
Third, no matter what dynasty or generation, those who dare to engage in civil engineering and construction are the most profitable professions. Then the Ma family could convince "Qirentang", didn't it only rely on the business of building a royal family to have such confidence?
Following to the backyard, Wang Yunlin pointed to the two-story Chinese-style building and told the children.
She said that most large-scale courtyard houses have two-story buildings at the end, which play a protective and suppressive role in the entire courtyard.
There are two most beautiful back buildings in Beijing. One is the concave back building with carved beams and painted columns in the "Prince Qing's Mansion" on Dingfu Street. The other building is the 99-and-a-half-room back building of "Prince Gong's Mansion". During the Republic of China, it once served as the female dormitory of "Fu Jen Catholic University".
The back building of the Hong family is not good at all, and the workmanship and design are not innovative. Not to mention that it can't be compared with those in Prince Qing's Mansion and Prince Gong's Mansion, even compared with her natal family, it can only be described as "humble".
However, the main reason for this is not that the Hong family is a business family, but because the back building is also called the "embroidery building". It is the place where the female relatives of the mansion live, and is the favorite place for novelists and dramatists to imagine. , a place where stories like "Mandarin Ducks and Butterflies" are compiled.
The Hong family has always been a single household, with only men and no ladies. This place has always been used only as a residence for maids, so naturally they have no interest in building such a building.
From this point of view, it is not a pity that the workers of the street factory have usurped this place as a residence, no matter how harmful it is.
But no one expected that as soon as she finished speaking, the exact opposite situation happened.
It turned out that when they walked to the outer courtyard not far away, when they saw the two-story Western-style building with dilapidated bricks and incomplete sculptures, Wang Yunlin couldn't help but sigh with distress, saying that this house was really beautiful. What a waste.
According to her, Hong Yanwu's grandfather spent a lot of money to build this building for a foreigner who built a small building for Zhang Zhidong when he was young. It's completely on a par with that rough rear building.
This building is perfect in both design and construction. There is a platform outside the window, a fountain at the door, and a green golden grass lawn in the courtyard.
The rooms all use European-style long glass windows, and chandeliers hang from the ceiling.
The interior not only has floors, wainscoting, heating, and a bathroom with running water, but also has power generation equipment and a boiler room in the southeast corner of the yard. There is also a pantry adjacent to the kitchen.
Even in order to pass the new carriages and cars, the north wall was opened and replaced with a new large iron door to facilitate the entry and exit of carriages and horses.
To be honest, if the equipment in the house can be kept intact. Even now, it can be called a modern life that is not outdated at all.
But, now that the outside is like this, we can already predict what the inside will look like.
Wang Yunlin was right. After entering, everyone found that the house was no longer in shape.
The floorboards creaked and were broken in many places. The paint on the pillars had also peeled off, exposing the hemp inside. The sewer hole is completely blocked. I don’t know how long it has been blocked. The toilet is full of water, and there are many bricks on the ground for walking, just like a waterside pavilion in Beihai.
There are more than a dozen houses, and the ceiling of almost every house is like a map, with circles of water stains.
Looking at this level, once it rains, I really want to use a basin to collect water in the house. Fortunately, those employees are reluctant to leave and can still live here.
At this time, seeing Wang Yunlin looking gloomy and still shaking her head frequently, Hong Yanwu couldn't help but joke.
"Mom, why are you so distressed about this small western-style building? It wasn't the place where you and my dad lived in the first place, right? It would be so beautiful if you could live here! You have your own private courtyard, and you can hire a servant alone. Starting a group. Doesn’t this mean living separately? How free! Even if there is a dance, my grandpa may not know about it..."
His original intention was to divert his mother's attention. Unexpectedly, even my father's face didn't look good this time.
Hong Lucheng actually said, "We don't live here, this is... your third uncle's residence. Your mother feels sorry for me. Because your grandfather has always entrusted me to manage this place, and outsiders have never been allowed to enter. , move anything inside..."
"Third uncle? I still have a third uncle?"
Don’t say that Hong Yanwu blurted out and lost his voice. Even Hong Yanzheng shouted out.
"Dad, are you serious? How come I don't know?"
"Hey, your third uncle left home early. He was your grandfather's favorite. He was originally going to study in France to become a doctor, but..."
As Hong Lucheng lamented, he sadly recounted a piece of Hong family history.