Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 756
Fan Ning asked in a low voice, "Are all sea pearls on the market processed like this?"

County magistrate Jiang said with a smile: "Most of the sea pearls are not very round. If you pick round and big sea pearls, they are top-quality kun beads. One is worth a thousand guan, and it is usually given to the emperor as a tribute. There are many sea pearls in the market. rarely seen.

And like this kind of natural sea pearls that are slightly processed, rounded and polished, they belong to the top-grade kun beads, and the ones as big as longan cost three to five hundred guan, but they can be bought in the market.

The third is artificially cultivated sea pearls, which belong to middle-grade kun pearls. Its gloss is not as good as natural sea pearls. Experts can tell that the same longan-sized one costs fifty or sixty pennies.

Smaller low-grade kun beads cost thirty to fifty strings, no matter how small they are, we don’t sell them, so there is a saying in the jewelry market in Beijing that the smallest kun beads are as big as cherries, that is, the smallest kun beads are as big as cherries. Anything smaller than a cherry is not a Kunzhu. "

"The annual income of the residents is very rich!"

"Basically, the raw materials of sea pearls are monopolized by the government. We select the best sea pearls as tribute, and the rest are divided into countless packages. Everyone draws lots to buy them. In fact, they are all the same. For one sea pearl, the government keeps [-]% of the profit, and private individuals get [-]% of the profit. The next [-]% of the profit is transportation, jewelry stores, etc., and we don’t care about it.”

Fan Ning then visited the farm, school and county government. It was still early, so he did not spend the night in Qi County, but boarded a boat for Han County.

Fan Ning stayed in Kunzhou Mansion for three days, and on the last day he took a carriage to Tang County.

Tang County was the first county he established as a novice. He has a deep affection for Tang County, and he has left too many good memories here.

The official road was very wide, and Fan Ning accidentally discovered that the wheels of the carriage were actually made of iron, with rubber tires on them, no wonder they were stable, fast and comfortable.

"There are only two of this kind of rubber iron-wheeled carriage in Kunzhou. One is a special seat for the mine supervisor. This one belongs to the government office and is specially prepared for distinguished guests. Even the lower officials usually ride horses when they go out."

"The conditions in Kunzhou are good, why don't you buy a few more?"

Zhao Qin smiled wryly and said, "To tell you the truth, this kind of rubber iron wheel is mostly used by the military. Even for civilian use, it is mainly used by dignitaries and the palace. It is difficult to buy in the market. The mine supervisor's one was given by the palace. , we got this car thanks to a lot of favors."

Fan Ning is right when he thinks about it. The key is that the output of rubber tires is not large, and the priority is to meet military use, especially stainless steel ballistas. Indeed, not many are put into the civilian market. This kind of rubber tires will not gradually become popular until at least two to thirty years later.

He thought for a while and asked, "Is there any connection between Kunzhou and Bei Dao?"

"A few years ago, Bei Dao came to Kunzhou to buy a batch of horses, but he never came again. However, Akita often has contact with Bei Dao. Every time Bei Dao came to Japan, he usually went to Akita to buy a batch of ponies. .”

"This kind of rubber iron wheel is also produced in Beidao. Later, I will ask the merchant ship to bring [-] pairs. You can assemble it yourself. You can load [-] carriages and pay two for each county government. The rest can be used as fixed mail carriages. How does Zhifu Zhao feel?"

Zhao Qin was overjoyed, and hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "It's best to teach us how to repair the car together. If the tire breaks, we are helpless."

Fan Ning chuckled, "Yes, when the wheels are delivered, I will also teach you how to repair them."

Fan Ning and his party arrived in Tang County at dusk. This time, Fan Ning did not have Zhao Qin to accompany him, but only brought two entourages. They wore ordinary green clothes and long gowns, and walked into the city with their hands behind their backs, just like foreign merchants. .

At this time, it has been five or six years since he came to Tang County last time. Tang County has not changed much. The whole county looks peaceful and warm. Walking on the stone road, there are bright-eyed and white-toothed Japanese girls busy in the shops and taverns on both sides. with.

Fan Ning walked into a tavern he used to frequent. The tavern was originally called Kunnan Tavern, but now it was renamed Xuji Restaurant.

Walking into the door, the shopkeeper who always sat on the counter and dozed off disappeared, and was replaced by a 26-year-old young woman, who was quite beautiful, but she should be a Japanese woman, she was wearing Song Dynasty costumes, most likely A Japanese girl who obtained Song Dynasty citizenship.

As soon as Fan Ning walked in, the female shopkeeper greeted her with a smile, "Welcome to the shop."

When she looked up and saw Fan Ning, she was stunned, "Aren't you Fan Zhizhou?"

"The female shopkeeper still knows me?"

The female shopkeeper nodded again and again, she looked around, but no one paid attention here, she quickly said: "Please sit upstairs!"

Fan Ning followed the female shopkeeper upstairs and sat down. The female shopkeeper brought him sake and said in a low voice, "Do you still remember me? I'm with Aya. My name is Xiaowen."

Fan Ning vaguely remembered that Aya had a good friend named Xiaowen, they were from the same village, and they were the first batch of Japanese girls who came to Kunzhou.

"I seem to have the impression that Aya was almost bullied at that time, did you report it to me?"

"It's me!"

The female shopkeeper was very excited, "Officer, how is Aya doing now, I know she is married to you, how is she now?"

Fan Ning was also very happy to meet old people in a foreign land. He smiled slightly and said, "Aya gave birth to a son who is already seven years old. Their mother and child are very good. Now they are in the far south, and I am an official there. .”

"She is very lucky!" The female shopkeeper sighed softly: "I was so envious of her at the time, why didn't I marry the official? I also like the official very much! I cried for several days at that time."

Fan Ning was moved in his heart, patted her hand, and comforted her: "You are not bad, you have become the shopkeeper, this is your restaurant?"

The female shopkeeper gently held Fan Ning's hand, "Actually, I'm in charge, and the officials know him too."

Fan Ning was startled, he thought for a while, and suddenly asked: "Could it be Xu Qing?"

Xu Qing was Zhu Pei's personal bodyguard for Fan Ning back then, and later stayed in Kunzhou. There has been no news for more than ten years.

"It's him!"

Fanning was overjoyed, "Where is he now?"

The female shopkeeper was sad, "He died of illness two years ago unfortunately, it was an injury left by him when he was young. Before he passed away, he was always thinking about the officials."

Fan Ning's nose was a little sore. He met Xu Qing when he was 12 years old, and he was already 40 years old at that time. In the past 20 years, Xu Qing passed away at [-], which is not considered an early death, but he was not able to see him for the last time.

"Does he have descendants?"

"His wife passed away early and did not give birth to him. Instead, I gave birth to two sons, both of whom are studying now. The father of the children left us a house and this restaurant, and there are two hectares of land outside the city. , The life is very peaceful, I am also very satisfied, if there is any difficulty, his apprentices will come to help."

"Do you need me to do something for you? You're welcome. I'm not bragging. There is nothing in the world that I can't do."

The female shopkeeper said in a low voice: "My husband's greatest wish is to be buried with his mother. If the officials can help, I would like to go to Wu County and transfer his mother's bones to Kunzhou. In this way, his wish will be fulfilled." , our family can stay in Kunzhou forever, to be honest, we don't want to leave."

Fan Ning nodded. This request is not too much. He knows that it is very difficult for the people of Kunzhou to return to the Song Dynasty, and they can only be allowed with special approval. In cases like the female shopkeeper, they are generally not approved, but it is not a big problem to say hello. It is estimated that Zhao Qin does not know the relationship between Xu Qing and himself.

"What about you? What difficulties do you need my help with?" Fanning asked again with a smile.

The female shopkeeper took a shy look at Fan Ning and nodded, "Of course, I want to ask the official to grant me a wish."

Fan Ning asked his entourage to take a hundred taels of gold, and wrote a letter on the spot, and put it on the table with the gold, saying: "Moving the grave is usually very troublesome, you take this letter and go directly to the Wu county government, and they will give it to you." I'm kind of thin-faced, and I will definitely help you make proper arrangements. In short, you don't have to worry too much. As for the matter of going to the Song Dynasty, I will greet the prefect and the county magistrate. You can take the first boat back next spring. As for this A bit of gold is what I leave to Xu Qing's descendants, for them to marry wives in the future, just accept it!"

The female shopkeeper refused to accept it no matter what, Fan Ning insisted that she accept it, and she accepted it as a last resort.

Fan Ning took out another pearl, handed it to her and said with a smile: "I gave it to you on behalf of Aya, otherwise, Aya will blame me after I go back."

The female shopkeeper didn't refuse this time, she took Mingzhu and whispered, "I'd rather be sent by an official."

Fan Ning smiled slightly: "Since you care so much, then treat it as a gift from me."

…………

Early the next morning, Fan Ning told Zhao Qin about Xu Qing, and Zhao Qin agreed that he would properly arrange for Xu Qing's wife to return to Song Dynasty to move her grave.

Fan Ning just boarded the boat and left Kunzhou, the land where he poured his heart and soul, and he didn't know when he would return.

(End of this chapter)