golden scales

After walking from east to west for half a day, there were more pedestrians, carriages and horses on the road.From time to time, you can see restaurants and lodgings opened by private houses on both sides.There are also signboards hanging on some residential houses by the roadside, with the words "board and lodging" written on them, which already show a peaceful scene.

However, the elder brother of the Qin family sneered at this and did not stop there. Instead, he reined in the horse and got off the carriage at a post station. He asked the clerk to come and count the goods on the car, and then locked the door of the carriage with the big lock of the post station. Take it to the backyard to wash and eat.

"This used to be an official place. It is clean and has enough food. Although it is more expensive, it is safe and comfortable. It is the most expensive way to save money when you are away from home." The elder brother of the Qin family explained to Zhang Ergou.

The post station reform is also part of the Crown Prince's New Deal, but the polarization is too serious.The post station on the bustling commercial road was broken by someone, but the post station in a remote and secluded place was half dead, unable to make ends meet, and had to rely on the imperial court's appropriation to survive.

Zhu Cihong originally wanted to use the royal capital to operate the station and build an economical hotel chain in Ming Dynasty, but it was actually not the best strategy.

Standing at the height of the Ming royal family, the limited funds must be invested in fundamental resources related to the national economy and people's livelihood.Operating a hotel is really a bad idea when there is no one to take over. Since someone is willing to operate a post station, it is just right for the imperial court to collect guild fees from here to subsidize post stations in loss-making areas.

Zhang Ergou followed Qin Laoer into the inn, recalling the inn he stayed in when he joined the army, he couldn't help but feel the contrast in his heart.The windows are bright and quiet here, and five or seven groups of merchants each occupy a table and eat quietly.The waiter greeted people with a smiling face, and the shopkeeper dialed the abacus at the counter.Settle the accounts.

"The two of you are just eating?" Xiaoer stepped forward and saw Zhang Ergou's military uniform, and added: "This shop can transfer bills."

When Zhang Ergou left Liaodong, he felt that it was too unreliable to withdraw money from other places, and he didn’t know if there was a bank office in his hometown. He had already withdrawn all his savings for the past five years and brought them with him in banknotes.At this moment, he can finally say generously: "I know how to cash. Quickly pick some fresh vegetables, meat, and fish. Take care of it."

That Xiaoer likes to do the sergeant's business the most, knowing that their military pay is generous, not only is he willing to use the money, but the rewards are also generous, so he immediately went down to prepare meals with a low eyebrow and a pleasing eye.

Qin Er chose a small table by the window, which was convenient for the two of them to have a meal.Said: "Born by brother."

"What is a meal worth?" Zhang Ergou said proudly: "My brother has worked hard to drive the car. I will order a pot of wine when I leave."

"That's great!" Qin Er's small eyes narrowed again, seeing that Zhang Ergou couldn't stop looking at the station, even Fang Liang, and asked, "What are you looking at, brother?"

"There's not even a spider web on this beam. The store really put in a lot of effort." Zhang Ergou said.

Qin Er picked out a pair of chopsticks and handed them to Zhang Ergou.Said: "There is a yamen in the imperial court called the General Administration of Health. It is in charge of these matters. If you are caught and failed, you will be rectified if you are light, and you will be fined if you are serious. If the top is so hard, how dare the bottom be lazy."

"That's true." Zhang Ergou said: "I don't know how much money it will cost to open such a store."

"This is not a small family's business." Qin Er guessed that even if Zhang Ergou had money, it was just savings from his military service for several years, and his family would inevitably escape from the small family.Otherwise, where there is a need for a free ride, someone has already been waiting to pick it up.

It happened that Xiao Er came over to pour tea, and said in a low voice: "Money is still a trivial matter, and the court is so tight! The cook's nails are too long to be fined. The distinguished guests say they should clean them, but they don't know that even if they want dirty ones , we can’t do it either.”

Zhang Ergou thinks that his own home is not so clean, and it seems that this business can't be done.

The dishes at the station were fried quickly, and four dishes and one soup were brought up in no time.Zhang Ergou has never eaten such an authentic hometown flavor for many years, and he has a big appetite.Qin's second child is strong and eats a lot.The two of them ate a full three or four catties of rice with these four dishes, and only then did they have a round belly.

The waiter and the shopkeeper were used to seeing customers from all over the world, but it was rare for such a big-bellied man. They thought to themselves: I heard that the post station in Huguang does not charge rice money, only food money. Belly man, don't you eat the whole family?

Just eating and using like this, Zhang Ergou only paid three renminbi when he exchanged banknotes. It can be seen that the price of rice has really been suppressed.

"It's much more expensive than Liaodong." Zhang Ergou shaved his teeth and asked Xiaoer to make wine for the Qin family brother.

Qin Er was shocked: "Is it more expensive than Liaodong?"

It is common sense that things are rare and expensive, and the price of rice is low in places where rice is produced, and the price of cloth is low in places where cloth is produced.If Liaodong is cheaper than Shandong, doesn't that mean that Liaodong's products are more abundant than Shandong.

Zhang Ergou didn't think too much about it, but said: "Five or seven of us went to the wine shop to drink half full, and we asked for half a piece of deer, wild vegetables for free, at most five renminbi, which was less than one renminbi per person."

Qin Er was envious.The price of meat in Shandong is not cheap, and meat is still mainly raised.It is not impossible for ordinary people to eat meat every week, but they can only eat rabbits.As for venison, it sounds like a high-end and high-end stuff.

The two of them rested for a while, and waited for the horse to be brushed and fed. Qin Er watched the man open the carriage, and the count was correct, and then continued on their way to Pingdu.

In the evening, the two still lived in the inn. Although the owners were different, the layout of the entire inn was similar.Qin Er was also embarrassed to let Zhang Ergou spend money, after all, he was buying money with his life.He asked Zhang Ergou to open a room, but he still slept in the bunk.

Zhang Ergou has been isolated from the world for almost five years. He is addicted to listening to outside stories. How can he go to bed by himself?It's not a delicate family.So both of them lived in Tongpu.

This is just a customary name.In fact, there is no such thing as a dozen or so gentlemen crowded into a big kang in the post station now.There is a row of bunk beds next to the fire wall.There are curtains on the bed and bed, and when you pull it up, it is self-contained.The bed was covered with slightly yellowed white sheets, which were spotless, and the quilt was also a white quilt cover, and the cotton inside had a sun-baked scent.

You can buy a bucket of hot water by adding five coins in the store, which is just right for tourists to burn their feet and relieve fatigue.Everyone who travels far knows that on a long journey, you must soak your feet every day, but you cannot wash your face.

Zhang Ergou soaked his feet and slept with Qin Er on two lower beds. He wanted to hear him talk about the changes in his hometown over the years, but unfortunately he fell asleep as soon as his head touched the soft pillow.In fact, Qin Er was tired of talking a long time ago, just when he was relieved, he said in his heart: They look beautiful, they have been imprisoned in the camp for several years, as if they just came down from the mountain...

After thinking about it, the snoring of two people sounded in the shop.

It was a three-day journey from Dengzhou to Pingdu.Because he ate well, rested well, and the horses seemed to work extraordinarily hard, Zhang Ergou visited Pingduzhou City in only two and a half days.The second son of the Qin family wants to deliver cloth to the warehouse here, and then insists on doing something to treat Zhang Ergou to a meal.Zhang Ergou saw that the sky was getting dark, and he didn't have a car to go back to Weixian County, so he could only stay one night before leaving.

The two found an inn in the city. Although it was not as big as the inn they stayed on the way, it was just as clean, which shows that the General Department of Health is indeed quite a deterrent.

There are still 160 miles from Pingduzhou City to Weixian County, but there are buses here.It is also a four-wheeled carriage, and the road is also exquisitely repaired.You still have to stay overnight on the way, a total of two days.When Zhang Ergou arrived in the county, he thought about buying gifts for his parents and brother, and then strode home.

The road from the county town to the village has also become a gravel road, with drainage ditches on both sides.Zhang Ergou knew the road, but he almost couldn't recognize the village.The village that used to have a layer of walls is now exposed on the flat ground, and every household just uses a bamboo fence to surround a yard, which is quite like not picking up things on the road and not closing their doors at night.

Zhang Ergou recalled that he grew up here, and recalled the time when he went to and from school with Wang Yi and Dani, laughing and having fun, the root of his nose couldn't help sore, and his tears couldn't help but flow down.While carrying the gift, he wiped his tears with the heel of his palm, and was slapped several times in the face by the pastry bag.

"Isn't that the second dog of the Zhang family!" Someone in the field recognized Zhang Ergou and shouted loudly.

Zhang Ergou looked up and saw that it was indeed his seventh uncle and grandpa, who greeted him with a busy smile.

Grandpa Qi put down the work at hand, happily went home with Zhang Ergou.This is also a custom in the countryside. Whenever relatives come, they always find various reasons to have fun.Along the way, more and more relatives and old friends joined the ranks to welcome Zhang Ergou, which was even more lively than when Wang Yi came back that day.This has nothing to do with identity, it is purely the popularity accumulated by generations of relatives.

Zhang's parents finally looked forward to their son's return, and Zhang's mother hugged her son tightly and cried loudly, saying things that no one could understand.But Zhang Ergou understood, the old woman who had already given birth to white hair was talking about eating chicken cakes back then.He himself had forgotten, but my wife still remembered.He only said that it was because the puppy was sick, and the family was afraid that the youngest son would die young and was in a bad mood, so they beat and scolded him.

In fact, looking back now, Zhang Ergou couldn't figure out why he would run away in anger after being scolded by his parents a few words, and he was jealous of the little dog.

The Zhang family was busy all afternoon, and Zhang Ergou saw the puppy who had already given birth.Xiaogouzi was only a ten-year-old when he left, but now he is half a child. After finishing his elementary school, he stayed at the carpenter's house in the village as an apprentice.

Zhang Ergou gave his parents his military salary, and kept five taels of money for himself.His father hurriedly bought chickens from the east, and eggs from the west, and made arrangements for dinner at night.Dinners in the countryside are all-inclusive, as long as you have a good relationship, you can eat with a bowl by yourself.The owner welcomes you with a smile and will never turn you away.Even weddings and funerals are like this, and it is rare for someone to send invitations.

But Zhang Ergou's mother said to Ergou: "It's fine if others don't invite you, Uncle Wang, you have to invite it yourself."

"Yes, if the ministers hadn't taken care of me in the army these years, I'm afraid I wouldn't have seen my parents." Zhang Ergou quickly agreed.

The second son of a bitch blushed, after all, she didn't say that she went to Wang's house to make trouble.This was the last time when Wang Yi came back to give gifts, and he talked about the inside story of joining the army, so she knew that it was her son who persuaded Mr. Xiao Wang to run away from home. (To be continued..)

ps: Ask for a recommendation ticket, ask for a monthly ticket~~!