The Legend of Martial Arts: the Strongest Handyman

In the urban system of the Ming Dynasty, the service level of Qixia Town was at the low end, which was far from that of the big towns, which probably had an important relationship with its distance from official roads.

Before Qin Feng and Lao Bai went to the official road to pull people, they had to take an ox cart to go there, and in the end they just pulled back a few Jin Yiwei.

Near Qixia Town, the largest commercial town in the county should be Shibalipu; while Zuojiazhuang's service level is at least not lower than Qixia Town, it should be a town between Qixia Town and Shibalipu However, Qixia Town is the seat of the county seat.

The commercial function replaced the political function as the main function of the city, which is a major change in the cities of the Celestial Dynasty after the Song Dynasty. By the late Ming Dynasty, the business was unprecedentedly prosperous. This phenomenon is particularly significant. Especially in the south, a number of large commercial towns have emerged. The location has turned pale.In the north, where commerce is relatively backward, a similar situation has also occurred in this county. The administrative center and the commercial center are completely separated, which shows that the county’s industry and commerce have its own unique strengths, and Shibalipu is even more popular in the commercial towns in this prefecture and even the province. Not trivial.

As the seat of the county seat, Qixia Town has a city wall and is a real "city". For example, starting in the [-]th year of Wanli, the county government stipulated that swill carts were not allowed to enter the city.It can be imagined that the city is very small, with only a few streets in the east, west, north and south of the lamp market. The buildings are mainly two-story wooden houses and brick houses.Qixia Town can undertake the trading function of daily necessities and other general commodities. There is a rich vegetable market in this town. Grain, rice, salt, general clothing, daily necessities, etc. can be purchased in this town.

At the same time, the town also has shops and facilities with higher service levels, such as medical halls, pawnshops, and bookstores.

These are things Qin Feng guessed later.

From the observation of the guests of Tongfu Inn on weekdays, even if the business of this town is not developed, it has a considerable scale. There are a lot of merchants, and clothing made of silk is more common.

But at the same time, most of the businessmen with such assets can only spend in ordinary restaurants such as Tongfu Inn, which also shows that Qixia Town is not developed in the catering service industry.But even under these circumstances, the level of service in this town is still extremely limited.

When Tong Xiangyu, Guo Furong and others want to buy rouge and other consumer goods, they have to go to Shibalipu when they hire New Year's acrobats and New Year's goods. From the descriptions of the shop assistants, it can be known that Shibalipu is far better than Shibalipu. Seven Heroes Town is more prosperous.

For necessary travel, within a short distance (such as to Shibalipu), walking is the main way. Judging from the many attempts to travel long distances in the store, hiring a car has become very common in the civil transportation industry at this time. At that time, people's primary consideration for long-distance travel, which shows the development of the rental car industry.

Most of the hired vehicles in Qixia Town were horse-drawn carts, but at this time, ox carts were also popular in the north. Later, when Mo Xiaobei wanted to go to Huashan to discuss swords, he was suggested to ride a donkey. Donkeys and cows were the main riding tools in the late Ming Dynasty. , horses are difficult for ordinary people to afford.

In the Ming Dynasty, the publishing industry was developed, and the publishing market was broad, especially popular books for middle and lower class citizens became the mainstream of the market.The bookstore on the West Street of Qixia Town can not only buy traditional classics such as the Four Books and Five Classics, but also the "Rouge Collection", "Guide to the Good Helper", "Soul Duck Soup" and other books for ordinary citizens and even women. Popular books with obvious sexuality show the strength of popular books in the book market of the late Ming Dynasty.

Bai Zhantang created and signed Zhan Hongling's "Guide to Anti-Theft", a copy of which is available to aspiring hunters in China, which shows the popularity of practical oriented books.

The book market is characterized by a high degree of commercialization not only in publishing but also in creation.

Lu Qinghou wrote novels in his leisure time. Because of its high readability, it was easy to find booksellers to discuss publishing matters, and the booksellers would ask the authors to make relevant modifications according to the popular tastes of readers according to their purely entertaining characteristics. It can be seen that The book market has formed a strict system from creation, publication, feedback to re-creation.

As for festival customs, only the grand occasion of the Spring Festival can be seen in the play. When making up for the Spring Festival, Guo Furong pasted peach amulet on the door of the inn to congratulate each other on the festival. This is the etiquette that continues to this day.

In addition, there are many kinds of acrobatics dedicated to the Spring Festival, such as walking on stilts, dragon and lion dance, etc.

In fact, acrobatics were already quite popular at that time, and it did not have to be limited to festivals. Skills such as crushing boulders on the chest and stone locks were already commonplace.

In addition, the main entertainment activities include drama and storytelling.

Bai Zhantang once carried out storytelling activities in Tongfu Inn, and asked for a refund because of the "Three Kingdoms", "Water Margin" and so on, which showed the popularity of storytelling at that time.

Storytelling should be accompanied by gavel, and the more novel the story, the better, not only the Three Kingdoms Water Margin, Sui and Tang Romance, but also contemporary legends such as "Three Words and Two Beats" are also popular.Opera was extremely prosperous in the Ming Dynasty. The change of concept, the scarcity of official positions, and the improvement of cultural level allowed scholars and officials to participate in the cause of opera, constantly improving the level of opera, and leading the society to pursue the style of opera.

For a small town like Qixia Town, the Yi Wine House in the town did not hesitate to pay a high price of 50 taels to invite Hu Shi Niang to sit on the stage, which shows that the love of opera has swept the whole country.Along with opera, vulgar music has become more and more important in music, and vulgar music also occupies the mainstream in wedding and funeral ceremonies. Before entering the business, Yan Xiaoliu, the head of Qixia Town, was a suona player in the countryside to send funerals to people.

Gambling, this illegal practice has its place in entertainment.At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, gambling was routinely banned, and even the punishment of beheading was imposed. However, in the late Ming Dynasty, the legal network was relaxed, and gambling was popular in the north and south of the Yangtze River. In terms of form, when Qin Feng and Bai Zhantang gambled with Li Dazui's mother and son, the gambling methods that appeared included double land, horse tag (namely Mahjong), Sic Bo, and Bai Zhantang also mentioned leaves, Pai Gow and so on.

There are not a few people like Bai Zhantang who lost and cut off their fingers and Xuanyuan. Nine thousand-year-old Wei Zhongxian was an enthusiastic gambling enthusiast when he was young. He exported all his daughters. Ming Dynasty has become an entertainment shared by the refined and the common people. People in all corners of the world love wine. Drinking must be done without a drinking order. In fact, the implementation of the drinking order is a more elegant thing. The folks often use the pot throwing, dice rolling, or games such as throwing the pot to combine the drinking order.

The wine order is a game of words, and he values ​​the knowledge in a person's stomach very much. Lu Xiucai, who is not good at learning, wanted to kill Han Juan's majesty with poetry, but he was killed when he reached the vulgar "brain teaser". Keep.As a service industry with a mixed flow of people, the inn was the concentrated expression of folk etiquette in this period.

The most common way of salute is to clasp fists and hands, which is most common when meeting people in the inn and some heroes.

Bending down and bowing goes a step further. This kind of etiquette today is still popular in the late Ming Dynasty. In the face of the distinguished guest Hu Shi Niang, all the staff in the store nodded.However, the ethos of Shilin still calling "old" affects the people, and they are proud to be called "old", such as Lao Xing, Lao Qian, Lao Yue, etc., all of them are wealthy businessmen, officials, heroes and so on.

Since the flow of people is mixed and the mud and sand are falling, some "bad guys" from various industries often appear in the inn.

Among them, the most common swindlers, such as the fortune-telling Baimei who promoted Xiao Guo Xiucai, Hong Shenzhu who taught Li Dazui to "subdue the dragon with ten slaps", and Ma Zhuozi who deceived Han Juan into having supernatural powers.With the influx of a large number of rural people into the city, the phenomenon of "homeless" was very prominent in the late Ming Dynasty. These floating people who could not find a job for a while could only make a living by cheating and abducting them. The cheat guide is called "Du Cheat New Book".

Even so, the myriad of deceitful tricks are hard to discern and often suffer.At the same time as verbal deception, counterfeiting and shoddy commodities flourished, which was pervasive in the whole society in the late Ming Dynasty.The profiteers can counterfeit any utensils, from daily necessities to ancient books and antiques.

The antique vases of all sizes in Tongfu Inn are all counterfeit, and everyone in the inn has to ask Bai Zhantang to judge the authenticity of the brands of ordinary officials. It can be seen how serious the counterfeiting is at this time, and people should always be careful .There is also a professional thug in the play, the "green hand" of "Dahang". Jiang Xiaodao, who intends to beat Yan Xiaoliu because of Lu Qinghou's finger, is one of them.

Daxing is an organization of professional thugs. Among them, Qingshou takes money and money to help people eliminate disasters, and customers will beat whomever they ask, usually for revenge.Daxing originated in the south of the Yangtze River and became popular throughout the country at the end of the Ming Dynasty. Among them, there are many rules and strict systems, and there is a complete set of rules for beating people. Among the thugs, most of them are idle and evil, like Jiang Xiaodao, who are willing to be thugs to bury their masters. There are very few households.

Affected by this big environment, Lao Xing's attitude towards the chicken king competition raised by Qin Feng and Lao Bai was very vague. After Lou Zhixian made a decision, he directly turned to support, which also showed his attitude. .

Chapter 157

At noon, Tongfu Inn had gathered a large number of people who were ready for the afternoon cockfight, although this time the comparison made it clear that it was not called the so-called cockfighting competition, but the chicken king competition.

But in the minds of these shopkeepers and sponsors, this is just a cockfighting contest.

Although the court sometimes explicitly forbids such behaviors, but because of the development of the commodity economy, this trend of entertainment is still irresistible.

Bai Zhantang clicked his tongue and said, "It's terrible. In less than half an hour, more than [-] chickens have been sold out. The chicken king is competing for hegemony. Who came up with this idea, the golden idea?~!"

Lu Xiucai took advantage of the situation to pick up the words: "Besides, they are all sold at the original price! If we mention the price, then it will be a profit!"

Qin Feng just smiled slightly and didn't interrupt.

Li Dazui quit: "If I knew this earlier, we might as well sell it for fifty cents."

"I'll sell a chicken that's all roasted and sold for about the same price!"

Xiao Guo sat in the chair and laughed at this moment: "Fifty wen, don't tease big brother! Because Qin Feng's reward is too high, go out and see now, the black market is priced at [-] wen."

Tong Xiangyu was immediately stunned, how could there be a black market for selling chickens?

"The total value of our prizes has exceeded 300 taels now, plus the inscription written by Lou Zhixian, plus three days of free accommodation here, who doesn't want it, who doesn't want it?"

"If it weren't for the fact that I am the host of the competition, I would definitely participate in this competition!"

The old man clicked his tongue regretfully, "Oh, it's all to blame for the rules Qin Feng made at the beginning! The conference specifically stipulates that chicken sellers are not eligible to participate."

Qin Feng is very calm: "It's not that you don't have this money. After a few days, the wages will be calculated as commissions. You should have a lot."

Mo Xiaobei was a little jealous when he heard this: "Can you buy me a bunch of candied haws to eat at that time!"

"no problem!"

"Don't worry, Xiaobei, when the wages are paid, I'll be the first to buy you candied haws."

Xiao Guo laughed. Qin Feng's reward performance was much more than the first two coins. She could spend many years less at Tongfu Inn.

As soon as Xiaobei heard this, he immediately flew up with joy, it is better to eat candied haws than anything else!

At this time, Qin Feng coughed lightly, indicating that everyone should stop chatting: "This competition is about to start, take advantage of this time, let me say a few words. The competition will start in the afternoon, what about you guys? Hurry up and tell the planners, so that you can save each other's shirk."

Lu Xiucai rushed forward and said, "The shopkeeper Wei of Hanyuanzhai asked me to say hello. Please help take care of his chicken."

Qin Feng nodded: "I'm measured, who else?"

Xiao Guo came up and said with a smile: "There is also the shopkeeper Liu of Rouge Shop, that's what it means."

Although Li Dazui did not attract many people, he was very real.

"Well, the cashier of the pawnshop, let me say hello to him too."

Qin Feng nodded: "Don't worry, as long as you have sponsored, it doesn't matter how much, my brother knows it."

Tong Xiangyu was forced to listen to these words at this moment, and didn't know what was going on.

He looked at Lao Bai and asked, "Is there a number? What number is there, Lao Bai, why can't Qin Feng understand what he said now?"

Lao Bai was obviously also on Qin Feng's side, and said directly: "Qin Feng and I will be in charge of the competition, and you, just take care of the things in the store. Leave it alone."

Tong Xiangyu glared at once: "What do you mean, I am also the initiator of this event, why don't you let me know what you are doing! This event was initiated by me, why don't you let me control it? Threatening people? What are you doing here!"

Qin Feng didn't care about Tong Xiangyu here, just waved at the big guy: "Well, pull a piece of white cloth, set up a table, make a brand and go dry."

After lunch, the chicken king competition here officially begins!

Qin Feng, as the main organizer, did not intend to play, so Lao Bai and Xiao Guo, the two most performative people, acted as hosts.

・・・・Seeking flowers・・・

Bai Zhantang stood in the middle with the effect: "Everyone."

Guo Furong immediately picked up the words: "Everyone."

Bai and Guo: "Good afternoon everyone!"

The audience suddenly cheered, and a group of people were eagerly waiting for the chicken king competition to start. After all, they could get fifty taels of silver by then!

"Welcome everyone to Tongfu Inn to participate in the first chicken king competition!"

"The vast sky gave birth to our history and civilization."

"As time goes by, our hard work and kindness have been created."

"Under this clear sky, we chant and sing."

"In this vast land, we soar freely."

 …  

The opening remarks of the two of them were over, and Xiao Guo continued: "I have invited the special guest of this competition to make a speech and applaud again."

Xing Yusen bowed his hands to Qin Feng and jumped directly onto the stage.

"First of all, I'm here to speak for the magistrate of Lou. He couldn't get to the scene in time because of his busy business, so he entrusted me, and through me, expressed his sincere apologies to the organizing committee."

There was still applause from the audience.

"I wish everyone here, no, everyone is serious... Be serious! Every player achieves great results. I hope everyone will show their style and level in the competition, and the most important thing is , show demeanor. Don't defecate anywhere, otherwise the scene will be difficult to clean up."

Xing Yusen went on to say: "Whoever dares to fight in the competition, or who tries to fight, will be killed without mercy!"

Immediately afterwards, the official sword lit up, and the scene suddenly quieted down.

Then he smiled: "I'm talking about chicken."

"Applause Lao Xing!"

"I announce that the first Chicken King Championship is now open!"

Guo Furong immediately continued: "First of all, let's invite the No. [-] chicken. The No. [-] chicken will be chosen by the shopkeeper of the Rouge Shop on West Street."

"I want chicken number one please!"

Shopkeeper Liu brought his own chicken to the stage excitedly, and the jury was full of joy.

After so long, it's finally here!thousand.

Chapter 158