"Huh huh! Think about it! We people don't have much money in our hands to begin with, and this year's floods have caused almost no food production. We don't know how we will provide food and drink next year. Who would dare to do that with the little money left in our hands? Flowers!”
"It's good to have some extra money on hand. People like us, whose family is already thin, rely on the annual food in exchange for money. Now that the food is gone, we don't know how long we can survive!"
The sighing young man waved his hand again, telling them to quickly give up the idea of doing business here.
Ying Zheng, Zhang Han, Wang Ben and others looked at each other, as if they didn't believe it!
It's just a reduction in production. Is it as miserable as you say?
"You really don't believe it! If people don't have money, who will go to restaurants? Who will make clothes? That means spending two cents a day to buy a newspaper and read it! So! I advise you, don't do this It’s a waste of time, quickly turn around and go to another county!”
The young man seemed to have seen through his thoughts through the expressions of several people, and started to persuade again.
"Brother, don't worry, we are salt merchants, in the salt business!"
Ying Feiyu showed a naughty smile and said to the young man.
"Salt business? Hmm! This business! Now this is the only one that is still somewhat marketable!"
Seeing his innocent and cute face and these words, the young man nodded in agreement and gave a thumbs up.
Salt is indispensable for people every day. Eat salt under any circumstances!
Even if business in the city is sluggish and restaurants are closed, people still have to buy salt!
"Young man, don't worry, the court will not ignore the natural disasters in Kuaiji County!"
Before leaving, Ying Zheng said earnestly.
"Alas! Who knows, in our place, the mountains are high and the emperor is far away!"
However, the young man shook his head, as if he didn't believe it.
The emperor only had one pair of hands and one pair of eyes, so there was so little he could see and take care of!
Moreover, he could only know many things by relying on reports from his subordinates.
If the person below conceals, omits or fails to report, then he doesn’t know anything and thinks the world is peaceful!
But he didn't think much about it. He just thought about how to tell his bedridden father after he went back!
If dad knew that the water in the fields hadn't dropped yet, he would probably get angry again and his condition would become serious again!
…
Ying Zheng, Ying Feiyu, Wang Ben and others walked all the way, which delayed a lot of time.
After entering the city, it was already past Chen hour.
Everyone's stomachs began to growl, and they planned to find a restaurant to eat two bowls of noodles and see if they could hear any other news!
However, they walked several streets and failed to find an open restaurant.
I had no choice but to ask the local people.
After asking about it, I found out that, just like what the young man I met outside the city said, the business in the city was sluggish. For seven or eight days, I couldn't find anyone who came to eat at my door, and I had to pay the waiter's wages. So the shopkeepers simply closed their shops and waited for the time to come. We'll open the door again when things get better!
"So, we have to go hungry?"
After hearing the news, the veterans were really anxious.
I didn't eat well on the ship these two days, and when I finally landed, I had nothing to eat!
"That's not the case. If you go a little further and turn left, there is a small tea stall on the street. They sell some small cakes and they taste pretty good! Since the business is small, the old couple can run it and don't have to pay anything. The cost, the years, and many repeat customers every day, so I’m still doing it now!”
The people stretched out their hands and enthusiastically showed them the way.
"Okay, thank you!"
The old guys thanked me profusely.
When you are hungry, let alone pastries, even steamed buns are more delicious than big fish and meat!
"Your Majesty, you also heard that this place is in such a situation now, you can only make do with it, wait until we get to the Yamen, and then cook something delicious!"
Zhang Han bowed and said to Ying Zheng with a smile on his face.
"Um!"
Ying Zheng didn't say much, he just responded and walked in the direction pointed by the people just now.
Sure enough, after turning the corner, everyone found the small tea stall.
On an empty street, all the shops were closed, but this stall was still in business.
Next to it is a jujube tree, with three small low tables placed under the tree for people to drink tea and eat snacks!
"How many guests, would you like to have tea?"
The veterans went straight to the tea stall, and an old man with gray beard greeted them warmly.
"Yeah! A few plates of snacks and two pots of tea!"
After everyone was seated, Zhang Han continued his explanation.
"Okay! Wait a moment, sir!"
The old man responded simply and went to do it quickly.
Ying Zheng and the veterans began to look at the entire street and this small tea stall!
"Looking at how wide the street is, I guess this place must have been very prosperous in the past!"
Ying Zheng couldn't help but said with emotion.
"Ouch! Your Majesty, you have such good eyesight...!"
As soon as Ying Zheng finished speaking, and before anyone else could answer, the old man came over with two pots of hot tea, "Sir, our street used to be the busiest, with busy traffic and constant flow every day. ! There are more than a dozen restaurants, large and small! But look at it now, everyone is closed, and only my wife and I are left!"
When he said this, the old man looked very helpless and missed the lively scenes of the past.
"Is it because of the flood?"
"No! With the continuous rain, this year's harvest is definitely out of the question. Who dares to spend money randomly? If people don't spend money, business in the city will be impossible, and everyone will close down one after another!"
The old man nodded repeatedly.
"I heard that there was a flood in Nanzhou City, do you know?"
While the old man was pouring tea into everyone's bowls, Ying Zheng asked pretending to be confused.
"I know, how can I not know about such a big thing...?"
The old man held a teapot and poured tea for everyone steadily, and then said vividly: "Nanzhou City is not far from us, and many victims came to seek refuge with relatives! I heard that the dyke burst at night, and everyone still In the dream, the flood burst through the window in an instant, it was terrifying!"
"But what else do you know?"
Ying Zheng asked seriously.
"I heard that the two villages closest to the embankment were directly submerged. Few people were alive. Even those downstream were severely affected. Fortunately, they were able to save their lives! All the valuables in the house were washed away. , I don’t know where the food went, and many people ran out without even bothering to put on their clothes, it’s really pitiful!”
The old man shook his head and sighed as he spoke.
At this moment, the old woman came over with several plates of snacks and put them on the table, "Everyone, eat slowly!"
“What measures can officials take after a disaster?”
Ying Zheng picked up a piece of pastry and put it in his mouth, and continued to ask.
"What measures can be taken? I heard that the county magistrate of Nanzhou City was a gangster before. He bought this official with ill-gotten wealth. After something like this happens, what else can he do except report it?"
The old man seemed very angry when he mentioned local officials.
"Huh! You still reported it? I heard that after the flood happened, someone sent news to the Yamen, but he felt that it disturbed his sleep, and ordered people to beat the person who brought the news dozens of times, while he screamed loudly Sleep until the next morning, then send someone to send a message to the county guard!"
Hearing them talking about the flood in Nanzhou, the old woman couldn't help but interjected.
