Just when Zhang Xing was eager to make progress but encountered a wall, Dongdu City, which had been closed for many days due to Xia Yu and inspections, quickly came to life, and even burst out with greater vitality because of the brief silence before. .
The streets are full of people, and the streets are busy coming and going.
From the North and South West Markets to Luoshui and then to Wenwenfang, a somewhat prosperous scene is laid out.
Just as Zhang Xing thought when he was in Zhengpingfang, this Eastern Capital City is destined to digest everything.
The reason for this phenomenon is actually very direct. Specifically, this city may be the largest city in the world. It also has the largest consumption power, the most abundant labor force, and the cheapest agricultural products in the world, plus a city that may be the world's largest city. The world's largest established market for handicrafts and luxury goods.
The royal palace, dignitaries, civil servants, and the military enjoy almost the entire world's tax support, and some of them have money. They need luxury goods and human services; and more than one million Dongdu city residents provide the city with sufficient labor force. At the same time, the Luokou warehouse not far away in the east can send the grain and cloth used as taxes at any time along the Luoshui River, and then dump them out at the lowest price.
Once here, we can basically revitalize the city.
But it wasn't over yet. Official requirements from the empire and basic consumer traditions also designated this city as a high-end commercial activity trading area for the entire country.
So after everything is in place, except for military turmoil and administrative orders, it seems that there is really nothing that can prevent the continuation of this prosperity.
"One hundred and forty taels?"
In the Tongtuofang, Zhang Xing looked at the scroll in front of him and was furious for a moment, but then he asked seriously. "Why don't you go and grab it?"
The shopkeeper looked at the embroidery knife on the other party's waist, but luckily he didn't scold him. He just said patiently: "Guardian, you get what you pay for. This is an authentic work by a famous artist from Bai Diye's time. It has been hanging in the shop before. Everyone knows that it has always been two hundred taels, but with the price of silver going up these days, it is already very fair to reach one hundred and forty taels."
"Don't fool me." Zhang Xing shook his head. "If the world is good, calligraphy and painting are naturally expensive. If the world is bad, gold and silver are the only money that counts... Is there any saying that the price of silver will only increase and the price of paintings will not drop?"
The store owner was silent for a moment and then asked: "What do you think is appropriate?"
"Get a half discount." Zhang Xing simply quoted. "I only have a net worth of eighty taels, so I can buy this painting with seventy taels. I also need to collect some other things to give Shangguan a gift."
"The official is joking." The store owner had no choice but to respond. "Seventy taels is too little."
"Seventy two is not a lot." Zhang Xing tried his best to persuade him again. "According to the shopkeeper, this painting has been on display for many years and it's time to turn it into cash."
"If it was raining and arresting people a few days ago, and the official asked me for seventy taels, I would really give it." The shopkeeper shook his head and carefully put away the painting, but smiled slightly. "But now, you can't say you can get through it, right? Wait a minute, one hundred taels is the lowest price."
Zhang Xing shook his head and turned away helplessly, because even he had to admit at this time that the situation seemed to have improved greatly, even to a point that was difficult for him to understand - the influence of his Zhongcheng on the saint far exceeded his. Imagine.
But even so, he still didn't believe that the saint who was so obsessed with personal authority before would live in peace.
Thinking of this, Zhang Xing had already left the store, but he did not try to buy any more calligraphy and paintings. Instead, he honestly searched in several bookstores, bringing with him several novels, poetry collections, unofficial histories, as well as enlightenment copybooks, I put together a small basket of pens, inks, papers, inkstones, and small books, held them in my arms, and walked out of the workshop.
When I came to Tian Street, I saw a red-headed rope seller in the corridor. I got a bad taste again and gave "Yue Niang" two feet of red-headed rope, and then I turned back to Chengfufang.
Unexpectedly, when he arrived at the door of his house, he saw a trolley parked in front of his house, and he couldn't help but become nervous.
However, when I walked up to it, I saw an old cart carrying clean chopped firewood. The cart was not big, and the cart was pulled by an old commoner farmer with a dusty face, so I felt relieved again.
"A man delivering firewood?" Zhang Xing asked out of curiosity, holding a basket of things. "Why are you parked in front of my house?"
The old man was sitting on the ground. After hearing this, he quickly stood up and wanted to explain, but he was obviously speechless. After talking for a long time, Zhang Xing finally realized: "You mean, before it rained, you have been delivering firewood to this house... Now... You call the door but it doesn’t open?”
The old farmer nodded repeatedly.
"Open the door." Zhang Xing turned his head and called into the courtyard.
And the next moment, Yueniang, who was wearing a headscarf, ducked out and reached out to take the basket.
"Do you still have firewood at home?" Zhang Xing asked, standing directly on the threshold with his hands empty.
"Yes, they are all drying in the sun!" Yueniang lowered her head and answered, then carried the things in directly.
On the other side, after hearing this, the old farmer looked helpless, but he had no choice but to get up and prepare to pull the cart away.
"never mind."
Zhang Xing felt a little pity for the old farmer when he saw that he was tired and old. "How much does this truck of firewood cost?"
The old farmer was excited for a moment and hurriedly explained, but his words were really bad. He probably said a lot about the difficult road, being blackmailed when entering the city, and the wet ground making it difficult to save dry firewood, etc. before he quoted the price.
"It used to cost ten yuan a bundle, but now the price has to go up to eleven yuan a bundle?" Zhang Xing probably understood, but seeing that the other party was nervous and worried that he wouldn't buy it, he sighed inwardly.
Obviously, he remembered that he couldn't get seventy taels of silver for a painting just now, and the two horses in his backyard seemed to cost one or two hundred taels of silver, so he couldn't bear it after all, so he nodded directly.
The old farmer became more and more excited and took the initiative to carry firewood into the backyard. In the end, he had eight bundles of dry firewood totaling 88 yuan.
Zhang Xing didn't say much, and only asked Yueniang to count out a hundred wen. He also told the old farmer to deliver firewood every ten days, but he had to have half and half of it, so that he could use the firewood for cooking and the fodder for the yellow gelding.
The old farmer was so grateful that he towed the truck and left.
However, Yueniang came out again immediately:
"How much did the red headband cost?"
"Ten articles." Zhang Xing was startled.
"It's expensive." Yueniang said confidently. "The customary six cents for a two-foot-long piece. They see you as a man and don't know the price, so they deliberately try to trick you."
Zhang Xing nodded without saying a word. He just took a new novel from the table in the main room and sat down in the courtyard to read it.
After a while, Yueniang actually came out again: "Even if you pity the old man who delivers firewood, you shouldn't give him a hundred cents... How many years has the market price of ten cents been, and if it rises to eleven cents, you are already a bad person. The price rises only for those who are short of money.”
Zhang Xing didn't even have time to nod, but just read.
Yueniang was so discouraged that she had no choice but to turn around and go back. First, she brought lunch out honestly, and then went to practice calligraphy alone... It wasn't until the evening, when Qin Bao, who was on duty today, came back that there was a little peace in the courtyard. A little angry.
"By the way, Brother Zhang."
In the main room, Qin Bao had just picked up his rice bowl when he remembered something again and couldn't help but get excited. "Xiao Wu, who was injured in Zhengpingfang, has returned to the team."
"Oh, good thing." Zhang Xing, who was reading and eating, nodded and said the truth.
"The inspection means that everyone worked hard before, but now that everyone is here, we might as well go to Wenwenfang to play together tomorrow night." It seems that because Yue Niang is around, Qin Bao is a little embarrassed to hold the bowl, but after all He didn't hide his excitement. "They all said that they should go to Han Douzhi's home this time... because the inspection seems to have a better relationship with Han Douzhi."
"We have a lot of friendship during our inspection?" Zhang Xing finally showed a little interest, but soon continued to read.
"Third brother, don't you want to go?" Qin Bao felt even more ashamed.
"The book has its own beauty like jade, and the book has its own golden house." Zhang Xing sighed slightly. "I've been enjoying my time recently, and I really don't have much interest in visiting Wenwenfang. However, we're not spending money anyway, and we can't ruin the boss's face. So... go, why not go?"
Yueniang, who was wearing a red headband, raised her head and hesitated to speak. In the end, she could only keep her head down and eat.
The next day, the sky became brighter and brighter, and the gusts of wind swept away the morning mist. Zhang Xing, who was on duty at home, took a new novel to the island early after breakfast, preparing to start reading the novel since the rain. The boring happy life that continues to this day.
But something unexpected happened. On this day, Bai Yousi, who was responsible for assigning tasks, came out of the black tower a little too late.
Moreover, when she came to the crowd, she looked obviously bad.
Several subordinates on duty became nervous early, but Zhang Xing, on the other hand, just lowered his head and read a book, pretending not to know... It can only be said that it is fortunate that it is the third shift now, otherwise Qian Tang, Li Qingchen, Qin Bao and those young people are all here, it would be unavoidable It will appear that Zhang Sanlang is somewhat out of touch with the masses.
"Zhang Xing."
Bai Yousi glanced at several subordinates on duty, and finally landed on Zhang Xing, but the meaning was strange. "Has your sixth channel been opened?"
"It was passed the day before yesterday." Zhang Xing finally closed the book and then raised his head, calmly. "Are you going on a tour?"
"Not bad." Bai Yousi held the sword in his arms and looked at his subordinate seriously. "Guess where?"
"Xidu, Taiyuan, or Yecheng?" Zhang Xing answered seriously. "Chengdu is less likely."
Bai Yousi finally laughed: "How did you guess that?"
"Two days ago, Shi Lang Bai was criticized and died. I guess I was unavoidable and have been waiting for this opportunity." Zhang Xing spoke sincerely. "But that means the inspection can only wait until he comes back to meet that Han Douzhi?"
Bai Yousi took a deep look at the other party and shook his head: "Zhongcheng has ordered us all to go west to capture the fugitive and former Liangzhou manager Han Shixiong!"
Everyone was excited and stood up to salute.
Bai Yousi paused for a moment, but still did not look at his subordinates. Instead, he continued to look at Zhang Xing: "Zhang Sanlang, there are some things I can't say. Please tell me for me."
"Yes." Zhang Xing threw down the book, first held it in his hand, and then looked back proudly. "Everyone is on the same page! The reason is actually very simple. Han Shixiong is the general manager of Liangzhou and the Zhuguo, and his uncle is still in office as the Zhuguo. Although we don't know how to escape, we want to go west to get him back. I'm afraid we have to risk our lives. The only thing that matters is your life and property... On the other hand, if you can't find her back, even if our inspector Bai doesn't save your life, I'm afraid the Bai family will have to pay for it with a general of the Wei family."
"Everyone." Bai Yousi sighed slightly and faced everyone with his sword. "I am the one who has caused trouble for you all this time... If you have young families and have concerns, you may as well stay. I am not demanding." After saying this, the female inspector looked at Zhang Xing again. "But if you are willing to go, you can find Zhang Xing to make a record... and leave at night!"
"Inspection."
After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Xing called out to the other party sincerely. "This time, Naohao, it's just a clean slate for your family. If you dare to go, can you first pay a few dozen taels of housing allowance as a sign?"
"How much?" Bai Yousi pondered for a moment and then nodded immediately. "I'll get the family ready."
"How about thirty taels?" Zhang Xing earnestly reported a number. "can not be less anymore."
PS: Thank you to the new alliance leader, Yukiyoshita, and happy New Year to everyone.
