After Ming Dynasty's Voyage to the West was published in the Capital Newspaper, it immediately caused an uproar.
Compared with the people throughout the Ming Dynasty, the people in the capital were naturally the richest. In the past, those who could live in the capital were basically wealthy families.
Even some poor households have all turned around now.
The current population of the capital is three million. No matter what business you do, you will make a lot of money.
Even the pancakes sold by small vendors have to fry thousands of them a day.
If it doesn’t finish frying, it won’t finish frying at all.
From the opening in the morning to the closing of the stall, there is no rest at all. Basically, the whole family takes turns working at the stall.
Pancakes costing ten cents a piece, at least three thousand are made a day. This is an income of three guan of treasure money, and a monthly income of nearly 100 guan of treasure money.
Just a pancake vendor, with such a high revenue, you can imagine what the capital has become now.
This is the current demographic dividend of the capital, allowing a large number of people to rise rapidly.
Of course, the stalls also have to pay management fees, but the fee of a few guan of treasure money a month really has no impact at all. There are not enough stalls now, and many places are prohibited from setting up stalls. Only in prescribed places can this be done.
These days, it’s not just about setting up stalls wherever you want. The Department of Public Security has strict requirements. Anyone who sets up stalls at will will not only have everything confiscated, but also pay a fine.
"Old Li Tou, are you crazy? If you don't make good pancakes, why do you want to go overseas?"
In the alley, his wife Zhang exclaimed, feeling extremely unbelievable that her man wanted to sign up to sail to the West.
Life is so easy now.
Relying on the stall that was allocated previously, I can earn a few guan of money from selling pancakes every day. This does not feel like an off-season in the capital.
What a wonderful life, the first three sons and two daughters in the family.
They take turns helping to make pancakes every day, so the couple doesn't have to do much because their children are there to take care of them.
Of course, part of the salary will also be given. After all, the youngest son is already over ten years old.
But I didn't expect that Lao Li was crazy and wanted to go to the Western Ocean with him.
"Female, you know what? This is a major event that can be recorded in history. I'm not here yet, and I don't know if the officials will let me go with the ship."
"If I can go with the ship, my pancakes can be sold overseas. Nanyang, the West, do you know where that is? Do you know how many countries there are? If I can sell the pancakes like this, good guys, let's Isn’t it that Li’s pancakes are famous?”
Old Li Tou was still a bit scolding at first, but as he spoke, his tone became flattering.
Zhang didn't understand: "What's wrong with my wife? I don't know what you are talking about about the West and Southeast Asia. I know that we are living a good life now. We don't have to worry about food and clothing every day. How did I ever think about it?" Days like these."
"This trip to the West, I heard that it took several years to go back and forth. This matter on the sea has been reported in the Ming Dynasty. Who knows what the situation is outside? Didn't the newspaper also say that there are wars everywhere in the world, only Our Ming Dynasty is safe."
"Can't you put away those messy thoughts and stay at home with peace of mind? You have to go overseas."
At this point, Mrs. Zhang suddenly paused, remembering some rumors she had heard before, and cried angrily and aggrievedly: "You old Litou, I assume it is the reason, it must be the previous incident about overseas women."
"It turns out that you want to find a concubine overseas. I am not good enough for you. Now that you have some money, you just want to give up."
"Sons, take a good look at dad, he is going to abandon us..."
This cry and shouting immediately attracted crowds of neighbors, and even many passers-by stopped to watch the excitement.
The second son was outside cooking pancakes, and the eldest son and third son rushed out to ask about the situation.
When Lao Litou saw this fight, he felt unhappy. He immediately pushed the door open and disappeared into the crowd.
Mrs. Zhang then cried and told her sons what had happened.
The eldest son frowned and said, "Mom, it's not because I'm looking at overseas concubines in Shanghai. It's ridiculous. Besides, everyone in the West is crowded right now, so it's not like dad can just go there if he wants to."
"It would be a good thing if you really have the qualifications to accompany the ship. Although you are away from home, you are with the officers and soldiers. No one in the world dares to provoke our Ming Dynasty. It is very safe."
"Dad has been making pancakes all his life, and his skills are better than grandpa's. Even if the official eats them, he agrees, so maybe he really has a chance to be selected."
Mrs. Zhang didn't expect that her beloved eldest son would be his father-in-law, and she started to cry even more aggrievedly.
Seeing his mother's condition, the eldest son knew that she couldn't explain the truth, so he could only rush to comfort her.
Over there, Old Li Tou quickly arrived at the small teahouse.
The small teahouse was really small, but it was also full of people. Old Li Tou squeezed his way to the table by the left window in a familiar manner.
"Old Li Tou, you're finally here. A local official came over earlier and said that you, Old Li Tou, are the most likely to be selected."
"It is said that His Majesty ate the pancakes made by your father when he was in the capital for a private visit in the capital a few years ago, and even said hello to them."
"You have to invite me for the tea today."
Seeing Lao Li coming over, an old acquaintance immediately spoke with envy.
Old Li Tou looked at him suspiciously: "You old pockmarked Zhang, don't trick me into treating you."
Zhang Lao Mazi didn't have any skills, so he rented out a few houses left by his ancestors. As the market in the capital continues to rise, he can actually earn more than ten guan of gold in rent a month.
I gave birth to two daughters before and a son just last year. I don’t have anything to do on weekdays, but this small teahouse is a regular customer.
I just searched very hard, and always thought of ways to get others to pay for it.
Someone next to him said to him: "Old Litou, this time Mr. Zhang Mazi didn't fool anyone. It was really the official who said it himself. Just half a stick of incense, everyone heard it. That is to say, he mentioned you, and no one else said anything." .”
Old Li Tou looked at the people around him and nodded, and he believed it at that time, but he said a little unhappy: "The woman at home does not agree with me to go to the West, saying that she is afraid that I will find a concubine overseas."
"Can you please tell me what kind of person I am?"
Hearing this, Lao Mazi Zhang laughed loudly: "You, Lao Li Tou, are just like that. I don't know who said here yesterday that I would buy a few Silla maids to come back and serve them, so that I can also enjoy the blessings of the landlord."
Silla maids were maids located in what is now Goryeo during the Tang Dynasty. Because of the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and Silla, many Silla maids were adopted by wealthy people in the Tang Dynasty.
They are well-behaved, obedient, outstanding in appearance and extremely capable. They are very popular among the nobles of Li and Tang Dynasties, and they also make Silla maids very famous.
Naturally, the Silla Kingdom has long since disappeared. The Silla maidservants mentioned today generally refer to well-behaved and obedient maidservants outside the Ming Dynasty.
"Nonsense. I didn't mean to look for it for myself. I looked for it for my sons. In today's world, we can't even afford betrothal gifts, so we have to find a way from outside."
"Lao Mazi Zhang's daughter got married some time ago and asked for a dowry gift of 300 guan. Now every family is asking for 180 guan. It really scares me to death."
"The overseas maidservants are only twenty or thirty, and their appearance and temperament are not bad at all. They are also very obedient as daughters-in-law."
Old Li Tou retorted.
After hearing this, some people feel that buying a daughter-in-law is really a good choice.
The capital is developing rapidly, and many people want to register as residents in the capital.
According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, in addition to changing local household registration, excluding official positions, and moving, the only way is to get married, especially in the capital, which is strictly controlled.
Not to mention anything else, as long as you have registered as a household in the capital, studying in the school is free, and you don't have to worry about food and drink. It is equivalent to the government helping to raise children.
There is also a lot of free medical treatment, and it basically doesn’t cost much to see a doctor.
The most important thing is that there are many opportunities to make money.
Even if you just do a casual job, the income is very considerable.
Housing is scarce in the capital, and now even if you don’t have a household registration in the capital, you are not eligible to buy a house.
A large number of foreign businessmen in the capital can only rent.
This also led to many foreign businessmen who wanted to settle in the capital. The quickest way was to marry a woman with a registered permanent residence in the capital.
There are requirements here, it must be a wife, and concubinage is not within the scope of changing household registration.
In the wedding market, when the demand increases, the natural price increase will be astonishing.
The betrothal gift is almost one price per day.
But not everyone expects Lao Li to earn so much in the first month. Most people still earn around 20 to 30 yuan.
Lao Li didn't want to be taken advantage of, so he thought of simply buying his daughter-in-law.
"Not to mention, this is really a way out. I'm still worried about my son's marriage. According to what Lao Litou said, the two sons together may not even have fifty ounces."
"Where can I get fifty guan? You don't know, that Yaren can get it with just a few guan, and it changes hands with twenty guan. This business is really profitable."
"There must be a way. There is no way. If you spend money to buy it, it is illegal. The fine may be hundreds of pounds. It is better to follow the formal way honestly and have no worries."
Everyone immediately began to chatter. These days, the country is peaceful and the people are safe. Those who can drink tea in this small tea house basically still have some family property transactions. They say that they don’t have big money, but they are not short of small money.
They are all in their forties or fifties, and every household has many children in response to the government's call. Naturally, marriage is a common practice.
Suddenly someone mysteriously said: "Silla Maid, all the Bodhisattvas are well-known, but the Kunlun slave is the most mysterious. I don't know what it is like."
It was recorded in the Tang Dynasty that Kunlun slaves had fingers like ten sticks of ink, ears like two spoons, curly hair and a black body, and a strong and energetic temperament.
The wealthy and idle people are the most curious. Black feels very exciting and is rare in the Ming Dynasty.
This statement immediately aroused the curiosity of many people.
But then someone snorted and said, "On weekdays, just read more if you have nothing to do. The newspaper has already mentioned this Kunlun slave. They live in the far west, where the sun is like fire, which is why they have such black skin."
"The most important thing is that this Kunlun slave has many diseases, some of which we have never seen before in the Ming Dynasty. If he catches it, it will be over for the rest of his life."
"It is forbidden to buy or sell Kunlun slaves in Qiya shop, but it was found that they were guilty of the same crime and were sentenced to at least ten years of hard labor."
This news made everyone's hearts suddenly go dark. No one wanted to be forced into hard labor because of curiosity. This life would be ruined.
At this time, a man in official uniform walked in. He was the official of this neighborhood, roughly similar to the street cadres of later generations.
"Old Li Tou, I knew you were here. The news came down from above. You have been selected for the voyage to the West. This is a great event. You must be the one to pay for today's purchase."
The official said with a smile.
The fact that someone from this community is chosen is a sign of political achievement for other officials, which is naturally a good thing.
Lao Litou didn't expect that he could actually be selected. He said at a loss: "Master Fangguan, my mother-in-law seems to disagree. I don't know what to do."
Old Li Tou still cared about his mother-in-law very much. Even though he said that, he actually felt very distressed in his heart.
In the beginning, we all walked together slowly and hand in hand. The days going forward were not easy. We have only lived a good life for two or three years. Lao Litou is not a person who forgets his roots.
As for the pancake stall, he couldn't support it alone.
"Others are rushing to get in, but it's good for you to have the thought to push it out."
"But I can tell you that the Western Ocean is a major matter for the imperial court, and there is no room for error in anything. It is all voluntary to sign up, and no one is forcing you. Now that you have been selected, you can say no. This is deceiving the imperial court. Go up to the peak. If you are blamed, you will regret it when the time comes."
The official snorted coldly and said in an indifferent tone.
At this time, Old Li was frightened and his forehead
Cold sweat breaks out on my face: "I'm going, I'm going, sir, don't worry, I will definitely go."
If you commit a crime, you will be a criminal.
Not to mention anything else, the qualifications for that stall might be taken away, and there would be problems with the business. A whole family would need to be fed by this pancake stall.
When the official saw Old Li Tou's frightened look and the neighbors looking up, he comforted him: "There is a notice in the government to support good craftsmen like you to create brand awareness. This voyage to the West is to promote it." A good opportunity for our Ming Dynasty gourmet food."
"I don't know what a blessing it is to be selected. Do you think that pancakes belong to your family? If it weren't for the fact that His Majesty has eaten pancakes from your family, how could it be your turn?"
"A place as a follower in the Chamber of Commerce has already been sold for three hundred guan. It's still priceless, so just be content with it. According to the rules, you can bring two people with you to help."
Having said this, the official looked at the people around him who were about to make a move and warned: "Don't make any crooked ideas. The superiors are going to investigate strictly. If you don't know this craft and get caught, you will have to bear the consequences. So will Old Li." Sit down and follow."
Everyone then stopped and suppressed the little thoughts in their hearts.
The brand effect is Zhu Ying's current support for small workshops, especially in the food field.
The Ming Dynasty seems to be peaceful now, but in fact, class contradictions are getting stronger and stronger, and the gap between the rich and the poor is also getting wider and wider.
This is a fundamental social contradiction that is almost impossible to eliminate. Even in later generations, it will still exist. Zhu Ying does not have this ability.
The only thing that can be done is, first of all, to transfer social conflicts and transfer the conflicts of the Ming Dynasty overseas as much as possible.
For example, the marriage problem is solved through the introduction of women from overseas.
Let the people at the bottom see more opportunities for advancement, just like a small workshop like Lao Li Tou, which can definitely develop even bigger.
This area needs guidance and support.
If there are more opportunities at the bottom, conflicts will naturally become peaceful.
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