Jinling, outside Taipingmen.
Butcher Wang greeted the passers-by, but even if they were in a hurry, few people would stop. Looking at the half fan of pork on the chopping board, I felt even more worried.
This pork is from yesterday and is already stale. If it is left for another day, it will be even stale.
Fortunately, it's winter now and the weather has turned cooler. If it were left in summer, wouldn't it stink?
But life is getting more and more difficult. There are fewer and fewer people buying pork here. The Ministry of Punishment is not far away. You should eat some meat...
"Butcher Wang, we haven't confiscated the stall yet."
Hu Dashan came over, laughing and joking.
When Butcher Wang saw it was Hu Dashan, he picked up the butcher knife, raised the knife with his hand, cut off two kilograms of pork, wrapped it in banana leaves, tied it with a rope, and handed it to Hu Dashan: "Business is hard to do, so I'll give it to you."
Hu Dashan was not polite. He took the pork but did not leave. Instead, he pulled a stool aside and sat down. He asked, "You have been a butcher for seven or eight years, right?"
Butcher Wang nodded: "More than nine years."
Hu Dashan looked at the people passing by and said slowly: "It's hard to do business in Jinling, and it's even harder to do business in Taipingmen. You know, the imperial court strictly enforces economy, and officials from the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple always have to show off. As for the Prisoners, hehe, they all say that after autumn, it is already winter, no one will come to buy the last meal, and pork is not easy to sell here."
Butcher Wang nodded gloomily and looked at Hu Dashan: "Aren't you here to buy pork?"
Hu Dashan nodded slightly: "When I first entered Jinling, you saw me in poverty, wearing straw shoes and cloth, and you kindly gave me a bowl of meat. I remember this kindness in my heart and will never forget it. Today, I am here to repay your kindness. Yes, Butcher Hu, have you ever thought about leaving Jinling and changing places?"
Butcher Wang waved his hand: "How many times have you taken care of my business over the years? Don't mention the matter of repaying your kindness. As for leaving Jinling, haha, I am a rough man. What can I do if I leave Jinling? There are old people, wives and children at home. My children are all supported by me. There is still some business here, but once I leave, how will my family survive?"
Hu Dashan knew Butcher Wang's worries. Every place has its own rules. If the butcher at Taipingmen wanted to go to Hongwumen to sell pork, he would probably be driven away.
"There is a place where you can sell your pork without worrying about selling it, and you can also have the opportunity to show off your skills."
Hu Dashan said solemnly.
Butcher Wang frowned: "Where?"
"Jurong!"
"Jurong?"
"That's right, it's Jurong who caused a big case some time ago."
Butcher Wang knew about this.
Guo Shan, Yang Mantou and others were tortured outside Taipingmen, and the Ministry of Punishment read out their charges.
Butcher Wang looked at Hu Dashan doubtfully: "Speak clearly."
Hu Dashan smiled and said: "Jurong at this time was different from any other county. The county government built the Jurong Weaving Courtyard and the Jurong Tailoring Courtyard, where a large number of women were recruited to work. In addition, the county government also recruited a group of craftsmen. In terms of work, it can be said that Jurong County at this time is very short of businessmen and traders."
"After the Guo family's major case, all the Guo family's shops in Jurong County are in the hands of the county government, and there are more than a hundred of them. The county government is planning to rent these shops to businessmen, and now there are some cloth The merchants and grain merchants rushed over. However, Jurong lacks powerful butchers, and the local butchers cannot keep up with the butchers. If you are willing to go there, you will definitely be able to start a business, and your daily income will be much more than what you make here. .”
After hearing this, Butcher Wang was silent for a while and asked, "If I can't establish myself after going to Jurong, wouldn't it be a huge loss?"
Hu Dashan chuckled and said: "To tell you the truth, I know the magistrate of Jurong. If you are willing to go there, he will definitely welcome you and send someone to find a shop for you. By the way, your wife is a tailor. After arriving in Jurong, You may not be able to enter the tailor's compound, and you will be paid for it. No matter how rich you are, the income will be enough for your daily expenses."
"really?"
Butcher Wang asked eagerly.
Hu Dashan solemnly promised: "If I make a mistake, you can come back and smash my store."
Butcher Wang believed in Hu Dashan. He was a trustworthy Hui merchant who knew how to repay favors. He had known him for many years, so he still had some trust. What's more, Jurong is not far from Jinling, so I won't be able to come back at all.
You have to take a chance in life, and you never dare to take risks. How can you make your life better and better?
After Hu Dashan left, he still needed to go outside Jinchuan Gate. He needed to arrange for some people to buy vegetables and then transport them to Jurong by boat.
Gu Zhengchen did a lot of work in Jurong County, and the material difficulties he faced became apparent.
In normal times, Jurong's vegetables and meat could only supply more than 3,000 households in the city. Now there is a sudden influx of 5,000 to 6,000 craftsmen, weavers, and tailors. The market supply suddenly cannot keep up, and food is abundant. Not to mention that the autumn harvest has just been completed, and the county It's not difficult for the government to buy a batch, but they can't just eat grains. They also need some vegetables, and occasionally add a piece or two of meat, which is still necessary.
Hu Dashan admired Gu Zhengchen, who actually built a weaving compound and a tailoring compound!
Hu Hengcai should have arrived in Jurong now, right?
Luo Shao, Zhou Mao, and Yang Liang walked out of the official department, looked at the official certificates in their hands, looked at each other, and felt excited.
Yang Liang never expected that in just over a month after entering the county government, he would be directly promoted from a household official to the position of Dianshi! Luo Shao also seemed to be in a dream. Suddenly, he became the county magistrate, and happiness came a bit quickly...
Zhou Mao looked at the official certificate in his hand and squeezed it hard. The county magistrate did not lie, he really did it, he really promoted his subordinates!
"Then, we have one more thing to do before we go back."
Luo Shao took a deep breath and looked a little solemn.
Yang Liang's Adam's apple moved twice, and he asked with some uncertainty: "Where are we really going? Bie Dianshi was beheaded before he was fooled..."
Zhou Mao's expression was a little unnatural: "Let's do what the county magistrate ordered us to do. If we don't handle this matter well, we won't be able to deliver the work even if we go back."
The carriage has arrived.
Ding Ben took out two four-wheeled carts from the carriage. One of the carts was smaller, with a fence and a retractable seat. It was also covered with tiger skin, and the wood used for the carts was smoothed. , without a trace of burr. There is another cart that is larger and has a rough design, with just four wheels, a base plate, and door-shaped push handles.
Four people and two carts walked through the Qianbu Corridor and headed towards Chengtian Gate.
Jinwu's imperial guards drew their swords and scolded him, blocking the way.
Luo Shao, Yang Liang, Zhou Mao and others were so frightened that their faces turned pale. Luo Shao plucked up the courage, stepped forward, saluted, and shouted loudly: "Luo Shao, the Prime Minister of Jurong County, requested to see His Majesty on the order of the Jurong County Magistrate to present a new cart."
The Jinwu Guards sergeant was just about to blow the people away. After hearing this, his commander Yuan Yi quickly ordered a few people to stay and asked: "Whose order are you following?"
Luo Shao looked at the ferocious general in front of him and said bravely: "Gu Zhengchen, the magistrate of Jurong."
Yuan Yi raised his brows, looked at the new cart, turned around and said to the sergeant: "Let them stay here and not drive them away. I will go in and report them."
The sergeant looked stunned and agreed repeatedly.
Luo Shao, Yang Liang, Zhou Mao and others were shocked. It seems that our county magistrate not only has a relationship with the East Palace, but also has some relationship with the emperor. Otherwise, how could the palace guards spread the word so easily!
"New cart?"
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, looked at Zhu Biao who was a little surprised, and asked: "Why, he didn't tell you about this?"
Zhu Biao shook his head: "Father, he only said that he would send someone to bring something to the palace, but he didn't say what it was specifically."
"Pass it on."
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Yuan Yi with some expectation.
