Zhan Tong has visited many prefectures and counties, but he has never seen a county that is so lively.
There was a continuous sound of hawking, people came and went, and many vendors pushed carts and led donkeys, carrying goods and things.
"Where is this shopkeeper from?"
Zhan Tong stopped a shopkeeper and asked.
The shopkeeper saw that Zhan Tong was old and quite temperamental, so he did not dare to neglect: "Back to the old man, I am from Xiuning, Huizhou Prefecture. I came to Jurong to purchase a batch of cotton cloth, and I am going to sell it in Songjiang Prefecture."
Zhan Tong was a little puzzled and frowned: "You really know how to joke. Who doesn't know that Songjiang Prefecture's cotton cloth is abundant and good. It is shipped out every year. How can anyone sell cotton cloth there?"
The shopkeeper laughed and patted his belly: "We are a small business, we can't go very far. What the old man doesn't know is that the cotton cloth from Jurong is of good quality, strong and durable, and the price is low. I got it to Songjiang Mansion to resell it. You can all make a fortune.”
Zhan Hui interjected doubtfully: "You can make money by going to Songjiang Mansion, so why not go to Jinling? Why bother looking for something far away?"
The shopkeeper smiled helplessly: "The shops in Jinling are expensive. We lost our capital in doing business before, but we can't rent the shop. Let's get our money back first. When we have some savings in the future, it won't be too late to go to Jinling."
Zhan Tong thanked the shopkeeper, walked into the crowd, and said to Zhan Hui: "There are four courtyards in Jurong, you should know, right?"
Zhan Hui nodded: "Father, I have heard that the four courtyards in Jurong refer to the Textile Courtyard, the Tailoring Courtyard, the Craftsman Courtyard and the College. The merchant who purchased cotton cloth probably purchased the goods from the Textile Courtyard. . It’s just strange that the price of cotton here can be lower than that in Songjiang Prefecture. It’s simply unbelievable.”
Zhan Tong squinted his eyes and walked slowly with a smile. He came to a vendor selling bamboo hats and asked, "How do you sell these bamboo hats?"
"Two cents."
"It's not expensive at all. Give me one. If you do business here in Jurong, can you pay tax?"
"Old man, we don't make much money a month. It's just a living, and we don't need to pay taxes. But the new stove shop in front of us is doing a lot of business. It is said that we make more than a dozen dollars in taxes every month. …”
"Oh, no government officials are embarrassing you?"
"The county magistrate said that the people of the Ming Dynasty will not embarrass the people of the Ming Dynasty. Let alone the government officials, they will not embarrass us. Even the big local households will not dare to do so."
"Don't the people of Ming Dynasty embarrass the people of Ming Dynasty?"
Zhan Tong was stunned when he heard this. This was the first time he heard this statement, but he had to admit that it was easy to understand, resonant and deeply rooted in people's hearts.
Zhan Hui put the bamboo hat on his father's head and said with emotion: "Gu Zhengchen is really diligent in educating the place."
Zhan Tong didn't say anything and continued to move forward. He saw carts lined up in front of a yard, and workers were busy carrying new stoves, iron sheets and radiators. He looked up and saw that there was a craftsmanship workshop. hospital.
"Why do you still want to buy a new stove in this hot summer?"
Zhan Hui was stunned.
Zhan Tong raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. As his son said, the weather is very hot. No one would light a stove in summer, and no one likes hot weather.
But unfortunately, there were many merchants buying stoves, and there were long queues.
Zhan Tong walked over and asked a bored guy: "Are you planning to buy a stove?"
The clerk reached for the sweat towel on his shoulder and wiped his face: "Yes, the new stove is very easy to use. Last year, many families in Jinling bought them. As a result, the supply exceeded demand. This year, I will make a fortune from this business no matter what."
Zhan Tong sat on the steps and asked a little tiredly: "But this is summer. I have never heard of people buying stoves in summer. If I buy it now, wouldn't it be a backlog and occupying the warehouse, which is not beautiful?"
The clerk said cheerfully: "Old man, just because no one uses the stove in summer, it doesn't mean that no one buys it. Although our shopkeeper does plan to sell goods in winter, it can't stop Jurong Craftsman's Compound from clearing out inventory..."
"Clear inventory?"
Zhan Tong looked towards the craftsman's courtyard.
The clerk laughed and said, "It is said that the warehouse of the craftsman's yard was full. In order to free up space, the magistrate asked people to spread the news. The price of buying a new stove in summer can be 15% cheaper than buying it after August. With such a great deal, how could we not come?”
Zhan Tong understood that Gu Zhengchen was selling at a reduced price and attracted many merchants.
There is really no loss in a new stove if it is left alone for half a year. It can be sold after just wiping it off.
With this thing, the smell of soot is finally gone from the nose in winter. The court is using it, the nobles are using it, and the big families are using it. It is only a matter of time before it spreads from Jinling.
"Yes, I hope your business will be prosperous."
Zhan Tong got up and walked away on crutches. He wandered to the gate of Jurong College and saw three Confucian scholars aged 11 or 12 chopping firewood. He couldn't help but walked over and asked, "Are you disciples of Jurong College?"
"Back to the old man, yes."
The three Confucian scholars were very polite.
Zhan Tong looked at the pile of firewood at the feet of the three of them, frowned and asked, "Why are you chopping firewood outside when you don't go to school?"
One of the Confucian scholars said with a sense of shame: "To be honest, sir, the three of us didn't finish our homework yesterday. We lied and said we had completed it. However, the teacher found out and punished us for chopping firewood."
Zhan Tong disagreed: "It's wrong to lie. Just serve with a ruler. Why should I be sent outside to chop firewood? Wouldn't this delay today's schoolwork? Such a punishment, I don't think it is a good thing."
The younger Confucian scholar made a sad face: "We can't delay today's homework. Every lesson has notes. After we are punished, we can keep up through the practice notes. We just need to stay up late..."
Zhan Hui asked: "How much firewood do you have to chop before you can go back?"
"Three."
Confucian scholars shouted in unison.
"Three?"
Zhan Tong lowered his head and looked at the firewood. These were not just three firewoods, but all three piles.
Looking at the Confucian scholars, they stretched out their hands and saw the blood bubbles emerging from their hands. Only then did Zhan Tong understand that the so-called three meant three blood bubbles...
"This punishment is really abominable!"
Zhan Huiyu couldn't bear it, these were all children.
Zhan Tong stepped forward, looked at the blood blisters on the child's hands, and asked with some distress: "Who set this punishment, Magistrate Gu?"
The Confucian scholar shook his head repeatedly: "This is our own choice."
"What?"
Zhan Tong was surprised.
The Confucian scholar explained: "At first, Jurong Academy used a ruler to punish people, but later, Magistrate Gu said that the ruler punishment did not reflect the pain of hard work, but only the pain of the skin and flesh. He asked the academy to vote among various punishments, and finally everyone unanimously chose The one thing about chopping wood.”
"Why?"
Zhan Tong didn't understand.
The Confucian scholar forced a smile: "Gu Zhixian said that only by enduring hardship can one become a master. If you don't want to be a woodcutter in the future, and don't want to suffer the hardships of chopping wood and farming, then you can only study hard. It reminds us that if we don’t study hard, we will only have blood on our hands.”
Zhan Tong was stunned.
It turns out that education can be done in this way and students can participate in the formulation of rules.
It is true that hitting someone with a ruler is a punishment, but this punishment is temporary pain, and you cannot tell the disciples the consequences of not learning and making progress.
For children from farm families who are eager to change their own destiny, the punishment of cutting wood and grinding out blood blisters is even more profound and more useful when you think about it.
After Zhan Tong understood this, he smiled and said to the three Confucian scholars: "If you have failed in your studies, you can still practice again. Three blood bubbles can be considered a punishment. But lying is a sign of lack of moral character. Three blood bubbles are not enough. You should polish it off." Break the whole palm..."
The Confucian scholar stared blankly at the kind-faced old man in front of him, wondering why he punished the man more harshly than the gentlemen. Wasn't it just a lie that could lead to such cruelty?
Zhan Tong left Jurong College and went directly to the county government office.
Outside Chengfa's room, there is a sign for free writing papers, which is a good thing.
Some ordinary people want to file a complaint, but they can't even afford the money to hire someone to write a petition. Without a petition, the county government can't accept it, making it difficult for people to appeal.
"Go and tell your county magistrate that an elder has come to Jinling and wants to see him."
Zhan Tong said to the officials in the Chengfa room.
Zhao Qian saw that Zhan Tong was old, elegant, and came from Jinling to find the county magistrate, so he quickly agreed and arranged for someone to report.
Gu Zhengchen was writing off the warehouse accounts when he heard that there was an old man from Jinling. He couldn't help but frowned. As an old man in Jinling, he didn't know many people. Everyone knew the old man Liu Ji, and they didn't even need to notify him. He even broke into the county magistrate's house directly. , besides Liu Ji, who else could be there?
After thinking about it, Gu Zhengchen still left the county government office. When he saw Zhan Tong, he was shocked and quickly stepped forward to bow: "I have met Zhan Shangshu."
"How can I, an old man who has become an official, afford the lavish gift from a man in Quanzhou County?"
Zhan Tong smiled and stepped forward to support Gu Zhengchen.
Gu Zhengchen had participated in the Great Court Meeting, and the Liubu Hall officials had naturally seen him, but he did not expect Zhan Tonghui to appear in Jurong.
Zhan Tong introduced sideways: "This is my eldest son Zhan Hui."
Gu Zhengchen looked around and saw Zhan Hui, who was in his early thirties, with a resolute face and a decisive and courageous aura. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and he was still shrewd at the core. He was also looking at himself at this time.
"I've met Brother Zhan."
Gu Zhengchen saluted.
Zhan Hui quickly returned the salute: "I should salute."
Gu Zhengchen had to treat Zhan Hui with caution. He was a powerful figure. Although he did not have much reputation as an official at this time, his last official positions were Prince Shaobao, Zuodu Yushi, and Libu Shangshu.
The prince here is not Zhu Biao, but Zhu Yunwen!
In other words, this was Zhu Yuanzhang's personally selected assistant for Zhu Yunwen, the minister of the East Palace. It's a pity that Zhu Yunwen is a fool, because Lan Yu's frame-up words sent Zhan Hui to the ghost head knife.
Historically, when Zhu Biao was still there, this person was already the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, which shows his extraordinary ability.
"Why didn't Shangshu Zhan send someone to inform him in advance so that I could greet him personally?"
Gu Zhengchen helped Zhan Tong enter the county government office.
Zhan Tong looked at the simple county government office and said with a smile: "When the old man returns home from his official career, he cannot be welcomed by any official outside the city. On the other hand, Gu Zhi County has taken good care of Jurong, but the county government office has not been repaired or repaired. .”
Gu Zhengchen said pointedly: "Repairing the county government office is a good idea. It will save money and trouble than moving the county government office..."
