The autumn harvest is over.
The grass and trees on both sides of the road are starting to turn yellow. When you lift the curtains on the car and look out, you can see further.
However, after Zhu Gaochi watched it for a while, he became a little bored.
"Dad, haven't we already seen one village? Why do we continue to the next village?"
Zhu Di said: "We still can't believe that the people of Wanping County are already so wealthy!"
"Rich?"
Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but look puzzled, "Dad, the farmers in the villages all live in dilapidated thatched houses. The houses are all so small and there is no furniture at home.
Even their earthen courtyard wall collapsed a lot.
Moreover, when they entertained us, they didn’t even have any tea or snacks at home...
How can we call ourselves rich if we are so poor? "
Zhu Di sighed softly and said: "Chi'er, because of my Ming Dynasty, there are more people who are not as good as them. At least they can have enough to eat and afford a wife...
Even the people in other prefectures and counties under my Beiping government are not as wealthy as them. "
Zhu Gaochi asked: "But the farmers near Zhangjiawan Pier in Tongzhou are living better than them..."
Zhu Di patiently replied: "Because there are many merchants coming and going at Zhangjiawan Pier, the people near Zhangjiawan Pier can make a lot of money by doing some business, or working as coachmen or laborers."
Zhu Gaochi said seriously: "So, only when people are doing business can they make money and live a better life!"
Zhu Di's face darkened, "What Chi'er said is not entirely correct. Scholars, farmers, industry and merchants all do their own thing..."
Zhu Gaochi said: "But dad, the people work hard to farm, but in the end, they don't even have enough to eat."
"You're such a jerk!"
Zhu Di was furious, "If there are no more farmers farming, and everyone starts doing business, who will grow the food? What will people eat?"
Zhu Gaochi widened his eyes and thought hard.
On the side, Guo An smiled softly and said: "His Royal Highness, there is no need to complain about the farmers so much, because doing business requires wisdom, even capital, and constant hard work on the road all year round...
Moreover, if there is something wrong with the goods, or if they encounter robbers, or if they are made things difficult by the local officials, they will lose money.
Many farmers do not have the wisdom of those businessmen, and they cannot become businessmen. "
"Besides, farmers can also make money by farming, right?"
"Please ask Master to teach me!"
Zhu Gaochi quickly looked at Guo An expectantly.
On the side, Zhu Di also looked curious.
Guo An explained slowly: "Your Highness, can't the farmers in the village we just passed by have enough to eat?
Moreover, they can now earn a lot of money every year, marry wives, and start repairing their houses.
In two years' time, when we plant good rice on our farm for them, they will be able to harvest more food every year.
And the peppers, they have saved more pepper seeds this year, and if they plant more peppers next year, they can make more money from selling them..."
"His Royal Highness has also been to the farm in the mansion. Those old soldiers, Wei Chen and the four clan brothers can also be said to be farmers. But are they living in poverty?
In the past two years, when have those old soldiers ever worried about eating meat?
As for the four clan brothers of Weichen, they have now become the eighth-rank official of the imperial court and receive the imperial salary every year. They can be regarded as successful and famous! "
At this time, Zhu Gaochi's little head was a little frozen and could not move.
"May I ask Master, why is this?"
Guo An smiled gently and said, "Your Highness, you are still young and cannot fully understand these problems. When you grow up, you will be able to figure them out easily."
Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but frown. He didn't want to be treated like a child.
However, before he could refute, Guo An pointed to a small river beside the road, "Your Highness, look at those farm children, how happy they are!"
"Um?"
Zhu Gaochi was stunned and looked over quickly, his eyes lighting up.
In the small river beside the road, there were several naked village children, about the same age as him, jumping back and forth in the river.
There was even a village boy who emerged directly from the river, holding a half-foot-sized fish tightly in his arms.
The surrounding village children immediately gathered around him with envy on their faces.
Zhu Gaochi also looked envious.
It seems like he has never played like this before?
It's just that being naked is degrading to elegance!
Unfortunately, before Zhu Gaochi had seen enough, the group of village children who were celebrating happily had become distant and finally invisible.
Zhu Gaochi reluctantly withdrew his gaze and said, "May I ask Master, what are they doing?"
Guo An said quietly: "Let's take a bath and play in the river, catch some river fish and take them back to eat!"
Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but ask: "Master, they are already so old, don't they go to school?"
Guo Andao: "Studying costs money. Their family is poor and cannot afford to study."
"ah?"
Zhu Gaochi looked surprised, "You still have to spend money to study?"
On the side, Zhu Di could not help but scolded, "You idiot, you have been taught stupidly by the professors in the house. You are not allowed to ask for a tutor to study? You are not allowed to buy books, pens, inks, paper and inkstones? Which one does not require money?"
Zhu Gaochi defended, "But I heard that there is no need to spend money on the academy in our house."
Zhu Di said: "How many children from poor families are there in the academy? That's it. They have to do part-time internships every month in the academy to make money.
Moreover, the academy does not care about their pen, ink, paper and inkstone.
As for those rich families, they spend more on eating, drinking and having sex..."
"Your Highness, there is another village ahead."
This is when Li Wang's report came from outside the car.
Zhu Di said: "Let's go in and have a look."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The carriage drove slowly towards the village.
Zhu Gaochi did not continue to ask questions, but kept frowning, thinking about something.
However, this time Zhu Di, Guo An and their group did not receive the same treatment as in Xujiacun.
There is still a truck parked at the entrance of the village, and there is a young man guarding the truck.
Seeing Zhu Di, Guo An and others getting out of the car, their eyes were full of vigilance and their whole bodies were tense.
It wasn't until Zhu Di and Guo An entered that the young man next to the truck breathed a sigh of relief.
As he walked in, Guo An said: "Your Highness, some merchants must have come to the village to purchase goods!"
"peddler?"
Zhu Di's eyes lit up and he asked, "But are you a businessman in our house?"
"should be!"
Guo Andao said, "Businessmen from outside would not come to such a remote village."
"Very good, let's go in and take a look."
Zhu Di's pace quickened again.
Soon, a few people walked to the house with the largest and best house in the village.
Similarly, the people in the village were all rushing to that house as if they were going to the market, in twos and threes, holding either a plate or a sack of chili peppers in their hands.
"Are you here to collect the peppers?"
"Seems to be."
"Why is Guo Qing so cautious all of a sudden?"
"..."
The people around them just thought that the clothes on Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi were beautiful and gorgeous.
However, they only regarded Zhu Di, Guo An and others as important figures who came with the Yanwang Palace caravan, so they didn't pay much attention to them.
At this moment, at the entrance of the house, there were already three floors inside, and the three floors outside were crowded with people.
They all stretched their necks and looked inside with curiosity.
A middle-aged manager was watching the waiter next to him carrying a scale, weighing each family one by one.
"Yan Laosan, right? Your crushed peppers total three pounds and eight taels, and one pound of crushed peppers costs nine hundred cash. I'll give you three pounds of one hundred and fifty cash in total!"
As he said that, he took out four treasure notes and fifty copper coins from the side.
The owner, Yan Laosan, quickly took the money, thanked him, and then grinned and said with a flattering smile.
"Steward Sun, the scale didn't seem to be level just now. How about you..."
Indeed, the weight just now was almost reaching the sky, and everyone could see it clearly.
"What's the matter if it's a little high? Can't you peel this sack?" Manager Sun glanced at Yan Laosan and waved his hand in disgust.
"His Royal Highness King Yan is very kind to you for giving you so much money for a pound of pepper. You should be grateful and don't keep thinking about taking advantage of His Highness King Yan."
"Yes Yes……"
Yan Laosan quickly smiled and walked aside with the treasure banknote in his hand.
Then, there is the next farmer.
Five kilograms of chopped chili peppers and one tael of chili seeds, but the weight is still a long way up.
Moreover, the price of pepper seeds is only based on two yuan.
Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but ask: "Dad, the scale is obviously not level, and the price the steward gave is much lower than the price the master said."
Although the sound was small, it was extremely harsh.
Manager Sun was immediately furious, "Where are you, you little brat? You don't want to sell chili peppers..."
Before he finished speaking, his expression froze.
Although he didn't know Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi, he recognized the gorgeous clothes on Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi. Those who could afford such gorgeous clothes were definitely the powerful people in the Beiping Mansion.
"This little noble man is the steward of the caravan under the Prince of Yan's Palace. He is responsible for purchasing the pepper agricultural products from these villages in Wanping County. Just now, I was anxious and made rude remarks. Please forgive me."
Zhu Gaochi snorted coldly and raised his head proudly, "Are you the steward of Prince Yan's Mansion?"
"Back to the noble man, he is really Sun Chengdu, the steward of Prince Yan's palace. These common people can all testify."
Sun Chengdu was unsure of the origins of the people in front of him, so he quickly said respectfully.
Zhu Gaochi asked again: "Why don't you use a scale to level it? Who taught you to use such a low price to harm the people?"
Also, how much does it cost for a pound of crushed pepper? How much does it cost to charge a pound of chili seeds? "
Hearing this, Zhu Di's expression moved slightly.
Guo An shook his head repeatedly.
Don't be afraid!
Zhu Di allowed Zhu Gaochi to play his best.
However, Sun Chengdu's expression immediately changed, "I wonder why this little nobleman doubts the villain?
This method was taught by the chief steward of Prince Yan's palace.
Although the young nobleman has a high status, our Prince Yan Mansion is not someone who can be bullied..."
After hearing this, the faces of the surrounding farmers who were still looking forward to it changed once again.
Although they don't know how powerful Prince Yan's Mansion is.
However, they knew that the caravan stewards below Prince Yan's Mansion would be respectful even if the chiefs above them saw them.
As for Zhu Di, his face was filled with coldness and his eyes were spitting fire.
Zhu Gaochi said angrily: "When did Prince Yan's Mansion teach you managers to harm farmers?"
Sun Chengdu quickly looked at Zhu Di who was standing aside, his face full of anger.
"Please give this noble man a good rein on this little noble man. The reputation of Prince Yan's Palace cannot be slandered!"
…
(End of chapter)
