Early the next morning, Wang Xiao got up and just washed up. He stood in his yard and looked at the rising sun in the east.
The small courtyard is very neat, but there is not a large population and many houses are sealed up. A sycamore tree was planted in front of Wang Xiaolie's house, and flowers and trees were planted in the open space beside the wall. There is a pavilion in the middle. There is a stone table in the pavilion and four stone benches surrounding it.
Wang Qingxiu had nothing to do. In addition to reading some books at home, she tidied up the small yard. There are flowers and grass, like a garden.
After watching for a while, Wang Xiaolie said: "Although the scenery in the yard is nice, it is just too quiet and less lively. In a few days, I will buy some cats and dogs and raise them. If I raise a few parrots, it will not be so deserted." .”
Wang Qingxiu was coming from the house and said: "I have a quiet temperament. If I have more of them, I'm afraid I'll be upset."
Wang Xiaolie said: "You won't be upset after you raise it. People are often like this. Before something is done, this is troublesome and that is troublesome. When you actually do it, you find that you like it very much."
This is called the Law of True Fragrance, and people in later generations have concluded that it also applies to people thousands of years ago.
After breakfast, Wang Qingxiu said: "In recent days, the market in Zhaoluo Town has been changed to the first and Saturday of every month. Today is the sixteenth, and the town is particularly lively. How about we go shopping?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "In the past, the market dates in the towns and various grass markets were irregular and irregular, which was very inconvenient. A few days ago, I ordered each county to make a census of the townships and towns below. One episode every five days , each township takes turns.”
"It turns out it was your order. It's very convenient." Wang Qingxiu said, looking at Wang Xiaolie.
Wang Xiaolie thought for a moment and said, "That's fine. I remember how happy I was when my sister carried me on her back and followed my father to the grass market when I was little. Since we are at home today, let's go and have a look together."
After that, he went back to his room and changed into casual clothes. He also ordered his soldiers to pick six or seven smart men and change into civilian clothes to follow him. After thinking about it, he ordered someone to call Wang Zhong and go with his sister and brother.
The village is not far from Zhaoluo Town. A few people walked and arrived at Jishang in less than half an hour.
Watching the crowds surging, Wang Xiaolie said: "This is a big town, and there are many shops on a daily basis. I didn't expect it to be so lively on market days. I originally thought that it was only like this in remote places."
Wang Zhongdao: "Every time I go to the market, merchants from many nearby villages come to do business. The merchants in the town also set up stalls to sell goods in the market, which is naturally lively. And on this day, the people in the surrounding villages all call their friends. It will be extra lively when you bring company.”
Several people entered the market while talking.
Wang Xiaolie organized these markets according to his impressions. Each township found an open space outside and set it aside as a special market. Except for some large fixed stalls, farmers come to sell their own goods without charging taxes.
Within a short time, these markets were bustling with activity. Those selling all kinds of goods have everything you want.
When I walked into the market, I saw small stalls on the roadside, selling everything. This is the nearby villager. All goods that they think can be sold for money are brought here to be sold. They didn't weigh them, they were divided into small piles, small piles, or handfuls. How much does a pile cost? How much does a handful cost? Of course, there is also the characteristic of this era, buying money. In fact, it is gambling in disguise. How much is a piece of fish or how much is a pile of vegetables? It's up to the guests to bet. If you win, you don't have to spend money to take away the goods. If you lose, you pay, but you can't take the goods.
Wang Xiaolie was determined to stop this habit, but time was not urgent.
You don’t need to weigh your goods when selling them, but sell them in piles. The main reason is not that you don’t have a scale, but that you don’t know how to count. For rural people, there are only one or two people who can read and write in a village, and those who can read and write are even rarer.
There is a lot of illiteracy in society, and many people think that there are few people who are literate. In fact, in addition to being illiterate, he is also illiterate. When you say how much a pound of vegetables costs, how much does two pounds cost, most people can’t tell the difference between three pounds and five pounds.
The habit of selling goods reflects the level of social development and education. Many people in later generations went to backward areas and found that people there sold goods by the handful instead of by the pound. It was wrong to say that the society was simple. It's just that they can't sell it by the pound. Including areas around China, such as South Korea and Japan, before they entered modernization, their social development level was also low, and they were accustomed to this.
Chinese people especially like to clearly mark prices when buying and selling goods, and they must compare their penny and penny. This is a sign of long-term commercial prosperity.
Walking all the way, Wang Xiaolie said: "There are a lot of vegetables sold here, and they look fresh."
Wang Zhongdao: "They are all nearby villagers. Since there is a market, they might pick whatever they want and sell it in the market. If they sell it, they will buy some goods and go back. If they can't sell it, they will take it as a gift. Wandering around.”
Wang Xiaolie nodded and said nothing.
In the Song Dynasty, China's commerce began to become developed. But that's just the beginning. Nowadays, in rural areas, there are many local specialties that are actually worthless. Just like fish, shrimp, lotus root and water chestnut, they are everywhere outside the village. The Mid-Autumn Festival in Ruzhou is the season when persimmons are ripe, and the surrounding mountains are brilliantly red. There is no charge for persimmons under the tree. As long as you are willing to pick them, you can take them to the market and sell them.
After walking for a while, Wang Xiaolie said: "Look at the persimmons here, they are extraordinarily big. Why don't we buy some and take them back to taste them."
After Wang Zhong heard this, he hurried forward and bought a lot. Some of the soldiers nearby were carrying baskets, so they put them inside and carried them on their shoulders.
After walking a few steps, Wang Xiaolian said: "There are so many persimmons in the surrounding mountains. If they are made into persimmon cakes, it will be a way to make money."
Wang Qingxiu shook his head: "Do you think persimmon cakes are easy to make? Not many people around here know how to make them."
Wang Xiaolie said: "Isn't it a good idea for a family to lead others to do it and make a fortune together?"
The others all laughed. Wang Xiaolie's idea was too strange. Why do people who know how to help people who don’t know how to make money?
After passing the small stalls, we arrived at some large stalls in the center of the market. They are all selling chickens, ducks, fish and meat, cloth and silk clothes, these are profitable industries. There are also some food stalls for people who come to the market to improve their taste.
Looking at these, Wang Xiaolie said: "This is a place where taxes are collected. Whether the market can support it depends on their business."
Wang Zhongdao: "It has only been open for a few days, and there is not much tax revenue yet."
Wang Xiaolie nodded. This is normal. This market has only been open a few times? Many nearby villagers have not heard of it.
Walking to several food stalls, Wang Qingxiu said: "Now that we are here, let's have a bowl of wontons. People in the village often say that the ravioli owners here are conscientious, use the most ingredients, and taste good."
As he said that, several people walked to the side and occupied several tables.
In the early days, wontons and dumplings were not so clearly distinguished. At this time, the common wontons were somewhat similar to later dumplings and also like later wontons. Of course the taste is good, but it is far less exquisite than later generations.
Several people sat down. Not long after, the host brought wontons over.
Wang Xiaolie took a bite. When I looked up, I saw a man coming on the road. One hand is missing and is covered with cloth. The lower leg was rotten, and he was leaning on a crutch, twisting and turning.
When the host saw it, he hurriedly shouted: "Second Brother Song is here. It's a bit late today."
Brother Song said: "We were walking slowly on the road, but we arrived just now."
The host hurriedly stepped forward, helped Brother Song sit aside, and hurriedly brought a large bowl of wontons.
Brother Song took out ten copper coins from his pocket and put them on the table one by one. Said: "Good luck today, bring enough money."
The host said: "Second brother is joking. A bowl of wontons isn't worth much, so please do as you please."
Brother Song said: "You come here before dawn to occupy the place, how hard it is! How can I eat you for nothing!"
The host just refused. After talking for a while, he left the copper coins on the table.
Wang Xiaolie said: "This is a small place, but the prices are not cheap. A bowl of wontons costs ten cents, which is much more expensive than before."
Wang Qingxiu said: "When the Golden Soldiers came, everything went up. Everything is so expensive that many people can't afford it."
A few people were talking when they saw a few more guests arriving. They all went to the second brother Song to salute and greet him.
Wang Xiaolie was surprised when he saw it. These markets, with mixed crowds and many people doing business, are naturally a paradise for evil forces. This second brother Song looks like he has no hands or feet, so he can't be the leader here.
The people next to me sat down, and Wang Xiaolie went over and asked, "How polite are you, these distinguished guests. I have been away for a long time and am not familiar with this market. I see that you all respect that second brother Song. Why?"
The man looked at Wang Xiaolie and saw that he was not an evil person. Said: "Because that second brother Song is our great hero here."
Wang Xiaolie raised his hand and said, "Please give me some advice."
The man said: "When the Jin soldiers invaded last year, it was this second brother Song who fought fiercely with the Jin soldiers and saved the lives of many villagers. You see, one of his hands and feet were chopped off by the Jin soldiers. Fortunately, He picked up his life. Therefore, we villagers respect him."
