Lianjiatun was not a big place, with only about two hundred households. Li Qing walked around in less than half an hour, but in this short time, he had already seen clearly the life of the people at the bottom.
Pure bitterness, pure joy.
Being content and happy is the people's attitude towards life.
Such simplicity should not be let down... Li Qing sighed and went to the city.
The distance is only ten miles, but it is a different scene. On the street, shops are located one after another, including clothing stores, antique shops, herbal medicine shops, jewelry stores, brothels... More than half of them serve the upper class and have little to do with the common people.
In other words, only grain and oil shops, cloth shops and other shops that are necessary for daily life and affordable are affordable for the people.
The rich are domineering, while the poor are submissive. When the two types of people are mixed together, there is a strong sense of separation, but they are not inconsistent with harmony.
It's been this way for thousands of years, and I'm used to it.
On the same street, their lives are completely different. The short distance is like the end of the world, insurmountable.
…
Small courtyard.
"Hi yo hi yo..."
Two shoulder poles and four men carried oversized stone rollers and hammered the ground to consolidate the foundation.
At midday, the temperature gradually rose, and they were sweating profusely. Every time they rose and fell, sweat was shed.
There was no machinery in this era and all relied on pure human power, which was much harder than the construction workers of later generations.
Zhu Gaoxu and his father watched with great interest. Seeing him coming back, Zhu Qijin greeted him politely, but Zhu Gaoxu didn't even raise his head and was ready to make a move;
Looking at that posture, it seems like I want to go up and experience it!
Li Qing stepped forward and said: "Don't just sit there, get up and take a few steps if you have nothing to do."
"Are you attracted to my horse?" Zhu Gaoxu's naive eyes were shining with wisdom, and he hummed: "You still want to trick me, do you think I can't tell?"
Li Qing: "..."
Damn, you’re really good at reading people!
Zhu Qijin stood up and said, "Sir, please sit down. It's not long before dinner time. What do you want to eat for lunch?"
"How sensible do you think I am?" Li Qing glared at Hanhan, sat down slowly, and then said, "No, I bought the food and someone will deliver it at noon."
"It's a waste of money, sir." Zhu Qijin nodded and stood aside quietly, losing sight of Xiao Mazha.
Zhu Gaoxu glanced at Li Qing and said angrily: "You are considered an elder after all. How could you bully a junior like this?"
"Are you being bullied?" Li Qing said amusedly, "Xiao Jin, come over and sit down."
If you don't even get up, where can I sit down... Zhu Qijin said politely: "Junior has been sitting for a long time and wants to move around."
"Well," Li Qing chuckled, "Look how sensible he is!"
Zhu Gaoxu: "..."
There are several chairs and stone stools in the house, but everyone is fond of small mazaar, just like... after eating too much fine grains, they all want to try the taste of mixed noodles.
But... there is a difference between eating Zamian occasionally and eating Zamian all the time, just like there are many people who can only eat Zamian.
~
noon.
The waiter in the restaurant brought two large buckets of rice, half a bucket of braised pork, and bowls and chopsticks. The rich aroma immediately attracted everyone's attention.
It was obvious that Li Qing and the other three could not finish so much food, but these craftsmen could not believe that the patrons would be so generous.
After all...it doesn't look like Li Qing is very rich.
Li Qing held a spoon and looked like a cafeteria master, "It's time to eat. Come and get your food."
After hearing this, these masons believed that the patrons really wanted to reward them. They immediately stopped hesitating and rushed forward to queue up.
In their line of work, the owners would provide a decent meal, but they would only provide a meal when the beams or ceilings were being built. But the foundation hadn't been laid yet, and it was so rich that they were really disappointed. Accident.
The fragrant rice, topped with a big spoonful of meat, and then poured with broth, made people salivate. They didn't even dare to think how delicious it would be.
"Thank you, Master." The man took the rice bowl, walked to the side, squatted on the ground, and ate so deliciously that his tongue felt like it was melting.
Occasionally, they would improve their lives and eat meat, but most of them would mix a lot of vegetables to make dumplings. This luxurious way of eating white rice and pure meat is something that ordinary families cannot afford.
"Thank you, sir."
"Thank you, sir."
…
After a while, everyone was eating the delicious rice bowl.
Fragrant, so fragrant.
The food cooked in the restaurant was much more delicious than what they cooked with salt. This was the first time in their lives for these craftsmen to eat such delicious food.
A simple bowl of rice bowl actually made me feel happy.
"Eat slowly, there is still a lot here, as long as you don't waste it." Li Qing knew that these people were big eaters, so he bought some more.
For such intense work, there must be oil and water in the stomach, otherwise it will cause too much damage to the body.
In fact, the life span of ancient people was generally shorter. The main reason was that their nutrition could not keep up, but they had to work non-stop. To put it bluntly, most of them were tired.
As for the wealthy and powerful groups such as officials and gentry, they can still live quite well. It is not uncommon to be in their seventies or eighties. People like San Yang, Hu Hui, and Wang Zhi all get better and better as they live;
Shen Xin is almost sixty and has a baby, so he is in great shape.
People at the bottom generally have a relatively short life span, and more than half of the reasons are due to severe physical overdraft and the inability to afford a doctor, rather than physical reasons.
To put it bluntly, he is poor!
The food they ate was so delicious that under its influence, Li Qing also had a huge appetite and drank two large bowls; even Hanhan ate more.
The waiter in the restaurant also joined in the meal, looking satisfied.
——
After lunch, the craftsmen rested for half an hour and continued digging and tamping the foundation; they became stronger.
Li Qing watched for a while, then went to take a nap...
Drowsily, he felt as if someone was standing beside the bed. Li Qing slowly opened his eyes. When he saw the person clearly, he immediately became energetic.
"Little girl Pianzi, why are you here? Who asked you to come?"
"I brought her here." Zhang Slutty walked in.
"Master..." Li Qing was startled for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "Why did you bring her here?"
Zhang said sloppily: "Don't make a fuss, no one knows her, what are you afraid of?"
"That's true." Li Qing nodded slightly and turned to look at the little girl with a dangerous look in his eyes, "Why, you changed your mind again?"
"No, no, no, Uncle Li, don't get me wrong, dad asked me to come." Zhu Wanqing was really afraid of Li Qing, so she quickly explained, "Dad said, let me come to the capital to experience it, so that I will no longer have... regrets. "
Zhang Sultan agreed: "I agree with this, otherwise she would be a little unwilling."
"Okay." Li Qing was helpless.
Even though she has come, she can't rush back, not even a little girl, unless he delivers her in person, but he doesn't have that much time.
"Is Li Hong here?"
"It must be done." Li Hong walked in with a smile, "Hello, godfather."
Li Qing shook his head in amusement and muttered: "This is really lively."
Usually the small courtyard was very deserted, and he felt lonely and bored, but now so many people came, he was not used to it.
There are only two wing rooms in total. How can we live there? Li Qing had a headache.
After looking at the little girl's film, Li Qing said helplessly: "East Kitchen or Warehouse, you choose one."
"If possible, my niece would like to..." Zhu Wanqing said bravely, "Uncle Li, are there any other options?"
"Yes!" Li Qing smiled, "The donkey shed is still empty."
"..." Zhu Wanqing said sarcastically, "My niece chooses the warehouse."
Li Qing nodded: "Hong'er, you are familiar with the capital. Take her out for a walk and buy some daily necessities."
"okay."
After the two juniors left, Li Qing stood up and said: "Master, there is no food in the market now. I will go to the market tomorrow and go to the restaurant in the evening to pack some food and bring it back, okay?"
"It's okay. A teacher deserves this meal," Zhang Sloppy waved his hand and said, "It's better not to let that girl live in the warehouse."
"Master, you just dote on the child too much. This is not good for her." Li Qing said, "She will like Jinling more if she suffers more here."
Zhang Sloppy shook his head: "You have misunderstood me. There are fakes in the warehouse now. How can we act at night where she lives? Let her live in the east kitchen!"
"Well... Master is still thoughtful." Li Qing agreed, "I'll let her change it later."
After a pause, "By the way, Master, how much did you bring back this time?"
"Six hundred books, I can still have 800 at home, and they will be gone when we are done." Zhang said sloppily, "I will replace them all for him this year, so as to save him running around in the future."
Li Qing said with shame: "Thank you for your hard work, Master."
"Hey, it's hard work to say the least. It's all a matter of chance." Zhang Sloppy smiled casually and said, "Just go and do what you have to do. There are so many people in the family, and it's not like I don't have anyone to accompany me."
"It's really not busy now. Shen Xin needs to worry about it, but I don't need to personally take action." Li Qing said, "This is the emperor's feet, and Baoding Mansion is not far away. There are many people available to the emperor. I will give him an idea." become."
Li Qing helped Master sit down and said seriously: "This time, I won't go anywhere. I will just cook delicious food for Master at home."
"That's good." Zhang smiled and nodded, "Qingzi, you should take a break. Even if it's not for the old man, you have to think about yourself and do your best. Don't have such a strong sense of mission. You I don’t owe anyone!”
"Yes, disciple understands."
~
In the evening, Li Hong came back with the little girl, empty-handed.
Li Qing asked strangely: "Didn't you buy anything?"
"I have to buy too much and I can't bring it back, so I'll just have it delivered to my door tomorrow." Li Hong said with a smile, "I learned this from my godfather."
"Well done, don't learn it next time." Li Qing snorted, "Little girl, you will sleep in the east kitchen from now on."
"Ah? Didn't you agree to sleep in the warehouse?" Zhu Wanqing said in dismay. Just as she was about to act coquettishly, she was interrupted from casting a spell.
"If you have to stay, stay, or if you don't, get out!"
Zhu Wanqing: "...I know Uncle Li."
~
The next day.
Zhu Qiyu came down from the morning court and came to Lianjia Village with Guard No. 100. In order not to disturb the people, he specially changed into black regular clothes.
Before reaching the door, he heard "Hey yo yo yo" constantly, accompanied by the sound of the ground shaking. Zhu Qiyu said in surprise:
"What's going on in there?"
The hundred households in Jinyi cupped their hands and said: "Back to the emperor... Mr. Huang, Marquis Yongqing has been building a house these two days."
"Build a house?" Zhu Qiyu was startled and shook his head in amusement: "I don't want it for him. What can he build on such a big land?
Go on, go in and have a look. "
