Shicheng Town Governor's Mansion, Study Room.
The guard envoy Kang Randi frowned as he looked at the book handed over by the government official.
The official, who was full of joy, only talked and did not notice the expression on the commander's face: "Master, the number of caravans traveling to and from Shicheng Town this month has doubled compared to last month. The inns in the town are full.
Most of the guests and even the vacant houses of private households have been rented out. Not to mention other things, the fee collected at the market alone is as much as three hundred guan."
There was no smile on Kang Randi's face, but he asked the official: "How many days have the team escorting Kang Zongchang been walking?"
The official was stunned, and after thinking for a moment, he replied: "Have you been a month old?"
Kang Randi: "So, you should have arrived at Kangju Governor's Mansion a long time ago."
The official nodded and said, "That's what the head of the family said."
Kang Randi was silent for a while and then asked: "Where are those guests from Hebei?"
Palace official: "I'm afraid I've already arrived at the Luntai of the Beiting Protectorate."
Kang Randi didn't ask any more questions, closed his eyes and tapped the table with his fingers.
Knowing that this was the habit of the householder when he was deep in thought, the officials remained silent and did not dare to disturb him.
Not long after, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, causing Kang Randi to open his eyes.
Looking at the servant who stumbled in, Kang Randi shouted: "Why are you so panicked?"
The servant panted heavily, knelt on the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "The young man...is missing."
When Kang Randi heard this, he panicked instantly.
The young man named Kang Kejing in the servant's mouth is the youngest child of the Kang family in Shicheng Town. He is just seventeen years old. He likes to play and is lazy in his homework, which often makes the family uneasy. However,
This son is extremely intelligent, has a quick wit, and has a Sogdian business acumen, which makes him very popular among the elders in the family.
Therefore, Kang Randi doted on his youngest son. He couldn't care about anything at the moment. He stood up and shouted: "What's going on?!"
The servant trembled and said: "The young man left a letter from the family, saying that he would go to Chang'an to watch a play on the Lantern Festival."
Kang Randi said angrily: "There is also a theater troupe in Shicheng Town, and there is a theater club in Qiuci Town! Why do you have to go to Chang'an?! How on earth can a bunch of dog slaves take care of the young man?!"
The official on the side quickly reminded: "Master, the young man went out alone. I'm afraid he hasn't gone far yet."
Kang Randi patted his head: "Yes, yes! Go and summon the guards, get out of the city as soon as possible, and find the young man!"
At the same time, Shazhou Daqi Road, Changxingfang convoy.
Kang Kejing, the young man of the Kang family, was sitting on the outer edge of the cart, looking at the scenery in the desert with great interest.
The old man who was driving the car next to him had gray hair and a ruddy face. He glanced sideways at Kang Kejing. Seeing that the latter was dressed in white clothes and a hat with a rolled brim, he looked like a Sogdian, so he asked: "This is the first time.
Traveling far away?"
Kang Kejing nodded subconsciously, rolled her eyes, and said, "I have relatives at home who live in Dunhuang. I plan to visit them."
The old man smiled and said nothing more.
Kang Kejing looked around and asked the old man: "I heard that in the Shazhou Desert, there are sandstorms from time to time, and it is difficult to find oasis, making it difficult to travel. Is this possible?"
The old man drove the camel while saying: "That was in the past. Now with guides, not only can we avoid sandstorms and bad miasma along the Daqi Road, but we can also rest in oasis. For caravans, the desert has long become a thoroughfare."
.”
Kang Kejing sighed with emotion and asked the old man: "My surname is Kang and I am the fifth in the family. How do I call my father-in-law?"
The old man: "Uncle Shen."
Kang Kejing bowed her hands and said.
Uncle Shen waved his hand, indicating that the other party did not need to be polite.
After setting off from Shicheng Town, we walked to Changxingfang for four hours.
At this time, the sun and the moon appear in the sky at the same time, one to the east and one to the west, reflecting the bright colors of light and dark in the sky above our heads, coupled with the endless stretches of yellow sand, forming a strange and gorgeous landscape.
Kang Kejing saw that the convoy still had no intention of setting up camp, so she asked Uncle Shen: "It will be dark soon, why don't you stop?"
Uncle Shen raised his head and glanced in the direction of the sun and moon, and replied: "Go forward two miles and we will be there soon."
Kang Kejing was puzzled: "Are we here? Where?"
Uncle Shen didn't answer, he just drove the car and continued forward.
The motorcade moved forward for another quarter of an hour, and the sky finally turned dark.
Kang Kejing looked into the distance and vaguely saw some small lights at the end of the front.
Waiting for the convoy to get closer, Kang Kejing could clearly see the source of the light.
In the vast expanse of the desert, there is actually a post station, located on the side of the sand dunes.
The motorcade moved forward and finally stopped at the post station. The postman and the postmen walked out of the gate and greeted the visitors. "You have worked hard all the way. Come in first and have a drink of ice spring, and then look at the sign in the store."
Hearing such shouts, Kang Kejing couldn't believe her ears.
Jumping out of the car and following the other guests, Kang Kejing walked into the small courtyard. She saw that the interior of the post station was divided into inner and outer parts, left and right, several courtyards, and there were restaurants, wineries, stables, inns, shops, etc.
wait.
In Kang Kejing's view, this place is no longer like the inn that you see every day, but more like a town market where guests can rest.
Kang Kejing looked around and saw Uncle Shen, who was talking to him on the road, directing his subordinates to carry goods and place animals.
Judging from this appearance, Uncle Shen is probably the leader of the Changxingfang team and has a high status.
Kang Kejing kept this in mind and turned around to enter the restaurant at the inn.
The layout and decoration of restaurants are no worse than those in Shicheng Town, and are even more elegant.
As soon as Kang Kejing sat down, a postman poured him a glass of water and brought him a wooden sign.
Kang Kejing, who was a little thirsty, couldn't wait to take a sip of water.
As soon as the water entered his mouth, he stopped in shock.
The water is ice, and there are ice particles floating in it.
Kang Kejing was surprised. This is a desert, how could there be ice water? Could it be that they dug an ice cellar and put great effort into hiding the ice?
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Kang Kejing shook her head in disbelief, drank the ice water in one breath, and asked the postman for another glass.
Postman: "The first cup is free, the second cup is charged."
Kang Kejing was startled: "How much?"
Postman: "The prices of drinks and meals are clearly marked on the wooden sign."
Upon hearing this, Kang Kejing picked up the wooden sign and looked at it for a few times. Her eyes widened and she became more frightened as she looked at it.
A cup of ice fountain costs ten coins.
A pour of Pu wine costs eighty li.
A plate of steaming fried Luo Su was sold for 300 yuan!
The postman on the side reminded him "kindly": "If you don't bring so much money, you can use goods to offset it. If you carry gold, silver or jewelry with you, there is a pawn shop in the post station, and you can pay on the spot. If the guest is from a business or expensive company,
If you want to go to the door, you can register your ID card first and then pay on credit."
Kang Kejing shook her head helplessly, cursing in her heart that these people were thoughtful.
As the son of the guardian of Shicheng Town, he was accustomed to good wine and good food, but this was the first time he had seen such a price in his life.
However, if you don't order some food here, you can only go back to the cart and eat cold wheat cakes.
After weighing it up, Kang Kejing bit the bullet and had no choice but to order some food.
During the meal, he looked specifically at the accompanying guests.
Since this is a newly emerged town, few people are willing to spend money here, and most of them choose to eat some dry food they carry with them to satisfy their hunger.
Kang Kejing thought about it carefully. I'm afraid there are more than one such inn in the desert. For those traveling with Changxingfang, they might be able to resist buying food and drink at the first few inns. The further back they go, the harder it will be.
Control the thought of spending money.
Kang Kejing murmured in her heart, wondering who came up with this idea of turning a post station into a commercial town in the desert?
After eating, he hesitated for a while, then spent a lot of money to buy a pot of Bingluo Shao from the restaurant, kept it close to him, and then left the restaurant to find a place to stay.
In the past, travelers who traveled with Changxingfang usually slept in simple tents.
Nowadays, inns in inns not only have soft beds, but also have heaters to prevent the cold at night and provide hot water, which has naturally become a popular choice among travelers.
However, the bed fee for Datong bunk is 500 Wen per person.
If it is a good single room, the room fee will rise to about 5 guan.
Kang Kejing originally wanted to make do and wanted a full-bedroom apartment. However, considering that she had a lot of expenses, she finally asked for a single room.
At night, Kang Kejing slept on a couch with a heater burning beside her. Suddenly, she felt as if she was still at home.
Before he could close his eyes, he suddenly heard a burst of noise and laughter not far away.
Kang Kejing opened the window and looked outside.
I saw that in the backyard of the inn, the innermost row of rooms were still brightly lit.
Listen carefully, there is actually the sound of dice.
Kang Kejing sighed, closed the window, and said helplessly to herself: "There is even a gambling house..."
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