Chapter 1 The Golden Age (1) Autumn has entered, but the weather is still as hot as midsummer. Zhang Baosheng, the shopkeeper, moved a mazaar and sat in front of his small restaurant while watching the sunset and blowing the cool breeze with his tongue out.
This son of a bitch's weather is as miserable as a son of a bitch's life. The hot summer heat penetrates to the bones. Even the breath is sticky and wet. It's as greasy as the stains on the edge of the stove. On the official road, passers-by carry
The raised dust floated in the air, and unknowingly turned the upside-down "fence" (Note 1) on the wall of the restaurant into a muddy ball. It was black and exuded a wisp of rancid odor.
The smell is even more unappetizing when smelled in the nostrils
If it were in the early years, Zhang Baosheng would still be in the mood to fill up a bucket of well water and wipe clean the "fence" on the wall and the smoky signboard above his head. In the Shanggu and Hejian area, this "fence" represents restaurants and
The hotel, like the official script sign above the head, is the face of the owner. At that time, his restaurant had just opened, and it was a good year in Renshou. Every day, there were more than a dozen "meat hao" (note 2) in the account.
Occasionally, if you are lucky enough to meet a big customer one day, it is possible to earn even half a piece of silk. Zhang Baosheng’s house and the fifty acres of land near the Yishui River were purchased at that time.
At that time, Zhang Baosheng remembered that he wanted to wipe the plaque above his head three times every day that read "Youjian Inn". This plaque was written by Zhang Baosheng after spending three sheep. He asked Old Master Yang in Yi County School to write it down.
He once served as the recorder of Mr. Yang Su, the Duke of Yue. If he hadn't loved the simple and friendly people here, he would never have settled in Shanggu County. Although the plaque he wrote while drunk did not have the word "Ruyi", it sounded like "Linfeng".
It's a good word, but it's more natural than anything else. Thinking about the way a traveler suddenly sees the words "youjian inn" on the official road that can't be seen at a glance, he suddenly feels hungry and thirsty, and walks in to stay for one night and eat for two.
A bowl of wheat rice and a few cups of turbid wine are also expected.
Unfortunately, the good times did not last long, and the Year of Renshou came to an end soon. Then the reign became a great cause. After the wise and powerful new emperor came to the throne, he first built the Great Wall and then opened the canal, which completely used up all the savings in the treasury.
After his family property was completely ruined, it was time to stop, but he didn't want to. At the beginning of this year, he heard the saying "when a benevolent king ascends the throne, all nations will come to court" from somewhere, and he strongly invited the khans from all over the world to gather in Luoyang.
, ordered that all places along the way must be poured with clear water on the streets, loess paved roads, shops and restaurants, and barbarians are not allowed to ask for money when eating or drinking.
People say that the emperor is a sage, and everything he sees is reflected in the same pupil, that is, one eye sees two shadows, which is twice as clear as ordinary people. But the emperor does not know how to pay for meals. Shanggu County is close to the border.
, Xi people, Khitans, and Turks came and went frequently. Everyone had been interacting for a long time, and it was impossible to tell who was a Hu'er and who was a Han. After the emperor's preferential treatment order, there were immediately more Hu people in the four fields. True, false,
Groups of fake barbarians ate along the official road like locusts, as if the locals owed them a lifetime debt. After all this trouble, what benefit did the emperor get? Everyone didn't know that Zhang Baosheng knew that his tavern had resigned because of this.
He took charge of the job, dismissed his workers, and gave half of the fifty acres of land by the Yishui River to others. I used to go home every day and the old man would coax him to fill the house happily, but now his face has become cold and he wishes he could sleep in the tavern in the front yard.
bench
The tavern, which has no money to hire a waiter and cannot afford to support the hard-working waiters, is naturally becoming more and more deserted. Zhang Baosheng, who used to be so busy every day, is now free. After noon, he can move the mazaar and look forward to the sunset. He is very busy.
When the neighbors come home for the day, if any of them can sell half a catty of wine, it will satisfy his last hope of making money for the day.
Although the business is deserted, the taxes in the yamen still have to be paid to the Yixian Hutai. A few days ago (Note 3) Mr. Li's errand boy Zhao Er came to the house to take care of him. This year, "Youjian Inn" will have to pay an extra five yuan.
Zhang Sheng's cow hides and Zhang Baosheng's were so coveted that Zhao Er, the head of the family, reduced the number of cow hides from five to two for the sake of two jars of sesame oil and a jar of aged flower carvings. However, he required that he go to the county before winter.
Delivery, otherwise, Zhang Baosheng will be responsible for any consequences
Youdao is "the county magistrate who broke his family and the prefect who skinned his family". Zhang Baosheng knew the consequences of not paying taxes. Several of his colleagues in the county are now living in the inn (prison) opened by the government. It is said that there are
It was two meals a day, fried with bamboo shoots and slices of meat. Every now and then, a bloody person would be carried out from the back door and thrown into the wilderness to feed the dogs. However, the government did not allow people to kill cattle. Sick cattle and mutilated cattle were always in short supply.
If you want to find a way to use donkey skins to replenish your account, you have to find a place to find donkeys.
The number of pedestrians on both sides of the official road gradually increased, and the villagers from wealthy families, holding their wooden shovels, led their animals to the master's house to do the work. These people did not know how to buy Zhang Baosheng's water and wine, so he could not summon up the energy to say hello to everyone, his eyes were straight.
Looking at the end of the official road, looking forward to the stars and the moon, hoping that merchants returning from beyond the Great Wall would pass by. Only they have the best leather goods in their hands, and only they can give Zhang Baosheng hope to continue to survive.
"Uncle Baosheng, business is good today!" Beside the official road, a young man on horseback raised his whip and pointed his halberd.
"Wuzi, thanks to your elder brother, we had three groups of guests today, and the kitchen is not cold!" Zhang Baosheng stood up, beating his numb legs, and agreed loudly.
The young man from Zhang Da's family who greeted him in the front village was Zhang Baosheng's nephew according to his seniority. Although the two families stopped moving together after Zhang Baosheng opened a restaurant and went into business, they are still the same ancestral hall and have blood ties with each other.
No matter how close we are, we can never be separated from each other.
"My father said, if you really can't support yourself, just close the inn! There are so many juniors in the clan, no matter what, we won't let Uncle Baosheng starve!" Wu Wazi rode his horse and took a few steps forward, turned around and said,
Pointing with the whip, he said
"I'm sorry for bothering you, my brother, Wu Wazi. I'll send someone back to bring a jar of wine to rinse my mouth out!" Zhang Baosheng tried his best to stand up straight with his already somewhat burdened waist and replied. Wu Wazi is the best in the county school. It is said that he is the best in the county school.
He had the opportunity to be promoted by the county and go to the capital to take the scientific examination. In front of such a young man with a bright future, he did not dare to act like an uncle. As for the words of Zhang Baoliang, the father of Wuwazi, Zhang Baosheng just pretended not to have heard it at the Inn at the beginning of the year.
The company couldn't make money, so he asked this family to borrow money. The price Zhang Baosheng paid was to sell thirty acres of good land. If he closed the inn and returned to his family to retire as he said, Zhang Baosheng estimated that he would also have to pay for the remaining twenty acres of good land.
Changed owner
"Thank you, Uncle Baosheng. I will send someone to get it later. My father loves nothing else but this one!" Wu Wazi said with a smile and said goodbye to Zhang Baosheng. He patted his mount and melted into the afterglow of the setting sun.
"Alas!" Zhang Baochang sighed. He doesn't blame the sky or the earth, he blames himself for not having a son who is also studying under Mr. Yang in the county school. If he has a son with a bright future like Wuwazi, those helpers in the yamen
, who among the gangsters in the village and the elders of the clan would dare to come and bully them?
Thinking of the county school, he suddenly felt hope that his nephew was also studying in the county school. In terms of reputation, talent and learning, he was no worse than Wu Wazi. Since Xiao Wu of the Zhang family could rush home from the county school today, his nephew
Li Xu might come back. If he could meet him, the difficulties he faced might be solved.
With the idea of giving it a try, Zhang Baosheng did not close the door with a heart full of disappointment as before. Instead, he beat his sore back and continued to look towards the official road. As expected, after about a cup of tea, the official road
A blue and white mule came running up, and on the back of the mule, a tall young man with slender arms bowed to him from a distance.
"Uncle, are you busy today? Do you want me to help you wash the dishes?" As the young man spoke, he had already arrived in front of the inn. With a press of his hand and a lift of his leg, he jumped off the mule's back neatly and turned the reins to the inn.
Tie it lightly on the hitching post, spread your legs and walk inside
"I can't do it, I can't do it, Mr. Xu Guan, you are a scholar, you can't do such a despicable job!" Seeing that the young man was serious, Zhang Baosheng quickly stretched out his arms to block the greasy twist arm, but he did not dare to touch the young man's green shirt.
Being squeezed back again and again
"Why not? If you read the book, you will no longer be my uncle. If my mother hears this, she will definitely come to your door to argue with you!" The young man gently pushed Zhang Baosheng's arm away with his hand and flexibly squeezed into the inn.
The first floor, which can only accommodate a dozen tables, actually has nothing to deal with. Since business is really deserted, many places where people don't often sit are covered in dust. Li Xu doesn't want his uncle to think that he can only talk, so he takes off his clothes outside.
He picked up a rag and wiped all the tables and chairs, then fetched a ladder, climbed up the door beam, cleaned the smoky inn sign to its original appearance, and then took off the old "fence" on the wall, from
I found some used ones in the kitchen and replaced them, then put the items away and went to the wooden basin to get water to wash my face.
Zhang Baosheng watched from the side, feeling warm and comfortable in his heart as if he had drank half a pound of daughter's red wine. He had no children, and it was rare for his two daughters to return home after they left the pavilion. His wife died, and the second wife filled the house and did not continue his incense, so
He had always regarded Li Xu as half a son. When he saw his nephew preparing to say goodbye, he suddenly remembered that he had not seen his child for more than two months. His big hand touched his waist several times, but he could not find a suitable greeting greeting.
He slapped his forehead hard and said: "Look at my memory, don't rush home yet. I brewed several jars of old wine for your father and collected the water according to the recipe passed down by the barbarians. Hang up.
Take it back on the back of a mule to keep your father warm in the winter!"
"That won't work. How much time did it take to make this jar of wine? It's more serious to keep it and sell it. My father went to the outside of the Great Wall to do some shopping, and it will be a while before he comes back!" The young man put his long gown on his body.
While rejecting loudly
People in Yanzhao have a strong temperament, and they even like to drink strong wine. It is very difficult to obtain strong wine. In order to improve the taste of rice wine, winemakers need to use secret processing methods many times to remove most of the water in the wine to make the wine rich.
So much so that a jar of old wine often costs five times as much as ordinary wine. Even in good years, young people would not be able to bear to plunder such an expensive gift from their uncle's house. What's more, it's such a precious gift right now.
When Zhang Baosheng's inn is on the verge of bankruptcy
"Take it, Xuguan, otherwise you will not give your uncle face!" Zhang Baosheng lovingly patted his nephew's face with his oily hand and ordered in a low voice. This child was born during the reign of Emperor Kaihuang. He was well raised in his mother's womb and has obviously grown.
Zhang Fuqi had to tie his hair after the Chinese New Year (Note 4), but as an uncle, he couldn't even give him a decent gift to tie his hair. Thinking about it, he felt a little sad, and he sighed with self-pity and lowered his head.
, slowly walked towards the wine cellar in the backyard.
When Li Xu saw his uncle sighing, he knew that his actions had made the old man sad again, so he had to stay silently in the inn and wait for a while. Zhang Baosheng turned back, holding not only a large jar of wine, but also a willow basket holding the wine jar.
On the top, two more dried muntjacs were hung, as well as half a bag of dried shepherd's purse, shredded radish, etc.
"How can this happen? If I search for you like this, my mother will have to do something to the family when I get back!" Li Xu held up his hands with a look of embarrassment on his face.
"Wine and food to go with the wine? My uncle will not give it to you for free. You can ask him to help your uncle ask who has the hides of raw cows or donkeys, horses and other large animals to sell. The yamen is in a hurry.
My uncle is willing to pay a suitable price for it." Zhang Baosheng smiled honestly, and was happy that he had finally found a suitable excuse to give a gift. The young man couldn't help but refuse and hung the wicker basket on the back of the mule. Then, he changed his mind again.
He took off a skin bag from his waist and forced it into Li Xu's hand.
"This was in the eighteenth year of the founding of the Emperor. Several military lords who went to Liaodong to seek merit were drunk. They fell into my inn for more than ten years and no one came back to look for me. I'm afraid no one wanted to kill my uncle Xunmo.
It should be a good bow, so I keep it for you to play with every year. Next year you will be fifteen. You Li family is very particular about finding wealth immediately, so I have a good bow right now!"
The young man knew that this was a hair-tying gift from his uncle and did not dare to refuse. The moment he took it with his hands, he felt a warm feeling. He didn't know whether it was his uncle's body temperature or the black and inconspicuous bow bag.
When I untied the leather cord on the bow bag and looked again, I saw a two-and-a-half-foot-long horn bow lying among the fine hairs. The color was as warm and moist as jet jade (Note 5)
Shanggu County is close to the border. It was once the place where the flying general Li Guang was stationed. Therefore, the people are fond of martial arts. As long as they are not particularly poor, they usually let their children learn swords, bows, horses, and fists from a wild master for self-defense. So Li Xu used
With a quick glance, he knew that what his uncle had given him was a top-quality bow. If it were to be put on the market, it would probably cost less than three or five pieces of meat and would not be exchanged at all. At this time, he couldn't be polite anymore and could only
I salute again to thank my uncle for his kindness.
Seeing that the gift was liked by his nephew, Zhang Baosheng was even more proud than having earned dozens of coins. As he closed the door and window and prepared to close the stall, he warned, "This bow has not been used for a long time. It is so hard that you can play with it harder."
Son, don't hurt your body. This thing is just a plaything after all. You are excellent in both morals and learning. In the future, you will be promoted as a scholar, pass the imperial examination, be released as the county magistrate, the county magistrate, and shine on the family lintel. No one like me will be my uncle anymore.
Dare you underestimate me..."
Note 1: Jianli is a special utensil for fishing rice in the north. One end of the wooden handle has a net made of thin bamboo strips. In the countryside of Hebei Province, the custom of hanging this thing outside the wall to mark restaurants continued until the 1980s.
Note 2: Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty recast the five-branch coin and banned the bad coins issued in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. This coin has "good meat on the back, both with Zhou Guo, and each thousand coins weighs four kilograms and two taels", so the people call it
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, meat was good and silk cloth was used as currency throughout the country.
Note 3: In the Sui Dynasty, there were Hutai and military troughs in the county. Their status was equivalent to that of the county magistrate. The Hutai was responsible for tax collection, population statistics and other tasks. His subordinates could recruit helpers (co-administration). The state did not issue salary for helpers, and the Hutai was responsible for the work.
Deductions from local taxes gradually became a shortcut for officials to plunder local areas.
Note 4: Hair binding generally refers to when a man is around 15 years old. At this time, he should learn various skills. "Book of Rites of Dadai; Baofu": "Tie your hair and enter the university. If you learn great skills, you will be able to perform well."
Note 5: Han ruler, one foot is about 23.1 centimeters today
Note from Drunkard: It is not easy to open a new book. Three updates are planned today. Readers are asked to click, recommend, collect and promote it. An error has been corrected.
