38. Even the extras are yearning for a beautiful spring
Even in winter, wine shops all over Jinyang City are still doing good business.
Although in this unique winter of this year, officials and even scholars from powerful families who came to Jinyang to study for some reason that has not been spread have left Jinyang and returned to their hometowns that may be far away, but the consumption power of ordinary people has gradually improved.
It still makes merchants forget about those guys who can no longer provide them with much profit.
It's not that they have forgotten the long-term interests, it's just that they don't want to miss this new opportunity that looks good in front of them.
For example, this hotel called "Muggle", well, when you hear this name, you should be able to guess that this is definitely an industry related to Bingzhou Mufu. After all, no one in this era would be interested in this hotel.
Before it appeared, I thought of using such a name as the name of the wine shop, so from another perspective, this hotel is also highly recognizable.
The newly renovated Muggle hotel has a somewhat different layout than elsewhere - a large square-foot-shaped counter on the street. There is hot water in the cabinet, which can be used to warm wine at any time. Although it is a hotel run by the Li family, it can be used by all kinds of people.
People who come here to enjoy it, after taking off their work in the afternoon and evening, can buy a bowl of turbid wine for three and a half baht, stand by the counter, drink it hot, and take a rest.
If you are willing to spend an extra penny or two, you can
You can buy a plate of salted dried beans or fennel beans to go with the wine, and if you spend more than 20 cents, you can buy some fried meat dishes. But most of the customers outside the counter are not so wealthy.
, so I can only watch those guys with some status slowly walking into the house next to the store, asking for wine and food, and slowly sitting down to drink. As for whether these people choose the lobby or the private rooms where they need to spend more. Yes.
People outside the closet are the same.
This does not make any difference to those workers who are off work.
Although winter is usually a time for recuperation, even if there is some work, it is just farmers repairing farm tools at home, and fishermen repairing fishing gear at home, which means that the business of craftsmen is relatively prosperous. After all, the severe cold in winter is obviously unlikely to affect
The fire room where people spend most of their time in the high temperature. And the government office
Generally speaking, corvées are not imposed in winter. Unless there is an emergency, but even so, sieges such as digging river channels will never be carried out in winter. After all, Jinyang is located in the north, and the cold wind in winter will blow the city away.
The ground was so frozen that there was no need for wooden tools, not even iron tools.
However, as Li Shushi's rule became more and more stable, more and more people of all kinds gathered in Jinyang, coupled with the emergence of various new professions and new products. Even in the originally peaceful winter, it now became...
It's noisy. Some people are even looking forward to the arrival of winter. Although this time is the most difficult time of the year, it can often bring in a lot of extra income.
Because of this, even though it is winter, the business atmosphere in Jinyang City is still very strong, and even for some reasons, some businesses here seem to have become more popular.
Of course, most of these things have nothing to do with the workers who work in various shops. For them, the best enjoyment in the world is to come here after work and drink one or two bowls of wine that is perfectly scalded and not too sour.
, and because it is the end of the year, both shop owners and merchants are spending more money than usual, so these people can also buy some food to go with wine, and those with children may buy more. It makes the family happy.
Add a little more atmosphere.
Xu Dali and Wang Shitou were one of this group of people. Although they did not work in the same store, they were men from the same background. They became familiar with each other after drinking together several times. After talking, they became familiar with each other.
They feel they are very compatible with each other.
"Dali, did you hear that? Our Wang family is recruiting people within the family recently. It sounds like we are in need of a large number of strong young people to expand the western trade routes. The treatment sounds very good. Not only is the salary equivalent to half a year's salary advanced, but also
From now on, there will be no need for money for food and accommodation. Even though life may be a bit harder and there may be some risks, but as long as you work for three years, you can earn enough money to marry a wife. And if you do well, there will be
Maybe I’ll marry a sister from the Wang family’s concubine.”
"It's indeed a good thing, but it's a pity that you are still more or less related to the King of Jinyang, so I have no hope. But I have also heard that several big companies in the East City have begun to take action, and I heard the same
Recruiting young people like yours is also for the purpose of
I don't know if it's the same thing as expanding business routes. And I also heard that they give priority to recruiting veterans. If they can get a camp leader and a hundred-man general before retiring, it will be a level of store manager.
salary."
"What, are you going to give it a try?"
"I have been tempted, but my father is worried. This is recruiting young people, recruiting veterans, etc. I'm afraid it's going to be a war. Those big businessmen are making such a big noise. They shouldn't be rebelling. Listen to the north
They are making trouble again, maybe the conscription is just for this matter. But those big businessmen are going to the west. They are all learned people, and the east, west, north and south should be clearly distinguished."
"Anyway, whether it's a war or something else, I have to sign up this time. I don't know if I can be chosen, but I definitely can't give up this good opportunity. She is the sister of the Zong family, even if she is a concubine.
, that is also a white, tender, and succulent girl, that is a woman I have never dreamed of, if I can sleep for one night, it will be worth it even if I die!"
"Listening to what you said, I also think I should give it a try. If I were rich, maybe her father could marry Jiumei from Liushi to me. I don't have high demands. I can give my brother and I two
My younger brother will buy a hectare of land in my hometown, marry them a wife, and then have seven or eight children with Jiumei. I won't have any big demands in this life, and my parents won't have to worry about it anymore.
"
It is always easy for men to resonate when they talk about their dreams and achievements. Especially this kind of goal, which in the eyes of these lower-class people is between reality and "slightly distant beautiful ideals", can arouse the enthusiasm of many people.
In fact, I don't have a very peaceful mind.
So the other workers who were also drinking here also participated in the discussion. They were all at the age when their vitality was most vigorous, and their long-term work had made them strong. Although they lacked combat experience, if it was just a comparison of strength.
They may not be any worse than the soldiers in the military camp. With a little training, they will be a good group of... new recruits.
As the conversation continued, the atmosphere became more and more lively, and even the idle waiters at the front desk and in the store joined in the discussion.
Some of them may not be destined to really do anything, or they may be satisfied with their current lives. The temptation from the outside world is not enough to make them abandon their seemingly stable lives.
Then plunge into a new journey where the risks are completely unknown - some people are destined to take risks, while others are not destined to be.
It wasn't until their voices disturbed the "noble people" who were sitting and drinking in the store that the shopkeeper came forward and dispersed the chatters, calming down the originally heated atmosphere.
It's just that after this calm, it is unknown how many people were inspired to have courage or desire in their hearts.
Or, although you are stimulated with passion and enthusiasm, when you return home and calm down, the original enthusiasm and passion will be crowded out and replaced by other emotions, and then you wake up and return to your previous life.
among.
It’s not that I don’t want to change, or that I don’t have dreams. Maybe I just lack the courage to bet on the future that is like gambling.
After all, although successful people look golden, if you think about it carefully, you can see the bones beneath the golden light. Once a general succeeds, he can transform from a rookie recruit who is most likely to lose his life on the battlefield to a less so.
Veterans who easily lose their lives can truly climb to the position of glory in their dreams, with abilities, courage, and that illusory luck.
When I was impulsive, I thought I had all the luck. I thought I was the protagonist of this story. Then in the long river of time, I kept hitting walls and bowing to various realities.
In fact, for this group of people at the bottom, their youthful passion and dreams have long been worn away by the hardships of life. Even if you can easily awaken the long-lost enthusiasm buried in their hearts, if they are not able to
When they are excited, the passion will burst out. When they calm down again, the passion will be frozen again.
Then, probably when they are old and frail, they will say to their grandchildren something like, "That now-famous so-and-so stood drinking with your grandfather outside the counter. In fact, he was just like that back then."
, It's just good luck." Or, "The graves buried in the hill at the east end of the city are several of the brothers who stood drinking with your grandfather. It's just that your grandfather and I are not as impulsive as them, so I can
It’s a story of living peacefully until now instead of becoming a lonely ghost.”
Finally, I don’t know when I will die and it will not cause the slightest ripples in this society.
Coming in obscurity and leaving in obscurity, in fact, this is the experience of most people who make up this society.
To be a hero for a second, or to be an ordinary person for a lifetime?
This may be a question that will never have a correct answer.
"Although we have to keep it a secret, look at how busy it has become in just such a short period of time. In this way, just any interested person will know what our Bingzhou Army is planning to do next.
.”
"Haha, do you think that with the wisdom of my lord and the people around me, I can't see this?"
"Brother, what do you mean... is it possible that the master deliberately let the wind out? In fact, this is just a cover, there are other actions behind the scenes, and the momentum is so big, I'm afraid it should be a big one
Take action."
"I don't know if there will be other big moves, but one thing I can be sure of is that in this matter, the Lord will not just be a cover-up, but actually do it. Otherwise, with those old guys
How can we be easily fooled by our shrewdness?"
"Since eldest brother is like this, I can rest assured that all the previous preparations were not in vain."
"You have to think carefully. This road is a road of no return. If you take this road, you must succeed. If you can't do it, then not only will your life be ruined by this matter, but also
Even your family members couldn’t lift their heads for a long time.”
"I have thought about it, I have thought about it, how could I not have thought about it. I thought about this matter for several nights before I finally made up my mind."
"But my lord has said it himself. For those scholars, college students, businessmen and common people who have no status, as long as they show good ability, they will have the opportunity to join the Bingzhou Army. However, if they were once officials of the Bingzhou Army but resigned from their posts to become merchants,
, then unless they perform extremely well or make great contributions, it is possible to return. And if they are unable to return, the descendants of these former officials who became businessmen will not have the opportunity to become officials if they do not make great contributions within three generations.
So no matter how much you think about it, it’s not too much to think about it, and don’t let yourself regret it for the rest of your life just because of your impulse.”
"I also understand what brother means. Because I understand it very well, I don't want to continue thinking about it. I'm afraid that if I continue to think about it, I will be shaken and give up this rare opportunity. In the end, I will spend this life with endless regrets.
.
After all, before I actually joined the Bingzhou Army, I still felt that I was still a person. The only people who could compare with me were my eldest brother, Dong Zhongying, Han Wenyue, and Li Shushi. Even if I look at the whole country, I can't think of two people.
The number of two feet.
However, now I realize that I was wrong, really wrong, and it could be a big mistake. Only now do I understand how many heroes there are in the world. People with ability are more than capable. Damn it.
Thanks to your cover, brother, and the kindness of my lord, I have reached my current position, but I also know very well that if there are no great opportunities, my whole life will be like this.
So brother, do you know how excited I was when I heard the news. This is a big opportunity, and this is the big opportunity I want. I can even be sure that if I miss this opportunity, I will never be able to do it again.
It is impossible to encounter a second new opportunity. The moment I heard the news, I told myself that this opportunity was tailor-made for me!"
"Well, in this case, I won't dissuade you as a brother. Now that you have decided to embark on this path, you can no longer regret it."
"Don't worry, brother, I'm fully prepared and I will definitely make a name for myself this time!"
"Don't be so full of words. You have to know that there are many families involved this time, and we may not necessarily have a good chance. Although the relationship between our family and the Qiang people is very complicated, and although there are many battles, it is not without them.
Pay it forward. But we are not the only family with similar families, and those guys may have an advantage in running a business compared to a family like ours that only knows how to fight."
"Brother, you are very good. But since I dare to boast to Haikou, I naturally won't lack the confidence to come here."
I don’t know what the two people whispered after that, but occasionally I could hear words such as "Jincheng", "Yang Gui", "Cheng Gong", etc., and the expression on the face of the "eldest brother" who passed by
He became more and more surprised and couldn't hide it at all.
After talking for a while, seeing the shocked face of his "eldest brother", the man who planned to join in this great change finally showed a cheerful smile. In his heart, he was somewhat complacent about his plan, although this plan could have been obtained by chance.
opportunity, but being able to connect this chance opportunity with this great change can indeed be regarded as an astute response.
"Okay! In this case, brothers, please support Li to give it all this time. If you are short of any people or materials, just ask. Even if the clan cannot get it, brother, I am also General Sizhou after all, and I still have the ability to help you.
Give alms."
Qu Yi poured a whole bowl of warm wine into his stomach, and then smashed the wine bowl on the dining table. His eyes were red and his expression was excited. Apparently after hearing some news from his clan brother Qu Yan, this man who wanted to
General Sizhou, who has established more achievements, has also become more active. Some connections may not be used now, but who knows where in the future there will be opportunities to use them?
As for Qu Yan, although he made a very risky decision, he was a little nervous at first, but now that he has received the affirmation and full support of his "eldest brother" Qu Yi, whom he has always admired, he suddenly feels that the matter is over.
It became more than three points.
This casual food-foraging trip for the two brothers ended in a joyful atmosphere. When the two staggered out of the private room and were borrowed by their own guards, the waiter who cleaned up the private room discovered that the two
This guy drank a total of seven large bottles of strong liquor, and this amount was enough for five big men who had a good drink capacity.
Some of the service staff who knew the identity of these two people couldn't help but secretly marvel. Perhaps in their view, in order to become an excellent general, obviously in addition to strong martial arts, perhaps a high drinker is also a necessary condition.
The night is getting darker.
"Madam, bring me a bowl of hangover soup. Also, don't tell me how long I have been asleep."
"It's already half past midnight. It's really over. Don't touch me. I smell so bad of alcohol."
"Haha," after taking the hangover soup, Qu Yan couldn't help shaking his head. Although he didn't feel like he drank much when he drank it because he was excited, in fact, the alcohol didn't matter because you felt drunk.
How much time has passed has changed, even if Qu Yan, a man from the northwest, can be regarded as an existence tested by alcohol, he still feels like his brain is in chaos.
"Although I drank a little more, it was worth it. Didn't you see the way my eldest brother's eyes lit up when he heard the plan I gave him? It's really satisfying. Who is my eldest brother?
There are not many people he can look at in the eyes.
Well, even if I, a member of my family, looks down on me, even if I don't know anything on weekdays, when I talk, it's just perfunctory, and at most I won't say bad words. How could I be like today, oh no, I was drinking yesterday.
That’s what it looked like at that time.”
"Hey, do you really have to go? Dong Zhongying was so majestic in our Xiliang back then, what has become of him now; Han Wen's appointment in our Jincheng was considered a cover-up at the beginning, but where is he now? Even my eldest brother
,also……"
After he finished, he couldn't help but his eyes turned red, which made Qu Yan feel embarrassed for a while.
He knew exactly why his wife had such an expression.
His wife was the legitimate daughter of the powerful Jiang family in Jincheng County. She was originally going to marry Han Sui and become his concubine, but later Jiang Shi, Tian Le and others rebelled and killed Han Sui.
Then, the marriage naturally ended - of course
, because Jiang Shi, Tian Le and others disappeared afterwards, not only did Han Sui's death become an unsolved case, but also the family of these people became a public figure in the turmoil among the powerful Jincheng County caused by Han Sui's death.
A piece of cake that you want to share.
It was precisely because of this opportunity that Qu Yan, who had already moved the main forces of the Qu family out of Jincheng, made a comeback. Although he did not directly move the family back to Jincheng County, he did so by marrying the Jiang family's daughter.
His actions brought the Qu family into contact with the Jiang family
They were connected and contacted at the same time as the Yunwu Tian family and the Yang family who had lost their control over the family business. In the end, they not only saved the family business of these three families, but also made the Qu family a global leader.
Jincheng and Zhangye are powerful and powerful places.
Of course, there is an air of conspiracy behind this matter. Several counselors from Xiliang obviously contributed a lot to this matter, and these arrangements were also used when Li Shushi swallowed up the entire Xiliang.
certain effect.
Although these things have little to do with the conversation between husband and wife today, it is understandable why Ms. Qu and Jiang are secretly sad. After all, a woman who has experienced the sudden disappearance of a relative is very worried that her closest husband will also disappear from her.
Her eldest brother followed in her footsteps, and if something like that really happened, it would be a huge blow to her.
Seeing his wife's sad look, Qu Yan hesitated to speak, and finally sighed slightly.
For women in the family, sometimes the less they know, the less unnecessary trouble they may have.
In this way, I found a reason for myself in my heart, and the expression on Qu Yan's face became much calmer.
However, because he was temporarily unable to extricate himself from his own world, his wife did not notice these changes in her husband for the time being.
"When I come back in glory, you will definitely find that everything I have done is worth it!"
This is both a promise to my wife and a vow to myself.
The oath a man makes with his life is worth fulfilling in his life!
Pan Sen: I’m very busy. Since it’s a long journey, I need to consider all kinds of possibilities... To be continued...
