Shan Dai gritted her teeth in anger, "Ah? Are you kidding me? I just ate it a few nights ago, and a bowl is only a penny, which is more than twice as much as yours!"
"Haha, that's definitely not in the capital, right?"
"Is there anything different about this?"
Yamazaki and Shandai looked at each other. After shopping around just now, they didn't feel that things in the capital were ridiculously expensive.
The store owner shook his head and said, "I see that you are from a small place. I don't even think about it. How many people are there in the capital? Pigs are not allowed to be raised in the city. How many pigs are there? How much fresh pork is there?"
Shan Dai was stunned, what's so proud about this?
Yamazaki was curious, "How dare I ask, what kind of meat is cheap in the capital?"
"No meat is cheap."
"What kind of meat do you usually eat? Fish?"
"Fish?" the shopkeeper couldn't help but curl his lips, "There are no fish in the rivers and lakes outside the city."
"Rich families do raise a lot of fish, but they don't take it out."
"Ordinary people can only eat dried sea fish, and then buy bacon and bacon during the holidays."
"If you want to eat fresh meat, chicken is cheaper."
"Pigs are difficult to raise, and you can't raise many. If you want to eat fresh pork, you have to pay a lot of money."
Shandai was surprised, "Is there no one selling pigs?"
The shopkeeper nodded, "Yes, I remember that there was once a businessman who sold 10,000 pigs. But when the pigs were not sold, the businessman was imprisoned and all the pigs were confiscated."
"ah?"
"Don't even look at who can afford to raise a large herd of pigs in this area of the capital, and who supplies the pigs to the city. The water here is very deep."
"It turns out it's man-made."
"You can't say that. If you can't afford fresh pork, you can eat bacon and cured meat. It's easy to transport and it's quite cheap."
"No matter how cheap it is, it's still the price in Beijing."
"Of course."
Yamazaki handed over his hand, "Sorry, I'm new here. I really don't know that meat is expensive in the capital. I should make up for the food, but we still need a place to spend the night. It's hard to find a place to stay at this time. Can the store think of something?"
"That's the right attitude. You can spend the night, people are easy to deal with, and this horse is easy to deal with," the store owner thought, "That's good. I'll find a house nearby for you to sleep in for the night, and we'll see what happens tomorrow."
Yamazaki held up his hand and said, "That's all I can do. Thank you to the store."
"You can't take this for granted. It's not free, you have to pay for it."
"certainly."
…
There are two people and eight horses in the woodshed of a residential house, and the accommodation fee for one night is one tael of silver.
It was agreed that after they leave tomorrow morning, the owner's family will deal with the horse's excrement themselves.
The home does not provide any food, only well water for feeding the horses.
Man, the cost of firewood to boil a pot of water is one denarius, and cups and bowls are provided free of charge.
Carrying a kettle of boiling water from the inn cost one nickel, but a deposit was required to get the kettle, so I paid an extra nickel and boiled a pot of water.
In addition, he also bought feed for eight horses at the inn, including beans and salt, for five taels of silver.
People eat pastries, fried melon seeds, and boiled peanuts for another one or two silver.
…
After being busy until late at night, a pot of water was boiled and everything was cleared. The host happily said goodbye and went back.
In addition to the snoring of horses, the only sound in the woodshed was Shan Dai's complaints.
I originally had some expectations for the capital, but now I have nothing.
Now I just want to finish delivering the letter and go home early.
Then leave home and find a small place to stay. At least you can afford to eat braised pork every day.
…
The two of them deliberated for half the night and decided on a plan.
I don’t want to stay in Beijing anymore, and I can’t stay there any longer.
After yesterday's battle, their financial situation has reached the point where they are considering selling their horses. They really don't have the money to make any trouble.
…
the next day.
The two had to spend money to boil a pot of water, wash and drink, change out of their wrinkled and horse-smelling clothes into a set of clean clothes, and then lead the horse out.
First go to the second aunt’s grandma’s house to send a greeting note. Don’t reply to the note to make an appointment. Just write down that you will be there before noon.
Regardless of whether they are free or not at home, make up your mind, just send the things and leave.
Then I went to the same stores as yesterday to pick up the goods. At the same time, I didn’t think too much about any ideas. I used my mother-in-law Tian Xin’s money to buy another rouge and gouache worth fifty taels, and stuffed the remaining nine hundred and fifty taels inside.
Finally, he led eight horses carrying various boxes and went to the second aunt's grandma's house.
…
It was a medium-sized Sanjin courtyard, and the servants were brought there by my second aunt.
The second aunt's grandfather has been an official for decades and is now a fifth-grade casual official, Qingshui Official of Qingshui Yamen. If it were not for the supplement provided by the second aunt's grandma, he would have died of illness in the capital.
But he didn't like money, and his second aunt didn't dare to show off her wealth. She gave him big fish and meat every day, and the servants couldn't get past him, so everyone in the yard was quite slim.
…
The house opened wide to welcome guests, and the brother and sister handed the horses to the porter, and then, led by the butler, went straight into the main hall to bow.
The second aunt's grandpa is not here, so the second aunt's grandma is alone in the high seat, which is convenient for talking.
Yamazaki handed the old lady's letter first and waited for his second aunt to read it.
"My sister-in-law is really thoughtful. She will go back and thank her for me. I can't go to Yi'er's wedding because people from all walks of life are here."
"Yes, my grandnephew will definitely tell you."
Yamazaki took out the letter from his adoptive mother and submitted it again.
"Second aunt, grandma, there was a banknote in the letter from the adoptive mother. It was the grandnephew who was worried about being seen by the second aunt and grandpa, so he also learned to stuff the rouge box."
"In addition, because my great-nephew was cheated by the braised pork in Beijing yesterday, he really has no money to buy it, so he can only break the banknote. Please forgive me."
"ha."
The second aunt's grandmother burst out laughing, and the housekeeper and servants couldn't stop laughing. They turned their heads and covered their faces.
Yamazaki bowed, "It's my grandnephew who's being rude."
The second aunt's grandmother waved her hand, "It's okay, no need to be polite, this is really a trick for outsiders, the yamen is full of such people."
Yamazaki stood up, held up his hands and said again: "Grandma Second Aunt, please forgive my grandnephew for being bold. The imperial court is such a thing. The capital is a place of disputes. Grandma Second Aunt would be better off asking Grandpa Second Aunt to resign and leave Beijing as soon as possible."
The second aunt's grandmother sighed: "Why didn't I want to, but he doesn't want to leave."
Shandai suggested, "It's easy. Just knock him out and take him away. Just say he can't serve the king due to illness."
The second aunt's grandmother was funny, "Resigning due to illness is not something you just say casually. Imperial doctors will come to diagnose and treat you. They are all medical experts and can detect anything by then."
Shan Dai continued, "Then bribe them,"
The second aunt's grandmother waved her hand, "Impossible. It is a grave sin to deceive the emperor."
Yamazaki saluted again, "Please forgive my roommate for being rude."
"It's okay, these are the Jianghu people."
"Thank you to my second aunt for your magnanimity. The grandnephew will leave now."
"Okay, I won't let you eat anymore. The world is your world, so go ahead."
"yes!"
…
The brother and sister kowtowed again and then left the main hall together.
In the front yard, the boxes on the eight horses have been unloaded, and they are just being led around.
The two of them walked out of the capital under the steward's escort, then mounted their horses and left.
…
There are many people on the road, so it is difficult to speed up by riding a horse.
We didn't reach the outskirts until the afternoon, and decided to stay in an inn.
I didn’t dare to eat braised pork this time, but I didn’t spend much money in one night.
There are really two scenes inside and outside the capital.
…
the next day.
Going out early in the morning, riding a horse and walking quickly, I suddenly felt a sense of relief that the sea and sky were open for fish to jump.
In order to save money, we traveled early and stayed overnight, riding the eight horses in turns. Each horse ran fast for less than half an hour, nearly four hours in one day, all spent on the horses, and even lunch was saved.
I hope to get home quickly and not have to sell the horse for money along the way.
…
Unfortunately, after three consecutive days of success, the weather failed and it rained in the afternoon.
I thought the rain would be light, but it turned out to be heavier and heavier, and even the woods couldn't cover it.
In the end, we had to turn onto a side road, and there was an abandoned village over there.