The scene in Nanjing is different from that in Xiangyang. In addition to the large number of people, the main difference lies in the abundance of goods.
In addition to daily necessities, rice, oil and salt, there are silk brocades from Suzhou, porcelain from Jingdezhen, pens, inks, paper and inkstones from Huizhou, swords and screens from Japan, deer antlers from Korea, etc. It can be said that there is a dazzling array of everything.
Wearing a Confucian shirt, with a fluttering crown and belt, his tall and straight figure is very handsome, and he is elegant and heroic.
Zhu Yixi was very satisfied with his dress. This was his first time wearing a Confucian shirt, and his elegant look was very novel.
"Sir, you look even more handsome than those scouts!"
When Yang Le saw this, he praised happily.
"That's it!" Zhu Yixi nodded slightly.
He felt proud, but he was very calm.
Wandering among the streets and alleys, the big girls along the way looked back one after another.
Zhu Yixi seemed to have forgotten about the previous collision.
After working hard for several years, it seemed that he could relax a little and wander around the city.
However, he already suffered from occupational diseases. Although he was sightseeing, he kept thinking about it.
The price of food, the market for official salt, and the faces of the people on the street.
Obviously, the living standard of Nanjing people is good, after all, they are supported by the whole south.
Unknowingly, he came to Zhuangyuan Building.
The huge flag fluttered in the wind and seemed to cover half of the street.
The three floors were overcrowded, and a large number of scholars and scholars were drunk and singing. It was not yet night, otherwise when the Qinhuai River cleansers came, the pipa and pipe music played, it would be even more lively.
"This young master, please come in."
With a long tone, the waiter quickly arranged to be seated.
"Just serve a few side dishes."
Yang Le gave the order directly.
There were too many people and there were no private rooms available. Zhu Yixi was not particular about it, so she sat down by the window and admired the atmosphere of the market.
"Have you heard? Enko will be held next spring."
"Isn't this nonsense? Your Majesty must have Enko to ascend the throne."
A few readers couldn't help but enjoy it.
"Several provinces in the north have fallen, which reduces our pressure a lot."
"Hey, that's a good idea. There's nothing wrong with other provinces. This year's provincial examination will increase to 200 people. Our own people will really have to fight to the death."
Hearing this, people at several nearby tables also agreed.
Zhu Yixi shook his head. Although the people from Jiangnan are arrogant, they are telling the truth.
After casually tasting a few dishes, Zhu Yixi put down his chopsticks. Although the food tasted good, it was hard to get into his mouth.
"Let's go!"
Swinging his sleeves, Zhu Langjun stood up and left.
However, he understood that for these scholars, fame was the first priority, and the Donglin Party did not care about anything.
Human heart, human heart!
Slightly relieved, Zhu Yixi walked briskly.
Walking aimlessly, Yang Le and Sun Changzhou did not dare to stop them. After a while, they left the inner city and arrived at the outer city.
If the inner city is home to middle-class and above families, then the outer city is home to ordinary working people.
Large tracts of fields, sparse and decaying residences, naked children, ragged pedestrians, and beggars with lost eyes abound.
At this moment, Zhu Yixi fell silent for an instant.
The truth is often cruel.
"The prosperity of the inner city is just a falsehood."
Whispering softly, Zhu Langjun sighed.
Obviously, under his rule, the people were no different from those during the Manchu and Hongguang periods.
If I had to find one thing, it would be that security is strict and there are fewer petty thefts.
Suddenly, he seemed to have arrived in front of a dilapidated house, and heard a lot of machine noises.
"This is?"
He couldn't help but step forward, and through the slight gap by the window, he saw racks of textile looms, and women were sitting in front of the machines.
This made him feel novel.
This seems to be a factory, a private textile factory.
In history textbooks, the so-called sprouts of capitalism may refer to these!
"Sir, is there something wrong?"
At some point, a businessman in a Confucian shirt asked with a smile.
Zhu Yixi looked at his appearance that looked like a businessman but not a businessman, and couldn't help but said:
"Excuse me, the female workers here and the looms are all from your family?"
"Young Master is not from here, is he?"
When the businessman heard this Shaanxi-flavored Mandarin, he couldn't help but say: "In Nanjing, there are only two to three hundred factories like mine in Nanjing, not to mention one thousand or eight hundred."
"Please come in——"
Knowing that he was not a local competitor, he breathed a sigh of relief and welcomed the scholar in. The businessman pointed at the hardworking female workers and said:
"My family only has thirty or fifty looms, but in Suzhou, there are hundreds and thousands of them everywhere."
Hearing this, Zhu Yixi was surprised and said with some amazement: "Is it the same as yours? How big of a place is that?"
"Of course it can't be like this."
The businessman shook his head and said: "They let the female workers weave at home and then pick up the goods when the time comes. They are much better than me."
Zhu Yixi wanted to ask again, but the businessman didn't want to say anything, so he could only change the topic.
Looking at the complex wooden machine, Zhu Yixi understood that it was the result of hundreds of years of continuous improvement from the Yuan Dynasty to the present. Although it was not the most advanced, it was the most suitable.
"Each loom will cost a lot of money!"
"What, the young master wants to get one too?"
The businessman showed a complacent smile and said: "Each loom only costs thirty or fifty taels. The key is sales."
He put his hands behind his hands, raised his head and straightened his chest, and walked slowly: "Let's talk about my family. We weave silk, including brocade silk and thread silk produced in Suzhou, plain silk produced in Jiaxing, floral silk, damask silk, light silk.
Guangwangdian Pu silk, cage silk produced in Jianchang, fake silk, water silk produced in Huzhou, spun silk, etc..."
"Whether it's dye or pattern, they all have their own characteristics."
"My in-laws run a silk and satin shop, and 70% of the silk and satin are ordered from my family, so they live a good life."
"If ordinary people don't have access, just having money is not enough."
Zhu Yixi suddenly realized.
To put it bluntly, although the market is large, the access is narrow and the restrictions are severe. If you do not have control over the channels, you will only lose everything if you want to make money presumptuously.
After thinking clearly, he looked at the group of female workers again.
Girls aged thirteen or fourteen abound, and the remaining 20 to 30 percent are women.
"Why are they mostly girls?"
"To save for a dowry!"
The businessman said matter-of-factly: "Nanjing is a big city and it's not easy to live there. Even if you get married, you still need to ask the bride's family to give you a large dowry."
"So, many women come to me to work hard for two or three years, save some money for themselves, raise dowries, and naturally live happily in the future."
Unexpectedly, at this time, the South had already developed into dowry competition.
In this damn society, involution is everywhere.
I am afraid that this is the only way that women can leave their homes and work in textile factories.
Weaver girls like this are also considered skilled workers and can make more money than simply farming.