Siheyuan: Superb comprehension? All skills are perfect

Just like a wine lover, once he drinks tea, he can't leave it. Even if he has no food, he still has to taste this tea!

After a while, Boss Wang personally brought the bowl of the best jasmine double smoked tea: "This is your top-quality jasmine double smoked tea, please enjoy it slowly."

After taking a sip, He Yuzhu praised: "This tea tastes really refreshing and pleasant.

Can you tell me the origin of this tea? "

Because he had never tasted such a unique flavor, he was very curious.

Boss Wang immediately began to explain: "This top-quality jasmine double-smoked wine uses new leaves from the mountains before the Qingming Festival as the main raw material. The so-called double-smoked wine is first soaked in jasmine flowers and then smoked a second time before being sold."

What he didn't explain was that one cup of this fine tea required four small coins, and ten of them made up a large coin.

In that chaotic era, the market value of currency was in chaos, far beyond the scope of the decimal rules of later generations.

Every day, money houses and gold and silver shops publish the currency exchange rate of the day, which is affected to varying degrees by market fluctuations.

Usually, one dollar, or silver dollar, can be exchanged for at least 643 small silver dollars, and each small silver dollar can be exchanged for at least ten "big silver dollars".

, that is, ten copper plates.

A copper coin can be exchanged for ten small copper coins.

Indeed, not everything is done in units of tens, because in addition to the currency ratio factor, the quality of the currency itself also affects the value of the currency.

In the early years of the Republic of China, years of turmoil led to currency confusion, and privately minted coins and low-quality coins circulated in the market.

Some people maliciously file the edges of silver dollars to obtain a small amount of silver powder.

Don’t underestimate those seemingly insignificant amounts of silver dust, as a small amount can add up to significant profits.

Moreover, some silver dollars are of low purity and therefore have a lower value. But there are also first-class silver dollars, one of which can be worth 15 small silver rounds, almost increasing the value of the currency by 50%, which is really astonishing.

According to general calculations, a plate of top-quality jasmine double-smoked beef in a restaurant can be used to order at least four hot dishes and a soup, including some meat.

As for a real dollar, its purchasing power varies slightly from place to place. In a big city, you can buy about 50 kilograms of rice, enough for six people at the famous old hot pot restaurant "Donglaishun".

Enjoy a hotpot dinner, which is enough to fill you up.

Although the silver coins brought by He Yuzhu were not genuine, they had a high silver content and were obviously better than illegally minted or inferior products.

He Yuzhu put five dollars on the table, and the shopkeeper Wang realized that today's profits would far exceed expectations.

"Shopkeeper, I am here for the first time in my country, so I would like to ask you a few questions."

He said with a smile.

Shopkeeper Wang immediately agreed, "You can ask whatever you want, I will tell you everything I know."

He Yuzhu did not hear "do your best"

I was not surprised by these four words. Casual talk in that era often brought unexpected troubles, which could cause disasters, lead to property losses and even family separation.

Especially in a teahouse like this where all kinds of people mix, the owner Wang Lifa is extremely cautious.

He Yuzhu did not ask for sensitive information, but only asked about some basic state affairs such as chronology and the current situation in Beijing.

Manager Wang naturally gave detailed responses to these daily questions.

After a short period of time, he already had a general understanding of the current situation of the new copy.

In 1913, the four cities of Beijing seemed peaceful on the surface, but there were undercurrents of turmoil within.

While they were talking for a while, Manager Wang arranged for his waiter to bring some snacks - melon seeds, peanuts, and a small dish of mung bean cakes, as a diversion.

A pot of high-quality jasmine double-smoked tea was already worth half a dollar, and with the five silver dollars on the table, the business was still profitable.

"In our city, the best hotel is the Capital Hotel, right?"

He Yuzhu asked with a smile.

"Of course, it has only been in business for more than a decade, so it can't be compared with the old brands, but it was opened by a foreigner."

Shopkeeper Wang quickly agreed, "For someone like you, staying there is the most suitable choice. The guests there are mostly rich and noble or elites like you."

"Of course, if you want to taste the real flavor of old Beijing, the time-honored inns also have their own unique charm."

However, he snapped his fingers and said, "Let's book the Capital Hotel."

While they were talking, a mother and daughter came in from outside the teahouse.

It seemed that these two people were not hungry beggars. There was even a straw tag stuck on the little girl's head. Any smart person would understand that they were planning to sell out her daughter.

Before Shopkeeper Wang could say anything, the mother and daughter were already kneeling on the ground begging: "Gentlemen, please have mercy on us. We really can't make ends meet anymore. Please buy my daughter!"

When Shopkeeper Wang saw this scene, he sighed inwardly. Just as he was about to take out a few copper coins to drive away the unfortunate couple, he was stopped by He Yuzhu.

He said, "Sir, if you want to buy someone, you don't have to come here. There are many places that specialize in this business. It is safe and orderly."

He couldn't help but remind them, not because he was ruthless, but in this environment, people were already accustomed to such situations. If there was a real need, giving them water to drink or driving them away were common practices.

It’s not that these people are cold-hearted, but the cases of selling children are complicated and you cannot judge their true identities.

Some people look pitiful. If you are soft-hearted and offer to help them, the luckiest outcome may be just the loss of property; if you meet a ruthless person, you may even be in danger.

A hint of teasing flashed across He Yuzhu's eyes. He knew that this situation was often not as simple as it seemed.

Perhaps some people can find a satisfactory confidant or beautiful twin sisters in a place like a teahouse, but for He Yuzhu, he does not have excessive expectations, nor does he want to be affected by such luck.

Almost at the same time as He Yuzhu's voice fell, a ruffian-like man walked in.

This guy's appearance just proves one thing: ugly is not enough to describe him, he should be called a fraud!

This person seemed to have some skin disease. His face was full of pits and pits. Coupled with his wretched appearance, it was obvious at first glance that he was not an upright person.

The fact is just as he showed, he spoke viciously as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Oh, it looks like you're selling your daughter. Let me take a look~"

He walked closer with a wicked smile, lifted up the girl's head and examined her, "Tsk! She's skinny, and her skin is bad, but her facial features are okay.

With a little bit of preparation, it can still be a great ** piece.”

The mother quickly explained: "Sir, our family really has no other options, I hope you are willing to take my daughter in.

She eats little, is sensible and hardworking, and can do everything. It's much better than waiting to die with me."

She said this with a pleading look in her eyes.

"Can you do anything?"

The guy flashed a lewd smile on his face, "Very good, I'm not stingy, name a price, how about five dollars?"

Named "Ma Liuer"

The guy continued to provoke.

Shopkeeper Wang couldn't stand it anymore and interrupted him: "Ma Liu'er, don't make trouble here. If you cause trouble, everyone will be in trouble."

If he didn't speak up to stop it, things would really get out of hand. As a shop owner, he couldn't stay out of it and would be implicated.

Facing Ma Liuer's words, the guests in the teahouse had different reactions. Some were dissatisfied, some had no expression on their faces, and some just watched the fun.

The mother, who was kneeling on the ground, was puzzled and reluctant to hear the offer of five dollars: "How can such a small amount of money be enough? I will still have a hard time."

He Yuzhu smiled secretly about this.

These people are bluffing and pretending to be desperate. If they really reach the end of the road, five dollars will not be enough. Even a big bag of food will not make them sell their daughter without hesitation.

Even if a daughter who was sold became a servant, did other labor, or was sold into a brothel, she still had a chance to survive, at least she would not starve to death.

But for the woman in front of him, five oceans were still not enough. This was a new perspective.

You know, one dollar can buy about fifty to sixty kilograms of rice.

If a person eats frugally, it will definitely be enough for half a month, even if not for two months.

Besides, these are all pure rice. If they were coarse grains, one dollar could buy hundreds of kilograms. If you eat them sparingly, they can last for three months.

Not to mention five oceans, even taking into account various expenses, it should be more than enough for a year or two.

Do you think this is too little? Do you really believe this is the last resort in a desperate situation? I'm afraid no one will believe it.

In fact, Manager Wang also came to his senses at this moment. He had indeed neglected the situation at first because he was entertaining such a generous guest like He Yuzhu.

At this moment he noticed something was wrong and was about to speak when a voice came to his ears.

"Wait a moment!"

"Sir?" Shopkeeper Wang suddenly became anxious, but Ma Liuer smiled.

He Yuzhu knocked on the table, and the five yuan was still there. He said, "I have already drunk the tea, just leave the money on the table.

The remaining tea and cakes are not needed, leave them to the little girl, she looks so pitiful. "

"gentlemen?"

"Give it to her. I'll take care of it."

He Yuzhu raised his chin slightly.

The shopkeeper was confused, but still walked towards the girl with a teacup and a plate of snacks.

"Enjoy it and remember the kindness of your benefactor."

The girl looked at He Yuzhu, bowed a few times, then silently picked up the mung bean cake and stuffed it into her mouth, but unexpectedly choked her throat.

Shopkeeper Wang hurriedly brought the tea bowl, and the little girl quickly took it and drank a few sips, allowing the mung bean cake to pass smoothly. Then surprise flashed in her eyes.

"So be it.

" After saying this, He Yuzhu stood up, picked up his suitcase, and strode out of the teahouse under the gaze of everyone.

When passing by the mother and daughter and Ma Liuer, he deliberately paused and left calmly, leaving Ma Liuer and her mother stunned.

"Want a carriage, sir?"

The driver who had delivered the tea quickly asked, "You don't have to pay for it!"

Perhaps because he had welcomed a luxurious customer, Shopkeeper Wang had actually prepared tea. Although it only had a few drops of tea leaves in the water, it still had a hint of tea flavor.

"Do you know 'Beijing Hotel'?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Know, know."

The driver quickly answered yes.

“Then let’s go.

"After that, He Yuzhu got on the rickshaw.

"Okay, sir, please sit tight, let's get going."

The driver quickly pulled the cart.

The mother and daughter soon left the teahouse and hurried towards the entrance of the nearby alley.