The Republic of China. A Dream of Mandarin Ducks and Butterflies

The next morning, the father and son were sitting in the living room having breakfast, Pu Ying was a little disappointed to learn that his mother had gone back in the middle of the night, but seeing the rare smile on his father's face, he became interested in chatting.

"Ama, I have never understood why you let me go to business school, not politics, let alone politics. You have so many friends in the officialdom. Wouldn't it be better if I went to politics?" Big Brother said Ask casually, his personality is actually not suitable for being a politician, and he is very clear about it.

Zai Kun put down his chopsticks and asked seriously, "What do you think is the difference between China and Britain?"

He thought for a moment, then tentatively replied: "People have different levels of education. The illiteracy rate of ordinary citizens in the UK is very low, but there are many illiterates in China, and the UK is an industrialized country, while China is an agricultural country."

"You are right, but not the most important thing. Although the Republic of China is now established, there is no distinction between monarchs and ministers, and the whole world is no longer a king's land, but has the government handed over the freedom of election to the people? Individuals have the final say, so the common people don’t care who is jumping on it, they just take it as a big show, in this country there are only masters and slaves, unlike Britain and the United States, there is no middle class in China, individuals have no democracy and rights, The fate of the country cannot be decided, and it will always be decided by a few people. I have been in the officialdom for 20 years, and I have seen it through, so I don’t want you to go into troubled waters.” Welfare, but it often backfires. A year ago at the Paris Peace Conference, he was also in the mission. Each of them fought for their own country, but the weak country has no diplomacy, and the negotiations did not go smoothly. In the end, The results disappointed the people of the country, but they have tried their best.

Pu Ying sighed: "The life of ordinary people is very hard. Whenever there is a famine or a war, they will sell their sons and daughters. I don't know when life will be better. At least they can go back to the time of Lord Kangxi."

Zai Kun shook his head: "At that time, there were also bad things at that time. You couldn't stand it if you were thrown back. You were asked to learn stereotyped essays and not talk nonsense. Now everyone can talk freely." It is not good, but absolute freedom and democracy can also cause hidden dangers. If you ignore it, people with ulterior motives will spread rumors to achieve their goals. The common people believe what they listen to, and they have no ability to distinguish. They are especially easy to be incited. Worker strike……

"Ha, what you said is that I won't go back to be a shellfish." He is a shellfish conferred by Emperor Guangxu. He has a royal jade plate and even a python robe for attending royal ceremonies.

Zai Kun smiled: "So, let's learn how to run a business from your mother, this line of business is the most suitable for you. In the future, when the business grows bigger and can support many employees, it will also contribute to the country. Come on down-to-earth. "

"I went to Shanghai with Yanlin the day after tomorrow, Er Niang said let him try, if he can do it, let him come to the foreign firm to help." He didn't tell his father about it.

After finishing eating, Kun Belle put down his chopsticks and told him: "You still have to pay more attention to him, don't let him mix with dubious people, he is different from you, you have received a Western-style education since childhood, and He has studied abroad and seen the world, but he grew up in a deep house, he is too simple and trusts others too easily."

Pu Ying frowned and said, "I don't think he's stupid, but lacks self-confidence. He probably fell too hard in the tumble and lost all energy."

"The people of our Eight Banners have all gone through this. It can't be said that because the Qing Dynasty is gone, people will die together. No matter how they have to live, they have to support the family. It is commendable for him to pull a cart without shame. , that's why I'm willing to help him." As soon as Zai Kun finished speaking, Yan Lin walked into the living room from the outside.

"My mother made meat buns for lunch, let's eat together." Lord Che specially came to inform the two of them, and after speaking, he was going to pull carts to make money.

"The buns made by Tai Fujin are delicious, why not open a bun shop." Pu Ying said happily, but as soon as the words came out of his mouth, he sensed Yan Lin's joy.

"You're right, why didn't I think of that before." He patted himself on the head, let alone the shop, just set up a small stall and sell it every morning and evening.

Seeing that he was very interested, Zai Kun added: "If you really want to open a steamed stuffed bun shop, I will give you a room for business use. The one at the backyard entrance is fine. Although it is in the alley, there are not many people coming and going. less."

Yan Lin hurriedly said: "Brother Kun, thank you so much, I'll go back and discuss it with Er Niang." After finishing speaking, he ran out excitedly.

The elder brother couldn't help but uttered a sentence: "Selling buns, he actually wants to sell buns!"

"Isn't this pretty good? Anyway, we have a lot of idle houses, so it's just right to take one out to open a steamed stuffed bun shop. I've been thinking about what to do with the backyard these days." Zai Kun calculated, and the room was about Four or five tables can be set up, which is enough for a bun shop, because many people buy buns to take home to eat.

In the morning of the third day, Yan Lin and Pu Ying went to the train station and took the train to Shanghai, but there was a woman walking with him at the station, which made the elder brother very unhappy. Yan Lin also introduced the two of them, this woman is Cuilan.

When Cuilan heard that Yanlin was going to Shanghai, she asked to go with her. She wanted to see what delicious food and fun things there were, and by the way, check the local real estate prices in Shanghai. If it was suitable, she might buy a real estate.

But Pu Ying was very upset, for the sake of face, he didn't want to attack in front of outsiders, so he had to sneer at this person in the sleeper car: "Didn't you say that she caused you misery, why are you with her again?"

There were only two people in the carriage, and Puying had reserved this carriage for a certain purpose, Yanlin leaned on the bed and yawned and said: "She is just traveling with us, let alone I am not with her Ah." He didn't plan to rekindle their old relationship with Cuilan, but it was because of shame that he refused her flirtatious flirting, and it was really not safe for a woman to go out.

"I look at her aggressiveness, as if she wants you to marry her. She is afraid that no one will take care of her old age. If she has enough money, she will find a man to entrust her for life." The elder brother took out a suitcase from the suitcase. I read an English novel while lying on the opposite bunk.

Yanlin didn't say anything, maybe Puying was right, Cuilan might have this idea, but why was it him?He obviously has nothing, and he still has a family, so there is no need to commit himself to a poor man like him, right?Maybe it's just a moment of loneliness.

When it was time for lunch, Cuilan came over and invited the two of them to eat in the dining car.

Reluctantly, Pu Ying sat across from the two, eating a train meal.

The so-called train meal is western food. There is no Chinese food on the dining car, only high-end imported products, pudding, cake, steak, cream soup, all of which are available. This makes Yan Lin who is not used to Western food very distressed.It is a comfortable thing to live in a high-end sleeper, but it is a pain if you can’t eat delicious food. You dare not buy food from the stalls at temporary stops, such as roast chicken (many of which are rumored to be crows), and rabbit meat. Meat, even more disgusting.

Cuilan helped him order steak and tomato pasta that were more suitable for Chinese tastes, and ordered black tea, and said that she would drink some red wine with them when they were waiting for dinner.

"Why is it popular to give small tents on the train?" Yan Lin asked in a low voice, because when the guy was pouring tea for them just now, Pu Ying gave some money, and the other party accepted it with a smile, thinking that Pu Ying was a foreigner. people.

"Whether you have money or not, you have to give a small account, the rules on the train, otherwise how do they make money?" Pu Ying is very familiar with trains, because he takes the train back to Beijing from Shanghai almost every holiday. What he looks forward to seeing most is Er Niang and his aunt, and Beijing food is his favorite.

Cuilan also smiled and said: "Brother has lived in the UK for a long time and is used to giving tips, and the United States is the same. Those who work as waiters in restaurants point to tips to increase their income. After a month, they may be enough for food."

"You mean Xiaozhang, right?" Yanlin asked, he envied the two of them because they both could speak foreign language.

"Well, Europe and the United States have to give small tents, come, try this." Cuilan handed the prince a cake. She knew that he loved sweets, and used to eat pastry every morning.

Pu Ying ate the dishes she ordered calmly, but she had no appetite, she just wanted to let this unsightly woman leave quickly.

After lunch, the two returned to their berths to rest.

Pu Ying put down the novel in her hand, and said to the prince who was sitting beside him looking out of the window: "If you have nothing to do, let me do you?"

Shocked, Yanlin replied shyly: "It's broad daylight, what should I do if people see it, I feel shabby."

Pu Ying looked outside, and there were indeed occasional people coming over, so she said, "Let's go to bed at night." Hearing that the other party readily agreed, he turned over and went to sleep with peace of mind.

But the prince said something unpleasant again: "When we arrive in Shanghai, there are many handsome men and beautiful women. You will definitely find a suitable one, so you don't have to hang out with me anymore."

The elder brother quickly turned around and roared: "Do you think I'm good-looking and you want to fuck me? Then I won't be exhausted?"

"Don't tell me you like strong ones and ugly ones? Your preference is really special." He was not in a good mood because he saw Cuilan talking and laughing with two foreign men in the aisle just now.Could it be that she is still trading in flesh and blood, and everything she told herself was a lie?

"Have you taken the choking medicine?" Pu Ying asked angrily, only then did he realize that this person had a sullen face and put one hand flat on the table.

"Am I particularly easy to deceive?" Yan Lin asked in a low voice.

"It's... short-sighted." He replied.

"I think she's lying to me. She said she's no longer in the skin business, but she's still teasing men. I don't understand what she wants to do. Why is she messing with me again?" He couldn't figure it out, and was extremely depressed.

Pu Ying curled her lips: "Don't you understand, she eats this bowl of rice, why not make money if she has a chance, her body is her capital, she is not too young, she can't work for a few years, wait for the sale If you don’t move, I’ll find a fool like you to marry, and for the rest of your life, it’s up to you whether you want to accept her as a broken shoe.” Although the words were harsh, they were not rough.

Yanlin nodded: "Well, it's probably like this. Many girls are over [-] years old and find a man to marry, but she is wrong. I can't marry her again. Qiaoping can't tolerate her. .”

"Then don't think about it, there are wives and children at home who are on the kang, and there is me outside, I love you!" Pu Ying said something disgusting, which made the prince get goose bumps.

"Just don't make me hurt!" He was helpless, although he enjoyed it while doing it, but he always suffers afterwards, when will he let him try it?