Clam Pearl

After traveling for more than two months, it was winter in a blink of an eye, and there was a cross-locked Xia River blocking the road. Unfortunately, the river was so clean that there were no ferries.Although I can vaguely see the bank over there, I can't cross this river!

The sporadic light snow began to fall slowly, and the three or five young men hurriedly found out the thick clothes and big hairy cloaks that had been prepared in the car, and put them on for the masters.There was also a charcoal basin in the car, but it was still cold.

Gu Zhao got out of the car and walked along the river bank, only to see a marsh stretching to the sky in front of him, the weeping willows by the river were sad, the willow leaves hadn't fallen in time, and the remaining leaves were covered with a thin layer of frost and snow, it was a bit sad and beautiful The state of mind flowed out.

I have lived on the shore for a long time, but there are few people at the ferry where there are people coming and going, and there are only a few floating boats passing by on the river, but they are only two or three small boats with independent boatmen. In such a cold day, they are still naked Feet, half pant legs, come and go.

That boat can go to the other side, but the boat is too small for three or four people to get on it.Although Gu Zhao has a few light vehicles, there are still 40 to [-] people around him, as well as horses and the vehicles brought by the family. Wouldn't the back and forth exhaust the fisherman to death?

Xizai has been in the sea, so he stomped his feet and said, "I have seen big storms before, but now I am blocked by this waterway? There is no such reason!"

After speaking, he turned around and ran back to the town behind him to find a way.

Gu Zhao has lived inland for a long time, and this is the first time he has seen such a large water in these years. He is close to the water, and he feels kind at the first sight. Although the river cannot pass, he still takes Gu Mao with him. Bing, Yun Yao and others went to the riverside to watch the water and express their feelings.

Gu Maobing is a herbivore, so naturally he is not very interested in this. He just took Gu Yunyao for a stroll along the shore. Along the way, he either picked up stones and threw them out, or stepped on the smooth shore stones and jumped. After a long time, two pairs of shoes were wet. Fortunately, the following preparations were complete, otherwise, he would probably suffer from an ancestral disease, just like his little uncle, with cold and rotten feet.

After walking for a while, he accidentally caught a fisherman, so he approached him to ask questions, and he was dishonest, so he directly pulled into his rattan tube and saw a few small fish that were newly caught. For my son's river fish, Gu Maobing paid dozens of dollars, and even the river fish in the rattan tube was stolen back.

Gu Zhao didn't know whether to laugh or cry, pointed at him and cursed: "Everyone grows upside down, but you grow upside down. Elders don't look like elders. You have to come back for their daily necessities. What are you doing with them? Do it from tomorrow. Are you a lone fisherman by the river?"

Gu Yunyao didn't realize that his uncle was leading him badly. He took aim at his wanton uncle and thought about himself. He admired his uncle for being as unscrupulous as Grandpa Qi, but he couldn't do it anyway. He could only influence him. It's all because of his father's death and grandpa's pity, but grandpa is getting old now...

What did Gu Yunyao think, and how did others know? Gu Maobing waved his hand and said indifferently: "Little uncle said this, can I ask for his things for nothing? That's why I asked him about the famous food here. But the one who gave the bounty, if you don’t believe me, ask him! It’s enough money, he’ll be happy when he goes back! The old man may not have the money after half a month of freezing by the river, besides, the fish money My nephew also gave it to me, Hugh said I..."

After he finished speaking, he called the boy standing aside with a smile, handed the fish to him and said: "I will find a place to live in a while, and ask the cook to cook it while the fresh air is fresh. If the other ones are not allowed, I will put some salt. Go to the little uncle's place to ask for some... pepper, this thing is a good thing, Tata said, now a tael of pepper can be exchanged for a tael of silver in the market, this is a good thing, and it’s so beautiful to match with fish and sheep! "

Gu Zhao shook his head slightly. He likes to eat a lot of things, but this fish is the least close one.While he was thinking about it, he didn't want to, and a flat boat passed by on the nearby river. The fisherman who was operating the boat saw the nobles gathered on the bank, and suddenly started singing.

"Green cloth mantle, Ge linen clothes, cold geese screaming, even heaven and earth! Wooden high platform, grass and insects singing, worrying, who should be talking...Xia Jiang'an, Siheyang, rooster crowing, Bi Liu'an... Zhou Lu Yi Zha Ah... shake the moss in the snow..."

The voice of the boatman was hoarse, and the ancient tunes and customs rushed towards him like this.Mr. Xu Pinlian and Mr. Ding Jiu were wearing new rabbit fur cloaks. They were snotty from the cold due to the climate change, but suddenly these two were moved.They just stand on the shore and think about it. If they can have pen and ink at this moment, they may be able to write eternal poems.

When Gu Zhao saw the style, he immediately stopped and shut up. He can't write, but he can witness the quatrains coming out of the ages.

That is also a blessing to witness!

After waiting for a long time, the two old men's farts were about to come out, but they didn't make half a famous poem, so Gu Zhao couldn't help feeling regretful.In this situation and in this situation, he wants to plagiarize. If there is a little bit of scenery in the Northern Kingdom, then he will do it too!

It's just incomplete!

Gu Maobing dismissed the boy, then turned around and came to Gu Zhaojin to chatter: "Little uncle, I will go back tomorrow, and this pepper will bring me two carts!"

Gu Zhao is helpless, he doesn't bring many of these things back, this guy wants two cars as soon as he asks!Is he seasoning wholesale?In a hurry, Gu Zhao said indiscriminately: "No, no! You can go there to cool off!"

Gu Yunyao, who was pulled out by force, fought a cold war. Isn't the riverside cool enough?No matter how cool it is, I'm afraid I can only throw my uncle into the river.Thinking of this, he couldn't feel relieved, thinking about it, his thoughts wandered, if his uncle was thrown into the river, then he would jump in with all his might!Try to save the elders.Although he doesn't know how to swim, when the time comes, the whole family will praise him for being kind, righteous, honest and honest. At that time, Grandpa Seven will definitely look at him with admiration...

Thinking about it, the child's face began to change undisguised.Gu Maobing turned his head and saw the child's face changing from joy to sorrow, so he bent his elbow to abduct the little uncle and said: "This child has..." He pointed to his head.

Gu Zhao chuckled: "Well, just like his grandfather."

Mr. Gu would never leave the car even if he died. He is getting old, and now he is not as good as before. A little bit of cold wind can feel his bones, so he just roasts the fresh charcoal fire in the car, and chatters with Gu Huaizi in his mouth. Said: "Mistake, big mistake, don't listen to Xu Qiongan's nonsense in the future, I have been fooled by him! Master, I don't do anything for the people's livelihood. Master, I am fighting. Why are you doing private visits? It's all right now, master. The ceremonial guard of honor crossed the river in an official boat, but I was left here, my lord! Hey... this matter has to be passed on, and the old animal will be able to make a living with this joke for half a year! Tell me, this is the ferry, Why is there no ferry?"

Seeing that his master was unhappy, Gu Huaizi was busy explaining patiently.

The reason why it is impossible to cross the river now is that the imperial court now collects land taxes twice a year in summer and autumn. Now it is not the same as before. The land taxes have to be handed over to the collection point uniformly arranged by the imperial court. This collection has a name called Zhiyi.That is, specify a place, and you go to pay the food.

In the previous dynasty, there were often some inexplicable tyranny, and transfer was one of them. At that time, the common people could not pay the food nearby, and some payment points were thousands of miles away from their hometown. If there was a war on the front line There are those who order the common people to be handed over to the front line. Therefore, the common people are suffering unspeakably.

Now it's all right, all the states and counties in various places use five hundred miles as a point, and the people around the point all gather in this place to pay for food.Furthermore, due to the situation of many common people who cannot travel far, the government now allows changes. Even those who cannot travel for five hundred miles, your family will give some money to the idlers or officials in the village, and they will let them go. Instead of paying, this is called foot money.There is not much money, and the music car has been advertised, and a stone of grain should not exceed [-] yuan.

Grain and grass are valuable this year. According to the official estimate, one stone can be worth [-] yuan, and first-class grain can be estimated at [-] to [-] yuan.It used to be a point near Yangdu. After the food and grass were collected, the government uniformly assigned the Yaqian to the big households here.The big households in the vicinity joined forces and paid out the foot money, found all the big boats, and went to a place called Yaguandu, five hundred miles away in the middle reaches of the Xiajiang River, to pay the autumn tribute in a unified way.Therefore, there are no boats on the river, and all the merchants and travelers here can only wait in Yangdu Town behind here for the time being.

This Yangdu town is not big, but there are thousands of households living there, and they often make a living by doing water-related work.Many families lived and ate on the boat, and now they also went to Yaguandu with the autumn grain.Therefore, a quarter of the residents of this small town left at once, making it even more desolate.

Gu Zhao didn't care when he could cross the river, he just smiled and watched Gu Maobing jumping up and down behind him. The arrival of this guy brought unspeakable happiness to Gu Zhao's team.This is like a drop of water splashing into a frying pan, and the whole motorcade is as noisy as if they were going to a big fair every day.

Just laughing, Xizai ran back from there with some servants, and when he saw Gu Maobing from a distance, he called him: "Master Fourteen, we found a good place, the biggest inn in this town was taken by our family. Sure, there happens to be a rich family living opposite the inn, and his old man is over 66 now, and he has invited famous actors from the county to perform in a three-day drama!"

As for the way he thought of crossing the river, it seems that there is no way. In order to save face, this is considered to be a crime?Gu Zhao smiled, and didn't care about it, but he didn't like the noise of singing in the big show at all.

Gu Maobing immediately beamed when he heard the words, and Gu Zhao smiled lightly. This guy is probably a passionate drama lunatic in modern times.

Seeing Xizai wandering around his young master, Gu Zhao felt a little jealous, hey, people like Gu Panzi, and the old seventh master of his family was standing aside, this monkey boy didn't even see it!

"Master Fourteen, haven't you seen it? The stage is so tall and colorful. When I went, the master's house was below. He warmed three big pots with [-] eyes and killed two whole pigs." , that aroma..."

"What is this, three pots, you haven't seen it before! In Shangjing, the young master..." Suddenly remembering something, Gu Maobing turned to look at his little uncle, who looked at him with a strange smile on his face, It's like seeing a scene.

At that time, that Jiao Nuer was dancing water sleeves on the colorful stage of the landlord's house in the countryside of Shangjing, and there was a commotion under the stage, slaughtering pigs and sheep...

Gu Maobing rubbed his nose, patted his buttocks, and trotted to flatter him: "Master Fourteen... the little one saw that character, tsk tsk, that face, that appearance... the little one asked, that character I'm quite famous here, I have a stage name called Qiao Nuer..."

Gu Maobing staggered and grabbed the air twice to stabilize himself.

Gu Zhao looked up to the sky and laughed silently!

If Gu Maobing ranks seniority, he is always ranked fourteenth, so everyone in this team calls him Fourteenth Lord.The Gu family tree has big branches and leaves, and there are a total of sixteen males in this generation.The youngest of them is Shiliu Ye, Maozhi from the old six family, who is only 13 years old this year.If you don't go out, it's clean to call each other at home, but when you go out, you have to call each other properly.

The cold wind was blowing by the river like this, until Gu Yan yelled in the car, and they returned home happily.At this moment, the snow was getting heavier and heavier, and Xu Pinlian was nagging as he walked, that in such a month, with such a heavy snowfall, there might be more snow consumption this winter and autumn.

Gu Zhao didn't understand these things, he felt that Xu Pinlian, an official of the Ministry of Rites, shouldn't care, it was purely meddling with a mouse.Compared with the thirty types of loss for one stone of wheat in the previous dynasty, it is much better now that there are no more than five types.In the future, the road will become smoother and smoother, and this kind of money will become less and less.Furthermore, now Ah Run has gradually realized that compared with agricultural taxation, disputes are the most important thing, and everything is just time.

The weather was bad, and when the group came to the town, the sky was already dark, and the big families over there had already lit bonfires and lit torches burned with oil.As soon as they entered the town, Gu Zhao and the others heard the sound of drums and silk bamboo.

Gu Maobing knew how to do it, so he said, this is the last book, and if it gets dark again, I'm afraid he won't be able to sing.This family is really rich, and I don't know what they do for a living. They actually lighted a big oil torch. The ordinary people in the countryside are so rich in oil that they are willing to use it for bibimbap during the Chinese New Year.

The name of the inn I found carefully: Zhangjiaodian.Although the store is the largest inn in the town, it still dare not call itself an inn. You must know that the tax rate is very clear now, and the tax rate for foot stores is four cents less than that of inns.

Because Gu Zhao and the others have big pens, they don’t know how to deal with it carefully. In short, all the more than 30 guest rooms upstairs and downstairs in this foot store have been booked out. Where did it go.

If Gu Zhao was afraid to say that he was a waste in the past, now that he already has a head full of class thoughts, it would be unseemly for him to live with the common people.He doesn't care, his elder brother cares, Xu Pinlian cares, even a domestic slave like Gu Huaizi cares.

Zhangjiaodian, as the name suggests, the owner of this shop is naturally surnamed Zhang. This person looks like a philistine businessman in a novel. He is really fat and big ears. There are four or five layers of fat piled up on his stomach, and he has a strong face. With a simple and honest smile, there are seventeen or eight waiters, handymen, chefs, etc. standing in front of the store waiting behind him.

If you saw this person normally, it would be nothing, but now the shopkeeper Zhang is carrying all the thin and skinny workers, just as a foil, it makes people feel that the shopkeeper is not kind, not a good person.

Shopkeeper Zhang saw that Gu Zhao and his convoy had arrived, so he wanted to go up to serve him. After all, his foot shop has never encountered such customers since it opened. It neither uses your bedding nor your cook. It's time for vacation, they just use the house at home.What kind of customer is this? This is a top-notch customer.

After thinking about it, Zhang Dian took the initiative. Since people don't need him, he can't be idle. He has to have a good attitude, so he brought the whole family's handymen, from the cook to the handyman. Waiting here.

"It's snowing...the weather this year is really evil!" Shopkeeper Zhang greeted, and wanted to go up to lead the horse himself, but he was sprayed with snot by the leading horse.

This horse is the famous horse that Gu Maobing brought from the west, so he has a bad temper.

In the convoy, there was faint laughter, the sound was not loud, and it was quickly stopped.Shopkeeper Zhang babbled a lot, but no one paid any attention to him.I saw people carrying luggage, unloading harness, covering horses with blankets, and preparing fodder. From the beginning to the end, no one talked to anyone, and no one had a free hand.

Xu Shi's silent but orderly movements are awe-inspiring. Shopkeeper Zhang, who usually talks a lot, stands aside boringly, with a somewhat embarrassed smile on his face.

"This... how do you say this, I should have waited to serve."

Behind him, the servants laughed lowly, shopkeeper Zhang turned his head and glared, then snorted.

Xizai, who was directing everyone over there, stepped on a rectangular foot covered with blue satin and asked, "Master Zhang, are you ready for the shopping?"

Finally something to do, shopkeeper Zhang breathed a sigh of relief: "Hey, big housekeeper, everything is ready! Charcoal basin, young tea sprouts, licorice, local rice wine, our place is Dutou, there are everything in the world, and the price It’s not expensive, isn’t it? I’ve also prepared a lot of fruits for you, such as rouge peaches, red pears, pink pomegranates, water chestnuts from the upper reaches, dried longan, papaya, Houerda’s Wangtanzi, and fresh lotus root from this year. , jujube..."

Shopkeeper Zhang chattered on, these are the work of the heart, although he is illiterate, but he has a good memory, seeing that the little one doesn't bother him, he continued to talk about the things he bought.The fine face is not only not bored, but even more and more happy, after all, men are in a good mood after eating well.

Finally, after Shopkeeper Zhang finished nagging, Xizai didn't praise him, but asked an old gentleman in a rabbit fur cloak who jumped out of the car behind him and said, "Mr. Dingjiu, help me observe If this weather stays for a long time, I'm afraid I have to prepare things, so I inquired about it. The fleet to deliver food will take half a month at the earliest. The weather is a bit weird. When you grow up, you can be caught blind and suffer!"

Shopkeeper Zhang quietly looked at the old gentleman. This old gentleman was about fifty, with gray hair pulled back, and a silk hat with a piece of sapphire sewn in the middle.

This old gentleman's grandeur, perhaps it is the yin and yang raised by the owner of this family, he just looked at the sky and said: "This snow is not good, I am afraid it will be freezing, this is the first time this old man has come here, but seeing the yin, it may be raining It's been raining and snowing for more than ten days!"

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Zhang was very disdainful. This is Jiang'an. He has been here for more than ten years, and he hasn't seen the freezing weather yet!But he was a guest, so he naturally didn't dare to expose it, he still listened humbly with a simple and honest smile on his face, and nodded his head to cater to him from time to time.

After listening carefully, he turned around and called out, "Dou'er!"

Someone yelled over there, and quickly came a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy with a clever face in a thick jacket.

"Second butler?"

Xizai is now the second housekeeper, apart from Bi Liangli, he is the only one in the family, and Xinzai is the third housekeeper.

Arranged carefully: "Take people to the grocery store here, buy enough high-quality carbon and come back, and you will buy more for various consumptions. There are more than 30 people in our line, and you should prepare quickly for people and animals. I see that there are quite a lot of merchants coming and going here, if what Mr. Ding Jiu said is right, I’m afraid I won’t be able to buy things if I have money tomorrow, this person is not familiar with the place, so maybe we can take it back to the countryside?”

The boy named Douzi nodded, and after a while, he led two people out with two bulging bags on their backs.Shopkeeper Zhang has a poisonous eye, and he can estimate that there are at least fifty sticks in the bag.

I don't know if the flesh in my heart was slightly pricked, so the shopkeeper Zhang hurried over and said, "Brother butler, borrow a step."

He glanced at him carefully, and said with a smile: "What's the matter, let's just say it here, hurry up, I'm very busy."

Shopkeeper Zhang smiled, bent his waist even more and said: "Housekeeper, it's like this, you see, now you old people do it yourself, and we don't dare to help you if you are clumsy! It's just the same, we here There is a difference between the upstream and the downstream. The ones brought by your family are naturally top-notch cooks, but the cooks in the small shop are from ten miles to eight villages. Yes, I have invited merchants from all walks of life to folks who hold birthday banquets and wedding wines. Not to mention the other ones, the most famous ones in the local area are braised sand fish, eel slices, stuffed crabs, raw clams, and Chao Sanzhen. The name is delicious, although every local family can make these things, but the small shop..."

Just as he was talking, there was a sudden gust of wind in his ears, and the skill of shopkeeper Zhang who had opened the foot shop for more than ten years was revealed. He only waved his hand, and caught a brocade bag without turning his head.You can tell it's a small silver ingot just by pinching it, and you can tell it's a big reward seal with no more, no less, one or two or eight dollars just by weighing it.

"Oh, thank you for the reward!" Shopkeeper Zhang turned his head to thank him, but was stunned.

Hey, he met a lot of people by the river, traveling from south to north, but he has never met such a fresh and colorful person, not to mention the pretty appearance, just the cloak of this lord, It was the first time he had seen a man who dared to embroider dozens of butterflies through flowers and colors on the edge of his cloak.Oops, it's colorful, but people insisted on suppressing it. I didn't think it was weird to wear it like this, but I thought it would look good in this way!

Gu Maobing laughed, clapped his hands and said: "Come on, they eat theirs, and when they get to the local area, they will eat your true colors. In the next few days, you can just do it with me!"

As soon as the voice fell from this side, Gu Zhao was helped out of the taxi. He calmly helped Xinzi pass by his right hand.Gu Maobing was hit on the head with a slap, and then people entered the shop. Shopkeeper Zhang couldn't see enough, he could only smell the orange fragrance in his nostrils, and then a young man with a small pink face, wearing a fox A cloak with armpit hair, stood at the door of the store and softly begged the adults: "Uncle, I want to live in a house with a view of the river..."

Gu Maobing touched the back of his head and said bitterly: "You dare to live in a house next to the river, tell you! The people here will tell me that there is a whitebait in the river, which is very beautiful! Changye wears a White clothes, I often come here to find a young gentleman to inhale Qi and practice, you be careful not to live at night, you should live in it! By then, you will be asleep, and we can't save you with naked eyes!"

Naturally, Gu Yunyao didn't believe it. He didn't dare to resist Gu Maobing, so he asked the shopkeeper, "Uncle shopkeeper, is this a lie?"

Shopkeeper Zhang was dizzy, he just nodded and agreed: "That's right, it's nothing."

Gu Maobing was furious: "If there is nothing, I will give you money!"

Shopkeeper Zhang was taken aback, took a step back, covered his sleeves and said, "Yes! There are... quite a few of them, Golden Scales, I often come to town for a stroll..."

"What gold scales, silver scales!"

"Yes! Yes, yes! They are alive and kicking, there are quite a few..."

Smiling and noisy, this group of good-tempered and noble men were finally welcomed into the shop by shopkeeper Zhang to serve them well.

This night, shopkeeper Zhang, who had finally finished his work, quietly opened the brocade bag behind his wife's back and took a look, yo, the top-notch silver plum blossom-shaped silver pouch.Hurry up tomorrow, when the old customer leaves, he will go to the river to meet his lover, and he will only get a good face for half a year.Just as he was thinking about the beauty, Shopkeeper Zhang suddenly heard someone knocking on the door of the shop.

Tonight, the wind and snow were mixed with cold rain, and it was bone-chillingly cold. Shopkeeper Zhang turned on the lamp, put on his clothes, and brought his staff to the lobby to unlock the door. He opened the door and took a look under the light. He was stunned for a moment. Recalling what the grandfather said during the day...

"In this river... there is a whitebait spirit, very beautiful. At night, it often wears white clothes to attract people's spirit..."

The rain and snow were getting heavier, and Shopkeeper Zhang shivered involuntarily!