Abandoned Prince Survival Guide

Xiao Yu thought oil-paper umbrellas would be more expensive than bamboo hats, because the workmanship is more complicated and the style is high-end. Imagine, if a young lady from a wealthy family goes out on a rainy day, would she wear a bamboo hat or hold an oil-paper umbrella?

Moreover, this oiled paper umbrella can be put away, and it is also portable. It is much smaller and lighter than a bamboo hat.In Xiao Yu's memory, Jianye also had umbrellas, mainly made of silk cloth umbrellas, but silk cloth was so expensive that ordinary people couldn't afford it, and there were also some clumsy oil-paper umbrellas on the market.But they all have a common problem, that is, they cannot be closed.

Xiao Yu tried many times for this switch, and finally solved this problem. In fact, it is not the kind of switch that can be sent and received freely, because the material cannot achieve that effect. It took a lot of work to choose the umbrella handle and clip.

Xiao Yu thought, it would be good if this umbrella could sell for a hundred dollars, but Min Chong actually sold it at a sky-high price, and sold it as a luxury accessory.

Xiao Yu recovered from the shock: "It's so expensive and someone buys it!"

Min Chong glanced at him: "You don't know how rich those high-ranking officials in Jianye City are. They even cost two taels of silver to buy an unacceptable silk umbrella. It will leak when it rains heavily. I can put it away." Why can’t my oil-paper umbrellas be so expensive?”

Xiao Yu gave a thumbs up: "Min is doing a great job, he is really a genius in business. I will hurry to count the number and give everyone wages."

Xiao Yu ran home, poured out the money bag and counted it, 17 taels of gold, 300 taels of silver, and more than a dozen hanging copper coins.In other words, this trip earned more than 500 taels.

Xiao Yu first took out 100 taels, which was Min Chong's share, and nearly [-] taels of silver was for the crew's wages. In order to reward everyone, Xiao Yu gave each of them an extra [-] taels.The crew went back happily after receiving their wages. Who would not be happy to make this trip for a month or so to catch up with their previous year's harvest.

Xiao Yu handed the dividends to Min Chong, and said, "Master Min, what materials do you need to buy for the new ship, and if you need money, just tell me."

"Not for now, I don't build a ship right now, I'll ask you for it when I need it."

Xiao Yu said with a smile: "That's fine. Thanks to Min Dangjia for sharing my worries, with Min Dangjia, I don't have to worry about running out of money. When is Min Dangjia going to leave next time? I can prepare in advance."

Min Chong said: "I'm just going to tell you about this. I want to go there again in the near future. You can buy more grain, as much as you want. I will go to the north to sell grain."

Xiao Yu was very surprised: "Is it drought or flood in the north?" The Wuyue area is the world's granary, and there is a shortage of food, so there can only be a great famine.

Min Chong said: "There was a drought in the spring, and many lands could not be cultivated. After the summer, it was flooded for a long time. A lot of the cultivated land has no harvest. There are already many hungry people begging in Jianye City."

Xiao Yu was extremely shocked: "It's so serious!" Why didn't Xue Zhao mention it, but Xue Zhao didn't necessarily tell them everything.

Min Chong said: "It will get worse after a while, and there will be a lot of prostitutes. Originally, I wanted to buy some people back this time. I think I will buy them next time when I go. It will be cheaper then."

The corner of Xiao Yu's mouth twitched, and this man said that human trafficking was like buying goods: "There is no need to buy people, I really lack labor here, you can recruit them, and if you are willing to follow, bring them to Yazhou, come here You can never die of hunger here.”

Min Chong shook his head: "If you are still unwilling to recruit people, it's like drawing a big cake. You can't see who is willing to wait. It's safer to buy directly. There will be crew members who will go to Nanyang in the future."

As a modern person, Xiao Yu always felt it was too sinful to buy and sell human beings. People are not commodities, so how could they be bought and sold? He hesitated and said: "Go and try it out, as evidenced by the deed, maybe someone is willing to come." ’” He did not find slavery any more attractive than free labor.

Min Chong frowned: "It's so troublesome, it's better to buy it."

Pei Linzhi, who had been silent all this time, suddenly interjected, "Mr., please take a step to speak."

Xiao Yu glanced back at him and followed him out. Pei Linzhi lowered his voice and said, "I think it's okay to buy some people. The affairs at Longhu Mountain need to be kept secret. The servants bought are more loyal, so don't worry about leaking them." wind."

Hearing what he said, Xiao Yu thought it made sense, but he still hesitated: "It's really inhumane to buy and sell people like livestock."

"Benevolence?" Pei Linzhi was stunned for a moment, "Mr., if you don't buy those people, someone else will buy them. If these people follow Mr. Lang, Mr. Lang can still treat them as human beings. If some tigers and wolves , I’m afraid I can only be an animal. The deed of selling oneself is in the hands of the lord, so the lord has the final say on when to let people go?”

Xiao Yu was finally convinced by him that the most urgent thing is the lack of labor. If he can bring a batch of labor, it will indeed solve the urgent need: "That's okay, I'll listen to you."

Xiao Yu came into the house and said to Min Chong: "Just do as you say. When you buy people, if the whole family is willing to come, you can bring them all, so as not to separate the flesh and blood."

Min Chong nodded: "I know."

In fact, Xiao Yu felt that he didn't need to emphasize that Min Chong had taken in so many orphans and elderly people, so he must have a clear understanding of what it means to be separated from one another, and he must be able to handle it well.

Xiao Yu thought for a while and said, "Try to recruit as many craftsmen as possible." He needs more craftsmen to enrich his workshop, and maybe he can initiate some technical reforms.

"Ah."

Xiao Yu said, "Then I'll go buy grain right now."

Min Chong said: "With a period of half a month, you can count as much as you can collect. If you don't have enough, I will go to Guangzhou to collect some more."

Pei Linzhi then went non-stop to various parts of Yazhou to buy grain, but it should not be too far away, the transportation time and cost would be too high, and things would be delayed.

Affected by the hurricane this year, the grain production in Yazhou has also decreased slightly, and the price has also risen slightly. It used to cost two catties of rice, but now it costs one penny and two catties.Fortunately, Min Chong made more than 300 taels of silver on this trip to sea, and Min Chong also took out his own money, which was enough to buy food.

Grain is continuously transported to Baisha Village.Half a month later, Min Chong carried [-] catties of grain to the sea. Due to the limitation of transportation speed, the grain purchased during this period was not much.Min Chong planned to go to Guangzhou Prefecture to buy some more. The terrain along the banks of the river in Guangzhou Prefecture is flat, the soil is fertile, and the population is relatively dense. The grain output is much higher than that of Yazhou.

After Min Chong left, Xiao Yu did not stop buying grain, because when Min Chong came back, he would bring back many people, all of whom were starving for food and opening their mouths to eat.

They should also prepare to build a new house. When people come, they have to arrange accommodation. They cannot sleep in the open air, and winter is coming soon.

The water conservancy has not been completed yet, and it is still being repaired.Xiao Yu is already arranging for people to rebuild the house. This time, the repair is continued on the other side of the old house, and it is still a two-story building. This is to save the land area, and the floor is built with wooden boards.

Each room is separated from the front and back. If you are a family, you can live in two compartments. If you are single, you can live in two compartments for two or four people.

If someone saves money in the future, they can build another house and move out.

This time the house was built very quickly, using home-made green bricks and lime, the wood was bought in Zhoucheng, and the tiles were bought from tile shops. They were all ready-made, and the preparation of materials did not take much time.

It took about a month before and after, and the house was completely built. In addition to the row side by side with the old house, another row was built at a right angle to the side. There are 28 houses in total, that is to say, it can accommodate at least Hundreds of people live here.

After Xiao Yu's house was completed, Wu Xingyi's family also began to repair the house, and it was still built on the original site of his old house. The two sons of his family built a total of five large tile-roofed houses. There is a house to live in.

Xiao Yu's family has built so many new houses. The villagers envy them, but they are also convinced. After all, Xiao Langjun and Pei Langjun are very capable and earn a lot. Thanks to him, many people in the village have also made money.But Wu Xingyi's family built a house, which is really enviable. They all fished and picked pearls together. Why did they have such a good life?

Wu Xingyi's family was able to build a house, in fact, thanks to Xiao Yu's promise at the beginning. Xiao Yu used the adobe bricks from their old house to build a paper workshop, and promised to build him a house with blue bricks in the future, which saved a lot of expenses , you only need to buy materials and pay labor costs.Xiao Yu paid wages to all five members of their family, and the expenses were small, so it was quite easy to save up.

The water conservancy project was repaired from July to November, and it was not until autumn in Yazhou that it was fully completed.The canals criss-cross the rice fields in Baisha Village, and try to ensure that every field can be connected to the canals.The stream has also been dug deeper and wider, so that if it encounters heavy rain or flood, it can lead the water into the sea as soon as possible.

A few days after the completion of the project, Min Chong's ship returned smoothly again.This time it took a little longer than the last time. It took some time to go to Guangzhou to collect grain, and it took a lot of time to buy people.It was thanks to the monsoon turning that they were able to get home so quickly, and they went downwind with a lot of speed.

When Xiao Yu got the news, he rushed to the beach to meet him.The people on the boat got off the boat one after another. There were old people and children, and more were young and middle-aged. There were quite a few people, probably over a hundred.These people were not in ragged clothes, but they were also unkempt, disheveled, and tired-looking. Presumably they were not used to the rough seas. As soon as they landed, many of them sat down on the beach, and they finally felt at ease.

Min Chong came down a long time ago, and he said loudly: "All those who have just disembarked come here to line up here, let's get acquainted, this is your Patriarch Xiao Langjun."

Standing between Min Chong and Pei Lin, Xiao Yu said kindly, "Welcome to Yazhou. It's been a bumpy journey, everyone has worked hard. My surname is Xiao, and you can call me Xiao Langjun. From now on, you will regard this place as your home." Well. After all, we are still from the same hometown. I came from Jianye last year. At the beginning, I thought I would not adapt to the climate and environment of Yazhou, but after a long time, I gradually got used to it. Except for the heat, Yazhou is quite good , at least you don’t have to worry about being hungry, and you won’t freeze to death in winter.”

A few words put a group of apprehensive people at ease. This handsome young man with a familiar accent spoke well. Although Yazhou is remote and poor, it has been a place where prisoners have been exiled since ancient times, but at least there is no need to worry about freezing. Dead man, the weather here is so warm, there is no food and there are wild vegetables to satisfy the hunger, so no one will starve to death.

Knowing that this young Xiao Langjun is his master and he is also from the same township, he can't help feeling more fond of him. Maybe, as the boy named Ji Shan said, Xiao Langjun is the most benevolent person in the world.

Xiao Yu said: "Everyone must be very tired after sitting on the boat for so long. You should go back quickly. I have already asked people to cook. After you are full, take a bath and rest for two days to get familiar with the new environment. I'll arrange things for you to do."

Min Chong said: "Jishan, take everyone back." After making arrangements, he took out a cloth bag from the package and handed it to Xiao Yu, "Here is the roster and the deed of sale. Everyone has signed and signed, and I just wait for you to sign it." The painting is locked. On the roster, everyone is good at what is written on it, you can figure it out yourself."

Xiao Yu took it over and said with a smile: "Thank you Master Min, Master Min is so reliable in handling things."

Min Chong threw the burden in his hand to Pei Rinzhi: "You can count the silver taels left after selling grain and buying people this time." After speaking, he yawned and stretched.

Pei Linzhi grasped the heavy burden, his face was not very good-looking. Recently, the surname Min has been getting too much limelight.

Xiao Yu said with a smile: "It's hard work for Min, go back and have a good rest."

Min Chong waved his hands, and then walked away with his hands behind his back, his steps were quite self-satisfied.

Xiao Yu grabbed the bundle in Pei Linzhi's hand and weighed it: "It's really heavy! How much money does it cost?"

Pei Linzhi said blankly: "Congratulations, sir, you have made money and added manpower."

Xiao Yu smiled and rubbed his hands: "That's right, the timing has really changed recently, and I feel that I have finally got rid of poverty and become prosperous."

Pei Linzhi asked curiously: "What is well-off?"

Xiao Yu thought for a while: "A well-off life refers to a certain state of life. There is a house at home, grain in the barn, meat in the pot, spare money in hand, and horses as walking tools."

"The gentleman has already reached the level of a well-off society." Pei Linzhi said.

Xiao Yu giggled: "Really, I'm already well-off. Lin Zhi, let me tell you, as long as you work hard, it's not difficult to become a rich man."

Pei Linzhi showed a helpless and doting smile: "It's not difficult for Mr. Lang, but for ordinary people, it's really not easy."

Xiao Yu raised his eyebrows and nodded in approval: "That's right." After all, no one else has such a trick as him, and there is Pei Linzhi who is escorting him by his side.

When they got home, Ji Shan was standing in front of the new house, stunned. How long has he been away? How long has Mr. Lang built so many new houses? When he saw him come back, he hurried over: "Mr. Lang, this is our house." ?"

Xiao Yu said: "Yes, it was repaired after you left, and it is for the newcomers to live in. Let me look at the roster first, how to allocate it."

The group of people were all standing in the yard waiting to be arranged. Their moods were extremely complicated at the moment. They came in from the west entrance of the village and saw all the thatched houses. There is no room.

When they arrived at the east of the village and saw the big tile-roofed house made of blue bricks, they immediately felt hopeful. This should be the owner's house.The result was true, the uneasiness in everyone's hearts finally dissipated, and the master's family was still very powerful.

Now the owner told them that these two brand-new green brick buildings are the residences prepared for them, so they are naturally very happy and looking forward to it, and they don't need to live in the thatched house.

Pei Linzhi moved a table for Xiao Yu, and Ji Hai quickly brought a stool: "Sir, please sit down."

Xiao Yu then sat down at the table, flipped through the roster, and said, "I'm going to take a roll call to get familiar with everyone, and I'll get the roll call in a while, and if you have family members, come out together. Okay, the first one, Xu Jiang."

Xu Jiang stood up. He was a thin man in his thirties. He also brought an old mother and a daughter in his teens. Xiao Yu asked, "Are you a bamboo strip maker?"

Xu Jiang nodded: "Yes, I can do some strip work."

Xiao Yu asked, "What will you make up?"

Xu Jiang said: "I can make ordinary bamboo mats, bamboo baskets, bamboo baskets, bamboo plaques, brooms, and smaller grasshopper cages."

"That's good. Ji Shan, you take their family to the southernmost room on the first floor. Your family will live there from now on." Xiao Yu said.

"Thank you Xiao Langjun." Xu Jiang bowed and left with Ji Shan.

Xiao Yu continued to make arrangements. He first made arrangements for those with children, and he arranged for this group of people first. It would be easier to arrange for those bachelors to share one room.When Min Chong bought people, he put his heart into it. Generally, those who brought their families with them were craftsmen, masons, carpenters, fishermen, tea farmers, butchers, potters, etc., and there was even a ventriloquist.

Except for the ventriloquist, everything else is very practical, but the ventriloquist is also good, he can entertain everyone and relieve boredom. After human beings have no worries about food and clothing, they always need some spiritual entertainment.

After Xiao Yu made arrangements for those with families, he began to arrange for those bachelors again. He said: "There are a lot of people here this time. They have a separate room for those with families. Those of you who are alone, you are alone. Let’s share a room for four people. Each room actually has a partition, so it’s considered a room for two people. You’ve been together for a while on the way here, and if you have a good relationship and hit it off, you can combine it yourself. I’ll try my best to arrange it for you. live in the same room."

So these bachelors began to form freely, and Xiao Yu quickly arranged them all.Most of the bachelors are young people, and there are a few teenagers. Most of these people have no skills, and most of them are willing to sell themselves to solve the family's difficulties. They took the boat to Yazhou by themselves.

No skills, but young and vigorous, just what Xiao Yu needs, no matter whether you are in iron smelting or as a sailor, you need young people.

This batch brought back a total of 120 people, but Min Chong only bought [-] people, and there were [-] families who brought their families. These families are usually a laborer, and the rest are still free. However, they can help the master's family with work in exchange for three meals and some remuneration.It's equivalent to buying one and giving one away, Xiao Yu thinks it's pretty good, because he didn't want to buy someone at first.

All the people have been settled, and there are three single youths who have no room to live in. Xiao Yu arranged for them to live in his own house. After Wu Xingyi's house was completed, the couple moved out, and the old house would be vacant. The room can be used by these young people.

The newcomers moved into a new house, and the room was very poorly furnished, with nothing but a bed.Xiao Yu explained that the time was too short, and the carpenter master hadn't had time to make other furniture. In the future, each room will be equipped with a cabinet and a table, which is very thoughtful.

People are still very satisfied with the new residence.Not long after settling down, you can eat.The rice is brown rice, the dish is steamed salted fish, and there is a seaweed soup with shrimp skin.

They came back suddenly, there were too many people, there was no more preparation at home, and there was no time to find other dishes. There were vegetables and soup. This kind of food was already a delicacy for a group of people suffering from famine.

There are nearly 200 people eating now. In the future, only the Wu family lady and a few little girls will be too busy.

During the meal, Xiao Yu announced: "Listen up, everyone: Anyone under the age of 15, regardless of gender, will come to the hall here for a half-day class every day after the morning meal. We will teach literacy and arithmetic; women in every family will start tonight. Just come to the kitchen to help cook, and later we will weave linen and sew clothes, and pick mulberry and silkworms in the spring, I will give you some wages according to your proficiency; I will arrange other jobs for men according to your specialties."

Pei Linzhi added: "From Yinshi tomorrow, all males over the age of six will get up and train with me."

As soon as they finished speaking, the people below all looked at each other in blank dismay, and then began to whisper. It turned out that what Ji Shan said was true, all the children in the family could go to school, and young people had to train soldiers.Although the military training was a little bit hard, the master's family treated the children very well, and they were able to read and write. This is a good thing that they never dared to dream of. Reading is a treatment that only the children of the powerful can enjoy.

The women are also very satisfied with this arrangement. Housework and linen weaving were originally what they were good at. Originally, the host’s house and three meals a day were provided for free. Give.The master is a kind man.

After dinner, Xiao Yu and Pei Linzhi went back to their house and asked about Min Chong's trip to sea this time.Min Chong briefly explained that they first went to Guangzhou to buy [-] catties of grain, and then went north. The grain was sold in Wu County and Dongyangzhou. More than tripled.

Min Chong said: "The sale will be later, I'm afraid it will be sold for five Wen and ten Wen. I can't wait. The poor people's money is not as satisfying as the money of the high-ranking officials."

Xiao Yu nodded approvingly: "Min Dangjia is also a benevolent person."

Pei Linzhi asked, "Is there any other movement in the north?"

Min Chong said: "It's extremely cold in the north this winter. Even in November, there have been several heavy snowfalls. I'm afraid many people can't survive the hunger and cold. According to the gossip, Rouran is harassing Dongxirong. There's going to be a war."

Xiao Yu frowned, and exchanged glances with Pei Linzhi. Rouran must have also encountered a heavy snowstorm. The cattle and sheep had no food and grass, so they would only go south to plunder. It's easy to bully, but I'm afraid that they will join forces, let go of their mouths, and let Rouran's soldiers drive straight in. Da'an is in danger, and the people will suffer again.

Xiao Yu asked, "Have you heard of any movement from the imperial court?"

Min Chong said: "The imperial court is also buying private grain everywhere now, and the price is still before the price increase. That's why I didn't go to Jianye to sell grain. I was afraid that I would hit the wind and be dragged into the official treasury."