Little husband's market life

Fa cakes are sold at the station at the foot of the mountain in the afternoon.At this time, the bowls used by farmers were as big as faces, and Qiao Zhishu made a steady profit by exchanging a bowl of rice, a bowl of noodles, a bowl of glutinous rice, etc. for a cake.

Two big bowls of rice noodles, one bowl of rice stuffed rice, and one piece of pork suet can fill a cage of hair cakes.One cage can give out 16 yuan of hair cakes, and Qiao Zhishu can process the food in exchange for it. Moreover, not every household in the village trades grains for hair cakes, and they even buy them with copper coins.

Moreover, he was in the pastry business of Sun's family, and he couldn't bear any hardships, so he pampered him.

There is Shengying who makes glutinous rice, there is uncle who buys lard, and there is Maojian who grinds rice noodles, so he goes to the study when he wants to study during the day, and goes down the mountain when he wants to ride horses with Sun Shengliang.

Sheng Yingyuan knew how to manage the house, and she was not afraid of being tired or suffering.The rooster crows, and before dawn, she wakes up to steam cakes, and after steaming, she and her servants carry them to the post station. Some people in Shangjing Village have steamed cakes for breakfast, and they come as soon as they have copper coins. , There is still some oil in the stomach.

This family works hard to make ends meet, busy for survival during the day, and gathers together at night to talk about family affairs, the elders dote on them, and the younger generations depend on them. This kind of life was beyond the imagination of Qiao Zhishu when she was eight years old. , but when he was about to turn 12, he had it.

Waiting for the time to enter November, which is the fourth month of Sheng Yao's journey to the north.

The Sun family's winter tea had finished picking, and at this moment, the Cao family sent someone to the door.

Qiao Zhishu relied on his head to accompany Sheng Yao first, and was familiar with the Cao family, so he followed Sun Hongrun to the study to listen.

The Cao family's visit this time has really verified Sheng Yao's saying that "if there is no long-term concern, there must be near-term worries".

Sun Hongrun greeted people with joy, and after inviting them to sit down, he hurriedly greeted them to serve tea. After exhausting all the etiquette, he opened his mouth and said: "Guard Lin came early, but the tea was picked only the day before yesterday, and it will take more than a month to fry and dry."

Steward Lin is in charge of purchasing. He was originally a scholar, so he is gentle and gentle.

"Tea tea is not in a hurry, I am here this time, and I will apologize for our boss."

Sun Hongrun looked bewildered and asked why.

Steward Lin: "In the second half of this year, tea leaves from all over Jiangzhou have been offered a [-]% profit. The storekeepers in each shop have collected a lot. When the quantity is reported to the owner, the warehouse is already full, and there is no money left."

"The boss still remembers the agreement with Sheng Xiucai, and sent me to inform you, so that you have plenty of time to find another buyer. You also asked me to tell you—I'm really sorry."

Qiao Zhishu glanced at his uncle and saw Sun Hongrun frowning with an angry look on his face. He got up and wanted to say something, but he couldn't speak.

So Qiao Zhishu said: "Uncle Lin, you came to our house to transport tea in the first half of the year, and you were received by my brother and I together. Thank you for your respect, and telling us some short stories, so that we juniors have learned a lot. "

Steward Lin clasped his hands, "It doesn't matter whether you value it or not. During the tea transportation, I ate a lot of meat from your family. I deserve it. I should know everything."

Qiao Zhishu felt relieved, "Then, can Uncle Lin tell the younger generation straightforwardly, is Mr. Cao's family really unable to buy new tea leaves, or do you want us to make some concessions?"

Sun Hongrun was more surprised than angry at this time. He didn't expect Qiaoer to have such thinking and eloquence.In the past, he followed Sheng Yao's side, and he was short and thin, with a gentle temperament, and he didn't talk much, so people often ignored him.

Unexpectedly, when Sheng Yao left home, he seemed to have learned all of his brother's meticulous thinking.

Steward Lin sighed, and the other party understood it with reason and emotion, so he had no choice but to confess.

"To be honest, in the first half of the year, when your family's tea leaves were transported away, some tea gardeners approached Cao's family, saying that they were willing to give three-thirds of the profits, and there would be big profits to be made. Naturally, the owner was delighted to accept it."

After that, more and more tea garden households came to Dong County to find buyers, and Dong Cao’s family learned that the tea merchants in your Nan County had colluded with the tea garden households to fight a price war. No more, those tea farmers had no choice but to sell them for [-]% of the profit. "

So in the second half of the year, when the tea trees just sprouted, those who gave up [-]% of the profit in the first half of the year came here, and they were willing to give up [-]% of the profit. Our Cao family is definitely not lowering the price.As the saying goes, if you don't have a profit, you can't get early, and I hope Master Sun can understand. "

It seems that the gang of profiteers really got their way, taking advantage of the new court law to take advantage of the loopholes, local officials were bribed to do nothing, and squeezed the hard-working tea farmers!My brother's foresight is second to none.

Qiao Zhishu: "According to Uncle Lin, is there any other market for our tea?"

"This……"

Sun Hongrun also said: "To be honest, my wife is about to give birth, and because I have negotiated a deal with the Cao family in advance, so I don't go out often in the second half of the year. If I had known that the price of tea has been reduced to such a low level, I would Make a plan early, but now, it's too late to say anything... So it doesn't matter if Manager Lin has any good opinions."

When Steward Lin heard this, he was ashamed, "Oh! This, then, am I taking advantage of the fire? Oh, this troubled time... Let me just say it straight. According to what I know about the tea price in Jiangzhou, Mr. Sun can only give you a three-point profit. There is a market."

"My boss and I really don't know that the honored lady is about to give birth. If Mr. Sun agrees to give a three-point profit, I am willing to pass on the message to the boss. After all, your talented master and our boss have discussed it beforehand. Even if you want to come to the boss, you can't bear to see the new baby. The tragedy of being born but having no food at home.”

Sun Hongrun was depressed and subconsciously went to see Qiao Zhishu.

Qiao Zhishu also frowned and thought about it, and finally he decided to trust his brother's eyes, and nodded to his uncle.

… After sending off Steward Lin, Qiao Zhishu said to his uncle: “In the first half of the year, Uncle Lin stayed at the post station at the foot of the mountain for ten days due to tea transportation. The humility and arrogance of a scholar is a gentleman."

Sun Hongrun also had a headache. Hearing what Qiao Zhishu said, the anxiety in his heart instantly dissipated, "Yao'er's ability to read people's hearts is indeed extraordinary, okay. Qiaoer, if it weren't for your brother's previous influence, you would have no problem with this matter." How to plan?"

Qiao Zhishu raised his eyes, but he didn't expect his uncle to ask his opinion.

Sun Hongrun misunderstood, and explained: "My uncle is just asking, it is really Qiaoer's performance today that opened my eyes, so you boldly say yes."

Qiao Zhishu was a little embarrassed to be praised, but he didn't want to disappoint his uncle's trust, so he answered after thinking carefully.

He said: "If I don't consider my brother's evaluation of Uncle Lin, I will nod and give up three points. In the first half of the year, the tea merchants joined forces. I know what my brother knows. In the first half of the year, we lost very little because my brother took the opportunity. .”

"My brother acted resolutely, and went to the Cao family the next day. The Cao family didn't even know that our tea merchants in Nanxian County joined forces to launch an attack. It's due to the general situation... Alas, I should have expected today's scene at that time."

Qiao Zhishu lowered his head and sighed, even the horns on his head were unhappy.

Sun Hongrun laughed and rubbed his head, "You will only be twelve after the new year, and you can make a quick decision on today's matter, which has shown your talent. If Yaoer knows, he must be proud of you."

"Good boy, you are going to study at Su's house next month, my uncle will take Maojian to the county town today, first to inquire about tea prices, and second, to prepare some gifts for you and Sheng'er to bring to Su Xiucai. "

After Sun Hongrun explained, he took Mao Jian down the mountain and led the horse away.

Thinking of her brother, Qiao Zhishu pursed her lips and smiled, her mood was high. I wonder if my brother got off the boat now?It should have been off the ship, and it has been more than three months.

**

Besides, Sheng Yao, after he left home for Jiangzhou Fucheng, he observed at the ferry for two days.

There are three kinds of boats at Jiangzhou Ferry. One is Fuchuan, which can travel far seas, so it mainly carries goods; , is a common boat in the south of the Yangtze River. People in the south of the Yangtze River believe that the rice seeds brought by birds have created a land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River, so the bow of the boat is made into the shape of a bird's beak.

Small merchants almost all go to the bird boat, which is light and fast, and they all want to go to the south, sell their goods for money, and then go home.

Medium-sized caravans like to go to Guangzhou Ship, which has good seaworthiness and battery life. After all, businessmen know that the farther the goods are transported, the more expensive they will be.

Most of the tea merchants in Jiangzhou like to operate in a shop, because tea is not as easy to preserve as silk and leather goods, and the quality of tea will deteriorate when it gets wet.So after Sheng Yao boarded the Guangzhou Ship, he discovered that most of the caravans with him were selling silk, leather goods and porcelain.

In order to prevent the tea leaves from getting wet, Sheng Yao chose the poop, that is, the deck.Because of the small size, there is only one room for four people, and the other three are obviously together, one has the score of the old man, and the other two are more like follower thugs.

They were in the same cabin on the same ship, and they just said hello to each other, and gave up after a few words of pleasantries. They didn't meet until the sixth day...

It took five days for the boat to enter the waters of Dengzhou, and the hull was sandwiched between the green hills on both sides of Dengzhou.Sheng Yao stood on the deck admiring the strange peaks and rocks in the afternoon, and returned to the poop after dark.

Before going to bed, Sheng Yao found that his sachet was missing. It was the sachet that the eldest sister returned to the village before the accident and gave each of their three younger brothers a sachet.

He thought he lost it while standing on the deck in the afternoon, admiring the scenery of Dengzhou. Sheng Yao quickly got up and left the poop. When he was about to step up the stairs to the deck, he heard a muffled groan.

Before this muffled snort, there was another sound that Sheng Yao couldn't hear clearly, it was a bit like the sound of a knife being inserted into the flesh' poof...

Sheng Yao was startled by his own intuition, he subconsciously hid in the dark, that is, the shadow of the cabin in the middle of the poop, and wanted to listen carefully.

At the same time, he discovered the problem - the boat was moving very slowly at night for safety, but when he looked around, the sponge had very obvious water waves under the reflection of the moonlight!

Sheng Yao approached the cabin with light steps, and the scene in front of him made him feel horrified—seven or eight men who couldn't see their faces clearly were holding long knives. The sleepy businessman stabbed his stomach with a knife, or wiped his neck...

Met a water bandit!

Sheng Yao quickly returned to the poop, the three people in the same cabin were snoring loudly, he pushed first, no matter how hard he tried, the three of them didn't move, he didn't care about that much, they kept patting and kicking, anyway Woke up one, it was the old man.

Sheng Yao covered the elder's mouth and said softly: "There are water bandits, dive in!"

After speaking, he pushed open the window of the poop cabin, plunged into the sea like a swift leopard, and if he dragged it any further, he himself would die on board.Everyone on the ship was obviously under the sweat drug, but he was delayed because he was watching the scenery on the deck, and the meal was cold again when he returned to the cabin.

It is true that Young Master Sheng had never eaten cold food, so he threw it away with a wave of his hand.

The elder who was in the same cabin with him woke up stunned, and only had time to watch Sheng Yao dive into the water. His mind was still dazed, but as soon as he poked his head out, he saw dead people who were still bleeding and thrown into the water. , which frightened him sober immediately.

The old man loves to eat meat, so he prepared a lot of dried meat on the boat. The food on the boat was crude, so he ate dried meat every day. After a few days, he ate too much meat and had abdominal distension and constipation. Coincidentally, he didn’t even eat dinner. doomed.Fortunately, Sheng Yao called him. After he was fully awake, he dared not wake up the attendants who had dinner, and quickly jumped into the water with Sheng Yao.

The boat is on the Narrow River in Dengzhou, which is convenient for those water bandits to approach with bamboo rafts, so it is not far from the shore, and people who can swim can swim there.Sheng Yao can do it, because Longjing Village is surrounded by a long river, and summer usually goes into the water to catch fish.

Sheng Yao dived into the water, but the big master behind him made too much noise, he had to turn around and drag him to swim.

With his help, the old man stopped flailing, so the pirates on the boat took a torch and shone around the side of the boat before returning to the cabin.

The poor people on the boat were all wiped out by the vicious water bandits, only two people in the poop escaped...

The person Sheng Yao rescued was originally from Jiangzhou, and he was also an official in charge of the Jiangnan salt affairs. This time, he was demoted and demoted to be the tea horse censor. He was in charge of purchasing and trading tea for horses. His name was Wang Jiangwei.

Because he was demoted and the Tea Horse Censor was a new official, he dressed lightly and went to take up the post by himself, or in other words, went to the Tea Horse Division to 'open up wasteland'.

The two reported to the government in Dengzhou. This year, the "Tea Yinzhi" was established. The emperor and important ministers all set their eyes on the tea horse department. The tea horse censor Wang Jiangwei was almost killed. Water bandits.

Sheng Yao learned that the one he rescued was still an official in charge of selling tea, so he accepted the recruitment post from Wang Jiangwei.

**

Sun Hongrun went down the mountain to visit several familiar tea garden households, and confirmed that what Lin Guanshi said was true. Now there are new teas, not to mention three cents, and five cents, and old tea can't be sold at a higher price.

Therefore, when purchasing what he needed, he bought a few more bolts of new cloth, and when Steward Lin came to deliver the tea, he gave them away as a token of gratitude.

After the tea business was negotiated, he told his parents that tea sales are now difficult.

Sun Hongrun: "Although the profit is [-]% lower than in previous years, I still made a profit after selling all of them. Besides, Sister Ying sold Qiaoer's cakes diligently, and her family is still rich."

"Since Qiaoer first entered my Sun's house, I feel that the child is a blessing." Mrs. Sun once again praised Qiao Zhishu.

Sun Hongrun was also very happy, "I was hesitant when Manager Lin came the day before yesterday, but thanks to Qiao Er's determination."

Qiao Zhishu's status in the hearts of the Sun's parents seemed to surpass that of Sheng Yao.

Mr. Sun was kind-hearted, with a sad face, "Our family can get by, Qiaoer knows how to make a craft, and Sister Ying is diligent, but if the imperial court does not interfere with the price of this tea, how many tea garden households in Jiangzhou will not be able to survive. ah……"

"Well, I dare not go to the county government. Tea farmers can only go to Fucheng to try if they want to vote." Speaking of the county government, Sun Hongrun thought of his nephew who could talk to the county master, "Yao'er has been away for four years. It’s been a month, tomorrow I’ll go to the county government office and ask the letter officer to see if he has sent a letter back.”

The three elders began to circle around Sheng Yao again, worried whether he had found a foothold, worried about how much money he had left, whether it was enough for food and clothing?

At this time, Sun Sheng hurried over, stood at the door and shouted: "Father! Mother's stomach hurts, my cousin said she was about to give birth!"

……

After Qiao Zhishu learned that his aunt's stomach had started, he went to the kitchen to boil water, and Xiao Huansheng followed behind him.

Qiao Zhi almost stepped on her when he was fetching water. Holding the water ladle, he raised his leg and tapped the door, "Go and sit at the door, I'm going to step on you."

Xiao Huansheng smiled foolishly, hugged his thigh, and called out childishly, "Little uncle."

Qiao Zhishu dragged his legs and walked four or five steps. When the water was poured into the pot, he put down the ladle, picked up Xiao Huansheng and put it at the door. He pointed to the kennel and said, "Go and count the puppies. Xiaobai hugged me."

"Okay~" Xiao Huansheng ran to the kennel, the puppy grew much faster than her, and she couldn't hold the four-month-old puppy, so she could only squat there and pull the puppy's paw Claw, she has little strength, so the pup won't hurt.

Qiao Zhishu turned on the stove before going over to hug her.

Little Huansheng sat on his uncle's lap and asked, "Where's mother?"

"Your uncle and grandma are going to give birth to a little cousin for you, and the elder sister is taking care of her."

Xiao Huansheng didn't understand the complicated seniority, only heard the word 'uncle', pointed at Qiao Zhishu with his little finger and said, "Little uncle?"

It means that Qiao Zhishu is the uncle.

"En." Qiao Zhishu touched her little fingertip with his forehead.

Xiao Huansheng threw himself into Qiao Zhishu's arms happily, children are the best at recognizing kindness, and she sticks to whoever treats her well.

Qiao Zhishu is growing up quietly and slowly. At the age of 12, he began to look like a little man, so the "fatherly love" that Xiao Huansheng could not get from her mother, she began to be able to learn from Qiao Zhishu, a male elder. Got.By Qiao Zhishu's side, she has never been afraid of tall bay red horses, and she is not afraid of difficulties.

Sun Hongrun invited a stable woman to come up. Although Dow's third child was born, she still suffered from pain for a whole day. She gave birth to twins late at night, two little men.

Sun Hongrun was 35 years old this winter and had both children.

The next day, before dawn, Qiao Zhishu woke up, and Xiao Huansheng was next to him, facing the wall, sleeping soundly next to him with her little butt pouted.

It seems that the eldest sister was taking care of her aunt until late yesterday, and she didn't have time to take Xiao Huansheng away.

Qiao Zhishu got up and dressed, and wanted to visit her two little cousins.Xiao Huansheng curled up in the warm blanket by herself. She is two and a half years old, and she can't roll out of bed anymore.

Out of the door, a layer of mist in the morning enveloped the mountains and forests, like a layer of white gauze, soft and hazy.

Sheng Ying from the opposite door also came out. She tied her hair up with a wooden hairpin. Her plain face was gentle and gentle. She was already tall, but she looked taller because of her thinness.Many men who are shorter than her in the village like to point and say that she is not good-looking, but Qiao Zhishu thinks that the eldest sister is more beautiful than the person in the painting of "Xishi Huansha Picture" in Cao's courtyard.

Sheng Ying: "Why do you get up so early today? Have you slept well?"

Qiao Zhishu nodded, "Sleep well, I went to bed early last night."

"Is Sheng still asleep?"

"Well, I haven't woken up yet."

Sheng Ying took Qiao Zhishu to visit Tao Shi, and Tao Shi was also awake. She was tired just after giving birth, and her body was still hurting, but she didn't sleep for long.

Qiao Zhishu looked at the two little meatballs. They hadn't opened their eyes yet. They had small noses, small eyes, and big heads. They were probably just born. The two little cousins ​​looked exactly alike.Qiao Zhishu raised a finger and gently touched their little faces, which were tenderer than egg custard, while listening to the eldest sister and aunt talking.

Sheng Ying: "Auntie, try to sleep as long as possible. No milk is not something you worry about now. When the steamed cakes are steamed, the village will probably wake up. I will go from house to house to beg for milk, and when I come back, I will heat it up for the children. Don't worry, are you hungry? Go to sleep if you're not hungry. "

My aunt Tao is still weak, her eyes are red, "I finally begged for the boy, but I don't think there are two of them, and I have to feed them rice soup until I'm half a year old. I can't sleep when I think of the two of them not getting enough to eat... ..."

It was born in winter again, and the baby didn't drink enough milk, so it was difficult for the baby to survive until spring.

Sheng Ying didn't dare to sigh, nor did she dare to express her worry, so she tried her best to coax her: "No way, the price of tea at home has been negotiated, and after selling the cakes for three months, I have saved a lot of money, let my uncle go and hire a nanny , how could you starve two little babies?"

"Auntie, don't worry about it. I'll make you a bowl of peanut soup. You squint for a while, and sleep if you can sleep."

Tao Shi also knew that it was useless to worry, she had to take care of her body quickly to be serious, and after being coaxed for a long time, she obediently closed her eyes and brewed for sleep.

Dow's worries were indeed justified. The family stewed pig's trotters and peanut soup for her every day, but the two boys were still crying from hunger. After three days of this, Sun Hongrun brought back a ewe.

In the winter, the newborns in Shangjing Village didn't have enough milk to eat, and they couldn't afford much with the money from the Sun family.The county town invites a nurse, but people think that the village is far away, and they are still on the mountain, so they don't want to come. Even this ewe was bought at twice the usual price.

But later, Qiao Zhishu earned all the money back, so he used the extra milk from the ewe...

But before that, Qiao Zhishu took a whole leg of cured pork and went back to Sheng's house to visit Grandma Sheng.

It is often said in Jiangzhou that "the winter solstice celebrates the new year", so Jiangzhou people have the custom of reunion to celebrate the winter solstice.

Mrs. Sheng still sleeps in the original yard at night, and only goes to the second son's yard to stay during the day.The second son of Sheng is Sheng Shaoguang, a melon farmer. Before Shengxue made his fortune, he was the richest in his family.

Old lady Sheng is the same as six months ago, her body is still strong, but she misses her grandchildren more and more.

"Yao'er hasn't written yet?"

It was noon, the warmest hour of the day in winter.Old Madam Sheng and Qiao Zhishu were sitting in the room, watching Qiao Zhishu bake her hair cakes and asking questions.

Qiao Zhishu smiled at grandma, "Grandma, do you think I have grown up?"

Old Madam Sheng looked carefully, "I didn't see it, you just wore too much clothes and were skinny."

Mrs. Sheng forgot to ask about her eldest grandson, and began to ramble about Qiao Zhishu's childhood.

"When you first came, you were black and thin, but now you are white, but still darker than your elder brother and younger brother, and the family is the whitest..." As he spoke, Old Madam Sheng fell silent for a while. "Gang'er is getting old too. I don't want grandma anymore. I went to the county for half a year and didn't come back to see grandma during the Mid-Autumn Festival. A few days ago, the boss asked someone to come back and said that the eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant again, and the whole family would not come back. return."

Fang He is pregnant again?Qiao Zhishu just found out, and asked curiously, "When did you get pregnant?"

"It's been two months." The old lady wiped her eyes. She was getting older and had no more tears, only her heart was filled with panic.

Seeing this, Qiao Zhishu used to hug grandma's legs, put her head on grandma's knee and acted like a baby, "How come, Ganger wants grandma, he's not in good health, and it's cold now, isn't it?"

The old lady gently stroked Qiao Zhishu's forehead, "I know the boss is heartbroken. If he doesn't come back, grandma won't be able to help you teach him a lesson. Grandma knows that she has wronged Yao'er and wronged you..."

"You are a good boy, don't be stubborn with them, can you help grandma to see Gang'er? The eldest daughter-in-law is his own mother, but the eldest daughter-in-law is a bit fragile. If Gang'er is sick and weak, she will seek death. She is small-hearted. She doesn't know how to bear it, she can't take care of Gang'er well."

Qiao Zhishu originally turned his face sideways, but he couldn't help rubbing his head when he heard this, and buried his whole face in grandma's lap, he only dared to shed tears quietly, his brother Gang'er was long gone...

"Okay, I'll go to the shop tomorrow." Qiao Zhishu could only continue to hide from grandma that Gang'er was her lifeblood, so he didn't dare to tell the truth.

Mrs. Sheng heard his nasal tone, and smiled and patted him on the back, "Aggrieved? When everyone comes back during the Chinese New Year, grandma will vent your anger on you, and grandma will beat him up!"

"Hmm!" Qiao Zhishu responded, not daring to let grandma know that he was crying because he thought of Gang'er.

After returning from this trip, the Sheng family became much cooler. It wasn't about Qiao Zhishu, but the atmosphere of the entire family, which was disturbed by Sheng Xue's previous selfish behavior.Now there is a dispute between the sisters-in-law, and no one is willing to pay more, let alone suffer a loss. As time goes by, the gap becomes wider and wider.

Qiao Zhishu, who had lived in the cozy Sun's house for half a year, couldn't get used to such an atmosphere. After the reunion dinner and staying only one night, Grandma Sheng sent him out of the village, hoping that he would visit Gang'er.

Help her send a message to Gang'er—grandma misses Gang'er.

Qiao Zhishu rode his horse back to the mountain quietly, and sat in front of Gang'er's grave until his body was almost frozen to unconsciousness before he left...

The author has something to say: Gang'er will be back soon.