The Jade of the Republic of China

"Yu Tong!"

A few people here were talking when they suddenly heard a call.

Shen Yutong subconsciously turned her head to follow the sound, and it was indeed her cousin Shen Tianci.

He waved his hands excitedly in response: "Brother Tianci!"

Shen Tianci is the big shopkeeper of the Shen family in Ziliujing, since his surname is Shen, he is a member of the Shen family.

He is the son of Mr. Shen's cousin, Shen Yutong's cousin after a generation.He lost his parents when he was less than ten years old, and has been raised by Shen's family. He worked with Shen Xingzhi when he was fourteen or five years old. Later, the Shen family moved to Shanghai, and he stayed in Ziliujing to take care of the Shen family's salt business.

Shen Tianci is two years older than Shen Yuan, and is now nearly half a hundred years old.

He was probably raised in the land of Shu, and he still looks like a strong man. Although there are traces of wind and frost on his face, his hair is black and lush, which is the level that Shen Yuan will envy when he sees it.

Shen Tianci bought a car last year. In order to welcome his little cousin, he asked the driver to drive to Chongqing yesterday, and today he even drove to the pier early to wait.

He walked over quickly, grasped his little cousin's arms, and said with a loud smile: "It's been a year since we saw each other, our second young master seems to be more handsome, after a few days on the boat, are you exhausted?"

He would go back and forth between Shanghai and Ziliujing almost every year, firstly to visit Mr. Shen, and secondly to report on work, so Shen Yutong was no stranger to him, and naturally he didn't feel uncomfortable with his enthusiasm.

He smiled and said, "It's okay."

"Are your father and your eldest brother and sister-in-law all right?"

"Everything is fine."

"Let's go and get in the car. I'll take you to eat some delicious food first. Let's go back to Ziliujing after we've calmed down."

"Wait," Shen Yutong held him back, "I have three friends who are going to Xikang, and I will ask them to go to Ziliujing with me to rest for two days before leaving. Can you arrange another car?"

Shen Tianci knew that Shen Yutong came from Liujing this time and brought two people with him, so when he spoke just now, he thought the three next to him were just passers-by, only now did he realize that they were with Shen Yutong.

Cars are still a rarity in the interior, but Shen Tianci has been walking in Sichuan for decades, has a wide range of contacts and contacts, so it is not a problem to get a car.

He patted his chest and said with a smile: "No problem, then you take a rickshaw to Fushun Restaurant first, and I will arrange a car."

"Then I will trouble Brother Tianci."

Shen Tianci smiled: "Yutong, why are you being polite to me, your friend, how can I be negligent?"

He was really quick at handling things. As soon as Shen Yutong and his party sat down at Fushun Restaurant, he rushed over with a happy face and said that the car had been arranged.So after a big meal and a little reorganization, two cars and a group of people set off towards Ziliujing.

As the capital of salt for thousands of years, Ziliujing prospered because of salt, a small city full of wealthy businessmen.When salt merchants have money, they need to build houses and build roads. Therefore, the road from Chongqing to Ziliujing is not bad, and there is even a long asphalt road.It took only five hours to drive all the way to Ziliujing, just in time for the smoky evening.

Meng Liansheng, who was sitting between Shen Yutong and Sun Zhidong, looked out the window curiously.

The small town is built along the river, and the short hills opposite the river are densely packed with houses, emitting white smoke, which does not look like a residence. There are some large and small bamboo pipes intertwined in the air. He asked curiously, "Is that the Ziliujing Salt Field?"

Shen Yutong nodded and smiled as he answered: "Well, this river is the Fuxi River, and the smoke is from the stove where the salt is fried."

Meng Liansheng nodded knowingly, as if he had gained a lot of insight.

At the same time, Sun Zhidong, who had slept all the way, also woke up, wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth, looked like a smoker, and said vaguely: "Is it there yet?"

Shen Tianci in front turned his head and smiled, "Boss Sun, we'll be there soon."

This is not just talking, because the front is the city gate.Entering the city gate, a bustling and bustling small city immediately catches the eye.There are two types of salt merchants in Ziliujing, one is local salt merchants, and the other is foreign Shanxi merchants like the Shen family.The local salt merchants did not want to leave their hometown, but wanted to live in luxury and comfort. They built mansions like a competition, and even saw a few Western-style houses along the way.

In addition to building a house, entertainment is also required, so there are many brothels, smoking halls and restaurants.

Sun Zhidong, who was tired all the way, immediately cheered up when he saw the prosperity.

The car stopped at a mansion, and the word "Shen Mansion" was written on the plaque.

Probably hearing the movement, several servants rushed out bustlingly.

Shen Tianci got out of the car first, and said boldly: "Second Young Master is here! Ready to serve dinner."

The last time Shen Yutong came back from Liujing, he was still a child in his teens, let alone a new maid, even a few old mothers who had been around couldn't recognize him.

But it is well known that the second son of the Shen family looks like Pan An.

Therefore, when several people in the car got out of the car one after another, the servants guessed who the second young master was almost immediately.

The only one who can confuse the eyes is probably Meng Liansheng, but it is only a little bit. The nobleman's demeanor is truly unmatched.

The old housekeeper brought his servants forward to salute, and the young maid, seeing the amiable Shen Yutong, immediately felt shy and timid and didn't dare to look any further.

A girl from a small town is not as open as a modern girl from a foreign market.

Shen Yutong's arrival was a big event, and the slaughter of chickens and sheep had already been arranged in advance.Salt merchants knew how to eat it, and the land of Sichuan was rich in products, so there was a special Yanbang dish in Yandu.

This reception banquet was really rich, and the whole group ate with greasiness in their mouths.

There are so many beauties in Shu, Sun Zhidong had already planned to enjoy two days.After eating, Shen Tianci asked someone to take him and Du Zan to a brothel to have fun.

Shen Yutong and Meng Liansheng didn't have this hobby, so they took a shower and went back to the guest room early.

After eight or nine days of exhaustion, Shen Yutong finally got a good night's sleep.

After getting up and washing up, he went to visit Meng Liansheng in the small courtyard next to him.

Meng Liansheng got up earlier than him, and was admiring the flowers in the courtyard, and there were two little maids standing beside him, talking to him.I don't know what is interesting about it, the little maid covered her mouth and smiled like a silver bell, but Meng Liansheng's face was blushing.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, the two maidservants turned their heads and saw that it was their fairy-like young master. The enthusiasm and cheerfulness in front of Meng Liansheng suddenly turned shy and timid. They saluted politely and walked away shyly.

In fact, this is not to blame for the two little girls, one is a guest and the other is a host, one is pure and honest, and the other is romantic and unrestrained.Anyone would have reacted like this.

The romantic and unrestrained Shen Yutong laughed and shook his head, and walked towards Meng Liansheng.Before he could speak, the other party had already cupped his hands and greeted respectfully: "Good morning, Second Young Master."

Shen Yutong was used to his old scholar's humility and politeness, so he smiled and waved his hands: "How long have you been up?"

Meng Liansheng said: "I just woke up, it seems that Boss Sun and Brother Du Zan haven't come back yet?"

Shen Yutong said: "Ziliujing is no less a place for recreation than Shanghai Beach. I heard from the boy who took them to play that the two of them are already too happy to leave. I guess they will spend the whole day outside. You don't need to worry about them. Just follow me today. I will take them with you." Take a good look around our Millennium Salt Capital."

Meng Liansheng smiled: "Then the second son will be troubled."

Shen Yutong helped Fu forehead helplessly, sighed and said: "I said Xiao Meng, when will you not be so polite to me?"

Meng Liansheng pursed his lips and smiled: "I...are actually not polite."

Shen Yutong made him feel close, so he simply put his hand on his shoulder: "OK, let's go."

The two walked through the courtyard towards the gate, and met Shen Tianci: "Huh? Yutong, are you going out now? Breakfast will be ready soon."

Shen Yutong waved his hand: "I'll take Xiao Meng out to eat."

Shen Tianci said: "I'll ask the two boys to follow you."

Shen Yutong shook his hand again, and said with a smile: "It's not that I haven't been here before, I don't think it has changed much from before, you are busy with your work, don't worry about us."

What else did Shen Tianci want to say, Shen Yutong had already dragged Meng Liansheng away in strides.

Summer dawns early, and it’s sunny again. It’s just past eight o’clock, and the sun is already shining brightly in the sky. The bustling and prosperous town wakes up after a peaceful night’s sleep.

On the bluestone streets, there are crowds of people who come out to drive the morning market, caravans and merchants with horses, and of course, the most are salt workers wearing short coats or shirtless, preparing to work in the salt field.

After all, Shen Yutong hasn't been here for ten years. Although these scenes are not unfamiliar, she still can't help but feel a little excited.After walking around for a while, he suddenly pulled Meng Liansheng and pointed forward: "Huh? Ms. Wang is still here earlier, let's go have breakfast."

The early shop he mentioned was a small shop, because it was too small, and with a few small tables propped up by the door, there were less than ten tables in total. It was actually past the dining peak at this moment, but the small shop was still crowded. Full of diners, it is a bustling and noisy world of fireworks.

Most of the guests are people from the salt area, and they all eat like voracious food.The two had just walked over, and there happened to be a table of people leaving after eating.Shen Yutong dragged Meng Liansheng to take the seat.

He is an elegant and dignified young master, with a completely different temperament from his surroundings. To sit here, among a bunch of common people in the city, can be called a beautiful scenery.

Fortunately, Ziliujing has been famous for salt for nearly a thousand years, and there are many noble young masters and ladies in the major salt merchants. Therefore, people around him, except for his handsome appearance, are not very novel.

Shen Yutong beckoned and said, "Boss, here are two Chaoshou and Douhua."

"okay!"

Shen Yutong saw that the corners of Meng Liansheng's mouth were curved, as if he was very happy, and he felt quite happy in his heart, and said: "I have had this shop since I was a child, and the Chaoshou and Douhua are excellent. It is a taste that Shanghai Tang does not have."

Meng Liansheng nodded vigorously.

Shen Yutong saw that his face was full of novelty, and couldn't help eloquently: "Sichuan and Shu are rich in products, and people here know how to eat them, and the best ones are salt merchants, so the delicacies of Ziliujing, even in Sichuan and Shu, are absolutely delicious. to be at the front.”

Meng Liansheng said: "Yesterday, the dinner at Second Young Master's house was delicious."

Shen Yutong smiled: "How many dishes are there? Let me tell you, in such a small artesian well, delicious food can be eaten for a month without repeating the same. It's a pity that you are going to Xikang tomorrow, otherwise I will take you It’s delicious for a few days, and I’ll eat all the big restaurants.”

Meng Liansheng said, "I hope to have a chance in the future."

Shen Yutong nodded: "That's right, the future will last forever."

The steaming Chaoshou and Douhua are served on the table.Chaoshou is big and plump, with plenty of meat stuffing inside. The broth is made of lard, with a layer of brightly colored spicy red oil floating on top, and emerald green onion, which is full of color and fragrance.In addition to chopped green onion and chili oil, the bean curd also has dried shrimp and kimchi.This kimchi is made with coarse salt from an artesian well, which is very sour, crunchy and refreshing.

Meng Liansheng only knew how to eat enough, but not delicious food. Hearing Shen Yutong say this, he found it very interesting. The food he put into his mouth seemed to become more delicious.

Seeing him eat happily, Shen Yutong also felt very accomplished.In the end, Meng Liansheng ate two points of Chaoshou and Douhua to save face, his belly was bulging, and he reluctantly put down his chopsticks.

After breakfast, the sun was already high, and Shen Yutong took him to the saltworks again.

Along the way, Meng Liansheng saw the densely intertwined bamboo tubes on the ground and mid-air, and opened his curious eyes to look left and right, and asked, "What are these bamboo tubes for?"

Shen Yutong said: "This is called a pipe, made of bamboo. It is used to transport the brine from the salt well and the underground natural gas to the salt cooking stove. When there was no such thing in the past, it was all up to the salt workers to carry the brine to the stove one by one. Housing. Therefore, the times are advancing, and every industry will improve.”

Meng Liansheng said, "Just like the second son making refined salt?"

Shen Yutong smiled and pointed forward: "Go, I'll show you our kitchen."

The roof of the stove house was emitting white smoke, and it was the salt workers inside who were working.Shen Yutong led the people into the kitchen, and the sweltering heat hit him immediately.

The fire in the salt stove was very hot, and the shirtless salt workers were sweating profusely around the stove.

The steward of the saltworks recognized the owner's young master, and hurried over and said, "Second Young Master, you are here! It's hot here, be careful, don't get heat stroke."

Shen Yutong said: "I'll just take a look, you don't have to worry about me."

The stove was not only hot, but also exuded a pungent smell of brine.After all, Shen Yutong came to take Meng Liansheng to play, so he didn't want to stay there for long, so he only took him around, then walked out, and asked with a smile, "Do you think it's boring?"

Meng Liansheng shook his head: "It's very interesting. I used to only know that salt merchants were rich, but I didn't know how salt was made."

Shen Yutong said: "Salt has been a hard currency like silver since ancient times. Now the most valuable in Sichuan and Sichuan are the salt from Ziliujing and the smoke from Xikang, but compared with the smoke from Xikang, the salt from Ziliujing has been around for thousands of years, including our Shen family. Until now, we still rely on salt to make money. It is said that salt merchants are rich, but in the final analysis, besides natural gifts, the salt merchants’ money is the sweat of salt workers. Fortunately, our new machine is coming soon. In the future, salt workers should be able to Much easier."

Meng Liansheng turned to look at him and remained silent for a while.

Sensing his gaze, Shen Yutong blinked and said amusedly, "What's wrong, Xiao Meng?"

Meng Liansheng shook his head: "The second young master is different from the young masters I know."

Shen Yutong smiled and said, "How many young masters do you know? Just say that?"

Meng Liansheng thought about it for a while: "Although there are not many, but I often see them in the theater."

Shen Yutong raised his brows and looked at him with a half-smile: "Then tell me, why are I different from the young master you saw?"

Meng Liansheng said, "They don't know what the Second Young Master said."

Shen Yutong laughed: "Of course I wouldn't say these things in the theater. If you get in touch with them more, you might find that I am no different from them." After speaking, he waved his hands and said, "But you still don't want to talk to them." Those young men in Shanghai have had too much contact with each other."

How many good things can young master have?Don't spoil his good brother.

Meng Liansheng nodded vigorously: "I only like being with the Second Young Master."

This made Shen Yutong smile, and he patted him on the shoulder: "Go, I will take you to the Fuxi River below to see the crooked butt boat."

"Crooked ass boat?"

Shen Yutong: "It's those salt boats on the river you saw last night."

The Fuxi River is the lifeblood of artesian well salt transportation. After the brine in the salt well is fired into salt, it is loaded on a salt boat, from the Fuxi River to the Tuojiang River and then into the Yangtze River, and then transported to all parts of the country.

It was only after Meng Liansheng followed Shen Yutong to the river that he realized why these salt boats with oars were called butt boats.

It turns out that the stern of the boat is high on the left and low on the right, tilted to the right, so that it can turn freely when encountering dangerous shoals and reefs, and will not plunge into the waves.Because the boat looks crooked, the locals call it crooked butt boat or crooked head boat.It is the main force of salt transportation in Ziliujing, and it is also a special scenery of Fuxi River and even Tuojiang Yangtze River.

Meng Liansheng worked at the wharf, but he had never seen such a boat, and found it very novel and interesting—of course, the really interesting thing was staying with Shen Yutong like this.

The two sat down on a big willow tree by the river. Amidst the sound of cicadas, they watched the scenery of boats coming and going on the Fuxi River for a while, and the sun became stronger and stronger.

Shen Yutong turned her head, her eyes fell on the sweat dripping from the corner of Meng Liansheng's forehead, and she tilted her head to look upstream.A group of naked cubs were swimming in the river.

Most of the children by the big rivers have good water skills. These children rise and fall in the blue waves, as if they are white stripes in the waves.

"Xiao Meng, can you swim?"

Meng Liansheng nodded: "Yes, there is also a river in my hometown, and I often soaked in the river when I was a child."

In fact, Shen Yutong was just asking casually. Even if Meng Liansheng didn't know it before, he must be a good player in the water after working in the dock for a year or two.

He stood up and patted the other person on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Come on, let's go to the water to cool off."

He led Meng Liansheng up the river and chose a place where the water flowed gently to stop.

The water of the river is emerald green, and the bottom cannot be seen. It seems to be a little deep.

Shen Yutong was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and loose breeches today. He took off the shirt casually and threw it on the ground without taking off his pants, and plunged directly into the water.

When he was studying abroad in England, he took swimming lessons. He was not the wild way of a country child. When he entered the water, his movements were light and graceful, like a fish returning to the water.

Meng Liansheng didn't go into the water right away, but just stood on the bank and watched, as if he wanted to admire Shen Yutong's swimming posture.

No, the level returned to calm for a long time, but no one in the water came up.

He panicked, reacted from the daze, quickly took off the short jacket on his upper body, and plunged into the water.

After diving into the water, she saw Shen Yutong with her eyes closed and spread her hands floating underwater. Without even thinking about it, she quickly swam over, hugged her tightly in her arms, and floated upwards.

Shen Yutong originally enjoyed a moment of peace and coolness underwater, but he would be hugged suddenly. When he opened his eyes, he saw Meng Liansheng's slightly blurred face in the water.

The water flow cuts off the noise outside, and also makes everything distorted. The touch of skin in the water has a wonderful sense of intimacy, which makes him have the illusion that he doesn't know what day and night it is.

He instinctively reached out and hugged the person in front of him.

The two emerged from the water in an embracing posture.

Meng Liansheng breathed a sigh of relief, water trickled down from his wet head, he didn't care about the water flowing into his eyes, he just asked eagerly, "Second Young Master, are you alright?"

Shen Yutong took a couple of breaths of fresh air, and now she has regained her senses. Seeing him like this, she laughed out loud, "You don't think I'm drowning, do you?"

Meng Liansheng was slightly taken aback, and let go of his hands, but his face was still a little dazed.

The water of the Fuxi River flowed through the separated bodies of the two, and the intimacy of the skin-to-skin contact just now disappeared.Shen Yutong took another deep breath, held a handful of water in his right hand, splashed it on the face of the stupid young man, and laughed loudly: "Silly boy!"

After finishing speaking, he stretched his arms and swam towards the opposite side.

Meng Liansheng, who stopped at the same spot, turned his head, looked at the white body shining in the sun, and finally recovered from his daze.The corner of his mouth curled up, and he chased after Shen Yutong, swam to the side of the other party, imitated his action just now, scooped up a handful of water, and sprinkled it on him.

Shen Yutong is naturally courteous.

The two big men, like the group of youngsters not far away, chased and fought in the water with forgetfulness.

Shen Yutong has a very standard and beautiful swimming style, and can feel like a duck in water in the calm and soothing swimming pool.But in this flowing river, he can't do as he pleases, at least not as good as Meng Liansheng, who was born in Yeluzi.

After swimming back and forth a few times, he felt powerless, so he had to stop and lean against the big rock on the bank, resting while Xin Meng Liansheng swam freely in the water like a fish.

He didn't notice it before, but now he noticed that Xiao Meng has a beautiful wheat-colored body with smooth and strong muscles, as if it contains infinite power.

This reminded him of the human body sculptures he had seen in Europa's art gallery.It is the combination of power and beauty, which was only considered art in the past, but now it has become reality from art.

His heart suddenly became restless.

When he realized this strange feeling, he quickly forced himself to stop.

Meng Liansheng swam back and forth a few more times, rowed over and leaned against the stone like him, panting slightly and said with a smile, "It's been a long time since I swam so freely!"

Shen Yutong withdrew his gaze from his wet side face, coughed lightly as if trying to cover up, and asked, "Do you still want to swim?"

Meng Liansheng shook his head: "Enough."

"Okay, let's go up and dry our clothes before going to eat."

"it is good."

The two got up from the water and lay side by side on the big stone slab with their wet pants on.There is a big willow tree on the stone slab, and the mottled sunlight casts down on the body, which can bathe in the sun without feeling too hot.

Meng Liansheng closed his eyes and enjoyed it for a moment, as if thinking of something, he tilted his head and looked at the people beside him, and asked, "Second Young Master, are we just sunbathing that foreigners like?"

Shen Yutong smiled lightly, nodded and said: "Well, but the real sunbathing has to be on the beach. When I return to Shanghai, I will take you to the nearby beach bathing place."

Meng Liansheng turned over, propped his face with one hand, and looked at him with a smile.

Sensing his burning gaze, Shen Yutong lazily opened his eyes, met the handsome face close at hand, and asked with a smile, "What's the matter?"

Like a child looking forward to a sweet dream, Meng Liansheng frowned, "I'm thinking of going to the beach with Second Young Master to bask in the sun."

Shen Yutong laughed: "Don't worry, the second son keeps his word."

Meng Liansheng nodded and lay down again.

He still turned his head to look at Shen Yutong who had closed his eyes.From top to bottom, the eyes are on the fair and handsome face first, then the smooth and slender body, and then a pair of long legs.

He felt that the second son was born perfect everywhere.

Finally, he set his gaze on the hand at his side.

After a while, he turned his head and closed his eyes. Leaning on Shen Yutong's hand, he moved slowly and silently, stroked it little by little, and gently held the other's little finger.

The warm touch from his hand made Shen Yutong's eyelashes twitch slightly, but he just thought it was Meng Liansheng expressing his closeness to him, he didn't care, and naturally he didn't move his hand away.

No one spoke again.

Only the sound of the water flow and the cool wind brushed by my ears, as well as the sound of the salt boat not far away and the children's play.

Shen Yutong only felt the ecstasy he had never had before, and for a moment, he even thought that time would stop at this moment.

The author has something to say:

Just to mention casually, in ancient times there were mainly two major salt areas, Sichuan Salt and Huaiyan Salt, and the famous salt merchants were mainly divided into Sichuan Salt and Huaiyang System.

Sichuan students should all know that Sichuan Salt is mainly located in Ziliujing, which belongs to Zigong City today.

Now the salt of Zigong Jiuda Salt Industry is very common in the market. It was formerly the Jiuda Salt Factory in the Republic of China. It was the first modern refined salt factory in China. It was established in Tianjin. The founder was Fan Xudong, a chemical industrialist. Moved to artesian well.

PS Do you guess that the second son knows that he is a crook?