Literary Heroes of the Republic of China

After Mu Qiong chatted with Mu Changyu for a few words, the women who were busy in the kitchen all noticed Mu Qiong.

An old lady said: "The young man is cured? It's really Amitabha, your mother can finally feel at ease now."

Another middle-aged woman said to Mu Changyu: "Changyu, what auntie said is right, right? Loquat leaves are the most effective in treating coughs, and you don't need to spend money to buy medicine."

At this time, people like to add the word "foreign" in front of the things that come from abroad to call them. For example, potatoes are called "yang sweet potatoes", and matches are called "matches".

Because the original silver dollar was also imported from abroad, people in Shanghai like to call it "Yangdian", or Dayang for short.

The small silver coins that circulate in the market together with Dayang are called "Xiaoyang", or "Silver Dime".

Of course, the copper coins of smaller value are more commonly used by ordinary people, also known as "copper tin".

Copper coins appeared in the late Qing Dynasty. There is no square hole in the middle of the previous copper coins, and they are heavier.

Generally speaking, one copper dollar is worth ten copper coins, and there is also the words "ten coins for making money" on it.

At the moment, the money in the late Qing Dynasty and the money minted by the government today are being used by everyone, so no matter whether it is a small foreign currency or a copper dollar, there are many kinds of shapes, and their values ​​are also different, and the exchange is not in decimal.

Generally, if one silver dollar is exchanged for a dime of small silver coin, it can be exchanged for eleven or two, and for copper yuan, it can be exchanged for more than 100, depending on the price listed by the exchange shop every day.

Of course, this was the exchange standard in the early days of the Republic of China.

According to Mu Qiong's knowledge, in the middle and late period of the Republic of China, silver coins were minted privately in various places, so that copper coins were flooded, and the silver content of silver dimes became lower and lower. These coins became less and less valuable, and even silver coins depreciated. many.

When Mu Qiong learned about this period of history through books, he felt that the coins at this time were really a bit confusing. Now that Mu Changqiong has the memory, he finally straightened it out.

"Yes! Thanks to Aunt Zhao!" Mu Changyu smiled at Aunt Zhao, poured the water boiled with loquat leaves into a bowl, and served it to Mu Qiong.

Mu Qiong took the medicine and drank it slowly while talking to the women who were making breakfast.

When the original owner arrived in Shanghai, he fell ill after failing to meet relatives. He was always in a daze, thinking only about his own affairs, so that he didn't understand the current environment.

Mu Qiong's body is still very weak, and his illness is not cured, so he can't go out rashly, so he called these people first: "I was ill and confused before, and I don't know where this is."

"This house belongs to my aunt?"

"What's around here?"

……

The original owner hadn't suffered much before, and he was raised with fine skin and tender flesh, so although Mu Qiong had suffered a serious illness, Mu Qiong still looked handsome now, and his pale skin, which had not seen the sun for a long time, made him very painful. pity.

These aunts and daughters-in-law who came out to cook were all willing to talk to him, which made him quickly figure out what he wanted to know.

The house rented by the Mu family has nothing to do with the people in front of them. It belongs to Mrs. Yao, and Mrs. Yao lives in the east two rooms of the four big houses facing south with her two sons and two daughters.There was a kitchen in that room, so Mrs. Yao didn't come out to cook.

The Yao family originally opened a soy sauce garden shop, and they were quite wealthy, so they built such a house. It is said that not including buying land, it cost 150 oceans just to build the house!It's a pity that Mrs. Yao's husband became addicted to cigarettes and smoked opioids every day, so he wiped out the sauce garden shop, leaving only this house.

I don't know if Boss Yao suddenly realized his conscience or something. He hanged himself two years ago, so at least he didn't bring harm to the house.

And when he passed away and the funeral was arranged, the Yao family was poor and in debt, and Mrs. Yao could only rent out the house in exchange for some money to support the family.

The rent of a house in Shanghai is quite expensive. The three members of the Mu family rent a hut next to the western courtyard wall, which costs an ocean a month.

"They lived in two of the four houses facing south, and the remaining two houses cost two yuan and four corners a month, plus the four houses facing east and west each cost one yuan a month... Even if Mrs. Yao just lays down and doesn’t do anything, she can get more than eight foreign tins a month.” Aunt Zhao was not without envy when she spoke, she had a large family and rented a house facing south, and paid the rent every month It hurts all the time.

Mu Changyu listened to it and was also very envious.Their family used to have money, but the money was never out of their mother's hands, so they never had any money. Later, when they managed to get some money, they were robbed again.

Eight dollars is already a lot of money to her.

Not long after Mu Qiong chatted with them, Mu Changyu had already cooked the batter: "Brother, it's time to eat!"

Mu Qiong nodded, and planned to help Mu Changyu carry the earthen pot, but before he could move, Aunt Zhao suddenly stuffed a handful of pickles into his hand: "Xiao Mu, you can eat this pickle as soon as you hold it. "

Now in Shanghai, fresh vegetables are not easy to preserve because of the inconvenience of transportation, and the price is more expensive than pickled vegetables. The same is true for fresh meat. Therefore, ordinary people eat the most pickled vegetables, salted meat and salted fish. The price is affordable and they are also served with rice. In addition, tofu and bean sprouts are also commonly bought by ordinary people.

Seeing Aunt Zhao offering pickles, Mu Changyu quickly refused: "Aunt Zhao, no need..."

Mu Qiong smiled and said, "Thank you Aunt Zhao."

Mu Qiong has the memory of Mu Changqiong, so he speaks the same as Mu Changqiong at this time, speaking soft and waxy Wu dialect, which sounds very sweet, which makes Aunt Zhao's smile deepen: "You're welcome, why don't you just have a bite of pickles? Sigh !Xiao Mu, your illness is just right, you should ask your mother to buy some eggs for you to supplement, but..."

Aunt Zhao didn't go on, they all knew that the Mu family was in a bad situation.

Eggs are not cheap, and the bigger ones cost a copper dollar, and this money can be used to buy almost flour, which can buy a catty.

With the Mu family’s way of eating flour and cooking batter, a family of three can eat a catty of flour for several days.

Mu Qiong had already accepted the pickles. Although Mu Changyu felt that it was not good to take other people's things, he washed them and chopped them up, then put them in the lid of an earthen jar, and handed them to Mu Qiong: "Brother, you are just fine. I don’t have the strength in my hand, let me get the crock pot!” As she said that, she picked up the crock pot with batter and strode away.

Moo-joon follows her into the house.

"Mother went to buy flour, and she won't be back until a while, brother, eat first!" Mu Changyu put down the crock pot: "By the way, brother, you can cover your clothes when you go to bed, the weather is fine today, I Take the quilt out to dry in the sun."

"I'll go to dry the quilt with you." Mu Qiong said.Just eating batter is not enough to make him hungry. After he was full last night, he had been lying on the bed without doing anything, but he was already hungry before falling asleep. At this time, he was even more hungry... But Zhu Wanwan hasn't come back yet , it is not easy for him to eat alone first.

They said they were drying the quilt together, but Mu Changyu picked up the quilt and left. He didn't need Mu Qiong's help at all.

A lot of ropes were pulled up in the yard outside, and now it is full of clothes and quilts. Mu Qiong helped Mu Changyu hang up the quilts. Although there was only a little work, he was already sweating profusely from exhaustion, and he was coughing again and again. .

"Qioner, you are not in good health, why did you come out?" At this time, Zhu Wanwan came back with a basket.

Mu Qiong's coughing finally stopped slowly: "Mother, I'll come out and take a walk to relax."

"You're sweating, you'd better lie down! If you get sick again..." Zhu Wanwan's eyes turned red.

Mu Qiong said: "Mother, breakfast is ready, let's go eat first."

Zhu Wanwan glanced at Mu Qiong, but said nothing after all.

Mu Changyu was afraid that she was also very hungry, so she couldn't help swallowing before she ate, she filled a bowl full for Mu Qiong, and said: "Mother, when Aunt Zhao gave pickles today, I I have already put salt in the batter... We can save some pickles and eat them at noon."

Zhu Wanwan smiled: "Alright. Yu'er, your brother has recovered from his illness, and our expenses will be much less in the future... If we make more money, mother will buy you delicious food."

"Yeah!" Mu Changyu nodded happily, and said again: "Mother, I want to eat salted fish!" In Shanghai, the price of salted fish is very cheap, and a copper dollar can buy a large piece. People, there are many people who can't afford eggs, but very few people can't afford salted fish.

"Okay." Zhu Wanwan agreed with a smile.

Mu Qiong didn't know much about the situation in Shanghai, and naturally he didn't know the price of salted fish, so he just kept it in his heart.

About two-fifths of the batter in the crock was given to him by Mu Changyu... Mu Qiong ate all the batter in his bowl with complicated emotions, and imitated Zhu Wanwan and Mu Changyu, using water After brushing and drinking the water, he said, "Mom, I'll go out tomorrow to see if I can find a job."

"Looking for a job?" Zhu Wanwan was both guilty and pleasantly surprised: "It's useless to be a mother, you have to go to work when you are still young..."

"Mother, I'm not young anymore, I'm already sixteen." Mu Qiong said: "At this age, many people have already gone out to work."

Zhu Wanwan thought for a while, then nodded and agreed: "Qioner, when you go out to find a job, you must be careful... How about this, mother will go with you."

"No need." Mu Qiong refused without thinking: "Mom, I can do it myself."

Although the original owner is young, he is a man after all. In Suzhou and the capital, Zhu Wanwan and Mu Changyu rarely had the opportunity to go out, but the original owner has been studying outside and has some friends... So Zhu Wanwan is worried about her daughter going out, but her son does. However, she was relieved: "It's okay... Qiong'er, you are not in good health yet, so don't worry too much, just go out and relax first."

Mu Qiong agreed.