pamper you, make you bad

Two days later, Xi Yu finally found some clues.

She looked pleasantly surprised, and read the hundreds of words back and forth several times. It was indeed about the locust plague, and hurriedly said: "Xiao Tao, prepare a pen and paper."

Xiaotao couldn't read, so she couldn't help her. In the past, she always waited on her and sorted out the books and put them back in their original places.Hearing what Xi Yutong said, he rubbed his ink and asked, "Miss, have you found a way?"

Xi Yutong shook his head, picked up a pen, carefully copied it down, and said with a smile: "I haven't found a solution, but finding relevant records is also a breakthrough."

Seriously, she and Xiaohe have been searching for five days, but they have not found anything.The imperial court said that sending people in the past three or four days would result in results, but then there was a turmoil there, and it was inconvenient to pass, so that the spies did not come back after five days.

After Xi Yutong finished copying, she made sure that there were no omissions or mistakes, and then carefully put the pen away, "Xiao Tao, go and see if your father is at the house. If he is, please come over to the study."

Xiaotao knew that the lady wanted to share the content she found, so she said "yes" and ran away, disappearing after a while.

Xi Yutong glanced at it, then continued to read the books.

It's just a pity that she couldn't find anything else until Xi Hongbo came over.

Xi Hongbo's expression was not good, and he said as soon as he came in: "Tong'er, the spies sent to Huafu today have returned."

Seeing his expression, Xi Yutong realized something in his heart: "But the situation is not good?"

"Yes." Xi Hongbo nodded, and sat down on one side, "After the spy passed by, he checked back and forth, and found that not only the Huafu area, but also the surrounding towns, had a little rain in early spring, and then there was no rain. Not only that, but they also found many locusts and eggs in the dry fields. After asking the farmers, they learned that there were more locusts this year than before, and the farmers were already a little panicked.

Today, there are endless disputes in the court because of this matter.When my father said that it might be a plague of locusts, Cheng Yao and others insisted that nothing happened, which made His Majesty anxious and retreated directly, without deciding whether to take this matter seriously. "

Xi Yutong frowned, "It's fine for Prime Minister Yao to target his father in the past, but now this matter concerns the lives of tens of millions of people, it's really child's play."

As she spoke, she took the book she had just checked and handed it over: "Father, look at this quotation, it was recorded by a tourist who visited Huafu and saw it."

Xi Hongbo took it over, and subconsciously read it out, "In about October, I went to Huafu for a mere visit. I saw people sitting in the farmland weeping. I inquired and learned that Huafu had been drought for three years, so that there was no harvest. I was worried, but I didn't think about it. Take it to heart, I never thought that after half a month, the disaster would come. Locusts swarmed all over the sky and covered the ground. Wherever they went, no grass could grow. From Huafu to the south, there were several towns and cities that were not spared. People starved and died everywhere. It would be even more terrifying to fight a war with multiple countries.”

After Xi Hongbo finished reading, his expression changed, "Is this true?"

Xi Yutong sighed: "This is the self-report of a wandering poet, and it is probably true."

"If it's true, it's going to be bad over there." Xi Hongbo walked back and forth, stopped, and turned around, "It's only ten days away from mid-October, and time is urgent. I will go to the palace to report to His Majesty Ming. Tong'er, you go ahead first." See if there is another narrative."

Xi Yutong nodded: "Daughter knows, father can rest assured."

Xi Hongbo patted her on the shoulder: "Thank you."

"My daughter just sits here and reads a book, so it's hard work." Xi Yutong laughed, "Father, let's enter the palace quickly, this matter is important."

Xi Hongbo didn't say much anymore, he took the book and turned to leave.

For the next half a day, Xi Yutong and Xiaohe didn't find any other useful information, so they could only put it aside temporarily, hoping that there would be some progress on their father's side.

Xiaotao came in with tea, put it aside, and said, "Miss, Miss Cui, please see me."

Miss Cui?

It took Xi Yutong a while to realize that Liu Qingyao has now changed her surname to Cui.

Xi Yutong wondered if something happened in the shop, then nodded: "Hurry up and take her to the yard, I'm going back now."

Xiaotao nodded: "Yes."

Xi Yutong returned to the yard, and Cui Qingyao had just arrived, and the two looked at each other and smiled.

"Qing Yao, you are looking for me today, but what happened to the shop?" Xi Yutong spoke first, and then ordered, "Xiao He, prepare some tea and bring it to the yard."

Cui Qingyao shook her head: "It's not that something happened to the store, it's just that Qingyao wants to discuss something with the lady."

Xi Yutong motioned for the other party to sit down together, and only asked what was the matter when they both sat down.

"Recently, the business of the porcelain shop has been very prosperous, and some customers from other places even came to contact us and said that they want to make a purchase." Cui Qingyao took out a notebook, "I went to the suburban area to see it, and it is enough for our shop to sell. If you want to look at the sale, it is not enough."

Xi Yutong knew that the business was good, but he never thought it would be so good, and the supply was in short supply. After thinking for a while, he asked, "Then Qingyao has a countermeasure?"

Cui Qingyao nodded: "That's why I was thinking, whether we should increase manpower to help make porcelain."

"If it's just to increase the manpower, it's up to you." Xi Yutong nodded, "I will give you the full power of the shop, if you have any ideas, you can do it freely."

But when she said about increasing the manpower, she remembered something, and her expression became serious, "Qingyao, do you know about the gathering of disaster victims at the gate of the city?"

Cui Qingyao didn't know why she brought this up, but she still nodded: "Qingyao passed by the gate of the city a few days ago and met once. Those old and weak women and children only have thin rice porridge and steamed buns every day, and they don't have a full stomach. They sleep outside every day. Heartbroken."

After she finished speaking, she realized something and looked up: "Miss, don't you plan to call these old and weak women and children to help?"

Xi Yutong's heart was moved, and he didn't think about it seriously. Seeing that the other party seemed to disagree, he asked: "Why not? They can learn what they don't understand about making porcelain. What's more, they haven't been asked to do complicated procedures. , it is also possible to help with some simple links."

When Cui Qingyao heard this, she knew that the old and weak women and children were not going to help the whole process, but she breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Miss, it's not Qingyao's target. These victims have been hungry for a long time, and they come from all over the world. Their hearts are complicated, and they may not be able to discipline them."

"Qingyao, what do you think of this?" Xi Yutong said, "We give three days to apply. We don't pay silver taels for these three days, and only provide three meals a day. If you can stay without any mistakes, you can stay. If it's not suitable , just let them go."

Cui Qingyao glanced at her, thinking about it.If it is useful, it can save some money. After all, it is not a professional worker, and the monthly salary is less.Small amounts add up, and you can always save a lot.

"Since Miss has said so, then I will make arrangements and recruit people tomorrow." Cui Qingyao was persuaded, "It's just Miss, Qingyao still needs to borrow some guards from you, so as not to cause turmoil at that time. order."

Xi Yutong nodded: "I'll talk to dad later, and I'll take them to the shop tomorrow."

Cui Qingyao nodded, and then heard something: "Miss, are you going to recruit people?"

Xi Yutong smiled and said: "After all, it was my idea, I always need to go."

Seeing her firm attitude, Cui Qingyao didn't object, she just planned to arrange some more people in case something really happened.

The two chatted about the subsequent development of the store.Cui Qingyao felt that the store business was booming, so she could take the opportunity to open another branch on the East Street.

They are now on the West Street, and most of them are royal family and nobles, but the East Street is not bad, there are many rich families such as the Liu family, and there are more and more lively shops than the West Street.

Xi Yutong was a little moved, but was persuaded by the other party, "Do you need me to arrange someone to go over to see the lot?"

"Qingyao has actually taken a fancy to it." Cui Qingyao took out a crudely drawn map, "This is the place. If Miss is free today, we might as well go and have a look now, and we can quickly start decorating and selling."

Xi Yutong was worried about the locust plague today, and after thinking about it, he should go out for a walk, so he said, "It's better to hit the sun than to choose a day. Let's go there later. Xiao Tao, prepare the carriage."

Xiao Tao shortened her body: "Yes, miss."

Cui Qingyao didn't expect her to be so resolute, but nodded in approval.

Half an hour later, the carriage came to West Street, and finally stopped at the shop Cui Qingyao mentioned, which happened to be diagonally opposite the corner.

A sale note was pasted at the door of the store, and there were no customers in the store.Xi Yutong took a look at the location and it was not bad. From time to time, there would be customers passing by, and they could take a look at it before moving away.

Seeing her looking around, Cui Qingyao said, "This was originally a place to sell books, but the business is not good, so we stopped doing it."

Xi Yutong raised her eyebrows: "Such a big store, or is it in such a lively location, selling story books?"

Cui Qingyao nodded, a little helpless: "I still sell books like historical miscellaneous notes."

No wonder it was resold.Xi Yutong shook his head, walked in, and saw an acquaintance inside.

Yao Xiaoliu was sitting by the side listening to the servant girl talking to the boss. When she heard the footsteps, she raised her head and raised her eyebrows: "Hey, what wind brought you over here? You are not guarding your broken porcelain in the East Street. What are you doing on West Street?"

"This is none of Ms. Yao's business." This is not in the store, and this person is not a customer. Xi Yutong is not polite to the other party, and asked with concern, "Ms. Yao bought a piece of porcelain for more than 1 taels. Why are you paying me back?" Are you in the mood to go shopping? But did you get some money again?"

When Yao Xiaoliu thought of his more than 1 taels, his heart was bleeding with pain.If it wasn't for Xi Yutong, the more than 1 taels would naturally be hers.

Now hearing Xi Yutong mentioning it again, she hated her teeth even more: "Don't worry about it, Miss Xi. I just saw that the location of this store is good, and I just wanted to buy it and start a small business."

Xi Yutong paused, and subconsciously looked at the middle-aged man and the person opposite him who was obviously Yao Xiaoliu's maid, and then at Cui Qingyao.

Cui Qingyao didn't expect to get a buyer in, she quickly shook her head and said she didn't know about it.

the second

"That's really a coincidence." Xi Yutong smiled half a smile, "We have already discussed to buy this store."

"I just asked the boss, but I haven't handed over the land deed, let alone the money." Yao Xiaoliu smiled complacently, "But we gave the money first. Chunhe, come, give the boss the money."

Cui Qingyao couldn't agree, so she stepped forward to stop the hand, and looked at the shop owner: "Boss, you must be honest, I can pay you a deposit of dozens of taels and say that you will give me three days."

The boss looked at Yao Xiaoliu with some embarrassment: "Miss Yao, this Miss Cui has already paid a deposit. You see, a businessman has to be honest. I really can't sell it to you first."

Yao Xiaoliu's complexion changed, "How much is the deposit? I'll give it to you very much. And how much is this store, I'll double it."

"Miss Yao, Minnv knows that you are the daughter of the prime minister's family, and the family is not short of this amount of money, but it's not a question of how much money it is."

Cui Qingyao took the lead and said, "This is a matter of credit. I paid a deposit of dozens of taels yesterday, and the boss promised that if I decide not to buy it before selling it to someone else after three days, it's only the second day now, so why don't you come here to say what you have already said?" I bought it, maybe for such a reason? Everyone in the neighborhood also came to comment, if they want to sell it, should they be sold to my lady?"

It turned out that a lot of people had gathered outside the store at some time, and it was heard that the lady of the prime minister's family was buying the store by force, which attracted many people.

Hearing Cui Qingyao's words, the common people nodded in unison.

"In this business, the most important thing is to pay attention to credit. The little girl has paid a deposit. If the shop owner sells the other party, then he has no credit."

"That's right. It can't be said that the prime minister's family just bullies people like this. They are the ones who first took a fancy to them and then gave them a deposit."

"Keep your voice down, she is the lady of the prime minister's family, how can we ordinary people say that."

"The queen also belongs to the prime minister's family, so be careful not to lose your head."

The common people's voice of discussion was not small, and it suddenly shifted from the matter of selling shops on credit to the matter of angering the prime minister's family and wanting to lose his head. It seems that in the hearts of the common people, this prime minister's style of work is not popular.

Xi Yutong had a clue in his heart, and looked at the boss: "Boss, this shop is yours, so what should you do?"

The store owner looked at Yao Xiaoliu in embarrassment, seeing the other party's threatening face, and looking at Xi Yutong again, the other party's face was smiling.With the comparison, not to mention that he sold the shop and did not plan to stay in the capital. He gritted his teeth and made a decision: "Girl, the deposit you gave first is naturally sold to you first, but I don't know if you want to buy it."

Xi Yutong smiled and said, "Of course we want to buy it. We even brought the money. Now we can go to the government to go through the formalities."

Yao Xiaoliu knew that he lost to Xi Yutong again, so he couldn't stay any longer, he gave the boss a vicious look, and then left with his maid.

"Get out of the way." Yao Xiaoliu walked away without looking back as he pushed aside the people in front of him.

Seeing that there was no good show, everyone dispersed one after another. Some curiously asked what they would sell in the future. Cui Qingyao had already prepared, and went to sell a wave of her own porcelain, so that everyone would come and see it even if they didn't buy it.

Seeing that Cui Qingyao was so good at seizing the opportunity, Xi Yutong smiled, and then looked at the shop owner next to him: "Boss, are you not afraid of offending the prime minister and the queen?"

"Caomin must be afraid." The boss smiled wryly, "but the most important thing in business is to be trustworthy. What's more, I will not stay in the capital in the future. If the prime minister wants to find me, he probably won't be able to find me." people."

Xi Yutong laughed: "If that young lady really troubled you just now, you can go to Taishi's Mansion or Yiwang's Mansion and just report my name."

The boss was surprised: "I don't know the name of the lady yet."

"My lady is the daughter of the grand master." Cui Qingyao smiled, "Boss, if you are really troubled by them, just go find my lady."

"It turned out to be a lady from the grand master's family. Disrespect and disrespect. The grassroots Wang Yuan has met Miss Xi." Wang Yuan didn't expect that this was also a person with a lot of background, but thinking about it carefully, how could he dare to have an affair with a lady from the prime minister's family? dispute?

Xi Yutong paid out the money, took the land deed, then glanced at the books on the next shelf, thoughtfully, and asked: "Boss Wang, are the books here all miscellaneous notes from various places?"

"That's right." Wang Yuan sighed, "These books were compiled by my ancestors until my father traveled around the world. My father and the others wanted these books to be famous for thousands of generations. If they see what they are today, they will be disappointed. Now it's just right, selling After visiting this store, I can just travel like my father."

Xi Yutong nodded, remembering the book he found for the locust plague: "Boss Wang, I want to ask if there are any books here that record the locust plague?"

"Plague of locusts?" Wang Yuan was puzzled.

"Yes." Xi Yutong nodded, "Little girl likes to watch some natural disasters recently, but there are very few records of this locust disaster. It briefly explained a segment about the locust plague in Huafu. I see that you have so many books here, maybe there is always a history that records the locust plague?"

After hearing her finish, Wang Yuan smiled, "Miss Xi, you are really destined. Wang Shinai's father, "Wang Shizaji" was written by him before his death."

Xi Yutong was startled, then smiled and said, "That's really a coincidence."

Wang Yuan nodded: "I also have the impression of the "Miscellaneous Notes of the Wang Shi" that Miss Xi said. I heard the part about Huafu you mentioned when I was young. He said that he passed through Huafu because he saw the people I lived in sorrow for a few days to understand the situation, but never thought that I would encounter a plague of locusts and had to stay in Huafu for a few days."

Hearing this, Xi Yutong's heartbeat started to speed up, his face turned red, and he couldn't wait to ask: "Then did you tell me how to survive the locust plague?"

Wang Yuan thought for a while, not sure: "I was still young at that time, and my memory is not clear anymore. I only remember that the land where the locust plague hit was not a blade of grass, and the people were displaced." At that time, I was also old, and my memory was not clear, so I didn’t explain it in detail in the book.”

Xi Yutong was really disappointed.I thought I had found a breakthrough, but I never thought about it, but it was just Bai Huanxi.But it couldn't be worse, and the other party couldn't be blamed.

Xi Yutong quickly adjusted his mentality: "It's nothing. I just hope that when Boss Wang thinks of related matters, no matter how many, he can send someone or write a letter to talk to me."

Wang Yuan nodded quickly: "Okay, if I think of anything else, I will definitely let you know."

Xi Yutong thanked him, and then asked, "When will Boss Wang leave the capital?"

"It's still some time." Wang Yuan said with a smile, "I still need to inform my friends."

"Yes." Xi Yutong nodded.

There is nothing else, Xi Yutong intends to take Cui Qingyao away, after all, he has to prepare for recruitment tomorrow, and it needs to be discussed carefully to prevent any problems.

The next day, it was bright.

Xi Yutong asked Xiaohe to take the selected ten nurses to the suburbs to guard the porridge shed, and then took a carriage to the porcelain workshop to pick up Cui Qingyao.

"Is the food ready?" Xi Yutong had already ordered yesterday, but still asked worriedly.

Cui Qingyao nodded: "Qingyao personally counted before leaving yesterday, there is no problem, Miss can go and have a look."

"No, I don't worry about your work." Xi Yutong came in a carriage and told Cui Qingyao to get in.

The carriage swayed all the way to the suburbs, and when they arrived, there were already many victims waiting.Everyone's faces were gloomy, and their eyes seemed to be dimmed by some dust.

Xi Yutong watched, sighed in his heart, took Xiaotao out of the carriage, walked straight over and asked Xiaohe, "How many people have come to sign up now?"

Xiaohe looked at the number of people, "Miss Hui, there are already 30 people who have signed up, the oldest is 50 years old, and the youngest is about ten years old. They all said that they can help tomorrow."

There are about a hundred people here, and 30 people is not bad, Xi Yutong nodded: "Thanks for your hard work."

Xiao He smiled: "This is what a servant should do."

Xi Yutong patted the other party, then walked over to the porridge shed where the porridge was served, picked up the spoon next to it and tapped it.

Hearing the movement, everyone thought that the porridge was about to start, so they rushed up and quickly lined up one by one.It's not that they didn't dare to rob, but before Xi Yutong came, all their troublemakers were expelled by the guards of the ten courtyards, and they were even thrown aside.

Most of them are old and weak women and children, plus they have been hungry for many days and have no strength, so they can only stay honestly.

"My servant girl Yue Mo also told you just now."

Xi Yutong cleared his throat and raised his voice to make sure that no one could hear him, "I give out porridge and food for only one day. If you want to get food in the future, you can only rely on your own hands. My porcelain The workshop now needs to recruit some helpers, if you are willing to help, we will pay you the corresponding food and monthly money.

Of course, we don't need people who are glib and idle. If you are found not to work, then I'm sorry, we will at most give you a corresponding reward and ask you to leave.Now, come to get the porridge and cakes, and line up one by one.A person can only get it once, if you get more than one, then don't blame the brothers around me for doing it. "

Everyone lined up honestly, but some people still wanted to get something for nothing, and shouted loudly: "Why do we have to work hard for you? What if you don't give us food and exploit us? You young lady, you eat and drink every day. Having fun is what we owe the common people."

Xi Yutong looked at the other party's slippery appearance, and didn't want to talk nonsense, so he looked directly at the nurse next to him, and ordered: "Catch him."

"Yes, miss." The two nurses who were close quickly jumped off the platform and ran towards the man.

The man was thin and thin, so he was naturally not an opponent of the guards of the two courtyards, and he was crushed to the ground in a short while.

"Help, you're killing someone." The man shouted while struggling, but there were sensible people all around him, and they didn't step forward to stop him.

Beside him, a man who seemed to be a good brother stepped forward to help beat the courtyard guard, but was caught by another courtyard guard who caught up behind him, and they were pushed face to the ground together.

"There is no free food in the world." Xi Yutong looked at the people below, expressionless, "My food is also earned, so why give it to you for free? If you think the two men are right, then hurry up Leave quickly, or don't blame me for being unreasonable."

"Girl, even though we are women and children, we understand reason." The girl at the front of the queue said, "Girl, these two men made trouble at the gate of the city before and were chased away by the soldiers, that's why they came here. Girl , we do not agree with his point of view, please don’t change your mind.”

Xi Yutong looked down at her, and saw that although her clothes were worn out, her face was covered with dust and dirty and her facial features could not be seen clearly, but her body was straight and her eyes were bright, which was different from the desperate victims around her. What is your name?"

"Qiu Shi." Qiu Shi laughed, "Qiu Shi is born in autumn. My mother wanted to harvest more crops, so she named it Qiu Shi."

Xi Yutong nodded, looked at the victims, and then at Cui Qingyao: "Give some porridge."

"Yes, miss." Cui Qingyao took a step forward and said, "Now let's start serving porridge, everyone line up, everyone has something."

After a wave of people, there will be fewer victims.The number of people who signed up to be helpers also reached 70 people.

"Miss, do you want to continue talking to the city gate?" Cui Qingyao asked.

Xi Yutong nodded, but before he could tell, he heard noisy voices coming from far and near, and subconsciously looked over, only to see a group of ragged people walking towards this side.