Chapter 356 Chapter 356: Charcoal seller "Dream in Wonderland" [Seek double monthly pass]
There are still three days before the autumnal equinox.
Heyin Boundary Monument.
Official road, tea shop.
"Shopkeeper, please have a big bowl of tea."
"Come on!"
"Shopkeeper, another stack of beans."
"okay!
"Shopkeeper, do you have soup cakes?"
"Yes, wait a moment, sir."
This simple tea shop was built not far from the official road.
Businessmen passing by the boundary marker will rest here to replenish their strength or dry food. At a glance, there are twenty people.
The shopkeeper of the tea shop was busy walking around outside with two helpers, his feet didn't touch the ground, and his voice was hoarse.
After working for a while, I took time to catch my breath.
Just as he was about to wipe his sweat and beat his legs, he saw a middle-aged man leading a mule coming from the direction of the official road. His clothes were covered with patches.
The helper warmly greeted him: "What would you like to order?"
It was only when he got closer that he could clearly see the appearance of the middle-aged man.
He looked honest and honest, with black and gray hair wrapped in black coarse cloth. His complexion is dark, and the skin on his face still has traces of sunburn in midsummer, which can be seen from the sun all year round. The hands are rough, the knuckles are rough and swollen, and there is mud hidden under the nails that have not been carefully trimmed. When you smell it closely, you can smell a little sweaty smell, and the accent doesn't sound like a local.
The middle-aged man rubbed his hands in embarrassment.
He lowered his head, his voice was hoarse after he hadn't been in the water for a long time, and he lowered his voice timidly, so the helper almost didn't hear what he said: "I just want to ask for some water..."
He can't afford tea.
He was not familiar with the place where he was born, and he didn't know where there was a stream nearby.
When he saw the tea shop, he wanted to have the cheek to beg for a sip of water, but he was overwhelmed by the warm welcome from the labor union. He was ready to say this, causing the helper to stare blankly and meanly ridicule, but the helper just smiled: "Yes, yes, yes!"
Turning around, a bowl of warm boiling water was brought from the tea shop, and the pottery bowl didn't even have a gap.
"Here...Xiao Lang just give me a sip of cold water..."
It was still warm.
The helper handed it over, and said with a smile: "We don't allow cold water to be sold here, and you will be fined if you catch it. It has to be boiled."
The middle-aged man was flattered.
Dangdang wiped and wiped his hands that were about to be covered with mud on the hem of his clothes, and held the helper's clay bowl with both hands. As soon as the warm boiled water at a moderate temperature touched his dry and cracked lips, he couldn't wait to open his mouth and swallowed. The water rolled down the mouth and into the throat, as if the land that had been dry for a long time without any rain was finally moistened. He breathed a long sigh of relief after drinking, but still felt that it was not enough.
He smacked his lips in his heart, but he was too embarrassed to ask again.
Helpers are busy at the tea shop, have you seen all kinds of people? He had already developed a good ability to observe words and expressions, and said, "I'm not busy right now, so I'll add another bowl for you. Do you have any water for your mule? Why don't you take it to the back and feed it?"
The middle-aged man thanked him again and again.
The mule was so hungry that it was almost skinny, its ribs were visible, and it looked like an old mule.
The mule is thin and old, but it can still work. The bag was stuffed to the brim, and Lao Gao's bamboo box was carried on his back.
I don't know what's inside.
Out of curiosity, I asked a casual question.
The middle-aged man didn't hide anything either.
"I have saved a little charcoal and straw sandals at home. I heard that someone collects them here. If we sell them together, we can pay more..."
It is said that the money is more, and it is only four or five cents more expensive.
However, he walked for two days and two nights on foot for the four or five renminbi, and he had to be careful to meet bandits on the road. Worried about meeting jackals, tigers and leopards when sleeping in the wild at night, no matter how sleepy or tired I dare not close my eyes and stop, I can only find a secluded place to squat for a while during the day, and tie the old mule with me with straw ropes, worrying Someone stole both the mule and the charcoal.
Of course, it’s not safe no matter whether it’s night or day. If you can’t sleep, try not to sleep, and you’ll be haggard and trance after two days.
At this time, the helper noticed that the straw sandals on the man's feet were almost worn out, the toes were exposed, the dark red blood mixed with the mud had dried up, and there were more than a dozen pairs of new-made sandals on the side of the mule bag. In addition to sighing, I can't help but sympathize.
Feed a small handful of bean dregs to the mule.
The middle-aged man saw it, his eyes were slightly red.
Cloudy tears were about to roll down, and I kept saying thanks in my mouth. The helper sent the middle-aged man to the road and kindly showed him the way. Going down this road, it will take less than a quarter of an hour, and the road will be easy to walk.
His feet can also suffer less.
The middle-aged man didn't think much about it either.
Reluctantly said goodbye to the helper.
There is also a big cake given by the helper in his arms.
The shopkeeper has seen these things in his eyes, smiled and said: "The water doesn't count, and the rest will be deducted from your wages..."
The helper said: "Naturally."
In fact, he has lived a good life for only a few months.
Seeing the middle-aged man like this, he felt the same way, and couldn't help but want to help. The helper was originally a refugee who had nowhere to go and came to Heyin in exile. I thought this place would become his burial place, but he was rescued by the kind shopkeeper.
Helping out at the tea shop every day.
Take care of food and housing, and return the money.
The helper didn’t dare to ask for it at first. How could he be worth so much for the little work he did? But after listening to the shopkeeper, I realized that this is not too much. If you go to the clinic to find a job, the treatment will be good. Put it here in the tea shop, at best, you will not die of starvation.
Because the whole family of the helper died and he was the only one left, and after a few months, he had saved up a sum of savings—it was said that the savings were only thirty or forty yuan, and a dozen cake sticks—it didn’t matter if the shopkeeper deducted his wages, anyway, he took care of food and shelter. The helper didn't care much.
The shopkeeper smiled and shook his head when he saw it.
The settlement wages were not deducted on this day.
Inside and outside the tea shop, passers-by were talking in low voices, sometimes laughing and joking could be heard, and the air was filled with joy. At the same time, the middle-aged man walked through a bumpy, rough and muddy road, and then froze.
No other—
The road ahead is too wide and flat.
He almost thought he was hallucinating.
I dare not step on it for a long time.
Looking to the left, to the right, finally, under the gentle arch of the old mule, he took a sneaky step like a guilty conscience. This road extends to the end of the line of sight, and can accommodate three chariots driving side by side! It is completely opposite to the previous dog gnawing.
The road is easy to walk, and the pace is fast.
After walking for half an hour, I saw a neat field.
The middle-aged man stared blankly again.
Looking around, the corn in the field is almost turning into golden waves. Each plant is covered with heavy, plump fruits, and each plant is forced to bend over. When the wind blows, it seems that it can fall to the ground at any time. He is also a good farmer, and his family also has two acres of Susukida, but after a year of farming, he can only feed his family in good times...
These, these are things he has never seen in his dreams.
I heard some old people in the village say it.
If there is fertile land, in a good year with good weather, maybe the yield per mu can be compared with the current one.
"Look at what, look at what?"
Perhaps it was because he had been standing there for too long, and his look of looking around as if he had never seen the world was too suspicious. The tenant farmers working in the field suddenly rang the alarm, pointed at him with a pole and hatchet, and shouted loudly. He was misunderstood by the common people as a thief...
Middle-aged men can only explain clearly when they talk about it.
A few tenant farmers eased their expressions.
The middle-aged man said a few auspicious words to celebrate the harvest, which made people feel very comfortable, and he was also pleasing to the eye, and some people were even willing to give him a pair of half-worn straw sandals.
The middle-aged man was a little confused.
He Yin has heard of this place.
It is said that no matter how good the grain is, the production will be reduced here.
Refugees must avoid this place when fleeing, lest they will not get food and be caught and eaten by local troublemakers.
Looking at it now, it is not like this.
I don't understand why there is such a big gap between the rumors and the reality!
When everyone chatted, the middle-aged man cheekily asked the secret of farming, and saw one wave his hand.
"How can there be such a thing?"
"It's all under the protection of Lord Shen!"
"It's nothing here, you have to go to Fu Gu's to find out what is called 'bundle harvest'. Alas, I'm very greedy."
"Fugu's field is called fat..."
"That's right, can you not get fat with Shen Jun's immortal energy?"
Everyone, you talk to each other, and you talk happily.
The middle-aged man didn't understand after listening for a long time.
I only know that He Yin has a new sheriff who came to He Yin to take office last year. He is very young, handsome and pretty, and he doesn’t have the airs of a high official. If he is lucky enough to go to Fugu, he might be able to see Shen Jun himself. The changes in He Yin this year are the result of the hard work of Shen Jun and everyone under Shen Jun's account.
The middle-aged man even saw an old woman with bundled hair rolling down turbid tears as she talked, whining, and bowed and bowed in a certain direction, and other people were also infected.
Middle-aged man: "..."
He still doesn't know why.
Follow this road, which is smoother and more comfortable than the best official road, and keep going down. The conditions of the villages along the road are similar, and every household is busy farming and preparing for the autumn harvest. There was a smile on his face, his feet were breezy, and his clothes were clean.
It takes more than a dozen people to encounter two or three patches. Even if they are patched, there are not many patches, which is completely different from his old clothes with patches everywhere. The people here are simple and hospitable, and when the common people see him thin and tired, or see the old mule shriveled and thin, they will stuff him with half a pancake.
By the way, he also kindly showed him the way.
When he arrived at dusk, he was wondering whether he should find a stone bridge to sleep, and some common people warmly invited him to his house. Although the house was small and only had one room, he could sleep in the yard, which was better than sleeping at night. It is safe to stay in the wild.
The middle-aged man hesitated to agree.
Another bowl of warm water was stuffed by the host.
The middle-aged man finally couldn't bear it.
"Boil it and drink it, alas, how much firewood does it cost..."
The owner said: "If you don't boil it, you will be fined."
The middle-aged man vaguely remembered that the helper of the tea shop had said the same thing, and for a while, he was speechless for a long time. The life of the common people is so difficult, it is good to have a mouthful of clean water to drink, but in a drought year, they can't even drink a mouthful of muddy muddy water.
What kind of family background...
Drinking water and burning it?
The middle-aged man couldn't help expressing his doubts in his heart, and the host laughed loudly: "This, it is said that our Shen Jun heard from the gods, and he said that unboiled water has some kind of smell, drink it, and your body will be damaged." It’s not that good and you’ll get sick…”
The orders of the government offices are enforced.
If caught once, twice or three times, it will be fined.
If there is a fourth time...
Hehe, drive out Ha Yin directly.
Common people are afraid of nothing but being driven out.
They also know what the world is like outside. Being able to stay in Heyin is due to the blessings accumulated in the previous life. They have enough food and clothing, and they still have work to do and land to grow. Gods don’t have such a beautiful little life.
In addition, the Fugu government office is willing to buy charcoal from various companies at a relatively high price, and everyone is willing to bother to boil some hot water before drinking. Not only do they drink hot water, but they also raise raccoon slaves to catch mice.
If the raccoons catch more mice, they will be rewarded.
The raccoon slaves in their village won three catties of pork, two big fish, and a piece of cloth by relying on their mouse-catching skills!
The middle-aged man was fascinated by it.
I even had the idea of leaving my hometown and moving here.
The master knew that the middle-aged man had this idea, so he kept talking to him, and the core thought over and over again was-"Shen Jun, you are a good man, a good official!"
Following Shen Jun can fill my stomach!
On the second day, the middle-aged man took the well-rested old mule on the road, and the experience along the road was not much different from yesterday.
No, one thing is still different.
Older mules were fed more.
After asking, I found out that Shen Jun's mount is a beautiful mule with a whole body of snow and no hairs. It is said that there is also a name called a motorcycle. Although it is still necessary to work, the food and treatment can be improved a lot compared to before.
The old mule was so skinny that his ribs were visible, and he staggered when he walked. The common people felt sorry for him, so they couldn't help but feed him.
Stopped and stopped, and finally arrived at a nearby market.
Every market has a charcoal collection point set up by the government.
Ask, the price is indeed more expensive than his hometown.
In addition to the saved charcoal, there are also straw sandals and small woven bamboo baskets. After sitting on the side of the road and selling them for half a day, they are almost sold out.
At this time, a person asked the price, and threw down a bamboo stick as if he had paid the price. He was so angry that he grabbed the person's hand, clenched his fists and wanted to hit him, which frightened the nearby stall owners into a commotion, and the passers-by retreated. The thief who was caught was furious.
"What are you doing? What are you doing? Why arrest me?"
"You stole from me!" The middle-aged man's eyes turned red with anger, and a grown man almost cried on the spot.
Passers-by and stall owners gathered around to watch the excitement.
Finally, the market officials were alarmed.
The little official came over and asked what was going on.
The thief said: "How do I know? He's gone crazy!"
The middle-aged man held the bamboo stick and said angrily: "He, he dropped this thing, and he is going to grab my things..."
Everyone: "..."
Market official: "..."
Instantly understood what was going on.
The market clerk squeezed the throbbing veins on his forehead, and said angrily, "I don't know that these notes cannot be paid to foreigners?"
The "thief" was reprimanded and dared not speak.
Recaptured his bamboo stick from the middle-aged man, threw a copper coin back, and muttered "unlucky, I don't know he's from a foreign country". The market official greeted the onlookers, "Let's go and let's go." Only the middle-aged man was at a loss.
Why didn't you catch that thief?
At this time, the stall owner next door asked with a smile.
"He's from another place, right?"
The middle-aged man nodded.
The moisture in the eyes has not receded, and he wiped the tears with the back of his hand in aggrieved way. The money is not much, but it is the lifeblood of the family.
No one snatched it in the street!
Why didn't Jun Shen just deal with these lunatics!
The stall owner smiled kindly and said: "Oh, it's a common thing. If you don't want those notes, just tell them that you are from a foreign country. After a few times, you will understand. I am also from a foreign country to do business. The first time I was the same as you, hey , don’t panic, don’t rush.”
Middle-aged man: "..."
Hi(..)
Babies, Qiuqiu, ask for a monthly ticket
Alas, the Kryptonites are rampant.
PS: The monthly pass is the first one to lose, and the chrysanthemum is in jeopardy. Please ask for the monthly pass_(:з」∠)_
(end of this chapter)