Chapter 577 [The poor mountains and rivers also want to change]
The stall owner didn't care about the way everyone asked to add more water. After all, it was just a matter of consuming more firewood. They patronized the business, and adding more water was the right thing to do, and it wasn't considered an advantage.
Although everyone is worried about the problem of Jinyi's secret agents, in general, the current world is very peaceful, and it can even be regarded as a prosperous age. After all, everyone is full and clothed warmly, and many people even eat well and dress well. The years without cold and hunger are good times from ancient times to the present.
Fang Chang also stood up and walked to the side of the stall owner, who skillfully scooped up water to help add it into the bamboo tube. Fang Chang stuffed the small bamboo section on the bamboo tube again, tied the hemp rope on the bamboo tube around his waist like others did, and continued on his way. Even if the tea in it is finished, this bamboo tube is still a new and clever kettle. Many people go to buy tea because of this.
There was a city in front of him. By the time Fang Chang walked there at normal speed, it was already getting dark.
After paying a penny and entering the city gate, Fang Chang walked through several shops. When he came out again, he already had two packs of food in his hand, but it was a large piece of rice cake and a piece of pork head the size of a fist. He took out his small jade knife , Take a slice and eat slowly, just don't let your mouth idle.
There were many people gathered not far ahead, and there was the sound of flute playing in the middle, Fang Chang followed the passers-by to look over.
Several people there were performing arts. On a table stacked one or two feet high, they stood upside down with their hands and formed a ball from behind, but their faces were facing forward, and there was a stack of coarse porcelain bowls on top of their heads. Whenever the people above change their movements, the people playing flute and snare drums below will speed up the rhythm, making the spectators around them applaud after being nervous.
Soon there was a clever half-sized baby, holding a bowl and circling in front of the spectators, begging for rewards while saying witty words. Passers-by who are not interested in this performance often come to have a look and then leave. Those who are left behind are those who find it interesting.
Fang Chang looked at it for a while, then took out a few pennies and threw it into the bowl held by Xiaowa. With a jingle, he received a blessing of "lucky and long".
He looked at it, and there were two people sleeping in the corner next to it.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the two people in the corner, reflecting their dirty old clothes. The two of them curled up together, propped up on each other, and were sleeping soundly. People passing by them could still feel them The body smelled of alcohol.
Well, let's take care of it.
Fang Chang lightly touched his fingers, and then two policemen carrying water and fire sticks not far away felt a breeze blowing by, but it attracted his attention. After turning their heads, they found two drunk men in the far corner, so they stepped forward to check the situation.
"Well, isn't this Niu Er and Li Mopan from the south of the city? Why are they drunk here?"
"It's really unlucky, I have to send them back, otherwise I probably don't know that these two people are here."
"Send it back? It's a joke, you can carry it or I can carry it, let them stop by and tell them home later. Let them figure out their own way, whether it's pushing the cart or handling the animals, it's always possible to get it back."
"That's good, let's do it like this. Fortunately, we know these two people, and it's also fortunate that it's warm now. If it's winter, maybe we will find that these two people are completely cold when we wake up tomorrow."
Fang Chang knew that the temperature in the city would cool down in the early morning. Although it wouldn't snow, but the cold spring would make them drink a pot.
The lights in the small town were dim, and there was smoke everywhere, and the people watching the performances all went home one after another to have dinner and sleep.
This has been the rhythm of life of people here for thousands of years. Before the sunset, make dinner, eat some vegetables and drink some corn porridge soup, and go to sleep when it is dark, which saves lamp oil and is comfortable. And this city is also small, no matter whether it is a high-ranking family or a government, they are not interested in lighting up the streets outside, and naturally there is no nightlife.
In this way, the performers can only close the booth.
Fang Chang didn’t leave, he was an outsider, and he didn’t have the habit of following the rhythm of life in a small town. He just stood aside and watched with great interest as the buskers cleaned up the stalls.
The family members of the two drunks next to them came over pushing a wheelbarrow, bluffing and carefully moving the two of them onto the wheelbarrow. And a few performers, while tidying up the venue, stacking up the dishes, tables and stools, counted the money they received, and planned what to eat for the evening.
They also have different levels of food at night. Those who perform on stage are heavy physical labor and need to eat some solid dry food, while the rest of the odd jobs are asking for rewards. When the market is bad, they can only eat simple food such as porridge and soup, so they He paid the most attention to today's harvest, and Fang Chang next to him listened to it.
However, some elders saw Fang Chang still standing here, and came forward to salute: "The guests are invited, this place is closed, there will be no juggling today, if you want to see us perform here tomorrow."
Fang Chang smiled and said: "I just thought it was interesting for you to clean up the situation, so I will take a look here."
The middle-aged man in front of him immediately nodded and said: "Oh, please go ahead, please go ahead."
"However, I heard that your accent is not only similar to that of the people around you, but also exactly the same, so I am a little confused. Are you locals here? Do you perform in the city every day?" Fang Chang asked with a little doubt. After all, the consumption level of people these days is not high. Although the lack of entertainment will not be boring, but there will not be many people investing money, so it is normal to change cities frequently.
"The guest has good eyesight." The middle-aged man praised: "We are actually the people of the local wicker beams. The land there is extremely barren, so the several villages around us have made a living by performing arts for generations. From the mansion, go through the big town once, then come to this mansion to perform for three days, and then go elsewhere—today is just the second day"
"How does this business compare to farming?"
"That's far inferior. Let's not say that the harvest is far from being as good as the drought and flood in the fields. The hard work is far more than farming. First of all, we have to practice skills since we were young. Going to various places, needless to say the hard work along the way. And income also depends on luck, and hunger and fullness are even more uncertain, but there is no way, our place is too poor, and it is impossible to survive without this.”
"Why don't you move out, but the homeland is hard to leave?"
"Not at all." The middle-aged man smiled wryly, "It's extremely poor, and there is nothing to be nostalgic for, but with so many people, the harvest is not good, and there is no travel expenses for relocation, let alone not knowing where to go, after all A good place usually already has an owner, so let’s go on like this year after year.”
"I see." Fang Chang nodded and said, "I have an idea, I don't know how important your words are."
(end of this chapter)