Chapter 367 Roadhog
ps: Ask for tickets, ask for subscriptions. By the way, I recommend a book, "The Romanian Eagle" by my friend, you can read it if you like it
England in July is still shrouded in light rain. It is sunny for a while, cloudy for a while, and rainy for a while. These constitute the weather with English characteristics and full of English characteristics.
The foreigners will be surprised a few times, but the English people are doing their own things calmly, and they are used to it. Some people even look at the foreigners who are making a fuss with interest, and snicker from time to time.
The national roads leading to London in various counties are being expanded step by step.
On the previously existing road, the road builders dug the soil one by one, and under the supervision of the supervisor, they waved with all their strength.
Little rain fell on their faces, and they just wiped it with their hands, and then continued to work.
For these little rains, they didn't care at all. What moved their hearts was the work in their hands.
Since the national road construction operation was launched, the local government and the central government have each borne half of the road construction costs, and the manpower has come from slack farmers and landless refugees.
One shilling a month, including one meal, which made farmers spread the word and sign up one by one, making the labor force unprecedentedly rich.
Although the daily consumption is huge, the speed is also very fast. According to the predetermined plan, the national roads in England will be completed in less than three years.
The workers are working step by step. The muddy road will slip and fall from time to time, which makes the workers relax a lot while working.
At this time, a carriage greeted us in the distance.
This carriage is huge, pulled by three horses, with a body about ten feet long and eight feet wide. The body is wrapped in canvas to protect the passengers inside.
Behind this carriage, there were two cavalrymen on horseback, their bodies were wet from the ground, but they were still braving the rain, following.
From this point of view, it is either a dignitary or a wealthy businessman, which is easy and difficult to provoke.
Seeing this, the supervisor in a raincoat pulled up his trousers and ran at twice the usual speed.
It wasn’t that he wanted to flatter or something, but on the avenue where the carriage was driving, a dozen or so road builders who were not afraid of death, with swollen faces, stood swaggeringly in the middle of the road, resisting the iron grip, showing no fear at all.
That's right, they are Roadhogs, the kind of roadhogs who block and rob.
This is what farmers in rural areas or sparsely populated areas often do.
Relying on the fact that there are many people, these farmers are usually timid and afraid of getting into trouble, but when they gather together, they boldly ask pedestrians and merchants for money to increase some spare money.
If you don't give it, they will beat you up and take all your money, what's more, they will kill you.
In great countries, in some remote areas, this road hog still exists from time to time.
More than a dozen people raised their chins and held iron handles in their hands, facing the approaching carriage proudly.
"Boss, there is something wrong with this carriage!" A thin man looked at the larger carriage and said timidly.
"Hmph! What are you afraid of? Look at this carriage, it's not ordinary, it's just a bit big!"
The man standing in the middle has a fleshy face and is also the tallest among the crowd, so he was elected as the boss.
He glanced at the thin man with disdain, spit out a mouthful of phlegm, and continued:
"In my opinion, this one is a fat sheep. If you get a lot of money today, everyone will go drink today!"
The boss looked at the gradually approaching carriage, patted his chest, and made a promise.
"Thank you, boss!" "I like drinking the most!"...
As soon as the younger brothers heard that they could drink, they quickly flattered them, and they all beamed with joy.
The groom on the carriage seemed to have never seen such a situation. The carriage stopped a little slowly, and the horseshoes splashed sewage and sprinkled everyone's faces.
The boss was not spared either, his whole body was soaked, with muddy water on his forehead, and the warm words on his mouth were swallowed, and he immediately yelled loudly, unceremoniously.
"Come down quickly, pay the money, or you will look good!" A group of younger brothers immediately cheered, shouting non-stop.
"What's going on?" A person in the carriage raised the curtain and asked the groom.
The groom casually glanced at the proud crowd there, and softly replied to the greeting young man:
"It's nothing, a roadhog wants to rob us!"
As he spoke, the groom glanced disdainfully at the large number of workers, his contempt was beyond words.
Hearing this, the boss couldn't bear it any longer. He waved the iron handle in his hand, and when he was about to give them a good look, he suddenly felt a pain in his neck, and then his whole body fell into the mud.
"Who is it?" The boss, with mud in his mouth, touched his red neck, raised his head, and shouted.
Just about to continue, when he saw the figure of the supervisor, he immediately retracted the next words.
"Get out, get out, get out!" The supervisor touched his sore right hand and shouted loudly at the group in front of him.
Immediately afterwards, these people crawled away without daring to fart.
"Misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding!" The supervisor waved his hands again and again, apologizing non-stop.
"Oh!" The young man who came out glanced at the groom, "Then forget it!"
"Huh—" the supervisor breathed a sigh of relief, with a smile on his face, "Of course, of course!"
After being forgiven, he couldn't help but feel relieved.
"What's the matter? What happened?" At this moment, two knights arrived, and the overseer jumped in fright. It was not known whether it was rain or sweat dripping from his forehead.
"It's nothing, just a little misunderstanding, misunderstanding!"
The supervisor raised his neck, said with a smile, and then looked at the young man for help.
"Nothing!" Under the expectant gaze of the overseer, the young man shook his head at the inquiring knight and said loudly.
The two knights gave up asking, as long as there is no problem.
In this way, the supervisor let out a heavy sigh of relief, smiled a few words of apology, and then dragged his wet shoes, and quickly stood by the roadside, watching the carriage leave.
The overseer was relieved when the carriage and the two knights were completely out of sight.
The supervisor came to the workers at work step by step, and yelled at the boss just now: "Don't think that I dare not fire you, how many people are queuing outside who want to join?"...
Under the reprimand, the workers were silent.
After staying for a while, his attitude softened. After all, he also had a part of the money.
"Who is that carriage? It doesn't look like a nobleman? There are knights protecting it!"
The boss shrank his head and asked in a low voice.
"Next time, the eyes are bright. Those are college students from the county who are going to London to take the exam. How many officials will appear in it? The two knights were arranged by the county lieutenant, and they are closely guarded!"
According to the new official admission examination regulations, those who take the admission examination must first be screened in the county, and each county has a quota of ten people.
After passing, the title of college student will be awarded directly, and it will be recognized by Oxford University and Cambridge University, and a certificate will be issued.
This title of college students has a time limit, only three years.
Within three years, you can go directly to London to take the admission test without passing the county test.
It can be said that the people in the car are very likely to become officials.
(end of this chapter)