I, the Ming Dynasty, can still save me

Chapter 342 Changes in the Capital

In early July of the first year of Tianqi, in the capital.

This is the hottest time of the year, and now it's noon again. The sun is blazing, and there are fewer pedestrians on the streets of the capital.

But those who are busy running for a living have no time to care that the sun is poisonous. For them, life is much more spicy than the sun.

Qianmen Street is the most lively and prosperous area in Beijing. On weekdays, people come and go, merchants gather, markets open every day, and department stores gather. The prosperity has continued since the ancestors moved the capital to this day.

Although the sun is scorching now, there are many pedestrians on the street, and Wang Wu is one of them.

He was wearing a coarse cloth singlet with a sweat towel hanging on his shoulders. He was squatting in the corner with a group of coolies, looking at the end of the long and narrow alley in front of him from a distance, seemingly waiting for something.

"Creak" "Creak"...

At this time, there was a sudden sound of rolling wooden wheels at the end of the alley. Wang Wu and the other coolies around him looked intently.

They saw a dozen wooden wheeled carts pushing towards them at the other end of the alley. Seeing this, they swarmed up like hungry wolves and gathered around these wooden wheeled carts.

"Sir, do you need to move something? I'm cheap, only fifty cents. I work hard and won't be lazy."

"I only need forty coins. I am brave and brave. I am strong and can work very neatly."

······
Before the other party could speak, these coolies rushed to speak out, lest the person in charge of the other party would not use them.The person in charge seemed to be used to the coolies' flattery and laughter, and just said without changing his expression:

"Twenty cents, four people. If you want to come, just follow us forward. If you don't want to come, don't block us here and prevent us from passing."

As soon as these words came out, these coolies immediately looked at each other. For twenty coins, they couldn't even buy a bucket of rice. How could they work?Thinking about it, I complained in my heart. This manager was so unreasonable.

But before they could speak, a voice suddenly emerged from the crowd of coolies.

"I go!"

Everyone followed the sound and saw that it was Wang Wu who came out in response.When the other coolies saw this, they wanted to yell loudly, wondering why this person was so ignorant. If he disturbed the price, it would be difficult for them to take orders in the future.

"I'll go as well."

"And I."

But just as they were about to scold them, they suddenly saw three more people standing up from the crowd. The manager smiled with satisfaction and waved to everyone, pretending to be impatient.

"Very good, you are wise. Let's make some money first. The four of you will follow me. As for the others, please disperse. Get out of the way and don't block the way."

Seeing this, everyone had no choice but to get out of the way, and watched helplessly as Wang Wu and the other four followed them.So he quickly complained to the person who seemed to be the leader in the crowd.

"Boss, this has happened several times. We have earned hard-earned money, so it is not easy. Since he came, he has done it at such a low price several times, which has taught these merchants how to lower prices.

We thought his family was not easy and we tolerated it before, but doing this again and again is obviously going to ruin our jobs!No matter how hard we endure this, it’s not easy for us as we have a family.If it weren't for your sake, we would have kicked him out long ago. "

Cutting off a person's wealth is like killing his parents. Everyone present understands this truth.

The leader Wen Yan also looked at the direction Wang Wu was going and nodded silently.Seeing this, everyone stopped and thought, and then squatted in the corner again, looking at the intersection of the alley again, hoping to grab the next opportunity.

"Be careful when you move it. This is a sea fish shipped from Xingye, Tianjin Prefecture. It must be fresh. If there is any damage, you will never be able to afford compensation."

"Don't worry, we have done it for you at Dingxiang House before. Of course, knowing how valuable this fish is, we won't be careless in the slightest."

Wang Wu skillfully took over the barrel from the wooden cart. The smell of fish coming from the barrel made the steward on the side not used to it, so he quickly covered his mouth and nose with his hands.But Wang Wu didn't care. He held the barrel steadily and put it in the kitchen of Dingxiang Building.

"It's good for you guys to know. This sea fish is very expensive and full of flavor. Since Tianjin opened the sea last year, there have been more sea fish in the capital.

But who in the capital doesn’t know that our Dingxiang House cooks the best fish? Even the cabinet minister will send someone to buy it.I have eaten it once before, and the taste is really unforgettable. "

Watching Wang Wu and others busy moving for a while, the steward sat comfortably aside, drinking tea with a teapot, and chatting with Wang Wu.

"You are still lucky. We poor people are not lucky enough to eat such things. We can only listen to you and tell us that we asked Duke Zhou for it in our dreams at night." Wang Wuyi immediately bowed down and complimented him after hearing this. The manager chuckled, leaned back on the chair, and crossed his legs very proudly.

"Haha, if you want to eat, I have a way. Then you can go to Tianjin to make a living. It's very different there now. In just half a year, a lot of merchants and refugees have poured in, and the court has also built three new docks. , this is not enough, it needs to be renovated.

As long as you do some footwork at the pier during the day, you can go to the fish vendors on the pier in the afternoon and buy some fish that are dying. The price is very cheap. It would be good to cook them and try them. "

"I have also heard about the liveliness of Tianjin Mansion. Now many people go there to make a living, and some people even go to sea. I heard that the monthly money is very high. If there is no mother at home who needs to be taken care of, I would also like to go there. Break in."

The steward looked at Wang Wu in surprise when he heard this, and secretly thought that he was a filial person.

"There are many opportunities in the capital. If you feel that Tianjin is too far away, I heard that Tongzhou is also recruiting people, but it is more difficult to get in. However, the coal yard in Xishan has opened and is hiring a lot of people. If you go The salary is very good, but it’s a bit harder at the coal mine.”

Wang Wu carefully placed the barrel in the back kitchen and looked up to see that most of the barrels in the truck had been moved.But what he is more concerned about now is what the steward said just now.

"I also heard that the Xishan Coal Mine has opened again. This is really good governance from the imperial court. Half a month ago, I heard Dr. Bao speak about "Da Ming Daily" outside the teahouse. At that time, people all danced and jumped for joy when they heard the news, thinking that this was really the imperial government's good governance. It's a great thing. I just didn't expect a coal mine to open so soon, and I want to take a chance."

The steward crossed his legs and took a sip of tea comfortably. Seeing that Wang Wu was still listening to the "Da Ming Daily", he nodded with satisfaction, thinking to himself that he was not a person who didn't understand anything.

"The inexhaustible Xishan coal, since the Jiajing period, most of the things burned by the people in the capital came from here. It was only during the Wanli period that the eunuchs were sent to dynasty to collect mining taxes indiscriminately, which made the people resentful.

I just didn’t expect that the imperial court would stop in the end. It was your Majesty’s wisdom that restored the situation to its original state so that we ordinary people can use Xishan coal. You can also change your livelihood. "

While Wang Wu was carrying it patiently, he listened attentively to the steward's speech. Seeing that he was so willing to talk to him made him even more interested.

"What you say makes sense. We are all rough people and don't understand anything. But then again, since our Holy Lord came to the throne, he has done a lot of great things. Let's just say that the heads of people in Caishikou have not been spared. Hundreds of people, no one dares to underestimate him."

"You guys, you just stare at these fighting and killing scenes all day long, and you also like to watch these beheading scenes. What's the point of these, they are just for excitement. It is better to watch other things that are more practical."

Wang Wu saw that the steward was hesitant to speak, so he immediately asked wisely.

"Young people all come from poor backgrounds. We usually watch acrobatics and martial arts performances. It would be even more exciting to watch a beheading. But since you said you want to watch something else, I don't know what you can recommend."

The steward looked at Wang Wu with great interest and became more and more satisfied with him. He leaned on the chair and crossed his legs. He tapped his fingers on the armrests of the chair from time to time and said proudly:

"You have asked the right person. Do you know about the Wenqu Temple in the south of the city? Half a year ago, His Majesty decreed that a library should be built to put books such as "Yongle Dadian" in it for the people of the Ming Dynasty to view.

This library is built near Wenqu Temple, and anyone can read or copy it.This is a first-class good thing, and all the scholars in the world cheered when they heard it.

Now I heard that this library has been built and will be opened soon.By then all the top scholars from the Hanlin Academy will be going.When the time comes, you can go and have a look. Even if you are illiterate, you can still get a taste of literature. "

These words made Wang Wu's eyes light up. In fact, he still knew some words and wanted to read in his heart.But the books were too expensive and he really couldn't afford them. This library gave him an opportunity to read books. Thinking of this, he wanted to thank the steward immediately.

But right now.

"Be careful."

Wang Wu suddenly turned around, held the barrel behind him with both hands, and placed it firmly on the ground.

Then he raised his head and looked at a coolie behind him with a red face and trembling hands. The man quickly looked at the barrel and saw that the sea fish had not been released from it, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Brother Wang. Thank you, Brother Wang. This barrel is too slippery and difficult to hold. It's all thanks to you this time. Otherwise, what would you do if it breaks?"

"It's okay. If it doesn't work, just rest for a while. I'll help you with the rest."

Before the coolie had time to thank him, he heard an exclamation in the distance. Wang Wu looked intently and saw the steward rushing over upon hearing the sound. When he came over and saw that the fish had not been thrown out yet, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why are you so careless? If you scatter the fish in the sea, you will not be able to eat it and you will have to carry it around."

After saying that, he glanced at Wang Wu and others angrily, and his good impression of them was gone, so he immediately waved his hands impatiently.

"Move quickly. After moving, leave quickly. Don't stay here too long."

　Update today, I feel much better after sleeping all day.Will resume normal updates tomorrow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)