89 Chapter 89

◎Enter the saltworks◎

Yan Dafa had just been appointed Chief Commissioner last year. He was full of energy and ambition and wanted to accomplish something big so that the officials in the Salt Tax Bureau would notice his talent.

A few days ago, the Salt Tax Bureau issued an order to strictly prevent the appearance of unfamiliar faces in the salt fields.

He always prided himself on being smart. He had inquired about the princess's deeds and understood the hidden meaning of the instructions. He guessed that this matter was related to the princess's disappearance.

Perhaps the princess was using this incident to disguise her identity and make a secret visit.

A princess of a noble country, a daughter of a wealthy family, delicate and noble, no matter how hard she tried to disguise herself, she could at most pretend to be a wealthy merchant driving a BMW, under the guise of selling salt, to conduct an investigation.

He had to take a good look to see if there were any unfamiliar and handsome salt merchants among the salt caravan that came today.

Yan Dafa and his men walked past the caravan, ignoring the miserable caravan like that of Manager Zheng, and only staring at the wealthy caravans.

Unfortunately, after searching for a long time, we still didn’t see any caravan that looked like the princess’.

Maybe the princess walked too slowly and hadn't arrived yet, or maybe she went to another salt field first.

He was extremely disappointed and had no good face towards the people queuing up to get salt. When he returned to the entrance of the salt field, he was so depressed that he scared everyone so much that they dared not breathe.

Manager Zheng was at the front of the line and finally came before Yan Dafa at 3:00 PM and handed over a well-preserved salt permit.

"It's late, come back tomorrow." Yan Dafa didn't say anything, and the men behind him waved their hands to drive them away.

Manager Zheng: “…”

He waited in line for a whole day!

The sun is still high in the sky, so why is it so late? It's obvious that he's just being lazy and doesn't want to work!

He tried his best to suppress his anger, signaled Xie Mingzhuo with his eyes, pointed at the goods on the cart, and said with a smile: "Master Yan has to work hard every day to collect salt. This is some food I brought from the north to give you as a snack. I hope Master Yan is in good health, ahem, full of energy. Tiezhu, why don't you give it to Master Yan quickly?"

Xie Mingzhuo scooped up a cargo box with both hands and brought it in front of Yan Dafa.

Yan Dafa was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Full of energy? That sounds good to me."

Then he gestured to his left and right to take it.

A sturdy man stepped forward and saw Xie Mingzhuo moving it easily. He thought the box wouldn't weigh him down, so he casually stretched out his hands and placed them on the bottom of the box. He said nonchalantly, "Put it down."

Xie Mingzhuo kindly asked, "Do you want to find another helper?"

"Why are you talking so much nonsense? Do you still want some salt?"

Xie Mingzhuo suddenly let go, and the cargo box bent the other person's hand, and it fell to the ground with a loud "bang".

The man covered his arms, stunned.

"What's going on?" Yan Dafa frowned, his sharp gaze cast at Xie Mingzhuo, "Did you do something?"

"Master Yan misunderstood!" Manager Zheng quickly explained, "Tiezhu is naturally strong. He really didn't mean it!"

"How strong is it?" Yan Dafa asked his men. Seeing them nod in shock, he couldn't help but feel a little interested. "How strong can it be? Let me see."

Manager Zheng called out to Xie Mingzhuo, "Tiezhu, lift the cart."

Xie Mingzhuo: “…”

She showed her strength in order to be able to enter the salt field. The production of well salt requires huge manpower and material resources. At present, when industrial machinery has not yet become popular, the salt field consumes human and animal power, with human power being the main source.

Powerful salt workers can speed up production efficiency and are naturally more popular with the general supervisors.

Joining the caravan is the first step, and entering the salt field is the real goal.

As expected, Manager Zheng did not disappoint her.

She lifted the fully loaded cart with one hand, and her expression was calm without showing any effort, which really aroused Yan Dafa's appreciation for her talent.

"You... your name is Tiezhu, right?" he said without question. "It's a waste for you to stay in the caravan with your strength. Why don't you stay in the saltworks and work as a cook? Don't worry, I won't treat you unfairly."

Everyone: “…”

I would rather be a tenant assigned by the emperor than a kitchen servant.

This is not a joke. The hardship of the kitchen cook is beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

Putting aside the effort put in by the cooks, the restrictions faced by the cooks themselves are enough to give us an idea of ​​the situation.

The salt farmers were under the jurisdiction of the Salt Bureau in terms of salt affairs, but were also subject to the jurisdiction of local prefectures and counties in terms of administrative, civil and criminal matters. They were under dual control and oppression, and were not allowed to leave the salt fields for life. They often could not even afford to eat the salt they made themselves.

Yan Dafa is pushing people into the fire.

"Master Yan," Manager Zheng tried to plead, "I recruited Tiezhu with great difficulty. Please spare him and let him go. All these things in the car are yours."

Yan Dafa looked at him and said, "Do you still want to eat salt?"

“I, I…”

The words on his lips could not be said, and Manager Zheng's eyes were full of apology.

He could certainly shout "I can't hold on" and turn around and leave with Tiezhu, but he had so many people waiting for food, and his feet were stuck to the ground, so he couldn't move at all.

Xie Mingzhuo feigned innocence and said, "Manager Zheng, I'm working hard wherever I can, so it doesn't matter."

"If Tiezhu stays, I'll stay too!" Jiang Qing immediately agreed.

Seeing that she was tall and strong with arms, Yan Dafa naturally would not refuse. He was about to signal his men to take away the iron pillars and iron rods when another person stood up.

"Tiezhu and Tiegun, I'm with you!" Yan Tai suddenly spoke with an expression of deep brotherly love, shocking everyone.

No, brother, do you really think being a cook is a good job?

Yan Dafa raised his left eyebrow and looked at Yan Tai and Yan Shan behind him, feeling a little alert.

"May I have your name?"

"Yan Tai, this is my younger brother Yan Shan." Yan Tai said calmly, "But we didn't come to the salt field to do hard labor, but..."

"What is it?"

Yan Shan came out holding a fan, "Master Yan, may I have a word with you?"

Her voice was hoarse. Although she was wearing coarse linen clothes, she had a scholarly temperament that immediately stunned Yan Dafa, who could barely read.

Yan Dafa always thought he was smart, but unfortunately he didn't have the opportunity to study. If he could study and become an official, even if he couldn't become a high-ranking official, he would be more than qualified to be a deputy envoy of the Salt Tax Bureau.

Therefore, he both admired scholars and felt an inexplicable jealousy towards them.

"Are you a scholar?"

Yan Shan observed his expression and replied, "I only attended a private school for a few years as a child, but my family fell into poverty and I stopped studying. I have truly brought shame to our ancestors."

"Since you share the same surname as Yan, I will give you a chance." Yan Dafa walked to a secluded place.

Yan Shan followed with big strides, not forgetting to flatter him: "We both have the surname Yan, but you are much more capable than me. The ancestors would surely be proud of you in their graves."

The flattery, especially from the scholars, made Yan Dafa feel ecstatic.

He couldn't keep a serious expression, so he simply gave up and said in a friendly tone, "What do you want to tell me?"

"I want to do business with you."

"You want to sell salt too?" Yan Dafa was not surprised. "Salt is indeed profitable, but it's difficult for just the two of you brothers."

He had lost interest and was about to be kind enough to send the two away, but he suddenly heard a voice in his ear and was stunned on the spot.

"Are you serious?"

"I'm not lying," Yan Shan said confidently. "This is a method I learned from an old salt worker at the Daning Salt Field. If this works, you will be the greatest contributor to our Jianzhou Salt Field."

Yan Dafa was very excited. The Daning Salt Field was a famous upper-class salt area in Shu. The methods used in the upper-class salt area might be able to produce more salt.

But--

"Why did the old salt worker tell you?"

Yan Shan said without blinking, "My elders saved his life. That's a long story. Anyway, we'll know if it works once we give it a try. Master Yan, why don't you give me a chance? If it works, there will be more surplus salt in the salt fields, and wouldn't it be easy to make a fortune?"

The Salt Tax Bureau stipulates the amount of regular tax for salt fields every year, that is, the salt fields must provide a quota of official salt to the government free of charge.

If the salt produced by a salt field exceeds the prescribed tax, it becomes "surplus salt".

It was stipulated that the remaining salt would be purchased by the government, and one stone of rice would be given for each small ticket.

There is more room for maneuver here.

The government has a fixed quota of regular salt required. As long as they complete the regular salt task every year, they have the final say on how much excess production there is.

If Yan Shan's method can really increase salt production, he, as the chief collector, will definitely make a fortune.

No one can resist huge profits at no cost, and "smart people" are no exception.

Anyway, once inside the salt field, he would be in control. Even if the method didn't work, he would still have two more cooks. Why not do it?

After weighing the pros and cons, Yan Dafa found that it would benefit him in every way and had no disadvantages. He agreed in his heart, but he remained reserved on the surface.

"Well, since you also have the surname Yan, I'll give you this chance. If it really works, you'll definitely get some soup."

Yan Shan was overjoyed: "I will never let Master Yan down."

After returning to the team, Yan Shan expressed his gratitude to Manager Zheng for taking him in, and spoke well of him in front of Yan Dafa: "Manager Zheng has taken good care of me and my brother along the way, and he is so filial to Master Yan. Master Yan, why don't you take the salt today?"

Zhiyan didn't need Yan Dafa to put in any effort. He just wanted to enjoy the pleasure of controlling the fate of others.

Since his new "general" had spoken, he gave him face and waved his hand: "Come here, take Boss Zheng to get some salt. Keep your hands steady, okay?"

"I understand." The subordinates immediately understood that they had to give exactly the number of sticks of salt, not less than what was stated on the salt permit.

Although Manager Zheng successfully obtained the salt, he suddenly lost the "four generals" and the regret in his heart was beyond words.

The sun sets in the west and dusk deepens.

Xie Mingzhuo and his three companions finally entered the Jianzhou Salt Field.

The stove households have settled down in the salt field for generations. The salt field has long become a salt town with many villages under it. The chief is equivalent to the village chief.

Liugou Village is under the jurisdiction of Yan Dafa. There are about a hundred households of cooks, most of whom live in thatched huts and earthen houses. Only a few rich households live in blue brick and tile houses.

Yan Dafa's parents were just ordinary cooks, who had to do heavy labor every day but could not even save enough money to buy rice.

Yan Dafa was unwilling to accept this, so he relied on his quick wit to get to know a clerk in the Jianzhou Salt Tax Office and was promoted to the chief collector.

Within half a year of becoming the head clerk, he had built a large house made of blue bricks and tiles, married a beautiful wife, and became the object of envy and flattery by everyone in the village.

He entered the village with four strangers, and was immediately surrounded by young and strong men.

It was getting late, and the cooks had all left the stoves. Their tired bodies needed a rest, but they could not ignore the general supervisor who was supervising them.

More and more people are stuck on the road.

Yan Dafa pointed directly at someone: "Old Li, is there any vacant house in the village? Take them there. Tomorrow, you take the three of them to the kitchen, and he will follow me."

The three people refer to Xie Mingzhuo, Jiang Qing and Yan Tai. Yan Shan has to follow him to try the new method.

"Hey, hey, I get it." An old man with a hunched back answered, raising his wrinkled eyelids with difficulty, "Children, follow me."

The four of them followed obediently behind him.

The village was silent. Yan Dafa's voice could be clearly heard as he instructed his men: "I have something to do tomorrow. Go find some new faces and keep your eyes open. Okay?"

"I know, I know."

Someone asked, "Boss, aren't those four strangers?"

"You idiot, why did you forget what I said? If you want to find someone who will become rich just by looking at him, which of these four looks like a noble person?"

"I know, I know."

The last ray of sunlight disappeared from the sky, and the wind came with a chill, penetrating straight into the gaps in the clothes.

Yan Shan shuddered suddenly, hugged his arms with his hands, and wanted to hide his neck in his clothes.

"Old Li, how long will it take?" Yan Tai kept an eye on her and asked quickly when he saw her.

Old Li walked slowly: "We are almost there, we are almost there."

Along the way, we met many young and strong men who worked in the kitchen. They were all shirtless, with thick calluses on their shoulders from being pressed by the carrying poles. Their spines were also deformed, and their hands and feet had ulcers from being frequently immersed in brine.

The salt fields were lax and lazy, neglecting the essentials for trivial matters; officials and businessmen exploited the people and fought for profits; the cooks were oppressed and had to swallow their tears.

Without an in-depth investigation, Xie Mingzhuo could see the accumulated problems in the salt administration just from what he saw and heard while following the caravan.

Old Li led them to an old house at the back of the village and said, "This one is the best. The others either have no roof or the walls are cracked. They're not safe to live in."

The house had mud walls and a thatched roof, with only one main room and side rooms on the left and right. It didn't even have a decent kitchen or toilet.

"Father-in-law," Jiang Qing called out to Old Li, who was about to leave. "People have three urgent needs. How do we solve this problem?"

Old Li pointed to a simple thatched hut dozens of feet away.

The thatched hut has a wide view and is open on all sides. It is surrounded by a half-person-high grass fence. As for the door, it is just a movable wooden board.

Jiang Qing: “…”

However, the Yan siblings seemed to be used to it and did not look surprised at all. After thanking Old Li, they turned around and looked over.

"There are two bedrooms. Which one do you want?" Yan Shan politely let them choose first.

Xie Mingzhuo said casually, "East."

No matter how simple the accommodation conditions are, you still have to live there.

But she obviously forgot that where could she find a bed to sleep in this old house that hadn't been occupied for a long time?

It is no exaggeration to describe our current situation as being penniless.

The four of them walked out of their respective "bedrooms", looked at each other, and remained silent for a long time.

Jiang Qing hesitated and said, "Should I go borrow some straw mats from the villagers?"

Oh my god, how dare she let the princess sleep on a straw mat?!

As she asked this question, she slapped herself hard in her heart.

Yan Shan coughed a few times, his face became paler, his whole body was trembling, and he couldn't even speak clearly.

"Thank you very much."

Yan Tai quickly took out a slightly thicker coat and covered her completely before saying, "I'll go build a stove and light a fire."

He worked efficiently and soon lit a fire in front of the door. He pulled Yan Shan's hand close to keep warm.

Xie Mingzhuo and Jiang Qing went out together to borrow a straw mat, and glanced at the two of them before leaving.

This intimacy beyond distance is not like that of ordinary siblings, but more like that of a husband and wife.

Liugou Village is not big. A hundred or so households may sound like a lot, but most of them are concentrated in one place. The houses are densely packed together, so any noise can be heard by neighbors.

The old house they lived in was in a corner of the village, only a short walk from the gathering place.

You have to find the right family to borrow a straw mat from. It won’t work if the family is too poor or too rich. A moderately rich family with a harmonious household is the most suitable.

Xie Mingzhuo looked at the villagers along the way and finally locked onto one.

The main house of this house is made of bricks and tiles, while the side rooms, kitchen, etc. are all thatched houses, and the yard is surrounded by a bamboo fence.

Women gathered in the yard in groups of three or four, seemingly chatting happily with the hostess of the house.

The hostess was in her forties, sitting in the middle of the group. She had a round face and a broad forehead, and her smile was very kind and friendly.

"Of course I need shoes. And make me a set of clothes. Doctor Xu's cuffs are all worn out."

"Yes," another woman responded, smiling, "You are kind-hearted and lucky, otherwise how could the baby's father have met Doctor Xu?"

"Doctor Xu's medical skills are truly superb. Your old man couldn't be cured even after visiting the county, but Doctor Xu just lent a hand and prescribed some medicine, and he got better."

"How can Doctor Xu be so good at medicine when she's just a little girl?!"

Hearing these words, Xie Mingzhuo couldn't help but recall the "little beggar" he had taken in in Anlu.

Although Xu Qinglang said he wanted to travel, there are so many doctors with the surname Xu in the world, it shouldn't be such a coincidence.

"What are you doing standing here?" a familiar voice came from behind.

Jiang Qing turned around first.

The night was as dark as ink, with only the faint candlelight from the villagers' homes shining on her profile.

Even though she disguised herself as a man, Xu Qinglang recognized her at a glance.

She suddenly said in surprise: "Jiang...Brother Jiang, why are you here?!"