Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Four kinds of rice business is booming

As they were talking, someone arrived, wearing a badge from the Street Office, and began collecting stall fees from the front of the street. They needed to come early in the morning to collect the full amount. Because this wasn't a specialized market, the fee wasn't much, just two cents a day. Once they paid those two cents, most people would set up their stalls all day. If they came later, some would leave after the crowds had finished setting up their stalls, making it difficult to collect the full fee.

When they got to Baozhu, the leading officer took a look and asked the two of them to keep a close eye on the table. He then pointed to the line drawn on the ground and told them not to extend their arms outside and block the way. Baozhu didn't respond, and the others left without saying anything else.

It was still early, but the ferry was already occupied. The laborers and porters were guarding the ferry, waiting for a merchant ship or passenger ship to arrive and take them on business.

The docks were crowded with wealthy merchants and families, bringing with them even more people and goods. The inspectors often patrolled this area, and one of them, sniffing the fragrance and trying to find out where it was coming from, noticed a vendor selling fresh food and asked what it was.

When these people came to ask, the workers gathered at the bridge were also looking around.

However, a few people lost interest when they saw that the food was cooked in a clay pot. The servants had a lot of fat in their stomachs and could not eat such greasy meat in the morning. The laborers had no fat in their stomachs all year round and wanted to eat, but this portion cost at least twenty cents, which was a lot of money for a meal, so they gave up after hesitating for a while.

Baozhu was afraid that such a situation would arise, so she said loudly,

"Why don't you try it first, my lords? This steamed preserved meat is 30 cents a portion. If you come today, I'll charge you half that. 15 cents is just for the opening."

The cured meat clay pot rice was sold at 30 wen per portion, just like the mushroom and chicken clay pot rice. The minced meat and eggplant and the pickled cabbage and shredded pork were sold at 20 wen per portion, both at half price. Baozhu also asked the laborers around if they wanted any.

When the four patrolling officers heard that they would only collect half of the money, they became tempted. They had been patrolling the streets early in the morning and had not eaten yet. Now they were starving. Fifteen cents could only buy two bowls of noodles cooked in clear oil. Now, not only could they have a meal, but they also got bacon and chicken, which sounded very tempting.

"Four flavors, one bowl for each." The leading yamen runner sat down first, and the other three also took a stool on each side. A stove was built on top of the cart, with four small stoves that were connected underneath. Firewood could be put in the four stoves and burned at the same time.

The rice has been soaked in advance. In order to attract people, a portion of each flavor has been prepared and is being cooked on the stove. It will be ready to eat soon.

Baozhu went to call out to the laborers at the bridge. Some of them had to support their families and could only swallow their saliva and hold their breath. Some of them were widows and one person's food fed the whole family. Most of the money they earned was spent, and those who had a few cents were very careless. When they had no money, they came to the ferry to do hard work. When they had money, they either spent it on a luxurious life or on prostitutes.

People like this like to eat good food. When they come in groups of three or five, they always order the good things - cured meat rice and mushroom chicken rice.

Dalang was quick and had already placed the bowls of rice and vegetables on the stove. He asked them to wait for a moment, "It will take about an incense stick of time. Please wait for a moment. I will give you half a salted duck egg as a gift."

When the group of people saw that they were given salted duck eggs as a gift, they had nothing to say. Baozhu accepted the money on the side. Her appearance made those people look at her a few more times. With her eldest brother there and a table full of servants, it was hard for them to behave frivolously.

The yamen runner at the table over there also cut up a plate of salted duck eggs and brought them over. Since the breakfast was indeed a bit greasy, Baozhu took out a bamboo tube she had polished herself from under the cart and poured tea for the group. Brother Big Brother had a lot of these bamboo tubes polished in his spare time, specifically for making tea for everyone. The tea wasn't particularly good; it was brewed early in the morning with jasmine flowers and tea foam, then the tea dregs were filtered clean. The tea was poured into a bucket, cooled with well water, and covered, leaving only a hole for a ladle to enter and exit to prevent dust or insects from falling in. The tea had a delicate fragrance and was very refreshing.

Baozhu added more tea and smiled, "Enjoy your meal, everyone. If you like it, come back next time."

She offered tea and duck eggs, and the runners nodded at her politeness. "This is the first time I've had a meal like this. I used to find it greasy, but the tea has helped alleviate some of the greasiness."

"We can also order meals at my house. If you tell me in advance, I'll deliver it to you on time the next day, saving you the trouble of making the extra trip."

The yamen runner at the head said, "Tomorrow we will take turns guarding the water gate. I wonder if your family can send it off?" Being on duty at the water gate is very busy. People cannot leave for a moment, unlike patrolling where they can be lazy.

Baozhu immediately agreed, "Of course I can deliver it. As long as it's not in North City, we can deliver it to this area."

The security in Bianjing was still good, and these yamen runners were honest men who had never taken bribes. After paying for today's meal, he took out another twenty copper coins and said, "Tomorrow, make four servings of minced meat and eggplant rice. These are the deposit for tomorrow. Send them to the Puji Water Gate around noon. When you get there, tell them you are Luo Yuanyi and someone will take the food."

Baozhu nodded hurriedly and thanked them again and again. The leader, Lord Luo, was a good-natured person.

It would be fine for the workers over there to take those portions, as there were stools available, but there was no place to sit. This was the inconvenience of eating at a stall, and those people knew this, so they each brought a stool and went to the bridge to eat.

Baozhu also poured a cup of tea for each person and placed half a salted egg on the rice before taking it to the bridge. As soon as the lid of the casserole was opened, many people began to swallow their saliva. They didn't notice it from a distance just now, but now they saw that it was greasy and greasy inside. The oil was so thick, and the salted duck egg was so yellow that it was oozing with oil. If they ate it, they wouldn't feel tired after working for a whole day.

Some people got up early and ate their fill at home, while others had copper coins in their hands and were planning to buy some steamed buns. Now they heard those who had already eaten talking about how fragrant the rice was, how crispy the rice crust was, and how tasty the meat was. Moreover, it was cheaper today, only half the price, and free salted duck eggs and tea. If Baozhu had just shouted it out herself, no one would have believed it. But now that those lobbyists who had eaten the buns were praising it, the listeners immediately felt itchy.

——Isn’t it all for food that we work so hard for? Buy this and try it. It’s only half the price anyway, so it’s a good deal!

A few people couldn't bear it anymore and came over with coins in hand. In the end, they didn't want to order the expensive ones and only ordered the eggplant with minced meat.

Eggplant absorbs the most oil, so everyone picks the most valuable ones to eat.

The yamen runners had already finished their meal and left, so the seat was now empty. After they sat down, Baozhu took the money and quickly poured tea.

All the bowls were put into the wooden basin at the back. Dalang put the clay pot under the stove and started to wash it. The sewage discharge in Bianjing was well done. The dirty water was poured into the ditch and drained away without any strange smell.

After washing the dishes, I went down the stone steps and fetched two buckets of clean water. I washed the dirty dishes for the time being and would have to wash them again when I got back.

After this group of people finished eating, they heard ships starting to dock. The shouts of sailors could be heard one after another. The captain shouted as the ship docked. All the people who were resting by the bridge gathered around, asking if they wanted to move luggage or goods.

The ship that arrived this time was a cargo ship. Apart from the captain and sailors, most of the people were merchants from the south or southwest, selling spices and herbs in Beijing.

A large ship arrived, and scattered people squeezed to the port from all directions. In a moment, the ship was crowded with people. These merchants had been on the ship for a long time and were not very particular about food and drink. Now that they had finally arrived at the feet of the emperor, they naturally had to fill their stomachs. Not only the workers gathered around, but also vendors selling their own food. Everyone tried their best to squeeze in, holding the food high in their hands, just wanting these people to take a look.

Someone was holding some hot food and it scalded the person in front of him, causing him to shudder and immediately start a new quarrel of words.

After getting their work, these laborers dispersed and went about their business. The ship was huge, with several floors. Boxes and cages made of various kinds of wood were carried down the ship by the porters. In a few days, these spices and herbs would be sold to various places in Bian Jing.

The boatmen shouted and tied the boat rope to the tow pole. After the boat had stabilized at the shore, the captain and the sailors also got off the boat. They would stay in Bian Jing for three days and then go further north.

Some people stayed behind to watch the boat, while the rest went off to find places to eat and have fun. Baozhu had to take care of the business of the boatmen who stayed behind. The captain led the sailors to the street, followed by a group of people selling food and drinks, calling them "uncle".

The stall of the brother and sister was far away from the pier. Baozhu pushed her elder brother.

"Brother! Now that everyone has dispersed, go to the boat and ask the boatmen who are still on board if they want food. If they do, give them half price."

Dalang had been listening to Baozhu's calls earlier. Now he hurriedly took the rice, wrapped it in bamboo, and trotted to the side of the boat. There were no vendors selling food on the side of the boat at this time. Several sailors and boatmen who stayed on the boat saw someone carrying something that looked like a bowl or a pot, and asked curiously what it was.

Dalang answered that it was clay pot rice, and as he spoke he opened the lid, and the aroma instantly overflowed. Inside was slices of crystal clear bacon, salty and fragrant sausage, a few blanched small green vegetables were spread on top, and half a salted duck egg was cut, golden and oozing with oil. The boatman who stretched his head to look was overwhelmed by the smell of the rice.

After finally arriving in Bian Jing, the rest of the people went out to eat or seek entertainment, leaving them alone to watch over the place. They had already been floating on the water for several months, and the food they had was barely enough to make ends meet. As soon as they smelled the fragrance, they all gathered around.

Most of the people working on the boat like to eat food rich in oil and salt. The boatmen are paid high wages, but they have been wandering around for years without any expenses. The work they do is very demanding, so they are the most extravagant in eating, drinking and enjoying themselves.

When the boat docked just now, many people selling all kinds of food gathered around. It didn't taste good just by looking at it, but this rice was mouth-watering. I didn't know how long it would take for those people who were wandering around the street to bring back the food.

Baozhu just watched her eldest brother run over happily, "I want seven servings! All of them are cured meat rice."

The author has something to say:

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JJ smoked [clown][clown] again. The synopsis of the new chapter has become garbled. I am vomiting blood! !

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