After exiting the South City Gate and walking along the official road for about thirty miles, you will reach the Beijing Toll Station.
In the past, this was a barren forest with only birds but no human habitation.
Since the cement road was completed and the toll booths and rest stops were built, this place has become more and more lively.
Around the toll booth, on both sides of the official road, teahouses, restaurants, inns, and grocery stores were built one after another...
There is a large flow of people traveling to and from the capital, and by the time many people arrive at the toll station in Beijing, it is already dark and it is too late to enter the city.
It would be better to find an inn near the toll station to rest for a night, wash off the dust, and go to the capital cleanly.
There were also those who went out of town to visit relatives and friends, and when they reached the toll booth they had just the right time to eat and take a break.
In short, this dilapidated place that was deserted in the past seems to be developing into a market.
Youfu Inn is located here, less than a hundred meters away from the toll station.
In the backyard kitchen, five large coal stoves were burning brightly.
Today is the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, and the inn is still full of people as usual.
It provides hot water and meals, and there are five large coal stoves in the kitchen, which have been burning since the day they were bought.
His coal stove costs a lot of money.
A coal stove uses at least twenty honeycomb coals a day.
Five coal stoves require a hundred honeycomb coals a day. Sometimes, when there are many people using hot water, a hundred coal stoves are not enough.
Of course, his honeycomb coal is in great demand, and the price is cheaper than the 50 cents for 100 honeycomb coals sold outside.
But even so, at the end of the month, the honeycomb coal alone would cost nearly two taels of silver.
The owner of Youfu Inn was counting the money with an abacus.
In the past, people burned wood.
With five earthen stoves and the current customer flow, one or two loads of firewood will be burned every day.
A load of firewood weighs about 100 kilograms.
It’s cold this year and the price of firewood has increased.
The price increased from twenty cents per load to thirty cents.
All in all, it seems that burning firewood can save more money.
However, there is no need for someone to watch the fire in a coal stove.
To burn firewood, we need two more fire girls and a wood-chopping guy.
For three people, the monthly wages would be around 400 to 500 wen, and two meals would be provided.
All in all, it is more cost-effective to use a coal stove.
The owner of Youfu Inn finished calculating the accounts and decided to use coal stoves from now on.
He told the innkeeper, "Don't let the two girls who are in charge of the kitchen come after the New Year. From now on, all inns will use coal stoves."
The shopkeeper accepted the order and asked, "Does the woodcutter want to stay?"
"The inn is doing well, and you said you were short of a handyman. Let that guy do the handyman job."
The shopkeeper nodded, feeling sorry for the two fire girls.
The inn owner didn't feel sorry at all.
The two fire-keeping girls left the inn and found better jobs in no time.
Nowadays, in the city, or more precisely in Xinmin County, there are job openings every day, including for female workers.
For example, a textile workshop.
I heard that there was a female worker who passed the exam to become a first-class craftsman and could earn eight or nine hundred coins a month.
"Oh! If my daughter could also pass the exam to become a craftsman, not too high, just a second-level craftsman, wouldn't she be able to earn one or two taels of silver a month?"
The shopkeeper laughed when he heard this and asked, "Would the boss be willing to let a girl work as a craftsman?"
The innkeeper shook his head and said, "I can't bear to do that."
It is too hard for women to do the work of craftsmen.
Craftsmen should still be men.
The owner of the inn has a son who is studying.
"If my son can't read, I'll have him learn to be a craftsman. I heard that a literate craftsman who passes the second-level exam can earn two taels of silver a month. That's better than anything else."
The shopkeeper shook his head. "The world is different now. Who would have thought that those refugees could build an entire county? The last time I went there, the houses were all neatly built, and they were so beautiful."
The innkeeper patted the shopkeeper on the shoulder and said, "Work hard, and you can buy a two-story house in Xinmin County."
"I can't afford it. I can't afford it."
The cheapest apartment in the second phase of the project costs 120 taels.
With his income, I wonder when he will be able to earn that much money.
But the boss said, "You can take out a loan."
The shopkeeper smiled bitterly, saying that it is easy to lend money but difficult to repay it.
The whole family depends on him for food and drink.
Moreover, if his employer fires him one day, he will be so old and where will he find a job?
Without work, how can I get the money to repay the loan?
The landlord shook his head. "You're just too cautious. As for the house, when the time comes, the worst that can happen is that it won't sell. You can make a few dozen taels of silver by reselling it. I heard that the prices of houses over there have been rising. If you don't act now, you'll regret it in the future."
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper hurriedly asked, "Are the prices of houses in Xinmin County really rising?"
"Of course. Such a nice house, so many people want it. How can you expect it to stay that way forever? But if you want to buy it, you can go directly to the sales office. The price is quite reasonable."
The innkeeper kindly advised him.
The shopkeeper was a little anxious, "Boss, I want to take a day off and go to Xinmin County to take a look."
"Sure! Tomorrow is the 28th, do you want to go?"
"May I?"
"Of course. I'll give you three days off. Come back on the first day of the new year."
"Thank you, Boss."
"polite!"
…
This year's twelfth lunar month in Beijing seems more lively than in previous years.
Everyone's face was filled with the joy of the New Year.
Even the poorest families in previous years can still buy two kilograms of pork and have a meaty meal during the Chinese New Year this year.
In previous years, people always said that the New Year was difficult.
As soon as the Chinese New Year comes, debt collectors come to our house every day to smash, loot and rob.
There are fewer people asking for debt collection during this year's Spring Festival.
Many households pay off their debts a few days in advance without the need for creditors to urge them to pay back the debt.
In previous years, during the Spring Festival, everyone in the family, young and old, hoped that the head of the family could get some money, some meat, and even better, two feet of cloth.
Every time this happened, the head of the family would look worried, with their brows furrowed and never relaxed.
This year, not only will there be meat to eat, but there will also be sweets and cakes, and new clothes to wear. Maybe you can even get two cents in lucky money on the first day of the new year.
This year can be regarded as the best year in the family’s memory.
On New Year’s Eve, every household eats the New Year’s Eve dinner.
The children were all smiling happily as they ate the delicious fatty meat until their mouths were full of oil.
The adults were sighing, "Life is getting better now."
"Yeah! This year is a little better than last year, and I've saved a pound or two."
"Next year, I'll work harder and try to get a loan to buy a house for my family."
The whole family burst into laughter.
The smile is sincere and sparkling, it is the expectation and yearning for better days in the future.
"Let's go to the temple fair tomorrow and burn some incense for the owner of Sihai. May the owner of Sihai live a hundred years, and may such good days come every year."
"That's how it should be."
"In our market town, every household benefits from the Sihai Trading Company. Take the Zhao family across the street. Their three sons and three daughters-in-law all work in Xinmin County. They've saved enough to buy a house this year."
"Their family is large, we can't compare to them."
"Boss, I'll also go to Xinmin County to find a job next year. If we save together, I don't believe we can't save enough for a down payment on a house."
Similar conversations are happening in every corner of the capital.
Sihai Trading Company has been quietly changing the lives of ordinary people in Beijing, from food, clothing, housing and transportation.
The boss of Sihai Trading Company, Gu Jiu, as the common people call him, is currently enjoying a banquet in the palace.
This year, the Third Prince brought his new wife, Cui, to the palace to pay New Year's greetings to the Queen Mother and all the other ladies.
After two years of hard work, the Third Prince finally won the favor of Empress Dowager Xiao. As Empress Dowager Xiao loved Cui, she also loved her.
In front of everyone, Empress Dowager Xiao gave Cui a generous gift.
Princess Huyang said cheerfully, "My mother is so kind to the third son's wife. I can't catch up with her."
Empress Dowager Xiao smiled and said, "If you were as capable as Cui, you could choose anything from my storehouse."
"My queen mother just thinks I'm not capable enough." Princess Huyang acted coquettishly, hoping to get some good things from Empress Dowager Xiao.
Who told her that she had high expenses, a puppy to raise, and a son and a daughter to take care of? She could only think of ways to make money.
Empress Dowager Xiao deliberately put on a stern face. "You, you're already grown up, yet you're still thinking about my things all day long. Forget it, forget it. I'll let you pick one."
"Thank you, mother." Princess Huyang looked surprised.
The Queen Mother still loves her.
"What are you so happy about?"
Emperor Wende brought his concubines to pay their respects to Empress Dowager Xiao.
Princess Huyang smiled and said, "My mother allowed me to go to the storehouse to choose a gift. Does my brother have anything to give me? It's New Year's Day, and I want to celebrate."
Emperor Wende laughed heartily and said, "Since you are rich this year, I will not reward you."
"My money is mine, but the reward from my brother is another matter. My brother should be more generous. If he can't give me a title, at least give me something good to enjoy."
The originally bustling hall suddenly became quiet because of the title.
Gu Jiu thought that Princess Huyang was really full of resentment towards the title.
Empress Dowager Xiao angrily scolded Hu Yang, "It's New Year's Day. If you don't know how to speak, just shut up. Hurry and apologize to your royal brother."
Princess Huyang pouted, unhappy.
Emperor Wende laughed heartily, "Does Huyang have any complaints against me?"
Princess Huyang looked aggrieved, "I dare not complain, I just want a reward."
Empress Pei pursed her lips and smiled, "Look at her. She's not young anymore, but she's asking for New Year's money like a child. They say the eldest brother is like a father. Your Majesty, why don't you satisfy Huyang and make everyone happy?"
Empress Dowager Xiao also said, "Huyang has never grown up. His children are about to get married, but he still doesn't do anything serious all day long. Be careful that your brother will beat you."
Princess Huyang complained, "My Royal Brother has beaten me a lot. When I was in the palace, I listened to his teachings so often that my ears are almost callused."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wende laughed. "I taught you with good intentions, but you blame me. If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have blamed you. I should have let my father give you a good beating, stripped you of your title, and demoted you to an idle member of the royal family. Then you would have behaved well."
Princess Huyang's face turned pale.
Empress Dowager Xiao couldn't bear it and said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, please don't scare her. Look at how pale her face is. It doesn't look like it's New Year's Eve."
Emperor Wende said with a hint of meaning: "If she doesn't make such a fuss, this year will naturally be a lively one."
Princess Huyang lowered her head and whispered, "I never make trouble."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
