Yang Hua, the proprietress of Siyang Inn, felt something was strange.
The young man in front booked her inn, and four people came later. The old man looked ruddy and imposing, but he was clearly half a step behind the young man.
The young man was handsome, with an imposing bearing and extraordinary demeanor. The young lady he was holding had a fresh face, as beautiful as a flower or a moon. Even the girl following behind him - judging from her attire, she should be a girl - was pretty and very lovely.
This is obviously the young master of a big family, but what is he doing here?
With the sun being so scorching, I'm afraid the young master won't be able to bear it in two days, and the young lady will definitely not be able to bear it even more.
The young man in front only booked this inn for one night, which means they have to travel tomorrow. Where else can they go? I haven't heard of any good business opportunities in the lower three states.
Yang Hua's mind was spinning, and she really wanted to go to the backyard to take a look, but the young man in front had greeted her, so she couldn't go in without being called.
Well, who told him to have money? If you have money, you are the boss!
Under the old banyan tree in the backyard of the inn, Fu Xiaoguan and three other people sat around a stone table. Xiaoqi took two watermelons from the well and brought them over.
Fu Xiaoguan handed one to Dong Shulan and said, "This place is well chosen. Come on, let's eat some watermelons while they're still cool to cool down."
He took a bite himself. It had been in the well a little too short, so it was still hot inside, but it tasted very good.
"Let's go for a walk after sunset, and then have dinner at that delicious restaurant... Shulan, if you're tired, go lie down in the house for a while."
"Fortunately, it's much cooler here."
Xiaoqi brought a few bowls of iced bayberry soup. It was delicious and very effective in relieving the summer heat. After Fu Xiaoguan drank a bowl, he felt refreshed all over.
"Your Majesty, Sir, would you like to meet the county magistrate here?" Ning Siyan asked while eating watermelon.
"Not for the time being. The purpose of our trip is to see if there are any resources worth developing in this area, and to see how the people there are doing... For example, these watermelons and bayberries are good. If they can be transported out, they can be turned into silver."
"By the way, if we have the right raw materials here, we can build a glass workshop. With glass jars, we can can these bayberries and sell them."
"What are canned foods?" Ning Siyan asked.
"Once the bayberry is sterilized and canned, it can be stored for several months."
This thought arose in Fu Xiaoguan's mind and never faded away.
If you want to go ocean-going, canned food is very important.
The most lacking thing on the vast ocean is fruits and vegetables. The most common disease for ocean-going sailors is scurvy. Nangong Piaoxue's scurvy is now basically cured, thanks to the large amount of vitamin supplementation.
Vegetables and fruits can be canned, and meat can also be canned, which can solve the food problem of the crew in one fell swoop.
"Shulan, please remember this for me. When we get back, we need to have the Academy of Sciences send a few people to conduct a detailed investigation. Also, remind me to write a letter to Yu Zhongtan. I need some special glass jars."
Fu Xiaoguan was talking about canned food in the inn. On the other side, Zhao De, who was guarding the city, returned to the garrison office with three of his subordinates in high spirits.
He respectfully handed the three taels of silver in his hand to Ma Ji, the Siyang County garrison commander, and said, "General, I'm lucky today. I met a fat sheep. I guess it's the young master of the Han family traveling. It costs three taels of carriage. I think it's been a long time since you went to the brothel, so this is a good opportunity to give you a gift."
Ma Ji, with his full beard, grinned and took the silver, standing on tiptoe. "You are a filial child. You have lived up to my three years of training. But the rules cannot be broken. Here is a reward of 600 coins for you. Take it and distribute it to the brothers guarding the gate today."
"Thank you, General!" Zhao De took the six hundred coins and was about to leave when Ma Ji suddenly stopped him, "Wait."
"General, do you have any other instructions?"
"What did you say just now? I guess it was the young master of the Han family? Which Han family? The Han family in Jinghua Province?"
"Yes, that's just my guess." Zhao De quickly turned around and replied, "Those three carriages look very luxurious. One of them is driven by an old man wearing a silk shirt and looks like a butler."
Ma Ji was stunned. That wasn't right. I heard that the Han family sold all of its workshops to the Sima family from the Yu Dynasty, and the two families even became relatives. What was the young master of the Han family doing in this ghost place?
"Is there anything else that's special?"
Zhao De thought about it carefully and slapped his forehead, "Oh, that butler's voice is a bit sharp... and he doesn't seem to have a beard yet."
Ma Ji's heart skipped a beat. "Is that right?"
"San'er can testify."
"Call San'er in."
"Okay." Zhao De hurried out, feeling a little strange. Why was the general so cautious? Did I misjudge? Was he an imperial envoy sent by the court?
This is not impossible. Now, construction and development are booming all over the country. I heard that even the five states in the Western Regions, which were once brothers in distress, are building a free trade city, but there is no news about the six states in Beixiao.
If the person entering the city today was really an imperial envoy sent by the emperor... Zhao De's heart skipped a beat, "San'er, come in quickly."
Li San was shocked when he saw Zhao De's serious expression. He followed Ma Ji and hurriedly walked into the garrison office.
"Li San."
"The villain is here."
"Tell me what was different about the old man driving the car? Think carefully about it, and tell me when you have figured it out."
Li San was shocked. Could it be that he had succeeded this time?
He thought carefully and said, "The old man spoke slowly and steadily, his face was ruddy and he looked very energetic."
"Has he grown a beard yet?"
Li San was startled. "No beard."
"Is his voice a little shrill?"
“…Indeed.”
"It's over!"
After leaving these two words, Ma Ji hurried out, leaving Zhao De and Li San looking at each other in bewilderment.
"Boss, what's wrong?"
"How the hell should I know? But we're definitely in trouble this time. It's going to be difficult to collect the silver today. The other party must be some big shot... Eunuch, damn, it's a eunuch! That old man is a eunuch, and we're under the helm of the imperial envoy!"
Li San was so frightened that he almost lost his soul. He swallowed hard and asked in fear, "Then...what should we do now?"
Zhao De took a deep breath. It was all my fault for being possessed by evil spirits. Now, I have brought such a disaster upon the general!
"I don't know what to do either. I'm probably going to get my head chopped off. Are you afraid?"
Li San felt a black screen in front of his eyes, his legs and feet went limp, and he fell to the ground with a thump.
Ma Ji rode his horse straight to the county government office. Siyang County Magistrate Bai Qiusheng was talking to his advisor about the Hu women in the brothel when Ma Ji rushed in, "Sir... I'm afraid the emperor has arrived."
"What did you say?" County Magistrate Bai jumped up.
"I thought Your Majesty had already arrived in Siyang County!"
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