Chapter 26: No Salt in the Meal
The shopkeeper came over in a hurry, took a look at Gu Xiyue's condition, and looked apologetic.
"Sir, I'm so sorry. It's not that I don't want to put salt in the trap, but I simply can't buy salt. Not only here, but even in the surrounding villages, we can't buy salt."
Gu Xiyue was shocked.
"Is salt so scarce?"
The shopkeeper glanced at the door warily. Seeing no one come in, he sighed and continued, "Not all the wheat was harvested this year, and the people didn't turn in their grain, so the government stopped supplying us with salt. Without salt, the price of salt in the salt shop has skyrocketed. Now a pound of salt costs one ounce of silver, and even that's hard to come by. Ordinary people here can't save even one ounce of silver in a year. Now we can't even afford to eat, so how can we have extra money to buy salt?"
Gu Xiyue's fists stiffened when he heard this.
It's so cruel here, but you don't even think about how people can eat without salt.
"There's nothing I can do now. I only have less than a pound of salt left. I can still eat steamed buns with pickled radish in the morning, but I can't make noodles or stir-fries in the afternoon. I don't know how long this inn can stay open. Sir, please...if you don't mind..."
“No problem!”
Gu Xiyue raised the bun in her hand and said, "It's edible. The dried radish is pretty good."
Seeing the shopkeeper heaved a sigh of relief, Gu Xiyue asked again: "Without salt, how will the villagers around us eat?"
The shopkeeper looked worried and waved his hands, saying, "Alas, we can't bring it up. Some people still have pickles from last year, so they can still make do. If there are no pickles, we can only not add salt. Alas!"
The shopkeeper sighed repeatedly, and Gu Xiyue followed suit.
The taste of rice without salt is so unbearable that it makes people feel uncomfortable. Ordinary people have to work every day. If they don’t eat salt, they will have no strength. This is simply a matter of life and death.
Gu Xiyue was about to speak when she saw Wei Lin staring at his bag of salt. Gu Xiyue quickly stopped him with her eyes and turned to ask the shopkeeper.
"Is there a salt shop here?"
The shopkeeper nodded, then shook his head. "There used to be a salt shop next door. At that time, the salt supply was abundant, and a pound of salt was only fifteen cents. After the supply stopped, the salt next door was taken to Xifeng Town, and the salt shop here closed. If we want to buy salt, we have to go to Xifeng Town, but the salt there is so expensive that we can't afford it."
Gu Xiyue looked at Meixiang and Wei Lin and was secretly shocked.
In order to make life harder for the villagers in the Southern Wilderness, a pound of salt costs fifty cents. This is not a place of exile, and now it seems that it is not much better than a place of exile.
Under normal circumstances, a pound of salt costs fifteen cents. She remembered that a pound of salt in the capital only costs five cents. Although the salt was also supplied by the court, the price here was three times that of the capital during normal times.
It is easy to imagine who got the extra money.
After the meal, Gu Xiyue asked how much it cost and the shopkeeper began to calculate the bill.
"One bun is eight cents, six buns are forty-eight cents, a bowl of porridge is five cents, three bowls are fifteen cents, and a plate of dried radish is fifty cents, a total of one hundred and thirteen cents."
After the shopkeeper finished the calculation, he bent his back slightly and looked at Gu Xiyue with an embarrassed expression.
"so……"
Meixiang was about to shout out the word "expensive" when Gu Xiyue stopped her. She counted out 113 coins from her purse and put them on the counter.
"Please keep it, shopkeeper!"
The shopkeeper bowed and dragged the money over, saying with a smile, "Goodbye, my three guests!"
After leaving the inn, Meixiang looked unhappy and muttered quietly, "Miss, these things are too expensive! In the capital, a steamed bun is only two cents, a bowl of porridge is one cent, and that dried radish, a plate is less than two cents at most. They are robbing us!"
Wei Lin said behind him, "Most of the wheat this year has rotted in the fields, and we can't buy salt. The price of food will definitely rise, especially salt. This dried radish is equivalent to salt, so the shopkeeper will naturally raise the price."
Gu Xiyue nodded and said, "Wei Lin is right, but in my opinion, his inn will not be open for a few more days."
"Why?"
Meixiang was surprised.
"Now the people haven't harvested their wheat yet, and they have no salt to eat. They are trying to scrape together some money to buy salt, but how can they afford the food here?"
Meixiang thought about it and realized that it was indeed true.
Wei Lin asked puzzledly, "Miss, I just wanted to take out the salt and let the shopkeeper take a look. Maybe he can become our buyer."
"No!" Gu Xiyue whispered, "In this kind of severe salt shortage, if you suddenly reveal that you have salt, everyone will scramble to get it. Don't underestimate the power of tens of thousands of ordinary people. If they cause chaos, it will attract the attention of the higher-ups. If they can find out who you are, we'll be in trouble."
"Then what should we do? In this situation, we won't be able to find a buyer."
Meixiang said worriedly. She was so happy when she came out, but now after hearing what the young lady said, she couldn't help but feel worried about the future.
"We need to find a large buyer to buy salt, preferably one with a stable supply. Don't worry, we will definitely find a way. Let's set off for Xifeng Town now."
The three of them walked out of the village. Along the way, they saw that the villagers of Jingquan Village were all pale and thin, and walked slowly. On the way, they met several women holding bowls, surrounding the door of a house with a very high gate, and begging loudly to come in.
"Mr. Gao, please lend me a bowl of your pickled vegetable juice. I haven't had any salty food in my house for three days. Please!"
"Mr. Gao, please be kind! Just give me half a bowl of pickle juice."
“…”
Gu Xiyue felt sad watching this. Ordinary people were forced into this state for the sake of salt. They couldn't even guarantee basic food supplies. How could they survive?
The three of them stood in silence at a distance and watched for a while. After waiting for a while, the door slowly opened and a woman came in holding a wooden basin.
"Fellow villagers! It's not that my family doesn't want to help you, but we're out of salt and our pickles are almost gone. This half basin of pickle juice today is the last time I'll help you. You'd better find another way in the future. Please don't yell at my door anymore."
The woman spoke in a firm voice. She filled the empty bowl that was brought over with pickle juice until not a drop was left. She then said a few pleading words to everyone before going in. After she went in, the sound of a bolt being dropped was heard from inside.
Those who got the pickle juice outside were all grateful. "We have no choice. Thank you, Madam Gao, today. I will definitely return it when my family has salt."
"Alas! When will this salt-free life end?"
"Oh my God! Open your eyes and look. Are you doing this to us? Do you want us all to die?"
Gu Xiyue turned her head away, and the woman's miserable voice fell into her ears and struck her heart. The feeling was extremely uncomfortable.
It's like fate has grabbed my throat and I can't breathe!
When a few people were expressing their gratitude, a little girl of about eight or nine years old came up behind them. The little girl was wearing tattered clothes and also holding a bowl. Seeing that the adults' bowls were full of pickle juice and her bowl was empty, she begged them in a hoarse voice.
"Aunts, could you please give me some of your pickled vegetable juice? My mother is sick and my father is out working. I want to make her a delicious meal."
The adults received the precious pickle juice. Someone looked at her and wanted to pour some for her, but seeing that there was not much in their own bowl, they hesitated. Finally, a woman who was leaving advised her, "Xiaohui, your mother passed away yesterday. You should find someone to bury her. Come to my house for dinner later. I'll give you something delicious."
After saying this, he left with a look of emotion.
At this time, it is difficult to take care of yourself, let alone take care of others.
The pickle juice in their bowls was begged for, and they had to eat it sparingly. After two or three days, it was gone. Who could they ask for more then?
After she left, the little girl stood there in a daze, timidly muttering to herself, "My mother is not dead, she is just sick and fell asleep. She will wake up naturally after she has eaten her fill."
No one listened to her.
Gu Xiyue stared at her for a long time. Seeing her slowly walking back, the women who wanted to get pickle juice had already gone into their houses. She waved to the girl to come over.
Xiaohui turned her head to look at her blankly, her face looking unrecognizable due to her thinness. She glanced at Gu Xiyue and the other two, and saw that they were wearing decent clothes and carrying bags on their backs. After hesitating for a moment, she walked towards them.
Gu Xiyue turned to Wei Lin and said, "Bring out four pancakes."
Wei Lin quickly unpacked his bag, and Meixiang helped him take out four cakes and handed them to Gu Xiyue.
When the little girl came over, Gu Xiyue looked around. This corner was quite hidden, so she didn't notice them. So she squatted down and said to the little girl gently, "Just now I heard them call you Xiaohui, right?"
Xiaohui stared straight at the scallion pancake in Gu Xiyue's hand. The salty aroma mixed with the fragrance of chopped green onions went straight into her nostrils. She wanted to look away, but she couldn't.
She nodded, "Yes, sister, where are you from? Why don't I know you?"
"We are just passing by. Take these cakes and share them with your mother when you get home. Also..." Gu Xiyue turned to look at Wei Lin's bag.
Wei Lin immediately understood and quickly opened the bag of salt. Meixiang took Xiaohui's bowl and filled it with sea salt.
Xiaohui's eyes lit up when she saw the salt.
Gu Xiyue pulled her clothes to cover the bowl, supported her shoulders and said, "Go home and cook well. Eat whatever you have. Things will definitely get better."
Xiaohui asked happily, "Really?"
Gu Xiyue nodded heavily, "I certainly will. Tell me where your home is, and I'll come to see you next time."
Xiaohui's eyes sparkled, and she swallowed her saliva while saying, "Thank you, sister. I've got it in mind. Look, my home is right there."
Xiaohui turned around and pointed with one hand at a thatched hut in the distance to the right behind her.
"Okay, sister has made a note of it. Then you should hurry back and protect this thing. Don't show it to anyone else. Understand?"
Gu Xiyue reached out and tapped lightly on her clothes.
Xiao Hui nodded heavily and said solemnly, "Yes, I'll take note."
"Meixiang, send her back."
Gu Xiyue was still worried, so she asked Meixiang to check whether her mother had really passed away.
Meixiang protected Xiaohui and walked back. The little girl walked very fast. Gu Xiyue saw them arrive at her yard. Meixiang sent her in, stayed inside for a while and then came out. When leaving, Xiaohui stood in the yard and looked for a long time, and even wiped her eyes.
Meixiang's eyes were red when she came back. Seeing Gu Xiyue looking at her, she shook her head and said, "Her mother is still breathing. She must be hungry. I checked and found some cornmeal and black flour at home. Xiaohui said her father will be back in two days. She can cook simple meals, so she should be fine."
"That's great! Let's go."
Gu Xiyue thought about what had happened just now. The buns without salt tasted like salty dried radish. If possible, she would rather eat normal buns.
She also hopes that everyone can eat normal buns.
Meixiang swallowed and took a look at Wei Lin's bag. His bag of dry food contained more than a dozen scallion pancakes, which His Highness had baked last night and specially for them to eat on the road.
Last night she and Wei Lin shared one and tried it, and it was absolutely delicious.
I especially miss that taste now.
There is a spring at the foot of the mountain on the left side of the exit of Jingquan Village. A mountain spring as big as a bowl gushes out from the bottom. The villagers built it into a well and opened a small hole on the side. The overflowing spring water flows out through the hole, and it is clear and refreshing.
Gu Xiyue asked the two to take a break.
The three of them sat beside the well, washed their hands with the flowing water, and drank a few sips of the well water. Gu Xiyue asked Wei Lin to open the bag and gave each of them a scallion pancake.
No one spoke, everyone was eating the buns in silence. Meixiang ate very carefully, taking small bites and savoring them slowly. Although she had just eaten two buns with dried radish, her stomach still felt a little uncomfortable.
Now after eating scallion pancakes and drinking spring water, I feel refreshed.
At the end of her meal, tears welled up in her eyes. Wei Lin saw this and teased her with a smile: "Are you not full? If not, I'll get you another one."
Meixiang glared at him angrily, wiping her tears and saying, "Our pancakes are so delicious! But when I think of so many people who can't even have a normal meal, I feel sad."
"I just saw Xiaohui's mother, she's become like that. I feel so lucky that we can still eat this cake. Alas! God is too cruel!"
"It's not God's fault."
Gu Xiyue corrected her, "It's the people in power who have a problem. If they don't do anything, the people below will suffer."
Wei Lin nodded, "Miss, what you said is the same as what my prince said."
He had an expression of approval on his face, which was different from the playful look he had when joking with Meixiang.
Gu Xiyue glanced at Wei Lin, her heart moved, and she wanted to say something, but in the end she didn't say it.
What she wanted to say was, "Your Highness will one day change this situation." But she thought that even if the speaker is unintentional, the listener may take it seriously. If someone nearby heard it, it would be troublesome.
The three of them rested for a while and then continued to head east. Finally, they arrived at Xifeng Town an hour later.
Xifeng Town has a flat terrain and fertile land. It is the largest town within a radius of dozens of miles. After entering the city gate, there are many roads crisscrossing and people coming and going. The three of them walked forward along the main road, passed three intersections, turned right into Nanshi, and finally stopped at the door of Tongfu Inn on the west side of South Street.
From the early morning of Yinshi till now, it has already passed Sishi, and it has been almost six hours. Gu Xiyue is really tired.
When we reached the door of the inn, the waiter immediately ran over with a smile, "Would you like to stay in the hotel or have a meal, sirs?"
Gu Xiyue walked inside and said, "Stay in the hotel."
The waiter quickly and enthusiastically welcomed the guests to the counter and said to the shopkeeper inside with a smile: "Shopkeeper Zhou, these three guests are staying at the hotel, you..."
"We need two rooms."
Shopkeeper Zhou is a middle-aged man with a round face and narrow eyes. He looks very kind.
He glanced at Gu Xiyue and Wei Lin and Mei Xiang behind her, then asked casually, "Excuse me, sir, what is your name?"
"No need to mention your surname, Gu!"
Gu Xiyue said with a smile.
When he heard the surname Gu, Shopkeeper Zhou immediately put on a smile. His eyes were originally long and narrow, but now they were squinted so that the pupils were almost invisible.
"Madam Gu! Okay, okay, we'll give you two upper rooms. The carriage you ordered yesterday is in our backyard. Madam Gu, you can use it at any time."
"Thank you, Manager Zhou!"
Gu Xiyue said frankly.
After saying that, he was led upstairs by the waiter, stopped at the door of Room 1 and Room 2, opened the door, and invited them in.
"Please call me anytime if you need any instructions!"
Gu Xiyue and Meixiang live in Room 1, and Wei Lin lives in Room 2.
After checking in, the waiter quickly brought hot water. Wei Lin put his things in Gu Xiyue's room and went downstairs for a walk, and also took a look at the carriage that Master Li Jun bought for them.
The horses were good and the carriage was spacious. After Wei Lin checked everything thoroughly, he found nothing wrong. He glanced at the empty stables before going upstairs.
After Gu Xiyue washed up, she went straight to bed. Meixiang put away the salt and bread and also took a nap. After all, they were both women, and their feet were sore after walking for such a long time.
Wei Lin was meditating in another room, always paying attention to what was happening next door.
Gu Xiyue was awakened by the knock on the door. She was sleeping soundly and didn't even have a dream.
The waiter called out from outside the door, "Madam Gu, it's time for lunch."
Gu Xiyue opened her eyelids with an irritated look and muttered, "I didn't order lunch!"
I originally planned to eat it after I woke up.
The waiter outside the door said enthusiastically, "Sir, this is what happened. Our restaurant has a service that reminds guests to eat. Please take a look at what you would like to eat and I will bring it to you right away."
Gu Xiyue asked Meixiang, "Are you hungry?"
Meixiang nodded hesitantly and whispered, "We still have some bread, how about we eat this?"
Gu Xiyue shook her head and said, "You still have to eat something with soup. Just eating bread is not enough."
After saying that, she asked the waiter at the door to wait for a moment, quickly put on her clothes, wiped her face, and asked Meixiang to open the door.
The waiter stood at the door with a smile on his face. When the door opened, he quickly handed in a sign and said with a nod and a bow, "Sir, please look, these are our lunch dishes. You can order whatever you want."
Meixiang stared at the menu on the sign and asked in confusion, "Does your hotel include lunch?"
The waiter's face froze, and he quickly said with a smile, "No, no! Meals are charged separately."
"Oh." Meixiang glanced at the waiter calmly and said, "Seeing you said casual, I thought your restaurant included lunch."
The waiter looked a little embarrassed and stood at the door waiting silently. Meixiang turned around and gave the sign to Gu Xiyue.
Gu Xiyue looked through it and said, "Chicken soup with white mushrooms, stir-fried pork with green peppers, three vegetarian dishes, mapo tofu, and three bowls of rice."
After saying that, he gave the sign to Meixiang. The waiter outside heard it and agreed with a smile.
After Meixiang handed the sign to the waiter, she turned around with a smile on her face.
After arriving in the Southern Wilderness, the young lady had not eaten meat for a long time. Today's three dishes include chicken and pork, and she can finally satisfy her craving.
Gu Xiyue frowned slightly, walked to the window, looked at the pedestrians on the street, and said calmly: "Breakfast in Jingquan Village is so expensive, I think it will be even more expensive in Xifeng Town. Let's go out and do some business after dinner."
Soon the waiter brought three dishes, one soup and three bowls of rice, and Wei Lin came in behind him.
After the waiter left, Wei Lin went over to close the door, then returned and sat down, whispering, "Miss, there's something wrong with this inn. I just walked around and noticed that aside from our horses and carriage, there's no other horse in the stables in the backyard. What's strange is that there's a lot of fresh horse manure in the stables."
After saying this, he noticed that Gu Xiyue and Meixiang's chopsticks were suspended in mid-air. He quickly smiled to ease the awkwardness and said, "Then I sneaked outside the kitchen and took a look around. I found a room next to the kitchen with sealed windows and doors. When no one was paying attention, I pried the window open a little and found it was filled with cloth bags, almost hundreds of bags. I pierced the nearest bag, picked out a little with the tip of my sword, tasted it, and found it was salt."
When she said this, Meixiang took a sip of the white mushroom chicken soup. She frowned and said angrily, "Since there is so much salt, why don't you even put salt in this chicken soup!"
Gu Xiyue also tasted the chicken soup and found that there was indeed no salt in it. She then tasted the other three dishes and found that no salt was added to them.
She put down her chopsticks and asked Meixiang to call the waiter.
"The innkeeper has so much salt in stock, there must be something wrong. You should pay more attention at night and be sure to pay attention to safety."
Gu Xiyue whispered to Wei Lin.
Wei Lin nodded seriously, and the two of them said no more.
The waiter came up quickly, ran to the table with a smile, and asked very respectfully, "What can I do for you, sir?"
He glanced at the untouched food on the table and asked, "But this food is not to your liking?"
Meixiang said quickly: "What do you think! There is not a grain of salt in the food, how can we eat it? Obviously..."
"Meixiang!" Gu Xiyue called her, turned around and said with a smile: "The waiter is not the chef, why bother him."
The waiter quickly smiled.
Meixiang knew she almost said something wrong, so she shut her mouth and dared not say anything else.
"Waiter, how do the guests who dine here eat without salt?" Gu Xiyue's tone was gentle, with no intention of making things difficult for him.
"Well..." The waiter hesitated for a moment, then said quickly, "There's been a salt shortage everywhere lately, and the price of salt in the salt shop has risen to 15 cents per catty today. We have no choice but to charge extra for salt, otherwise we won't be able to afford it."
The waiter looked worried. "Sir, if you want to add salt to these dishes, you'll have to pay an extra 500 coins. We usually add salt and charge for it together, but Madam Gu specifically instructed us to add salt, so we're charging separately. Unless Madam Gu wants us to add salt, we'll charge for it separately."
Meixiang and Wei Lin's eyes were wide open, obviously unable to hold back.
Gu Xiyue nodded, "I understand. How much are these three dishes and one soup without salt?"
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