In the twelfth lunar month, Ping'an Alley is very quiet.

It was still early, and most of the adults in Ping'an Alley were not at home.

The only couple who stayed at home, Luo Yusong and his wife, were in the study. Luo Yusong wrote Spring Festival couplets for each family. Sun Xiang's belly is now big, and the road is slippery. , Luo Yusong was about to bring tea and water, so he wrote the Spring Festival couplets of several houses in the alley for a long time, but he had not finished writing them yet.

The children also study with peace of mind in their own houses. The ups and downs outside have never affected them. Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess has made Ping'an Alley into a paradise, and they can just study what they like.

Silence is the norm here. Only when we eat and everyone gathers together, there will be people laughing.

Ah Fu studied a formula for the wind power problem. As he was going out the door, he was about to take the manuscript paper to look for a small idea, when he saw a figure coming back against the light.

Without looking at his face, just by looking at his body shape, official boots, and the umbrella on his back, he knew it was Lord Zongtong.

In this alley, the only person you meet who can be a little more cautious is Zongtong. Afu stopped immediately and said hello to Lord Zongtong, "Brother Zongtong, why did you come back so early today?"

Although Lord Zongtong is Danqing's master, everyone still calls him brother Zongtong, or uncle. When they call Brother Yusong and Sister Axiang in the future, don't they directly downgrade the family?

Therefore, Sister Axiang and Brother Yusong cannot be downgraded, only Danqing can be downgraded by one.

A'Fu told Xiaoyi this title once, and Xiaoyi exclaimed, "Will Danqing be willing?"

Ah Fu straightened his waist, "Dan Qing can't help it, this is the strong food of the weak in Ping'an Alley."

However, his small body can barely stand up in front of Xiaoyi, but in front of Master Zongtong, he can only shrink into a ball weakly.

Zong Tong gently nodded towards him, but without saying a word, he took a step that no one dared to provoke.

Ah Fu just stood at the door and looked, and then looked again, and saw Lord Zongtong entering Brother Yusong's house.

Going with such a momentum, it is this time again, is there something wrong?

Just as I was thinking about it, I heard the voice of Sister Axiang coming through the sky in the house.

"If you want money, there is no way! This year's snow is heavy, and there may be snow disasters. This money must be prepared first this year. What happened in Xiazhou before, how much money I gave to support Her Royal Highness's decision. Going out? And the Yaozhou earthquake, that's all money."

There is also a steady stream of military resources to the borders and states, basic education expenditures in various places, as well as road construction and infrastructure construction in the states and cities of the Qin and Chu states, which are all silver.

She was furious, "Your Highness the Crown Princess thought that all the money came from the wind?"

Luo Yusong persuaded him, "His Royal Highness is also for everyone's well-being. Isn't it because the reconnaissance failed to do well in Xiazhou? It's better to build a criminal investigation academy."

Sun Xiang slapped Luo Yusong aside, and was about to scold him again, when Zong Tong walked to the desk at some point, took a pen and paper, and started writing a few words.

Sun Xiang: "...what did you write?"

Zongtong: "His Royal Highness the Crown Princess thought that all the money was blown by the wind."

Sun Xiang: "..."

This is a bit familiar, isn't that what she just said?

She was in a hurry: "what did you write what I said?"

Zongtong: "When you enter the palace tonight, bring it in and show it to His Highness."

Sun Xiang: "You dare to sue!"

Zong Tong wrote: You dare to sue.

Sun Xiang: "..."

Luo Yusong: "..."

He quietly compared his thumb.

Then Sun Xiang obediently marked the account book, and gave Zongtong a sum of money.

With a cold face, she said, "Leave the paper."

Zongtong nodded, carried an umbrella, stepped on the snow, and walked outside.

Halfway through, he turned his head again and smiled rarely, "The first thing that the Hidden Guard trains is memory."

This means that although he does not take the paper with him, he remembers it.

Sun Xiang couldn't help scolding him again. He said furiously: "Wait, I will tell Her Royal Highness the Queen's Highness later that the hidden guard will be completely reformed. I don't think he is arrogant or arrogant."

Luo Yusong didn't dare to refute, and kept obeying, "Yes, reform, reform is good."

Sun Xiang snorted, then looked at the numbers on the ledger and snorted again.

Luo Yusong said, "Will it have any effect if you take away the money?"

Sun Xiang tutted, "How dare you underestimate me? Even if I take away dozens of small sums of money, I won't even wrinkle my eyebrows."

Luo Yusong: "...Then why did you get so angry just now?"

Sun Xiang rolled his eyes at him, "If I don't lose my temper, Her Royal Highness will be even more reckless."

His Highness is an infrastructure maniac.

Your Highness can't save money at all!

Sun Xiang didn't explain it to Luo Yusong, but said, "This silver is still of great use."

Now that there are only two countries left in the world, the biggest part of the money is naturally going to be used for military capital.

Seeing Luo Yusong's bewildered face of "what's the use", she could only tell a lie: "Of course it's useful, if you don't say anything else, just say that A Yuan's light bulb has been researched, and the whole Yu country is electrified, do you want money? Don't think it's too long, it will be very fast if it continues like this."

Luo Yusong had another look of "that's it".

He is very simple, and as a Yan person, Sun Xiang can only lie to him.

Who knows when the war will start this year? Thinking of this, her expression towards Luo Yusong was much better.

As a native of Yan, Yu and Yan fought a war between the two countries, and he felt very uncomfortable.

Sure enough, the homeland gave birth to people, and in the end, people still have to embark on the journey, but the homeland can stay in people's hearts for a lifetime.

Therefore, whenever there is a war between Yu and Yan, it is the people of Yan who live in the state of Yu like Luo Yusong who are saddened.

Sun Xiang thought so, and so did the Yan State merchants in Kyoto.

It looks calm now, but what if there is a sudden turbulence on the ground? The state of Yu and the state of Yan are standing side by side, and it looks good, but I'm always uneasy in my heart.

Today, both countries have been at war for several years, and they need to recuperate, but they are not willing to take risks directly, so they coexist peacefully, but what will happen after that?

Therefore, the twelfth lunar month, which is about to be resubmitted to the trade organization of the two countries, they are very hesitant.

Several Yan merchants in previous years were drinking and discussing at the same time.

"We are also watching the trade organization from seven countries to six countries, five countries, four countries, two countries."

A Yanshang sighed, "It's only been a few years? The world has changed, and it has changed so fast. Sometimes I wake up in a trance and feel like I'm dreaming."

"You said, we are Yanshang, what should we do in case of a fight?"

"What's there to sigh about? No matter how many countries it is, is our business getting better and better, and is our money making more and more money?"

When merchants chased profits and made money from Yu Kingdom, you didn't say anything emotional. Now that you have made money, you know that Yanshang is not a loyal person who makes money in Yu Kingdom.

He doesn't say what he said later, but everyone here is a fine person, who can't hear it?

The emotional Yanshang felt that he had misunderstood what he meant, and his tone was a little rushed, "It's true to make money, but making money is only in the past. After all, we are Yanshang, and we have a fight. Do you think we Yanshang can please? Even if the imperial court of the Yu Kingdom doesn't say anything, what about the people of the Yu Kingdom? Will they automatically boycott the products of Yan? What about the people of the State of Yan? Will they automatically boycott the products of Yu?"

The others also lowered their heads.

No one mocked him this time, because they were all worried about it.

But are you willing to give up your business in Yu Kingdom?

They don't want to, and no one wants to.

Over the years, how much wealth Yu Kingdom has created, they are all in their eyes. The families who were hesitant to join the trade organization at the beginning were not as wealthy as them, and had declined a lot. The people who were unwilling to come to Yu Kingdom to do business at the beginning were even more directly withdrawn from the ranking of wealthy businessmen.

Sometimes, they also discovered that they were fighting for the cake, but the Yu Kingdom was different, and the Yu Kingdom was always creating cakes.

They have no creativity, they can only show sincerity, enthusiastically introduce what they have and what they can give, and then get the cake from the envious eyes of people around them.

Therefore, they all came to buy cakes, as if they were mermaids, their net worth was tied to Yu Guo, and they dared not be disobedient.

Because the imperial court of the Yu Kingdom had really strong control over the merchants, they couldn't break free.

Therefore, although it is now a trade organization of several countries, it is still necessary to participate.

To put it horribly, even if it becomes a national trade organization? Whether their business should be done or done.

So the keynote was set, whether everyone should participate or participate, whether to submit an application or to submit an application, and to determine this matter, that is, how to obtain greater benefits for Yanshang in Yu Kingdom.

One person said: "I propose that we also need a quota for the Wanmin Conference in March, and we need to fight for the right of Yanshang's convenience in Yu Kingdom."

"Yes, we paid tariffs."

"We also need to write a guarantee of rights. This is our basic right. Only when the imperial court seals it can we not be afraid of others robbing it."

"Since we are worried that the goods will be boycotted by the people of the Yu country, why don't we add one more thing: Are the Yu people not allowed to boycott the goods?"

"It would be nice if it could be clear how much Yu people can buy from us every year."

"Yes, it would be nice if our goods had a minimum sales guarantee."

Everyone is chattering, and they are all trying to seek the best interests for themselves.

But they didn't remember that just now they were still complaining that the Yu Kingdom's court controlled the merchants too much, and they had been at the mercy of the court.

However, the rights and interests they wanted were still exposed, and it reached Sun Xiang's ears. She whispered to her while the Crown Princess came down, "They still want the minimum sales, daydreaming. ."

Zhe Qing frowned and said: "It seems that they have not thought about it clearly. Under normal circumstances, the court has no right to interfere with what the people want to buy or resist."

Sun Xiang: "They have been in the trade organization for a few years now, their skin is getting looser, and their courage is getting bigger and bigger."

Zhe Qing smiled and said, "Wait a year or two... and then clean them up."

She stood up and was about to go back to the palace, "Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. This year, I'll have lunch in Ping'an Alley, right? I'll come back tomorrow at noon."

Sun Xiang sighed while holding on to his stomach, and asked Luo Yusong to send Zong Qing out. Unfortunately, he was stopped by Zong Tong before he took a few steps. He was squeezed into the trail and waved his hands towards Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess and Zong Tong with a smile. , "His Royal Highness, Zongtong, let's go."

Sun Xiang: "..."

She sighed and suddenly felt that Luo Yusong was fine.

"Come back, it's cold outside." She waved at Luo Yusong, "Come back, I'll bake you sweet potatoes."

Overjoyed by the sky, Luo Yusong felt a lot of anxiety, and constantly reflected on himself: "Ah Xiang, did I do anything wrong?"

He hasn't been out lately!

Sun Xiang: "..."

She sighed and went back, resigned.

...

Xuzhou, the night before New Year's Eve.

Small fish village.

Dazhuangzi and his wife Erniang are working at home.

Dazhuangzi worked in the tea factory, and she was not idle during the Chinese New Year. She brought tea packaging boxes from the tea factory and came back to do it. Erniang was from the Xuzhou Mulan Textile Factory, and she also took textiles from the factory and went home to make them.

The five children in the family are all in school now. Although the hardship is a little bit hard, the good thing is that the children have good grades.

"Hey, I don't know how Mr. Tang and the others went to Kyoto."

Erniang said to Dazhuangzi, "Thanks to his constant care, Dawa can be recruited all the way from elementary school to high school."

Dazhuangzi kept his hands and tilted his head, "Why do you think of Mr. Tang?"

Erniang said, "Mr. Tang's concubine was named Mei Xiang. Wasn't it the one who reconciled with Mr. Tang later?"

Dazhuangzi hummed, "What happened to her?"

Erniang said: "She got married later, and Mr. Tang went to a wedding party. Now Mei Xiang has been promoted and has become a big manager."

Dazhuangzi said in surprise: "So fast?"

Erniang nodded, "Yeah, but just after she was promoted to senior manager, she became pregnant, and someone wanted to squeeze her down. The reason was that the woman was pregnant and delayed the progress. Our owner really replaced her. Guess what, Mei Xiang sued the owner to the government."

This is really a rare thing.

Dazhuangzi stopped what he was doing and asked, "The owner of the farm has changed her, and he can only admit that he is unlucky. How can he still sue the government? After that, no one will dare to dismiss the person who works?"

He smiled and shook his head, "She definitely didn't win."

Erniang shook her head, "She won."

Dazhuangzi took a deep breath, "Why?"

As soon as Er Niang was about to speak, she heard the door squeak. It turned out that the children who went to study at the next door neighbor's house had returned.

As soon as the big baby entered the door, he said, "Dad, because Mei Xiang is pregnant, she has been working in the Mulan Textile Factory. According to the court regulations issued by the court in March this year, pregnant women cannot be dismissed for this reason."

Moreover, the Mulan Textile Factory is not private at all, it is still controlled by the imperial court. This can dare to dismiss people at will. Is it possible that the owner of the farm has no reading and is a related household?

After he finished speaking, Er Niang's expression changed, and the big baby snorted, "It seems that I heard that your owner changed one this summer, so she only worked for half a year before leaving."

This is true, Erniang nodded, "I'm about to be fired."

When she saw the children came back, she lost the mind to gossip, got out of bed and set the fire on fire for them, "Sit down and bake your hands, why are you going to study every day, it's very cold."

Sanwa said, "Auntie, you don't understand. Brother Shitou next door understands Western language. While he is at home, we will ask him if we don't understand. We are missing money for supplementary lessons and books."

Erniang said: "Aniang knows, tomorrow morning, Aniang will send some bacon to Shitou."

After thinking for a while, he said, "You guys have to learn this western language well, do you remember that year? The five of you, our family can't afford to send you to study. My father and I are very tired, and worry about money every day. At this time, it was still a big luck, and a big ship came, and the Westerners have a lot of things, your father helped people move things, and made a fortune, and then sent you to school together. "

"I heard that there are hundreds of big ships coming from Kyoto this year? God, how many things must be there."

The big baby said: "Yes, dealing with Westerners is inevitable now, so you have to learn it well in case you need it."

After such a speech, the eldest child took a few children to study, and the second mother went back to the nest and continued to talk to her husband.

"Hey, Ah Cha from your tea processing factory, I heard you quit?"

Dazhuangzi nodded, "Yes, no, this little girl is articulate and said that she is suitable for sales, and works hard all day in the processing factory. She didn't want to, so she simply quit her job and sold tea door to door. ."

It's also a tough character.

"You said she had a falling out with the family, a little girl's family, and told her that they didn't want it. Now that Master Tang has arrived in Kyoto, what do you mean by Ah Cha?"

Dazhuangzi said solemnly: "The little girl doesn't have that kind of relationship with Mr. Tang, you textile mills, don't spread the word about her. She was sold by the family at the beginning, and Mr. Tang didn't want to take a concubine. I simply recognized her as my younger sister, just like Mei Xiang."

Erniang is also gossip and gossip, but she has no bad intentions. She said: "She is quite powerful. I heard that both my father and mother were scolded with blood."

I said Meixiang before, Dazhuangzi didn’t feel anything because he didn’t know him, but Ah Cha and the others in the tea factory knew her. She was very hardworking and hard-working. She laughed at others. Although she had a bad temper, she was willing to help others. someone's girl.

So I don't want to talk about people's private words.

He simply changed the subject and said, "Did you know? Now the court has another policy."

Erniang said, "What policy?"

Dazhuangzi originally wanted to say it solemnly at night, but at this time he couldn't care about it, and said, "I heard that the imperial court has issued a policy called low-income households."

Erniang: "What is a subsistence allowance household?"

Dazhuangzi was not very clear, and said: "Probably a very poor person. There are three in a village temporarily. As long as you are rated as a subsistence allowance household, you can eat the subsistence allowance. It is said that the imperial court gave money."

And such a good thing?

Erniang stopped the needlework in her hand and said, "There is no one poorer than our family in our village. Can our family be rated as a low-income household?"

Dazhuangzi said: "We have to see, the village Zheng mentioned our name, and then someone from the court came down to visit. There are many procedures."

The people in this village are actually quite rich. Even the Dazhuangzi family became poor because they wanted to send their five children to study, and they had no money left.

Therefore, many people have built new houses, but they don't have them, and it still takes a few days to eat meat.

After saying this, Er Niang laughed, "I can't eat meat now, I'm already poor, this world is so good."

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