Three Kingdoms

No one wants to be a pawn, but some things are not based on personal wishes.

"Is this Chang'an?" 』

Zhen Mi raised her head, her eyes flashed with brilliance, and she was extremely charming for a moment.

Zhen Mi has never left Yecheng since she was a child, let alone Jizhou. But what she didn't expect was that she would go so far away from her hometown for the first time.

Although Zhen Mi's soliloquy was said to be heard by the maids serving next to her, the two maids on the left and right lowered their heads and did not answer, as if they did not hear any sound. They behaved like two little girls. The rabbits nested in two corners of the carriage.

Zhen Mi didn't think about what to say to the two maids. After pondering for a moment, she said, "Go to Dongxifang first and take a look." 』

One of the little rabbits responded, then gently knocked on the front panel of the carriage, conveying Zhen Mi's message to the coachman, and then sat down obediently again.

There were some differences among the leading guards, but there was no objection. After all, Zhen Mi and his party were not prisoners, but more like envoys, so there was no need to argue over such a trivial matter, so they changed direction and headed towards Dongxifang.

Dongxifang is naturally a place for buying and selling things.

Since the destruction of Chang'an in the Western Han Dynasty, the impression left by the people of Shandong on the city of Chang'an was that it was dilapidated and corrupted. Even the emperors of the Eastern Han Dynasty went to Chang'an from time to time to worship at the ancestral temple, but this concept has continued to this day, even in In Yecheng, before Zhen Mi arrived in Chang'an, she felt that Chang'an was a barbaric place, just a small city made of rocks in the middle of desolation.

No wonder.

After all, Jizhou developed vigorously within one or two hundred years of the Eastern Han Dynasty. In addition, Yecheng was the center of Jizhou and was even more prosperous. When Zhen Mi was young, no matter where she went in the surrounding area, she felt that she could not compare with Yecheng. Over time, it became natural He believed that Yecheng was the most prosperous city in the world and could not be compared with anywhere else.

Zhen Mi felt somewhat proud of being a native of Yecheng, just like how the natives in some cities in later generations looked down on outsiders. The pride that comes from the heart will always be revealed unconsciously. In addition, since she was a child, she had been pampered and had abundant material resources, so it was only natural for Zhen Mi to look down on people from other places.

But now, when Zhen Mi really saw Chang'an, she couldn't help but be a little surprised, but her upbringing suppressed the expression of Zhen Mi's true emotions, and only some of them leaked out in her eyes.

As a businessman, Zhen Mi is naturally familiar with commerce. If she wants to know whether Chang'an City is the same thing, she can figure it out by looking at the market. It's just that the East and West Market Squares of Chang'an City are not one in the east and the other in the west. Instead, they are both in the northwest corner of Chang'an City, separated by a street and divided into two parts.

Many people think that the Forbidden City of the Ming and Qing Dynasties was so big and grand, but in fact, the Luoyang Chang'an of the Han Dynasty was more majestic and vast. Perhaps the buildings of later dynasties were more exquisite and gorgeous. However, in terms of building area, Chang'an and Chang'an of the Han Dynasty were even more magnificent. Luoyang is several streets away from the Forbidden City of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

According to archaeological data, the area of ​​Luoyang City in the Eastern Han Dynasty was about 11 square kilometers, and the Imperial City of Beijing was close to 7 square kilometers; the South Palace of Luoyang was about 1.3 square kilometers, and the North Palace was about 1.8 square kilometers, while the Forbidden City in the Ming and Qing Dynasties was only 0.72 square kilometers. The South Palace and the North Palace during the Eastern Han Dynasty were both larger than the Forbidden City today.

The area of ​​Chang'an City is even larger than that of Luoyang City, and Chang'an City is almost three times the size of Luoyang!

Of course, the density per unit area naturally becomes denser as you go forward. This is a law of historical development and no one can avoid it. However, in the face of the grand architectural system of the Han Dynasty, the vastness in area created a There is a majestic atmosphere, just like standing in a concrete forest and on a vast grassland, the feeling is completely different.

Therefore, among the cultural relics excavated by later generations, the utensils of the Han Dynasty are all simple and elegant, and a typical example is the famous Han Badao. During the Qin and Han dynasties, when the country was strong, the jade production style changed from the previous delicate and detailed style to show a majestic, broad, natural and bold charm.

This is a kind of strong, rough and informal charm, which is completely different from the small and exquisite style of Jiangnan that wants to open a dojo in Fa Luo, and also different from the style of Yecheng that pursues complexity and emphasizes grandeur.

Zhen Mi and his entourage passed slowly through the street between East and West Market Square.

In the market, the banners of various merchants are held high, just like the signboards on both sides of the Xiangjiang streets in the 1990s. They are densely packed, up and down, in various colors, and some are even uniquely outlined. The patterns of the products allow even an illiterate person to be able to guess what they are selling...

The flow of people was so large that Zhen Mi and his party had to stop and go. After all, Zhen Mi and others did not hang any special scepters or military flags, so the pedestrians, carriages and horses passing by regarded them as symbols. Ordinary noblemen's vehicles do not pay much attention and humility.

Zhen Mi watched silently through the window of the carriage and was speechless for a long time.

There are not only Han people, but also many barbarians. These barbarians used proficient or unproficient Chinese to argue with shop assistants or shopkeepers, or they laughed out loud after reaching a deal, creating a lively scene, and the people in Yecheng. Whether the kind of love comes, whether the love buys or not is completely different.

The people buying in Yecheng are basically Han people, and most of them are local people, like the Zhen family. Whatever each family needs, what they lack, or what new goods they have, they usually don't trade in ordinary stores. , but directly pulled into each household. As for the shops on the street facing ordinary people, they do not account for the majority of transactions...

To put it simply, Yecheng is more of a wholesale business, while Chang'an Dongshifang is a wholesale and retail business, with retail accounting for the majority.

There may not be a fixed standard for comparing whether wholesale or retail is better, but the scene in front of you proves that Chang'an City is not just the same, the inner vitality of the city is extremely strong.

"Okay...just go back to the other courtyard..."

Zhen Mi lowered the curtains, but her tone still didn't change much. She closed her eyes and seemed to no longer have any interest in the noise outside, but in fact, her heart was filled with ups and downs.

When she came to Chang'an, Zhen Mi initially resisted.

But personal resistance is of no use in the face of the pressure of the entire family, just like when she resisted using her marriage as a trading item.

This is a shame.

It is a shame that a person's life has become an object.

Yes, he is actually a beautiful artifact, which is sent from one person's hand to that person's hand, and then gets some benefits from the family transaction. As for the wishes of the artifact itself, who cares?

I still have to smile, a humble smile, and endure all kinds of rumors, even filthy words.

The vehicle swayed as it arrived in front of the newly purchased villa of the Zhen family.

House prices in Chang'an are not cheap nowadays, especially in the neighborhoods near Weiyang Palace. They are even more expensive and often cost tens of millions of dollars. The property in front of Zhen Mi has exceeded 200 million dollars. Even though the Zhen family has a rich family fortune , but when it comes to spending one or two hundred million to buy a property, they are somewhat hesitant, so many people think that renting one is just fine. Is it true that the rented house doesn’t smell good and, ahem, can’t be lived in? Isn’t it necessary to spend so much money to buy...

In the end, it was Mrs. Zhang, Zhen Mi's mother, who got angry at the family meeting and slammed the table, and the decision was finally made.

After all, this is related to the Zhen family's face.

Ah……

The face of the Zhen family.

Zhen Mi raised her head, like a proud swan, and slowly got out of the car, sweeping past the stewards and many servants who were kneeling in the courtyard. Her voice was not loud, but very majestic: "Zhen Mi The family rules are very strict, as you must know. If there is any regret, you can leave immediately and return the bride price, and the two parties will not owe each other. 』

Several stewards and numerous servants still knelt on the ground and made no move.

"good. In this way, everyone must remember the Zhen family rules. If anyone violates the rules, he will be punished without instruction! ” Zhen Mi looked around calmly, and then said, “Everyone in charge, please stay here for a moment while the others leave! 』

Many servants responded and retreated, leaving only a few stewards.

Household servants are a mirror of the dignity of a noble family. Normally, in a noble family with a certain background, the domestic servants are generally divided into six categories: those who assist the general manager, those who manage property, those who serve personally, those who serve in general, and those who help. For entertainment, for temporary rough hunting...

Those who assist the master in management usually hold the position of steward, be it a big steward, a small steward, or a certain steward, responsible for the management of people, items, money, etc., with a higher position, at the top of the slave class, and those in the middle are generally There are personal servants, as well as servants with certain skills, such as cooks, winemakers, carpenters, tailors, musicians, etc., followed by various miscellaneous servants, such as washers, horse tamers, falcon tamers, etc. There are many kinds of them, and they are numerous in number.

These servants built a huge dignity of a noble family, and this dignity also reflected the strict social hierarchy.

The Zhen family has been operating in Jizhou for nearly two years. You must know that the Zhen family has been inherited from Zhen Han during the Wang Mang period, and they are even more particular about respectability.

"You are all elders of the Zhen family, so I won't say anything else..." Zhen Mi said to several stewards of the Zhen family who had arrived early, "According to common sense, everyone in this courtyard should use the Zhen family to have children." Yes, it’s a pity... so everyone should keep an eye on it... Also, some items will be delivered in a few days, and this place will need to be decorated more or less..."

Zhen Mi looked at the older houses and courtyards and frowned slightly. Although the stewards who came earlier have carried out overall cleaning and repairs, there are still some minor problems remaining in many places, such as the mottled and peeling paint under the eaves, the moss growing in the wall corridor...

Forget it, just bear with it.

"...Get these accounts for the day first, what about the rest..." Zhen Mi said with some waning interest, "Leave it for later... In addition, are you ready to send the greetings to the Hussars General's Mansion?" have? Let’s take it first and take a look...』

What is the saddest thing about an object?

Is it necessary to deliver it to your door with a smile...

Zhen Mi looked down at the word "people's daughter" above the greeting, and couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

When I was young, I heard someone say that there was a faint light of jade clothing appearing outside of my body when I was sleeping. I thought there was really a light, so I excitedly asked my personal maid to stay up for several nights, just to see if there was any light. There is no real light…

Later I found out what my mother's smile meant when she heard this question.

Although his father Zhen Yi is well-known, he is actually not at all comfortable. When it comes to Zhen Yi's generation, they have tried their best, but they can only be Shang Cai Ling. And the Zhen family's huge family fortune attracts eyes like tigers and wolves all the time. The eldest brother Zhen Yu died of a sudden serious illness when he was supposed to show off his talents. The second brother Zhen Yan, although attached to the general He Jin, was finally transferred from the general to serve as a commander of Quliang. , but it happened that He Jin died and Dong Zhuo came to Beijing, and everything turned upside down!

The Zhen family is about to lose...

But almost everyone was watching, waiting. Zhen Yi, who was ambitious and ambitious, suffered from a heart disease that was difficult to cure and passed away under successive blows. As a result, no one recommended even a filial and honest person to her third brother Zhen Yao. It was not until she married Yuan Xi that she got a filial and honest person. title.

Yes, his marriage to Yuan Xi was a transaction from beginning to end. The Zhen family used this to express their support for Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shao also gave the Zhen family a certain amount of support.

However, Yuan Shao, who thought he was at the height of the sun, was like a clay statue smeared with gold powder. He looked very good at first, but quickly changed color, collapsed, and overturned in the wind and rain. The Zhen family seemed to have collapsed into the muddy water as well. Among them, he was in a state of utter confusion.

"Madam, the fragrant soup is ready..." A maid reported outside the hall.

Zhen Mi frowned.

One of the rabbits beside him had already jumped out, turned around and revealed the face of a big bad wolf, pointed at the maid viciously and shouted: "Come here!" Drag it down, slap the mouth twenty! 』

"Forget it..." Zhen Mi said lightly, "Remembering his first offense, I will remember it this time..."

As the maid who had escaped the disaster thanked her repeatedly, Zhen Mi swayed to the back hall, and then, under the service of her personal maid, she removed her makeup and heavy clothes, and amidst the light gauze and rich fragrance, Immersed myself in the hot soup, closed my eyes, and let out a long, faint sigh.

The sound was soft and soft, like a breeze blowing through the treetops.

Zhen Mi thought of the candlelight burning all night long in Tianzhen's house, the constant quarrels in the lobby, and the third brother Zhen Yao's words that made people cry, laugh, shout, and make trouble. , "Fourth sister, now in the Zhen family, you are the only one who can take action... It's not that the third brother is cruel, but... if Qiao Qi is a good man, I will give up... But, but... We can't let the eldest, second, and third sisters go, right? Even if they go, they are too old to go to Chang'an with their children..."

Yes, I am already twenty-eight and have not yet arrived, which is the most exquisite age in life.

Therefore, he deserves to be an object, and then he still smiles, whether he likes it or not, and sends it to others in exchange for a living space for the entire family. Is there a greater benefit?

Zhen Mi curled up her body and immersed her whole body into the fragrant soup. The sighs deep in her heart and the tears bursting from the corners of her eyes were also immersed under the water. Above the water, only the soft green hair and gululu rolls were left. bubbles...