Wei and Jin cooks

Jian Wuzhong also went to Qingzhou as he wished and entered the Qingzhou Bookstore. He had the best grades and performed best during his internship at Luoyang Bookstore.

So good that the manager of Luoyang Bookstore wanted to keep him.

But where destiny lies, even if it’s a good seedling, he can’t just keep it if he wants to. I originally wanted to find him a bookstore nearby so that he could have the opportunity to return to Luoyang in the future.

But Jian Wuzhong insisted on going to Qingzhou, and the manager had no choice but to obey his wish.

Before leaving, Jian Wuzhong said to his younger brothers and sisters: "I will go to Qingzhou with the team escorting the calligraphy molds. I will only take two hundred coins for travel expenses. The rest of the settlement and travel expenses will be left to you."

"I have entrusted our family's land to people for farming. Now no one is short of land. The only thing is not to leave it unused. The reward is only two hundred catties of grain a year. I have calculated it. Plus my salary, it is enough for you." Live." He said: "When I am not at home, you should study hard. If you are smart, go to the fifth grade and take the official examination. If you are still smart, then study for a few more years and take the talent test in the future. , serving the general."

Three children younger than him agreed and reluctantly sent him to the door.

Jian Wuzhong said: "Don't worry about me. The bookstore belongs to the general, and magistrate Zhao is the governor of Qingzhou. It will be safe and your life will be easy. I can rest assured that you are in the capital. If you have anything, go to the gentlemen. Otherwise, there will be Where is the county government?"

Although they are a group of children, they have also experienced life and death. They have experienced many difficult days, so they trust each other's abilities.

They were able to survive such a situation back then. Now that the country is stable and protected by the general, what danger is there?

It's just that I still miss you a lot in my heart and still have a lot of reluctance to let go.

Looking at his three younger brothers and sisters, Jian Wuzhong felt a hint of regret in his heart. Maybe he shouldn't have gone so far to Qingzhou.

"Brother, don't worry," the eldest sister Jian Jiruo said, "I will definitely take good care of my younger brothers and sisters."

Jian Wuzhong touched her head and said, "Write to me if you have anything to say."

Jian Jiruo nodded fiercely.

As soon as Jian Wuzhong arrived at the Qingzhou Bookstore, he was put in high regard. Because of his strong ability, he was directly selected as the leader of the correction team, with a monthly salary of one thousand yuan.

Zhao Kuan not only had a bookstore and paper mill built, but also built several rows of houses nearby for the craftsmen to live in.

There were two people in one room, Jian Wuzhong and another person in the same room. There was also a desk in it. Although it was simple, it was just perfect for studying. It was really his dream room.

Jian Wuzhong was immersed in work and study. It took a long time to realize that not only the bookstore's craftsmen lived here, but also other craftsmen.

His roommate said: "You just realized that those other people are very good. I heard they are very good at arithmetic. Together with the group of salt workers, they have to meet a lot of managers every day, and people from outside often come to look for them." Every time they come, they bring delicious food or go out to eat."

"I'm so envious. I wish I had that ability."

Jian Wuzhong's focus is different: "Salt salt? Are there salt wells in Qingzhou?"

"It's not a salt well, it's sea salt," the roommate said, "I've asked around. Qingzhou is close to the sea. The sea salt content in some places is high, so salt can be produced by drying out the salt faster and more than boiling salt in a salt well."

"By the way, everyone who lives in the same row came to me and asked me to discuss setting up a small kitchen in the yard. I am so hungry after coming back from get off work every day. We are both growing taller, so we want to get together. Let’s collect some money to buy some rice, flour, oil and salt, and we’ll make some meals together when we come back in the evening.”

The people living in this row are all students from Luoyang Academy. The oldest is fifteen years old and the youngest is twelve years old. It is the time when young people are living in poverty.

They couldn't handle the two meals a day in the bookstore cafeteria.

In the past, they would have just endured it, because after all, they were not making money.

But now they have a monthly salary. No matter how frugal they are, they still can't help but want to eat fuller. It's really uncomfortable to be hungry at night.

Seeing Jian Wuzhong lowering his eyes and saying nothing, his roommate came over and said, "I know you have a family to support. Don't worry, we don't eat too much luxury food. We just mix it with white flour, wheat bran and soybean flour every night." Just make a soup or knead a pancake, add two drops of soybean oil, and a little salt to make your stomach less hungry."

"The main reason is that I'm too hungry and can't sleep at night. I have to go to the bookstore to work early in the morning."

Jian Wuzhong asked about the current price of rice and noodles, and then asked, "Salt is expensive, how much does it cost?"

"Don't worry, Qingzhou produces salt. I've asked about it. It's much cheaper than Luoyang." He found a small bowl and said, "A bowl of salt like this only costs fourteen cents."

Jian Wuzhong's eyes lit up when he heard this, "Really?"

"Is there still a holiday?" said the roommate: "We not only asked the salt dryers in front, but also went to see them. Six cents can probably buy this much."

He gestured in the bowl and said, "Eat sparingly. Six cents of salt is enough to feed a family of three for half a year."

Jian Wuzhong calculated his wages and said, "The salt in Qingzhou is so cheap. I wonder if I can buy some trustees and send the money back to Luoyang?"

"No need, I've asked about it, and I heard that starting from next month, all salt will be bought from the shops designated by the county government. The prices in all counties will be the same. By then, the price of salt in Luoyang will also be the same. so tall."

Jian Wuzhong: "General, are you asking for salt from the official camp?"

"That's right," the roommate laughed loudly: "There is a general in charge of salt. If we are not afraid of the skyrocketing price of salt, we will no longer be able to afford salt."

When the price of salt rose, it was even crazier than the price of grain. In the past two years, there was a shortage of grain and salt in Luoyang. It soared to ten cents and you could only get a handful of salt. If you spent two cents to buy salt, you could only buy a finger. The money for sewing.

Jian Wuzhong looked outside and secretly swore that he would do a good job in the bookstore, then walk out of the bookstore, go to Qingzhou Yamen, and then go to the salt field to serve the general!

County offices in various places have prepared official salt for sale.

Each county will open a separate window to provide official salt to grocery stores and vendors in the county. They need to register with the county government, and the amount of salt purchased each time will also be recorded.

The county government has limited the range of salt prices. They can only sell salt within that range. Not only will they be fined if the price is higher than this, but they will also be fined if the price is lower than this.

Because the reserve price at which official salt is sold to them is set here. Selling salt below this price is basically a loss-making business. If you give something, you must get something.

They have to ensure the circulation of official salt in the market, and the best way is to use the price range to squeeze the living space of private salt.

Various places have started preparing since the day the seal was opened on the eighth day of the lunar month, and they are all ready now. Sea salt from Qingzhou and Gwangju has been shipped to places that are short of salt.

Where there was no shortage of salt, Zhao Hanzhang also sent troops and censors to ensure the salt production of salt wells and salt lakes, ensuring that they were all in the hands of the court.

Starting from the first day of March, official salt will be officially sold, and salt prices will be unified across the country, directly banning private salt whose prices are erratic.

See you tomorrow