The sun is growing in April, and before the beginning of Mao is approaching, light is faintly shining in the sky.

The elderly feel light. Uncle Wu has been awake for a long time. He squinted his eyes and stared at the window paper for a while, just waiting for dawn to get up again.

Suddenly, a loud rooster crow penetrated the morning mist and soared into the sky. Then, the rooster crows one after another, and there were noises of duck crows mixed in it. It was a mess for a while. Although it was noisy, it also showed vitality.

Uncle Wu was stunned for a while and laughed silently. How long has it been since I heard this? Then he looked a little bit like living a life!

Earlier, because they lived by the Heishui River, there were many families in this area who raised chickens and ducks. But in the past two years, people were still not full, so where could they still have surplus food to raise these animals? Poultry is not sold

It was eaten, and it was already a year since the morning was not as lively as ever.

Now, it’s so peaceful. Thanks to this new magistrate! Uncle Wu sighed in his heart that now he has also begun to talk about the new magistrate.

That day, with the help of Brother Xiao Jin, he successfully bought the food. The next day he didn't make do with the food shop. The neighbors came to him and told him that he could get the food by posting the household registration. Only then did he realize that it was almost on the street.

The chaos.

Sure enough, when he walked to the Xiangcang, there were yamen runners and soldiers patrolling the garrison everywhere, and he couldn't help but wonder.

However, it was very smooth to get grain at the stake warehouse. Everyone lined up in line with each other, and no one dared to fight. Four or five clerks who recorded the record, some checked the account posts, posted bamboo signs, and some asked questions.

He was in trouble and made a living at home.

Although I asked in detail, I could remember it quickly, and it didn't take much effort.

The grain was given according to the Dingkou on the household post, and even his son, who was a layman, gave him a portion of food.

Although not much food was distributed, the servants also solemnly said that this was "temporary supplement" and it would not always be available, but it still makes people feel at ease.

Soon, grain stores were unblocked on the streets and the prices of grain fell back. Even the vegetables, meat and eggs in the market became much cheaper. Everyone no longer robbed grain and stored grain, and the food shortage that had been shrouding the city before

It disappeared without a trace in a blink of an eye.

A few days ago, the yamen began to post notices on various streets, saying that Zhuzi's society warehouse was built in the countryside, and that the city would also be built. People in the city generally voluntarily donate grain to join the society, and distinguish between upper, middle and lower levels by purchase.

In the countryside, they lend seeds, oxen, etc., and they return grain during the autumn harvest, while in the city, they lend poultry.

People rent several poultry to raise according to their grades. During the period of rental, whether the eggs produced by poultry or the hatched cubs are raised, they belong to the people themselves. When the autumn tax is collected, they only need to return the borrowed number of poultry and a small amount.

Just rent.

If there are natural disasters or chicken plague and other epidemics, the lower and middle households will be exempted from repayment and the upper households will be repaid at a low interest rate.

In addition, the Shecang also stated that it will have other rental projects one after another, such as spinning wheel rental, stone mill rental, livestock rental, etc.

Of course, the grain inside the social warehouse can also be borrowed at low interest rates from the people who join the social warehouse, and the same is borrowed in spring and summer and harvested in autumn.

The food price will definitely drop when the autumn harvest is over. The so-called interest is almost equivalent to none, which is absolutely beneficial to the lower class people.

According to the situation of the people who had previously registered the grain, the government divided several communities into streets and alleys. The deputy members of the society were first temporarily replaced by the minor officials of the government office, and then the people would elect the candidates in the future.

The people in the city have long heard of the various benefits of Zhuzi's social warehouses in the countryside. Now there are social warehouses in the city, and they are almost for free. The people are overjoyed and actively request to register for the social warehouses and adopt poultry.

This is why the rooster crows every day, which is particularly lively.

This film in Uncle Wu’s house was registered yesterday.

Although his family joined the club, they did not adopt poultry. Aunt Wu looked at the vegetable field in the backyard as a bead, for fear that the chickens and ducks would harm the vegetable field. Not only did they not raise it themselves, but they also had to close the backyard door, for fear that the neighbors would be home. The chicken came over and pecked her vegetables.

The food in the city is not cheap at all, and it is not worse than selling chickens when sent to the market.

The reason why they joined the club was because Aunt Wu hoped to rent a loom as soon as possible.

Her son followed a businessman outside, and his daughter-in-law and grandson were at home, and she had two more mouths to eat.

It is difficult for a young wife to come out to see the store, so she can only do some work at home. If she can weave some cloth, it will be supplemented.

It’s just that the government said that there are not so many spinning wheels yet, so they will not be rented out for the time being.

The government has also promoted a carpenter school to recruit people who have some woodworking skills. They are currently working hard to make spinning wheel parts, not repairing them, and also taking care of a meal and giving them a certain amount of wages per piece. There are already a lot of them. People signed up.

Aunt Wu was eagerly looking forward to these people working hard to make the spinning wheel.

The chickens crowed outside and the dogs were barking very lively. Uncle Wu couldn't lie down anymore, and Aunt Wu was also awakened by the noise.

But the old couple didn't feel annoyed at all. They stood up and laughed and cursed, saying that this fun was the taste of living.

After getting up, Aunt Wu went to the backyard to water the vegetable garden, while Wu's wife went down to the kitchen to make a fire to boil water and heat the rice.

Uncle Wu came to the front street with a big broom and removed the door panels of the grocery store one by one. He was about to sweep the shop first, and then scan a piece of the street at the entrance of the shop to welcome the new day of the business. The guests are happy to walk in.

Although it was dawn now, the wealthy families living in the northwest of the city were not many, and most of them got up early and started working hard.

The incense and candle shop was also unloading the door panels from the street. Seeing Uncle Wu carrying a broom, the shopkeeper Wang smiled and reminded loudly: "Brother, it's okay to just sweep your store, but someone on the street is sweeping. ”

Uncle Wu was waving the broom. He was stunned when he heard this. He stopped and said strangely: "Who sweeps?"

The shopkeeper Wang smiled and said, "Brother didn't look at the notice yesterday. The government office hired someone to sweep the streets, and the food was in charge. The wages were calculated by the streets, and it would be paid every day."

Old Uncle Wu stared wide and said, "There is such a thing?!" As he said that, he couldn't help but look around, but he didn't see anyone sweeping the street.

Manager Wang said, "It's true that our street is still late. I heard that someone swept the street next to the government office yesterday."

He looked up at the sky and said, "I just don't know where our street is and when will people come. But I heard that more people want to make this money go there, and they will grab each street and the street, so I won't be too much. Slowly, it will be your turn before the city gate opens.”

As soon as the city gate opened, the buyers entered the city, and their business came to the door. If someone swept the streets at that time, the dust would make the guests dislike them, and these shops would have to eat raw and swept the streets. .

Uncle Wu also looked at the sky when he heard this. Although he stopped sweeping, he did not put away his broom and just stood it at the door, thinking that if those who sweepers came late, he would also immediately turn the door. Scan it out so as not to delay the guests' visit.

For a while, Uncle Wu, who was tidying up the shelves, heard the sound of a copper bell outside. He took two steps and looked out. He saw a group of five people walking and stopping in the distance, slowly coming, followed by A donkey cart.

The bell was hung on the donkey's neck, and it made a crisp sound, how far it was to go.

These five people are of varying age. There are men in their forties and young boys of thirteen or fourteen. They each hold brooms, wooden shovels and other tools in their hands to sweep the garbage on the road into one place and put them all into donkey carts. .

There was a big bucket behind the donkey cart. Every time I cleaned up, the half-grown boy would climb into the cart to scoop out water, dust it on the street, covering it with dust.

The shopkeeper Wang, the incense shop, also came out to join in the fun. Seeing Uncle Wu, he walked over and stood there and watched them together. He smiled and said, "Can you still sell the night fragrance to the countryside, what can you do if you collect pickled dust? The yamen still You have to hire someone to do it! It doesn’t take much effort, but it costs a lot of money. After all, it’s the prefect from Beijing. It’s such a big deal for cleanliness!”

Seeing that Uncle Wu stared at the side with good eyes, Manager Wang was very happy and poked Uncle Wu and said, "Brother, why do you still want to do this business? Although it is quite light, we are old. It’s not as good as those young and strong, who are tired after walking on the street, and they are better off selling two more dustpans in the shop.”

Uncle Wu waved his hand and said, "No, no." As he said no, his eyes were never separated from those people. His eyes were shining brightly, and it was obvious that he was having some idea.

Manager Wang didn't persuade him much, and walked across the street and returned to the shop. When he turned around and looked, he saw that Uncle Wu had already spoken to those who were sweeping the streets. Manager Wang shook his head and laughed, and no longer paid attention to it.

Uncle Wu from the other side not only made a reply, but also took a pot of hot water and a few coarse porcelain bowls to the shop to drink water with a few people to quench their thirst.

These people were very grateful to see that Uncle Wu is so kind, so they stopped to rest and drink water. Uncle Wu asked something, and they all knew everything.

After all, there was a job, and no one dared to stay for too long. After answering a few words, they returned the bowl, thanked him again, picked up the tools and continued to work.

After being far away from others, Uncle Wu went to the backyard to discuss with Aunt Wu.

"I came to sweep the streets just now, so I talked with them a few words. The government office hired people to sweep the streets, but the houses were not complete yet! Many of them now brought or borrowed them from their own houses, and the government office said it would go slowly. All the products are all available. Even if you buy them, you will sweep the streets every day, and the broom is too expensive. You have to buy new ones... "

"Yes! Yes!" Aunt Wu's eyes lit up, then she turned bitter again and said, "The head of the family is beautiful, but there are so many groceries in this city, and my family has nothing to do with the people in the yamen. There is no way, can such a good thing fall into my hands?"

Uncle Wu said: "It's been only two days since we swept the streets. Which grocery store in the city sells so many brooms? Such a big broom doesn't usually have much goods, so it's not like it! We don't want to take over the whole thing. If you sell more than a dozen of business, buy online, and count them carefully, you will always make a profit."

Aunt Wu thought about it and said, "Didn't you tell me that day? When you joined the club, the official who wrote a contract with you was the deputy of our club. He was very kind and went to him to ask, but he would not return. He cares, he can always point out a clear way, right?"

Uncle Wu thought for a while and said, "I originally wanted to ask Brother Li, who is fighting for the update. If you say that, then I will go to the yamen to find that guy later."

The old couple discussed it and went to the yamen to find the clerk to try their luck after breakfast. Aunt Wu also specially brought him a bag of scattered money and silver for him to keep it for some clerks.

The government office is in the west of the city, and the Wuji Grocery Store is in the northwest corner of the city. It also arrived in half an hour.

It was still early, and Uncle Wu was not in a hurry to go on a road trip. When he registered to join the club that day, he had already heard people gossiping and learned that the rules of the government office were Chen Zhengcai who started working.

As soon as I crossed the Heishui River from the bridge and turned into Yingen Street facing the west city gate, I heard someone shouting "Uncle Wu".

Old Uncle Wu looked up and looked around. Because the city gate was open and the pedestrians and cars were bustling on the street, he could not find the direction of the sound.

After a long time, a donkey cart caught him, and a young man jumped off the shaft of the car and pulled him and said, "Uncle Wu, it's me, get in the car quickly, let's go all the way."

When Uncle Wu saw that it was Brother Xiao Jin, he couldn't help but smile and said, "Have you entered the city again?"

Behind the donkey was a flatbed cart. On the board were a bunch of young couples, dressed by farmers, and there were two baskets covered with coarse cloth next to them, and there was no goods. Uncle Wu just said that they were

Going to the market.

Brother Xiao Jin pointed to someone and introduced, "This is my third brother-in-law, my third sister-in-law. I just arrived at the shop first, and my aunt said that you are coming to the government office, and we are also going to the government office, so we caught up. Old Wu

Uncle, get in the car and go together.”

When both sides saw the greeting, Uncle Wu was polite and stopped refusing and got into the car.

Although Brother Xiao Jin is good at tying a broom, the old couple of Wu's family are not afraid that Brother Xiao Jin will know about sweeping the streets, so they go over to trade with the government office.

As they said, the brooms needed to sweep the streets are not small, nor are they a business that his small grocery store can eat.

His family also not only collected daily necessities from Xiao Jin.

Brother Xiao Jin is a real person and does not have any genius. He heard about sweeping the streets from Aunt Wu. Seeing that the streets were so clean, he praised them and said that the yamen did good things for the people. He pointed at the donkey's way.

: "When I told you why I entered the city, there was a cattle who was asked by the big boss at the gate of the city to pull a cart and he had his butts on his back. If he didn't have this house, he wouldn't be allowed to enter the city. It turned out that the street was so clean."

He praised Uncle Wu for his clever thought of the broom business and said with a smile: "It's great. Although I'm stupid, I'll tell you later. This matter has been done. I'll go back and forth.

You can put a broom in your shop.”

Uncle Wu couldn't help laughing and asked him what he was going to do in the government office.

Brother Xiao Jin said, "I'm going to ask the experts. My sister-in-law also has craftsmanship. They don't often go to the city, so they ask me to accompany me to the government office to ask."
To be continued...