The Red Mansions

Chapter 131
The sky finally cleared.

The sun shines on the earth in winter, warm and soft.

On the street, yamen servants lead the people to clear the snow.

In a short time, the streets were swept clean.

The taste of the new year is getting stronger and stronger, and people come and go.

All the shops also tried their best to decorate as festively as possible.

Walking on the street, from time to time, some people bowed their hands to Jia Yun from a distance, and Jia Yun also bowed their hands in return from time to time.

He asked Xue Pan beside him, "Brother Xue is finally willing to come out of the room today?"

"Well, after a few days of addiction, my body can't take it anymore." Xue Pan stretched his waist and replied.

After a pause, he said again: "To be honest, I really need to put a few girls in the house, otherwise I can only go to places like Chunfeng Tower."

Jia Yun nodded and said: "I support you, don't run around recently, now the entire Ningbo government is suppressing pirates, and even more than half of the people in our inspection department have been transferred, it can be seen that the above is moving There is a grid."

"C'mon, there's loud thunder and little rain. How many pirates do you think they've caught? Isn't it just a show for the common people, especially for the country gentry, so that they can hold money easily." Xue Pan pouted.

Jia Yun said with a smile: "This is called beating the grass to startle the snake. At the same time, it is also to bring up the atmosphere first. Maybe you can really catch a few big fish!"

Xue Pan shook his head when he heard the words, and suddenly sighed, curiously said: "Why are there so many people on the street recently, at least several times more than last month!"

Jia Yun pointed to both sides of the street and said, "Just look at these stalls."

Xue Pan followed the gestures and looked in surprise, "Aren't these stall owners the artisans you asked me to find some time ago?"

"Well, from now on, Cixi will open every two days. If it is done well, it will be held all year round." Jia Yun nodded and said:
"With these craftsmen, there will be an endless stream of strange things to attract customers."

"There are more customers, the popularity is strong, and the business will be better. It is not only convenient for the people, but also allows the government to collect more taxes."

There is a salt field in Cixi, the transportation is convenient, and there are many businessmen from all over the world, but in the end it only enriches Minghe Township.

Jia Yun wanted to take advantage of the wind from the salt field to see if Cixi City could be turned into a small commodity sales market. It has been tried for more than [-] days now, and it has started off well.

However, this may also be due to the fact that at the end of the year, rural people also come to the city to buy New Year's goods, so there are so many people.

Whether it can continue in the future will take the test of time.

At this moment, Master Huang, who was walking behind Jia Yun, said with a smile: "It's thanks to Dong Weng's crackdown on gangsters. Without those ruffians on the street collecting black money, these small stall operators can survive."

Xue Pan said: "Hehe, many people are talking about my brother-in-law these days, saying that you are Bao Qingtian from Cixi."

"Since you came to Cixi to become an official, not to mention that there are fewer bastards on the street, even the government servants are much more honest. Everyone finally has a few days to live in peace."

Jia Yun shook her head and smiled, "I never thought about being Bao Qingtian..."

Cracking down on gangsters is just a fire that he lit after he took office. This is a multi-purpose thing.

On the one hand, it beat the group of people in the classic history belt, on the other hand, it maintained social order and stability, and at the same time, ordinary people could indeed live a few days of quiet life.

Of course, through this matter, it can also play a role in knocking mountains and shaking tigers. After establishing one's own authority first, other things will be much easier to handle.

Internally, we can let the big and small officials in the yamen get to know him again.

In order not to think that he is young, his heart is not dark, and if anyone is dishonest, he can also toss people.

To the outside world, it is to give the common people, mainly the gentry and wealthy households, an impression that they can be idle and find work.

For example, a few days ago, he raised office funds from the squire. If he hadn't cracked down on gangsters before, even if he could raise money, he would have to spend some time.

Those people are used to being domineering in the local area, and it is not so easy to extract money from them.

In two or three days, it will be New Year's Eve, and there are a lot of people on the street today.

There are businessmen shouting loudly, customers bargaining, passers-by looking around, and happy children laughing and playing...

Jia Yun and his party were all dressed in ordinary clothes and did not put on a guard of honor. Only few people knew him.

So, they can hang out on the street.

Mr. Huang pinched his beard and said: "Recently, there are more business travelers from other places. Ningbo, Shaoxing, and Hangzhou are the most. Taizhou, Jinhua, and Yanzhou are also quite a lot."

"These people come here, either just to have a look, but once they decide to buy something, the quantity is relatively large, and they are willing to spend money."

Jia Yun nodded and said: "When you go back, remember to say hello to Mr. Jing, and ask him to pay more attention to those craftsmen while watching these merchants. Don't let the people below be ignorant and do things like killing chickens and taking eggs coming."

To develop the Cixi Small Commodity Market, craftsmen are fundamental.

With the various products they manufacture, after forming a certain scale and a sound industrial chain, it will naturally drive the entire market and attract business travelers from all directions.

Of course, there are also many local specialties in Cixi.

For example, celadon, golden straw hats, honey, tea, honeydew pears, red bayberry, rice cakes, grapes, etc., all of which have a certain scale and a good reputation, and they can be vigorously supported.

Jia Yun didn't want to engage in some high-end industries in Cixi either.

He knew that he would not stay in Cixi for too long, and he would return to Beijing in August or September next year at the most, preparing to take the Enke Examination the following year.

So before he left, he planned to do three things besides the daily duties of the county government.

The first is to vigorously support local characteristic industries, make them bigger and stronger, and sell various special products through the Xue family's business channels, and strive to create a batch of influential products.

The second is to establish a small commodity market and seek development based on the boundaries of Zhejiang. If it goes well, it will be better to go out.

The third is to train the patrol battalion. If there is a chance, it is best to find pirates and fight a few tough battles.

Without the tempering of blood and fire, one cannot become a true elite, so going to battle to kill the enemy is an essential thing.

Of course, being able to make meritorious service will also be of great help to Jia Yun's future career.

Don't underestimate the battle to kill the enemy, because last time in the Cixi Guild Hall, he led people to kill so many pirates, saved a lot of officials, and took off the hat of young rookie in an instant.

If he was a military general, it is estimated that others would not think it was a big deal. After all, shouldn't military generals go into battle to kill the enemy?
But he is a civil servant, and it is a very impressive thing for a civil servant to kill the enemy with a sword.

For other people who are also civil servants, it is also a matter of great face to speak out.

This is also the main reason why Jia Yun has been thinking about taking the imperial examination.

In today's society, using literature to control military affairs is the kingly way. Even if Jia Yun becomes a general in the future, he will still be a civil servant.

Closer to home, within the year, Jia Yun can only develop the small commodity market first.

In fact, it cannot be called a market at present, but can only be regarded as a bazaar.

If the bazaar can be developed, the market can be formed in the future.

However, since the twelfth lunar month, Jia Yun's plan to open every double show has gradually been finalized.

The surrounding people and business travelers have also formed a tacit understanding. When it comes to double days, no matter whether they buy things or not, as long as they are free, they will come to join in the fun. This is how the popularity rises.

"I guess it will take two to three months, or even half a year, to ferment for it to really become a market." Jia Yun thought to herself.

He is not in a hurry about this, anyway, he has plenty of time.

As for leaving here in the future, whether Cixi's market can continue to be maintained, Jia Yun doesn't think about it, anyway, he just needs to get his political achievements.

……

New Year's Eve.

Early in the morning, there were crackling firecrackers everywhere.

Under the quilt, it was extraordinarily warm.

The two delicate women were nestled in Jia Yun's arms with no clothes on, and the fragrance was overwhelming.

After a slight movement, the two girls woke up, then got up in a very tacit understanding, put on their clothes with a rustle, and went out to fetch water for Jia Yun to wash.

Just changing clothes and washing, Li Ren combed Jia Yun's hair.

Meiren put the box that Jia Yun brought back from outside last night on the table, and took out the banknotes inside to count.

After the counting was completed, Charming said with a smile: "Master's estimate is good. So far, in less than half a month, our family has another 5 taels of silver in the account."

"So many?" Beauty paused for a moment while holding the comb, and asked in surprise.

Although she knew that many people gave Jia Yun gifts before, only Mei Ren knew the exact number. This was the first time she heard the number today, so she couldn't help being a little surprised.

The charming man giggled and said, "Youdao said that the magistrate was cleared for three years, and he received a hundred thousand snowflakes in silver. It's not a joke."

The beauty rolled her eyes and said, "That's the magistrate, our master is only a magistrate!"

"You don't understand this, do you? Cixi is no better than other places!" The charming put away all the money and replied with a smile.

The beauty asked suspiciously: "What's different about Cixi?"

"There is a salt field in Cixi!" The charming woman stepped forward, took the comb from the beautiful woman, combed Jia Yun's hair, and said:
"Although our master can't manage the salt field, he has the right to crack down on illegal salt sales, and he can also trouble those salt merchants. Therefore, in order to be on the safe side, the salt merchants will not want some small money. Necessary management is indispensable."

The beauty's eyes lit up, and she said in admiration, "Sister Meiren, you really know a lot!"

Charming smiled, and replied: "It's not that I know a lot, but that the master knows a lot, and I listen to what he says."

Jia Yun said, "You can talk about these things in the bedroom. After you leave this door, you are not allowed to mention them again, but you remember them all?"

"Understood!" Mei Ren quickly replied, then winked at Mei Ren, and stuck out her tongue.

She knew that Jia Yun was afraid that she would get carried away and show off her knowledge everywhere, so she beat her.

After combing their hair, the three of them left the room and came to the yard.

These days Meiren and Liren have not been idle, and with the maidservants bought by Xue Pan, they arranged the house in a prosperous and festive manner.

Lanterns, paper-cuts, couplets, and Chinese festivals are all arranged properly.

Seeing Jia Yun and the others come out, Jia Ming ran to the door and lit the firecrackers that he had been holding all along.

The sound of firecrackers is deafening, and the smell of gunpowder smoke fills the air, but what comes in exchange is bursts of New Year's flavor.

During the Chinese New Year, without this smell, it is like losing a soul.

Jia Yun is not going out today, Meiren and Liren are very happy, like two larks, chirping and talking, there is always something to say.

After a while, Xue Pan woke up with sleepy eyes and came to the courtyard. Meiren and Liren stopped and happily went to the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous reunion dinner.

"Brother-in-law, where are the eagles and pigeons I bought for you earlier? I haven't seen them these days." Xue Pan stepped forward and asked.

Jia Yun smiled and said: "I have someone train and raise them in another place. After the new year, they should be able to get them back. At that time, I will send a batch of them back to Beijing."

Xue Pan said happily, "That's good. With carrier pigeons and eagles, it will be much more convenient to write letters to my mother and younger sister."

The two were talking in the yard, when Jia Ming brought chairs and coffee table over.

When the sun comes out, sitting in the courtyard, chatting and drinking tea is also a pleasant thing.

After Jia Yun sat down, she asked Jia Ming, "Brother Ming misses your mother?"

"I'm thinking about it, I dreamed about my mother last night." Jia Ming replied honestly, "It's the first time I've grown up so far, and it's also the first time I haven't been reunited with my mother!"

Jia Yun smiled and said: "Then you have to get used to it, as long as you stay with me, you will not be separated from your mother in the future."

Xue Pan sat down and asked, "How old is Brother Ming now?"

"After the new year, you will be nine years old, right brother Ming?" Jia Yun replied.

Jia Ming nodded and smiled innocently.

Xue Pan was surprised and said: "Good guy, I always thought he was fourteen or fifteen years old, but I didn't expect him to be so young."

"He is like his mother, with a tall frame and fast growth." Jia Yun laughed.

Xue Pan nodded and said: "My sister and I follow our father and grow faster than our friends of the same age. When I was only fourteen or fifteen years old, I was as tall as I am now, and I haven't grown any longer since then. "

Then he turned his head and asked Jia Ming, "Brother Ming, the last time you went to Ningbo with your brother-in-law, did you feel scared when you saw so many people dead?"

Jia Ming said nonchalantly, "What's there to be afraid of? Our Jia family has never been afraid to fight the enemy. If the master hadn't stopped me at that time, I would have gone forward with a knife!"

"Oh? So you still have some skills? How about we try it out?" Xue Pan's eyes lit up, he stood up, eager to try.

Jia Ming shook his head and pouted, "You? Let's forget it. I'll put you down. I'm afraid you'll lose face!"

At this time, Jia Wenlin came in from the outside, and said with a big laugh, "Brother Ming, don't use aggressive tactics, and Mr. Xue don't care about him. This guy is young and capable. When he was in the capital, he often went to the clansmen to single-handedly fight. Lose less."

"Now he is following the master, so he doesn't dare to mess around. If you really match up with him, you will do what he wants!"

Xue Pan laughed loudly, waved his hands and said: "You said that, I really want to see it, come on, Ming'er, let's go to the courtyard to try our hands, even if I lose today, not only will I not blame you , and reward you with silver!"

Jia Yun said unhappily: "Come on, you, you don't have any fighting skills except for a brute force. You must not be Ming's opponent. Don't feel uncomfortable when you celebrate the Chinese New Year!"

The more Jia Yun said this, the more curious Xue Pan became.

Although Jia Ming looked tall and burly, he was only eight or nine years old. Even if he could learn some martial arts, how powerful would he be?

So Xue Pan wasn't worried at all, walked to the middle of the courtyard, smiled and waved to Jia Ming.

Jia Ming was not reckless, he looked at Jia Yun first, and after seeing him nodding, he walked forward slowly.

The two stood still, when Jia Wenlin reminded loudly: "Brother Ming, it's Chinese New Year today, so be gentle with your actions, don't hurt Uncle Xue."

"Hey, I don't believe it today, I will definitely clean up Ming'er so that you will look down on me!"

Xue Pan bared his teeth and said, then raised his fist and punched Jia Ming on the head.

"Bang!" A fist the size of a casserole slammed into Xue Pan's cheek.

He didn't know how he got the trick, at this moment he just felt the sky was spinning, his eyes were full of stars, and he was a little bit dark, he stumbled and stumbled in the yard.

Fortunately, Jia Wenlin stepped forward to support him, otherwise he would have fallen to the ground.

It took quite a while for Xue Pan to come back to his senses, and then stared straight at Jia Ming with disbelief on his face.

Jia Yun laughed loudly and said, "Brother Xue, I have already persuaded you, but you just don't believe it. Now you know the importance?"

"Haha, even though I got punched today, I'm happy." Xue Pan laughed and said, then took out an ingot of silver from his pocket and threw it to Jia Ming, saying, "Your reward is naturally different for those who are capable! "

Jia Ming held the silver and looked back at Jia Yun, neither accepting it nor not accepting it.

Jia Yun nodded and said, "You earned this money, take it!"

Jia Ming's face brightened, and he stepped forward to salute and said, "Thank you, Mr. Xue, if you want to be beaten next time, remember to call me!"

"Get out of here, beat me once and want to beat me twice?" Xue Pan scolded with a smile.

Going back to the chair and sitting down, Jia Wenlin went forward to report to Jia Yunhui: "Today, all the people in the patrol camp have been sent to patrol the streets, and the city defense subordinates will also go to patrol the next morning. There is no big problem."

"Where is the inspection department brought by Luo Zhijian?" Jia Yun asked.

Jia Wenlin replied with a smile: "I took the inspection out of the city early in the morning, and went to be on duty at various main roads. I'm afraid the master will catch him and teach him a lesson."

"Well, just be honest." Jia Yun nodded and said, "Actually, this guy is quite talented."

"The day I first took office, I was going to use him to make a name for myself. I didn't expect him to resist the pressure and exchange blood between the dandies in the inspection department and those dawdlers. It's a bit courageous."

Jia Wenlin smiled and said: "He also watched the master tormenting the classics so much, he was afraid that he would be missed too. After all, they are all used to living a comfortable life, and the blood in their bodies has long since disappeared."

Jia Yun agreed: "That's the reason, so they can only do some miscellaneous things. If they encounter tough battles in the future, they will have to go to the patrol camp trained by us."

"It takes a lot of work to form a patrol battalion. It's only been training for more than a month now, and I've just learned many enemy killing skills. If I want to fight a tough battle, I'm afraid I won't be able to." Jia Wenlin said.

Xue Pan asked curiously, "Brother-in-law, what exactly do you want to train the patrol camp? It seems that you have very high demands on them!"

Jia Yun said: "The initial goal of the patrol battalion training is to be able to confront the same number of elite pirates head-to-head and win the battle..."

(End of this chapter)