Dressed as the best old lady in the famine years, I suddenly became rich

Because of this, not surprisingly, the Huang family didn't get a single steamed bun at noon, and they continued their journey hungry in the afternoon.

Fortunately, we didn't have to rush like yesterday this afternoon, and we arrived at the inn before the sun went down.

The inn was not located in the city, but a few miles outside the city. The government officials threw the exiled prisoners into the backyard of the inn and ignored them, then discussed going to the city to buy some things.

The steward of the post station listened and shook his head, saying, "There is nothing to buy in the city now. It's scary to say it. A meat bun used to cost three cents a piece, but now it costs fifty cents. The food in the grain shop is only It’s even more expensive, one pound costs one hundred and fifty cents.”

"What? One hundred and fifty coins?" Yang Jiye, who came in from behind, almost lost his balance when he heard this.

When the manager of the inn noticed that there were unrelated people coming in from behind, he asked, "Who are you? Why are you all crowded into my little inn? If you want to stay, go to an inn in the city. I won't entertain you." Passers-by.”

Yin Tang hurriedly stepped forward and said, "These are my family members, they are traveling with us."

Ke Muqing also stepped forward immediately, "We don't live here for free, we pay money to live here."

The inn steward's expression softened as soon as he heard this. He glanced at the clothes of the group of people outside and said, "You can borrow it. It costs 300 cash per person per night. It only provides ordinary bunk beds. No water is provided. Water is required. Buy it for fifty cents a barrel."

Let alone Yin Tang and the others, Ke Muqing took a breath.

"Firewood in the kitchen is free, but food is not provided." The manager of the inn said, "If you can, you can pay, and I will arrange accommodation for you."

"Mom, should we live outside like last night?" Yang Jiye pulled Ke Muqing out.

Ke Muqing was not taken advantage of, and his character couldn't be ruined. He really couldn't afford three hundred coppers per person that night.

Three people will need nearly one tael of silver, and the Yang family will spend several taels of silver just to stay here for one night. Food is not included, and even water has to be paid separately. Who can afford this?
"Then we'd better set up a tent and live outside." Ke Muqing said.

The manager of the inn suddenly became unhappy. Just as he was about to drive people away, he heard Ke Muqing say that he wanted to buy a few buckets of water for bathing. He discussed with him whether he could give him some firewood if he bought water.

"Do you all need to take a bath?" asked the station steward.

Yang Jiye said hurriedly, "Mom, you women can just buy water here to bathe. We, the gentlemen, will go out to find a river and deal with it."

The steward laughed directly, "Where is the river outside now? If there is still a river with water outside, I can give you the water without paying for it."

Yang Jiye was speechless.

All the rivers we could see after walking for two days were indeed dry.

"We all wash," Ke Muqing said. "After washing, we have to fill up the empty water tank."

Seeing that he had made money, the manager of the inn smiled again and said, "You really can't save this money. If this person doesn't bathe often, he will get sick easily. My bucket of water only costs fifty cents. After leaving our inn, you can go to the city." Let me ask, a bucket of water might cost you a hundred pence."

There are only a few people in the inn, but there are three wells that can be used.

But after entering the city, many people's wells in their homes could no longer produce water.

Thinking that these people would have to spend a lot of money to buy water, the manager of the inn was generous again, "Seeing as you are the family members of this poor man, the free room in the bunkhouse will cost you 200 cents. I can't think of you really." They all live outside.”

Naturally, the price was still more expensive than the price of a hotel room in the past, but at least it was much lower than the outrageous price of 300 cash per person just now. Ke Muqing thanked him and agreed. Ke Muqing and his party paid nearly five taels of silver in one go, all of which went into the pockets of the inn stewards.

Hearing the manager of the inn talk about the current prices in the city, Ke Muqing gave up the idea of ​​going to the city to spend money. Yin Tang and others followed the leader of the Yamen, Wang Jianzhong, into the city.

The manager of the inn lent the small kitchen to boil water for Ke Muqing and his party and ignored them.

The wife and handyman at the inn are busy in the big kitchen on the other side of the yamen's side of things, and no one will come here to join in.

Ke Muqing asked Feng Ying and others to make more food. In addition to tonight's dinner and tomorrow morning's breakfast, they also made some long-lasting pancakes to fill their stomachs on the road.

Wang Jianzhong and others went there on horseback, so it didn't take much time to get back and forth.

It's just that when a few people came back, they didn't have much in their hands, and the cloth bags containing grain were only one-third full.

Wang Jianzhong's face was calm when he dismounted.

The manager of the inn knew at a glance that he must have gone to the county government office in the city and ran into trouble. He didn't want to get into trouble, so he came out to take a look and left.

The kitchens on both sides are not close to each other, but Ke Muqing and the others can hear the Yamen servant cursing on the other side.

He scolded the county magistrate for treating them as beggars, and scolded the city merchants for being treacherous and taking advantage of the opportunity to drive up food prices.

After hearing this, Ke Xiucai sighed and said, "It seems that the situation in the city is worse than ours."

Looking at the steaming white rice in his kitchen, Ke Xiucai looked at the rebellious girl Ke Muqing again.

This time, thanks to this rebellious girl's magical power, at least the group of them didn't have to worry about running out of food.

But the people outside are suffering. A pound of grain costs 150 cents. Who can afford it? A bucket of water costs fifty cents, how many people can afford it? Yin Tang waited very late before coming over alone. When he saw the rice left for him at home, he picked it up and ate it.

"The home-made food is still delicious. The inn kitchen sent us rice porridge and multi-grain steamed buns tonight, as well as several plates of delicious dishes, without any oil or water at all."

"They were scolding them while they were eating. The manager of the inn station hid like a coward. The woman in the kitchen said that the inn station had not received supplies from the superiors for a long time. It would be good if they could still eat."

Yin Tang wolfed down a large bowl of rice in a few mouthfuls, and then took a few sips of the hot soup that had been warming on the stove.

Then he continued, "In the city, just like our county, no street food stalls were open. We finally found an open restaurant, so we just thought of going in to have a toothpaste and spend some money to have a good meal. Who knew when we went in? Look, a bowl of plain noodles costs half a tael of silver, and a bowl of meat noodles with an egg and a few slices of meat costs one tael of silver."

Everyone knew without asking that he must have left without eating anything.

None of these government servants came from a wealthy family. No one would be willing to eat a bowl of noodles for just one tael of silver.

"Just now, the boss said that from now on, the exiled prisoners will only have one meal a day. They will not die of hunger as long as they can go to Lingnan for business."

"I heard from people in the county government that the situation in the surrounding counties is the same, and it may not be better until we go south."

After speaking, Yin Tang finished the last sip of the soup and then said, "Although we have food now, we should eat sparingly depending on the situation. The food we have prepared will last us until at least the south." OK."