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

The meaning is that there are too many prisoners in exile and they cannot enter the city. The county government now has no supplies of food or water. It is useless for Wang Jianzhong and his party to go to the county government. The county government simply sent the key to the post station outside the city. , let Wang Jianzhong and his party do what they want, and just leave the keys on the table at the inn when they leave.

This actually meant that Wang Jianzhong and his party were not even allowed to enter the city gate.

Chen Hu scolded him directly at the city gate, but was pushed out directly.

"We are also acting under orders, and you are also on duty. What's the point of making things difficult for us brothers?" The gatekeepers also have tempers.

"You don't want to hear what I say to you! I tell you, it's useless even if you enter the city. The city is short of water and food. The wealthy households with some connections in the city have long since left for the south. Even the common people who are left behind A large number of people leave every day, and the city is almost empty, so what’s the point of you going in?”

The common people coming out of the city followed up and persuaded, "Master, it's like this. The city is almost empty now. There is no open shop on the street. Even the beggars have left the city. You can't go in." what does it mean?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuanwai's wife hurriedly pushed away the people blocking the way and asked, "Are the pipe shops in the city open? Are there anywhere else where I can buy coffins?"

"The coffin shop is open, but it's not the turn of passers-by like you who want a coffin at the last minute. Business is the best in the world. The coffin shop's orders are all scheduled for a month later." The common people responded.

"My Wang family is rich, and I am willing to spend any amount of money to buy one for my son." Wang Yuanwai's wife was very anxious, "I am willing to pay more money to buy it from others at a high price."

"Nowadays, when even drinking water costs money, those who can still afford a coffin are not short of your three melons and two dates. Look at what you said, who would order a coffin and not wait for it to be used?" The man answered. After saying this, he left with his baggage on his back.

Wang Yuanwai's wife refused to give up and insisted on entering the city.

Wang Jianzhong ignored the Wang family, returned the key to the inn, called Chen Hu, and asked everyone to leave the city gate.

There is nothing at the inn, so why go back to the inn? Don’t you think it’s easy to walk these ten miles?
"Boss, what should I do?" Chen Hu bit his cheek, "Ask."

"We can only take one step at a time and save the remaining water and food we have." What can Wang Jianzhong do? He can't conjure it out of thin air.

Chen Hu was very angry, "No matter how much we save water, it will eventually run out. We have to drink water and eat something after a long journey!"

Wang Jianzhong ignored Chen Hu's complaints and acted as if he didn't know the truth.

What else can I do if I can’t change it and I can’t get a supply from the county government?
"It's always been such a difficult situation for us people along the way. If we still detain any prisoners to be exiled in Lingnan, I think it's better to kill all these prisoners on the spot and let us go back to the capital as soon as possible!" Chen Hu cursed. gone.

I only dared to curse and curse these words. If these exiled prisoners were really killed on the spot, none of them, the government officials, would be able to survive.

After leaving the city gate and walking a long way, Wang Jianzhong asked everyone to rest on the spot.

After settling in, Ke Muqing went to find Ke Xiucai. After the two discussed, Ke Muqing went to find Wang Jianzhong.

"Master Wang Cha, I plan to go to the city soon to see if I can contact my Daniu's former friend. His family's business is big, and maybe there is a branch of his in the city. If so, I plan to ask him to help. Buy some food and water, if not, I will consider my trip in vain."

"Do you have anything to make up for here? If I can get in touch with them, I can tell them once and for all what I'm missing here."

Wang Jianzhong's face lit up with joy when he heard this, "Excuse me, ma'am. If possible, we need water and food, and a little salt is enough."

Ke Muqing nodded in agreement, and used the same excuse to leave other stores before walking back.

This place is not far from the city gate. Ke Muqing took two cups of tea and went back. Wang Yuanwai and Butler Wang were no longer at the city gate, but the rest of the Wang family were still waiting at the city gate.

After asking Ke Muqing in the past, I found out that no matter whether you enter or leave the city, you have to pay a head fee. Two hundred coins at a time.

Even if the people in the city couldn't live any longer and wanted to escape from the city, they had to pay 200 cash to get out. Even a few-month-old baby in their arms who was still drinking milk had to be counted as a person.

Ke Muqing cursed the official in his heart, but he could only hand over the two hundred coins honestly.

When we entered the city, it would be an exaggeration to say it was an empty city, but the people walking on the street did have yellow faces and cleft lips.

Ke Muqing passed by the county government office and even saw several people carrying dead people blocking the entrance of the county government office and cursing at the closed door.

After listening for a while, Ke Muqing realized how disgusting the county magistrate had done.

It's not that there is no water in the city, it's just that the wells that can produce water have been occupied by people from the county government.

Even though the well was originally in the people's own yard, it was still closely guarded by the government officials.

If this family wants to drink water, fine, just buy it with money.

But if other people want to drink water, they are not even qualified to buy it with money.

That's all. In order to save money, the county magistrate actually issued an order to release all the prisoners in the county jail, emptied the entire county jail, and sent all the people who originally guarded the county jail to guard the water. of water well.

The county magistrate guarded several wells in the city and held the granary. He did not care about the life and death of the people in the city. He took in new concubines every day and sang and sang at home every night. He had become a local emperor.

The absurdity of it was something Ke Muqing would never have imagined if she hadn't heard it with her own ears.

The reason why the county magistrate was so bold was because he had a sister who was the concubine of the third son of Prince Liang.

Even the county magistrate was arranged by the third son of Liang Wang.

Ke Muqing sighed softly and walked forward again. After going around in a circle, he unexpectedly saw Wang Yuanwai and Butler Wang.

At this moment, the two masters and servants were arguing with the owner outside the coffin shop. Wang Yuanwai wanted to buy and sell by force, but the owner of the shop was a hard-tempered man and threw the banknotes that Wang Yuanwai put on the table directly back into Wang Yuanwai's face.

"What do you really think of your bank note? I have been in this business for so long and I have never broken my trust! If you are eager to get it, who of my customers is not eager to get it?"

"Are you a stupid person? This is a hundred taels of silver! Who can spend a hundred taels of silver in your coffin shop to buy a tattered coffin like yours?" Wang Yuanwai was slapped on the face, and he was furious. There is something unscrupulous about what he says.

As expected, the boss kicked the two of them out directly, "If you think I'm a rag, just leave!"

After saying that, the owner closed the door directly.

Wang Yuanwai and Butler Wang stood at the door and cursed for a long time, saying, "I don't believe you are the only coffin shop in the city!"

"Then you really have to believe it! My coffin shop is the only one still open in the city now!" The owner responded from inside through the door panel.