The New Year is here, and compared with the previous New Year, which was slightly deserted, this year's New Year is particularly lively.

After all, a large number of envoys came, many of them came with gifts, and at the same time there were many followers.

If there are many people, then you have to arrange room and board. Of course, you can't let others pay for it, you can only pay it out of the financial revenue. And the messengers, although they don't have to worry about food and lodging, they can't stay out all the time.

When you go out, you must buy and buy everywhere, especially one or two people, and their minds are not very pure.

In fact, on the second day of the Lunar New Year, many people have already opened, maybe one less day of business, and they feel that they are in danger of not being able to eat.

When the store opened, ordinary people didn't want to stay at home, so the New Year's atmosphere naturally came alive.

"I didn't expect that a library was really opened, allowing people to read and copy books for free......" Mi Zhu came to the library, looking at the people who were reading and copying books, and couldn't help but smack his tongue.

I found a random book and looked at it, and to his surprise, these books actually had sentences to read. If it is said that in the future, the official teaching and examination will use this standard, then the reader will no longer have to worry about it, and he may be wrong.

"If this continues, won't the entire Jinyang have to be scholars? How many scholars should there be in the entire state? Mi Zhu didn't dare to imagine it.

It is said that Liu Tao is mean to scholars, but is he really mean? How many poor families and ordinary people are estimated to be grateful to him. After all, they are all real beneficiaries, and only those big families that have been inherited for a long time and various schools have suffered.

He Mi Zhu, in the final analysis, is just a local tyrant and a big businessman in Xuzhou, not as good as the old Cao and Chen. During Tao Qian's tenure as the assassin of Xuzhou, in order not to be overshadowed by the Cao family and the Chen family, he was promoted to another driver.

In addition, there is actually another reason, that is, he has taken a fancy to Mi's family property and can provide him with political donations.

Mi Zhu paid 30% of the family property, and finally helped Tao Qian control Xuzhou, and at the same time secured this other position. But he knew very well in his heart that Tao Qian might not think very highly of him.

This is also the norm, before the farewell drive, the Cao family and the Chen family, using their influence in the officialdom, took turns to oppress the Mi family, but he didn't even have room to cry and fight back.

If it weren't for the fact that the Mi clan also had a good reputation in the local area, then they could really only rely on the charity of the two families and be careful in the cracks.

For those old families, Mi Zhu really has no good feelings at all, but for the sake of the Mi family, he has to force a smile and suppress his disgust to be false to them.

even did not hesitate to spend 30% of the family property to 'buy' this other position. This time, as envoys, the Chen and Cao clans did not send people, but sent him over, and many problems can already be seen.

Even if he has the identity of a different driver, in Xuzhou, he is still nothing......

It was Liu Tao's attitude towards the scholar clan, mainly these old families, that won his favor. At the same time, I also saw that here, the poor families, local tyrants and gentry, and even ordinary people, all have the possibility of becoming officials!

"Excuse me...... Do you still read this book? He was pondering, but a reader next to him asked cautiously.

The man was not wearing a robe, but a very ordinary coarse cloth short, but there seemed to be a layer of fluffy cloth inside, so it didn't look so thin. It's just been the Chinese New Year, and it's still very cold.

It can be seen from his appearance and conversation that this person should not be a serious scholar, and it is even possible that he is just an ordinary person. In fact, from his appearance and the calluses on his hands, some clues can be seen.

"Well, look at it......" Mi Zhu actually didn't plan to read at all, at least not in the mood to read now. Seeing that others wanted it, he gave up the book in his hand.

"Thank you...... You're here to prepare for the expedition? The other party thanked him, and then asked in a low voice.

"Scientific expedition?" The first time Mi Zhu heard about this, it was mainly because he had just come here and had never been out before, so he didn't know about this. Although he didn't know, he was still very curious about this, "Can you tell me about this?" ”

"This ...... I still have to prepare for the exam......" the latter said with some embarrassment, "I have half an hour to go, and I have to hurry up and study." ”

"So, you tell me, this is yours!" Mi Zhu thought about it and took out a string of change, about a hundred.

A hundred is not a small amount, especially for a person from an ordinary background. Seeing this, this person was a little moved, but in the end he gritted his teeth and said goodbye to Mi Zhu.

"Don't worry, it's negotiable!" Seeing this, Mi Zhu was a little puzzled, could it be that the price of goods in Jinyang is very high, in Xuzhou, there are so many hundred Wen, which can already make ordinary people saddle you before and after the horse, and it is a must, and take out a bunch of them.

"Okay, I said hurry up......" Seeing this, the latter really couldn't bear this temptation, so he could only step forward, "It's not easy to talk about it here, let's go out and talk." ”

Loud noises are forbidden in the library, one warning, two expulsions from the library. If there are many times, they will be sent to the official, and at the same time, through the drawing method of sketching, the name and place of origin will be registered and pasted on the side of the library gate.

Even sent to all the libraries in the state, as long as he passed, others saw that it was blacklisted, and they would not be allowed to enter. If you dare to protest or abuse, you will be sent to the official directly.

The library was set up to give ordinary people a place where they could obtain knowledge for free. Since you don't want to gain knowledge, you have to bother others to gain knowledge, then I'm sorry, I'm not used to it!

When you get outside, find a tea stall and sit down. This tea stall is also an emerging industry, mainly because in the past few years, Liu Tao has purchased a large amount of tea from Bashu. Unconsciously, the tea trade has become the biggest business for Liu Tao and Liu Yan.

There is no loss, a lot of wine sent over, considering that the roasted tea technology and fermentation technology have not yet appeared, what is bought is only pure tea, the price is not symmetrical at all, only make money and do not lose!

With tea, there are tea workshops, which specialize in roasting tea, black tea, green tea and oolong tea, and the technology is still very simple. There are also tea shops, specializing in tea, and there are tea houses in the shops, where you can taste tea.

The tea stall is not so high-end, buy some tea powder or something, put it less, mainly to drink a taste, with a fashion, not too expensive. If you can't drink, or can't drink because you still have to study, come over and have a drink, which is considered vassal elegance.

Naturally, this tea stall is also open near the library, and the business is okay.

"After the year, on the third day after the enthronement ceremony, the imperial examination will be held in Bingzhou, not only for Bingzhou, but also in Sizhou and Liangzhou, and people have been sent to inform them. Those who feel that they have the conditions to take the exam have already come here to wait, and by the way, they can read books in the library here to prepare for the exam......" The two sat down, and the candidate poured a cup of difference for Mi Zhu, and then slowly said the matter of the imperial examination.

"As long as you pass the imperial examination, you can become an official?" Mi Zhu is the first time he has heard of this method of material selection, but it is obviously more reliable than filial piety.

It's just that this kind of material selection, I'm afraid that there will be some unfilial and incorruptible people mixed in, is it really no problem? Is it really okay to be meritocracy, not morality?

The main thing is still sour, if it was meritocracy, he would have become an official a long time ago! I asked the county officials and county officials in private, and I have never been filial piety, but because my family is in business, I am considered immoral!

Suppress it, suppress it, dare to be more open-minded?

Mi's grain store, inquire and inquire, the most conscientious grain store in Xuzhou, the people do not praise benevolence and righteousness, what is called no virtue, it is nothing more than robbing the business of those inferior gentry and scholars in the grain store!

I had to express his doubts, and when the latter heard this, he said with some confusion: "In this world, how many bad people can there be, even if they are not virtuous, at least they will not lack virtue." Virtue can be cultivated, and virtuous people will not lack virtue the day after tomorrow? ”

"That's interesting, but it doesn't seem like you can come up with it, right?" When Mi Zhu heard this, he agreed with these words.

Originally, he was still able to have both ability and political integrity in the township, but after becoming an official, it became worse and worse, and it is not unprecedented. Not to mention officials, county officials with big sesame seeds can be like changing people.

Sure enough, to know a person's morality, we also need to see what he does after he becomes a power.

"The ...... learned in the night school," the candidate said a little shyly, "when the teacher told us why we wanted to study, why we wanted to study, why we wanted to be an official, we said this. ”

"Night school?" Mi Zhu clearly got to the point.

"Well, literacy night school, a two-hour class every night, focusing on literacy and numeracy. You can also participate in the refresher class to learn more knowledge, and I am in the refresher class. The candidate replied, "The cost is not expensive, especially for literacy, except for the cost of books and stationery, the tuition fee does not need to be paid, and the government will pay for it." ”

Since it's all free, people who have time and thirst for knowledge will of course go to school. Refresher courses are not expensive, find a job, don't get drunk, don't gamble, not only enough for tuition, but also enough for stationery.

It's rare that the two are staggered, that is, the time to sleep is slightly less, but young people can hold on.

"You can still go to school for free?" Mi Zhu really can't imagine that he used to have to go to class, not to mention the restraints, it was very difficult to worship under someone.

"It's free, but each teacher may bring dozens, or even hundreds, of students. It is not considered an apprenticeship, it is purely imparting knowledge, and you can ask questions if you have it, but it is limited to the content of the lesson, and other than that, the teacher is not obliged to tell us. The candidate replied.

Of course, if you really apprentice and then go to cram school or something, then of course you can. However, in this case, not everyone can afford it.

Mi Zhu probably understands that he helps with enlightenment and teaching, but he is not considered an apprentice. Naturally, there is no obligation to teach higher knowledge, which can be regarded as taking money to do things.

"So what's in it for teachers?" Mi Zhu can't imagine.

"Of course......, there are a lot of benefits," the candidate replied, "not to mention the make-up fees, which will earn a lot of money." In addition, after a few evaluations, you may be promoted. In the end, he may be promoted to literature, or he can become a county officer, too much or something...... In Bingzhou, teaching is also a way to become an official! ”

Liu Tao doesn't know anything else, but he knows a sentence: while teaching, he can also review the courses in this area.

I have been teaching for a long time, and some theoretical knowledge is basically at my fingertips. The rest is nothing more than accumulating a period of experience in local governance, and if it is suitable, it will be promoted, and if it is not suitable, it will be lowered. Generally, they are mainly engaged in cultural and educational work, and those with special talents can be further promoted.

Besides, if there is no encouragement, in this era, how can we expect those who read to teach students with their hearts?

"That's ......" Mi Zhu suddenly found that he really didn't know much about Bingzhou, or Liu Tao. At the same time, the various measures here have really aroused his curiosity and desire to explore.

"Okay, it's almost time, I still have to go to study......" Seeing that he was almost finished, the candidate got up and left. Two bowls of tea, no refreshments, only four cents, he paid directly.

Mi Zhu picked up the tea bowl, and said that he had never drunk this thing at the beginning. It looks a little brown, but it's a tea soup, that's it, I've drunk it a few times before, and it's almost black, and I'm not used to this thing.

Just this tea soup, the cost of a bowl is more than two yuan, and the price is so low, and I am not afraid of loss.

His mind was not on the tea water, but looked at the library in the distance. So many people came to prepare for the exam, and I don't know how many talents can be obtained by this merger. What is rare is that these talents are not from wealthy families...... Well?

At this moment, his lips are on the edge of the tea bowl, and the tea soup passes through his lips, enters his mouth and touches his taste buds.

It is different from the tea soup in the impression, it is very light, not salty, some sweet, and it is rare to have no taste of spices and herbs! However, this mellow taste is not found in the tea soup.

took a sip, even if the tea soup has entered the abdomen, the aroma of tea soup still remains on the teeth and cheeks...... It's just a little lighter.

"Shop, this tea ......" Mi Zhu's family also does business, although he is mainly a grain merchant, but he still cares a lot about things that can make money.

Especially in the Central Plains, the literary style is relatively strong, and there is still a market for tea. For this level of tea, it is estimated that the price will triple to calculate! If you do the math carefully, it's a million profits!

"Too light? There is no way, the second course is like this, and the tea is usually changed after the third course. Of course, in the third case, a bowl is only a penny. The shopkeeper thought that Mi Zhu was not satisfied, and he listened to the accent and was a foreigner, so he hurriedly explained.

"The second, the third?" Mi Zhu is still the first time to hear this statement, generally the tea soup is cooked directly, just one piece, how can there be any second and third way......

"Also, you're an outsider, I don't know." When the shopkeeper heard this, he suddenly smiled and said, "This tea is processed by the workshop." There are black tea, green tea and oolong tea, and you don't need to cook it to drink, you just need to add boiling water to brew it.

The tea shop that sells good tea leaves has a set of special tea tasting techniques, which are highly respected by many scribes. In our kind of stall, with just some leftovers, you can soak up to three dishes, and the taste is average, which is cheaper and ordinary people can afford to drink! ”

"In other words, this tea is exclusive to the state?" Mi Zhu can be regarded as hearing it, although he still doesn't quite understand it.

"Yes, this tea is also the most exported commodity to the Hu people, and it is already more valuable than rhubarb, and the quantity is also large. Generally, thirty percent of the tea is left in the state, and only the rich can afford to drink good tea. The shopkeeper smiled, "But if you have ordinary tea, ordinary people can still afford it if you grit your teeth." ”

"So, where is this workshop?" Mi Zhu couldn't wait to hurry up, as if he was going to miss 100 million if he was too late.

"Over there in the west of the city, just look for Liuxiang Tea House." The shopkeeper pointed to the west and said, the latter couldn't wait to get over.