Early the next morning, Wang Dou took the Han Dynasty brothers, Gao Shiyin, and Zhong Tiaoyang to the state city. ”

Wang Dou said: "It's all a family, so there's no need to say such polite words." ”

The city of Baoanzhou is in the northwest direction of Jingbian Fort, about ten miles away from the fort, a few people rode away, all the way through several Tunpu villages, and soon arrived at the Sanggan River, which the locals call the edge of the Hunhe River. Here, there is a pontoon bridge called Chuanji Bridge by the locals, built for the three years of Ming orthodoxy, cross the river, walk five miles to the east again, and then go to Baoan Zhou City.

Wang Dou and a few people arrived at the Chuanji Bridge, it was the season of summer tax collection, although it was early in the morning, but the bridge was already crowded with people driving ox carts, mule carts, and rickshaws, and it was full of grain.

After the Ming Dynasty implemented the "One Whip Law", although the collection of summer taxes and autumn grains was changed to levy silver, how can ordinary people usually have silver in their hands? The grain had to be transported to the state town or other places, and then sold in various rice shops in exchange for silver, and the merchants had to accept the cheap price of the merchants, which was far below the market price, and even in a good year, it was still not very profitable.

After paying the taxes, when the people were in a state of poverty in the second year, they had to buy grain from merchants at high prices to satisfy their hunger.

Zhang Juzheng implemented a whip law in the same year, which was originally intended to alleviate the suffering of the people who had to travel and transport grain for thousands of miles, but he did not expect that the implementation until now would make the people endure more bullying or exploitation.

Of course, after the implementation of the "one whip law", the grain chief and the chief of the country in various places existed in name only, but at this time, the limited service in the states and counties of the Ming Dynasty was naturally difficult to collect taxes to the households, and there was a kind of Baotou or household in various parts of the Ming Dynasty, which was usually filled by local large households, rich households or local wealthy families.

These people pay taxes on their behalf, although it is also convenient for some people, but obviously, they will not do good things in vain, and the layers of exploitation also make many people willing to go to the state city to pay taxes. At this time, the people's vehicles crowded by the Chuanji Bridge obviously belong to this category of people.

Looking at the numb expressions of these people, Wang Dou secretly sighed in his heart the suffering of the people's livelihood. Han Zhong and Gao Shiyin next to them had no heart or lungs, they just rode on the horse for pleasure and pointed out, watching some people cast envious expressions on themselves on the horse, and the two were triumphant.

The old man who ran the tea shed couldn't help but hesitate when he saw the appearance of several military men dressed up, and the hideous expressions of each of them.

Gao Shiyin glared and said, "What, I'm afraid that we won't give money?" Have you ever seen the horses of the masters, do we seem to be people who can't afford to pay? ”

The old man was even more surprised, nodded and poured tea for everyone.

Everyone ate two bowls of tea, and seeing that the city gate was already smooth, Wang Dou signaled slightly, Gao Shiyin took out a penny of silver, and slapped it on the table with a "snap", so that the table almost spread out, and he said loudly: "Where, this is the money for you, and there is no need to look for more." ”

The old man was overjoyed, but he thanked him repeatedly, and secretly wondered in his heart: "It's really strange that I haven't seen the military master drink tea and pay back." ”

……

Wang Dou and the others stood up, Zhong Tiaoyang led the horse for Wang Dou, and everyone was about to enter the city, when suddenly a burst of talking attracted their attention.

But not far away, two girls dressed as maids were complaining to a few men in coarse cloth clothes in front of them: "I made an appointment with you early in the morning, why did you come now?" I almost missed our guest. ”

The men were just shouting, and one of them said: "Two grandmothers, the time you agreed on is tight, and you have to rush to fresh, from our Dongling Mountain to here, there are dozens of miles, but we set off before dawn, and now we have caught up, haven't we?" ”

One of the maids said, "Okay, okay, your apricot is fresh?" ”

The man said: "This grandma, our apricot was specially picked from the sunny slope of Dongling Mountain yesterday, you see, how thin does this apricot look like the flesh, and how fresh is this color?" It is guaranteed to taste juicy and sweet, and I heard the older generation say that eating this mountain apricot has the effect of moistening the lungs and fixing asthma, and quenching thirst.

The two maids took the man's bamboo basket and looked at it for a while, and said, "Okay, we have accepted the apricot, and this silver is for you." ”

The two maids were also very happy when they heard this, and said in a loud voice: "This is all raised by Steward Yang, and the slaves and maids are grateful." ”

Steward Yang nodded and said, "Hurry up and get ready, the carriage and horses of the young lady and the little lady Ji are about to come out." ”

At this time, there were already a circle of people around the carriage and horses, and Wang Dou and a few people were also curious when they saw this, but they were not in a hurry to leave, and it was good to see the excitement on the side.

Steward Yang just stood proudly with his hands in his hands, his eyes swept to Wang Dou and the others, glanced at everyone a few times, snorted, and turned his head away.

Gao Shiyin said in a low voice: "Look at the carriage and horse, it seems to be the ...... of the Zhizhou Lord's mansion."

At that moment, another beautiful carriage and horse drove out of the city gate, and soon stopped behind the previous one. Steward Yang hurriedly greeted him with two maids, and respectfully opened the car door, revealing the bamboo curtain inside.

A woman's low voice sounded inside, and then the bamboo curtain was half rolled up, and two women stepped out of the car.

One of them was dressed as a young woman, in her twenties, and wore a big red armor. The other is a young girl in the flower season, about seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a white light shirt with pine silk and a skirt with a raised line.

The two women got out of the car, and the girl gave a salute and said, "I am grateful for the hospitality of Mrs. Lao." ”

The young woman returned the salute and said, "The little lady has gone all the way, and the concubine greets the adult." ”

She stretched out her hand to take the bamboo basket handed over by Steward Yang, and said, "These apricots are specially prepared for adults by concubines, and I hope that the little lady will accept them." ”

The girl took it with some surprise and laughed: "I didn't expect the young lady to know what her father likes, it's really heartfelt." ”

The two daughters finally bowed to each other again.

Wang Dou saw that the demeanor and demeanor of the two of them were the best choice, especially the girl who was called Ji Xiaoniang, who was even taller, with a delicate face, and was very flexible in the flow of her eyes.

Looking at this girl, Wang Dou had a feeling of amazement, when he came to the Ming Dynasty, he saw the beauty of the ancient legend for the first time, clear water out of hibiscus, natural carving, and the so-called cosmetics piled up by the beauties in later generations were not at all on the same level in front of her.

Looking at the fabrics of the two women's clothes and fabrics, they are all of high quality and luxurious, and I don't know where these two women came from.

Gao Shiyin said in a low voice beside him: "That young lady seems to be from the mansion of Lord Zhizhou, I have seen it before, I don't know what kind of character that little lady is, and she actually wants to work for the young lady in the Zhizhou Mansion to send it off." ”

Wang Dou and the others all looked at Gao Shiyin and expressed their admiration for his rich experience.

The little lady got into the car, and when the carriage and horses started, she still smiled and raised her hand to the young lady outside the car. Under this carriage and horse, Han Zhong and Gao Shiyin looked at her stupidly, saliva was flowing all over the ground and still didn't know it, the little lady Ji couldn't help but be a little funny when she saw Han Zhong and the others, her eyes flowed, and she was immediately charming.

When her eyes swept over Wang Dou, Wang Dou smiled at her and chin his chin. The little lady glanced at Wang Dou with some surprise, her eyes were shining, and after turning deeply on Wang Dou, she then closed the curtains.

Watching her carriage and horses go away, Wang Dou remembered a poem in his heart: "There are vines and grass in the wild, and there is no dew." There is a beautiful person, clear and graceful. Encounters and encounters are suitable for my wishes. There are vines and grasses in the wild, and there is no dew. There is a beautiful person, as graceful as Qingyang. Encounter and meet, and meet with the son. ”

Perhaps this scene can be better described.

After the girl's carriage and horse went away, Wang Dou saw that Gao Shiyin and the others were still stunned, he patted each of them on the head, and said, "Everyone is gone, what else to see?" Let's go into town! ”