The crowd suddenly gave way, and they looked over in confusion to see a middle-aged man in brown walking slowly.

Everyone looked at him respectfully.

He looked around, waved his hand and said, "Let's all disperse, go and do your own thing." His voice was rough and hoarse, and it made people feel uncomfortable and panicked.

The crowd was obedient and scattered.

So there were only the three of them, the old man who was hidden, and the man in brown.

He coughed a few times, as if he had expected it, his expression was as usual, and he said calmly: "Several adults came from afar, but I didn't entertain them well......

The three of them looked at each other, not knowing what medicine he was in his gourd.

This development ...... Something doesn't seem right.

Before they could express their intentions, the brown-clothed man said: "I am not talented, there is also some news on the official side, I can't hide it, since you entered the gate of Lizhou City, I have been waiting for this day." ”

I know that this day is always coming, and these shadows will one day be exposed to the sun.

I can't see that there are such shrewd people in this small place where illegal salt is mined.

However, sure enough, the collusion between officials and businessmen and the secret passage of the song will not be able to escape.

How could they reveal the inside story so casually, could it be that there was something else waiting for him.

No one expected that what was originally an unannounced visit would turn into the current situation:

The brown-clothed man took the initiative to take them to visit various parts of the well and explained to them the process of making well salt.

This...... What the hell am I here for?

Qu Bo thought so in his heart.

Xie Qinglin has lived in the capital for a long time, no matter how much he understands the people's feelings, it is impossible to know everything, such as the production of salt, he only knows that sea salt is made by drying the method, so he never thought that inland salt production would have to go through so many processes.

The brown-clothed man refused to give his name, but humbly said that his family had lived on the salt well for generations, and that he was now a steward here, and he told them that there were four wells in the area, one of which was originally there, and three of which were later dug by the merchant.

Yes, there was originally only one salt well here, which only produced salt for the people of his village, and as for when this well was dug is really old, no one can say why. Later, a merchant passed by and learned that it was a place where wells could be drilled to make salt, so he hired skilled craftsmen to dig three more wells and hire people from nearby villages to work for them.

Later, he bought the original well, because the industry was so profitable.

More and more people are becoming hired workers in the salt wells, receiving a certain daily salary, and they have nothing to do with where the salt produced ends up and how profitable it is.

"Look." They came to the original well, and the surrounding workers were silent to make way for them.

Xie Qinglin felt that these workers were very strange, and seemed to be too silent.

There are at least a hundred people on the huge salt well, but they can't hear the sound of conversation, so they can't all be dumb.

He stood a little far away and watched, but did not come closer, the salt wells were all small deep wells, and when he looked down, it was pitch black, as if there was no bottomless abyss, and he could not see anything except the thick darkness.

To be honest, he didn't have much interest in these things, he was just following the trend at this time, and he couldn't understand what kind of thoughts this person had in mind to bring him to see this.

Two men came carrying a long, thin bucket of water, which was not quite accurate, because it had no bottom.

Large wooden frames and wheels were erected on the well, and the men slowly lowered the barrels with ropes.

The hoarse voice of the brown-clothed man sounded again, "Don't be surprised, there is a trap made of cowhide under this barrel, and when the bucket goes down to the bottom of the well, it is inserted into the salt water, and the salt water washes the trap away and enters the bucket." "How could these workers not understand the principle, this was obviously said to the three outsiders.

Xie Qinglin let out a noncommittal "um", the man didn't seem to care about his cold reaction, and continued: "The bucket is filled with salt water and starts to lift up, at this time, the salt water in the bucket presses the trap, and it won't flow out.

At this time, several men by the well were pulling the bucket of salt water out, and several people were showing their muscles.

Salt water can be much heavier than regular water.

"Come with me, a few of them." The brown-clothed man took them in a different direction, and walked to dozens of large iron pots surrounded by fences not far away, where firewood was burning, and someone on the edge of the pot kept stirring with long wooden sticks, and bursts of white mist rose from the iron pot.

As soon as he approached here, Xie Qinglin smelled an indescribable smell, like dried pickled fish that stinked after a long time, extremely pungent.

Yun Shen couldn't help it first, frowned and said, "Could it be that this is to draw some well water?" ”

The brown-clad man nodded, "That's right, the brine has to be boiled for at least a day and a night before it can turn into salt grains. ”

None of them spoke, but they were amazed at how complicated the process of making well salt was.

Unexpectedly, this was not the end, and they saw someone shovel out the dried salt from the pot, put it in a bamboo basket, and pour water on it.

Seeing that they were puzzled, the brown man explained that there was no process of splashing water, but some people found that directly eating the boiled salt often caused abdominal pain.

I didn't expect the production process of well salt to be so complicated, and how much manpower was used in it......

Xie Qinglin thought so.