Lin Hai actually and some people in the same village, rented a fishing boat, brought the only sister to Weihai, his parents starved to death in the early years, the only relative in the family, is the sister who just turned sixteen, stay at home is not at ease, simply brought it over, I heard that Daxing hired workers are highly paid, if you can find a job, you can live a very decent life, since you came, simply take the sister to try your luck.

However, as soon as they got off the boat, they were poured a basin of cold water, and the Daxing army only recruited 10,000 people, although the monthly salary was as high as one or two halves, but the people were already full.

More than 20 people sat listlessly in the open space by the Weihai wharf, in order to save money, they only ate one dry food a day at sea, and now they did not find the job, naturally they did not dare to waste it, looking at the bustling Weihai wharf, wearing gorgeous clothes, leading the family of maritime merchants abound, the local people are basically doing business, everyone is full of luxury, and they are very rich at a glance.

The crowd was helpless, and at this moment, a group of people dressed somewhat like soldiers' clothes, a dozen or so, walked by, armed with spears.

One of them saw Lin Hai on the ground and ran over excitedly.

"Lin Hai, is that you?"

Lin Hai was stunned for a moment, and after a closer look, he saw that it turned out to be Xue Mazi from the next village, and over there in Fujian, Chen, Lin, and Xue are the surnames, and five or six out of ten are from these three surnames.

Lin Hai was overjoyed, stood up, and said, "Xue Mazi, when did you come to Weihai and become a soldier?" ”

When everyone heard that there were fellow villagers, they all rushed over.

"Hey, I've been here for more than half a year, I used to repair the city at the wharf, and now the new wharf city has been built, and I'm worried that I have nothing to do, so I enlisted as a patrol of the sailor, we are not soldiers, or temporary personnel hired by the sailor, responsible for maintaining the security of the dock, the sailor soldiers are all fully armed, everyone is equipped with muskets, carrying long knives, where is we so shabby, take a spear and come out."

Xue Mazi chatted with Lin Hai unscrupulously, and the rest of his team didn't care about him, just strolling around the dock, as if he had nothing to do, very leisurely.

When Xue Mazi was chatting, he glanced at Lin Hai's sister from time to time, Lin Hai's sister had just grown, and she was also a middle-aged person.

Everyone didn't pay attention, Lin Hai frowned and said: "Hey, you can be regarded as having a foothold in Daxing, we people just came over, and we haven't found a job, so we don't know what to do." ”

Xue Mazi thought for a while and said: "I heard that the princess is building a palace in Dengzhou, and the scale of the construction is very large, I heard that the brother of the sailor said that he wants to build a palace comparable to the scale of the Forbidden City, and he is still recruiting, so you might as well go to Dengzhou to try your luck." ”

When everyone heard this, they were overjoyed, Lin Hai and the others were about to ask for the route to leave, but they were stopped by Xue Mazi, Xue Mazi reached out and took out a silver ticket or two from his pocket and handed it to Lin Hai.

"You just came, it's not easy, this bit of silver is counted as the brother's travel expenses to support you, and also, don't take your sister away, I rented a yard in Weihai, and rented it with a few fellow villagers, it's better to stay in Weihai, wait for you to find a job over there, and then talk about it when it's stable, Weihai is better to find a job than Dengzhou, and your sister can find it slowly in Weihai."

Lin Hai was surprised to see it, it was the first time I had seen such a small denomination of silver tickets, and the general silver tickets started at fifty taels, they were all poor, and they had never taken a silver ticket, so after a little hesitation, they still took it.

"Hehe, haven't seen it, have you? The first time I saw it, it was also very strange, but in Daxing, it is more convenient to use it in the same way as silver, and there is no need to weigh the trouble. ”

Xue Mazi introduced.

Lin Hai is now penniless, and the money is used to rent fishing boats, they are all fellow villagers, he is not too worried that his sister will be handed over to Xue Mazi, so he has to nod and agree.

"I borrowed the money, and when I find a job, I'll pay you back as soon as possible."

Lin Hai said simply.

Xue Mazi patted Lin Hai on the shoulder and said, "It's all brothers, it's polite to say this, you should set off as soon as possible, if it is also full over there, go back to the dock to find me, I patrol the dock every day, and you will see me as soon as you come." ”

Lin Hai had no choice but to say goodbye to his sister and go on the road with everyone.

Fortunately, Dengzhou is not too far from Weihai, and their group arrived after walking for two days.

With Xue Mazi's aid of one or two silver, Lin Hai could easily cope with it, bought some bread on the way to satisfy his hunger, and took the initiative to support other people in the same village who were not entangled.

Daxing has plenty of grain, and the price of grain has been kept at a very low and stable state, and one tael of silver can buy two buckets of white noodles, which is enough for more than 20 of them to eat together for four or five days.

Dengzhou City has always been the capital of Denglai and Daming in the Ming Dynasty, the scale is naturally much larger than Weihai, and it is also very prosperous at this time, and the poor people in tattered clothes can not be seen on the street, and the people seem to be doing well.

When they came to the gate, the soldiers who were guarding the gate looked at their clothes and asked, "Have you come here to find work?" The construction of the palace is still recruiting, and the monthly salary is one or two. ”

Their clothes betrayed them, and the local people of Daxing were not so shabby.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in unison, if there were no acquaintances, it would be really difficult to find, when they came, there were still many people sitting at Weihai Wharf, and they couldn't find a job.

The young general in the lead was very enthusiastic and sent a soldier to lead them to the palace.

Arriving at the construction site, the soldiers delivered them to a foreman.

It was a short man with a bald head, with an impatient face, and said to everyone: "Today's task is urgent, work first, and when you are done, you will come back here to gather, I will take you to the shed where you live, and if you want to do it, come and register your name and age, and you can go in with a badge." ”

Everyone hurriedly lined up to get the sign in the hands of the foreman, they just arrived in Dengzhou in the afternoon, and the meal had not yet come to eat, but there was no way to work for the sake of work, so they had to stand up.

Soon everyone was taken to a place where the boulder was being carried, and another grim-faced foreman was in charge of the move.

The work is very heavy, Lin Hai gritted his teeth and insisted, but he was a little angry in his heart, he didn't eat anything, he didn't have the strength at all, such a heavy stone, at least hundreds of catties, carried by one person, didn't work for two hours, Lin Hai was already tired and out of breath, so he had to slow down.

The foreman suddenly came over, raised his whip, and began to fight without saying a word.

"With such a high monthly salary, you are still lazy?"

Lin Hai was whipped twice, and his heart was even more depressed, thinking that Xue Mazi was patrolling the dock, leisurely and leisurely, shopping, and the monthly salary was one or two halves.

Seeing that the sun had set and was about to call it a day, the foreman came over with a few thugs with ill intentions, and said to Lin Hai and a few people who were working a little slower: "You can't do it, get out, you don't need you here!" ”

I couldn't help but say something, so I came over with a whip and beat a few people out of the construction site.

Lin Hai was depressed in his heart, and several people were angry and stayed at the gate of the construction site to discuss.

"Didn't you hear that Daxing is very good for employees? Not only is the salary high, but it is also forbidden to beat people casually, and it is not allowed to be used as a slave! ”

Lin Hai had known about it before he came, including those who consulted at the dock.

"Maybe it's the foreman?"

Someone asked skeptically.

Lin Hai said indignantly: "Let's find an official to sue him!" ”

At this moment, two officials walked past the gate of the construction site, both with long knives at their waists, with serious expressions.

Lin Hai was about to step forward to ask, when suddenly, a few people came out of the construction site, led by the foreman who had just whipped him, with a cold and expressionless dead face.

They dragged a hired man who had been beaten and covered in blood, and threw him on the ground.

"You two take the person away, this person is not subject to management at the construction site, and wants to incite the hired workers to make trouble, arrest him and lock him up for a few days, to see if he is still honest."

Seeing this, Lin Hai and the others immediately swallowed all the words they wanted to complain to the officials, and a cold sweat broke out on their backs.

The two servants looked a little ugly, but they didn't speak, silently set up the hired man who had only half a life left on the ground, and walked out.

Lin Hai hurriedly followed quietly, he wanted to see what the official would do with this hired worker, as far as the style of this palace foreman was no different from the Ming gentry and heroic, except that the monthly salary was a little higher, they all regarded the hired workers as inappropriate people, and it seemed that Daxing was a bit exaggerated.

Who knows, turning a street corner, the official put the hired man on the ground and asked, "Brother, how is it, do you still have relatives or friends in Dengzhou?" We're going to call them to come and pick you up. ”

A servant said lightly.

The hired man was stunned for a moment and said, "Won't you arrest me and go to jail?" ”

The official smiled bitterly: "What are you going to do, you are just a hard-working person who came to Daxing to beg for a living, you are the first time to come to Daxing, this month like you, the construction site of the palace has been sent out more than ten!" ”

The hired worker was stunned for a moment, and then said angrily: "I also heard that you came here because of your great fame, I didn't expect it, it would be like this, Lao Tzu has been working for more than ten days, this foreman is deliberately looking for fault and does not want to pay a monthly salary, you say, I am tired and tired, so I naturally want to take the hired workers to find them to theorize, and I actually beat people directly, and said that I want to arrest me for making trouble, there is really no royal law, Lao Tzu wants to sue the yamen, and I have to give me the salary no matter what." ”

Xu saw that the two officials were kind-hearted, and they actually wanted to release him, and he kindled a little hope for the Yamen of Daxing.

The two officials shook their heads at the same time, one of them was older, and said with a wry smile: "Brother, it's useless, you came to Daxing to come to the right place, but you shouldn't enter the construction site of the palace, it is managed by Concubine Fan, Concubine Fan is mean, the whole Daxing knows, you just need to hide from the industry managed by Concubine Fan, other construction sites, the business name is casually entered, not to mention the high salary, being bullied by the shopkeeper, although you come to the yamen to sue, one is allowed, this Concubine Fan still forget it, we can't afford to provoke it." ”

The other person laughed and said: "You can only consider yourself unlucky, let's go, we won't lock you up, although Concubine Fan is powerful, she can't control our yamen." ”

At this time, Lin Hai and several people had already gathered around, and listened to the guidance of the two officials in amazement.

The man who was beaten was full of depression and said, "Why am I so unlucky, the whole Daxing is just a vicious Concubine Fan, so let Lao Tzu touch it!" ”

Since ancient times, the people did not fight with officials, and since the officials had already explained the truth, that person no longer thought about him, he was just an insignificant hired laborer, how could he be tough with the high-ranking and powerful princess?

Lin Hai saw that he had a little difficulty standing up, so he hurriedly stepped forward to support him and said, "Brother, it's good that we didn't have to fight the foreman just now, otherwise it would be the same as you, we are better, we only received a few whips, and we were driven out by the foreman." ”

The man looked at Lin Hai gratefully and said, "Hey, I came to Daxing alone, and now I'm injured, how can this be good?" ”

Lin Hai hurriedly said enthusiastically: "You might as well go to Weihai with us to find a job, we have fellow villagers in Weihai, it's a big deal to find it slowly." ”

The man nodded, and said, "So, thank you to this brother, the great kindness is not grateful, and there will be a day when it will be rewarded." ”

Everyone helped the man all the way to Weihai direction, they were a few strong men, the man was only injured, although he walked slowly, it was not completely impossible to walk, a few people took turns to support or back, it took a full three days to return to Weihai.

found Xue Mazi at the dock, Xue Mazi listened to their experience, felt very regretful, and said: "You know, I don't recommend you to go to Dengzhou, it's a big deal to work as a coolie at the dock, carrying goods and getting on and off the ship, it's much better than this." ”

Lin Hai hurriedly said: "Brother Xue is also kind-hearted, how do you know that there is such a poisonous concubine in Daxing, don't mention this matter again, a few of us will listen to Brother Xue first, work as a coolie at the dock, and then find other jobs when we save some money." ”

Xue Mazi said: "Then you wait, I'm going to call it a day, I'll take you home first, rest for one night, and then come out tomorrow to find a job for coolies." ”

Lin Hai hurriedly agreed, and a few people found a vacant space by the dock, sat down, and Xue Mazi continued to patrol.

After a while, a girl in red walked over, her face was full of excitement, and when she saw Lin Hai on the ground, she hurriedly walked over and said, "Brother, why are you back?" ”

This woman is Lin Hai's sister, her name is so dirty, and she is actually called Lin Mei.

In ancient times, the idea of patriarchy was serious, and many families were unhappy when they gave birth to daughters, so they took a random name, and it was a wonder to be able to obtain such a soil.

"Don't mention it, we can't do the work in Dengzhou, Sister Lin, why did you come to the dock at this time?"

Lin Hai said dejectedly.

The woman regained her excitement just now, and said: "I have found a job, I am a low-class maid in a big store that has just opened, and my monthly salary is one or two halves. ”

Everyone was amazed and exclaimed in unison.

"So high? What is this shop for? Also, what are you doing in there? ”

Lin Hai was actually worried that the place where his sister went was not serious, she was a little girl, she was the lowest maid, and her monthly salary was so high, it is conceivable that the other guys in this store must be higher, but don't go to Fengyue places like Qinglou.

The woman hurriedly said: "Don't think about it, it's a serious store, called Daxing Futures Exchange, I don't know what it does, I'm in it, I'm just responsible for cleaning." ”

Everyone was confused, they had never heard of a shop with such a name.

"What the hell is this store?"

Lin Hai was a little anxious, don't really be a Fengyue place, that's not good, so he hurriedly asked.

Lin Mei thought for a long time and said: "Listening to the shopkeeper, it seems to be a place for rich people to talk about business, and it seems to be a transaction, and I don't understand it." ”

Lin Hai listened more anxiously, and said in his heart, where rich people talk about business, it is either a green house or a high-end restaurant, and most of them are accompanied by Fengyue transactions, so he stood up and said, "Are there a lot of beautiful girls in it?" ”

Lin Mei nodded hurriedly and said, "Brother, how do you know?" ”

Lin Hai was extremely angry, snorted coldly, and said, "Brother doesn't allow you to go to that kind of place to do things, it's definitely not a serious place!" ”

Lin Mei's face was full of surprise, and said: "Brother, what are you thinking, there is a whole team of sailor soldiers standing guard at the door of the house, everyone is carrying muskets, standing like a wood, the lobby inside is as spacious as the square of the dock, at a glance, there is no hidden space in the entire lobby, how can it not be a serious place!" ”

Everyone gasped when they heard this, there was such a strange shop, and there were soldiers standing guard at the door, and it was a whole team!

The only shop they had ever seen with soldiers standing guard at the docks was Daxing Qianzhuang, but there were only two soldiers guarding the door, and my sister was talking about a whole group of soldiers.

"And how many soldiers are there?"

One asked curiously.

Lin Mei raised her fingers and began to count, and said, "There are about fifty or sixty of them!" ”

Everyone was stunned, it felt more like a military place than a store, naturally it could never be a Fengyue place, since ancient times, there had never been a Fengyue place guarded by soldiers.

Qinglou is desolate, soldiers are serious, both are things that have nothing to do with each other, no one in power dares to send troops to guard Fengyue place, because no matter how shameless a person is, since he can be in power, the most basic bottom line is still to be faced.

Not long after, Xue Mazi came back from work, and brought good news to Lin Hai and others, and contacted the ship's family for them, so that they could come over tomorrow to start moving, and the treatment was not bad.

A group of people happily returned to the house rented by Xue Mazi.

It is a small old yard, not far from the wharf, the owner of the house is a local homesteaders, they have been around for more than a year, because Yang Xin has reduced taxes, there is no previous harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes, Weihai has developed rapidly, many locals rely on the wharf to do some small business, have made a small fortune, bought a new house in the new city, the original old house is used for rent, this neighborhood is like this, basically most of the houses are rented to outsiders like Xue Mazi.

The yard is shared by four outsiders, the rent of a year is two taels, two of them are Fujian villagers, and two are refugees who fled from Shandong, they came to Daxing at the earliest, it has been almost a year, at the beginning even the house is reluctant to rent, basically sleeping on the street, eating is provided by Daxing, only waiting for two months, taking the salary, the two people rented this yard, and then in order to save money, squeezed again, built a mud house in the vacant land, rented to Xue Mazi and the two, such rent is completely affordable.

It's just that Xue Mazi has only one room, which was previously given to Lin Mei to live in, and she squeezed with her co-workers, and suddenly so many people came, everyone could only make do with the floor.