North and South groceries

The reason why Luo Yong was able to successfully store last year's sweet potato vines until the beginning of this year is naturally because of the convenience of space.

Later generations did have the technology of storing sweet potato vines, but it was not very popular. When Luo Yong chatted with a few countrymen in the past, he heard them talk about it.

The villagers told Luo Yong that two or three technicians came to their village earlier to promote a technique of storing sweet potato vines for sowing in the next spring.

The villagers are not interested. Their ancestors have used sweet potatoes to germinate and sow seeds. The sweet potatoes are not expensive, and they don’t cost a lot of money. calamity.

Just to save those few dollars, no one is willing to spend that money and take such a big risk.

This technology is really not very useful in later generations, but at this time in Changle County, in the early stage of the promotion of sweet potatoes, it can play a role in speeding up the promotion to a large extent.

This was Luo Yong's first attempt. In order to avoid failure, he secretly put the batch of sweet potato vines into the space during the coldest period of winter, and took them out again near the beginning of spring, and stored them in the In a warehouse behind the county office.

All the officials in the county knew that the room was where the county magistrate Luo hid sweet potato vines, the lock on the door was also hung by the magistrate himself, and only he had the key.

Although everyone was a bit curious about this room, they never went to explore it. If they failed to store these sweet potato vines, the county magistrate would blame them, and they couldn't bear it.

Later, these sweet potato vines were taken out of this room, distributed to various towns and towns under the jurisdiction of Changle County, cut into small pieces, and used as this year's sweet potato seeds, but most of them were planted alive.

Someone asked Luo Yong how to store sweet potato vines. Luo Yong said that he learned from those Yiwu people who sell melons. Then hide in the room.

Take care of them every day. When the temperature is high, be careful not to let them rot, and when the temperature is low, don’t let them get frostbite. Check it frequently. If you find rotten rattan, remove it in time.

When everyone heard about it, they all said that it was not easy to store sweet potato vines.It's not easy for Luo Yong, but this time, he might be a bit lucky.

He also said that there are not many sweet potatoes planted in Changle County this year. After the sweet potatoes are harvested in autumn, it is best to save these sweet potato vines for next year for planting. At that time, the work of storing sweet potato vines will require the county The officials of the central government have worked hard to strive for the spring of the coming year, so that this sweet potato can be planted on a large scale in their Changle County.

All the officials agreed one after another.

This kind of sweet potato is drought-tolerant and very high-yielding, which is very suitable for them to grow locally in Changle County. This time the promotion work is of great significance, and they are also very honored.

Speaking of which, since Da Luoyong came to Changle County, too many changes have taken place in their place.

A few years ago, it was still barren and dry, and many people were still hungry. People here were wary of the outside world, and there were also people who fought against each other and robbed wealth among the locals.People who are struggling on the verge of life and death all wish to live like a wolf.

Those Central Plains people probably have the impression of these frontier residents: poor, vicious, and barbaric.

I heard that some officials who participated in the selection in the past, after learning that they were arranged in Changle County, would rather ruin their official careers than take up their posts with them.

Looking at it now, the prosperity and wealth of their Changle County almost overwhelmed that of Jinchang and Dunhuang.

Occasionally, people in distress often travel to Le place, and there are often people who donate some food and rags. For several years, I have never heard of anyone starving to death in their Changle County. How many places like this are there in the Tang Dynasty?

Although these changes were brought about by Luo Yong, officials like them also participated in it. They all contributed to such earth-shaking changes in Changle County. Thinking about it this way, I naturally feel a little honored in my heart.

In the small place of Changle County, the officials are even proud of the changes in the local area over the years, let alone being above the court.

During the Zhenguan period, there were few wars, local politics were considered clear, and the court lightly taxed the people so that the people could recuperate. This included not only the hard work of the emperor Li Shimin, but also the efforts and contributions of countless civil servants and generals.

However, this year's Chang'an City seemed somewhat gloomy and uneasy because of the Goguryeo incident.

Because of that Goguryeo, the previous dynasty attacked again and again and suffered setbacks again and again. Finally, this great river and mountain was buried in vain.

Back in January and February of this year, there were rumors that the Taoist saint wanted to conquer Goguryeo himself, but the minister refused to listen to his advice.

Rumors have been circulating in Chang'an City for several months, and these days it has faded away. Suddenly, there is news that the sage ordered the construction of [-] ships to carry rations. It seems that the battle of Goguryeo is inevitable after all. up!

People in this era are more superstitious, because the previous dynasty was focused on the war with Goguryeo, many people think that Goguryeo is very evil, and this battle cannot be fought.

It's just that the saint's mind will not be changed because of these rumors in the market. Maybe the more others say that he can't fight, the less he will believe in evil. It's just a small country.

In this haze and anxiety, the Luo family sisters and brothers still study and do business.

In addition to taking care of the two elder sister's restaurants in Chang'an City, Mrs. Luo often keeps in touch with the shops in other places, and also goes to Zhongnan Mountain every once in a while. For the past six months, Sun Simiao, the king of medicine, has been taking her pulse in person. nursed back to health.

Aunt Luo's situation is different from many women nowadays who are born with deficiencies or acquired malnutrition. Her physical foundation is not very bad. In the past few years, she has been running a sister's food shop, and she has never owed herself in terms of food.

When a doctor treats a disease, the more vague the symptoms are, the more difficult it is to diagnose and treat. In the case of Mrs. Luo, it is difficult to solve the problem by supplementing alone. Ordinary doctors may not know where to start. Fortunately, Sun Simiao personally diagnosed it. After the first consultation and medication, I gradually figured out what the problem is, and now the idea of ​​this recuperation is relatively clear.

At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the climate in Chang'an City was still very humid at this time, and it was very humid and hot in summer.

The aunt has always felt very sleepy these days, I don't know if it's because of the heat, or because she has a baby in her womb. The couple secretly look forward to it, but they don't say anything. If the matter is broken, it will not work anymore.

One day, Mrs. Luo went to look at the elder sister's restaurant not far from home. Seeing that there was nothing wrong, she went home early. Wu Lang was busy making lunch. When he finished his meal, he found Mrs. I fell asleep again, and this time I slept until the afternoon.

In the afternoon, the aunt just got up to eat some food, when a servant came outside, saying that there was a letter from Changle County.

Originally, this public post station was not good for sending letters from home, but the rules were not too strict. Many people sent private letters through the post station, but it was not a big hindrance. The servants and post chiefs were very happy. The way of making money, the people above also turned a blind eye.

The letters that Luo sent back this time were also a thick pile, packed bulgingly in oiled paper.

The aunt opened the oiled paper bag outside and saw that there were three more envelopes inside, one for her, one for Siniang and the others, and one for Xu Erlang.

"Xu Erlang has been in Chang'an City for the past few days, and Si Niang should be in the shop at this time. It's still early in the day, so I'll take them there right now."

Lin Wulang has also recognized some characters in order to communicate with Mrs. Luo over the years, and he can still recognize the characters on these envelopes.

"Then you go back early."

"Just a few steps away, I drove the carriage there, and I will definitely be back before the curfew."

"Be careful on the road. I heard that the court is dispatching troops recently. If you encounter those sergeants on the road, you should avoid them."

"Don't worry about it."

"..."

With that said, Lin Wulang led his carriage out of the courtyard, turned back and closed the courtyard door, and told his aunt to stay at home with peace of mind, and don't go out if there is nothing to do, so he drove the carriage and left his house In the small street in front, I went to the north and south groceries in Xinghuafang without any haste.

Chang'an City in the seventh month of the lunar calendar is the hottest time of the year, and the cattle, horses, and pedestrians on the road are all slumped by the sun in the sky. Occasionally, those who are impatient will argue loudly at the slightest scratch. stand up.

Lin Wulang just concentrated on his journey, went to the North-South grocery store, found Xu Erlang who was talking to Siniang on the second floor, handed the two letters to them, poured down a bowl of water, turned around and was about to leave up.

Si Niang hurriedly called him to stop, she said that a few carts of cold melons were brought in from outside the city today, they were planted by a farmer's family on a newly reclaimed sloping land, the melons were not big, but the flesh was very crispy, so she asked him to take them with his aunt Several go back.

"Your elder sister is taking medicine to recuperate recently, and she can't eat cold melon. I can't eat much by myself, so I don't want it." Lin Wulang waved his hand and was about to leave.

What did he want that cold melon to do, and my aunt couldn't eat it, and it would be uncomfortable just watching him eat it. In this hot day, who wouldn't want to eat a few mouthfuls of crispy, refreshing cold melon to relieve the heat.

Siniang hurriedly chased them out again, and took a few bunches of grapes with him. These grapes were produced in a manor outside Chang'an City, and the price was quite expensive. Not bad either.

Send my brother-in-law outside the shop, and tell Xun Xiu a few days later that I will go there with Wulang and the others.

"The sun is very hot recently, if you want to come, hurry up, don't sleep until the sun is high, it's too hot outside."

"Hey, I see, how is my sister these days?"

"Well, she is always happy when you come, and she can have two more bowls of rice."

"Haha, brother-in-law, be careful on the road."

"Hey, you go back."

"..."

On this side, Xu Erlang unfolded the letter Luo Yong wrote to him, and after reading it, he fell into deep thought.

Luo Yong told him in the letter that the sage wanted to go to Goguryeo personally this time, and his intention seemed to be unchangeable. If the sage went eastward, he wondered what the situation in Chang'an would be like. He urged them to be cautious in their words and deeds, and would rather do less. Some business, loss of some money, don't cause any trouble.

He also said that he planned to open a branch store of north and south groceries in Changle County, and that he would help Siniang run the store in Chang'an City, so he was very relieved. The most suitable.

Finally, he said that he had heard that Du Xi had returned to Chang'an City recently, and that he had some friendship with Du Langjun earlier. heart.

He also said that although the Luo family is close to the Bai family, they can't bother the Bai family with everything. Sometimes if they encounter any difficulties, they may be better resolved by going to Du Xi. He is a nobleman after all. Although he was not an official because of his background, ordinary people still have to give him some face, and so on.

If this letter fell into the eyes of others, they would probably think that the content in it is just some ordinary advice.

But in fact, there is another mystery. In this letter, Luo Yong ordered Xu Erlang to do a very important thing.

If you want to understand this letter, you must first know who Wu Dalang mentioned here refers to.

As we all know, when Luo Yong was in Xipo Village, he took in a total of 23 disciples, later he took in Apu, and this year he took in Du Gou. Among all these people, there was indeed a Wu family who was the eldest.

But Xu Erlang knew very well that Wu Dalang was mediocre and not the person Luo Yong had in mind who could run the North and South Grocery Store. The Wu Dalang Luo Yong mentioned here was referring to Wu You from Linfen.

Many people don't know the existence of Wu You, let alone his identity as a fugitive slave, so naturally they don't know. Luo Yong said later that he asked them to go to Du Xi, and said that Du Xi was from a noble family after all. Ordinary people would give him some face, for what reason.

In short, Luo used the content of this letter to say that he wanted Wu You to go to Changle County to manage the North and South Grocery Branch, and arranged for Xu Erlang and the others to take advantage of the Emperor's Eastern Expedition. When the matter attracted attention, the matter of Wu You's status as a fugitive slave was resolved.

Luo Yong didn't want to involve the Bai family in this matter, so he asked them to go to Du Xi. In addition, Luo Yong also hinted in the letter that he could make a big profit to Du Xi.

The reason why it was written so cryptically was naturally because I was worried that someone would peek at the letter. If someone interfered with it, the matter would not be completed, and Wu You's family would be harmed.

After Xu Erlang closed the letter, he began to think about how to do this.

Du Xi did return to Chang'an City this year, he had heard about it, earlier it was said that he was going on a study tour, and he had been away for several years, and some people said that he ran out to escape marriage, I don't know if it is true or not.

After the prince's treason case, the Du family might find it difficult to get into the eyes of today's sages.

Du Xi had a good reputation in Chang'an City earlier, but after leaving for a few years, the waves behind the Yangtze River overwhelmed the waves ahead, and the limelight was naturally not as it used to be, and judging by his current behavior, it didn't seem like he wanted to continue to be in the limelight.

Xu Erlang also heard from others that when Du Gou was making canned food in Laizhou, Du Xi traveled there and visited him.

Later, Du Gou was implicated in the prince's treason case. Du Xi was in other places, and wrote several letters to Du's elders, asking them to rescue Du Gou, but the result was nothing. At that time, the Du family was too late to protect themselves. If you get involved, how dare you provoke trouble again.

As for Du Xi, Xu Erlang didn't have a good impression of him in the past, thinking that he was just a young gentleman who didn't know the sufferings of the people.

After hearing about the fact that he pleaded for Du Gou, he felt that this person was kind and righteous.

Luo used this time to let them solve the problem of Wu You's escaped slave status during the Saint's Eastern Expedition. This is indeed a good time.

I just don't know if Du Xi is really willing to come forward?