The good times of Fujin

The world is so big, you have to go and see it.The two brothers Hongli and Hongzhou took their respective wives to form the tour group with the highest gold content in the entire Qing Dynasty. They pretended to be rich and rich dudes (this Hongzhou was traveling) and headed south in a swaying state. .

In order to avoid being recognized, they try to avoid relatively large towns such as Tianjin. Most of the officials in such places go to Beijing for a visit, and it is too easy to expose their targets, so they usually choose second- and third-tier towns like Baoding. Very good!

For the two brothers Hongli and Hongzhou, although they rarely went out of Beijing after the emperor ascended the throne, they did go out to help the late emperor with his affairs when they were princes.The ones who really haven't traveled far are Jing Xian, Er Linbu and their personal maids.As for those retinues with extraordinary skills, they are all over the world, where have they never been?

Because the two middle-aged women in the team looked fresh in everything, and under the instigation and connivance of the Ai brothers (the surname was Ai when they were out of the house), they successfully aroused the hearts of girls, and the clothes were getting younger and younger. There is no resistance to looking at pink and cute things.God knows why the two of them, who are obviously regular wives, fell in love with light pink, the standard color for a concubine's room, when they reached middle age.Coupled with the nourishment and maintenance of the two people's royal family's secret recipes for so many years, they look like mature women in their early thirties, not like an old woman in their 60s or [-]s.

This day I just arrived in a small town called Yongcheng. I heard that the two largest families in the town will hold banquets in a few days, but everyone in the town can go to the banquet, so Hong Zhou couldn't move.Flowing water seats...he hasn't eaten yet, his fourth brother is just a stingy guy, and he doesn't even have running water seats.As for other families in the capital, it seems that they have never held a water banquet, saying that they are really stingy.He also didn't think about it, how many people in the capital, who can afford the running water banquet?Only such a place with a small population and rich families can afford such a luxurious running water banquet.

Because they wanted to stay here, they sent a guard who was good at inquiring to the dental shop, rented a clean and big enough yard, and lived in it even with people and cars.As for why you are not willing to pack an inn?People dislike the unclean things in the inn, and the food they eat is not to their liking... Yes, this is the most distinguished tour group in the Qing Dynasty, and it is also the tour group with the most complete staff. Food, clothing, housing and transportation can all be settled by the group members.The four masters brought a team of more than [-] people, and there was no one who thought about it.

The yard was found, and people with various duties had already gone to clean the house and arrange the bedding.Jing Xian and E Linbu only need to watch and move their mouths a little.As for the two uncles, they just sat in front of the hall, drank a bowl of tea, and waited to enjoy themselves.

There are still a few days before the opening of the water mat, and the four of them are thinking about going for a stroll around when they are free.So I asked someone to find out if there was anything worth visiting nearby.This place belongs to the jurisdiction of Guide Mansion, so there are quite a few places of interest, and you can also see the scenery.But for women to travel, scenic spots are second, and the key is shopping.

Although this place is not as prosperous as the Jiangnan area, for Jing Xian and Er Linbu who are used to seeing good things, exquisite luxury is second, and the key is novelty.So wherever they go, the two of them often go out together to "Taobao".It is said that since ancient times, masters in the folk can always come across objects that suit their wishes. At this time, the role of the accompanying brothers Hongli and Hongzhou is reflected. It is simply not too exciting to bargain or something!However, Hongli did it out of habit, while Hongzhou thought it was fun.

On this day, Er Linbu and Jing Xian were strolling along a street full of antique shops.Yongcheng is not far from Shangqiu, and there is a lot of business in buying and selling antiques, but most of them are dug out from the ground, good and bad are mixed, and it is a bit taboo.However, there was a pharmacy that had many "dragon bones", that is, oracle bone inscriptions for sale, which greatly satisfied Hongli's desire to buy.The ladies who walked around and didn't buy anything felt bored and wanted to find something new to eat for a change.

We all know that the so-called palace banquets are actually mostly pork, chicken and duck, and sea fish are rare, because they are afraid that the masters want to eat watermelon in winter and sugarcane in summer, and they will bring some moths from time to time. That's really going to hit the board and lose your head.

However, no matter how delicious the food is, after so many years of eating it, I will get tired of it. It is really not as attractive as this mountain and country flavor.In the words of the wise and mighty Taishanghuang, we are out to play anyway, and we don’t have to go anywhere.

Before leaving, he threw half a coin to the pharmacy clerk, and Hongli asked, "Do you have some good food here?" For a guy who doesn't get paid, it's not a small income.So I started to introduce local specialty snacks with great enthusiasm.

"Speaking of the snacks in our Yongcheng County, the most famous one is Mao's Braised Vegetables. In the home of the people who want to hold a flowing banquet in two days, there will be Mao's rice noodles. The youngest son of his family is married to a bride! Speaking of this The Mao family’s stewed vegetables have been around for a long time. I heard from the older generation that there was our Yongcheng County in the Sui Dynasty, and Mao’s stewed vegetables appeared in Yongcheng County at that time.” The young man saw These distinguished guests listened with great interest, and continued to introduce with great interest.

"According to legend, Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty once ordered the grand master to come to Yongcheng to observe the people's sentiments. The county magistrate entertained with the best local food, and put the local famous Maojia stewed chicken and stewed beef on the banquet. The grand master After people tasted it, they thought it had a unique flavor, so they appreciated it. Later, the county magistrate gave Mao's stewed chicken and stewed beef as gifts to Taishi. The Taishi brought the gifts from Yongcheng to the palace. When the emperor and his empress were having dinner, they saw the stewed chicken and beef. They were so fragrant, and they were rotten but not greasy after eating, so they were full of praise. The grand master explained: "This is Yongcheng County. halogenated. "The emperor was overjoyed, and immediately listed the Mao's stewed chicken and stewed beef as tributes to the emperor in Yongcheng. From then on, the Mao family's stewed goods will sell better..."

The little guy introduced it vigorously, but he didn't find that Hongli and the others were all holding back their laughter.How could the food for the emperor be sent in so easily, and the grand master explained beside him, who made the rule of not talking when eating or sleeping?The two emperors and queens ate at the same table, and brought the grand master with them, and ate the braised meat that the grand master brought back from a small town in the countryside. It can be called the most beautiful royal family!

"What's the relationship between this Mao family and you? Do you often eat their lo-mei? You know a lot, you little guy!" Hong Zhou couldn't help but tease someone who wasn't as old as his grandson at this age. little child.

"This... Isn't that what all the storytellers in the teahouse say!" The boy scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed. "How can I afford Mao's lo-mei! I can't even afford the last-tier groceries! But when I walk past his shop every day, the taste..." The boy said, drooling It's about to flow out, it can be seen that it is really fragrant.

Er Linbu couldn't bear Hong Zhou teasing children, so he rolled his eyes at him, and asked curiously, "What's the price of this lo mei?" It's just lo mei, how expensive can it be?

"One liang of silver and three liang of meat." The boy said in pain, "If it is beef, it will be more expensive." In the farming society, cattle are extremely rare labor.

Let me explain in advance that although the economy of the Qing Dynasty has taken off in recent years, prices have not changed much.So, what is the purchasing power of one tael of silver?Example 12: In the 85th year of Qianlong, at the east of Taiping Lake (Xinjiekou) in the northwest corner of the inner city of Beijing, seven and a half 12750 taels, which is equivalent to 13 yuan now.Example 70: In the 10500th year of Qianlong, in Xinlianzi Hutong in the inner city of Beijing (south of Chang'an Street, between Xinhua Gate and Heping Gate), there were 16 taels of four tile-roofed houses, which is equivalent to 10 yuan now.Example 180: In the [-]th year of Qianlong, Ding Yufan of Tianjin bought a piece of land in Erdao Street, Liujia Hutong, and built a courtyard house. The courtyard house covers an area of ​​nearly one mu and built [-] rooms. two silver.

To sum up, ten catties of meat can buy a house, do you think it is expensive?It’s no wonder that they can afford running water seats. It’s unlikely that the main consumers of their lo mei will be locals.

"Hearing what you said is so evil, you really have to go to that Mao's Braised Meat Shop." Hong Zhou waved his fan, "Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law, let's go!" He made a gesture of invitation, and held Hong Zhou Li and his wife gave up the pharmacy, and a group of people rushed to the Maojia lo-mei store.

The Maojia lo-mei business is really booming. Not only is there a lo-mei shop, but there is even a restaurant and an inn next to it for those guests who come here to live and taste.There is a large pot at the entrance of the lo mei shop, and the stuff in it is stewed groceries, such as chicken heads, duck heads, big bones, and other leftovers that rich people don't like, and are sold to ordinary people to improve their meals.Although it is leftovers, the aroma of the stewed soup is uncompromising, and the attractive taste can be tasted from a distance.

Although not many people came, most of them were driving horse-drawn carriages, wearing silk and satin, and most of them looked like housekeepers. They bought them for thirty to fifty catties, and some even carried tanks on the carts. It seemed that they could be kept for a long time. .Hongli and his party of four had just arrived at the entrance of the lo-mei shop, and there was a waiter yelling to receive them.

Hearing that they were going to eat in the store, they immediately led them to a nearby restaurant, asked for a private room on the second floor, ordered some signature braised meat and side dishes, and they sat down to eat.Braised meat... How should I put it, the fragrance is quite fragrant, but it also takes up a lot of weight, just like Erlinbu and Jingxian, who have small appetites, and they will be full after eating a few.When she just came here, Jing Xian had already noticed that a jewelry store seemed to be quite big, and when she was full, she didn't care about the two brothers Hongli and Hongzhou who were drinking and chatting.

Who knew that as soon as he stepped out of Mao's Restaurant, someone said, "Oh, two ladies, where are you going? How about Xiao Ke escorting the two ladies?"