Chapter 2, Shu Xiu Buys Grain

The shop assistant took out the loan ledger, clearly indicating that this was not the first time he had encountered such a situation. In this rural area, there are hardly any people who deceive others; even if someone were to deceive, they would not do so regarding a grain bag. After all, the money earned from the rice has already surpassed the amount in this sack. Even if it cannot be recovered, it is not a big deal. He wrote on it: "On the 3rd day of the 11th month in the year of Wushen, Bai Gui, a villager from Bai Lu Village and the nephew of the owner of Wang Ji Restaurant, borrowed two grain bags, totaling four wen, for a loan period of five days."

According to the articles he read in his previous life, the local chronicles of a certain county recorded that during the Ming Dynasty, there were more than 300 private schools. By the time of the Qing Dynasty, only over 100 remained, resulting in the disappearance of more than 200 private schools, while the Kangxi and Qianlong periods were marked by a significant population explosion

Zishui County is named after the Zishui River, which flows from the Qinling Mountains down the valley towards Xi'an. During the Tang Dynasty, Zishui was one of the eight rivers surrounding Chang'an. Although the water flow is far less than in ancient times, it remains one of the major rivers in Zishui County. (Zishui is actually the ancient name of the Ba River, which was renamed by Duke Mu of Qin to promote his military achievements.)

He did not give the remaining four cents.

It is quite normal to be illiterate.

Deliberately avoiding

Moreover, at present

Emperor Shun, Li Zicheng, was at least a station clerk of the post station

The distance between the two places is approximately more than 10 miles

During the late Qing Dynasty, the movement within the village was quite limited. Not to mention the late Qing period, even in modern times, whenever a household in the village acquires a new item, it is immediately spread everywhere by the aunties and older women at the village entrance.

Therefore, one must study!

It was assumed that Manager Wang would buy at a low price

... ... '

sarcasm

scoff

Since the establishment of the imperial examination system, education has always been the shortcut to success. Throughout history, nothing surpasses this.

There is no need to make exceptions

While he was at Wang's eatery, he deliberately observed the reactions of the diners. When he took out the white feathered chicken, many diners clearly showed signs of being moved, yet none of them spoke up

Bai Gui has indeed considered starting a business during this late Qing period, showcasing miracles and serving the villagers, but what do you have to rely on? Is it merely because you are the son of a tenant farmer?

Brown rice, priced at 9 wen per liter, undoubtedly has a quality that is inferior to that of polished rice. Old rice mixed with this year's freshly harvested rice carries a stale odor, appearing dull and lackluster

Bai Gui narrowed his eyes

Modern teaching follows a class-based instruction system, where a single class receives uniform instruction without differentiation

In the past, he had seen some news online about the inferiority complex of children from poor families, and he commented angrily, denouncing these impoverished children for their ignorance, stating that poverty is nothing; as long as one has a strong inner self, feelings of inferiority are mere empty talk

Other industries can be ventured into, but it is also difficult to navigate them. He still remembers a line from the movie "Farewell My Concubine" that he watched in his previous life, where the character Xiao Laizi said: "How many beatings must one endure to become a star?"

In the three hundred and sixty trades, each profession produces its own outstanding talents

The pedestrians coming and going in the town

Okay, let's proceed

But now

He reminded

The water surface is broad, and because it is flowing water, it has not yet frozen despite the approach of winter.

How can one acquire household items when there is not a single coin at home

Bailu Village is situated upstream of Zishui, built on a hillside, leaning against the slope of the mountain

Bailu Town and Bailu Village are both located near Zishui

Dear guest, the total is 120 wen, plus two additional bags of grain priced at four wen, making a total of 124 wen

Although four wen of money is not much to him, in this day and age, there are not many who can afford to buy grain at a luxury store and conveniently purchase grain bags, as it may raise suspicion

Si Shun Grain Store

In the northern regions, corn is commonly referred to as "baogu".

Oppression! Exploitation!

As soon as this discrepancy emerged, the teacher began to have doubts in his mind

Perhaps I am too sensitive in my heart

He seemed to still see some scholars flaunting their knowledge, shaking their heads and nodding.

Pour in 1 dou of rice (1 dou equals 10 liters), 5 liters of fine rice, to be used as a payment for tuition, and 5 liters of brown rice, which is for personal consumption

Although burlap is cheaper than silk fabric, it is not given away for free

Faintly, the discussions of the patrons from Wang's Food Shop could be heard from behind

Let us proceed step by step, as we are all well acquainted with each other. If one carelessly displays wealth, even if it is just a few more liters of flour or an additional cotton coat, it may lead others in the village to suspect that it was obtained through theft

Thanks to Bai Guiyuan's wild and carefree personality, accustomed to a roving lifestyle, he has strong muscles and bones, and even after carrying a dou of rice for over ten miles, he shows no signs of fatigue or breathlessness

Bai Gui smiled upon hearing this, but did not say anything

Bai Gui quietly reminded himself

The yield of corn per mu is greater than that of wheat, hence it is generally cheaper. The corn grits at the Shun shop are priced at 7 wen per liter

Using polished rice as a tribute and using brown rice as a tribute, a teacher can easily discern the difference. ... If it were a poor teacher, it might be excusable, but if it were those wealthy individuals who even want to save this little amount of money, ... then they can only rely on their own fortune.

Perhaps it is not avoidance, but rather his sense of inferiority that causes him to appear as if he is elevating some people while looking down on others, showing a preference for the wealthy over the poor

He did not volunteer; he insisted on showing off to the shop assistant by writing his own name

Bai Gui took out a pouch of money from his pocket, counted 120 coins, and handed them to the shop assistant

The white nobleman walking down the street cast a self-deprecating glance at the tattered garments he was wearing

Bai Gui, following the instructions of the shop assistant, first pressed his thumb onto the ink pad, and then stamped his thumbprint onto the account book

Zhu Yuanzhang

Even in later generations, rural areas did not specifically purchase grain bags for storing food; they used fertilizer bags instead

... ...

In private schools, teaching is conducted in a mixed manner, with some students learning first and others learning later. Those with better aptitude learn quickly, and the teacher also teaches at a faster pace.

Bai Gui spoke to the shop about the work.

Press your thumb down on the red clay to leave a fingerprint

At this moment, it is displayed in all its glory

The shop assistant quickly filled two cloth bags with rice and casually asked, "There is no need for such exquisite offerings for the gentleman. Many people who come to our store for rice prefer aged rice, and some even ask for cornmeal, which can save them twenty to thirty wen. Only wealthy families would go for fresh, premium rice."

The grain bag is made of hemp and is also referred to as a hemp sack

The shop assistant said

Corn grits, grains made from ground corn

Additionally

Go to hell, money is the courage in one's heart, without money, where is the courage in the mind

Very soon

The disciples of the sage are indeed the greatest source of confidence

Alright!

The land is thin, and the pines and cypresses are planted; the family is poor, and the child studies. There is potential for the future, but at this age of over ten years, studying is unbearable, it is unbearable indeed! What a pity!

Polished rice, 1 sheng for 15 wen, is 2 wen more expensive than the rabbit meat he sells, which he cannot bear.

The illiteracy rate at the end of the Qing Dynasty was astonishing

The grain bag is considered a loan from you; I will return it to you in a few days. I live in Bailu Village, and we are all fellow villagers, so it is impossible for me to deceive you regarding the grain bag

His way of studying is simply a waste of money! It would be better to save money to buy land, marry a wife; is studying something that everyone can do?

Are you familiar with Wang's eatery at the west end of the street? The owner is my uncle. Today, I came to sell mountain goods and also to buy rice.

He is the true dragon son of heaven! Throughout the ages, there has only been this one.