Chapter One, during the Guangxu era

He took two or three steps into the restaurant when a staff member, with an impassive demeanor, blocked his way, stopping him at the entrance.

Over ten million dollars, wouldn't that kill a person? Even the boxing community isn't that ruthless

The man took the rabbit meat from his hands, swiftly picked up the scale, and before Bai Gui could see clearly, shouted to Manager Wang: "Fresh rabbit meat weighing fifty-four jin and eight liang, and fresh wild chicken of a different kind weighing eleven jin and seven liang"

Bai Gui's lips moved slightly for a moment, but no words were spoken

Despite being covered with a felt hat, the top of the bald head, which was polished to a shine, was still freezing cold

Previously, this foolish young man sent over some exotic wild chickens, which he boiled indiscriminately. When Fang, a scholar passing by, heard about this matter, he felt great sorrow. Upon seeing the few remaining pieces of chicken in the pot, he threw down a silver ingot.

He has already thought about how to promote this exotic wild chicken

Bai Gui still wanted to listen closely, but was interrupted by the shouting of the restaurant staff

It is said that during the western expedition of Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu, they felt that Beijing was being disturbed by foreign devils, causing the dragon's energy to dissipate. Therefore, they planned to build a mausoleum in the Guanzhong region, believing that this would ensure a millennium of peace and health. There, it was said by a geomancer that there was indeed dragon's energy. Our richest man in Shaanxi Province donated 100,000 taels...

The currency of the United States is called the dollar in English

That concubine is delicate and charming, only thirteen years old

He was carrying a string of mountain goods, strung together with hemp rope

A fleeting glance revealed four rabbits and two wild chickens, all freshly slaughtered, with blood dripping down their fur, occasionally twitching. However, by the time Bai Gui reached the tavern in town, the rabbits had already become completely frozen.

The diners seated inside are all wearing long-sleeved satin shirts, dressed in clean white cotton jackets, and donning melon-shaped hats

Reading books

He is preparing to hand over the silver piece with one corner cut off to Bai Gui

Bai Gui exerted all his effort to cover himself with a tattered fur coat, which was filthy and had a layer of cracks on it, emitting a sour and foul odor, while trying his best to prevent the warm air from escaping at the collar due to the cold wind

Bai Gui had never received silver. He was silent for a moment and asked, "Uncle, do you have any dragon coins here? I would like to exchange this one tael and one qian of silver for a dragon coin."

In the late Qing Dynasty, a pound of pork was approximately 20 wen, while rabbit meat was cheaper, having a grassy odor, and 13 wen was considered suitable.

Eating brings good fortune

"A-mei must be using the language of A-mei's country, so how can it be in English? Nonsense! You are talking nonsense!"

Discussing these trivial matters is of no use. I heard from my cousin who returned from doing business in Yanjing that Empress Dowager Cixi engaged in photo diplomacy and negotiated with Roosevelt of the United States, resulting in the return of over 10 million dollars in Boxer Indemnity!

Hey, that esteemed lady, the Empress Dowager even recognized her as an adopted daughter during the Western Expedition.

Manager Wang complained, saying: "This wild chicken is entirely snow-white, which can be considered a rare and exotic bird. If it were alive, I would at least value it at three taels each for you. Unfortunately... it is dead, and dead things are not worth much!"

Isn't this all just good luck! I hadn't been in the mountains for long when these foolish rabbits got caught in the snares and strangled themselves. I thought I should bleed them first, otherwise the rabbit meat would be inedible

However, this completely snow-white pheasant, even in death, can fetch a good price in town

As for the thirty wen of the exotic wild chicken meat that follows

This thing is merely for the sake of novelty

That silver ingot weighs at least two and a half taels

With your foolish appearance, do you still have the ability to study? If you want to excel through education, ha! Pah!

I have heard that the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Cixi is being constructed in the area of Gantian Town, Zhongnanshan...

Shopkeeper Wang fiddled with the counting beads, the abacus clicking rhythmically. "It has been snowing these past few days, and rabbit meat is good for replenishing energy, so we can sell a bit more than usual. I will charge you thirteen wen per pound, which is two wen higher than usual. Additionally, this rare wild chicken meat is a special item, so I will charge you thirty wen per pound. My dear nephew, what do you think?"

A few pieces of chicken are worth only two taels of silver, while those two exotic wild chickens can sell for at least thirty taels of silver

Since the Second Opium War, foreign silver dollars have flowed into the Xia Kingdom. Due to the uniform appearance, standardized pricing, and convenience of use of foreign silver dollars, their entry quickly led to chaos in the financial system of the Xia Kingdom. The Qing Dynasty was unable to prevent the circulation of foreign silver dollars and, in the sixteenth year of the Daoguang reign, legally recognized the circulation of foreign silver dollars.

"Dear nephew, it is freezing cold outside; why not stay for a cup of tea before you leave?" Seeing the considerable profits earned by Bai Gui, Manager Wang also overlooked Bai Gui's tattered fur coat and kindly invited him in for a while.

If this had happened a few years ago, this completely snow-white pheasant would have been considered an auspicious omen, worthy of being reported to the capital and sent to the palace. Delivering such an omen to the authorities could easily fetch several hundred taels of silver.

Oh! Xiao Guizi, are you going up the mountain again to gather mountain goods? I reckon all the wild rabbits on the mountain have been hunted by you already" The owner of the restaurant, Wang, sat behind the counter, calculating on an abacus and keeping the accounts. Upon hearing the noise at the door, he looked up and immediately said teasingly

Which week is the richest?

He smacked his lips, and a look of heartache appeared on his face

"Well said! This novel silver dollar, I did not expect my esteemed nephew to be aware of it. I happen to have a silver dollar here that was given to me by a diner who came from the city a few days ago." Upon hearing this, Manager Wang quickly retracted his outstretched hand.

Hey! Have you heard? Guo Juren from Jiangjunzhai exchanged seven dou of wheat for a concubine

In the fifteenth year of the Guangxu era, specifically in 1889, Zhang Zhidong, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, established the Guangdong Provincial Mint, producing a silver dollar with a standard weight of 7.3 mace. The reverse side features a coiled dragon design, while the obverse side displays the Guangxu Yuanbao, hence it is commonly referred to as the "Dragon Dollar"

He rummaged through the counter and finally found a Longyang coin, which he handed to Bai Gui

Exercise caution in speech Exercise caution in speech

In Zishui County, Xi'an Prefecture, Shaanxi Province, at dawn, it began to snow in Bailu Town. The heavy snow fell like goose feathers, and as far as the eye could see, there were white, sparkling snowflakes covering the tender green wheat seedlings that had emerged from the fields, as well as concealing the bare hills and valleys.

His entry is likely to affect the business

Bai Gui scratched his head, smiled innocently, and casually explained the reason why all these mountain goods had been slaughtered.

The hot coal stove is burning, with lamb soup simmering on top, bubbling and releasing steam, as the aroma of mutton mingles with the fragrance of meat, wafting into people's noses

Bai Gui muttered something under his breath and strode out of the dining hall, heading towards the grain store in Bai Lu Town

No! Uncle, I will go to the grain store to exchange some rice and prepare for the tuition fees

This wild chicken is entirely white and is larger than the average domesticated chicken by a head

It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi is gravely ill, over seventy years old, and it seems that she is about to pass away

Although this Wang Ji restaurant has only a two-courtyard layout, the front hall serves as the dining area, while the back is the kitchen, and there are no so-called private rooms; all dining is done in the main area

These two pheasants are even more foolish, as they directly crashed into the tree

Bai Guimei furrowed her brows and did not say much

Bai Gui Xi Sui listened to their conversation. Although they were in the countryside, the diners who might have the leisure and money to eat out were certainly not ordinary people; each one was a local gentleman, some were wealthy landlords, while others were scholars or officials.

However, this Guangxu is ignorant of the situation. Two years ago, he and those from the New Party wanted to abolish the imperial examination, which would undermine the foundation of our Great Qing and the laws established by our ancestors! This examination has been in place for over a thousand years... Fortunately, Empress Dowager Cixi intervened to prevent this group of New Party members from succeeding...

Clap! Clap!

The howling north wind blows

It was calculated to be one thousand and sixty-three wen, and your uncle will round it up for you, giving you one tael and one qian. Manager Wang smiled, squinting his eyes, took out a silver ingot from his pouch, weighed it in his hand, then cut a corner off with scissors, placing it on the silver scale, exactly one tael and one qian without any discrepancy

It is clearly undervalued

The thirty-fourth year of the Guangxu era of the Great Qing, November

Manager Wang's smile grew even broader

A silver dollar cannot be exchanged for one tael of silver, let alone one tael and one penny.

Auspicious omen

It is a unique eatery that can be found in the barren countryside

How is it that you are not in Yanjing

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