The sun was shining brightly in the sky, and the clouds seemed to be evaporated. There was no cloud in the sky, and the earth was bright, making the weather a little hot. Fortunately, there was a light breeze, and the willows on the roadside swayed in the wind, like the graceful waist of a young girl.
Zhu Ping'an, holding the little Loli Niuniu in one hand and the naughty kid Ruiger in the other, walked slowly on the streets of the capital city along the shade of the willow trees at the foot of the wall.
Although the weather was hot, there were still a lot of people on the streets. There were crowds of people, pedestrians, sedan chairs and carriages, all busy with their own lives. There were shops on both sides of the street, selling cloth and silk, rouge and powder, calligraphy and painting, and all kinds of shops covered every building on the street. The vendors and roadside shops were doing good business, a thriving scene.
Zhu Pingan walked slowly while observing the shops on both sides of the street, observing the location of the shops, what kind of business they were doing, the approximate price of the goods, the customer flow of the shops, and the marketing methods... ...
Zhu Pingan was very satisfied with the prosperous business in Beijing. It was the period when capitalism was born. The development of the business market was really surprising. Zhu Pingan was also very satisfied with the purchasing power of the people in Beijing. Beijing was the economic and political center of the Ming Dynasty. Most of the people living here were relatively wealthy. Their consumption concepts were hundreds of streets ahead of those in Hecun. The degree of wealth capitalization exceeded Zhu Pingan's expectations.
Not bad, not bad... Zhu Ping'an became more and more satisfied the more he looked at it.
Some people may think that officials were forbidden to engage in business in ancient times. This view is one-sided. It is true that ancient Confucianism opposed competing with the people for profits, but banning officials from engaging in business has never been realized. It has always been common for officials to engage in business and become wealthy throughout the dynasties, especially in the Ming Dynasty. Officials engaging in business were the most numerous in all dynasties, and it became a common practice for officials to engage in business.
Zhu Ping'an is not worried about being discovered or criticized for his side business.
Because the Ming Dynasty Code prohibited officials above the fourth rank from engaging in business, but officials below the fourth rank were not prohibited from doing business. If one was found out to be engaging in a sideline business, at most he would be looked down upon by some colleagues who claim to be noble. Among the four classes of officials, the merchants were ranked last and looked down upon by the gentry.
Of course, if you run your own side business, you must operate with integrity.
We cannot abuse our power to oppress the people and make huge profits like some officials who "compete with the people for profits".
"Big watermelon, sweet and delicious big watermelon..."
While observing at Zhupingan Market, a porter drove a donkey cart past them. The cart was full of watermelons, which were big and round, like big balls, with white tiger-skin lines on the emerald green rind. On the cart was a watermelon cut in half, revealing the juicy, red flesh. The red watermelon juice flowed out along the rind, exuding an enticing sweetness.
"Gu~~~"
The naughty kid was already drooling with greed. He swallowed hard and wished he could jump onto the donkey cart and grab a bite of the watermelon.
However, the naughty kid knew that he needed money to buy things outside, and he didn't bring any money. He was the young master of Linhuai Marquis's mansion. He had everything he wanted in the mansion, and he didn't need money at all, so he didn't have the habit of carrying money. Today, I went to Zhu Ping'an with Niuniu to avoid my elder sister who had returned home. As for being able to go out and play, it was a complete surprise, so I didn't bring any money at all.
If he had known that he was going out to play today, the naughty kid would definitely bring enough pocket money. After all, he had quite a bit of private money, but he just didn't bring any.
Therefore, he can only rely on his brother-in-law whom he dislikes.
"Brother-in-law, do you think the watermelon in his car is delicious?"
The naughty kid swallowed hard and raised his chubby face. He obviously wanted it very much, but he pretended to be indifferent with a flawed expression. He looked at Zhu Ping'an and asked arrogantly. He almost blurted out the name "country bumpkin brother-in-law". He realized it was wrong after saying the word "country". Now he needed a favor, so he couldn't call him "country bumpkin brother-in-law". He quickly changed his words and called him "brother-in-law".
"The watermelons in his car are big and round, with clear lines and distinct shades of light and dark. The stems are curled and coiled, and the cut flesh is juicy and red. Of course, when you take a bite, it's sweet and cool, moistening your throat and flowing into your heart. It must be very refreshing..." Zhu Ping'an glanced at the naughty child, slightly curled the corners of his lips, and exaggeratedly described it in a voice that is as melodious and magnetic as that in "A Bite of China".
"Gudong..."
This description is so vivid and the voice is just right that it immediately arouses the gluttony in the deepest part of the kid's tongue and stomach, making the kid unable to help but gulp down his saliva.
"Ahem, let's try it then."
The naughty kid swallowed his saliva and spoke casually, but his fat face was staring at Zhu Pingan eagerly.
"Unfortunately... I didn't bring any money..." Zhu Ping'an shrugged, spread out his hands and said slowly.
"You are lying. How could anyone go out without money?" The naughty kid shook his fat face and whined. He looked at the donkey cart selling watermelons parked not far away and could not move anymore. He did not believe at all that an adult like Zhu Ping'an would go out without money. He shook his fat face and hugged his arms and refused to move.
"Are you a human?" Zhu Ping'an glanced at the naughty child and asked lightly.
"Of course I am a human being." The naughty kid raised his fat face, looking as if he was mad at Zhu Pingan.
"Do you have money with you?" Zhu Ping'an asked leisurely.
"I... don't have..." the naughty kid said weakly, but he raised his fat face the next second, "I'm a child, and it's not okay for a child to go out without money. You're an adult, how can an adult go out without money?"
“But I didn’t bring any money.”
Zhu Ping'an squatted down, put his hand on the naughty child's shoulder, and spoke frankly.
"If you don't believe me, search it." After Zhu Ping'an said this, he held the naughty boy's waist, stood up, and stretched out his hands.
"You are lying, I don't believe it."
The naughty kid shook his fat face vigorously, shook his head repeatedly, and then began to search Zhu Ping's body.
The naughty kid first searched Zhu Ping'an's sleeves, turned them over and over, but indeed did not find any money. Then he searched Zhu Ping'an's waist, but still did not find the purse. Then he turned it over and over again, but found nothing.
"Why don't you bring any money?"
The naughty kid looked disappointed, so he had to give up and followed obediently.
After walking for a while, a shirtless peddler came towards us, carrying a straw target full of brightly colored candied haws.
The sugar-coated candied haws on the straw target trembled with the vendor's footsteps, looking extremely tempting.
Little Loli Niuniu's eyes lit up as she looked at the trembling candied haws. She put her fingers in her little mouth and sucked them like a greedy kitten.
"Do you want to eat, Niuniu?" Zhu Ping'an asked with a smile.
The little girl nodded subconsciously, then shook her head sensibly, because she knew that Zhu Ping'an didn't bring any money.
"The vendor selling candied haws, come here..." Zhu Ping'an waved to the vendor selling candied haws.
"Okay."
The vendor responded and came over carrying candied haws.
"Give me a string." Zhu Ping'an took a string of the most tempting candied haws from the straw target and put it in the hands of the little Loli Niuniu.
"You don't have any money..." The naughty kid tugged at Zhu Ping'an's sleeve and reminded him in a low voice.
However, the next second, the naughty kid watched Zhu Ping'an squat down, touch the side of his waist, take out a purse embroidered with a fat duck, and then take out money from it.
In an instant, the naughty kid felt that it was dark.
“Why did you put your purse on my waist? You...how can you be so shameless? You obviously have money but you don’t buy it for me..." The naughty kid shook his fat face like a mad bulldog.
"People who usually do big things are so shameless."
Zhu Ping'an curled the corners of his lips nonchalantly, and touched the naughty kid's head with a smile.
"You really..." The naughty kid got furious.
"Do you want it?"
Zhu Ping'an took another candied haws, shook it in front of the naughty child, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"want."
The naughty boy stretched out his claws.
Zhu Ping'an dodged the fat paw of the naughty kid by shaking the candied haws in his hand. He looked at the naughty kid with a smile and asked, "What did you just say about me..."
"You are such a good brother-in-law!" the naughty kid gritted his teeth.
"So good."
Zhu Ping'an gave the candied haws to the naughty kid, pinched his chubby face, and smiled brightly.