The officials wanted to entertain Guo Shao, but he refused. Guo Shao was not keen on such occasions. He had gone to local towns before just for socializing. But now he did not need to give face to lower-level officials and could choose what he liked.
The four of them rode away from the armor workshop and soon saw a town without city walls. From a distance, it looked like a large area of simple houses, just like the tents set up by the army.
But when Guo Shao and others approached, they saw that the dirt road was very lively, with many people setting up stalls in the wine shops. There were also street performers, and a group of people were shouting: "What a hustle and bustle." Officials wearing high hats and black boots were also watching from the side. The official shops of Kaifeng Prefecture had already been set up here.
In the agricultural era, apart from cities, there were few towns with concentrated populations. The population was scattered all over the place and most people made a living by farming. Therefore, such places were relatively rare.
Fu Jinzhan looked at the surrounding scene with great interest, and seemed very happy at this moment. Although it seemed like an ordinary place to Guo Shao, it was very novel and interesting to her. Obviously, someone like Fu Jinzhan would not go out shopping.
Guo Shao led the horse and walked side by side with her, saying casually: This was originally a wasteland and a crop field, and the market suddenly appeared every few months. There are officials, craftsmen and odd jobs in the armor workshop. These people can get money from the court, but they will no longer farm; they need money to buy food, clothing, housing and transportation, and the market is driven by this. The money we brought back from Shu not only feeds officials and soldiers. If handicrafts and commerce continue to develop, it will bring prosperity to the world.
Fu Jinzhan listened to Guo Shao's description, slightly side-eyed, and said in a slow and gentle voice: In the memorials of officials, it is suggested to encourage farming to reduce famine. So many people no longer farm, but their food and clothing still depend on farmers farming.
Guo Shaodao: The court officials have different ideas, and they are not wrong to write this letter.
I want to hear your opinion. Fu Jinzhan said with a smile.
Guo Shao thought about it: Unless there is a shortage of labor for farming, the number of people engaged in farming will not affect grain output. The factors that determine grain output are the area of arable land and the yield per mu. No matter what people do, they have to eat, and the weight of grain consumed will probably not change.
If natural disasters are not taken into account, the fact that some people do not farm will not affect the hunger and cold of the people; on the contrary, these people engaged in manual business will also create value, make items with better tools, and provide convenient services. Better tools and working methods will in turn feed back to the output of farming.
Fu Jinzhan said: "Since ancient times, agriculture has been valued over commerce. What Mrs. Guo said is a bit strange." When she called out the word "husband", her voice became smaller and her face turned red.
Guo Shaodao: If there is not enough food, we should focus on what to plant on the arable land. The commercial interests may cause some problems, such as people using fertile land for growing grain to grow mulberry trees to make silk. A vibrant and promising civilization is expansionist. If we do not have enough food, but have strong military power and advanced society, we can expand outward to obtain food imports or occupy arable land elsewhere.
He added: Isn't there a line in Tang poetry that goes "The rich have wine and meat while the poor freeze to death on the streets"? If the rich's excess food was not wasted in storage and banquets, but was traded for other enjoyments, the development of commerce might have made more efficient use of resources.
Our ancestors had coins very early on, and at first they used shells as copper coins. This was for trading, exchanging things they didn’t need for things they used; each taking what they needed to enrich the material, reduce poverty and prosper the economy.
Fu Jinzhan seemed to be thinking about something and nodded slightly: What my husband said makes sense. When I think about it, that is the case.
If I were to suggest national policies, I would use Keynes' mercantilism under the interference of imperial decrees, restrict the use of fertile land, and expand outward to open up trading markets. Guo Shaodao.
He thought for a moment and said: I will write a petition to prohibit practices that restrict women's freedom, such as foot binding; if women can also work, human resources will increase, making up for the labor lost due to leaving the farm. Men farming and women weaving are no longer appropriate, and the value of women weaving is too small. We can replace the textile industry with large-scale workshops like the armor workshop, so that a few people can meet the needs of many people for clothing and warmth.
Fu Jinzhan listened patiently to Guo Shaoxi's strange remarks. Although he seemed to be trying to be unconventional, his explanations were relatively simple and direct. The simpler it was, the easier it was for people to accept.
However, when Guo Shao was speaking, he was still paying close attention to Fu Jinzhan's reaction. She covered her forehead with her palm. Guo Shao looked up and saw that the sun was almost at its zenith, so he said, "Second sister, are you hungry? Let's find a place to eat."
Here I eat Fu Jinzhan. Looking at the dusty dirt road and the simple houses, I frowned slightly. It's not very clean.
Guo Shaodao: Let’s find a place that’s a little off the beaten track.
They walked through the streets and alleys between the houses for a while and found that this place was not so noisy. There were houses of ordinary people all around. Guo Shao saw a small food store with a steamer outside and said with a smile: Let's try it here. Don't worry, this kind of store is usually okay. The residents around are relatively fixed, and they do business with familiar people; and it is usually a family store. Only the hungry people know how to cherish food, and they will cook it carefully.
Then let's give it a try. Fu Jinzhan showed a very curious expression after hearing this, and said softly, I have never eaten outside.
As soon as I walked in, I saw a young woman standing by the stove, staring at Fu Jinzhan. The middle-aged man holding a spoon hurriedly shouted: "Guests are coming!"
A young boy wiped the table with a linen cloth and looked at Guo Shao and others curiously: "Please sit down. What would you like to eat, sirs?" Guo Shao took out a small string of copper coins and helped me keep an eye on the horse tied outside.
Good, good. The boy was delighted to see Guo Shao's generosity. No one dared to steal that kind of horse. The military horses were in the suburbs of Tokyo, and stealing them would be a death sentence.
It was not yet noon, and the business did not seem to be very good at noon. There were no other customers. Lu Chengyong and the other two sat down at a wooden table at the door. They looked a little fierce and not as friendly as Guo Shao and his wife. The shopkeeper did not dare to talk to them.
Guo Shao looked around and saw that there was no menu. It was hard to say whether the store would write a menu. As expected, the middle-aged man said, "They are all here. There are steamed dishes outside. If you tell me what you usually eat at home, I will probably be able to make them."
Guo Shaoxiao asked what the store’s best signature dish was.
"Hundun wonton soup noodles," the man replied.
Guo Shao turned to Fu Jinzhan and asked: How about we eat Hun Dun? Fu Jinzhan nodded slightly: Okay.
Two bowls of hun dun, Guo Shao shouted. He ignored Dong Er and the others. They knew how to order food. At this time, three men in linen clothes came in and asked for soup noodles.
Guo Shao leaned over and whispered to Fu Jinzhan: You know my sworn brother Luo Mengzi.
Fu Jinzhan looked at Guo Shao with a smile: I've heard of it.
Luo Mengzi's wife has a nickname. Guo Shao laughed and said, "Soup and Cake Xishi, she used to sell soup cakes in Tokyo."
After hearing this, Fu Jinzhan covered her mouth and laughed.
Soon, the boy came up with two rough bowls, put them on the table and said: Please take your time to eat.
Fu Jinzhan picked up the spoon and stirred it. Guo Shao scooped it up and put it in his mouth, saying: "Well, it tastes good, with dried shrimps and mutton stuffing. It's just a little bland."
The middle-aged man said: Salt is expensive, and everyone eats bland food.
Seeing Guo Shao chewing with gusto, Fu Jinzhan also scooped up one, put it to his lips, and took a bite. The rosy and smooth lips were very beautiful, and the pearl powder on them was still shining. Guo Shao saw this and his appetite increased. He ate with a snort. Fu Jinzhan followed Guo Shao for so long, and maybe she was hungry. She was cautious at first, but later she ate a lot.
After lunch, Fu Jinzhan went out and said: I want to go to the temple.
The sun was getting stronger and stronger, so Guo Shao went to the market with her and spent two cents to buy her a hand-woven straw hat to protect her from the sun. Fu Jinzhan was very happy and smiled when she put it on her head. She looked weird. Although she was wearing a very ordinary lapel gown, it was made of fine silk and the straw hat on her head was very out of place.
I remembered a place. Guo Shao took her north and returned to Tokyo via the post road.
After entering the city, he did not go to the Daxiangguo Temple, which was the most popular among the dignitaries, but to a Taoist temple with three characters on it: Yuzhen Temple. Fu Jinzhan took a look and said: This name, Jingniang's Taoist temple
It turns out that the second sister also knew about it. Guo Shao was a little surprised. Fu Jinzhan was still very well-informed.
The main hall of this Taoist temple is a bit like a Buddhist temple. The temple is very popular. The courtyard is full of incense ash. The Taoist priests also sell incense and candles at high prices. On a hot afternoon, there are still many pilgrims kneeling inside to worship a statue devoutly. The Taoist priests are all women, and the pilgrims are mostly older women.
Thank you Queen Mother, thank you Heaven, Queen Mother is omnipotent. A chanting voice came from far away. Fu Jinzhan stared at it all with wide eyes.
Donor, you can pray for good fortune and take it to the Queen Mother to pray for a wish. It works very well. A female Taoist priest folded her hands and said, "May peace and happiness be with you, and may you have a happy marriage."
Fu Jinzhan said excitedly: Please give me one.
The female Taoist said: Ten cents.
Guo Shao gave the money, and Fu Jinzhan took the red triangle bag, which was tied with a red string, and looked at it over and over again. She looked up at the statue in the hall. There were people kneeling on the cushions around it, and those pilgrims were chanting very attentively. Someone could vaguely say: May our whole family be safe and healthy.
Fu Jinzhan couldn't find a place to stay, so she had to stand there, holding the talisman in her palm, closing her eyes and standing for a long time. Her eyelashes trembled slightly on her beautiful face, and she prayed devoutly and silently.
Guo Shao vaguely saw Yu Lian from a few years ago, the one he secretly sent, in the same Taoist temple. She must be just as pious.