Chapter 2459 "Out of the Jungle" (4)

Snowing.

Although the snow in Belgium is nothing compared to the snow in Scotland, it is not a good thing for people who have no shelter from the wind and rain.

There is at least no shortage of wood in the forest. Woodmen and hunters will build cabins in the forest for burning charcoal or processing prey. Such houses are also very common in colonies, especially in newly opened areas. Although life is hard, they can at least

Get tranquility.

"Why can't we live here!" asked a ragged old man.

No one agreed with him, but the eyes of the people around him who were as ragged as him were silently condemning the official.

"We have provided shelter with food and hot water. You can have a happy Christmas," the official said in a hoarse voice.

"Don't try to lie to us!" said a young man in the crowd.

"Look at this." The official pointed to the side. Two policemen were hammering together a wooden board. There was a notice on the board, "As long as you agree to these conditions, you will not be forced to join the army."

"Don't listen to them. If we believe his lies, we won't even have a place to stay when we come back." Someone in the crowd yelled.

The crowd was talking a lot. The so-called "housing" of these people were actually shacks. The wooden boards that made up the walls seemed to be able to be kicked through, and of course they were easily demolished. All their "properties" were in the shacks, and the village

People allow them to "stay overnight" like this.

A lot of land in the Low Countries is below the sea level. It is impossible to rely on private efforts to reclaim land from the sea, especially sea walls. Amsterdam is not like the land of some hereditary lords. Without sea walls, the city would be gone.

Therefore, the Netherlands has a unique tradition that land is a public resource.

These public lands can be subleased to private individuals, but will not be sold to private individuals. Private individuals cannot use them for other purposes other than those approved by the land planning department. This system can not only ensure that the government has stable land revenue, but also avoid disorderly development of land.

.

She did not stay here much. The Netherlands also has the habit of drinking beer, but they do not tax beer, only other alcoholic drinks. There are two reasons why Belgium can implement this currently. One is because it has abolished military service.

Second, for the sake of orphans and soldiers' widows, the Dutch Parliament did not enact this law. What's more, the use of wine tax for charity was not officially announced. This time, everyone was willing to pay because they were in a good mood.

"Madame! Madame Sèvres!"

Before she could run far, she heard someone calling her name.

She looked at the middle-aged man running over panting, and thought he looked familiar.

"Good afternoon, ma'am." The middle-aged man gasped, "What a chance encounter."

Georgiana remembered that he was the Dutch patriot Rutger who appeared at the lakeside with his horse while she was swimming. It seemed that he was still from the land company.

She looked at the messy "camp" again and asked, "What will be built here in the future?"

"No, no, no, I just came to take a look." Rutger put his hat straight.

"What are you looking at?"

"The attitude of the residents." Rutger looked back at the homeless people. "I heard that a new prison will be built in the future."

"I don't think they need to be caught and locked up in jail just because they are wandering." Georgiana said sternly.

"But there is a vagrancy law in France," Rutger said, almost making Georgiana choke, and then he added, "Have you decided where to build the prison?"

"What do you suggest?" Georgiana asked.

Rutger waved behind him, and a young man holding a briefcase ran over.

"Give me the list."

Rutger stretched out his hand, and the young man quickly rummaged through his briefcase.

"What list?" asked Georgiana.

"There's some free land," Rutger said, "including this one, but it's not as free as I thought."

Georgiana looked at the "residents" again. They seemed to be no longer interested in the officials' words and scattered away.

"Let's find another place," said Georgiana.

Rutger said something in Dutch, got into the carriage, and they left together.

In fact, she didn't know where she was going. Halfway through, she stopped again, waiting for Rutger's luxury carriage to catch up.

"Any suggestions?" Georgiana asked.

Rutger stuck his head out of the carriage and looked around, then asked, "I know a good restaurant near here."

"You lead the way."

Rutger did not get into the carriage, but sat next to the coachman, and the others followed his carriage.

This is a complex forest area. Under Rutger's guidance, they first passed a cemetery and then came to a small wine estate.

It is in French style, and the main house is white. It looks small and exquisite, more like a country house than a restaurant.

There is an oval garden in front of the main house, with a fountain in the center. There is a bearded statue in the fountain, which seems to be the sea god Poseidon. It should have been moved from elsewhere and looks antique. In the woods surrounding the villa

There is a church with an ancient Roman style roof. If this style of church was not deliberately retro, it is estimated to be close to 700 to 800 years old.

They stopped on the broad steps in front of the villa, Laget got out of the carriage, and Georgiana got off her horse.

"What place is this?" asked Georgiana.

"This used to be the property of the church, the Abbey of St. Anne. It was auctioned in 1798, and now it belongs to the owner of Baudier Bank."

Now she understood why there was a cemetery next to the restaurant, as well as a vineyard and a church, and then they walked together along the laurel wreath-shaped steps to the main house.

It is generally believed that grapes grow in warm areas, but there are also cold-resistant grapes. Belgian wine is mainly sparkling wine, but because of its low quality, it is mainly consumed domestically and rarely exported.

If you own a winery, you can at least invite friends over to drink two glasses of your own home-brewed wine, and eat some cheese and other snacks along the way, which is a bit like a private party.

After entering the restaurant, Georgiana found that the decoration here was no different from that of a home, and it was not full of tables like an ordinary restaurant. The floor was covered with thick carpets. For a moment, she even thought that she had broken into a private house.

"Ragot." Just as Georgiana was admiring the elegant decoration in the house with her hands behind her back, an elegant lady wearing an Ionian dress came to the living room. The two hugged and made a kiss, "Why are you here today?"

?”

"I miss your cooking, Philippa. What's good to eat today?" said Laget.

"Who is this young man?" the woman known as Philippa asked, looking at Georgiana.

Georgiana turned around.

"I think you misunderstood, ma'am." She took off her hat. "I'm the same as you."

Philippa was a little surprised.

"My name is Christine. I am the daughter of Mr. Laget's friend. We happened to meet her on the road today."

"Which friend? Why don't I remember you?" Philippa asked curiously.

"Prepare dinner for us, we will go back to Brussels later." Mr. Laget said, "I will come to visit you next time."

Philippa hesitated a little, but she turned and left.

"Please." Lagerte motioned to Georgiana to move to the sofa by the fireplace.

Georgiana took off her cloak and handed it to Figel, "Go to the wine cellar and bring a few boxes of wine. Don't let others freeze."

Then she sat on the sofa.

Raggett took the map out of his briefcase and laid it out on the table.

"All the blocks marked in red are for auction," Laget said. "The blue ones are set aside and can be sold or leased for a long time."

"What about these?" Georgiana pointed to the land with the cross sign.

"These are religious assets."

"I heard that confiscation of church assets has been banned," Georgiana said.

"That's right, and it also stipulates that local authorities must maintain churches, but the buildings on these plots have been demolished, and we don't know how they will be used in the future." Laget explained, "It may be possible to rebuild the church, or it may be

Use it for other purposes, please wait."

Laget took the document handed over by the young man. "I have detailed information on these areas."

"You look like an intermediary." Georgiana said sarcastically.

At this time, the maid brought sparkling wine over. Georgiana drank the cold sparkling wine while warming herself by the fire, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

"How does it taste?" Ragget asked.

"It's like champagne," Georgiana complimented.

Lagerte clinked his own glass with Georgiana's, and they made a crisp sound that echoed in the living room.
Chapter completed!