early morning.

Shenghe residence.

In the guest room, Xu Xuan, wearing a coat, was lying on the desk and sleeping deeply. Li Congjia was lying on the bed, sleeping soundly, with most of the mattress falling to the floor.

Yesterday, Xu Xuan accidentally got a farming manual. When he looked at it carefully, he was astonished. He felt like he had found a treasure. He couldn't put it down and read it all night.

It is said that this farming manual came from Jiedu Prefecture, and most officials had a copy.

Although the copy and tailoring is relatively rough, the content is refreshing.

The manual provides a systematic and comprehensive explanation of agricultural production, covering everything from seasons to grain types, soil, moisture, lighting, farming methods, farm tool selection, fertilizer production and fertilization techniques, and even crop intercropping, etc.

Even people who don't know much about farming can get a preliminary understanding of agricultural production and how food comes from the fields to the table after reading it once.

The manual affirmed the importance of farming and strongly promoted the importance of agricultural production to the country.

Xu Xuan’s favorite opening sentence of the farming manual is: “The country is based on the people, food is the first priority for the people, and agriculture is the first priority for food.”

"There is "Shu Sheng Zhi" in the early Han Dynasty and "Essential Art of Qi Min" in the Northern Wei Dynasty. I didn't expect that there are sages today writing this farming manual! In such a frontier place, in the small Jiedu Mansion, there is such a great talent, really called Xu It’s an eye-opener for me! There are indeed many talented people in the Central Plains, and the Liu Han court should not underestimate them!”

After reading the farming manual, Xu Xuan was filled with emotion.

It was already dawn, but he was not sleepy, and he was busy writing and compiling some farming techniques that even he had never heard of.

It wasn't until several big roosters crowed loudly in the backyard of his residence that he couldn't bear the sleepiness and fell asleep at his desk.

Just after sleeping for a while, there was a knock on the door of the room, and a strange voice came: "Excuse me, where is Mr. Xu staying?"

"Dong dong" the knock on the door rang for a long time, and the person who knocked on the door asked several questions in a row, before Xu Xuan got up sleepily and went to open the door.

Li Congjia stopped snoring, turned over, scratched his butt and continued to sleep.

Opening the door, Xu Xuan rubbed his eyes and looked carefully. He didn't recognize the person coming: "Who is your Excellency?"

The man hurriedly saluted and said, "Excuse me for disturbing you. Are you Mr. Xu Maocai?"

Xu Xuan cupped his hands and said, "It's me."

The man smiled and said: "I am from the newspaper. I am here to inform Mr. Xu that the article you submitted the day before yesterday has been approved and will be published on the front page of the next issue. This is your contribution fee, please keep it. If the response is good in the future If so, the newspaper will also pay you a bonus, the specific amount will depend on the sales volume of the current issue..."

Xu Xuan was stunned, his head was buzzing, and he could no longer hear clearly what the man said behind him.

His first article was accepted by the newspaper. The excitement and joy at that moment was just like when he passed the examination for the rural tribute examination.

"Mr. Xu? Mr. Xu?" The visitor saw Xu Xuan holding a cloth bag containing money, with a dazed look on his face, and called him several times.

Xu Xuan quickly came to his senses and said apologetically: "I have lost my composure."

The visitor smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, I've met a lot of people like you sir. These days, if you don't have a lot of money in your hands, who would believe that you can still make money by writing an article?"

Xu Xuan squeezed the money bag, and a sense of happiness filled his heart for no reason, making him feel solid and satisfied.

This can be regarded as the first money he earned by himself.

"Mr. Xu should know the author Zhongshan Yinren, right? His poems and your articles seem to have been submitted to the newspaper together."

Xu Xuan hurriedly said: "Yes, he is a friend of mine and lives elsewhere."

The man smiled and said: "Since he is your friend, it will be easy to handle. His poem has also been accepted. The fee is one hundred cents, which will be combined with your husband's fee. Please help me forward it to you."

"Definitely, thank you very much." Xu Xuan cupped his hands and thanked him. After thinking for a while, he took out a few pennies and gave them to him. "Please accept it and buy a bowl of tea."

The man declined politely and said: "Sir, I accepted it with kindness, but the newspaper has regulations that do not allow you to accept gifts in private. If you are found out, your job will not be guaranteed.

Mr. Xu, please stay and take my leave."

Xu Xuan watched him go downstairs along the corridor, sighed at the strict organizational discipline of the newspaper office, and went back to his room behind closed doors.

Putting the heavy cloth bag on the table, Xu Xuan opened it and made a rough count. He found that there were about four hundred coins.

The initial manuscript fee should be three hundred articles, and there would also be follow-up bonuses. Xu Xuan was secretly looking forward to it.

Li Congjia yawned and sat up, confused: "Good morning, sir, was there someone knocking on the door just now?"

Xu Xuan said happily: "Little Prince, come and see, your poems and my articles have been included in the newspaper. This is the reward! It is also the first money you and I have earned together. It is not easy~"

Li Congjia slowly put on his clothes and shoes and sat at the desk: "How many are there?"

"Your poem will be given 100 words, and Xu's article will be given 300 words. If the article is well received, there will be a bonus."

"So little~" When Li Congjia heard this, he was immediately discouraged and couldn't even get excited about counting the money. "This little money is not enough to have a meal at Taihe Building!"

Li Congjia counted on his fingers and muttered: "That's enough for me to eat Xiao Long Bao for three days..."

Xu Xuan patiently educated him: "The little prince was born a prince and has a respected status, but we must also know that the vast majority of hungry and poor people in the world.

Not long ago, there was a war in Guanzhong, and the price of grain rose to more than 400 Wen per catty, and most of the time it was impossible to buy it even if you had the money. Jingzhou had a good harvest last year, and the food price was stable, with millet and wheat only costing 20 to 30 Wen per catty. We have been along the way,

I saw so many roadside bones, most of them were starved to death.

The young prince should be diligent and thrifty, and understand the sufferings of the people~"

A little shame appeared on Li Congjia's face, and he said sarcastically: "What you taught me is sir. Originally, Xiao Wang thought that a frontier place like Jingzhou could keep the people fed and clothed, and that other parts of the Han Dynasty must be more prosperous..."

Xu Xuan smiled bitterly and said: "Jingzhou is really a special case and not representative. It should be noted that in most states and counties in the world, the people are still in dire straits."

Li Congjia bowed deeply and said, "Xiao Wang will always bear in mind Mr. Wang's teachings."

Eyes rolling, Li Congjia licked his lips and said, "But sir, getting paid today is a happy event and worth celebrating! How about Xiao Wang going to Taihe Building with him for a few drinks?"

Xu Xuan's face trembled, and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Didn't the little prince just promise to a certain person that he will practice frugality from today on?"

Li Congjia said plausibly: "This money is earned by the hard work of you and me. If we don't reward it, I'm afraid it will damage our morale and we won't have the slightest interest in writing next time! Xiao Wang promised Mr. Wang that he will save it when he gets the royalties next time.

Never spend indiscriminately!”

Xu Xuan was speechless and could no longer remember how many times Li Congjia said he would do it next time.

Looking at his round and smooth face and his increasingly muscular body, Xu Xuan didn't know whether to be happy or worried.

"I'm going to order food first. Come quickly, sir." Li Congjia held the money bag and was about to rush out.

"Bang bang bang~"

After a loud knock on the door, three Dishe clerks pushed the door open and entered.

"Mr. Xu, Li Shaolang."

The guys smiled and saluted, quite politely, but quietly blocked the door.

Xu Xuan said: "What do you want?"

A stout clerk with a white scarf on his shoulders glanced at the cloth bag in Li Congjia's arms and said with a smile: "I heard that Mr. Xu's article was published in the newspaper, and the little people came here to congratulate him."

Xu Xuan cupped his hands and said, "You're welcome. Thanks to the quiet environment of Guibao Land, no one will disturb you."

The waiter said: "Yes, when we open the door to do business, we should provide the most comfortable and high-quality living environment for our guests. This is the business philosophy of our Shenghe Dishe."

Xu Xuan couldn't help but look at the waiter a few more times. He was a small waiter and spoke in a very organized manner.

The clerk's voice changed and he added: "When we did the accounting, we found that Mr. Xu still owed nine days of rent. The shopkeeper asked me to ask. If it is convenient, please pay the rent first."

Xu Xuan said in surprise: "I paid the rent for the past ten days at once. I agreed with your shopkeeper at that time that I would pay it together when I leave next time..."

The clerk bowed and said with an apologetic smile: "I'm sorry, the room rate has increased a bit recently, and the rules have also changed. All guest rooms in the residence must be settled once every five days at most, and the credit of the room fee exceeds three thousand dollars.

Settlement. Now you have to pay two rooms worth six hundred and eighty yuan before you can continue to live here."

Xu Xuan's expression changed, he grabbed his shriveled purse and looked at it, then he said bravely: "Can I give you a few days' grace..."

The waiter put away his smile and said, "Didn't you just get paid, sir?"

Xu Xuan said hurriedly: "The manuscript fee is only more than four hundred yuan, and it is not enough with what is left on hand. After all, I still have to leave some money for food."

The waiter shook his head and said solemnly: "The rules of Shenghe Residence cannot be broken. Please forgive me, sir. We have to check."

The waiter turned his head and winked, and the two companions, one walked towards Xu Xuan and the other walked towards Li Congjia.

Li Congjia hugged the money bag tightly, but the waiter twisted his arm away and snatched it away. He was angry and scared with a look of grievance on his face.

Xu Xuan could only let the waiter search his body and check his luggage, and said helplessly: "Please tell the shopkeeper that Xu will never owe your store a penny. We are just short of money for the time being, so please give me some grace."

After the search, less than a total of money was found.

The clerk cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Xu, please forgive me. The shopkeeper said that we are a small business and we must collect debts in time. Otherwise, we will not be able to turn around sooner or later. I hope you understand the difficulty."

The corners of Xu Xuan's mouth twitched and he smiled stiffly.

The largest and most luxurious mansion in the county town houses dozens of Hexi horses in the stables. The cost of feeding the horses alone is beyond the reach of ordinary merchants.

Just like this, you dare to call yourself a small business?

The clerk took all the money away without leaving a penny.

Li Congjia was about to cry because today's xiaolongbao flew away.

Not only today, but also from now on, he won't even be able to afford a single fried dough stick at Taihelou.

Xu Xuan said helplessly: "Maybe you can leave some food money for us?"

The waiter couldn't help but laugh and said: "Sir and his nephew have been eating and drinking in Taihe Building all day long. Even if you keep all this money, it won't be enough."

Xu Xuan glanced at Li Congjia, who lowered his head as if feeling guilty.
To be continued...