At noon time, I ate lunch delivered by Juxiang Pavilion and continued working without any lunch break.

Takeaway food already existed in the Song Dynasty.

In the beginning, each yamen had its own small kitchen, but as time went by, the food in these government-run small kitchens became more and more unpalatable, the quality became worse and worse, and the cost became higher and higher.

.

When I found out, I was shocked.

A small kitchen actually gave birth to some big greed.

As a result, these small kitchens were all disbanded, and instead they were ordered directly from outside.

Bidding is held every year through a buy-to-let method. In this way, not only will the food be delicious, but the price will also plummet.

Some big restaurants and restaurants even want to obtain this qualification at a loss.

Because this is living advertising.

Anyone who can deliver meals to the government office is eligible to hang a sign in the store.

The higher-end the delivery department, the better the store's business will be.

There were even many restaurants like this that launched Shoufu Special Food and Privy Envoy Special Food for sale back then.

The general public is flocking to it.

The restaurant naturally made a lot of money.

Song people never lacked business wisdom.

Such a win-win result was naturally accepted by the New Song Dynasty court in Jiangning.

In this way, various ministries and government agencies have solved the lunch problem, which has also stimulated the development of the local catering industry and increased many employment opportunities. The officials and staff of various ministries and government agencies have also benefited, and they must be praised a lot.

Ju Shoufu's good governance.

You can achieve it in one fell swoop, why not?

The troubles in front of Xiao Cheng did not decrease because of his hard work, but increased with Liu Xin's coming and going.

Liu Xin took out those who had been reviewed, but there were far more sent from various departments than what was taken out.

What's more, occasionally Xiao Cheng also has to meet with officials, some who come to Beijing from other places to report on their duties, some who have just been appointed to take up their new posts, etc.

The window paper made a snapping sound, which woke up Xiao Cheng who was immersed in the memorial. He stood up, stretched, walked to the window, and opened the window.

I was shut up in a warm house without realizing it, but it was getting dark outside, and the wind and snow were getting heavier and heavier.

In winter, it's better to be a little colder.

At least this indicates that there will be no extreme weather next year.

Xiao Cheng thought of the intelligence analysis he just saw today about the warm winter in the north.

Drought and floods have always been one of the biggest disasters for people.

I pray for good weather every year, but God does not always reward me.

The people in the north have experienced many disasters in the past two years.

"Liu Xin!" Xiao Cheng shouted after closing the window and turning around.

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Xin opened the door and walked in, as if he had been staying by the door waiting for Xiao Cheng's call at any time.

"It's snowing a lot. If it doesn't stop overnight, I'm afraid it will cause a disaster!"

"Yes, I will immediately notify the governor of Jiangning and ask him to send people to inspect, especially the Xicheng area and the outer city outer area!" Liu Xin immediately said after hearing the elegant meaning of Xiange.

"There are also surrounding villages, especially widows and widowers." Xiao Cheng pondered for a moment and said, "Let Tian Chou make arrangements. I will accompany the official family to take a look and express my condolences in the next two days."

"Are you going to the official family too?" Liu Xin was startled.

"Go, let the officials see more of the real Song Dynasty. It's not a bad thing!" Xiao Cheng said with a smile.

"I will go and make arrangements immediately, my official!" Liu Xin bowed.

Xiao Cheng waved his hand: "Let everyone go home today! This snowstorm came suddenly, and no one was prepared. Maybe everyone at home is looking forward to their return! After you go to Tian Chou, you should go home too!"

"

"First Assistant, aren't you going back?" Liu Xin asked.

Xiao Cheng smiled and said: "I

I think I still have one more thing to finish today."

First he was startled, then he was stunned, and then he laughed.

Everything is left unsaid.

After lighting up several lights in the room for Xiao Cheng, Liu Xin went out.

Immediately, suppressed cheers sounded outside.

After a while, the tables, chairs and benches rattled, and it gradually became quiet outside.

Xiao Cheng smiled and walked to a corner of the public hall, where there was a short table and several futons. On the short table, there were a small stove, a small teapot and other gadgets.

After sitting down, Xiao Cheng first lit the small stove. After the specially obtained apple wood was lit, there was a faint fragrance.

After placing the small kettle on the fire and starting to boil water, Xiao Cheng slowly began to clean the teapot and teacups.

He washed two cups.

After doing all this, the water will boil.

Start scalding the teapot and cups, then use wooden tongs to clamp some tea leaves and put them into the teapot, then pour 2 boiling water into the teapot, and then slowly turn the teapot.

The golden tea was poured from the spout of the pot, and when the two cups in front of him were filled, there was a knock on the door at the right time.

Xiao Cheng turned around and saw the second assistant, Si Junchao, standing in front of the door. He raised his two fingers while eating and knocked lightly on the door.

Smiling and pointing to the opposite side with his handbag, Si Junchao walked in and sat down quietly.

The two of them picked up the cups in front of them and drank them all in one gulp.

Originally, Si Junchao was too lazy to drink Xiao Cheng's extremely simple tea. A pinch of tea leaves, boiled water and drank in the mouth, it was extremely bitter.

In Si Junchao's view, Xiao Cheng's approach completely destroyed the tea ceremony.

But today, he had to drink.

Putting down the teacup, Si Junchao looked up at Xiao Cheng and said, "Why is this so?"

"How could it not be so?" Xiao Cheng said calmly: "This year, the imperial government's fiscal deficit has reached 1.2 million guan, and the tax lost on trade has reached more than 300,000 guan in terms of value. Company company

Do you think this is a small number?"

"It's just a shortfall of 1.2 million yuan. As long as the chief minister speaks, the righteous merchants in Jiangnan will be happy to donate it in the blink of an eye." Si Junchao leaned forward and asked: "Why are you so vicious and evil, so bad among your colleagues?

Where is your kindness?"

"What is happy donation? It's just an excuse to force donations and apportion them!" Xiao Cheng sneered: "I know what the company means. The squires take the lead and mobilize everyone to share the country's worries. Then, the squires will naturally do it.

Those who have been returned, and those who have come from the common people, can almost make up for this year’s deficit!”

Si Junchao said nothing.

This is generally the approach, and this is how it was done in the past.

"Jiangnan Road is prosperous, so the money is not a big deal!" He said calmly: "Si Mou also used to help the people on Jiangnan Road for many years. Jiangnan Road is prosperous, but Simou still has some small contributions.

.”

Xiao Cheng looked at the proud face and laughed angrily: "Are you really rich? Company, if the looms in Jiangning Mansion stop running for a day, how many people will be hungry the day after tomorrow? Like today

With the heavy snow falling all the time, how many houses will collapse in the West City? How many beggars are there in the entire Jiangning Mansion who can't survive the cold night?"

"In the past ten years or so, taxes from Jiangnan accounted for more than 40% of the entire Song Dynasty!" Si Junchao said.

"We are only a small part of the wealth, but the common people are still poor!" Xiao Cheng said: "So, if the company has ill-gotten wealth and illegal wealth, I will not take it, but I will exploit those who are already poor.

Ordinary people?"

"Chongwen!" Si Junchao's tone became colder: "You must understand that you rule the world with the scholar-bureaucrats, but you do not rule the world with those mud-legged people."

"Wei Zheng once said that water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. Since Qin unified the world and has gone through many dynasties, does the company really think that the people can be bullied?" Xiao Cheng said.

"Chief Assistant, you may not know if Jiangning's looms will really stop tomorrow!" Si Junchao's eyes flashed with a trace of anger: "Does the First Assistant know that there are 200,000 people in Jiangning Mansion and its surrounding areas alone?

We rely on this to make a living! Didn’t you also say before,

If they stop the loom, will they have nothing to eat the next day? There will be a quarrel, and the chief assistant is going to let Han Quan lead his people to fight?"

Xiao Cheng burst out laughing, "How could the court's sword be aimed at the kind people! If such a situation really happened, it was impossible to say, so we could only invite those guys in the prison to show themselves, and also

With those big boxes of account books, I had no choice but to make them public. Company, guess what, if it has really come to this point, the angry people will tear it up first, or will they tear up those so-called houses of good deeds first?

?」

Si Junchao took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

Isn't that why he came here regardless of dignity?
To be continued...