In the early morning, the cold wind howled, and heavy snow fell in the sky. In the haze, horse-drawn carriages drove away from the foot of Qianfo Mountain in an orderly manner, heading towards various bustling streets in the city!
…………
Huaiyin Lane in the west of the city.
The sky had just turned white with fog, and Aunt Wang had already gotten up early. She carried the bamboo basket passed down from her mother-in-law, carefully checked the small leather bag hidden in the waistband of her trousers, and quickly stepped out of the door.
, braved the biting wind and snow, and headed straight to Liujiamihang a few miles away!
The food shortage in the city has lasted for nearly ten days. Aunt Wang's family has already eaten up all the food in stock. Even the edible dead branches and leaves in the courtyard have been eaten up by them!
Aunt Wang originally had two sons. A few years ago, the eldest son was chosen to escort officials and peasants, and died innocently at the foot of the capital. The younger son was luckier and stayed with her. However, in order to make a living, he always had to
Working at a rice farm in the south of the city doing hard work of transporting grain and rice, the family could barely make ends meet!
But the weather is unpredictable, and people are prone to misfortunes and misfortunes. Just half a month ago, the Qing army laid siege to the city. The price of rice in the city soared. Aunt Wang’s family was unable to buy rice at all. His youngest son took advantage of his position to secretly buy rice.
He stole two buckets of rice from the rice farm, but who would have thought that before he even left the rice farm, he was discovered by the supervisor and was beaten to death in the street!
Seeing this, the daughter-in-law couldn't bear it. In a hurry, she threw herself into a well, leaving only two seven or eight-year-old children. This already precarious family instantly became worse, and all the burdens fell on Aunt Wang.
On this old woman who is over fifty years old!
Heaven and earth are unkind and regard all things as stupid dogs!
Alas! When we prosper, the people suffer; when we die, the people suffer even more!
Although Aunt Wang has not read any books, she has the strongest resilience that has been inherited by the Chinese nation for thousands of years!
Having not eaten for two days, Aunt Wang was already very hungry and swaying as she walked, as if a gust of cold wind could knock her to the ground. But when she thought of her two good grandchildren looking eagerly into the pot, she shed tears.
With a drooling face, Aunt Wang was instantly filled with courage, and endless power poured into her body!
Aunt Wang held the bamboo basket tightly with one hand, and with the other hand, she carefully protected the small leather bag hanging on her waist. Inside was a silver hairpin given by her family when she got married. Although it was not big,
But there are also two or three ounces. According to the current market price of grain and rice, you can already buy four buckets of rice. If you live frugally, it will be enough for the three of them, their grandparents, and their grandchildren for a month!
In a daze, Aunt Wang had arrived at Liujia Rice Shop on the street. At this time, there were already many people like Aunt Wang who had been waiting here for a long time!
Liujia Rice Store is said to be the property of Liu Hanyi, the "Devil King" in Licheng. However, in the past few days, the prices of food at other Liangmi Stores have skyrocketed, but Liujia Rice Store is the cheapest one, which is much cheaper than other stores.
More than twice as cheap!
In the past, most of the people in the city would have looked down upon Liu Hanyi, who usually laughed at the world, but at this moment, he has become the embodiment of justice in the hearts of the people. The people all believe that with Uncle Liu here, they can all have a good taste.
Eat!
"Sister, tell me, what is the price of food today? I only brought one, two or five cents of silver. I wonder how much rice I can buy?"
"Oh, I can't tell! We've sold out all the ones we can sell at home. Now, we have to sell our bodies! Uncle, look, look, what's my figure like? What if I were you?
, you give me this money, and I will live with you from now on!"
"That, that's not possible!" The man who spoke swallowed hard, "No, this is absolutely not possible! This is my family's life-saving money, so there's nothing you can say..."
People around her were noisy, talking about anything. Aunt Wang couldn't help but wrap her clothes tightly, but her eyes were fixed on the door of Liu's Rice Shop! She didn't care about anything else, she just hoped that when the rice shop opened, she would be there.
You can grab grain and rice as soon as possible!
At this time, the two doors made of fine boxwood creaked open. The two guys quickly opened the door latch, and Liu Hanyi walked out with a happy face!
"Uncle Liu, what's the price of grain and rice today?"
"Uncle Liu, I'll be here in the middle of the night, please get in line for me first!"
"Uncle Liu..."
The people gathered at the door immediately gathered towards Liu Hanyi, fearing that Liu Hanyi would disappear on the spot!
Liu Hanyi hurriedly raised his hands to everyone and said: "Fellow folks, don't panic, don't panic, haha, today, I want to tell you some great news! The man in front of you is my Liu's brother, who is currently in Jinan Nancheng
Guerrilla Liu Ruyi, General Liu! Everything you want to know, General Liu will reveal the answer to you soon!"
"Ah~! Why, why is there a military master here?"
"Yes, yes! Let's move back quickly and don't piss off the military master!"
"…………"
The people were noisy for a while, but they quickly quieted down and focused their attention on Liu Ruyi!
At this time, looking at the simple faces in front of him, Liu Ruyi felt mixed emotions in his heart, which was indescribable!
'Let the change start from this moment!'
After a moment, Liu Ruyi took a deep breath, strode forward, raised her hands to everyone, and said loudly: "Fellow folks, brothers and sisters! The Qing troops are currently besieging the city, and the traffic in Jinan City is not smooth.
As a result, the price of rice has skyrocketed, and the people are miserable! Liu, as the main military general of Jinan City, did not notice it immediately. Liu is guilty!"
After Liu Ruyi finished speaking, he bowed deeply to everyone!
"General, this is unacceptable!"
"Sir, the young ones are not worthy of this!"
The people knelt down to return the gift. Obviously, they had never encountered such a situation!
Liu Ruyi nodded slightly and said loudly: "Okay, I know what all the folks are most concerned about right now! Let's not talk nonsense. I, Liu, hereby promise that within one month from today, I, Liu, will fund Jinan.
The people of the city can receive three dou of white rice from each household every ten days at the Liujia Rice Shop. I, Liu, don’t want a penny! Just think of me, Liu Ruyi, as apologizing to all the villagers and elders! If we wait until we fight back the people outside the city,
Qing soldiers and thieves, I, Liu Ruyi, have made an appointment to provide each household with two kilograms of fat pork, and I will never break my promise!"
"Ah~~~? This, this, did my ears hear it correctly?"
"General Liu actually gave us grain and rice for free. How much money does this cost?"
"…………"
The people started talking about it instantly, and for a while, no one reacted!
"General Liu is a bodhisattva. I have to thank General Liu for his great kindness in surviving!" After a moment, someone finally reacted. In an instant, everyone fell to their knees on the ground and kept kowtowing to Liu Ruyi to thank him!
At this scene, Liu Ruyi's eyes were slightly moist. However, he was not like those high-ranking officials in later generations who first sought out hundreds of 'journalist friends' to take a group photo. Instead, he waved his hand and looked behind him.
The soldier ordered: "Start putting out food!"
"Yes!" A soldier whistled loudly. After a moment, the gate of Liujia Rice Shop opened, and carts loaded with fresh grain and rice drove out!
Soon, dozens of workers, each holding a bucket of ladles, began to distribute grain and rice to the people!
When every citizen received grain and rice, they would kowtow several times in the direction of Liu Ruyi and say thank you loudly!
Even when someone shouted "Long live General Liu", Liu Ruyi didn't react yet!
But in just a moment, the sound spread rapidly, like an unstoppable red tide. Almost all the people present chanted together, and the sound resounded through the sky, as if it shook open a gap in the snowflakes falling in the sky!
Liu Hanyi couldn't help but sigh loudly: "Brother, I have lived for these thirty years, but... this, this, the people's support can be used, the people's support can be used!"
He was obviously a little excited and even spoke a little awkwardly!
Liu Ruyi's eyebrows twitched slightly. He stood on the high stone steps and looked down at the worship of nearly a thousand people. An indescribable feeling suddenly surged into his heart. This, this may be what countless people are pursuing.
It feels like a high place!
However, Liu Ruyi did not get carried away, everything was just beginning!
"Set up loud arrows! Release grain throughout the city!"
"Yes!" In a moment, dozens of rockets flew straight into the sky, making bursts of shrill arrows!
Then, not far away, in the distance, rockets continued to rise in response!
Almost at the same time, nearly 20 shops at Liujia Rice Store in Jinan City began to distribute food for free on a large scale. Crowds shouted from everywhere!
………………
"Sister, I, I will give you all these two or five pieces of silver. You, what you just said, does that still count?" The man had just received the grain, but his mind was a little confused. He covered it with his hands.
He handed the hot silver to the young woman and asked in a low voice.
The young woman also mentioned grain and rice in her hand. She glanced at the man with some disdain and cursed: "Why did you go before the general put out grain? It's too late to think about it now! I still have to go home to help me."
The baby is cooking! Let’s go now, I won’t send you away!”
"Ah~, this, this..." The man looked at the young woman twisting her waist and hips and walking away, his mouth wide open, but he couldn't say a word!
………………
Liu Hanyi was already busy at the front, while Liu Ruyi stood alone on the huge steps made of bluestone, with a trace of sad thoughts in his eyes!
"Liu, General Liu, you, aren't you afraid of losing money by doing this?" At some point, Zhu Qingxu stood cautiously behind Liu Ruyi. He didn't sleep last night and was taken directly to Liu's home by Liu Ruyi.
Okay, Zhu Qingxu looks a little haggard!
"Loss of money?" Liu Ruyi turned around and glanced at Zhu Qingxu, "Don't call me General Liu in the future. I don't like this title!"
"Then, then I..." Zhu Qingxu was stunned, a little shy, and lowered his head in fear.
Liu Ruyi grabbed her soft slender waist, reached out to lift her chin, looked into her eyes and said: "Qingxu, according to your father's wishes, you are now my wife. What do you think you should call me?"
Me what?"
Zhu Qingxu obviously did not expect Liu Ruyi to be so bold. She wanted to break free, but was unable to resist at all. She fluttered her long eyelashes and said tremblingly: "Husband, husband!"
"Hahaha!" Liu Ruyi suddenly laughed loudly and kissed her hard on the cheek!
Zhu Qingxu's pretty face turned red with embarrassment, and she was stunned for a long time, but she found that everyone's eyes were on the white grains, and no one was looking at them. She felt relieved a little, but for what she just said
She always wondered why the property that her father and brother regarded as life seemed to be indifferent to the man in front of her!
"Husband, you haven't answered me yet. Aren't you afraid of losing money by giving out food for free like this?"
After the first time, it became much smoother the second time. Zhu Qingxu’s voice was soft and soft, like a crisp little oriole, and Liu Ruyi couldn’t help but feel moved!
He took Zhu Qingxu's delicate body and pointed at the people in front of him and said: "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it! We are on a dangerous boat right now! Those Qing soldiers are like strips under the water.
Big man-eating fish, if we are not careful, our boat will be destroyed and we will become the delicacies of those big fish! If these grains and rice can be exchanged for the safety of this boat, then this~~~, it doesn’t matter.
What?"
Zhu Qingxu's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again in an instant!
Liu Ruyi patted her back gently, "Qingxu, don't worry! I promised you that I would ensure your father's safety, and I will definitely do it! It's windy outside, so go inside and rest! After a while
Yes, I will send someone to send you to my house!"
After Liu Ruyi finished speaking, she turned her head to look at the people who couldn't help but gather here, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her heart!
But the most important point is that Liu Ruyi did not tell the truth to Zhu Qingxu, because this Jinan City has long been regarded as private territory by Liu Ruyi!
As for King De, let’s be his ‘fat pig’!
Zhu Qingxu gently looked at the handsome but slightly fierce face in front of her. She suddenly made an important decision in her heart. She tightly grasped the hem of Liu Ruyi's sleeves and said firmly: "Husband,
I want to accompany you to defend the city!"
……………………
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Yesterday, my wife was sick! Hey, the boat was with me the whole time, so I didn’t have time to come back and post it!
But, here, someone actually said that the boat was going to enter the palace,
This, this, this is simply intolerable!
After such a long period of stability, can't the brothers still not trust Xiaozhou's character?