The county seat is not far away, more than thirty miles.
But it is difficult to move on the road without support, and the ox-cart is slow.
When Chen Mo entered the city gate, it was already the end of the day, which was nearly eleven o'clock.
Baihe County is a border town, bordering Dayan in the north, so trade has developed extremely prosperously, and the county is full of prosperity.
Chen Mo drove the bullock cart to the market, found a good location to set up his stall, and while appreciating the local customs, waited for buyers to come to his door.
As for the current market price of charcoal, he has no interest in asking. Anyway, he doesn't intend to sell it based on common sense.
As Qin Xianglian praised before, Chen Mo's charcoal burning was far superior to other colleagues.
In addition, the beginning of winter is approaching, and many wealthy families need to prepare charcoal to keep out the cold, so people soon come forward to inquire about prices.
"If you don't sell it in bulk, the whole car will weigh more than a thousand kilograms and ten taels of silver." This was Chen Mo's answer.
"Twelve?"
"Why don't you go and grab it?"
Everyone's reaction was unanimous, with contempt mixed with ridicule. The lowly Hanako was simply out of his mind.
Only one person showed great interest.
When looking at the charcoal, I couldn't help but admire it. When I turned my head to look at Chen Mo, I could see some pity and confusion.
"This little brother, let me ask you a question, even if the charcoal is of excellent quality, it won't cost such a high price, right?"
Chen Mo raised his head and looked at it carefully.
The middle-aged man in front of him was well-dressed and not angry. Although he restrained his aura, one could still see that he was from a rich or noble background.
This kind of person was the customer Chen Mo had been waiting for, so he answered without hesitation.
"Because what I sell is not just charcoal."
oh?
The middle-aged man became even more curious: "Besides charcoal, what else is there?"
"this."
As Chen Mo spoke, he erected the wooden board with the poems written on it.
The middle-aged man glanced at it in confusion, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he couldn't help but read it.
A charcoal seller cuts firewood and burns charcoal in the southern mountains.
His face was dusty and smoky, his temples were gray and his fingers were black.
After reading the two sentences, the middle-aged man shut his mouth and looked at Chen Mo. While he was instantly relieved from his previous confusion, he also felt a bit of unspeakable sadness and emotion in his heart.
Where do you make money from selling charcoal? You have clothes on your back and food in your mouth.
Poor man, he is only dressed in plain clothes, and he is worried and wishing that the weather would be cold.
"What a sentence: I am worried about the charcoal but wish the weather would be cold." After reading the end, the middle-aged man couldn't help but clapped his hands and said, "May I ask, who wrote this poem?"
"I had some thoughts while cutting down wood and burning charcoal, so I wrote them down." Chen Mo responded casually.
"What a great talent." The middle-aged man praised without hesitation, "The poems are good and the calligraphy is good. He has obviously read poetry and books. I wonder what his name is. Will he take the county examination in two days?"
"Chen Mo, courtesy name Shimei, as for the county examination..."
When it came to rushing for the exam, Chen Mo hesitated and didn't know how to answer appropriately.
"Steward, get the money."
The middle-aged man just thought that Chen Mo was worried about his livelihood, so he gave instructions and then gave instructions.
"Chen Mo, I bought the charcoal. I hope to see you in the county examination in two days. In addition, I also want to ask one more question, is this poem unfinished?"
"It's finished, I just haven't written it down yet." Chen Mo shook his head.
"Why don't you write?" the middle-aged man asked.
"Can't write." Chen Mo shook his head again.
"What do you mean by this?"
"No solution."
"That's all. Since I have difficulties, I won't ask. I just hope that I can get the whole story if I have the opportunity in the future, but it's a pity."
After the middle-aged man finished speaking, he pointed to a cart of charcoal and motioned for Chen Mo to deliver it to his home.
After receiving the ten taels of silver, Chen Mo let out a long sigh of relief, raised his whip and drove the cattle forward.
Later, the housekeeper asked cautiously.
"Sir, from this old slave's point of view, ten taels of silver and one cart of charcoal are a huge loss."
"That's because you are short-sighted. I, Wang Anshi, don't think so." The middle-aged man shook his head and said, "I have just come here to take office, so I think I can buy horse bones for a thousand dollars."
"This can promote a trend. No matter what kind of business you do, as long as it does not violate the legal principles and you are diligent and diligent, you will definitely get rich rewards."
"My Lord Magistrate Shengming, I believe that this matter will spread throughout the city soon, and the people's customs will be completely renewed by then." The housekeeper hurriedly flattered.
"Go find out more about Chen Mo and be sure to submit it before the county examination."
Looking at the back of the driver, Wang Anshi gave the order.
When he took office as the county magistrate this time, he planned to find pilot projects to implement some new policies. Being thirsty for talents, he naturally wanted to seize every malleable talent.
Wang Anshi's residence was not far from the market, so Chen Mo returned after delivering the charcoal and found a place to tidy up.
I bought some daily necessities, a jar of wine and two pounds of meat, and then parked the oxcart in front of a shop called Shengxiang Pavilion to buy some rouge and gouache for Qin Xianglian.
The more beautiful a woman is, the more she needs to modify her makeup.
Perhaps it was because there were very few customers in the store, so the waiter enthusiastically welcomed Chen Mo in and took the initiative to introduce the valuable items in the store.
"Go and do your work. I'll call you if I need anything."
After sending the waiter away, Chen Mo went around the counter to look for him.
In his memory, when he married Qin Xianglian, there was a kind of rouge called Peach Blossom Cloud in the dowry, and she liked it very much.
After using up the rouge, I still don’t want to throw away the box.
After that, I was tired of making ends meet and never bought another one.
Chen Mo felt that Qin Xianglian should be given such a surprise.
It's a pity that there is only one box of rouge left, and it is being held in someone's hand.
The woman has a graceful figure, her face covered with gauze, holding peach blossom rouge in her hand, and she is expressing her emotions to the maid beside her.
"Tui'er, it's not in vain that we searched for it for three days and finally found the Peach Blossom Cloud produced in our hometown. Although there is only one box, it can finally relieve some of the pain of homesickness."
"Miss, you are always like this. Every time you move to a new house with me, you will be sentimental for a while, which makes Cui'er feel uncomfortable too." Xiao Cui pouted.
"I'm just afraid that if I follow my father further and further away, I may not be able to return to my hometown for the rest of my life."
After the woman finished speaking, there was a hint of homesickness in her eyes.
It seems like water mist is forming.
The conversation between the two was not loud, but the shop was deserted with few customers, so Chen Mo listened to every word.
He couldn't help but remind him of all the things in his previous life.
The sorrow of separation welled up in his heart, and Chen Mo also felt a little sad. In addition, he regretted not buying any rouge during this trip, so he couldn't help but moan softly when he left.
The flowers in the forest faded away in spring, too hastily.
Helplessly, the cold rain comes in the morning and the wind comes in the evening.
Rouge tears, stay drunk together, how long will it last?
Naturally, life grows and hates water.
drive!
Chen Mo's melancholy disappeared with the fall of the whip, and he drove the bullock cart to other shops, intending to buy another gift for Qin Xianglian.
It wasn't until the bullock cart had gone away that the woman in the shop suddenly came back to her senses.
"Tui'er, where was the official just now?"
"left already."
"Why didn't you stop for a moment?"
The woman blamed him and hurriedly chased him out.