socalfunplaces Chapter 268
Chapter 268
The next day.
In Chang'an City, the shouting of newspaper vendors in the West Market continued.
Most people already knew what a newspaper was, and they did not come forward to watch like they did yesterday.
There were many doubts in their hearts, especially those who had bought newspapers yesterday.
"I already know the contents of yesterday's newspaper, what's the point of buying it again?"
Everyone who has bought a newspaper has this doubt.
"Good news, good news!"
"Your Majesty is benevolent and righteous, and has reduced taxes for the people of Chang'an City!"
"If you want to know the details, one copper coin for one newspaper!"
Just when everyone was puzzled, the shouting of the newspaper vendor just answered them.
"So that's it, the news in the newspaper is different every day!"
Everyone came forward to take out copper coins to buy newspapers.
Today, 10,000 newspapers were issued. Logically, there should be a surplus of 5,000 yesterday, so the amount should not be increased.
Ma Zhou received a report from the newspaper seller that day that many people had no copper coins.
There were only silk and silk banners. Even if you wanted to buy, you couldn't.
After Ma Zhou's analysis, he expected that the people would exchange silk for copper coins in advance.
Therefore, the circulation of today's newspapers was increased.
Even if they could not be sold out, it would not matter. The newspapers were sent to the paper mill to be soaked and crushed in lime water, and they could be turned into brand new paper again.
As expected, people who sold newspapers flocked in.
Among them were some illiterate people.
…
East of Chang'an City, Tonghua Gate.
The peak period of the city gate entrance and exit has passed, and there are people and merchants in twos and threes.
Left and right.
The guards guarding the city gate will not check pedestrians unless they are notified by their superiors.
Unless they are very suspicious.
Not far away, a pair of pedestrians attracted a lot of attention.
As the saying goes: It is rare for a person to live to seventy.
In the Tang Dynasty, it was rare to see people over seventy years old.
But the old man walking towards the city gate had white hair and beard, and even his eyebrows were white.
It was obvious that this was an octogenarian.
Strangely, this old man was vigorous, as if the years had not worn out his spirit.
Accompanying the octogenarian was a young man who looked like a book boy, who was about the same age as the old man, with the surname Cen and the name Renhai.
The two seemed to be joking, and the octogenarian had to slow down when talking, and the young man could not keep up with the old man's pace.
It was unknown where the two came from, and they walked on foot without a carriage.
"You lazy little Si, I am eighty-four years old, and I have walked thirty miles and stopped to wait for you five times."
The old Taoist turned his head and scolded the man with a smile.
"Master, how can I compare with you, you are an old immortal!" The young man replied with heavy steps.
"Hurry up, and find a place to drink tea and rest your feet after entering the city." The old Taoist shouted sternly.
"Okay, Master!" The young man seemed to have exhausted all his strength and quickly followed the old Taoist.
The old Taoist stood at the gate of the city and looked up at the three words "Tonghua Gate".
"I left Beijing for more than two years, and I went out of the south gate and returned from the east gate."
After a little sigh, he walked into the city gate.
"Huh?"
The old Taoist suddenly felt that the city gate seemed a little different from before, but he couldn't tell where it was different.
The old Taoist shook his head slowly and walked into the archway.
When he passed through the archway, he turned around and looked back and finally found the difference from before.
The specifications of Tonghua Gate are slightly lower than those of Mingde Gate. It is a three-hole city gate.
In the past, people usually came and went in and out of the city gate, but now it has become orderly, with the left side for the direction of leaving the city and the right side for the direction of entering the city.
There are no special circumstances in the middle hole of the city gate, and ordinary people and merchants are prohibited from passing through.
"Master, why are you so absorbed in what you are doing?"
"Let's go, find a teahouse to rest, and then we can make plans."
The old Taoist shook his head and walked into the city.
The two came to the door of a teahouse at the west market entrance, and Cen Renhai shouted:
"Shopkeeper, bring two cups of good tea!"
"Okay, old sir, please! Distinguished guests, please!" The shopkeeper welcomed the two into the shop.
The shopkeeper just went out to buy a newspaper and came back, but he never thought that there would be customers drinking tea.
The moment the old Taoist stepped into the shop, he was stunned.
It was inconvenient to ask more questions at this time, and he sat down under the guidance of the shopkeeper.
"Two distinguished guests, please wait for a moment!" The shopkeeper bowed and hurried away to prepare tea.
After the old Taoist sat down, he looked around the shop and was puzzled.
"It's only been two years, and Chang'an City has undergone so many changes."
Cen Renhai asked in confusion: "Master, what do you mean? Why haven't I noticed any changes?"
"You little boy! Have you ever seen such a Hu stool table?"
The old Taoist pointed at the eight-immortal table and the long bench and asked back.
Cen Renhai then realized that this was indeed different from the past.
"Uh, Master, I didn't notice it for a while."
Cen Renhai touched the back of his head and said awkwardly.
"Dear guests, the best tea is here! Please enjoy it!" The shopkeeper brought a tray and placed the teacup in front of the two.
"Shopkeeper, I have something to ask you, may I tell you?"
The old Taoist asked with a kind smile.
People who often open shops know that they must try to continue the topic raised by the guests, let alone the guests asking questions.
"Please speak, old sir. I will tell you everything I know."
Obviously, this shopkeeper is also a chatterbox.
The old Taoist gestured to the shopkeeper to take a seat, "When I entered the city, I saw that the people were entering and leaving in an orderly manner. Could it be that the court has issued this new rule?"
When the shopkeeper heard that it was this matter, he knew it very well.
Teahouse owners are more informed than ordinary people.
"Yes! Old sir, it must have been several months since you left Chang'an? To be precise, this matter is because a strange man appeared in Chang'an."
"Strange man?"
The old Taoist instantly felt that this person might be extraordinary.
"That's right, old sir, please taste this tea first. Can you detect any difference from the previous taste?"
The shopkeeper smiled slightly and guided the old Taoist to drink a sip of tea first.
The old Taoist picked up the teacup as he said and took a sip.
"The taste is pure, no difference." The old Taoist drank the tea and savored it carefully before saying.
The shopkeeper smiled but said nothing. The old Taoist thought for a moment and took another sip.
"It seems to lack a bit of astringency..."
The tea sold in this shop is exactly the tea that Su Chen drank in Leshan Restaurant, but the grade is slightly inferior.
Various seasonings are added to the tea soup, and salt is naturally indispensable.
Therefore, the previous tea will be a little bitter because the salt is not pure.
"This is also due to that strange man." The shopkeeper seemed a little proud.
"Oh? Why did the shopkeeper say that? Could it be that strange man improved the tea making process?"
The old Taoist was even more curious and guessed.
"No, wait a moment, old sir, I'll take something and you'll know." The shopkeeper got up and ran to the kitchen behind the curtain.
After a while, the shopkeeper brought a small jar of fine salt.
"Look, old man, this is snowflake salt."
The old Taoist widened his eyes, gently picked up a small handful of fine salt, rubbed it a few times and put it into his mouth.
"Shopkeeper, is this salt also from that strange man?" The old Taoist traveled around and had seen this snowflake salt, but he didn't know where it came from.
The shopkeeper nodded and said with great emotion:
"Yes, thanks to that strange man!
The old man may not know that the price of snowflake salt is fifty coins per bucket, and it can be sold by jin for five coins per jin.
And that strange man did not take a penny, presented the refining method to the saint, and set the price himself.
This is how everyone in the people can eat salt."
After hearing this, the old Taoist immediately wanted to make friends with the strange man. Such a noble and upright act of compassion for all living beings is really admirable.
"Shopkeeper, where is that gentleman now?"
The old Taoist asked anxiously.