Chapter 44: Entering the city

Suyin’s family did not delay, leading the mule cart, and lined up with three uncles’ families to enter the city.

Entering the city with them were ten other families, including Butcher Yang, Yang Dashu, Madam Xu, and their eldest and second cousins.

When entering Yongqing County, everyone must pay an entry fee of two cents. The price is the same for adults and children.

When we were lining up to enter the city, my eldest cousin’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhang, looked very unhappy and kept muttering.

“Why are you going to the city today? It’s not cost-effective and you have to pay to stay in an inn.”

“It’s true for my in-laws. Why can’t I live outside?” “Don’t say a word.” My eldest cousin, father-in-law, Old Man Zhang, started to stop her.

Mrs. Zhang still refused to give up, “I can’t say a word. There are more than a dozen people in our family, and we eat and drink every day for free.

We only have so little money in total, so how can we have any spare money to stay at the inn.”

My eldest cousin Yang Shuixian looked very unhappy.

She knew in her heart that her mother-in-law said this to her parents, simply because she wanted them to help pay for the house for their whole family.

She was a married daughter, couldn’t open her mouth, and didn’t have the face to do so. She didn’t seem to hear what her mother-in-law said and just pretended to be dead.

Seeing that her daughter-in-law remained silent, Mrs. Zhang continued to nag until her eldest cousin’s husband, Zhang Liangtian, said, “Mom, if you really don’t want to go to the city, that’s fine, we won’t go to the city.”

As soon as her son spoke, Mrs. Zhang immediately shut his mouth, glanced at his wife and son bitterly, feeling that both of them were heartless and only focused on their daughter-in-law and didn’t care about themselves at all.

Seeing that her mother-in-law was unhappy, Yang Shuixian didn’t try to coax her.

Zhang Liangtian patted her hand and said, “Don’t take it to heart. My mother is just like that. You can tell your father-in-law and mother-in-law later and don’t let them take it to heart.”

“I understand.” Yang Shuixian held his hands.

If it weren’t for the caring person next to her and the occasional help from her father-in-law, she wouldn’t know how she could survive this life.

Mrs. Zhang’s voice was not quiet, and Su Yin heard it clearly.

Su’s mother lowered her voice and sighed, “Your eldest cousin has a hard-to-get-along-with mother-in-law.

I will find you a mother-in-law in the future. Mom will definitely find a kind-hearted mother-in-law.”

Su Yin was numb, “Mom, your thinking is broad enough.”

“What? What are you thinking about?” Mother Su looked confused and couldn’t understand the words that came out of her daughter’s mouth.

“I’m still young, so don’t think so much.”

“Not young anymore. If not… it’s time for you to see someone else.”

Su Yin hurriedly pulled the shield, “Mom, when it comes to marrying someone, it’s my sister’s choice. In front of me. My sister is not married, so it is not my turn.”

Su Baozhu, who was lying innocently, stared at the unkind little girl.

Mother Su looked at Su Baozhu, “Baozhu, don’t worry, my sister definitely find you a good family in the future.”

Su Baozhu: “…”

While the three of them were chatting, it was their turn.

The leader Cha Ye glanced at the three people, “Three people, nine cents.”

Su Baozhu said directly, “Cha Ye, did you make a mistake in your calculation? The three of us should be six cents.

“Ye sneered, “I said nine cents means nine cents. Oh, no, now it’s fifteen cents.”

Su Baozhu was angered by the other party’s shamelessness. She wanted to say something else, but Su Yin stopped her.

She stepped forward and handed the fifteen cents into the other party’s hand with a smile, “Thank you for your hard work, Master.”

Seeing that the amount was correct, the gatekeeper didn’t give them any trouble and let them go.

With them, uncle and the others will give as much as the other party says, basically on the basis of two cents per person, plus an extra copper plate.

As soon as they entered the city, Su Baozhu said angrily: “That person is obviously trying to extort money. It’s so abominable.”

This girl still has little experience and has never seen what it means to really extort money or what it means to embarrass someone.

They are quite kind.

“They are already very good. When you meet the real officials who extort money, you will understand.”

Su Baozhu’s eyes widened, “Isn’t this too much?”

“Well, you will know in the future. However, I don’t really want you to see it.”

If you see it, it means they are in trouble.

The county seat of Yongqing County is much larger than that of Dongtu County where they are located.

Perhaps it was approaching evening and when the city gate was about to close, there were not many pedestrians on the streets, and many vendors began to close their stalls one after another.

Su Yin saw a meat bun stall not far away and asked Su Baozhu to keep an eye on the luggage.

“Boss, give me ten big meat buns.”

“Okay! One bun costs twenty-two cents. Ten buns, a total of two cents and twenty cents.”

The boss seemed to be afraid that she would find it too expensive, so he said specifically: “My meat buns, The skin is thin and stuffed, and it’s full of meat.”

Twenty-two cents, this price is a few cents more expensive than Dongtu County.

I don’t know if it’s because of the recent increase in food prices, or because Yongqing County is already better than Dongtu County. The county is expensive.

Su Yin happily gave the boss two coins and twenty coins, picked up a meat bun and took a bite.

It was exactly as the boss said, with thin skin and plenty of filling. When he took a bite, the meat soup overflowed and the taste was delicious.

“Boss, I want to ask you something. Which foot shop near the city is affordable? Is the boss kind?”

She ate the meat buns while asking for information.

The steamed bun stall owner was a little surprised. It seemed that the little girl who could buy ten steamed buns at once did not ask about the inn, but asked about the foot shop.

Although foot shops and inns are both places for lodging and eating, they are very different.

The foot shop is small in scale and only provides simple food and accommodation.

The inn is large in scale, with many types of rooms, good food, and some even have entertainment options.

The former entertains ordinary people, while the latter caters mainly to merchants and wealthy travelers.

In fact, it is similar to the difference between a youth hostel and a big hotel.

The owner of the meat bun stall did not hide anything and enthusiastically introduced, “If you want a foot shop that is affordable and kind, I recommend you go to the Fuyun Foot Shop at the east corner of the city.

The prices are the most reasonable in Yongqing County, and the owner is a good person to talk to.”

After getting the answer she wanted, Su Yin thanked the stall owner and returned with the hot meat buns.

Su Baozhu smelled the fragrance, “Yinyin, what delicious food did you buy?”

“Meat buns.” Su Yin stuffed the meat buns into her arms.

Su Baozhu, unable to resist the smell, took one out and took a bite. “It’s delicious, it’s delicious.”

Su Yin gave three to Su’s mother and two to Xiao Taohua and Xiao Yanggui.

After Xiao Yanggui got the meat bun, he took a bite with bright eyes. His already huge eyes stared even bigger, “It’s delicious, it’s delicious.”

Xiao Taohua put the bun in front of her mother, “Mom, you eat it.”

Mrs. Li shook her head, “Eat it yourself.”

Mrs. Li knew that this meat bun was given to her daughter by Su Yin. How could she eat it?

As a sister, she felt sorry for her younger siblings, but as a mother, she couldn’t bring herself to take food away from her daughter.

When all ten families entered the city, everyone began to discuss which inn to stay at.

Mrs. Zhang said anxiously, “I told you first, it’s too expensive. I won’t go.

[Note 1]: In the Warring States Period: According to “Mencius Teng Wengong”, people could buy a meat bun for 7 copper coins.

2. Qin Dynasty Period: According to “Historical Records: The Chronicles of Qin Shi Huang,” after Qin Shi Huang unified the six countries, he set the price of a meat bun at 1 penny.

3. Han Dynasty: According to “Hanshu Shihuo Zhi,” during the Han Dynasty, the price of a meat bun was about 5 cents.

4. Tang Dynasty Period: According to the “Old Book of Tang·Shi Huo Zhi,” during the Tang Dynasty, the price of a meat bun was about 10 cents.

5. Song Dynasty: According to “Tokyo Menghua Lu,” during the Song Dynasty, the price of a meat bun was about 20 cents.

6. Ming Dynasty: According to “Wanli Yehuobian,” during the Ming Dynasty, the price of a meat bun was about 30 wen.

7. Qing Dynasty: According to the “Manuscript of Qing History·Shi Huo Zhi,” during the Qing Dynasty, the price of a meat bun was about 50 cents.

I checked casually and found that the income of ordinary people in the Qing Dynasty was about 30-50 yuan per day for part-time workers.

Working all year round, their annual income was equivalent to more than 2,300 meat buns. It can be seen that ordinary people could not easily afford meat buns.