HLnovel Chapter 208: All Suckers
Chapter 208: All Suckers
But people like Shen Youyou don't have these worries, for the simple reason that their financial conditions don't allow it.
As for the money left by my ancient grandfather, it would never be used unless it was a life-or-death situation or absolutely necessary. This was the tacit understanding among the family of three.
After all, I wanted to save the money for the little kid named Li in the future.
As for the money Shen Zhiqiu originally earned from teaching, it was less than two hundred taels. Using this money to buy a cow that cost fifty taels each must have been crazy.
Even if the money was looted from the bandits, or the money just earned from selling Eucommia bark, no one in Shenjia Village would think of buying a cow.
That person really doesn't know how to live. Just because he wants to save some effort, he spends all that money to buy a cow!
They are just a bunch of peasants. Even if they are lucky enough to sneak into the ranks of rich people, it cannot change the farmer's concept of spending every copper coin carefully.
Everyone set off again. Zhou Tou also got on his horse. While calling on everyone to follow him, he looked back to see if Shen Zhiqiu and the others had caught up with the team.
A young yamen runner asked, "Zhou Tou, what do those guys pulling the cart mean?"
Zhou Tou smiled and did not answer the question. Instead, he said, "Tell the team to slow down. They are pulling carts and have a slow pace. Besides, they are not far from the post station."
That’s right, all the families traveling together bought livestock and carts. Some bought ox carts, some bought mule carts, and there were even two families who bought horse carts.
In ancient times, that car was equivalent to a modern sports car, so its value can be seen. Just listen to the waiters in the animal shed, the price of a horse, not including the car, is 150 taels each.
It was the most common kind. At this price, Shen Zhiqiu had run a private school for more than ten years, and there was not much left after he sold one.
Therefore, the people in Shenjia Village who could not afford it still walked at the end of the team.
The young yamen runner also looked back and couldn't help complaining:
"These people are really stingy. They don't buy medicine or livestock, and they slow us down. If it weren't for them, I think we could go back and forth much faster, and we might even be able to escort an extra group of people."
Leader Zhou Zhi frowned and said, "Stop complaining. It's not easy for everyone. If you have the money, how can you really not buy it?"
In fact, it was not only this young yamen runner who complained, most of the yamen runners also had complaints.
Being an escort is hard enough, and it's inevitable that you'll feel uncomfortable if you can't earn any extra money.
Moreover, among the families who bought livestock for the journey, there were one or two families who were unhappy. They all fled to the wilderness along the way. Who would want to waste time on the road?
Isn't the purpose of spending money to buy such expensive animals just to get to the post station earlier and rest earlier?
But now those people are not willing to buy a single cattle or horse. Even if they buy livestock at high prices, they still have to accommodate them and walk slowly.
It was Mr. Meng who deliberately fell behind and called Shen Zhiqiu to put the kids on the ox cart.
It's still a bit chilly here in the morning and evening, so don't let the kids get frozen.
Although they didn't actually put the kid into the ox cart, causing trouble for others, the old man's words did warm the hearts of this group of people.
In fact, the people in Shenjia Village were not fools. They naturally knew that they would slow down the team, so they walked very fast when they were on the road.
Plus, I’m finally settling down, and I’m happy and feel like I have endless energy.
Even though it fell behind the team, it didn't slow down the progress too much.
In fact, we didn't walk for long, only about two miles, before we saw two brightly lit inns next to the pipeline.
At this time, a man wearing the same clothes as Zhou Zhi was standing next to an inn. He seemed to be a leader and was waiting for them.
Seeing Zhou Zhi leading the team, the two greeted each other, and the leader waved the big red flag in his hand and shouted loudly:
"We'll stay here tonight, at Yuelai Inn. The best room is five taels, the middle is three taels, the worst is two taels, and the large bunk bed is one tael. Whatever room you want, come and pay me."
Finally they arrived at the place, and everyone in the carriage got off and began to ask about the situation: "Sir, is this the price for one night?"
"Yes, we will set off at dawn tomorrow!"
Mr. Meng was shocked: "This money is for food?"
The leader seemed impatient and frowned, "No matter what, you can order whatever you want to eat. As for hot water for washing, you also have to pay for the waiter's errands and firewood. You have to pay separately."
As soon as this sentence fell, Shen Zhiqiu and his group heard it clearly. Oh! How can it be so expensive?
What kind of house is it that costs five taels of silver for a night? Is it a gold house or a silver house?
But they are no longer the same people they were when they first fled the famine. They won't start chattering and say everything. If there is something they don't understand or want to complain about, they will discuss it among themselves in private.
But when the price of accommodation was announced, those who bought horse-drawn carriages were so angry that they laughed. They felt that they were being taken advantage of.
Buying medicine is a last resort. No one wants to have any health problems at this time. It would not be worth it.
The purpose of buying a carriage was to suffer less and get to Youzhou faster.
If they can settle down as soon as possible, they will feel at ease.
But the price for accommodation, especially for one night, is a bit outrageous.
Not only are food and drink charged separately, but even hot water requires extra money for running errands.
Besides, among their people, probably only the group of cart pushers have never lived in a high-class room, and the highest they could earn in the past was three taels of silver.
Every family has a servant around them, so they know the room prices of ordinary inns very well, because they were often responsible for taking care of these things in the past.
The general price of an upper-class room in Daqing Dynasty Inn is three taels of silver, a middle-class room is one tael of silver, and a lower-class room is five cents of silver. A large dormitory is even cheaper.
But this price is really not expensive compared to the sky-high priced medicines bought in pharmacies and the ox-drawn carts.
And why was the team leader waiting for them outside so early? Did they really think they were coming out to greet them?
How much face do they have? It's obvious that they are here to collect money.
Just stand out and you can earn a lot of money. What fool would not do it?
Even without taking this into account, with a large number of refugees entering the city, prices are bound to rise, and food will definitely be much more expensive than in previous years.
They are all smart people. They all know the situation and are very angry, but they have to bow their heads under the eaves.
What can you say at this time? It's up to you whether to stay or not. Although winter has passed, it is still cold at night. Can you really not stay? Are you planning to sleep outdoors?
As for the people in Shenjia Village, we have never stayed in a high-class room, but when we went to the original county town to do business, a large bunk bed cost only 200 coins per night.
There are even inns specifically for porters, where a large bunk bed costs only 100 wen, and with so many people living together, as long as you don't mind the crowd and squeeze in two more people, it's less than ten wen per person.
We still feel that we really can't afford to stay in this inn. It's not just a feeling, we really can't afford to stay here.
Master Shen kept looking at Shen Zhiqiu anxiously, thinking:
"Xiao Sanzi, what should we do? How many people can sleep in one big bunk bed? There are so many of us, so we probably need to book quite a few rooms. Plus, we have to spend so much money for one night, so we will have to live in poverty just by staying in the post station on the way to Youzhou."
Old Man Shen also felt thirsty. The price sounded too scary. He thought to himself that he might as well discuss it with the tour guide. We have been sleeping outdoors all the way and we even have palm mats with us. I wonder if they will allow us to sleep on the floor in the yard.
Old Lady Hua opened her mouth. It should be said that all old ladies wanted to shout, why are you so dark?
It’s already so late, we’re just staying half a night, and they’re charging that much.
Unfortunately, this time they were facing an official, who was wearing the same clothes as their leader, so they didn't dare to say a word.