Chapter 486: I can’t afford to live anymore
Every day is nothing, things are happening day after day, and I am busy and confused.
After Su Yunting left, Su Yunyan and Su Xuanming fell into busyness.
Life in the Hanlin Academy is extremely boring. Su Xuanming and Jiang Guanghai have just joined the job, so naturally they will not receive any important work.
The two of them were assigned to work with an old Hanlin scholar, responsible for transcribing and repairing ancient books.
Old Hanlin was nearly seventy years old, his eyesight was dim, and he was about to retire, so he handed over all the chores to Su Xuanming and Jiang Guanghai.
Because the weather was getting hotter and hotter, Lao Hanlin called some idlers from time to time to buy some lychees to drink at Baiwei Restaurant.
"Xuan Ming, Guang Hai, you guys have a rest first and sit down to drink together." Old Hanlin greeted the two of them.
Su Xuanming and Jiang Guanghai were already sweating profusely from the heat, so they naturally followed the good example.
During the break, Lao Hanlin complained in a low voice: "In the past few days, prices in Kyoto have skyrocketed. Not only the prices of food, but also the prices of street vendors have also increased. If this continues, How can we afford to live if the price goes up?”
Lao Hanlin is now a minister, with an official rank of sixth rank.
Normally speaking, after an official retires, his rank will be raised by half a level by default. If he goes up another half level to become a minister, he will be a bachelor, and his official position will be from the fifth rank.
As long as you reach the fifth rank or above, you can still get half of your salary even if you become an official.
Old Hanlin originally thought that relying on this half of his salary would ensure that he would have a worry-free life in his old age. However, judging from the price increase in Kyoto, he might not be able to stay in Kyoto.
A few Doctors of the Five Classics who just returned from a business trip were also discussing this year's welfare: "The salary and grain and oil for the past two months have not been distributed yet. Did the Shangguan say when they will be distributed? If not, they will be distributed. Come down, there will be no rice at home.”
As a civil servant in the Zhou Dynasty, the salary was quite good. In addition to the normal salary, there was also job salary, cooking supplies, public money, etc.
The Hanlin Academy is a Qingshui yamen, with little outside income, but the court distributes rice, oil, and charcoal every month. Together, one official can support a family of seven.
Old Hanlin glanced at the two of them. Both of them came to Beijing from other places. Their family backgrounds were average and their burdens were relatively heavy: "Scholar Li went to the Ministry of Household Affairs to inquire the day before yesterday. The Ministry of Household Affairs is now in chaos. Every day Quarreling."
"What are you arguing about?"
"The Holy One wants to build the Star Observation Tower, but he is not willing to pay for it himself. He wants it to come from the treasury. Taishi Tong and the Minister of the Ministry of Finance disagree. The two parties are arguing here. In the Holy Spirit's anger, all households All documents submitted by the minister will be returned.”
The Doctor of the Five Classics was dumbfounded: "How can this be done?! Besides, the Minister of Household Affairs only needs to make a decision regarding the payment of salary, and there is no need to submit it to the Holy Emperor!"
Old Hanlin rubbed his eyes, feeling heavy in his heart. I really don’t know if I can withdraw smoothly. Xiu: "I heard your Excellency say today that the Censor impeached the Minister of Household Affairs for enriching his own pockets, and the Holy Emperor suspended him pending trial."
This...
Su Xuanming frowned, The atmosphere in Kyoto's officialdom is just like this hot day, very anxious.
What is more anxious than the officialdom is the entire Kyoto.
I don’t know whether it’s because the summer is too hot, which makes everyone more upset, or because they work too hard to get meals. Everyone seems to have a fire in their hearts, and a small spark can trigger a fire. conflict.
On the way from Hou Mansion to Baiwei Restaurant, Su Yunyan had already seen three waves of fights.
The cause is not a big deal, it’s just that the sellers weigh less things, the things are not as good as before, and even there is less ice cubes in the drinks, it can cause a quarrel.
Xiao Hei closely guarded Su Yunyan: "Miss, let's bring more people with us next time we go out."
Look at their heads being beaten and bleeding, It's like there is some kind of life and death enemy on the other side.
Xiao Hei was afraid that Su Yunyan would be affected, just like an old hen protecting its chicks, he protected Su Yuyan tightly behind him.
With great difficulty, the two of them walked to Baiwei Hotel. When the manager saw Su Yunyan, he felt as if he was seeing a savior. He said with a grimace: "Boss, all our suppliers are going to increase their prices."
"How much?"
“Double it!”
Hiss!
Xiao Hei gasped at the air conditioner and blurted out: "Aren't they lions with their mouths wide open? Let's change a batch!"
The steward shook his head: "Their bid is very fair, lower than the market price. 20%. Boss, should we also increase the price of vegetables?”
Because Baiwei Restaurant pays quickly and the daily consumption is large, many businessmen would rather have lower profits than Baiwei Restaurant. cooperate.
Su Yunyan lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, and finally decided to keep the original price unchanged: "Our Baiwei Hotel is taking a high-end route in Kyoto, and the profit is already high. Even if the cost doubles, we will still make money. ”
Ordinary people are always more sensitive to the price of food than the rich and aristocrats.
Although Baiwei Hotel mainly caters to high-ranking officials and nobles, there are still many ordinary people who come to Baiwei Hotel to experience it once a year or once every six months.
The price of Baiwei Restaurant has increased. The rich don't care, but the common people will feel uncomfortable.
"In prosperity, people suffer, in death, people suffer. If Baiwei Hotel can bring them short-term happiness, how can I bear to deprive them of it?"
After listening to Su Yunyan's words After saying this, the steward bowed deeply to her.
Across Kyoto, those who have increased their prices are the mainstream, while those who maintain their original prices are rare.
Even if he is as honest as Mr. Li Ge, his family’s grain and oil shop has doubled!
After Su Yunyan finished handling the matter at Baiwei Restaurant, he ran non-stop to the grocery store on the commercial street.
When the prices of various materials are rising rapidly, Yunzhou grocery stores seem to be of high quality and low prices.
Originally, some people thought that the mutton jerky and beef jerky sold in the shop were a bit expensive, but now when I compare them, the prices are very reasonable.
When Su Yunyan came to the shop, the shop was crowded.
Customers rushed to buy things as if they were free of charge.
“Buy more! Yesterday I could buy one meat bun for five cents, but today I can only buy two vegetarian buns! I might only be able to buy one vegetarian bun tomorrow!”
"Why don't the court and the princes take care of it? My tenants don't even dare to put more corn in the porridge! But! I feel sorry for his three children, they are so hungry that they are crying." "What should I do? My relative owns a grain and oil store. He said that the grain prices from Jiangnan will continue to rise. ! He said he would stop selling it for a day or two and would keep it at home. ”
"Why can't it be transported in?"
"All the big ships traveling between the two places have been transporting the rare stones from the south of the Yangtze River, and there are no ships to transport food."
"Didn't the officials say they want to build a star observation tower? ? Why do you want more stones? ”
“We want to build the Star Observation Tower, but we didn’t say we won’t build the garden! The government didn’t say it would stop, so how could the people below dare to stop?”
Customers were cursing. If there is a shortage of food in a disaster year, That's all, isn't this a purely man-made disaster?
But no matter how angry they are, there is nothing they can do. Who makes others the masters of the world?