Chapter 121: A new fire ignited during the Cold Food Festival

Today is the Qingming Festival. The Qingming Festival in the Song Dynasty was called the "Cold Food Festival". On this day, you cannot cook with fire, you can only eat cold food. You need to wait until the evening to light the "new fire". The middle-aged and elderly people in the clan divide the "new fire" into each household. This is called "dividing new fire".

Generally speaking, there is no guest worship on this day. Because the fire cannot be raised, the host cannot entertain the guest worshiper.

The custom of the "Cold Food Festival" developed to its peak in the Song Dynasty, but after the Song Dynasty, this festival officially disappeared. The main reason for its death was that the Song Dynasty was a commercial society, and the people of Bianliang City even bought water from porters. The "Cold Food Festival" could not light the fire and cook at home - it was simple, go to the street to eat.

After the Song Dynasty, China returned to the agricultural society, or to the primitive, self-sufficient small peasant society. Economic power and business model all determined that the dynasties after the Song Dynasty could not afford festivals like the "Cold Food Festival".

When Zhao Xing entered the room, he was gambling in the yard. In addition to Su Shi's family, there were Su Shi's younger brother Su Zhe, Su Zhe's eldest son Su Chi, second son Su Shi, third son Su Yuan, and female relatives from each family in the two families.

When Zhao Xing was able to enter the house at this time, he actually treated Su Shi as his family. Su Shi also treated Zhao Xing with his family's attitude and introduced him to Su Che's family - this was the first time Zhao Xing met Su Che. This little scholar Su is now the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, which is a high-ranking official similar to the "Director of the Ministry of Finance".

Zhao Xing had asked Su Che before. It seemed that Su Shi's elder brother was not as good as Su Shi in literature, but he was well-known in accounting. Last year, he and Li Chang, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, edited thirty volumes of "Yuanyou Accounting Record", and should be regarded as the "ancestor" of Chinese accounting.

Compared to Su Shi's aggressive attitude towards things, Su Zhe seemed very modest. He greeted Zhao Xing with a smile, and solemnly thanked Zhao Xing for the boots he sent.

It turned out that Su Zhe and his brother used the same boot store. Zhao Xing only said that Boss Tang made boots for both men and women of Su's family. Unfortunately, Su Shi's family was "Old Bachelor Su", Su Shi himself was "Su Xue" and his brother was "Little Bachelor Su". Someone paid, and Boss Tang of the boot store happened to ask Zhao Xing for help, so he thought he could wrap the boots of Su Zhe's family together.

Afterwards, Zhao Xing didn't look at the accounts at all. He handed over this small amount of money to Ma Mengde for review. Ma Meng thought that this was Zhao Xing's original intention, so he paid the entire amount with a big stroke. That's why today's thanks.

Su Shi and his family didn't mind Zhao Xing's gifts because they often received small things from Zhao Xing. For example, shortly after Su Dun returned home, he couldn't get used to the taste of Su Shi's home. Cheng Azhu brought some side dishes, braised food, and fruits every day. Even when she went shopping, she couldn't forget to buy some small things for Su Dun, so Su Shi received the boots from Zhao Xing's mansion and accepted them without making a fuss. But Su Che was different.

Su Zhe had never met Zhao Xing. Although he had heard Su Shi talk about this person, he did not feel that both parties were familiar enough to accept each other's boots. He could not ask Zhao Xing directly, but instead asked Mrs. Wang. After that, although he took the boots under Mrs. Wang's persuasion, he had always been thinking about thanking Zhao Xing in person.

"Li Ren, the boots are very good. When I received your boots after the snow, my whole family thanked you very much. I asked you to worry. Come, children, thank Uncle Li Ren." Su Zhe invited his children to come forward to thank him in person.

Su Shi laughed, raised his leather boots, and proudly showed off: "That day I was in the Gongyuan, when Tong Guan suddenly brought a pair of boots. He didn't have time to say who asked him to give it to him, so he left quickly. But when I saw the novel method of making boots, I knew that it must be from Li Ren - look, Ma Yilong Blood Tree made the soles of the boots, only Li Ren had such a big deal."

What Su Shi didn't say was: It was snowy at that time, the ground was muddy, his shoes were soaked, and his feet were cold. When he was worried, Tong Guan, who was leaving the palace to do business, threw down a pair of new boots, which made him feel warm from his heart.

This hardwood-soled shoe is carefully carved with corrugated anti-slip teeth, and the sound of the hard soles on the ground is crisp, which makes him envious of his colleagues. He feels that this care is very respectful.

Su Che also had a deep understanding of this. He nodded and admitted honestly: "Yes, this kind of hardwood-soled boot is not slippery when you step into the mud. Those days of snow melting, wearing this kind of boot to work will make the sound crisp when walking. Moreover, there are boot holes on both sides of the boot, and a leather rope hole is tied, so you can walk with wind on your feet. It's great!

Haha, the people from the Ministry of Revenue are also envious. Later, they went to the Tangjia boot store to customize this kind of boots. I heard that the orders of that boot store have been scheduled to September... Well, the spring flowers are bright recently, and they may have missed it,"

The word "going to work" was born in the Song Dynasty. Its complete name is "going to court". The prime minister's work is called "going to court", and other cabinet officials are not qualified to attend court, so they are called "going to work". Especially the officials who are directly under the ranks and the three officials, their work is commonly known as "going to work".

The three of them continued to talk about boots. Mrs. Wang walked over with Su Dun's hand, followed by Chao Yun, Cheng Azhu and Chen Yiyi. Mrs. Wang handed Zhao Xing a wooden box and explained with a smile: "Uncle Liren, this is the 'new fire' that is distributed to you. You can go home to use it."

Wood is filled with fire? No smoke yet? So novel!

Zhao Xing looked at the wooden box curiously. The wooden box was exquisitely crafted and painted to reveal a figure... But no matter how exquisite the wooden box was, it should not be used to hold a fire?! He held it in his hand and gently shook the wooden box, and a whirring sound came from the wooden box.

"This is a Dharma Zhu. Have you never seen Li Ren? This thing is used in Bianliang City to ignite the 'new fire'. Today, I won't let you go home with a torch," Su Shi explained with a smile.

Su Dun rushed up and hugged Zhao Xing's legs, yelling: "Ada, money, I want to throw copper coins, you can play with me."

Chaoyun rushed forward quickly, picked up Su Dun and hugged him in his arms, and explained in a hurry: "Uncle Li Ren, don't pay attention to this child. Today he gave him ten copper coins, and he threw them all, and lost. Children's house, don't let him develop the habit of despising money."

Zhao Xing took out a handful of coins on his body, taking out a handful of fragmented coins, including gold, silver, and copper. He stuffed them into Su Dun's hand and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter. Whoever you lose is lost to your family - the matter of pounding the left pocket into the right pocket, why bother with you? Besides, if a child has the concept of money, it is the right thing to teach him how to manage his finances slowly. Go and play, dad and Ada have a serious matter."

Chaoyun hugged Su Dun and blamed him a few words. Su Dunxin got a handful of money, and had achieved his goal, and he was clamoring to gamble again.

Su Che shook his head honestly and repeated Chao Yun's reason just now: "Although it's a small gambling to please, the child is too young to let him get involved in the habit of squandering."

Su Shi was also shaking his head, and he wanted to condemn him a few words. Zhao Xing had already pushed open the lid of the wooden box and looked through the things inside.

In ancient China, looking at gifts in person was extremely impolite. However, Su Shi was worried that Zhao Xing did not know how to use the candle and had an accident during use, so he did not blame him, but waited patiently for Zhao Xing to ask questions.

No wonder he had to use such a big box. There were several wooden sticks shaped like needles in the box, and the stick head was wrapped with yellow things. It seemed to be a medicine powder bag. Zhao Xing guessed something in a vague way. He curiously picked up a wooden stick and put the medicine powder bag on the tip of his nose. Suddenly, a scent of sulfur came into his nose.

Match, this is actually a match, an ancient match!

Zhao Xing held the wooden stick - no, with this ancient match (fire stick), he looked at Su Shi in shock. Su Shi pointed to the match (fire stick) and explained: "This is called a candle, also known as a candle. Will it be used by a person who lives in his arms?"

"When did this thing be invented-ah no, I mean when did it appear?"

Su Che replied: "This thing appeared in the Five Dynasties. Tao Gu once recorded in "Qingyi Lu": "There was a hurry at night, and it was difficult to make a lamp. A wise man called the fir strips to dye them sulfur and put them on for use. Once they met the fire, they found the flames. After they were savage, they called "Guangnu". Now that they had goods, they changed their name to "Huocun".

In addition, in the sixth year of Jiande in Zhou (1999), the Qi Dynasty fell, and the concubines fell into the people and had no way to make a living, so they made a "candle" to sell it to make a living. As a result, the practice of candles flowed into the people. After Sima (Guang)'s Xianggong once verified it, and recorded this matter in "Zizhi Tongjian"... This matter should have existed in the Five Dynasties, but it took a lot of effort to produce it and was easy to spontaneously ignite, so it was not widely circulated."

Su Shi added: "Maybe earlier - there are records that this was made by the alchemist of Huainan King Liu An, but this statement is a bit false. Except for the occasional mention in "Huainanzi", no one has recorded it in the past dynasties. What can be confirmed now is that the Dharma candle was made by the concubines of Qi, and perhaps it has been used in the Qi palace. The concubines became the people and made a living by what they learned in the palace."

Zhao Xingtou was a little confused: Did the book say it wrong again? Could it be that Match was originally invented by the Chinese?

Looking at the match (fire stick), he suddenly felt excited - Sulphur Match! When I watched movies, I always thought that Western cowboys picked up a match and stroked the sole of their boots - Ah, it was very stylish and very cowboys. Later, I tried the security match many times, but I still couldn't realize the scene in the movie. Now, I can do it in the Song Dynasty. Isn't Sulphur Match the same thing for this?

Zhao Xing raised his soles and pinched a match with a very stylish look and gently stroked the soles of his shoes. Seeing the flames jumping, it was very warm. His heart was filled with the picture of "Match Girl". The little girl also held the match like this...

At this time, if there is a cigarette, then everything will be all.

What is chic?

Xiaoshi is a "match ancestor" in the Song Dynasty - this moment, just like a Prometheus.

The match burned to the tail, and the flames jumped, from brilliant to darkness.

"Ten cents", Su Chui sighed and said, "After Brother Xing, ten cents are gone. The people of Bianjing buy charcoal and water every day, not counting food, only ten cents are needed every day. When Brother Xing plays with fire, the people of Bianjing spend all day."

It turns out that each match is ten cents, which is cheap. I took out a Japanese pearl with me, 50,000 jin, and could buy millions of matches.

"This is a good business," Zhao Xing pondered and said: "A box of 20 candles, plus the box is sold for 300 yuan, and the cost is only some sulfur, nitrogen, and firewood. No wonder Qi Chaoliudan Palace Maids do this to make money, well, okay, this is not physical work, and women can do it..."

What’s important is that by opening such a venue, you can legally stockpile sulfur and saltpeter.

Su Che smiled and his eyes fixed on the coins in Su Dun's hand: "Why, Li Ren can do this thing? Haha, it's just a small thing. If you earn one or two money, can Li Ren like it?"

Of course, what Zhao Xingsai gave Su Dun was the vassal money. These gold, silver and copper coins were exquisitely made, but unfortunately they were fake money. Su Che, the minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was extremely sensitive to money. He watched Su Dun exchange gold coins with his brothers for copper coins like a little adult, and also picked the quality of the copper coins one by one until he was satisfied.

Su Che smiled when he saw this.

Su Shi was very fond of his children. He glanced at Su Dun, quickly turned his eyes away, and said to Cheng Azhu behind Zhao Xing: "Don't worry, the matter of divorce is mine. I presided over the marriage between you two. At that time, I was wondering why I only had half a set of ceremonies. Since I had to make up for it tomorrow - I will go in person and call your brothers to watch the ceremony... By the way, the matter of separation is released, the test is released, have you gone to see the list?"

The custom of "Red Record" was not reported in the Song Dynasty, and this custom should have started in the Ming Dynasty. So in the Song Dynasty, if you don't read the list yourself, others won't tell you.

Zhao Xing seemed very leisurely, and he shook his head: "Ma Mengde sent someone to Xuande Building. He probably has reported the news back to his house. When he gets home in the evening, he will know the result?"

Su Shi was so arrogant.

Su Che didn't know Zhao Xing's temper. When he heard this, he suddenly widened his eyes. After living at such an old age, in Su Che's memory, he never remembered that anyone was so unconcerned about whether he could be listed on the list and was optional. He raised his hand in disbelief and pointed at Zhao Xing, his lips trembled, and he couldn't say a word.

Su Shi had no choice but to Zhao Xing's best attitude. He waved his hand, called a servant, and gave a few instructions. When the servant took the order, he turned to Zhao Xing and explained: "This place is not far from Xuande Tower, and you will know immediately... I remember that you are the last one on the list. If nothing unexpected happens, it should be like this."

Cheng Azhu only got in the conversation. She thanked Su Shi with great pleasure and ran down excitedly. Chen Yiyi didn't leave. She pouted and looked at Zhao Xing. Zhao Xing quickly took out a large bag of popcorn from his body, handed it to Chen Yiyi, and said with a flattering voice: "This is what I bought for you at Nanxunmen, and Grandma Cao's meat pie..."

Chen Yiyi grabbed a handful of popcorn without any image, put it in her mouth and chewed it, as if she wanted to chew her resentment. Su Shi saw her strong hostility and quickly interrupted: "Haha, Liren also likes to use rice to divine divination? I once heard that ladies and ladies in Bianliang City like to explode themselves in the pot at the right time. This is called "Bolou", also called "rice flower", to make lifelong events..."

Su Shi means that in the Song Dynasty, this popcorn was originally used by noble ladies to divine good and bad luck, but later became a petty bourgeois food in the Song Dynasty, and was very popular among rich girls and ladies. Of course, noble ladies used popcorn to divine to test their marriage.

"A lifelong event for divination" - Chen Yiyi understood Su Shi's hint, and she suddenly chewed lightly. She grabbed a handful of popcorn and was about to ask how to divine marriage. The servant who was sent to see the list had returned to the hall and reported: "If you go back to the bachelor, Zhao Daren is indeed on the list of three."

Su Shi was surprised: "So fast? Have you walked to Xuande Tower?"

The servant shook his head: "No, I met someone from Cheng Xiacheng's servant at the door. He said he didn't have to go anymore. Ma Mengde had already informed them: Zhao Xing was the last one on the list."

Su Shi was even more surprised. He looked at Zhao Xing, then at Su Dun, who was throwing money from his brothers after exchanging the copper plate, asked in confusion: "Li Ren, how did you educate him? Such a big thing, not only are you calm and unhappy, but your students are not surprised or happy!"

Zhao Xing smiled faintly, handed the box of candles to Chen Yiyi and asked her to put them back into the carriage. Then he held his hands behind his back and watched Su Dun play with his brothers, thereby avoiding Su Shi's problem.

There is another way to play at Su Shi's family. This family has a large number of copper plates, and they are all sprinkled one by one. The same side (character or meat) is facing upwards more than others, so they will win. Su Dun just now has a small capital, but now he is rich and has a lot of energy, which makes his brothers happy.

Seeing the strings of brand new vassal money rolling on the table, Su Che couldn't help it anymore and asked, "Zizhan, why are there so many vassal money in your family? I saw that these vassal money were all new, as if they had never used it before. Could it be that the rumor is true?"

Su Shi was a little embarrassed. Before he could come up with an explanation, Zhao Xing interrupted: "Zi Yougong, has the imperial court determined the matter of vassal money?"

The title of Zhao Xing is a respectful title for officials by ordinary people. Su Che nodded and replied: "Li Ren is not an outsider. You can call me three zhang directly... The Political Affairs Hall has already discussed the matter of vassal coins: I, the Song Dynasty, leaked countless copper coins every year, and recently these vassal coins flowed in reverse. Although the court did not have a "combust" in it, I, the Song Dynasty, did not need to spend any effort. I, the countless silver coins were used for it.

Recently, the Goryeo envoy was about to enter the capital. Gong Wen has decided: When meeting, he would not mention the vassal money at all. This is the attitude of the court."

"Zhang" is the respectful title of elders in the Song Dynasty, and "San" is Su Zhe's ranking. Zhao Xing did not remember Su Shi had an elder brother, but why did Su Zhe call himself "Sanzhang", and Su Shi was called "Twozhang". However, this is the details, Zhao Xing was unintentionally pursuing it. He asked naively: "Sanzhang, why did the imperial court prohibit the flow of Song money from being discharged?"

Su Zhe smiled: "My Song Dynasty copper coins were not enough to be used, and they were flowing into the border vassal states. Isn't this 'we use them to mint the money', and they are cheap... "

Zhao Xing's expression became more naive, and he asked again: "Is this Song Dynasty money flowing into the vassal states? Did someone take it over and give it to those vassal states for free?"

Su Che was choked and he explained patiently: "Of course not, the merchants value profit. They took me Song Qian to the vassal states and just wanted to sell goods to make a profit."

"Since my Song money was not for free when I was transported to the vassal state, but I bought things from the vassal state and came back, why should I ban the copper coins from being leaked?" Zhao Xing continued to ask naively.

Su Che smiled helplessly, why is this famous maritime businessman with a wealthy family still not clear about the principles of currency operation? He opened his mouth and was about to say it, but Zhao Xing obviously had his own opinion, and his opinion completely confused Su Che.

"Since my Song Dynasty copper coins are very popular among the vassal states because of their exquisite casting, why should we restrict our Song Dynasty merchants from using Song Dynasty coins in the vassal states? The farmers of the vassal states worked hard for a year - the grain they planted, cloth they weaved, and horses they built. As long as I spent a handful of copper coins in the Song Dynasty, I could buy them all. In this way, as long as we couldn't help but the copper coins flowed away, wouldn't the people of the vassal state produce for my Song Dynasty? Why can't the officials in the court see clearly such a thing that is beneficial to the country and the people?

The vassal states like to use Song coins, which was a gift to me, the great Song Dynasty. The more valuable my Song Dynasty money is in the vassal states, we can use very little money to buy back the hard work of the people of the vassal states for a year, and even let the vassal states count the money for my Song Dynasty - copper coins, which are hungry and cannot eat, and they cannot drink thirsty. They exchange a pile of copper coins for the war horses, food, and cloth we urgently need... God doesn't take it, so stupid!

I heard that Jingdong East Road (Shandong) has a very tight territorial force, even the rocks are exposed. There are many people and few land there, and the land is exhausted and the people are poor. Now that these vassal coins are inflowing in, why should we prohibit the flow of copper coins? Why should we collect these vassal coins and let the landless farmers on Jingdong East Road mint money to make money to live, and then use this batch of copper coins to go to Xixia, Liao, Jiaozhi, Goryeo and Japan, buy all their war horses and buy all their food, isn’t this more cost-effective than farming?”

What Zhao Xing said is actually the principle of "monetary war". Unfortunately, even the founder of accounting like Su Che was difficult to accept for a while. The first thing he thought of was the problem of vassal money in front of him: "In this way, the inflow of this batch of vassal money is also unfavorable to our dynasty..."

Zhao Xing was so choked that he was impatient that he explained to Su Che how the difference was: "This is pure copper coins. I guess this batch of copper coins was not done by the vassal court, but a personal act. There must be someone who mastered the copper mine. He wanted to turn copper into money and put it in his pocket directly, so he came up with this method.

Because the direct import of copper ingots into our Song Dynasty may restrict the vassal states and the imperial courts of the vassal states and the exchange of copper ingots would have to be repaid once, and the cashing speed was too slow and there were too many links, so he directly cast a "pseudo Song coins". In this way, the vassal states would not be banned for the face of the Song Dynasty.

But this is good for my Song Dynasty. Just by raising this batch of pure copper coins and casting them into new coins, I will be able to get a free money for the Song Dynasty. Two vassal coins flow in, and I will be able to make three Song coins in the Song Dynasty. If my Song Dynasty can no longer help but leak out my own copper coins, then two vassal coins come in, and we will get out more vassal coins and go to the vassal states to shop. Who will benefit from the mutual education?"

Su Che was attracted by Zhao Xing's novel theory. He thought for a moment and asked again: "What you are talking about may be a guess. Why did I know that this was done by the vassal state court or by the vassal individuals?"

"It's very simple - I am a maritime businessman and I have a clear understanding of the overseas situation, so I made such a guess. If the court wants to confirm this, it will send two or three merchants out to record the date of the vassal money appearing in the vassal state, and check it with the date of the vassal appearance in the Song Dynasty, and it will be clear immediately.

If this matter was done by the vassal state court, then the vassal money must first appear in the vassal state, and it will take a period of time before it can flow into the hands of the Song Shang. If on the contrary, it flows directly into the Song Dynasty and the vassal state will not be seen in the vassal state, then it can only be that some people in the vassal state discovered copper mines but refused to let the king know...

However, the investigation should be terminated here. Because my Song Dynasty officials were unscrupulous in their words and deeds, if they revealed the news to the vassal states in the brothels and tiles, and let the vassal states find out who did it, our Song Dynasty broke off an income..."

"I won't investigate anymore," Su Che said flatly: "I can trust Li Ren. Since Li Ren speculates that this is a private act of the vassal people, then this matter ends here... How can the matter be kept secret as soon as it goes to the Political Affairs Hall? I won't talk about it, I will only talk about this matter privately with the important personnel. Remember to keep the words in the future... Well, let's talk about what you said about Song Qian's ban, we will only talk about this!"

For the rest of the time, Su Zhe was discussing monetary theory with Zhao Xing, and left Su Shi aside. When the night was hazy, Su Shi was about to order takeaway to entertain Zhao Xing, but Zhao Xing stood up and said goodbye: "There is still half a wedding tomorrow. Teacher, I need to go back to the house to clean up... I promised to send Dun'er a horse, and the teacher will pick it up."

"It's okay, Chief Tong said that your horse is good, and you can do whatever you want," Su Shi answered bluntly. Su Dun is still young, and the actual user of this horse can only be Su Shi.

Looking at Zhao Xing's back, Su Che asked softly: "You once said: Cheng said privately that he was a survivor of Wuhou?... Show me your secret "The Stupid Ox"! What he talked about today is incredible but every sentence is reasonable. If I have the chance, I really want to see what the letter of Wuhou's suicide note is written. Oh, my brother is so lucky, this person must not be a thing in the pool."

Su Shi shook his head: "From today's situation, he is very concerned about the imperial examination. I am afraid that this person has no intention of career and is deliberately a businessman... It's a pity that we must think of a way not to make him nostalgic in the world and wander among the wild grass."

When Zhao Xing returned to the mansion, everyone in the mansion was full of joy. The Japanese girl who returned home first came to greet him again, and even Hu Ji congratulated Zhao Xing in unison. However, Qin Guan and Chen Shidao ran away without a trace. Only Chen Qing was still there in the backyard. He was still practicing the ability to cut straw mats according to Zhao Xing's instructions. The cut straw mats were thrown all over the yard, and Jin Buer gave instructions beside him.

"I heard that your ship has returned to Hangzhou today and plans to return to the flight in three to five days and take Yuan Yeping back by the way - is there any such thing?" Chen Qing asked.

Zhao Xing looked up at the hazy night.
Chapter completed!