Northern Song Dynasty Justice

Chapter 25 Starting a business is not easy
It turns out that this alley is called Lushi Alley, and there are many brothels and bookstores in it.

It's not a weird combination either.

It is the custom of the Northern Song Dynasty.

In fact, from a legal point of view, the Northern Song Dynasty had certain legal prohibitions on this kind of industry, mainly to prevent forcing good men into prostitution, and at the same time, there were certain restrictions on officials.

It has been thousands of years since Qi State to the present, and the rulers are also very clear that this thing cannot be completely banned, so why bother to hide their ears and steal the bell, they can only give appropriate regulations.

In addition, the Northern Song Dynasty was a commercial society, which was very prosperous.

As for why bookstores are mixed with Goulan Washing Houses, one of the main reasons is that literati are fond of it, and literati are the main consumers in today's society.

A typical example is the Wheat Straw Lane outside the Zhuangyuan Building.

This Zhuangyuan building is a place for students from all over the world to live, but outside the building is a very famous place for fireworks in the capital.

Most of the big and small brothels in Bianjing were built in places where there were many literati.

Lushi Lane is the largest bookstore street in Bianjing, and it is outside Xiangguo Temple, with a lot of traffic. It is very reasonable that there are brothels and brothels here.

It can only be said that Zhang Fei made a fuss and has never seen the world.

He had never seen this world.

Without these goulan tile houses and brothels, it would not be considered a high-end area. For example, there are no brothels in Killing Pig Alley, because there are butchers there.

Since it is the favorite of the literati, if you want to serve the literati, you have to do what you like. As a result, all the famous geisha in the Northern Song Dynasty are talented, and their literary talent is not weaker than that of men. They are sought after by others, many of them are like Xu Zhiqian The ladies of the family also make friends with these geisha.

That's why Xu Zhiqian didn't attract too many sideways glances when she walked in this place of fireworks.

On the contrary, Zhang Fei felt a little embarrassed at first, seeing that Xu Zhiqian was open-minded, she gradually let go, her eyes began to look around, first to explore the way, to see which one is good, in case of future emergencies.

Halfway through, the rouge scent gradually dissipated, replaced by a tangy scent of ink.

Zhang Fei looked up, but saw that there were many bookstores in front of him, the four treasures of the study, Guqin, calligraphy and painting, so dazzling that passers-by were overwhelmed.

I also saw many talented scholars, literati and inkmen shuttling between various stores, lingering and forgetting to return.

"Look, as long as there is a word 'shape' written on the sign in front of the door, it is the shop you are looking for."

Xu Zhiqian pointed to the front and said.

This kind of bookstore is equivalent to a law firm, and its full name is called "writing pleadings and banknotes bookstore".

Zhang Fei looked up, counted for a while, and said: "It seems that there are only seven or eight, not many!"

Xu Zhiqian said: "That's quite a lot. Because shops like this are run by tea eaters, they have a very close relationship with the government, and they are more regulated than you Erbi people."

"is it?"

Zhang Fei asked, "What's the difference?"

Xu Zhiqian said: "Take the official documents approved by the government as an example. The official documents approved for you are only for you personally, but if you want to open this kind of bookstore, you have to apply for another official document. This official document is for you. Every bookstore must be recorded in the bookstores that are approved, and at the same time, it must be reviewed by the government every three years.”

"I didn't expect it to be so standardized."

Zhang Fei nodded thoughtfully.

This is actually the difference between a law firm and a lawyer. A lawyer's license must be obtained, but having a lawyer's license does not mean that you can open a law firm.

You have to be qualified.

The same is true for tea cannibals, because tea cannibals are generally used as a supplement to the government, and the papers of tea cannibals can help the government save a lot of work.

For the understanding of the case, just look at the pleadings they wrote, and there is no need to send people to investigate, because the tea eater is responsible for the pleadings, and if there is something wrong with the pleadings, the tea eater will also be implicated. There is no need, so generally speaking, they dare not write indiscriminately.

This can help the government save a lot of public expenses. You must know that the current government's finances are in a mess, and you can save as much as you can.

Since the requirements are so strict, of course there will be fewer.

So, I have to apply for an official document before I can open a law firm, my God.Zhang Fei had a headache, and asked: "That is to say, the people of Erbi must also go to this bookstore to find a living?"

Xu Zhiqian said: "Erbi people with outstanding abilities can go to these bookstores to work, but most of them are in the alley over there."

As he spoke, he pointed to a small alley not far away, which also had an exclusive name called Erbi Hutong.

Zhang Fei glanced at the alley. With that width, only a small stall can be set up. It is impossible for the shop to open. He said: "Actually, we Erbi people can also write pleadings and defend in court. Why is there such a difference in status? big."

Xu Zhiqian explained: "The tea cannibal has a close relationship with the government. If it is just to write the pleadings, the rich people are more willing to find the tea cannibal. The people of Erbi need to go to court to defend in order to earn more money. This also makes the government not like it. The people of Erbi, many of the people of Erbi still have to find tea eaters to write pleadings and dispute lawsuits."

"I see!"

Zhang Fei nodded thoughtfully.

The tea cannibals help the government solve the troubles, of course the gentlemen like it, but the Erbi people want to add troubles to the government, if there is a lawsuit, the government has more government officials, of course it is not very popular.

This has led to some cases. The people of Erbi need to use the name of these big bookstores to knock on the gate of the government in their name, and then proceed with the lawsuit.

Over time, many powerful Erbi people were directly recruited by these big bookstores.

It can be seen that these big bookstores are monopolistic.

Chatting and chatting, Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian came to the small alley, and as expected, there were more than ten stalls inside, and almost all stall owners had a short pen stuck in their hat brims, but the business didn't seem to be doing well, many Everyone was dozing off.

"Brother, do you want to write a pleading paper?"

A person from Erbi came forward and asked enthusiastically.

Zhang Fei asked, "How much?"

The man of Na Erbi said: "It depends on what kind of lawsuit you are fighting, brother. If it is just an ordinary money dispute and the amount is not large, you only need a hundred coins. If it is more expensive, you will need more money. If you still need our help to go to court, you will have to pay one or two pennies."

As far as the current market is concerned, a piece of pleading paper in bookstores is about 180 ren, and people from Erbi are relatively cheaper because they bear less responsibility.

you get what you pay for.

Zhang Fei frowned and said, "That's just a little bit!"

Er Bi's thinking is so quick, when he heard Zhang Fei's words, he suddenly became suspicious, "Brother, you are not here to write the pleadings, are you?"

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "We are colleagues, and I plan to open a booth here."

The expression of the Erbi man suddenly changed, and he said: "Brother, as seniors, I would like to advise you, you are still young, change your career quickly, this is not easy to do! Look at them, they are all fighting Drowsy."

Zhang Fei hehe said: "Don't bully me, our business is closed for three years and closed for three years, don't let us catch anyone."

"Three years?"

Erbi's person rolled his eyes, didn't bother to pay attention to Zhang Fei, turned around and went back to the booth.

One-hundred-dollar pleadings, you have to eat it for three years and show me.

Is it because you are incapable?Zhang Fei curled his lips in disdain, turned around, and said to Xu Zhiqian who was behind him: "Why don't you find a place to sit first."

Xu Zhiqian said, "Why don't you go to the bookstore?"

Zhang Fei shook his head.

It has to be said that he was a little disappointed in his heart, he had little money and his status was not high, and the upper limit was still low, to the extreme, that is, he couldn't even catch the tail of the upper class.

Xu Zhiqian didn't force it, and took Zhang Fei to Xiangguo Temple, and found a relatively secluded tea shed to sit down.

"It seems that you come here often?"

After sitting down, Zhang Fei asked casually.

Xu Zhiqian pretended not to hear it, and only said: "Have you made up your mind? Do you want to open a booth by yourself, or go to the bookstore to practice first. If you plan to do it yourself, I can lend you some money to live on. If you plan to Go to the bookstore, and I can recommend it for you."

She did not forget the purpose of bringing Zhang Fei here.

"Thank you Mrs. Xu for your kindness." After speaking, Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "But you are right, I don't even want to do it."

Xu Zhiqian frowned lightly: "You don't even want to do it?"

Zhang Fei nodded and said, "If you want to work in a bookstore, then you might as well promise your father and go to Dali Temple with your father."

Xu Zhiqian was surprised and said, "My father wanted you to enter Dali Temple, and you refused?"

Zhang Fei hummed: "You should believe this, actually I don't want to live in your mansion forever."

Xu Zhiqian said to herself: "It seems that Daddy is too old to distinguish between a gentleman and a villain."

This woman really holds a grudge!Zhang Fei didn't care too much, and said with a smile: "As for setting up a stall outside, it's not impossible, but you've seen it, so many people stay there, it's not easy to do business, and the smell of wine is also afraid of deep alleys. .”

He wants to start a business, but the reality is that the bookstore monopolizes everything, and if he does it alone, he has to appeal through the bookstore, which is equivalent to being controlled by others, and opening a bookstore is even more troublesome.

Xu Zhiqian looked at him suspiciously, feeling a little puzzled.

But any normal person would definitely choose to enter the Dali Temple first, and should choose to enter the bookstore at the last. This person is lucky not to choose, but wants to set up a stall in the alley.

"Miss Xu."

Suddenly, a person shouted softly.

Zhang Fei turned his head to look, and saw an aunt carrying a vegetable basket standing three steps away, looking at Xu Zhiqian with her head tilted.

"It's Aunt Cao."

Xu Zhiqian stood up immediately.

"It's Mrs. Xu, I'm afraid I've identified the wrong person."

Aunt Cao saw that she had identified the wrong person, so she hurried forward, took out two big melons from the basket, and handed them to Xu Zhiqian, "Miss Xu, the melons grown by my family are sweet."

"Really?" Xu Zhiqian asked with a smile, "I wonder how much this melon is?"

Seeing Xu Zhiqian smiling like a flower, Zhang Fei thought to himself, so this woman can laugh, that is to say, she is only targeting me?
Aunt Cao became anxious immediately: "How can I ask Mrs. Xu's money? If Mrs. Xu hadn't taught us some laws, my family's melon fields would have been taken away by Huang Yuanwai."

Xu Zhiqian nodded with a smile and said, "That's fine, I'll accept it, thank you, ma'am."

The attendant immediately came forward and took the two melons.

"No thanks! No thanks!" Mrs. Cao waved her hand and said, "After a while, our new wine will be brewed, and I will send some to Mrs. Xu."

Xu Zhiqian smiled and nodded, "Thank you in advance, Zhiqian."

"No thanks! No thanks!"

Aunt Cao waved her hands again and again, then glanced at Zhang Fei, and said, "Okay, I'll go sell melons first, so I won't disturb Mrs. Xu."

"Ma'am, go slowly."

As soon as Aunt Cao walked away, Xu Zhiqian immediately winked at Qingmei.

Qingmei immediately chased after her.

Xu Zhiqian sat down, and suddenly saw Zhang Fei staring at her, frowned and said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"what?"

Zhang Fei was startled, then smiled and said, "I just didn't expect that Mrs. Xu would often teach these villagers about the law."

Xu Zhiqian said: "Is this strange? In the past, my father often taught them about the law."

"is it?"

"Ah."

Xu Zhiqian nodded: "They don't have the money to ask you Erbi people, if you can understand some laws, you can protect yourself in many cases."

It turned out that when she was young, Xu Zun happened to be on the rise, and was often transferred to various places to become an official, and she also followed. Xu Zun hated those big landlords and common people very much, but the reality is that there are many things that he can do nothing about, so as long as there is In his free time, he went to the countryside to teach those people the legal knowledge, so that they knew how to protect themselves and avoid being deceived.

Xu Zhiqian was fascinated by it, and also followed Xu Zun to learn legal knowledge. Later, when his father was not free, she went there on behalf of her father.

That's why Xu Zun didn't take Xu Zhiqian to Dengzhou this time, because Xu Zhiqian has reached the age of marriage, Xu Zun felt that he could no longer take his daughter to run around, but Xu Zhiqian was not idle, and insisted on explaining to the surrounding people legal knowledge.

After a while, Xu Zhiqian saw this fellow groaning silently, her eyes flashed sharply, and asked, "What bad idea are you planning?"

"I'm fighting!"

Zhang Fei was taken aback, coughed, and asked: "In many situations, can you protect yourself? Mrs. Xu's words are a bit exaggerated."

Xu Zhiqian sighed lightly: "It's better than not knowing at all."

"Not much difference?"

Zhang Fei shook his head with a smile, and said, "Madam Xu, who do villagers like them usually have disputes with?"

Xu Zhiqian said: "Most of them are with those big landlords."

"It's not over."

Zhang Fei said: "I don't dare to say it, but I can say a few words about the law. Knowing some laws is not the same as being proficient in the laws. Those big landlords can hire people who are proficient in the laws to come. Looting more fields for them, your approach can only give them extremely limited protection, which is almost negligible."

Xu Zhiqian saw that he was speaking clearly and logically, and belittled her own efforts to be useless, and immediately hummed: "Then according to your opinion, how can we protect them?"

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "If there is a handsome, young and promising citizen of Erbi who is proficient in the law and full of sense of justice to protect them, it would be better than learning the law by themselves."

(End of this chapter)