Natural disasters in books: I stockpiled goods to escape famine in ancient times

Song Shiwei felt a little better only after he brought the servant he bought back to the rented courtyard. He felt even better when he saw the servant he bought had a lowered eyelid, didn't say a word all the way, and followed him back obediently.

The rented yard had no furniture, so Song Shiwei had no choice but to stand in the yard with his people, looking at him leisurely with his arms folded across his chest: "Tell me what you did in the Marquis' Mansion before."

Zhang Wu immediately clasped his fists, knelt on one knee, and answered in a hoarse voice: "My master, my name is Zhang Wu, I am twenty years old this year, and I was responsible for patrolling the front yard of the Marquis's mansion. I have some strength and skills. In addition to daily patrols in the mansion, I often go out with the steward of the outer courtyard to buy things, and I am responsible for protecting his safety."

"Is there anyone else at home?"

Zhang Wu shook his head, still without looking up: "The younger one is an orphan. When he was ten years old, he was bought back to the Marquis' Mansion by the steward to work."

Song Shiwei nodded, becoming more and more satisfied: "I don't keep idle people, and I don't like servants who talk too much. In the future, you just need to concentrate on doing the things I tell you to do. Don't be curious, don't ask too many questions, and don't say too much about the rest. Understand?"

Zhang Wu said respectfully, "Master, rest assured. I understand."

"This is my temporary place to stay. The house is still short of furniture and other things. It's still early now, so go buy some clothes you can wear, and then find an inn to eat and wash. Also, I don't like people around me, so you stay in the inn for now, take a good rest today, and buy some furniture tomorrow. Can you do that?"

Although Zhang Wu was a little surprised, he thought that his master didn't like servants who talked too much, so he quickly replied, "I can do it."

Song Shiwei took out a banknote from his pocket and said, "You don't have to buy too good furniture, but don't buy too bad furniture either. If you don't have enough money, come back and ask me for more. Here is the key. Take it. After buying the furniture tomorrow, put it in order. I'll come back later tomorrow."

Zhang Wu took the key solemnly and put it carefully in his arms: "Yes, then I will leave first."

After leaving, Zhang Wu found an inn nearby and booked a room. Then he went out to buy two sets of cheap ready-made clothes. Finally, he returned to the inn to wash up and have a good meal before thinking about the task assigned by his master.

Zhang Wu was not curious about why his master bought him, nor did he have deep feelings for the Marquis' Mansion. After all, he could not contact his master in the Mansion on a daily basis, and the only person with the right to speak was the steward of the outer courtyard. However, when the imperial decree of confiscation of property and exile came, the steward left the Mansion with all his belongings.

Every cat has its own way. The steward has been in the Marquis's mansion for many years and has accumulated a considerable fortune. Naturally, he can use the money to escape.

In such a huge mansion, being at the center of power, although the master is gentle to people and the rules are not strict, there are always things that cannot be taken into consideration. I was brought into the mansion when I was ten years old, and came into contact with all kinds of people. I also saw many things where people were killed for a little benefit. These experiences told me that as a servant, I should listen more, watch more and talk less, and not be curious or seek novelty. I have always adhered to this code of conduct, so I can live safely to this day.

But when he thought about how the Marquis' Mansion had always been kind to the servants, and how the Marquis was even more tolerant and kind, he couldn't help but feel regretful. Now he was penniless and had a new master. He only hoped that the new master would be a good one, and he would do his best to complete the tasks assigned by the master.

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After Zhang Wu left, Song Shiwei also left the yard and found an inn on the street to stay in. He asked the waiter to bring hot water, took a comfortable bath, and then left the inn.

Song Shiwei first went to the clothing shop and bought three sets of ready-made clothes and shoes made of fine materials. Seeing that there were exquisite purses in the shop, he bought a dozen more and asked the boss to pack them. He then carried the big bag to the shop opposite and bought various snacks. Finally, he returned to the inn, asked the waiter to bring him writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone, locked the door, and entered the space directly with the things he had bought.

There are only three months left before the natural disaster hits, and time waits for no one. If I want to have a comfortable vacation here, there are too many things I need to buy. I am short of everything from food, clothing, housing and transportation. Not only is it extremely hot and cold here, there is also drought and plague.

Song Shiwei took a pen and paper and wrote down everything he needed to buy, and then expanded on the five categories of food, clothing, housing, transportation and medicine.

I wrote down everything I thought of. An hour had passed. When I came out of the space, I heard the lively sounds downstairs. I thought it was dinner time, so I went downstairs, ordered two dishes and a soup, and went back to the room to eat.

The next day, Song Shiwei checked out of the hotel and left. He went to a cloth shop and bought ten pieces of cloth. He asked the shop owner to make three of them into bed sheets and quilt covers according to his requirements. He also bought a few quilts in the store. He left the address of the yard, paid a deposit, and then went to the snack shop.

There were things like hundred-flower cake, mung bean cake, red bean paste cake, red bean cake, crabapple cake, osmanthus cake, fragrant cake, radish cake, parfait, oil cake, walnut cake, jade dew lotus root powder, osmanthus sugar cake, white jade frost square cake, fish paste square cake, hibiscus pastry, cloud cake, Heyi cake, jade bean cake, glutinous rice cold cake, candied longan, candied caiyang pear, candied water chestnut, pineapple cake, sugar-steamed pastry, osmanthus chestnut powder cake, Ruyi cake, auspicious fruit, plum blossom cake, rose pastry... I bought fifty of each.

This pastry shop was big, so fifty servings were easily sold. Amid the shop owner's astonishment, Song Shiwei left the address of the rented house, paid the money and had someone deliver it directly.

The boss took the money and promised to deliver it as soon as possible.

It's rare to meet a big customer who buys in such large quantities, so door-to-door delivery is a given, and two extra copies of each item were given.

Song Shiwei had bought a few snacks yesterday and knew that this shop tasted good, sweet but not greasy. Seeing that the boss was so polite, he immediately took out twenty taels of silver and handed it to the boss, asking him to deliver a hundred portions at the end of the third hour every day, and pay when the goods arrived. He could deliver for a month first and then see what happened next.

The boss was so overjoyed that his hands were shaking with excitement as he took the silver. He smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed into slits. He repeatedly promised to do a good job and to keep an eye on it himself.

Only then did Song Shiwei leave with satisfaction.

There was no rush to buy other things. Thinking that the snacks would have to be delivered back later, he went straight back to the yard.

After waiting for about half an hour, the pastry shop packed and delivered the purchased pastries. Each pastry was carefully wrapped in greaseproof paper, and each package of pastries contained about ten pieces.

After recognizing the door, the people from the pastry shop left. Song Shiwei closed the door and waved his hand to put the pastries into the space.

In just a cup of tea, the outside started to get busy. Song Shiwei stepped out of the room and saw Zhang Wu coming in with a group of people carrying all kinds of furniture.

When Zhang Wu saw Song Shiwei, he was stunned for a moment, then he stepped forward and saluted respectfully, "Master, most of the furniture has been bought, but there are still some small pieces that need to be customized, and they will be delivered in the afternoon."

Song Shiwei nodded slightly: "Thank you for your hard work. Let them put their home in the house and you can arrange it."

"Yes."

Only after all the furniture was carried into the house and arranged did Song Shiwei go in and sit down.

Finally I have a place to sit and a bed to sleep on. It’s not easy!

When Zhang Wu sent the man out and returned to the front hall, Song Shiwei was already thinking about the next arrangements. Just then, when the man came back, he took out the pen, ink, paper and inkstone from his bag and asked, "Can you practice calligraphy?"

"Will do."

Song Shiwei nodded in satisfaction, asked him to sit down, and then slowly said: "There are many kinds of things I need to buy next, I tell you to remember."

Zhang Wu immediately went out to get some water to grind ink.