Speaking of the demise of the Shang Dynasty, one had to mention its gravedigger, Jiang Ziya.
Jiang Ziya was born around 1156 B.C. His surname was Jiang, his first name was Shang, and his courtesy name was Ziya. He was from Nanyang, Henan Province. Because he was a descendant of the Lü tribe, he was also called Lü Shang.
Jiang Ziya's ancestor had helped Dayu control the flood and was enfeoffed to Lu (now Dongying Village, Wangcun Township, Wolong District, Nanyang City). In Jiang Ziya's area, due to the change of dynasties and the changes in the world, Jiang Ziya had already become a commoner. He was in his twenties, but he still could not get a wife.
However, there was always a way out. In the neighboring village, there was a girl surnamed Ma with an ugly face, a thick waist, and big feet. Her nickname was " Ma Dajiao ". She could not get married, so someone matchmade her to Jiang Ziya. One couldn't get married, and the other couldn't get married. The scimitar cut the vegetables with a ladle. It just so happened that they got married very quickly.
After they got married, Jiang Ziya still read the books left behind by his ancestors every day. He often ate one meal without eating the next. On a scorching day, Jiang Ziya was reading under the window of the thatched cottage. Madam Ma came over angrily and snatched the book from Jiang Ziya's hand. She threw it on the ground and said,""Reading books, reading books. You only know how to read books all day long. There's no noodles left in the vat. What do you think we should do?”
Fortunately, the oracle bone was not broken. Jiang Ziya quickly picked it up and looked at Madam Ma's angry eyes. He said timidly,""Ask, ask Fourth Uncle next door to borrow some.”
"Borrow your mother's leg! I haven't returned what I borrowed last time. Who would be willing to lend it to you? I can't live like this."
"Madam, don't be angry. Let me think of a way.”Jiang Ziya smiled at Madam Ma.
These days, although he didn't say it out loud, he was also thinking about whether reading could be used as a meal. What he learned and thought about every day was the great knowledge of governing the country. However, the people who managed the affairs of the country were all nobles. He was a commoner and couldn't interfere in the affairs of the country at all. He had nowhere to display his skills. He had nothing to do all day and had no income. If this continued, he and his wife would starve to death. If they starved to death, no matter how much knowledge they had, it was useless.
Today, after his wife's angry roar, he seemed to have woken up from a dream and said,"I'm not going to study anymore. I'm going to do business tomorrow to support my family.”
"We should have done this a long time ago." When Madam Ma heard him say this, she saw hope and her anger dissipated. She went around begging for rice and noodles.
The next day, Jiang Ziya went to the butcher's shop to buy half a fan of pork on credit. He traveled a long way to Zhaoge (now Qi County, Henan Province) market to sell it. However, the market management department stipulated that only mutton was allowed to be sold, not pork. He had to pick pork and go home. The weather was extremely hot. The sun was scorching all the way. When they returned home, the pork was already smelly. Before they entered the door, Madam Ma could already smell the stench from afar. A layer of flies landed on the stinky meat, and a group of flies chased after it. Jiang Ziya entered the door and brought the army of flies home. Madam Ma gave him a good scolding. She didn't even boil water for him and didn't cook for him. Jiang Ziya said,"Madam, don't be angry. I'll think of another way."”
On the third day, Jiang Ziya went to the butcher's shop to buy half a fan of mutton on credit. He traveled a long way to Zhaoge Market to sell it. However, the market management department stipulated that only pork was allowed to be sold, not mutton. The mutton was rotten again. When he got home, he was scolded by Madam Ma again. Madam Ma said,"In the future, we'll go our separate ways. I won't serve you anymore.”She cooked and ate before going to bed. Jiang Ziya washed his sweaty clothes and began to cook.
On the fourth day, Jiang Ziya went to the butcher's shop and bought half a fan of mutton and pork on credit. After a long journey, he went to Zhaoge Market to sell them. However, the market was closed on that day, and there was no one there. The mutton and pork had rotted. When he returned home, he was scolded by Madam Ma. The two of them cooked their own meals and ate their own. At night, Madam Ma did not allow him to sleep in the same bed. Jiang Ziya had to sleep on the floor in another room and thought," The weather was too hot. Meat would easily rot, but flour would not. He would go to sell flour tomorrow.
On the fifth day, Jiang Ziya got up in the middle of the night and carried two baskets of noodles to Zhaoge Market to sell. The market was crowded with people. It took him a long time to find a stall by the bridge outside the drill ground. Jiang Ziya put down his burden and waited for his employer to buy noodles. He thought that he could finally do business today. After he earned money, he would go home and give it to Madam Ma. Madam Ma would not be angry.
However, after noon, no one came to buy noodles. Jiang Ziya was hot, thirsty and hungry, but he did not dare to leave the stall for fear of missing customers. At this time, an old lady came to Jiang Ziya's stall and asked,""How much is a catty of noodles?" Jiang Ziya was overjoyed and quickly said,"Five shells for one catty."”"No, it's too expensive. Three shells for one catty.”
"Auntie, the price of my noodles is only four seashells per catty. It's hot and I came all the way here. You can't ask me to pay for it, right?”
"Just three shells. Are you selling them? If you're not selling, I'm leaving."
"Auntie, don't go, we can discuss this.”Finally, a customer came. Jiang Ziya didn't want to miss it no matter what. He thought that since he didn't open for business for a while, he could sell it at a loss. He said,""Three seashells it is. I'll sell them to you.”
"Let me see if the noodles are good."
The old lady squatted down and was picky about the noodles. Jiang Ziya patiently explained to the old lady one by one and finally convinced her. The old lady said,""Give me one tael."
"One tael? Why do you weigh one tael?"
"Paste the soles."
Jiang Ziya was instantly deflated, but he couldn't refuse. He took the scale and was about to weigh the old lady's noodles when he suddenly heard someone shout,"" Get out of the way, get out of the way." He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a tall horse galloping towards him. The people on the street dodged to the side, afraid that the horse would kick them. It turned out that this horse was the mount of Huang Feihu, the general of the Shang Dynasty. On this day, Huang Feihu was training his soldiers on the drill ground and preparing to go on an expedition to the East Sea. Unexpectedly, the horse was frightened and rushed out of the drill ground and ran into the street.
Jiang Ziya quickly pulled the old lady to the side of the road. Just as he turned around, the warhorse had already rushed to his stall. The front hooves stomped and the back hooves stomped. In an instant, the two baskets of noodles turned upside down and ran over. Jiang Ziya quickly squatted down and put the noodles into the basket. At this time, a big whirlwind blew from the ground and blew the noodles away. Jiang Ziya couldn't help but sigh." God, I…" He wanted to say," Why am I so unlucky?" But before he could finish, a crow flew over his head and pooped into his mouth. Jiang Ziya had always regarded not losing his temper as the highest state of self-cultivation. At this time, he couldn't help but lose his temper. He bent down and picked up a half brick to hit the crow. However, there was a scorpion lying on the brick. The scorpion suddenly stung his hand. Jiang Ziya threw the brick as if it was on fire and screamed in pain.
Since the business could not be done, Jiang Ziya picked up two empty baskets, stacked them together, and carried them with a hook. His hands were swollen like steamed buns from the scorpion sting. He went home listlessly, thinking about how to lose his temper with Madam Ma on the way.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]