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Qingyang Village's East Village was seven or eight miles away from the South Village, and all the people living there were second-class and third-class households.
Second-class and third-class households generally had land, but it was just a matter of how much.
Some of the second-class and third-class households cultivated their own land, while others rented it out.
The second-class and third-class households did not have guards or servants, and the floating tenant households living in the West and South villages did not hate the East village as much as the North village.
Ever since Zheng Datou's aunt was made queen by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, Dongzhuang had changed from its former dullness to prosperity comparable to Bianliang in Tokyo. Merchants from hundreds of miles away also came here to do business. The commodity economy in Dongzhuang, a quiet village, showed its brilliance. Dongzhuang became a commodity distribution center.
Zheng Datou contributed the most to the reason why Dongzhuang became a commodity distribution center.
After the Empress Street in the East Manor was built, Zheng Datou pointed his sword at Wei Wei, Jiang Tianlong, and other high-ranking officials in the North Manor. He was very polite to the floating tenant farmers in the South Manor and West Manor.
When the Wei family who lived in the East Manor saw that the business in the East Manor's Empress Street was booming, they stopped trying to curry favor with Wei Wei and Jiang Tianlong. Instead, they joined the Empress Street to make a living, and the business activities in the Empress Street became more and more prosperous.
Zheng Datou's surname was Zheng Lun, and his name was Bowang. Zheng Bowang was the distant nephew of Empress Zheng, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty.
A distant nephew was also considered a nephew. After Empress Zheng became the empress, Zheng Lun brought a few carriages of local specialties from his hometown to visit his aunt. Empress Zheng did not reject this nephew and instead acknowledged him.
After Zheng Lun returned to the Eastern Manor, he immediately changed his weapons. He used the money given by the Emperor to build Empress Street and recruited personal guards to protect him.
With the protection of his personal guards, Zheng Bowang opened up his business and started a bank, a butcher shop, a flour mill, an oil mill, and a slaughterhouse.
Empress Zheng was the successor of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty. Her father, Zheng Shen, was a poor official. Her mother could not bear the poor life and left home to remarry.
Zheng Shen sold his daughter to the eunuchs, who sent her to the palace.
The education environment in the Song Palace was good. The palace maids had the opportunity to absorb knowledge and master talents to become useful talents.
Emperor Huizong of Song showed his intelligence and wisdom in this aspect, and his democratic style was also evident.
Zheng was studious and hardworking. Through her own efforts, she was promoted to the Empress Dowager's escort.
Before Emperor Huizong of Song ascended the throne, every time he went to visit Empress Dowager Xiang, Empress Dowager Xiang asked Zheng and Wang to serve him.
Huizong ascended the throne, and the Empress Dowager gave him the Zheng and Wang families.
Zheng's appearance was dignified, erudite and talented. The memorials were all self-made. The wonderful pen and flowers even made the equally talented Song Huizong suspect that it was written by a shooter.
Zheng was also good at following the monarch's heart and observing the emperor's will, so she favored the six palaces. Huizong often gave her his poems and songs, which were sung all over the world.
Zheng was conferred the title of Imperial Concubine, and her father, Zheng Shen, was promoted to the second rank of the Southern Army Jiedushi.
Noble Consort Zheng's elder brother, Zheng Zhongzhong, relied heavily on her after passing the Jinshi examination. His official career was smooth and he became the prime minister of the two houses.
Noble Consort Zheng gave birth to five daughters and one son. Her only son died on the day he was born.
Noble Consort Zheng had inherited the tradition of the Song Palace, and Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty felt that it was her credit that he flourished.
Empress Wang passed away due to illness. Noble Consort Zheng was highly qualified and the most favored, so she was made Empress in the fourth year of Daguan (1110). The family was honored because of Empress Zheng.
When Zhao Zhen and the other three arrived at the East Village, they saw that the village was brightly lit, just like the Great Xiangguo Temple in Tokyo.
The Queen Street in the south stood out from the crowd, and the lights alone were enough to suppress the crowd.
The four of them got off their horses. Zhao Zhen said a little excitedly,"I didn't expect the East Manor to have such a beautiful night view. I'm afraid it's hard to find it even in the Huazhou Prefecture!”
Eighth Liang laughed." We have to thank Zheng Bowang for this. He brought light to Dongzhuang when he went to the capital. Empress Street was built by Zheng Bowang after he came back from the capital!"”
Zhao Zhen was stunned. He remembered that his master, Yang Yin, did not light the lamp in the dark to save oil. However, the East Manor, which was seven or eight miles away, was another world.
Eighth Liang said with an embarrassed smile,""Empress Street was named after Empress Zheng who lived here when she was young. In fact, she only lived here for a few days because her mother remarried and her father sold her to eunuchs!”
Eighth Liang sneered,"If a person is lucky, they can pick up gold even if they fall. Zheng Kun sold his daughter to the eunuch and actually granted her wish.”
"Old Father Liang, is Zheng Lun Empress Zheng's nephew?" Zhao Zhen asked.”
"Kiss me!" Eighth Liang said disdainfully," Zheng Lun is the nephew of Empress Zheng who went on a long journey. However, Big Head Zheng is very smart. When he heard that Zheng became the Empress, he hired three carriages to deliver the local specialties of Hua State. Empress Zheng is a thrifty person. She accepted all three carriages of local specialties from Zheng Lun. When the Emperor found out, he gave Zheng Lun a lot of gold, silver, and jewelry in return. Zheng Lun became a high-ranking official in an instant!”
As the four of them talked, they arrived at Queen Street. It was midnight, but the streets were still bustling with people.
Zhao Zhen walked around for a while and felt that it was not much different from the food street on Yingda Road at the space-time rift.
Excited, Zhao Zhen asked Eighth Liang,""Father Liang, which side is more prosperous, the East Manor or the North Manor?”Zhao Zhen had never been to the North Manor before.
"Of course it's the East Manor!" Eighth Liang said bluntly," There's a day market, a night market, a tavern, and a teahouse in the East Manor. Boss Zheng doesn't bully the poor and is a kind person. That little fatty Wei Wei in the North Manor is a ghost!"”
Eighth Liang couldn't help but scold Wei Wei. He stretched his neck and swallowed a mouthful of saliva."What's there in the North Manor? There are Wei Wei's four manors, De Yun Manor, Baoyue Manor, Forest Creek Manor, and Longxiao Manor.”
Yang Zi giggled and said,"Father Liang's words are really cruel. If Wei Wei heard it, wouldn't it be like what happened to Brother Yu in the morning?"”
Eighth Liang puffed out his chest and said," Call that bastard Wei Wei over. If he dares to come, I'll chop his head off like Toto!"”
Xu Wen laughed awkwardly and said," Father Liang, can you stop getting drunk? Our main business is to buy noodles, meat, and spices. Quickly lead us to these places!"”
"Let's go to the bank first. We need to exchange the silver ingots for copper coins!" Zhao Zhen continued.”
Eighth Liang nodded and said,""The Zheng Family Bank is on the west side of Queen Street. We can see it if we follow the red lantern to the west!”
After Eighth Liang said this, he suddenly changed the topic."Let's go to the east side of the street first. There's a plaque written by Grand Tutor Cai there!”
"Cai Jing once inscribed a plaque for Queen Street!”Zhao Zhen asked in confusion.
"This old man has also heard about it. Let's go over and take a look.”Eighth Liang rambled on as he walked in front of them.
The group walked to the east end of the street and saw an archway facing the east. There was a long plaque hanging on the archway with the words " Empress Central Street " written in gold.
The five gilded characters were strong and powerful, showing the strength of Cai Jing, one of the four calligraphers of the Northern Song Dynasty.
Zhao Zhen was stunned. Eighth Liang chuckled." I've only heard rumors before. I've seen it with my own eyes tonight. Grand Tutor Cai's calligraphy is really extraordinary!"”
Zhao Zhen wondered what a stonemason like Old Man Liang knew about calligraphy. However, when he thought about how Old Man Liang had chiseled words on stone steles, he had seen all kinds of characters. Naturally, he was not an amateur in calligraphy.
The four of them crossed the signboard on the east side of the street and walked to the west end of the street. When they passed by a store that sold jade and gold and silver jewelry, Yang Zi tugged at Zhao Zhen's sleeve and said,"Brother Yu, Zizi wants to go to the gold and silver jewelry shop to take a look!”
Zhao Zhen looked in the direction of Yang Zi's finger and saw a flag fluttering in front of a store. On it was written: 'Gold, Silver, Jewelry, and Jade Shop' was written in large words.
Zhao Zhen thought to himself, Zheng Datou is really something. He copied the bustling night market in Bianliang to the East Village of Qingyang Village!”
In the Song Dynasty, gold, silver, and jade ware were no longer limited to the nobles. The commoners in the city became the main users. Some commoners with higher social status, wine houses, and brothels would use gold and silver utensils.
In the Song Dynasty, drinking was popular from top to bottom. There were many wine shops in urban and rural areas. Wine was an indispensable element in people's daily life.
The high-end restaurants were divided into more than ten small pavilions, and the wine vessels were all made of silver to compete for luxury.
Small restaurants with good business and financial resources would also use silver plates to serve fruit to attract customers.
Jade articles were the ornaments of rich women. Yang Zi was the descendant of the Yang family. Although the family had now become a floating tenant, the temperament of a lady from a noble family had not disappeared.
"If Yang Zi really wants any gold and silver jewelry, if the price is right, buy one for her!”
Zhao Zhen thought to himself and asked Eighth Liang and Xu,""Father Liang, Brother Xu, why don't you two go to the noodle shop, butcher shop, seasoning shop, and oil shop first? Tell them that we want 50 bags of flour, 100 catties of pork, 100 catties of mutton, and 100 catties of vegetable oil.”
Eighth Liang was dumbfounded. He stared at Zhao Zhen and said,"Duoduo, how are we going to take back so many things?”
"Didn't Father Liang work as a craftsman in Zheng Datou's house?" Zhao Zhen chuckled. Why didn't you let their carriage send us on our way?”
"This is a good idea!" Xu Wen laughed out loud and said,"Brother Hongyi's brain is really good!" Father Liang, let's do as Brother Hongyi says!”
Xu Wen and Eighth Liang led the white horse and were about to leave when Zhao Zhen said,""Big Brother Xu and Old Father Liang, you two should take this Ferghana Horse away too. Duoduo and Zizi will go to Head Zheng's mansion to find you two after taking a walk around!”
" Oh," Xu Wen replied. He handed the reins of the white horse to Boss Leong and took the reins of the Ferghana Horse from Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Zhen patted Xu Wen's shoulder and then the saddle.""Big Brother Xu, don't worry. The silver ingot you brought is in the horse on the saddle!”
Xu Wen left with a " hi " while Yang Zi and Zhao Zhen walked into the jewelry store.
A fat shop assistant saw the swords hanging on Zhao Zhen and Yang Zi's waists and greeted them with a smile,""It's my honor to have you visit my humble shop. Whatever you like, I'll definitely give you a discount…"
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。