Salt in the Southern Song Dynasty was extremely expensive, far more expensive than during the peak period of the Ming Dynasty. It cost sixty cents per catty. Pork and mutton cost around eighty cents per catty. Old clothes made of coarse cloth cost about three hundred to four hundred cents. New ones cost about three hundred to four hundred cents.

is more expensive.

A steamed white flour cake on the street costs twenty-five cents, and a meat bun costs thirty cents.

Ordinary people working odd jobs outside may not be able to earn a hundred cents even if they work hard for a day. They can only buy three meat buns.

The most profitable thing is to help the country, that is, to help the court repair water conservancy projects. The standard is 150 cents a day.

This will be released to the Ming Dynasty, and it will be free corvee work, and you will have to bring your own food.

So just looking at prices, it was ridiculously expensive at this time in the Southern Song Dynasty. Ordinary sergeants could not afford even half a stone of rice per month.

People are willing to serve as soldiers and slaves because they don't have to spend money on food, and it is a clean gain, which allows them to survive.

After Zhao Yurui walked around, he felt a little dizzy. The servant seemed to have bought too much today.

The wages are cheap, but the prices are not. How will you be able to support yourself in the future?

He looked back at Zhou Lai, who also had a strange expression.

Then Zhao and Rui came to their senses, no wonder Zhou Lai and the others were willing to follow.

Consumption in the Southern Song Dynasty was too high. Before Zhou Lai, to support a family, even if you received ten guan a month, you would not have much money left over.

Now with Zhao Yurui, Zhao Yurui takes care of all the food and accommodation. Five guans a month is a net income, which is so good. Moreover, Zhao Yurui also helps them specialize in low-level officers. With actual duties and salary, the income is even higher.

It’s doubled.

"Damn it, I'm going to make money." Zhao Yurui cursed.

Zhou Lai said at this time: "If the king can be granted an official position, he will have other income. However, once he reaches a certain level, he needs to go to court."

Zhao Yurui's current income is only food, which is fixed at fifty guan per month, but if he can be promoted to an official position, he will have other income.

Zhao Yurui was very depressed at this time. If he had chosen to be sentenced to Qingyuan Mansion (Ningbo) that day instead of staying in the Wei Palace, his income would have been several times more than here.

Unfortunately, Shi Miyuan was not sure, so he could only return to the palace in gloomy mood.

Prince Wei's Mansion covers an area of ​​more than 30 acres, of which the three main halls in the front, middle and back occupy more than 2 acres each.

The remaining buildings, including the front hall and Qinde Hall, have more than twenty rooms on both sides, which are located in several different courtyards. They are basically used by royal officials. However, these officials do not live here and have their own homes. According to the system

One is left to stay in the palace and be on duty every day.

Professors Zheng Qingzhi and Li Zongmian took turns living in the palace every day because they had the responsibility of teaching Zhao and Rui.

In the middle is Minde Hall, which is mainly where Zhao Yurui and his cronies stay. There are not many rooms on both sides of this place. In addition to utility rooms, study rooms, guest rooms, etc., there are only eighteen rooms that can be accommodated.

In several different yards.

But because none of the previous Wei kings had Zhao Yurui, he had more than thirty maids and servants at once.

So after Zhao Yurui went back, he got a report from Xu and Quanbao. The room was a bit insufficient. Should he borrow some from the back?

The back refers to the Huaide Hall, where the elders of the former royal family lived, where the Yu family lived.

Zhao Yurui immediately went to look around Minde Hall and found that the houses in the Song Dynasty were indeed not very big, and the usual design was one room with one bed.

If you adjust the layout, the limit is that you can fit two beds in one room. After all, you have to store other things. In addition, the home also has to store firewood, food, and other supplies.

Apart from the courtyard where Zhao Yurui lived and worked, there were only sixteen rooms that could be used to live in.

There are four different small courtyards in the middle of the sixteen rooms. Chief Quan Bao and his son Quan Yong occupied two rooms including a courtyard, the Xu family occupied two rooms including a courtyard, and Zhou Lai's family occupied a courtyard.

There are two houses. Niu Bao’s family occupies one courtyard and two houses.

There are still eight rooms left for people to live in.

But he still had eight maids and six servants sent by Shi Miyuan, and he bought twenty-one more, for a total of thirty-five people.

Even if there are two beds in one room, and each bed sleeps two, only thirty-two people can be accommodated.

Zhao Yurui thought for a while and then called Xiao Tao.

"You and Mrs. Xu sleep together in the small courtyard in the east chamber."

Xiaotao responded, her expression still relatively happy.

Mrs. Xu was stunned for a moment, but she didn't say anything.

Then he called Yan Miaorong and Shi Miyuan to bring a beautiful girl named Qiuyue. You two will sleep in the west wing.

There were two people, Quan Baochang and Quan Yong, in the west wing. Quan Yong immediately beamed.

Taking this opportunity, Zhao Yurui also allocated manpower.

Xu and Xiao Tao mainly serve themselves.

Chief Quan Bao was the steward of the palace, responsible for all matters such as purchasing in the palace. He assigned two of the six servants assigned by Shi Miyuan to him as assistants, and the other four were dedicated to doing rough work in the palace, such as carrying water, cutting firewood, and carrying things.

Wait.

The purchasing meeting in the mansion will be discussed by Zhao Yurui and Xu, and then Xu will tell Chief Quan Bao and give him copper coins or money to buy, and the accounts will be reconciled when he comes back.

Among the maids, three, Jiayan Miaorong, followed Xu and were responsible for cooking for all of them, while the other four (Qiuyue), following Xiaotao, were responsible for receiving guests, serving tea and water, and cleaning Zhao Yurui's living and office area.
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The other twenty teenagers followed him in reading, writing and studying during the day, and also had various trainings prepared by Zhao Yurui.

They still have to go out for a run in the evening, adapt to night blindness and physical training. Zhao Yurui has already made full arrangements for them in their hearts.

These twenty teenagers have signed contracts for at least ten years, and Zhao Yurui plans to train them well and use them as confidants in the future.

The ones who taught them how to read and write were Li Huang and Wei Liaoweng from Zhao and Ruixuan.

Among them, Wei Liaoweng had a doctorate in martial arts before and was proficient in military art, horse archery, and martial arts, so he was very suitable.

Zhao and Rui made a short-term arrangement, but they still had to solve the problem of accommodation.

After thinking for a while, he returned to the room, straightened his clothes in front of the bronze mirror, and then took Xu and Xiaotao to the back hall.

This is the first time Xiao Tao has followed Zhao Yurui at such a close distance since she came in, and her expression is quite exciting.

After the three of them entered the courtyard of Tokoku Hall, they came to the backyard.

With no one behind him, Zhao Yurui suddenly stopped.

Mrs. Xu also stopped immediately.

Xiaotao was still thinking about her mood when she was caught off guard, plopped down and bumped into Zhao Yurui's back.

"Prince Yi, forgive me, Xiao Tao didn't mean it." Xiao Tao looked like she was about to cry.

"Haha, Sister Xiaotao, there are no outsiders here, so there is no need to be like this." Zhao Yurui turned around, reached out with his right hand to hold Xiaotao's hand, and grabbed Xu's hand with his left hand.

Both women were stunned.

"From now on, you two should get along like sisters, and avoid fighting with Rui if you don't like each other."

Mrs. Xu's face was slightly red, but she said calmly and gracefully: "I am getting older, and I just want to do my duty well and serve King Yi well. I will ask Sister Xiaotao to take care of me and take care of me in the future."

Her meaning is also very obvious. I am older and will not have any status. Xiaotao, you have a chance, so don't be jealous of me.

Xiao Tao didn't expect that King Yi would like Xu even at such an old age, but she couldn't care about that. Now she was full of joy to follow Zhao Yurui. She blushed and said, "Xiao Tao listens to Sister Xu in everything." Her attitude was also quite low.

This time Shi Miyuan sent eight maids, and Xiao Tao was ranked last regardless of age and beauty, but Zhao Yu Rui only used her and Xu. Xiao Tao felt that Zhao Yu Rui was not a person who judged people by their appearance, so of course she was satisfied and happy.

Zhao Yurui put down their hands at this time, turned around and walked back in. As they walked, they asked, "How many years do you have left on your contract of sale?"

"Next April." Xiao Tao and Yu Tianxi signed a contract for five years at that time, and entered the Yu Mansion at the age of thirteen.

"I'll ask Mr. Yu for it later, and I'll follow you from now on."

"I may not be able to make the decision myself, but there will definitely be no problem with the concubine in the future." Zhao Yurui knew that in order to win over people's hearts, they must provide enough benefits.

When Xiaotao heard this, she almost cried with joy.

She never imagined that a small help that day would make her rise to fame and become a princess.

"Thank you King Yi, thank you King Yi---Xiao Tao is really--" Xiao Tao was a little excited and speechless.

Zhao Yurui stopped again, looked at her gently, and then said pointedly: "Anyone who has helped Yurui, Yurui will never forget it. What's more, Yurui and Sister Xiaotao really met each other the first time."

Enthusiastic."

Xiaotao was so happy that she almost flew away.

Mrs. Xu looked at Zhao Yurui in astonishment. In Shaoxing, Zhao Yurui was not so eloquent.
Chapter completed!