Peach and plum spring breeze and a glass of wine

Yang Ge originally thought that the negative consequences of the continuous rise in food prices would not be revealed until at least the next year.

But he obviously underestimated those bad people's control of time.

It is also too overestimating the ability of the people at the bottom of the Wei Dynasty to resist risks.

It was almost the second day after the price of barley broke through 100 cents per dou.

There are a large number of beggars in Luting County.

They walked along the long snow-covered street, going from house to house begging for leftovers from their master's meals to satisfy their hunger.

But with food prices rising like this, who wouldn't tighten their belts to get by? How can there be any extra leftovers to give to them?

Besides, no one knows when this day will end...

Since that day, Yuelai Inn has never received a single customer.

People come to the door from time to time, but they come either to borrow food or to beg.

Shopkeeper Liu Renyi, knowing that no more customers will come to this stall now, still insists on opening the door early every day, cooking a big pot of corn porridge, and giving a bowl to anyone who comes to beg.

When he met someone who wanted to borrow food, he never had the heart to refuse. He would always sigh and say, It's hard for everyone. Then he would ask Yang Ge to go to the kitchen to get two kilograms of food, and hand it over to the visitor with his own hands full of guilt. On hand.

The grain I bought at a high price a few days ago was all gone without making a single copper penny.

However, there was still an endless stream of neighbors coming to borrow food. It seemed that everyone subconsciously felt that the inn was in the business of eating, so it must have stored a lot of food.

But only Yang Ge knew that the batch of food brought back from the inn a few days ago was long gone.

The two sacks of grain he secretly took from his home were all empty.

No, as soon as Yang Ge sent away a group of beggars, Wang Dezhu, who used to deliver firewood to the inn, came to the door.

A tough man who could carry seventy or eighty kilograms of firewood for more than twenty miles into the mountains and forests was so stunned that he cried: Old shopkeeper, I really have no choice. I have traveled all over the country, and I can't buy it. If you have enough food to eat, you also know the situation of my family...

Shopkeeper Liu held his hands tightly and replied with red eyes: We know, we know, you are a strong person. If you didn't really have no choice, you wouldn't come here to say this... Little brother, go quickly. I’ll bring you Uncle Wang ten kilograms of grain from the backyard!”

Yang Ge pursed his lips vigorously, and it was neither a matter of turning around nor not turning around.

After hesitating for several breaths, he forced himself to smile and said: Uncle Wang, the firewood pile in the backyard collapsed. I can't get in to the stove now. How about you go home first and I'll send it to you later?

In just a few words, it was extremely difficult for him to say it, as if every word stung his mouth.

Wang Dezhu often delivers firewood to the inn, and they get along very well.

Back when he came back, he would often bring some small things from the mountains and forests to Yang Ge, teasing him like a child.

Sometimes it was a small bag of wild fruits, sometimes a few bird eggs, and I even made grasshoppers and wooden tops for him...

But in the backyard, there is no more ten kilograms of food.

Wang Dezhu glanced at Yang Ge, and his dark cheeks turned so red that he could bleed. He tried his best to smile and shook shopkeeper Liu's hand stiffly: I came at the wrong time, and I keep causing you trouble. , I’ll leave first and then go somewhere else to think of a solution.”

With that said, he let go of shopkeeper Liu's hand and left.

Shopkeeper Liu grabbed him, then turned around and rarely lost his temper at Yang Ge: What's going on with Yang Ge? Just go as you are told. Why are you talking so much!

When Wang Dezhu saw this, he waved his hand quickly: Don't be angry, don't be angry, my little brother is doing it for you and the inn, it's nothing, it's not easy for anyone...

Shopkeeper Liu grabbed him tightly and refused to let him go. He stared at Yang Ge with his eyes wide open: What are you still doing? Go!

Yang Ge struggled in a dilemma for a few seconds and had no choice but to say: Shopkeeper, there is no food in the backyard for a long time. I have lent out all the 100 kilograms of food I took from home.

He didn't want to mention it.

But if he didn't mention it, Shopkeeper Liu wouldn't be able to stop him!

There was no food in the inn, but shopkeeper Liu had believed his words before, and a group of people had been gathered at home. With his way of spreading things out, how could they survive?

Shopkeeper Liu and Wang Dezhu were both stunned.

After several breaths, Shopkeeper Liu sighed heavily: You said you, with your thin arms and thin legs, why are you joining in the fun!

Yang Ge smiled: Your home is in Luting, and my home is also in Luting.

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Liu glanced at him with both relief and helplessness, then turned around and pulled Wang Dezhu, who was at a loss, out: Come on, come home with us. We still have some at home, so we have to do it no matter what. Make it through this year...

Yang Ge watched the two of them quarreling away, and couldn't help but wonder, does the bigger the business becomes, the less conscience it becomes?

There are many shops open for business on this street these days, like Shopkeeper Liu, and everyone is doing their best to rescue the beggars who come to the door.

Looking back at the three major grain accounts that are driving up grain prices, it’s so damn hard to give birth to a son!

It's said that poverty breeds treachery, but wealth breeds conscience.

He smacked his thigh angrily: I think it's the people who slaughter dogs out of righteousness, and the people who are unfaithful are the scholars! The more knowledge you have, the more reactionary you will become!

At the right time, a mother and daughter appeared outside the inn door, timidly whispering: Shopkeeper, can you give me a bowl of cold rice? My daughter has not had any water or rice for two days...

Yang Ge looked at his mother, who had a sallow complexion and weak breath, and then at the little girl, whose face was blue and blue from the cold and could hardly stand still.

Even though he had seen many such beggars in the past few days, he still felt so choked up that he couldn't breathe.

He tried his best to smile kindly: Sister-in-law, please come in and have a rest. I'll go to the kitchen and look around to see if there's anything else to eat and get some for you and my daughter.

As if the mother had grasped a life-saving straw, tears welled up all of a sudden. She knelt down in the snow while holding the little girl in her arms: We ladies, thank the shopkeeper for your kindness!

Yang Ge hurriedly came out and pulled the couple up from the snow: If you can't afford it, you can't afford it. Aren't you ruining my life?

The mother shook her head with tears in her eyes: There is really nothing we can do. Her father is exhausted from doing weight loss in the middle of the year. I am a woman who wakes up early and goes through the dark to get enough food. As soon as the price of food rises, her grandmother goes on a hunger strike. The family It also collapsed...

In just a few words, Yang Ge broke through the defense.

His nose was so sore that tears kept pouring out. He quickly turned his face away from the two women and just dragged them towards the inn, unconsciously saying words that even he himself did not believe: Don't be discouraged. If you are depressed, you will get better. As long as people are alive, there is hope and a future!

He pushed his wife into the dining table, wiped his hands and quickly got into the kitchen room.

When he came out with two steaming bowls of corn porridge, Shopkeeper Liu had already returned and was comforting the little girl with red eyes.

Seeing him coming out with corn porridge, the couple quickly stood up and took it with both hands.

Yang Ge: Eat slowly, there is still some in the pot.

Thank you, shopkeeper, thank you old shopkeeper, you saved our lives...

Yang Ge and Shopkeeper Liu comforted the couple and asked them to sit down and eat in peace.

Turning around, Yang Ge asked shopkeeper Liu in a low voice: How much grain did you borrow from Uncle Wang?

Shopkeeper Liu: Three buckets, there are six people in his family. This little food is probably enough to last them until the end of the year.

Yang Ge knew that since the old man had led Wang Dezhu to his home, he would definitely not pay only ten kilograms of food.

He endured it, but still couldn't help it and said: Just take it easy, I don't know what will happen next!

The old man sighed and waved his hand: What can we do? Do as much as you can. You can't really watch them starve to death, right?

Yang Ge turned his head and looked at the mother and daughter behind him. They were holding hot corn porridge and taking small sips, but there was still not much life in their eyes.

Can they really survive, have hope and a future?

It is said that hemp ropes are broken only at the thinnest places, and bad luck only seeks out the miserable.

They are the thinnest part of the hemp rope and the poor people.

So they were the first to break...

But if food prices continue to rise like this, thicker hemp ropes like the old Liu family may not be able to withstand it.

Once the broken window effect is formed, it will be even more difficult to brake!

‘Can you do as much as you can? ’

Yang Ge whispered in his heart.

No more tonight. I’ve stayed up too late these days and I’m not feeling well anymore. I need to take it easy...