Whether or not the young lady selling sachets in front of him could find a suitable husband would depend on her own luck. However, according to Ang Lee's estimation, this was too difficult. It was almost impossible. After all, there were too many young ladies like her in the capital, and there were very few young men with good conditions. Most of them were very picky because of their good conditions. There were even some rotten people who indulged in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling. It was easy to imagine how difficult it would be to find a suitable husband.
Perhaps, after a few years, this young lady selling sachets would still be selling sachets alone. Perhaps she would not be able to find a suitable husband in her lifetime and would become an old lady. As long as the housing problem in the capital was not solved, such tragedies would continue to exist. Many people would be forced to give up on reproduction and forming a family because they simply could not bear the burden of forming a family and raising a family. What could they do if they did not give up? What better way was there?
This kind of tragedy was very common in the prosperous society of the later generations. The more prosperous a place was, the more obvious this situation was. In many economically developed small countries, more than half of the people would not marry in their lifetime and would enjoy a luxurious single life. This was not what they wanted, but was forced by reality. Because they did not have enough capital, forming a family would only make their lives more miserable. Since that was the case, why bother with marriage? Was it not good to have a relaxed life? Was it not a very comfortable life?
Perhaps many people who insisted on being single yearned for companionship, but as long as the conditions were not met, it would be difficult for this wish to be realized. They would not lower their own requirements for the sake of this little desire for companionship. They would have to wait until the conditions were completely met before they would consider companionship and the issue of breeding the next generation.
There was a famous saying in the later generations that high housing prices were the most effective medicine to prevent pregnancy. Because they could not afford to buy a house and did not have a stable place to live, they did not have the idea of forming a family and producing offspring. This was to prevent their offspring from repeating their tragic fate.
If the living environment was too oppressive, it would also cause depression in people's hearts. If an ordinary person lived in a very small space for a long time, it would definitely cause this person's heart to change. It would make a broad-minded person become a depressed and narrow-minded person. They would even feel indignant all day long and yearn to use violence to solve the various problems in life. Thus, they would become a person full of violence.
In the later generations, various riots occurred in many areas because of the housing pressure caused by the gap between the rich and the poor. There were too many people living in small spaces, which caused these people to feel very depressed and unbalanced. They wanted to change their living conditions, but it was easier said than done. If their living conditions were not solved for a long time, it would inevitably lead to the continuous increase of their inner dissatisfaction. Step by step, it would induce their violent side, which was also the source of some unrest in some areas.
Since ancient times, the reason for the rebellion of the common people was that they could not survive. Without food, they would rebel. Without a sense of security, they would rebel. Similarly, without a place to live, they would rebel. After all, these were the things that the common people valued the most. Once these most basic survival guarantees did not exist, the common people would definitely go crazy, and a rebellion would not be far away.
In addition, the dissatisfaction of the common people had to reach a certain proportion to succeed. If there were only a small number of common people who lacked food and drink and were dissatisfied in their hearts, it would not be able to do anything. The dissatisfaction of a very small number of common people was only skimming the surface of the water and would not change anything. However, if there were a considerable number of common people who could not survive and were filled with great dissatisfaction, then the probability of a rebellion would greatly increase. The whole world would be in chaos.
For example, since ancient times, there had been many peasant uprisings because a large number of common people could not survive, but the imperial court continued to impose exorbitant taxes. As a result, it would be strange if the common people did not rebel. When there was a natural disaster, the common people in several provinces did not have a single harvest. The common people were already starving, and the imperial court still wanted to collect taxes. This was forcing the common people to death. It would be strange if the common people did not rebel.
Right now, the problem of high rent and housing prices in the capital was very serious. However, many of the common people were foreigners. Foreigners from different regions did not even speak the same language, let alone colluding to do something big. Moreover, this was under the feet of the emperor. Since ancient times, no rebellion had started in the capital.
Also, these common people actually had a way out, and that was to leave the capital and return to their own hometowns. As long as they returned to their hometowns, they would have food and drink, and they would also be able to live in a very spacious place. However, they would no longer be able to enjoy the bustling atmosphere of the capital. This made many of the common people who were about to collapse very hesitant, not knowing what to do.
No matter what, the problem of high housing prices and high rent in the capital had to be solved. This was because if this problem could not be solved as soon as possible, it would lead to many new problems sooner or later. It would also be very detrimental to the security of the capital. The more people who were dissatisfied with their lives, the greater the pressure on the security of the capital.
It was getting late, but the bustle of Ping Kang Fang Cross Street was not affected much. On the contrary, it felt livelier and livelier. There was an endless stream of people coming and going. Half of the shops on both sides of the street were full, or at least more than half were full. The hawkers' business was also very good. There were more or less people on the street who would buy something. Otherwise, it would be a waste of time.
Ang Lee shopped for a long time. It was not a wasted trip. Not only did he buy a lot of small things, but he also learned about the situation of many common people. This was the biggest gain.
Of course, through this shopping, he sighed deeply in his heart and felt a stronger sense of mission. It was his mission to improve the daily life of all the common people in the capital.
Because a lot of time was wasted by eating and shopping, when Ang Lee returned, most of the people had fallen asleep. Only a few servants were still on duty.
Everyone had a good sleeping habit because of Ang Lee's strong request. In order to let the people in the family have good physical fitness, Ang Lee asked everyone to rest on time. As long as they were not on duty, they should go to bed on time at night. Only when they slept well could they be more energetic during the day. If they did not sleep well at night, they would be tired the next day. That would be terrible.
"My husband, why did you come back so late?"
Li Ya 'er came over and asked with concern.
Ang Lee said, "Something happened. Why? You didn't sleep either?"
Li Ya 'er smiled and said, "We sisters have discussed it. As long as you don't come back, we will take turns waiting. Today, I'll start."
"Oh, what if I don't come back for the entire night? Will you not sleep for the entire night? "
Ang Lee asked with a smile.
Li Ya 'er stroked her hair and nodded. "Of course. If you don't come back, I'll wait here for you without sleeping the entire night."
With that said, she smiled proudly.
Ang Lee gently stroked Li Ya 'er's hair and said, "Baby Ya' er, it's so hard on you. My heart will ache."
Seeing Ang Lee's ambiguous smile, Li Ya 'er was delighted. She said, "If your heart aches, use your mouth!"
Ang Lee immediately took out rouge and sachet and placed them in Li Ya 'er's hand. He said, "Baby Ya' er, how can I only rely on my mouth? This is rouge and sachet. I bought them when I was shopping tonight. I'm giving them to you as a token of my appreciation. "
The corners of Ya 'er's mouth curled into a smile as she said, "Darling, are you only buying it for me or is there a share for everyone?"
Clearly, Ya 'er had long figured out Ang Lee's routine. Every time he bought a gift, everyone would have one. Furthermore, they were all identical gifts. There was no sincerity at all, and it was likely the same this time.
Ang Lee smiled foolishly and said, "This? Indeed, everyone has a share. However, I bought quite a lot. I can give Ya 'er more. Everyone else gets one, but Ya' er gets two. Is that considered sincere? "
Li Ya 'er smiled and said, "If it's sincere, I'll tell them that I have two gifts and they only have one. Alright? Darling! "
Her voice was rather alluring, but Ang Lee didn't want Ya 'er to tell anyone about this. If that happened, the remaining people would be dissatisfied. If a bowl of water wasn't balanced, it would cause dissatisfaction. And Ang Lee clearly didn't wish for such a thing to happen.
"It's best Ya 'er doesn't say anything. If they know, they will definitely cause a commotion. In that case, I'll need to buy more and let them have two. Is that what Ya' er likes?"
Ang Lee said with a smile.
"Humph, you still claim to be sincere. You're clearly not sincere!"
Li Ya 'er said with a smile.
Ang Lee said, "How can giving you two sets be insincere? As long as you don't spout nonsense, everyone else gets one! You've taken advantage of me, yet you say that I'm insincere. "
"Humph, everyone gets one every time I buy a gift. I'm really universal!"
Ya 'er said.
This wasn't a lie. Ang Lee was really such a scoundrel. He was afraid that he wouldn't get angry if he didn't receive a gift, so he always considered everyone, even his maidservants. Of course, the maidservants in Ang Lee's residence were all young and beautiful women. Every one of them made one feel tender affection for them. Ang Lee didn't recruit any ugly or old maidservants.
On the other hand, the male servants were the opposite. Almost all of them weren't good-looking. None of them were more handsome than Ang Lee. Even if they were younger than him, they weren't as good-looking as Ang Lee. Of course, no one in the entire Tang Dynasty was more charming than Ang Lee. If the standard for male servants was that they couldn't be more handsome than Ang Lee, then all the men in the entire Tang Dynasty would definitely qualify. That was for sure. And when Ang Lee set the standard back then, it seemed to be this standard. It made the butler in charge of recruiting male servants overjoyed. This was because the difficulty was too low. They could just casually recruit a batch on the streets.
"Where did you buy this rouge? How much is it? "
Li Ya 'er asked.
"1,500 copper coins per box. I bought it on the streets. This price is considered rather expensive on the streets."
Ang Lee said.
Of course, this price was ten times exaggerated by Ang Lee. The actual price was 150 copper coins per box. It seemed more sincere to say that the price was higher. Anyway, the price of this kind of product was very different. It was possible to sell it for dozens of copper coins per box. There were even more expensive ones. It was not easy to verify.
"1,500 copper coins per box? It's so expensive. How many boxes did you buy? "
Li Ya 'er asked.
"Not many. Only 30 boxes."
Ang Lee said.
Actually, he bought forty boxes. He gave four boxes to the two brothel girls, five boxes to the guards, and one box was secretly stuffed into the pocket of the young lady who sold the sachets. He didn't let the young lady discover it yet. He reckoned that when the young lady returned and discovered the rouge box in her pocket, she would be very happy! Perhaps, she would be very curious about who secretly stuffed the rouge box into her pocket.
Perhaps she would think of Ang Lee. After all, people who bought things left in a hurry or asked if the sachets were good. They rarely chatted with her. It was also rare for a customer to buy so many sachets at once. Usually, they would only buy one or two sachets. However, Ang Lee bought more than a dozen sachets at once. He was a big customer and seemed very special. Therefore, she might guess that Ang Lee secretly stuffed the sachets into her pocket.
In this world, only Ang Lee would do such a thing. He bought so many sachets without asking for a discount. Instead, he gave the peddler a box of mid-grade rouge.
Of course, this was because the young lady was a young woman. Moreover, her facial features were not bad. Although she was wearing men's clothes, her delicate appearance could still be seen clearly. If she was a stinky man, Ang Lee would not give her a box of rouge.
"Thirty boxes. Darling, you're really generous. This time, all the maidservants in this courtyard will probably have a share. What about the sachets? Are there also thirty of them? "
Li Ya 'er asked.
"There aren't that many sachets. There's only half. I'll only give them to the person I like the most."
Ang Lee said with a smile.
After a commotion, Ang Lee and Ya 'er went inside and sat by the couch to chat.
"Ya 'er, how's the workshop at home recently? Especially the workshops that you sisters are in charge of? "
Ang Lee asked.
"It's pretty good! Be it the embroidery workshop, the tea workshop, or the fake flower workshop, they're all pretty good. Darling, why are you asking about this? "
Ya 'er asked curiously.
"Isn't it because the imperial court is going to reform the property system? Your husband has made a suggestion to build new workshops to provide housing for more than 80% of the craftsmen. If our own workshops don't provide such housing, people will gossip."
Ang Lee said.
When Ya 'er heard that, she said with a smile, "That's all! Our workshop has dormitories. Even if all the sisters who work stay overnight, we can still accommodate them, much less 80%. "
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