Reborn as a Cube Man in the Late Ming Dynasty

Chengcheng, noon.

Inside the tea shop.

"Steward Zhao, I have delivered the goods safely as you instructed," Wei Laosi said cautiously, panting heavily.

Manager Zhao had a large belly, a robust build, a ruddy complexion, and wore a long silk robe with a jade pendant hanging from his waist and a gold ring on his hand.

I sat in a large chair, sipping tea.

Butler Zhao glanced at Wei Laosi, nodded, and then said casually, "Okay, I understand."

Wei Laosi said softly, "Steward Zhao..."

"What? Is there some other problem?" Butler Zhao looked up, a hint of impatience in his eyes.

Wei Laosi was a little flustered. He mustered his courage and said, "Steward Zhao, could you please settle my wages in advance?"

Steward Zhao sneered, put down the tea, and looked at Wei Laosi with indifference, as if he were looking at a begging dog.

"You've only been working here a few days, and you already want your wages? Do you think this is a place where you can give alms?"

"Steward Zhao, I beg you, please have pity on me!" A bitter feeling welled up inside Wei Laosi, and he knelt down abruptly, his voice pleading, "We're starving! The children haven't eaten for days!"

Ugh, I've gotten the floor all dirty!

Butler Zhao frowned and waved his hand impatiently: "Alright, alright, I can give it to you in advance, just wait."

Old Wei waited expectantly.

However, when he saw the bag of wages, he was stunned.

"Steward Zhao, why is the wage so much less?" Old Wei asked cautiously, his voice trembling slightly.

"What, you dare to question me? I'm already being lenient by sending it to you in advance. If everyone acted like you, without any rules, how could this shop stay in business?" Butler Zhao said coldly.

Old Wei hurriedly shook his head: "No, no, Steward Zhao, I just... I just need this money to buy rice for my family. My whole family depends on my wages to survive, could you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Butler Zhao interrupted him: "Stop talking nonsense! Take it or leave it. If you don't want to do it, get out! If you don't want to do it, there are plenty of others who will!"

Wei Laosi stood there, the copper coin in his hand feeling like a heavy stone pressing on his heart.

He lowered his head, stared at the tattered straw sandals, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

Rush up to him, grab your fists, and smash that pig-face of his!

Stuff all of these copper coins into that mouth!

Kill him! Kill him!!!

"Instead of staying here, you might as well take this money and buy some food for your children!" Butler Zhao said leisurely, blowing on his tea leaves.

child?

child.

Wei Laosi's eyes dimmed, he deflated, his whole body hunched over, and he squeezed out the words through clenched teeth: "Thank you, Steward Zhao."

Haha, someone makes a fuss about it every now and then, it's so annoying.

Butler Zhao sneered and ignored Old Man Wei.

Wei Laosi silently put away the meager wages and dragged his heavy steps away.

Sigh, let's go buy some rice first.

Don't we have a new emperor? Maybe things will get better in a few days?

The patrol inspector was also clearing out the bandits.

Just be patient a little longer, things will get better, they definitely will get better.

Upon arriving at the rice shop, he nervously pulled out the copper coins and said helplessly, "Shopkeeper, how many can I buy with this?"

The shopkeeper scooped out the rice, weighed it on a steelyard, and, under Wei Laosi's eager gaze, took out a small portion of the rice and put it back.

"Shopkeeper, this weight is off," Wei Laosi said with a mournful face. "Could it be that the price of rice has gone up again?"

The shopkeeper said expressionlessly, "Hmm, do you want more?"

"Yes, I want it!"

Holding the rice bag in both hands, Wei Laosi wandered aimlessly through the crowd.

This bag of rice represents all the income he earned from nearly a month of hard work, but it's only enough for his family to eat for a few days.

Wei Laosi's clothes were tattered, his hands were covered with calluses and scars, his face was dark and thin, and his eyes were tired and weary.

In a daze, he returned to that dilapidated house.

"Dad, Dad's back!"

"Father!"

A few ragged children squeezed out of the narrow doorway, looking at Wei Laosi and calling out in their childish voices.

"Daddy, my stomach is burning!" The youngest boy, naked and wrapped in a blanket, cried out with a pout.

The older, more sensible ones, though silent, sent daggers through their expectant eyes at Wei Laosi.

"Boss, take this, grab a handful of rice, and cook it into porridge," Wei Laosi whispered.

"Great, it's food!"

"There's food! Big sister, hurry up, let's go cook."

The sound faded into the distance. Wei Laosi's sister approached and hesitated, asking, "It's all used up, not a single bit left?"

"Hmm," Wei Laosi said in a trembling voice, his body shaking slightly.

"The price has gone up again!" The girl sighed, gave a numb smile, looked at Wei Laosi, and said with relief, "Sell it."

"……good."

……

"Wow~ Sister, your porridge is so thick!" the boy exclaimed.

The fourth sister remained silent, picked up the bowl, and said softly, "Brother, I'll switch with you."

"Eat!" Old Wei said sternly, placing the bowl in front of the girl again.

The older child had already figured it out, and buried his head in his rice, scraping it hard.

After the meal, everyone left in silence, including the youngest child, who was also taken away.

In the end, only the fourth sister, Wei Laosi, was left.

"let's go."

"Um."

"Dad, I want to go for a walk."

"it is good."

Fourth Sister held that big hand tightly as they walked.

Actually, there wasn't much to see along the way; she just wanted to stay a little longer.

As I passed by the City God Temple, the bell rang.

Fourth Sister stopped and listened to the sound. Old Si Wei also stopped and looked towards the City God Temple.

In front of the temple, a horse-drawn carriage was parked. The carriage was carved from the finest mahogany, with smooth lines and beautiful grain.

I wonder how much rice this truck can be exchanged for.

When the bell stopped ringing, Fourth Sister pulled Wei Laosi out of his reverie: "Dad, let's go there and take a look."

They walked and came to a remote place.

There was a newly opened shop there, which didn't even have a name on it yet.

Horse-drawn carriages lined the street, and every now and then people would get off the carriages carrying sacks and walk into the shop.

Inside the shop, from the ground to the roof, were bulging burlap sacks.

At this moment, Wei Laosi suddenly noticed the sign placed at the door.

His eyes widened, almost unable to believe them.

Am I seeing things?

Ten coins per pound?

For some reason, Wei Laosi's legs wouldn't obey him, and he walked in shakily.

Shi Lai was busy when he saw Wei Laosi. He stopped what he was doing and greeted him warmly.

"What would you like, sir?" Shi Lai asked.

Wei Laosi's throat tightened, and he tried to keep his voice steady: "Are all these flours for sale here?"