$259, Not Going to Tokyo, but to Kyoto (Please Book the Whole Thing)

After leaving Tianhe Tea Garden.

Not only did Bai Gui take back the 150 silver dollars he had been rewarded with, but Boss Liu also specially sealed a red envelope with a few gold leaves inside as a thank you gift.

Giving money as a thank you gift is too vulgar, but giving gold leaves is more elegant.

And the meaning is good.

The gold leaves complement each other.

He and Bai Xiuzhu got on the Ford car of Bai Mansion and went home together.

And Xiangzi was hanging behind with a rickshaw.

When Xiangzi arrived at the door of Bai Mansion No. 7 in Xizhen Hutong, Bai Gui slowly walked out, his clothes a little messy.

"Let's go find a teahouse and treat you to a pot of tea."

"After you finish drinking, go home."

He sat in the back seat of the rickshaw.

When he saw Xiangzi, who was wearing a long-sleeved white coat, sweating all over, fanning himself with a straw hat, and panting, he said sympathetically.

Tianhe Tea Garden is still a bit far from Xizhen Hutong, probably more than ten miles away. Although the speed of cars at that time could not be compared with that of later cars, the maximum speed was about 40 kilometers per hour, and the speed limit in urban areas was 67 kilometers, but once the accelerator was stepped on, no matter how slow it was, it was much faster than the rickshaw puller.

In 1885, the world's first gasoline car, the Mercedes-Benz I, was launched, with a maximum speed of 16 kilometers per hour.

In 1908. The world's most popular Ford Model T was launched, with four wheels and four cylinders, and a maximum speed of only 40 kilometers per hour.

In 1917, the Beijing government issued a notice: "The maximum speed of all cars for personal use and business shall be limited to 66 feet per minute, and shall not exceed it." In other words, the speed shall not exceed 67 kilometers per hour.

"Yes, boss."

Xiangzi responded and pulled to a nearby teahouse.

Seeing the hard work of the rickshaw puller, some kind-hearted customers would give him a few more tips and let him drink a pot of hot tea.

This kind of thing is very common.

The teahouse is not far away, just a few hundred meters away.

Xiangzi didn't dare to ask for good tea, but asked for the cheapest pot of tea, which was made of broken tea leaves for one copper coin.

He drank it in a coarse porcelain bowl.

The boiling hot tea flowed into his stomach, and he broke out in a hot sweat in a few breaths, and his fatigue was instantly relieved.

The most important thing for rickshaw drivers is to remember that they cannot drink cold water after driving.

Cold water may cause diarrhea and stomach cramps.

So even if rickshaw drivers save money, they generally won't save money on this pot of tea.

After Xiangzi finished drinking.

Bai Gui took a look, said nothing more, and paid for the tea.

The truth is revealed in the details.

He said that he was inviting him to drink tea from the bottom of his heart. If Xiangzi went to the teahouse and asked for a pot of good tea, good tea, he would pay the bill as usual. But he would have a lower opinion of such people in his heart. It's not that he is reluctant to part with those copper coins, but such people are not kind and like to take advantage of small things. They can be used, but they are not worth using more...

Although we should not draw conclusions about a person rashly...,

However, they have just been together for a short time, and they are acting like this. I think their moral character is not very good.

Now Xiangzi has a kind and honest character, which makes him feel good. The assessment is satisfactory.

"When I get home, I will tell Lao Li that you will be a long-term worker in Bai's house in the future. You will not be treated badly in food and drink, and your monthly salary will not be less than yours. It will be higher than the market price..."

"Sign your contract for half a year first."

As soon as Xiangzi took a step, he heard Bai Gui speak behind him. He was happy and felt that the fatigue of the day disappeared without a trace.

Although I am tired today, how can I not be tired with cars...

But as long as the monthly salary is high and food and accommodation are provided, what's the point of being tired?

And he heard from the people in Liu's car dealership that Mr. Bai is not tiring to get along with. After the monthly contract, the treatment is generous. It is estimated that this scene today will not be seen often.

In troubled times, people are like floating duckweed. It's good to have a stable job!

"If there is Duan Xiaolou, then... there must be Juxian..."

"In the Tatsuyo Teahouse in Gion, Japan, there is also Hatsumomo. I wonder if the two look alike?"

Bai Gui was in a rickshaw, seeing the flow of people, and thought vaguely.

He was interested in going to Hua Manlou to broaden his horizons.

But after thinking about it, he put away his thoughts.

He was embarrassed to go to the red-light district not long after getting married.

...

For several days in a row.

Liu Baoer went to and from school with Leng Qingqiu, and the two were as close as best friends.

Although Bai Gui felt it was strange.

But he didn't care much.

On the contrary, it proved that Liu Baoer had settled down in Yanjing.

As a brother, he was relieved.

So, a few days later.

He booked a train ticket to Tianjin, and went to Tianjin with Bai Xiuzhu first.

Then he took a ferry to Shanghai.

This time he didn't go to Jingwumen.

Although Bai Gui had a good relationship with Jingwumen, Huo Yuanjia was not his real master after all. It was okay for him to come here alone, but it was inappropriate for him to come to Shanghai with Bai Xiuzhu and then visit Jingwumen.

In addition, Huo Tingen was not very careful with his words. If he revealed his past affairs, it would be embarrassing.

Not long after, they arrived at Changqi County in Japan.

"Two first-class tickets to Tokyo, thank you."

Bai Gui walked to the ticket office of Kyushu Railway Co., Ltd. and said skillfully.

"Huh? You are Bai Meihe... Mr. Bai?"

"Didn't you always ask for third-class tickets in the previous few times? Why did you change to first-class tickets now?"

The ticket seller saw that it was Bai Gui who came to buy tickets, and couldn't help asking curiously.

Bai Gui is well-known in Japan, but he bought a third-class ticket when he took the train in Changqi... This kind of thing is okay once, but after several times, the ticket seller in Changqi also remembered Bai Gui.

Although the lifetime employment system in Japan was proposed by Matsushita in 1917, in fact, this tradition has existed for a long time. In the Edo period, there were already "Benggongren". These Fenggongren started working part-time and studying when they were young. As the errand boy of the master, in addition to learning skills, they also had to learn to be loyal to the master. After ten years of free errands, those who performed well could move from the "Dingzhi" stage where they did not receive a penny to the stage of formal work in the store. The Fenggongren who became formal workers were called "Tedai". Even if they made mistakes, they would be forgiven by the master within a certain range, and they did not have to worry about being fired. They were basically employed for life...

So the ticket sellers at the Changqi ticket station have basically not changed.

Most people would not remember when they bought tickets, but Bai Gui was a special person among the crowd. He was a foreigner and a famous writer. He had money but chose to buy a third-class ticket. How could he forget it after all these years?

"Ahem..."

"It was for collecting folk songs before. You know, writing requires inspiration."

Bai Gui coughed lightly and made up a story.

The ticket seller did not doubt it. He just asked casually. Besides, this reason was indeed appropriate. It was common for writers to observe the various aspects of life in the lower-class carriages and draw inspiration for their writing.

"These are two upper-class carriages..."

Before the ticket seller finished speaking, Bai Xiuzhu, who was waiting more than ten steps away, came over and interrupted: "Sorry, my husband was wrong just now. He said to book two tickets from Changqi to Kyoto."