Bulgarian Empire

Chapter 49: Visit

Ferdinand did not stay long in the city of Vratsa and set out on his journey again the next day.

The village of Koynare, Vratsa Province, is still just an ordinary small mountain village with poverty and a lack of a trace of the first Bulgarian village in the future.

Ferdinand hid his identity and arrived quietly with a few guards. It was noon, and Ferdinand arrived at the only hotel in the small village, which also serves as a general store and tavern.

By talking to people, Ferdinand knew that the owner's name was Kartr Dilov, a middle-aged man in his forties. He saw that he was optimistic, even though the business of the small store was not very good.

Ferdinand asked the guards to order their own food. He ordered a yogurt, a piece of bread, and a local salad made of onions, green peppers, celery, and spring asparagus, which was considered lunch.

It tasted, forget about it! Ferdinand can only be barely swallowed. The only flavoring is salt and sauce, except that he can assure that it is original, a hint of gourmet taste he did not find.

After barely eating a few bites to feed his stomach, Ferdinand couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Kartr, isn't there anything else here?"

When Kartr Dilov heard Ferdinand's question, he hastened to say, "Oh, God! Dear Guest, of course! You see, my son brought all these snacks from Vratsa! What can I get you? Here are ham, sausages, canned food, and fries..."

Ferdinand asked in doubt: "Wait a minute! Kartr, you have so many items, why don't you take them out and sell them? Just write a few more names on the board. It's easy!"

Kartr, the owner, immediately replied, "Oh, I am sorry! Dear Guest, you are far seen enough to know that some time ago, the whole country of Bulgaria had a severe crackdown on food safety. Now the prices of these goods have gone up!"

"Our village, Koynare, is just a small place. Everyone is a bunch of poor people, and not many people could afford it originally. Now everyone can't afford it even more."

"This batch of goods is still more than three months ago I just into. Give them to explain the price increase. They do not believe, saying that I am cheating. In a fit of anger, I took them off the shelves!"

"Kartr, you're lying again. How can prices double at once? I went to Vratsa when I was young. There are poor people in the city. Their life is no better than ours. According to your prices, they are going to starve to death!" An older man of about 60 years old among the guests spoke up as the older man was in high spirits, looking at his clothes slightly aged but clean and tidy without patches. Ferdinand could see that his life should be considered good.

Kartr, the boss said with a face like I was wronged: "You know, Master Frank, when did I ever lie! It is the price. If you don't believe me, ask this gentleman!"

The old man called Frank rolled his eyes and said, "Of course I know how you used to be, but it's not the same anymore! How many businessmen don't lie when you're in business?"

When he saw Frank deathly unconvinced, Kartr, the boss was anxious about it. Ferdinand understood the cause and effect. He took a can of beef and looked at the production date.

Ferdinand smiled and said, "Mr. Frank, this time, you have indeed wronged Boss Kartr!"

Frank looked at Ferdinand with a puzzled face. He was helping him. How did he say he was wrong.

Ferdinand continued: "From the date of production on this, it was produced six months ago. If Boss Kartr had bought it three months ago, it would have been more than worth the price. At that time, many inferior goods were seized in the market and were out of stock everywhere, so the price was a little high."

Frank still had some doubts and asked, "Sir, according to you, the prices outside have really increased so much now?"

Ferdinand said calmly: "No! I'm talking about three months ago. Now that the market has returned to normal, the overall price increase should not exceed ten percent!"

Boss Kartr said happily, "Master Frank, now you should believe it. I really didn't lie to you!"

Frank's head tilted, and he said with disdain, "Oh, God! Kartr, you're such a dumbass! Didn't you hear this gentleman? Those were prices three months ago, and now they're back to normal! You're still selling at the same price as then, doesn't that tell you something?"

Boss Kartr said thrilled, "But my purchase price is so high! If the price is lowered, I will lose money!"

Frank smiled and said, "That's your business. It's normal to lose money in business, isn't it? By the way, you better find a way to sell it quickly or keep it for yourself, or if it expires, it will be bad!"

Seeing the conversation between the two men, Ferdinand understood that Frank did not have anything against Kartr but simply hated the merchant. Although his words were not pleasant, he still reminded Carter to sell the goods quickly.

Ferdinand smiled and asked, "Mr. Frank, how was your village's harvest last year?"

Frank smiled and said, "Guest, you're joking! It's still the same. You can get over it!"

Ferdinand asked in confusion, "Isn't it a new agriculture technology that is being promoted? How come there is no increase in production?"

Boss Kartr snaps: "How did not increase production? It is just seeking some people who are not in trouble, did not go to learn, so ~ ~."

Frank seemed to be caught in the footsteps, "Screw it, there s nothing for you here, Kartr!"

"Our Guest laughed at you. You know that agricultural technology innovation is not a one-time event. I am a timid old man, and the technicians sent from the top are not explained clearly, so I intend to wait and see!"

Ferdinand smiled and said, "Understood, you're old-fashioned! By the way, I have read that your side seems to lack irrigation channels. How do you solve the problem of agricultural water?"

After hearing Ferdinand's question, Frank said with a helpless face: "What else can we do? With God's blessing, we've had good weather here in recent years! Guest, what you said about building ditches is not that simple! Don't look at our good conditions this time. But to solve the water problem, the amount of work alone is not something we can afford!"

Ferdinand nodded cautiously and continued, "If the government steps in to organize it, are you willing to participate?"

Frank smiled and said, "The Guest is joking! If the government is willing to take the initiative, how can we refuse? I'm not sure about other places. In our village alone, if we solve the problem of agricultural water, we can at least reclaim a third of it!"

Ferdinand nodded in satisfaction. Since the people were willing to support it, the water project plan that followed could be started.

Frank suddenly blushed and asked in surprise, "Is the guest a man of the government?"

"What? Does it not look like it?" Ferdinand asked rhetorically.

Frank said in a rush, "Yeah! So? There is a rumor that the government is going to organize the construction of a water project, and this thing is true?"

Ferdinand nodded and said, "There is indeed this plan!"

Frank asked with great joy, "By the grace of God, can we start on our side?"

"What's wrong old man, not timid? This time not to watch and see?" Ferdinand said with a teasing smile.

Frank exclaimed, "God, oh, no! What's the risk of building a water project? We won't lose out anyway!"

"Besides, in the last year or two, we've had a much better time! His Highness has done an excellent job. Taxes are much lighter than before, and when we had to contribute labor to build the railroad, it was actually abolished and turned into labor recruitment, so naturally, the pressure on everyone is much less!"

Ferdinand smiled and agreed, but in his heart, he was delighted, thinking: "This is all made by me, of course I know! You think I don't want to use free labor, but it's because there is a water project behind! It's better to let you voluntarily participate than to be forced to conscript!"

Ferdinand said with a smile: "But Frank, this time, you can not get away. This time the principle of the construction of water projects, the government provides explosives and some machinery. The rest of the labor can only rely on your own efforts!"

Frank's face stiffened, then smiled again and said, "There is no problem with this one. The entire Bulgarian water project requires an astronomical amount of labor. I can't think of any other way but to have everyone on board!"

"Good, the Ministry of Agriculture estimates that to complete the country's water projects, the number of workers needed to use up to hundreds of millions. Even if the country's young and strong people are all on board, it will take several years of work. In this regard, in addition to your own efforts, the government can do not do much!" Ferdinand said cautiously.

"That much?" Kartr exclaimed.

Frank glared at Kartr and said, "What a fuss! Our place is considered good. If everything goes well, I guess it will take a year or two to repair. If the conditions were bad, it wouldn't be surprising if it took ten or eight years to repair!"

After finishing the chat, Ferdinand thanked Frank for the invitation and left straight away.

In a way, Bulgaria and the Chinese are somewhat similar in that they are both rather sentimental and also value the land very much.

In later times, they would not have left their hometowns to work if they had not been forced to do so.

After people in business became rich, many people love to return to their hometowns to buy land. Frank is the epitome of small Bulgarian landowners and wealthy farmers.

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