noffsinger Chapter 595: Salt and Iron Envoy Fang Qizheng
Chapter 595: Salt and Iron Envoy Fang Qizheng
Yin Wencai knew immediately where the money came from.
He pushed the wooden door of the study, and the old lock on the door jingled, as if saying - I am ugly and old, but I am not lazy.
Looking at the wooden window that had been opened at some point, Yin Wencai chuckled, wiped his eyes with his sleeves, and whispered to himself: "Next time Lord Shen comes, I have to lock the window..."
He walked to the desk, carefully held the silver pieces in his arms, and wiped them seriously.
"You have to keep it safe," he said.
Next time, "give others a taste of their own medicine."
......
Liuyang Prefecture was still as bustling as before. Compared with the day before, there were many more stalls selling couplets and lanterns on both sides of the street.
The lanterns were made by hand by a craftsman sitting on a small stool, and the couplets were written by a bearded old man himself.
Lanterns were a bit expensive, and some people couldn't afford to buy them, so cheap red couplets became their best choice. People squeezed together and leaned against each other, "guiding" the old man to write the inscription.
"Hey! It's crooked! It's crooked! Is your eyesight not good? How come it keeps getting crooked as you write?"
"Ten cents for a painting, and you're asking for too much! Besides, I won't paint anymore!"
"Why do you say it's a big deal? It's crooked, so it's crooked. Don't you call yourself the Earl of Yongning in Liuyang Prefecture? How can the Earl of Yongning write crookedly?"
"Don't talk nonsense, I'm just good at imitating your handwriting!"
What a great “expertise”!
Shen Zheng, who had listened carefully, looked at the banners on the couplet stalls supported by bamboo poles and couldn't help laughing: "He is the first person in the folk to imitate the handwriting of Yongning Bo. A New Year couplet can be taken home for only ten copper coins."
This is the saying “It’s nice to sit under a big tree and enjoy the shade”.
However, ten copper coins for a pair of couplets is indeed not expensive. After all, common people are very tolerant and willing to spend money on scholars and calligraphy.
Liang Fu laughed when he heard this and pointed in the direction of Tongan County: "This character... doesn't look like it either. Does the uncle know?"
That petty person would probably come to make trouble if he knew about this.
"It's okay to know." Shen Zheng looked at the enthusiastic people and pointed at her nose. "Don't think that Master Bo is arrogant to outsiders. In fact, when someone likes his calligraphy, he is very happy. Maybe his nostrils are exposed."
Liang Fu calmed down and thought.
It really is......
No matter whose calligraphy it is, it is best as long as the people like it and are willing to use it.
......
The closer he got to the government office, the more anxious Liang Fu became.
After thinking it over, he put down the snack in his hand and said to Shen Zheng: "Sir Shen, as you said, refined iron is very important to us...but since ancient times, the salt and iron envoys stationed in the local area have not been easy to deal with."
After saying this, he felt something was wrong, so he changed his words: "It's not that it's hard to get along with him, but the ironware is too important. He can't trust you as much as I and Lord Yu do. So I think Lord Yu may not be able to convince him..."
That's several hundred kilograms of fine iron.
Even though Shen Zheng has a good reputation, Yu Zhengqing also said that the Salt and Iron Envoy is too upright and may not buy into her ideas.
"That's understandable." Shen Zheng said with a smile, "He gave the iron to me. If I lied or the experiment failed, he and I would share the responsibility."
For two people who have never met and have no relationship to build trust, they must have an opportunity.
And the current opportunity is just in Shen Zheng's hands.
"Then..." Seeing Shen Zheng still smiling, Liang Fu couldn't help but ask, "Then you are still happy?"
Shen Zheng shook his head cheerfully, calmly saying, "Shanren, I have a good plan. Please take a look at it."
I don’t know why, but seeing her like this, Liang Fu’s worries suddenly disappeared.
The first time is unfamiliar, the second time is familiar. We passed through the fairly familiar street scene, and the carriage swayed gently before stopping steadily.
We have arrived at the government office.
Shen Zheng and Liang Fu walked in side by side. The yamen runners were sharp-eyed and quickly came to greet them, saying happily, "Master Shen is here!"
Just as Shen Zheng nodded, he suddenly changed from joy to worry, and led the way and said: "Hurry up and follow me, the master is about to fight with Master Fang!"
After saying this, he hurriedly led Shen Zheng and the other person to the backyard of the government office.
"Master Fang?" Shen Zheng didn't recognize the person, so she asked, "Who?"
"Salt and Iron Envoy!" The yamen runner kept walking and turned his head slightly and said, "Master Fang Qizheng Fang. You invited someone here this morning. The matter you mentioned... seems to be related to you."
He vaguely heard his master mention Lord Shen's name.
Shen Zheng understood that, just as Liang Fu had said, the other party was not very willing to give her the refined iron.
"And then?" Shen Zheng asked, "Why would you want to fight for no reason?"
Both parties are respectable people, and they would never fight unless they were really desperate.
"Alas..." The yamen runner sighed first, and then told what he had seen and heard: "I don't know the details, but the master came out a moment ago, and I thought the matter was settled, but the next moment the master chased out."
He gestured the scene at that time: "Master Fang looked unhappy and walked quickly in front, and Master looked even uglier and chased after him at a fast pace. After catching up with Master Fang, Master would not let him go and said that everything he said was true."
It seems that the Salt and Iron Envoy did not quite believe what Yu Zhengqing said.
Can......
Shen Zheng put herself in Yu Zhengqing's shoes and thought, if Yu Zhengqing really wanted to trick the other party into giving him the fine iron, he wouldn't have to deliberately come up with that kind of reason, right?
Isn’t there a saying that goes – the more unbelievable something is, the more likely it is to come true when it is suddenly mentioned.
"Then what?" Shen Zheng asked.
The yamen runner became even more worried when he thought about this, and said with a sad face: "Then Lord Fang insisted on leaving, but Lord Fang refused to let him go, and finally Lord Fang dragged Lord Fang in by force. Lord Fang also asked several of his subordinates to keep a close eye on the door, and if Lord Fang came out alone again... to stop him."
Talking about this, it's really...
They served as yamen runners just to make a living, so how could they dare to attack the Salt and Iron Commissioner?
At the very least, it harms yourself, and at the worst, it harms the whole family.
Looking at the entire Liuyang Mansion, it is estimated that only his master dares to do so.
Shen Zheng was deeply moved after hearing this.
No matter what, Yu Zhengqing has given it his all this time for their "great cause".
"Hurry up and go." She urged, "I have to go quickly so that your master won't suffer any loss."
"Hey!" The bailiff quickened his pace and was suddenly stunned.
What's with this full sense of security!
As soon as she reached the main hall door in the backyard, Shen Zheng heard Yu Zhengqing's voice: "Why can't I convince you? If you are willing to give the things now, then when the real things are refined, you will also have a share of the credit. Why don't you want to?"