"Eight stones of grain?" Wang Yuanwai said in disbelief: "Did I hear correctly?"
Wu Wei shook his head.
"It's better to grab it tomorrow." Yang Yuanwai looked disgusted.
"Who is it?" He said this, and Little Fatty Wu shook his cheeks angrily, spitting on both of their faces, "They are all the best terraced fields, and you can't buy them with twenty taels of silver per acre!
The old man only sells eight shi of rice, which is less than ten taels of silver in normal times, and it’s fully discounted in half, how much more do you want?!"
The two moved away, and said with some self-restraint, "Wu Lingshi didn't say that in normal times, but now is normal time..."
"You gentlemen are supported by the imperial court, but you don't pay taxes or grain. How kindly did the Ming Dynasty treat you? But not only do you not care about the country's kindness, you don't think about serving the country. You just sharpen your sword and take advantage of the people's crisis to make a lot of money for the country!" Wu Wu
He was furious: "Tell yourselves, are you still considered human?"
Both members of the team were stunned, wondering what was going on? What kind of medicine did this child take?
You must know that the upper level of power in a state or county can be divided into three groups: officials, subordinates and squires. When two of them unite, the third group will inevitably be unlucky. Of course, if the three collude with each other, the common people will be unlucky.
Blood mold...
Generally speaking, because subordinates and squires are local cowards, they are naturally closer to outsiders like officials. Therefore, there are only two situations in prefectures and counties in the world. One is that the squires collude with the officials and make the county magistrate pee blood; the other is that
The county magistrate also joined the group, and everyone made a fortune together, living in a fish and meat village together.
Of course, sometimes, when encountering such powerful state and county magistrates, they will keep subordinate officials and squires in check. They can only cooperate with the big boss with their tail between their legs and survive his term. However, the squire and the subordinate officials are at odds with each other.
It is almost impossible for this situation to happen... Our lives in the same county have been intertwined for generations, and fellow villagers have to show some affection to each other no matter what.
But now, the two members saw Fatty Wu's ruthlessness...
"Wu Lingshi, your father and I have been friends for many years." Wang Yuanwai said with displeasure on his face: "You usually call me uncle, how do you talk to your elders?"
"This is business now," Wu Wei said unmoved, "We don't want to talk about personal friendship."
Wang Yuanwai wanted to speak, but he was pulled by Yang Yuanwai and he reluctantly shut his mouth.
"Wu Lingshi is joking with us. He has been working in the yamen for all these years. How could he not know that public and private matters are the right thing to do?" Yang said with a smile: "Don't worry Shi, the rule of drawing two out of ten is not correct."
It will change..."
According to bad custom, the government helps the gentry buy 10,000 acres at a low price, and then 2,000 acres will be used as a benefit, which will be divided between the county magistrate and the scribes who handle it, which is a huge benefit.
"That's so generous." Wu Wei sneered, "But what about the people?"
"Ling Shi Zhai is kind-hearted, but we are not bad either." Yang Yuanwai said plausibly: "It's true that the people sold us their fields, but they can give priority to long-term renting, so that the people can survive the spring famine without losing their jobs.
Will not be displaced..."
"It turns out that this is really a good thing!" Wu Wei mocked: "You are the ones who really benefit the country and the people. You are thinking about the Ming Dynasty, but you are too extreme."
"It's okay, it's okay..." Even though the two of them were as thick-skinned as a city wall, they couldn't bear it. They quickly returned to the topic and said: "For the completed fields, we will give you four stones per acre. For the unfinished fields, we will give you three stones per acre.
This is our bottom line. If it’s higher than this number, we won’t buy it.”
"I understand." Wu Wei stopped being angry and nodded: "This is not something I can decide. I will report your request to the great master."
"Okay." The two of them didn't expect him to make the decision, so they said, "There is one more thing, please ask me as well."
"What's up?"
"For those unfinished fields, we can only pay 20% of the grain as a deposit first, and the rest will not be settled until the fields are completed and delivered," Yang said.
"That makes sense." Wu Wei asked, "What if you regret it midway?"
"If we regret it, the deposit will naturally go to the government. If the government regrets it, not only will the deposit be refunded, but we will also be compensated with the same amount of food." Yang Yuanwai said matter-of-factly.
"Okay, I will report to the elder." Wu Wei nodded and sent the two of them out of the Yamen.
Watching their figures disappear, Wu Wei spat hard, turned his eyes to the north, and whispered: "Wang Xian, Wang Xian, if you don't return the food, we will become the accomplices of those silverfish!"
At this moment, his eyes were firm and sharp, and his whole body was full of righteousness. He was completely different from the fat little fat man who was usually confused!
.
At Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City, the bell rings for the passenger ship at midnight.
Two nights later, Wang Xian and Lin Qing'er arrived at Fengqiao Ferry outside Suzhou City. Early the next morning, they took her into the city to find his brother-in-law Lin Rongxing.
According to the address Lin Rongxing gave in his letter, Wang Xian inquired all the way and found the Lin family who lived on Shantang Street. Today, the Lin family is in decline and lives in a small two-story courtyard with two bays on Shantang Street.
, there is no trace of the richest man in Fuyang back then.
However, the loyal Uncle Tian Qi was still there. When he heard someone knocking on the door, he opened the door and saw his own lady standing at the door with tears in his eyes. Tian Qi was so shocked that he rubbed his eyes until he saw that stinky boy Wang Xian.
After confirming that he was not dreaming, he shouted in surprise: "Master, come out quickly and see who is coming!"
Lin Rongxing came out after hearing the sound and saw that his sister was back. He burst into tears of joy and said, "Qing'er, I want to be my brother."
Lin Qing'er also burst into tears and said: "Brother, I miss you and mother too. Where is mother?"
"Mom is lying in the back room. She is a little uncomfortable today. She must be very happy to see you." Lin Rongxing quickly let his sister in. After walking a few steps, he remembered Wang Xian and hurriedly clasped his fists at him and said: "Erlang is here too, Wang Engong."
How about being in good health with Aunt Wang?"
"That's great." Wang Xian smiled and said, "Brother, don't worry about me, you just reunite." He patted Tian Qi's arm and said, "Uncle Tian Qi just stays with me."
"What are you talking about? Let's go in and salute my mother first." Lin Rongxing finally regarded him as his brother-in-law. He took Wang Xian into the main room in the backyard and smelled the strong smell of herbs.
In the main room, Lin Qing'er had already entered first, and the sound of the mother-in-law hugging each other and crying could be heard in the room.
When the crying subsided, Wang Xian went in to salute Mrs. Lin. Although Mrs. Lin still didn't like Wang Xian, she would not look at him coldly anymore just for the sake of her daughter. She asked him a few polite questions and then asked again.
His parents saw that Wang Xian answered questions appropriately, and then saw that his face was handsome and his eyebrows were straight, and he was gradually getting rid of his rogue appearance. The old lady couldn't help but secretly said proudly, "It's true that the person who is close to Zhu is the best. This boy is with my daughter."
, actually has a human appearance.
In any case, the old lady's attitude toward Wang Xian gradually improved, and after a few more words, Wang Xian withdrew and let her mother and daughter talk.
Lin Rongxing also came out with him. Uncle Tian Qi poured tea for Wang Xian and said with a smile: "I heard that your boy is now rich." Shuai Hui and Erhei naturally followed. They and Uncle Tian Qi were also comrades in arms, so they naturally wanted to meet each other.
By bragging about Wang Xian, he achieves the purpose of bragging about himself.
"No, he's just a petty official." Wang Xian smiled and said, "But in your brother's eyes, he should be considered a great person."
"Hahaha..." Uncle Tian Qi laughed loudly and said, "It's so amazing, but to come to see my mother-in-law with empty hands, I don't think it's anything special."
"Well," Wang Xian couldn't help but said shyly, "Actually, I came to Suzhou this time for urgent matters, and I left in such a hurry that I didn't have time to prepare gifts. I arrived in Suzhou last night, and the shops weren't open yet this morning."
"Ahem..." Lin Rongxing knew that the two of them had a close friendship, but he had to make it clear: "My mother and I are very happy that Erlang can come. What are we bringing all the way?"
"Hahaha, I'm joking." Tian Qi asked, "Is there anything urgent in the Yamen?"
"Yes." Wang Xian nodded, and told the two of them about the county's grain ship being detained at Xushuguan and the people being arrested.
"Ah..." Although Lin Rongxing no longer lives in Fuyang, he is still a student in Fuyang. Hearing this, he couldn't help but said anxiously: "I thought Fuyang was not affected by the disaster, and I was still rejoicing for you. Unexpectedly, I also suffered the consequences. This is terrible.
What should I do?”
"Are you familiar with Suzhou now?" Wang Xian asked: "I am new here, so my eyesight is dark."
"It's quite familiar." Tian Qi said: "I often go out when I have nothing to do."
"Brother, lend me Uncle Tian Qi for these two days." Wang Xian said to Lin Rongxing, "I need someone to be my guide."
"Of course there is no problem." Lin Rongxing said worriedly: "But we don't know many people in Suzhou, so we can't be of much help."
"It's okay." Wang Xian said with a smile: "I have the autograph letters from Master Naitai and Master Fantai on me. The Yansi Yamen should sell some thin noodles."
"That's good." Hearing that there was help from the chief envoy and the inspector, Lin Rongxing made up his mind and said: "Uncle Qi, please take Erlang to Yansi Yamen."
"I'm not going to Yansi Yamen." Wang Xian shook his head and said, "Go to Suzhou Fuyamen first. I have to meet Mr. Sima and the others first."
"Okay." Tian Qi nodded, went in and changed into some decent clothes, and came out and said, "Let's go."
Lin Xiucai also wanted to accompany Wang Xian, but he refused and said: "This is not a fight. It's useless if there are too many people. Brother, let's talk to the old lady and Sister Lin at home."
"That's true." Lin Xiucai smiled bitterly and said, "I am a useless scholar. I can do nothing but cause trouble..." Although his body gradually recovered, he still couldn't carry it on his shoulders or lift it with his hands. He could barely take care of himself. At home,
Internally and externally, everything was managed by Uncle Tian Qi and his wife. Lin Xiucai could not help much and had to rely on others to take care of him. It was inevitable that he would feel depressed.
"Brother, no matter what you say, we all hope that you will be named on the gold medal list and the whole family will benefit from it." Wang Xian smiled and comforted: "Those rough and trivial things should be left to us vulgar people."
"You are not vulgar," Lin Xiucai said sternly: "It has been spread to Suzhou that you won the first prize at the West Lake Poetry Festival. Now who doesn't know that I have an elegant official in Hangzhou named Wang Zhongde?"
"Are the duck pears delicious?" Wang Xian smiled nonchalantly. He was now more and more disgusted with his praise of scholars. He smiled at Lin Xiucai and went out with Tian Qi and others.