Since it's a visit, gifts are a must, and a set of tables and chairs is a bit high-end.
In order to prepare gifts for Hou Jian, Su Ren, Leng Jun, and Huo Laosi made a special trip back to Laojun Temple, also to see if anything happened at Laojun Temple. According to Leng Jun, his Ecstasy Incense is so powerful
They persisted until noon the next day. However, Su Ren felt that this was a bit exaggerated, because the house was the place where private salt dealers reported things to the salt boss, and there must be many people there. Maybe before dawn, those people would be
people discovered.
Seeing that everything was as usual in Lao Jun Guan, Su Ren felt relieved. The wing to the west of Lao Jun Guan was a warehouse specially used to store furniture. During the month when Su Ren and Huo Laosi went to the woods to boil salt,
Leng Jun has already built a lot of furniture. According to Su Ren's original intention, these things were for sale, and now he has to give away another set.
The mansion built by the county captain Hou Jian is outside the city, and you can go in no matter how late it is. When Su Ren and others came back, it was dark again. Su Ren was a little helpless. Every time he came to Wenshui County, it was always at night. In this era without cars
, just walking these twenty miles is boring.
Carrying two chairs on his back, Leng Jun felt a little awkward: "Since you know that Hou Jian is not a good person, why do you still give him something?"
Su Ren smiled and said, "Do you believe what I say?"
Leng Jun snorted coldly: "What can you do if you believe it? What can you do if you don't believe it? Anyway, he is a county magistrate, what can we do to him? Look at the people you have offended, a county magistrate, a county captain, even that county magistrate.
They are taking advantage of us."
"That's wrong. At least I didn't offend the county magistrate. It was your master. We are just wiping his butt."
Leng Jun had nothing to say, so he ignored Su Ren and just kept walking. The military camp was at the northwest corner of the county. As a small border town, the number of soldiers could not exceed three hundred. This was a strict order from the court. Three hundred people lived there.
The barracks are not big. Hou Jian's county captain is hereditary. In the pre-Qin Dynasty, this was the territory of Chu State, and the Hou family was the county captain at that time. In the Han Dynasty, after the great ancestor Liu Bang entered Wenshui County, the Hou family killed the then
The county magistrate, Kaicheng surrendered, and the Hou family continued to serve as county captains.
Hou Jian's residence is actually in the military camp. The barracks of three hundred soldiers form a village around the Hou family. It is more prosperous than the county town. There are not only wine shops but also brothels. You can see the people in the military camp several miles away.
The lights are also a major feature of Wenshui County. Although it is lively, the people standing guard are also careful. When Su Ren and others came to the door, they were stopped by someone.
"Fellow military lords! I'm not a bad guy, I'm here to deliver something to the county lieutenant!" Su Ren's groveling look was revealed again, causing Su Ren to take two steps back.
The soldier on guard looked at Su Ren and the others and raised his eyebrows. Su Ren quickly took out dozens of copper coins and put them in the soldier's hand. The soldier's attitude immediately changed, with a smile on his face:
"You are still a sensible person. Okay, let's go in! My lord's house is the largest one."
"Thank you, Master Jun, thank you!" With many thanks, Su Ren, Leng Jun, and Huo Laosi entered the barracks.
The entrance of the camp looks like a barracks. There are two neat rows of buildings. There are racks of swords and guns at the door. Long horse-drawn horses and daggers are arranged neatly in rows. The house is dark and there is no one. It must be that at this time, there is no one.
The wine shops and brothels inside are full of debauchery.
Not far away is the Hou Mansion. The stone lion at the gate is indeed majestic. The large gate tower is taller than the main entrance of the county government. Three or five soldiers with big muscles and round waists are standing on the steps of the gate tower. These men are majestic and hold a hand in one hand.
With a sword on his waist, one hand on his waist, and his whole body covered with clothes, he looks like a god descending to earth. Although he is a soldier, his military uniform is also the traditional style of a man, with black and red robes, thick-soled riding boots, thick leather armor to protect his chest and abdomen, and a leather hat.
The bright red tassels on their helmets stood upright under the light. A few people neither whispered to each other, nor laughed or cursed. They stood upright with their legs spread. It was quite scary to see them from a distance.
"It turned out to be a clay sculpture. I was shocked!" Su Ren came closer and saw clearly. He reached out and touched it. He didn't know if it was the same as the terracotta warriors and horses.
The person who opened the door was an elderly man. His beard was white, but his eyes were fierce and he looked at Su Ren expressionlessly.
Su Ren quickly bowed and said, "How are you, sir? I'm here from Laojun Temple to give a gift to the captain, please let me know."
The old man had a dead look on his face, turned around and closed the door, and a voice came from inside the door: "Wait!"
Standing in front of the empty Hou Mansion, the night wind blew on my body, and I was still a little chilly through the wide sleeves of my robe. After waiting and waiting, the old man did not come out, and the few people were waiting a little anxiously. Leng Jun had already put down the imperial chair and raised it.
Erlang's legs.
"Why bother? It seems they don't want to see us."
Su Ren also moved a chair and placed it next to Leng Jun, and the two of them sat face to face in front of the gate of the Hou Mansion. The soldiers coming and going were strange to see these people, especially the things under their buttocks that they had never seen before.
After a while, a crowd gathered around. Some people who had been to the county government remembered that the county magistrate seemed to have these things, and the discussion became louder.
"Squeak!" As soon as the door of the Hou Mansion opened, the old man with a dead face coughed: "You are not going back to the camp, but you are making a noise in front of the captain's gate. Do you think the military stick can't hit you?" When the soldiers heard this,
, immediately dispersed like birds and beasts.
The old man with a dead face looked at Su Ren: "Master Su, my captain has invited you, please!"
Su Renchang stood up, shook his robe, imitated those high-ranking officials on TV, straightened his hair crown, shook the dust off his robe, and smiled at the old man with a dead face: "Thank you!"
Walk slowly inside.
Leng Jun and Huo Laosi quickly picked up their chairs and followed Su Ren. As soon as they reached the door, they were stopped by an old man with a dead face. He twisted his beard with his hand and looked at Leng Jun and Huo Laosi: "You two, my school captain only invites Mr. Su.
.”
Leng Jun said with an angry look on his face: "We are here to deliver things. Don't reach out to hit the smiling person, but the lieutenant-in-waiting actually did this to us!"
The old man said nothing, with the same expression on his face. He stretched his arms straight in front of Leng Jun and Huo Laosi, refusing to give an inch.
Su Ren turned around and said, "It's okay, you two just wait here. I'll be out soon." When he turned around, he smiled at Leng Jun and Huo Laosi.
After all, the Hou family was the county captain in two dynasties. The yard of their house is indeed very big. There are three entrances in and out. The first yard should be a martial arts field. The only big house is facing the gate. There are many places in the free space.
It was full of weapons, and there were hammers and stone locks on the ground. The second time we entered the courtyard was where the county captain received guests. Su Ren didn't understand the decoration in the living room, and it looked very quaint. At this time, Su Ren actually felt like grabbing something from here.
When things go back to your past, they are priceless treasures.
Sitting on his knees at the guest seat, a handyman poured Su Ren a glass of water, and also brought a plate of seasonal fruits. As a raw product, citrus is really good for entertaining guests. You must know that this thing is a tribute, and most people can't eat it at all.
Okay. This kind of pollution-free green citrus tastes really good. It tastes sweet and juicy. I don’t know how many times better than those things of later generations.
When Su Ren almost finished eating a plate of tangerines, a tall and thick guy came from behind the screen. Seeing that Su Ren was concentrating on dealing with tangerines, the big man laughed loudly: "Okay! No one who came before would dare to eat.
, you are the first, how does it taste?"
This man is tall and fat, with a protruding general belly. He wears short clothes, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a full beard. He speaks in a loud voice. This is the standard image of an ancient soldier.
"Yes, it is indeed the most delicious fruit in the world." Su Ren did not stand up, but reached for one and threw it to the visitor.
The visitor caught it, peeled off the skin and put it into his mouth. He walked to the main seat in a few steps and sat down cross-legged: "These oranges are originally from the Chu region. Someone in our ancestors transplanted a few of them and planted them behind my house."
The garden is full of fruits at this time every year, and the golden color is very pleasing. Unfortunately, this year, some thieves climbed over the wall and stole a lot. The leftovers are no longer enough for my family. I will let Mr. Su taste it today. Wait.
Don’t miss Mr. Su when he returns to Chengdu, hahaha...".
Su Ren nodded: "Presumably the thief was not stealing, but just hungry and not selective about food. Lieutenant, sir, it wouldn't hurt if you forgive me a lot, right?"
"That's wrong! Hahaha!" Hou Jian laughed, his voice almost lifting the roof: "What belongs to my family belongs to my family. If you come to your door to beg for help or give him a bite of food, these thieves' tricks always make people feel uncomfortable.
"
"That's true, but I don't know how to ask for help?"
"It's easy to say, this is a rare thing. Selling it at a low price would be a disgrace to the merits of our ancestors. Not to mention ten thousand taels of gold, it's only five cents each. What do you think, Mr. Su?"
"Isn't five cents a bit expensive? A bucket of rice only costs five cents. I think one cent a piece is more appropriate!"
Hou Jian smiled: "How much does Mr. Su want?"
"How many captains are there?"
"Five thousand per month, is that much?"
"Not much, just right!" Su Ren clasped his fists at Hou Jian: "Thank you very much, captain. I tasted the captain's oranges today. I have nothing to repay. I gave him a set of furniture. I hope he likes it. Although the gift is light,
, favors still exist.”
"Hahaha! But it's the same as the county master's family?"
"Exactly!"
"Very good! Then I will accept it?"
The old man with a dead face sent Su Ren out. Su Ren asked Leng Jun and Huo Laosi to put the furniture at the door. He cupped his hands at the old man with a dead face, turned around and left with Leng Jun and Huo Laosi.
After walking out of the military camp, Leng Jun quickly asked: "How is it? Is this Hou Jian?"
Su Ren nodded, turned to Huo Laosi and said: "Starting from tomorrow, you will contact all the smugglers of salt and ask them to take salt from us in the future. If the salt grows to four jin per catty, the selling price will still be 5 jin."
, find some more people, we want to expand production, at least 5,000 kilograms per month."
"Ah!" Huo Laosi was stunned and nodded dully. He didn't understand how Su Ren and Hou Jian were talking about how they were suddenly going to make such a big move. (To be continued)