Seeing shopkeeper Li's hospitality, Wei Liang was too embarrassed to insist on refusing. However, the package of West Lake Longjiang in his hand was so out of place compared with this huge yard.
If this bag of tea were delivered to Shopkeeper Li's rice store, it would feel quite high-end.
However, in such a big yard, this bag of tea seems so insignificant.
Wei Liang thought about it for a moment. If he entered the courtyard after a while, the style inside would be too luxurious, so he would not give away this bag of tea.
If you don't give a gift, you will just get a stingy comment. If it is too shabby, I am afraid that your status in the other person's heart will be reduced from now on, and it will be difficult to deal with anything in the future.
After all, he is the magistrate of Gu'an County, so he must have the prestige he deserves.
"Since Shopkeeper Li is so kind and gracious, it would be pretentious for me to refuse." Wei Liang said with a smile.
Although he was covered in mud, he still tried to straighten his waist to make himself look more energetic.
"That's right. Let's go, Mr. Wei, please." Shopkeeper Li personally led the way towards the gate.
With the owner by his side, the "waiter" at the door did not stop him. When the two were still a few steps away from the door, he wisely opened the door slowly.
After entering the gate, Wei Liang became even more determined in not giving away the tea leaves again.
There is a different scene in this yard and outside.
The floor is no longer a black bluestone floor, but white marble as white as jade and polished smooth. The pavilions and pavilions in the courtyard seem to be in a fairyland. Who dares to believe that this is a courtyard in the barren Gu'an County?
The peach blossoms are in full bloom, and the bright red flowers are as bright as blood. There are several white magnolias, with white petals as big as the palm of your hand. At first glance, they are rich and noble flowers.
Around the garden, there are several tall and majestic houses.
It is made of blue bricks and gray tiles, and the pillar at the door is painted vermilion, which makes it even more eye-catching when contrasted with the overall gray color of the house.
"Shopkeeper Li, your courtyard is so grand, it's almost as grand as the imperial palace." Wei Liang, wearing a magistrate's uniform splashed with mud and water, looked at the beautiful scenery in the courtyard and admired it from the bottom of his heart.
"Master Wei is joking. I just made some landscapes in my spare time. How dare I compare it with the palace. If Master Wei likes it, he can come here often to enjoy the scenery. Now the peach blossoms and magnolias are blooming one after another.
In some days, that patch of peonies will also be in full bloom. Anyway, there are a lot of flowers in my yard, and there will always be flowers to enjoy before it snows." Shopkeeper Li said with a smile, putting his hands behind his back.
"Thank you so much for your kindness, Shopkeeper Li. The land in Gu'an is barren and food is a big problem for the people. I, the county magistrate, have tried my best, but I still can't lead them to live a good life. The people are hungry, so I can't be in the mood to enjoy the flowers."
Scenery." With a sigh, Wei Liang began to lay the groundwork for borrowing seeds.
"Master Wei, as the parent official of Gu'an County, can be described as working hard to death. As for being able to always take off the big hat of poverty in Gu'an, it also has a lot to do with Gu'an, a sandy land that does not grow crops.
Mr. Wei is indispensable for the barren land to be in this situation. After working hard, occasionally give yourself some time to relax. This is called a combination of work and rest." Shopkeeper Li laughed.
Looking away from the unique landscape in the yard, Wei Liang slowly turned around and looked at Shopkeeper Li with concern: "Shopkeeper Li, I went to the rice shop, and the waiter said that you haven't been to the shop for several days.
Yes. Did something happen at home?"
"Everything is fine at home. Mr. Wei, look around. Is there anything wrong?" Shopkeeper Li raised his arm and pointed.
"It's okay. Shopkeeper Li has done a lot of good things for the people of Gu'an. If something really happens, as long as the Gu'an County Government can help, I hope Shopkeeper Li won't be polite." Wei Liang said with a smile.
"Well, it's just these days, the climate is changing, I'm just feeling a little unwell. Come on, go inside and have a sip of hot tea instead of just looking at the beautiful scenery." Shopkeeper Li hurriedly called Wei Liang into the room.
Walking into a nearby house, Wei Liang couldn't help but feel a burst of admiration in his heart.
I couldn't even imagine this kind of luxurious decoration, but I didn't expect that it actually existed in Gu'an, a poor county.
The square table under the nave is not made of ordinary solid wood, but is covered with a whole white marble slab on top of the solid wood.
Not only is it polished smooth, but some exquisite patterns are carved on the edges.
Standing next to the table, Wei Liang felt a little afraid to sit down for a moment.
"Master Wei, don't be so formal, please take a seat." As if he could see what Wei Liang was thinking, shopkeeper Li greeted him and sat down first.
A well-behaved maid, carrying an exquisite kettle, poured a bowl of hot tea for each of them, and slowly stepped aside.
This posture was completely beyond what Wei Liang could have guessed, so he had no choice but to sit down.
"The courtyard outside already makes people feel like heaven, and the furnishings in this room are something I have never seen before." Looking up and looking around, Wei Liang shook his head in disbelief.
Slowly pushing the tea bowl on the table in front of Wei Liang, shopkeeper Li smiled and said: "After doing business all my life, I have accumulated such a yard. But so what, I'm not just a commoner."
Hearing this, Wei Liang's face felt embarrassed. He touched the tea bowl with his left hand and couldn't help but take it back: "The honors in the imperial court require many years of hard work to obtain."
Everything else is easy to say, but if you want to become a member of the imperial court, you don't have the power.
"Hahaha," Shopkeeper Li laughed loudly, "Master Wei misunderstood. What I mean is that people like us who have little education can only do some business. Even future generations do not study well, and there is no
That’s what it takes to gain fame.”
Listening to what the other party said, Wei Liang's heart slowly dropped.
Shopkeeper Li has done a lot of good things for Gu'an County, and he wants to repay him. But if he violates the regulations of the court because of this, he must not do it.
"Shopkeeper Li's family is well off, so he doesn't need to seek fame. Look at me, I can be considered a court official. I'm very poor, and I don't even wear an official uniform." Wei Liang said mockingly while holding the tea bowl.
As long as I can dispel the idea of Shopkeeper Li using the back door, I can agree to all other requests.
"I, the Li family, will never dare to think about getting an academic title. However, when doing business in Gu'an, we have to rely on Mr. Wei's care for many things." Shopkeeper Li said with a smile.
"This is no problem. As long as it does not violate the regulations of the imperial court, Gu'an County Government will definitely give shopkeeper Li strong support and help." Wei Liang also said very politely.
Shopkeeper Li's success in business should be more than just this business in Gu'an. If it were a normal business transaction, he would not interfere.
But if he wants to do something that is not allowed by the court, he must not facilitate him here.
Contribution is contribution, and principle is principle. It doesn’t matter if you call yourself pedantic, this is the bottom line of being an official.
"Master Wei is overthinking. I just run a small business. How dare I violate the regulations of the imperial court and do illegal things. By the way, Master Wei, what's the matter when you come today?" Seeing Wei Liang's lack of food and salt, he asked.
Shopkeeper Li also stopped giving guidance.
After hearing this, Wei Liang thought for a moment and pushed the cloth package on the table forward: "Over the years, Shopkeeper Li has done many practical things for the people of Gu'an. I, Wei, am grateful, but I am also grateful.
I can't repay you. This is a bag of fine West Lake Longjing tea. My brother asked someone to bring it from Hangzhou. Shopkeeper Li can taste it."
"West Lake Longjing, this is the best tea. Mr. Wei's brother asked someone to bring it to you. How can I accept it? You keep this tea. If you have any questions, just tell me. As long as I have the ability to do it, I will never accept it."
Don’t refuse.” Shopkeeper Li said.
"Shopkeeper Li, please accept this bag of tea leaves first. If you don't accept it, I will be really embarrassed to say it out now." Wei Liang pushed the tea leaves over again.
I have borrowed seeds many times and have never repaid them. Although shopkeeper Li is from a well-off family, it is his own after all. He has no obligation to help with the affairs of Gu'an County.
Looking at the cloth bag on the table, shopkeeper Li nodded: "Okay, I'll accept this tea. Mr. Wei, can you tell me, what's going on?"
"It's about to be sown in spring, but the seeds distributed by the imperial court are gone when they arrive in Cao Village." Wei Liang said awkwardly.
"That's easy to say. How many pounds will it cost?"
"One thousand kilograms is enough." Wei Liang said hurriedly.
"I will arrange for someone to deliver the seeds to Mr. Wei from the rice store." Looking at the figures he visited from time to time at the gate, shopkeeper Li sped up his speech.
