Shen Tang tapped his fingers on the tea table and closed his eyes slightly in thought.
“Are you really seeing this with your own eyes?” He then took out a piece of broken silver from his sleeve and pushed it out, with a sincere expression, “Oh, brother, I don’t know, the little girl’s parents only have one daughter, and they work hard. There is no son to inherit the lifelong grain store business. The elders in the family covet it and want to Forcing parents to adopt his young grandson. How can this be justified in the world? The elders bring family members to the house to force others to take advantage of the family fortune. The young woman desperately needs to make this deal. Let them see..."
The tea guest is a man.
He didn’t think there was anything wrong with the elder’s approach.
He didn’t say anything, but his true thoughts were revealed on his face.
Without waiting for him to speak, Shen Tang moved himself out. His pretty face was full of anger and unwillingness, and he gritted his teeth and said: "The current kings are all women. If we follow the elders' wishes, will the king also have to adopt him?" one My brother’s Zen position?”
The tea guest’s expression changed when he heard this, and he waved his hands quickly and said, “Don’t talk nonsense about the saint, are you going to die?”
His reaction was a bit short. Somewhat extreme.
Shen Tang said in confusion: "I heard that the Lord of the country has a kind and gentle temperament, how can he kill someone just because of these two sentences? Besides, there is no word for a little girl to be disrespectful."
Seeing that no one was looking around, the tea guest breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed a few pieces of silver in his hand. Feeling of a sense of security: "...Oh, what do you, a foreigner, know... I have already said everything I can say. I did see ghosts crawling out of the cemetery with my own eyes, carrying lanterns to guide the way, and scattering paper money. The county granary. In this land below, don’t say anything about the king, that person..."
As he spoke, he looked around again and leaned closer to Shen Tang to whisper.
"I heard that that man was no different from those foolish kings in the past. He secretly killed more people." Shen Tang gave the tea guest seven or eight pieces of broken silver one after another, which was enough for his family to eat for a long time. , he looked at Shen Tang with a little more eagerness.
Take people's money and eliminate disasters with them.
It’s cost-effective to talk about something that everyone knows.
The smile on Shen Tang's face faltered, and the disguised courtiers bent down to drink tea, wanting to bury their faces in the crude tea cup.
"Buddha's mouth is a snake's heart? I've never heard of it..."
She admitted that she had killed a lot of people behind her back, but she dared to pat her chest and say that every head was justified. There are rules in troubled times, and she doesn't hold them accountable for anything she has done in the past, but Kang Guojian still plays with the "hidden rules" of the local emperor. Is there anything wrong with her blowing people's heads off? It's so insulting to compare her to that trash!
The tea guest looked like he had seen through everything.
Sighed: "That's because she is used to saving face."
Shen Tang nodded as if he was really taught.
Under the eyes of the tea guest, she pushed out another piece of broken silver. The officious official was watching the fun while counting in his mind how much silver Shen Tang had given him. Doctor Kurabe whispered to his colleagues: "This must be seven or eight taels, right?"
Everyone in the court knows how stingy the king is?
Although she has not received any official salary in these years, I have never heard of her giving anyone a penny in reward. Even the daily pocket money she paid for her previous patrols across the country was from Chu Xiangning.
The source of this gossip is reliable.
The official who provided the information was at the scene and heard it clearly.
Qi Xiang sighed and unloaded his wallet: [Isn’t it a banquet hosted by the Lord? 】
【You pay the bill and I treat you, so why doesn’t it count as a banquet? Do you have to pay for the banquet? Sigh, it’s not like you don’t know that I’m so poor that I don’t have a penny... I’m really curious about how much money Hanzhang overdrafted me... Is this the third year? 】
Qi Xiang said: [My money is tight too. 】
The king tutted: [Who asked you to raise so many cats? 】
The official did not dare to continue listening to the conversation that followed.
But the news spread.
The flames of gossip among the courtiers burned brightly.
How can this matter be without the Yushitai?
A stupid young man stood up.
You need to know that the expenses in the cat slave's house are like running water.
Fortunately, Qishan has a daughter who is a good housekeeper. Qi Miao was studying medicine at the medical office while managing the household income tax, so that the accounts would not be in deficit every month. Of course, there is no fear of deficit, because Qi Yuanliang will misappropriate the budget of the Gods Association to balance the accounts.
This matter has always been a secret unknown to outsiders. A group of important officials knew there was something fishy going on, but outsiders didn't. This Yushitai Lengtouqing did some calculations in private and found that the money Qi Xiang spent on hundreds of cats every year was actually ten times his salary!
The Yushitai has always been rumored.
Lengtou Qing then played Qishan.
Qishan is suspected of corruption and bribery!
The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty hesitated and hesitated, and Qishan himself was also stunned.
That day, the imperial censor Gu Chi coughed loudly.
As that piece of gossip spread, in addition to Shen Tang's stinginess and poverty, there were also speculations about her relationship with Qi Xiang and Xun Zhen, the Minister of Household Affairs. From the dialogue analysis, the reason why the king is so stingy is because she gave all her money to Xun Shangshu, and when she ran out of money, she borrowed it from Qi Xiang. Qi Xiang couldn’t afford to raise so many cats with his own salary...
So the question arises ——
What is the relationship between these three? ? ?
Coupled with the monarch's connivance towards the imperial censor, the chorus in the court seemed to be in perfect harmony. Prime Minister Chu is a good girl, and some witnesses saw Prime Minister Chu's things appearing on the king's body... The king once stayed with General Bai...
Even though the officials were well-informed, they also felt that it was very confusing. .
The doctor of the Ministry of Food and Drinks came over to share the gossip, but he did not have the courage to speak directly. The ears of his king were more sensitive than those of a dog. He wrote on the table with his fingers dipped in tea: "There is a rumor that the Lord is like this I have spent money on one man in my life.”
My deskmate’s eyes lit up.
“Who?”
The doctor of the Department of Food and Drink said: "Prime Minister Chu."
"How much did it cost?"
"Three taels!"
A few people secretly took a breath.
The brave ones secretly looked at Chu Yao's face.
Chu Yao's energy is not with these people. He is now the accountant beside Shen Tang. He approaches the tea guest curiously and asks: "Is he used to saving face? Where do you start talking about this?"
He has always been I don't want others to say bad things about Shen Tang.
There was also a touch of coldness in his eyes.
The tea guest did not notice it.
A pair of eyes looked straight at the money Chu Yao took out, and he hurriedly grabbed it while opening his mouth and pouring it out.
"How many people have been arrested and killed by the local government? I remember that just half a year ago, a crazy woman from Niu Er's family got sick and went to the streets to say that the saint was a promiscuous person who deserved not to have a son. The next day, the man's head was cut off and hanged At the gate of the city, the belly was opened, the palace was hanging outside, and the whole body was naked... Sigh, thinking about that scene will give me nightmares." The tea guest looked like he couldn't bear to remember it.
In an instant, the inn became quiet.
The original whispers disappeared completely, and after a while, they started to appear again one after another, for fear of being discovered by the tea guests.
Shen Tang lowered his eyelids: "What else?"
The tea guest took a sip of tea to moisten his throat.
He continued to point out: "I have some difficulties even though I am thinking of you. I have to collect grain and do business in Jinli County. For the sake of your sincerity, I will reveal more. Local merchants who want to do business have to borrow money." Official debt... If you don’t borrow official debt, you can’t do business in this area! Official debt, You know what official debt is, right? If someone else meets me today and takes out the gold, they may not tell you the truth."
The leader of the country said angrily. Just rely on official debt to make money!”
The station was quiet for a moment.
The tea guest reacted.
Looking around, I saw that everyone was chatting and laughing as usual, and no one paid attention to this corner. Was it his hallucination just now? Shen Tang asked curiously: "Official debt to make money?"
The tea guest asked: "Have you never heard of official debt?"
Shen Tang shook his head.
She really didn’t lie this time, she really didn’t know.
The tea guest gave her some advice: "The so-called official debts are debts lent by officials! Generally, it is a rule of the road, nine times out and nine times out. Merchants go to the officials to borrow money when doing business. Money, use money to do business, make money and then give it to others with interest.”
Shen Tang understood the process as soon as he heard it.
You still have to ask clearly: "Here, there is something puzzling. Since it is a merchant doing business, how can there be no money on hand?"
Nine outs and thirteen returns, this is not Loan sharking?
Shen Tang rubbed the tea cup with his fingers, murderous intent filling his eyes.
Hearing this, the tea guest immediately laughed out loud: "That's the truth, but the lady is a businessman, and businessmen can't be so rigid in doing things. Official debt is a loan on the surface, but secretly it is It's about finding a backer. If you don't borrow government debt, you still want to have a stable business? ”
The inn was eerily quiet again for a moment.
Shen Tang paused while stroking the tea cup.
The tea guest continued to mock: "In the early years when the world was in chaos, there was a risk of being robbed when going out for business, but at least there were not so many ways. Alas, nowadays, there are not many bandits on the road. Now, everyone has changed their appearance and gone to the government offices..."
Shen Tang grabbed the tea cup and pursed his lips in silence.
The tea guest mistakenly thought that she did not know these things in the boudoir before, and for the sake of the broken silver, he persuaded her: "Female gentleman, doing business is a science just like being a human being. If you want to use this The business is so good that the elders in the clan have nothing to say. Listen to my advice. Find a way out and find a backer. If you don't have a backer to look after you, you won't be able to get much food here. Even if you get food, the unscrupulous people below will always bully outsiders when they give you food. Or put sand and gravel in it, or even pee.”
Shen Tang let out a breath.
"Listening to your words is better than ten years of reading. The little girl can't say anything to let outsiders eat up her family, let alone let them snatch the family property. Where can I find the official debt and backer you just mentioned? I heard you speak clearly and clearly. You must know the way."
Official debt is a disguised bribe.
Shen Tang is very strict in this area.
There are patrols and censors in various places keeping an eye on them. Over the past few years, fewer and fewer insects have been caught. She thought that these people were afraid of being killed by her, but now it seems that is not the case. These insects are clearly hiding in a more subtle manner, haha.
The ghost steals food, and the official debt backer...
It is difficult to say that there is no relationship between the two.
Jinli County really gave me a big surprise.
The tea guest came forward and showed Shen Tang a clear path.
"...You go north. There is a river a few miles away. Along the river bank, you will find the Qujianghu in Jinli County. If you see a flower boat with a red flag docking, , then go over and nod the sign, and the top sign will tell you who you are looking for..."
Shen Tang raised his eyebrows: "Is that enough?"
The tea guest smiled: "It depends on luck."
Shen Tang was slightly angry: "It also depends on luck? Although I didn't nod too much. brand, but also know that they are expensive. I found someone for the money, but I didn’t even touch the threshold. Isn’t this a scam? Are you trying to trick me?”
The tea guest explained: “It depends on luck to meet the flower boat.”
That flower boat doesn’t dock often.
Shen Tang asked many more details.
The tea drinker knows everything for the sake of money.
Seeing that it was getting late, Shen Tang had to set off again.
He walked to the door of the inn and got on his motorcycle. He glanced into the house and whispered softly: "Go and send someone to check on this tea guest."
The other party knew too much.
It happened to be able to solve her doubts.
She wanted to know who the other party’s master was behind his back.
Shen Tang quietly took people to Zhechong Mansion again.
The chief of Zhechong Mansion is a strange-looking female general. Because of her outstanding performance in the attack on Kunzhou and her contribution in suppressing the rebels, she was promoted to the position of Captain Zhechong of Jinli County. She had never seen Shen Tang's face, and Shen Tang did not reveal his identity to her - none of these people could be trusted until the matter was found out - he only said that they were sent to investigate the "ghost food theft case" and "supervise the censor" Disappearance case".
There was nothing wrong with Captain Zhechong’s reaction.
When Shen Tang showed off his token, he answered all questions.
When she mentioned the flower boats in Qujianghu, she stared angrily and scolded: "How could there be such a shameful thing? Those old madams are really disgusting!"
Qujianghu is an iconic place in Jinli County.
The scenery here is pleasant, and local literati and flirts like to hang out here. Over time, many industries have spawned, such as the red light industry, where beautiful and young flower girls entertain customers on flower boats. It is said that when there are the most flowers here, there are more than a hundred flower boats gathering on the lake.
Every night, music and singing continue.
However, that was all before.
Since Kunzhou was completely captured by Shen Tang, they have continued to crack down on related industries. The nearby government soldiers have been practicing by the lake every now and then, inspecting flower boats when they see them, and occasionally conducting raids. Customers who are caught will be thrown into jail for a few days. Once the number of severe beatings is too many, Qu's Jianghu flower boat business will not be able to continue. The madams gritted their teeth with hatred, and once resisted, they asked Hua Niang to bribe the chief of Zhechong Mansion with women's sex, in order to drag him down, but who knew that the chief was a woman, and kicked the iron plate.
Captain Zhe Chong was not used to it either.
The old bustard was beaten to pieces and paraded through the streets.
Since then, it has calmed down.
Qu Jianghu Flower House began to transform.
No longer engage in skin-flesh business, just play piano and sing songs for customers.
Several surprise inspections found no problems.
In the past, the flower girls were more conservatively dressed than the others, and the songs they sang were not eccentric, and the guests on the flower boat also behaved themselves. Lieutenant Zhe Chong thought these people were honest, but he didn't expect that they were selling dog meat with a sheep's head, trying to trick her!
Shen Tang asked some more questions about the supervisory censor Zheng Yu.
The strange thing is that Captain Zhe Chong didn't know about this.
Zheng Yu never came to Zhechong Mansion to move reinforcements.
Shen Tang tapped his finger on the table.
"There are some things that I have to ask the captain to cooperate with." She wanted to go on the flower boat to find out what was going on. She always felt that Zheng Yu's whereabouts were unknown, and maybe it had something to do with the flower boat. There are so many problems in Jinli County, Zheng Yu probably found out something and was silenced.
Zhe Chong saluted the captain: "This is a matter within your official duties."
Shen Tang quietly sneaked back to his temporary room.
There is someone waiting inside the house.
Shen Tang sat down and drank tea: "Who did the tea guest meet?"
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