Chapter 93 The Bully Invites the Scholar

The banquet at Yuanming Tower was organized by Wang Caozhi and several major grain merchants, specifically to entertain the young county magistrate.

In addition to the Liu family, a group of local gentry from Longcheng Township were also among the guests.

All attendees were participants in the construction of the newly built Zheyi Canal.

Ouyang Rong would never normally participate in such banquets and social gatherings.

Either Magistrate Diao would attend in his place, or Liu Lang would go through the motions and drink on his behalf.

Don't be fooled by the dazzling array of fine wines and delicacies at the restaurant; you can't really eat much unless you're sitting at the children's table where you can eat and drink in peace. Otherwise, wouldn't it be better to just go back to the Deer Garden for dinner? After dinner, you can go back to your study to check on Wei Lai's tea ceremony skills, and perhaps even delve into some water management research...

But today, Ouyang Rong not only came, but also brought his junior sister with him.

Tonight is special, after all; there are fish that are about to take the bait.

Xie Lingjiang rarely participated in such social gatherings involving men drinking and toasting.

However, at this banquet, it's unclear whether it was because Xie Lingjiang, a noble daughter of one of the five prominent families, was present, or whether Wang Caozhi and other grain merchants and gentry misunderstood something after seeing Ouyang Rong bring her along.

Throughout the banquet, not many people offered Ouyang Rong a toast; they all just touched the wine.

Ouyang Rong was delighted with this.

Ms. Xie bit her lower lip, looking down at the purplish-red liquid shimmering in the luminous cup, ignoring the smiling glances from those around her, and offering no further explanation.

Occasionally, she would not be able to help but quietly look up at the young man who was surrounded by Wang Caozhi, Manager Li, Master Cheng and others, who were all trying to curry favor with her by serving her food.

The young man was neither arrogant nor humble, skillfully navigating the group of seasoned veterans. He would occasionally turn his head to make eye contact with a guest, confidently answering some difficult questions with a smile, making the atmosphere at the table increasingly harmonious.

Xie Lingjiang silently observed, her pretty face becoming somewhat lost in thought.

As her nominal advisor and strategist, she naturally knew the final outcome of the Zheyiqu incident.

Under the eldest brother's manipulation, the Longcheng County Government not only bought all the more than 300,000 taels of stored grain held by the Wang family's younger brother and a group of grain merchants and gentry in the form of debt, but also used the newly built Zheyi Canal and Xindukou to recover all the debts held by these debt-holding merchants.

It was truly a case of getting something for nothing.

Moreover, the latter also contributed a considerable amount of money to the new construction, assisting the Longcheng County government in its construction. Currently, they are busy with the Zheyi Canal project, traveling in and out of Longcheng County these days to transport materials and search for craftsmen, which has greatly accelerated the progress of the Zheyi Canal.

Furthermore, the commencement of new construction means the creation of numerous job opportunities, making full use of the idle young and able-bodied workers within the disaster relief camps…

With all parties getting what they needed, the work-for-relief program proved remarkably effective, and she immediately witnessed a bustling scene both inside and outside Longcheng County.

Throughout the entire county, everyone was busy working within a cycle drawn by the eldest brother, but only one family was excluded.

Xie Lingjiang knew that her senior brother had come tonight to take back the remaining family.

Inside the large private room on the second floor of Yuanming Tower, after clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, the banquet was drawing to a close.

Ouyang Rong learned from Wang Caozhi and the others that the search for sluice gate repairmen outside the county was not going very smoothly. However, upon hearing this, he did not urge them too much, only saying that they should do what they could.

After several rounds of drinks, Wang Caozhi, his face flushed with drunkenness, leaned close to Ouyang Rong and whispered a reminder:

"Brother-in-law, you'd better be careful of the Liu family lately... We've taken a bite out of their business, but they haven't made a move yet, which is very strange..."

Ouyang Rong chuckled, saying little, but nodded in agreement, accepting the kindness.

At present, as the backbone who proposed and promoted the construction of the Zheyi Canal, the merchants and gentry at this table certainly did not want anything to happen to him.

Ouyang Rong was fully aware of this.

Then, several grain merchants and local gentry, emboldened by alcohol, made a heartfelt remark, warning Ouyang Rong to be wary of the Liu family's desperate measures.

Seeing this scene, no one could help but twitch their lips.

Just half a month ago, everyone at this dinner table was Ouyang Rong's rival.

However, as soon as the banquet ended, Wang Caozhi and other grain merchants and gentry were surprised to find that the reminder they had just given to a young county magistrate seemed to have been superfluous.

The door to a luxurious private room diagonally opposite was wide open.

Liu Ziwen, and a lame middle-aged servant.

They were standing at the entrance of the opposite private room, seemingly waiting respectfully.

The former was dressed as an ordinary wealthy man in a round-necked brocade robe, but the grain merchants and gentry who left the banquet recognized the young master of the Liu family at first glance.

"Your Excellency, I have been waiting for you for a long time. Please do me the honor of taking a seat."

Ouyang Rong remained calm as he walked straight past Liu Ziwen, who was bowing respectfully. After taking a few steps, he seemed to snap out of his daze and glanced at Liu Ziwen and the other man.

He didn't say anything, but nodded almost imperceptibly, and led Xie Lingjiang into the luxurious private room.

Liu Ziwen looked somewhat embarrassed. Without glancing at the group of grain merchants and gentry around him, whose eyes were filled with surprise or amusement, he immediately turned around with his servant and followed them into the private room, closing the door tightly behind them.

Outside the door, those whose view had been blocked were no fools. Seeing what had just happened, they immediately understood most of it and couldn't help but exchange glances with sly smiles.

...

This private room faces the street, with its windows tightly closed. It's quite spacious, but very few people are seated there, making it feel rather empty.

Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang sat down together.

In the center was a large round table, laden with delicious dishes.

The two sat down opposite each other, and Liu Ziwen also sat down, standing quietly behind the lame servant who had come in.

Neither Ouyang Rong nor Xie Lingjiang touched the wine or food on the table.

The former said directly:

"Master Liu has invited me here because he has some instructions for me."

Liu Ziwen shook his head:

"I dare not presume to offer my advice. Today, I, Liu, have prepared this feast to apologize to Your Excellency, the magistrate."

His tone was quite sincere:

“My third brother is arrogant and domineering, and doesn’t know what’s good for him. He has offended the magistrate many times. As his elder brother, I have failed to discipline him properly. He has not only brought shame to the Liu family, but also caused trouble for the magistrate.”

At this point, Liu Ziwen, without turning his head, ordered, "Go and bring that beast up."

The lame servant answered the call, opened the door and went out. A short while later, he came back in, followed obediently by a strong Kunlun slave, who was carrying a pale and weak young man on his back.

Clearly, the once arrogant and domineering Third Young Master of the Liu family had not yet recovered from the seventy strokes of the cane that almost killed him, and was now very "quiet and obedient".

Liu Ziwen stared straight ahead, not even glancing at his third brother, his expression serious:

"Kneel down and apologize to the magistrate and Miss Xie."

Kunlun slave put Liu Zilin down and walked out the door.

Liu Zilin's body lay sprawled on the ground like a lump of mud.

The once arrogant, eccentric, and domineering third young master of the Liu family seems to have become much more gloomy and quiet after the harsh realities of life.

Under his brother's gaze, he struggled to his feet, knelt before the table, head bowed, his face obscured, only his weak, hoarse voice visible:

"Your Excellency, thank you... thank you, young lady. I'm so sorry for rudeness. That day I... I was too loud. I hope you can forgive me. You are very magnanimous..."

The last few sentences were squeezed out one by one by the kneeling, head bowed youth, his lips trembling.

This act of bowing his head and admitting his mistake must have been just as devastating to him as it was to the lowly Hu Ji Ke he kowtowed to on Luming Street that day…

However, the three people sitting at the table didn't seem to care much about the kneeling youth's feelings.

Liu Ziwen smiled slightly, rolled up his right sleeve, stood up, picked up the wine pot, and poured himself a cup of fine wine.

He held the cup in both hands, leaned forward, and presented it to Ouyang Rong, saying sincerely:

"This humble subject offers a toast to Your Excellency, the County Magistrate, hoping for your magistrate's understanding and forgiveness."

Ouyang Rong shifted his gaze from the kneeling youth with a flushed face to the white porcelain goblet on the table, where the liquid was relatively clear.

Xie Lingjiang reached out and picked up the wine cup to examine it for a while. No one knew how she could tell, but she didn't take out any silver needles or hairpins to test for poison... Xie Lingjiang quickly turned her head and nodded slightly to Ouyang Rong, indicating that there was no poison.

Ouyang Rong still did not reach out to touch the toast.

He didn't speak, as if he was lost in thought with his eyes down.

Liu Ziwen suddenly looked somewhat embarrassed.

The atmosphere in the private room fell silent again.

Liu Ziwen showed no anger, narrowed his eyes slightly, turned his head to look at Liu Zilin, who was still kneeling with his head bowed, and said coldly:

"Look what you've done! The magistrate still hasn't forgiven you."

Liu Zilin trembled, about to speak again: "I..."

Liu Ziwen ignored him, glanced at the motionless Ouyang Rong, smiled apologetically, and then ordered without turning his head: "Go, bring that bitch up here to offer a toast."

The lame servant silently went out, and a moment later brought in another person.

I see who's coming.

The young magistrate's expression remained unchanged.

Beside him, the Xie family lady, who had been sitting upright with her eyes fixed straight ahead, trembled slightly.

It was that tall Hu woman named Zhiying.

Liu Ziwen slightly turned his head, but his eyes were fixed on the white porcelain goblet that Ouyang Rong had not touched. He calmly addressed the kneeling Hu woman and said indifferently:

“Go and offer a toast to the magistrate and Miss Xie. This whole mess started because of you, you wretched woman. If the magistrate and Miss Xie refuse to drink your wine, then… you should commit suicide to atone for your sins.”

The room fell silent upon hearing this.

Yingniang trembled and fell to the ground.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ouyang Rong noticed his junior sister's delicate hand, which was resting on her lap, suddenly clench under the table.

(End of this chapter)