Brother Tieshan finally finished cleaning up the shop and threw away everything, not even leaving any furniture. He grabbed several people by the collars and threw them out. In the end, only Miao Qiuduo and his wife were left. Tieshan picked them up, one in each hand, and dragged them in front of Shen Qing.
"Qing'er, what should we do with these two people?" He didn't dare to deal with Qing'er's aunt casually.
It turns out his name is Qing Ge'er. Lin Ning was remembering it silently beside him.
Miao Qiuduo was frightened by the scene. It was the first time for her to actually face Shen Qing. How could he be so fierce and cruel? How could he have so many people under his command... Miao Qiuduo was shaking like a sieve. Huang Wulang half-hugged him, standing in front of her with some responsibility. He clasped his hands together and begged for mercy from Shen Qing: "Qing'er, we were wrong. Please consider that she is your aunt and your mother's sister..."
Just because she was his aunt, Shen Qing felt even more angry! Those people in the pawn shop wanted to harm him, but they were just strangers. Shen Qing had no expectations of them and had no hesitation in punishing them. But it was Miao Qiuduo, his aunt and blood relative, who came to harm him, which made Shen Qing even angrier, and he had to be cautious when dealing with her.
To be honest, Miao Qiuduo was too arrogant and too impatient. He hadn't been back for ten years, but as soon as he came back he asked for this and that, which annoyed Shen Qing. If she could really keep her composure, she could move back to Shiqu Village, respect old lady Miao, and get along well with her brothers and sisters. After a year or so, Shen Qing certainly wouldn't marry Huang Jinbao, but what did it matter if Bala and the others earned some money? So many villagers have been evacuated, are these two people still missing?
But they just treat everyone as fools, except for their family who are smart. They are so anxious that they force people to pay money like bandits as soon as they come back!
Shen Qing stared at Miao Qiuduo and Huang Wulang with a bad look for a while, then said: "Yes, we are blood relatives, what can I do to my aunt and uncle? But..." Huang Wulang just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Shen Qing continue: "Speaking of family affection, my aunt hasn't returned to Shiqu Village for ten years. She hasn't been filial to my grandma in these years, and she never sent any gifts during the holidays. I heard that she came back empty-handed this time? My grandma didn't even get a piece of cake or a thread from my aunt..."
Huang Wulang felt a little embarrassed by what he said. Although they were the ones who did it, he knew it was embarrassing to have it spoken out. He forced a smile and said, "I have been in the capital city before, and it is inconvenient for me to come back. I am sorry for the old lady. This is our fault. We will definitely not miss any festivals in the future and show our filial piety."
"No need to do it later, let's make up for it today." Shen Qing reached out and touched Miao Qiuduo's ear. She wore a pair of earrings with red jade beads on her ears. They looked quite delicate and were likely worth two or three hundred coins. "My aunt and uncle seem to be living a good life, so why would they refuse to pay the old man for the holiday gift money?"
Miao Qiuduo trembled even more violently. Shen Qing's fingers brushed under her ears, and the short period of time seemed to be stretched to a long time. She was afraid that Shen Qing's fingers would turn a corner and pinch her neck, so she clutched her husband's clothes even tighter.
Of course Huang Wulang didn't want to give it. This couple are extremely selfish people. If they were willing to give it, they would have not refused to give it before. For Miao Qiuduo, her mother's family is a blood bag that desperately squeezes out the value and sucks blood to nourish her small family. Asking them to spit out the money now is more painful than taking their lives.
But Shen Qing just stood in front of them, with Tieshan staring at the couple hungrily from behind, and a group of boys with sticks surrounding them. If they didn't give the money, they might really lose half their lives! I could only say reluctantly: "I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you... I'll definitely make it up to the old lady later..."
Shen Qing gave a wink, and immediately a boy came forward and started searching Huang Wulang. Ruyi also went forward to search Miao Qiuduo, taking off the earrings on her ears and the silver bracelet on her arm. Shen Qing said slowly, "My aunt and uncle are living in the capital city, and they are living a comfortable life. They have New Year's gifts, Lantern Festival, May Festival, August Festival, Laba Festival... adding up all these festivals, it's not too much to give you one or two taels of silver a year, right?"
How is it not excessive? ! Huang Wulang wailed in his heart. How much gift can a married girl give to her mother? Some people in the village only give a pound of pork. That’s just a few dozen cents! Before they went to the provincial capital, they only bought two pounds of pork and a piece of cloth, which cost less than a hundred coins. Adding up so many festivals, they didn't spend half a tael of silver in a year. Now Shen Qing asked for one tael!
But he wanted to resist but didn't dare to, and could only watch as the boy searched his purse and took it away.
Ruyi picked up a tray from the ground and placed the silver and money on Huang Wulang and some of Miao Qiuduo's jewelry on it for Shen Qing to look at. There was a small piece of silver and a string of copper coins in Huang Wulang's purse, which amounted to about one and a half taels of silver. Miao Qiuduo's earrings are not worth much, but the silver bracelet on her hand weighs two taels.
Shen Qing weighed it and said with a smile, "I'll give you five taels of silver. For the remaining five taels, do you want me to get some cash or sign an IOU?"
Why would Huang Wulang be willing to take the cash? He just forced a smile and said, "My family is really in financial difficulty, so I came back to my hometown to make a living. I'm afraid I can't get five taels of silver in a short time. I'll sign the IOU, sign the IOU!"
Shen Qing nodded and immediately asked the man with the gold tooth to draft an IOU. The Gold Tooth Man was smart and did not write that the creditor was Shen Qing, but instead wrote that Huang Wulang and Miao Qiuduo owed Old Lady Miao a total of ten taels of money as a festival gift for ten years, of which five taels had been repaid and five taels were still owed. It would be reasonable to take this IOU to the government office. After all, it is true that the couple has not sent each other New Year gifts for ten years.
"That's in the past. If my aunt and uncle come to Shiqu Village again, don't forget to send them New Year gifts." Shen Qing dusted off his clothes. "My aunt didn't get married naked. She took so much dowry from her parents' home, but now she doesn't come back and doesn't care about anything I say. Also, don't worry about my marriage. Huang Jinbao may be after money or he really likes me - it's not that if a man really likes me, I have to be grateful and marry him immediately with my fortune. My wishes and my preferences are the most important. If I don't like it, even if your son takes out his heart and puts it in front of me, I still won't like it."
Lin Ning, who had a similar experience nearby, looked more and more excited as he listened. That’s right! Why should I marry a man if he likes me? My wishes are what matter! The first time he heard this word, he felt it was quite enlightening.
How could Huang Wulang and Miao Qiuduo dare to attract Shen Qing's attention at this time? If they marry such a living devil, they will both die. He nodded hurriedly, and when the man with the gold tooth held his hand, he didn't even bother with ink pad. He just cut his thumb and put his fingerprint on the IOU.
The couple held their cut thumbs in their hands and were thrown out by Tieshan, crying. They looked into the house hatefully, then immediately lowered their heads and walked away supporting each other before Shen Qing noticed. But they have no intention of returning the money: how about returning it to Shiqu Village or giving it as a New Year gift? They will never come to Shiqu Village or Anping County again. They don’t believe that Shen Qing can chase him to the provincial capital to ask for the five taels of silver!
The Gold Tooth Man also said so, and felt that Shen Qing might as well force them to take out the money now. They came to Shiqu Village with their families, it is impossible that they only have so little money on them. Shen Qing shook his head. He didn't care about this little money at all. The purpose of signing the IOU was to use it as a handle to make Miao Qiuduo and his wife dare not come back. It would be like a toad lying on his feet. It didn't bite, but it was disgusting!
He could beat and drive away those people in the pawnshop, but if he really did anything to Miao Qiuduo, Old Mrs. Miao would inevitably feel uncomfortable. It's not that Shen Qing couldn't do it, but he tried his best not to let Miao Qiuduo, this bad apple, cause any resentment in Old Madam Miao's heart. Now it would be best to let Miao Qiuduo choose not to return to Shiqu Village or Anping County.
He weighed the money in his hand. These five taels of silver were enough to make the couple feel painful for a while.
After finishing this, Shen Qing looked around the emptied shop. The decorations inside were still there. Shen Qing had originally planned to open a Cuihua shop himself, so now he had a ready-made one. He then ordered Ruyi to take good care of the place so that they could open their own shop later.
Lin Ning followed him around shyly, and when Shen Qing was no longer busy, she said, "Can I treat you to dinner? We, we have to be friends, so we have to interact more often. Well, I want to share other delicious food in the city with you."
It was also Shen Qing’s first time making friends, and he didn’t quite know how to get along with others. He agreed to whatever Lin Ning said, even though he was a little clumsy, but the two of them gradually became familiar with each other and their relationship really improved a lot. Shen Qing clearly distinguished the relationship between him and Lin Ning, which was different from that between him and Lian Ou and Lian Rong, and also different from that between him and Song Kaiji. It's a bit similar to the way I get along with Qu Weiwei, but more intimate and we can talk more.
So this is friendship.
But after that day, Shen Qing never concealed his mole when he walked around the county. The fact that he was a brother did cause some ripples in Anping County.
Ruyi Mudan and the others were fine, although a little shocked, but Shen Qing was their master. No matter he was a man, a boy, or a woman, he was their master and the owner of the indenture. So after the shock, I took some time to digest it and soon accepted it.
Lin Ning also seemed to accept it and was even quite happy. He dragged Shen Qingman around the county without having to worry about avoiding suspicion. Although Lin Zaoer's jaw almost dropped to the ground, since Lin Ning accepted it, he had no choice but to follow suit.
The man with gold teeth was extremely grateful that he had chosen to stand on Shen Qing's side based on his instinct during those two seconds of struggle! Although he felt a little uncomfortable knowing that Shen Qing was his brother, after all, he had been drinking with Shen Qing late at night not long ago, and even called him brother when he was drunk. But even if he is a brother, he is a rich brother, someone who can still help him form an alliance of interests with the chief clerk and Yang Shuban, so he doesn't need to care whether he is a brother or a man.
This guy's luck was pretty good. As soon as his identity was exposed, he became friends with the county magistrate's son.
It was at this moment that Jin Ya finally realized it. No wonder he gave two beauties to Master Shen, but Master Shen was unmoved. It seemed like he was not a real man!
Those who are hit harder are the people on the streets. In the past, Shen Qing was generous and had a certain reputation on the street. Many shops were worshipping this God of Wealth. When they learned that Shen Qing was a boy, they all started discussing it. Many people who had secretly fallen in love with Shen Qing and had been asking him whether he had a wife and wanted to marry him were heartbroken.
But no matter how hard you hit, it will only last for a while. After discussing it for more than a month, the novelty of it gradually wore off, and people gradually accepted it. Something new happened in the city again. People were gossiping about the Zhang and Li families, but soon they forgot about the matter. It was accepted and taken for granted that there was a rich young man in the county town.
The owner of the pawnshop was very angry when he heard about this at first. What's the difference between Shen Qing hitting his men and hitting him in the face? However, after finding out about Shen Qing's backers in the yamen, he gave up the idea. If it was just Yang Shuban, it would be fine, but he really couldn't afford to offend the chief clerk. In addition, Shen Qing often played with the county magistrate's brother, which made him give up the idea of revenge. He just scolded his subordinates and behaved himself.
No matter where that guy's money came from, whether it was treasure or an ancient tomb, no matter how unwilling our family is, we can't get our hands on it today. In the end, it is likely that it fell into the hands of the county magistrate. Since there is no way I can get involved, I won't worry about it.
But unexpectedly, County Magistrate Lin was not that kind of person.
Since the day Shen Qing's identity was exposed, Lin Ning went home and told his father, mother, and uncle about Shen Qing's identity. The Lin family was extremely shocked. It was a rare thing anywhere for a boy to disguise himself as a man and build such a big business. Although County Magistrate Lin was also curious about where Shen Qing got the original capital to make his fortune, he was curious but did not delve too much into it. Instead, he asked, "He's a brother, why are you staring at your uncle? And you're giving him a break."
Lin Ning: “…”Yes.
The way Shen Qing looked at Lin Xiangcao was really strange. Even though he and Shen Qing have become good friends now, Shen Qing has never looked at him with that kind of eyes.
Lin Ning thought that the next time he saw Shen Qing, he could just ask: Isn’t that what friends are like? It would be nice to just speak your mind. Turning around, Lin Ning took out a brocade box and handed it to his mother: "Qing Ge'er said it's for you!"
Lin Zhengjun opened the brocade box, and inside was a pair of red agate bracelets and a white pendant with agate patterns, tied with a very delicate and unique knot. This set was perfect for her husband to wear.
That’s a lot of money! Lin Zhengjun quickly handed the brocade box to Lin County Magistrate, who immediately turned grim and asked, "Are you sure he is associating with you because he really treats you as a friend, and not because he wants to use you to establish a relationship with our family?"
Lin Ning was quite open-minded: "What difference does it make? He is my friend, so I will naturally side with him if there is anything. He saved me before, if it weren't for him, that kid from the Zhou family... humph. He didn't even know who I was at that time, but he was willing to save me. If I have the ability, why can't I help him?"
County Magistrate Lin was completely confused by his brother's twisted logic. After a long while, he snorted coldly, "That won't work either. We can't accept this thing. You have to return it to him."
This County Magistrate Lin is quite a strange man. It's not that he has never been partial to someone. He took good care of Lin Xiangcao's ex-husband's family and gave them a lot of favors. Including if Shen Qing was really a man and married Lin Ning or Lin Xiangcao and became a family with him, he also felt that he should take care of Shen Qing.
But now they can't be a family, and he feels uncomfortable because Shen Qing sent him expensive gifts without any hesitation.
Maybe he is a scholar, a bit noble. Although he regards his in-laws as in-laws, he is unwilling to accept large sums of money as bribes from strangers. He is a bit self-deceiving and falsely noble, but he is just that kind of person. Besides, this kind of false nobleness is much better than being a real corrupt official.
Lin Ning was scolded by his father and had no choice but to take the brocade box back and return it to Shen Qing: "My father won't accept it. My father said, let's be good friends, you give me some small things, it's a favor between us, but don't involve him, and don't give him gifts." Shen Qing has given him quite a few small things recently. Shen Qing plans to make the Cuihua shop himself, and is currently stocking the goods. He often invites Lin Ning to come over to have a look, and he can take whatever he likes. A butterfly headband woven by Ou Ge'er, a silk handkerchief with good texture but sloppy and stiff embroidery (machine embroidery), and velvet flowers with unique and cute shapes... Shen Qing always said that they were not worth much, but he stuffed them all into his hands.
Thinking of this, Lin Ning comforted Shen Qing, "But don't be afraid. If anything really happens, I'll go and cry, and my father will definitely not just sit there and do nothing!" Just like last time, the people from the pawnshop took advantage of their power to bully others, and Lin Ning went back and told Magistrate Lin about it. Magistrate Lin didn't show it on his face, but in the end he still warned the backers behind the pawnshop not to look down on him as a young man and bully him at will.
Shen Qing was a little surprised. He had no experience in dealing with officials. The few experiences he had were with Shuban Yang and Zhubu. Every time he asked the Gold Tooth man to send something over, the other party would accept it without hesitation and would immediately give him and the Gold Tooth man some benefits, which seemed like an equal exchange. Shen Qing was surprised by Magistrate Lin's behavior. He thought he had met an honest official like those in operas, and he couldn't help but respect him.
However, there is also a need for honest officials. Shen Qing thought of Shao Nan, whom he met in the end times. He was also a man who did not want a single needle or thread from the common people, but he was not what he sought to be enlightened. Shen Qing thought for a while, then accepted the brocade box and said with a smile: "I will go out to do business in a few days, and I will bring back some good things. I'm sure your father will like it!"
Lin Ning couldn't think of anything that his father would definitely like. His father only loves his mother, and he doesn't care about money. He doesn't like drinking or antiques. Before he passed the imperial examination, he liked to collect some books, but now he doesn't read them much. But Lin Ning was more curious: "Why do you have to give my dad something? I don't think it's necessary. You don't have anything to ask my dad to do. Now in the county, there shouldn't be anyone who dares to embarrass you."
Shen Qing was stunned. Lin Ning's words seemed to wake him up, making Shen Qing realize that he seemed to have fallen into some misunderstanding. The feeling of having someone to back him up was so good that he couldn't help wanting the backer to be stronger and more secure. After all, he was only facing a pawnshop this time. What if he met a more powerful person next time? In this world, there are always people better than you.
He seems to be insecure. Shen Qing thought, that's why he was eager to bind himself to a bigger and stronger power... There didn't seem to be anything wrong with that. Anticipating risks in advance and making things happen within his control as much as possible, wasn't that what he had been doing?
Shen Qing shook his head, not thinking about this question too deeply, and followed Lin Ning's words and said, "That's right. But I don't do this just to please your father. It is indeed beneficial to the people."
Lin Ning seemed to understand but not quite.
What Shen Qing was talking about was not anything else but the sample he provided, which was a new, stable and relatively high-yield seed developed by the research institute. Two batches have been produced so far. The first batch is various vegetables, and the second batch is potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and soybeans. Rice and wheat are still under development.
Shen Qing roughly calculated that the new seeds developed by the research institute can more than double the yield per mu of Lantang Village. If they can be matched with some fertilizers, there is still a lot of room for improvement.
Once this seed is spread in the villages under Anping County, it will be a great political achievement. Shen Qing believes that no official can resist such temptation. Besides, he offered the seeds in an open way, so it shouldn’t be considered a bribe, right?
These seeds are not difficult to obtain. With the intentional operation of the military, some of them have been circulated, especially the vegetable seeds. Most wood-type mutants have some in their hands, and the official control over the base has been further weakened.
Besides, Chen Jiaqian is now working on the third farm, and Shen Qing can also ask her for some.
However, this time when he went back and mentioned Chen Jiaqian, Song Kaiji's expression was not very good, and he looked very solemn.
"...Do you know how she exposed the Third Farm?" Song Kaiji pinched his nose with a headache. He himself didn't know how to evaluate whether Chen Jiaqian was right or wrong, but he was indeed uncomfortable: "...She deliberately created a mutant plant riot. She asked me for some money, bribed a staff member of the Third Farm, and put some catalysts into the mutant plants, which made the mutant plants painful and irritable... It was even more serious than the time with Weiwei. All the plants in that area rioted together, injuring and crippling the 32 wood-type mutants present. One of them was almost not saved."
But he was finally rescued. Chen Jiaqian reported to her superiors immediately. She still had some money borrowed from Song Kaiji, and with the support of the military, she forcefully advanced the money from the institute's account. She performed limb regeneration surgery on all 32 people. The most seriously injured person was rescued after three days of treatment by seven healing psychics, and finally his life was saved and he recovered as before.
Then Qu Weiwei took the lead and went to the research institute to cause trouble with several colleagues who were injured at the time and whom she had found with great difficulty.
Except for Qu Weiwei, everyone else was missing limbs, which was a heartfelt accusation: Why was the treatment so perfect this time, why were they the ones abandoned and caused lifelong disabilities?
With the help of the military, several people were protected after just a short while of making trouble, and the incident continued to escalate. Up to now, all the former leaders of the Third Farm have been dismissed and sent to Hongcheng Prison, and Chen Jiaqian is working hard for her husband.
"I don't know how to describe my feelings." Song Kaiji said: "Indeed, in the end no one died, and the injured have all recovered. But the mutated plants are uncontrollable. If that person is not rescued, or the mutated plant riot is more serious, someone will die on the spot... and we are involved in this matter." Song Kaiji covered his forehead with the back of his hand. God knows how much suffering that man went through during those three days of rescue. He should know that political struggle itself is cruel and involves countless blood. Chen Jiaqian was right when she said that they were a group of children who had not yet stepped out of the ivory tower.
But now the results are very good. All the injured were cured. Under pressure from the military, the authorities gave up many powers of the research institutes. Many middle and high-level officials were removed from their posts because of this incident, and each injured person was given a large amount of material compensation. Even now, many people are very grateful that it was they who were injured by the mutated plants that day. They were only in pain for a day or two, and soon recovered as before. The newly grown hands and legs have more delicate skin than before, and the large amount of supplies is enough for their families to live well for a long time.
The military is also trying to find the same group of injured people as Qu Weiwei. In addition to material compensation, they also promised that they could go to the Third Farm to do some clerical work and retire.
"Since Sister Weiwei now has all four limbs intact and her abilities have been highly improved, she has also helped the military instruct on cage tactics. They are familiar with each other and have a certain emotional foundation. The military is now interested in having Sister Weiwei work at the Third Farm. Chen Jiaqian suggested that the military could appoint someone to be the person in charge, and her husband and Sister Weiwei could serve as deputies at the same level."
Shen Qing was stunned for a moment and asked, "What does Sister Weiwei think?"
"She's still considering it."
Shen Qing was silent for a moment, then placed his hand on Song Kaiji's hand that was covering his eyes, interlocking their fingers: "This is a good thing. If she wants to go, she doesn't have to worry about me. Besides... even if she goes, she won't just cut off contact with us. We are still partners, aren't we?"
Getting along with Lin Ning gave Shen Qing more feelings and insights into the word friendship. They must have a friendship with Qu Weiwei.
He hugged Song Kaiji gently, and comforted Song Kaiji with the words that Song Kaiji had used to comfort him before: "We don't need to feel guilty for things that didn't happen. Maybe... maybe Chen Jiaqian had planned everything out, and she calculated that there would be no casualties. She did it, whether it was her calculation or her luck... this is her ability."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
