"How many pieces of paper were damaged?"
"Ten or so knives..."
"How much silver did he pay you?" Prefect Xiong brought up a point in Bai Dalang's words. "Didn't he pay the silver bill on the counter?"
"I bid for two silver notes... one note was for one hundred taels..." Mr. Bai said hesitantly.
Prefect Xiong smiled and continued to ask, "How much do you sell a piece of paper for?"
Mr. Bai shrank his neck and said, "Three taels of silver."
Magistrate Xiong pursed his lips, and his beard moved all over the mountain, expressing the central idea that he didn't quite understand.
Bai Dalang rushed out and said, "That's because we sell it cheaply! If it were sold at Chen's 'Fubai' store, it would cost at least 20 or 30 taels, how could it be sold?"
Mr. Bai hurriedly bumped into his eldest son who had a bad brain!
There’s nothing wrong with Baiji copying Chenji’s products.
Chen Ji didn't dare to say that only they could sell this kind of rice paper for silk clip painting, and no one else could make it and sell it, right?
Now that Baiji has made it, Baiji can sell it.
It's not against the law, right?!
Makes sense, right?!
But this is just a theory, but the truth behind it is like a pile of shit sprinkled with icing sugar on the street. From a distance, it looks like a pure white snowball, but if you pick it up with a stick, won’t people see that it is actually a pile of shit? !
Once the facts are revealed, how can they still be perfect victims?
Mr. Bai hurriedly tried to make amends, "...The money is nothing, but he rushed into Baiji with a dagger, which really scared the customers in the store! This is a big deal!"
The father and son felt that they had explained everything clearly, so they knelt down and lowered their heads, only to see the blue bricks in the main room shining brightly.
Not to mention, it’s really cold after kneeling for so long in this late autumn and early winter weather.
Mr. Bai waited for a long time but didn't hear what Prefect Xiong said. He moved his knees nervously, and several thoughts crossed his mind: Mr. Xiong's only niece was said to be very good friends with Chen Ji's shopkeeper He, and the magistrate of Jing County, Cui Heng, whom she married, was good friends with Chen Ji's eldest son, Erlang. Even a few days ago, the girl from the Xiong family held a banquet and invited Heng Ji and Chen Ji, but didn't invite the girl from Bai Ji...
Furthermore, next year, Erlang, the eldest son of the Chen family, will be in mourning. The mourning period will end in August, and the imperial examination will be in October. If he passes the examination, wouldn't Lord Xiong value the Chen family even more?
They are here today to make a scene and set the tone.
If Lord Xiong had simply ignored the fact that the Bai family had copied the Chen family's drawings and samples and simply passed it over, then they would have had a wider range of business opportunities in the future!
This is also to use Lord Xiong's attitude to shut up the Chen family!
Magistrate Xiong remained silent.
The pressure from the local leader of the fourth rank made the Bai family father and son sweat profusely.
Just when Bai Dalang couldn't bear it anymore, Magistrate Xiong finally spoke.
"I have a few pieces of Chen's carved silk-clipped rice paper here. They look nice and elegant. It's a pity to put ink on them. They are suitable for collection and heirloom."
Prefect Xiong spoke as if he was chatting, but the Bai family was shocked: This evaluation is very high... A family heirloom! Collection!
Prefect Xiong waved his hands, as if to put aside what he had just said. "In your case, even if you go to the government office and beat the drum to complain, it will be useless. He didn't hurt anyone, and he didn't damage any property. He also paid for the paper he cut, which is considered compensation. What law do you want me to use to punish him?"
Prefect Xiong leaned over and took out a book from the small cabinet beside the table and handed it to Mr. Bai. "Take a look at it yourself. Which law do you want to use to punish him? I will listen to you."
How could Mr. Bai dare to answer it? He shook his head tremblingly, "No, no, I don't have that ability..."
Prefect Xiong smiled and held the "Great Wei Law" in his backhand. "How about you go find the Shuntian Prefecture's Chancellor? He is well-informed and has lived in Shuntian Prefecture for a long time. He must know that you are his father-in-law, and he will definitely help you."
Bai Dalang put his hands on the ground: Is this his illusion? Why does he feel that Governor Xiong is speaking in a sarcastic way?
Mr. Bai lowered his head and said anxiously, "No, no, no! Zhao'er is just a concubine. I don't have the great fortune to dare to be the father-in-law of the Shuntian Prefecture Minister!"
Prefect Xiong's smile faded, and he took back the "Great Wei Law". He looked at the two men kneeling together, and never opened his mouth to shout. His voice was cold and solemn, "I am an official appointed by the court. I will punish the guilty and release the innocent. I will follow the law and regulations and will never bend the law for personal gain. Whether you have a daughter as your wife or concubine, I only know the law, not human nature."
Bai Dalang was trembling.
Mr. Bai bit his lip and didn't dare to speak for a long time.
Prefect Xiong changed the subject, his tone switching from serious to casual, "But Sanlang has always been a bully. He grew up on the docks and fought bandits naked in the water. Boss Bai, how much do you expect him to know? How much etiquette do you expect him to know? He worked hard to earn money to buy good things, but you sold them at a low price. How can he not be angry?"
Mr. Bai lowered his head with a sullen face.
Saburo...Boss Bai...
There are biases in the titles!
Mr. Bai gritted his teeth and said, "Well, then let him do what he wants?!"
Prefect Xiong smiled and leaned back on the armchair, "What should I do then? Boss Bai, please tell me."
Of course, he will be severely punished!
Tell him not to do it again!
Otherwise, how can the Bai family sell the carved and painted rice paper!
Bai Dalang opened his mouth and tried to blurt out something, but was grabbed by Master Bai.
Magistrate Xiong has already shown his attitude!
It’s just that this attitude is not good for their family!
Mr. Bai lowered his head and pursed his lips tightly.
Among the flowers next to the main room, a gentle and quiet silhouette was cast on the window lattice.
Prefect Xiong sped up the process, "Since you can't say it, then let's make this matter small and big. As for the Zhen family, I will naturally give them a warning. Mr. Bai, don't worry, they are all the best merchants in Xuancheng Prefecture. I will not be partial to them, and there is no need to be partial."
Mr. Bai responded repeatedly and pulled his son out.
As soon as he left the government office, Bai Dalang asked anxiously, "Dad, what do you think Mr. Xiong meant? Can we still sell the paper we carved with silk and painted on it?"
"Sell! Sell your ass!" Mr. Bai straightened his hunched back and looked back at the big "Xiong" character on the lantern hanging from the eaves. "Mr. Xiong has made it clear that he doesn't care - can our store withstand the Zhen family coming to our door a few times?! Sanlang Zhen's face is full of fat, and the scholars in the store are trembling with fear. If it happens again, who will come to buy paper!?"
Bai Dalang stamped his feet, "Then let the Chen family make this huge money!?"
Mr. Bai swept his sleeves behind him and sneered, "If we don't do it, someone will eventually do it. If they strangle us and we don't do it, when the painted rice paper becomes popular among the people and everyone knows what the craft is, dozens of small workshops will start to do it together. Who will the Zhen family beat? I wonder if this Lord Xiong can still protect us!"
......
In the main hall of Magistrate Xiong.
The silhouette outside the window walked into the inner hall.
Mrs. Xiong Zhou handed over a cup of warm tea made from monk fruit and said, "You rarely support merchants."
Thinking of the neat and clean girl with no makeup on in Chen's, Zhou couldn't help but smile, "But Shopkeeper He is indeed likable."
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