Chapter 55: Belated Arrival
But this is not Shen Shiqian's fault. First of all, the road in Lingnan is really difficult to travel, and with all kinds of roadblocks and robberies, it is really difficult to transport grain.
Why did Shen Baicheng support Zu Xingwei? It was because the Shen family was always robbed by other bandits in the past. In anger, Shen Baicheng simply supported a big tiger.
This is the same approach that Lu Chenyang used to find gang leaders to maintain public order.
That's getting off topic.
Now that Wang Zhong can bring food, Lu Chenyang plans to eat all the food he brings and use it as reserve food for the yamen in case of emergency.
Lu Chenyang smiled and said, "Manager Wang, you've come all this way, I can't let you go back empty-handed. How about this: no matter how much goods you bring, you have to sell them all to me?"
Wang Zhong's eyes flashed. It seemed that Lu Chenyang's position in Yanquan County was indeed stable. He didn't even ask how much food he brought but said he could eat it all. He was really confident.
Wang Zhong wanted to establish a good relationship, so he said, "Master Lu, I am very grateful for taking care of my business."
As he spoke, he immediately knelt down.
Given his status, it was already a great honor for him to see Zhao Xi who was beside Lu Chenyang. It was Lu Chenyang who respected him and talked to him personally.
Wang Zhong naturally accepted this kindness.
Lu Chenyang quickly helped him up and said seriously, "That's not necessary. I should be grateful to you. It's because of hardworking and fair businessmen like you that Yanquan County has become more prosperous. How about this, Manager Wang, you can go around the county for the next few days and take a look at the environment. You can also help me introduce a few more big businessmen to come here in the future."
Wang Zhong nodded repeatedly and said, "It's not for Yanquan County, but for Lord Lu. This business is worth doing!"
Lu Chenyang had a very pleasant conversation with him, and they praised each other and were both very happy.
Wang Zhong really admires him, but it’s not a compliment.
He traveled all over the country and was particularly fond of adventure, otherwise he would not have come to Shu to do business.
He was very familiar with the situation in Shu and Lingnan. The fact that Lu Chenyang was able to bring about such great changes in Lingnan in less than a year showed his ability.
First, the bandits on Fairy Mountain were wiped out, and the small gangs of bandits on various hills were also wiped out, which provided a safe environment for the merchants.
This is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that Lu Chenyang was able to reach a peace agreement with the Dongyi people.
This is something that many people have not been able to do.
As far as this one point is concerned, the Shen family and public security are nothing. Lu Chenyang can solve all of them.
Wang Zhong brought 3,000 dan of grain this time, which is about 30,000 kilograms. He thought it was already a lot, but now it seems a bit conservative.
Wang Zhong gave Lu Chenyang face and sold it to him at the market price without raising the price any higher.
Yes, buying more will not be cheaper, the price will be higher because no one else can provide so much food except him.
Lu Chenyang was also very generous. He bought them all without bargaining, and his treasury shrank a lot in an instant.
Then, Lu Chenyang collected a business tax from Wang Zhong.
The tax is not high. Wang Zhong is very happy anyway. It is much cheaper than other places.
Wang Zhong promised Lu Chenyang solemnly, "I will promote this place after I return, so that more merchants can come here to do business. But Lord Lu, if possible, I would like to see the road repaired. I can't even transport the grain here, it's really difficult to travel."
Lu Chenyang nodded: "Yes, I have already planned to start road construction. But we have to take it slowly. It's hard to say whether it will be this year, but next year, at the latest, the roads in Yanquan County will definitely be easier to travel."
Wang Zhong smiled and cupped his hands, "That would be great. If there's anything I can do to help, Lord Lu, please ask. I'm also willing to do my bit for Yanquan County."
Wang Zhong wanted to befriend Lu Chenyang. He looked up to anyone with talent. He also felt that Lu Chenyang had a promising future with his abilities.
Shen Shiqian is not the only one who is optimistic about Lu Chenyang.
Shen Shiqian couldn't hide the fact that a grain merchant had come to Yanquan County. He didn't care about the grain, but what did concern him was that Lu Chenyang ate all the grain in his hands.
This concerned him a lot.
Is it because he performed poorly? Does Lu Chenyang have any other choice? Shen Shiqian suddenly felt a sense of crisis in his heart. That wouldn't do.
He also understood the reason why Lu Chenyang wanted to buy food. He was simply worried that the people would not have enough to eat, and he hoped that there would be food in the government warehouse to provide disaster relief.
If it were any other official, Shen Shiqian would not think so, but since it was Lu Chenyang, he believed that Lu Chenyang did this for the people.
Shen Shiqian had a strong sense of crisis. After thinking about it, he called a few managers from the grain shops and said, "Lower the price of grain by eight cents."
Don't underestimate these eight cents. Almost all their profits are included in these eight cents.
Some shopkeepers wanted to refute, but Shen Shiqian waved his hand: “Lord Lu is worried that the people will not have enough to eat, so we have to share Lord Lu’s worries.”
Some shopkeepers said, "Even if we have to lower the price, just reduce it a little, just a few cents, and we'll be able to show our support for Mr. Lu. If we reduce the price so much, we won't make any profit."
"That's right, that's right."
But Shen Shiqian was very determined, "Just surrender eight cents!"
Since the price has been lowered, it will be done in one go. I believe Lu Chenyang should also know that they don’t make much profit at this price, and they are completely supporting Lu Chenyang.
"If you want to do it, do it to the best of your ability, or don't do it at all." Shen Shiqian said calmly: "This is the attitude of our Shen family. Everything is done in moderation, and there are selfish motives. Do you think Lord Lu can't see it?"
Everyone was silent. They felt that their eldest son seemed to be praising Lu Chenyang a little too much.
Where did their intelligent, wise, calm and objective eldest son go?!
Some people couldn’t help but want to go to Shen Baicheng to complain.
After Shen Baicheng fainted last time, he has been recuperating. Now that the Shen family’s business has been handed over to Shen Shiqian, he has put down the burden in his heart, and his health has really begun to improve.
The man was stopped by Shen Shiqian's men before he even reached the main room.
The housekeeper looked at the shopkeeper with a smile and said, "Shopkeeper Liu, please wait a moment. Our eldest young master wants to see you."
Manager Liu's expression shrank and he was asked to leave.
Manager Liu met him in Shen Shiqian's study. He lowered his head and didn't dare to breathe.
Shen Shiqian did not speak, but just looked at the account book in his hand. This silence made Manager Liu feel uneasy.
Shen Shiqian looked at Shopkeeper Liu: "Shopkeeper Liu, my grandfather is old and in poor health. Now I am in charge of the Shen family. Are you dissatisfied with anything?"
Shopkeeper Liu broke out in a cold sweat: "No, I don't dare."
"Don't you dare? Or don't you have it?" Shen Shiqian asked again.
Shopkeeper Liu shook his head repeatedly: "No, no, Master, I have no complaints against you."
Shen Shiqian nodded: "No, it's best. Now the Shen family is under my control. Grandfather is old and in poor health. I don't want anyone to disturb him from recuperating."
As he spoke, he looked at him and said, "Uncle Liu, you are an old man by my grandfather's side, and you can be said to have watched me grow up. I hope that if you have anything to say, you can tell me directly, instead of bothering my grandfather. What do you think?"
Shopkeeper Liu nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, the eldest young master is right."
Shen Shiqian glanced at him, and then said: "Okay, if there is nothing else, you can go down."
Shopkeeper Liu responded, "Yes, Young Master."
Shen Shiqian's beating made everyone else give up.
Shopkeeper Liu is an old man around Shen Baicheng and is considered his confidant. Now that he has withdrawn, the others naturally have no confidence.
Shen Shiqian took a deep breath. He had promised Lu Chenyang that he would be the master of the Shen family in the future, so he naturally wanted to let Lord Lu see his ability.
Shen Shiqian thought he had been careful enough, but unexpectedly, something happened.
One day, Lu Chenyang went to the fields to see how the crops were growing.
No matter what happens, the harvest is always the most important.
But the problem was immediately apparent: more than half of the crops had not grown.
And this situation occurs in more than one place. Many farmers say that this shouldn't happen. It has been so long, it is impossible that the seeds have not grown yet.
Many people have discovered this matter a long time ago, but they always wanted to wait a little longer. When Lu Chenyang came this time, everyone couldn't help but panic and reported it to him directly.
This was a huge matter, and Lu Chenyang was so frightened that he broke out in a sweat.
Some farmers immediately burst into tears: "Master Lu, what are we going to do? We've lost so many years of harvest."
I originally thought that this year would be different. We have reached a peace agreement with the Dongyi people. I heard that the herbs that Lord Lu helped to promote are growing very well and they are about to be supplied to the Dongyi people. When they develop throughout the county, we will be able to make money again.
Everything was clearly going in the right direction, but now we have lost so much.
Lu Chenyang felt heartbroken when he saw the old farmer's tearful face.
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