Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Missed
The weather was hot and stuffy early that morning. Kang He and Fan Jing sent Dazai to Luo's house, took a look at Dazai's house at the other end, tidied up with him, and had lunch at Luo's house before returning to the shop.
After all, I had a good time coaxing her the day before, so she didn't seem unhappy staying at Zhen'er's place.
The couple left before it rained.
During the first few days, Dafu had not yet gone to school and was not used to hanging out at Luo's house. It was okay during the day, playing with his cousin Anger, while his uncle and Luo Tongsheng interrogated and taught him some knowledge, so it was not so bad.
But at night, when it was late and quiet, I tossed and turned in bed and couldn't sleep, and I started to miss home.
The Fan family was also not used to it. Without such a big child at home, Chen Sanfang couldn't even enjoy his meals. When he went to the city to look after the shop, he would go to see the child very frequently.
Even Xiaofu, who usually plays well, would suddenly pop up and ask: "Where's my brother? Where did my brother go?"
After four or five days, the break in the school was over, and Dafu went to Xu's school to study. He attended the familiar fifteenth day of the first lunar month and felt much better.
After only three or two days in the new school, Dafu discovered that his classmates knew more words, more books, and more historical allusions than he did, and they all talked freely and generously.
He was already an outstanding student under Uncle Daxin, but after coming to the city, he was a little behind his classmates.
Dafu felt a little ashamed, thinking that he had already distanced himself from his classmates, yet he was still sad because he was away from his family, hiding in bed at night looking at the moon and fireflies. He was really too weak and had no ambition.
Little Daddy had been traveling around doing business all year round and had seen how capable the scholars outside were. That was why he took the trouble to send him from the countryside to the county school so that he could broaden his horizons and increase his knowledge.
However, he was like an ignorant little child who was only thinking about home and did not seize this good opportunity to study. He really let down his father's plans for him.
Dafu suddenly understood everything and cheered up. He said to Shiwu, "We both studied in private schools in the countryside since we were young. Now we are about the same age as our classmates in the city, but our knowledge is far inferior to theirs.
But we can’t simply fall behind them just because we are behind them. We should study harder and more diligently to catch up with them.”
After hearing what Dafu said, Fifteen nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice: "Well, not only should we catch up with them, we should also surpass them!
Some of them are not good, and they even say behind our backs that we are country bumpkins, thinking that our knowledge and experience are not as good as theirs."
The two friends encouraged each other, and Dafu became more motivated. He studied hard in school every day. After returning home and completing his homework, he went to Luo Chuanyi to ask for answers to his doubts. He was very serious and hardworking.
For a moment, the homesickness in his heart was filled by his studies. Even Luo Tongsheng had to praise Dafu when he saw him.
Kang and Fan Jing also put the house hunting issue on the agenda. They asked Brother Bao San to keep an eye on it and asked some other connections for help. Whenever they had time, they would go to the real estate agency to see if there were any new houses available.
That day, Brother Bao San came running to look for Kang He with a rosy face.
He said to Kang He with great pride, "I will only tell you this good news if you give me a fat turtle."
Kang He laughed and said, "That's not easy. Tomorrow I'll catch a fresh one from the pond and make soup for you. Don't keep me in suspense. Tell me now, have you found a way to get back to the house?"
Third Brother Bao said, "Let's not talk about the house for now. It's about the good news about the shop on South Street! I told you before that the household office in the county government had a rumor that it was going to be sold. Now I have confirmed that it is really going to be sold."
"The price is good. You're looking at a bright shop facing the street. The shop isn't very spacious, but it has a cellar in the backyard. I only sell it for this price."
Brother Bao San and Kang He raised their hands twice, which meant two hundred strings of cash.
Kang He was overjoyed: "Such a good price?"
The price of any decent shop on the main street is three or four hundred strings of cash. In the past two years, the shop prices have increased, and the rental prices have also increased. Although the pork shop they own and the He family's shop have been rented stably for several years, the prices have also increased.
The original rent of a few strings of coins has now exceeded two strings of coins. The rent of the He family's shop is already more expensive, and the rent is even higher than three strings of coins.
"The county government didn't want to publicly auction off this shop, so the news wasn't spread much outside. It was only shared privately, so the price wasn't high-profile. Setting it below market price shows integrity, which is normal."
Brother Bao San said, "If you want this shop, quickly pay the money and prepare a good gift. I will take you to see the clerk in the household department. He is in charge of this matter."
How could Kang He not want this shop? In recent years, his family has had more land and more vegetables. He has been thinking about opening a shop in the city to sell vegetables. Although it is a small profit business, it is easy to sell.
Looking around, I found that there was a closed shop on South Street at the door with a cellar that was suitable for storing vegetables and keeping them fresh. It would be hard to find a shop that was more suitable than this one.
There are ways now and the price is not bad, how can I not be tempted.
Kang Helian caught Bao San Ge and asked him what the owner of the house liked. He knew that if he didn't do them a favor, he would not easily give the shop to a powerless family like them.
When Brother Bao San saw that he was on the right track, he spoke to him in detail.
After hearing this, Kang He agreed and turned around to tell Fan Jing about it.
Although Fan Jing wanted to buy a house, he also knew that opportunities should not be missed. He had to open a shop as well. If there was one that suited his taste, he would seize the opportunity that came first.
The two men took out three hundred strings of cash and prepared two boxes of dried peppercorns, four bottles of pepper oil and mountain pepper oil, and twelve pounds of rapeseed sesame oil.
A box of smoked dry goods was prepared outside, including smoked duck, smoked chicken, smoked goose, smoked rabbit, and smoked ham.
There are also small boxes of spicy and fragrant stewed food, such as quail and turtle, which are rare foods on the market.
These food and supplies were just one part of the package; the key point was that a red envelope of thirty strings of cash was included.
Although the prices in the shops are low, it is impossible for people like them to get a big bargain. Using connections and giving gifts will still cost money.
But even if you calculate it this way, it is still much cheaper than buying it from a broker.
Forget it, please ask Brother Bao San to look at him. He nodded, and then he took the gifts to see Xu Jundian, the manager of the household department.
Third Brother Bao did have some connections and knew the officials in the county government. Kang He had heard that he had a cousin who married Xu Dundian two years ago. With this kind of relationship, and Third Brother Bao being a capable man and knowing a lot of news in the city, he was also valued by his cousin-in-law.
Taking advantage of this shop incident, Brother Bao San said he wanted to introduce Kang He to his cousin-in-law.
Kang He had been doing business in the city for several years, but he had no connections with the government. Brother Bao San thought highly of him and was willing to act as a matchmaker for him. This was a rare opportunity, so he took it seriously.
"Not only does my brother run a good business, he's also praised by everyone as a kind person. He's also a loyal man who does good things for the county."
Bao San Ge boasted to Xu Niandian, "That year, there was a group of kidnappers in the county. They kidnapped children and even got close to Ju Ye. They reported it to the officials privately. The county magistrate was very worried, but the kidnappers were so cunning that they could not find them.
Fortunately, my brother ran into one of the thieves in the countryside, and together with his husband, he was apprehended and handed over to the authorities. The county government conducted a thorough investigation and, following the clues, they apprehended the entire gang of kidnappers. The county magistrate even awarded him twenty taels of silver as a reward!
Xu Juedian smiled and said, "Now that you mention it, I remember this incident. I remember it happened when the previous Lord Pei was in office. I didn't expect that your brother is such a good man."
"Not to mention what happened when I was the last County Lord, even when our County Lord He was in office, there was a bandit incident two years ago, and it was us brothers who helped to capture the bandits. How dare we do that."
"Oh, that's really brave and resourceful! Kang Xiaolang deserves a reward for doing so much for the county!"
Xu Zhuandian said, "As for the opportunities in the county government, they should be regarded as rewards for good citizens who work hard to maintain the stability of the county. When his family becomes bigger in the future, such good character will be able to do more for the people and the county."
Kang He repeatedly modestly said: "The county magistrate is upright and honest, and the officials in the county government are fair and outstanding in their work. Only then can the county and even the countryside be peaceful and prosperous, and the common people can live and work in peace and contentment, and have the life we have today.
Catching kidnappers and roaming bandits is what I, a humble commoner, should do. It just so happened that this happened to me. If I had encountered someone else, I think they would have done the same thing. There's really no need to brag about it."
"On the contrary, it is because of the education of capable and virtuous officials like the County Magistrate and Xu Judian that the people of the county have become honest and simple, and that ordinary people like us have learned to be brave and courageous when encountering difficulties."
Xu Judian was flattered and said to Bao Sange with a smile, "Brother, you are very eloquent. Come and have some tea. It's good tea sent from outside the city."
The three of them talked for a while and got along quite well.
Before leaving, Xu Niandian told Kang He what time they would go to the household registration office of the county government in three days to go through the formalities in order to buy the shop.
After leaving Xu's house, Third Brother Bao smiled and said to Kang He: "My cousin-in-law likes you. Now that he has given the time, the matter is mostly settled."
"I have to thank Third Brother very much for introducing me to Xu Judian. Otherwise, how could a commoner like me have the opportunity to have tea with such an official?"
Bao Sange said: "I used to think you disdained this kind of thing, so I never tried to get in touch with you. Now I know that you are so eloquent and good at speaking. If there is another opportunity in the future, I will still think of you.
We have known each other for such a long time, so I won't say thank you or not, but to put it bluntly, I know you as a brother, and if you are doing well, I will also benefit from it."
The two talked happily and walked back hand in hand.
As for Xu Niandian, he was quite satisfied when he saw the gifts sent by Kang He. He looked at the smoked meat and smelled the fragrance, which seemed to be smoked from fruit wood, which was very rare.
Not to mention eating it yourself, even giving it to others would be very impressive.
His young wife, the cousin of Bao Sange, said proudly, "If she wasn't someone with some ability and sincerity, how could my cousin be able to bring you here?"
Xu Judian smiled innocently: "Yes, your brother is a person of character. It is because I like him that I am willing to share the information with him."
Three days later, Kang He prepared the money. Fearing that something might happen along the way, he specially copied an extra note of 100 Guan (a hundred strings of cash) with him before heading to the county government.
He arrived an incense stick early as scheduled and waited outside before entering the house.
When Kang He went in, he saw that he was not the only one there. Besides him, there were two other people.
He thought to himself, there are three shops on South Street, and three people come to buy things, which is appropriate.
Kang He was very respectful. It was not his first time coming to the county government, but it was his first time coming to the Sixth Office. He knew that the people there were all powerful people. If he didn't speak or act properly, he would offend them without being careful.
These are the local tyrants in the county, and ordinary small farmers and merchants cannot afford to offend them.
"Come in, we'll be compradors according to the regulations."
Xu Judian had a serious face, friendly yet dignified, because his immediate superior, Dianshi, was also there.
Kang He did not act as if he knew them, but only bowed slightly politely. Several people went in one after another and were asked by the official one by one about their nationality, which was the same as recording the envoys.
However, Kang He guessed that the people here had their own special powers, so asking them was just a formality.
I asked the two people in front and was about to ask Kang He when a voice came from outside: "Has the salesman started yet? I am late."
A few people looked outside and saw the Dianshi, who was asking questions with his hands behind his back, stopped talking and smiled: "Master, what are you doing here? I'm here to inspect official business."
Xu Juandian was originally registering, but when he heard that his lawyer was coming, he put down his pen and ink and stood up.
"Dianshi Qi is very efficient in his work, so please don't be offended that I'm the one supervising the inspection. I heard that the Household Department is going to recycle the confiscated criminal shops today, so I came here to join in the fun."
A man dressed as a merchant came with the lawyer.
This person followed the lawyer into the household office and immediately bowed and apologized for being late and almost missing the time.
The clerks in the household office were slightly startled. Qi Dianshi said, "You've arrived at the perfect time. It's just begun."
After that, he invited the merchants to come in and participate.
The lawyer brought people in but did not leave. Instead, he sat down and watched with a smile. Everyone in the room could see what he meant.
Xu Juedian's face turned unhappy when he saw this, but he didn't dare to say anything. He exchanged glances with Kang He.
Immediately, Kang He knew that the shop was doomed.
As expected, after briefly inquiring about the four merchants, Dianshi Qi said, "I have retained your information. The Household Department will make an assessment. If you find it useful, please come and sign the contract."
Kang He left the county government office and finally let out a sigh of relief. He thought this trip was all in vain.
When he returned home, he told Fan Jingting what happened in the county government.
"With three shops, one person is bound to leave empty-handed. I watched with a cold eye. Originally, we could have signed the deed today, but the lawyer came in mid-sentence and had to change the rules temporarily.
I think all the merchants who come and go are through connections, so it’s not easy to tell them face to face who won’t get a shop, so I just told them to go back and wait for news.”
Upon hearing this, Fan Jing frowned. Although he knew it was difficult to always get what he wanted, he still felt a little uneasy when encountering something like this: "Let's wait and see."
At the county government office, Xu Judian was sorting through some paperwork from today's registration. He couldn't help but ask the Dianshi, "What's Hou Jiang up to? He just shoved someone in here without even saying hello. Isn't he just trying to make things difficult for us?"
Qi Dianshi's face was not looking good either: "Hou Jiang relies on the favor of the county lord and has always ignored the people in our old team. The Sixth House always deals with his affairs.
He's also quite petty. A while ago, that rough-mannered soldier Zhan Yuanwu just said something wrong, but he took it to heart and privately criticized him in front of the county magistrate. Look how hot it is these days, and the county magistrate even sent him out on patrol at noon to prevent flooding. Not only is he tanned like coal, but I heard he even had a heat stroke yesterday."
"Everyone knows that Zhan Yuanwu has a straightforward personality. Even though a warrior can't talk, he can still give people a good beating. In a county government team, who dares to mess with him?"
Xu Judian felt bitter in his mouth. He knew that the Dianshi was not trying to scare him. Everyone in the team knew the bad character of this legal advisor. After all, he was brought to the position by the county magistrate.
But he knew that the task he had been entrusted with before could not be accomplished, and the three merchants who had been doing well at first could not be helped.
Three shops are just right, and they have all been agreed upon.
This master suddenly intervened and was bound to make room for him, but who else could make room except him?
Among the three farmers and merchants, one was the cousin of Qi Dianshi, one was the son-in-law of Lifang Dianshi, and the other was Kanghe, whom he introduced.
Could he possibly offend the two regents?
Xu Juedian was very proud and thought that based on Kang He's resume, he would definitely be able to win if they were to compete openly.
But how could the county government easily open the door to such a good opportunity? He could only sigh that he was unlucky.
Although his mind was in turmoil, Xu Judian maintained the demeanor of a magnanimous governor. He pulled out Kang He's resume and said, "I think he's a bit behind the other agricultural merchants. Let's just let it go this time."
Seeing him being so understanding, Qi Dianshi was naturally satisfied: "You have always been able to get things done."
That was all. He comforted Xu Juedian a few more words and said that next time he would go with him to do something good.
That day, Bao San Ge came to Kang He with a dejected look on his face and told him that the shop had been bought by someone else.
"If it were any other family, it would be fine, but it had to be that leather merchant, Duan Jia. That day, I asked you if you wanted an invitation to the legal advisor's birthday party, but you refused, so I sold it to Duan Jia. Who would have thought that he would take over the legal advisor's connections and steal our place?"
Kang He had already anticipated that the plan would not work out, and since there had been no news for several days, he was even more convinced of this fact.
He was not surprised that Third Brother Bao was writing to him, but he still felt a little sad when he heard that the Jia family got to know the legal advisor because of a letter they sent to a banquet.
"This is just our bad luck, no one else is to blame."
Third Brother Bao apologized, "My cousin's husband was too embarrassed to come see you. He just told me to take back all the gifts you gave me when I have time. He really has no face."
Kang Helian said, "I went to Xu Judian's home for tea and a visit, so I should have brought a gift. Talking about whether to take it back or not makes me feel ashamed. I was there when things went wrong that day, so I know Xu Judian's difficulties. He is not to blame for what happened."
"It's such a big county, why should we worry about not being able to buy a shop? Just be patient and look for it slowly."
Seeing this, Brother Bao San said, "That's what I advised him. I know your personality, even if others don't. But he felt bad and told me that if he has any other options in the future, he will definitely think of you first.
He heard from me that you were looking for a house for your child's education, and he promised me that he would look for a house with you in West City. There are many families of scholars with official titles there. If you buy a house there, it will be easy to get to know the neighbors, which will be good for your child's education.
Kang He thanked Bao Sange: "Xu Niudian is very busy with official duties, but he still considers such a small matter as mine. I am really touched."
The two of them talked for a few more words before Brother Bao San left.
Kang He thought to himself that if he really had some connections with the house, that would be great, but he didn't dare to expect too much from others. Who knew if what they said today was just a polite remark?
After this incident, Kang He began to pay attention to his network of contacts.
In the past, I just thought that I should focus on my own business and never bothered to make friends with officials. Now, it seems that if I want to take root in the county, I have to think carefully.
Looking back, in recent years, he was always the first to know about any good policies in the village. It was because of Xu Yang that he was able to get ahead of others, seize the opportunity, and live a better life.
Their family is well-known in the village, and most villagers rely on them. Even if they say something sarcastic about them in private, they are polite on the surface.
If you think about it carefully, he does have that family business, and he is on good terms with Xu Yang, the eldest master of the village.
This county is similar to the city, with a large population and extensive influence, only it is more complicated, but there are also more opportunities.
If you want to have a place in the world, you need not only ability and talent, but also connections and ways.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
