Chapter 351 Envy and Jealousy
On this day, County Magistrate Lu Desheng met with the wealthy landlord of Houcheng at the County Magistrate's Mansion in order to get him to repay the money and pay interest.
It is still the same hall where we borrowed money, and the same people are there.
Lan Bingrong and Geng Yuan, two sworn enemies, looked at each other and their eyes disappeared immediately.
Everyone present was nervous. As wealthy landlords, they were most afraid of being invited for tea or a banquet by officials. As the saying goes, no banquet is good.
Before Lord Lu arrived, they couldn't help but whisper to each other.
"Is our Lord Lu short of money again?"
"But everything in Houcheng is thriving."
"You're stupid! It's because Houcheng is thriving that Lord Lu is short of money."
"But, the ones we lent out last time haven't been—"
Just as everyone was anxiously waiting, Lu Desheng appeared.
Everyone stood up to greet him.
As soon as he sat down, he extended his hand and gestured, "Everyone, please sit down."
After everyone was seated, he got straight to the point and said, "Didn't I borrow some money from you when I first took office?"
Lan Bingrong, Geng Yuan, and the others all stared in amazement. Was Lord Lu so direct? How should they react?
But their Lord Lu didn't even need them to react, and continued, "I'll pay you back today. You can take the IOU to the accounting office later to settle the bill."
Many people were like ducks being strangled by the neck. They had just thought about how to cry and what posture to use to appear pitiful but not hateful. They never expected that the purpose of the government inviting them here was to repay their money? What the hell!
Someone replied dryly, "Master Lu, we are not in a hurry for this money."
The others glared at the one who spoke. He was not in a hurry for money, but they were. That's alright!
Lu Desheng waved his hand and said, "Stop the polite talk and just do as I say."
This was decided after discussion between the father and daughter.
As the saying goes, if you borrow, you must return. Build trust first.
Everyone looked at each other, and finally stood up and bowed to Lu Desheng, "Thank you very much, Master Lu."
Lu Desheng said, "You're welcome. This is what you deserve."
Geng Yuan exchanged glances with the acquaintance next to him. They had all heard rumors that the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce had made a lot of money in the south, and it seemed to be true.
The Liaodong Chamber of Commerce was established after Lord Lu came to power. Even a fool can see that the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce has an official background.
Perhaps for Lord Lu, this silver is just transferred from his left pocket to his right pocket.
After Lu Desheng finished speaking, he was about to leave, but suddenly he thought of something and stopped, "By the way, is Lan Bingrong here?"
"Sir, I'm here!"
"I heard you have a lot of land?"
"Yes—yes." Lan Bingrong was extremely nervous. He wondered what Lord Lu meant by this question.
Lu Desheng glared at him in dissatisfaction. Why are you stuttering? Is he scary?
Lu Desheng didn't expect that his glare would make the other party's legs tremble and become speechless, so he quickly said, "The Liaodong Chamber of Commerce has decided to lend you ten pedal threshers. Do you want them?"
Lan Bingrong was cheered up when he heard this, "Yes, of course!"
He had heard that this thresher was very useful, but unfortunately all the goods had been sent to the south, so he couldn't buy it even if he wanted to.
The autumn harvest is approaching, and if we have ten threshers, it would be a great help.
Lu Desheng: "Okay, then get ready to receive the goods when you get home!"
"Sir, can I pay for these ten threshing machines?" Lan Bingrong asked boldly. His family had a lot of land, and if the threshing machines were really useful, they would be a great help. After all, it would be better to have these things yourself. You can't borrow them from the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce every autumn harvest, right?
Lu Desheng pondered for a moment and said, "Well, go home and prepare to receive the goods. If you really want to buy it, I'll have someone quote you the price later. If you can accept it, you can buy it. If not, you can still use this thresher for a month."
"Thank you, sir." Lan Bingrong hurriedly expressed his gratitude.
After finishing the work, Lu Desheng left.
As Geng Yuan and the others watched him leave, they were actually shouting in their hearts, "Sir Lu, their family also has a lot of land and they also need a thresher!"
But it was obvious that Lord Lu did not hear their inner cries.
Geng Yuan and the others looked at Lan Bingrong, the lucky guy, with complicated eyes! It really made people envious and jealous.
They all knew that this was Lord Lu's reward to Lan Bingrong.
When Lord Lu first begged for alms, it was Lan Bingrong who generously lent him 20,000 taels. Initially, they thought it was a waste of money, so they were reluctant to lend much to the government, donating only 2,000 to 3,000 taels. Even after they lent money voluntarily because Lü Desheng became the governor of Liaodong, it seems that in Lord Lu's heart, the fool Lan Bingrong still held more weight than them.
Later, Lan Bingrong came out of the county magistrate's office in a daze. The government actually paid back the money and even paid them interest!
Geng Yuan also got back the principal and interest. After walking out of the door, he took a last look at Lan Bingrong, shook his head and left. It is true that fools have good fortune.
…
On the main street of Houcheng, Young Master Ji and Young Master Gu were strolling leisurely, fanning themselves.
"Second Young Master Gu, this Houcheng is so vibrant." Young Master Ji sighed as he looked at the crowded streets.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and people are rushing to the big and small markets that are held every three days. It is very lively.
Young Master Gu nodded. Compared to the dire situation in the South, they felt even more deeply.
Young Master Ji asked him, "How is your work going?"
Young Master Gu did not hide the truth from him, "The Liaodong Chamber of Commerce currently produces a limited number of threshers. Furthermore, Liaodong County is preparing for the autumn harvest, and they also need threshers, so they can't supply all of them to our Gu family."
“But they promised to get the thresher we wanted and send it to the Southland before the next rice harvest.”
What Young Master Gu didn't mention was that someone from the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce had privately told him that Liaodong County was running low on iron ore. If they could provide iron ore, they would charge a processing fee. If not, the number of threshers they could provide would have to be cut in half, and the price would be much higher.
Young Master Ji said, "I think this proposal is acceptable."
In the south, rice is harvested twice a year, while in Liaodong County, it is only harvested once a year. Of course, they have to focus on themselves. Besides, the summer harvest in the south has already passed, so the need for threshers is not that urgent.
Young Master Gu smiled and said nothing more.
As they walked, they arrived at the Western Suburbs Industrial Park.
Young Master Gu pointed to a commercial building engraved with the Ji family crest and asked, "Is that building owned by your Ji family?"
Young Master Ji looked in the direction he pointed, then nodded happily, "Yes."
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