Chapter 38 How can one claim credit for the young lady's work?
Qin Ran looked at the seal on the mulberry paper in his hand and confirmed again that both the official seal and the private letter were there, so there was no mistake.
only……
Why go to Qiantang to find a nine-year-old child? And even send Xuanxiao cavalry to deliver the message? Why is that person so concerned? Is there anything special about that child?
His surname is Qin. Could this child be the long-lost son of the Marquis? But in his memory, the Marquis had never been to Qiantang ten years ago!
Or perhaps the favored concubine went to Qiantang, and the lord only recently learned of it...
Qiantang is not a small place, and no one knows whether the child has been moved. With only one month left, time is very tight.
This matter is somewhat difficult.
A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, but one thing Qin Ran was absolutely certain of: this was an opportunity, a chance for his branch of the Qin family, which had been far removed from the North for many years, to finally rise to prominence!
Qin Shaozong's power has grown increasingly stronger over the years. Others worry about not being able to get their hands on the ladder to success, having nowhere to climb. Now that this ladder to success has been delivered to their doorstep, how could they not seize it firmly?
Hu Bao and his group arrived at the Qin residence at the end of Chenshi (7-9 AM). Qin Ran did not delay for long. After giving a few instructions, he personally led his troops and Hu Bao and his group from Fanhua County to Qiantang.
As for whether his departure would leak out and be reported to Lord Song, Qin Ran didn't care at all.
Let Lord Song be displeased; the matter of Your Excellency is of utmost importance.
Fanhua County and Qiantang are not far apart, and Qin Ran rode at full speed, arriving at his destination the next day.
The Qin family's shops were everywhere in Yangzhou, and Qiantang was no exception. Qin Ran used one of his mansions in Yangzhou as his base of operations. After settling in, he immediately dispatched all the retainers who had come with him.
They were sent to the human market to find animal husbands. Regardless of age or gender, anyone in this line of work was lured back with money.
Hu Bao and his five companions dispersed and went with their respective entourages. The market in Qiantang was not large, with about forty people attending the gathering. All the entourage came out in full force, and in less than three hours, the hall of the Qin residence was packed with people.
People in this line of work are familiar faces to each other and have some connections. Now they are gathered in the hall whispering among themselves.
"Why is the Qin family in such a hurry to find us?"
"Whatever their purpose, as long as I get the money, that's all that matters."
“You always deny being short-sighted. You haven’t even done anything yet, and you’re already getting paid just for coming here once. If you help the Qin family get things done, you might live a very comfortable life for the next few years without having to work.”
Upon hearing this, the onlookers realized it made sense and immediately became even more eager for the host to come out.
Upon hearing that most of the people had arrived, Qin Ran finally emerged from the side corridor.
The situation is vastly different now compared to the early days of the People's Republic. In the early days of the PRC, the emphasis on agriculture and suppression of commerce was extremely severe. Merchants were not allowed to register in the market, ride in horse-drawn carriages, wear silk clothing, or have their descendants enter government offices.
However, as time went on, especially with the rapid development of trade with the Western Regions and Northern Kingdoms, the economy received an undeniable boost, and the government gradually became more tolerant of "merchants".
Not to mention the current turbulent situation, with rampant collusion between officials and businessmen, and many businessmen are no longer as obsequious as they were hundreds of years ago.
Qin Ran was dressed in a dark blue, wide-sleeved robe with a round collar, a headscarf, and a jade pendant of excellent quality hanging from his waist, exuding an air of wealth and nobility.
The crowd in the hall booed and stared at him intently.
Qin Ran said loudly, "I have invited you all here today because I have a favor to ask of you. A boy named Qin Yanzhou has gone missing in Qiantang. He is nine years old, about five feet seven inches tall, with fair skin, peach blossom eyes, and a light brown teardrop-shaped birthmark on his shoulder. He is handsome and has short hair, which is the longest it reaches his shoulders."
Qin Ran glanced at everyone in the hall and said, "The trouble has already begun, and there is no point in investigating further. It would be better to do good deeds and accumulate merit. Whoever can find my child will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver, five prosperous shops, a house, and five acres of fertile land."
An uproar erupted in the hall.
So this means that not only will there be a generous reward, but the cause of the child's abduction will not be investigated.
Many of those who act as ranchers have vested interests with the kidnappers; where there's profit, there's bound to be shady dealings. Now that the Qin family has explicitly stated they won't pursue the matter, it seems they're genuinely in a hurry to find their missing person.
After Qin Ran finished speaking, he gave a look to one of the servants, who understood and began distributing money. This was the errand fee that had been agreed upon earlier for coming to the Qin residence, and it was being settled on the spot.
At this moment, someone asked, "May I ask, Your Excellency, how long has that child been missing?"
Qin Ran recalled what the letter said, "Six months."
Having received the information and the money, the monks quickly dispersed.
After they left, Qin Ran looked at Hu Bao and said, "Captain, the orders have been given in Qian Tang. How about we go to the neighboring prefecture tomorrow?"
The letter said it would take a month, but Qin Ran naturally wanted it to be as soon as possible. Besides, the child had been missing for half a year, and might have been sold somewhere else. They couldn't just focus on searching in Qiantang, otherwise the chances would be slim.
Hu Bao naturally nodded.
For more than half a month, Qin Ran and Hu Bao and others traveled around Qiantang and the various counties centered on Qiantang.
He traveled to every market town, large and small, in every prefecture, and countless people offered money and learned of the bounty. Even some thieves actively participated in the search.
During this time, some cunning individuals secretly discovered that Qin Ran's family was complete and guessed that he was helping someone find a child. They then led the child to his door to ask for a reward.
The hair, height, birthmark, and general appearance all matched at first glance. Qin Ran initially thought he had found it, but Hu Bao shook his head and denied it after only one glance.
The child bore no resemblance to Madam Dai, not to mention that the other party showed no reaction upon hearing the name "Dai Li".
This is not the person.
After this act of impersonation was exposed several times, everyone knew the truth.
Oh, even if that kid isn't a close junior of Qin Ran, there are still people who recognize him; this matter can't be fooled.
After several attempts, the matter of fraudulently claiming the money gradually disappeared.
Days passed, and the search area continued to expand. Qin Ran's initial ambition and determination to complete the mission ahead of schedule gradually turned into a state of confusion.
Can't find it?
There wasn't even a single clue; it was as if no matter how big a stone was thrown into the sea, it couldn't even cause a shallow ripple in this eerie ocean.
Qin Ran sat in his study all night, and finally made a decision.
The turnover rate in the monks' association business isn't huge, but it's not small either. Some people find better opportunities and quit. Since there's no news from this group, it's better to ask those who have already retired.
Give it a try; there's no better way anyway.
*
Yingjun, the prefectural governor's residence.
Dai Li was having breakfast, eating boiled noodles, which were called "tangbing" in this era. They were about half the size of a palm, with fish balls made from mandarin fish meat and shrimp, plus some chopped green onions. The colors were very appetizing.
"Madam, are you going to the salt lake today as well?" Nianxia asked, standing in front of the clothes box.
Dai Li swallowed the fish ball in her mouth. "Yes, I'll go today too."
The matter of refined salt had already been scheduled. Qin Shaozong had many capable people under his command, so in fact, she didn't need to go to the site in person. She could simply enjoy the flowers and feed the fish in the mansion and then pass on the instructions.
But Dai Li is very clear about her current position. She started the project of refining coarse salt, and the more military generals know that she is an advisor, the safer she is.
Upon hearing this, Nianxia took out a set of light blue riding clothes from the wardrobe. The light blue was a deep shade, so stains wouldn't be noticeable, making it perfect for such a place. Then she took two hair ribbons and a peach wood hairpin, waiting for Daili to finish her breakfast so she could change.
Looking at the rows of clothing boxes in front of her, and the several five-tiered dressing cases placed in front of the cloud-patterned bronze mirror, Nianxia felt extremely regretful. Even though the carved dressing case inlaid with jade beads was not opened at the moment, she knew what treasures were hidden inside.
A gold filigree bee and butterfly hair ornament, a gold-inlaid jeweled hairpin, a gold-inlaid jade bead hair ornament, pearl earrings, and tinkling jade bracelets...
One type of jewelry alone could fill several dressing cases. When Nianxia brought the items back as instructed, she suspected that the most expensive jewelry in the storeroom was all there.
Unfortunately, my wife has been going to the salt lake frequently in the past two weeks. That kind of place is not only unclean, but she has also stepped into pits.
Nianxia felt sorry for Daili's hard work, but also regretted that all the beautiful clothes and jewelry in the room were useless.
After having breakfast, Dai Li changed into her riding clothes and went out. She couldn't ride a horse, so she traveled by carriage.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the main courtyard. When Dai Li came out of her side room, she saw Qin Shaozong already standing next to the carriage.
For the past two weeks, she and he have been frequently visiting the salt lake. The "refined salt" is like a giant bomb thrown into the sea, and the countdown has begun. It is just waiting for a loud bang to unleash a massive wave from the north that will shock the entire world.
"It seems that Madam had a good rest last night." Qin Shaozong looked at Dai Li walking towards him.
She looked radiant, her already delicate, snow-white skin glowing with a healthy pink hue, her eyes as black as lacquer, bright and spirited, and the cinnabar mole on her forehead was incredibly vivid. She exuded the vibrant energy of a plant striving upwards in spring.
When did it start?
Yes, more than half a month ago, she used her innocence to help him build a fox den in his staff. Since that day, she has visibly become more and more smug.
With its fluffy fox tail wagging in front of him, it would occasionally scratch him with its claws without restraint, which was undeniably arrogant.
Dai Li smiled and nodded, "Thanks to Lord Junhou, I have indeed had a good rest. After the efforts of the past few days, the various pools by the salt lake have been completed, and all the wood ash has been collected. The preliminary work is completely finished. I think the refined salt will be available in two days at most."
The salt production method of cultivating salt fields and irrigating the fields is also known as the "five-step salt production method".
The steps she initially told Nalanzhi only covered the very beginning of brine collection and evaporation; subsequent steps included sifting, brine storage, crystallization, and shoveling out.
If the preliminary work is done correctly and the weather is clear, the operation cycle of the furrow irrigation and sun-drying method is five to seven days.
The weather has been excellent lately. Dai Li just said that "two more days" was the limit, but in reality, it's only a couple more days.
Avoiding the large, dark hand that was about to help her into the carriage, Dai Li got in herself. "Thank you. But I need to let everyone know that the advisors under the Lord are not only resourceful but also physically strong. It's just getting into the carriage; there's no need for the Lord to help me."
As they were talking, Dai Li grabbed the wooden beam and used it for leverage to get into the carriage.
Qin Shaozong only caught a whiff of fragrance before she vanished in the blink of an eye. The faint, lingering scent still lingered around his nose, but she herself was like the fragrance—untouchable and elusive.
Listen to what she just said, and the fox's tail is wagging proudly again.
Qin Shaozong stood outside the carriage for two breaths before stepping into the carriage with a normal expression.
When that child is found, she will have a chance to beg him.
The carriage left the mansion, passed through bustling streets and alleys, and headed towards the south gate.
As you move away from the bustling city, the noise gradually subsides, and the surroundings become quiet. All the details, like planks tossed to the bottom of a rapid current, rise to the surface again after the noise recedes, leaving nothing to hide.
The gaze opposite her was fixed on her the whole time, its presence strong and its aggression undisguised. Whenever she raised her eyes or turned her head, she would meet those brown eyes that resembled those of a large feline.
Dai Li glanced at it indifferently, pretending not to see it.
The carriage exited the city through the south gate.
On the way to the salt lake, we passed through a field. Dai Li lifted the curtain on the side and looked out of the car.
Sow a single grain in spring, reap ten thousand in autumn. Spring is the sowing season, and the men who were previously defeated and captured have now all been put to work in the fields.
Dai Li spotted the dragon-bone waterwheel beside the field. A man in shorts was turning the wheel at the front, and the dragon head immediately spewed water. The strong man was overjoyed, while the farmers queuing up next to him, mostly waiting to "borrow" the wheel, were also full of admiration.
The spring breeze carried the sound of voices.
"It is just like the Dragon King of the water, flying from the river into the farmland to benefit us nameless commoners."
"That's right. Farming is actually quite good. I don't like fighting and killing. After all, you might end up reporting to the King of Hell if you're not careful. I haven't lived enough yet."
“We will plant more wheat as instructed by the government. With this magical tool, the wheat will surely grow well. Once we have paid the required amount of grain, that person said they will release us from our prisoner-of-war status and let us return to being commoners.”
"We'll have to work harder then. Speaking of which, I'm truly grateful to Lady Dai for bringing this magical artifact to Ying County..."
...
Dai Li was stunned. By the time she tried to listen more carefully, the carriage had already moved away from them.
For the past two weeks, she has been shuttling between two points, with nowhere else to go. Only today did she learn that the implementation of the dragon bone waterwheel seems to have deviated somewhat from her expectations.
Dai Li turned to look at the man opposite her, meeting his brown eyes, and asked, "When you were pushing the dragon bone waterwheel, did you tell the commoners about me?"
"Stealing someone else's property is still called theft, let alone taking credit for the work of Heaven and claiming it as one's own?" Qin Shaozong laughed and said, "I only learned about the Dragon Bone Waterwheel because of my wife. What's wrong with telling them about it privately?"
When the list was released, Dai Li was not mentioned. Instead, the city's carpenters were summoned to rush the construction of a dragon-bone waterwheel. The news was spread privately by other people sent to teahouses and restaurants.
According to popular legend, the dragon bone waterwheel was invented by a hermit surnamed Ma. However, the hermit became ill from overwork and his health deteriorated. Before his death, he entrusted a lady surnamed Dai to take the device to the government office and use the government's power to promote it.
Seeing Dai Li staring blankly at him, Qin Shaozong raised his eyebrows slightly, "Why are you staring at me with those big eyes? A real man stands tall and upright, how can he take credit for a woman? Madam should be remembered in history."
Of course, what he didn't say was that besides disdaining to take credit, he had other plans.
A renowned reputation is not a good thing when one is powerless to protect oneself. With her intelligence, she will sooner or later realize that leaving him rashly will only lead to her death.
At this moment, Dai Li had not yet thought of the deeper meaning. After hearing this, she smiled and flattered him, "Your Excellency is wise. It is truly a privilege to serve under you."
Qin Shaozong smiled but remained silent.
The carriage rumbled along the official road and soon arrived at the salt lake.
Due to differences in ionic composition and physical factors, salt lakes come in a wide variety of colors: blue, green, brown, pink... a whole spectrum of hues.
The salt lake in front of Dai Li was a beautiful turquoise, like a sky washed clean, or a captivating expanse of blue water. Its surface was as smooth as a mirror, occasionally rippling in the breeze.
The salt around the salt lake is naturally formed, with large grains and a whiter color than salt produced by boiling the sea and drying it.
But whether it's the salt from this place or other coarse salts available today, the taste is actually very bitter, just like the most intense bitterness in the sea.
Refined salt is sodium chloride, while crude salt contains many impurities besides sodium chloride, including magnesium chloride, which has a rather bitter taste. The purification process from crude salt to refined salt is essentially the removal of impurities.
Upon seeing the familiar carriage stop, Feng Feng, who had been soaking in the salt lake for more than half a month, and Bai Jianping, the head of Nantun Village, quickly stepped forward to greet it.
Both of them were visibly excited, almost dancing with joy. "My Lord, Lady Dai, it's done!"
As they spoke, the two men handed over the cloth bags they were carrying. The bags were open, revealing a piece of pure white material, as clear and white as snow.
Unlike the salt from the salt lake, the salt in this small bag is noticeably purer and finer.
Dai Li was surprised that it was earlier than expected and couldn't help but smile and say, "That's good."
Qin Shaozong reached into his bag, used his long finger to trace a white mark, and then licked it.
The saltiness, so much purer than ever before, exploded on his taste buds. With just this one bite, Qin Shaozong knew that the small bag of salt in Feng Bai's hands was worth more than gold.
What the powerful and wealthy in Chang'an lacked was never money, but the ultimate enjoyment of having what others didn't have and being better at what others had.
Dai Li didn't taste it, after all, no one knew better than her how salty refined salt was. Perhaps it was the strong wind by the lake, but she inexplicably felt a little cold, and a chill rose from her back, making her shiver.
She subconsciously turned around and saw a carriage parked behind her, with a tall horse harnessed to it, snorting loudly. Looking further back, she saw a crystal-blue sky and endless mountains that resembled a jade belt.
In this era, there is no pollution, and everything is so beautiful it's like a painting.
Just as Dai Li was about to turn her head, a small dark shadow suddenly entered her field of vision out of the corner of her eye.
The man beside her had a corner of his black robe flutter in the wind, and this small patch of black became the only shadow in the beautiful picture, like a black claw peeking out from a tiger lurking in the forest.
Dai Li froze, and in a flash, she seemed to understand where the chill came from.
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Author's Note: [Green Heart][Green Heart][Green Heart]
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