32 Chapter 032
◎ Retreat to advance◎
"Today's meal must be my treat!"
Zhang Zhide grabbed Lin Fan's sleeve and led him to a private room on the second floor. After sitting down, he continued, "Let's not talk about how you helped me rent a room in Zhuangyuan Lane. The day before yesterday, I ran into the young master of the county lord's family. Thanks to you for helping me out."
"Brother Zhang, you're so polite." Lin Fan smiled and raised his glass. "I have to patrol the streets this afternoon, so I'll have tea instead of wine to express my gratitude to Brother Zhang."
Zhang Zhide laughed out loud and clinked glasses with him.
"By the way, I heard that Young Master Fan often orders you three shifts of yamen runners around, treating you like private servants." He hesitated, holding the cup. "You helped me out the other day. Did you offend him? In the future..."
Lin Fan didn't answer, only said, "Brother Zhang, walls have ears."
"Okay, okay, I won't talk about this." Zhang Zhide filled his teacup and sighed. "Brother Fan, Magistrate Shen has repeatedly tried to recommend you for a position at the government office. Why don't you go?"
The magistrate was an official position in the government office. The seat of De'an Prefecture was in Anlu, so the government office was also located in Anlu.
Lin Fan smiled and said, "The county government office is pretty good."
"People always strive for higher positions. The salary at the government office is higher, and the status is higher than that of the county yamen runners. In the future, you can marry a better concubine."
"I've never thought about getting married." Lin Fan looked out the window at the river view. "I'm alone and of low status. Why should I make other girls suffer with me?"
"You are of low status?" Zhang Zhide squinted at him. "In Anlu, who doesn't know your great name, Master Lin? Those scoundrels and rogues who come to visit and beat the people are all completely subservient to you."
Lin Fan smiled but said nothing.
Zhang Zhide observed his expression, thought for a moment, and lowered his voice, "But I heard that Lai Tou seems to have gotten some connections with the Eastern Suburbs recently. He's become increasingly arrogant and has even defied the government several times."
The eastern suburbs specifically refer to Prince Liang's Mansion.
"Um."
"You're not in a hurry?"
"This is what people are worried about," Lin Fan pointed to the sky, then to himself, "I'm just a yamen runner, why are you in such a hurry?"
Zhang Zhide frowned, "Without you to stop them, those bastards from Baldy's will start wanting to cause chaos again."
The waiter brought the food and interrupted their chat.
After the waiter left and closed the door, Zhang Zhide continued, "Brother Fan, are you really not going to take care of this?"
"There has to be a reason to control it."
"So, you have a plan?" Zhang Zhide's eyes lit up. "Can you let me hear it, too?"
Lin Fan picked up the teacup and said with a smile, "No one doesn't want to be the boss. Whether Baldy's subordinates obey him or not is another matter."
"I understand." Zhang Zhide chuckled twice. "You want to secretly support another person, let them fight each other, and then after they are both defeated, you will clean up the mess. Who would dare to disobey you?"
Lin Fan: "It doesn't matter whether you listen to me or not, as long as there's no chaos."
"I know that you, Captain Lin, care about the people. Come, brothers, let me toast you."
The conversation next door came through clearly, and Yao Sanniang seemed to be lost in thought.
Xie Mingzhuo lowered his head to eat his food, but in his heart he agreed with the idea of the team leader Lin. It seemed that his becoming the team leader was not entirely due to the life-saving grace.
The people next door started chatting about family matters again.
"Brother Fan, can I stay at your place for a night?"
"how?"
"I had a quarrel with your sister-in-law." Zhang Zhide took a sip of his wine. "I didn't do anything. She just said something to me. I couldn't help it and told her off."
Lin Fan advised, "Sister-in-law has always been reasonable. Perhaps there is some misunderstanding. It would be better to resolve it as soon as possible."
"I asked her but she wouldn't tell me!"
"How do you ask?"
"I asked her if I had done anything wrong, and she said no."
Lin Fan thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps there are some things that are inconvenient to say out loud."
"If she doesn't speak, how can I guess?"
Lin Fan looked at him and smiled, "It's nothing more than those things at home. Brother Zhang has always been careful and cautious in his official duties. If you pay attention and think about it, you might find something strange."
"At home?" Zhang Zhide was puzzled. "There's only my mother and a cousin at home. How could there be... Are you saying that she's because of my mother?"
"Just ask and you'll find out."
Zhang Zhide suddenly realized: "I remember, she told me something before."
"oh?"
"Oh, I'm too embarrassed to tell you about these household chores." Zhang Zhide didn't want to talk about it, but he really couldn't find anyone to confide in. "She told me before that my mother asked her to wash her feet every night. She said it was very tiring."
"How did you reply?"
Zhang Zhide said confidently, "Isn't it right to be filial to your elders? Brother Fan, please judge for me, is there anything wrong with what I said? Anyway, ever since that day, she has been giving me a hard time."
Lin Fan was speechless, sighed and laughed, and shook his head.
"What do you mean?"
"Brother Zhang," Lin Fan put down the teacup and said seriously, "Do you want to reconcile with your sister-in-law?"
"certainly!"
"Go home tonight and wash her feet yourself."
"It's not impossible to wash her feet," Zhang Zhide scratched his head, "but will she greet me with a smile then?"
Lin Fan: "It's only effective temporarily, not long-term."
"What should we do then?"
"From now on, every time my sister-in-law serves me once, you will serve her twice. If you persist for three months, you will see results."
Zhang Zhide was skeptical: "I'll give it a try."
Soon, the two finished their meal, paid the bill and left.
Li Jiuyue spoke at the right time: "Second Mother, that Zhang Dianli just now is the owner of the house that rented to us."
"So it was him."
"Zhang Dianli is a good man," Yao Sanniang came back to her senses, "but he's a bit pedantic."
Xie Mingzhuo nodded: "Sanniang was lost in thought just now. What were you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about what Lin Bantou said."
"What?"
"Letting the bald head and his men fight among themselves, and then cleaning up the mess and establishing prestige, I think it makes sense. What do you think, Second Mother?"
“That does make sense.”
Yao Sanniang looked out the window at the Fuhe River and said softly, "But I still have a question that remains unanswered."
"What is it?"
"If the bald man has three people under him, A, B, and C, he trusts A the most and A will not easily seek power; B always wants to replace A, but the bald man does not value him; C is the weakest and the bald man even wants to send him away to work as a servant for a foreign trade. What is the solution to this situation?"
He was asking about the suppression of bald heads, but he was actually talking about his own difficulties.
Xie Mingzhuo recognized that the C was Yao Sanniang herself.
She pondered for a moment and said, "If I were the head of the forest team, I would first support B and let him fight against A to divide the team. If the bald head showed favoritism, it would naturally cause dissatisfaction among his subordinates, exacerbating the conflict and thus forming a vicious cycle."
Yao Sanniang lowered her eyes and asked, "Can Bing just be sent away?"
Not even qualified to join?
"If I were C, I would retreat first and stay for now before trying other things."
Yao Sanniang immediately raised her eyes and asked, "How can we retreat in order to advance?"
"I have dedicated so many years to the industry. Even if I have no credit, I have worked hard. You can let me leave, but I must pay the compensation I deserve."
"Tell me more specifically."
Xie Mingzhuo smiled and said, "Whether I go to other places to be a servant or not, I must show off my status and not lose the face of Anlu Daxing.
“The horses must be of the finest quality, the carriages must be the most luxurious, and they must be built by the best craftsmen.
“If you need a place to live when you go to another place, you must first prepare a decent property.
"All the travel expenses, the handling fees when arriving at the local area, and the medical expenses for any illness caused by acclimatization, etc., have been arranged for me. If it's any less, I won't go."
Yao Sanniang's previous dejection was gone, and she said excitedly, "Yes, just buying a good horse and building a carriage would take a month or so. If Lai Tou and the others don't agree, it will definitely discourage the people below."
She could pretend to agree to get married, but she would demand the most gorgeous wedding dress, the most lavish dowry, and the most luxurious house. The wedding dress had to be embroidered by the most skillful embroiderer, and a single wedding dress would take several months.
At this time, her father, the Crown Prince, and Xie Yu would definitely relax their vigilance towards her, and she could then secretly muddy the waters and let them fight!
The more she thought about it, the more she felt that this method was brilliant. She grabbed Xie Mingzhuo's hand and said happily, "Second Mother, you really helped me a lot!"
Xie Mingzhuo couldn't help laughing.
"why are you laughing?"
"I'm very happy to help you." Xie Mingzhuo just thought it was funny that King Liang was compared to a bald man by his daughter.
Yao Sanniang expressed her true feelings: "Second Mother, it's great to have a friend like you!"
Her eyes are full of hope for the future.
Xie Mingzhuo was stunned, and a trace of regret and bitterness suddenly emerged in his heart. Putting aside the issue of stance, Yao Sanniang was a friend worth making friends with.
*
A few days later, the Liuliu Grocery Store officially opened.
The loud sound of firecrackers attracted people's attention and crowds flocked to the scene.
Feng Caiyu stood in front of the grocery store, holding a gong. She rang it three times and said loudly, "Dear neighbors, the Liuliu Grocery Store is officially open today. Welcome everyone to our store.
"Everything is 30% off today. Not only that, everything on the east shelf is only three cents! Everything is only three cents!"
The onlookers all exclaimed in surprise. There was no distinction between types, and all were three cents. They had never seen such a deal!
Someone asked, "Where's the west shelf?"
"The items on the west shelf are worth five taels at most and fifty coins at least. As long as you hit the corresponding target with your dart, you can take away the item worth five taels!"
"Five taels!" Everyone exclaimed again, and at the same time became extremely excited.
Feng Caiyu continued to explain the rules: "One dart costs five cents! Five cents!"
"What is this big round plate?" Someone pointed at a wooden round plate standing next to the shelf. It was covered with white paper with areas marked on it, and each area had words written on it.
Feng Caiyu smiled slightly and said, "Every time a transaction reaches 100 coins, there will be a chance to spin the lucky wheel. The highest you can win is 20 coins, and the lowest you can win is 2 coins."
Of course, it must include “Thank you for your patronage”.
Those who were not interested in darts went straight to the east shelf. Each item was three cents, and they had to pick out the most cost-effective one.
There were also those who were confident in their dart skills. They rolled up their sleeves, paid five cents, stood outside the counter, and attacked the target hanging on the wall inside the counter.
The onlookers were concentrating intently, not daring to make a sound.
The man struck a dashing pose, swung his right hand, and threw out a dart. With a snap, it hit the wall and fell to the ground.
Everyone booed.
The man blushed and was unwilling to give up. He paid five cents again, and the dart missed again.
"Can you do it or not? If not, get out of the way. I want to try too."
"For the last time!"
He paid again, took a deep breath, and clenched the dart between his fingers. This time, he aimed longer than the previous two times, so long that everyone was getting impatient before he finally threw it.
“Boom.”
The dart hit the sixth ring. Everyone was stunned for a moment, and after coming to their senses, they all looked at Feng Caiyu.
Feng Caiyu shouted, "Boss, if you hit the sixth ring with your dart, you'll win ten coins!"
"Here I am." Li Jiuyue came out of the warehouse and said with a smile, "Which guest shot it?"
"It's me!" The man raised his hands high.
Li Jiuyue praised, "Sir, you are a handsome man, worthy of being a sharpshooter. Would you like silver or copper coins?"
In the Qi Dynasty, one tael of silver could be exchanged for one thousand wen, and one thousand wen was one string of coins.
The man hurriedly said, "Silver! I want silver!"
"Wait a moment." Li Jiuyue took out some small change from the counter drawer, weighed it out to one ounce, and handed it over. "The silver is yours, sir, please keep it."
The man was overjoyed: "It's really mine?! Fifteen coins for one ounce of silver, what a bargain!"
The onlookers' eyes were red with envy.
"I'll do it!"
"I'm coming too!"
"And me!"
Jiang Qing and Luo Qi maintained order: "Don't push, line up one by one, everyone will get a share!"
The man who got one or two taels of silver squeezed out of the crazy crowd, ran away from the grocery store, and came to the alley across the street.
Someone was already waiting for him in the alley. He handed him ten coins and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Keep the other one or two taels of silver for yourself."
The man smiled happily: "Thank you, boss. Come to me if you need this again in the future!"
Then he took the money and ran away, fearing that the other party would go back on his word.
Yang Yunkai watched him leave and was about to return to Zhuangyuan Lane when he suddenly heard a commotion from the direction of the grocery store.
He walked quietly to the entrance of the alley.
At the door of the grocery store, a group of yamen runners in blue clothes and black boots suddenly appeared. They aggressively drove away the customers and broke into the store.
"Who is in charge?" asked the leading bailiff.
He looked to be in his thirties, with a short beard and a rough and sturdy build.
Li Jiuyue stepped forward and said calmly, "I am."
"A woman." The bailiff sneered and looked her up and down. "What's her name?"
"Li Jiuniang."
"You're quite brave," he said, picking up the darts on the counter. "Do you know what the crime is for illegally manufacturing weapons?"
Li Jiuyue frowned. "I've already reported this to the county government, and the household office has approved it. Besides, this is just a projectile tool, not a weapon."
"Really?" The yamen runner snorted coldly, "Take them all to the yamen for questioning."
Luo Qi tried to step forward, but was forced back by Li Jiuyue's gaze.
The yamen runner mocked: "Oh, you still have your lover to protect you, how touching."
"Don't talk nonsense and slander the boss's reputation!" Luo Qi suddenly spoke out in rebuttal, but his hands were handcuffed by the other yamen runners.
"Take them all away!" The bailiff waved his hand, and Li Jiuyue and others were all taken to the county government office.
Yang Yunkai rushed back to Zhuangyuan Lane and quickly reported the matter.
"It must be Fan Zhao's doing." Xie Mingzhuo said calmly, "Come with me to Carp Lane."
The two of them arrived at Liyu Lane, and it happened that Yao Sanniang was not at home that day.
Yao Sanniang continued to be "sick" for a few days, and felt that the time was ripe, so she returned to Prince Liang's Mansion today.
Prince Liang leaned against the railing of the pavilion, holding a piece of fish food in his hand, and said gently, "I heard that you were ill these days. How are you now?"
"I'm fully recovered." Yao Sanniang stood behind him with a respectful look.
King Liang chuckled, put down the fish food, and turned to look at her: "Look at you, you've been sick, but you think you've figured it out?"
"Father didn't give me any other choice."
"You blame me?"
"No," Yao Sanniang said half-truthfully, "I'm just a little unwilling."
Prince Liang wiped his fingertips with a wet handkerchief and said slowly, "Am I not treating you well enough?"
"My daughter will never forget the kindness of my father in raising me."
"Sanniang, life is not perfect. Many times, we are forced to do things against our will. I am just like you. There are many things I want to do but cannot do. I understand your unwillingness, because I am also unwilling to do so."
Yao Sanniang's face was moved: "Father is right."
"You are my daughter. Our destinies are closely linked. I support you in doing what you want to do, but not right now. If you want freedom, you must pay the price first. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Yao Sanniang seemed genuinely convinced. "Only if my father fulfills his wish can I receive your blessing and gain true freedom."
"Yes, it's good that you can think this through." King Liang couldn't help but smile. "Father will not harm you."
Yao Sanniang lowered her head and said, "But father, I feel wronged to marry an old man."
"Whatever you want, as long as my father can do it, I will grant you."
Yao Sanniang's eyes lit up with anticipation: "You mentioned before that if I'm willing, you'll make me a princess."
The process of requesting the title of princess will take at least more than a month.
Prince Liang did not hesitate: "I will write a letter requesting a title tonight and have it delivered to the capital tomorrow. I hope the emperor's nephew will show respect to me, his uncle."
"I also want the most beautiful wedding dress in the world!"
"Can."
"A dowry suitable for a princess's wedding."
"As long as the request for the title is successful, father will definitely get it done for you."
"I'm also going to build a princess's mansion over there."
"……OK."
Yao Sanniang looked at his expression and said cautiously, "I have one last request."
"you say."
"My mother's position..."
"Sanniang." Prince Liang's smile faded. "The number of concubines is fixed and has been recorded in the imperial clan records. Don't mess around."
Yao Sanniang naturally knew this truth, and she said it on purpose just to show that she was getting more and more demanding.
Suddenly coming to his senses and being easy to talk to will definitely arouse suspicion.
She lowered her head unwillingly.
"Alright, Daddy promises you that even though your mother's position is low, her treatment in the mansion is no less than that of a concubine."
Only then did Yao Sanniang nod in agreement.
"Father," said the Crown Prince Xie Yi, striding over, "someone just now came to the steward with a Datong token, asking for help."
"oh?"
"The talisman is..." Xie Yu looked at Yao Sanniang, "It belongs to Sanniang."
Prince Liang's eyes suddenly turned sharp as he looked at Yao Sanniang and asked, "What's going on?"
"It must be Jiuniang and the others who were bullied." Yao Sanniang turned around and was about to leave.
"Stop." King Liang's eyes were gloomy. "Speak clearly."
Yao Sanniang made a long story short and told the story of the ruined temple protecting people.
"Sanniang, you're being too reckless! How can you lend the talisman to others so casually?" Xie Yi reprimanded gently, "And now that you're back, why don't you take it back?"
Yao Sanniang curled her lips and said, "I was told I couldn't escort anymore when I came back. What's the point of getting that badge back?"
“…”
"Alright." King Liang's expression softened. "Since he's your friend, go and help him. Bring the talisman back and give it to your elder brother."
Yao Sanniang nodded silently, turned and left.
"Father, do you want to investigate those six people?" Xie Yu asked in a low voice after Yao Sanniang walked away.
King Liang nodded and said, "You go and do it."
Yao Sanniang's talisman was very effective. Xie Mingzhuo took it to find the manager of Datong Coach and Horse Trading Company. After the manager verified its authenticity, he immediately took her to the yamen to find He Xiancheng.
When County Magistrate He heard the purpose of the visit, he immediately said, "Come here, go and invite the household clerk and the head of the household department, Lin."
The first to arrive was Lin Bantou.
He was wearing a blue robe and black boots, and strode into the house. When he saw Xie Mingzhuo, surprise flashed in his eyes, but he shifted his gaze away without a trace, passed by the steward Datong, and then bowed and clasped his fists.
"Please give your instructions, County Magistrate."
County Magistrate He sat behind his desk, his face solemn as he asked, "Let me ask you, at the beginning of the Si hour, did you send someone to the Liuliu Grocery Store to capture someone?"
Lin Fan said, "It's the beginning of the Si hour. I'm patrolling Xinjie and not in the yamen."
"Go to the Third Class Yamen and find out the situation."
"Yes." Lin Fan turned and left.
After a while, he came back holding someone, followed by the household registration clerk with staggering steps.
He pushed with his hand, and the man staggered forward. There were obvious bruises on his face, and his eyes were full of resentment.
"Huang Ding, under the instructions of Master Fan, deliberately caused trouble and arrested people on the opening day of the Liuliu Grocery Store, even though the household documents had already given permission. Master Liu can testify to this."
Master Liu nodded.
County Magistrate He remained calm and said, "Huang Ding, is what Lin Fan said true?"
Huang Ding snorted but didn't refute.
Although the county magistrate's rank is not as high as that of the county magistrate, County Magistrate Fan has just arrived and the affairs of the county government still have to rely on the county magistrate and other officials. County Magistrate He has accumulated power in the government office for many years and his words are more effective than those of the county magistrate.
"Let them go and go to the torture chamber to receive your punishment."
Huang Ding walked out silently, made a "Pooh" sound at the door, spat out a mouthful of blood foam, and glared at Lin Fan fiercely.
Lin Fan seemed unaware and turned his head to ask Xie Mingzhuo, "I wonder who this young lady is to Li Jiuniang?"
"She is my aunt." Xie Mingzhuo replied.
Lin Fan politely extended his hand: "Please follow me."
【Author’s words】
Send 100 red envelopes~
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