Chapter 300: Do Merchants Also Worry About the People?
Being coquettish and silly is a woman's little privilege.
Even if she's a woman in her thirties or past her prime.
After being grabbed by the wrist, Ouyang Rong and Pei Shisan Niang looked at each other. The somewhat awkward and stiff atmosphere was quickly dispelled by a joke.
Ouyang Rong casually released the wrist of the noblewoman in the purple-gold robe.
The latter regained his warm smile, left Qin Xiaoniangzi's side, and went to sit down with Ouyang Rong.
"Come this way, Chief Secretary, don't let these silly girls spoil your fun."
The two sat down again.
Inside the main hall of the secluded courtyard, the sound of the pipa continued to resonate.
A renowned courtesan, famous along the Xunyang River, was dressed in a blue men's robe, her breasts half-exposed, holding a pipa and playing it with her head bowed.
On the right cheek of that small face, where her brows were habitually slightly furrowed, a reddish handprint was clearly visible.
While playing the pipa, Qin Siyu secretly cast a grateful glance at Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and drank his tea, ignoring everything.
Pei Shisan Niang, who was sitting next to Qin Siyu, lowered her head and drank her tea. Out of the corner of her eye, she took in the whole scene. Instead of scolding or stopping Qin Siyu, she silently observed Ouyang Rong's reaction to the beauty's gratitude.
Unfortunately, the unassuming young man in front of me, dressed casually, remained calm and composed, drinking tea alone, seemingly oblivious to any romantic sentiments.
Pei Shisan Niang frowned almost imperceptibly.
However, at least he didn't leave immediately.
Pei Shisan Niang quickly calmed down, poured tea with her delicate hands, and wore a smile on her face.
Ouyang Rong took a bite of the pastry, then suddenly turned to the naked maidservant standing beside him with her head bowed and said, "Put on your skirt."
Hongxiao's face was as red as a ripe apple, but she didn't dare to move at all, turning her head to look at Pei Shisan Niang.
Ouyang Rong also turned to look at her, and Pei Shisan Niang immediately raised her eyebrows in anger:
"Why are you looking at me? Listen to the Chief Secretary and put on a skirt. Such licentious behavior is unbecoming."
Hongxiao hurriedly ran to put on her clothes.
Ouyang Rong glanced at Pei Shisan Niang, who had a standard smile on her face, but didn't say anything.
He gently shook his head and took a sip of tea.
In fact, the moment that elegant lady who loves wearing sashes slapped Qin Siyu in a fit of rage was a test.
This was the second test. The first time, of course, was to invite him into the courtyard, where a man and a woman were alone, the woman naked, to see if it was like dry wood meeting a raging fire, or if a gentleman would remain prudent in solitude.
This Pei Shisan Niang wanted to figure out his character and temperament, or rather, to see if he was like a weak, bookish, and impulsive civil official, easy to manipulate and control.
Ouyang Rong put down his teacup, looked at Pei Shisan Niang, who was sitting in front of him with her head bowed and eyes downcast, serving tea obediently like a kind and gentle woman, and got straight to the point:
"Speak, Madam Pei, what are your instructions for inviting me here tonight, after all the trouble you've gone to?"
"I dare not give orders," Pei Shisan Niang waved her hand, her face showing a weak and self-reproachful expression.
"I was just serving Master Changshi some Yunwu tea when I didn't expect him to arrive so early..."
“These young ladies are ignorant and full of ulterior motives. They accidentally offended the Chief Secretary. I was worried that the Chief Secretary would be dissatisfied and leave. Fortunately, the Chief Secretary is very magnanimous.”
Pei Shisan Niang picked up her teacup, stood up, and earnestly offered tea: "Come, Chief Secretary, I apologize for my negligence and neglect just now."
Ouyang Rong shook his head, chuckled, and said meaningfully, "It doesn't matter if they're immature, as long as Madam Pei is sensible."
"Giggle." Pei Shisan Niang covered her mouth with her long sleeve: "The Chief Secretary's words are truly amusing."
Ouyang Rong didn't smile, but stared at her intently, as if waiting for the main topic to get started.
Pei Shisan Niang had no choice but to put down her teacup, stop joking, and nod, saying:
"To be honest, Chief Secretary, besides wanting to see your esteemed face, I did have some ulterior motives for inviting you here."
Before Ouyang Rong could speak, she continued:
"But if it's just the private interests of a few people or a few businesses, how could I possibly have the face to come and talk to you, Chief Secretary?"
"I have always disliked that kind of corrupt practice between merchants and officials. Although I have seen many similar things over the years of doing business, I cannot say anything, but I still deeply abhor it."
Pei Shisan Niang paused mid-sentence, looking at Ouyang Rong with a face full of admiration:
"Today I had the pleasure of meeting the Chief Secretary, whose exemplary conduct and upright character moved me deeply. It seems that there are still officials of such high moral character as you."
"This time, I have not chosen the wrong person."
Ouyang Rong blushed a little from the praise and couldn't help but glance at Pei Shisan Niang, who was serious and righteous.
No, flattery is one thing, but what's with that look of delight at seeing a kindred spirit?
So, the "sexual bribery" just now wasn't arranged by you?
Ouyang Rong's eyes held a hint of suspicion, which he didn't reveal. He looked Pei Shisan Niang up and down, then nodded and said:
"Madam, you flatter me. Speak plainly, what is it that you need me for?"
"good."
Pei Shisan Niang stood up straight and said with a sincere expression:
"I have heard of the benevolent deeds of the Chief Secretary in Longcheng County, including disaster relief and flood control. Today, I would like to ask the Chief Secretary for guidance and corrections on matters concerning the benevolent flood control..."
"oh?"
"Has the newly appointed Chief Secretary been aware that Xingzifang suffers from floods every summer?"
"I've heard a little about it," Ouyang Rong nodded.
Pei Shisan Niang asked cautiously, "Does the young master know the specific reason, or rather, does he have a solution?"
Ouyang Rong smiled at her and shook his head.
Pei Shisan Niang sighed:
"To be honest, I heard about this matter as soon as I arrived in Xunyang City. At first, I didn't pay much attention to it, but it wasn't until this summer, when I passed through there and was caught in the flood, that I realized how much this matter harmed the people."
"Later I discovered that in the whole city, only Xingzifang was most severely affected by the flood, while the other wards, such as Chaisangfang and Lianxifang, were not troubled by the flood."
"So I have carefully investigated over the past few months and found that the reasons are roughly twofold."
“Go ahead and speak,” Ouyang Rong said, narrowing his eyes.
Seeing his interested expression, Pei Shisan Niang's smile brightened, and she held up two fingers:
"First of all, Xingzifang is located at a very low elevation, making it the lowest point in Xunyang City."
"Secondly, Xingzifang, like Chaisangfang, is the earliest main urban area of Xunyang City and the two oldest neighborhoods."
"Therefore, the buildings are old, and the drainage facilities such as sewers and canals are outdated and have not been repaired for many years, so they naturally age and become clogged, resulting in poor drainage."
She gently shook two fingers:
"With these two factors combined, Xingzifang naturally suffers from severe flooding, and the relatively poor people living there are flooded every year."
Ouyang Rong nodded, glancing at Pei Shisan Niang again: "That makes sense, so... is what Madam wants to say today related to this?"
"Of course it's relevant."
Pei Shisan Niang leaned forward, personally taking the teacup from Hongxiao's hand, and gently poured tea for Ouyang Rong, her voice as soft and sweet as a mother cat's:
"Before you took office as Chief Secretary, the officials in Jiangzhou did not pay much attention to this matter. After all, it is not easy to find a capable and pragmatic minister like you who cares about the country and its people."
"Having exhausted all other options, I had no choice but to personally consult several experts in water conservancy... Finally, I came up with a solution that would satisfy both parties."
Ouyang Rong raised an eyebrow, "How can we achieve the best of both worlds?"
"As expected, my lord always cares about the well-being of the people. It seems we have found the right person today."
She smiled gently, took a drawing from her sleeve, placed it on the table between them, pressed two fingers, and slid it out:
"Please take a look, sir."
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and began to read.
Pei Shisan Niang stared intently at Ouyang Rong's expression. She took a sip of tea, moistened her red lips, and softly guided him:
"The solution is not difficult. It only requires repairing the sewers and drainage ditches of each street in Xingzifang. We need to invite relevant craftsmen from Chang'an, Luoyang and other places to introduce the advanced drainage technology of these big cities."
"I had my manager do the math and we're going to renovate the whole place. It might cost a little more money, but it will solve the flooding problem in Xingzifang once and for all."
Ouyang Rong glanced at the drawings and nodded slightly: "That makes sense." After a pause, he judged: "The plan is feasible."
Pei Shisan Niang's smile grew even warmer and brighter: "It is indeed the Chief Secretary who has discerning eyes, seeing through the clues at a glance."
Ouyang Rong put down the draft and said with some emotion, "I didn't expect Madam Pei to care so much about the people of Xingzifang. She is a conscientious businesswoman."
Pei Shisan Niang smiled and said, "Merchants are indeed profit-driven, but they should also strive for win-win situations and give back to the people."
Ouyang Rong nodded and asked, "So, what does Madam Pei mean by showing me this proposal...?"
Pei Shisan Niang said directly:
"My lord, there's no need for the Jiangzhou government to contribute funds. I am not particularly talented, but I know some fellow merchants from Yangzhou who are equally enthusiastic and concerned about the floods in Xunyang..."
"After all, we've been in Xunyang City for a long time and have come to regard it as our second home. So, we discussed it and decided to raise money to repair these drainage facilities for the people of Jiangzhou and Xingzifang free of charge."
Ouyang Rong's expression remained unchanged; he didn't immediately show any joy. He slowly sipped his tea and said:
"The Jiangzhou government has considered repairing the drainage ditches of the entire neighborhood."
"But it requires the demolition of many old houses, which has a wide impact. There are too many residents in Xingzifang, including workers from Xunyang Wharf, peddlers in the streets and alleys, and outsiders who come to make a living... all of them live in this neighborhood."
“Renovation can easily affect people’s livelihoods. The most crucial point is that the landlords of those old houses in Xingzifang are unwilling to agree, which delays their rent collection for several months.”
Pei Shisan Niang listened attentively, and after hearing it, she frowned slightly, seemingly also troubled:
“What you say is right, sir. It is indeed necessary to demolish most of the old houses in the neighborhood, but the landlords who rely on their houses to collect rent will not allow it.”
After hesitating for only three breaths, her expression turned resolute, and she nodded vigorously:
"My lord, how about this? Let's just buy all these old, dilapidated houses. My fellow villagers and I will buy as many as there are, but..."
She looked embarrassed, as if she were a little ashamed.
"However, we would like to ask the Chief Secretary and the Grand Secretary of Jiangzhou for a small favor: to issue some official documents and regulations ordering the landlords to sell their property deeds within a limited time. Our merchant guild is willing to buy them all at the current market price. What do you think of this plan? Is it simple?"
Ouyang Rong didn't answer, but tilted his head to look at her:
"Madam Pei is repairing the drainage ditches and spending money to buy all the old houses in Xingzifang. Why is she only making money by losing money?"
Before Pei Shisan Niang could answer, he suddenly said:
"After demolishing the old houses and renovating the drainage ditches throughout the neighborhood, what will you do? What will you do on the land where you originally owned the property deeds?"
"Um…"
Pei Shisan Niang looked helpless:
"To be honest, Chief Secretary, we plan to rebuild some new, high-quality houses on this land, like those in Xiushuifang and Lianxifang, with red walls and black tiles, for sale or to rent out."
"Xingzifang is located near the riverbank, boasting exceptional scenery, and is also adjacent to the incomparably bustling Xunyangdu..."
"Well, actually we're not losing money; we can even make a small profit."
Ouyang Rong tilted his head and asked again, "Really only a little profit?"
Pei Shisan Niang's smile was slightly awkward, but then she gave him a charmingly reproachful look.
Ouyang Rong smiled.
Pei Shisan Niang covered her mouth and chuckled.
It seems there's some unspoken understanding between them.
Ouyang Rong asked, "Madam, you've tried buying old houses in Xingzifang before, haven't you?"
“Yes, but…” Pei Shisan Niang chuckled awkwardly, “There are too many landlords, some of them are inflexible and unwilling to sell, or they ask for exorbitant prices. They are clearly dilapidated houses that can’t be rented out for much money. I don’t know where they get their confidence from.”
"So you need help from the Jiangzhou government office?"
"Actually, this also helps Xunyang City and contributes to the young master's political achievements."
"What's the meaning?"
"Xingzifang is full of dilapidated houses, a mixed bag of people, which greatly affects the city's security and appearance. If we buy them, we can not only renovate the sewers, but also build magnificent mansions, just like Luoyang and Chang'an, with clean streets. This will benefit Xunyang as a whole and will also be a political achievement for the officials of Jiangzhou."
"Then your prices must be quite high, right?"
"My lord, we must earn something."
She paused for a moment, then looked at Ouyang Rong cautiously: "How about... we invest some money in the Jiangzhou Hall to take a stake? Or, does my lord have any friends who are also concerned about the people and would like to join in and invest? We can discuss it."
Ouyang Rong ignored him and suddenly asked, "What happened to the original tenants after Xingzi Lane was renovated?"
"You can buy the house, or continue renting it out."
Ouyang Rong smiled and nodded, suggesting, "The house is so new and tall, the rent should be raised too."
Pei Shisan Niang nodded: "Of course. After we buy all these plots of land and rebuild the houses, we will determine a unified price based on the situation. Don't worry, Chief Secretary, Xunyang City is so prosperous that there will definitely be no shortage of tenants. There will be no ghost houses or empty rooms. It will also attract more wealthy merchants to settle here, killing two birds with one stone."
"That's true, you guys are really smart."
Ouyang Rong smiled and nodded in agreement, but the next moment, he stood up with a cold face, turned around and left: "I have other matters to attend to, farewell."
Pei Shisan Niang was taken aback: "Is my lord dissatisfied?"
She got up and chased after him, a little anxious: "Why is that? It's clearly a win-win situation. If there's anything you're not satisfied with, my lord, you can just say so..."
Ouyang Rong didn't turn his head, and said something unclear:
“I think Xingzifang is dirty and dilapidated, but it’s also quite nice. I have a colleague who lives there and is very happy. He tells me every day that the roadside stalls in Xingzifang are diverse, cheap and delicious, which are not available in the clean and tidy Chaisangfang. He is more energetic when he goes on duty every day.”
Pei Shisan Niang's expression froze: "Is my lord considering the well-being of a friend?"
Ouyang Rong was too lazy to explain and prepared to leave.
The next instant.
"Senior Brother?"
Suddenly, a woman's shout came from the secluded courtyard outside.
Everyone turned to look, and a figure in fiery red rushed into the hall.
Are you alright?
Seeing that Ouyang Rong was safe and sound, Xie Lingjiang breathed a sigh of relief. But the next second, her eyes fell on the familiar robe covering Qin Siyu's delicate body.
Xie Lingjiang silently looked at her senior brother.
The two stared at each other, wide-eyed.
The air suddenly became a little quiet.
(End of this chapter)
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