Chapter 95 An Outrageous Demand (Begging for votes!)
The apology is over.
The banquet continued.
However, besides the dejected Liu Zilin, there was also a kneeling Hu woman at the dining table.
Both men knelt before the two guests who had come that day.
The young magistrate finally picked up his chopsticks and dipped them in the food.
After drinking the apology wine, the young master of the Liu family sighed deeply, his face sincere:
“Your Excellency, upon closer examination, aside from some unpleasant incidents caused by my younger brother, the Liu family shouldn’t have offended you in any way. There’s really no need for us to make things so tense. Our Liu family is also a citizen of Longcheng County.”
Ouyang Rong neither agreed nor disagreed.
Despite his calm demeanor throughout, his right forearm still hurts a bit from when his junior sister pinched it, but he can't show it right now.
Xie Lingjiang said coldly, "You didn't offend Senior Brother? What about the burning of the accounts in the East Warehouse?"
Liu Ziwen feigned confusion: "What burning of the tents? Didn't we hear about the accidental fire in the east warehouse?"
Xie Lingjiang nodded: "It was an accidental fire, and it just so happened that only your Liu family's account books were destroyed, right? This fire really knows how to pick its targets."
Liu Ziwen pretended to be stupid while drinking and didn't reply.
Xie Lingjiang seemed to notice that her senior brother's arm was injured, and silently put a piece of food on his plate.
Ouyang Rong put down his chopsticks and spoke directly:
"Master Liu, stop beating around the bush. I've invited you to dinner today, and it's certainly not just a boring apology. What's your purpose? Just say it."
Liu Ziwen swallowed his polite words and immediately said:
"Then I, Liu, will not hide anything... Our Liu family also wants to invest in the construction of the Zheyi Canal, which is overseen by the magistrate."
Ouyang Rong chuckled and said:
"The Liu family is already so rich. The entire west bank of Butterfly Creek is now filled with the sword-making furnaces of your Liu family's sword shop. There's also a large commercial street and shops at Penglangdu Wharf that belong to your Liu family. Aren't you satisfied yet?"
Liu Ziwen leaned forward and said earnestly:
"No one dislikes having too much money, and the Liu family is no exception. The Liu family has come this far because of the eight-character ancestral motto of being prepared for danger in times of peace and making plans in advance. Once the Broken Wing Canal is completed, the most valuable area in Longcheng County will no longer be Penglangdu and the banks of the current Butterfly Creek."
"Your Excellency is the parent official of all the people of Longcheng, and the Liu family are also good citizens of Longcheng County. Your Excellency is leading the people of Longcheng County to dig canals to get rich. It would be inappropriate to have anyone missing."
"Our Liu family also wants to get involved in the Zheyiqu project. We hope that you, sir, will not hesitate to point out a suitable path."
Ouyang Rong observed his sincere expression for a moment, as if sizing him up, and then smiled:
“Since we are all people from Longcheng County, there are legitimate paths available. All roads lead to Chang’an. What kind of legitimate path does the Liu family want? It depends on how much money Master Liu is willing to pay to buy it.”
Liu Ziwen nodded, leaned back in his chair, took a sip of his drink, and pondered:
"The Liu family is willing to provide a group of their most skilled craftsmen to help the county government build the Di Gong Gate."
A tension that had been building up inside Ouyang Rong eased slightly, but a look of hesitation appeared on his face: "How do you cultivate it?"
Liu Ziwen replied smoothly, "Naturally, the county government took the lead in raising funds for the 'sluice gate repair,' and my Liu family took the lead in fundraising, and then the money collected..."
Ouyang Rong interrupted directly, "Are you still talking about splitting it 30/70?"
Liu Ziwen glanced at his expression and shook his head:
"Seven-tenths can go to the county government, and our Liu family only needs the remaining thirty percent as payment for the sluice gate repairmen. This won't cost the county government or the magistrate a single penny; on the contrary, the magistrate can..."
Ouyang Rong interrupted rudely again: "That won't do either. What kind of bullshit fundraising is this? The Longcheng County Government will not squeeze a single penny out of the people."
Liu Ziwen frowned deeply: "Where will the money for repairing the sluice gate come from?"
Ouyang Rong looked at him curiously: "Didn't your brother tell you after he went back?"
Liu Ziwen was taken aback: "What did you say?"
Your Liu family is the one who came here kneeling and begging for food.
Ouyang Rong thought for a moment, but didn't say anything that would embarrass him.
He said this to Liu Zian through Liu Lang's words. Liu Zian felt humiliated, so it's normal that he didn't go back and say it.
However, someone who is very considerate of others' feelings still kindly reminded them:
"The county government will not contribute a single copper coin to the repair of the Di Gong Dam this time."
Liu Ziwen asked, puzzled, "Then how can we repair it? We're not raising funds, and the county government isn't contributing any money..."
Under the kind and expectant gaze of the local official, the young master of the Liu family suddenly stopped speaking, his facial expression gradually stiffening.
Ouyang Rong nodded: "That's right, we'll have to trouble Master Liu to pay for the construction himself."
Xie Ling, standing to the side, frowned and said:
“Senior brother, the Liu family is paying for the craftsmen and materials, but we also need to put in some effort. After all, if it's officially our county government that builds it, that will be part of your achievements, right?”
"Junior sister is absolutely right."
Ouyang Rong nodded, his expression slightly embarrassed, and suggested:
"Then let the county government provide a group of young and strong refugees to repair the sluice gate, but Master Liu, remember to pay them their wages on time."
"..."
Liu Ziwen suddenly understood why his second brother had been so emotional when he came home to report that afternoon.
He licked his dry lips, then finally downed the drink in his glass in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and said:
“Sir, the construction of Di Gong Dam is beneficial to the entire Longcheng County. It would be too…unjust for the Liu family to contract it all out. How could the Liu family accept such a great blessing?”
Ouyang Rong nodded in agreement:
“You really can’t handle this blessing, so nominally it’s our Longcheng County Government that’s doing the repairs. We’ll take on the burden of the blessing. I’ll also send some county clerks to go and oversee the work with the displaced young men. Remember to cooperate, Liu family.”
"?"
Liu Ziwen stared speechlessly at the shameless guy opposite him, a fire raging in his heart.
They got something for nothing, and they even got all the benefits, right?!
The Liu family has repaired the Di Gong Sluice Gate so many times, largely because they also needed to control the water level of Butterfly Creek for certain purposes. But every time they cooperated with the county government, they were in control. They've never been this humiliated! They don't even have equal status. Do they think they're begging on their knees?
Ouyang Rong glanced at Liu Ziwen's somber expression, then suddenly chuckled and asked:
"Does your Liu family even need me to show you the way?"
Liu Ziwen gritted his teeth:
"Alright, I'll do whatever you say, sir."
Ouyang Rong nodded with satisfaction.
My second brother is right. We must be patient and prioritize the bigger picture… Liu Ziwen took a deep breath.
He gathered his thoughts, preparing to bring up the matter of the Broken Wing Canal, which he valued most, when Xie Lingjiang suddenly said:
"Wait, my senior brother and I have one more small condition."
Ouyang Rong looked over but did not stop him.
Liu Ziwen frowned, then relaxed: "What is it, Miss Xie? Please speak. I hope... it's just a small condition."
The young master of the Liu family emphasized the word "small" more.
Xie Lingjiang waved her hand and said, "Your Liu family's porridge stall and orphanage are to be closed from today onwards. They are not allowed to open again."
Liu Ziwen silently turned his head and stared at her for a long time, even longer than when he had just been taken advantage of by Di Gongzha.
"Why?" he suddenly asked. "As far as I can see, they shouldn't be bothering the magistrate and Miss Xie right now, do they?"
Xie Lingjiang slightly raised her chin: "It's in the way, it's an eyesore."
Ouyang Rong noticed that the veins on Liu Ziwen's forehead visibly bulged and twitched.
Xie Lingjiang sat upright, his eyes fixed on the person opposite him.
Liu Ziwen squinted and met her gaze.
The atmosphere at the table fell silent for a moment.
Seeing the young master of the Liu family remain silent for a long time before agreeing, the young county magistrate was slightly surprised, mainly because he did not expect the negotiations to stall over such a small matter.
Because the porridge stalls and orphanages that were still operating in the west of the city are now practically bankrupt.
However, he was obviously helping his junior sister.
The young magistrate rolled up his right sleeve, glanced down at the red handprint on his forearm, and muttered:
"Shut it down, Mr. Liu. Stop deceiving yourself. Everyone knows what kind of shady business it was. What's a thousand-year-old fox doing singing ghost stories?"
Liu Ziwen didn't ask what Liaozhai was. He remained silent for a while, then tilted his head back and gulped down a cup of wine, exhaling a long breath of alcohol.
"The orphanage can be closed, but the soup kitchen cannot. It was set up by my father and has sentimental value. Miss Xie, how about we each compromise?"
Xie Lingjiang stubbornly shook her head.
Liu Ziwen's cheeks twitched.
Ouyang Rong looked up and said:
"I have heard about the matter concerning the old master of the Liu family. If the version I heard is correct, then I truly feel deep regret regarding the matter concerning the old master of the Liu family."
Liu Ziwen shook his head, seemingly unwilling to bring up these old stories again, or rather, unwilling to listen to them at all.
He simply said, "Magistrate, Miss Xie, while we're in high spirits from the wine, how about I tell you a little story?"
"Oh?" the young magistrate asked curiously, "What story?"
Liu Ziwen squinted: "I once read the story of 'changing one's mind frequently' in a book."
Ouyang Rong raised an eyebrow.
The photo is in the bonus chapter, and I kept my word... I tried my best, brothers, this is really all I could manage QWQ... Finally, in this new March, please give me some votes! Waaaaah... (hugging for support)
(End of this chapter)
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