Chapter 49 Good Brother-in-Law! (Third update, begging for first-time subscription votes!)
A kitten's meow doesn't sound like laughter.
What kind of cat is this? Is it from a grave?
The main hall of the county government office.
Everyone was speechless.
Ouyang Rong looked expectant as he awaited their reply.
The hot-tempered shopkeeper, Mr. Ma, couldn't hold back any longer and interjected:
“Your Excellency, this grain of ours was actually borrowed. We borrowed it to sell because we saw that the people of Longcheng County were suffering and lacking food. Now we have to return it. We can’t just leave it all in Longcheng.”
Wang Caozhi nodded: "That's right, that's right. Maybe the disaster-stricken people in other counties need it too. It's better to transport some out. The people of Longcheng can't eat so much."
If the people of Longcheng can't consume so much grain, then why transport so much grain here? Isn't it just greed that leads them to covet the high grain prices in Longcheng? With more grain than people, the grain prices are rising instead of falling... Xie Lingjiang, who was listening in the back hall, clenched her slender fist, but then quickly relaxed it.
Hmph, now that your senior brother has locked you in the dog door, you've finally learned to be scared after hoarding so much grain?
Inside the hall, Manager Li and other grain merchants echoed his sentiments.
He thought he would be given further difficulties, but to his surprise, Ouyang Rong, who had been listening attentively, immediately nodded and made a decision. He patted the armrest of the wooden chair and said solemnly:
"It is kind of you gentlemen to have such compassion for the people. I can only govern one county and one region, but you gentlemen have the opportunity to benefit the people in various places through your business. You have worked so hard. Since you have such a great sense of righteousness, how can I hold you back? The grain at the dock can be transported! I will do my best to assist you!"
Such a straightforward attitude left Wang Caozhi, Manager Ma, Manager Li, and the others completely bewildered. Even after hearing Ouyang Rong's words, the group of seasoned veterans who had traveled all over the country blushed a little.
Wang Caozhi tentatively asked, "Then... shall we move it now? But what about those yamen runners outside the warehouse..."
Ouyang Rong waved his hand kindly and turned to instruct, "Sixth Brother, go and remove the men."
Constable Yan suddenly knelt on the ground, his neck stiff and face flushed: "Your Excellency, we can't retreat all of us!"
The young magistrate frowned, his voice sharp and stern:
"Just withdraw when I tell you to! Why all this nonsense? I know exactly who is here. Every one of you is loyal to the emperor and loves your country. You are definitely not the kind of rats who steal grain from the granaries!"
Yan Liulang, clutching the hem of the young magistrate's robe, pleaded with him to the death, tears streaming down his face.
"Your Excellency, please reconsider! This is an order from Inspector Shen. If we release them all without investigating a single one, how will you explain it to Inspector Shen? He is known for his impartiality and might even dismiss you from your post..."
"So be it! I, Ou, am not afraid!"
"Your Excellency!"
"Let go!"
"Don't loosen it!"
"I told you to let go!"
"Your Excellency, please reconsider! You should at least investigate this thoroughly before releasing them!"
"you!"
Ouyang Rong sighed in regret, while Yan Liulang clung tightly to his leg.
The master and servant's intense struggle left the grain merchants completely stunned.
Even the thick-skinned Wang Caozhi couldn't help but mutter, "How about... we do a show inspection? Anyway, our grain is really innocent."
But little did they expect that this little murmur would be like a stone thrown into water, causing ripples throughout the entire scene.
Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang immediately stopped pulling at each other and turned to look at him. The other grain merchants also looked over with dissatisfaction.
"..." Wang Caozhi.
Damn, I was just saying it offhand, don't look at me!
Yan Liulang tentatively suggested, "Your Excellency, how about we do as this gentleman suggested, investigate one family and let them go? At least we'll make it look like a show."
Ouyang Rong hesitated for a moment, then sighed bitterly, "Then open your eyes wide and see if I've wronged an innocent person. See if what I'm saying is right."
Yan Liulang nodded hastily. Then, the blue-clad constable discussed the matter with the young magistrate, whose face was flushed with anger and impatience. Finally, the latter reluctantly agreed to a plan that would take into account both internal and external factors.
Meanwhile, the eighteen grain merchants waiting on the sidelines stared at each other, wondering if something was amiss with the smooth development of the situation. Wang Caozhi, Manager Ma, Manager Li, and the others couldn't help but look on with suspicion.
Before the group could think further, the young magistrate, who was known for his love and care for the people, turned around, his face somewhat apologetic, and said:
"Since the Inspector has ordered our local government to investigate, I must give him an explanation."
"Gentlemen, how about this? You can continue selling grain in Longcheng for now. Constable Yan will lead a team to work overtime to check your grain hoarding, verifying the year and origin of the grain. Rest assured, as long as the grain is clean, we will not stop you from transporting it. I will personally issue you customs clearance permits, and the yamen will also organize manpower and ships for you to escort you out of the country!"
Manager Ma asked anxiously, "Sir, how long will it take to complete the inspection of the stockpiled grain? If it takes too long, the grain will become stale and we won't be able to sell it..." Seeing Ouyang Rong turn to look at him, he quickly nodded and explained, "I'm mainly worried about the suffering of the people in other counties. We can't just send them stale grain to eat, can we?"
"I see." The young magistrate nodded, looking somewhat confused, and smiled sheepishly.
"Actually, this is my first time serving as a local official, and I don't know much about these things. You will handle the specific matters with Constable Yan, and he will cooperate with you well. Don't worry, I will keep an eye on things. You can raise any questions you may have."
Yan Liulang faced the crowd with a cold expression, speaking in a businesslike tone:
"Let's discuss how to conduct the inspections. Should we inspect all the docks and warehouses at once and issue permits all at once, or should we proceed in order, inspecting one by one and issuing clearance permits one by one, so that those who are inspected first can leave first?"
The eighteen grain merchants were all taken aback, and a brief silence fell over the room.
Under the watchful eyes of the stern-faced constable and the smiling magistrate.
The expressions on the faces of Wang Caozhi, Manager Ma, Manager Li, and others began to become increasingly complex.
Within this small circle of grain merchants who were all speculating on grain and driving up rice prices, many suspicious glances began to appear.
A chubby grain merchant chuckled and asked, "May I ask, sir, how long will it take to complete the unified inspection of the docks and warehouses?"
Yan Liulang casually said, "That's hard to say. It will take at least half a month, or even a month if it's slow. The main problem is that you have too much grain piled up. Who knows if there's any embezzled grain hidden in there? Humph, if it weren't for the magistrate vouching for us, I would have thought you came here specifically to make things difficult for us brothers."
"..."
Hearing that it would take at least half a month, many grain merchants became restless, their faces showing signs of anxiety. The storage and moisture-proofing fees alone would amount to a large sum of money.
Moreover, who knows if grain prices will drop in the next two weeks? Longcheng County isn't just home to these eighteen outside grain merchants. When grain prices skyrocketed recently, the local gentry and landlords of Longcheng also followed suit and hoarded large quantities of grain.
Previously, high grain prices benefited everyone, and everyone tacitly maintained prices. But now, with the market blocked, confidence is low, and the supply and demand relationship is severely unbalanced. Who knows if some local gentry and landlords will be unable to resist lowering prices within half a month, which could lead to panic selling...
"Stop dawdling and hurry up and choose. Magistrate is going to have lunch. I'll start the investigation this afternoon without delay. Don't come to Magistrate's to complain that the brothers are bullying the people. Hurry up and choose which investigation method you want."
Wang Caozhi couldn't help but ask, "Officer Yan, if we use the second method of investigation, going door to door, then... how long would it take to investigate each household?"
"It could take two or three days, or five or six days... It definitely depends on how much grain is hoarded. The more you hoard, the slower the investigation; the less you hoard, the faster the investigation. Damn it, is there even a need to ask?"
As if feeling his intelligence had been severely insulted, Constable Yan gripped the hilt of his knife tightly. The others shrank back, and it seemed that if it weren't for the presence of the respected and kind magistrate, the hot-tempered constable would have probably drawn his sword and killed the thief.
The chubby little grain merchant cautiously suggested, "Why don't we check the grain suppliers first? It'll be faster..."
"Let's choose the second option! Check them one by one."
Manager Ma suddenly pushed the fat grain merchant aside, his face contorted with rage, and said to Ouyang Rong and his companion opposite him:
"My family goes first!"
The crowd was stunned for a moment, then immediately erupted into chaos, with some grain merchants becoming increasingly agitated:
"Manager Ma, your family has the most grain, so we should check for at least half a month. Why are you pushing so far ahead?"
Manager Ma, who had been speaking in a low, polite voice to the young magistrate, suddenly turned around, staring intently at the complainer, his fat finger gripping the prayer beads pointing behind him:
"What did you say? Say it again."
The small grain merchants immediately fell silent, more obedient than monkeys in a circus.
"Hmph." Manager Ma snorted and turned around, switching back to his soft, gentle voice, but his smile was more like a grimace.
"Your Excellency, the Xue family of Jinling has long admired your reputation as a virtuous and upright official. If you have the opportunity to visit Jinling in the future, we will certainly prepare a grand welcome and greet you with utmost hospitality. Furthermore, I, Ma, still hold some influence in the underworld; if you require..."
“It’s just thin noodles, I have those too.”
Just as Wang Caozhi was about to speak, Manager Li stood up, not to be outdone, and said with a glare and a puff of his beard, "The small grain merchants are afraid of Manager Ma, but he is not. His background is not much less intimidating."
"Let my family go first. Your Excellency, my chief secretary has long admired your reputation and often speaks of you as a 'true gentleman.' He has long wanted to establish a friendship through correspondence. I am determined to make this friendship a reality. After returning to Hongzhou, I will deliver the letter on behalf of my chief secretary."
Ouyang Rong put down his teacup, a look of surprise on his face: "I didn't expect that these officials would still remember me in their busy schedules. I am truly flattered."
"The magistrate is being modest."
"Your Excellency, please do not underestimate yourself."
"Let me go first."
"Let me go first! The one surnamed Li, please step back."
"You're only stepping back a little..."
Afterwards, Manager Ma and Manager Li competed with each other, showering Ouyang Rong with flattery and praise.
A group of small grain merchants with less powerful backgrounds were left behind by the two men and couldn't get a word in edgewise. They were all indignant, but dared not speak out.
Many small grain merchants suddenly noticed something unusual and couldn't help but glance at Wang Caozhi. Ever since Manager Ma and Manager Li started arguing, this young manager Wang had fallen silent.
The small grain merchants looked slightly puzzled. Logically speaking, this young manager Wang came from the Langya Wang clan, and his background was no less impressive than that of Ma and Li. Moreover, he had a close relationship with Magistrate Ouyang. But why did he suddenly seem like a different person?
Just as Manager Ma and Manager Li had long forgotten about the short young man and were vying for the top spot with Ouyang Rong, and the other grain merchants were also puzzled.
Wang Caozhi suddenly roared:
"Brother-in-law!"
The young shopkeeper, Wang, lunged forward, grabbing Ouyang Rong's hands as if they were his last lifeline. His eyes were brimming with tears as he gazed at him with deep affection.
"Let me go first, dear brother-in-law!"
"Pfft..." The young county magistrate spat out a mouthful of old tea.
"!!!" A junior sister in the back hall.
"???" Manager Ma, Manager Li, and other grain merchants.
The grain merchants, large and small, were dumbfounded, wondering if they had misheard.
Brother-in-law?
Manager Wang, you weren't shouting like that from the stands this morning, and you weren't saying that to us either...
I'm numb.
Old books are welcome to be appreciated!
(End of this chapter)
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