"Isn't it all because of Lord Hai's appointment?" Shopkeeper Fang said softly, "We are still relatively lucky. Many restaurants have simply closed down. I heard that even the business of those pleasure boats and riverside houses along the Qinhuai River has been greatly affected. Many ladies have no choice but to go to Hangzhou and Yangzhou to make a living."

"So exaggerated?" Young Master Zhao couldn't help but gasp. He didn't expect that the power of Lord Hai would be so terrifying that it could scare rich people away from spending money...

Does this count as shooting oneself in the foot?

"There may be some misunderstanding here." He nodded helplessly and said, "I will think of a way later, and everything should be back to normal soon."

"That's great." Shopkeeper Fang and Tang Si Ya both breathed a sigh of relief. If the recession continued, not to mention opening branches, even the old store would lose money.

~~

Yangzhou Dongguan Wharf.

Just as Manager Fang said, the famous prostitutes in Jinling moved to the north and south to avoid the limelight of Hai Gong.

Most of them went to Yangzhou. After all, Hangzhou at that time was still a little weak and could not compare with Yangzhou, where salt merchants gathered.

Since yesterday, one flower boat after another has arrived in Yangzhou, moored in the moat waiting for wealthy guests to come.

The city of Yangzhou was indeed in an uproar.

Although Yangzhou's entertainment industry is very developed, it is still not as good as the Qinhuai River.

When the salt merchants heard that Zheng Yanru, Qi Jingyun, Jing Pianpian, Zhu Taiyu and other famous Qinhuai prostitutes were coming, they all became jealous.

Normally, it is difficult to get into the courtesan Helou even with a huge fortune, but now the courtesans are coming to them on their own initiative. If the salt merchants don’t take this opportunity to recruit the courtesans, they will be really ungrateful to Hai Zhongcheng for his great help.

Even the dignified Salt Inspector Zou Yinglong could not sit still. He also wanted to meet the Qinhuai courtesan to fulfill his lifelong wish.

But Zou Zhongcheng is a hero who has defeated Yan, a man of integrity and integrity, how could he let his subordinates arrange a girlfriend for him? Wouldn't that just make them look down on him?

Although he just wanted to drink tea with Zheng Yanru, listen to her play "Dielianhua", and chat about life and ideals, he couldn't help but think of dirty things!

So when he was drinking tea with Zhao Liben, he implicitly expressed his needs.

Old Master Zhao was so disgusted. Damn it, you actually let me, a retired third-rank minister, pimp for a young man like you. You really have the guts to ask for it!

But who let him manage the salt administration in Jiangnan and Jiangxi? Zhao Liben still relied on him a lot, and he had just owed him a favor, so he could only accept it with a pinch of his nose.

~~

Sitting in the carriage, looking at the double-decker pleasure boat parked at the pier, Zhao Liben sighed helplessly.

Alas, the adult world is full of helplessness and filth.

How cruel is this, especially for an old man who can no longer travel?

"But, old man, can't you go by yourself?" His cheap brother-in-law Ye Xixian sat aside and said helplessly:

"How can I hold my head up in front of Miss Zheng in the future?"

As a big salt merchant, if he acts as a pimp for others, then he cannot be equal to the courtesan in terms of personality.

"I have no shame?" Zhao Liben rolled his eyes.

"It's useless even if you want it..." Ye Xixian muttered softly.

"Have you grown too powerful? You don't even listen to me?!" Zhao Liben glared at Ye Xixian, frightening him so much that he quickly raised his hands in surrender.

"Calm down, calm down. I'll go, I'll go. Is that not okay?"

Ye, the salt merchant, had no choice but to pick up Hailong's hat, put it on his head, and got off the carriage reluctantly.

He was just about to walk towards the largest and most beautiful pleasure boat when he heard a series of shrill gong sounds.

"The governor has ordered that within one stick of incense, all pleasure boats and flower boats must leave immediately. No one is allowed to stay. Violators will be severely punished!" The officials of Yangzhou Prefecture beat gongs and shouted loudly, which echoed throughout the north and south of the dock.

"What's the matter? What's going on?" The guests on the ship all leaned over and asked.

"Don't ask any questions, leave now!" The officers who usually bowed and kowtowed turned stern and said in a businesslike manner: "Don't blame me for being rude when the time is up!"

"Let's go, let's go to Slender West Lake." When the wealthy guests heard that something was wrong, they knew that a big shot must be coming, so no one said anything more.

After a while, the pleasure boats and flower boats sailed away from the shore one after another.

~~

Ye, the salt merchant standing on the dock, helplessly watched Zheng Yanru's pleasure boat drift away, and asked the leading official, "Sir Liu, who is this person who can't stand the sight of beautiful women?"

Because there were clearly quite a few civilian ships on the huge dock, but they were not driven away by the officials.

"I am confused too." Liu Tuiguan said with a wry smile, "I have never received such a strange order. Do not disturb the people, just drive the ladies away."

"Could it be that some first-rank lady came to catch an adulterer?" Ye Xixian suddenly thought of a possibility.

"I really don't know, Mr. Ye." Liu Tuiguan whispered, "Why don't you go ask the Lord of the Mansion."

"Don't I have anything to do?" Ye Yanshang curled his lips, thinking that he really seemed to have nothing to do.

"It's right there." Liu pointed with his chin at a common carriage in the distance. "The lady is here too."

"Ah?" Ye Yanshang was more and more surprised. He didn't expect that the prefect's wife would come with them.

Seeing that the Fuzun couple were so low-key, he wouldn't be stupid enough to actually go up and ask, what are you two doing here?

After exchanging a few polite words with Liu Tuiguan, Ye Xixian returned to his carriage.

Then I saw Zhao Liben had already gotten out of the car and was looking at the river with his hands behind his back.

"My Lord, did you see that?"

"I'm not blind." Zhao Liben snorted and said, "I want to see who is so arrogant that he made me make such a wasted trip."

"He shouldn't be a big shot. He must be a personal friend of Magistrate Lou. Otherwise, why would he come here in a carriage?" Ye Yanshang guessed, "It must be that his wife has an objection."

"Nonsense." Zhao Liben said calmly, "What kind of friend needs a couple to go to the dock to greet him?"

He suddenly thought of a possibility and his face immediately turned extremely ugly.

"What's wrong, sir?" Ye Xixian asked hurriedly.

"It's okay. I was just scaring myself." Zhao Liben said, turning around and walking up the carriage road. "Go to the carriage and see. It's very cold outside."

"Okay." Ye Yanshang looked at his cheap brother-in-law's back and saw that he was clearly trembling slightly. He didn't know whether it was because of fear or terror?

Ye Yanshang became more and more curious. He wondered who that man was and how he could scare the fearless Mr. Zhao into this state?

Fortunately, it didn't take long before we saw a team of official ships without any flags slowly approaching on the canal in the north.

Magistrate Lou quickly got off the carriage and went to the dock with his wife to wait respectfully.

Although the couple were wearing casual clothes, their reserved posture indicated that they must be very noble people.

After a while, the official ship came to the shore, and numerous tough-looking men in strong clothes got off. There were also some white-faced and beardless men who carried a few empty sedan chairs off the ship.

After everything was ready, they saw a middle-aged maid with extraordinary temperament, supporting a beautiful young woman, slowly walking out of the cabin.

ps. The third update. I put on eye drops and went to bed early. I hope my eyes will be better tomorrow. At least I have paid off my debt.