Chapter 79 Ru Fang's Tragedy (6) Li Yang's Career - Sales...
The town of Songshan was in an uproar overnight.
"Have you heard? The Salt Bureau has issued next year's salt permits, and you can withdraw them in advance. How much are you planning to withdraw this time, my friend?"
"Alas, we small merchants don't have that much cash on hand. I'm afraid that once advance payments are opened up, it will ultimately benefit those big merchants. The share that we can get will only get smaller and smaller in the future."
"You really have that much silver as the head merchant? I have someone in my family working at the Salt Bureau. I heard that the advance payment was opened because they didn't have enough silver."
"Really? I heard that the Salt Transport Commissioner's Office allows you to borrow money to purchase salt permits, but you have to repay the interest afterwards."
"Profit margin? What is that? Tell me quickly."
Li Yang was looking at the accounts at the counter when he heard about the salt permits and strained his ears.
Originally, Zhang Youdao, based on the pre-collection of salt certificates law, thoughtfully considered that some salt merchants did not have enough cash on hand, and thus came up with the method of surplus silver.
If a salt merchant wants to purchase a salt certificate, he only needs to pay 70% of the price in silver, and the remaining 30% can be borrowed from the salt authority and repaid after the salt is sold.
However, all loans come with interest, and a nine-out-of-ten return is considered a polite amount. As for how much interest the Salt Commissioner will set this time, it seems that Lord Zhang will have to confirm it one by one.
Suddenly, a woman's voice called out to her sweetly, "Are you Mrs. Chen?"
Li Yang's thoughts returned, and he quickly looked up. He saw a woman around thirty years old, with her hair styled in two buns, adorned with exquisite jade pendants, and wearing a long silk dress that made her look elegant and noble.
She didn't recognize the woman in front of her and asked with a smile, "And you are?"
The woman lightly lifted the embroidered orchid fan in her hand, and the little maid beside her said, "We are from the residence of Salt Commissioner Zhang. This is my lady."
Mrs. Zhang?
How could Li Yang not know that Salt Commissioner Zhang was drinking wine and tea at this flower garden just yesterday? Upon seeing Madam Zhang arrive in person, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Madam Zhang, please come in."
As he spoke, he led her into a small pavilion on the side of the backyard, saying, "I did not know that Madam Zhang would be coming today. I am so sorry for not welcoming you properly."
To everyone's surprise, after the other person sat down, he first looked around the backyard before turning his gaze back and smiling as he said, "Last night, my husband mentioned that there was a new tea in this flower garden, and its aroma was wonderful."
I've always loved tea, and this craving kept me up all night. I rushed over early this morning, hoping to ask Mrs. Chen for a cup. Is that alright?
"Madam Zhang, you're too kind. We're more than happy to welcome you." With that, Li Yang turned to Xiao Lu and instructed, "Quickly make some tea for Madam Zhang. Make Kui Long Zhu tea, and also pack two catties of tea leaves. Also, have the kitchen pick out the best of the assorted pastries from the shop and bring one of each."
Having been in charge of the flower shop for a long time, she's increasingly taking on the air of a boss, giving instructions on everything efficiently and effectively.
Madam Zhang gently waved her round fan and sized up the woman before her.
This girl must be only sixteen or seventeen years old. Her simple hairstyle couldn't hide her radiant smile and graceful figure.
Last night, Zhang Youdao instructed her to remember to come to the Chen family's flower shop to buy some tea from the young mistress of the Chen family. She wondered what kind of stunning beauty she was that could influence the usually indifferent Mr. Chen to pave the way for her in salt business.
Looking at her today, she is indeed very beautiful, but not as alluring and seductive as she had imagined; she looks like just a maid. Now, however, this maid is giving orders with the air of someone in charge of a household.
When they first arrived in Songshan Town, they were confused about the situation and had met with the Chen family's wife, Chen Junbai's mother, a few times.
That woman looked like a madwoman. She couldn't tell the difference between the king and queen while sitting at the table. She was just a merchant's daughter, yet she dared to put on airs, acting as if everyone was going to fawn over her, Chen Zhangshi.
Upon closer inspection, Madam Zhang developed a certain fondness for Li Yang; who wouldn't like someone who is perceptive and perceptive?
After taking a sip, Madam Zhang started the conversation, saying, "This tea is really good. I didn't know there was such good tea in town. The tea soup is clear and the aroma is wonderful."
She came today on a specific occasion, hoping to strengthen the relationship between the two families. After all, her husband was about to be promoted, and at this crucial juncture, she couldn't let General Manager Chen be won over by Lord Lin.
"Madam, you may not know this, but this tea is a new product developed by our shop recently. It wasn't available in town before," Li Yang said with a smile. She remembered that Lady Lin had mentioned that this lady of the Zhang family had some connections in the capital. Now that Lady Zhang had come to them in person, it would be foolish not to make money from it.
"This tea is currently being trialed. If the market is good this year, the shop will focus on promoting it next year." She paused, glancing at Madam Zhang's sipping of the tea out of the corner of her eye. "If Madam likes it, I'll have Chen Junbai deliver it to Lord Zhang regularly."
Madam Zhang smiled. She hadn't come today for the two catties of tea. She then explained the task her husband had given her, "If Madam intends to promote this tea, my elder sister from my maiden family has some connections in the capital. I wonder what Madam thinks?"
Li Yang was overjoyed. This was like a godsend. He quickly said, "That's wonderful. Thank you, Madam Zhang."
As the two entered through the back door of the hexagonal pavilion, Madam Zhang patted Li Yang's hand, which was supporting her. The two were as affectionate as sisters. "My sister is clever and intelligent. I like her very much. If you have time, please come to my mansion often to keep me company."
"Go to hell!"
A flash of white light appeared, and a man rushed out from the side, wielding a short knife. The knife flashed coldly as it aimed directly at the two men, and he delivered it with both hands.
Seeing the knife tip about to brush against him, Li Yang grabbed Madam Zhang with one hand, turned around and rolled half a circle until he was right next to the counter.
"Madam, be careful!"
*Thud*—The blade pierced flesh, spurting out a drop of blood that splattered onto the man's face, making him look like a demon.
The world became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced through the room: "Young Madam!"
"Murder!"
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Help!"
Everyone snapped out of their daze. "Don't run!" Zhong Qian, along with Brother Jia and Brother Yi, rushed forward and tackled the stunned thief to the ground, shouting, "Report to the authorities!"
Beside him, Li Yang threw himself on top of Madam Zhang, pinning her against the counter to shield her from the thief's attack. His back was stained with blood, and his body slid down.
Xiao Lu rushed to catch her, "Young Madam, Young Madam."
The thief was pinned to the ground, but he didn't struggle. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the fallen man and laughed wildly: "Die, all of you die. How wonderful, hahahahaha, all of you die, kill them all, hahahahahaha, kill them all, no one will live."
Then, he reached out a slender hand, his eyes softened, and he began to sing.
"Give me a three-foot-long sword and I will cut my throat first."
"Oh, my beauty, I can't bear to part with you! ...I can't bear to part with you!"
"Your Majesty, please ascend. I bow in gratitude. We must part now, for we shall meet again only in dreams."
"Boss Liu?!" Someone recognized the person who had been tackled to the ground by the sound.
"Is this Boss Liu from the Elegant Class? Good heavens, what's he doing here at the Flower Bureau killing people?"
"Oh my god, run! He must have gone mad."
The scene at the flower parlor erupted in uproar. Screams, panic, calls to the authorities, calls for doctors, calls for carriages—it was complete chaos. No one had the heart to listen to the swan song of this former star on the ground. All that remained to reward him was the torture in prison.
Magistrate Wang Xianglin went out today without checking the almanac, and the yamen runners escorted Liu Rufang to the yamen.
"Sir, the criminal Liu Rufang has been apprehended."
Wang Xianglin: "What crime did you commit?"
"Reporting to Your Excellency, he committed a crime in the street, stabbing a woman at the East Market Flower Bureau and disturbing Lord Zhang's wife."
The magistrate slammed his hand on the door, his other thumb pressing against his philtrum, hoping for the best. "Who was stabbed?"
"Reporting to you, sir, the injured person is Mrs. Chen, the wife of General Manager Chen."
Wang Xianglin vomited, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
The bailiff stepped forward, helped the man up, checked his pulse, and pressed twice on the magistrate's chest. "Ouch!" the magistrate cried out, and he came back to life, still lying in the bailiff's arms. He turned and pointed at the people below, "Take him away and give him a thorough dressing-down!"
As he spoke, he rolled his eyes again, and before the constables could throw two more punches, he stood up abruptly, straightened his official hat, and, with a flick of his official robe, headed towards the Zhang residence.
Heavens above! Mother! This damned thief dared to injure two groups of immortals at once! Truly, truly…
"Master Zhang!"
As soon as Wang Xianglin entered, he collapsed to the ground with a thud and bowed deeply to Zhang Youdao. "Lord Zhang, the thief has already been apprehended by the yamen runners. How dare he attempt an assassination in broad daylight on the street! He has no desire to live!"
As he spoke, he glanced up to steal a look at the expression on the person above him.
Magistrate Zhang helped the man up, saying, "Magistrate Wang, that thief seriously injured Mrs. Chen, the wife of General Manager Chen. This matter..."
"I understand, I understand, but I certainly cannot let him off lightly." Wang Xianglin bowed and said, "Thanks to the concerted efforts of all the officials, Songshan Town has always been peaceful and safe. Today, this thief attempted to cause trouble and even dared to injure people and disturb Madam Zhang. It is my fault for failing to investigate properly."
Zhang Youdao smiled as he looked at the county magistrate, thinking to himself, "Today, I am not the one who suffers the most."
"Lord Wang, you flatter me. My wife was merely passing by the flower shop. It was thanks to Madam Chen's timely rescue that she is perfectly fine. However, Mr. Chen has exhausted himself for Songshan Town. We must give him an explanation for what happened today."
"Yes, yes, I will take care of it immediately." Having received the order, Wang Xianglin left the Zhang residence, kowtowing three times with each step.
After getting into the carriage, he pondered Zhang Youdao's words carefully, stroked his goatee, and said, "Quickly, go to the Chen family salt merchants."
In other counties, the magistrates are all high-ranking officials, but this magistrate of Songshan Town is just a nobody. Every official in the town is three ranks above him, practically suffocating him. Even the one without an official position is a royal merchant, damn it.
Upon hearing the news, Chen Junbo rushed back to Lanxin Pavilion. He ran up to the second-floor corridor and saw the maids pouring basins of blood out of the room. He dared not stop any longer and pushed aside the people blocking his way, rushing into the main room, calling out, "Zhaozhao."
The scene inside was even more horrifying. Servants surrounded the bed, and blood-stained strips of cloth and clothing littered the floor. Chen Junbai's heart trembled. How could things have changed so much in just half a day...?
By the time the county magistrate returned to the government office, the confession had already been signed and sealed.
After reading the confession on the table, the county magistrate's head was pounding. Who could have imagined this!
The bailiff urged, "Sir, what should we do about this?"
Wang Xianglin was furious. "Damn it, what kind of mess is this!"
He then sat down again and said, "You, find someone to make a copy and send it to the Chen residence as soon as possible, to be given to General Manager Chen."
After everyone left, he nestled into his armchair and muttered, "Even an upright official finds it hard to settle family disputes. Do they think my county government office is someone's backyard?"
As he spoke, he took out a bamboo tube from his pocket, emptied it, and the cricket jumped into the porcelain basin. "Hehe, mighty general, eat more. Tomorrow's competition depends on you."
The county government office was peaceful, but this one confession almost turned the Chen family upside down.
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