Chapter 76 A Tumultuous Time: Li Yang's First Foray into Salt Affairs (2)
The old woman brought over freshly steamed crabs and warm rice wine.
When the autumn wind blows, the crabs in this lake are at their fattest and most delicious. Each one is orange-red all over, with a snow-white belly and navel, and dense golden hairs on its claws.
Madam Lin set up the crab feast on a stone table in the courtyard, with several pots of purple and pink daisies beside the table adding to the autumnal atmosphere.
"These crabs are best eaten in autumn. Right now, it's time to eat the female crabs. Once the weather gets a little colder, we can eat the male crabs. You can't taste such delicious food in the capital." Madam Lin picked out the largest crab for Li Yang and personally untied the rope binding it.
Li Yang looked at the plump crab on the plate. The moment he lifted the shell, the crab was full of orange-yellow, the roe as rich as salted egg yolk, and the crab meat had a distinct texture.
Lord Lin, who was standing to the side, poured Chen Junbo a cup of warm yellow wine. "General Manager Chen's heartfelt words today make me realize how much I have offended you, Brother Chen. I regret my past actions."
Chen Junbo didn't mind these old stories, nor did he want to play along with Lord Lin. After a moment's thought, he said, "Lord Lin, what are you saying? These are turbulent times, and you bear heavy responsibilities, so you must be on high alert."
"But I still have one thing on my mind. If Your Excellency were to investigate the treasury deficit at this time, I fear it would not only fail to alleviate His Majesty's immediate financial crisis, but would also unleash a bloody storm, adding another worry to His Majesty's life."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yihuai paused in his pouring of wine, his brows furrowing. "So what? Does that mean we're just going to let those insects get away with it?"
Seeing him like this, Madam Lin scolded him in a coquettish voice, "Why don't you listen to people finish speaking? When did General Manager Chen say that he would no longer pay attention to it, and when did he say that he would not investigate the deficit?"
After being yelled at by Madam Lin, Lin Yihuai looked embarrassed and wiped his nose while forcing a smile, saying, "I was in a hurry. Hehe."
Seeing how amusing the couple's interaction was, Chen Junbai glanced sideways at his wife, who was engrossed in dissecting crabs, before turning serious and saying, "Lord Lin, if this embezzlement is to be investigated, it must be investigated thoroughly. We cannot afford to be hesitant. However, for a case of this scale, without His Majesty's support, the two of us are likely to be like eggs hitting a rock."
So, it's said that your memorial, Lord Lin, needs to go through several twists and turns before it reaches His Majesty's study?
Yes, they say they'll investigate, but how could an investigation be smooth sailing? I'm afraid that before the petition even reaches His Majesty's desk, those scoundrels will already know about it.
As Li Yang listened to Chen Junbo's meticulous analysis, he looked at Lord Lin, who also had a deeply furrowed brow.
"I wonder what brilliant plan General Manager Chen has?" This Lord Lin was quite 'humble and modest'.
Seeing that Lin Yihuai had taken it to heart, Chen Junbai stopped being coy and said, "Lord Lin, in my humble opinion, it would be better to proceed slowly. First, we can solve His Majesty's immediate problem, and then report the treasury deficit to His Majesty during the southern tour. In this way, once we receive the imperial decree, we can proceed with great fanfare."
After all, haste makes waste.
"Haste makes waste," Lin Yihuai murmured repeatedly. "Brother, you are right."
They've actually started calling each other brothers. Li Yang lowered his head to suppress the smile on his lips, then placed the crab meat he had prepared on the plate in front of Chen Junbo, and took the whole crab from Chen Junbo's plate.
When I was little, every autumn, my father would go to the river to catch crabs for my mother and me. My mother always said that although crabs were a delicacy, they were quite troublesome to prepare, so not everyone liked to eat them. Furthermore, crab meat was considered a cold food, so women needed to eat it with ginger and vinegar.
Seeing that the crab on Chen Junbai's plate was still tightly bound, she knew he found it troublesome. While he was talking, she removed the crab meat from the plate so he could also taste the crab.
"Try it."
On the other side, it was a completely different story for Lord Lin and his wife. Lord Lin was talking to Chen Junbo while his hands were busy dissecting a whole crab and respectfully offering it to his wife, saying, "Madam, please eat."
...
For a moment, both couples were stunned.
Li Yang was the first to feel ashamed and indignant. Other husbands would peel crab meat for their wives, but her young master was so arrogant. She immediately said, "You don't like it? Then don't eat it." As she spoke, she took the plate of crab meat back.
Chen Junbo was initially taken aback by the crab meat placed before him, but seeing that she was about to take the plate of crab meat back, he quickly pressed down on her wrist, saying, "Zhao Zhao peeled the crab meat herself, how could I not like it?" He then tried to snatch the plate away.
The plate was suspended in the air. Li Yang pouted and refused to let go. Chen Junbo also exerted force, but he was frozen on the spot.
Madam Lin laughed and said, "Don't rush, don't rush, there are plenty of crabs today. Why are you scrambling for them?"
These words made Li Yang's face turn red with embarrassment. She let go of the plate of fresh and delicious crab meat, which Chen Junbo snatched away. Watching him eat the crab she had painstakingly peeled in just a few bites, she was so angry that she was about to explode.
Chen Junbo quickly took the crab from her plate, saying, "Zhaozhao, you've worked hard. You don't need to do this crab yourself. I'll do it."
Busy struggling with the crab in his hand, Chen Junbo sighed inwardly. When had he ever peeled a crab himself? The crab's fishy smell was incredibly strong; even after washing it with water soaked in dried tangerine peel, the fishy smell remained. Therefore, although he loved eating these plump crabs, he never touched them.
Today, in order to make my young lady happy, these hands are no longer so precious.
After a satisfying meal, the group washed their hands with water boiled with pomelo leaves and then brewed tea.
Today, Li Yang brought many gifts, one of which was the Kui Dragon Pearl. After tasting it, the group praised it sincerely.
Lord Lin sipped his fragrant tea, but his mind was still troubled by official business. "As you said before, we should first solve the problem of the shortage of silver in the court. But the treasury is empty. How can we raise more silver?"
Yes, the imperial court is short of silver, so it has to rely on the silver from the salt merchants. But the treasury of the salt bureau is in astronomical deficit.
Li Yang's heart skipped a beat.
Judging from the current situation, it's truly a case of outward strength masking inner weakness.
“My lord, the main source of this treasury silver is the taxes paid by salt merchants when they purchase salt permits.” Chen Junbai helped Li Yang add water to the pot, his tone unhurried. “I do have a method, but it can only be used as a compromise and cannot be implemented in the long term.”
Lin Yihuai didn't respond, just waited for him to continue.
"Does Your Excellency know that this is a case of living beyond one's means?"
Upon hearing this, even Madam Lin put down her teacup. For a moment, the room fell silent as everyone pondered whether living beyond their means would solve their current predicament or lead to an even greater deficit.
Even Li Yang understood the current situation. If they couldn't raise the money to solve the emperor's financial predicament, then the emperor's wrath would lead to countless deaths. But if they wanted to raise the money, apart from the method of living beyond their means as Chen Junbai had suggested, there was currently no other way.
Sure enough, Lin Yihuai hesitated for only a moment before asking, "I wonder what kind of 'living beyond one's means' Mr. Chen is referring to? I would like to hear the details."
"The reason you summoned me here today is to discuss how we can work together to force the salt merchants to donate silver."
However, business people have always believed in mutual consent. Forcing salt merchants to donate military funds could alleviate some of the difficulties, but how many times could such forced buying and selling be carried out?
Since the treasury's funds come from salt tax revenue, then let's open up the sale of salt certificates next year, allowing everyone in the salt industry to willingly pay to purchase them. Everyone contributing resources will quench the immediate thirst, creating a mutually agreeable and harmonious relationship between officials and merchants.
Even after Lin Yihuai meticulously reviewed the case, he had to admit that Chen Junbo's words were absolutely true.
But he vaguely felt that if this method was so good, why didn't the Salt Bureau implement it before? Or was there some hidden risk behind this matter that he couldn't see?
Seeing his hesitation, Chen Junbo didn't urge him, but waited for the water to boil before pouring hot soup into everyone's teacups. Then he used the lid of the bowl to skim off the foam in the cup, patiently waiting for Lin Yihuai to taste it.
Seeing this, Madam Lin hurriedly looked at her husband, her face full of anxiety, but she didn't want to urge him, her eyebrows twisted into a knot.
The atmosphere at the tea table suddenly became heavy. Li Yang, who considered himself the least knowledgeable about salt affairs at the table, behaved himself like a quail, just drinking his tea and keeping his eyes constantly scanning Lin and Chen.
After a long pause, Lord Lin finally came to his senses. “Right now, this is indeed the only way. But…” He seemed to want to discuss it further, but Madam Lin interrupted him, “Don’t just say ‘but.’ Mr. Chen has already spoken frankly to you. You’re still hesitating. A real man should make a decisive decision. Don’t let Mr. Chen down.”
That's true, but usually such words are spoken in private, between husband and wife in their room. How can one lecture her husband in front of him? Li Yang pursed her lips and looked at Chen Junbo, only to see that he also had a faint smile on his lips.
“Very well! We’ll do as Madam says.” Lord Lin seemed to have made up his mind. “Brother Chen, come with me to the study. We’ll write the memorial now and submit it to His Majesty for approval as soon as possible.”
After the two left, only Li Yang and Madam Lin remained at the table. Their eyes met, and Li Yang couldn't think of a topic to talk about.
Madam Lin was not shy at all. "Sister, your tea is really good. Where did you buy it? I've never had it before."
"This tea is a blend we developed ourselves, and we're currently planning how to sell it. If Madam Lin likes it, I'll have Chen Junbai send some more over another day." Li Yang naturally wouldn't offend this official's wife; it was rare for the official's wife to ask for tea, so what was a little tea?
To everyone's surprise, Madam Lin patted her shoulder with a smile, "Oh dear, no, no, you don't know my husband, if he finds out I accepted your gifts, he'll probably divorce me."
As she spoke, she glanced back and said, "Recently, if he hadn't been eager to have a proper discussion with President Chen, I'm afraid you wouldn't have even been allowed to enter the gate with all these gifts. Take them all back later."
Is that so?
“There’s no reason to take back a gift that’s already been given.” Li Yang was anxious. She dared not take the initiative to bring back the gift that was given to Lord Lin. “If Chen Junbo finds out, he’ll scold me.”
Besides, these are just insignificant little things. I was just saying to him when I came today that he didn't give me time to prepare a gift, and I was afraid that this small gift would be impolite.
Seeing her say that, Madam Lin did not insist. "Oh, sister, you said this tea is newly made in your shop. Have you thought about how to sell it?"
Old Lin's subordinate always likes to bring his wife to visit. I've heard that his wife has some connections in the capital. If your tea can win her favor, wouldn't that open up another sales channel?
Upon hearing this, Li Yang was overjoyed. If he could open up sales channels and even sell to the capital, the flower shop's accounts could be completely turned around.
None of the four people in the courtyard could have imagined that today's banquet would become the source of all their future suffering.
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