Chapter 152
"Ding Wenhong heard about the cotton and potato matter, and asked us to come over to get close to you and inquire about the new grain varieties. If it's true, let us look for Jiahe. He wants to present it to the head of the Ding family as a sign of good fortune." Zhou Du sighed, feeling a little confused.
"This is a bit unfortunate. I have already presented potatoes and cotton to Envoy Wei. He would not go past Envoy Wei to present Jiahe, right?" Lin Shuge looked at them and said. He had finally asked Dabu to find the seeds, and he had worked hard to grow them, but they were not for others to use as political capital. There was no auspicious sign at all.
"I knew you wouldn't want to. The Ding family wanted us to come here just because we are close to you. Look, there are his lackeys following us. They should be staying in the inn now. It's okay, just give me a few and I will use them to fool him." Zhou Du saw the anger on his face and added quickly.
"I'll take you to see later. Potatoes are not like millet or rice..."
"What are you talking about? Why do you look angry?" Wei Huan's voice came from outside.
Everyone stood up and said, "Greetings, sir."
"I thought something big happened in the county and Magistrate Lin left me and ran away. It turns out that he came to see an old friend. But reuniting with old friends should be a happy thing. Why do you all look so depressed?" He looked at Lin Shuge, "Why does Magistrate Lin look so angry?"
"Sir, it's about Magistrate Ding," Lin Shuge replied.
"What trouble has Ding Wenhong caused again? Just tell me, and your father will take care of it for you." When Wei Huan heard Ding Wenhong's expression, his face suddenly darkened.
"When Magistrate Ding heard that there was good crops in Qingquan, and knew that County Magistrate Zhou and I were old friends, he asked them to come and look for good crops and prepare to offer auspicious signs." Lin Shuge explained the matter in a few words.
Wei Huan slammed his hand on the table and said, "Ding Wenhong wants to bypass the county governor's office. You don't have to worry about this matter anymore. I will report to my father and then settle the account with Ding Wenhong."
"Thank you, sir." Zhou Du jumped out first to express his gratitude. He was actually very happy to see Lin Shuge when he came to Qingquan, but it was really disgusting if he came with this purpose. If Wei Huan could help solve the problem, it would be exactly what he wanted.
"Mr. Wei's move has helped us a lot. My brother has already presented potatoes and cotton to Envoy Wei. It is really inappropriate for Ding Wenhong to come and grab the credit. Fortunately, he only heard about the new grain seeds..." Xie Chen did not speak for a long time, and suddenly interrupted.
Wei Huan naturally knew what he wanted to say. Grain seeds were easy to deal with, and offering good crops was just bragging about one's merits. At this critical juncture, the important thing was gunpowder.
Wei Huan glanced at Lin Shuge. The gunpowder issue was of great importance, so he had to go back and discuss it with his father. "It's done, and I can't stay any longer. I'll go back to the prefecture governor's mansion tomorrow."
Lin Shuge understood and said, "Thank you, sir."
"Thank you for what? I haven't thanked you for the gift you gave me yet."
His words were somewhat ambiguous, and everyone present was confused, but no one dared to ask.
"You are joking, sir. These are just some small toys given to Envoy Wei and you to play with." Lin Shuge quickly denied it and glanced at Xie Chen. He was indeed angry.
"What good stuff? I want it too, I want it too." Zhou Du shouted.
"How can I miss some items to keep warm and protect myself?" Lin Shuge looked at him gratefully.
"So it was my brother who prepared gifts for everyone. Mr. Wei, from what you said, I thought my brother only gave you a gift." Xie Chen raised his eyebrows and said slowly.
Wei Huan was so angry that he snorted coldly and looked at Lin Shuge coldly. Lin Shuge had no choice but to come out and say, "Zhongxuan likes to talk nonsense. Sir, don't bother with him. Since the things are all new this year, I can only inconvenience you. I will give them to you next year when I have better ones."
It was as if he was a scumbag who had caused countless peach blossom debts and came out to comfort others.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. I was too busy yesterday. Today I prepared a welcoming banquet for the young master, but I didn't expect Erlang and Boss Xu to also come to Qingquan. It's really a coincidence. I'm holding a banquet today, so please don't refuse to come." Lin Shuge quickly changed the subject.
"Of course, but the young master is leaving tomorrow, so this welcoming banquet can also be considered a farewell banquet." Lu Yuechuan said.
Lin Shuge also said a few words of gratitude, and the others also started talking about the past in a lively manner, finally getting rid of the awkward atmosphere.
Lin Shuge sent Wei Huan away, and had someone take Zhou Du and Xu Yu to their accommodation. He sat down and drank some water to calm himself down, then looked at Xie Chen, who had gotten into trouble but acted like nothing had happened, "Is this young master afraid that I'll die?"
"He provoked me, but my brother didn't help me." Seeing that the annoying person finally left, Xie Chen raised the corners of his mouth and supported his chin with one hand.
"You know that the gift I gave him was something I had to present to my superiors, but you still talked nonsense. However, Master Wei always speaks vaguely and amuses people, so you are not wrong."
When there were no outsiders around, Lin Shuge's partiality was blatant.
Xie Chen was very pleased, "I have a way to make him..."
"Don't make trouble. He helped me a lot this time. Besides, he is the son of Envoy Wei after all." Lin Shuge said with a hint of severity in his tone.
Xie Chen smiled, "I know, brother."
"Also, Zhongxuan, I talked to him about the Xiongnu. Do you know that the Duwei Mansion is going to take action?"
Xie Chen shook his head. Lin Shuge said, "Master Wei said that Commandant Zhao was going to write a letter to the emperor to investigate the matter. He wanted to seize the opportunity before Mu Xie stabilized his position. I think it was because of the batch of weapons you sent."
Gunpowder is very powerful. If Captain Zhao got such a powerful weapon and didn't use it on the Huns, what difference would it make from a fire stick?
"That's perfect, brother finally doesn't have to worry about me every day."
Seeing that Xie Chen didn't react much, Lin Shuge said, "Zhongxuan, this matter has nothing to do with you..."
"Brother, you worry too much. Captain Zhao's battle against the Huns is to guard the border and benefit the country and the people. Although I have selfish desires, in the face of this matter, any selfish desires must give way." Xie Chen walked over and squatted in front of him and said.
Lin Shuge touched his brow. The Xie family had a clean tradition and only then could they raise a person like Xie Chen. Even if they had a blood feud, they would not be blinded by hatred and do something immoral.
"But brother, I will not let go of your other selfish desires." He kneaded Lin Shuge's hand, with a determined gleam in his eyes, and he obviously meant something.
Lin Shuge pretended not to understand his implication and stood up and said, "Come with me to see how the meal is prepared."
Xie Chen didn't get what he wanted to hear, so he pursed his lips and said nothing. Lin Shuge walked a few steps and didn't hear any movement from him, so he stretched out his hand to him, "I won't let go either."
Xie Chen was finally satisfied. He stood up and walked side by side with him, and secretly held Lin Shuge's hand with one hand.
The welcoming banquet in the evening was very enjoyable because everyone knew each other. Although Wei Huan was present, after three rounds of drinks, everyone no longer cared about their identities.
Zhou Du first pulled Lin Shuge aside and praised how delicious the potatoes were, then began to cry about how miserable his life was in Ganzhou. Since Lin Shuge left, he had neither like-minded friends nor was he exploited by Ding Wenhong. He was miserable. After complaining, he asked Lin Shuge if he had any potatoes left, as he wanted to take them back home to his mother.
Lin Shuge didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He comforted him with a few words and said that these were the last batch of potatoes he had left, and the rest were kept as grain. Zhou Du was shocked after hearing this and sobered up a little. He hurried over to fight with Xu Yu for the last plate of sugar-coated potatoes.
Lin Shuge drank a lot himself, but he had a good alcohol tolerance and was willing to take care of Xie Chen. After all, with Xie Chen's alcohol tolerance, he didn't know how he could socialize with his friends in the past.
He looked around but couldn't find Xie Chen, so he stood up and walked out of the house. Suddenly he heard a noise, so he ran over and saw that Xie Chen was with Wei Huan.
There won’t be a fight, right?
"Zhongxuan, what are you doing?"
In the darkness, Xie Chen's eyes were clear and his voice was as sweet as a spring. "Brother, why are you here? I came out to sober up and ran into Master Wei. Let's chat casually."
Lin Shuge looked at the broken wine glass on the ground. Is this just a casual chat?
"Oh, I dropped this accidentally." Xie Chen said again.
Lin Shuge looked at the two of them with a puzzled look. Seeing that they did not seem to be arguing, he said, "It's cold and it's easy to catch a cold if you blow the wind. Young master, please go inside and warm up."
Wei Huan smiled, "Why does County Magistrate Lin look so worried? Wei Duwei is a young and talented man. I just talked to him about the border war for a while and asked him to stay here. I think he will be useful later."
"Thank you very much, sir." Lin Shuge was delighted and thanked him sincerely.
"You have thanked me so many times today. Why should we be like this? Besides, if anyone should thank someone, it should be Captain Wei himself. You are you and he is him." Wei Huan stood with his arms folded, saying calmly.
"Of course I have to thank you, but Zhongxuan and I are one and the same, so my thanks are the same."
When these words were spoken, the other two were shocked.
Xie Chen was both surprised and happy. He was surprised that Lin Shuge, who had always been reserved, actually said it directly. He was also happy that he would say it in front of Wei Huan.
However, Wei Huan was both suspicious and surprised. He was confused because he knew that Lin Shuge and Xie Chen had a close relationship in the past, but he had a hunch that Xie Chen had some ill intentions towards Lin Shuge. However, Lin Shuge seemed to only treat him as a brother, so how come he actually had feelings for him today?
What surprised him was that the two of them clearly had a bright future. Although this was not common, no one would ruin their own future in a high-profile manner. With their talents, their future would naturally be smooth, and choosing a noble lady from a wealthy family would be the right thing to do. Why did they act as if they wanted to live with only each other?
"County Magistrate Lin, I hope I didn't misunderstand you, right?" Wei Huan looked surprised and tried to hold it in before speaking.
"No."
"Why tell me?"
"Young Master knows, and I hope you will be careful when interacting with me in the future. I don't want him to be wronged again." There was no smile on Lin Shuge's face.
Wei Huan also had an angry look on his face, "Let's talk alone."
"Young Master, just say whatever you want to say. There's nothing Zhongxuan won't listen to." Lin Shuge looked straight at him. Xie Chen was overjoyed and couldn't suppress the smile on his face.
"Okay, okay, you...you guys are fine." Wei Huan paced back and forth angrily. He wanted to just walk away, but he was unwilling to do so. "Are you going to stay like this forever?"
"Naturally, my brother and I are in love, and there is no room for anyone between us."
Wei Huan opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing and walked away.
"It's late at night. I'll ask someone to send the young master back." Lin Shuge said.
Wei Huan paused, "No need."
After he finished walking, Xie Chen asked with a smile, "Why did you suddenly tell him, brother?"
Lin Shuge raised his eyes to look at him, "Don't pretend, are you unhappy because of what I said? I just think his behavior is a bit excessive, so I'd better make my attitude clear as soon as possible so that he can be more normal."
When Wei Huan came this time, he naturally felt that Wei Huan seemed to have some thoughts about him in his words, but it was just a thought. He just took the opportunity to clarify his relationship with Xie Chen and let him give up this idea. After all, it was impossible for Master Wei to really have the idea of spending the rest of his life with a man.
In this era, not everyone treats this shocking feeling as sincerely and preciously as Xie Chen.
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