Chapter 357: Sly
Zheng Daren stood up and walked around the coral tree to examine it carefully. He found a crack and pointed at it and asked, "What's going on?"
The place he pointed to was exactly the place Ye Mingzhu showed Jiang Hongyu yesterday.
Jiang Hongyu stretched his head to take a look and said calmly, "This is what happened when my wife discovered the coral tree. We guess that some animal in the sea must have knocked the coral tree apart, which is why my wife discovered the coral."
"We hardly ever find coral in the sea here. Occasionally, people find small branches. This is the first time we've found a coral this big. I'd like to ask you not to let anyone know. This coral is our gift."
Lord Zheng didn't say anything. He reached out and touched the broken part of the coral. It didn't look like a new mark. He was afraid that the crack had been there for some time.
"It's okay for me to keep it a secret for you, but I hope there will only be one such beautiful coral."
Lord Zheng looked at Shanhu again before returning to his seat and speaking slowly.
"Sir, even if you want another one, we can't give it to you. This is the first time my wife has seen such a big coral in her life." Jiang Hongyu said half-truthfully.
Lord Zheng nodded with satisfaction: "I will take this coral to the capital to give it to someone, don't worry."
Such corals must be sent to the royal family, and someone must be found to cover it up so that no one knows where they were found. Otherwise, this place will never be peaceful again.
Fortunately, Jiang Hongyu and his wife are honest people, so it is worth his effort.
"I know that your Jiang family was exiled here. Have you ever thought about returning to the capital?" Lord Zheng suddenly asked.
Jiang Hongyu fell silent, his expression faded. After a long moment, he smiled bitterly and shook his head: "We are living well here now, so we won't go back to the capital."
"This is a poor and remote place. You are just a small official. What's the point of staying here?" Lord Zheng said nonchalantly.
"Sir, even such a small official is rare here." Jiang Hongyu looked grateful.
Zheng Daren carefully examined the expression on his face and found no resentment. He then said, "Work hard here for a few years. If there's a chance, I'll move you to another place."
Jiang Hongyu was silent. Yu Jiaming was getting anxious. He kept winking at Jiang Hongyu, asking him to agree.
Lord Zheng was not in a hurry. He picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and quickly put it down.
Jiang Hongyu then bowed and replied, "I wonder what the Master needs me to do?"
There is no such thing as a free lunch in the world. If Lord Zheng is willing to help him, he must have some ulterior motive. It is impossible that he wants to help him because he sees that he is having a hard time.
"The coral you gave me is very good and very useful to me. If there is something like this in the future, I hope you can return it to me." Lord Zheng was straightforward.
Jiang Hongyu was a little embarrassed: "Master Zheng, such good coral is hard to come by. I can't guarantee that I can find it again."
Lord Zheng waved his hand: "It doesn't matter. I mean if you can find it, that would be great. If not, forget it."
When Jiang Hongyu was about to go back, he told Ye Mingzhu that if he saw corals in the sea again, he could not take them home. If he really liked them, he could cut them into small pieces.
Such exquisite corals should be unique.
"Now tell me, what do you want with this coral?" Lord Zheng glanced at the teacup but did not pick it up.
Jiang Hongyu said respectfully, "We are just an ordinary family. It's fine if you give us something as your Excellency deems fit."
"You are quite cunning." Lord Zheng tapped the table with his fingers, a half-smile on his face.
Jiang Hongyu lowered his head and said, "Sir, it's not that I'm cunning, it's that I don't know what I want."
Yu Jiaming helped out and said, "Sir, why don't you give them a few farms or shops? They can grow something or rent out the shops, which would also be an income."
Lord Zheng didn't say whether it was okay or not, he just said, "You have a good relationship with him, so you know how to support him."
Yu Jiaming's heart skipped a beat, and he felt that the "he" that Zheng Daren mentioned was referring to something. He quickly smiled and said, "Brother Jiang has helped me a lot, so it's only natural that I help him a little."
Lord Zheng finally nodded and said, "I'll go back to the city to see if there are any good shops or manors. I'll have someone give you the title deeds when the time comes."
Jiang Hongyu felt relieved and immediately bowed to express his gratitude.
Lord Zheng added, "I plan to return to the capital in three days. If you want to go with me, make your preparations early."
When Jiang Hongyu sent the two away, Yu Jiaming stayed behind to remind him: "If the coral you just took out is found again, you can only give it to Lord Zheng."
Jiang Hongyu gave a bitter laugh and said, "It's hard to say whether we can find a coral like that in many years. You have to put in a few good words for me. We don't know if we can find one in the future."
Yu Jiaming patted his arm and left.
Both of them understood what each other meant. There could only be one such coral and no other.
Jiang Hongyu went to the post station again to check the mail, but there was still no letter from Wang Dahu.
Ye Mingzhu was a little worried: "Why hasn't my uncle sent me a letter yet?"
Jiang Hongyu was also confused: "Master Zheng will leave in three days, and you can just go with him then."
Ye Mingzhu was worried about the shipwreck and its impact on Wang Dahu, but Lord Zheng didn't say anything was wrong, so she could only wait and see.
"When you go this time, take Yunniang with you," Jiang Hongyu reminded: "If anything happens, let Yunniang come forward."
This time they were going to the provincial capital with Lord Zheng, and it would be more convenient to bring people with them on the road.
Ye Mingzhu still remembered that the last time they went to the provincial capital, Jian Pingping took Jian Anan with him alone, and she would stay with him wherever they went.
She brought her two children out this time. Even if they were obedient, accidents were inevitable, so it would be more reassuring to bring one more person with her.
Ye Mingzhu specially wrote a letter and gave it to Jiang Hongyu: "You send this letter. If your uncle receives it before we arrive, he will go to pick us up."
Jiang Hongyu also felt more at ease having someone to pick them up. Although Lord Zheng promised to send them to the provincial capital, they could not always rely on Lord Zheng once they got there.
The two were discussing their plans for the trip to the provincial capital when someone came to deliver something.
Zheng's servant handed a box to Jiang Hongyu: "Master said that the rest will be given after we arrive in the capital."
Jiang Hongyu didn't understand, so the servant said goodbye and left.
Ye Mingzhu opened the box and saw that it was full of banknotes. She couldn't help but sigh, "Master Zheng said before that he would find shops and farms in the city to give us money, and now he has sent us money. Master Zheng is really a good person."
Jiang Hongyu's hands trembled. "I forgot to tell you that Lord Zheng also wants corals of the same quality. However, I think such corals are rare and there are probably not many on the seabed."
Ye Mingzhu looked up and blinked.
What this means is, are we allowed to find corals or not?
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