NFBE Chapter 287 Black-hearted Grain Merchant
Chapter 287 Black-hearted Grain Merchant
Mr. Xu knew Shen Nanzhi's identity, so he naturally did not resist. He took the medicine quickly and had a rare good sleep at night without the heart-wrenching cough and the feeling of being worse than death.
Xu Saifei was so excited that she came to thank Shen Nanzhi early in the morning, completely ignoring the fact that she was still lying in bed and had not woken up yet.
Shen Nanzhi is grumpy when she wakes up, and she hates it most when others disturb her sleep. But Xu Saifei insisted on hugging her, and even gave her a rare kiss because of her cute look. Shen Nanzhi didn't have time to vent her anger.
"You pervert, why are you looking for me when there are so many young men out there? Stop it, I still have to keep my virginity for my future husband, I can't let you get away with it."
Xu Saifei was really happy. It was the first time she had been so happy in the past six months. The big stone in her heart was put down. She regained her girlish liveliness and held Shen Nanzhi tightly, not caring at all about her hopeless look.
"You've been married before, haven't you? Why are you still a girl? Was your ex-husband willing to let you go?"
Shen Nanzhi forcefully pushed her away, put on his clothes and washed up, "If I gain 200 pounds, as a man, can you eat me?"
"You mean you were fat before?"
"Yes, I lost weight after my divorce and became what I wanted. So, a girl's life is very long, and a blessed woman will not marry an unlucky man. If a man does not cherish you, your life will be a mess. Get rid of him as soon as possible."
"What you said makes sense. Are you trying to persuade me to give up Ding Xiangrong?"
"It depends on you. I won't interfere. If you don't do this job well, you will be a nobody. I don't want to be that annoying person.
To be honest, Ding Xiangrong and I are childhood friends at best, not even relatives, so I really can’t be his boss.”
Xu Saifei felt a little disappointed. "Ding Xiangrong is very smart and capable. The first time he came to our restaurant to sell sausages, I felt that he was someone important and I took a liking to him.
It's a pity that he has always been distant. If my father hadn't been ill and the situation at home was not optimistic, I wouldn't have forced him to be my son-in-law.
Forget it, since he doesn't like me, I won't be that evil girl anymore. My father is getting better, and I'm still the pampered eldest daughter of the Xu family. There's no need to put myself in a difficult position for a man.
I'll make it clear to him now. Thank you, Sister Shen. I'm so lucky to have you."
"Haha, you should cherish it."
Xu Saifei finally left. Shen Nanzhi changed into men's clothes and went out for a walk to see the disaster situation in Qinghe County.
If there is no opportunity to make money, go home as soon as possible.
The handsome and elegant Master Yang appeared in Qinghe County again. With the publicity from the Xu family's clansmen, all the important figures in Qinghe County knew overnight that Master Yang had made a secret visit and stayed at the Xu family.
The most nervous person was the Qinghe County Magistrate. He had failed to provide disaster relief, and there were so many beggars and refugees on the streets. The prefect would definitely blame him.
For now, I can only ask Mr. Yang to say a few good words to me.
As soon as Shen Nanzhi showed up, he was stopped by County Magistrate Chen. He also changed into casual clothes and cooperated with Young Master Yang's incognito visit, pretending that they had met by chance.
But the flattering smile on her face was too obvious, and even Shen Nanzhi couldn't hide it when Yang Lingzhao came.
"You are the magistrate of this county, right? What do you want to talk to me about?"
"Since Master Yang has seen it, I will not hide it. This county has also tried its best to help the victims, but the court did not send any relief supplies. The ability of this county is really limited, and many victims are unable to be helped. This is my dereliction of duty."
County Magistrate Chen is in his early thirties, with white hair on his temples. He looks weathered, but his eyes are gentle. He shows guilt towards the shivering victims. He really did his best.
Compared to County Magistrate Jiang, he is much better. Shen Nanzhi also heard from Xu Saifei about the county magistrate's character and found that he is a good official.
"What difficulties do you have, County Magistrate? I can help you solve them. This is all for the good of the victims. I am not here just to find fault. I will also help you share your worries within my ability."
County Magistrate Chen said: "Disaster relief is nothing more than a matter of money and grain. Now the grain merchants in the city have united and formed a chamber of commerce. They took the opportunity to raise the price of rice. A bushel of rice has risen to 500 coins. It's simply leaving people no way to survive."
"Five hundred coins a bushel? Are they crazy?"
In ancient times, a dou of rice weighed about twelve or thirteen pounds, which was about eighty cents per pound. It was really more expensive than gold.
"They are so evil. Can't County Magistrate Chen do anything to them?"
"I also want to raid their granaries, but they dare to do so because they have backers and people in the capital. If I dare to raid their granaries, my whole family will be buried with them when they settle the score tomorrow."
Shen Nanzhi said: "Let's find a place to talk slowly. Now that I'm here, I will definitely not let these profiteers have an easy time."
There was a glimmer of hope in County Magistrate Chen's eyes. "Okay, Young Master Yang is kindhearted. I have heard about your affairs in Zhao County. It is a blessing for this county to have you."
Shen Nanzhi: "..."
She doesn't want this blessing. Everyone treats her as a blessing, but she still wants blessing.
We found a teahouse and sat down. The stove was burning brightly and there were quite a few people there, mostly wealthy businessmen from the county. The disaster only belonged to ordinary people, and to them, it was a carnival.
One of them, a fat, bald man, shook off his fat face and greeted County Magistrate Chen: "Master Chen, how come you have time to come for tea?
Since we have met, I, Lao Jin, will treat you, and it will be charged to my account. "
County Magistrate Chen looked unhappy: "No need, I can afford a little tea, please help yourself."
Shen Nanzhi saw a flash of disdain in Old Jin's smiling eyes and probably guessed his identity.
County Magistrate Chen went to the private room, isolated from the noise outside, and sighed, "This old Jin is the president of the Chamber of Commerce, manipulating the grain prices, but I can't do anything about him. I feel deeply ashamed."
Shen Nanzhi snorted coldly: "He is quite arrogant. To deal with such a person, you have to use open tactics so that no one can find fault with you.
I have two plans, would you like to hear them, Master Chen?"
County Magistrate Chen looked at her in surprise. He couldn't think of any solution and felt powerless. How could Young Master Yang have two?
"I'd like to hear it."
Shen Nanzhi suddenly stood up and opened the door abruptly. A waiter almost fell in. He was actually eavesdropping!
"I'm sorry, sir. I'm just here to refill the hot water."
"I just served the tea, and you're already refilling it before I even had a sip. How about you stay here and refill the water?"
"No, I dare not disturb the guests. I will take my leave."
"Wait, is there any other way to eavesdrop in this room? Leave on your own, otherwise when I find it, it won't be so easy to talk to you."
The guy wiped his cold sweat, he was too cautious, he actually knew there were other ways to eavesdrop?
"I don't understand what the guest is saying..."
Seeing that he was stubborn, Shen Nanzhi casually smashed the vase in the room. The waiter's face turned pale: "Sir, what are you doing?"
Shen Nanzhi removed the paintings on the wall and cleared away anything that he thought was an eyesore. He found rows of small copper tubes behind the screen.
"what is this?"
The guy's face turned pale. The brass tube had good sound transmission effect and could be heard clearly from several rooms away. Yet he had been discovered. How would this end?
It was the shopkeeper who came over to apologize in person, "I'm sorry, sir, please calm down. It's our fault. We will change the room for you."
"No, you dare to eavesdrop on the conversation of our parents. This is contempt for the court. Who would dare to come to a teahouse with no privacy like this?
I will go out right now and tell everyone how many things in your teahouse are hidden from the public."
"No, please talk to me nicely. We are willing to meet your request. Please don't make a big fuss. I am begging you."
The shopkeeper asked Magistrate Chen for help again, but he looked at Shen Nanzhi and let her make the decision.
"Donate 10,000 taels of silver to the county government, and the matter will be settled."
"Ten thousand taels of silver, that won't do. Even if I sell the shop, it's not worth that much silver."
"Five thousand taels, no less. You can ask your boss behind the scenes."
The shopkeeper had no choice but to go find the real owner. He didn't dare to make the decision and he didn't have that much silver.
The waiter cleaned the room again and Shen Nanzhi did not change rooms. Now it was safe.
County Magistrate Chen said admiringly, "I am ashamed of myself. I am not as vigilant as Master Yang. I almost ruined the situation."
Shen Nanzhi waved his hand: "Master Chen, don't mind. I can only say that you are too honest. To fight against corrupt officials, you have to be more cunning, more sinister, and more shameless than them to have a chance of winning. You are a gentleman, how can you fight against villains?"
This made County Magistrate Chen think deeply. He had always been suppressed by these wealthy gentry. He couldn't do anything he wanted to do. He had no other choice but to sulk. Perhaps he should change his way of thinking.
"Please feel free to give me some advice, Young Master Yang."
Shen Nanzhi said: "The first option is the worst option. Since County Magistrate Chen cannot take action against the grain merchants, but so many hungry and cold victims have found the grain merchants' warehouses themselves, and they cannot survive and rob the grain merchants. This has nothing to do with you, sir.
But you will also be charged with a crime of failing to supervise, which can be serious or minor, and will not be good for your career record. "
County Magistrate Chen's eyes, which had just brightened, dimmed again. He gritted his teeth and said, "If it is absolutely necessary, even at the cost of my future, I will still help the people."
Shen Nanzhi smiled faintly: "I said it was a worst option, there must be a better option. County Magistrate Chen can still make meritorious contributions. Let's just abandon this worst option."
"What is the best strategy?"
Shen Nanzhi gave him a general account, and County Magistrate Chen wanted to kneel down and become his disciple. Master Yang is truly the Zhuge Liang of the modern age.
Before he could start to flatter, Chairman Jin walked in. He turned out to be the owner of the teahouse, and his control over the county should not be underestimated.
"Master Chen, it's my fault, but asking for five thousand taels of silver is too much. Considering that we have worked together for so many years, let's just forget about it."
Chairman Jin's full name is Jin Changsheng, which means wealth. His family has been doing business for generations and is very powerful. However, the status of merchants is low, and there are no scholars who want to change their family background. So Jin Changsheng found a shortcut and married his sister to a marquis in the capital as his second wife. He paid filial respect to the marquis and obtained his protection. He became more powerful in the local area and almost became the bully of the county.