Judge of the Lamp

Chapter 460 Human Life Business
As soon as it was dark, the great businessman Dai Hongde, with his younger brother Dai Hongyi and a group of followers, arrived on Mochi's warship.

Although Mo Chi was not a Xuanren, he was very proficient in the etiquette of a Xuanren. He led his followers and greeted him on the deck in person. He greeted Dai Hongde all the way, and invited Dai Hongde into the main hall of the cabin.

There was a sumptuous banquet in the main hall, Xu Zhiqiong did not come out to greet him, and took "Brother Tao" to the table ahead of time, sat at the table, and quietly looked at Dai Hongde.

The legendary Mr. Dai was in his fifties. He was wearing a long robe, a scarf on his head, a folding fan in his hand, and a long beard of more than one foot. He really looked like an official.

Seeing that Xu Zhiqiong wasn't too enthusiastic, Mo Chi hurried forward to introduce him: "Your Honor, this is Mr. Dai Hongde."

Xu Zhiqiong clasped his fists and saluted, "I've met Mr. Dai."

Dai Hongde hurriedly returned the gift: "Dai, a grassroots man, dares to call himself an adult in front of the Marquis Yun. Recently, he has a lot of business and has been involved in trivial matters. If he failed to meet the Marquis sooner, please forgive him."

Xu Zhiqiong smiled and said: "How dare you, how dare you, Mr. Dai has worked hard, please take a seat."

Everyone took their seats one after another, Dai Hongde turned his head and gave instructions, and the attendants hurriedly brought up the presents.

"The preparations have been rushed this time, and a few small gifts are just a few small gifts. I don't know if it suits everyone's wishes."

With a wave of Dai Hongde's hand, the attendant brought up the first gift, which was for Mo Chi. There were sixty-four pearls in total, each with a size of seven cents. The pearls were arranged on the Huazhou Brocade to form a "Mo Chi" "Character.

This gift was carefully prepared, but to Mo Chi, it was a bit tacky.

It's vulgar to say that you have a low EQ, and it's expensive to say that you have a high EQ. Mo Chi stood up and cupped his fists and said, "Master Dai, how can Mo Chi afford such a generous gift?"

"Uncle Da Zong's words made Dai feel bad. As long as Uncle Da Zong doesn't dislike him, it will be Dai's blessing."

The two had a drink together, and Dai Hongde presented Xu Zhiqiong with a present.

This gift is precious.

A rockery made of emerald.

The rockery is two feet high and three feet four wide, and its overall shape is almost the same as that of Baihu Mountain.

"I heard that Yunhou used to study in Baihu Mountain when he was young. Dai bought a piece of jade by chance and asked the craftsmen to imitate it in the shape of Baihu Mountain. Among the green mountains, he still saw the ambition of Lingyun in the past. The craftsmen rushed to make it, and the craftsmanship was a little rough. Bad, I still hope Hou Ye Haihan."

Looking at this piece of emerald, Xu Zhiqiong read some deep meaning from it.

Dai Hongde is showing his strength to Xu Zhiqiong.

One is to show financial strength. Such a large piece of jadeite is by no means an ordinary source, and it cannot be bought with money.

The second is to show strength. Mo Chi posted a post in the morning, and Dai Hongde came to the dinner in the evening and brought a gift specially made for Xu Zhiqiong.

Carving a rockery in one day is not something ordinary craftsmen can do.

Dai Hongde has a Mohist cultivator under his command, and his cultivation level is no less than seventh rank.

Xu Zhiqiong got up and left the table, groped the emerald twice, and asked, "I don't know how much such a generous gift is worth?"

Mo Chi couldn't help lowering his head.

Sending things is vulgar, and Xu Zhiqiong's question is even more vulgar.

Dai Hongde smiled, but did not answer.

His younger brother Dai Hongyi smiled beside him: "Yunhou has good eyesight, so you might as well estimate the price."

Shan Yan pursed her lips, Dai Hongyi's words were impolite, somewhat provocative.

Little did he know that Dai Hongyi was used to arrogance, no matter whether he was facing a big official from the frontier or a high-ranking official from Beijing, he always liked to tease him.

Xu Zhiqiong didn't mind, he really did some calculations: "I think it's worth [-] taels of silver anyway."

Dai Hongyi smiled and said, "Your Yun underestimated our brothers. How dare you present something worth ten thousand silver to Yun Hou? Excluding the workmanship, this piece of emerald alone is worth [-] taels."

Xu Zhiqiong was taken aback: "Two hundred and twenty thousand taels, but I dare not accept this gift, it is worth more than Xu."

Dai Hongyi was stunned for a moment: "What does Lord Hou mean by this?"

Xu Zhiqiong didn't explain.

Mo Chi almost laughed out loud.

Ten million taels of silver bought [-] armaments, aid from an army of [-], and Xu Zhiqiong.

And counting Xu Zhiqiong as a fraction, it might not be worth [-] silver.

The situation during the dinner was very embarrassing, Xu Zhiqiong suddenly smiled and said: "Lord Dai, don't take offense, Xu is used to joking, I will accept this gift, but Xu doesn't like jade very much."

Dai Hongde remained silent, and Dai Hongyi asked directly: "I don't know what Yun Hou likes? Our brothers will ask someone to buy it."

Xu Zhiqiong said with a smile: "I'll trouble you to guess and see what hobbies Xu has."

Dai Hongyi was really blunt, called an attendant and whispered a few words.

The attendants returned as soon as they left, and brought twelve people of stunning beauty, two of whom played the flute, two of whom played the piano, two of whom plucked and sang, and six of whom danced lightly.

Dai Hongyi looked at Xu Zhiqiong and said, "Master Hou, is this small gift what you want?"

Xu Zhiqiong nodded and said, "These girls are fair in talent, but not good in looks."

Dai Hongyi smiled and said: "From Lord Hou's eyes, naturally he doesn't like these vulgar fans. If Lord Hou likes them, I'll find someone else to offer them to me."

"There's no need to look elsewhere!" Xu Zhiqiong sat beside "Senior Brother Tao" and squeezed the thick fat peach, "Where can you find such a beautiful woman?"

Tao Huayuan's cheeks were flushed, and she quickly pushed Xu Zhiqiong.

Shan Yan bowed her head and said nothing, while Mo Chi was worried.

Just look at Xu Zhiqiong touching that place, his hobby is undeniable.

How could this be good, and looking at the beauty of "Senior Brother Tao", I'm afraid it would be hard to find in Dayu.

Dai Hongyi was not surprised at all. In Daxuan, such hobbies are not unusual at all.

"Since Lord Hou has this kindness, we brothers should do our best. It's just that this young master's beauty is really hard to find in the world."

"Don't worry about it, I only love one person." Xu Zhiqiong rubbed the fat peach twice again. Tao Huayuan wanted to beat Xu Zhiqiong, but because of the occasion, it was not easy to mess around.

After this banter, the atmosphere during the meeting became much more relaxed. Seeing that it was Dai Hongyi who had been talking, Xu Zhiqiong took the initiative to toast Dai Hongde, and asked about Sanjiangkou: "I heard how long the merchant ships at Sanjiangkou lined up?" Li Chang, there must be thousands of merchant ships, big and small, Lord Dai must have worked very hard these few days."

Dai Hongde picked up his wine glass and said, "Business matters are far from hard work, Lord Hou, I would like to toast you."

Xu Zhiqiong didn't take the cup, looked at Dai Hongde and said, "Even if there are only a thousand merchant ships, it's hard work to go on each ship once."

Dai Hongde smiled and said: "My brother is used to walking by water, and besides, this business is not handled by me alone, so it's not hard work, Lord Hou, please give me a piece of thin noodles and drink this cup to the brim. I will immediately order someone to open the waterway and send Lord Hou Go south."

When Dai Hongde talked about business, Mo Chi invited him here just to let him go.

But even so, he still couldn't change the subject.

Xu Zhiqiong still didn't hold his glass: "There are so many merchant ships, I feel my eyes are sore, why do you say you are not tired?"

Dai Hongde didn't make a sound, and Dai Hongyi took over the conversation from the side: "This business is really hard. Our brothers haven't closed their eyes for several days and nights. It's rare for Master Hou to understand."

Xu Zhiqiong smiled and said, "Since it's been so hard, I don't think this business should be done."

The relaxed atmosphere froze in an instant. Dai Hongde put down his wine glass and looked at Xu Zhiqiong silently.

Dai Hongyi laughed beside him and said, "Master Hou, this business is not owned by our family, so why don't you do it?"

Xu Zhiqiong ate a mouthful of Jiangyu and said, "Tell me, who else belongs to it, and write a list for me to see."

Dai Hongyi then smiled and said: "I really wrote the roster, does Hou Ye dare to read it?"

"Then why don't you dare, I will ask someone to fetch a pen and paper."

Seeing that the situation was not right, Shan Yan gave Xu Zhiqiong winks frequently.

Xu Zhiqiong turned a blind eye.

Mo Chi was holding a wine glass beside him, watching the excitement indifferently.

Dai Hongde spoke: "Hongyi had a few more glasses of wine, and he may have offended him during his conversation. Please don't take offense, Master Hou. It's getting late, and my brother can't bother you, so I'm leaving."

The two brothers got up and wanted to leave, Xu Zhiqiong said: "Wait a minute! You two, I only persuaded you with kind words. This business really cannot be done, and human lives are involved in it."

Dai Hongde understood what Xu Zhiqiong meant. The human life he mentioned should refer to the disaster victims in the north.

"The imperial court transported grain to the north to help the victims. Dai was worried that there would be profiteers shoddying the inferior ones, who were short of money. Dai's move was to contribute to the imperial court. Although he was not an official, he had also served the imperial court Has worked for decades."

Xu Zhiqiong nodded and said: "Let's count your contributions, let's say that this business has been in business for decades, and you have earned enough money. Let me advise you again, this business really involves human life."

Dai Hongde didn't say any more, got up and left the table, took Dai Hongyi and left the cabin.

Shan Yan said worriedly: "Marquis Yun, this person is not easy to offend."

Xu Zhiqiong sighed and said, "I tried to persuade him three times in a row, but why didn't he listen?"

……

On the painting boat, Dai Hongde ordered someone to boil a jar of plum blossom wine, and drank two glasses with Dai Hongyi.

"Hongyi, why are you so reckless when you speak?"

"Brother, I also want to be more tactful, and I also want to have a few polite words with him, but his surname Xu is aggressive, and he is obviously going to cut off our family's livelihood!"

Dai Hongde sighed: "You don't know, this person's background is extraordinary."

"So what if it's unusual? Half of the wealth of the capital officials is in our hands, and I don't believe that he has lost it! Tonight, I will find some good water skills and scuttle his bird boat!"

Dai Hongde frowned and said: "You can't mess around! You have to follow the rules. Whoever strikes first will break the rules. As long as we abide by the rules, even if the emperor comes, we will take advantage of it.

Ask your men to drag all the passing boats for me, and leave no gaps on the river. I think he can spend a few days with us. "

At dawn the next day, Xu Zhiqiong stood on the deck, but saw the boats piled up on the river, but they were more dense than usual.

Mo Chi sighed, "It seems that Mr. Dai doesn't intend to let us go."

Shan Yan said: "There is not even a place to dock, and there is no place for a boat full of firewood and rice supplies."

Mo Chi smiled and said, "There's no need to worry about that. As long as Marquis Yun agrees, I'll borrow a merchant ship and spend some money to sneak across the river."

"Stay in the past?" Xu Zhiqiong laughed, "The Marquis of Daxuan bluffed in the river of Daxuan? His Highness's mockery really pricked Xu's ears."

Mo Chi shrugged his eyebrows and said, "I don't know what Yunhou's opinion is? Could it be possible to stay here and wait for a year or so?"

Xu Zhiqiong said with a smile: "It won't take a year and a half. Tonight I will give Mr. Dai a generous gift. We have this sincerity. I expect Mr. Dai to let him go tomorrow morning."

In the middle of the night, Dai Hongde was sorting out accounts in the painting boat. The eldest son, Dai Zhiguang, held a brocade box and said, "Marquis Yun sent someone to deliver a gift, handed it to the child, and then left."

Dai Hongde smiled: "After all, he is still a person who knows the rules, Zhiguang, remember, nothing is bigger than the rules, as long as you abide by the rules, no matter what the quality of the opponent is, you have to bow to us."

"Father, then their fleet..."

"Since they came here to give gifts, it proves that they have given in. They have to be forgiving and forgiving. Open the river and let them pass. By the way, call your second uncle. I have to teach him about the rules."

Dai Zhiguang turned and left, and Dai Hongde continued to settle accounts.

He was not in a hurry to open the gift box, it didn't matter what Xu Zhiqiong gave, what was important was his attitude.

After sorting out the two accounts, Dai Hongde stretched his waist, rubbed his forehead, and opened the gift box while he was resting.

After opening the box, Dai Hongde almost fell off the chair.

He stared at the gift box and sat silently for half an hour.

Dai Zhiguang walked into the cabin: "Father, I looked around, but I couldn't find my second uncle..."

The voice stopped abruptly, and Dai Zhiguang found his second uncle.

His second uncle Dai Hongyi's head was on his father's desk, neatly placed in a gift box.

There is also a piece of paper under the head, with a line written on it:

"In this business, human lives are involved."

The human life Xu Zhiqiong mentioned was not the disaster victims in the north.

The lives involved in this business are the lives of Dai Hongde's family.

　Fellow readers, Salad is late.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)