Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 123: Pretending to serve the public good for personal gain
  Jia Cong knew that if he didn't give in, everyone might be dissatisfied, so he smiled and said: "You are all righteous businessmen of the country who have been praised by the emperor. Mr. Jiang is the 'leader of righteous businessmen'. Now that you have spoken, we are the juniors." How dare you disobey?
  Anyway, to show the respect of the Yanyuan Yamen for all of you who have worked hard to manage the salt industry for decades, I will use a considerable part of the additional salt quotation this time for you to bid on, how about it? "

Everyone's faces suddenly became much better, and they said repeatedly: "The third master is so righteous, I will definitely repay his kindness." After that, he continued to persuade him to drink.

Wine is a lubricant, and as he drank, the atmosphere became better. Gui Lie smiled and tried: "Third Master, I don't know how many nests we have for special supply. Can you give me a few tips so that we can raise money when we go back? So as not to be at a loss when you arrive.”

After hearing the key point, everyone quickly put down their chopsticks and looked at Jia Cong with a smile.

Jia Cong smiled slightly and said: "Mr. Gui, please forgive Cong for keeping quiet about this, because if I state the quantity clearly, it is inevitable that everyone will allocate it privately and compete away at the lowest price. The scene must not look good. Other salt merchants It is inevitable to complain, saying that Yanyuan Yamen officials and businessmen colluded and gave and received privately. Who can bear this crime?

I hope you will understand the Yamen's difficulties. Anyway, in a word, you will not suffer any loss in terms of quantity. "The nest allocation method is Jia Cong's core secret. No one except him knows it now.

"That's right, that's right. I'll understand. I understand."

Everyone hurriedly nodded in agreement and cursed Jia Cong in their hearts for being cunning and cunning. They concealed the quantity for fear that others would surround the bids. This was to force everyone to fight.

The salt merchants were helpless. At this point, the yamen's words were difficult to contend with, so they had no choice but to express their support.

"I wonder when Yanyuan will distribute nest books?" Jiang Chuan said.

"About half a month later." Jia Cong said with a smile: "But now I have a little trouble. When the time comes, the big and small salt merchants from the Huaihe River and Huaihe River will gather together to participate in the grand event. I lack a good place to hold this event. Can you guys give me some advice? ?”

Everyone laughed and said: "The Jiang family's Wanshu Garden is just right for use. The Supreme Emperor also visited it and praised it as the best garden in Jiangnan."

"Oh? I don't know, Mr. Jiang..." Jia Cong looked at Jiang Biehe with a smile.

Jiang Biehe waved his hands and said: "You're welcome, it's just a garden. The Third Master needs to use it at any time, so just let me know. It's an honor for the Jiang family to be able to contribute to such a grand event. It's also an obligation for my family." .”

"Then I'd like to thank Mr. Jiang for his righteousness." Jia Cong said.

"Don't worry, Third Master, we will provide all the tea, wine, food, servants, and other things needed for all the attendees. I guarantee that everyone will be able to discuss important matters without distractions." Jiang Chuan said with a smile.

Everyone smiled and thanked him.

Seeing that the matter was almost over, Jia Cong winked at Xu Qing and indicated that he was going to withdraw. Xu Qing smiled and nodded, indicating that he understood.

"Everyone, my sister-in-law, my uncle's daughter, is also visiting the lake today. Please forgive Cong for deceiving him." Jia Cong stood up and left.

"Third Master goes to work when he has something to do. How dare rough guys like us disturb Miss Lin's happiness? I just ask Third Master to say hello to Miss Lin on behalf of us."

"Why didn't Third Master tell you earlier? It would be a sin if we kept Miss Lin waiting for a long time because of our matter."

"Order the boatman to pull the boat over and carefully send the third master off the boat."

Jia Cong repeatedly raised his hands, turned to look at the four Slender West Lake masters, and paused slightly.

All the salt merchants were smart people, so they didn’t understand. They hurriedly said: "With such a beautiful scenery on such a beautiful day, why don’t the third master take four of you with him to help Miss Lin swim in the lake? What kind of music and poetry do we rough guys know? It’s just playing the piano to a cow here.”

Jia Cong secretly sighed that the salt merchant was a good man, and said with a smile: "Then I will suffer."

"Third Master, you're welcome. Since ancient times, talented people have been matched with beautiful women. Only a literary and elegant person like Third Master is worthy of the music of the four great families." The crowd said.

Jia Cong laughed. It was quite satisfying to be respected as a talented person. He looked at Yin Feng, Nong Yue and the other four, and said with a smile, "Four of you, just follow me."

The four of them smiled and said: "We sisters have admired Third Master's literary talents for a long time. I wonder if we will be lucky enough to listen to Third Master's wonderful words tonight."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "We'll find out when we get there."

After that, he led a group of Yingying Yanyan back to Daiyu and took the boat. Seeing Jia Cong followed by a group of beautiful little tails, Daiyu felt a little displeased and complained: "You are a person who works for the public and for your own benefit."

Jia Cong smiled and said: "These are the four masters of Slender West Lake. They are very skilled. Wouldn't it be good to let them relieve your boredom? If you don't like it, I will send them back."

Daiyu was kind-hearted by nature and did not want to embarrass others. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "Since they are here, let's just let them go over there."

Jia Cong nodded quickly and directed the girls to sit at the other end and get ready to play.

"When you are tired of listening to the old music, let's sing a new song to listen to it." Daiyu said softly, sitting behind the bead curtain.

The girls hurriedly agreed, and the string and bamboo orchestra started playing together. Yinfeng smiled and winked at Jia Cong, and sang softly: "The flowers in the forest have withered the spring red..."

Daiyu's face suddenly darkened and she glared at Jia Cong fiercely.

Jia Cong smiled bitterly and lowered his head, pinching his chin and not daring to speak. He cursed in his heart, why did he sing my lyrics if he wanted to die? Isn't this hurting me? It was hard to force him to stop at this moment. It became more and more obvious that he had something evil in his heart, so he had to endure it. , I felt like I was sitting on pins and needles after listening to it.

Yinfeng smiled and said: "The third master is extremely talented in literature. Can you improvise another line and let us sisters sing it immediately? Wouldn't it be more fresh?"

The other three women nodded hurriedly like chickens pecking at rice. They all looked at Jia Cong with admiration, but they didn't know the true feelings.

Jia Cong also wanted to get rid of the embarrassing atmosphere just now, and said with a smile: "What's the difficulty? You, please give me a review."

Daiyu had been waiting for him to write a poem for a long time. Her expression softened a little, she nodded slightly and said, "Go ahead and write it."

Jia Cong looked at the blooming lotus flowers on the lake. Among the flowers as the boat sailed, he suddenly remembered a little poem and said with a smile: "Here comes the pen and ink."

Zicuckoo is busy presenting it.

Jia Cong pondered for a moment, then finished writing in one breath. He ordered the girl to hand it to Yin Feng and said with a smile: "Sing it and listen."

Nong Yue and others hurriedly came over to take a look. It turned out to be a set of lyrics for "Dian Crimson Lips". They were written extremely well. They hurriedly gave some instructions to the musicians and others, and composed the music and sang it on the spot.

"Drunk in the boat, the flow of letters leads to the depths of the flowers. The fate of the world is mixed, and there is no plan to live among the flowers. The smoke and water are vast, and the sun sets thousands of miles away. There are countless mountains, and they are as red as rain. I don't remember the way I came."

The fresh and refined singing spread far away along the lake. After finishing the song, Yinfeng and others all admired him: "Such wonderful words can be easily picked up at your fingertips. The talent of the third master is not inferior to that of Li Du. The slave family is defeated."

Looking at those little eyes, as long as Jia Cong hooks his fingers, they will immediately pounce on him and eat him into his stomach.

Daiyu's face turned even darker. It's not that this word is not good, but it is far from Daiyu's expectation. Not to mention that there are no words for the Chinese Valentine's Day, even compared with Linhua Fading the Spring Red, it may not be comparable. Pass.

"Is this the word you prepared for me? That's nonsense." Daiyu spat at Jia Cong angrily.

Jia Cong went over and put his arm around her shoulders and said with a smile: "You are looking down on me too much, Qi'er. This "Red Lips" is just an impromptu graffiti. How dare you dedicate it to me?"

Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and said angrily: "Then why are you so tight-lipped? If you still don't like it, I'll take a closer look at your skin."

Jia Cong laughed, walked to the table, picked up the pen again, and handed it to Yin Feng with a smile, saying: "You can sing, but you are not allowed to fall in love with me."

Yinfeng covered his mouth and smiled softly, with his eyes on him secretly. He took the poem note in his hand, gently traced his jade fingers across his palm, and whispered: "Master Cong is just talking now, it's already too late."

Jia Cong called them monsters. These professionals are really powerful when it comes to talking dirty words. Afraid that Daiyu would see something, she quickly stepped back.

Daiyu rolled her eyes at him and was too lazy to pay attention to him, just listening attentively.

(End of this chapter)