Compete for the Song Dynasty

After listening to Chen Yuanwai's words, Wang Pang sneered: "Hmph, so you admit that your father stole this book?"

Chen Yuanwai was just talking about the past, suddenly he felt that Wang Pang's tone was wrong, he saw Wang Pang's face sinking like water, and felt that this matter was not trivial.Chen Yuanwai couldn't sit still now, he stood up and knelt down to the king as soon as his legs gave way: "My lord, you can help me no matter what, but now the government is forcing me, I have nowhere to go. No matter what How did the book come here, please help me keep it now, in case something happens to me, my father will not be called a thief again!"

Wang Pang wanted to get Mr. Chen to get up, but felt that he needed to force him again. He slapped the table and said angrily, "The origin of this book is unknown. If you steal it, don't you think you won't admit it if you steal it?" Did father leave you any other books? It’s okay if you tell the truth, maybe I will help you for the sake of being an honest person. If you don’t tell the truth, don’t blame me for turning your back on me!”

Chen Yuanwai was about to cry, he felt aggrieved and a little angry, angry, how could Wang Pang turn his back on him because of his good intentions?The weeping Chen Yuanwai said: "My lord, what I'm telling is the truth. The scrolls my father left me are all here, and the compilation was indeed omitted back then. If my father told the truth at that time, the officials would also Take my father as a scapegoat. At that time, it will be a death penalty, it is better not to know that everyone is safe."

What he said was correct, Wang Pang put himself in the situation at that time, the book had already been edited, no one tracked it down, no one asked, suddenly someone reported that there was an omission in it, where would the emperor and ministers lose face.Those in charge of editing, those in charge of proofreading, none of them can escape.So if one does not speak, each does not speak.This is a bit like seeing a doctor for the emperor. Ten imperial physicians have the same diagnosis results. Every imperial physician has their code words. [

From this point of view, what Chen Yuanwai said was true, especially what happened to him really made Wang Pang sympathize, not to mention that from Wang Pang's point of view, this Chen Yuanwai was indeed an honest person.Now it is my business to look for the chapters, at least I know that this is not a simple problem of losing the chapters, but more related to my own destiny.The sky fell and the ground continued, since it was aimed at me, then I will bear it together!

Wang Pang's expression softened, and he calmly said to Chen Yuanwai: "Get up, I'll help you with this matter."

Chen Yuanwai heard Wang Pang say this, instead of getting up, he kowtowed and thanked: "Thank you, Mr. Wang, I will never forget your great kindness!"

Wang Pang hurried over to help him up: "What are you doing, since I promised you, don't worry. But I have one request!"

Chen Yuanwai was already grateful to Wang Pang, not to mention one request, he would agree to ten, and he hurriedly nodded in response: "Young Master, if you have anything to do, just ask!"

Wang Pang whispered to Yuanwai Chen: "You can't tell anyone about these books." Yuanwai Chen nodded vigorously, how dare he tell others again.

The two returned to their seats and sat down. Seeing that Wang Pang's expression was very calm, Mr. Chen asked suspiciously, "That's the only thing Mr. Wang ordered?"

Wang Pang nodded, he took a sip of tea, and slowly thought of a way to find out about the scroll, and there was still an important matter at the moment: "Mr. Chen, I have one more thing. Is your account book that records the county's tax collection okay?" Lend me a use?"

Member Chen heard Wang Pang said he wanted the account book, so he took out the booklet from his pocket and handed it to Wang Pang, and then returned to his seat: "This thing is useless to me, anyway, it's all dead accounts if I don't want it. , I have paid all the money that the county magistrate asked for. What is the use of this thing, young master?"

Wang Pang looked at the account books, Yuanwai Chen had advanced a lot of silver taels to the county in the past few years, fortunately his ancestors had some savings, but this method of advance payment would have to use up all the money.Not to mention other houses, but the Ruyi Restaurant, the most domineering restaurant on the street, owed four or five hundred taels of silver.But looking at the account books, Wang Pang was also surprised. Why is the tax so heavy in this county?His own family also has a restaurant, and the Jinxiu Tower is still open in the capital, and the monthly liquor tax plus other commercial taxes is only two or thirty taels of silver.How can this county be compared with the capital?The tax is twice that of the capital?

Looking down, Wang Pang asked Chen Yuanwai, "Where do you get the numbers on it?"

Chen Yuanwai sighed: "This number is assigned by the county government every month, and the county magistrate will charge as much as the county magistrate says."

Now Wang Pang understood. Didn’t his father say just now that the imperial court’s taxes are apportioned to prefectures and counties, and every time the magistrates go to a place, they will add [-]%. Wang Pang has something in mind about the matter of going to the county government office tomorrow. idea.He asked Mr. Chen, "Well, can this thing be given to me?"

Chen Yuanwai gave the book to Wang, do you still care about this account book?Originally, he didn't expect to really get the money back: "It's okay to give it to you, but I don't know what the son wants this for."

Wang Pang put the account book in his arms with a smile, winked at Chen Yuanwai, and said with a smile: "You want to come back for you!" With his smile, Chen Yuanwai also smiled: "Hey, Mr. Wang, don't make fun of me anymore. Now I'm thinking, just sell this house and leave this ghost place with some money. Sigh, I don't even know where I'm going. "

Wang Pang's heart skipped a beat, although he memorized the things in the memorization book just now so fluently, but he knew exactly how sulfur, nitrate and other substances were refined in ancient times, and what they looked like.Seeing that Chen Yuanwai is so proficient in this gunpowder, maybe I can cure his psychological disorder, and this person can only use it for himself.Thinking about it again, even though Yuanwai Chen had this obstacle in his heart, he was quite brave when he stopped Tong Guan Liu Qi just now. This person is usually useless, but he still had some courage at critical moments.

Thinking of this, Wang Pang looked at Chen Yuanwai: "If Chen Yuanwai doesn't dislike me, I'm short of manpower, why don't you just stay with me and do some errands, and I will give you a salary of 20 taels of silver every month. What do you think?"

Chen Yuanwai jumped up immediately when he heard it, and said excitedly: "There is such a good thing in the world, Mr. Wang doesn't despise my lameness, and even gives me 20 taels of silver every month. I don't know what to say. Yes. Thank you son, thank you son!"

Wang Pang smiled, and said to himself that if I tell you now to ask you to make gunpowder for me, I will scare you to death, but there is no rush, and keeping him by my side can ensure that the scroll will not go wrong again. "Chen Yuanwai, don't be too polite, I wonder who else is in Chen Yuanwai's family?" [

Chen Yuanwai hurried back: "I'm alone. Although my family has some property, I'm a cripple and have no ability to support a family. The girl from another family thinks I'm a coward, so I proposed to kiss the other family twice but they didn't agree." Speaking of which, Yuanwai Chen himself also felt blushing.

Wang Pang laughed: "That's fine, you go back and pack up, you can come over anytime after you pack up, since you are alone, if you want, you can come to my mansion to celebrate the New Year together."

When Wang Bang said this, Yuan Chen was in tears. He wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his robe, and said in a whimpering voice: "My lord, you are so kind. I will go back and clean up. I will come tomorrow morning! Also, you will Don’t call me Yuanwai Chen, just call me Chen Kang.”

Wang Pang nodded, the term Yuanwai usually refers to a big landlord, now that this person is so down and out, calling him Yuanwai would be a bit gratifying.Sending Chen Kang away, Wang Pang glanced at the box on the table, which contained something related to his fate. Unexpectedly, when he saw the injustice and drew his sword to help him, he accidentally knew such a big event.Wang Pang picked up the box, weighed it, and smiled helplessly.

Wang Pang returned to the inner house study with the box, his father and elder brother were holding a book and waiting for him. Seeing Wang Pang holding the box in his hand, Yuan Ze pointed to the box and said with a smile: "Chen Yuanwai is really a bit of water." Is your kindness to be repaid by a fountain?"

Wang Pang thought that his father and elder brother should not know about this matter, otherwise he would worry about himself: "Hehe, they are all old account books, and Mr. Chen still treats them as treasures." He also knew that his father and Yuan Ze would not just take them and read them , So put it on the table generously.

Wang Anshi put down his book and looked at the sky outside, then smiled and said to Wang Pang and Yuan Ze: "Bang'er went for two or three hours."

Wang Pang also felt his stomach growling at this moment, and asked with a smile after hearing what his father said, "Did my brother do the math for me?"

Yuan Ze also made an OK gesture, and asked Wang Bypass, "Didn't you say, three hours?"

It's three hours if it's ok?Then it means two hours to make a gesture of "吔"?Wang Pang pondered for himself, lowered his head and stretched out his hand to gesture, and smiled himself: "The meaning of this is ok, which means that it can be fine and there is no problem, do you understand?"

Yuan Ze said to his father: "Look, Dad, he is here again, with fresh tricks all day long!"

However, Wang Anshi laughed and said, "Does he understand? You just sign ok, don't you?" He said "ok" to Wang

Wang Pang didn't expect his father to have such a humorous side, so he couldn't help laughing too.It was already this time, Wang Anshi ordered his family to bring the food to the study, and the father and son chatted while eating.

Wang Pang, father and son were quite happy, but Chen Kang was unlucky.Leaving Wang Anshi's mansion, humming a ditty and enjoying the moonlight, he walked down the dirt road on Yanbu Slope, and within a short walk, he arrived at the gate of his house in the southeast of the county seat. He was still happy in his heart.He took the key of the brass lock from his waist, and was about to open the door when a person flashed behind him.This person has been waiting for Chen Kang all afternoon, and he is scolding Chen Kang in his heart while stomping his feet in the cold.Originally, I was beaten today because of this lame man, and I was still here this afternoon staring at his return. When I saw Chen Kang coming back from afar, I said to myself that you are a lame man, the uncle will definitely lame your leg today.