high official

Chapter 103 Suzhou
　"Eight stones of grain?" Wang Yuanwai said in disbelief, "Did I hear correctly?"

Wu Wei shook his head.

"It's better to grab it tomorrow." Yang Yuanwai looked tired.

"Which bright robber!" He said, Wu Xiaopang shook his cheeks angrily, spit splashed on the faces of the two of them, "They are all the best terraced fields, and 20 taels of silver per mu can't be bought at all! The master only opened eight stones of rice, which is less than ten taels of silver in normal times, which is a full discount, how much more do you want?!"

The two of them moved away, and said with a bit of resignation: "Wu Lingshi didn't say it, it's normal, but is it normal now..."

"You gentry families are supported by the imperial court, and you don't pay taxes or grain. How generous is the Ming Dynasty to you? But instead of thinking of the country's kindness and repaying service, they only sharpen their knives and take advantage of the danger of the people to make a fortune for the country!" Wu Wei bristled with anger: "Tell me yourself, are you still human?"

The two members were stunned, thinking what's going on?What medicine did this child take?
You must know that the upper level of power in a state and county can be divided into three groups, officials, subordinates, and squires.When two of them are combined, the third is bound to be unlucky.Of course, if the three collude with each other, the common people will suffer...

Generally speaking, because subordinate officials and squires are local snakes, they are naturally closer to outsiders like officials.Therefore, there are only two situations in the prefectures and counties in the world. One is that the squires and officials collude to piss the county magistrate into blood;

Of course, sometimes, when encountering that kind of powerful state and county magistrate, they will tidy up the subordinates and the country gentry, and they can only cooperate with the elder with their tails between their legs, and let's get through his term.However, it is almost impossible for the gentry and the subordinate staff to be in opposition... The life of everyone in a county for generations has long been intertwined, and the folks in the village have to show some kindness to each other.

But now, the two members have seen the merciless face of Little Fatty Wu...

"Wu Lingshi, your father and I have been friends for many years." Wang Yuanwai said with displeasure on his face, "You usually call me uncle, how do you talk to your elders?"

"It's a business matter now," Wu Wei said unmoved, "Don't talk about personal friendship."

Yuanwai Wang wanted to speak, but Yuanwai Yang forced him to shut his mouth.

"Wu Lingshi was just joking with us. He has worked in the yamen for all these years, so how can he not know that public and private affairs are the right thing to do." Member Yang laughed and said, "Don't worry Lingshi, the rule of drawing two out of ten is not right. will change..."

According to the bad custom, the government helped the squires to buy [-] mu at a low price, and there would be [-] mu as a benefit, which was divided between the county magistrate and the scribes, which was considered a great benefit.

"It's really generous." Wu Wei sneered, "But what about the common people?"

"Ling Shizhai is kind-hearted, but we are not bad." Yang Yuanwai said eloquently: "It is true that the common people sell us their fields, but they can give priority to long-term leases, so that the common people can survive the spring famine without being unemployed, and more won't be displaced..."

"It turns out that this is really a good thing!" Wu Wei sneered: "You are the ones who really benefit the country and the people, and think about Ming Dynasty, but you are too extreme."

"It's okay, okay..." Although the two of them were as thick-skinned as a city wall, they couldn't stand it anymore, so they quickly returned to the topic and said, "For the completed fields, we will give four stones per acre. For the unfinished fields, three stones per acre, This is our bottom line, if it is higher than this number, we won’t buy it.”

"Understood." Wu Wei was no longer angry, nodded and said: "This is not up to me to decide, I will report your request to the elder."

"Okay." The two of them didn't expect him to make the decision, so they said, "There is one more thing, please ask it as well."

"what's up?"

"For those unfinished fields, we can only pay [-]% of the grain as a deposit first, and the rest will not be settled until the completion of the work." Yang said.

"That makes sense." Wu Wei asked, "What if you go back on your word?"

"If we go back on our word, the deposit will naturally go to the government. If the government goes back on its word, it will not only refund the deposit, but also compensate us with the same amount of food." Yang Yuanwai took it for granted.

"Yes, I will report to the Elder." Wu Wei nodded and sent the two of them out of the yamen.

Seeing their figures disappear, Wu Wei spat hard, turned his gaze to the north, and said in a low voice, "Wang Xian, Wang Xian, if you don't return the food, we will become the accomplices of those silverfish!"

At this moment, his eyes were firm and sharp, and his fat body was full of righteousness. He was a completely different person from the usual muddled little fat man!
.

Hanshan Temple outside Gusu city, the bell to the passenger ship at midnight.

Two nights later, Wang Xian and Lin Qing'er arrived at Fengqiao Ferry outside Suzhou City.Early the next morning, he took her into the city to find his brother-in-law Lin Rongxing.

According to the address given in Lin Rongxing's letter, Wang Xian inquired all the way and found the Lin family living on Shantang Street.Today's Lin family is in decline, and they live in a two-story courtyard on Shantang Street. They are small and small, and they don't have the slightest trace of the richest man in Fuyang back then.

However, the loyal Uncle Tian Qi was still there. When he heard someone knocking on the door, he opened the door and saw his young lady standing at the door with tears in her eyes.Tian Qi was so shocked that he rubbed his eyes. After seeing that brat Wang Xian, he was sure that he was not dreaming. He shouted in surprise: "Young master, come out quickly and see who is here!"

Lin Rongxing heard the sound and took a look, and saw that it was his younger sister who came back, and burst into tears of joy, "Qing'er, I really want to be a brother."

Lin Qing'er also burst into tears and said: "Brother, I miss you and mother too. Where's mother?"

"Mother is lying in the back room. I feel a little uncomfortable today. I must be very happy to see you." Lin Rongxing hurriedly let his sister in, and after walking a few steps, he remembered Wang Xian. How are you and Aunt Wang?"

"It's great." Wang Xian said with a smile: "Don't worry about me, big brother, you just want to be together." He patted Tian Qi's arm and said: "It's good that Uncle Tian Qi stays with me."

"What are you talking about, let's go in and salute my mother first." Lin Rongxing finally regarded him as his brother-in-law, took Wang Xian into the main room in the backyard, and smelled a strong smell of herbs.

In the main room, Lin Qing'er had already stepped in first, and there was the sound of the two mothers hugging each other and crying.

When the crying stopped, Wang Xian went in to salute Mrs. Lin.Although Mrs. Lin still didn't like Wang Xian, she would no longer look at him coldly just for the sake of her daughter, and asked him a few words politely, and then asked his parents.Seeing that Wang Xian answered very decently, and seeing that he has a handsome face and straight eyebrows, and has gradually lost his rascal appearance, the old lady couldn't help but secretly said proudly, it really is close to Zhu Zhechi, this boy is with my daughter, and he has humanoid.

In any case, the old lady's attitude towards Wang Xian gradually improved, and after she said a few more words, Wang Xian resigned and let the two of them talk.

Lin Rongxing also came out with him. Uncle Tian Qi poured tea for Wang Xian and said with a smile, "I heard that you are well-developed now." By bragging about Wang Xian, he achieves the purpose of bragging about himself.

"Where is it, it's just a petty official." Wang Xian said with a smile: "But in the eyes of your brother, it should be considered remarkable."

"Hahaha..." Uncle Tian Qi laughed loudly and said, "It's nothing special to see my mother-in-law empty-handed."

"Uh," Wang Xian couldn't help but shyly said, "Actually, I came to Suzhou this time because I had something urgent to do, so I left in a hurry and didn't have time to prepare for the ceremony. I arrived in Suzhou last night, and the shops haven't opened yet this morning."

"Ahem..." Lin Rongxing knew that the two of them had a great friendship, but he had to put aside his words: "I am very happy that Erlang can come to me and my mother, what should I bring with me all the way."

"Hahaha, I'm joking." Tian Qi asked: "Is there any urgent matter in the Yamen?"

"En." Wang Xian nodded, and then told the two people about the fact that the county's grain ship was detained at Hushu Pass, and people were also arrested.

"Ah..." Although Lin Rongxing doesn't live in Fuyang, he is still a student of Fuyang. Hearing this, he couldn't help but anxiously said: "I thought Fuyang didn't suffer any disaster, and I was still congratulating you, but I didn't expect to suffer and die. What should I do?"

"Are you familiar with Suzhou now?" Wang Xian asked, "I'm new here, and my eyes are darkened."

"It's still familiar." Tian Qi said: "I often go out for nothing."

"Brother, please lend me Uncle Tian Qi for these two days." Wang Xian said to Lin Rongxing, "I need someone of my own to be a guide."

"Of course it's okay." Lin Rongxing said worriedly, "But we don't know anyone in Suzhou, so we can't help much."

"It's all right." Wang Xian said with a smile: "I have personal letters from the masters of Taiwan and the masters of Fantai. The Yansi Yamen should sell some thin noodles."

"That's good." Hearing that there was help from the chief envoy and the inspector, Lin Rongxing made up his mind and said, "Uncle Qi, you can take Erlang to the Yamen of Yansi."

"Not going to the Yamen of Yansi." Wang Xian shook his head and said, "Go to the Yamen of Suzhou first, I have to meet Mr. Sima and the others first."

"Okay." Tian Qi nodded, went in and changed into a decent dress, and said, "Let's go."

Lin Xiucai also wanted to go with Wang Xian, but he refused, "This is not a fight. It's useless if there are too many people. Brother, let's talk to the old lady and sister Lin at home."

"That's right." Lin Xiucai smiled wryly, "I'm a scholar with nothing to do. I can't do anything but make trouble..." Although his body gradually recovered, he still couldn't carry his shoulders or hands, and he could barely take care of himself.The inside and outside of the house are all run by Uncle Tian and his wife. Lin Xiucai can't help much, and has to be taken care of by others, so it is inevitable to be depressed.

"What's the big brother, we all count on you to be named on the gold list, and the whole family will follow suit." Wang Xian comforted with a smile: "Let's leave those rough and trivial matters to us vulgar people."

"You are not vulgar," Lin Xiucai said sternly, "You won the first prize at the West Lake Poetry Fair, and it has already spread to Suzhou. Now who doesn't know that I have an elegant official named Wang Zhongde in Hangzhou."

"Are the pears delicious?" Wang Xian smiled indifferently. He was becoming more and more disgusted with the praise of scholars now. He smiled at Lin Xiucai, and went out with Tian Qi and others.

.

　I'm going out tonight to have a drink and have fun, so it should be gone, I'll post it tomorrow morning...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)