Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

That afternoon, Fang Zheng returned to Banshan Workshop and made some simple arrangements.

Li Yuanzhao was still enthusiastically designing his set of food hygiene and safety methods.

Fang Zheng glanced at it briefly, and without the heart to disturb him, he went straight back to the Fang residence.

The next day, after getting up in the morning, he went directly to the Court of State Ceremonial.

He naturally skipped the early court session. Since he also held the position of Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, he would slack off whenever he could.

The Court of State Ceremonial was not large in area, and the overall architecture resembled a giant quadrangle.

In addition to being responsible for foreign affairs reception, it also had to preside over sacrifices, investitures, banquets, and other activities.

The total staff was more than two hundred people, but the main people who could be responsible were no more than twenty.

Although Chen Hong was the highest-ranking official in the Court of State Ceremonial, his rank was still below Fang Zheng.

Although Fang Zheng was now his concurrent subordinate official, he naturally did not dare to order him.

As soon as Fang Zheng arrived at the Court of State Ceremonial, Chen Hong greeted him at the first moment, with a stiff smile on his face.

He's here, he actually really came!

I hope this lord doesn't cause trouble...

"Lord Fang! Welcome, welcome!"

Fang Zheng also showed a smile: "Lord Chen, you don't have to be so polite! This official is just looking around casually. If there is anything you need me to do, just tell me, don't be polite!"

"By the way, where is the Northern Rong delegation?"

Chen Hong's heart jumped to his throat.

You actually want to personally receive the delegation? Weren't those rumors from your Banshan Workshop spread by you?

It's almost like splashing dung on their faces!

"This... someone below the delegation is receiving them. I've already arranged it, we don't need to worry about it!"

"Come, come, come! Lord Fang, come inside. The refreshments in our Court of State Ceremonial are famously delicious!"

"Ah? Is that so? Then I'll try them!"

Chen Hong tugged at Fang Zheng's sleeve and pulled him into the house.

He directly let him sit in his own seat.

Then he personally brought a plate of refreshments.

Fang Zheng looked at the snacks, then looked at Chen Hong, and suddenly felt a little flattered.

It seems that since returning from disaster relief, his popularity has indeed improved.

Is everyone so enthusiastic?

He picked up a snack and took a bite, savoring it carefully for a while.

Then he threw the remaining half into his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and swallowed it.

Chen Hong asked cautiously: "How is it, is it delicious?"

"Not delicious," Fang Zheng shook his head.

"........"

"Come, try this one, tangerine cake!" Chen Hong pinched a piece of snack and handed it to Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng took the tangerine cake, took a bite, and then still threw the whole piece into his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and swallowed it.

Then he shook his head and said: "Not delicious."

"........"

"Try this one!"

"This... so-so, no, not delicious, the filling is a bit dry."

Chen Hong inexplicably felt a little frantic.

If it's not delicious, why did you eat it all?! If it's not delicious, just say it's not delicious? Can't you give me some face?!

No! He must be held back!

Hold him back for two days, and there won't be so much trouble after the banquet is over!

Chen Hong frowned and said: "I must satisfy you today, I'll have the cook make new ones."

"Freshly baked ones are delicious! Lord Fang, you wait for me here, don't run around!"

After eating five snacks and drinking two cups of tea.

Fang Zheng felt a little bloated, loosened his belt, looked at Chen Hong and smiled: "Lord Chen, you don't have to bother."

"I say... don't you want me to see the Northern Rong delegation?"

Chen Hong looked embarrassed: "How could that be... you are a guest, I'm just afraid of neglecting you!"

Fang Zheng smiled slightly: "Don't worry, this official is just doing his duty."

"Since His Majesty let me be this Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, I can't do nothing, right?"

"Eating the emperor's salary, it wouldn't be right for His Majesty to know that I'm just eating snacks here all day, don't you think so, Lord Chen?"

Chen Hong looked embarrassed.

Things have come to this, there's no way to delay it. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "The Northern Rong delegation is now in the Court of State Ceremonial Guesthouse."

"If Lord Fang wants to see them, I'll take you to see them, but let's forget about other things."

"They've come from afar and need to rest."

Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow: "Rest? We can't let them rest!"

"There will always be negotiations, right! Let them eat and drink their fill and then negotiate terms with us? You're confused!"

"Why don't you throw a few chickens into the guesthouse! Poke them in the middle of the night, don't let them sleep!"

Chen Hong's facial features had already begun to distort!

Are you speaking human language? Would a person do such a thing?

Despicable!

Seeing Chen Hong's ugly face, Fang Zheng laughed: "Just kidding! Just kidding!"

"Judging people by their actions, not their intentions, who doesn't have a little dark thoughts? I'm just thinking about this kind of immoral thing, I'm telling you because I treat Lord Chen as a friend!"

Chen Hong wiped two handfuls of cold sweat: "Yes... yes.."

"However... I still have to see the delegation. Not only do I want to see them, but I also want to take them away. I hope you can understand."

"Take them away! ?" Chen Hong's voice suddenly rose, "Absolutely not! What are you going to do?"

Fang Zheng shook his head and sighed: "Hey, didn't I promise His Majesty about the return gift? I have to take those Northern Rong people to see it."

"Otherwise, if they don't like the things I send, and think they are cheap goods, wouldn't that be a big loss of face?"

"My personal face doesn't matter, but if we lose face, we will lose the court's face, His Majesty's face!"

"Just put a hundred hearts at ease! I'll only pick two important figures to visit Banshan Workshop."

"The Crown Prince is also there, do you think I can mess around?"

Chen Hong gritted his teeth, and his breathing began to become heavy.

No way... absolutely cannot go!

The two of you together cause the biggest trouble. You kid are using the Crown Prince as a shield, making you even more lawless!

Seeing that Chen Hong still didn't agree, Fang Zheng was also a little helpless.

After all, it was his territory, and he was serving him well with good food and drink.

There was no need to use force in order to see the delegation, so he could only continue: "Lord Chen, I'm still helping the Court of State Ceremonial think of ways to run a newspaper, please give me some face!"

Chen Hong still shook his head.

Do you think I'm stupid! It's still a long shot! We can talk about it slowly in the future!

The Northern Rong delegation must not have any accidents!

Seeing that he was still unyielding, Fang Zheng said in a deep voice: "Okay! You don't trust me, do you!"

"Then let's not mention the matter of the Court of State Ceremonial running a newspaper. I can always make the decision on the Banshan Daily."

"The middle seam of the Daily, free for the Court of State Ceremonial to use for one year!"

Chen Hong's eyes lit up.

The Banshan Daily is the most sought-after newspaper on the market.

The Court of State Ceremonial may not be able to sell well if it runs its own newspaper, but it will definitely not be bad with the light of the Banshan Daily!

Chen Hong gritted his teeth: "Three years!"

"One and a half years"

"Two years!"

"Deal!"

With the matter settled, Chen Hong also figured it out, and said helplessly: "Okay!"

"But you have to promise me, you must not have conflicts with them!"

"Don't worry, everyone has been working together for so long, I have always been kind to others."