gnovel Chapter 171 December
Chapter 171 December
On the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather grew increasingly cold.
This time, what fell from the sky was no longer sleet, but real heavy snow.
After half a day of rain, a thin layer of grime had formed on the ground, but after being stepped on and run over by vehicles, it was covered in filth.
Amidst the wind and snow, two carriages, one in front and one behind, stopped beside the Confucian Temple.
The curtain of the front carriage was lifted, and a person peeked out, only to be covered in snow from head to toe. It was none other than Zhu Daocun, the Assistant Prefect of Jiangyin Prefecture. The curtain of the rear carriage was also lifted, and with the help of a maid, two women stepped out one after the other, gently treading on the dirty snow.
The woman in front of me was tall and slender, wearing a white fur coat.
Whether it's a woman's willow-leaf eyebrows and bright eyes, or her delicate nose and cherry lips, they should give people a feeling of gentleness and beauty. But on her, you can only feel a bit of aloofness, and she gives people an overall feeling of being unapproachable.
The shorter girl behind her immediately grabbed the taller woman's arm as soon as she got off the car, chattering incessantly with a charming and adorable air. Five or six guards spread out beside them, each carrying weapons, carefully scanning their surroundings.
"Sister, that guy surnamed Lu started reciting poetry right away, something about 'the moon shining on the flowers in the courtyard,' it gave me the chills!" the girl said. "In the dead of winter, where would there be flowers? And it's broad daylight, there's no moon at all. It's hilarious! If Father hadn't been here, I would have run away." The tall woman looked at her younger sister's upturned face, her cold expression softening slightly, and said, "You, all you do is play around. You should get back to your senses. Take today, for example, with this heavy snowfall, you still insisted on coming out to play, is that appropriate?"
"I just love traveling." The younger sister clung tightly to her older sister's arm, her eyes darting around as she looked at everything.
Across the street, Yang's Grain Shop was bustling with activity, as people from all directions flocked to the shop, eager to buy.
"Don't rush, take it one at a time. Several thousand kilograms just arrived, we have them all."
"What? You think it's too expensive? It's almost Chinese New Year, 1.75 taels is nothing. In half a month, you can find it for 1.8 taels." "Oh, you're back from Liujiagang? Yes, it's 1.5 taels there, but this is Jiangyin, we can't compare with them."
"If you think it's too expensive, then don't buy it. Make way, the guy behind you has been waiting for a long time."
"Six catties, here you go. Ten taels and five mace, yes, take care."
The men shouted enthusiastically, their voices carrying far through the wind and snow.
Zhu Daocun had just walked over and was about to say something when he was also drawn to the commotion on the other side.
Recently, a document was forwarded from the province, mentioning that at the request of the Liangzhe Transport Office, all prefectures, states, and counties were instructed to pay attention to those selling large quantities of salted fish, and to investigate any such individuals found.
The reason is simple: to investigate the gang's "red forehead band".
This gang of bandits is too arrogant. They plundered thousands of yin of official salt and bought "countless" fish along the coast, clearly intending to pickle and sell them. Since they have shaken the foundation of the imperial court's salt tax, they must be severely punished. Once caught, they should be tortured and interrogated. This gang must be wiped out to restore peace and order to the world.
Zhu Daocun wasn't very interested in this. The matter didn't fall to him; it was led by Judge Ma Yuanchong, but since he attended the meeting, he still heard about it.
Today, I took my wife, Fei Yuanxiu, and my sister-in-law for a snowy outing. For some reason, this matter suddenly came to mind, and I couldn't help but ponder it. Isn't Yang's Grain Shop selling salted fish? And in such large quantities, and for more than just a day or two? Isn't that suspicious?
"What are you thinking about?" His wife's calm, emotionless voice came from beside him.
Zhu Daocun snapped out of his daze, paused for a moment, and then asked, "This must be the Liu family's shop?"
"How much salted fish has she sold?"
Why are you asking this?
"I suspect," Zhu Daocun suddenly smiled and said, "that she got the fish from the clan in Wenzhou and didn't pay taxes."
Fei Yuanyou glanced at him quietly and said, "I've known her for many years."
Zhu Daocun simply said "oh" and didn't say anything more.
Fei Yuanzhen quietly stepped forward, staring at the busy scene opposite her with her dark eyes.
There were so many people buying salted fish that they were packed in layers, and the shop assistant's claim that several thousand kilograms had just been delivered was clearly not true. There hadn't been any replenishment by now, and the salted fish on the stall at the entrance was rapidly decreasing until there were hardly any left.
"It's so lively!" she exclaimed, breathing out a soft breath.
Just then, the boatman's loud shouts and the porters' rhythmic calls came from the river behind the grain shop, as if someone was carrying something.
No fewer than ten oxcarts arrived from the west side of Xueqian Street, covered with tarpaulins and piled high with goods.
When the wind blows, the fishy smell travels far and wide, making it obvious what kind of goods are in the container.
Five or six men followed beside the oxcart, weapons hanging from their waists, scanning the surroundings, clearly very vigilant.
Fei Yuanzhen covered her mouth and chuckled. How ridiculous!
Especially the leader, whose hair and eyebrows were covered in snowflakes, making him look like an old man with white hair.
His gaze swept over this area and lingered for a moment.
Fei Yuanzhen made no attempt to avoid people, and openly met his gaze.
He wasn't short, and his hands and feet were sturdy. Hmm, he wasn't as good-looking as the scholars she had seen; he didn't have that striking, handsome look. But he seemed quite steady, so he would be a good coachman.
Giddy up! Giddy up! Fei Yuanzhen amused herself until her sister grabbed her little ear, causing her to cry out in pain.
Upon seeing this, the person opposite grinned, then quickly turned away and directed the convoy to stop.
They arrived at their destination.
"Coming, coming!" said Master Sun, the waiter, loudly. "I told you not to rush, here we are!"
Half of the other workers were assigned to move the goods, while the rest worked to maintain order.
The guards didn't participate in the moving work; instead, they scattered and stared intently at everything around them.
It was December, and snow was still falling. The officials had long since disappeared to enjoy themselves somewhere; not a single one could be seen on the streets. At this time, if anything happened, one could only rely on oneself, so caution was necessary.
The leader stood with his arms crossed under the eaves, chatting and laughing with a man who came out of the grain shop, seemingly very satisfied with the bustling sales scene before him.
"They're selling smuggled salt," Fei Yuanzhen exclaimed in surprise, her big, round eyes wide, after escaping her sister's clutches.
"Don't look too much, or you'll get into trouble," Fei Yuanyou said, pulling his sister back.
Fei Yuanzhen wasn't afraid of her at all, and muttered softly, "Sister, they're not good people, are they?"
Fei Yuanyou was slightly taken aback. After a moment, he gently brushed the remaining snow from his sister's hair and said, "The people and things in this world are complicated. How can they be so simply distinguished as good or bad?"
"Isn't smuggling salt bad?" Fei Yuanzhen asked.
Fei Yuanyou did not answer her, but turned to her husband and said, "Let's go to Guangfeng Jiyue Pavilion, don't linger here."
Zhu Daocun hummed in agreement, but couldn't help glancing at the grain shop across the street.
Liu sold quite a lot of salted fish; how much money must she have made? So far, he hasn't seen a single penny. Did Liu not offer any tribute? Or perhaps she did offer tribute, but...
Zhu Daocun glanced at his wife subtly, a hint of doubt in his mind.
However, he ultimately didn't dare to ask.
I recently suffered a major setback and made a huge fool of myself. I feel like I'm being pointed at and talked about wherever I go. The couple has argued about this countless times, and it only calmed down a couple of days ago.
He really didn't have the confidence to ask.
Patience! Patience is an essential quality for those who achieve great things. As long as we can endure until Fei Xiong is dismissed from his post and no longer serves as the deputy commander, and until the Fei family is no longer trusted and their official relationship gradually fades away, then who will dare to cause trouble for him? That slut Liu will eventually become his plaything.
There's no rush now, really no rush. Let's take care of our health first, cure our illness, and then patiently wait for the right opportunity.
Thinking of this, Zhu Daocun smiled and earnestly became a good husband and brother-in-law, leading his wife and sister-in-law into the Confucian temple. Shao Shuyi's figure also disappeared from under the eaves of Yang's Grain Shop.
He went upstairs and sat opposite Liu.
Yu Yuan stood behind him and collected the bundles of banknotes on the table.
"Once this batch is delivered, we're really done. You sold out too quickly," Shao Shuyi said, both pleased and worried.
Over the past few months, four batches of goods have been supplied to the Liu family, totaling 32,000 catties of salted fish and 4,000 catties of salt, and more than 400 ingots of cash, which has far exceeded the latest estimate.
Currently, there is a shortage of manpower in Matuosha, coupled with bad weather and the approaching end of the year, which has affected salted fish production to some extent.
According to Yu Yuan's report, they could probably pickle another 18,000 catties of salted fish, which would be enough to restock Liu's supply twice after the Lantern Festival.
Ten thousand catties of Huai salt have already been distributed, but the accounts will not be settled and payment received until the end of the year, so there will be no money for now.
"Isn't it good that it sells fast?" Madam Liu was in a good mood. "The store in Jiangxia City will open after the New Year, and it will sell even faster then. However, if Wang Zongsan comes to cause trouble, you'll have to hold your own."
Shao Shuyi coughed and looked at Yu Yuan.
Yu Yuan quickly put the money away, then bowed and left.
"Don't worry, even if he doesn't come looking for trouble, I'm already planning to deal with him anyway," Shao Shuyi said softly.
As expected of someone from a family with a strong scholarly tradition, Madam Liu showed no reaction to these words, only smiling and asking, "Do you have enough people?"
"Killing Wang Zongsan is more than enough," Shao Shuyi said. "But you're right, I plan to raise more men. When we move, we'll be even more unscrupulous." "Be careful, Wang Zongsan might kill you first," Liu poured Shao Shuyi a cup of tea and said, "He might be inquiring about you too. Brother Cao has risen so quickly and seized so many deals, isn't he worried? Don't end up like Zhu Ding, dying carelessly in the street."
Shao Shuyi hummed in agreement.
He has indeed been making quite a few public appearances lately, making him easily spotted by those with ulterior motives. He needs to lay low for a while.
"You came here today just to deliver fish?" Madam Liu asked again.
Shao Shuyi pondered for a moment and said, "Including what you gave me today, I now have 225 ingots of paper money."
"That's a lot of money," Liu said with a light laugh.
Shao Shuyi glared at her and said, "I need money in Shanghai. I've already given out 150 ingots, and I don't know when I'll run out. A group of refugees from the Huai River region, more than a dozen households, have come from Matuosha. I've taken them in, and I'll send them to Shanghai after the New Year. That will cost money too."
This month, there might still be salt merchants from Huai'an delivering salt. Although it's a bit expensive, and I'm not really willing to accept it, I'm also afraid that this supply line will be cut off. I still have to accept it, and I don't know how much it will cost...
"Are you done talking?" Liu glanced at him and asked.
"That's all."
Liu casually toyed with her teacup and asked, "How much salt do you have left over from Ma Tuosha?"
"After deducting the amount needed for pickling the fish, it's about 4,800 to 4,900 catties."
"I'll give you five thousand catties then. I'll find an opportunity to send it to Xiapu. I'll buy it first and then sell it slowly after the New Year," said Madam Liu.
"Thank you," Shao Shuyi said with a smile.
"But there's a condition," Liu suddenly said.
"speak."
"Make me some food later."
"Okay." Shao Shuyi agreed without hesitation.