Chapter 392: 146. Three Wins, Who Loses?

146. Three Wins, Who Loses?

Xunyang Tower, third floor, Narcissus private room.

Huang Xuan looked blankly at the paralyzed-faced Daoist youth who had arrived suddenly.

The burly bearded man beside her didn't understand, looked left and right at them, his face impatient as he drove Lu Ya away:

"Go, go, you bull-nose have no manners, not to mention breaking into the room, and speaking in riddles, inexplicable, most annoying of you kind of pretending to be gods and ghosts, speaking but not speaking clearly..."

Huang Feihong rolled up his sleeves and came forward, Huang Xuan suddenly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"Father..."

Huang Feihong turned his head and looked, Huang Xuan shook her head slightly at him, softly:

"Let this Daoist speak."

The paralyzed-faced Daoist youth, whose butt had already left the stool and was preparing to turn and run, looked sideways at Huang Feihong. Seeing that he was held down by his daughter, the danger was temporarily lifted, and Lu Ya breathed a sigh of relief.

Others are scholars meeting soldiers, unable to reason. He is a Daoist meeting a blockhead, unable to speak.

What, you ask about the face of a mountain walker of the Shangqing Sect?

That person who asks this probably doesn't know the heroic deeds of Lu Ya, who was the third to go on stage during the Peach Valley Sword Question, lost to Xue Zhongzhu, who was only in the sixth grade, with one sword, fell off the high platform in a sorry state, and then under the gaze of the public, climbed up, generously dropped a peach wood sword, patted his butt, and walked away calmly.

The reason why the sword cultivator and the Chang'an swordsman who went on stage before him died and were injured respectively, while only he returned safely, is not without reason.

Master taught that when walking in the world, as long as it is not a life-and-death enmity or slaying demons and eliminating monsters, if you can't beat them, just admit defeat quickly. It is best to sincerely admire the opponent, turn hostility into friendship, don't hold on to face, and act on impulse.

As for if you can beat them... then you can't fight even more. After the exchange, you must also humbly flatter, only win by a thread, and it is best to praise each other after a narrow victory, valuing harmony above all.

You ask why?

Lu Ya hadn't asked, but he remembered that his master, who was always immortal and elegant, suddenly kicked his butt, blowing his beard and staring, hating that iron couldn't become steel, and scolded, hit your immeasurable celestial respect, Maoshan only has these few disciples left, only a few lineages remain, you are still giving away for free, do you want to cut off the lineage? This shabby ancestor hall collecting disciples is not as fast as the underground Yama coming to collect people.

Actually, there are other junior uncles, whose temperaments are fierce and stubborn, opposing his master's concepts, but these junior uncles did not live as long as his master, supporting until the age of one hundred.

Since his master lived the longest, Lu Ya decided to listen to him.

This move taught by his master, which is on par with the "Decree of Descending Gods," Lu Ya wants to pass on to the new junior sister in the future, hoping that she can continue to maintain the excellent style of this Maoshan session, and must not make any mistakes.

In the private room, the safe paralyzed-faced Daoist youth nodded.

"Daoist, please speak."

Huang Xuan looked around the luxury private room arranged by the noble lady and said to Lu Ya.

Lu Ya had no expression:

"This woman surnamed Pei and her accomplices are merchants from Yangzhou. Recently, they have been spending a fortune, purchasing old houses in Xingzi Fang on a large scale, wanting to renovate and resell. However, there are too many small landlords in Xingzi Fang, and there are quite a few nail households who are unwilling to sell their houses. Although they have money, they have also encountered thorny obstacles..."

Speaking of this, he stopped, stopping at the right point, observing the little girl's expression.

Huang Xuan was stunned, and then her face changed.

Huang Feihong looked suspiciously at the expressions of the two, "What's wrong, Little Xuan?"

His daughter didn't answer.

He asked Lu Ya again in confusion: "Bull-nose, what does this thorny obstacle have to do with eating today? What on earth do you mean..."

Lu Ya didn't speak, silently watching Huang Xuan.

Her face flushed, but she lowered her head, as if looking at the beautiful dress she had changed into for the toast today.

There was silence in the room.

Huang Xuan suddenly stood up.

"Father." With a trembling voice.

"What's wrong, Little Xuan?" Huang Feihong worried: "What on earth is wrong, don't scare me."

"The boudoir courtyard you and I picked together last night is really beautiful, spacious, and has a swing. Besides the vermilion building, there is a spacious small courtyard. There is a small empty space in the east corner of the courtyard. I can plant vegetables and fruits when I have nothing to do. I can make some side dishes for your wine next spring. And the plum trees in the garden outside the courtyard, I can pick fresh plums when the season changes..."

Huang Feihong was stunned, scratched his head and smiled:

"As long as you like it, such a big house, just the two of us living there, hehe, you can live wherever you want, we can also invite relatives and friends from the countryside, then it will be lively, didn't expect that I, Huang Da, could have a big house in this life, but I still have to continue the work I did originally, can't sit and eat the mountain empty, Little Xuan can rest, wait for me in the house... Hey, Little Xuan, why are you crying?"

The bearded man said halfway, his eyes wide as copper bells, he immediately rolled up his sleeves and roared at someone: "Bull-nose! What bad thing did you do secretly again, making my daughter cry..."

"..." Lu Ya.

However, Huang Xuan held onto her hot-tempered father tightly. She said to Lu Ya:

"Daoist, can you do us a favor, please, there will be a generous reward afterwards." With tears in her voice.

"You speak first." Lu Ya nodded: "No need for a generous reward, just a lift of a finger, will help if I can."

Huang Xuan opened her mouth and was quiet for a while. Her ears were full of the noise of welcoming noble guests downstairs. She suddenly walked to the window and pushed it open. The blue sky, white clouds, rolling river water, and the scene of a hundred boats competing, mixed with the fishy smell of the river wind, rushed toward her face.

The familiar smell of the wharf market.

Huang Xuan turned her head to look at Lu Ya.

"Changshi Ouyang has arrived, everyone has been looking forward to it for a long time, finally seeing his honorable face."

Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang were enthusiastically welcomed into the lobby on the first floor by Pei Thirteenth Lady.

The group of wealthy merchants accompanying them also offered kind words under Pei Thirteenth Lady's introduction.

Similar to the setup at his junior sister's birthday banquet, there were more than a dozen tables in the lobby on the first floor, each table filled with fine wine and delicacies, and maids holding wine.

It was clear that it had been booked by Pei Thirteenth Lady and others.

Ouyang Rong looked around the lobby and found many familiar faces.

The wealthy merchants in Xunyang City, famous scholars with literary talent, and some Jiangzhou officials he recognized... all cast their gazes at him.

However, in this kind of meal, besides the venue in the lobby, there is a second round in the private room on the second floor, which is quiet and has few people.

The former is for speaking and showing off, the latter is the place to talk about private interests behind closed doors.

Generally, after talking in the small venue, they come out to toast and receive wine one by one, performing and showing off.

According to Ouyang Rong's understanding of the versatile Pei Thirteenth Lady, and the report from Lu Ya, this grand luncheon today should be no exception, and there must be a dining table for private discussion.

Ouyang Rong didn't have time to dawdle, and directly said to Pei Thirteenth Lady:

"Go to the private room, I'm hungry today, let's eat a meal first. Seventeen Lady and I like it quiet."

Pei Thirteenth Lady didn't know if she understood his meaning, and showed difficulty on her face:

"Changshi Ouyang, please understand everyone's earnest enthusiasm. Everyone has been looking forward to your guidance for a long time."

"Everyone doesn't know where they got the news of your good deed of helping the Huang family father and daughter, and they all admire your character, regarding you as a teacher. Today's luncheon, many people also came voluntarily, entrusting various relationships, I am not easy to refuse, hope Changshi Ouyang doesn't blame me."

"The Huang family father and daughter have already arrived, they are upstairs, and they have been preparing for a long time to toast Changshi Ouyang at today's luncheon, their mood is excited."

Pei Thirteenth Lady picked up the wine pot on the maid's tray, respectfully poured a cup of wine for Ouyang Rong and handed it over, also poured a cup for herself, pinched the cup foot, and looked around the audience:

"By the way, announce one thing. I have some fellow villagers in Xunyang City, who are also doing business, and have some spare money. Hearing the Changshi's deeds, everyone was moved, gathered together to discuss, and decided to donate a sum to Xingzi Fang, which can be considered following the footsteps of the sage..."

She bent her legs toward Ouyang Rong and bowed gracefully:

"Changshi Ouyang, the Most Holy Teacher said that seeing virtue and thinking of equaling it. You lead by example, guiding the good atmosphere of Xunyang, I admire it very much, like looking up at a high mountain."

"Taking advantage of everyone being here, why doesn't Changshi Ouyang drink a few cups of wine, say a few words, and then move to the private room to eat quietly... What does Changshi Ouyang think?"

Hearing this, everyone thought that Pei Thirteenth Lady had a good relationship with Changshi Ouyang, and this suggestion was also appropriate and considerate.

A burst of well-intentioned laughter sounded in the venue, and everyone praised Ouyang Rong one after another, asking him to say a few words.

Xie Lingjiang frowned, looked around the audience, and felt dissatisfied.

This group of Yangzhou wealthy merchants led by Pei Thirteenth Lady, saying such beautiful words to frame Ru Shixiong, isn't this making people unable to step down.

Say a few words?

Are some words to be spoken casually? For a local official like Ru Shixiong, speaking on the spot is expressing a stance, and in the eyes of outsiders, it is releasing a certain signal...

Ouyang Rong didn't take the wine cup, nor did he respond to those flattering words of praise, noncommittal, he looked at Pei Thirteenth Lady:

"Donating a sum to Xingzi Fang, how to donate?"

Pei Thirteenth Lady said immediately:

"I and my fellow villagers learned from Changshi Ouyang's excellent style, followed your footsteps, discussed it, and decided to gift a new residence to the Huang family father and daughter who have been bullied by black landlords. In addition, later we will take out three more houses, converted into a relief institution, open to poor people for free, regularly send porridge and grain, and accommodate the disabled in the neighborhood..."

"Hey, although these houses were bought by me and my fellow villagers at a high price from those stinky small landlords, high price is high price, as long as we can help the people, these are all unimportant..."

She shook her head helplessly, swept her eyes over everyone's reaction without a trace, and changed the subject:

"Speaking of this, Changshi Ouyang, I and my companions have long heard that those small landlords in Xingzi Fang like to join forces to bully the people, often rudely driving away tenants, and the houses they rent are also in disrepair, with very poor living conditions."

"These problems have not been one or two days, many people complain, and the Huang family father and daughter matter is just a microcosm."

"This time, after hearing about Changshi Ouyang's good deed of helping the Huang family father and daughter, many people hate these stinky small landlords even more."

"Actually, Changshi Ouyang doesn't know... I and my companions have long been unable to stand this matter, have been raising funds since the beginning of the year, worked hard to acquire old houses, currently preparing to renovate and re-rent or sell to the bullied people. Unlike those stinky small landlords, we will be fair and transparent, and absolutely will not have that kind of breach of contract and driving people away."

"Changshi Ouyang, what do you think, can you give some guidance?"

Pei Thirteenth Lady asked for his opinion sincerely.

Ouyang Rong didn't speak.

Everyone in the audience cheered when they heard this.

Many people's expressions showed realization, only thinking that this luncheon was for this matter. It seems that Pei Thirteenth Lady has an unusual relationship with this Changshi Ouyang and is promoting certain things, so they cheered and agreed even more.

Xie Lingjiang frowned and looked at Pei Thirteenth Lady, glaring at her.

This eloquent woman, on the surface, is praising Ru Shixiong and adding luster to his political achievements, but in reality, she is paving the way for her own large-scale house acquisition.

If most people heard about today's matter, they would think Ru Shixiong is publicly endorsing, thinking this group of Yangzhou merchants is backed by Ru Shixiong...

The officials of the agencies under the Jiangzhou Hall, as long as they are sensible and clever, will take the initiative to clear the way for this group of Yangzhou merchants.

Xie Lingjiang pursed her vermilion lips.

Although looking at it from the present, Ru Shixiong, Pei Thirteenth Lady, and the Huang family father and daughter have all gained something, today can be considered a three-win, but may I ask, who is the loser?

First of all, it can be determined that the group whose interests are damaged is not in the Xunyang Tower right now...

In addition, there is another point. If something goes wrong during the house acquisition by these Yangzhou merchants in the future, Ru Shixiong's reputation will also be damaged.

However, there is actually a small trick here that can allow Ru Shixiong to avoid risks, for example... as long as there is no major conflict during his tenure, this can be considered his political achievement, just get promoted and leave first. As for future problems, that is the responsibility of the next few Jiangzhou Changshi and Inspectors.

Ouyang Rong nodded and said:

"Everyone's charity donation, I am naturally gratified. However, there are some words that may be harsh. There are many people here, everyone is just eating a meal, don't want to disturb everyone's mood, but I must say it, straightforward, hope to be forgiven. So, Pei Madam is sure not to go upstairs to eat? Then I will say it on the spot..."

Pei Thirteenth Lady interrupted with a toast:

"The Huang family father and daughter have been waiting for a long time, wanting to toast Changshi Ouyang, have words to chat in detail later, hope Changshi Ouyang doesn't blame me."

She gave a wink, and the green-clothed maid immediately ran upstairs to call people.

"Okay, if you don't go up, then say it directly."

Ouyang Rong nodded and sat down, picked up a dish, and put it in his mouth.

Pei Thirteenth Lady secretly thought it was bad: "Changshi Ouyang..."

Just at this moment, the green-clothed maid ran back in a panic, came to Pei Thirteenth Lady's side, and whispered in a panic, her voice a bit loud:

"Madam, it's not good, people are gone. When the slave entered, the private room had no shadow of people, only a pile of new dresses on the table, and... and a deed, the window facing the river is open."

"What..." Pei Thirteenth Lady exclaimed, but immediately closed her mouth, not daring to look at Ouyang Rong and others who were looking sideways. Her eyes became panicked, and she scolded the maid in a low voice: "How did you watch people? Hurry up and find them!"

Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang looked at each other, both looking a bit surprised.

Xie Lingjiang found that Ru Shixiong suddenly smiled, stood up, took the opportunity to speak loudly, and opened his mouth in public:

"I actually want to say that Pei Madam and everyone might have recognized the wrong person. I don't know that Huang family father and daughter at all, didn't help them, maybe it was other kind-hearted people. Today, you thanked the wrong person."

He turned his head and asked Xie Lingjiang as if casually: "Wait, could it be Seventeen Lady who helped, using my name?"

Xie Lingjiang tacitly understood, and said coldly in front of everyone: "Don't know, forgot."

Ouyang Rong nodded, but instead comforted the embarrassed Pei Thirteenth Lady:

"But it's okay, it's also a good deed, I support it in principle... Suddenly remembered that there is an important matter on the official side, can't be delayed, eating is exempt, I will say two words and then leave."

Everyone widened their eyes, looking at each other, vaguely smelling a smell of gunpowder. Hua Xuanji, everyone looked at Pei Thirteenth Lady with changed eyes, some gloating, and some even drinking tea and watching the show.

Ouyang Rong smiled embarrassedly, with an eager-to-learn posture:

"Pei Madam, I actually have one thing that I have always been puzzled about. You said you want to eradicate those stinky small landlords, correct, these small landlords are sometimes indeed stingy and bullying, these are very correct, but you said, taking the old houses in Xingzi Fang, renovating them, re-renting or selling them, benefiting the vast number of people..."

"Then may I ask, who exactly are these ordinary people who can afford your new houses? How come they are a bit different from the ordinary people I know and understand?"

Under the gaze of everyone, Pei Thirteenth Lady stiffened.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 393 =====