Chapter 61: Sixty-One: Not Allowed to Be This Awesome

Sixty-One: Not Allowed to Be This Awesome

If you speak half a sentence, you'll have no spouse later.

The county government office's main hall.

The grain merchants and local gentry couldn't help but silently curse inside.

Yet the young county magistrate, hunched over his desk, scribbling "promissory notes" at lightning speed, seemed utterly unconcerned with how many spouses he might have later.

"Those willing to sell grain, line up—one at a time," he said casually.

Compared to the Longcheng gentry who had always followed the Liu family's lead, Wang Caozhi, Ma the Manager, Li the Manager, and others had fewer reservations; they only wanted to offload their ballast grain before it spoiled, and all lined up before the magistrate's desk.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong sat at the desk, writing low, issuing a "promissory note" for each grain delivery, instructing the clerks to accompany the merchants to the docks for inventory and handover, tasks delegated to the deputy magistrate and Captain Yan.

When it came to Wang Caozhi's turn, he leaned forward with a sly grin and whispered: "Brother-in-law, what exactly is the government office preparing to build? Can you let slip a hint?"

Nearby, a female private secretary organizing documents appeared not to hear.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong lifted his eyelids slightly, stealing a glance at the gentry lingering nervously behind the hall, then asked aloud:

"Brother Cao, what do you think of Peng Lang Ferry in our Longcheng County? Is it bustling?"

"Of course it's bustling—a prime transportation hub, dripping with wealth, but unfortunately, we outsiders can't get a foot in."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded calmly: "The government office's planned new project… hmm, about the same."

Not just Wang Caozhi and the grain merchants behind him, but also the gentry eavesdropping nearby—all eyes lit up.

"Senior brother, didn't you promise me this new project would go solely to our Chenjun Xie family's merchant house? Why are you letting these outsiders intrude?" A female private secretary interjected, her tone clearly displeased.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong adopted a serious expression: "Wang Caozhi and the others aren't outsiders. Besides, the Chenjun Xie family's merchant house may not be able to absorb it all—and the government office is already in debt. Letting them invest their debt as equity is perfectly reasonable."

"Reasonable? Of course it's reasonable!" Wang Caozhi gathered courage and turned: "Miss Jiang, we're family—let's make money together! Brother-in-law here is truly righteous!"

Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang glared. "Say that again."

The short young man shrank his head and quickly changed the subject, muttering to himself:

"Just what kind of project requires this much capital?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded:

"It's a big deal, the bigger the investment, the bigger the profit… Ke, no more talk—outsiders are listening."

"Indeed, we can't let outsiders hear," Wang Caozhi agreed.

"… " The gentry collectively fell silent.

The young magistrate shut his mouth and returned to his paperwork.

Good heavens—a project on the scale of Peng Lang Ferry, even the Chenjun Xie family's merchant house was eager to jump in!

The twelve hesitant gentry families could no longer hold back. Among them, an elderly gentryman whom Liu Liu Ziwen called Wu Bo adjusted his headwrap and stepped forward first toward the crowded desk, dropping only one terse remark:

"My family has too much grain stored—I'll sell some first. I'm sure young Liu will understand."

"… "

The remaining gentry stared blankly for a moment—since someone had started, what were they waiting for?

Instantly they scattered like startled birds, joining the queue to sell their grain.

Inside the hall, the young magistrate and the female private secretary exchanged a glance and shared a knowing smirk.

By evening, before the Mei Lu Yuan sent any maidservants to summon him for dinner, Magistrate Ouyang Rong had finally settled the grain transactions between the Longcheng government office and sixteen major and minor grain merchants, plus twelve gentry families.

The Longcheng government office collected a total of 300,600 shi of grain, paying one-tenth of the total value immediately at eight cash per dou; the remaining ninety percent became a government office debt, held by the sellers, due in two years…

Yet after securing their promissory notes, Wang Caozhi, Wu Bo, and the others were most intrigued by the "big project" Magistrate Ouyang Rong had let slip.

As for whether Magistrate Ouyang Rong and the government office would default, no one truly worried.

For a prestigious, young, accomplished Metropolitan Graduate like Magistrate Ouyang Rong, reputation was paramount; breaking his word would cost him far more than money—it would destroy his political capital, ending any future in the Zhou bureaucracy.

Besides, the Longcheng government office was right here—it wasn't going to grow legs and run…

Yet despite their burning curiosity, the merchants and gentry were politely escorted out by the smiling young magistrate, who promised they would reconvene in the government office hall the next day, after the 300,000 shi of grain had been inventoried and transferred, to discuss a "big deal."

At the government office gate, Magistrate Ouyang Rong and Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang stood on the steps, watching the carriages of the grain merchants and gentry vanish around the street corner.

"I thought you'd show them the project today. After all, you spent the whole afternoon fussing around before coming to the meeting."

"I was going to… "

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head. "Wait a bit longer—until Liu Liang and the others finish sealing the grain. These gentry still fear the Liu family; we must prevent someone from jumping ship mid-route to report."

He turned, softly: "Thanks for your hard work today, little sister."

"What happened to your fingers?"

"Accidentally poked myself—swelled up a bit. Thanks for your concern, little sister."

"I'm just worried you won't be able to write, and then I'll have to do it."

"… "

"Go apply cold compresses. No need to guess—you don't have an ice cellar. I'll bring some tonight." She walked off without turning. "Got things to do. Leaving."

In the darkness beyond the glow of the government office gate lanterns, the two siblings stood back-to-back—one departed with elegance, leaving only the other standing there, mouth opening and closing, then finally laughing and shaking his head.

Nearby, on the western side of Lu Ming Street, several maidservants carried lanterns toward the government office.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong saw them, stepped forward to meet them, and led them back to Mei Lu Yuan for dinner.

Yet he didn't notice that after leaving the government office, his little sister headed east along the main street—away from Lu Ming Street.

…

"Our Longcheng County won't allow anyone this awesome!"

Liu Liu Ziwen smiled warmly as he saw off several trembling gentry elders, then returned to the hall just in time to hear his younger brother's stern declaration.

The Liu family's young master's smile faded. He stopped, hands behind his back, before the door—behind him lay the deep night of the courtyard, before him the bright lanterns of the hall.

Inside the hall, Liu Zi'an and Liu Liu Zilin sat or stood, all eyes fixed on their elder brother, faces grave.

For a moment, the three brothers said nothing.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

"Alliance and division?" Liu Zi'an asked.

"It's usurping the host," Liu Liu Ziwen scoffed.

"Not allowed to be this awesome!" Liu Liu Zilin growled.

Liu Liu Ziwen sighed: "He's acting faster and faster—doesn't even treat himself as an outsider."

"Now we're the outsiders," Liu Zi'an shook his head. "He's already built his own stage, ignoring us. What's next?"

"Next, he'll become a general?" Liu Liu Zilin exclaimed in disbelief.

Liu Liu Ziwen suddenly asked: "Why do I feel he's already moved to the next step?"

Liu Liu Zilin looked confused. Liu Zi'an realized—his eyes narrowed: "Brother means the new government office project Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan hinted at?"

Liu Liu Ziwen said nothing, turning to gaze toward the Butterfly Creek and Peng Lang Ferry.

Liu Zi'an mused: "Relief, flood control, justice… the next step must be flood control… Could he be planning to build the Di Gong Dam without us?"

Liu Liu Ziwen nodded, then shook his head:

"Building just the Di Gong Dam wouldn't be impossible.

"We're not afraid of his relief efforts, not afraid of flood control, not even afraid of him striking back at us for justice—but we're terrified that from the start, his drowning was all a deception…

"He's set his sights on something he shouldn't have—the artifact in the sword shop. He came prepared."

…

Recommend a xianxia novel: "Book of Chaos," by Ji Cha Lao Da—top-tier quality!

(End of Chapter)