Chapter 87

Ninety-four, Lion's big mouth

The apology ended.

The banquet continued.

Only, besides the dejected Liu Zilin, there was one more Hu Ji figure kneeling beside the dining table.

Both were kneeling toward the two guests who had come today.

And the young magistrate finally picked up his chopsticks and dipped them into the dishes.

The young master of the Liu family, having finished the apology wine, sighed long and his expression was sincere:

"Magistrate, actually, looking back carefully, apart from some unpleasant things caused by my younger brother, the Liu family hasn't really offended you much. We don't really need to be at such odds. We of the Liu family are also subjects of Longcheng County."

Ouyang Rong was noncommittal.

Don't look at how calm and steady he had been from just now until now; in fact, his right forearm was still aching from being pinched by his Xiao Shimei just a moment ago, but of course, he couldn't show it right now.

Xie Lingjiang said coldly: "No offense to Ru Shixiong? What about the burning of the accounts in the east warehouse?"

Liu Ziwen feigned confusion: "What burning of accounts? Wasn't that incident in the east warehouse heard to be an accidental fire?"

Xie Lingjiang nodded: "An accidental fire that just happened to burn only your Liu family's account books, right? This fire really knows how to pick its targets."

Liu Ziwen drank wine and played dumb, not answering.

Xie Lingjiang seemed to notice that her Ru Shixiong's arm was not quite right and silently picked up a piece of food for him.

Ouyang Rong put down his chopsticks and spoke directly:

"Master Liu, don't beat around the bush. Inviting me to dinner today certainly isn't just for such a boring apology. What is your purpose? Just say it straight."

Liu Ziwen swallowed his polite words and said immediately:

"Then Liu won't hide anything... The Liu family also wants to invest in the Zhe Yiqu construction project that you are presiding over."

Ouyang Rong chuckled and said:

"The Liu family is already so rich. The entire west bank of Butterfly Creek is now filled with the sword furnaces of your Liu family's sword shop, and a large area of commercial streets and shops at Peng Lang Du wharf also belongs to your Liu family. Are you still not satisfied?"

Liu Ziwen leaned forward and said earnestly:

"No one thinks they have too much money, and the Liu family is no exception. The Liu family has been able to reach where it is today by relying on the eight-character ancestral motto: 'Be prepared for danger in times of peace, and plan ahead.' Once your Zhe Yiqu is built, the most golden area in Longcheng County will no longer be Peng Lang Du and the current banks of Butterfly Creek.

"You are the parent official of all the people in Longcheng, and the Liu family are also good citizens of Longcheng County. You are leading the people of Longcheng County to dig canals and get rich; it wouldn't be appropriate to leave anyone out.

"We of the Liu family also want to enter the Zhe Yiqu game, and I hope you will not hesitate to point out a suitable path."

Ouyang Rong looked at his sincere expression for a while, as if weighing something. A moment later, he smiled:

"Since we are all people of Longcheng County, it's not that there isn't a path. All roads lead to Chang'an. What kind of path the Liu family wants depends on how much money Master Liu is willing to pay to buy the path."

Liu Ziwen nodded, leaned back in his chair, took a sip of wine, and pondered:

"The Liu family is willing to provide a batch of the most elite craftsmen to help the government office build the Di Gong Zha."

A string in Ouyang Rong's heart that had been taut for a long time loosened, but his face showed hesitation: "How do you plan to build it?"

Liu Ziwen said familiarly: "Naturally, the government office takes the lead to raise 'gate repair' charitable funds, our Liu family takes the lead in fundraising, and then the money collected..."

Ouyang Rong interrupted directly: "Still stuck on this three-seven split?"

Liu Ziwen looked at his expression and shook his head:

"Seven parts can go to the government office, and our Liu family only needs the remaining three parts as remuneration for the craftsmen repairing the gate. This won't cost the government office or you a single penny; instead, you can..."

Ouyang Rong interrupted rudely again: "That won't work either. What kind of bullshit fundraising? The Longcheng government office will never again squeeze a single bit of the people's hard-earned money."

Liu Ziwen's brows furrowed deeply: "Then where will the money for repairing the gate come from?"

Ouyang Rong looked at him curiously: "Did your younger brother not tell you when he went back?"

Liu Ziwen was stunned: "Tell me what?"

Your Liu family is the one kneeling and begging for food.

Ouyang Rong thought about it but didn't say it to slap his face.

He had borrowed Liulang's mouth to say that to Liu Zi'an at the time. Liu Zi'an felt humiliated, so it was normal that he didn't go back and say it.

However, someone who was very considerate of others' emotions still gave a warm reminder:

"This time repairing the Di Gong Zha, the government office won't pay a single copper coin."

Liu Ziwen's tone was puzzled: "Then how to build it? No fundraising, and the government office won't pay..."

Under the kind and expectant gaze of the parent official, this young master of the Liu family suddenly got stuck, and his facial expression gradually stiffened.

Ouyang Rong nodded: "That's right, it will have to trouble Master Liu to pay for the construction yourself."

Xie Lingjiang, who was on the side, frowned and said:

"Ru Shixiong, the craftsmen and material costs are all paid by the Liu family, but we also have to put in some effort. After all, nominally it has to be built by our government office in the end, and this is also your performance, isn't it?"

"Xiao Shimei's words are very true."

Ouyang Rong nodded, his expression somewhat embarrassed as he suggested:

"Then let the government office provide a batch of young and strong refugees to repair the gate, but Master Liu, remember to pay their wages on time."

"..."

Liu Ziwen suddenly understood why his second brother's emotions were somewhat agitated and uncontrollable when he returned home to report in the afternoon.

He licked his dry lips, and finally simply drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and said:

"Magistrate, repairing the Di Gong Zha is a matter that benefits the entire Longcheng County. If the Liu family contracts it all, isn't it a bit too... unrighteous? How could the Liu family bear such a great blessing?"

Ouyang Rong nodded in agreement:

"You really can't bear this blessing, so nominally it is our Longcheng government office that is repairing it. We will bear the blessing. At that time, I will also send some government clerks to go over with the young and strong refugees to preside over it. You Liu family people remember to cooperate."

"?"

Liu Ziwen looked at the shameless guy opposite him, speechless, and couldn't help but feel flames rising in his heart.

Empty-handed white wolf, and you're taking all the benefits, right?!

They have repaired the Di Gong Zha so many times, although a large part of the reason stems from the fact that they also need to control the water level of Butterfly Creek to facilitate a certain matter, but every time they cooperated with the government office, they were in the dominant position. They have never been so humiliated! They don't even have an equal status; do they treat them as kneeling beggars?

Ouyang Rong looked at Liu Ziwen's deep expression and suddenly chuckled and asked:

"Does your Liu family want me to point out the path or not?"

Liu Ziwen gritted his teeth:

"Fine, I will listen to everything you say."

Ouyang Rong nodded with satisfaction.

Second brother was right, I must endure, I must take the bigger picture into account... Liu Ziwen took a deep breath in his heart.

He organized his thoughts and prepared to mention the Zhe Yiqu matter he valued most. Just at this moment, Xie Lingjiang suddenly said:

"Wait, Ru Shixiong and I have one more small condition."

Ouyang Rong looked over and didn't stop her.

Liu Ziwen's brows furrowed and then relaxed: "What is it? Miss Xie, please speak. I hope... it really is a small condition."

This young master of the Liu family emphasized the word "small" significantly.

Xie Lingjiang waved her small hand: "Your Liu family's porridge shed and nursery hall must all be closed starting today, and they are not allowed to open again."

Liu Ziwen silently turned his head away and stared at her for a long time, even longer than the hesitation he had when he was being scammed by the Di Gong Zha just now.

"Why?" he suddenly asked: "Liu sees that they shouldn't be bothering the Magistrate and Miss Xie right now, right?"

Xie Lingjiang raised her chin slightly: "They are bothering me, they are an eyesore."

Ouyang Rong caught a glimpse of the veins on Liu Ziwen's forehead visibly bulging.

Xie Lingjiang sat upright, her eyes fixed on the opposite side.

Liu Ziwen squinted and met her gaze.

The atmosphere at the banquet fell silent for a moment.

Seeing the young master of the Liu family who had not agreed for a long time, the young magistrate was slightly surprised, mainly because he didn't expect the negotiation to get stuck on such a small matter.

Because the porridge shed and nursery hall still operating in the west of the city were indeed no different from being closed down.

However, of course, he was helping his Xiao Shimei.

The young magistrate lifted his right sleeve, lowered his head to look at the red handprint on his forearm, and said softly:

"Close them, Master Liu, don't deceive yourself. Everyone knows what kind of business that is. What kind of 'Liaozhai' are you singing, you thousand-year-old fox?"

Liu Ziwen didn't ask what Liaozhai was. He was silent for a while, drank a cup of wine in one gulp, and exhaled a long breath of wine:

"The nursery hall can be closed, but the porridge shed cannot. It was set up by my father and has commemorative significance. Miss Xie, how about we each take a step back?"

Xie Lingjiang shook her head stubbornly.

Liu Ziwen puffed out his cheeks.

Ouyang Rong looked up and said:

"I have heard about the matter of the old master of the Liu family. If the version I heard is correct, then I do express my deep regret regarding the matter of the old master of the Liu family."

Liu Ziwen shook his head, as if he didn't want to mention these old things again, or rather, he couldn't listen to them at all.

He just said: "Magistrate, Miss Xie, taking advantage of the wine today, how about Liu tells you a little story?"

"Oh?" The young magistrate asked curiously: "What story?"

Liu Ziwen squinted: "Liu read in a certain book... the story of 'three in the morning and four in the evening'."

Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows.

Something is in the easter egg chapter, I did what I said I would... I tried my best, brothers, this is really the only level I can reach qwq... Finally, in the new March, I'm asking for votes! Woo woo woo... (hugging thighs)

(End of chapter)