Chapter 379: Exercising Power in the Central Vehicle Office

Jin Ling, Gongyu Street, Qingyin Pavilion.

In the private room, the two looked at each other.

On the table were a token of the Wang Zhangshi and Supervisor and a secret decree of the Central Vehicle Office.

These were the tokens for the two to verify their identities.

In the established official ranks of the Central Vehicle Office, the position of Wang Zhangshi and Supervisor was not often set up.

Only when imperial power is permitted, and people outside the office are allowed to command the personnel of the Central Vehicle Office due to special matters and perform important tasks, will this token be temporarily granted, and it will be taken back after the matter is closed.

Jia Cong had imagined many times what kind of person the person in charge of the Jin Ling Central Vehicle Office was.

But he never expected that this person was Zou Min'er.

This only daughter of Zou Zou Huaiyi, who was demoted to the lowly status of the Music Bureau because of her father's guilt, didn't know what kind of changes she had experienced to become a key member of the Jin Ling Central Vehicle Office.

Jia Cong said: "I really didn't expect that Miss Zou was actually in the Central Vehicle Office."

Zou Min'er's identity in the Central Vehicle Office, although Jia Cong was surprised, what he cared about most was not this.

What he cared about was the estrangement and resentment between him and Zou Min'er after Zou Zou Huaiyi was brought to justice, which could not be eliminated. Not getting involved with her was the best policy.

The current situation was really beyond his expectation.

But Zou Min'er was different. When she left Shen Jing, she received a secret decree from the Central Vehicle Office and already knew the cause of the matter.

Du Du Qingniang knew the special relationship between her and Jia Cong, and knew even more about her hostility and danger toward Jia Cong.

But Du Du Qingniang still used her to do this thing, because she saw through her obsession with the major case of the Water Supervision Office after her family was destroyed.

This was enough to make her temporarily put down her hatred and calculation toward Jia Cong and do her best to complete what she should do.

Using people regardless of good or evil, depth or shallowness, and using those who can control people's hearts is the best. This is Du Du Qingniang's unusual way of controlling subordinates.

Zou Min'er's expression was calm, and her words contained sharpness and sarcasm: "Just like when I first met Young Master Jia in Ziyun Pavilion, you were like a polite and humble gentleman, and I didn't expect that things would happen later!"

Jia Cong felt a chill in his heart, but he was not surprised at all. If this woman had no resentment toward him, it would be unreasonable.

However, he did not respond to Zou Min'er's words, because on this topic, they stood in their respective positions, and there was no right or wrong, and there was nothing to talk about at all.

Jia Cong knew Zou Min'er's identity, which made him most concerned about another question.

That day he saw Du Du Qingniang and Zou Min'er at Liu's house. Zou Min'er was Du Du Qingniang's new disciple. Du Du Qingniang's master and his master's wife were close friends.

That owner of Qingyin Pavilion, known as the Jade Venerable Pipa Heavenly Sound, what kind of person was she, and what kind of identity was her disciple in the Central Vehicle Office?

Although he couldn't be completely sure in his heart, it was likely correct.

However, he wouldn't be stupid enough to ask Zou Min'er this question.

The Emperor just wanted to increase the chips for solving the case and let him temporarily borrow the power of the Central Vehicle Office. Asking about these private inside stories was not a smart move.

Zou Min'er saw that her sharp words didn't cause any special reaction from Jia Cong, and a strange sense of loss arose in her heart.

The room fell into a brief silence, a hidden sharp confrontation, at the moment of sudden birth, faded away quickly like the tide due to many complex reasons, hidden and not obvious.

Everyone has love and hate in their hearts, but who is not in the game, with many concerns and weights, and who can be happy and vengeful at any time?

For Jia Cong, the two who had already developed a chasm and resentment had nothing to talk about.

He asked directly: "Miss Zou came to Jin Ling before me, and the Central Vehicle Office has secret agents all over the accompanying capital. Have you found any clues about Zhou Zhou Zhengyang?"

"In addition, the Central Vehicle Office has wide eyes and ears. Do you have any secret files on Zhou Zhou Zhengyang's performance, as well as his connection with the officialdom in Shen Jing..."

……

Shen Jing, Earl Mansion, Seeing Yingchun Courtyard.

Since Jia Cong went to Jin Ling, Lin Daiyu and Seeing Tan Chun moved into the East Mansion, and later Shi Shi Xiangyun came, and the atmosphere became more joyful.

Jia Cong usually felt pity and concern for Little Xichun, who was the youngest. When he was at home, he often let Seeing Yingchun and Seeing Tan Chun bring her to the East Mansion to play, so as not to neglect her too much and develop that kind of lonely and cold temperament.

Therefore, Little Xichun was used to coming to the East Mansion early, and became closer to Jia Cong and Seeing Yingchun day by day.

Now, the sisters had all gone to the East Mansion, and Little Xichun was left alone in the West Mansion, feeling very bored, almost soaking in the East Mansion to play every day, and if it was late at night, she would stay in Seeing Yingchun's courtyard.

Jia Cong went to Jin Ling, Ying Lady Lian, Wu Er, Qingwen, and others were idle daily, and often went to Seeing Yingchun, Lin Daiyu, and Seeing Tan Chun's places to chat.

Xue Baochai also came over every few days to gather with the sisters, and often brought fresh melons and fruits from the Xue family shop and strange small toys from the market, and the sisters played together.

When it rained, everyone would gather in that person's courtyard to drink tea, listen to the rain, and chat.

When the weather was good, they would choose a time when the sun was slanting, pick flowers and fight grass in the garden, tour the lake and blow the wind, which was also a kind of comfort.

Although Jia Cong went on a long journey, the East Mansion was not lonely because of this, but became more lively than usual.

In the flower courtyard and embroidery building, under the bamboo curtains of the windows, there were always graceful figures and laughing sounds.

Naturally, there were always people talking about how Jia Cong's official business in Jin Ling was going and when he would be able to return...

……

This morning, in the main hall of Seeing Yingchun Courtyard, a female guest came.

Her figure was slender and graceful, wearing a soft brocade moon-white embroidered Xinyi flower branch robe, a dark green solid-color sweat towel tied around her waist, her slender waist tied tightly, her eyebrows like paintings, her eyes deep, and her spirit heroic.

It was Through Ai Li, who was responsible for managing Feiyu for Jia Cong in Shen Jing.

Perhaps people really can't stand being talked about. Jia Cong had been away from home for a long time, and Lin Daiyu and the sisters began to nag and worry, and as a result, Through Ai Li sent his Feiyu message.

The news spread, and Lin Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and Shi Xiangyun all came to see the guest, so they could know Jia Cong's situation in Jin Ling earlier.

The letter brought by Through Ai Li, besides a letter from Jia Cong, also included a medical case of Lin Lin Ruhai's consultation.

In the letter, Jia Cong told Seeing Yingchun to arrange for someone to visit Zhang Zhang Youpeng in Huaxi Village. If Dr. Zhang was at home, he would entrust Lin Lin Ruhai's medical case to him and ask him to diagnose according to the case.

If Zhang Zhang Youpeng was traveling and hadn't returned, he would have to wait for a while and think of other ways.

In the main hall, Seeing Yingchun asked Xiuju to serve tea, and she and Through Ai Li found some topics and talked happily.

Lin Daiyu and Seeing Tan Chun sat together, carefully reading the letter.

Jia Cong mentioned in the letter that he visited Lin Lin Ruhai in Yang Zhou.

Lin Lin Ruhai had been working too hard on the private salt rampant in Yang Zhou for the past six months, which caused his body to be exhausted and have a deficiency, but it was not a serious illness.

Jia Cong told Lin Daiyu to relax her heart and not worry too much. Lin Daiyu carefully read her father's medical case again, and there was no emergency on it, so she felt much relieved.

……

Lady Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

The Old Matriarch was sitting idly in the hall, and Sister Yuanyang was sitting on the side, beating the Old Matriarch's legs with a beauty hammer.

After a while, Lady Wang brought Xue Xue Yima over to pay respects to the Old Matriarch and talk.

The three chatted for a while, and the Old Matriarch estimated the time. Usually at this time, those granddaughters would come to pay respects, but today she hadn't seen a shadow of any of them, and she was a little puzzled in her heart.

But she heard the sound of people moving outside the hall, and Wang Wang Xifeng walked in with colorful embroidery.

She saw the Old Matriarch and laughed: "Old Matriarch, I just went to the East Mansion to see Second Sister, Lin Sister, and the others. They happened to be seeing a female guest, so it would be late to come to pay respects to the Old Matriarch."

When the Old Matriarch heard this, she knew the reason why the granddaughters hadn't come, and asked: "You, the sister-in-law, don't usually go to visit, but today you thought of going to see them."

Wang Wang Xifeng laughed: "I was worried that Brother Cong was not in the mansion, and Second Sister and the others were all young girls, afraid that they wouldn't be able to suppress the servants in the mansion, and there would be some negligence."

"So I went to see today to see if there was anything I could help with, so that the sisters could live comfortably in the East Mansion."

"But when I saw the East Mansion, everything was proper inside and out, not even half a point worse than our West Mansion. I didn't expect Second Sister to be so capable."

"A girl who can manage such a large mansion properly, just like what is said in the opera, look at each other with new eyes after three days. This brother is a powerful one, and this sister is not ambiguous now."

Wang Wang Xifeng also happened to be free today, so she went to the East Mansion for a stroll, met Seeing Yingchun seeing guests, and walked around the mansion herself, seeing that the servants in the mansion were all disciplined and thoughtful in everything.

The atmosphere inside and out of the mansion was actually a big step better than the West Mansion, which surprised her quite a bit.

Wang Wang Xifeng asked herself that she was a powerful housekeeper. Since the Lai family brothers and other old slaves were implicated because of the raid on the Ningguo mansion, all of them were folded in, she managed the house more smoothly.

But she couldn't manage such an atmosphere in the East Mansion now, which made her a little puzzled.

Wang Wang Xifeng's doubt was because she didn't know some things.

After Jia Cong left the mansion, the East Mansion was respected by Seeing Yingchun. Now she managed the miscellaneous affairs of the mansion and was already familiar with it, and Seeing Tan Chun and Lin Daiyu helped manage it.

What is more important is that the servants of the East Mansion were carefully selected by Qin Keqing from Jiangnan. Their temperament and words were all excellent. Daily affairs only needed Seeing Yingchun and others to point out, and they could do it very satisfactorily.

Therefore, although the master of the East Mansion was traveling far away, the large Earl mansion was still managed very properly, looking much more disciplined and worry-free than the West Mansion.

Wang Wang Xifeng laughed: "In the past, we all thought Second Sister was honest, but we didn't know she was a person with real ability. Now it's like changing a person, and she has become so thoughtful and capable."

"In my opinion, among the sisters, she is the most capable. I don't know which lucky person will marry her in the future."

Wang Wang Xifeng praised Seeing Yingchun, not sparing praise, and spared no effort. First, Seeing Yingchun's current behavior had indeed changed, which was really surprising.

Second, her branch, in terms of blood, Jia Baoyu was actually separated from the branch, and Jia Cong and Seeing Yingchun were the closest to Jia Lady Lian, born of the same father.

With Wang Wang Xifeng's shrewdness, she naturally saw that Jia Cong would definitely be a pillar of the Jia family in the future. How could the title inherited by the eldest master be compared with others' hereditary titles?

And their couple's relationship with Jia Cong had always been harmonious. Jia Cong and Seeing Yingchun were getting better and better. As their brother and sister-in-law, they naturally only had benefits and no harm.

Although the second wife in charge was her own aunt, no matter how close she was, she was not as close as her own son.

She knew that her aunt was determined to promote the marriage between Jia Baoyu and Xue Baochai, just because Xue Baochai was her own niece and a delicate and capable girl.

Her aunt was planning for the long term, letting Jia Baoyu marry Xue Baochai, so she could take over from her as the housekeeper of the Lady Rongguo mansion.

By that time, the family business of the Lady Rongguo mansion would become the iron bucket of the second branch, and what would happen to her Wang Wang Xifeng.

Although the wife was her own aunt, what was the use of that? She was ultimately the daughter-in-law of the first branch.

After the Old Matriarch passed away in a hundred years, she would sooner or later be on the sidelines.

But now the East Mansion has Jia Cong there, and she and Jia Lady Lian have another support.

She knew very clearly the Old Matriarch's intention to let Seeing Yingchun move into the East Mansion.

Now that Seeing Yingchun followed her brother, she actually became powerful.

Wang Wang Xifeng praised Seeing Yingchun in front of the Old Matriarch, just to let the Old Matriarch know that their second branch, besides Jia Baoyu who didn't like reading, only had a Jia Lan who hadn't shed his milky air.

As for Jia Jia Huan, he could be completely ignored. There was also a Seeing Tan Chun who was a powerful one, but anyone could see that Seeing Tan Chun only had her cousin Jia Cong in her heart, and her own brother Jia Baoyu was not as good.

Look at their first branch again, they are all characters. Not to mention Jia Cong and Seeing Yingchun, even Jia Lady Lian is much more capable than Jia Baoyu.

Wang Wang Xifeng was hinting at these meanings to the Old Matriarch between words, although she knew clearly in her heart that she would mostly not be able to twist the Old Matriarch's partiality to Jia Baoyu.

However, even if it is a broken drum, as long as you are willing to beat it, you can always hear a few sounds.

She raised the face of Jia Cong and Seeing Yingchun in front of others. This talk in the Rongqing Hall could not be hidden, and someone would naturally pass it to the East Mansion.

By that time, whether it was Jia Cong or Seeing Yingchun, they would naturally know the benefits of this sister-in-law, and would give more support and care in the future.

Although Wang Wang Xifeng's abacus was loud, she was also worried in her heart.

In the first branch of Lady Rongguo, Jia Cong and Seeing Yingchun, herself and Jia Lady Lian, were all capable, but there was also one who was not capable, and had always been a bad thing.

That was her father-in-law Jia She, who was the biggest pit in the first branch, but there was no way.

……

Shen Jing, Hongping Street, Fur Shop.

In the room on the second floor of the shop, Jia She was sitting opposite a young man talking.

The young man was in his twenties, with a tall build, straight nose and wide mouth, prominent cheekbones, and bright eyes, revealing shrewdness and capability.

It was Sun Sun Shaozu, who had suddenly left Shen Jing some time ago and didn't know where he went.

Jia She had a very unhappy life in the past few months.

Because the Lady Rongguo mansion paid the summer tax for the new policy, the public treasury lost a large amount of silver income, and the share allocated to the East Road Courtyard was much less.

And Jia She's business in Ping'an Prefecture was also temporarily suspended because the Ministry of War strictly investigated the malpractice of the Datong border army, and the Sun family.

The income inside and outside shrank, making Jia She, who had always been extravagant, live a very miserable life.

Because there was no extra silver, the enchanting singer in the Xingxiang building who made him drool and was sixteen years old had not been obtained yet.

Just at this time, Sun Sun Shaozu suddenly came to the door and said that there was business that needed his care, which made Jia She a little unexpectedly happy.

Jia She asked: "Nephew, why did you suddenly leave Shen Jing last time? Did you encounter any urgent matter?"

Sun Sun Shaozu smiled faintly: "Father sent a letter asking me to return to Datong to handle some things. Now the matter is over."

"This time I brought some northern goods to the south, preparing to do a business, and want to ask Uncle to help."

Jia She's eyes lit up when he heard this. He knew Sun Sun Shaozu's shrewd calculation, and every word and action was waiting for a price.

Since doing business required his help, he would naturally share the benefits with him.

He laughed: "Nephew, you don't need to be polite. Our two families are originally family friends, and there have been business dealings in the past two years. If it weren't for that evil obstacle in the family, I'm afraid we would have become in-laws. If you have anything, just say it."

Sun Sun Shaozu felt a little uncomfortable when he heard him mention Jia Cong.

He had already heard when he arrived in Shen Jing that after Jia Cong opened the mansion, he had already registered the Second Young Lady in the Earl Mansion. Now she is the eldest young lady of the Earl Mansion, and her status is noble.

Even this so-called Uncle, he had no say in his daughter's marriage, and he couldn't climb this high branch after all, which made him feel a pity.

"Uncle, this time I brought a batch of mountain goods from the north, preparing to transport them to Jin Ling to do business, but my people are not familiar with the market and channels in the south."

"Uncle's previous sea salt and tea business were all traded with southern merchants, so you must be familiar with the southern land transport merchant route."

"I want to ask Uncle to find a reliable southern merchant to transport this batch of goods to Jin Ling for sale. After the matter is done, I can give Uncle a ten percent dividend."

Jia She was happy when he heard this. He was worried about silver recently, and a source of income came to his door by coincidence.

He asked again: "Nephew, transporting from Shen Jing to Jin Ling, wouldn't it be more convenient to take the waterway?"

Sun Sun Shaozu's eyes condensed, and he said: "Uncle doesn't know, recently the south is troubled by water pirates and Japanese pirates, the waterway is not peaceful, and the garrisons and ports along the river have many inspections and extortions, which will consume a lot of profit silver."

"This batch of northern goods takes the land route, which can earn more silver, and it is the most secure."

Actually, Jia She was just a dandy who only knew about extravagant enjoyment. How did he know many things outside?

Sun Sun Shaozu took out a carved wooden box, opened the lid, and inside lay a stack of silver banknotes.

He smiled and said, "Uncle, please accept these two thousand taels. Once you find the southern merchants and have the goods transported to Jinling, I will reward you with another two thousand taels as a token of my gratitude. I would never break my word."

Jia She looked at the thick stack of silver banknotes, his eyes shining; he had not expected that the ten percent profit Sun Sun Shaozu mentioned would actually amount to four thousand taels.

The Sun family had such grand means; a single business trip from Datong to Jinling could yield a profit of forty thousand taels—what kind of business could be so lucrative?

For the prestigious Lady Rongguo Prefecture, the annual profit from its hereditary titles and family assets, while less than thirty thousand taels, was already considered top-tier among the great aristocratic families.

That it was not even enough for one of the Sun family's business trips to Jinling truly stunned Jia She, and he made up his mind that once this current storm passed, he must find a way to continue the business with the Sun family. (End of chapter)