Chapter 114: Probing

The manager of the Sheng Family Merchant Caravan was also recording the information observed in his mind. Stepping into the gate of Qingyun Fang, the sights along the way already included more than a dozen Daoist disciples; they received guests in a very orderly manner, without any nervousness or panic, clearly very skilled at these tasks and not just pulled in temporarily to make up the numbers.

That Qingyi Daozhang did not appear, which was within expectations. The Daoist disciples said their master was in seclusion; whether true or false, at least this trip had provided answers to some questions.

After this manager took his leave, he admired the Treasure Bridge spanning the ward for a while, and only when he saw the time was about right did he come to the neighboring Jingxing Fang to continue his observations.

This time was exactly when the laborers at the construction site were resting, so he didn't go anywhere else and went straight to the Jingxing Fang grand canteen mentioned in the news.

He had used the Xinzhou Money Vouchers prepared in advance to exchange for some local Grain Tickets.

He held them in his hand and looked them over; they were indeed the same as the things that old farmer had taken out when he entered the city.

Not going to a private room, he sat in the public Dining Area, listening to the surrounding laborers and Idlers bragging and chatting nonsense.

The snow was beginning to melt, but it was still cold, and whether they were laborers from the construction site or passing Idlers, coming here during their break to order a bowl of hot soup plus one or several steamed buns was considered an enjoyment.

It was only because they could earn some wages now that they could afford to consume this; the remaining wages were mostly used to buy more dry rations to take back to their families.

His ears were filled with accents from the South and Beidi; the content was not very refined, but the atmosphere was quite lively.

In this day and age, numbness, sorrow, and resentment were everywhere, and the other wards of Xinzhou City were much the same; only this Jingxing Fang had a bit of that liveliness one missed from before the chaotic times.

Amidst the idle chatter, there were various rumors from the streets, and some even whispered about the two young masters of the Shen Family.

The Sheng manager pricked up his ears to collect information.

He also saw the Wanfu Garden currently under construction in Jingxing Fang, that bustling construction site; it would have been hard not to see it, as it was a very large piece of land.

The Shen Family is indeed rich! No, given the current status of the Shen Family, even if they had no money in hand, there would be plenty of people offering money to them.

Thinking this, sourness welled up in his heart.

If it were back in the peaceful times, they would actually have looked down on the Shen Family; they were both merchants, but his employer, the Sheng, had many brothers and nephews who entered officialdom through the imperial examinations after the imperial court's policies loosened!

Unlike the Shen Family, who could only rely on the marriages of their children to find a backer.

Alas, the times changed suddenly, and the Zhao Family, originally a fallen family, suddenly rose up!

One could imagine that when the Zhao Family took Xinzhou, the Shen Family must have supported them with the strength of their entire clan to have the enviable status they had now!

The thing called fate is truly mysterious!

Even if the descendants of the Shen Family were incompetent, as long as the Zhao Family did not fall, they could still live a life of wealth.

He was so envious and jealous that the sourness in his heart was almost smoking; he only hated that he couldn't take their place, and he also wondered if he should worship a few more gods.

His mind was full of thoughts, but his face showed absolutely nothing.

He observed the few people sitting nearby and set his sights on one of them.

This person was dressed plainly, but compared to the other Idlers, he had a bit of a free and easy martial arts spirit.

People like this were common to those of them who traveled for trade; no matter what thoughts were hidden inside, at least what they displayed was quite nostalgic.

Thus, the Sheng manager found an opportunity, spoke to the other party in a very friendly manner, and generously added a few more dishes.

"The world is unpredictable; meeting is friendship, let's have a cup of comforting wine first! Fill it up!"

Of course, there was no wine; wine was a luxury item nowadays, and this place only had hot soup.

Using soup as a substitute for wine, they chatted congenially.

Soon, the Sheng manager learned that this person came from the Huwei Escort Agency, and also learned what the profession of "escort agency" did; generally speaking, they counted as friendly merchants.

He felt disdain in his heart: this so-called escort agency's business scope was not wide enough, and its foundation was weak, mostly operating only within Xinzhou; it posed no threat to their Sheng Family Merchant Caravan.

On the other side, the person from the Huwei Escort Agency was also complaining in his heart: isn't it said that this Sheng Family Merchant Caravan is quite impressive? How come, listening to them, their bodyguard-related business isn't as professional as our escort agency!

The boss is right, in the future, the bodyguard industry will still have to look to our escort agency!

Several people at one table were acting against each other, and no one noticed that outside the canteen door, two servants of the Sheng Family Merchant Caravan were about to enter, but after seeing the manager, they turned around and left quickly.

Once they were further away from the canteen, the two began to grumble and complain.

They had privately traded with locals to get four Grain Tickets and wanted to eat something good, but who knew a manager would be here; they could only leave first to avoid adding trouble.

However, soon, they were attracted by another matter. People kept passing by them carrying food from the canteen, heading in a certain direction.

The two of them were drawn by the aroma of the food and their curiosity, and they followed.

Not far away, behind a certain building, a familiar farm ox cart was parked there.

Beside the ox cart sat a young Clerk, drinking hot soup and eating dry rations, handling official business perfunctorily.

An old farmer was sitting there bragging, with a familiar Beidi accent and a tone of pointing out the country's affairs:

"That bunch that came from the South just won't do; the techniques from their place can't be used here, I still have to guide them!"

The old farmer chattered on, mocking other people's planting techniques.

That young Clerk snorted: "Old man, you didn't take little benefit from it, did you?"

The old farmer laughed: "Just a little hard-earned money; serving the land is not a simple job, for example, this autumn sowing... and this overwintering..."

He chattered on with a burst of boasting.

The two servants of the Sheng Family Merchant Caravan were hiding not far away eavesdropping, their expressions changing from initial mockery to hidden endurance, until the old farmer boasted about how seriously he guided people after receiving gifts, and they really couldn't hold it in:

"You'd better stop guiding!"

"You're guiding others with this level of skill?"

"And you're a Village head; it's only because few people survived now, back in the day, you wouldn't even have ranked in the Village!"

A large merchant caravan like the Sheng, even the servants had their arrogance and confidence. Of course, they wouldn't dare say much to an official, but they couldn't help but retort a few times to such low-level commoners and minor officials.

After retorting, the two of them looked at the young Clerk again.

They saw the Clerk looking at the old farmer with questioning eyes: "Old man, you this..."

The old farmer interrupted: "San'er, if the accounts are fine for you, then go ahead and get busy, ha. It's cold outside, go into the house and rest first, don't freeze."

While speaking, he took out a few Grain Tickets and stuffed them into the Clerk's hand.

The young Clerk skillfully tucked the Grain Tickets away, didn't say an extra half-word, quickly entered the house, and closed the door, as if he had heard nothing at all.

The two servants of the Sheng Family Merchant Caravan watched this scene and didn't feel surprised; anyway, Clerks were all like this. This was normal!

Just as they were about to leave, the old farmer chased after them with nimble legs and lowered his voice: "Two little brothers, listening to what you just said, it seems you have some different opinions; could you give me some guidance?"

The two handymen looked on with disdain: "What kind of pipe dream are you having?! These are all passed down from our ancestors, the craft that keeps our family alive; why would we tell you?"

Half an hour later.

The two of them, clutching their newly acquired Grain Tickets, snuck away.

The old farmer watched them walk into the distance, then turned and entered the house.

Inside the house, Tao San had already prepared paper and brush; the old farmer recounted the newly learned farming techniques, combined with his own experience, one by one, while Tao San was responsible for recording them.

After the old farmer finished speaking, he looked at what Tao San had written and emphasized: "Mark down my own experiences! So that Ward Chief Wen can tell them apart!"

He also very much wanted to make progress; he couldn't let his own credit be given away!

Tao San: "I know, I know, haven't I written it all down? Uncle, is what those two said all correct?"

The old farmer said: "I tested them, there shouldn't be any problems."

He had just mixed right and wrong statements together, and those two were able to distinguish them.

"They are both skilled hands at farming from the north!" the old farmer confirmed.

Tao San nodded in agreement: "The Sheng Family Merchant Caravan is truly a major grain merchant; even the laborers under them are old hands!"

The old farmer had seen much and said enviously: "Those two look like they have plenty of labor at home, have backing, good harvests in their fields, and haven't been too hungry."

Tao San smiled: "To be taken under the Sheng Family's wing, they must have their own advantages."

Tao San not only recorded what the old farmer said, but after finishing, he also added some of his own insights and opinions, as well as a detailed report on today's work tasks and gains.

What they tested today was not just the farming techniques mentioned by those two people.

Only after organizing the insights and reflections within did he take this record to the Public Office and hand it to Wen Gu to read.

"Ward Chief, should we try to poach those two?" Tao San suggested.

Wen Gu looked at the content on the paper and said: "It won't be easy. With the Sheng Family's shrewdness, they surely manage their caravan people strictly; even those who work as laborers have undergone background screening and won't easily betray them."

Tao San immediately said: "That's true, those two both have Beidi accents, they aren't people who migrated north, so their families who survived must be numerous, and they would be more willing to stay with their own families."

He added: "Those two exchanged for quite a few Grain Tickets today; perhaps someone else from the caravan will come over to trade tomorrow. Should my uncle and I test them again?"

Wen Gu said: "No need. Tomorrow, focus on that manager; if he comes again, you take them to look at that plot of land the Zhao Family bought."

Tao San was bewildered: "Uh... the plot of land the Zhao Family just bought? That land... isn't it still empty? There is nothing to see."

Wen Gu said: "It has prospects; when you introduce it to them, you can embellish it appropriately."

Tao San understood.

Oh, I see, bluffing!