Northern Dynasties

Chapter 35
"Brother, I really don't blame me for this matter! Since I lived in the countryside and managed my family, I have always been diligent and thrifty, and I am not even willing to throw away those old waste hemp, you know..."

In the wall of Shijiawu, Shi Jing received another old punch from his elder brother Shi Gong. This time, although no outsiders were in the hall to appreciate it, Shi Gong didn't hold back at all, making Shi Jing tearful and screaming.

"I don't blame you, but who is to blame? Do you want to blame the cows, horses, pigs and dogs in the stables?"

Shi Gong's face was full of anger, he was too tired from punching himself, so he still asked his servant to hold Shi Jing's head and neck to prevent him from raising his head: "Do you know how hard it was for me to get five thousand shi of miscellaneous grains from the master's house? There is no harvest of new grains yet. I still don’t know where to take care of the rest. You waste money at home, and things still go like this! This reward is a good opportunity for my hometown to win. If it is stolen by another family, no matter how rich the family is, I am afraid that it will be robbed !"

"I, I'm really working hard, and I always keep my brother's advice in mind. But... But those thieves in the county, if they are normal, they are naturally not worthy of competing with my family. But Li's family has a deep stock, and everyone in the county knows it. As long as I visit his oil company, I can hope to beat me, that's why I'm making a show of it and driving up the price of oil..."

Shi Jing pressed his face tightly to the ground, and he was full of heartache when he talked about this matter.

The county can be called a big family, a total of more than a dozen.They have lived in the countryside for many years, and they know each other's background and depth.The rewards issued by Daxingtai are based on the inexperienced experts, and some of them are excluded in advance.Some people who think they can't compete, naturally can only give up with regret.

However, a variable like Li Tai suddenly appeared and hoarded a large amount of ointment in advance, so that the wealthy families in various villages saw the opportunity to follow this convenient method, and they all enthusiastically joined in the competition.

The price of oil was relatively stable, otherwise Shi Jing would not have sold the stock at home, or even the next season's harvest, to Li Tai just because he was greedy for the [-]% profit.

With so many rural households participating in looting the surplus goods on the market in nearby townships and counties, it would be strange if the price of oil didn't soar. It was beyond Shi Jing's control.Even if he was not willing to spend a lot of money, seeing other village households actively buying, he had to join in to prevent other people from overtaking in a corner.

"This kid is really ruthless. He has enough stock, but he still wants to show his weakness, telling the villagers that the stock is insufficient, and urging them to raise the price. Not only does he want to make as much money as he can right now, he even has the budget for flax after autumn! Brother, I was wrong, I was really wrong...I guessed that there would be a food shortage this year, and the amount of flax planted was small. I intended to buy enough flax after autumn to take advantage of the cheap price, but now the price is too high, and it will be bigger after autumn. deficit……"

When Shi Gong heard this, he was so angry that he wanted to vomit blood, the reward is still pending, and his family's wealth will suffer a huge loss, all because his brother was stupid for a while, and he was manipulated by a foreigner from Dongzhou in his hometown.Once this matter gets out, his family will become the laughingstock of the local people.

The more Shi Gong thought about it, the more angry he became, he stood up from the seat again, and raised his leg to kick Shi Jing.

"Brother, wait a minute, wait a minute, I have a way, a way!"

Shi Jing heard the wind, and hurriedly shouted: "Since the boy has enough money, he still dare not lose the official and receive the reward. It can be seen that he is still afraid of my country's tenacity. I have already found out that the boy had received nearly two yuan of flax in advance. Thousands of dendrobium are mostly bought from big households in the vicinity. Today’s prices are so good, who doesn’t feel distressed? Let’s connect with the village, refuse to pay after autumn, and it’s difficult to get in touch with, what can he do?”

"Still being stupid, still being stupid! Are you afraid that my house will not be broken?"

When Shi Gong heard this, he became even more furious, and kicked Shi Jing on the shoulder: "Didn't you hear that kid say before that he wants to take advantage of the current price to sell the goods to another house? Who can he sell to? Isn't he going through the business?" Grand Master He Ba, resell those tycoons from faraway lands! You stir up the nostalgia and refuse to pay the fashionable goods, is it a matter of two or three? When the rage breaks out, there will still be a place for my family in Huazhou?"

After venting at his brother's body again, Shi Gong returned to his seat angrily, pointed at Shi Jing and said viciously: "Immediately lead the chariot and horses to the direction of Jingzhao, and turn back halfway, whether it is loaded with soil or stones. , Be sure to fill up the car! Since the rural households want to fight, I don’t think they can fight against my rich family!”

"Didn't the master say that he wanted to lose aid? Why do you have to pretend..."

"Jingzhao loses and rewards the eight governors. Doesn't the master have a plan? First use the huge goods to suppress the ambition of the villagers so that they dare not fight me again. Afterwards, I visited several courageous villagers and collected their materials. Position me as an official loser!"

Shi Gong said again in a deep voice: "As for the payment of flax after autumn, there are still a few months left, so don't be impatient. After I get the position of the commander of the township regiment in this situation, it will not be too late to discuss it with that Lizi!"

At this time, another visitor came to Li Tai Manor in Shangyuan, and it was the party leader surnamed Zhao from Yuanxi.

Zhao Lijie, the leader of the Zhao party, was in his fifties and looked very old. He was escorted by a handsome young man who looked to be his nephew.

"When the elders from the village come to visit, they are welcome from afar."

Li Tai stood in front of the door of the middle hall in the manor, looking at Party Chief Zhao trembling down from the bullock cart and said with a smile.

Although the manors and fields are not far from each other, this is the first time for Li Tai to meet this party leader Zhao.He had visited before to buy sesame and raw hemp materials, but party leader Zhao was ill, so he was only allowed to be received by his clansmen.

In the past period of time, many large households in the county came to visit, but no one from the Zhao family from the same township came.Li Tai was also a little curious as to why Party Leader Zhao came to visit today.

"Lin Zhi came to the countryside, and he should come to see him. He is old, sick and disabled, so please forgive me. Gouzi Jingzhi, a talented person from the countryside, if he pollutes his eyes and ears, I will take responsibility for it!"

Party leader Zhao bowed slightly to Li Tai, then pointed to the young man who was supporting him and introduced him.

Li Tai invited the father and son into the hall to sit down. Before he could speak, Party Leader Zhao looked at Li Tai and sighed, "The Han family and Li Lang's family came from Longyou, so General Zuo and Mr. Xunyang are here. Worship to the ancestors. Seeing Li Lang standing upright as a scholar, old and famous, I feel even more ashamed to see my ancestors!"

Li Tai was taken aback when he heard this, until Li Zhusheng next to him whispered an explanation before he realized that he was born in the Tianshui Zhao family from the Chen family.

Before, he asked Zheng Man about the details of the Zhao family, but he didn't hear what Zheng Man said about this episode.Regardless of whether it is true or not, Li Tai became vigilant because he had offended Zhao Gui, who was also from the Tianshui Zhao family. This old thing threatened him?
But soon Li Tai was relieved, because the Party Leader Zhao continued: "Li Lang's blind date Grand Master Heba, and my family's strong official Zhao Huqi, are both friendly ministers of the court. I visited the mansion a few days ago. I have heard a lot of hussars praising your demeanor."

After Li Tai heard the words, he smiled and didn't respond.Although he offended Zhao Gui, only people in the small circle knew about it, far more than everyone knew about it.

Seeing that Li Tai just smiled and didn't speak, Party Leader Zhao couldn't help but feel a little guilty, and then said: "Li Lang's wonderful strategy, in Zuoyue Township, is really impressive. The old people are mediocre, and they are under the control of Li Lang. But I Don't be angry, if the mentally strong can't control others, who is willing to put their heart into business?"

"The party leader is open-minded, which is admirable."

Li Tai said in a nonchalant manner, recently he has interviewed a lot of local scholars, and he has seen all kinds of styles.Although this party leader Zhao is the current manager who lives in the village, it doesn't make him very interested.

"Daxingtai promulgated a reward for losing money, and the countryside was in turmoil. In the morning, Shixian Wei sent someone to say that I must be in the county's position, and persuaded my family to send grain and thousands of dendrobium to help. Han's small family, even if they have a little savings , I will not help him, Li Lang knows why?"

Party leader Zhao made a fool of himself, but when he saw that Li Tai was only smiling at the table and didn't cooperate with him, he said a little embarrassingly: "It's just because Captain Shi said that once the situation in the county is based, Li Tai will be expelled." Lang, you are not allowed to set foot in this township, and benefit me from the garden here! Although I am old and stern, I don’t think the county captain’s words are a good plan. An old man can bury me with a handful of loess. Guangye, how can you take away people and enrich yourself? Besides, Li Lang lives here, and the village is glorious..."

"Thank you for the kindness of the party leader, but I have an appointment with someone today..."

Li Tai no longer had the patience to continue talking, so he stood up and wanted to thank the guests.

"Li Lang is shrewd and can be regarded as a model, but he has little knowledge of rural affairs! The county captain Shi is bound to win the position in this county, not only because of his wealth, but also because he is the official who is in charge of the county. I will not tolerate Li Lang living in the countryside. Although Grand Master He Ba is very powerful, but the high eaves cannot cover the grass, and the wind in the hall will blow him away!"

Seeing Li Tai's attitude, Party Leader Zhao's tone suddenly became high-pitched, obviously prepared for this trip: "Although my family owes money to the township, its power in the township is by no means inferior to Shi's surname. Li Lang only needs a small house. For materials, I have lobbied Zhao Huqi and communicated with each other from top to bottom. Although historians are strong, they are not to be feared! But if my family establishes this hometown for one day, we will not allow the evil of the village to invade Li Lang..."

Li Tai laughed happily when he heard this, he is really old.During this period of time, he saw a lot of fellow countrymen, some threatened and some fawned over him, but Party Chief Zhao was the first one who thought he would be a white wolf in his hands.

"Party Leader Zhao's good words are really thought-provoking. You wait for the villagers to be sure that I can't compete for the position in the village because I am a new visitor from other states. But before I let you give me the village capital, there is no lesson from the past. Why are you so conceited and bullying your guests today?"

Li Tai looked at the Zhao party leader and sneered, before he could order to drive away the guests, Li Xiaoyong hurriedly came to tell him: "Ah Lang, Lord Zhou Shu has arrived outside the village, and several neighbors have also attracted them one after another."

Party Leader Zhao's expression changed immediately when he heard this, and after a moment of contemplation, he swung his staff and tapped his son's knee: "Bad boy, why don't you meet the lord? You forgot what the family told you?"

"Aye, this..."

The young man Zhao Jingzhi was caught off guard, and was hit by his old man's stick, and fell to the ground with a surprised and puzzled expression on his face.

Party leader Zhao ignored his son, stepped forward and grabbed Li Tai's hand, with a smile on his old face: "Li Lang misunderstood me, that historian has always been violent, and has accumulated anger in the village. I mean, give this clumsy son to Li Lang is a servant, please let Li Lang donate grain and rice to support him, and from then on, he will reject the evil tyrants in the village!"

(End of this chapter)