Chapter 122
At this time, when the afternoon sun was the brightest, Liu Er, a civil servant outside the cabinet office, received this urgent memorial. He walked quickly into the inner room and respectfully presented it to Lord Bai Yongyuan. Bai Yongyuan took the sealed urgent letter and slowly began to read it under the breathless gaze of the officials. After reading the contents of the memorial, a confused expression appeared on Bai Yongyuan's face. Li Qiuyan beside him also stepped forward to ask for details out of curiosity. After they read it carefully, they both felt confused: the imperial examination had come to an end, and the problems described in the memorial did not seem to be urgent to be solved immediately.
In particular, Bai Yongyuan was puzzled by the possible expansion of social influence caused by the Beilang Newspaper. Li Qiuyan was not sure whether the Beilang Newspaper had a special report on the imperial examination recently, so he asked Liu Er about the newspapers he saw today. details. Liu Er recounted several news headlines and key points in detail. Unfortunately, they did not mention anything related to the imperial examination. This made everyone present more and more confused. They wondered why Mr. Zhang was eager to adjust the examination rules at this moment. .
Emperor Jingjiang carefully reviewed the memorial and also expressed doubts about its specificity and timing. Facing the emperor's inquiry, Bai Yongyuan and Li Qiuyan felt a little embarrassed for a while and were unable to give a definite answer. Emperor Jingjiang speculated that perhaps Zhang Gong had misjudged the impact of folk rumors and was pressured by public dissatisfaction, so he proposed to abolish the "shi stamp" and improve the conditions of the examination room. Emperor Jingjiang appreciated Zhang Gong's behavior of being able to see the public sentiment in a timely manner and take the initiative to correct deficiencies, so he decided to slightly modify some of the contents of the memorial and publish it in Di Bao, and ordered the Gongyuan of the capital to take corresponding actions immediately; in addition, since Starting from the next imperial examination, examiners in examination centers across the country should strictly review papers suspected of plagiarism; at the same time, special funds should be allocated to rebuild toilet facilities and severely punish those who manipulate seats to ensure that the imperial examination is fair and impartial. In order to commend Chen Shuguang for his positive actions and decisiveness, Emperor Jingjiang specially gave him a hundred pieces of brocade and sent the princes to announce the award in person.
Finally, Emperor Jingjiang asked Bai Yongyuan and Li Qiuyan if they had any other important matters to report. They both said everything was normal and sincerely praised His Majesty's wise decision-making and benevolent heart.
As soon as the memorial was sent out, Chen Shuguang's heart was on fire and he walked anxiously in the study room, like a trapped beast, with his anxiety and uneasiness permeating the four walls. Lin Xiaofeng, on the other hand, sat as steady as a rock, playing with a teacup in his hand, reading the newspaper leisurely and contentedly, shaking his head from time to time to make comments. His calmness was in sharp contrast to Chen Shuguang's fear. At that time, he secretly instigated Xiang Xiehong to forge a rough newspaper. The articles in it imitated the urgent news report. Although the language was intense and like an exhortation, it was piled with many allusions and the words were obscure and difficult to understand, which exactly reflected the preferences of scholars. The old habits of showing off knowledge and dropping book bags are still deep-rooted.
Lin Xiaofeng saw that Chen Shuguang's face was full of sorrow, so he joked and comforted him in a relaxed tone: "Third uncle, please relax for a moment. Night has come, and food and clothing cannot be ignored." He tried to use trivial matters in life to ease the burden on Chen Shuguang's heart. However, after hearing this, Chen Shuguang did not appreciate it. Instead, he glared sideways and retorted sternly: "Eating and drinking? You still have time to mention this at this moment! This matter is of great significance. Once public opinion surges, the consequences are unpredictable!" After that, he said, He took the newspaper from Lin Xiaofeng's hand and read it attentively. Every wrinkle was filled with tension and worry.
Lin Xiaofeng was furious when facing Chen Shuguang. He just smiled indifferently and said nothing. He was thinking about the temperament of the people of Jingjiang country who were accustomed to compromise. It would take some work to open the windows for ventilation. If he wanted to propose such a radical idea as demolishing the house and rebuilding, Instead, people will look for a way to balance and seek reconciliation. At this moment, it seems that Chen Shuguang has gradually realized that adjusting the rules of the imperial examination is not an untouchable taboo, and the previous tit-for-tat debate seems a bit redundant. Due to poor eyesight, Chen Shuguang could only squint his eyes and read the words in the newspaper word by word. Lin Xiaofeng was considerate and approached with a candle in hand, asking with concern why he was reading so hard.
Chen Shuguang had no choice but to answer. He was old and frail, suffering from diseases, and his eyesight was declining year by year. He could only carefully look for possible fallacies and flaws in the text. At this moment, Lin Xiaofeng suddenly realized that Chen Shuguang was suffering from presbyopia. He couldn't help but think of the magical thing called glasses. After careful consideration, he realized that people who study stay up late all year round and study hard. There are many people with impaired vision, especially in old age. Therefore, Making glasses will definitely solve a major livelihood problem. So, he took it into consideration, temporarily left Chen Shuguang, and began to concentrate on drawing design drawings of glasses.
Chen Shuguang was quite puzzled by Lin Xiaofeng's sudden departure. He was still immersed in the newspaper. He was worried that the Beilang Newspaper Company dared to interfere in the imperial examination. If it was allowed to develop unchecked, it would definitely cause greater social unrest in the future. The court must Strict control. Lin Xiaofeng, who was temporarily forgotten, did not pay attention. Instead, he concentrated on designing glasses. Although he had no experience in manufacturing glasses in the county, he relied on his profound knowledge of lens grinding technology, careful analysis, and precise calculations to quickly draw out the glasses. With blueprints for dozens of spectacle lenses, I am confident that this will greatly improve the vision problems of many people.
At this moment, Wang Jingwen quietly came to the Gongyuan with the imperial edict. Zhang Dong nervously stepped forward to receive the edict, while Lin Xiaofeng still playfully greeted Wang Jingwen with a playful smile. Wang Jingwen unfolded the imperial edict, solemnly read it out and bestowed rewards, conveying His Majesty's high praise for Chen Shuguang's hard work. Even after hearing the commendation, Chen Shuguang still had doubts in his heart and asked about the specific handling of public opinion and the North Corridor newspaper. Wang Jingwen explained that there are many privately printed newspapers on the market, and what Chen Shuguang holds is probably a wild newspaper without official permission. His Majesty has ordered a crackdown on this kind of phenomenon.
While the two were talking, Wang Jingwen accidentally saw Lin Xiaofeng burning newspapers and immediately stopped him. Lin Xiaofeng smiled slyly and said lightly that this was just part of the celebration. After Wang Jingwen left, Chen Shuguang suddenly discovered that the newspaper he had studied earlier was a forgery, and he felt ashamed and angry. When the emotions of grief and anger were about to overflow, Lin Xiaofeng asked him for a reward with a playful smile. This undoubtedly ignited Chen Shuguang's long-simmering anger. He pounced on Lin Xiaofeng like a wounded lion, and the two immediately struggled with each other. After all, Lin Xiaofeng was in his prime and had superior physical strength, and finally succeeded in knocking Chen Shuguang to the ground. Chen Shuguang denounced Lin Xiaofeng for deceitful and deceitful, and felt that his face had been disgraced. The once heroic figure was now being played by a young man, and his heart was filled with sadness, loss and unwillingness.
Lin Xiaofeng continued, with a mixture of joking and seriousness in his words: "Trying to you? It's not true! His Majesty has published your memorial in the Di'an newspaper, and when it is circulated among the people, you will soon become a hero admired by scholars all over the world!" He said He continued half-jokingly: "What I did was to save you from fire and water. How can you blame me for not caring about others?" Chen Shuguang was so angry that he had no time to carefully read his words. He just wanted to break free. To control him, he struggled with all his strength and yelled angrily: "You dare to beat Shangguan! When I go to court, I will definitely impeach you, a villain who doesn't know etiquette!" Lin Xiaofeng became more and more playful when he heard this. He raised his voice: "Shout again, or I'll spit in your face!" Although Chen Shuguang was full of anger, he showed no intention of backing down in the face of Lin Xiaofeng's threat. Lin Xiaofeng then pretended to spit at him. When Chen Shuguang saw this, he couldn't help but lost his voice in astonishment and stared at him with his eyes wide open.
Lin Xiaofeng knew very well that Chen Shuguang had a strong and upright temperament, so he released his hand at the right moment, lifted him up from the ground, carefully brushed off the dust on his body, and persuaded him gently: "Third uncle, please calm down, why do brothers of the same race bother each other?" Damage? If this matter is handled properly, it will be beneficial to us." After struggling for a while, Chen Shuguang gasped helplessly: "Forget it, just let me go and stop fighting with you." Lin Xiaofeng took the opportunity to give in. Chen Shuguang's mood became slightly calmer. Even though the other party still had a grudge against him and was as intolerable as a thorn in his side, he still resigned in time. Before leaving, he did not forget to remind you: "Third uncle, there is something I must tell you. Your eye disease is actually a kind of eye disease." I can treat your illness.”
In the following days, Chen Shuguang remained cold-faced and ignored Lin Xiaofeng during the invigilation period. Until one day, a box of exquisite eyeglass parts appeared in Lin Xiaofeng's hand, in which dozens of finely ground lenses were densely arranged, as well as a pair of glasses frames made of silver wire, large and comfortable, with adjustable slots. . Lin Xiaofeng saw the right opportunity and took this special gift to Chen Shuguang to seek reconciliation. When Chen Shuguang first looked at the parts of the glasses, he mistakenly thought they were bribes and sternly refused. However, Lin Xiaofeng was not deterred by this and bluntly said that this is a medical device specially designed to treat eye diseases.
Lin Xiaofeng slowly opened the box in front of Chen Shuguang, showing off the unique structure of the glasses. Although Chen Shuguang's face was still livid, he was finally attracted by this ingenious thing and couldn't help asking about its use. Lin Xiaofeng personally demonstrated how to put on the glasses. At first, Chen Shuguang found this move quite funny. However, when Lin Xiaofeng insisted on trying them on for him and adjusted the lenses one by one, Chen Shuguang was surprised to find that his eyesight had been significantly improved, and he instantly became very fond of the glasses. interest.
Lin Xiaofeng patiently and meticulously adjusts the glasses, striving for perfection in every process like carving a work of art. Chen Shuguang's attitude gradually changed from resistance to cooperation. After countless attempts, he finally found the lens combination that best suited him, allowing him to regain clear vision. His gratitude is beyond words. Chen Shuguang asked about the price of the glasses and was interested in buying them. Lin Xiaofeng laughed and did not answer. He just said that this was an experimental version and was not suitable for daily wear. However, Chen Shuguang deeply felt the magical effect of glasses and insisted on buying them. After Lin Xiaofeng deliberately put it off, he offered a symbolic hundred taels of silver as a price for family affection. Chen Shuguang was deeply moved and deeply understood the kindness of Lin Xiaofeng's move. He happily accepted the glasses and apologized to Lin Xiaofeng. The relationship between the two people was greatly eased. This entanglement ended successfully after experiencing this series of twists and turns. The relationship between the two people also quietly sublimated and became deeper in the process.
When Chen Shuguang heard the price of one hundred taels of silver, his heart suddenly tightened, and the joy of regaining the bright world was instantly diluted. He felt like a lamb being led to the market for sale. Although he knew how rare and precious the crystal material was, he could not accept that the value of these two lenses was as high as a hundred gold. Lin Xiaofeng saw this, narrowed his eyes with a smile, and said slowly: "These one hundred taels are actually priceless respect and protection for a pair of eyes." As soon as he said this, Chen Shuguang's face changed, and he was furious, and he thought to himself: Could it be that Does he think I'm gullible? I will buy crystals and grind them myself to make glasses!
Lin Xiaofeng continued to explain that the total price of a complete pair of glasses is two hundred and fifty taels of silver, of which the lenses account for two hundred and fifty taels. The frame is not only exquisitely designed, but also contains the mystery of acupuncture points for health care. It is truly a work of art that contains the universe. He explained in detail that polishing crystals does not take a day, and the frames accurately correspond to many acupuncture points on the face. Long-term wear can clear away heat and relieve troubles, nourish the five internal organs, strengthen the function of the vocal cords, dredge blood vessels, and brighten eyes. If there is a slight deviation, it will Such a magical effect cannot be achieved. After Chen Shuguang experienced it carefully, he really felt the extraordinary health secret contained in this pair of glasses.
Sensing the wavering in Chen Shuguang's heart, Lin Xiaofeng deliberately put on a generous gesture: "If you think the price is too high, it is the right of the younger generation to pay homage to the elders, and I will make a new one for you and send it to your house." Chen Shuguang heard this. , feeling secretly happy, he asked about the price again. Lin Xiaofeng smiled slyly and replied: "Two hundred and fifty taels is actually not too much. The cost of materials is only one tael. What is really expensive is turning these materials into magic." The craftsmanship and wisdom of the object are worth two hundred and forty-nine taels.”
Chen Shuguang rubbed his glasses in his hand, feeling tangled in his heart, but at this moment he already had a deep sense of dependence on them. Lin Xiaofeng struck while the iron was hot and promised to give it to other relatives as well, and asked Chen Shuguang to promote it in the court. The price remained unchanged at 250 taels. Chen Shuguang laughed dumbly and reminded Lin Xiaofeng that this way of making money was too direct and explicit. Yangqu County is already a rich place, so why should it be so greedy?
Faced with Chen Shuguang's questioning, Lin Xiaofeng responded with a wry smile: "Being born in a poor family and experiencing all the sufferings in the world, this attachment to money is difficult to let go of easily. Besides, in the future, these glasses will definitely be popular among the people, and the demand will increase greatly. Today's high prices The production cost determines that the selling price cannot be lowered for the time being. We might as well start with the officials in the DPRK and China and use their purchasing power to subsidize the common people. It is not unreasonable for you to call me a vampire." After hearing this, Chen Shuguang could only shake his head. After all, it is difficult to fully understand the mentality of the poor.
Despite this, Chen Shuguang has always had doubts about Lin Xiaofeng's abolition of the stamp. Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a long time, but failed to give a clear answer. Tracing back to its origins, it was initially just to solve the reporter's problem and his deep hatred for the poor sanitary environment of Gongyuan. However, after thinking deeply, it was discovered that all this stems from his constant concern for people's livelihood and the improvement of environmental sanitation since time travel. He vigorously promoted public health improvement in Yangqu County, effectively reducing the risk of disease transmission. Witnessing the current situation of Gongyuan, his past experiences touched the depths of his heart, and his instinct drove him to step forward again and try to change the injustice. In response, Lin Xiaofeng could only shrug, full of endless helplessness and ambivalence.
A few days passed by, and the imperial examination finally came to a successful conclusion. The whole process was orderly and without any unexpected episodes. After gradually giving up their worries about going to the toilet, the candidates followed suit and returned to normalcy inside and outside the examination room. Lin Xiaofeng held a pen and paper in his hand and walked lightly between the dormitories. His important task today was to select the six reporter lists required by His Majesty. Once this important task is completed, he will be considered successful and retire. After the examination, the examiners still had to stay in Gongyuan to carry out the heavy marking work. Lin Xiaofeng, on the grounds that he was only responsible for invigilating the examination and had no way of marking the examination papers, and considering that Chen Shuguang would no longer be too harsh on him because of his favor, decided to timely Pull away.
When Lin Xiaofeng walked to the bank of Yangbai Creek, he caught a glimpse of Lu Shenshen's face looking haggard, with thick dark circles in his eyes. His whole body seemed to be swept away by exhaustion, and he was bone-shattering. His brows were furrowed, and he was concentrating on writing at his desk, almost turning a deaf ear to all the sounds from the outside world. Lin Xiaofeng approached quietly, and when he took a sneak peek, he discovered that Lu Shenshen had densely written curses on him on the test paper, and couldn't help but laugh. Then, Lin Xiaofeng calmly took out the stamp from his pocket, dipped it in Lu Shenshen's inkstone with ink, and without hesitation, put the stamp heavily on Lu Shenshen's test paper. Lu Shen raised his head in shock when he heard the sound, staring at Lin Xiaofeng with confused eyes. Lin Xiaofeng sneered, pulled out a piece of paper, and pointed out Lu Shenshen's insult to the examiner, but did not pursue it. Instead, he showed a magnanimous mind and signaled Lu Shenshen to continue answering the questions, and then left leisurely, leaving Lu Shenshen with a stunned look on his face.
After the exam, Lin Xiaofeng packed her bags and was about to leave Gongyuan, but was stopped by Chen Shuguang. At this moment, Chen Shuguang was wearing a pair of glasses that had not yet been completely completed. He originally planned to reprimand Lin Xiaofeng, but Lin Xiaofeng cleverly used the excuse of reconfiguring the glasses to get rid of the entanglement and successfully escaped. Although Chen Shuguang was filled with resentment, he could not resist the temptation of new glasses and had to let Lin Xiaofeng leave. On the way home, Lin Xiaofeng noticed that many reporters were discussing the test questions enthusiastically. Some of them looked pale and looked depressed, which was obviously because they were not in good condition to answer the questions. Lin Xiaofeng stepped forward to comfort them at the right time, admonishing everyone to be optimistic about high school or not, as everything was normal. He promised to host a banquet for everyone tomorrow after they had rested, and encouraged them to continue reporting.
Back at the newspaper office, Xiang Xiehong had carefully prepared a sumptuous meal. The exhausted reporters took off their restraints and sat around to enjoy the meal. Seeing this scene, Lin Xiaofeng was secretly happy. After chatting with everyone, he returned home alone to rest. The moment he stepped into his home, Lin Xiaofeng felt exhausted physically and mentally, especially mentally. He deeply experienced that the level of fatigue caused by invigilating exams was far greater than that of a fierce battle, but he did not feel the joy of victory at all. Fortunately, the personal maid Lin Taohua took care of her. The scalding hot water washed away her fatigue. Lin Xiaofeng leaned on the edge of the tub and gradually fell into a trance.
The bathroom door opened quietly, and a pair of snow-white jade feet tied with silver chains came in. Lu Xuanxin, dressed in a gauze, nervously and shyly peeped at Lin Xiaofeng who was taking a bath. Feeling like a deer struck her, she mustered up the courage, holding the towel tightly in her hand, and cautiously walked towards the bathtub, determined to seize this opportunity to get close to Lin Xiaofeng, eager to get rid of her identity as a maid and become his concubine. Lu Xuanxin was approaching step by step, but Lin Xiaofeng was still lying on his back in the tub, with the towel half covering his face, motionless. Lu Xuanxin struggled with inner conflicts and tried to touch Lin Xiaofeng several times. However, although she had lived in a brothel for a long time, she had no actual experience in contacting men, so she was full of fear and hesitation. In the end, Lu Xuanxin gritted his teeth and strengthened his belief, and gently put his slender fingers on Lin Xiaofeng's shoulders.
In the misty bathroom, Lin Xiaofeng felt a cool hand gently put on his shoulder. The hand was like late spring dew, cold and delicate. He moved slightly lazily and said in a low voice: "Is it Xie Hongxin?" He always bathed alone and never allowed women to come close to him. Even if his personal maid Lin Taohua begged to rub his back many times, he would always Refuse politely. At this moment, a woman suddenly broke into his private domain. Lin Xiaofeng knew that it must be arranged by Xie Hongxin. When Lu Xuanxin heard the words "Xie Hongxin", it was like a bolt from the blue. She guessed that this might be the person who usually bathed with Lin Xiaofeng. Feeling embarrassed, she hurriedly withdrew the weak hand on his shoulder.
Lin Xiaofeng urged impatiently: "Say what you are going to do. If there is nothing important, leave quickly." Lu Xuanxin replied resentfully: "Master, it's me." Lin Xiaofeng turned around in shock and saw Lu Xuanxin wearing a light gauze dress. She lowered her head and held the towel, as shy as a young lady waiting to be married, but still hesitated. She looked timid yet determined at the same time. He carefully looked at the clothes Lu Xuanxin was wearing, and he could see at a glance that it was the symbol of Baihua Tower, the land of fireworks, and he couldn't help but have doubts in his heart.
Lin Xiaofeng's eyes were attracted by a red bean ornament worn on Lu Xuanxin's chest. The red and plump bean seemed to contain endless emotions. His throat moved slightly and he coughed to cover up the turmoil in his heart. Then he asked calmly: "Xuan Xuan "Xin, what's wrong with you?" Lu Xuanxin insisted on taking a bath with him, but Lin Xiaofeng acquiesced to her behavior and allowed her to wipe his back clumsily. The two of them were speechless, each with their own thoughts. Lu Xuanxin tried to take a bath for the first time, and the technique was quite awkward. The towel could not be changed for a long time, and it was not even wet on the shoulders.
Lin Xiaofeng had a dry back and couldn't bear the pain caused by rough friction, so he wetted his back with water, but accidentally splashed Lu Xuanxin's black hair, which was close to his forehead. Lu Xuanxin looked angry and wiped harder. Upon seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng immediately stopped: "If you rub it any longer, your skin will be worn out!" Lu Xuanxin then realized that his actions were too hasty and put down the towel with an apologetic face.
Lin Xiaofeng asked Lu Xuanxin with concern whether she had encountered difficulties at home or had any unresolved knots, and advised her not to hide it but to tell her truthfully. Lu Xuanxin said there were no difficulties at home, but she did have a tangle in her heart that she couldn't talk about. Lin Xiaofeng reasoned and told her that since she had come to the Lin Mansion, she was a member of the Lin Mansion. Although she was a maid in name, she actually had the right to choose her own life, whether she returned to Baihua House or found a new life path. , he won't interfere, and he doesn't want to see her reluctantly doing something she's not good at.
After Lu Xuanxin heard this, her heart was filled with excitement. She laughed at herself and lamented that the word freedom seemed to be far away to her. She firmly expressed her willingness to serve Lin Xiaofeng for life. Lin Xiaofeng once again seriously emphasized that what she said was not a joke, and once again told her to cherish and exercise her right to make independent choices and not to tie herself to the house.
Lu Xuanxin raised his eyes and stared at Lin Xiaofeng, full of questions lingering in his mind, while thinking deeply about his future. Lin Xiaofeng returned to the edge of the tub again and ordered Lu Xuanxin to leave and not to do anything in vain. In the face of beauty, Lin Xiaofeng sticks to his principles and resolutely refuses to use power to play with emotions. Lu Xuanxin stopped talking and mentioned the past letters. Lin Xiaofeng had no idea about this. Lu Xuanxin felt sad, put on Lin Xiaofeng's coat, quietly closed the door and left.
After Lu Xuanxin left, Lin Xiaofeng truly relieved the burden in his heart. Fatigue gradually enveloped his body. He leaned against the tub and gradually fell into a deep sleep. In this complicated situation, Lin Xiaofeng always adhered to the bottom line, showing a gentleman-like demeanor and personality charm. Compared with ordinary officials, his character was obviously many levels higher.
Lin Taohua used her delicate and dexterous skills to prepare breakfast and then gathered everyone around to enjoy it. While Lin Xiaofeng was chewing steamed buns and picking up dishes, the scene after taking a bath the night before suddenly appeared in his memory, and he asked: "Last night, I fell asleep after taking a bath, and someone moved me to the bed. What happened?" Hearing this, Xie Hongxin put down his chopsticks, showed his bright white teeth, and replied with a smile: "I personally carried you to bed!" Lu Xuanxin, who was beside him, covered his mouth and smiled, with a teasing look on his face. Lin Xiaofeng felt helpless after hearing this. The erotic scene he had originally imagined turned out to be just Xie Hongxin's warm-heartedness. Lin Taohua sipped the soy milk and warned him earnestly not to sleep in the bath again in order to avoid cold and illness. She also mentioned a letter from the county government informing Wang Yingchao that he had purchased a restaurant in the capital, aiming to provide a place for the people of Yangqu County to live and work in peace and contentment. , from now on, gentlemen can go straight to the restaurant to handle matters. Lin Xiaofeng agreed with this and proposed to name the restaurant "Yangqu Guest House" to show its friendliness and convenience.
Time flies, and three days later, Lin Xiaofeng and Li Dexian sat opposite each other in the North Corridor newspaper office, staring at an exquisite small box together. Li Dexian looked solemn and eagerly urged Lin Xiaofeng to reveal the secret. Lin Xiaofeng smiled and slowly opened the lid of the box. There were more than ten pairs of glasses arranged neatly inside: ten pairs of reading glasses, and the rest were various types of flat sunglasses, including toad glasses, round sunglasses and other unique designs. The carvings on the temples are exquisite, especially the reading glasses are engraved with Tai Chi Bagua and acupuncture point patterns, which are intended to attract the elderly in the court and distinguish them from other affordable glasses that will be launched soon, so as to avoid causing dissatisfaction in the world. After the brand advantage is solidified, no matter what the needs are, each can find a suitable style.
Li Dexian picked up a pair of toad glasses to play with with great interest, while Lin Xiaofeng put on a pair of round sunglasses, swaying the folding fan gently in his hand, showing a gentle and free and easy temperament, and then asked Li Dexian what he thought of his image at the moment. view. Li Dexian looked around and teased that his outfit was quite funny. Facing the laughter of the generation gap, Lin Xiaofeng began to explain the functions of glasses in detail, and proposed the idea of changing the lens material or embedding the Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains map, but these were not realized due to technical limitations at the time. In order to prevent Li Dexian's thoughts from getting off topic, Lin Xiaofeng handed him a pair of sunglasses to try on. As soon as Li Dexian put it on, he exclaimed that it was dark. Lin Xiaofeng took this opportunity to elaborate on the uniqueness of the glasses: they can not only block the prying eyes in the casino, but also prevent the infighting in the court. In particular, those reading glasses can greatly help The elderly improve their eyesight and make it easier to read books. Li Dexian nodded repeatedly after hearing this. Because his father often complained about his declining eyesight, he decided to pick one and bring it back to the palace for the emperor to try out.
Li Dexian was eager to return to the palace to present the treasure, and Lin Xiaofeng specifically reminded him to bring his glasses with him, and told him to declare that the glasses were carefully made of top-grade crystals, and the patterns on the temples were the rejuvenation formations engraved by Taoist masters. Echoes the acupuncture points of the human body and contributes to eye health. Li Dexian was aroused by these remarks with great enthusiasm and galloped back to the palace. The people along the way stopped and talked about this strange scene, as if they had seen a rare and rare object. When he entered the palace gate, he ran into Wang Jingwen, who mistakenly thought that the prince was injured. Li Dexian took off his sunglasses and laughed at his ignorance, and hurried to Qianqing Palace, leaving Wang Jingwen, who was full of suspicion, stunned there, unable to guess.
Li Dexian strode into the Qianqing Palace with a spectacle case in hand and a pair of toad glasses on the bridge of his nose. When Emperor Jingjiang saw this, his face instantly turned livid, and he shouted sternly: "Young man, what is that covering your face? Take it off quickly!" For the prince to dress up like this in the palace is undoubtedly an act of disobedience and serious damage. of royal majesty. However, Li Dexian was not frightened by his father's anger. He directly placed the spectacle case on the imperial case and answered with his head held high: "This is a rare treasure found by my son. It is specially designed to treat declining eyesight. Father, you might as well give it a try." After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang was furious and was about to summon his guards to punish Li Dexian, thinking that he was mocking his old age.
Li Dexian was so anxious that he begged his father to try the glasses before punishing him. When the guards were about to approach, Emperor Jingjiang stopped them out of curiosity and trust in his son. At this time, Wang Jingwen also walked into the hall in panic. Emperor Jingjiang sneered and decided to reveal the secret of these mysterious glasses. He personally took off the sunglasses from Li Dexian's face and carefully looked at them, but in the end he felt that this was detrimental to the dignity of the royal family and never had the courage to actually put them on. Li Dexian was extremely anxious, knowing that unproven glasses might be ineffective or even cause trouble.
Emperor Jingjiang asked about the details of Lin Xiaofeng's gift. Although he reluctantly tried on the sunglasses, he showed obvious disappointment, thinking that they were just toys made of colored glass, which affected his vision. Emperor Jingjiang ordered Li Dexian to stop this nonsense immediately, but Li Dexian insisted in desperation that there were still many styles of glasses to try, and repeatedly mentioned Lin Xiaofeng's instructions about the special effects of glasses. Emperor Jingjiang became increasingly impatient and ordered Li Dexian to return to the East Palace immediately, but Li Dexian was determined and insisted on asking Emperor Jingjiang to try again to express his filial piety.
Emperor Jingjiang couldn't resist his son's persistence, so he had to ask Wang Jingwen to try on the glasses on his behalf. After Wang Jingwen tried three pairs of glasses one by one, he finally found one that had a remarkable effect, making his vision suddenly brighter and making him feel like he was back in his youth. This scene deeply attracted Emperor Jingjiang. He also chose a pair to try out, and found that his vision became as clear as before. When Li Dexian saw his father's reaction, he couldn't help but feel proud. He once again elaborated on the health-preserving functions of the glasses, emphasizing that they were all carefully crafted from top-grade crystals, which not only improved vision, but also had many benefits.
Both Emperor Jingjiang and Wang Jingwen were shocked by the magical effect brought by the glasses. Although Emperor Jingjiang had reservations about the health-preserving effects mentioned by Li Dexian and suspected that it might be Lin Xiaofeng's sales promotion method, he still couldn't hide his joy deep in his heart and secretly estimated The price of glasses was considered, and whether it could be purchased in large quantities to meet the needs of the many veterans in the DPRK who were suffering from eye diseases. Wang Jingwen, on the other hand, was full of joy and wanted to own such a treasure, hoping to prolong his life and regain his youthful vitality.
After trying on the glasses, Emperor Jingjiang showed a satisfied smile on his face and asked Li Dexian to step back. Li Dexian was stunned for a moment, not expecting that this matter would be approved by his father so easily. Emperor Jingjiang smiled lovingly and said that the prince's move was like a child's thirst for praise. He highly appreciated Li Dexian's filial piety, and in view of his outstanding performance in handling the affairs of the environmental protection team, he specially awarded him a thousand taels of gold as a reward. . Wang Jingwen was overjoyed to get this treasure, but Li Dexian left Qianqing Palace with some inexplicable disappointment. After Emperor Jingjiang tried on the glasses, he sincerely admired Lin Xiaofeng for being able to create something that could treat eye diseases. Wang Jingwen also echoed his praise, praising its miraculous effects. Emperor Jingjiang knew that Lin Xiaofeng had deep wisdom and intention in this move, so he decided to shelve the matter for the time being and discuss it in detail when the time came. Then he became concerned about Princess Hanmiao's recent physical condition. When he heard that she was unwell, he immediately blamed Lin Xiaofeng. After a while, he immediately dispatched people to prepare precious supplements and send them to Han Miao's residence.
A few days later, Lin Xiaofeng went to court as usual and noticed that although Emperor Jingjiang did not wear glasses publicly, Wang Jingwen cherished them as if they were rare treasures. This incident aroused everyone's curiosity and heated discussion in the palace. Lin Xiaofeng secretly planned to carry out large-scale publicity and promotion after Chen Shuguang returned to the palace. However, Emperor Jingjiang's attitude towards Lin Xiaofeng has quietly changed recently, leaving Lin Xiaofeng even more confused. He was always thinking about the reporters at Beilang Newspaper, especially Yang Baixi, and was worried that once he was in high school, he might leave him and join an official career. On the day when the imperial examination results were released, Lin Xiaofeng went with the reporters to watch the results. He also specifically asked everyone to interview the losers, so as to encourage the candidates to work hard in the coming year. The reporters deeply admired this and unanimously praised Lin Xiaofeng for his foresight and far-sightedness.
When the huge red list was unveiled, everyone's eyes were focused on the names on it. They were surprised to find that Yang Baixi had become a blockbuster, winning the championship in one fell swoop and winning the Xie Yuan crown. The reporters cheered and congratulated him one after another. Although Lin Xiaofeng was also shocked by Yang Baixi's excellent results, what he deeply regretted was the loss of talent. Facing this turning point in his life, Yang Baixi seemed unusually calm. He recalled how his career as a journalist had helped him grow, and solemnly bowed deeply to Lin Xiaofeng to express his gratitude. Lin Xiaofeng endured the disappointment in his heart, tried his best to smile, and turned his attention to the other names on the list again, trying to find new hope and sustenance among those talents who have not yet emerged, so that he can continue to explore more possibilities in journalism.
Lin Xiaofeng looked carefully in front of the list. Starting from the name of the thirteenth Zhao Liu, it slipped all the way to the twenty-seventh Yue Lu. Even before the third place was fully revealed, he was already shocked in his heart. He originally thought that there were only four or five people who were confident enough to take the exam within the Beilang Newspaper Company, but he never expected that eight of his colleagues would be nominated for the gold medal, and nearly half of them would be successful. This astonishing move made him marvel at it, and his heart was filled with thousands of emotions. Thoughts. Every time they saw the name of a colleague engraved on it, the reporters were greatly encouraged. Even those who had not graduated from high school were inspired by the achievements of their colleagues. They vowed to fight for the provincial examination again and live up to their responsibilities to the death. Reporter's name. The entire Beiling newspaper office seemed to be enveloped by an invisible cultural movement, and everyone's hearts were burning with a burning desire for knowledge and progress.
Lin Xiaofeng inquired about the reason from a reporter who had just made the list, wondering whether they were studying hard in private to prepare for the scientific examination. The reporter spoke frankly and replied: "Actually, we did not deliberately study lazily, but accumulated knowledge subtly and subtly during daily interviews. We frequently negotiated with officials and dealt with various examination problems. Over time, we developed a broad and comprehensive knowledge." With knowledge and keen insight, coupled with reading a lot of current affairs news every day, we can handle the policy exam with ease. This is the main reason why we successfully passed the exam.”
After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng suddenly woke up from a dream. It turned out that his experience as a reporter was of such great help to the imperial examination competition. This was indeed something he had never expected. The policy test examines original insights into current affairs and understanding of statecraft, which happens to coincide with the expertise of journalists. While everyone was overjoyed, Lin Xiaofeng loudly announced the good news and decided to reward all the winners, promising that no matter where they are in the future, the Beilang Newspaper Office will always be their spiritual home, and the library, canteen, and dormitory will always be their spiritual home. Be open to them and offer support.
Facing the sudden "graduation", some reporters felt confused and reluctant to give up. Fortunately, Lin Xiaofeng comforted them in time. Although they were about to leave the newspaper, they could still share all the resources of the newspaper. What is even more surprising is that journalists who participate in the imperial examination and achieve good results will receive generous silver rewards. Among them, Yang Baixi of Jieyuan is the exclusive recipient of a hundred taels of silver. Among the onlookers, there were some who were envious, some who were jealous, and even some who were sad.
After everyone dispersed to go home to announce the good news and return to the club to receive the silver reward, Lin Xiaofeng suddenly waved his riding crop in a graceful movement and threw a stack of papers in the air, causing the surrounding crowd to scramble for them. Later, someone discovered that these so-called "banknotes" were actually recruitment notices, which listed in detail the information that Beilang Newspaper Company urgently needed to recruit talented people. They offered generous treatment to attract scholars from all over the country to join the newspaper staff. Some of them were outspoken and bold. Straightforward expression. Although some people indignantly denounced this approach as sensationalism, those who carefully read the content of the notice fell into deep thought, and many people were moved. For the first time in the history of Jingjiang Kingdom, such a bold and straightforward recruitment flyer appeared. For a while, there was a lot of discussion in the streets and alleys. People had different opinions on Lin Xiaofeng's move. However, no matter what, this unique recruitment event undoubtedly brought unprecedented shock and enlightenment to the cultural circles of Jingjiang Kingdom. ·······················
The morning light showed slightly the next day. After the court meeting, Lin Xiaofeng and Li Dexian walked side by side to the North Corridor Newspaper Office. As soon as he stepped into the door of the newspaper office, he saw Xiang Xiehong running in a hurry, his face was haggard and his hair was messy. When he saw Lin Xiaofeng, he was as anxious as a drowning man grabbing a lifebuoy: "Master! The strategy you taught yesterday was like a stroke of genius. Today, applicants are coming in droves, and the force is surging like a tide. We have to temporarily guide them to Laoer Restaurant, so that the normal work of our reporters has been seriously disrupted. "
When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he couldn't help but feel a burst of joy in his heart. He originally had doubts about whether the clever strategy he had set up would work, but now it seemed that the response was beyond imagination. He couldn't help but sigh that people's good intentions have always existed in the past and present. Li Dexian asked how the recruitment strategy was specifically carried out. Xiang Xiehong hurriedly took out the distributed flyer and showed it to the two of them. After reading it, Li Dexian looked slightly uncomfortable. Lin Xiaofeng explained with a smile: "The art of propaganda lies in not bluffing and choosing the truth. The same is true for imperial newspapers. How can you expose your own shortcomings? The information published by our agency is all real facts, but it is expressed in a different way. It's more direct." After hearing these words, Li Dexian realized something. Lin Xiaofeng further quoted Buddhist teachings as a metaphor for the state of the world and taught him how to skillfully exploit the weaknesses and demands of human nature.
Xiang Xiehong suddenly became enlightened under Lin Xiaofeng's guidance and praised his resourcefulness. Li Dexian asked why many applicants were not allowed to directly enter the newspaper office to start working. Xiang Xiehong smiled bitterly and said: "It is difficult to manage a large number of people, and you have to select the best from the best. There are too many people now, and it is not easy to determine the salary." Lin Xiaofeng suggested first A written test will be set up, with senior reporters drafting questions, and then selecting candidates through interviews. Special attention will be paid to the moral performance of the candidates. For example, those who take the initiative to clean up the environment will be given priority for employment. In addition, this matter can also be announced publicly through the "Soul Ginseng Soup" section. Lin Xiaofeng talked about it while showing a sly and clever smile.
When talking about the salary issue, Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment and pointed out: Too high a salary for new employees may cause psychological imbalance among old employees, while too low a salary may be suspected of false advertising. Li Dexian mentioned that some applicants expressed their willingness to work for free, and even joked that they could take them all in and pay only five taels of silver per month. Xiang Xiehong was shocked by this and warned that this move was inappropriate and might damage the journalist's social status and the long-term development of the newspaper. Lin Xiaofeng corrected the prince's point of view and made it clear that this approach was absolutely unfeasible. He also instructed Xiang Xiehong to discuss with other reporters the standards for promotion and salary increase. The tentative monthly salary for newcomers was one tael of silver.
For those journalists who have already passed the exam in high school and may not be able to devote themselves fully to newspaper work in the future, Lin Xiaofeng instructed that their original welfare benefits should be maintained. The library and canteen are open to them free of charge. If they are willing to continue working, they can be assigned more flexible positions. , ensuring that their studies are not hindered. Among them, Yang Baixi is a banner of the newspaper. Although there is no need to force him to stay, he is hoped to assist in external publicity and special interview activities. After all personnel and welfare matters were properly arranged, Lin Xiaofeng began to miss the day when his third uncle Chen Shuguang would return.
The results of the imperial examination have been made public. According to common sense, Chen Shuguang should have returned to the court to handle government affairs as soon as possible. However, he was not seen in the court yesterday morning. People speculated that he might be recuperating at home. At dawn the next day, Chen Shuguang appeared at the morning meeting as scheduled, but his behavior was quite strange compared to usual. He gestured to Lin Xiaofeng with his eyes from time to time, as if he was seeking some kind of help. His role as an examiner in recent days has made him physically and mentally exhausted, and his vision has become blurry again. When he saw that Wang Jingwen was already wearing glasses, he couldn't help but feel a little unhappy in his heart. Lin Xiaofeng was as attentive as a hair and noticed Chen Shuguang's hint. After the court meeting was over, the two began a private conversation in a quiet corner on the side of the hall.
Under the majestic and spectacular hall, the shadows of the pillars were mottled. Chen Shuguang asked impatiently: "Where is the thing you are talking about?" Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly, indicating to wait for a moment, and then slowly took out a finely carved flower from his sleeve. The wooden box contains a pair of bright silver-rimmed glasses, and is equipped with a delicate silver chain for the wearer to hang around his neck. Chen Shuguang took the glasses, his eyes flashed with ecstasy, and he immediately put them on and tried them out. They felt very comfortable and suitable.
Lin Xiaofeng did not forget to remind Chen Shuguang that when he returned to the cabinet office, if anyone asked about the source of the glasses, he should claim that he had purchased them for three hundred taels of silver. Chen Shuguang wondered why the original price of two hundred and fifty taels had been increased by fifty taels. Lin Xiaofeng patiently explained that this was because the glasses were not only decorated with precious silver chains, but Mr. Bai Yongyuan and Mr. Li Qiuyan each received a pair. In order to maintain confidentiality and maintain uniform specifications, this price must be announced to the outside world. In the afternoon, Lin Xiaofeng will join hands with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to set up a stall at the door of the Cabinet to pre-sell glasses.
Chen Shuguang walked into the cabinet, tidied up his clothes and hung his glasses in a conspicuous place on his chest, hoping to show off his new treasure. In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on him. Chen Shuguang put on his glasses, which attracted everyone's surprised gazes. Seeing this scene, Bai Yongyuan mistakenly thought that Chen Shuguang imitated the eunuch's use of glasses. Chen Shuguang hurriedly clarified, emphasizing that these are rare treasures - glasses that can clear the liver, improve eyesight, and maintain health. After hearing this, all the officials showed great interest and gathered around to try it on.
After Bai Yongyuan tried on the glasses himself, he personally experienced its remarkable effects, which aroused everyone's amazement. Although Li Qiuyan felt uncomfortable with wearing them for a long time after trying them on, Chen Shuguang explained that glasses are like good medicine and need to be customized according to personal circumstances to achieve the best effect. When everyone asked where they could buy such magical glasses, Chen Shuguang replied that Lin Xiaofeng would set up a stall at the door of the cabinet in the afternoon to sell them, and revealed that both Mr. Bai Yongyuan and Mr. Li Qiuyan would receive a free pair.
Some officials questioned whether the glasses were priced as high as 300 taels of silver, and Chen Shuguang cited their miraculous effects as a defense. After Bai Yongyuan and Li Qiuyan learned that they could get glasses for free, they praised them and thought that the glasses were really worth the money. Therefore, in the afternoon of that day, the entire court was full of anticipation for the glasses that Lin Xiaofeng was about to sell, and was eager to witness the changes brought about by this magical item.
For Bai Yongyuan and Li Qiuyan, the two pavilion elders, three hundred taels of silver are not a financial hardship, but it is naturally an exciting and good thing to have such magical glasses at such a discount. After learning about the opportunity to receive free gifts, the two of them became enthusiastic supporters and promoters of glasses without hesitation. The other ministers heard that the glasses had magical effects, and their inner curiosity and desire for possessions were instantly ignited.
In the afternoon, with the sun shining slantingly, Li Dexian led a group of young eunuchs to set up the stall early, while Lin Xiaofeng sat quietly in it with photometric lenses, pens and ink, waiting for the arrival of buyers. Soon after, although Bai Yongyuan still had some grudge against Lin Xiaofeng in his heart, the actual effect of the glasses made him irresistible. He took the lead to step out of the cabinet door, and then other cabinet officials gathered in front of the booth and watched with interest.
With a gentle smile on his face, Lin Xiaofeng announced that today was not a simple purchase and sale transaction, but a charity sale aimed at doing charity, and all the proceeds would be used to help improve the lives of poor people. As soon as these words came out, everyone's original doubts and hostility disappeared a lot invisibly.
Faced with Bai Yongyuan's inquiry about the sales method, Lin Xiaofeng calmly explained: "This is not an ordinary commodity sale, but an action related to public welfare! All the funds raised will be generously donated by Mr. Li and I." Hearing this As a noble title, everyone’s attitude towards this event immediately turned to appreciation and support. Bai Yongyuan proposed to get a pair of glasses for himself. Lin Xiaofeng carefully confirmed that each pair of glasses needs to be customized according to personal vision, and reminded everyone again that although the glasses fitting process is free, the price of the glasses remains at 300 taels, and warned everyone to customize it according to their own needs. Act with financial resources.
When the crowd began to talk and express doubts about the high price, Lin Xiaofeng used clever words to soothe their emotions, emphasizing that although the glasses are lightweight, their added functional value is immeasurable. He pointed out that in addition to clearing the liver and improving eyesight, wearing glasses can also help strengthen the kidneys and strengthen yang. As soon as this "strengthening" theory was uttered, the crowd was stunned. Lin Xiaofeng cited the example of Chen Shuguang in a timely manner, showing that his hearing decreased significantly after taking off his glasses, proving that glasses indeed have the special effect of improving hearing, and gave an in-depth explanation based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. After listening to these explanations, everyone's inner doubts gradually disappeared.
At this moment, everyone stopped talking and lined up to try on glasses. Just as the scene was getting very lively, Wang Jingwen hurried over to inform Lin Xiaofeng that His Majesty wanted to summon him. Lin Xiaofeng and Li Dexian cooperated tacitly. One was responsible for answering questions, and the other was concentrating on collecting the money and registering the reservation information. The scene suddenly showed a busy ordering scene. Lin Xiaofeng looked at everything in front of him and was secretly proud of himself. He cleverly used psychology to successfully guide everyone to accept the high price of glasses and triggered a buying frenzy. This seemingly ordinary sales event was actually a psychological warfare carefully planned by Lin Xiaofeng. With his extraordinary wisdom and strategy, everyone gained health and satisfaction while paying money.
Wang Jingwen saw many important officials from the imperial court coming to receive photometry and glasses. His face was full of surprise. He couldn't restrain his curiosity and took the initiative to ask Lin Xiaofeng about the mystery. Lin Xiaofeng took the thick stack of banknotes handed over by Li Dexian, while Li Dexian looked at him with a look of helplessness and admiration. The moment he took the banknote, Lin Xiaofeng did not forget to ask Wang Jingwen why Emperor Jingjiang summoned him. However, Wang Jingwen did not know this, but his curiosity about Lin Xiaofeng's ability to earn such a huge amount of wealth in a short period of time became more and more intense. .
When Lin Xiaofeng entered the solemn Qianqing Palace, he found that Emperor Jingjiang was wearing glasses to review the memorial. As soon as he saw Lin Xiaofeng, he immediately questioned him about setting up a stall to sell glasses in front of the cabinet. Faced with the emperor's question, Lin Xiaofeng did not immediately defend himself, but gently placed the stack of banknotes in his hand in front of the imperial case. This move seemed to be more convincing than a thousand words.
Emperor Jingjiang's eyes fell on the heavy pile of silver notes, and he motioned Lin Xiaofeng to sit down, and followed him closely to ask him about the purpose of selling glasses at high prices. Lin Xiaofeng responded calmly, explaining that glasses can not only solve people's vision problems, but because the production cost is quite high, they decided to raise funds by selling them to rich people at high prices, and then use the profits to subsidize the purchase of glasses by poor people. When Emperor Jingjiang heard that a pair of glasses sold for as much as three hundred taels of silver, he couldn't help but be shocked, and then asked how much the price would be if sold to civilians. Lin Xiaofeng frankly answered that it would only cost about one tael of silver.
After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang marveled at the huge profit margins in glasses trading. At the same time, he also asked Lin Xiaofeng how to deal with the possible low-priced glasses competition in the market in the future. Lin Xiaofeng confidently stated that he would differentiate by brand and quality. Top-quality glasses will still be sold at a high price, while ordinary glasses will be popularized at low prices to ordinary people's homes. After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang was deeply moved by Lin Xiaofeng's unique way of making money, and mentioned his intention to transfer him to the Ministry of Household Affairs, but Lin Xiaofeng was wondering why he had not been officially transferred yet.
Emperor Jingjiang told Lin Xiaofeng without hesitation that the reason why he had not yet been transferred to the Ministry of Household Affairs, which is in charge of the country's financial power, was because he always made waves wherever he went. The Ministry of Household Affairs pays attention to stability and order, and if Lin Xiaofeng arrives at the Ministry of Household Affairs, the financial situation of the entire world may become turbulent. After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng felt deeply remorseful and admitted that his style of doing things might indeed bring about such disadvantages. Emperor Jingjiang then ordered Lin Xiaofeng to take back the banknotes, saying that it was not appropriate to excessively display wealth in front of the emperor.
Lin Xiaofeng explained that these banknotes were actually temporarily kept for the prince, and were not intended to confuse His Majesty. After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang nodded slightly, put away the banknotes, and then motioned to Lin Xiaofeng to stay to discuss other matters. Lin Xiaofeng originally planned to retreat, but Emperor Jingjiang called him and asked him why he was leaving in such a hurry. Lin Xiaofeng was speechless for a moment. After Emperor Jingjiang retreated with his attendants, he told him that the summons was actually to discuss a vital matter.
Emperor Jingjiang put serious matters related to the country's security on the agenda, and Lin Xiaofeng suddenly felt an indescribable anxiety in his heart. The fact that the Mongolian envoy Wurige sent spies to sneak into the capital was like a huge stone weighing on his heart. Emperor Jingjiang solemnly asked Lin Xiaofeng to deal with this matter carefully and asked about the return gifts. Lin Xiaofeng solved doubts with a wise man's attitude, saying that whether it is high-grade Yangqu tea or rare diamonds, they can be easily handled without too much worry. However, before Emperor Jingjiang finished speaking, he turned to mention the Xunliu case, which was still one-dimensionally involved, and the relationship between Xunliu and the salt merchants was complicated and full of suspicion. Although Xichang has conducted a thorough investigation and found no conclusive evidence, the salt administration accounts for half of the national treasury's revenue. If the case really involves the salt administration, it will undoubtedly be a major case that can shock both the government and the public. The reason why Emperor Jingjiang chose to tell Lin Xiaofeng alone about this was precisely because his trust in him was as firm as a rock.
After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng deeply felt the huge risks and challenges hidden behind the salt policy issue, and couldn't help but recall his various experiences in private salt transactions in his early years. Emperor Jingjiang suspected that there might be people in the palace secretly assisting Xun Liu, so he resolutely dismissed his attendants. Lin Xiaofeng assessed the situation and proposed that the Ministry of Revenue should intervene to conduct a detailed inspection of the salt administration accounts in order to find clues to the case. After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang was enlightened and greatly appreciated Lin Xiaofeng's unique insights, and even wanted to send him to investigate the case personally. Faced with such a major mission, Lin Xiaofeng knew the difficulties and obstacles in it and could not help but hesitate. Upon seeing this, Emperor Jingjiang looked at him deeply and promised that no matter what the outcome of the investigation was, the court would not blame him. He also promised to set up a Jin Yiwei to motivate Lin Xiaofeng and promised to meet his reasonable request.
After weighing the pros and cons, Lin Xiaofeng politely declined this important task because he was worried about his lack of ability. Emperor Jingjiang looked at him intently, a look of dissatisfaction flashed across his face, and he frankly expressed his deep contempt for those who were timid in times of trouble and took refuge easily. When Lin Xiaofeng faced Emperor Jingjiang's sharp gaze, cold sweat slipped quietly from his forehead, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became extremely tense. After a brief silence, Emperor Jingjiang expressed his regret for this decision to Lin Xiaofeng in a calm but disappointed tone. Despite this, Emperor Jingjiang's eyes still shone with a trace of expectation and trust, as if he was silently waiting for Lin Xiaofeng to muster up the courage to bravely accept the challenge, solve problems for the court, and create a legendary story.
Emperor Jingjiang's words "as timid as a mouse" pierced Lin Xiaofeng's heart like a sharp sword, which made Lin Xiaofeng feel depressed. Looking back on what he had done in the past, he never flinched or feared at all. However, whenever he touched Princess Hanmiao's difficult knot, he felt an indescribable helplessness and sadness in his heart. Faced with Emperor Jingjiang's aggressive tactics, Lin Xiaofeng struggled for a while and finally gritted his teeth and accepted. Although there was no guarantee that the case would be successfully solved, Emperor Jingjiang praised his decision to take on heavy responsibilities. Therefore, Emperor Jingjiang readily agreed that Lin Xiaofeng could borrow manpower from Wang Gonggong to assist in the investigation, and revealed that Princess Hanmiao's condition had deteriorated sharply recently, and he specifically ordered him to go for a diagnosis in person.
When Lin Xiaofeng walked out of the solemn Qianqing Palace, he happened to meet Wang Jingwen head-on. He eagerly asked about the specific status of the princess's condition and learned that the princess was only losing weight due to a long-term lack of food. Although this made him feel a little relieved. Some, but still deeply worried about the princess' illness. In order to visit the princess in time and take good care of her, Lin Xiaofeng hurriedly said goodbye to Wang Jingwen and went straight to the dining room. However, when he suddenly appeared in the dining room, everyone was surprised. The owner of the dining room even emphasized that he could not borrow the dining room at will without the emperor's order. Lin Xiaofeng frankly stated his identity and the purpose of his trip. He bluntly stated that he would use the kitchen to cook food with therapeutic effects for the princess, and asked the kitchen staff to prepare the required ingredients immediately.
Regardless of his status, Lin Xiaofeng kneaded the dough himself. This move aroused a heated discussion among the royal chefs. They were all surprised that this talented man who usually made plans actually cooked the food himself. Surrounded by everyone, Lin Xiaofeng began to concentrate on carefully preparing each food with therapeutic effects. He processed each ingredient with meticulous care to ensure that it was used in just the right amount. After all the preparations were completed, Lin Xiaofeng ordered the blazing fire to be lit for stewing, and then he devoted himself wholeheartedly to the cooking process. The jumping fire reflected on his focused and determined face, and the entire dining room was instantly filled with a busy and tense atmosphere, as if everyone held their breath, waiting to see if the food in Lin Xiaofeng's hands could bring relief to the chronically ill. A glimmer of recovery for the princess.
While kneading the dough, a layer of fine beads of sweat appeared on Lin Xiaofeng's forehead, and he couldn't help but fall into deep thought and self-mockery. He sighed: "I haven't cooked by myself for many years, and now my hand feels a bit rusty." Recalling the days when he lived in a simple residence, he taught himself by relying on cooking tutorials on Douyin, and after traveling to Jingjiang Country, he even He used what he learned to improve the cuisine in Yangqu County. However, with the improvement and prosperity of his living situation, he rarely cooked by himself, and all household chores were taken care of by his personal maid Lin Taohua. Picking up this craft again today, he realized how difficult and difficult it is in actual operation.
When the dough had risen just right, Lin Xiaofeng kneaded it and divided it into pieces. Seeing this, all the royal chefs on the side came to help. He neatly stacked the shaped buns in a copper basin, then carefully brushed them with egg yolk and put them into the oven one by one for baking. Since the skill has not been used for a long time, Lin Xiaofeng specially made a few more copies in case of emergency. When the golden and fragrant buns came out of the oven, the entire external dining room was enveloped in an unprecedented sweet smell, as if time had become slow and mellow at this moment.
The bread came out of the oven with an attractive golden color. Although there were a few slight flaws, it was undoubtedly a successful production for a first try. Lin Xiaofeng generously invited everyone to taste it, and everyone gathered around. The chief first picked up one and took a bite, nodding his head in approval. Afterwards, everyone tried it one after another and all praised this novel and unique bun. Lin Xiaofeng carefully selected a few of the best-looking and slightly burnt creations and put them into the food box, along with several plates of refreshing and delicious cold dishes. The remaining bread was generously shared with the royal chefs present.
The manager mustered up the courage to ask Lin Xiaofeng if he was willing to teach him how to make this bun. Lin Xiaofeng agreed without hesitation and promised to write down a detailed recipe for their reference. This move made all the imperial chefs burst into tears of gratitude, and they expressed their gratitude to Lin Xiaofeng in unison. Holding the food box filled with love and expectation, Lin Xiaofeng quickly left the dining room and hurried to Qingyi Hall to visit the princess on the sickbed, feeling a mixture of anxiety and expectation in her heart.
When leaving the dining room, the host once again enthusiastically persuaded Lin Xiaofeng to stay and sincerely invited him to order here at any time in the future. Lin Xiaofeng declined on the surface, but secretly rejoiced in his heart. At this moment, all his thoughts were focused on meeting the seriously ill princess. body, so he walked forward quickly, gradually getting further and further away. The imperial chefs watched Lin Xiaofeng leave, deeply admiring his generosity and unexpectedly superb cooking skills. Lin Xiaofeng was nervous and excited. On the way to Qingyi Palace, he murmured in a low voice: "Little princess, I'm here with your favorite bun!" At that moment, Lin Xiaofeng's figure appeared in the afterglow of the setting sun. Appearing firm and warm, he is like a knight, carrying the power of healing and moving firmly in the direction where he is needed.
In the dark night, Lin Xiaofeng rushed towards Qingyi Palace under the moonlight. On the way, he was interrogated by the imperial guards. Fortunately, a familiar palace maid came to the rescue in time. However, the palace maid told him that Princess Li Hanmiao had gone to bed and advised him to come visit again tomorrow. When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, she was filled with doubts, but she firmly asked the palace maid to summon her on her behalf and gave her a banknote to express her gratitude. The palace maid was quite helpless when she saw this, so she had to turn around and report. After a while, she walked out again, but the news she brought back was that it was inconvenient for the princess to receive guests at the moment. Lin Xiaofeng was dubious about this, thinking about it secretly, and decided to insist on visiting him no matter what. Although the palace maid tried to stop him in every possible way, she could not resist his determination.
Lin Xiaofeng stood in front of the door of Princess Li Hanmiao's boudoir, feeling anxious and uneasy in her heart. He knocked on the door softly and called in a low voice, only to hear Li Hanmiao reply that she had fallen asleep. In fact, she had complicated emotions inside. She couldn't help but feel a little sad because she had been waiting for Lin Xiaofeng for a long time. When Lin Xiaofeng heard the lazy response, he smiled in his heart and concluded that although the princess said so, she had not actually fallen asleep, so he pushed the door open without hesitation, took the food box and sat down happily. This move made Li Hanmiao feel ashamed and angry, and she wanted to make Lin Xiaofeng leave. However, Lin Xiaofeng resolutely refused her request and frankly expressed his longing for her. He stretched out his hand to hold Li Hanmiao's pale and slender hand tightly. He frankly said that because of recent days, Due to the heavy government affairs and various restrictions imposed by Emperor Jingjiang, he was unable to visit her often.
Li Hanmiao was surprised to hear that Emperor Jingjiang and the prince were dissatisfied with him and asked for details. Lin Xiaofeng recounted that the prince once asked him to borrow money but was declined because he was short of money, which led to misunderstanding and resentment towards him. As for Emperor Jingjiang, it was because of his gaffe at the court meeting that he offended his majesty. Therefore, he was subject to strict restrictions on entering the palace and could not visit the princess as he wished. Looking at Li Hanmiao's thin figure, Lin Xiaofeng felt pity and scolded Emperor Jingjiang and the prince for neglecting the princess. Only he sincerely cared about every aspect of her life. These heartfelt words touched Li Hanmiao's heartstrings, causing the conversation between the two to gradually ease. Lin Xiaofeng seized this opportunity to further express his deep care and endless concern for the princess. Every word and every sentence was like spring breeze turning into rain, quietly nourishing Li Hanmiao's lonely and fragile heart.
Li Hanmiao listened to Lin Xiaofeng's sincere words, and his heart felt like the spring breeze blowing over the glacier, instantly melting the accumulated ice and snow, and the tight lines on his face gradually relaxed. Lin Xiaofeng then mentioned the princess's recent loss of appetite, and specially made an exquisite snack with her own hands, and carefully opened the food box to reveal the golden-colored and fragrant bread inside. Although there were one or two slices that were slightly burnt, Lin Xiaofeng cleverly avoided mentioning them and ignored them in a subtle way. After Li Hanmiao tasted it, she was delighted by the sweet taste of the bread, so she asked with interest the name of the pastry. Lin Xiaofeng smiled and called it "Pan Pan", and introduced the source of its raw materials and cooking techniques in detail. At this moment, Li Hanmiao noticed the traces of flour on Lin Xiaofeng's official uniform. After questioning, Lin Xiaofeng confessed that he had cooked by himself. This moved Li Hanmiao so much that tears filled his eyes.
After learning that this bread was made by Lin Xiaofeng herself, Li Hanmiao was moved and joyful. She put aside worldly views and rules and insisted on enjoying this affectionate snack. Lin Xiaofeng also talked about the heavy workload at the textile factory recently. He promised that he would try his best to spend time with the princess during the winter. The princess also expressed her willingness to enter the palace to accompany him at any time, and there was no need to be as secretive as before.
After finishing the snack, Lin Xiaofeng was about to get up and leave, but when she turned around, she was called by Li Hanmiao. Her hesitant expression made Lin Xiaofeng's mind filled with endless speculations. He approached the bed and sat down with the princess in his arms. Li Hanmiao's face turned red and her heart beat faster. The two looked at each other in silence and were speechless. At this silent moment, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help herself. She leaned down gently and pressed a warm kiss on the princess's lips. The kiss was long and deep, seeming to carry everything between them. tacit understanding and emotion. Afterwards, Lin Xiaofeng carefully arranged for the princess to lie down and rest, bid farewell softly and quietly left Qingyi Palace.
Walking out of the palace, Lin Xiaofeng seemed calm and calm under the ambiguous and curious eyes of the palace maids. He even shamelessly called himself "Lin's Consort". After generously rewarding the palace ladies, he went straight to the East Palace to stay. When he arrived at the East Palace, he happened to meet Li Dexian who was still asleep. Lin Xiaofeng stayed in the East Palace late at night on the pretext of researching new dishes in the dining room. Li Dexian accepted him enthusiastically. Lin Xiaofeng took out a piece of slightly mushy bread and gave it to Li Dexian. The latter accepted and tasted it happily, and praised it endlessly. Taking this opportunity, the two talked to each other, and their friendship became deeper during this night's exchange, as if each other's souls had found a resonant melody at this moment.
Late at night while staying in the East Palace, the sound of Li Dexian's grinding teeth was like percussion music in the middle of the night, making Lin Xiaofeng toss and turn and find it difficult to fall asleep. Finally, in the complete silence, he decided to move to the study to find a moment of peace. The morning light broke through the sky slightly the next day. After Lin Xiaofeng hurriedly attended the court meeting, he rushed back to North Langfang without stopping. At this time, the Xunliu case was weighing heavily on his mind and urgently needed to be deployed and resolved. However, given that the textile factory was about to be built, it was inconvenient for him to go to the south in person to investigate the salt policy issue. Inside the newspaper office, Lin Xiaofeng and Xiang Xiehong sat opposite each other, and the two discussed the matter in detail. Lin Xiaofeng solemnly instructs Xiang Xiehong to go south to investigate on his behalf, and warns him that his life may be in danger during this trip, and that a shadowy pursuit may occur at any time. He told Xiang Xiehong to make full use of the power of wealthy businessmen and ordinary people in the Yangtze River Basin, while maintaining close ties with Xichang, but he needed to remain vigilant about local officials and not completely trust them.
Lin Xiaofeng authorized Xiang Xiehong to lead a team of people to conduct a carpet investigation in the area south of the Yangtze River. The task period was set for one year. At this time, he revealed that Xiang Xiehong's identity was a Jin Yiwei, with the special power to kill first and then play. Xiang Xiehong was surprised by this sudden important task. Lin Xiaofeng explained: The existence of Jinyiwei is to solve the mysteries that the West Factory cannot solve, punish those who the West Factory dare not touch, and deal with those who the West Factory dare not take over. thing. After Xiang Xiehong accepted the order, he expressed the hope that Luo Huajun and Lu Dexing would accompany him. Lin Xiaofeng nodded in agreement and presented him with a handwritten letter instructing him to return to the county armament warehouse to collect the necessary equipment. The next day after Xiang Xiehong received the order, he rushed to the county government office to hand over relevant matters. After reading the letter written by Lin Xiaofeng, Wang Yingchao felt deeply about the difficulty of the task, and finally approved Xiang Xiehong to select suitable personnel from the members of the "Wind Group" to act together.
Xiang Xiehong came to the slaughterhouse and saw a group of strong men who had been trained in the past waving knives and cutting livestock. Among them, Liang Huankun recognized Xiang Xiehong at a glance and offered to help select suitable candidates. Xiang Xiehong mentioned the life-and-death test he may face during this mission. Liang Huankun calmly showed the numerous scars on his body as proof of his strength. He also mentioned that the members of the "Wind Team" insist on rigorous training every day, although the actual combat experience may not be enough. Rich, but each has a strong physique and extremely solid basic skills. Soon after, Liang Huankun brought twenty-five members of the Feng Team, who exuded a calm and sharp chilling aura. This "wind group" is made up of more than 200 strong men carefully selected by Lin Xiaofeng and rigorously trained. They are not only responsible for high-intensity training of special forces on a daily basis, but also undertake the task of slaughtering pigs. They are more responsible for the work in autumn and winter. Going into the mountains to hunt not only ensures strong security and defense, but also solves the problem of meat supply. Although the slaughterhouse scene was filled with a strong atmosphere of blood and roughness, Xiang Xiehong's confidence became stronger when he witnessed this group of tenacious and unyielding members of the Feng Group. Therefore, he prepared to lead this elite team composed of Feng Group to set off south to explore deeply the many doubts surrounding the salt policy, determined to uncover the layers of fog one after another.
Liang Huankun waved his thick arms vigorously and announced in an excited voice that this mission south to investigate the salt politics suspicions was the first major expedition entrusted by his master Lin Xiaofeng. After hearing this, the members of the Zhongfeng Group were all excited and expressed their willingness to accompany them, vowing to uncover the mysterious veil shrouding the salt policy. Xiang Xiehong looked serious and warned everyone that this trip is very dangerous. If anyone is unwilling to take risks, they can withdraw on their own without forcing them. Liang Huankun revealed a secret to Xiang Xiehong in private: Feng Group has quietly changed its name to the Ghost Slayer Team. This name means that they will go all out to eradicate all darkness and evil in the world. Although Xiang Xiehong had difficulty fully understanding the meaning of the name "Ghost Slayer Team" for a while, he still chose to trust the wise decisions of Lin Xiaofeng and Liang Huankun.
After a short preparation, the group went to the arsenal to collect equipment. When they arrived at the library gate, Xiang Xiehong found that the weapons in the library were crude and outdated, and he couldn't help showing a disappointed look. However, Liang Huankun showed a mysterious smile at this moment, revealing the truth - the real weapons library was actually hidden underground to avoid prying eyes from the outside world. He activated the mechanism calmly and forcefully, and a hidden cave suddenly appeared, leading Xiang Xiehong and others into a little-known world.
Xiang Xiehong had not set foot in this underground city for a long time, and his heart was full of curiosity and expectation. Liang Huankun smiled lightly and said as he walked: "Although the place has not changed much, the solid walls made of cement are still amazing." They slowly went down the stone steps and finally came to the underground where weapons and equipment were actually stored. In front of the Arms Library.
Stepping into the arsenal, the interior is brightly lit, and all types of weapons and armors are neatly arranged, like a silent scroll of history. Xiang Xiehong was amazed by this spectacular scene. After the guards verified that the letter was correct, they allowed them to enter and select the required equipment. Xiang Xiehong's eyes wandered over the various weapons and armors on the wall. Under the light, each piece seemed to have a unique story and mission.
In the Beilang Textile Factory, the treatment of female workers is extremely favorable compared to ordinary clerical staff such as reporters. Lin Xiaofeng thought carefully and considered that female workers might encounter frequent overtime work, so he specially arranged six days off for them every month and provided them with free and nutritious food and accommodation.
(End of this chapter)
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