Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 29 Going in the wrong direction
In the county government office.

After Song Qing sent Zhang Yin away, he couldn't help but feel worried when he came back.

Li Weishao approached and asked, "Sir, what happened?"

"oops."

Song Qing had a puzzled look on his face. "I have hinted several times, but he didn't respond. He was always concerned about the Imperial Guards and marriages. He also repeatedly stressed that the Zhang family didn't have any traditional medicine, so I couldn't figure out his intentions."

Li Weishao said: "Do you think it is like this... He wants to suppress his younger brother, but it is inconvenient for him to do so, so he asks us for help, and only then will he be willing to help?"

Song Qing frowned and said, "We are all from the same clan, is it necessary to do this? Treating diseases and preventing epidemics for the local people and serving the court are not bad things for the reputation of the Zhang family. How could the Zhang family fall to the point of fighting among brothers? Then they..."

"Who knows?"

Li Weishao himself couldn't quite figure it out.

At this moment, a yamen runner came in and reported: "Sir, there is a report from the gate that a Huizhou merchant came to visit urgently, and also attached a name card."

Song Qing said: "Huizhou merchants? Don't they know how to avoid suspicion now? How dare they enter directly into the house?"

Li Weishao hurriedly reminded: "Sir, why don't we meet them and find out what their intentions are."

"What the hell is going on..."

Song Qing glared over, thinking that Li Weishao was trying to sabotage him.

Li Weishao leaned close to the ear of the financier and whispered, "The grain tax case needs to be remedied no matter what. Huizhou merchants are always rich and powerful. They are probably the only ones who can make up for this hole. It is not a good choice for us to be enemies with Huizhou merchants now. These people in the capital are also well-connected and should not be treated lightly."

Song Qing sneered, "How can someone with all these skills end up like this? Let's meet him! Call him over here!"

……

……

The person who came to see Song Qing was Xu Gong, a capable subordinate of Manager Qin. As soon as he saw Song Qing, he knelt down.

"Get up and talk."

Song Qing raised his hand and said, "You Huizhou merchants are so bold that you even dare to smuggle grain privately. It would be fine if I didn't investigate personally, but you dare to come to my door on your own initiative? Are you trying to save me the trouble of going to your door to arrest you?"

Xu said respectfully, "Your Excellency is too kind. Our Qin family learned that the local granary is in trouble, so we specially allocated a batch of grain from the south. It is estimated that it will arrive in a few days, and the problem will be solved by then."

Song Qing said indifferently: "It's too late to make amends afterwards."

Xu Gong said hurriedly: "According to the information we have received so far, the court's investigation into the shortage of grain in the past few years was only caused by the Ministry of Revenue accidentally reporting the shortage of grain at the border. No one from the central government to the local governments wants to make a big deal out of it. As long as the granaries in Xingji are replenished in time, they will be exempt from punishment."

Li Weishao quickly winked at Song Qing, implying that what he said made sense and he could just continue speaking along the lines of what the other party said.

"How much food can you replenish?"

Song Qing frowned and asked, "Also, how did you know the reason why the court investigated the grain tax case?"

Xu Gong said: "As the local official, County Magistrate Song has nothing to do with the grain tax case. Our boss thinks it is better to pretend that he knows nothing, so there is no need to ask for the details."

"What do you mean by that? Do you think I am not qualified to know? Then how dare you come to the county government?" Song Qing slammed the table, almost wanting to have Xu Gong arrested and tortured. You dare to be rude to a county magistrate, are you really that bold?
Xu Gong was extremely submissive. "Our boss just heard that something happened in the county government, so he asked me to come and inform County Magistrate Song... Regarding the grain transport, the Zhang family in the city also bought a lot of grain in Cangzhou and other places. Although most of it has been sold, there is still some grain in hand, and it is still being transported to various places in the county."

"Ah...what did you say?"

Not only was Song Qing stunned, but even Li Weishao who was standing beside him didn't understand.

Xu Gong said, "Sir, are you going to host a banquet for Mr. Zhang from the village outside the city at the county government office today? According to our head of the family, the relationship and background of the two masters of the Zhang family are not as simple as they seem. In fact... the one who really has connections is Mr. Zhang who is responsible for disease prevention and disaster relief, not Zhang Zhongcheng's brother."

Song Qing smiled bitterly, glanced at Li Weishao, then glared at Xu Gong and asked, "What does the county government have to do with you?"

Xu Gong said: "To be honest, our boss also visited Mr. Zhang in the city, thinking that he could find some connections. After many attempts, we found out that he knew nothing at all. He also learned from him that he was also trafficking in grain. After a closer look, it turned out to be true.

"And the Master Zhang who cures illnesses and saves lives is said to be related to the president of the Nanjing Hanlin Academy by marriage, and he also has a strong background in Beijing. The head of my family is afraid that County Magistrate Song will be deceived and do something that will make his relatives sad and his enemies happy."

Li Weishao asked hurriedly: "How did you verify it? It's not hearsay, is it?"

Xu Gong said helplessly: "We Huizhou merchants have suffered heavy losses this time... It is indeed because we do not have a strong background in the court. However, with the connections of Huizhou merchants, if we are still ignorant after the incident, we will really be ashamed to live in this world... That's all I have to say. There are some things that are not convenient to elaborate on."

Xu Gong didn't make his words too clear, and after he left, Song Qing was still a little confused.

He looked at Li Weishao and asked, "I wonder what the Huizhou merchants mean?"

Li Weishao was very clear-headed and explained, "They are probably afraid that County Magistrate Song will be deceived by the main branch of the Zhang family and cause trouble for Zhang Shengyuan, which will in turn anger the dignitaries in the court. So they came to your house to remind you with good intentions."

"Do I need them to wake me up?"

Song Qing said angrily, "Can't I check it myself?"

Li Weishao said: "Huizhou merchants are extremely wealthy and have extensive connections. Things have come to this point. The grain tax case is closely related to them. They should not deceive you on such a matter."

"Zhang Luan, Zhang Yin?"

Song Qing muttered for a while, then said, "Zhang Yin at least has a brother who was a governor of a region, but what does Zhang Luan have? Just because he can cure smallpox?"

Li Weishao leaned over and reminded quietly: "My lord, have you forgotten that Zhang Luan has a sister who married the president of the Nanjing Hanlin Academy? Moreover, my lord, you have had a lot of contact with Zhang Yin today. Do you think he knows the truth but doesn't tell you, or is he still being kept in the dark?"

"This one……"

Song Qing suddenly felt confused and sighed, "The discussion I had with Zhang Yin today was really irrelevant."

Li Weishao said, "That's right. Instead of guessing, why don't you go to Zhang Luan's house in person and verify it with him? Then everything will be clear, right?"

"That's right." Song Qing suddenly became nervous. "I remember there was something else that was related to Mr. Zhang... What was it?"

Li Weishao said, "Your Excellency has previously agreed to let him enter the Imperial College in Beijing."

Song Qing slapped his thigh and said suddenly, "I told you, I always feel like I forgot something. Now it seems that I have to go to his house in person and explain things to him clearly. Remember, this is not a private gift, but a pure appreciation of talent."

"Yes Yes."

Li Weishao nodded and nodded, but he was secretly complaining in his heart: You are not admiring others at all, you are clearly afraid of their background, you are just too thick-skinned to admit it.

(End of this chapter)