Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 359 Annual Gift
"I am grateful for your kindness and the important task you have entrusted to me. I will do my best to fulfill your mission and will never disappoint you."

Qu Shaoyang was delighted and quickly expressed his loyalty.

"Please allow me to recruit young men from Shuangdianzi, Mengjiang, Gudonghe, Niangniangku and other places to form a guard team to protect the mountain areas from bandits."

The job can be accepted, but it cannot be without any requirements. Qu Shaoyang will definitely take the opportunity to discuss the conditions.

What about protecting the mountain area? That's just a title.

Qu Shaoyang wanted to set up militia and train local militia in Shuangdianzi, Mengjiang and other places.

No matter when, Qu Shaoyang always remembered one thing: the armed forces must be in his own hands. This was the basis for his survival.

If you have money, connections and guns, you can stand your ground no matter where you are.

Yuliang was hoping that Qu Shaoyang would take over the job in the militia on his own initiative, so that he wouldn't have to spend any money, provide any manpower, or worry about anything.

After being well trained, he can not only maintain peace in the area, but also add to his official resume. It couldn't be a better thing.

So, Yuliang agreed without any hesitation.

Qu Shaoyang was also told to do his job with full freedom, and if he encountered any difficulties, he could just ask, and the government office would do its best to help.

Both parties had their own needs and they hit it off immediately, and the meeting went very smoothly.

Yuliang was very happy and immediately ordered people to prepare a banquet. He wanted to reward Qu Shaoyang well.

Qu Shaoyang refused again and again, but he couldn't persuade Yuliang, so he had to stay.

A number of officials from the yamen and the Taotai's staff were invited, and they gathered together to eat, drink and chat. The party lasted until quite late, when the feast ended.

"Brother Shaoyang, you must stay in Phoenix City for a few more days this time, and give me the opportunity to show your hospitality."

After coming out of the yamen, Gao Taiyuan put his arm around Qu Shaoyang's shoulders and spoke with a thick tongue.

“Look, you sent us gifts for the holidays this time, and we didn’t have much chance to repay you.

No matter what you say, you can't just leave like that this time. You have to stay for a few more days. We will take you around Phoenix."

"Yes, yes, Taiyuan is right, Shaoyang, you must stay longer this time.

In this case, you don’t have to stay in any inn. I have a private courtyard in the city. You can move there with your people tomorrow.

You must stay longer so that we can have a good time together as brothers." Upon hearing this, the other people also quickly agreed.

Qu Shaoyang was a good person. Every time he gave gifts to the prefect, he would also give some to the officials in the yamen.

As the saying goes, one who eats someone's food should be grateful, and one who takes someone's food should be grateful.

These people have received so many benefits from Qu Shaoyang. No matter what they think in their hearts, they must speak nice words to please the public. Otherwise, how can they survive in official circles?
“Thank you all for your love and care. Shaoyang is young and new to the officialdom. It is thanks to your love and guidance that I am where I am today.

I will definitely stay longer this time, so I hope you will give me some advice and suggestions.”

Qu Shaoyang came here to give New Year gifts to these people.

But he didn't expect that he was called away by the Taotai just after entering the city, and he didn't have time to deliver the things.

Even if Gao Taiyuan and the others didn't say it, Qu Shaoyang would definitely stay in Phoenix City for a few more days to build relationships with these people.

"My brothers, it's getting late, let's go back and rest.

When you are free, I will visit you one by one. Brothers, please don't find me annoying."

Qu Shaoyang bowed to everyone and said goodbye with a smile.

Everyone said goodbye to Qu Shaoyang one by one and went home to rest under the escort of their servants.

Qu Shaoyang, accompanied by Xingye, returned to the inn and fell asleep.

The next morning, Qu Shaoyang took his men and began delivering New Year gifts to every household.

All the officials in the East Road Office and the staff around Daotai Yuliang, everyone had a share.

The gifts were similar, including local products, mountain products, hides, medicinal materials, and silver. Among them, there was a kind of medicinal wine, which was prescribed by Doctor Chen.

It is made with old mountain ginseng, deer penis, tiger penis, pilose antler, ganoderma lucidum, wolfberry, and gastrodia elata.

This wine can replenish qi and blood, strengthen yang energy, and is a lifesaver for those men in their forties who are unable to do anything.

At the end of the gift list, Qu Shaoyang specially marked the usage of the medicinal wine.

Gao Taiyuan and others were overjoyed to get this medicinal wine, and their relationship with Qu Shaoyang became closer.

In this way, Qu Shaoyang stayed in Phoenix City for another four or five days. The officials in the yamen took turns to treat him to a meal, and everyone drank, watched plays, ate, drank and had fun together.

In the blink of an eye, there were only a few days left in the winter month, and Qu Shaoyang had almost finished his work in Phoenix City.

On the morning of the twenty-seventh day of the winter month, Qu Shaoyang and others packed their bags and prepared to return.

Yuliang's advisor, Gao Taiyuan and others, upon learning that Qu Shaoyang was leaving, came to see him off.

"Brother, the New Year is coming soon. These are some small gifts that your sister-in-law prepared for your brother and sister-in-law, as well as your two nephews.

Aren't you going to take a second wife? Maoer Mountain is far away, so we can't drink at the wedding.

This is a gift for you and your sister-in-law, please don't think it's too little."

Gao Taiyuan waved his hand, and the person behind him held a large gift box and placed it in front of Qu Shaoyang.

The others also gave the same excuse. No one said it was a return gift to Qu Shaoyang, but only said it was for his brother's wife and children.

Qu Shaoyang was unable to refuse and had to accept it.

It was getting late, and at the urging of everyone, Qu Shaoyang took Xingye and others, drove the carriage, left Phoenix City, and returned to Kuandian to call the Chen family.

In Kuandian, the brothers Chen Yunzhe and Chen Yunhan each took their wives out seven days after their marriage.

Chen Yunzhe will take part in the college entrance examination next year, so he has to go back to review his lessons.

Besides, the New Year is approaching, and there are still many things to deal with at the Anton Wood Tax Office.

Chen Yunzhe has official business to attend to and cannot delay for too long, so he has to go back as soon as possible.

Before leaving, Chen Yunzhe told his parents that they would come back before the New Year's Eve and celebrate the New Year together.

On his part, Chen Yunhan promised the He family that he would accompany He Qingzhu back to stay for a while seven days after the marriage.

So on the morning of the twenty-third day of the winter month, the young couple went to Liaoyang with a lot of gifts.

When Qu Shaoyang came back from Phoenix City, Doctor Chen and his wife had to ask him about how the trip went and whether it went smoothly.

Qu Shaoyang told Doctor Chen and his wife that the Taotai had allowed him to set up an assistant in charge of wood tax in Shuangdianzi and to form a militia to protect him.

Knowing that their son-in-law was appreciated by the Taotai and had more and more power, Doctor Chen and his wife were very happy.

"Shaoyang, we have discussed with Xiuyun that we will not return to Maoer Mountain this year and will stay in Kuandian for the New Year.

Later on, we spent the winter in Kuandian. It wasn’t that cold here in winter, so it was just right for us to celebrate the New Year together with the eldest and second sons’ families.

In the spring we went back to live in Maoer Mountain and stayed there until autumn. The summers there were cool and it was a good place to escape the heat."

Doctor Chen and his wife had already discussed it. Since their two sons had just gotten married, they didn't need to help with anything right now.

At the beginning of the next spring, they will go back to Maoer Mountain to help their daughter and brother-in-law.

Qu Shaoyang's stall is too big, and he is very busy in spring, summer and autumn.

If nothing else, they can at least help take care of the children and share some of the burden for Chen Xiuyun.

There is nothing to do in the winter. I guess my daughter-in-law might have a baby by then, so they will have to come back to take care of their grandchildren.

Their son and daughter are both their biological children, and they cannot bear to give up either of them. This is the best solution they can think of.

(End of this chapter)