The weak scholar in the end of ancient times

Chapter 114 Testing
The manager of the Sheng family caravan was also mentally noting down the information he had observed. As they entered Qingyun Ward, they saw more than a dozen young Taoist disciples. They were very organized and orderly in receiving guests, without any awkwardness or panic. Clearly, they were very skilled at this and were not just there temporarily to make up the numbers.

The Daoist Master Qingyi did not appear, as expected. The young Daoist said their master was in seclusion. Whether that was true or not, at least some questions had been answered during this trip.

After taking his leave, the steward admired the bridge spanning the alley for a while. When he saw that it was almost time, he went to the Jingxingfang next door to continue his observation.

This was the time when the construction workers were resting, so he didn't go anywhere else but went directly to the Jingxingfang Canteen mentioned in the message.

I exchanged the Xinzhou coins I had prepared in advance for some grain coupons here.

He took it in his hand and looked at it. It was indeed the same as the thing that the old farmer had taken out when he entered the city.

Instead of going to a private room, he sat in the communal dining area, listening to the idle laborers around him boast and chatter.

The snow began to melt, but it was still cold. Whether they were construction workers or idlers, they would come here during their breaks to order a bowl of hot soup and one or more steamed buns, which was considered a treat.

Only now that I can earn some wages can I afford to spend them. With the remaining wages, I can buy more dry food to take back to my family.

The air was filled with accents from both the south and the north, and the conversation wasn't very refined, but the atmosphere was still quite lively.

In this world, numbness, sorrow, and resentment are everywhere. The other wards in Xinzhou City are much the same. Only Jingxing Ward has a bit of the liveliness that people miss before the chaos.

During the casual conversation, various rumors circulated, and some people even whispered about the two young masters of the Shen family.

The Sheng family steward strained his ears to gather information.

He also saw the bustling construction site of Wanfu Garden, which was under construction in Jingxingfang. It was hard not to see it; it covered a huge area.

The Shen family is indeed wealthy! No, given the Shen family's current status, even if they didn't have money in their hands, plenty of people would come to them with money.

Thinking about this, he felt a surge of resentment.

In the past, when the world was at peace, they actually looked down on the Shen family. Although they were both merchants, the Sheng family, his employer, had many brothers and nephews who entered officialdom through the imperial examinations after the court's policies were relaxed!
Unlike the Shen family, who can only find a backer through their children's marriages.

However, the world changed suddenly, and the Zhao family, which was originally in decline, suddenly rose to prominence!

It's easy to imagine that when the Zhao family took over Xinzhou, the Shen family must have provided their full support, which is why they have such an enviable position today!

Fortune is truly a mysterious thing!
Even if the Shen family's descendants are ignorant and incompetent, as long as the Zhao family doesn't fall, they can still live a life of wealth and luxury.

He was so envious and jealous that he was practically fuming. He wished he could take his place and wondered if he should worship a few more gods.

A thousand thoughts swirled in his mind, yet remained completely hidden on his face.

He observed the people sitting nearby and spotted one of them.

This man was dressed plainly, but compared to other idlers, he had a certain free-spirited and unrestrained air about him.

They've seen plenty of these kinds of people in the business world. No matter what their true intentions are, their behavior is at least somewhat nostalgic.

So the Sheng family steward found an opportunity to strike up a conversation with the other party in a friendly manner, and generously added a few more dishes.

"Life is unpredictable, but since we've met, we're friends. Let's start with a drink to cheer ourselves up! Fill it up!"

There's no wine, of course; wine is a luxury these days. This place only has hot soup.

We drank soup instead of wine and got along very well.

Soon, the Sheng family steward learned that this person came from the Tiger Might Escort Agency, and also learned what the "escort agency" profession was. In short, they were business partners.

He thought with disdain: This escort agency's business scope is not broad enough, and its foundation is weak. It mostly operates in Xinzhou and does not pose a threat to their Sheng family's caravan.

On the other side, the people from Tiger Might Escort Agency were also thinking to themselves: Didn't everyone say that the Sheng family's caravan was pretty powerful? But it sounds like their bodyguard services aren't as professional as our agency's!
The boss is right, in the future, the bodyguard industry will still have to rely on their security agency!

Several people were performing at a table, and no one noticed that two servants from the Sheng family caravan were about to enter the canteen. Upon seeing the manager, they turned and quickly left.

Once they were a bit further away from the cafeteria, the two of them started grumbling and complaining.

They secretly traded with the locals and got four food coupons, hoping to have something better to eat. But they didn't know there was a manager there, so they had to leave to avoid causing trouble.

But soon, they were drawn to something else. People kept carrying food past them from the cafeteria, heading in a certain direction.

Drawn by the aroma of the food and their curiosity, they went to investigate.

Not far away, behind a house, a familiar-looking farm oxcart was parked.

A young clerk sat beside the oxcart, drinking hot soup and eating dry rations, perfunctorily handling official business.

An old farmer sat there boasting, his familiar northern accent and tone of pontificating:

“Those guys from the south are no good. Their techniques are useless here. I have to teach them!”

The old farmer went on and on, mocking others' planting techniques. The young official scoffed, "Uncle, you've certainly profited from this, haven't you?"

The old farmer chuckled: "It's just a little bit of hard work. Taking care of the land is no easy task, like autumn sowing... and overwintering..."

He went on and on boasting.

Two servants from the Sheng family caravan were eavesdropping nearby. Their expressions shifted from initial mockery to barely concealed restraint, until the old farmer began boasting about how he diligently instructed people after receiving gifts. At that moment, they could no longer contain themselves.
"Please don't give me any more instructions!"

"With this level of skill, you dare to give advice to others?"

"He's a village chief, but it's only because there are few survivors now. In the past, he wouldn't even be considered one of the village's leaders!"

Even the menial servants in a large merchant caravan like the Sheng family possessed their own arrogance and confidence. They certainly wouldn't dare say much to officials, but they couldn't help but dare to utter a few words when dealing with ordinary people and minor officials.

After their argument, the two of them looked at the young clerk again.

The official looked at the old farmer with a questioning gaze: "Uncle, what you're doing..."

The old farmer interrupted, "San'er, if you're sure you've got the accounts right, then go ahead and get busy. It's cold outside, come inside and rest, don't catch a cold."

As he spoke, he took out a few grain coupons and stuffed them into the clerk's hand.

The young clerk skillfully pocketed the grain coupons, said nothing more, quickly went inside, closed the door, and acted as if he hadn't heard a thing.

The two servants from the Sheng family caravan weren't surprised by what they saw; that's how officials always acted. That's normal, isn't it!

Just as the two were about to leave, the old farmer nimbly caught up with them and lowered his voice: "Young men, from what you just said, it seems you have some different opinions. Could you please give us some pointers?"

The two servants looked at them with disdain: "What are you dreaming about?! This is a skill passed down from our ancestors, a way for our family to make a living. Do you think we'd tell you that?"

Half an hour later.

The two men, clutching their newly acquired food coupons, sneaked away.

The old farmer watched them walk away, then turned and went back into the house.

Inside the house, Tao San had already prepared paper and pen. The old farmer explained the new farming techniques he had learned, combined with his own experience, and Tao San was responsible for taking notes.

After the old farmer finished speaking, he looked at what Tao San had written and emphasized, "Mark out my own experiences! So that Chief Wen can easily distinguish them!"

He also really wanted to improve; he couldn't let others take credit for his work!

Tao San: "I know, I know, I've already written it all down. Uncle, are those two right?"

The old farmer said, "I've tested it, and it should be fine."

He just mixed up right and wrong statements, and both of them could tell the difference.

“They’re all skilled farmers from the north!” the old farmer confirmed.

Tao San nodded in agreement: "The Sheng family caravan truly lives up to its reputation as a major grain merchant; the laborers under their command are all seasoned veterans!"

The old farmer, having seen much, said enviously, "Those two look like they have plenty of able-bodied men at home, a powerful backer, and good harvests in their fields, so they're not starving."

Tao San smiled and said, "They must have their advantages to be able to be taken under the Sheng family's wing."

Tao San not only recorded what the old farmer said, but after writing it down, he added his own insights and opinions, as well as a detailed report on his work tasks and achievements for the day.

They were testing more than just the farming techniques those two had mentioned.

After organizing my thoughts and insights, I took this record to the township office and handed it to Wen Gu for review.

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

Looking at the contents of the paper, Wen Gu said, "It's not easy. With the Sheng family's shrewdness, the caravan members must be strictly managed. Even the laborers have been screened by their backgrounds and won't easily betray us."

Tao San immediately said, "That's right. Those two both spoke with northern accents, so they weren't people who migrated north. Their families must have survived, so they would have preferred to stay in their own homes."

He added, "Those two got a lot of grain coupons today. Maybe tomorrow some caravan members will sneak over to exchange them again. Should my uncle and I try them out again?"

Wen Gu said, "No need. Tomorrow's focus is on that manager. If he comes again, take them to see the land the Zhao family bought."

Tao San looked bewildered: "Uh... that piece of land the Zhao family just bought? That land... isn't it still empty? There's nothing to see there."

Wen Gu said, "It has potential. When you introduce it to them, you can embellish it a bit."

Tao San understood.

Oh, I see, he was just bragging!
(End of this chapter)