What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 137 Go and fetch my flying fish robe!

On Xianyan Mountain, Chen Qian looked at the truckload of dried goods that had just arrived and felt a headache coming on!

To cover up the secret of making that MSG from seaweed.

Chen Qian instructed fishermen along the coast of Taihe County to harvest large quantities of kelp, then hired people to boil it to extract monosodium glutamate. He also purchased a considerable amount of dried seafood.

Seafood is cheap.

Especially seaweed, which is usually left unharvested, so it's practically free.

For just three large coins per stone, a large number of fishermen would automatically deliver countless kelp to the door.

Even though Chen Qian purchased a large quantity and hired more than two hundred people to brew it, it didn't cost more than a few hundred taels of silver.

The problem is that the production of MSG is too low.

A stone of kelp, after working for most of the day, only yielded a tiny bit of MSG, no bigger than a fingertip.

Fortunately, these days, labor power isn't worth much.

After more than half a month, they finally managed to get about ten kilograms of MSG for Chen Qian.

Chen Qian was speechless.

This thing is so precious, it cost a full three hundred taels of silver!
It's more precious than gold!
Including other seafood, six or seven hundred taels of silver just disappeared like that.

The villagers in those dozen or so fishing villages in Taihe County openly worship Chen Hu, who was in charge of purchasing kelp and seafood, as if he were a god of wealth.

Behind their backs, they've given Chen Hu plenty of nicknames like "Chen the Fool" and "Chen the Dumb Fool"!
Chen Qian didn't know what his nephew wanted this for, and the letter didn't explain it clearly, only saying that he would get as much as he could.

Looking at the truckload of dried goods that had just been delivered.

Chen Qian's head started to ache again.

The dried abalone, about the size of a palm, along with dried fish maw, dried scallops, dried shrimp, and other miscellaneous items, totaled over two hundred catties, and were bought for more than ten taels of silver.

Chen Qian actually felt it was not worth it at all.

It's more expensive than mutton!
But this stuff has a long shelf life, so it's better than buying seafood that doesn't keep well.

Su Mo told him to keep the secret of MSG extraction as much as possible.

However, making MSG from kelp requires a lot of manpower.

Relying solely on the people of Niujiazhai and Chenjiazhai is a bit short-handed, so they have to recruit outsiders to brew the food. If they don't also collect some other seafood, it will definitely be difficult to conceal the deception.

"Take all these things back into the cave and store them, and be careful not to get them damp."

Chen Qian instructed the people of Niujiazhai to store the seafood, then turned to Niu Da and asked, "Have all the fish we brought back last time been pickled?"

Niu Da is the eldest of the five Niu brothers, who are Niu Er, Niu San, Niu Si, and Niu Wu.

During this period, the people of Niujiazhai lived a very comfortable life.

Some members of the tribe cleared land for farming, while others mined salt in the caves and refined it into refined salt.

The strong and capable men of the clan, led by Niu Er, fought against the warriors of Chenjiazhai, opened up the salt route, and basically monopolized the private salt business in the entire Changping County.

They also occupied a considerable amount of land in Tieshan County.

Merchants passing by would send people to Chenjiazhai to present congratulatory gifts in order to ensure the safety of their caravans.

Income is booming.

Niujiazhai was so poor that they couldn't even afford to eat, so they were forced to rebel.

Now, every household is healthy and happy, the children are chubby, and the family savings are increasing.

If you don't have three or five hundred yuan to your name, you'd be embarrassed to tell people.

The five Niu brothers, of course, knew who brought it.

Therefore, Niu Da held his maternal uncle, the high-ranking official of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, in great awe.

"Mr. Chen, the seafood is all marinated."

Niu Da scratched his head and said with a wry smile, "But there were too many, and there was nowhere to store them. After distributing quite a lot, the villagers asked if they could get some other kinds of meat next time..."

Chen Qian glared at him fiercely and couldn't help but curse, "You son of a bitch!"

"You're complaining even though you're eating meat! Don't bother sharing next time!"

Niu Da hesitated for a moment: "How about we don't accept it yet?"

"Even if we take this pickled fish to the county, we won't make much money. It's all for nothing."

Seafood has a strong fishy smell and is low in oil, so it needs to be cooked with plenty of oil to be palatable.

Oil was very expensive, so who would be willing to use it to cook seafood? Therefore, very few people ate it.

Although it is cured with coarse salt to replenish the salt content, it still has a market.

The problem is, smuggling salt is their business.

Isn't this just asking for trouble?
The manpower and resources wasted going back and forth to collect the seafood, pickle it, and then transport it to the county to sell it all went to waste.

Many nearby hills and villages follow Chenjia Village's lead, so they are not short of manpower.

But there are plenty of ways to make money, so why bother with these unprofitable pickled goods?
Chen Qian thought for a moment, then sighed and said, "Let's keep going."

"Notify Chenjia Village to prepare fifty skilled men and several giant spirit carts for each village to send these things to the capital so that my nephew can also have a taste."

He paused, then added, "People in the capital probably haven't eaten much of this seafood before. They might just be looking for something new and could sell it for a good price."

Just as Chen Qian was feeling depressed.

Suddenly, Du Zhongbai hurriedly went up the mountain.

Upon seeing Chen Qian, he hurriedly said, "Director Chen, hurry back to the city!"

"Your Majesty...an imperial edict has arrived!"

Chen Qian was immediately taken aback: "What's wrong? Another imperial edict?"

He blinked his triangular eyes, looking completely bewildered: "Didn't my nephew go to the capital? How come the imperial edict was sent to Changping?"

Du Zhongbai's expression was somewhat strange: "The imperial edict isn't for the master, it's for you..."

Chen Qian...

Niuda...

……

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:!"

"The yamen runner Chen Qian... is loyal, brave, benevolent, and trustworthy... is hereby appointed as the patrol inspector of Changping County... and is awarded a fine horse as a reward!"

"..."

"Appreciate this!"

Until the eunuch delivering the imperial edict finished reading it.

Chen Qian's head was still buzzing!

He even forgot to thank the Emperor for his great favor, and turned to look at the equally bewildered Madam Qian and her daughter beside him.

His voice stammered, "We...we've become officials?"

"A patrol inspector of the ninth rank?"

Xue Shan, standing nearby, stamped his foot in frustration: "Inspector Chen, get up and receive the imperial decree!"

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree waved his hand, saying, "Lord Xue, don't be in a hurry."

He then looked at Chen Qian and said with a smile, "Inspector Chen, you must thank His Majesty and respectfully receive the imperial decree."

Chen Qian then came to his senses and hurriedly accepted the imperial edict with both hands, discreetly slipping a gold ingot underneath.

Unexpectedly, the eunuch delivering the imperial decree pushed the gold back and then said with a smile, "We have been traveling a thousand miles to deliver this decree and are quite tired. May we come inside, have some tea to soothe our throats, and then return to the capital to report back?"

Chen Qian was dumbfounded.

You don't even want gold?
However, he immediately invited the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree, the junior eunuch, and the imperial guards who were escorting him into the house.

After serving the tea.

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree turned and looked around.

Then he coughed and said, "Inspector Chen, I've heard of Su Mo, the flag officer. He's also from Changping County?" Chen Qian was immediately taken aback.

What kind of success has my nephew achieved in the capital?

The noble ladies in the palace had all heard of his name.
He quickly replied, "Yes, yes... Your Majesty, Su Mo is indeed my nephew."

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree laughed and said, "Inspector Chen, you should refer to yourself as 'this official.' Don't forget next time."

Then, with an envious look, he said, "We people in the palace are so envious of the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree to Lord Su last time."

Seeing Chen Qian's bewildered expression, the eunuch coughed again: "What was that dripping on him called again?"

The eunuch beside him immediately replied, "Reporting to Your Excellency, I have heard that it is called Perfume."

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree exclaimed, "Yes, yes, yes! Let's call it perfume, it's so rare!"

"I also heard that he spent ten taels of silver to buy it from Lord Su."

Chen Qian then suddenly realized what was going on.

No wonder they didn't want gold!

I came here to buy perfume.

Su Mo left a lot of perfume in the house, and Qin Bier and others smelled it every day, with various floral scents coming in turn.

In fact, Qin Bier herself knew how to make perfume and had already made quite a few, but apart from Chen Qian, no one knew about it.

He quickly replied, "You're too kind, angel!"

"That perfume, my nephew... has a few bottles left in the old house. I will fetch them now and present them to the angel to thank him for his long journey."

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree hurriedly said, "Please don't!"

"The exact amount of silver is due!"

He paused, then said, "If the rest of us in the family pool together a hundred taels of silver, how about... we buy ten bottles?"

Chen Qian quickly smiled and said, "You're too kind, angel!"

"How could I possibly accept the money from the angels?"

He immediately instructed Madam Qian to fetch a brocade box.

Inside the brocade box, there were exactly ten bottles of perfume!

The eunuchs who delivered the imperial decree had their eyes light up instantly!
This perfume is so divine it wouldn't be an exaggeration!
Have you not seen how a lowly palace maid rose from a mere palace maid to a high-ranking official because of a bottle of perfume, and even regained her original surname, Xin, and now she follows the emperor everywhere she goes?

Let alone those eunuchs.

Even the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs had to address that palace maid with the respectful title of "Master Xin"!

The status of palace officials was not determined by their rank, but by who enjoyed the emperor's favor!
What's a little gold compared to that?

To earn this opportunity to deliver the imperial decree to Chen Qian, each of them spent over a hundred taels of silver!
Of course, they didn't dare go too far.

Four people sharing ten bottles of perfume would be perfectly fine!
Those who live in the palace understand the true value of the title "Su Banner Official" better than anyone else!

Several eunuchs of considerable rank had just met up and were thinking of going to find that Su Qi official to ask for a few bottles of perfume.

The next day, they were all transferred to the laundry department to wash clothes!

If you are greedy and incur the wrath of that Su Qi official, you will surely suffer the consequences!
The eunuch, having received the perfume, left satisfied.

The Chen residence instantly became lively!
Xue Shan and the others were so shocked that they couldn't speak for a long time!
Chen Qian, a lowly clerk, was promoted directly to the ninth-rank patrol inspector!

They're on the same level as the registrar!

This is utterly absurd!
Ma Dianshi, who almost took the lives of the Su and Chen families before, was just a low-ranking official!

Only the clerks of the capital county could obtain the ninth-rank official title!
The Chen family held a grand banquet, entertaining guests and neighbors for three days straight!
The congratulatory gifts received were so numerous that the Chen residence could not hold them all!

But Chen Qian wasn't drunk. Instead, he sat opposite Xue Shan in the study with a serious expression.

The two held a private discussion.

Xue Shan received an imperial edict ordering him to take up his post immediately, and dared not delay.

Before taking office, he entrusted the affairs of the county to Chen Qian.

Chen Qian had already planned to send people to escort the supplies to the capital.

Located on the shore of Shenjing in Tianchang County.

They were traveling together with the Xue family.

When Xue Shan saw the hundreds of strong and muscular men, especially Niu Er who was in charge, he was also impressed.

He could tell at a glance that Niu Er was definitely a first-class master.

They must be the people from Niujia Village who caused the trouble.

I don't know when Su Mo subdued it.

Chen Hu of Chen Family Village is also a skilled fighter!
His dozens of warriors were all brimming with murderous intent, even more formidable than the elite soldiers and guards.

He's a ruthless individual who's fought his way through countless battles!
My own son-in-law, I don't know how many things he's been hiding in secret, he's already made Changping a solid, impenetrable wall.

No matter who takes over as the magistrate of Changping County, they will not be able to bypass Su Mo, nor will they be able to shake the foundation of the Su family!
We won't go into details about Xue Shan and his group setting off in a grand procession towards Shenjing.

Su Mo has moved from the house by the Willow River to the former cloth shop's back residence, which is now named Baiyujing.

Two restaurants have been initially completed.

All pre-opening preparations were completed, and the restaurant staff was in place.

It can officially open for business at any time.

He also wrote to Changping, asking his third uncle to send over the MSG.

Just as Su Mo was considering whether to hold an opening ceremony tomorrow, or have a grand sale with 50% off for the new store.

Suddenly, Jiang Laoshi entered the room with a dark expression and knocked on the door.

"Lord Su, something terrible has happened!"

Su Mo frowned slightly: "What happened?"

Jiang Laoshi quickly said, "I originally promised to provide the restaurant with vegetables, fruits, meat and other food on a long-term basis, but I've gone back on my word."

"I was afraid of delaying the adults' business, so I told Jiang Lai and the others to go to the market to buy food supplies, but they were beaten up by a bunch of thugs and robbed of their money!"

Jiang Lai was none other than You Silang, who initially led Su Mo into the city.

Chen Lai is just his pseudonym.

The people of Youyutang are all orphans, adopted by Jiang Laoshi and Jiang Lan, and all of them take the surname Jiang!

Hearing what Jiang Laoshi said.

Su Mo's face instantly darkened.

But before he could speak, Jiang Lan came in again with a worried look on her face.

“My lord, that merchant from yesterday just came by, and he said… he said…”

Su Mo gave a slight snort: "What did you say?"

Jiang Lan bit her lip: "He also said that he heard a group of villains would smash up your Yanyu Tower at noon today! He also said he hoped you would be prepared so that the villains would not succeed."

Su Mo snorted heavily: "So, the guy who's been eyeing Bai Yujing finally couldn't hold back anymore?"

"These people aren't stupid; they went to smash up the Misty Rain Pavilion, but couldn't bear to smash up the Jade Palace!"

He paused, then sneered, "A thousand taels of silver, and you think you can buy my Bai Yujing!"

"It seems that in their eyes, my position as a minor officer in the Embroidered Uniform Guard is only worth a thousand taels of silver!"

Jiang Lan hesitated for a moment: "Should we inform Commander Lin or Commander Leng?"

Su Mo burst out laughing: "Do you really need to trouble them with such a small thing?"

He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Go and fetch my flying fish robe!"

I'm begging for monthly votes! I'll write another 6,000 words tonight, lots of it!

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(End of this chapter)