From the fusion of Tongbei Quan to the Longevity Martial Saint

Just as Fang Qing was looking at the local tabloid.

Soon it was their turn at the Jinsha Saltworks to deliver the salt.

Yang Zhi immediately arranged for several salt farmers to move the scoops full of salt to the place where it would be weighed.

At this moment, several men dressed in official robes and carrying swords walked over.

One of the guys, who looked shifty-eyed, went up and kicked the scoop full of salt that Yang Zhi and his men were using.

This type of scoop is woven from a soft bamboo.

It's quite flexible when packed.

After that shifty-eyed guy kicked him...

Immediately, a lot of salt spilled out from the edge of the scoop.

Fang Qing frowned. At this moment, Yang Zhi quickly tugged at Fang Qing's sleeve and whispered:

"Don't panic. Every time salt is handed over, these officials kick it, and the salt that spills out belongs to them. It's a rule that everyone agrees on."

Yang Zhi immediately ordered his men to kick the shifty-eyed fellow, creating a large empty space in the scoop, which was then filled with salt.

According to the usual rules, after they kicked the scoop, the remaining salt was added and then it could be weighed directly.

To Yang Zhi's great surprise, the shifty-eyed fellow retreated more than 10 meters the next moment.

He then sprinted quickly, leaped up again, and kicked the scoop in mid-air.

Slap it.

This time, even more salt was kicked out of the scoop.

Fang Qing estimated that just this one kick would probably kick out dozens of kilograms of salt.

Even Yang Zhi's expression changed at this point.

Yang Zhi rushed forward, pulled out 50 coins from his sleeve, and quietly handed them over.

"Gentlemen, we are from the Fang family of Jinsha Saltworks. We are here to complete the transaction. According to the rules, a kick is enough, right? Please accept this small amount as a tea fee."

One of the men, who was carrying a knife and dressed in official robes, weighed the 50 coins that Yang Zhi handed over.

"You're smart to back up, you old codger."

"This scoop is weighed directly."

"Just kick each of the remaining scoops once."

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhi broke out in a cold sweat.

According to the old rules, even a passing goose would be skimmed off.

Every time salt was delivered, the first person to kick the scoop would do so as a tea fee for these officials.

The remaining scoops can be weighed intact.

Therefore, Yang Zhi followed the old custom and prepared about several dozen kilograms of salt as an extra ingredient.

Now these officials are actually kicking every single scoop.

The extra weight alone would weigh at least hundreds of pounds!

The amount of salt that Yang Zhi had prepared as an extra was clearly insufficient.

"Sirs, please have mercy. We salt farmers at the bottom of the Jinsha Saltworks rely on this little bit of salt to make a living."

As he spoke, Yang Zhi quickly shook out another 50 coins from his hand, intending to push them over.

But those officials simply refused to take the job.

"Starting this year, the rule for receiving salt at this ferry crossing has been changed to kicking each scoop."

"We're not just targeting your family."

"Everyone who comes to the saltworks today must do this."

Yang Zhi, who was in a state of utter distress, came to Fang Qing's side.

He conveyed the message of the officials to him.

At this point, Yang Zhi had no choice but to accept his fate:

"Then I'll have someone bring over all the remaining salt from our saltworks right away. However, that batch of salt is the last stock we have left. If we hand it all over, we're afraid we'll all have to live a very frugal life this year."

Just as Yang Zhi was about to arrange for a salt farmer to return to Jinsha Saltworks and bring over all the remaining salt, suddenly, a figure on horseback galloped over from afar.

A loud voice boomed at the officials who were kicking the shovel behind the Jinsha Saltworks, and berated them harshly:

"You're all blind! Fang Zaotou of Jinsha Saltworks is a friend of our Lord Gu."

"Immediately gather all the salt on the ground and put it back in the scoop. If I find even a single grain missing, I'll chop off your heads!"

After shouting something, the figure on horseback immediately jumped off the horse with a mysterious movement.

The newcomer was wearing a flying fish robe.

Under the sunlight.

The silk threads on the flying fish robe emitted a slightly dazzling light.

Fang Qing quickly recognized the newcomer as the head of the salt patrol guards who had been following Gu Changyuan all day yesterday.

After dismounting, Ding Mingcheng cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Fang Qing from a distance.

"Lord Fang, my name is Ding Mingcheng, a minor leader under Lord Gu. We met yesterday."

Seeing this, Fang Qing quickly cupped his hands and said:

"So it's Lord Ding."

The three constables who were kicking the hoe all had their pupils shrink when they heard what Ding Mingcheng said.

They frantically scooped up the salt that had been kicked to the ground and stuffed it into the scoop.

They were local government officials, and they were still very wary of the salt patrol guards.

The Salt Patrol Guards were known for their ability to act first and report later, and they were specifically responsible for supervising all matters related to salt affairs in the Huai River region.

This matter is neither trivial nor major.

If the salt patrol guards really report this to higher authorities, they will all be in deep trouble.

At that moment, the men disregarded their dignity and knelt on the ground, using their hands to put all the salt they had kicked out back into the scoop.

Finally, Yang Zhi even counted the salt, and it turned out that the salt kicked up from the previous salt fields had not been cleaned up in time.

They filled all the scoops to the brim, and there were still dozens of kilograms of salt left over.

This time, instead of losing any salt, they actually made a profit.

After returning all the salt to its place, the three officers put on smiles and approached Ding Mingcheng and Fang Qing.

"Lord Ding, we truly did not know that Lord Fang and Lord Gu were friends."

"If we had known this would happen, we would never have done it, even if you beat us to death."

As he spoke, the guy who had just received 50 coins from Yang Zhi quickly spat them out.

Finally, upon seeing Ding Mingcheng's cold face, the man broke out in a cold sweat and pulled out another 100 coins from his pocket, insisting on giving them to Yang Zhi.

After Ding Mingcheng gave them another dressing down, the three of them finally left, drenched in cold sweat.

After dismissing the three constables, Ding Mingcheng turned to Fang Qing and explained:

"We, the Salt Patrol Guard, have no way to control the conduct of the officials in these local government offices."

After all, our salt patrol guards and they belong to different government departments. But don't worry, Lord Fang, when the Jinsha Saltworks come to deliver the salt, I will instruct them not to tamper with it in any way.

Fang Qing immediately bowed gratefully to Ding Mingcheng.

"Then thank you, Lord Ding, for your patronage of our Jinsha Saltworks."

Seeing that Fang Qing accepted his kindness, Ding Mingcheng's face immediately lit up with joy.

Fang Qing was a friend whom even her boss, Gu Changyuan, thought highly of.

The two also referred to each other as brothers.

Now that Ding Mingcheng has the opportunity to get to know Fang Qing privately, he naturally hopes to get closer to Fang Qing.

"Master Fang, it will take some time to weigh and load the salt. How about you come over and have a cup of rough tea?"

……