Chaos of Ming 1628

The wine and the arrival of local gentry were so frequent that they stayed up all night, continuing until dusk the next day.

All three floors of the No. 1 Restaurant in Jiahe County are booked for a whole day, including evening banquets with drinks, morning tea and snacks, a grand official banquet at noon, and fresh fruit soup in the afternoon. All kinds of famous wines and teas are available.

The entertainment area is divided into three floors: the first floor features acrobatics and storytelling; the second floor offers tea and singing performances by courtesans; and the third floor features elegant music and dance, panoramic views, and continuous performances by troupes, entertainers, and acrobats throughout the day, accompanied by exquisite incense burners and gold and silver tableware.

As dusk fell, the local gentry stopped coming and going outside, and most of the people in the restaurant had also left.

Sun Qing gently touched her tired eyes, picked up the account book beside her, and slowly stood up.

Old Yu's eyes were bloodshot, and he reeked of alcohol. He had appeared behind Sun Qing sometime earlier, his voice hoarse: "Is the young master happy?"

"Of course," Sun Qing grinned, "In just one day, I've probably already made no less than six hundred taels."

Despite the amount, Old Yu showed no joy, his lips pressed into a thin line: "I'm afraid it will be easy for you to take the money, but difficult to take it away!"

"Look at this amount of money spent in a single day. Does the young master really think he can eat for free? And do you even know who's behind this tavern?"

Old Yu stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes sharp, and carefully recounted: "Young master's expenses for entertaining guests will probably have to be offset by all the generous gifts."

At this, Lao Yu's face grew even more gloomy, and his voice was like the grinding of sand: "They ruined the Sun family's reputation to make money, but they only ended up doing the work for someone else."

Old Yu Gang was all serious when he finished speaking, but then he started yelling and singing about Zhu Yuanzhang's punishment of corruption.

Sun Qing remained unmoved, a smile playing on his lips, and calmly took the accounts and walked out the door.

"Young Master Sun." The shopkeeper's voice trailed off as he hurried to the doorway. "Young Master, please don't be in such a hurry. Please take a look at today's bill."

"If there is anything you don't understand, I'm happy to explain it to you."

The accounts were clear and detailed, with no detail unclear about the amount of food and drink, or the number of songs performed. At the end of the accounts, it was clearly stated: 650 taels of silver.

"What?" Old Yu peeked out and was so angry he was blowing his beard. "These gifts, even if you add them all up, don't amount to more than seven hundred taels. So, you're saying the young master can only take fifty taels?"

The shopkeeper chuckled, not even glancing at Lao Yu, and gave Sun Qing a forced smile: "Our shop is a small business, we don't offer credit. Even if Lord Zhou comes, it's the same."

Old Yu's breathing became heavier. He glared fiercely at Sun Qing, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to argue with him.

Upon hearing this, Sun Qing merely smiled faintly, his expression remaining completely calm, and slowly ordered, "Bring me my fine clothes."

Sun Qing shook the fine robe in his hands, then asked the shopkeeper, "Do you recognize it?"

"Of course," the shopkeeper nodded and bowed, smiling obsequiously, "Everyone in Jiahe County knows this was a gift from Lord Zhou. It's clear that Lord Zhou treats the young master with extraordinary kindness..."

Despite the constant flattery, Sun Qing ignored it and instead asked, "Do you recognize Lord Zhou?"

The shopkeeper bowed even deeper: "He's the local official, closer to me than my own father. I dare not be negligent in the slightest."

"That's good then." Sun Qing smiled slightly and solemnly draped the fine robe over the shopkeeper's head.

Old Yu's eyes were full of doubt.

The shopkeeper was completely baffled.

Sun Qing slowly recounted: "Lord Zhou is magnanimous and insightful. When he presented me with these fine clothes, he said that if I needed anything, I could get it from his residence."

"Take this with you and go find Lord Zhou, no matter how much you need."

After saying that, Sun Qing waved the account book in his hand: "As for these gifts, send them to the post station. If anything is missing, I will know what's going on."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sun Qing calmly walked out of the restaurant.

A chorus of wails erupted behind him, and the shopkeeper pounded his chest in frustration.

The account book, in duplicate, had become a hot potato. As for the continuous stream of fine wine and food, and the deliberately arranged entertainers, they all felt like slaps in the face.

Six hundred and fifty taels of silver! How am I going to explain this to Lord Zhou?

Post station.

"That was refreshing! So refreshing!" Old Yu shook his wine gourd, then slapped his forehead in frustration. "If I had known this would happen, I would have filled the gourd to the brim. Such fine wine is a rare treat!"

Sun Qing closed the doors and windows, stood with his hands clasped, and frowned.

Old Yu muttered to himself, sometimes laughing, sometimes frowning.

"It's good that Zhou Ji got humiliated, but you're finished." He shook his head, his cloudy eyes half-open and half-closed, muttering to himself, "Stupid, really stupid, using the Sun family's name to make money. The Sun family's good reputation for generations has been ruined in an instant."

"If the Grand Marshal knew, he'd be furious and rush all the way from Gaoyang to break your legs with his own hands!"

Seeing that Sun Qing didn't respond, he angrily smashed the wine pot: "Don't you think you can run away with the money? You probably don't know, Zhou Ji is greedy. The eunuchs are even worse, they'll probably eat you up until there's not even a bone left."

Old Yu, though kind-hearted, stayed by his side to reprimand him for his various misdeeds.

Sun Qing was perfectly clear-headed; the silver would surely reach the post station, and only then could he catch the culprit red-handed. Now, the entire Jiaohe region knew Sun Qing's name, and it was likely that the Sun family was already on their way.

He straightened his clothes, turned to Lao Yu, clasped his hands together, and slowly pushed them down from his forehead to his chest.

This gesture is very formal and weighty, indicating that someone must be entrusting something to you.

Old Yu's mutterings abruptly stopped.

"Old Yu," Sun Qing straightened up, speaking solemnly, "take the account books and gifts and leave immediately."

"Hurry, go to the neighboring county to exchange for money and grain, and save the people from their suffering."

Old Yu breathed a sigh of relief, deliberately suppressing the look of satisfaction in his eyes. He still waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "How could this old man handle such a big matter?"

"It's done," Sun Qing said firmly, his gaze deep. "I know it's just a drop in the ocean, but you have to believe that a single spark can start a prairie fire."

"We will ignite the first spark beneath the walls of Jiaohe City."

Old Yu's eyes shone with light, yet he still looked fearful.

"Old Yu," Sun Qing solemnly handed him the account book, "Remember, a mere amount of silver cannot save a lifetime of food and clothing. I trouble you to lend me seven hundred taels to find a place for three hundred refugees to live in peace for a hundred years."

Such demands are simply wishful thinking for a storyteller.

Sun Qing was gambling, gambling that this person was the one he was thinking of.

Old Yu tightened his grip on the account book. The shopkeeper's call came from outside, indicating the goods had been delivered. Sun Qingming put it down and coldly urged the man to leave.

Old Yu's eyes flickered, but after a moment he calmed down: "Young master is very talented. Why not take matters into your own hands, set a good example, and win the hearts of the people?"

"There are many capable people in the world, each with their own specialties. I only need to take care of arranging the money properly; as for the rest, there will naturally be someone who can handle it better than me." Sun Qing smiled magnanimously: "Besides, didn't Old Yu say that he doesn't seek fame before or after his death?"

"I'm merely borrowing the tiger's power; how dare I show my face in public?"

Sun Qing's gaze fell on the account book once again. "Old Yu, some credits cannot be taken for granted. All this money was donated by the gentry of Jiahe County."

"This ledger is the register of donors."

Old Yu suddenly looked up, scrutinizing the boy before him for the first time with such seriousness.

At the age of sixteen, what breadth of vision and strategic thinking must one possess to see through and understand even the smallest details?

"So, young master, you started planning this the moment you accepted the fine clothes," Old Yu said with a self-deprecating smile.

Sun Qing said meaningfully, "It's not a plan, it's just about surviving."

Old Yu's eyes cleared instantly, and he said solemnly, "If you, young master, can maintain your integrity and act with uprightness, you will naturally enjoy a long and blessed life."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he suddenly tilted his head, his eyes narrowed, and he leaned close to the gifts, exclaiming, "So many wonderful things!"

He ripped off the fabric, dumped the contents into a heap, packed it up, and hoisted it away. Staggering and unsteady, he disappeared from sight.

County government office.

The shopkeeper's face was swollen and bruised, resembling a pig's head. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Lord Zhou, I really have no choice. I can't refute what he said."

Zhou Ji was trembling with rage; his attempt to steal a chicken had backfired spectacularly. Sun Qing's downfall was inevitable, and the seven hundred taels he'd embezzled were no small sum. After the incident, this was stolen money; would Li Weilin really give him a share?

He originally intended to capitalize on Sun Qing's fame and make a quick buck. Who would have thought Sun Qing would have the audacity to actually use his name to pay for his services?!

"What is Lord Zhou doing?" Li Weilin strode over, his sharp gaze sweeping around before finally settling on the account book: "Let him be smug for now."

"With these accounts, the crime of exploiting and oppressing the people is confirmed."

Li Weilin narrowed his eyes slightly: "Tonight I will send people to guard the post station. At this moment, Sun Qing can only be a member of the Sun family."

"Anyone else who appears will be killed without mercy. We will arrest them as soon as the Grand Eunuch issues the order."

"What...what if it's fake?" Zhou asked, trembling.

Li Weilin glanced at him disdainfully: "He resisted stubbornly and was accidentally killed during the capture. As long as we have the account book, do you think Sun Chengzong can escape?"

Zhou Ji lowered his head and remained silent.

Seeing this, Li Weilin added, "Don't worry, the Grand Eunuch will reward you handsomely after it's done."

"It's my honor to be able to serve the factory director," Zhou Ji said with a beaming smile, bowing and smiling apologetically.