Chapter 251 252 Picking up the Bargains
After Zhou Jia put Yangyang to sleep, he put him on the small bed and covered him with a quilt. He sat on the edge of the kang and told Li Yu what he saw in the Yamen today: "That Wu Tongzhi is always looking at me from behind. I guess this position Maybe he was supposed to be the one, but for some reason he let me pick the peaches halfway. I have made up my mind, no matter which side he is from, I will be cautious and do my job well."
After hearing this, Li Yu thought for a while: "I don't understand anything in the officialdom, but you were promoted to prefect by His Majesty. I think those people have already found out clearly. They don't dare to play any conspiracy. At most, they just give You put some obstacles in the way and make your official duties in the yamen less smooth. If you feel that being an official is boring, the worst we can do is resign. It would be good to go back and become a rich man."
After hearing this, Zhou Jia thought about it and thought it was right. He kissed Li Yu on the face and said with a smile: "That's right. I'll go wash up and let's take a rest."
"Yeah!" Li Yu agreed softly and got into bed.
In the Zuixian Building opposite, the officials have become more casual since Zhou Jia left. Wang Qinghai was lying in the arms of the prostitute, looking at Wu Tongzhi who was sitting next to him drunkenly, thinking that Wu Tongzhi was also the one. Those who had no luck in officialdom finally waited until the old prefect returned to his hometown, thinking that the position of prefect was firmly in his hands, but who knew that a small magistrate fell from the sky and picked the peaches.
Wang Qinghai thought that when Zhou Jia said that his wife's temperament was a bit difficult to get along with, he complained in his mouth, but his eyes were smiling, and he couldn't help but smile, thinking: This new prefect is also an interesting person.
Wu Tongzhi drank silently for a while, then suddenly stood up and said unsteadily: "You can do whatever you want, I'm going back too."
"I'm back too." Everyone stood up and walked out of Zuixian Tower one after another.
Li Yu and his people were busy at home for a few days before re-arranging the house. They were just going to take Ji Xiang and others to the street to take a look when the maid Guyu, who had just arrived, came to report: "Madam, there is a man named Chu Sihai’s request for an audience.”
"Chu Sihai," Li Yu recalled for a moment: "Shopkeeper Chu from Tongzhou, please quickly invite him to the front living room, and then go to the front office to invite the master back."
"I'll call the master." Zhaocai responded and turned around to walk towards the front office.
Li Yu handed Yang Yang to Mrs. Zhang and went to the living room in the front yard. After a while, Gu Yu arrived with Chu Sihai and a gentle middle-aged man. Chu Sihai and the man bowed and said, "Meet Madam."
Li Yu smiled heartily and said: "Shopkeeper Chu, you are too polite. We are all outsiders. Please take a seat."
"Madam is still as cheerful as ever," Chu Sihai pointed at the man accompanying him, "This is the shopkeeper of Sihai Bank in Yunzhou Prefecture, Chu Feng. Madam, if you have anything to do in the future, just ask me."
Chu Feng bowed and said: "Chu Feng pays homage to Madam."
Li Yu smiled and said: "Shopkeeper Chu is so polite. I'll ask you to take care of me in the future. Please sit down."
After the two sat down, Chu Sihai said to Li Yu: "Madam, I came from Tongzhou this time. Master Aqing and your aunt asked me to bring you something. Master Aqing is going to take the provincial examination this year. Please bring something to say. I’ll see you again after the exam.” Shopkeeper Chu paused, took out a few letters from his pocket, and gave them to Gu Yu who was standing aside: “Madam, these are from Young Master A Qing, Uncle Zhou and others to you and Mr. Zhou. letter."
Li Yu took the letter and thanked Chu Sihai. Chu Feng stood up and said to Li Yu: "Madam, the Zuixian Tower opposite is owned by Sihai Bank. The bank also has other businesses in Yunzhou. Madam, if you can use it, Place but please give orders.”
Li Yu smiled gratefully and said, "Thank you so much, Shopkeeper Chu."
At this time, Zhou Jia came back from the front office. After the ceremony, the three of them went to the study to discuss matters. Li Yu went to the kitchen to arrange a banquet for the two of them.
After noon, Zhou Jia sent the two off and came back to Li Yu and said: "Shopkeeper Chu told me about the relationship between the officials of Yunzhou Prefecture and the aristocratic families, as well as the local squires and the government.
Shopkeeper Chu mentioned Wang Qinghai and said that Wang Qinghai was a descendant of the Wang family in Yunzhou. The Wang family had helped Emperor Taizu when he was revolting. The Wang family had been the most influential person in Yunzhou. Ever since the late emperor ascended the throne, he began to suppress the Wang family. The second master of the Wang family was still serving in the Ministry of Household Affairs at that time. Seeing that the concubine and the eldest prince were favored, he secretly took refuge in the eldest prince. Mr. Wang wholeheartedly supported the empress and the current majesty. Yes, later the eldest prince and the second prince had accidents one after another, one broke his spine and the other broke his leg. Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, for the sake of Mrs. Wang, he spared Mr. Wang and asked him to return to his official position without hiring him.
Also, Wu Ting came first, and he was followed by Wu Lao Shangshu. Wu Ting served as two magistrates in Yunzhou, and he was a fairly honest official. Originally, he was the magistrate of Yunzhou this time because he had a somewhat headstrong personality. There is room for people, and now Da Qi is ready to make a move on Dayong. Your Majesty is afraid that he will cause trouble, so he brought me here. "
Zhou Jia said with a smile: "I think I'm here to take care of Mr. Wu Ting."
Li Yu also laughed: "It seems that you got a bargain, but you have been busy in Qingchuan for several years, so take a good rest while you are here. Come, let's read the letter first."
Li Yu took out the letter that Chu Sihai brought and handed it to Zhou Jia, and saw that there was also a letter from He Butcher to Ruyi and his wife.
The two read the letters. Uncle Zhou's letter contained greetings for the two of them, as well as gifts for Yangyang, boots and clothes made by Aunt He for a family of three. Ah Qing wrote about his longing for the two of them, and also wrote about how he missed them. After asking how Yangyang was doing, whether he was good or not, and the rest of his thoughts after studying in the past few days, Li Mei made clothes, shoes and hats for Yangyang, and sisters Zhaodi knitted sweaters, shoes and socks.
Li Yu and Zhou Jia went out to pack the gifts. When they returned to the room, Zhou Jia held Li Yu in his arms and continued what he said before, saying: "How can you think so easily? We need to collect taxes, conduct inspections, and conduct inspections." Bo Dianmao, inspecting the county government to which I belong... a lot of things are my responsibility."
Li Yu stood up and said with a smile: "Okay! I don't understand your government affairs. You go and do your business. Oh! Ah Wei and his husband went to the countryside for a free clinic. By the way, they were looking for a barren mountainous area. I plan to go to the street. Take a stroll.”
Zhou Jia smoothed the hair around Li Yu's ears and said softly: "Okay! I'm busy these days and don't have time to accompany you. You can go for a walk on the street. Ah Wei has promising wasteland. You If you are satisfied, buy it."
Li Yu sent Zhou Jia to Chuihua Gate and saw that he had gone to the front office. He went back and handed Yangyang over to Xiaoyu and Ruyi, and then took Gu Yu and Jixiang out to get in the car and walk towards the street.
The car arrived at a street selling fabrics and rouge and gouache. Jixiang said to Li Yu: "Madam, the shop selling wool and bags is a little ahead. Do you want to go and take a look?"
"You might as well go and have a look."
Ji Xiang drove the car to the shop and stopped the car and said to Li Yu: "Madam, we're here."