In the past few days, Xu He didn't go anywhere. He only went to Qinglong Lake to visit Xu's family once a day. The rest of the time he spent reading and writing with Xie Liangcai.
Although Xu Song's condition was under control during this period, he was still speechless and often fell into coma.
Xu Song's wife Zhang Panlong [both Xu Song and Zhang Panlong were real people, and women in ancient times also had names, and they still had such domineering names] saw Xu He coming to visit every day, and finally one day asked the maid to call Xu Song in. The inner court.
Because he was a member of the clan and Zhang Panlong was over fifty years old, he did not avoid suspicion.
When Xu He entered, he saw for the first time the legitimate daughter of the Zhang family, a wealthy family in Hailing. Zhang Panlong was very famous for her charity in Hailing, and Xu He was also curious about what she looked like.
Zhang Panlong is over 50 years old, and the skin on her face has become somewhat saggy, and even the bags under her eyes are slightly droopy. However, she behaves like a pampered young lady, which makes people respect her at first sight.
"Auntie!" Xu He bowed and saluted at the foot of the steps.
Zhang Panlong showed a smile, sighed and said, "Is it possible that Xiaohe is so concerned about your uncle's condition? I heard that the miracle doctor Hou was also invited by you, Xiaohe?"
Xu He hurriedly said humbly: "The meeting with Divine Doctor Hou happened to be just in time. Visiting patients every day is what juniors should do."
Zhang Panlong smiled and pointedly said: "There are not many juniors who respect their elders as much as you do!"
Xu He's heart trembled, and he didn't know whether she meant something or just said it casually.
Zhang Panlong continued to ask: "You have been visiting your uncle these days. Is there something wrong?"
Xu He thought for a while and decided to tell his aunt about the eunuch You Xiao, so he told the whole story from the time Zhang Hengyuan came to him.
Zhang Panlong was obviously not a boudoir woman. After hearing this, he pondered for a moment and said, "Xiaohe, I also heard your uncle say that you are the seed of our Xu family's education. My aunt has spoken out to you about some things!"
Xu He quickly bowed: "Auntie, please tell me."
Zhang Panlong said: "Your second uncle was under the influence of his father and became an official very late. Later, because your uncle was impeached and returned to his hometown, he was also implicated and resigned and returned home! Do you understand what I mean by this?"
Xu He sighed in his heart, what a smart woman.
What this aunt meant was that Xu Dai had been living in the shadow of his father and brother all these years, and felt a little resentful in his heart. If she or his uncle rashly spoke out about this matter, Xu Dai would definitely think that Dafang's side If you don't see him well, conflicts will arise in large numbers.
In other words, even if Xu Song's health is fine, Xu He should not expect him to directly deny the matter.
Xu He nodded to express his understanding. Zhang Panlong was not suitable to express these words, and Xu He, as a member of the Xu family, could not say them openly. The two maintained a subtle tacit understanding.
Zhang Panlong saw that Xu He obviously understood, and she smiled: "What a smart child!"
Then she said: "Xiaohe, I heard that the new magistrate of Hailing County has taken office recently. You might as well go and visit!"
Suddenly switching from discussing Xu Dai's affairs to the new Hailing County Magistrate, Xu He was a little confused about what this aunt meant.
Seeing that he was confused, Zhang Panlong didn't explain, he just smiled and said: "Go!"
Xu He returned to the city from Qinglong in the south of the city in a daze. When he entered the door, he saw Xie Liangcai shaking his head and reciting the meaning of the scriptures.
Xu He sat down and drank all the tea in his tea cup.
Xie Liangcai said in surprise: "What's wrong? You look sad."
Xu He then told what happened to his aunt Zhang Panlong just now.
Hearing this, Xie Liangcai slapped his thigh and said, "You are an incredible aunt."
Xu He heard this and said in confusion: "What do you mean?"
Xie Liangcai said: "Your aunt was born in the Hailing Zhang family. Although the Zhang family is no longer as prestigious as your Xu family, at the time of your grandparents' generation, the Zhang family also had many officials in the court, especially your aunt's father. , served as Minister of the Ministry of War in his early years."
Xu He nodded: "Zhang Sen, Mr. Maolin! Everyone in Hailing County knows it."
"But do you know who your aunt's brother Zhang Shiyun is?" Xie Liangcai then asked.
Xu He shook his head in confusion. He had never heard that his eldest aunt had a younger brother.
Xie Liangcai said mysteriously: "Zhang Shiyun, whose courtesy name is Conglong, is a teacher in the family of the third assistant Wu Xingbang!"
Xu He suddenly understood, but then he asked curiously: "Then why did my aunt ask me to go to the new Hailing County Magistrate Chen Hua?"
Xie Liangcai laughed: "The wonderful thing about your aunt is that Chen Hua is from Jinjiang County, Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province. He was a Jinshi student in the Zengguang School of Fujian Province. These are nothing, but he was born in Zao!"
It was like a bolt of lightning flashed over Xu He's head. He was from Zao. The new magistrate of Hailing County turned out to be from Zao.
He couldn't wait to ask for proof: "Brother Defu, you mean that my eldest aunt wants me to go to the county magistrate who is from Zao and persuade him to intervene in this matter with reason and emotion?"
Xie Liangcai showed a teachable look and said: "My guess is this. Anyway, I heard that the new Hailing County Magistrate was born in a small stove household. His father was a stove cook. His family was extremely poor, and his father also had to go to the stove all year round. In the brine, he became lame later! I think his childhood experience will definitely make him understand Zao Ding’s difficulties better.”
When Xu He heard this, he immediately felt that this statement was reasonable. The reason why the eunuch You Xiao sought alliance with the Xu family must be for something.
His demands are nothing more than two points. One is to use the reputation of the Xu family to monopolize the Huaizhong market, including the smuggling of salt in the two Huaihe areas.
The second is to use the Xu family to further lower the price of private salt, so as to gain greater profits.
Otherwise, why would he be granted an official position and given money?
Can't he just go to the salt farm and buy salt?
In addition, the Xu family owns a lot of tidal flats, which are covered with reeds necessary for burning stoves and drying salt. Controlling the Xu family means controlling the salt field, and controlling the salt field means controlling the salt workers.
Their calculations jingled.
But these people, from You Xiao to Xu Dai, and even, Xu He estimated, included the field directors and kitchen leaders, they would not even think about the life and death of ordinary kitchen workers.
The survival of Zaoding smokers is already on the verge of death. If the price of salt is further reduced, it can be said that unless there is high-pressure iron and blood suppression, these Zaoding smokers will really gather in crowds to rebel.
Aunt Zhang Panlong's intention was to let the sympathetic county magistrate Chen Hua handle this matter.
After all, although Xu He is smart, he doesn't even have any fame so far, so he has no power to intervene in this matter.
Xu He figured this out and immediately stood up.
Xie Liangcai said: "Go now?"
"It's so urgent that I can't stay at home!" Xu He explained.
Xie Liangcai shook his head and murmured: "It's also a life to worry about!"
