"Is that so?"
The Xiao family took a breath together. It turned out that all this was not a spur-of-the-moment idea, but had been planned for a long time.
Xu Zishang continued: "According to the county magistrate, the imperial court is also investigating this illegal salt business.
Some time ago, we just caught some clues and found that smuggled salt dealers were in Qinghe County.
Xu Zhongyuan must have gotten the news and took the opportunity to push the matter onto me, so he deliberately lured me into the trap. "
Ye Luoxin understood: "Xu Zhongyuan deliberately sold you a stone of private salt, and then reported it to the superiors, saying that you had private salt hidden in your home. Was he deliberately drawing the investigators' attention to you?"
"Yes!" Xu Zishang nodded.
"After the investigators convict you of selling illegal salt, they will use all means to force you to reveal your accomplices.
If you can’t pay,”
Ye Luoxin looked into his eyes and said, "There is only one way to die."
Xu Zishang nodded silently and said:
"Xu Zhongyuan has someone in the state capital. Even if I tell the truth, the state government office will only think that I am taking the opportunity to retaliate.
After I am executed, everything will come to an end temporarily, and his private salt transportation line will also be dormant for the time being.
By then, as long as he doesn't move, even if the court wants to continue investigating, they may not be able to find any other clues for a while. "
"What a good plan!" Xu Zhengxiang was stunned after hearing this!
These businessmen are too thoughtful!
Unlike the people in their village, who would scold someone if they were unhappy, and would confront someone when there was a festival.
If you are smarter, you may stumble secretly, but if it happens, you will be discovered immediately.
How could someone like them, who had committed such a big case, be able to hide away and live a better life than before.
Xiao Changhe was also shocked when he heard this.
Shopkeeper Xu is really lucky to be able to escape such a scheme!
He asked: "Since it has been confirmed that Xu Zhongyuan is the mastermind of this matter, it should have nothing to do with you. Why did the officials seal up all your property?"
This is strange to everyone.
Xu Cai originally wanted to ask his father behind his back, but when he heard this question, he immediately pricked up his ears.
Xu Zishang smiled bitterly: "This matter is a bit complicated.
First of all, my Xuji Restaurant had money invested by Xu Zhongyuan, and we had some connections with him.
Secondly, I bought salt from him at a low price, which was a violation of the laws of this dynasty. If I dig deeper, it would be difficult for me to explain clearly.
Therefore, I followed the advice of the county magistrate and took the initiative to hand over all my family's property to the court to prove my innocence. "
"That's it!" Everyone nodded.
"Shopkeeper Xu made such a decisive decision, which is really admirable!"
After hearing this, Xu Cai raised his head and looked at his father: "Dad, you can make more money if you don't have it. Don't worry, I will never let you eat bran-thick vegetables in the future."
Xu Zishang looked at his son.
After being apart for so long, Xu Cai became darker and stronger.
The most important thing is that the arrogant attitude that he was so arrogant that even the King of Hell didn't look down on is gone.
He was a little relieved, but still said: "I haven't reached the point where I can't move, so I won't point at you to eat!"
"Then what happened to Xiaowu and Xiaoliu?"
This time Xu Zishang came alone, and Xu Cai had already roughly guessed the outcome.
Xu Zishang said: "All the servants in the house who should be dismissed have been dismissed.
The two of them signed a death contract in the first place. Before returning, Magistrate Liu and I borrowed ten taels of silver and divided it among everyone, and sent them home. "
Although Xu Cai was reluctant to part with his childhood playmate, he also knew that now the two of them had difficulty even eating, let alone raising servants.
Maybe the two of them would be better off without him.
Xu Zhengxiang saw that although the life of the two father and son fell from the sky to the ground overnight, they were still optimistic.
She clapped her hands and said, "Since today is a happy day, I will show off my skills tonight and help Shopkeeper Xu."
Xu Zishang immediately said: "I don't think so. If there will be any shopkeeper Xu in the future, my sister-in-law can just call me Xu Ping."
He hasn't used this name for a long time since he became the shopkeeper.
Xu Zhengxiang stood up: "Both you, father and son, are smart. Since you were able to make money back then, you can naturally make money now as well. What's the saying? If you keep the green hills, you won't have to worry about running out of firewood, right? "
"Luo Xin, Afeng, the three of us are going to prepare dinner and let the men have a good chat."
The three of them went to the kitchen.
There is also braised pork cooked in the morning in the kitchen, so it is convenient to prepare dinner.
In the evening, Xiao Jing accompanied Dr. Pei back to Xiao's house.
At the dinner table, Xiao Changhe asked Kong Fuzi about his health as usual.
"Confucius is already very old, and his body has long been hollowed out by his years of sorrow." said Dr. Pei.
"That Confucius..." Xu Zhengxiang became worried.
"With this miracle doctor here, there's nothing to worry about!" Pei Shu stroked his beard.
"As long as I'm here, even if both of his legs have stepped into the gate of hell, I will pull him out and run around for a few days."
"The miracle doctor is indeed amazing!" Xu Zhengxiang praised.
Xu Cai listened clearly and saw that Dr. Pei was so proud, so he said, "That's what Dr. Pei is waiting for. How old are you? You still need others to praise you for your work. Are you a child?"
Pei Shu was unhappy when he heard this: "It's my ability that others praise me for. You've been here for so long, why haven't I seen your master praise you?"
"You, you just rely on selling yourself off!" Xu Cai was still dissatisfied.
Xu Zishang had never seen his son like this, and he quickly scolded him: "No matter how old he is, this miracle doctor is older than me. Why do you talk to him like this?"
Seeing Xu Cai lowering his head and not daring to resist, Pei Shu smiled and clapped his hands: "Okay, okay, now you finally have someone who can control you. I'll see how you can still argue with my old man in the future."
Xu Zishang hurriedly said: "Quinzi is not sensible. He just contradicted the miracle doctor with his words. I hope the miracle doctor will forgive me."
"Dad! Why do you want him to forgive me?" Xu Cai glared at Pei Shu.
Pei Shu hurriedly said: "Excuse me! After dinner, you give him a good punishment. You can punish him by not being able to sleep, or, um... punish him by kneeling outside for two hours, and let me dry him out." "
When Xu Cai heard this, he immediately became furious: "You just took advantage of Brother Xiao not being at home and used my father to bully me. When Brother Xiao comes back, see how I will sue you!"
"Complain, sue? What kind of complaint? I didn't do anything to you!"
The two of them came to the same place and quarreled with each other.
Just when Xu Zishang was about to reprimand Xu Cai, Xu Zhengxiang waved his hand at him: "It's not in the way, it's not in the way, the two of them have always been like this!"
After saying this, she lowered her voice and said: "Pei's divine doctor has a childish personality. As long as the quarrel is over, he won't take it seriously."
