"Shopkeeper Wen, just say what you have to say." Seeing Wen Zhong being so humble, Mr. Feng became more impressive.
Wen Zhong smiled attentively and said: "The business is prosperous because I am favored by the young master. I have always admired the name of Feng Juren. If I can meet your father, I will do my best to repay you."
"You want to see my father?" Mr. Feng curled his lips and said nothing.
Wen Zhong stood up and continued: "Young Master does not want to be with the gambling house, I understand this. But this person is a well-known hero from all over the country. Those who are unfaithful will drive him out of Jiangdu. Those who are virtuous will have true friendship with you. Master It belongs to the latter. It's a pity that I have lost one friend, and I deeply regret it."
Master Feng heard the threatening tone in his words. Although he didn't really lose his face, it made this inexperienced Master feel guilty. He changed his tone and said politely: "What the shopkeeper said makes sense. I will go back to discuss with my father. It may take two or three days to come up with a result. I hope you won't rush me."
Wen Zhong smiled and said, "Just wait for the good news."
Master Feng was very surprised when his son said that the big boss of the gambling house wanted to see him. He even asked if he had said anything wrong. He was relieved after Master Feng finished explaining everything. The great gentry and his son said, "This man is one of the top tyrants in Jiangdu. Even the magistrate has given him three respects. How much more can we, the country people, invite him over and treat him well?"
Mr. Feng was shocked and frightened. How could he dare to delay for two or three days? He put on the clothes he had just changed and hurried to find shopkeeper Wen.
Wen Zhong followed him into the Feng family courtyard without saying anything. Feng Dashen greeted him with a smile and asked him what he wanted when he saw him, and asked him to do his best to help.
Wen Zhong took his arm and said, "Feng Squire, although I have a bad reputation as a 'supporter of minions' in Jiangdu, I will never resort to those despicable methods without permission. I usually don't want to lose face when doing things. If you let me, I will take whatever you want." , I feel sorry for it even from the bottom of my heart. So, just feel free to speak."
Mr. Feng nodded and asked Wen Zhong to sit down first. Wen Zhong refused. After many attempts, Mr. Feng was willing to sit down.
Wen Zhong took a sip of tea and said, "My visit this time is actually about an official's promotion. You are a big family in the village, so you should have the right to intervene in such matters."
"Ah, of course."
"Master Tongzhi is getting old. He has always wanted to retire, but there is no rising star to take over. He has become indifferent to political affairs. At this time, he needs your help."
Mr. Feng raised his eyebrows, hesitated for a moment, took a cup of tea, and said with a smile: "I can't bear such a heavy burden."
"Someone has to take over, right? We want to make our relationship with Master Tongzhi stable so that we don't have to worry about it all the time." Wen Zhong said.
"How about this newly promoted official?"
"He himself is familiar with the officials and people who are friendly to him, and he often makes friends with the officials and officials. In his official duties, he pays attention to land management. It is just the right time. The court is about to find out the father-in-law, and the land needs to be improved. "
Mr. Feng became more and more relaxed and drank three cups of tea during this interval: "The person you mentioned is not bad! Not bad!"
"But," Mr. Feng smiled apologetically, "I have always been cold outside as a member of staff..."
Wen Zhong waved his hand: "No. If this person succeeds Tongzhi, he will be higher than Yuanwai. Yuanwai will definitely make careful arrangements for the people around him."
After hearing this, Master Feng stood up suddenly and bowed respectfully: "Feng will do his best to help me, please don't doubt me."
Wen Zhong, in the name of Feng DaShen, appointed a yamen secretary to bring some gifts. He said, "Feng DaShen would like to discuss with you the promotion of County Magistrate Chen," and went straight to Tongzhi's residence in Yangzhou.
The arrangement has been finalized, but Wen Zhong still feels that the matter is not certain. He couldn't let up on this key link. After thinking about it, he finally grasped one point keenly: he couldn't do things solely based on his identity as Lord Feng, he had to clarify his own opinions from others.
After all, the power of a person like a squire is limited, and Tongzhi will never hand over power to such a person rashly; but if this gentleman understands that the backstage of Chen Tongpao is Guo Chuzi from the dyeing shop and Wen Zhong from the gambling house, then he will be satisfied Dijinpen washed his hands.
He had no choice but to come up with a simple solution, that is, ask someone to go to the dyeing shop to get a few pieces of dyed silk as a gift. When the people from the gambling house came, the person in charge of the dyeing house didn't mind, and just let him choose a few pieces of good silk and satin, and took them away like a piece of grass.
The clerk took the good things with him and arrived in front of Tongzhifu. He followed the janitor through the main gate and met Tongzhi.
The clerk bowed and presented the pieces of cloth: "I was assigned by the great gentry to give you this. Since you celebrated your birthday a few days ago, he didn't go, so I use this to make up for it."
The servant took the cloth and saw that it had various patterns and felt smooth and smooth. It was of extremely high quality.
Tongzhi looked at it again and knew that this was a play house exclusively for high-ranking officials. Feng Dajun would never be able to get such a good cloth.
He smacked his lips and asked why he came.
The clerk said with a smile: "Senior Feng often cares about the old man's health. I am afraid that he will be exhausted due to the busy government affairs."
Tongzhi was stabbed in his heart by these words. He paused for a while, but his expression seemed indifferent: "Yeah, it's hard to retreat."
"You care so much about Yangzhou, why not promote the underachievers and enjoy your leisure time."
"You mean County Magistrate Chen, right?"
"Your Majesty, you have a divine plan."
Tongzhi didn't know much about Tongpao Chen, so he sneered and asked: "How dare you call yourself a backward person, just a county magistrate?"
"This man is decisive in killing, and has made great achievements in land administration. He may be on the verge of annexing large local households." The secretary winked meaningfully.
Tongzhi then smiled broadly, stroking his beard and said, "I have my own methods, and you are not allowed to interfere."
The clerk understood this, kowtowed lowly, and turned around to leave.
"It's a bit cold today..." Tongzhi said, and the servant next to him put a fur coat on him.
The weather in Jiangdu has become warmer and warmer, and the most severe cold in the past few days has dispersed its most violent attack. This seems to be the best interpretation of Wen Zhong's state of mind.
He just received the news today that Mr. Feng recommended Chen Tongpao to be appointed as the Tongzhi of Yangzhou. This was not important; but then, the Tongzhi announced that he was ill and was preparing to return to his hometown. The prefect could not retain him, so he left his official uniform and hat in the office, waiting to take over.
As expected, Chen Tongpao was selected to replace the old Tongzhi today and ordered to come to the capital on a certain day. The matter was settled neatly, except that Guo Chuzi fell ill in Yizheng and asked Wenzhong to help take care of the dyeing workshop. This is not a big deal. I had expected that Yuan Wai would be in the prime of life and would recover from his illness in a few days.
He returned to the gambling house and saw Craftsman Xu coming out of the house and being pulled by several men. His fists and legs were about to attack him.
"What are you doing? Don't be so rude!" Wen Zhong shouted like a thunderbolt, frightening the men.
"You said you would go back in ten days. How many days have it been already? Don't we all hope to die!" Craftsman Xu sighed aggrievedly.
"You can go back," Wen Zhong met his expectant eyes, "just in time to welcome your new county magistrate."
