Facing the wavering looks of everyone, Wu Sijing gradually became upset, but he couldn't help but couldn't express his complaints, so he had to smile and agree.
Ye Yongjia naturally didn't want to do anything too extreme. Seeing that they were hesitating, he said: "This is just a proposal from Beijing. You have enough time to think about it. I will not force others to make things difficult. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Industry has already said so, It is impossible to negotiate terms, and I hope you understand that my control over things is also limited."
The merchants had nothing to say. After taking the official documents, they were invited by the magistrate of Ninghe to rest in the guest room to give them time to think about it. Wu Sijing followed him away, but was arranged to move into another room. room.
Seeing that only Ye and Cai were left in the second hall, Cai Xianqing felt relieved and said to Ye Yongjia: "It's really difficult for Tinglong. He has come up with such a method in the past few days... It is really wonderful to prevent them from sharing the profits and intensifying the conflict. ! I wonder how you told the court? The approval has not yet been opened, but it has already been decided for Tinglong."
Ye Yongjia lowered his hands and smiled and said: "I didn't use much resourcefulness. I just confessed to the court that many people wanted to get it from the Ministry of Industry, but they just exaggerated the numbers."
"Didn't you mention Wu Sixing?"
"Don't worry, this person has so many stains on his back that I won't tell him even to death." Ye Yongjia replied quickly.
"Then what do you want to do next?"
"What should we do?" Ye Yongjia sneered again, "Just looking at them is enough."
Wu Sijing was extremely uneasy sitting alone in the room. Although the clerk brought him a table of good food, he really had no appetite. He didn't move his chopsticks and just leaned against the window to watch the government servants in the yard, waiting patiently for them to leave. go.
After an hour, all the government officials who were guarding the door dispersed. Bishop Wu was secretly happy and softly opened the door. Guessing that it was time for them to take a lunch break, he walked to the door of the next door and knocked several times. The door is about to go in immediately.
"Bishop Wu?" The three merchants sitting in the distance raised their heads and looked out.
"It's him." The fat businessman brought Wu Sijing in and pointed to the cross in front of his neck.
"Oh... sit down, sit down." The three people kept sighing, and they even cursed lightly with their beards.
"Dear guests!" Wu Sijing's face wrinkled and looked even older. "I am petitioning the Ministry of Industry not only for myself, but also for you. For the benefit of everyone, I must not give up. I must reject Ye Yongjia's proposal. Everyone, join me in applying pressure!”
The bearded man chuckled: "Old Bishop, that gentleman named Ye can't control the court at all. He has a very good attitude. Still want to put pressure? He is just causing trouble for us!"
The fat merchant couldn't help but said: "Bishop, we are all from the same country. You said that we should support each other, how can we care about the gains and losses of this trivial matter? Let go of this small profit and set up the factory first, and the benefits to you will be endless in the future. Endless!"
Wu Sijing felt aggrieved: "No matter what, it's me who brought you into this country. It's not a huge reward, just a few batches of wood are enough... If you are unwilling, how about sending a few smaller batches? How much is the quantity?" , as you decide."
Although Wu Sijing made concessions, in the eyes of the merchants, it was difficult to determine how much less "less" meant. If you really give less, you will only appear to be unkind and unjust.
After some deliberation, the merchants reluctantly accepted his opinion: "...we agree."
Although Wu Sixing temporarily stabilized the situation with a concession, the incident still left a grudge between the two parties, which he knew very well in his heart. He walked out of the guest room sullenly, and for the first time he felt that the surrounding environment was so unfamiliar, as if every wrong step he took would cause him to fall into the abyss. This feeling of powerlessness is not imaginary, but a definite understanding.
Wu Sijing calmed down, sat silently on the stone bench under the tree, wiped the cross in his hand, and thought quietly: 'I thought I could make a lot of money with the Ministry of War's new policy, but I haven't seen this big money yet. Nowadays, it is difficult to get off the tiger. If I continue to cut off this line with merchants and be left alone, Ye Yongjia will sooner or later reveal my old record! I must find someone who can protect me, have a backer, and have the confidence to speak in the future...'
After thinking about it, he lowered his head and fumbled in his pocket, took out the banknote Cai Xianqing gave him before, and stared at it for a long time.
'I won't be able to enjoy these fifty taels. I need to find someone to entrust me to...'
He kept stroking both ends of the banknote, and suddenly he seemed to see something from it, and his eyes suddenly lit up! He clenched a fist in excitement, put away the banknote neatly, turned around, and walked straight in one direction.
"Your Excellency, that Western host Wu Sijing would like to see you!"
Magistrate Ninghe was sipping tea in his study. When he heard this shouting, he was so frightened that he turned around and grabbed the collar of the official who reported the letter and poked him in the mouth: "Keep your fucking voice down! This person is very suspicious. If you call him Mr. Ye, If you hear that, my black gauze hat will be lost! If I can no longer serve as an official, I will deal with you first!"
"Forgive me, forgive me," Wu Sijing was seen standing in front of the screen, bowing deeply, "It's the common people who don't know the rules and have offended the peace of the adults. Don't blame others."
The county magistrate quickly let go of the yamen servant and pretended to be serious: "Go!" and sent the man away.
"Master Magistrate, I always repay kindness. I know that without you, I can't do anything..." Wu Sijing took out the banknote without saying a few nonsense, "I'll give you this little money." ”
The county magistrate grabbed it without blinking an eye: "It's a small amount of money. But if you can lower your head, it's more important than anything else. Others don't want to protect you, and I am the only one who cares about you. Just understand. The people in charge of Ninghe He is an official, not to mention the Ministry of War, even if he is a saint from the palace, he still cannot speak as well as I, the county magistrate!"
"My parents are great officials!" Wu Sijing hurriedly agreed, "I'm just..."
"If you have anything to say, just mention it!" The county magistrate held his arm and said with a smile, "As long as you don't doubt me, don't hide it from me, and tell me honestly, I will solve it for you."
"Then I'll tell you. Mr. Ye seems to have learned about my business recently. I'm afraid that he will kill me and open up all the old things. I hope that Mr. Ye can take out all the books in the county. Let Wu take a look and see if he can cover up this matter without leakage."
After hearing this, the magistrate slapped his thigh and said: "This is what this county has always wanted to do! It's a pity that I don't know these business matters and dare not act arbitrarily. Now that I have a smart man like you to help me, I have no worries!"
