After Shen Zhonglei waited for the convoy at home to leave, he took his entourage and separated everyone to go in to check the situation. He found that the place where the quarrel occurred was a silk and satin shop called Baolin.
It must be the Chinese New Year, and there is a row of materials that look to be of great value on display in the silk shop. The shopkeeper is currently arguing with an old man in rich clothes, but his eyes are full of despair, and he looks like he is willing to give up.
The old man looked like he was no ordinary person. Not only was he dressed gorgeously and well, he had the aura of someone who had been in a position of power for a long time. However, when they quarreled, he spat wildly, which was a bit indecent.
"You can't sell the ingredients yourself, so you just want to rely on me to get your money back? If you don't ask me who I am, will I be fooled by you?"
"You're talking nonsense!" The shopkeeper's voice was loud, but his tone sounded like he was about to cry. "What I bought this time are the most fashionable materials in the south and the capital this year. They have been selling well before. It’s because you sprayed me with saliva that I drove all the customers away. You either have to pay for it or buy all the ingredients!”
"You say it's me, that's who I am?" the old man continued to slobber, "I just admit that the two pieces in front of me were stained by me, but I don't admit the others. I just stood here and said a few words. , it’s not like I poured water into your shop, how could all your materials be stained? Don’t accuse me of random charges!”
The people watching around couldn't help but make a commotion when they heard this.
"Now he is slobbering all over the place when we quarrel, and he probably spits out a lot when he talks!"
"Shh, keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear you!"
Shen Zhonglei frowned slightly when he heard this.
As long as you don't intentionally spit out a large mouthful of saliva and just spray some droplets, it won't leave any trace at all.
Even if the old man gets into a fight and sprays it everywhere, it's hard to prove how much material he just soiled.
"So many people saw you spitting just now, and you still don't admit it! How can anyone spit so much saliva when they talk? You did it on purpose!" The shopkeeper was so angry that he couldn't stop talking, " I think you just think that the goods I bought this year will sell well, so you came here to interfere with my business!"
Although the old man in colorful clothes was making a loud noise, it was obvious that his anger was only on the surface and did not reach his eyes, as if he was just teasing the shopkeeper.
But after hearing the shopkeeper's words, his face instantly turned cold, and there was a bit of anger in his eyes.
"Liu, don't talk nonsense. We, the old Han family, have been running a silk and satin shop in the city for several lifetimes. We have always run it according to our duties and done things in a disciplined manner. We have never done such dirty things!" He said in a deep voice, "Take those words back now and apologize to me. This matter will be over, otherwise I will never be done with you!"
Shopkeeper Liu was so angry that he almost vomited blood. The most expensive batch of ingredients in his store was stained and could not be sold. It was fine that the other party did not pay compensation. But he actually had to apologize himself. Is there any justice?
"Are you done with me? I am done with you! Don't think that because you are the old man of the Han family, I am afraid of you. If these goods cannot be sold, my family will not be able to survive. I will have someone to support me when I die. !”
Seeing that both sides were getting more and more angry, especially shopkeeper Liu, who was really furious. Shen Zhonglei finally said: "You two, please calm down for a moment. If there is anything, we can talk about it and resolve it through negotiation. It has become such a big deal." It’s no good for anyone, don’t you think?”
As soon as he opened his mouth, the eyes of everyone around him immediately focused on him. The complex emotions in his eyes made Shen Zhonglei wonder for a moment whether he had said something treacherous.
Mr. Han and Shopkeeper Liu also turned to look at Shen Zhonglei.
"Ha!" Mr. Han asked with a chuckle, "Is this person from out of town? Let me tell you the truth, on the streets of Wuchang Mansion, don't just uphold justice casually. I'm afraid you only have the courage to stir up trouble, not to make peace. Ability!"
Shopkeeper Liu said with red eyes: "Thank you brother, I appreciate your kindness, but there is no need to harm yourself because of my affairs..."
The attitude of the two people made Shen Zhonglei feel even more strange. He walked two steps forward: "If you say that, I will have to take care of this matter."
The entourage also hurriedly followed up and raised their voices: "Zangzhi, do you know who you are talking to? This is our newly appointed magistrate of Wuchang Prefecture, Mr. Shen. Do you think you have any control over your affairs?"
The two people in the store were stunned at the same time when they heard this.
"Hahahaha!" Mr. Han was the first to laugh out loud, "If you can control it, you can control it, that's really very controllable!"
Anyone with ears can hear the irony in his words.
Shen Zhonglei encountered such a thorn in his side when he first took office, and he was suddenly in a difficult position, especially in front of so many people. If he regressed at this time, he would have already lost the support of the people before he officially took office as the prefect.
"You two, stop arguing here and go back to the Yamen with me." After Shen Zhonglei said this, he also ordered very carefully, "Come here, please stay here to count the goods in the silk and satin shop, and register them all in the book to avoid future troubles. can not say it clearly."
Mr. Han didn't seem to expect that someone would dare to take him back to the Yamen, and he was taken away before he could recover.
Shopkeeper Liu was honest and followed obediently, but the look in his eyes was changing, as if he was considering what he should do next.
Originally, Shen Zhonglei planned to take a rest today and go to the Yamen tomorrow. However, something happened on the road, so he had to go straight to the Yamen with his people.
It was broad daylight, but the Wuchang government office door was closed.
The entourage came forward and knocked on the door for a long time before a yawning man came out with his shoes on. Without even opening his eyes, he asked impatiently: "Who is it? Why are you knocking?"
"I am Shen Zhonglei, here to take office." Shen Zhonglei introduced himself.
Shen Zhonglei? Isn't that the new Mr. Shen?
Mr. Shen has just arrived at Wuchang Mansion. Why did he come to the front office instead of resting in the back house?
The person who came out opened his eyes wide for a moment and rubbed them a few times in disbelief.
Although he thought this in his heart, he had already habitually slumped down and said with a smile on his face: "Oh, it's the young man who has too much eyesight to see the mountains. The young disciple Guo Fan is in charge of the young ones in the yamen." My name is Fanzi...Hey, look at me, I’m talking too much, Mr. Shen, come in and invite me."
Shen Zhonglei's brows furrowed again. This member of the government office behaves frivolously and is too unstable. What does he look like?
After stepping into the government office, Shen Zhonglei's brows not only did not loosen, but instead became more and more wrinkled.
The government office was empty, and after walking for a long time, I couldn't even see anyone.
When I walked to the lobby, I finally saw a man dressed as a scribe. He was sleeping soundly on the table, with drool dripping from the corner of his mouth and accumulating a small puddle on the table.
"Pfft!" Seeing this situation, Mr. Han finally couldn't help laughing.
