Governor Zhao's expression remained unchanged, he moved four fingers and said with a smile: "It's not that I'm not a friend enough, Brother Chen also knows that I'm just an errand boy. What I've been told is that all the grain that passes through Pingyang Mansion will be collected at most 40%." , but for the sake of the Chen family, I directly gave the highest price."
As soon as these words came out, Chen Bingxian's face turned dark: "I don't know who is above. I have been in Pingyang for many years and am familiar with all the great masters. I don't know who set the rules so harshly."
Zhu Biao on the side snorted coldly: "Bullshit, I really want to see who is hacking my Chen family's food, but I'm afraid that if you cheat, you'll have to give me a black gauze hat in exchange!"
Chen Rongyan comforted him by saying, "Master, don't be anxious. The so-called asking price is so high that you have to pay it back on the spot. Business is all about negotiation. No one can bully my Chen family."
"Besides, Governor Zhao is a friend of my Chen family, so he is naturally towards us."
Governor Zhao, who had been a bit worried at first, became calm again after hearing this. He thought why he was angry with such an unscrupulous young man. He didn't know anything. When he thought about it, he smiled and said, "Brother Chen, it's really the rule to be more considerate." So, but the Chen family is different from others."
Chen Rongyan nodded and said: "Fourty percent is too low. It needs to be increased at least three times, otherwise we would rather bypass Pingyang and go directly to Yan'an Prefecture."
"Haha, does Brother Chen think that the rules are only set by the gentlemen of Pingyang Prefecture? No matter whether you go to Yan'an Prefecture or Pingliang Prefecture, Qingyang Prefecture, you will get the same price in the end."
The warmth on Chen Rongyan's face dropped: "Governor Zhao is so brave, he dares to say such things!"
Governor Zhao said with a smile: "As a ninth-grade official, who can I represent by what I say? It's just farts. If you don't want to hear it, I won't say anything."
After saying that, the old man observed the guards around him. Chen Rongyan frowned, and Chen Bingxian on the side also looked ugly. No wonder the colleague who had originally agreed with him did not come forward, but sent this guy named Zhao.
Such people have no place on the stage at all, and their words and deeds cannot be held accountable at all. Zhu Biao suddenly took a step forward: "I am still saying the same thing, you are nothing, even if you include Yan'an Prefecture, Pingliang Prefecture and so on. !”
Hearing such arrogant words, Governor Zhao was not surprised. He suddenly raised his hands toward the east and asked in a low voice: "Is this transaction from the Chen family or that person?"
Zhu Biao sneered: "What do you think?"
Chen Bingxian hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Zhu Biao's sleeve: "Master, please calm down. Governor Zhao is just following orders."
Governor Zhao said in a low voice: "If the Chen family's transaction is at most 50% higher, and if it's that person's transaction, tell us the number, and we will never bargain. Even if you want to go to the rear and sell it yourself, you can do it!"
Chen Rongyan kicked his hands with a smile on his face and said: "Haha, Governor Zhao just explained the truth, isn't he afraid of us pretending to be powerful?"
"If you, the Chen family, have the courage, we will admit it."
Zhu Biao's eyes narrowed slightly. If the Chen family dared to admit it, the other party would definitely dare to accept it. As long as the East Palace was involved, it wouldn't be a big deal to lose a small profit.
Everyone present was silent for a while, and then Chen Rongyan said in a deep voice: "It's not that I look down on Brother Zhao, we have to talk to the gentlemen of Pingyang Mansion about this matter."
Governor Zhao smiled easily and said, "That's natural. I'm here to invite Mr. Chen and Brother Chen to the city for a dinner. Mr. Tongzhi has already made arrangements at the largest restaurant in the city and is waiting for you to come."
Everyone stopped mentioning the conflict just now. Seeing that he was getting in the way, Zhu Biao immediately said to Chen Rongyan with a bored expression: "I'm going to rest. Call me before entering the city."
The three of them immediately gave each other hands. After Zhu Biao walked away, Governor Zhao sighed: "After all, he is a young master from a wealthy family. He has this kind of nobility that we don't have."
Chen Rongyan said with a smile: "He was pampered no matter what. The General Secretary is very fond of him. He is just going through hardships to temper his temper. I guess he will go back to Beijing to continue studying at the Imperial Academy when things are over."
The three of them looked at each other and smiled. This situation is very common in the homes of high officials and nobles. It is not a rare thing. Among them, Chen Bingxian looked at his cousin with admiration. He did not expect that he would dare to tease His Highness the Crown Prince so naturally.
Chen Rongyan's expression remained as usual. Along the way, he also roughly understood the prince's temper. As long as he could run his errands well, he would not pursue any minor details.
The three of them talked for a while, and then Governor Zhao took his leave, saying that he would come back to invite him in the evening and that it would not be too late to talk about business tomorrow. The two cousins of the Chen family sent him away politely.
The two of us stayed there for a while before relaxing. Chen Rongyan asked first, "You didn't reveal the news about the young master's arrival, did you? Don't go astray, otherwise it will be too late!"
Chen Bingxian smiled bitterly and said: "This is natural. The stakes are so clear. I have not lived enough and want to take my family to death. How could I leak the news about the young master?"
Chen Rongyan also knew that his cousin was a smart man, so he felt relieved after hearing this: "All we have to do is work hard. If we do it well, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You and I must seize it!"
The two brothers talked for a while, and then Chen Rongyan led his cousin to a tent in the middle of the grain team. They were surrounded by soldiers of the Fujun Guards, and many cars were used to isolate the outside world.
After the two of them entered, they saw Zhu Biao drinking herbal tea. Chen Bingxian immediately knelt down and said, "Chen Bingxian, the common man, pays homage to His Highness. Please be angry with the common man for being rude just now."
Zhu Biao put down his tea cup and said with a smile: "I've got what I want, what's the crime? Shopkeeper Chen is too polite. Please sit down."
Chen Bingxian was still a little cautious when he got up. Zhu Biao glanced at Chen Rongyan and asked when he nodded: "What's going on in Pingyang Mansion? How much has the price of food in the city increased compared with normal times?"
Chen Bingxian stood up straight and replied: "The city is still relatively stable. The food and drink expenses of wealthy businessmen and officials have not changed much from usual, but other ordinary people are sad. Food prices have started to rise since early February this year, and now they are higher than normal." The increase has more than doubled, and those who have food reserves are lucky, but those who don’t have to sell their fields to buy food at such a high price.”
It was similar to what Zhu Biao expected, and then asked: "How is the disaster relief porridge set up in the city doing?"
"Yes, there are some, and there are more than those at the city gate, but it means that the city cannot maintain the chaos, and the old, weak, sick, and disabled are basically unable to escape. Every morning and evening, the government will send people to collect the corpses of people who have died of starvation on the roadside... "
Zhu Biao knocked on the table and said, "What do you think of Pingyang's officials?"
Chen Bingxian said with a bitter look on his face: "Common people have no official positions. Even if they have some contact with Pingyang Tongzhi, they are just familiar faces. I cannot judge whether those officials are loyal and honest. Please forgive me." "
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