Lan Tian, his wife and children returned to the city with the sunset. At this time, it was impossible to take a boat back to Guangxin, so they had to stay in Panyu today. Someone at the post house in the city had already made preparations in advance.
On the way back, I met someone sent by Gao Shun. Wang Shi's case has been fully investigated and he asked Lan Tian to go back and make the final decision.
Perhaps because of the simple folk customs of the county town, Gao Shun and Yao Qi's work efficiency was astonishingly high. It only took less than half a day for the whole story to come to light. Even if it had been left to a few months later, it might not have been able to be solved.
"Xiaojun, I want to go first. Gao Yuan will send you directly to the post house." Lan Tian said goodbye to Lu Lingqi.
"Husband, just go on your own." Lu Lingqi nodded lightly.
Because there were few minor matters in Panyu County, the county magistrate did not have his own government office. He usually worked in the second hall of the county government office. After Wang Shi's incident, Chen Tu gave up the main hall.
Lan Tian said goodbye to his wife and children and quickly came to the county government office to sit down. Yao Qi immediately reported to him what he had found out in the afternoon. After learning the truth, Lan Tian didn't know how to deal with it.
The Chen family was a wealthy local family in Panyu. Chen Tu was promoted to the county magistrate during his tenure as a scholar. His nephew Wang Shi liked doing business, so he founded Panyu Trading Company with Chen Tu's support.
With Chen Tu's influence and care, Wang Shi became the richest man in Panyu in less than two years. He was good at calculating and arranging supplies, and had a strong business acumen. He once did business with Vietnamese merchants Abu, Usdin and others. Through trading.
After the construction of Guangzhou City began, Wang Shi's caravan was responsible for helping Chen Tu transport grain. He got to know Samoko's men well and discovered the business of purchasing melons, fruits, flesh and vegetables.
Wang Shixian pretended to be a tiger to intimidate vegetable farmers, and then reached a verbal agreement with the barbarian leader to use the average purchase price of the previous times to supply supplies to the construction site. With the strong deployment power of Panyu Trading Company, he delivered melons, fruits, flesh and vegetables in a timely manner every time. in place.
After hearing this, Lan Tian patted his forehead, and then asked Gao Shun, "Have General Sha's people taken bribes?"
Gao Shun clasped his fists and replied: "I personally interrogated General Sha and did not find that the leader in charge of procurement took bribes."
"Master Fu, since Wang Shi did not give or take bribes, and the cost of the construction site has not been increased, all that is left is to intimidate the vegetable farmers, do you think you can give him a lighter sentence?" Yao Qi has a good relationship with Chen Tu, and at this time he interceded for Wang Shi. , maybe Chen Tu can be saved.
Lan Tian understood Yao Qi's thoughts and said, "Go and call their nephew here, and I will ask some questions in person."
"Wei." Yao Qi took the order and left.
Gao Shun also persuaded, "Although Wang Shi exceeded the rules, he did solve the problem for General Sha. If this person is severely punished, future purchases may be difficult."
Lan Tian shook his head gently: "Boping, you only saw the surface. The deeper things are not that simple."
Chen Tu and Wang Shi had been waiting in the second hall. Chen Tu scolded his nephew until they were both extremely depressed. Yao Qi came to invite them and secretly told them that Lan Tian's anger was temporarily gone, so hope was rekindled in their hearts.
Lan Tian looked at Wang Shi who was bowing his head in the hall, and then asked curiously: "I heard from County Magistrate Chen that you finally opened Panyu Trading Company because you liked doing business?"
Wang Shi had never seen such a big figure before, and he replied tremblingly: "The common people like him wrongly, and I will never do business again."
Lan Tian shook his head and hummed: "What's wrong with liking to do business? Your mistake is to use your uncle's official position to intimidate the people. This behavior is to discredit the Panyu government."
Although the order of the Three Kingdoms era has not collapsed, the gap between the government and the people is obviously huge. Everyone was shocked when Lan Tian said this, because in the eyes of these white-bodied people, no matter what decision the government made, the head of Guizhou only needed Surrendering like a tool man is a concept that is difficult to correct in a short period of time.
As for Lan Tian's desire to establish a good image for the government, it was undoubtedly his wishful thinking. So when he saw the strange expressions of everyone in the hall, Lan Tian changed the topic and asked: "Where do you source your vegetables and meat? Since they can be sold at a reasonable price." At the construction site, prices should be lowered at the source, right? How much is the profit?"
Wang Shi was extremely shocked when he heard that Lan Tian had guessed his own operation mode, so he did not dare to hide anything and answered honestly: "The meat and vegetables of Cao Min are purchased privately, and I have lowered the price of selling them to the construction site." At these purchase prices, the net profit is less than 10%..."
Lantian frowned and said deceitfully: "Is it really only 10%? How come I heard it's more than that?"
Seeing Lan Tian's anger, Wang Shi was so frightened that he knelt on the ground and kowtowed and explained: "The Lord is very aware of the situation. What you heard is probably gross profit. Excluding the wages of the workers, there is indeed less than 10% left. Those vegetable farmers need to bear the burden of choosing vegetables." Time, they are actually willing to make a little profit, and the common people are willing to hand over all the surplus..."
Chen Tu suddenly kicked Wang Shi sideways, directly interrupting Wang Shi's apology. He cursed bitterly: "What are you arguing about, you bastard? Is this the end of handing over the surplus? Hand over Panyu Trading Company to Fujun." Disposal..."
"Ah...I..." Although Wang Shi was reluctant to give up the business he had worked so hard to establish, how could he offend Lan Tian with his little background? He hesitated and lowered his head and stopped talking.
Lan Tian suddenly felt a little relieved when he heard this. Wang Shi actually understood the cost of time. Although he must have done a lot of things under the banner of Chen Tu, he was not a very bad person in essence. It could even be said from the side that He is a talented person, and the word profiteer has nothing to do with him.
"I'm not a robber, general. I think you are of good nature, so I'll give you a wide berth. You'd better work hard at Panyu Trading Company in the future. Mr. Yao, just set a number according to the law and ask him to pay a fine." Lan Tian said leisurely.
"Wei." Yao Qi accepted the order with his hands raised. He didn't expect that the thunder in Lantian was heavy and the rain was light, so he handled it so lightly. He also lamented that nephew Chen Tu was lucky to meet such a strange person.
"Thank you, Mr. Fu, for your kindness." Wang Shi kowtowed quickly.
Seeing that the matter had been settled, Gao Shun quickly asked for instructions: "Sir, how will we purchase vegetables and meat for the Guangzhou City construction site in the future? Or should we inform the farmers to pick them up themselves?"
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality.
Whether it is the purchase of farmers or barracks, they are used to having middlemen handle everything, and it will be very uncomfortable for them to go back to the original model.
Lantian thought for a while and told Gao Shun seriously: "From now on, you can pay Panyu Trading Company, let shopkeeper Wang continue to help us purchase, and arrange some of your own people to supervise the process."
"Wei." Gao Shun clasped his fists.
"No, no, no, how can ordinary people dare to accept wages? We are voluntary to help, and we should treat it as a contribution to the construction of Guangzhou city..." Wang Shi saw this and immediately showed his courtesy.
Lan Tian patted his thigh, "That's it, it's settled. I haven't recruited anyone to build Guangzhou City, and your Panyu Trading Company will be considered a corvee."
"That's their blessing."
Although Chen Tu responded promptly, Lan Tian did not forget his mistake.
Lan Tian's expression was serious: "Although the matter of Panyu Trading Company is over, Magistrate Chen made a mistake by neglecting to observe and condoning it. I will explain it to Prefect Yu Lin and Yuan. After the first month, you can go to Bushan County to report to him."
"Wei." Although Chen Tu was unwilling to give up, retaining his official position was a blessing in misfortune.
