The people below were discussing the issue of tribute. Although they were unhappy, they did not dare to show it. Moreover, we need to find a reputable person to take charge of this matter.
It was hard to find this candidate. Everyone suggested one, and he suggested one, and it suddenly became lively.
Seeing this scene, Eunuch Zhao was very satisfied. He wanted to please everyone in the palace and lived cautiously, but when he went out on errands, everyone fawned over him, which was no less concessionary than those of the imperial envoys.
Especially these low-level merchants, they are like little grasshoppers in his hands and cannot escape.
However, the noise was very dizzying, so Eunuch Zhao and Zhang Shaohua got up and went to the next room to hide in peace. He just wanted the result, the process was not important.
Besides, he also wanted to do a favor for the Zhang family.
Eunuch Zhao sat down, and immediately a maid from the county government came forward to serve tea. Zhang Shaohua was also waiting on him.
While drinking tea, Eunuch Zhao secretly glanced at Zhang Shaohua under the cover of the tea cup, and then lowered his eyes to hide the emotions in his eyes.
Eunuch Zhao is an old man next to the Queen Mother. However, when Mrs. Zhang was serving the Queen Mother, he was still a young eunuch who had just entered the palace. He almost lost his life because of a trivial matter. It was the young Mrs. Zhang who begged for mercy. punished him with death.
However, he was still beaten and had to be nursed for more than half a month. He was naturally grateful to Mrs. Zhang.
But time has changed, and the arrogant old Mrs. Zhang has long since left the palace, the center of power, and he has gradually become one of the few most trusted people around the Queen Mother.
However, Mrs. Zhang still held on to the little kindness she had from back then and continued to ask Eunuch Zhao to help her deliver the news and mention her from time to time in front of the Queen Mother, so that the Queen Mother would remember her as the person who had nursed the Emperor for a period of time.
Even this time, it was Mrs. Zhang who insisted on letting Eunuch Zhao come to Qijiang County because of her original kindness.
In fact, for Eunuch Zhao, dealing with a merchant like Qin Xiang is as easy as crushing an ant. However, being coerced or arranged to do things makes him feel a little unhappy.
Eunuch Zhao lowered his eyes and thought: Even if it is a life-threatening favor, it should be repaid.
Zhang Shaohua, however, had no idea what Eunuch Zhao was thinking. He thought that Eunuch Zhao and his grandmother were old acquaintances and that their relationship was very good.
And Zhang Shaohua is still thinking: How can he get that young man to serve him by his side?
At this moment, Huang Xiu and the young man were invited in.
Huang Xiu, who was walking in front, was probably in his twenties. He had handsome features, an upright face, and a medium build. When he smiled, he had a charm that attracted little girls.
The boy who followed him was tall and thin. He was fifteen or sixteen years old, and his stature had not fully grown yet. He seemed to be indistinguishable between male and female. He had red lips, white teeth, and starry eyes. In Zhang Shaohua's eyes, he suddenly felt... It feels a bit heart-pounding.
How could it be possible that such a person could not be remembered after seeing him?
Zhang Shaohua couldn't help but frown again. This feeling of familiarity was very strong, but he just couldn't remember where he had seen this young man?
People in Dancheng said that Lu Jiu loved to wallow in women. In fact, the other young masters were not much better.
It's just that Lu Jiu doesn't like to hide, and his parents love and protect him, so Lu Jiu has always been a prominent figure, and this is why he stole everyone's attention.
For example, the Zhang Shaohua in front of me is a very crazy and wild person. Besides women, he also likes young men like this who have just grown up and can't tell the difference between male and female. However, not many people know about this hobby.
Zhang Shaohua resisted looking at the young man, pretending to be a humble gentleman, and first took the initiative to introduce Eunuch Zhao and himself.
Huang Xiu and the two of them bowed when they came in, and now they saluted again. The young man also stood up and bowed in the same way.
At this time, Zhang Shaohua focused his eyes on the young man boldly, and heard Huang Xiu introduce himself, then pointed at the young man beside him and said: "This is Ding Hu from our Xiangfang. "
Ding Hu smiled, and there was a small dimple on the left corner of his mouth, which looked very cute.
Zhang Shaohua couldn't help but soften his voice several degrees, and he unconsciously leaned forward and asked with a smile: "How old are you this year? What kind of work do you do at Qin's Fragrance Factory? Who else is there in the family?"
Huang Xiu's brows twitched slightly, and just when he was about to speak, he heard Ding Hu say: "In reply to Uncle Zhang, the younger one is fifteen years old. He is just an errand boy. He has a mother and a younger sister at home."
The slightly hoarse voice seemed to be pleasant to Zhang Shaohua's ears now, and he added back the points he had deducted for the previous idea.
Huang Xiu couldn't help but wrinkle his brows, then relaxed them, and took a step forward quietly, hiding Ding Hu behind him and blocking Zhang Shaohua's increasingly explicit gaze.
Eunuch Zhao watched the interaction between the three people and felt happy. He glanced at Zhang Shaohua with the tail of his eyes and said with a smile: "Ding Hu? What a good name. Hahaha. Come on, this is a small meeting gift. Take it and play with it." Son."
As he spoke, he took out a tiger-shaped agarwood toy from his body.
Ding Hu walked out from behind Huang Xiu and looked side by side at what Eunuch Zhao was holding. He seemed frightened and did not dare to reach out to take it. Instead, he looked at Huang Xiu, looking pitiful.
When Huang Xiu saw Eunuch Zhao's expression, he was afraid that if he didn't accept it, he would offend someone; but would this person's things be easy to get? He patted Ding Hu on the back of the head and asked him to follow.
Ding Hu hurriedly bowed and took it with both hands, thanking him again. Ding Hu's voice was a little hoarse, probably because he was changing his voice, but it wasn't unpleasant at all.
However, Zhang Shaohua deducted two points from Ding Hu in his heart, because he prefers crisp and melodious voices. Regardless of men or women, it sounds good to lean on him and call him "Master" in a sweet and crisp voice.
After sitting down again, Eunuch Zhao said he was sorry not to see Mrs. Xiao Er, and said that he would send someone to Xiao's house soon.
Huang Xiu helped to politely refuse: "My father-in-law is interested, but there is no one at home to receive guests. The master was seriously ill due to excessive sadness. Now he is resting in bed at home, and it is not convenient to see guests."
At this point, seeing the cold light of ill-intention radiating from Eunuch Zhao's kind eyes, Huang Xiu calmly handed over his hands: "However, before we came, Master explained that although she could not come forward in person, the Queen Mother Your birthday is the most important thing, as long as the father-in-law gives instructions, our Qin Family Incense Shop will fully cooperate without any hesitation."
This guarantee was unambiguous, and with Huang Xiu's firm eyes, Eunuch Zhao believed it five or six times.
The reason for not fully believing it is naturally the result of surviving in the palace for so many years. I have doubts about anyone and anything. What does it mean to think more about it?
The next discussion was nothing more than how many spices and blends the Qin's Fragrance Shop should produce.
It is too simplistic to say that the lion has opened its mouth. It is simply not enough to ask for the entire net worth of Qin's Xiangfang.
Huang Xiu didn't say yes or no, and there wasn't even the slightest hint of displeasure, retort, or embarrassment.
Finally, he stood up and said goodbye to Eunuch Zhao and Mr. Zhang, who had been silent.
(End of chapter)
