"So, you borrowed three hundred taels of silver from him?"
Ouyang Ming asked.
"There is no need for three hundred taels. I only borrowed fifty taels of silver at the beginning, but I can't pay back the fifty taels. With the interest compounded, today, according to him, it has become three hundred taels." two.
Alas, I live frugally every day, write and sell paintings, but I can't make much money, and I haven't been able to pay it back. Poor my daughter, she's so hungry that she's even naked.
She suffered with me, and I can't help her.
But if she were allowed to go to Zuo Xiang's Mansion, it would be like a dragon's pond and a tiger's den, and life would be worse than death. "
Ouyang Ming sighed,
"You also have a hard life. You have been honest all your life, but you ended up like this. Even though you were in trouble, you didn't take bribes and bend the law to get those ill-gotten gains.
Brother Li, you are respectable and admirable! "
As he spoke, Ouyang Ming held his hands and bowed to Li Ze.
Li Ze shook his head and smiled bitterly,
“Alas, Master Nie has helped me now, helped me get rid of the bullies, and also helped me pay off my debt.
I can't repay the great kindness of saving my life. I have to pay back these three hundred taels of silver to Lord Nie even if I risk my life. "
Nie Chen walked over with a smile and said with a smile,
"May I ask how much Mr. Li's monthly salary is?"
"Well...the monthly salary given to me by the imperial court is one tael of silver."
"Hey, you officials in the capital are really poor."
Nie Chen smiled and said,
"Based on Mr. Li's daily expenses for a month, if he can save half a tael of silver by living frugally, it will be six taels a year. Three hundred taels will take fifty years. Well, almost fifty years later, Mr. Li Then I can pay off my debt."
Hearing this, Li Ze said with shame,
"Xiaguan is already forty years old this year. The imperial court stipulates that those who are in the third rank or below must retire to official positions when they are sixty years old. I'm afraid... I'm afraid they won't be able to work until they are ninety years old."
"Oh, in that case, it's just that you can't pay the debt. Since you can't pay the debt, let's use someone to pay off the debt."
"ah?!"
Li Ze was shocked. He didn't expect that he had just left the wolf's den and entered the tiger's den again. This was another person who was thinking about his daughter!
Li Ze said bitterly,
"Sir, the money I owe you is the money I owe you. It has nothing to do with my daughter. She is free. She has followed me and endured hardships since she was a child. Now I really don't want her to enter the dragon's den and the tiger's den again.
Please be merciful, please let me go. I can let my subordinates work as cows or horses, but she is still young. "
As he spoke, Li Ze knelt down to Nie Chen again.
Nie Chen quickly helped him up and said,
"Master Li, what are you doing? I don't want your daughter. What I want is you."
"Ah? You want me? I'm an old man, what do you want me to do?"
Li Ze was shocked and secretly thought that this young adult had very strange taste.
Nie Chen smiled and said,
"On the way here, I heard Ouyang say that Mr. Li is a wise man, so I personally brought gifts to visit Mr. Li and hoped to invite Mr. Li to serve me.
Of course, don't worry, the monthly salary I give is dozens of times that of the imperial court. It is enough for you and your daughter to settle down in Weihu County and have no worries about food and clothing.
Even when your daughter gets married in the future, you can prepare a generous dowry for her so that she will not be bullied by her husband's family. "
"Master Nie...do you want me to serve you?"
Li Ze's eyes widened and he looked at Nie Chen in disbelief.
"Yes, you have seen the current court. It is ignorant and unruly, with treacherous ministers controlling the government, and its influence on the local area is minimal. Such a court has little hope and future.
Of course, I am the governor of Weihu County personally appointed by the imperial court, and I am also a minister of Feng State. If you follow me, it can only be regarded as a change of guard. You are transferred from the capital to the county. Mr. Li, please do not have any psychological burden. "
Li Ze said quickly,
"The lower official is willing, the lower official is willing to follow Mr. Nie. I, Old Li, am not a pedantic person and will not be loyal to the court. Over the years, I have indeed seen clearly that there is no hope for this court.
Moreover, I have offended the left prime minister, and staying in the capital is a dead end. Lord Nie has been as kind to me as a mountain, and he has a bright mind. I am willing to work for you, Lord Nie, to repay your great kindness! "
"That's very good. Why don't Mr. Li pack his luggage now and follow me back to Prince Pingxi's Mansion to stay temporarily to avoid being troubled by the son of the Left Prime Minister again.
After I attend the emperor's longevity banquet, we will return to Weihu County together. "
"Okay, okay, I'm going to clean it up now."
In fact, Li Ze had nothing to deal with. The house and furniture belonged to the imperial court, and the only things he had were a few tattered quilts and a few books.
His daughter, Li Lian, didn't even have any decent jewelry or clothes.
Weng Qiuchan saw that Li Lian was really pitiful, so he took out the clothes and jewelry he bought from the carriage and pulled her into the house.
When she came out again, Li Lian had changed into clean and beautiful clothes, her hair was tied up with a gold hairpin, her face was washed, and she looked slim.
When Li Ze saw this, his expression changed drastically and he said,
"You damn girl, how can you want my wife's things? This gold hairpin is worth at least several hundred taels of silver. How can you afford it? Take it off and return it to my wife!"
Weng Qiuchan immediately said,
"I gave this to her. Now you all work with my husband. He is your master. I give Xiaolian something. It is a reward. There is no need to pay it back. You have to ask for it. Don't look down on the two of us. Mouth!"
Hearing this, Li Ze sighed, clasped his hands and said,
"Thank you ma'am."
"snort."
Weng Qiuchan snorted coldly, pulled Li Lian and walked towards the carriage.
Ouyang Ming smiled and said,
"Okay, Lao Li, neither the lord nor the madam are stingy people. The lord has a broad mind, and the madam is delicate and gentle. They are both very good to us. When you go to Weihu County in the future, you will know that the lord is not bad at this." money.
Throw away all your old quilts and stuff, don't want them anymore, I'll buy you new clothes later, we don't need anything.
Throwing away all these old things can be regarded as a complete separation from the past and ushering in a new life. "
"Okay, Ouyang, I listen to you."
After speaking, Li Ze took his book and followed Ouyang Ming outside.
At this moment, a loud shout came from the end of the alley,
"That's him, he's the one who hit me. Brother, go and help me catch him!"
Everyone turned to look and saw the young master of the Zheng family who had just left, being carried on a recliner. There was a man wearing armor beside him, followed by dozens of soldiers.
"Anyone who dares to commit murder in the street and beat the family of a court official will be arrested immediately!"
the young man in armor shouted as he ran.
Nie Chen turned around and looked happy.
Oh, isn't this an acquaintance, Sima Nan?
It was Sima Nan who had besieged them at the border of Gyeonggi County a few days ago.
