county seat.
Xu family residence.
A vermilion coffin was parked in the hall, with more than a dozen Taoist priests kneeling below it, reciting the "Supreme Suffering Sutra".
The Xu family is very wealthy, and if they say it will take 7,749 days, then it must be 7,749 days.
In matters of funeral, the Northern Song Dynasty followed ancient rituals.
"Book of Rites: Regime of Kings": "The emperor is buried in the seventh month and buried in the seventh month; the princes are buried in the fifth month and buried in the fifth month; the officials, scholars and common people are buried in the third month and buried in the third month."
Funeral and burial are two separate parts.
For example, the emperor's funeral took seven days and was buried within seven months.
At the same time, the Northern Song Dynasty court also advocated high maintenance and low burial, and simple funeral arrangements.
This is what the regulations say, but the people don't buy it.
Funerals in Fujian have even evolved into a custom of comparison. If a family member dies, a large funeral must be held and relatives, friends and neighbors must be entertained.
Moreover, the host family also needs to give a piece of money to each guest.
The minimum is two to three hundred articles, and the maximum is unlimited.
This causes many people to go bankrupt once someone dies in their family.
Another example is the Xu family. According to regulations, the funeral can only be held for three days, but now the time limit has already passed.
The ability to keep corpses in morgue for so long in the hot summer is due to today's superb embalming technology.
In the study room, two men and one woman were sitting at the desk.
As the saying goes, a woman should be pretty and filial.
The woman was over thirty years old, and her appearance was mediocre, but now she was wearing linen and mourning, but she had a different kind of charm.
"Third sister, please don't be sad. Now that your brother-in-law has left, you should take care of yourself even more."
The speaker has a fair face and elegant temperament, but the nasolabial wrinkles on both sides of his nose make him a bit more ruthless.
This man is the head of the Zheng family and Mrs. Zheng’s eldest brother.
The other person's name is Wu Yan. Although he is about the same age as the two of them, he is still their uncle in terms of seniority.
At this moment, he comforted him: "Yes, even if it's not for yourself, you should think more about Lin'er."
"Brother, uncle, I can't swallow this breath!"
Mrs. Zheng raised her head, a fierce look flashed in her red and swollen eyes.
Yesterday, the five nursing homes sent by the housekeeper to kill An Niang's family were found dead this morning.
Four people were decapitated with a knife, and another was nailed to the ground with a wooden spear. The technique was clearly attributed to Han Zhen.
Hearing this, Zheng Dalang sighed: "That Han Er is so brave. How can the guards in our home be his match? Now he has burrowed into the mountain, like a fish into the sea, and he can't be found even if he wants to look for it."
Zheng Dalang was a little worried about Han Er.
That Qi Meng was the spear and stick instructor he paid a lot of money to bring back from Tokyo. He was a superb martial artist. When he danced the dragon stick, eight or nine people could not get close to him. The power of one stick could split bricks and crack rocks.
But such a good man couldn't even walk through Han's hands and was split into two pieces with a knife.
He is so brave, I am afraid he is even worse than the fierce generals of ancient times.
What if you make the other party anxious and fight back to the county seat again?
Mrs. Zheng still refused to give up and said, "Didn't Changzhi County give warnings to the archers recently? Send him some money to kill Han Er."
"Hey!"
Wu Yan sneered: "Chang Yukun is as timid as a mouse. Now I'm afraid he won't even dare to go out to the county government. I hope he will suppress the bandits, haha!"
"If he doesn't dare, then let him write to the state government and dispatch the navy to suppress it. I don't believe it. A rogue can turn the world upside down!"
Mrs. Zheng said, got up and went to the bookshelf, picking up an exquisite wooden box.
Putting the wooden box in front of Zheng Dalang, she said, "Brother, go to the county government office for me."
His younger sister has been accustomed to being strong since she was a child. If she doesn't get what she wants, something might happen.
Thinking of this, Zheng Dalang responded: "Then I'll go there."
After that, he carried the wooden box and left the study.
…
County government study room.
As the tea whisk continues to stir, a layer of green foam floats in the tea cup.
After admiring it carefully for a moment, Chang Zhixian showed a satisfied smile: "After all, the soup made with sugar is the most beautiful."
Just as he was about to pick up the tea cup and taste it, the concierge was gently pushed away.
"Alang, the eldest son of the Zheng family is here."
After hearing Uncle Fu's report, Chang Zhixian was puzzled: "Why is he here?"
In the past few days, the Zheng family and the Xu family had been guarding him like a wolf. It was strange that he took the initiative to visit him today.
"I don't know."
Uncle Fu shook his head first, and then speculated: "I saw the eldest son of the Zheng family holding a wooden box. I think he must have asked to see Alang for something."
Chang Zhixian muttered: "Call him in."
After receiving the order, Uncle Fu turned around and left the study.
After a while, the door was pushed open again, and Zheng Dalang walked in with a hearty smile on his face.
The two exchanged a few words, but before Chang Zhixian could ask, Zheng Dalang took the initiative and joked: "Zhixian, I have nothing to do without going to the Three Treasures Hall today."
Chang Zhixian asked calmly, "I wonder what happened to Mr. Zheng?"
"Why!"
Zheng Dalang sighed slightly and said: "Since Master Xu was killed by the bandits, my sister has been unable to think about food and drink, and has been unable to sleep at night. She only wants to avenge her husband."
"It's a pity that the bandits are brave and very invincible. Therefore, I would like to ask the county magistrate to write a letter and dispatch the town navy to help suppress the bandits. A mere small gift is not a sign of respect. It is only used as a polish for the magistrate."
As he spoke, he held the wooden box in both hands and placed it gently in front of Chang Zhixian.
Suppress bandits?
Chang Zhixian sneered in his heart and gently opened the wooden box with one hand.
I saw a few silver collars lying quietly in the wooden box.
Judging from the size and weight, I think it should be more than ten kilograms. According to today's silver price, it would be 500 pounds.
If it had been a few days ago, Changzhi County would have accepted this 500-guan retouching fee without hesitation.
But now, he looks down on it.
No one else, just because he just received a letter from his wife's brother.
As soon as the sugar and refined salt were transported to Jinan Prefecture, they were snatched away by a group of wealthy businessmen.
White sugar sells for 30 guan per tael, and refined salt sells for 2 guan per jin.
On this trip alone, I made a net profit of more than 1,800 yuan.
The key is that this is only Jinan Prefecture. If it is shipped to Tokyo, the profit will be even higher.
What a huge profit!
Moreover, for Changzhi County, this business is almost costless.
It's just a hand move.
If there is a good supply of coarse salt, I think I can earn at least three thousand guan on my next trip.
I made a net profit of several thousand dollars in one trip. How can I still make it after a year?
Suppress bandits?
snort!
This is not suppressing bandits. This is cutting off my, Chang Yukun's, financial path.
Thinking of this, Chang Zhixian closed the lid with a snap.
Zheng Dalang had been quietly observing Chang Zhixian's expression. When he saw that he was smiling but not smiling, his heart suddenly thumped.
Sure enough, Chang Zhixian said seriously: "I understand your sister's mood, but how can the imperial law be messed up? Then Han Er and his subordinates are only six people, how can they alarm the Zhenhai Navy? Don't worry, our county has expanded its enrollment. Archers, practice every day, and when the time is right, you will send people to suppress the bandits."
"Besides, suppressing bandits is the responsibility of this county. Officer Zheng, don't be too polite. Just take these things back."
As he spoke, he pushed the wooden box over.
Seeing this scene, Zheng Dalang looked surprised and uncertain.
If he didn't know the character of Changzhi County, just based on these words and his demeanor, he would probably think that he is a good official who has a clear mind and is devoted to the people.
After coming back to his senses, Zheng Dalang hesitated and said: "This...then I will thank the county magistrate on behalf of my sister."
Chang Zhixian said in a gentle tone: "Let's go, Uncle Fu will see you off."
Watching Zheng Dalang's figure disappear from sight, Chang Zhixian raised a sneer at the corner of his mouth.
