Interpersonal communication is sometimes a wonderful thing.
One day you might be angry, mad, and incommunicado, but the next day you might meet and say good morning to each other like no one else.
A new day, a new atmosphere, and a new junior sister...
Today is the day when the Yuan Ming House fundraising banquet is held. The sun rises early in the morning, and the sky should be clear and clear all day long.
Ouyang Rong went out early, carrying a few noodles and munching on the way to the government office. He sat in the office for a while and flipped through the Penglangdu Commercial Tax account book. After waiting for a while, he went to work and went to sleep. Diao County Cheng handed over the inadequacy.
After learning about the preparations for the noon banquet, there was no big problem. The two discussed the details, determined the time, and went about their business.
Yan Liulang has not been in Longcheng recently. Ouyang Rong sent him to Jiangzhou a few days ago and asked him to lead a capture team to supervise the transportation of the three thousand stones of grain in Jimincang.
Although there is not much food, Ouyang Rong does not want to see unplanned problems at all. He has to keep an eye on everything, so he feels relieved.
Therefore, Ouyang Rong's security work these days naturally fell on Xie Lingjiang.
Today is no exception.
The two met again in the "a bit stuffy" office yesterday. Ouyang Rong found that the junior sister's expression was as usual. They said good morning to each other, and their relationship was no different from usual.
Ouyang Rong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It's just that the men's clothing Xie Lingjiang wore today was no longer the narrow, round-collared Hu robe that was popular in the Zhou Dynasty yesterday. Instead, he changed into an elegant long robe with wide sleeves and wide sleeves, which made his figure less prominent.
However, she has a beautiful face and looks good no matter what she wears. It can’t help but make people sigh. The genes of the Xie family of Chenjun, who has been a noble family for hundreds of years, are indeed excellent. She stands like a orchid and a jade tree, and smiles like a bright moon in her arms... Although Junior sister usually doesn't smile.
But Ouyang Rong didn't pay much attention to these. He was all focused on today's business. When it was approaching noon, he put down his papers and went out with Xie Lingjiang and rushed to Yuanming Tower.
They were riding in a swaying carriage on the road together, and neither of them mentioned what happened yesterday, as if it had never happened.
In the car, Ouyang Rong sat upright, looking at the curtain in front of him.
Xie Lingjiang sat aside, also sitting upright.
They are all upright gentlemen.
However, someone was the first to break the silence.
"Give."
A plain hand stretched out straight in front of Ouyang Rong, with a pinched and wrinkled purse in the small white hand.
"This is?"
"Isn't it a public fundraiser? I can't donate?"
"Well, you can, but you have no obligation."
"Then take it as a token of affection and donate it to me. I didn't bring much with me on this trip. After buying the sword and bow, I only have six pieces of gold and a few taels of silver left. I sent a letter home yesterday, and I'll be back in a few days. If some private money is sent to you, you can donate it again.”
"There is little gold in circulation now. Six taels is enough to exchange for six or seventy guan, which is nearly 7,000 guan. You have donated too much."
"How much do you expect to raise this time, senior brother?"
"At least three thousand strings."
"The junior sister didn't donate much." Xie Lingjiang shook his head.
"Three thousand guan is for these local tyrants and gentry to donate together." Ouyang Rong said softly: "Most of the social wealth in Longcheng County is in their hands. They are all big business owners. Seventy guan is not much for them. , but junior sister, you are a personal donation, and your donation is already equivalent to my three years’ salary..."
Speaking of this, Ouyang Rong suddenly realized that the Xie family of Chen County seemed to be a big family, and much more powerful than the Liu family of Longcheng, which only existed in Jiangzhou. It was just that their food and appearance were more elegant and low-key, and this kind of high-ranking family pursued It's not the kind of wealth that comes from local tycoons, but fame, influence, and some secret information.
For example, Ouyang Rong's world-famous reputation as a gentleman was something they could appreciate.
Moreover, the junior sister and her teacher are just one member of the Xie family in Chen County. The Xie family also has many children and branches, and the roots of the tree are scattered.
However, in Ouyang Rong's impression, his mentor Xie Xun lived a frugal and unsophisticated life, and his junior sister looked similar to him. They were not interested in the family's business and making money at all, and studying was their top priority. It is conceivable that in the Xie family, money matters are probably regarded as a low priority, and are left to the subordinates to take care of, and are not taken seriously.
"That's okay."
Ouyang Rong nodded and put away the little rich woman's purse.
"Wait a minute." He hesitated for a moment, touched his hand in his sleeve, and finally handed out a crystal ball to Xie Lingjiang.
In the latter's doubtful eyes, he joked:
"In view of the fact that Miss Xie made the first donation for this fundraising banquet, I will give you a pearl as a reward. I hope that the girl's heart will be like a pearl and will always be pure and clear."
Xie Lingjiang suddenly remembered that the pearl in his hand seemed to be the one she misunderstood and stole that day in Sanhuiyuan. This could be regarded as the wedge between the two of them for the first time.
The junior sister looked at her senior brother who was talking nonsense seriously, suppressed the curve of the corners of her lips, nodded, took it and put it away.
She felt that...the pearl had not changed that day, and the person had not changed either. This senior brother was still a little unruly...
Xie Lingjiang pursed her red lips, but Ouyang Rong said reluctantly:
"This bead should be quite valuable. It can shine under the moonlight at night. Yesterday I went to several pawn shops in casual clothes and asked. The prices were all very low, but I always felt that they were ripping me off, so I didn't sell them. Junior sister took it Go, you can find an expert to take a look later."
"OK."
Xie Lingjiang nodded, but she didn't pay much attention. She couldn't wait to ask:
"How much food can I exchange for these donations?"
"Now seventy guan can only buy less than 500 shi."
Xie Lingjiang lowered his eyes, did some mental calculations, and frowned: "Why is the price of rice so expensive? Isn't the price of rice in our Jiangnan Road ten cents a dou? Ten dou is one stone... Why should the usual money be ten stones, right?"
"That was before the disaster. Now the price of rice in Longcheng is rising every day. Although I issued a price limit order, there are still many unscrupulous businessmen who secretly add terms to sell the grain. Now it costs at least fourteen yuan a dou. Even at this price, it is still Not many businesses sell it." He said calmly.
Xie Lingjiang took a deep breath and slowly said two words: "Profiteer."
Ouyang Rong said nothing, opened the car curtain, and looked at the luxurious riverside restaurant getting closer and closer in front of him.
He didn't want to play with those profiteers at all, because he was afraid of getting his hands dirty, but the Zhou court was unreliable, and behind him were tens of thousands of victims and floods that could come at any time, so he couldn't be alone.
Gotta get dirty.
…
Before the luncheon at Yuanming Tower began, Ouyang Rong sincerely received the arriving landlords, squires, wealthy businessmen and distinguished scholars at the entrance of the hall.
Diao Xiancheng introduced him to the side.
For example, this is the head of the Cheng family who runs a small part of the water transport business in Longcheng; this is the head of the Li family in the south of the city who has someone in the court who has reached the fifth rank; this is also incredible, he worked as a An old man from the Guan family who was the governor of Shangzhou in the north had a large piece of fertile land on the outskirts of the city...
Ouyang Rong directly started the social cow mode, sending the good citizens of Longcheng the warmth and care of herdsmen parents and officials... until Diao Xiancheng introduced a stranger to him again.
"Mingtang, this is the head of the Liu family in the west of the city, Liu Ziwen."
Ouyang Rong, who was turning away, raised his eyebrows and smiled even more.
But when he turned around and looked, he was quite surprised.
The famous young head of the Liu family, Liu Ziwen, who has always made Ouyang Rong aware of his ears, is not as domineering or cold and arrogant as he imagined.
On the contrary, it is a bit tepid, even ordinary.
