The apology is over.
The feast continues.
But besides the dejected Liu Zilin, there was another kneeling figure of Hu Ji beside the dining table.
Both of them knelt down to the two guests who came today.
And the young county magistrate finally moved his chopsticks and dipped his fingers into the food.
After drinking the apology wine, the young head of the Liu family sighed, with a sincere face:
"Lord County Magistrate, in fact, after careful review, except for some unpleasant things caused by my brother-in-law, the Liu family should have nothing to offend you. There is no need for us to be so tense. Our Liu family is also a citizen of Longcheng County."
Ouyang Rong was noncommittal.
Even though he had been quite calm throughout the entire process, in fact, his right forearm was still a little painful. It was caused by being pinched by his junior sister just now, but of course he couldn't show it at the moment.
Xie Lingjiang said coldly: "You didn't offend senior brother? What about the burning of accounts in the East Treasury?"
Liu Ziwen pretended to be confused: "What burning account? Didn't I hear that there was an accidental fire in the east warehouse?"
Xie Lingjiang nodded: "There was an accidental fire, and it happened that only your Liu family's account books were taken away, right? This fire is really good at picking people."
Liu Ziwen drank and pretended to be stupid and did not reply.
Xie Lingjiang seemed to notice something wrong with his senior brother's arm, and silently gave him a chopstick to eat.
Ouyang Rong put down his chopsticks and said directly:
"Mr. Liu, don't beat around the bush. If you invite me to dinner today, it's definitely not just a boring apology. What's the purpose? Let's be honest."
Liu Ziwen swallowed the polite words and said immediately:
"Then Liu is no longer hiding it... Our Liu family also wants to take a stake in the construction of the Broken Wing Canal, which is being presided over by your Excellency."
Ouyang Rong chuckled and said:
"The Liu family is already so rich. The west bank of Butterfly Creek is now filled with the sword furnaces of your Liu family's sword shop. Penglangdu Wharf also has a large number of shops in the shopping street owned by your Liu family. Aren't you satisfied?"
Liu Ziwen leaned forward and said seriously:
"No one will complain about having too much money, and the Liu family is no exception. The Liu family has been able to reach this point by relying on the ancestral motto of being prepared for danger in times of peace and planning in advance. When the folding wing canal is completed, the most prime location in Longcheng County will not be Peng. Langdu is now on both sides of Butterfly Creek.
"Your Excellency is the parent of all the people in Longcheng, and the Liu family is also a good citizen of Longcheng County. Your Excellency leads the people of Longcheng County to dig ditches to get rich. It would be inappropriate to miss anyone.
"We, the Liu family, also want to join Zheyiqu, and we hope that you will not hesitate to point out a suitable way out."
Ouyang Rong looked at his sincere face for a while, as if he was sizing up something. After a moment, he smiled:
"Since we are all common people in Longcheng County, there are no clear roads. All roads lead to Chang'an. What clear road the Liu family wants depends on how much money Mr. Liu is willing to spend to buy the road."
Liu Ziwen nodded, leaned back on the back of the chair, took a sip of wine, and muttered:
"The Liu family is willing to provide a group of the most elite craftsmen to help the county government build Di Gong Gate."
A string that had been tense for a long time in Ouyang Rong's heart relaxed, but hesitation appeared on his face: "What kind of practice?"
Liu Ziwen was familiar with the road: "Of course the county government took the lead in raising donations for 'gate repair'. My Liu family took the lead in raising donations, and then collected the money..."
Ouyang Rong interrupted directly: "How about the 30-70 share?"
Liu Ziwen glanced at his face and shook his head:
"Seven percent can be given to the county government. Our Liu family only needs the remaining 30% as compensation for the gate repair craftsmen. This will not cost the county government and your Excellency a penny, but you can..."
Ouyang Rong interrupted again rudely: "That won't work either. What bullshit fundraising, the Longcheng County government will not rob the people of any money."
Liu Ziwen frowned: "Where does the money to repair the gate come from?"
Ouyang Rong looked at him curiously: "Did your brother not tell you after he returned?"
Liu Ziwen was stunned: "What did you say?"
You Liu family are the ones here to kneel down and beg for food.
Ouyang Rong thought for a while and didn't say anything to slap him in the face.
At that time, he borrowed Liu Lang's words to tell Liu Zian. Liu Zian felt cowardly, so it was normal that he didn't go back and say it.
However, someone who is very considerate of other people’s emotions gave me a warm reminder:
"The county government won't give out a single coin for the construction of Di Gong Gate this time."
Liu Ziwen's tone was puzzled: "How can we repair it? We don't need to raise funds, and the county government won't pay for it..."
Under the kind and expectant eyes of his parents and officials, the young head of the Liu family suddenly stopped talking, and his facial expression gradually became stiff.
Ouyang Rong nodded: "Yes, I have to trouble Mr. Liu to pay for the construction himself."
Xie Lingjiang frowned and said:
"Senior brother, the Liu family paid for the craftsmanship and materials, but we can also do some work. After all, if our county government built it in name, this is also your achievement, isn't it?"
"What junior sister said is absolutely true."
Ouyang Rong nodded and suggested with a somewhat embarrassed expression:
"Then the county government will provide a group of young refugees to repair the gate, but Mr. Liu remembers to pay their wages on time."
"..."
Liu Ziwen suddenly understood why his second brother was so excited when he went home to report in the afternoon.
He licked his dry lips, and finally drank all the wine in the glass, wiped his mouth and said:
"Sir, the construction of Di Gong Gate is beneficial to the entire Longcheng County. Isn't it a little too...unkind to let our Liu family take over the entire project? How could the Liu family receive such a great blessing?"
Ouyang Rong nodded in agreement:
"You really can't accept this blessing, so in name, our Longcheng County Government is repairing it, and we will carry the blessing. When the time comes, I will also send some county government clerks to go with the young refugees to preside over it. Your Liu family People remember to cooperate.”
"?"
Liu Ziwen looked at the shameless guy opposite him speechlessly, and couldn't help but feel a fire rising in his heart.
You are a white wolf with nothing, but you still ride on horseback to take advantage of it, right? !
The Liu family has built Digong Gate so many times. Although the main reason is that they also need to control the water level of Butterfly Creek to facilitate certain things, but they have never been so cowardly in cooperation with the county government. They don't even have equal status. How do you think they are kneeling down to beg for food?
Ouyang Rong looked at Liu Ziwen's deep expression, then chuckled and asked:
"Do you, the Liu family, want me to show you the way?"
Liu Ziwen bit his teeth fiercely:
"Okay, just follow your orders."
Ouyang Rong nodded with satisfaction.
The second brother is right, you must hold back and put the overall situation first... Liu Ziwen took a deep breath in his heart.
He straightened his thoughts and was about to mention the Broken Wing Canal, which was his most important issue. At this moment, Xie Ling Jianghu said:
"Wait a minute, senior brother and I have a small condition."
Ouyang Rong looked and didn't stop him.
Liu Ziwen frowned, then relaxed: "What's the matter? Miss Xie, please tell me. I hope...it's really a small condition."
The young head of the Liu family obviously emphasized the word "small" more heavily.
Xie Lingjiang waved his little hand: "Your Liu family's porridge shed and nursery are all closed from now on and are not allowed to reopen."
Liu Ziwen silently turned his head and stared at her for a long time, even longer than the time he hesitated when he was raped by Mr. Di.
"Why?" He suddenly asked: "Look at Liu, they shouldn't be hindering the county magistrate and Miss Xie now, right?"
Xie Lingjiang raised his chin slightly: "It's in the way, it's an eyesore."
Ouyang Rong caught a glimpse of the visible veins on Liu Ziwen's forehead bulging.
Xie Lingjiang sat upright and stared at the opposite side.
Liu Ziwen narrowed his eyes and looked at her.
The atmosphere at the table fell silent for a moment.
A young county magistrate was slightly surprised when he saw the young head of the Liu family who had not agreed for a long time, mainly because he did not expect that the negotiation would get stuck on this trivial matter.
Because the porridge sheds and nurseries that were still open in the west of the city are indeed no different from closing down now.
But of course he was helping his junior sister.
The young magistrate lifted up his right sleeve, looked down at the red handprints on his forearm, and whispered:
"Shut it down, Mr. Liu, don't deceive yourself. Everyone knows what it is. The thousand-year-old fox is singing nothing about Liaozhai."
Liu Ziwen didn't ask what Liaozhai was. He was silent for a while, raised his head and drank a glass of wine, and let out a long breath of wine:
"The nursery can be closed, but the porridge shed cannot be closed. It was built by my father and is of commemorative significance. Thank you, girl. How about we each take a step back?"
Xie Lingjiang shook his head stubbornly.
Liu Ziwen puffed up his cheeks.
Ouyang Rong raised his head and said:
"I have heard about what happened to the old lady of the Liu family. If the version I heard is correct, then I really feel deeply sorry for what happened to the old lady of the Liu family."
Liu Ziwen shook his head, as if he didn't want to mention these old things anymore, or in other words, he couldn't listen to them at all.
He just said: "Your Majesty the County Magistrate, Miss Xie, while you are enjoying the wine today, how about Liu tell you a little story?"
"Oh?" the young county magistrate asked curiously: "What story?"
Liu Ziwen squinted his eyes: "Liu had read in a certain book... the story of 'Three Days and Four Days'."
Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows.
A certain photo is on the easter egg chapter, and I do what I say... I tried my best, brothers, but I can only do this QWQ... Finally, in the new March, please vote! Woo hoo hoo... (hugs thigh)
(End of chapter)
