In the middle of the night, the visitor was very anxious and sweating from running around. If you listen carefully, you can still hear noisy sounds in the distance.
Shen Que quickly changed his clothes and followed Shen Fu out.
Awang drove the car very fast, and deliberately took some detours to check out the shops on several other streets, and finally stopped on Qinglong Street, which was the most severely damaged.
The place is already crowded with people, and people from the government have also arrived. The Imperial Guards have surrounded the shop, and there is a lot of noise everywhere. There are candles burning in the shop, and through the crowd, you can see that the door panel has been smashed, and the inside is in a mess. Shops and even their signboards were knocked down and thrown onto the street. The shopkeepers and clerks on the street were busy cleaning up the mess and totaling the losses.
The officials from the government were checking and verifying each shop. Some shopkeepers and waiters were questioned by the government, and they all looked sad and dejected.
Seeing the boss coming over, the shopkeeper and the clerks seemed to have seen a savior. They crowded over and described the scene at that time. They kept blaming themselves and confessing. They were all men, but their faces were full of sadness and cowardice at this moment. Depressed, Shen Fu and his daughter quickly comforted everyone.
"uncle."
Zhang Chengru came over and saluted the father and daughter, and said: "The government is asking questions. It is said that the same group of people did it. They all wore black clothes and covered their faces, holding sticks in their hands. They smashed the door as soon as they entered, as if they were prepared. .”
"Who is he and what did he say?" Shen Que asked.
Zhang Chengru shook his head, "Those people didn't take anything from the shop. It seems they didn't come for money."
"Not for money? Then why?"
"They said that if the boss wants to sell well to the court, don't drag others into trouble. Your business is big and others can't compare with it. Just go ahead and please yourself and don't use others as a backstop."
Shen Que took a breath as the man recalled intermittently.
It was obvious that this was done by a colleague.
The government then checked other shops on several surrounding streets, and sure enough, only the Shen family's shop was damaged.
This was a protest against Shen Fu's New Deal.
Shen Fu was very sad and said angrily: "Although it is difficult to do business, we know that life is much better than that of the common people. Is it so difficult for everyone to help them little by little and do our little bit? Is it so difficult to just watch? The people are short of food and clothing, so who will come to the shops to buy things?"
Shen Que helped Shen Fu sit down. The old father was panting and his cheeks turned red from coughing.
"Dad, don't worry, wait until the officials finish asking questions before making any further calculations."
Zhang Chengru brought tea and said: "The shopkeeper and the waiters were very frightened. It is a little difficult for the officials to ask questions. I will go over to help. You guys sit down for a while."
Shen Que thanked you: "Thank you."
Zhang Chengru smiled and shook his head, turned around and walked towards the place of inquiry.
He is a scholar and has been an official. Naturally, he understands the rules and regulations of the government. It should be smoother for him to mediate in the middle. Shen Que looked at his back and felt a little more relaxed.
"My dad is too impatient." Shen Fu said, "I should have realized that not everyone can think so deeply and far-reaching. My dad should discuss it with them first and ask for everyone's opinions, even if they don't agree. It can also make people feel respected, instead of like now, eh, it’s too hasty.”
Shen Que rubbed his father's back and comforted him: "My father has just taken office, and his intentions are good. The government decrees are also beneficial to the country and the people. However, whenever a new government decree is promulgated, it will inevitably encounter opposition. Isn't this normal? After all, It will be good if everyone accepts it in some time.”
"Master Shen, Mrs. Shen."
Mutam ran in from outside and said: "I sent people to chase him and caught one. He has been handed over to the government. According to his explanation, the owners of several shops united to find people to cause sabotage. The purpose was to oppose Mr. Shen. The government issued the decree and was unwilling to pay any money."
"Thank you." Shen Que said, "Why are you here?"
Mutam was stunned for a moment and said: "Hey, I happened to be passing by for a drink with a friend. I saw someone sneaking around, so I sent someone to follow him. Who knew it was such a coincidence."
He scratched the back of his head, his eyes a little wandering. Shen did not ask any questions and thanked him again. Mutam said: "The most urgent thing is to discuss with them as soon as possible. The government will put further pressure. Uncle, if you are free tomorrow, I'll come and make arrangements, let's sit down and talk."
Shen Fu said, "It's really embarrassing for me to bother His Highness with this matter."
"My uncle's relationship with them is a little awkward now. If I were an outsider present, at least everyone could maintain some dignity."
He was very thoughtful, so the day for consultation was set for the afternoon of the next day.
Mutam chose the location in a restaurant. Everyone arrived in good order, but they all looked unhappy and had long faces. They didn't buy into Shen Fu's suggestion of spending money and effort according to their ability.
Everyone has the same view. Jin'an and even Daye are not as good as the Shen family in terms of strength and financial resources. Since the Shen family has extra money, just use it, why do you have to drag everyone together? Besides, this official position is also He is alone and has nothing to do with them. The so-called donations and assistance are nothing more than endless money. Everyone's life was difficult just after the war, so why bother...
Some people directly said to Shen Fu: "I have long heard that your daughter has a relationship with the prince, and now your brother has become a feeder of the emperor. We ordinary people have earned every penny through hard work, so why should we marry you?" clothes……"
"If your family wants to climb the dragon and the phoenix, go ahead. We don't have that kind of intention, so we won't participate."
Everyone expressed their dissatisfaction. Generally speaking, they just said: Don’t do anything without money or benefit.
It is said that businessmen are only interested in profit. Shen Fu just doesn't want everyone to have such a prejudice. He has been working tirelessly over the years to help the army, donate to epidemic diseases, support the people, and recommend government decrees... However, not everyone can accept this idea.
The conversation was deadlocked and could not go on for a while.
Things were about to go wrong, and Shen Fu was helplessly prepared. Even if it was only the Shen family, he would still spare no effort to implement the executive order. If everyone didn't want to donate, he would donate it himself.
"Everyone." Mutam broke the deadlock and said with a smile: "I have listened for a long time and understood everyone's suffering. Can you guys see how this works? I just discussed with my uncle a few days ago how to make the Shen family's business fully manageable. Entrusting the country to go will help us develop on the one hand, and on the other hand, it can also expand the Shen family's business.
If you don't mind it, as the prince of Soto Country, I can promise you that if you are willing to cooperate and participate in the New Deal, we will not charge taxes for three years in the future to expand business in Soto Country, and we will bear the transportation, food and accommodation, and will also give you Support and preferential treatment from all aspects, are you so willing? "
Soto has a vast territory and a large population. It is a fertile soil. These conditions are nothing more than a very attractive piece of fat for business people. But everyone still looks at me and I look at you. Finally, go back. Let's discuss it and give you an answer.
A negotiation has come to an end temporarily, and I can only wait for their reply.
Shen Que couldn't understand. Mutam's suggestion was obviously a good thing. Why did those people go back to discuss it? What was there to discuss? Couldn't they understand the business opportunities and considerable profits here? , or is there some other reason...
As night falls, the candlelight casts the silhouette of the figure on the wall, magnifying it infinitely.
Li Luansong stood in front of the window of the imperial study room. The night view was quiet and beautiful. He was waiting for news.
Wu Wu entered the door and saluted: "Your Highness, everything has been done. The person has been caught, the government has also sent a message. The Shen family's shop that was smashed has been compensated, and Mutam has also given quite favorable terms to persuade Everyone cooperated with Shen Fu to push the administrative order, but because His Highness did not give an order, everyone did not agree on the spot."
Li Luansong had been sending people to secretly protect Shen Que's shop. This time, he discovered the situation immediately. He arrested a group of men in black and sent them to the official, and found out that the people behind the scenes were actually some important officials in the court. Seeing that Shen Fu's decree was strongly supported by Emperor Xiaochun, they felt that he had broken the rules of the officialdom when he first arrived, making them, veterans, look useless, so they came up with this bad idea, taking advantage of the conflicts among the shop owners to provoke The cause of trouble was nothing more than a threat to the Shen family and his daughter.
"Then let them agree to Mutam's conditions and walk down the ladder." Li Luansong ordered.
Wuyue said yes, "But Your Highness, don't you need to tell Mrs. Shen about this? Then she will have to record the credit on Curly Mutam. Your Highness has done so much for her without letting her know." ?”
"She doesn't need to know." Li Luansong said, "Everything their father and daughter did was for Daye. It was what I should do. They also worried about this country. It was she who helped me, not me who helped him. The imperial court is in need of people, and if I can't protect such people, then I, the prince, will be useless."
"But, wouldn't this be an advantage for Curly Hair in vain." Wuyue felt aggrieved and murmured, "I heard that because of this matter, Mr. Shen felt that he had been a great help, and even persuaded Mrs. Shen to accept him as a disciple. Originally, Madam Shen is still thinking about it, this is great, the matter is settled like this."
Li Luansong was stunned, this Mutam was really making a fool of himself.
"when?"
"That Mutam has to work hard to get such a big benefit. I'm afraid it's already..."
"Prepare your horses." Before Wu Yue could finish his words, Li Luansong had already set off.
Two fast horses galloped through the streets of Jin'an and stopped in front of Shen's mansion.
Wu Yue jumped off his horse and knocked on the door, saying that His Highness had something important to see Mrs. Shen.
The concierge did not dare to neglect and ran away in a hurry. He hurried back after a while and said with a troubled face: "My lady said, there is something at home today and it is inconvenient to see Your Highness. Please change the day."
not see? Not seeing him for Mutam's sake.
Li Luansong was furious. He was about to push in but stopped. He remembered all the domineering behavior towards her before. That would only make her more annoying.
He slowly retracted his legs as he took the steps, turned around and wanted to leave.
The concierge knew his identity and kept hunching and smiling. The door was open, and through the carved stone wall screen one could see the lively apprenticeship inside.
The lights were bright, Shen Que was sitting at the door of the flower hall, and Mutam knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times. He called her master, and he shouted so sweetly, and he also offered tea to her.
When Mutam turned sideways, Li Luansong saw the pride on his face and the smile on Shen Que's face. It was a smile he hadn't seen in a long time, and it was different from the look in his eyes...
After Shen Que drank the apprentice tea, he naturally wanted to give Mutam a red envelope and said: "You are my first apprentice. I hope you will learn as soon as possible and go back to build your own hometown."
Mutam kowtowed and thanked her, and from then on he could follow her every day.
Looking sideways, he saw the familiar figure retreating outside the door through the hollow stone wall...
That night, Shen Que prepared medicine for Emperor Xiaochun as usual. He suddenly remembered that he smelled the smell of herbs on Li Luansong's body that day. It seemed that his injury had not healed yet, so he prepared an extra medicine, wrapped it and gave it to Zelan: "Please ask Wu. Yue brings it to Your Majesty, this one is for His Royal Highness Prince Jin, it will help him recover as soon as possible."
Zelan said hello, "But madam, every time I see Yu Yue, he feels so sad. He says His Highness the King of Jin is even sadder than him. He spends all day in a daze alone. He heard that he is about to be made a prince, but he She doesn't look happy at all, the lady doesn't intend to..."
Shen Que silently shook his head, "What does it have to do with me."
He is going to become the prince. This is his destiny. His life trajectory is different from hers. Everything is finally settled.
Zelan was still minding his own business, "I heard that all the officials and female family members will be present at the crown prince's canonization ceremony. My wife will be able to go as well. Can I go and see it? I have never seen such a big scene. I heard that , Now all the ladies and gentlemen in the capital are interested in His Highness the King of Jin. I wonder if the selection of the Crown Princess will also be decided during the canonization ceremony..."
