The drug store is very busy.
This should not be the norm in a city.
Li Chengyi looked at the child walking out of the drug store, his overwhelmed expression was heartbreaking. Under the tattered clothes, his life was as thin as paper.
Gu Zhengchen looked solemn and said softly: "Every child who appears here means that the most important person to him is ill. Every child who is empty-handed means that their family is already dilapidated and they cannot afford the money to buy medicine."
"Half of the people who come here to buy medicine or ask for medicine are children. Changge, what do you see? Poverty and poverty, there is no cure for the disease, so we can only resign ourselves to fate! But those officials and gentlemen only think about choices. What a gift to meet such an old man!"
For the first time, Li Chengyi felt that the world was so divided.
It seems like a wall. On this side of the wall are people struggling in the darkness, eager to live. On the other side of the wall are people bathing in the light and enjoying themselves. Food, beauty, and rare treasures are all at their fingertips.
In the evening, Xiao Cheng returned and brought information: "The old man of Changyuan is named Bu Shou. He is a wealthy man in Quanzhou. He was in charge of the Quanzhou Shipping Department during the Yuan Dynasty. He later led a fleet to sail to the Kingdom of Champa and worked there. He made a lot of money through trading. He accumulated a lot of wealth by relying on long-distance trade."
Gu Zhengchen frowned: "He's just a businessman, so he's not worthy of being so fawning from an official, right?"
Xiao Cheng was quite helpless: "The information we have found so far is that this person is indeed just a businessman. It is difficult for me and Zhang Pei to conduct an in-depth investigation. Otherwise, how about you try to touch those people?"
Li Chengyi looked at Gu Zhengchen, wondering who those people were.
Gu Zhengchen knew that Xiao Cheng wanted to use the inspection team to cooperate with the investigation.
Although Lao Zhu gave himself the badge of being a pro-military captain, he was not from the pro-military captain's palace and could not mobilize the inspector. The most important thing is that Gu Zhengchen doesn't think the inspection here is of much use.
"Wait for your own people, don't be in a hurry."
Gu Zhengchen refused.
Xiao Chengyan said: "In a few days on the Double Ninth Festival, old man Changyuan will have his sixtieth birthday. The birthday banquet will be held in the tower near the south gate of the town."
Gu Zhengchen smiled: "The word Changyuan makes me feel unhappy. It is better for his birthday party to be low-key and deserted."
Xiao Cheng's eyes lit up after listening to Gu Zhengchen's instructions, and he quickly went to make arrangements.
Li Chengyi didn't know why.
Gu Zhengchen did not explain, but just took Li Chengyi out of Jinjiang City that day, and then checked into the Posthouse Thirty Miles Away as the director of the Ministry of Industry and started fasting.
Yi Cheng arranged for someone to pass the news to the government office.
After Zhang Jiujing learned about it, he paid no attention to it and did not inform Tang Xian.
Who cares what the director of the Ministry of Industry is doing in Quanzhou? What needs to be paid attention to now is the new prefect. As long as he is not the new prefect, it doesn't matter.
Double Ninth Day, dawn.
The tower was decorated with lanterns and colors, as if someone was getting married.
Bu Shou, an old man from Changyuan, arrived at the tower early in the morning. Although he was already showing his age in his sixties, he was still in good spirits. He still had a walking stick in his hand and was still walking steadily.
In the high seat, Bu Shou looked at the rich eldest son Bu Zhongsheng beside him with a smile: "There should be a lot of officials coming this year, but I don't know whose gift can come out on top."
Bu Zhongsheng bowed and said: "Father, don't worry, their gifts will definitely not be short. As for the top spot, I think Tang Tongpan will be the first."
Bu Shou nodded slightly, full of expectations: "Tang Tongpan is a knowledgeable person, and it is worthy that the Bu family has been helping him over the years. However, the sun has come out, why haven't the officials sent gifts? These people have overslept. , should we also choose a date?”
Seeing that his father was a little sullen, Bu Zhongsheng said quickly: "I should be on my way here. Maybe I want to get together and congratulate my father. My father heard that there was something going on downstairs, so I went downstairs to have a look."
Bu Shou paused with his crutch and urged to hurry up.
Bu Zhongsheng hurriedly went downstairs and saw Tang Xuan, Tang Xian's second housekeeper, and his face darkened: "Go back and tell Tang Xian that even if he doesn't come in person, he should send his master. If not, the chief housekeeper will send you." Come on, this is an insult to the Bu family! If he doesn't give us an explanation, this matter will never be solved!"
Tang Xuan hurriedly stepped forward, handed the gift box to Bu Zhongsheng, and said eagerly: "Other fortune tellers, please don't blame Tang Tongpan for this. Things have really changed suddenly. Now the government office has turned into a mess. I'm afraid it will be a mess today." No officials can come to celebrate the old gentleman’s birthday.”
Bu Zhongsheng's expression changed.
My father likes to receive gifts most. Throughout the year, how many opportunities do he have to receive gifts in public?
What's more, today is the Double Ninth Festival and my father's sixtieth birthday. If he is not happy receiving the gifts today, then he will not make anyone happy.
"What happened?"
Bu Zhongsheng knew that Tang Xian was smart and knew how to make strong connections.
He should be very clear that if he wants to continue to sit in the position of general judge, he will need the support and help of the Bu family. The consequences of offending his father are not something he can bear!
Tang Xuan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and his lips were a little dry: "Not long ago, news came from the post station that the new Quanzhou magistrate Gu Zhengchen has arrived and is going to meet all the officials of the Quanzhou government at the post station!"
"What, he didn't take office on the 28th, why did he come so soon?"
Bu Zhongsheng was surprised.
Tang Xuan shook his head and said uneasily: "There was no sign or news, and he was informed of his arrival unexpectedly. Moreover, he has completed his fast! Today he will meet all the officials of the government office, and tomorrow he will officially take over the Quanzhou Prefecture!"
Bu Zhongsheng gritted his teeth secretly: "What are you people doing at the stations along the way? Didn't you send many people to inquire about his itinerary!"
Tang Xuan also felt strange. Gu Zhengchen came as soon as he said he was coming. Not to mention the speed, there was no sound of wind along the way, which was a bit strange. There’s no way this guy has never entered the inn, right?
Bu Zhongsheng didn't talk to Tang Xuan anymore and ran upstairs. Looking at his father's disappointed eyes, he quickly stepped forward and explained: "The new prefect has arrived at the post station thirty miles away and summoned all officials of the government office."
Bu Shou's face turned cold, with a cold light in his eyes, and he stood up slowly: "This Gu Zhengchen didn't come earlier or later, but he came today! He is not showing off to the government, but slapping me in the face. ! Later on, the house will be full of relatives and friends, and all the clan members will arrive, but there will be no official to pay their respects. Where should I put my face?"
Bu Zhongsheng took a deep breath: "Father, this is our trouble and the government's trouble. Gu Zhengchen suddenly arrived outside Jinjiang City. Tang Xian was probably the most nervous one. You must know that the project of dredging the river by recruiting people has not yet been completed. , the accounts haven’t been done yet, if there are any flaws..."
Bu Shou knew that he had just lost face. If Tang Xian was not careful, he might lose his life. By then, the officials of Quanzhou Prefecture might be uprooted by Gu Zhengchen!
The Bu family cannot accept this result.
The Ming Dynasty could defeat the Yuan Dynasty and control this place, but the person who calls the shots here and has the last word should not be Zhu!
"Tell Tang Xian and others to deal with it carefully. Gu Zhengchen is coming from an evil person!"
Bu Shou regained his sanity.
Bu Zhongsheng nodded repeatedly and went to send the message.
Quanzhou government office.
Zhang Jiujing looked at the mess on the ground, the broken tea sets, and torn papers, and couldn't help but sigh: "Master, it was our people who did things poorly that caught Gu by surprise. It's also my fault, Yi Cheng News was indeed sent that an official from the Ministry of Industry was staying at the inn, but I didn’t pay attention and missed it.”
Tang Xian waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "So what if you care, so what if you went to see it? We don't have a portrait of Gu Zhengchen. He said he was the director of the Ministry of Industry, which means no one would associate him with the prefect. , It’s not your fault. It’s just that the time this person chose is really disturbing. He seems to have been hiding in the dark and watching for a long time, and then suddenly drew his sword out of its sheath!"
Zhang Jiujing also found it strange that the time chosen seemed to be deliberately targeting Bu Shou or Tang Xian.
"It's getting late, I know they've all arrived at the second hall."
Zhang Jiujing urged.
Tang Xian didn't say anything else. No matter how Gu Zhengchen came to the outside of Jinjiang City unknowingly, he sent a summons in the name of the prefect. As a subordinate, he had no choice but to go.
Quanzhou's co-presidents Wu Kang and Qin Xin, general judges Tang Xian and Yang Baiju, and recommended officials Wang Xinqian and other officials gathered in the second hall.
Magistrate Zhang Hao looked at Tang Xian, Wu Kang and others with interest, and said coldly: "The new magistrate Gu Zhengchen has arrived at the inn and will enter the city tomorrow. He will have the final say in Quanzhou Prefecture."
Tang Xian, Wu Kang and others didn't answer. You, Zhang Hao, don't have the final say here. He, Gu Zhengchen, has just arrived. If he wants to have the final say, he needs some means.
Zhang Hao stood up and said seriously: "I am waiting here to welcome you. Wu Kang, please take all the officials of the government to the post station to meet the new magistrate. Two people can stay in the ceremony room to prepare for tomorrow's sacrifice. The incident happened suddenly. But you can’t be negligent in your preparation.”
Wu Kang had no choice. Zhang Hao was the prefect, and Gu Zhengchen was also the prefect. He didn't need to travel thirty miles to greet them, so he had to lead the team himself.
These officials originally planned to have a good rest on the Double Ninth Festival, either go to the tower to give gifts and have a meal, or climb high and look far away, think about whether they have any brothers in Shandong, and find some flowers and plants to hang on them.
But who would have imagined that this guy Gu Zhengchen summoned everyone on the Double Ninth Festival. The most disgusting thing is that he actually completed the three-day fast and was ready to enter the city.
You've got everything ready, but we haven't prepared it yet. You should have a certain amount of time when you arrive early. How can you do it more than half a month in advance...
Before all the officials saw Gu Zhengchen, they felt a pressure and a feeling of difficulty.
As Yang Baiju walked, he looked at Tang Xian, the stern-faced judge on the side, and said bitterly: "Is there any way to delay it for a while? The dredging project has not been completed yet, and there are some tails that have not been cleaned up."
Tang Xian shook his head: "Even if I have the means, I'm afraid this guy named Gu won't agree. At most, it will be dealt with before dusk tomorrow without leaving any flaws."
Yang Baiju was very worried, this was the last time,
After all, the prefect needs to offer sacrifices tomorrow, and he has to get to know the government officials later. When he is free, it will be at least the evening or the next day.
It’s not easy to settle accounts.
As he approached the inn, Tang Xian felt increasingly uneasy.
There's no reason, I can't tell.
