The next day, the gatekeeper of the Zhang Mansion yawned and removed the bolt. He opened a small side door and was immediately shocked.
It turned out that there were actually quite a number of people squatting at the entrance of the Zhang Manor. The sky was misty again, and it looked dark.
"You, where did you come from? Don't you know what this place is?!”
Yang Daqi went up to them and said,"We agreed with Miss Lin Guan yesterday. We're here to take over the mission today."”
A few gatekeepers heard the commotion and came out. "What kind of mission do you need so many people for?”
Yang Dazhi suddenly stood up and cursed,""Spicy Mom! Why do I need to report to a small house like you? Hurry up and report to Miss Guan. If you delay the matter, you'll have to bear the consequences!”
"Don't be rude," Yang Daqi snorted and said,"This matter is really urgent. Please go and report it."”
Yang Dazhi was a scabby man. When he got closer, his eyes were like those of a vicious dog. As soon as he spoke, many people who were squatting also stood up. The gatekeeper did not want to be too domineering. He only said,"There's no problem with reporting, but I don't care if Miss Lin comes or not." Move far away and wait. Don't block the door.”
" Hey, you..." Yang Dazhi was very dissatisfied with the gatekeeper's attitude. He was about to make a move, but Yang Daqi stopped him.
Yang Daqi pulled Yang Dazhi and called everyone to the side. He said,""We were too anxious. Miss Guan is the eldest daughter of an official family. She wouldn't come to see us so early.”
There were nearly a hundred people in this group. Although they obediently moved to the side, they did not look stable. The gatekeeper quickly sent a boy to run and report to the second young miss of Lin.
Lin Ming woke up and heard the birds chirping outside. He couldn't help but think of a parrot that Daiyu had once raised. The parrot was not stupid. It hung on the tree in the backyard. Not only did it learn more than ten poems and songs, but it also recognized people. When it saw Ruhai, it called him "Master", when it saw Mister, it called him "Yucun", when it saw Lin Ming, it called him "Second Miss". However, when it saw Daiyu, it did not call her anything, which made Daiyu very angry.
"Young Lady, are you getting up? It was still early. It was foggy today, and the sky was still dark.”The servant girl heard the movement on the bed and knew that Lin Ming was awake. She quickly pulled open the curtain and came in to serve him.
"Yes." Lin Mingzi got up. The servant girls had already prepared hot water, a handkerchief, tea, and so on. His clothes were also waiting by the side.
After washing up and having his morning tea, Lin Ming went to the study room to write a letter to Ruhai. Before the letter was finished, a servant girl ran over to report that there was a group of people outside who wanted to see the young lady. Lin Ming knew that the disaster victims were here to buy food, so he quickly added the words "The matter will be settled soon. I will return in a few days. Uncle, please be at ease" on the letter. Then he hurriedly signed and put away the pen.
Lin Ming took the envelope and ordered someone to give it to the butler to send it back to Suzhou. He also ordered someone to invite Mr. Zhao and Steward Li.
Lin Ming walked towards the outer gate, and Zhao Fusheng welcomed him at the second gate. The two of them went to the gatehouse together.
When they arrived at the third gate, the gatekeeper greeted them and gave them a rough explanation before leading Lin Ming and the others out. He also said that the old master had just returned and met him. He was also outside.
As soon as the door opened, on the wide limestone road to the left of the door, on one side was a luxurious dumpling made of blue silk, guarded by more than twenty burly men with large knives. On the other side were nearly a hundred lean, tanned disaster victims with hungry eyes. It looked like a stalemate, but the strength was very clear.
Zhang Caotou sat in the sedan chair. The curtain was pulled up, allowing people to see his appearance. He was dressed in a pearl-colored brocade robe, and his face and hair accessories were exquisite. There was a faint smell of alcohol coming from him, adding to his elegance.
When he saw Lin Ming, he stepped out of the sedan chair and hid the heater behind him. He smiled and said,""I heard from the manager that you need someone? Since you're a guest at our water transport, why don't you tell the steward who you want to use? What's the use of this group of people?”
Lin Ming also smiled." Cao Tou is kind," he said." I was just about to borrow someone from him." Yesterday, he went to see the Second Young Miss's porridge shop and was quite touched. He thought of doing something for everyone. He couldn't help with anything else at the moment, so he could only take some money to buy rice and porridge, imitating the Second Miss. These people are the disaster victims I invited to help buy rice. I was thinking of borrowing someone who is used to traveling up and down the river to lead them for me.”
" Those who are used to the upper and lower waterways…" This Zhang Caotou, when his father was alive, he did not care about anything. If one were to ask who was used to the upper and lower waterways, he would know. But which one was suitable to be assigned to this " Miss Guan "? For a moment, he didn't have a clue and suddenly hiccupped. He happened to see Manager Li and quickly pointed at him, saying,""Steward Li, Steward Li it is."
"Yes, Master." Manager Li cupped his fists in response and turned around to call everyone to the back door. Zhao Fusheng bowed to Lin Ming and chased after him, shouting,""My master has already prepared food and rations for everyone. Everyone will follow Steward Li first. Eat and drink to your fill.”
Yang Daqi, Yang Dazhi, and the others had only walked a short distance when they suddenly turned around and ran over. They knelt down straight in front of Lin Ming and said,""I can't thank you enough. Young Lady has saved hundreds of our lives today, and I have no way to repay you. If you need anything in the future, I will go up a mountain of blades, go down a sea of fire, and crush you to pieces.”After saying that, the few of them kowtowed a few times on the bluestone slab before getting up and running after him.
Zhang Cao's head was close. When he saw the blood stains on the stone slab, his heart trembled. He did not know what to say for a moment and could only nod his head inexplicably.
Lin Ming stepped aside and saw Zhang Caotou's expression. He smiled and said,""The emperor's grace is vast and mighty, and my uncle has long been determined to provide disaster relief. I was only ordered by my uncle to do my best. I received their gratitude for nothing. Cao Tou, I'm still going to the porridge shop today. Farewell.”
Lin Ming took a carriage to the porridge shop. Zhang Caotou, on the other hand, was very tired after drinking and having fun with his friends all night. He did not go to rest and hurriedly sent someone to find his good friends, saying that he had something important to discuss in the residence.
The two halls of the Zhang Manor were divided into the host and guest seats.
Lin Ming had changed his clothes and was only dressed as a man. His attitude was also less soft and he only looked like he was doing business. He said,"Manager Li is indeed worthy of being the head of the grain transport's right-hand man. These two days, the rice purchased has been transported in an endless stream. More than ten porridge shops have also been set up. The emergency of the disaster victims has been slightly resolved." Oh, Cao Tou called me here today. What do you have to instruct me about?”
It was also because Zhang Caotou had just taken up his post and had yet to see the world. Firstly, he was easily affected by external things such as color and bearing. Secondly, he really did not have the ability of Ru Hai and the others to " observe the disaster situation and estimate the disaster victims." Seeing that the disaster victims were relieved in all the villages within ten miles and eight villages, he could not help but feel a little flustered.
After another round of discussion, Zhang Caotou was very easy to talk to and said with a smile,""The disaster has been alleviated, and the victims don't have to starve to death immediately. But…"
"Oh, that's right. I was just about to talk to Cao Tou about this. The government had posted a notice to appease the people, stating the court's disaster relief policy. Rice and grain were also being transported over one after another. This was a good thing. Recently, some people had also praised the water transport for taking the overall situation into account and putting aside their personal grudges to help transport the grain.”Lin Ming smiled gently.
Speaking of this, Zhang Caotou felt angry in his heart. He had really suffered a loss.
"When did I say I was going to be lucky? I was only willing to give you and my second girl some convenience with those few ships of grain. My late father must die, and if the Imperial Court doesn't give me an explanation, I won't be able to make my fortune!”
Lin Ming took a sip of tea and sighed,"I naturally understand Cao Tou." It's just that the commoners are eating the grain and praising the righteous act of opening the grain. If they suddenly don't give it to us..."
"I thought you were like Chun 'er, but you schemed against me like those officials! You bought the hearts of the people while posting the empty words of the imperial court all over the streets and alleys. You boiled dozens of pots of porridge and made it look like the imperial court was doing its best to provide disaster relief. You also made me bear the reputation of taking the overall situation into account, and then you added stones to my back! "If I don't do it, the people will think that my family is stopping you from providing disaster relief. When the time comes, they will probably tear down my Zhang Manor. What are you trying to do?!" You're just a girl, how can you be more cunning than those corrupt officials!”
This was the first time Lin Ming had been called " adulterous." With a shake of his hand, the lid of the tea fell onto the tea bowl. The high-quality white porcelain made a " ding ding " sound, which was pleasant to hear and ear-piercing.
"It's not that easy to be an official. Fortunately, you're a girl.”Her brother Lin Jiliang's words suddenly rang in her mind.
The Lin family had been officials for generations. Their ancestors had also produced powerful officials and generals. However, these ancestors who were officials were no different from other officials. If you live in wealth, you die early.
Before Grandpa Lin passed away, he called his two grandsons to his bed and asked them about their ambitions. The siblings said in unison,"I want to be a high official and leave my name in history."”Grandfather praised them for their ambition and sighed,"It's not that easy to be an official."”At that time, he was still young and didn't understand the deeper meaning. What was so bad about being an official?
Later, his brother Lin Jiliang abandoned literature and went into martial arts. He rode a horse and fought. When he was seriously injured and died, he wrote back his last words. Among them was this sentence: " It's not so easy to be an official. Fortunately, you're a girl."”Lin Ming still didn't understand the deeper meaning behind it. He only hated that he was a girl and couldn't move side by side with his brother to offer a plan to kill the enemy.
At this moment, it was worth it to save so many people with such a small trick. But why did he feel guilty?
Lin Ming took a deep breath and put down the tea.""This move is actually beneficial to the Zhang family.”
"Profits? Where is the benefit? Why do I only feel that the water transport has been roasted on the fire?”
"Don't worry, listen to me." Lin Ming left his seat and bowed to Zhang Caotou." I did something cheap as a friend of the Second Miss. It's only right that you're unhappy. Let's not talk about other things. Please understand first." I can't ignore the lives of tens of thousands of people and uncle's ardent wishes. Even if I want Lin Ming's head, he won't dare to refuse, let alone use some schemes.”
Lin Ming cupped his hands and bowed again." Cao Tou, the current Emperor is a wise ruler who seeks to govern. The disaster in the important salt transportation area will definitely be suppressed. The general of the court has been hanging for a long time, not because Cao Tou is powerful and makes the wise monarch timid, but what is actually, Cao Tou must also know. At present, the external invasion has become a war, and His Majesty's thoughts are temporarily on the military. The fact that he has already issued two Brave Emperor Rankings is proof. If the head of the canal thought that the wise ruler had shelved the disaster relief because of the constraints of the water transport forces, then it would be the root of the destruction of the clan!”
"This flood has been going on for nearly three months. None. My uncle loves the people like his own son, so he has the heart to mediate. As for those people, how much real power they have and how much they can say in the court, Cao Tou must know.”
"I don't think Cao Tou knows much about the power of the person who is fighting with him, but I have heard of him. The Emperor was worried about the war. His second uncle did not accept the Emperor's edict to send him to war and was not punished. His power was evident. Cao Tou's delay in disaster relief seemed to be a contest of strength with him, but in reality, he was competing with his entire family. Even if Cao Tou was evenly matched with him, he had to take into account the court and the Emperor's patience.”
"Do you have a relationship with His Majesty? The Emperor and his family were relatives. If the Emperor was annoyed by this struggle, who did Cao Tou think would be crushed under the Buddha's palm?”
"If the head of the canal listens to me and lets this place go, it will open up a fortune and make it convenient for the Imperial Court. Cao Tou monopolized the water transport and was already a big tree that attracted wind. There were naturally people in the court who wanted to compete with Cao Tou. If Cao Tou provoked the anger of the people again, did Cao Tou think of the consequences? On the contrary, the opening of the canal not only relieved the worries of the court and showed loyalty to the Emperor, but also saved the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people. The hearts of the people were the most precious. The love and respect of the hundreds of thousands of people could not be exchanged for with the title of a duke.”
"Should we offend both sides and seek our own death, or should we benefit from both sides?”
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。