The next morning we had a hasty meal and set off. More than two hours later, we could vaguely see the outline of Fucheng. It was similar to the situation in Qingyang Fucheng. There were a large number of victims gathered near the city gate.
.
The only difference is that there are more than ten times more stoves cooking porridge for disaster relief than in Qingyang Mansion. The situation of the victims is indeed a little better than that in other places. It seems that Wang Shijian's tough attitude has indeed made Pingliang Mansion
Officials don’t dare to go too far,
It would be great if the imperial ministers dispatched by the imperial court could do this. Earthquakes and floods are unstoppable, but the imperial court has the ability to provide relief in floods and droughts. If the relief cannot be sustained, it means that the relief food has been divided up by corruption. There is no other reason.
Chen Rongyan sat aside respectfully and said: "It is expected that many officials and shopkeepers will come to greet you soon. I wonder if the young master will receive you? Or will I send you away on my behalf?"
Zhu Biao shook his folding fan and said: "I can't easily see the censor sent by the imperial court. The rest will be fine. No matter what, no imperial envoy will come out of the city to greet me in person."
Chen Rongyan said with a smile: "That's not the case. It's hard for the imperial envoy to have contact with anyone, local officials and merchants in public. I'm just worried that the young master will show up today, and it will be hard to refuse private banquets in the future. What if?
We just ran into each other, but what should we do?"
Zhu Biao thought for a while and said: "It seems that Wang Shijian has to do something, and given Chen Yunze's identity, it makes sense that he is unwilling to contact the imperial envoy."
Chen Rongyan promised that he didn't have to worry about His Highness's plans, but he must be reminded of what should be reminded, otherwise it would be his fault if anything happened.
After saying that, Chen Rongyan got out of the car and rode to the front of the team. After walking for half an hour, he finally approached the city gate. The Chen brothers had already seen a group of people who were incompatible with the surrounding victims. They were well-dressed and elegant.
At first glance, he looks like a pampered old man.
"Hahaha, Brother Chen has come all the way. It's been a hard journey."
"Brother Bing, I haven't seen you for a long time. I didn't expect you to come with me."
"I've seen you all, how can I ask you to come out of the city to greet me? I'm really ashamed of myself."
The Chen family's trading shop is big, and the other shops are not bad either. Not only people from the Jiangnan gentry come to greet them, but also many wealthy merchants from other places. Even if the business people don't know each other, they can establish friendship with each other.
Very fast.
After all, they all met each other with their heads raised and never bowed their heads. After introducing each other, they are already close friends. Besides, everyone has received the news from Qingyang Mansion. The Chen family is not just here on behalf of the Chen family.
A shopkeeper of the Zhang family in Jiangnan was recommended as the head of the gentry. In terms of family foundation, the Zhang family in Jiangnan was much deeper than the Chen family. It was originally the crown of the true Jiangnan gentry.
It was just that the Chen family used the power of the East Palace to overtake them in a corner. However, the head of the Zhang family was a wise man and knew that it didn't matter whether he was high or low at the moment. The Zhang and Chen families were already related to each other by marriage, so instead of fighting and killing each other, it was better to act in unison.
After getting acquainted with each other, Chen Rongyan said to Chen Bingxian who was standing beside him: "Go and invite the young master to come over, and tell the master of Pingliang Mansion to welcome you personally."
After Chen Rongyan finished his instructions, he cupped his fists and apologized to the old man who was leading him: "My young master is a little acclimatized after traveling all the way. He is lying in the car to rest. Please don't take it off."
Zhang Jinhe, the shopkeeper of the Zhang family, said with a smile: "Master Chen is a scholar, so he is naturally different from those of us who travel around. If you are feeling unwell, you should not let him come down. Your health is the most important thing."
Although they said polite words, Zhang Jinhe was actually a little confused. The Zhang and Chen families were family friends, and they had never heard of a Chen Yunze in the Chen family. But after all, it was their private matter. What could the Chen family say if they recognized them?
The best thing to do is to ask Chen Rongyan privately.
Zhao Guangsheng, a co-president of Pingliang Mansion, was over fifty years old. He was dressed in an ordinary Confucian robe and said with a dignified smile: "It will be the same when we meet tomorrow."
At this time, Zhu Biao had also arrived. He cupped his hands from a distance and said: "The elders welcome me personally. How can the juniors be rude? Chen Yunze, a junior student, has met all the masters."
Naturally, those gentry and merchants hurriedly returned the gift, but Zhao Tongzhi showed a satisfied smile on his face. He welcomed Tongzhi dignifiedly. If the younger generation of the Chen family didn't even show their faces, it would be really disrespectful.
When Zhu Biao walked in, Zhao Guangsheng stroked his beard and nodded: "Haha, Mr. Chen deserves to be from the Imperial College. He is polite and sensible and his future is limitless."
Under the guidance of Chen Rongyan, Zhu Biao greeted one by one according to his status. Of course, he mainly greeted the senior officials in the officialdom and the Chen family's acquaintances. The rest just nodded. Chen Yunze's current status
Not low.
This time, the food no longer needs to be parked outside the city. The show of force and the bottom-out were all completed in Qingyang. Now everyone is like-minded friends, so naturally they are polite to He Hemeimei.
Even the warehouses for storing the grain were arranged, so Zhu Biao didn't need to worry about anything. Everyone went directly to the best restaurant in the city, and as usual, had a feast of fine wine and delicacies that even the emperor and I were reluctant to partake of.
There was a lot of fun and entertainment during the dinner, but perhaps knowing that Mr. Chen was unwell, he didn't call for the beauties and simply ate and drank.
After three rounds of drinking, everyone started talking about business, and it was not about the Chen family. After all, the Chen family had already given half of their profits to Qingyang Mansion, and that profit would be distributed to everyone, so no one would risk offending the nobles again.
Thinking of dividing up the remaining food of the Chen family.
After all, even if the Chen family refused to give up the benefits, they would not say anything. They would eat as much food as they wanted, and no matter how much Dong Gong ate, they would not dare to say anything. What's more, they would give up the benefits. At most, they would put in some energy to help gather some orphans.
What's more important is that they are full. Compared with the Chen family's tens of thousands of shi of food, the food allocated by the imperial court for disaster relief is the main feast. They are now full of fat intestines, which makes them fat. The goal of getting fat is obvious, and
Can't even run anymore.
Therefore, they now need to get the blessing of the East Palace through the Chen family more urgently. Otherwise, how could the governor of the government personally greet a concubine from outside the Chen family?
"Mr. Chen has brought a lot of people, but it seems that most of them are guards. I'm afraid it will take a lot of time and effort to sell all the food. We do have a lot of connections. If you need it, Mr. Chen, just speak up. I'll wait for you."
We are all close friends and we will definitely not take any advantage from you."
"What Brother Zhao said is absolutely true. There are not many disaster victims who have money in their hands, and the transfer of real estate and acres is also troublesome. If Mr. Chen trusts me, we can gather as many as we can, and it will save Mr. Chen from having to return to Beijing with the land deeds.
What a good deal."
Zhu Biao was naturally happy and said: "Thank you very much for that."
"Hahaha, we are all friends, so there is no need to say such polite words. Let's settle the food matter like this. I will send the accountant to the house tomorrow to settle the accounts with shopkeeper Chen. I will definitely satisfy the young master and the noble man."
