The Wang family pointed out that Sang scolded Huai for two days, and after all, he had to take care of an influence, and it slowly stopped.

After the turmoil in the internal ledger passed, the work of harvesting grain in autumn began, Gu Qian checked the accounts of previous years, and frowned slightly, "It seems that Qingjiang's grain is not very easy to collect!"

"Yes," Gu Tai echoed, "Qingjiang Beixiang and Nanxiang do not produce grain, and the harvest in Xixiang only accounts for two-third tenths of the grain harvested. ”

"Dongxiang, this is really a big problem for me. Gu Qian smiled bitterly and sat down slowly, no wonder Lord Gu was so worried, it was really a bit difficult to deal with the food problem in Dongxiang, if it was all ordinary people or rich gentry in the countryside, it would be fine, take the authority of the county lord and press, not afraid that those villagers would not pay the grain.

What makes Lord Gu worried is that there is still a family in Dongxiang that he can't afford to provoke, because the second master of that family is now an official in the capital, and the official is in charge of the promotion and debasement of officials all over the world, and what is even worse is that this second master is still the protégé of Yan Shoufu who Gu Qian offended.

As for a petty official like Gu Qian, people don't pay attention to it at all, and it's good if you don't trouble you, can you still take out food from people's mouths? Judging from the yellow books kept by the county government, the land owned by that family is not much, but the actual situation is that the land of that family accounts for seven or eight tenths of the top-grade paddy fields in Dongxiang.

If they don't let their family spit out the grain, Lord Gu's grain collection task will not be completed, and Governor Xiao is worried that he won't be able to catch him, once this hole is broken, Lord Gu's official will come to an end.

Why is it so difficult to be an official, Master Gu sighed helplessly, and said, "Let the household draw up the charter first, and let me think about the affairs of Dongxiang." ”

"Yes. Gu Tai responded, seeing that Lord Gu looked uncertain, he persuaded gently, "Don't be too anxious, there is still time left and right, not to mention that the previous county masters were not able to collect all the money and grain every year, I heard Zhang Yong say that the former county master just packed the money and grain." ”

"Bag out?" Gu Qian said with interest.

"That's right, that is, the money and grain that should be collected this year will be divided into pieces according to the township, and each master will pack a piece, and if it can't be completed, he will personally take people to the countryside to collect it. When Gu Tai said this, he paused and said in a low voice: "Why don't you leave Dongxiang's affairs to others to do?"

As he spoke, Gu Qian's gaze turned to the direction of the Cheng family in Wang County: "You mean ......?"

"It's up to the master to make an idea about this. Gu Tai shirked a sentence, but he still hoped that Gu Qian would throw this hot potato out.

"That's a good idea, but I'm afraid he won't be able to do it. "The family in Dongxiang is surnamed Xue, Gu Qian made a special trip to visit at the end of the silver kiln case, although he is an official, but the Xue family still has an old lady with a three-grade order, in terms of identity, Gu Qian is far inferior to others.

It's just that Master Gu really overestimated himself, he came to the door with gifts, only one housekeeper greeted him, asked about the old lady, and the answer was that the old lady went to the temple to burn incense, and none of the masters of the family were there. Such an answer, where is Gu Qian willing to believe it, but people clearly look down on you, how do you treat it?

After giving the gift, Gu Qian didn't stop, turned around and got on the horse. The trip to Dongxiang was accompanied by Gu Xiaojiu, Xiao Jiu was young, and when he saw that adults were treated so slowly, he was so angry that he wanted to rush forward to reason with the housekeeper, but Gu Qian was calm, and scolded Xiao Jiu coldly, and the two of them beat their horses and left.

"My lord, that family is not a thing, why are you so polite?" At that time, Gu Xiaojiu asked puzzled.

"It's just a subordinate, and reasoning with him will inevitably lose his identity. Gu Qian was not angry, and said with a smile.

Although Gu Xiaojiu admired the eldest master's qi cultivation kung fu, but when he encountered this kind of thing, where was there anyone who was not angry, he pouted and followed behind Gu Qian sullenly, and he didn't speak for a long time.

Xiao Jiu's temper came and went quickly, Gu Qian didn't care about him, seeing that he was about to leave the boundary of Dongxiang, he reined in his horse and looked back, in the midst of the mountains and villages, the towering eaves of the Xue family could be seen in the distance, thinking of what had just happened, Gu Qian felt that his heart was clear, and it was better to blatantly express his dislike for himself, which was better than being full of enthusiasm and grievances.

Thinking of this, Gu Qian smiled and said, "Zihe, go and invite a few colleagues at home, let's discuss." ”

"Yes. Gu Tai gave a salute and took the order.

Gu Qian sat alone in the signing room, holding a tea cup, thinking about things while sipping tea.

"Master, the little one has something to tell you. After a moment, Gu Xiaojiu's voice sounded outside the door.

"Come in. Gu Qian put down the teacup and looked at the door, only to see Gu Xiaojiu sweating on his forehead and walking in quickly.

"What's so urgent?"

Gu Xiaojiu wiped his sweat, walked quickly to him, and said hurriedly: "Master, Liu San took people to Beixiang. ”

"So what?" Gu Qian knew that Wang Xiancheng would not let go of Beixiang, but the matter of blowing up the kiln was Zhou Zhentai's handiwork, could there be any flaws left by him?

"Sir, he's bringing a shopkeeper from the blacksmith's shop. Gu Qian raised his eyebrows, and then listened to Gu Xiaojiu continue: "Master, Shopkeeper Zhang is a veteran of the years, and he is the best at distinguishing between gunpowder and sulfur. ”

"I see. Seeing Gu Xiaojiu's stern expression, Gu Qian said that he realized the strict nature of the matter, but he was not in a hurry, but said to Gu Xiaojiu: "The official still has important matters to discuss in a while, you go down first." ”

"But sir, this ...... You can't take it seriously!" Gu Xiaojiu saw that the old man didn't care, and he was so anxious that beads of sweat rolled down.

"Master, I know in my heart, you go down first. ”

"Yes. Gu Xiaojiu was reluctant to go down, as soon as he went out, he saw Wang Xiancheng and others walking over in front of him, thinking that this person was going to stumble on his master, Gu Xiaojiu's face froze.

"Yo, Xiao Jiu, what's wrong?" Wang Xiancheng said with a smile as if he didn't see his cold face, "Who made you angry?" As Xiao Jiu, who else can give Gu Xiaojiu anger in this courtyard except the big man sitting in the house, where is Gu Xiaojiu willing to let Wang Xiancheng this old thing provoke the relationship between him and the master, he pulled the corners of his mouth and said with a smile: "The second master said that he was laughing, the kid was angry because the family's good family affairs were forcibly occupied, and a poor girl was sold by the unscrupulous master's family for no reason, pitiful, pitiful!"

This sentence is suspected of referring to Sang scolding Huai, especially the Wang County Cheng family just let her family take people back on the grounds that Cuihong was sick, although the Wang family was afraid that Cuihong would make the young lady sick, but everyone in the compound could guess that the Wang family had turned over the old accounts of the lost account book.

It's just that the matter of losing the account book can't be said clearly, and for the sake of Miss Wang's reputation, Cuihong can't be sent away under other excuses, and in the end, Cuihong can only be "sick". When Wang Xiancheng heard this, he didn't know that Gu Xiaojiu was alluding to their family's affairs, but he was a dignified official, how could he quarrel with a small guy in the courtyard?

"Second master, let's go into the house, the eldest master is waiting for you. Gu Tai smiled, led everyone in first, and before entering the door, he glanced at Gu Xiaojiu fiercely, this Xiaojiu, so uncontrollable, don't make trouble for the master.

There was only a small episode between Gu Tai and Gu Xiaojiu, and when they entered the signing room, everyone's faces converged, and Wang Xiancheng arched his hand towards Gu Qian, and said, "I don't know why the eldest lord summoned the officials and others to come?"

"Please be seated. Gu Qian smiled and waved his hand, and said loudly to Gu Xiaojiu, who was still wandering in the courtyard: "Xiaojiu, show the tea to all the adults, remember to take the autumn tea sent by Wang Xiancheng last time, I drink it tastes excellent." ”

"I still have it there, and since you like it, I'll send two boxes later. ”

"Lao Wang, you are too polite, there are still a lot of tea leaves sent last time!"

The two of them were talking kind words on the side, and Master Ma was accompanying him with a smile, and Duan Wenrui, who had always had a cold face, rarely showed a gentle look, Gu Qian was his savior, Duan Wenrui had long regarded him as his master in his heart, where would he put on a face.

The hot tea was brought up, Gu Xiaojiu's face also turned into a smile, he served tea to several adults one by one, and retreated with low eyebrows, Gu Tai saw that he was so knowledgeable and knowledgeable, and nodded secretly.

After drinking the tea, a few people finally got to the point, Gu Qian put down the teacup, and said to a few people with a smile: "I invite you to come today, there is something to discuss." ”

"My lord, please. Several people straightened their faces and made a look of deference.

"The Midyear Festival has passed, and the time to harvest grain in autumn has also arrived, and the county has not suffered any natural disasters this year, according to several reports, the harvest of each township is still very good. When Gu Qian said this, he paused deliberately, and only after seeing Wang Xiancheng and Ma Zhushu's happy faces did he continue: "It's just that the harvest is good, and this grain collection work is still not easy! ”

"Collecting money and grain has been the top priority in the yamen since ancient times," Wang Xiancheng said with a solemn face, "Those Diao people only care about their own petty profits, but they don't take the government seriously, according to their subordinates, they have to send messengers to the countryside to urge food." ”

"It's a good way to go to the countryside, but Qingjiang has just experienced chaos, and it needs to be led by someone who is old and respectful. ”

"This ......" Gu Qian's meaning is very clear, this is for him and the master of the horse, but Wang Xiancheng is not a fuel-efficient lamp, he glanced at the master of the horse, then turned to Gu Qian and said: "The lower official is incompetent, willing to share the worries of the adults, the four townships of Qingjiang, the east, west, north and south, the lower officials are most familiar with Beixiang, and the lower officials are willing to lead the team to Beixiang to collect grain." ”

Nothing is shameless! When Master Ma heard his words, he almost squirted out the tea in his mouth, this man only asked himself to drink yesterday, why did he change his mind today? What kind of place is that in Beixiang? The people of Beixiang almost burned him to death in the former Wang County Order, why did Wang Xiancheng dare to go to Beixiang to urge grain?

Master Ma didn't know Wang Xiancheng's plans, and when he was angry that Wang Xiancheng didn't have an alliance, he heard Duan Wenrui speak, and he said, "My lord, I am willing to go to Xixiang to collect grain. ”

Duan Wenrui had a holiday with Yu Sanli in Nanxiang, although he could suppress Yu Sanli as a canon, but it was better not to meet.

Now there are only Dongxiang and Nanxiang left, Nanxiang is a silver kiln nest, and Gu Qian has turned it into his own small treasury, Ma Zhushu thinks that he can't please anything there, but if he wants him to go to Dongxiang, he feels furious when he thinks of that prominent family, I heard that even Master Gu is deflated at the door of people's homes, and he can still please a small master book?

Thinking of this, he couldn't wait to slap his mouth twice, and said that his hands are fast and his hands are slow, and it turns out that his mouth is slow, and he will suffer a big loss! Master Ma's heart was dripping blood, but he heard Gu Qian laugh warmly: "Old Ma, what are your plans?"