Early, Li Qing went to the West Market after breakfast, although it is important to be an official, but it is a mistake to make a mistake, and it is enough to support the family, but to recruit subordinates, attract talents, and even become an official in the future, which does not need money, 'three years of Qing Governor's Mansion, 100,000 snowflakes of silver', in the Tang Dynasty, which has a sound supervision system, this is tantamount to a fool's dream.

On the morning of late spring, the warm breeze hits people, the spring light is unusually bright, and the creepers who eat breakfast on the wall are wantonly seeking joy in the sun, and openly carry out universal breeding.

Sleep until dawn, Li Qing seems to have finished the imperial examination, full of energy, relaxed, after the baptism of Nanzhao, his horseback riding skills have been perfect, trotting all the way, the horse briskly dodging pedestrians, its owner is avoiding the female creepers.

Walking to the gate of the West Market, he saw a small blue sedan chair hurrying from the other end, the sedan chair stopped in front of him, through the sedan curtain, Li Qing heard someone calling him in a low voice, "General Li, are you also coming to see the store?" ”

The voice is a little old, very familiar, Li Qing suddenly remembered that it was his neighbor, the old man Du Youlin, Nanzhao and his party, he and Du Youlin had a very harmonious relationship, although the other party was a royal prince, but there was no slightest fight, but an amiable little old man, he smiled. "Lao Du also came to see the store?"

Li Qing's greeting was a little louder, but it made Du Youlin extremely nervous, "Hey! Be quiet, it's hard to hear, I'm gone for a month. ”

Li Qing was a little surprised. "Didn't you say that everyone had three days off, didn't Lao Du have it?"

The other party didn't answer, and after a while, Du Youlin opened the sedan curtain a crack, and said with a hint of bitterness on his old face like a dried date, "I often tell me, 'Gu Xiao and forget the big, and there will be harm in the future'." I have a special status, and the requirements for me are naturally stricter than ordinary officials. ”

'Oh! With a sigh, Li Qing glanced at him sympathetically, "Let's go!" Take a look at the store. ”

The West Market is bustling with people and merchants from all over the world, including the Japanese with short limbs and humble self-esteem; the obscene and stingy Koreans; the pigtailed, lean and cheerful Turks; Wear earrings and shawls. the long-winded Tianzhu people; In addition, the obviously exotic Persians, cannibals, and whisks can also be seen everywhere.

"General Li's subordinates are capable of many people, all of them are loyal, before I went to Nanzhao, the general's Bashu commercial house even made a few large orders, worth more than 100,000 yuan of goods in and out, has faintly held the West City brocade industry bull's ear trend, really envied by the old man, too often said to me, within three households, there must be loyalty, but my shop. There are more than three shopkeepers, but they all have small stomachs. Deal with the guests, and can't do big things. ”

Du Youlin thought that his shop and Li Qingdian were just next door. But the guests just didn't go to him, and the turnover of the two families was like a cloud of mud, and he was really depressed.

Li Qing saw that he was depressed, so he smiled and comforted him: "This is actually the old book accumulated by King Sining for decades, what does it have to do with me, besides, in the future, Tai will ascend the throne, and Lao Du will be the ruler of the country." Do you care about this little money? Lao Du came to inspect the West Market again, sprinkling water and cleaning the streets. I'm afraid that idle people like me will have to avoid them all, how can money buy such a noble position? ”

Li Qingdi said that Du Youlin was in the heart, and his mouth was grinning, "What is General Li talking about!" How could I be this kind of person. The smile on the face of the dried jujube is like a blooming peony flower, and the regret of giving birth to two daughters back then has long disappeared at this moment.

As he spoke, the two came to the front of the store, the two families were only separated by a wall, and sure enough, it was two heavens of ice and fire, Li Qing's Bashu trading house was full of people, talking about big deals, sporadic purchases, merchants in and out, in an endless stream, so busy that more than a dozen guys did not touch the ground, and then looked at Du Youlin's shop, but it was a cold saddle horse in front of the door, a guy sat at the door listlessly closed his eyes and dozed off, someone came to ask about the goods, he didn't pay attention.

Du Youlin's face sank, before he went to Nanzhao, he entrusted the store to another son-in-law, he originally thought that he could manage it well, but looking at this situation, it was even worse than before he went to Nanzhao.

"Humph! It really doesn't make sense. He scolded in a low voice, and didn't bother to say hello to Li Qing, stepped out of the sedan chair and rushed straight into the door.

Li Qing looked at his angry back, couldn't help but secretly shook his head, turned around and went to his shop, the wide courtyard was crowded with people, full of things, the two guys were counting the goods with a focused expression, their faces were unfamiliar, they seemed to be new, they didn't know the owner, nodded to Li Qing friendly, just as he was also a merchant in the place where he bought goods.

Passing through the courtyard, Li Qing came to a row of houses, this is the administrative area of the commercial house, the shopkeeper's room is on the very edge, before entering the door, Zhang Yiming's high octave scream came from the house, "Two hundred!" I said, sir, your appetite is too big! Although our personal relationship is good, it is two hundred times! You are really hard for me, the lord is about to come back, how do you ask me to make up such a big hole, the authority that the lord gave me before leaving is thirty runs, below thirty runs, I'll give it to you now, but if it exceeds thirty runs, I can't do anything about it. ”

Immediately, a soft voice came, and there was a little complaint, "Yiming, I'm not asking you to ask for it, I'm borrowing, borrow me first for emergencies, and I'll pay you back if I have it, don't look so sad." ”

"Uncle Wang, I really don't dare, why don't you go find Madame, she nodded, and I have an explanation."

"Nonsense! Can I open that mouth and still come to you? You little monkey cub, what did I do to you in Yibin County at the beginning, and now you are the shopkeeper and you turn your face and don't recognize people? ”

This was Wang Changling's voice, and the soft voice began to become stern.

"It's the rule!"

Zhang Yiming hurriedly whispered: "He has strict rules, and you also know that person is like a ghost, this kind of thing can't be hidden from him, once it is found out, I can't eat and walk around." ”

'Ghost-like?' Li Qing just wanted to praise him for sticking to his principles, but in the end such a sentence came out, he couldn't help but be angry and funny, he coughed heavily, and pushed the door in.

"Zhaofeng Er, I see that you have itchy skin, you tell me clearly, I am as good as a ghost, I can't say clearly, hehe! You don't want this semi-annual award. ”

Zhang Yiming was forced into a dilemma by Wang Changling's rude request, and he had the heart to give it to him, I am afraid that Li Qing will come back to clean up his violation of the store rules, if he doesn't give it to him, I am afraid that he will finally remember to ask himself to borrow privately, these poor poets, even what five-flowered horses, daughters and daughters have paid off the wine debt, ask them to repay the money, dream!

When he was in a dilemma, he suddenly heard the voice of the proprietor, turned his head, and saw Li Qing standing at the door with a smile, staring at himself, he actually heard all the words he had just said, Zhang Yiming seemed to step on the air, his scalp was numb for a while, and he couldn't speak, how to explain the word 'ghost', all kinds of images in his mind were dancing in color, drunkards, perverts, or impermanent ghosts.

Wang Changling was overjoyed, Li Qing came back, his money was gone, he stepped forward and grabbed Li Qing's wrist, and smiled happily, "When did you come back?" Fast! Fast! Save

me! ”

Li Qing nodded, and waved to Zhang Yiming first, "You go!" Remember that you insist on your duty, and spare you again, next time I hear you talk about me behind my back, and I will even deduct your annual award! ”

Zhang Yiming saw that the proprietor spared himself again, thanked him again and again, and ran away like a rabbit, but he didn't know that he had performed brilliantly today, if it wasn't for that superfluous sentence, but he would have been rewarded.

Li Qing saw him leaving, so he turned back to Wang Changling and smiled: "What is it that makes you worry like this, just say it, I'll help you!" ”

Wang Changling saw that he agreed, and a big stone in his heart finally landed, and said, "The night after tomorrow, some of our friends want to get together in Qujiang Pond, I think I will always trouble everyone after I come back, so I took the initiative to ask Ying to undertake this Qujiang Liujiu, I want to think that I have been an official for a few years, and I have more or less savings in hand, but this year's prices have more than doubled, buy wine, invite singers, and rent a place in previous years as long as thirty or forty times, and this year to say less to a hundred, my group of poets are rich today and light today, and I can't count on it, I think I know people, is the only one who is a big guy, so I want to borrow a little, but that Zhang Yiming, because I used to use him as a confidant, this change of owner turned his face and didn't recognize people. ”

Li Qing knew that Wang Changling would not open his mouth to himself unless he had to, let alone ask others for money, so he smiled slightly, "Brother Yuhu, even if you go to drink, you have time to think of a few wonderful poems, and I will send someone to do other chores, and keep them so that you will have a beautiful face." ”

Wang Changling was overjoyed. I was a little embarrassed, thought about it, and said with a smile: "It's better for Yang Ming to participate too, I'll do the poems for you, and you can drink more wine." ”

"Do you want to drink in the river?" Li Qing couldn't help but feel a little moved, this was the first affair in the Tang Dynasty, he had heard of its name a long time ago, if he could see it once. It was not in vain to come to the Tang Dynasty to go back, besides, Wang Changling also promised to compose poems for him, thinking of this, he happily responded: "Then I will go, when I am ugly." I also hope that Brother Yuhu will take care of it more. ”

"Good! In a word, I will pick you up then. ”

After speaking, Wang Changling was about to leave, and he suddenly thought of something again, and said to Li Qing: "Yangming, I have one more thing I want to ask you for!" ”

Li Qing pressed his shoulder, stared at him and said solemnly: "In the future, Brother Yuhu will talk to me, and Hugh will use the word 'begging' again, I will listen to it awkwardly." ”

"Well, I'll get straight to the point. It's just a bit difficult, and I don't blame you if it can't be done. ”

"Come on! Sit down and say. ”

Li Qing pulled two chairs. Let Wang Changling sit down, "Just say it!" Don't go around ***. If it can be done, I will do it, and if it can't be done, I can't say yes. ”

Wang Changling nodded, sighed and said: "I have a friend who writes poems very well, even Qinglian and I are not as good as ourselves, but it's a pity that the family is ruined, and he can't drill the camp." He also failed to pass the imperial examination repeatedly, and he was poor. He has a lot of children in his family, and he has to support his mother, and now even eating is a problem, and it all depends on us to help, I think Yang Ming has a good relationship with Tai, can he find an official position for him, and he can support his family. ”

The Qinglian that Wang Changling said is Li Bai, who will even be the person who Li Bai sighs that he is inferior? A name suddenly flashed in Li Qing's mind, and he hesitated for a moment: "You're talking about Du Fu, Du Mei!" ”

"It's him!"

Wang Changling was a little surprised, Li Qing had not been in Chang'an for a long time, how did he know, but he didn't have time to think about it, so he said: "Du Shaoling's character and knowledge are good, but he doesn't know how to drill camps, last year's provincial examination he took the exam with Cen Shen, Cen Shen Gao, but he fell to Sun Shan, no one knows the reason, we are all upset for him, Yang Ming can help him." ”

With Li Qing's connections at this time, it was really easy to find a petty official for Du Fu, but at that time, it seemed that the number of poets in the Tang Dynasty was tens of thousands, and Du Fu was just an ordinary member, his value was in later generations, and after the outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion, he wrote those immortal poems lamenting the people's livelihood, and this pearl that has not yet shined is only known to Li Qing, a later generation.

He pondered for a moment and said to Wang Changling: "This matter is just a trivial matter for me, I promise, but not now." ”

Wang Changling's face changed slightly, "Why not now?" ”

Li Qing smiled lightly and said: "If I guessed correctly, Du Fu's failure should be deliberate, he is not without talent, as long as someone says a fair word for him above, he will definitely be able to, but if he becomes an official now, he has no fame, what future will he have in the future, what I promised is not to seek an official for him, but to wipe off the dust on his body, if he is a pearl, he will definitely shine." ”

Speaking of this, Li Qing took out a counter ticket from his arms, signed his name on it, handed it to Wang Changling and said: "This is five hundred yuan, take it to Du Shaoling, let me prepare for the exam with peace of mind, and don't worry about life." ”

Wang Changling was moved, but waved his hand and said: "Money, I still have a little bit here, he is extremely tough, he will not accept money from people casually, Yang Ming is not familiar with him, he will not ask for this money." ”

Li Qing knew that Wang Changling was telling the truth, and he was not reluctant, so he took back the counter ticket and said with a smile: "It's better like this, this time Nanzhao comes back, the emperor is very likely to let me be a state official, there are military generals around me, but there is a shortage of people, if Du Mei doesn't think Li Qing is vulgar, just be a staff member for me, sort out books for me, and wait for the end of the year when the department starts to take the exam." ”

"That's the best, I'll go tell him!"

Wang Changling's old face suddenly turned red, he wanted to say something, his lips moved, but he couldn't speak, Li Qing saw it, he couldn't help laughing, patted him on the shoulder and said, "You old scalper, how can I be willing to throw you away!" ”

.

After Wang Changling left, Li Qing was in a happy mood, he found the account book, carefully understood the business situation in the past few months, Bashu Commercial Bank is Li Lin's most profitable shop, strong capital, business is very large, known as a reputation in the industry, a month of capital transactions tens of thousands, especially in the past few months, the sales of Shu brocade is extremely prosperous, the firm has eaten a few votes of food and Japan's big orders, but also made a lot of money, almost monopolized the entire Chang'an Shu brocade business.

Chengdu Wangjiang Restaurant, is also good news, Haijia down, its old customers almost flocked to Wangjiang Restaurant, according to the news reported by the shopkeeper, last year, the profit of 8,000 yuan, although it can not be compared with the Bashu Commercial Bank, but also make it difficult for other restaurants in Chengdu to look at its neck.

The huge wealth that was easily obtained made Li Qingdi's heart calm, but he was not as ecstatic as when he set up a stall in Yilong, and he earned three times on the first day.

At this time, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside, and the housekeeper Zhang Wang ran in, bowed to Li Qing and said, "Master, just now Yang Zhao went to look for you at home and said that there was something urgent, so I brought him here." ”

As soon as the words fell, Yang Zhao's laughter came from outside, "You thief guy, you forced me to pay back the debt in the drunken country restaurant back then, and held a grudge against me, if I don't say that there is something urgent, will you bring me here?" ”

When the sound arrived, the door curtain was lifted, and Yang Zhao strode in with a proud face.