Guangdong Customs Administration, Supervision Office.

There were only three people in the room, the overseer, Yang Lin and Master Liu. At this time, Master Liu had some inexplicable excitement in his heart, he had never been treated so courteously by the superintendent, and he couldn't help but believe that the relationship between Yang Lin and Fengshen Yinde, as well as the relationship between Yang Lin and the superintendent was not simple.

Compared with the tension between Yang Lin and the merchants, the superintendent was much calmer, calm, and did not care much about the fire at sea.

After the three of them sat down, after a short silence, the overseer was enjoying the tea, and Yang Lin said in a timely manner: "My lord, I don't know if you have heard of the fire on the Pearl River?" ”

"Oh, I heard, nephew, what's wrong?"

"My lord, it's like this, the thirteen merchants guarantee the foreign merchants, it is estimated that most of the goods will be destroyed in this fire, do we need to do anything with the yamen?"

"Uh~ No, extinguishing the fire and dealing with the post-disaster incident are not under our responsibility, our Customs Department is only responsible for the collection of taxes, the permission for cargo ships to enter and leave the Pearl River, and other matters are the affairs of the Governor's Yamen and the Governor's Palace."

"If you really need our customs office, at most you will help from the side, and if there is an arrangement, you will be notified to your nephew at that time."

After Yang Lin and the superintendent exchanged pleasantries for a while, he left the superintendent's office with Master Liu and walked downstairs.

The superintendent was called a virtuous nephew, which made Master Liu excited in his heart, and secretly said that he had made the right bet. However, as the person concerned, Yang Lin was heavy in his heart, feeling that the superintendent was a real old fox, under the amiable appearance, but the heart was incomprehensible, and he was even more frightened and jealous of the superintendent's indifference and disregard for life.

Walking at the staircase, Yang Lin has a clearer understanding of officialdom, everything is based on interests, and between each other is the exchange of power, get more money, and everything else is in vain. What kind of life, what people's livelihood, what natural and man-made disasters, as long as they do not involve their own interests, they don't care, no matter how many casualties there are.

Yang Lin felt depressed in his heart, very depressed, put a big stone on his heart, at this time he realized that it was very necessary to overthrow the Qing Dynasty, and felt that the burden on his shoulders was heavier.

Walking in the stairwell, when he was about to turn down, a person suddenly appeared, a familiar and strange person to Yang Lin, and an enemy who suddenly landed, Li Lianying.

Walking in the opposite direction, Li Lianying still looked at Yang Lin with contempt, squinted and glanced at it, snorted coldly, looked at Master Liu on the back, paced slowly, gradually approached, and said in a faint voice: "Okay~Good~, you are very good, dare to help my opponent of Li, Liu Boqi, you are very good, I will firmly remember you~!" ”

The threat was fully revealed, which made Master Liu feel a thrill, and he couldn't help but tremble, and his mouth only had time to open and close silently a few times, Li Lianying had already brushed her sleeves away, snorted coldly, and disappeared at the staircase.

At this moment, Master Liu had an impulse to catch up with Li Lianying and explain something. However, he held back, because once he really did that, not only would it not help, but he would lose Yang Lin's trust, and he, Master Liu, would be in a dilemma and offended.

The encounter was only a moment, a few breaths, and the stalemate was fleeting, and Yang Lin left the customs office with Master Liu and walked towards the city of Guangzhou. However, the two had only left for a short time, only a few hundred meters away from the customs office, and there was a person waiting in front of them, dressed in civilian clothes, looking average.

As he approached, Yang Lin realized that it was an old acquaintance, Lord Song, a member of the General Mouth Committee, with a respectful look, hunched over, and a flattering demeanor.

"Is it Lord Song? In this gray ghost weather, the lower officials thought they had recognized the wrong person. ”

"Hehe, Brother Yang, don't be so polite, they are all working at the Customs Department, and adults are more than ordinary. If Brother Yang doesn't mind, just call Brother Song! ”

Yang Lin couldn't help sweating on his forehead, the other party, a middle-aged man in his thirties and forties, and his sixteen-year-old yellow-haired boy called him a brother, which was really awkward, his expression was a little unnatural, and he laughed twice.

In the blink of an eye, Lord Song thought that the other party accepted his overtures and wanted to reconcile, so he couldn't help but say again: "Brother Yang, what happened last time was purely a misunderstanding, it was really not what I wanted, I have no choice but to do it, and I hope Brother Yang doesn't mind." ”

Yang Lin showed a look of understanding, so it was, but he didn't say anything, which made Lord Song's heart even more worried and worried.

"Brother Yang, I, Song, swear that I will never do such a stupid thing again, as long as there is something in the future, if my brother can help, I will do my best to help and never postpone it."

During the conversation between the two, there was one person who couldn't bear it, that was Master Liu, who frequently made small movements, tugged at Yang Lin's clothes slightly, signaled to accept the other party's reconciliation and turn enemies into friends.

However, Yang Lin was unmoved, still doing what he was doing, muttering something. After a quiet while, Lord Song was a little anxious and impetuous, and then he said: "Since Brother Song gives face, how can I, Yang Lin, not carry it." Since the eldest brother said so, the younger brother really has something to ask for. ”

In an instant, Lord Song felt like a budding flower in spring, Yang Lin's words were like nectar falling from the sky, his flower bone bloomed instantly, and a sense of comfort appeared all over his body, and he immediately replied: "Okay, Brother Yang, what's the matter?" ”

"Well~ like this, didn't there be a fire in the Pearl River today? The younger brother works in the dental industry, and once the fire is extinguished, some aftermath matters will definitely be involved. Therefore, about the cause of this fire and the losses caused, the younger brother wants to know a thing or two, can Lord Song reveal something? ”

Lord Song did not agree happily as expected, but hesitated, and finally said in embarrassment: "Brother Yang, I don't know about this fire, how can I reveal it?" ”

"Uh~ Brother Song, you misunderstood, it's not for you to tell me now, but after the fire, there will definitely be a fire report passing through your hands, can you leave a copy to your brother at that time, I will cover the printing costs~!"

"So that's the case, it's a trivial matter~! Brother Yang rest assured, he will definitely give you one when the time comes, don't mention money, it hurts your feelings so much, and you will see more outside. ”

"Hehe, that little brother is here to thank you in advance!"

"You're welcome, Brother Yang, it's not too early, hurry back, otherwise the city gate will be closed, and my brother will have to go back to the customs office."

"Well, okay, see you back!"

"See you later!"

After Lord Song left, when the two of them returned, Master Liu, who was following behind, asked puzzledly: "My lord, the matter of the Pearl River fire is none of our business, and the superintendent also said so, why do you still need that fire report?" ”

"Master Liu, although the fire matter is not in our hands. However, we still have to manage the business between the Thirteen Lines and foreigners, and we still have to collect taxes. They must have experienced a lot of losses in this fire, and the tax will definitely be adjusted. ”

"Let's know the situation in advance and know what they are losing. In that case, if you want a new tax reference, you won't be in a hurry at that time~"

Master Liu didn't ask anymore, otherwise it would seem that he was too stupid and lowered his impression in Yang Lin's heart.

At the same time, Yang Lin wanted this fire report for another reason, that is, to see that the merchant of the Thirteen Lines suffered the most serious losses and could not continue to operate, so that he Yang Lin could secretly buy and control one of the Thirteen Banks, and secretly do business with foreigners, so as to obtain advanced science from the West and introduce some technology.

The two no longer talked, both kept quiet, each thinking, had their own thoughts, one after the other walked towards the city of Guangzhou, the sky gradually darkened, the Pearl River was still in flames, like day, the sky was thick smoke, spreading to the surroundings, covering the stars, covering the moon. (To be continued.) )