When the time is right, the sky is completely dark, a round of rising full moon hanging obliquely in the sky, the soft silver-white moonlight sprinkled to the earth, through the sparse willow branches swaying in the wind, reflecting an old man lying in a rocking chair full of mottled body, but the old man obviously does not mind this slight glare of the eyes, lying quietly still, as if asleep, but the eyes occasionally burst out of essence but show the ups and downs of the old man's heart, this person is the current deputy general manager of the Hecao Yamen He Chen Qidong.

Chen Qidong, a native of Shanxi, was born in Kangxi in the eighteenth year of Jinshi, successively served as the director of the Ministry of Industry, a member of the Ministry of Industry, and then followed a generation of famous ministers Jin Fu to govern the river, relying on his qualifications, he survived to the position of the deputy general river, and then he did not have the slightest promotion for more than ten years, and he did not see that the river cao yamen had changed six or seven governors, but Chen Qidong was still lying on his stomach in the position of the deputy chief river, and he did his best to govern the river, but he never got it into play, and he was regarded as an idler in the river cao yamen. It's not his turn to take care of big and small things, in this case, Chen Qidong is really unwilling, but what can he do if he is unwilling, there is no one in the court, this official, he is lucky if he doesn't get smaller and smaller, in the past, Chen Qidong also comforted himself, but now the Yellow River has burst again, the saint is angry, and the wind direction has changed greatly, Chen Qidong is keenly aware that there is a chance for him to turn over, but whether this opportunity is evil or auspicious, Chen Qidong is a little uncertain.

An opportunity is an opportunity, although I don't know what the bad luck is, but after all, it's an opportunity, isn't it? missed this time, Chen Qidong doesn't know if his stump, which is nearly sixty years old, can support the next opportunity, it is natural to say that he is not impressed, but he really wants to devote himself to it, but it is not so simple, not only worried about the unpredictable future, but also has to have an opportunity to devote himself, and this is indeed the most lacking doorway for Chen Qidong at the moment, not for anything else, just because he is quiet and unsociable, he is a lonely person among his colleagues, and there are few people who even discuss, let alone recommend people.

"Daddy, the shopkeeper of the 'Kirin Firm' Li is here, saying that he wants to see you."

Just when Chen Qidong was thinking about it, a small sound of footsteps started, but he saw his eldest son Chen Hainan hurriedly walking in from the courtyard gate, walking a few steps, grabbing Chen Qidong's side, and whispering a word.

"Huh?"

"Qilin Firm" can now be regarded as one of the most popular businesses in Jining City, Li Mincheng and his people have become a popular figure in the city because of it, not entirely because of his own long-sleeved and good dancing, not all because the Li family is a local wealthy family, but more because there are two elder brothers behind the "Qilin Firm" and the popular third master Hongqing, who is not only free in the shopping mall, but also in the officialdom has to sell his face, it is really a good mix, but Chen Qidong is not familiar with it, It's just that I've met a few times in social occasions by chance, and I really can't react for a while when I listen to his visit coldly.

"If Daddy doesn't want to see him, the child will refuse politely."

Chen Hainan has followed Chen Qidong to govern the river since he was a child, and now he is also considered to have entered the office, but his official position is very low, and he has passed thirty years old, but he is only the governor of the river from the eighth grade, not that he lacks ability, but he is burdened by his father, when it comes to the heart of change, he is only higher than Chen Qidong, and he has already had the heart to contact with the shopkeeper Li, but because of his father's strict discipline, he did not dare to make a time. Seeing that his father didn't react for a long time, he hurriedly nodded with retreat.

"Slow!"

As soon as he heard his eldest son say this, Chen Qidong immediately came back to his senses, Huo Ran got up, waved his hand, and broke off, but he didn't say whether he saw it or not, but walked quickly in the courtyard with his hands behind his back A few times, before he cautiously spoke: "Please ask Shopkeeper Li to rest in the hall of the second gate first, and then go after changing clothes for my father." ”

"Yes, boy, I'll do it."

Since his father said so, Chen Hainan didn't dare to slack off, so he hurriedly agreed to the promise and hurried to the front door, but Chen Qidong did not go directly to change clothes, but stood stunned for a moment before he stomped his feet and walked into the main room......

"Daddy, this is Shopkeeper Li."

After the time of a stick of incense, Chen Qidong finally came out of the back hall, and Chen Hainan, who was chatting with the shopkeeper Li, didn't dare to slack off, so he stood up busily, bowed, and introduced Li Mincheng to his father, but he didn't expect Chen Qidong to be stunned on the spot, his eyes were wide open, and his face was full of disbelief.

"Daddy, Daddy."

Chen Hainan didn't expect his old father to react like this, for fear of losing the courtesy, he had to call twice in a low voice.

"The lower official Chen Qidong knocked to see the little prince, and the lower official greeted him late, and invited the little prince Haihan to be there."

Being called by Chen Hainan like this, Chen Qidong woke up, but he didn't pay attention to Li Mincheng, who was ceremoniously introduced by Chen Hainan, but walked a few steps quickly, grabbed the little guy who had always stood beside Li Min's body before, shook his sleeves, and hurried to pay a big salute.

"Ah......h

Seeing his father's behavior, Chen Hainan was dumbfounded, and looked at the smiling little guy in disbelief, and was a little at a loss for a while.

"Lord Chen doesn't have to be like this, Ben Beizi came here privately, there was a lot of trouble, and please get up and talk."

Chen Qidong is not mistaken, he is really dressed as a small guy Hongqing, who has just arrived in Jining for two days, and the reason why he wants to disguise himself is actually a last resort, because the current situation is unclear, Hongqing really doesn't want anything extraneous to happen, but some things are inconvenient to talk about in public, so he has to play a trick of a white dragon fish suit.

"Xie Xiaowang Longen, please take a seat, Hainan, hurry, hurry up and serve fragrant tea!"

Chen Qidong was still thinking about how to find an opportunity to get in touch with Hongqing, but he never expected Hongqing to appear in front of him so unexpectedly, and the surprise in his heart couldn't be concealed.

"Master Chen doesn't have to be busy, Ben Beizi has come here this time."

Hongqing Suxi Tea Ceremony, every day is a good tea, now seeing Chen Fu is so depressed, but also know that it is difficult to come up with good tea, since I don't want to spend more about that, this is straight to the point.

"Oh?"

As soon as he heard Hongqing's strange words, Chen Qidong didn't dare to speak easily, but just spoke lightly, looked at Hongqing with a puzzled look, and waited for Hongqing to say the following posture.

"In the past, when Ben Beizi came to Jining, I had heard Lord Chen talk about governing the river, and I was quite yearning for it, but I was not able to do this, but I didn't have a chance to do this, now, the Yellow River collapsed, hundreds of thousands of people in Henan were robbed, Ben Beizi was really uneasy, and I specially invited the will, to tame the Yellow Dragon of the evil, and also asked Lord Chen to go out of the mountain to help Ben Beizi, if you can pay off Ning to the people, it is really a great achievement, and I don't know if Lord Chen is willing to build this cause for the common people?"

The reason why Hongqing dared to instigate the third master to take over the disaster relief and embankment relief is that most of the foundation should be on the Chen Qidong in front of him, of course, even if Chen Qidong refuses to help, Hongqing is not afraid, not for anything else, just because Hongqing has another wonderful hand to solve the difficulty of Cao Yun, that is, sea transportation, at most two years, Hongqing strives to build a fleet can be formed, the big deal will be the overseas trade matter first pressed back, the first transfer of giant ships for Cao Yun, so that As for the governance of the Yellow River, Hongqing also has other arrangements, that is, to learn from the later generations to build a number of artificial lagoons and build large-scale water diversion projects, one can be used for irrigation, and the other can also be used when the flood hits, thinking that the adjustment of the flood peak, although I dare not say that it can ensure the safety of the Yellow River for a hundred years, it can be guaranteed for ten or eight years, and it is not much of a problem to think about it.

"I can make a profit for the people in the world, and I can do what the officials want in my life, and I dare not obey my fate, but I ......"

Chen Qidong obviously didn't expect Hongqing to say it so clearly, thinking that he had been idle for more than ten years, and finally had a place to play to his heart's content, Chen Qidong's heart suddenly beat like a deer, and he hurriedly agreed to Hongqing's proposal, but he was halfway through the words, but he suddenly stopped, his old face was red, and he seemed to have an unspeakable hidden.

"Master Chen, please speak up if you have any difficulties, but if Ben Beizi can do it, he will never dare to resign."

As soon as he saw Chen Qidong's appearance, Hongqing's heart immediately moved, and he had vaguely guessed the scruples in his heart, but he did not break it, but made a sincere guarantee.

"Then, the lower officials will be presumptuous, first, the lower officials must govern the river must be concerted, so they must have the right to specialize, second, the river is not a day's work, if there is no sufficient resources, categorically for this, therefore, if the funds are limited, the river may not have a big governance; As for the third ......" At this point, Chen Qidong suddenly paused, and after a moment of silence, he continued with a somewhat dejected expression: "In the past ten years, in order to maintain the family's income, the lower official had to borrow four thousand taels of silver from the treasury silver, and now the debt is about to be settled, and the lower official is difficult to continue for a while. ”

Four thousand taels? Oh, the dignified and third-grade members are worried like this for four thousand taels of silver, which shows how much they are squeezed out!

As soon as he heard Chen Qidong's three conditions, Hongqing really felt a little bad in his heart, you must know that the Hecao Yamen is the fattest yamen in the world, which of those big and small officials is not up and down the hands of the crazy fishing, not to mention the upper-level officials, that is, the soldiers who patrol the river below have not eaten less than what they want with the cassette, and Chen Qidong has only borrowed 4,000 taels of silver for more than ten years and is panicked like this, which shows how aggrieved his people are in the yamen.