Subsequently, Guo Ye took Zhang Jiujin and Wang Bajin, two fools, and together with the eldest grandson Yumo, got off the Chunliu painting boat and returned to the embankment of Slender West Lake by boat.

On the way home, Guo Ye was afraid that the eldest grandson Yumo would be too playful and mistaken the matter, so he couldn't help but give Yin Yin another instruct about mixing into the Zhang family in Gujing Lane.

Delay and delay, until the first watch, he returned to the palace.

When he entered the backyard residence and returned to the bedroom, Wu Xiuxiu had already fallen asleep. Seeing that his wife was sleeping soundly, he couldn't bear to wake up, tiptoed off his clothes and lay on the side of the bed, and fell asleep hastily.

The next day, when he woke up and finished breakfast with Wu Xiuxiu, he sent two brothers, Zhang Jiujin and Wang Bajin, to inquire about the whereabouts of the eldest grandson Yumo. The other party had already left a message, and went to Gujing Lane to visit his uncle Zhang Yuanli in the name of his nephew early in the morning.

After lunch, he was planning to accompany Wu Xiuxiu out of the mansion, go to Yangzhou City for a good stroll, and accompany his wife, who grew up in Longxi, Shuzhong, to go out for a walk and see Huaiyang customs.

Under the leadership of Zhang Jiujin and Wang Bajin, the two local snakes in Yangzhou, Guo Yexiao and his family were just about to leave the gate of the mansion, but they rushed to Chen Lang and met each other.

As soon as Chen Lang saw the battle of Guo Ye and his wife traveling, he opened his mouth and asked, "Guo Tingshi, are you going out with your wife?" ”

Guo Ye smiled: "Yes, what's wrong?" Could it be that there is news from the Salt Gang that the boat boss surnamed Huang has been found? ”

Chen Lang's face darkened, shook his head and said with a wry smile: "The waters of Yangzhou are vast and nearly thousands of miles in radius, how can it be so easy to find someone." But Lord Thorn Shi, please rest assured, as long as this surnamed Huang is not dead and is still hiding in the waters of Yangzhou, our salt gang will be able to find out this grandson. ”

Guo Ye snorted and nodded: "I believe that this kind of thing is definitely not difficult for you Salt Gang, it's just a matter of time." By the way, you came to the government today to find other things to find your own official, right? ”

Chen Lang said: "That's right, there are other things, but Guo Tingshi is going out, or I'll come back at night, okay?" ”

Guo Ye glanced at Wu Xiuxiu beside him, and then responded: "Since you are not in a hurry, it will be done, I will take my wife to this city for a walk first." ”

"No, husband."

Wu Xiuxiu, who had been listening to the conversation between the two, suddenly said loudly: "My husband is now the parent official of Yangzhou, how can he waste food because of choking and ignore the right thing for the sake of his concubine?" Husband, let's put business first. ”

As soon as Wu Xiuxiu's words came out, Chen Lang immediately gave Wu Xiuxiu a thumbs up and praised: "Madame understands righteousness and is really worthy of being a virtuous helper of Guo Tingshi." If you have a wife like this, what more can a husband ask for? Guo Thorn Shi is blessed. ”

Wu Xiuxiu smiled when she heard this, bowed her head slightly at Chen Lang reservedly, and said softly: "Chen Duwei praised it, our husband and wife have been here for a long time, and we can go to the city to play at any time." How can I miss the affairs of the government because I want to have fun for a while? ”

She has been staying in the government office for the past few days, and she has more or less heard that the serial murder case is more difficult, and she also knows that her husband has had a headache because of this case recently.

So, she said to Guo Ye again: "Husband, let Zhang Jiujin and Wang Bajin and their brothers go around the city with their concubines, with them guarding, husband can rest assured." ”

Guo Ye heard Wu Xiuxiu say this, what else could he say? I can only sigh that I really married a good daughter-in-law.

Afterwards, he gave a special advice to Zhang Jiujin and Wang Bajin, the two bad guys, and asked them to protect their wife every step of the way and take a good turn in the city.

After Wu Xiuxiu left with the two of them, he and Chen Lang returned to the gate of the mansion and went to the study.

As soon as he entered the study, Guo Ye invited Chen Lang to sit down, and asked directly: "Chen Duwei, now there are just you and me in the room, just speak up if there is anything." ”

Chen Lang grinned and sighed: "It's still Guo Tingshi's eyes like a torch, just now because my wife was by my side, I couldn't say it clearly, hehe." I heard that Lord Thorn Shi went to Slender West Lake last night and boarded the flower boat of the Spring Stream Painting Boat? ”

Guo Ye's face was stunned, and he blurted out, "How do you know about this?" ”

But as soon as the words came out, he immediately understood that it must be Zhang Jiujin and Wang Bajin, the two bad goods, who returned to the Zhichong Governor's Mansion with a big mouth and a big mouth, and leaked their mouths.

However, this Chen Lang is quite upright and did not mention this matter in front of Xiuxiu.

Then, he asked: "That's it, it's not a shameful thing, there's no need to find out who leaked the whereabouts of the official." But you, why did you ask about this matter for no reason? ”

Chen Lang laughed in a low voice: "Don't get me wrong, Lord Thorn Shi, I don't mean to take your handle." Men, how can anyone not drink flower wine? A man who has not been mixed with Qinlou Chu Pavilion and has no wind and snow, can he be called a man? ”

Guo Ye raised his hand and gestured, "Okay, let's make a long story short, what are you looking for me for today?" Could it be that it has something to do with this Slender West Lake? ”

Chen Lang slapped a small ass again, and praised: "The adults really look like torches, and they can't hide anything from you." Adults who come to Yangzhou may not know that there are nearly 100 Qinlou Chu Museums along the Slender West Lake, and there are hundreds of painting boats docked on the Slender West Lake. ”

Guo Ye seemed to hear something, frowned and asked, "What's the matter?" Could it be that your salt gang is also worried about Slender West Lake, and you want to get a few painting boats there to get some silver? No, you salt gang are a group of big men, and they have always been selling smuggled salt on the river, where do you know how these warblers and swallows make a living? ”

Chen Lang waved his hand again and again and explained: "My lord misunderstood, where can I make a lot of money by selling illicit salt when I get a few painting boats?" Adults don't know, in fact, there are nearly 100 Qinlou Chu Pavilions along the Slender West Lake, and hundreds of painting boats on the lake, all of which are taken care of. Although the Yangzhou government has always not taxed them, the proprietors of these Qinlou Chu Pavilion and the painting boat have to pay tribute, which is said to be three out of ten. If you don't pay tribute to the God of Wealth on the ground of Slender West Lake, hey, no one wants to open the door there to make a living. ”

"Damn, you mean that someone is collecting protection money in this area of Slender West Lake?"

Guo Ye shouted with a look of surprise: "Three out of ten, this tax is also too ruthless, isn't this group of people who secretly collect protection money have made a profit?" ”

Chen Lang said: "Protection money? This is also an appropriate statement, this group of people are not from the government, but they use the power of bullying people to secretly use intimidation and scoundrel tricks to collect taxes from merchants, so that merchants can seek peace on one side. Well, the term protection fee is very appropriate. The adult is right, this group of people has indeed made a lot of money, but they don't show mountains and rivers on weekdays, and the means are vicious, and ordinary people don't dare to provoke easily, so the adults have never heard of their names when they first came to Yangzhou. ”

Guo Ye didn't expect that under his rule of Yangzhou, there was such a hidden tumor, so he couldn't help but be angry, frowned and asked, "What is the origin of these people?" Didn't the previous Yangzhou assassins ignore it? Damn, if these protection fees are converted into local taxes, will Yangzhou Mansion still be so poor? ”

Thinking about the accounts of the government treasury now, Guo Ye is suddenly poor and short of breath, and he is miserable.

Chen Lang smiled bitterly: "My lord, although I took the salt gang to beg for a living on the river, I really can't get used to the despicable behavior of these people. As the so-called thief also has a way, the tax head of three out of ten is also too ruthless. I can't stand it, I really can't stand it. ”

Guo Ye is so clever, how can he not hear the little Jiujiu in Chen Lang's heart?

After Chen Lang scolded Chen angrily, he immediately threw a roll of his eyes and said mockingly: "You don't fool me here, what kind of righteous gentleman are you pretending to be?" You are just seeing people counting money and cramping, looking at the red eyes and wanting to get a piece of the pie. Well, it's not impossible, the key is that you have to tell me first, what are these people? How many thorn history have been changed in Yangzhou, but they have been able to stay in the dragon plate for so long in the Slender West Lake realm, it is definitely not a good stubble. Tell me, what are these people*? ”

Chen Lang was overjoyed when he heard this, and said: "I was seen through by adults again, and I was very embarrassed." My lord, there is actually such a ballad in Yangzhou City, you listen to me...... The history of thorns and the history of thorns are there every year,

Stubble after stubble,

The official of Yangzhou flowing water who is beaten by iron.

Century-old foundation Gujing Lane,

Standing tall and falling, only Zhang's family;

In the night I saw the wind and thunder roaring,

Scared and cried, the child broke his guts. ”

After Chen Lang sang a ballad, Guo Ye said to himself: "I know the Zhang family in Gujing Lane, which has a century-old foundation. But what does the wind and thunder roar point to? Could it be the bunch of crumbs who collect protection money? ”

"That's right, the wind and thunder roar is the wind and thunder hall that is standing on the dragon plate and thinning the West Lake, and secretly pumping heavy taxes to merchants. This Wind Thunder Hall is really powerful enough, do you know why our Salt Gang is jealous of them, but they don't dare to go ashore and enter the city easily to share a piece of the pie with them? ”

Guo Ye shook his head and said he didn't know.

Chen Lang said: "It's not because these people in the Wind Thunder Hall are a group of desperate guys, and what they are best at is playing with firearms and gunpowder with you." As long as any painting boat dares not to pay the protection fee of three out of ten, hmph, being targeted by their Wind Thunder Hall will definitely blow up the painting boat and burn it to pieces. ”

"Gunpowder? Firearm??? ”

Guo Ye opened his mouth wide, and shouted as if he had seen a ghost: "Is there explosives in this era?" Isn't that scientific!! ”