"What's the matter?" Wu Shigong asked first.

"Fourteenth Young Master. The small ones are straight to the point. In recent years, the expenses of the Hou Mansion have become larger and larger, and the affairs of the lady have to be done decently, and the small ones who manage the industries of the Wu Mansion are also digging the east wall to make up the west wall. Seeing Hou Ye is also often anxious, the little one is really ashamed of his trust in Hou Ye! "Steward Hong said it very secretly.

However, Wu Shigong understood the meaning of Steward Hong as soon as he heard it. Although some people felt that Steward Hong's appearance was too ugly, Wu Shigong had already prepared: "Today is too rushed." Tomorrow, when the young lady comes to worship, she will bring two thousand silver tattoos and a number of sacrifices. There are also some gifts that I give to my brothers and sisters. ”

Wu Shigong's shot was already very generous, but he knew that since Steward Hong couldn't wait to find him, then his appetite would definitely be great, so after finishing speaking, Wu Shigong quietly waited for Steward Hong's next step.

As expected, Steward Hong struggled for a while, and repeated the words again: "Fourteenth Young Master, the expenses in this mansion are huge!" ”

"And how much do you want?" Wu Shigong simply went straight. He knew that it was his father Wu Weizhong who wanted the silver, but when he spoke, he seemed to be the Hong Steward. However, in this regard, Wu Shigong and Steward Hong tacitly knew it anyway.

Wu Shigong's psychological price is five thousand taels, and now he is waiting for the price of Steward Hong. Unexpectedly, Steward Hong didn't take over this at all, and he suddenly said: "I heard that the Fourteenth Young Master has opened two salt farms in Yangzhou and Dengzhou!" ”

Wu Shigong's eyes suddenly narrowed. Although he knew that he had opened a salt factory, sooner or later it would come to the capital. But Wu Shigong didn't expect it to spread so quickly, and his father Wu Weizhong would take a fancy to these two salt farms.

Now for Wu Shigong, every tael of silver is precious, so Wu Shigong is heart is immediately on fire. At the beginning, Wu Shigong dared to merge with friendly arms for the sake of silver. For the sake of silver, he dared to fight with coach Zhu Dadian and Gao Qi diving cattle, what is this Hong Steward now?

However, Wu Shigong still wanted to understand something: "Did Master Hou ask for it?" ”

"The little one was just arranged by the Hou Ye." Although the words were very vague, Steward Hong affirmed that this was Wu Weizhong's idea.

After finishing speaking, Steward Hong glanced at Wu Shigong with a weak heart. In fact, Wu Weizhong learned from various sources that Wu Shigong had two salt farms, and after making a windfall in the Denglai counterinsurgency, this time it was nothing more than asking Wu Shigong to have a little more blood. After all, Wu Shigong is a person who has entered the Xue Mansion, and Wu Weizhong still claims to be a scholar, so he can't pull his face down and blackmail too much.

However, Steward Hong took the initiative to persuade Wu Weizhong and personally asked for help, so he wanted Wu Mansion to occupy the two salt farms. Steward Hong did feel Wu Weizhong's pulse, so Wu Weizhong also asked Steward Hong to talk about it.

Of course. Wu Weizhong also asked Steward Hong to try to talk, and if Wu Shigong really didn't agree, it would be nothing. But Steward Hong said to Wu Shigong with such certainty that it was Steward Hong's own careful thinking.

Steward Hong is sure that Wu Weizhong and Wu Shigong will not confront him face to face, and Wu Shigong does not dare to disadvantage him, because it depends on the face of the owner to beat the dog!

In case this matter is negotiated. The status of the Hong Steward in the Wu Mansion will also be greatly improved. After all, Aunt Hong will always fall out of favor one day. Besides, it is logical to manage the salt works in the future. How can the benefits of the flood steward himself be less?

Steward Hong did grasp Wu Shigong's psychological weakness. And for Wu Shigong. But it is impossible to refuse this request from his father Wu Weizhong.

Wu Shigong quickly calculated the pros and cons in his heart. Wu Shigong's shares in the two salt factories can bring Wu Shigong five or six thousand taels of silver every year. Although this amount of silver is a lot, it still accounts for a small amount compared to all the income from salt goods. Wu Shigong's biggest income from salt goods is the protection fee collected from salt goods.

The main reason why Wu Shigong wanted to own these two salt farms was to prevent Yangzhou salt merchants from controlling the supply of salt goods. You know, salt is the same as grain. It is also a very important strategic material.

And this time Wu Shigong came to the capital, the key is to show his filial piety. But what if Wu Shigong doesn't agree to his father Wu Weizhong's request? In the future, the Wu Mansion will definitely spread this matter.

Moreover, it is impossible for Wu Shigong to live in the capital permanently, and the news that spreads out is also said by the Wu Mansion, and Wu Shigong is impossible to defend himself. Besides, what can be justified? Lao Tzu asked his son for some money to spend. If the son refuses to give it, then it must be unfilial! Whatever the reasons are useless.

After that, it was a little unfavorable to Wu Shigong. escaped from Ding Wei and didn't want to resign from his official position, and he was unfilial to his father, didn't this confirm Wu Shigong's crime of unfilial piety? If this is the case, then it is better not to come to the capital for mourning.

Therefore, the salt works also had to be handed over to the Wu government. However, Wu Shigong can hand over the profits of the salt farm, but he certainly cannot hand over the management of the salt farm, which is Wu Shigong's bottom line.

But even if it is giving, Wu Shigong also has to bargain: "Since the Hou Mansion is difficult, I, as a son, cannot stand idly by." But Steward Hong also wants to let Hou Ye know that these two salt farms are owned by many people, and I only have a share in them. If other people's shares can't be moved, my shares will be divided into three. Give one to the Wu Mansion, one to the Xue Mansion, and I'll keep one for myself. ”

Seeing that things were going well, Steward Hong immediately despised Wu Shigong, and he regarded Wu Shigong as the cowardly person before, so he immediately pressed and said: "Xue Hou's good words." But the fourteenth young master didn't split up in the Wu Mansion, and your property should be the property of the Wu Mansion Gongzhong. ”

"Grandma!" Wu Shigong scolded in his heart, "I am already a person who has entered the Xue Mansion, it is reluctant to say that this industry is the public industry of the Xue Mansion, where is it the public industry of the Wu Mansion?" ”

However, now Wu Shigong has no interest in entangled with Steward Hong. Compared with his father-in-law Xue Lian, who paid a lot to himself, his father was too speechless for Wu Shigong.

So Wu Shigong quickly agreed: "Okay! It's just half of the two houses. But I still have one more thing for Wu Fu to help with. ”

"Fourteenth Young Master, please speak!" Steward Hong immediately smiled.

"I brought a batch of goods worth 50,000 taels of silver to the capital this time, so please ask the Hong Steward to sell them all. I don't want any cash, I go and buy horses. Twenty-five taels and one horses, don't want horses, at least thirty percent of them are war horses. Can the flood management do it? ”

Wu Shigong also lost a troublesome thing to the Wu Mansion. However, for the Wu Mansion, dealing with those calligraphy and painting antiques is nothing at all, which noble family doesn't open a few pawn shops? And with Wu Weizhong's status in Jingying and the relationship between his eldest brother Wu Shixun in Taifu Temple, it was the Wu Mansion that handled this matter.

Steward Hong made a rough calculation, and felt that Wu Shigong's condition was nothing, so he immediately said, "It should be no problem." Wait a while, the little one will tell the Hou Ye. ”

Wu Shigong nodded and continued: "In the future, I will send someone to send the silver to the Wu Mansion every year, and the Wu Mansion should not bother to take care of these two salt farms." At most, send someone to check the accounts every year. ”

"How does this work?" Steward Hong blurted out. Of course not! If you don't send people, where does the Hong Steward get the extra money?

"Humph!" Wu Shigong said unceremoniously to Steward Hong, "Especially you." Master Hou must be very happy to get these two salt farms, but I must be very unhappy. If you have to go, the salt works are also by the sea anyway, and you can try what is called a stone sinking into the sea. After finishing speaking, Wu Shigong turned around and left.

Wu Shigong's heart was quite annoyed, he was working hard for the safety of the entire family, while his father was digging his own corner. This thing is really embarrassing!

Seeing Wu Shigong return to the mourning hall with a calm face, Wu Yunqing didn't dare to talk to Wu Shigong anymore. After a long while, Wu Yunqing seemed to have guessed what had happened to Steward Hong just now, and said to Wu Shigong: "Fourteenth brother, when you entered the Xue Mansion, I always felt that our Wu Mansion was a little ...... Some......! ”

Wu Shigong reluctantly squeezed out a smile on his face and interrupted Wu Yunqing's words: "It's nothing! Your sister-in-law is very good to me. Besides, I also have an official body, and it is not a loss. ”

"But...... But at that time, my brother Weishenme was going to be a military attaché? Hou Ye and eldest brother both said that civil officials are much better than military officials! Wu Yunqing asked.

Wu Shigong smiled again, thinking: In this troubled world, what kind of noble and lowly people are about to turn upside down! But this could not be said to Wu Yunqing, so Wu Shigong said: "Civil officials are as good as civil officials, and military attaches are as strong as military attachés." I can't say who is good and who is bad. Besides, I didn't study as hard as my eldest brother at that time, and it was impossible for me to even get in, let alone Jinshi. ”

"That's a shame." Wu Yunqing really felt sorry for Wu Shigong. In this little girl's heart, she naively thought that Wu Shigong's father-in-law Xue Lian was Wei Zhongxian's person at that time, so it was estimated that it would not be too difficult to arrange a civil official. But she didn't know that she didn't have a reputation for being a jinshi or a person, and she couldn't get a haode civil official position at all, and it was useless for Wei Zhongxian to help.

"There's nothing to worry about. As a military attaché, he rode a high-headed horse, leading thousands of troops and horses, which was very majestic. Wu Shigong coaxed Wu Yunqing.

At this time, the maid behind Wu Yunqing interjected again: "But what do the marquis and the prince say, no matter how big the military attache is, he will kneel when he sees a civil official?" And what kind of majesty does the military attache have? ”

Wu Shigong really hates this maid telling the truth. So he immediately replied: "The majesty of a military attache is: spend money like dirt, kill people like hemp!" (To be continued......)