"Shopkeeper Wen, just say what you have to say." When Feng Gongzi saw Wen Zhong whispering like this, his faction became bigger.

Wen Zhong smiled diligently: "The cheap land is looked at by the young man, and he has to open a prosperous business. The villain is always a big name, and if he can meet Ling Zun, he will try his best to repay him. ”

"Want to see my father?" Feng Gongzi pursed his lips and didn't say a word.

Wen Zhong stood up and continued: "I understand that Gongzi does not want to go with the gambling house. But if someone is a well-known man in ten miles and eight towns, those who have no faith will drive him out of Jiangdu, and those who are virtuous will have sincere fellowship, and Gongzi belongs to the latter. It's a pity that I have one less friend under it, and I deeply regret it. ”

Feng Gongzi heard that there was a threat in his words, although he didn't really pull down his face, but it made this young man who was not deeply involved in the world feel empty. He spoke very politely: "The shopkeeper is reasonable, I will go back to discuss with my father in the next day, or two or three days to decide a result, I hope you will not urge." ”

Wen Zhong smiled: "Wait for good news." ”

Feng Dashen was very surprised when he heard his son say that the big shopkeeper of the gambling house wanted to see him, and even asked if he had said the wrong thing. This letter to the gentry and his son said: "This person is a tyrant in my Jiangdu, and the prefect still gives him three points of face, not to mention our country people?" Invite him over and be well entertained. ”

Feng Gongzi was shocked and scared, how could he dare to delay for two or three days, put on the clothes he had just changed, and hurriedly went to find the shopkeeper Wen.

Wen Zhong didn't say a word, followed him into the courtyard of the Feng family, Feng Dashen greeted him with a smile, and asked him what was going on when they met, and tried his best to help.

Wen Zhong grabbed his arm: "Squire Feng, although I have a bad reputation of 'raising minions' in Jiangdu, I will never use those lowly means without authorization." I don't want to lose face when I do things, and if I let it be given and what I want, I can't help it in my heart. So, you can speak with confidence. ”

Feng Dashen nodded, and asked Wen Zhong to sit down first, Wen Zhong refused, so he pushed it many times, and Feng Dashen was willing to sit down.

Wen Zhong took a sip of tea: "My visit this time is really a matter of an official's promotion. You are a big family in the township, and you should have the right to intervene in this kind of thing. ”

"Ah, of course."

"Master Tongzhi is old, he has always wanted to retire, but there is no rising star to take over, and he is indifferent to political affairs, and he needs your help to help him at this time."

Feng Dashen raised his eyebrows, hesitated for a moment, took a cup of tea, and said with a smile: "I can't bear such a heavy burden." ”

"Somebody has to take over, right? We want to make friends with the same acquaintance stable, and we don't have to worry about it all the time. Wen Zhong said.

"How's this newly promoted officer?"

"He himself was acquainted with the outsiders, and all those who were friendly to him were also associated with the outsiders; In his official duties, he paid attention to the administration of the fields, and it was the right time for the imperial court to figure out the zhang, and the fields should be stepped up. ”

Feng Dashen became more and more relaxed, and drank three cups of tea in this gap: "This person you said is good!" Not bad! ”

"But," Feng Dashen smiled apologetically, "...... is cold outside."

Wen Zhong waved his hand: "Definitely." If this person succeeds Tongzhi, he will be higher than the outsider, and the people around him will definitely be well arranged. ”

After hearing this, Feng Dashen stood up abruptly and made a respectful gesture: "Feng will do his best to help, don't doubt it." ”

In the name of the gentry, Wen Zhong appointed a secretary of the yamen to bring some good gifts, and said, "The squire wants to discuss the promotion of the Chen County Order with the adults", and went to the mansion of the Tongzhi in Yangzhou.

The arrangement has been decided, but Wen Zhong still feels that this matter is not certain. He couldn't slack off in this crucial link, and after thinking about it, he finally keenly grasped one point: he couldn't do things entirely on the basis of his identity as a gentry, and he had to make his views clear.

After all, the squire has limited power, and Tongzhi will not rashly hand over power to such people; But if this adult understands that the backstage of Chen Tongpao is Guo Chuzi of the dyeing workshop and Wen Zhong of the gambling house, then he can wash his hands with satisfaction.

He had no choice but to think of a simple method, that is, to ask people to go to the dyeing workshop and get a few dyed silk horses as gifts. When the people from the gambling house came, the person in charge of the dyeing shop didn't mind, so he chose a few fine silk horses and took them away like a grass.

The secretary carried good things, and when he arrived at the same prefect's house, he followed the janitor from the main gate and met the same prefect.

The clerk saluted and offered the pieces of cloth: "I was assigned by the gentry to deliver this thing." Because you had your birthday a few days ago, he didn't go, so he made up for it with this thing. ”

I also know that the slave picks up the cloth to see, but it is a variety of patterns, smooth and smooth to the touch, and extremely high-quality.

Tongzhi took a closer look and knew that this was a special service for dignitaries, and Feng Dashen would never get such a good cloth.

He smacked his lips and asked what he meant.

The secretary said with a smile: "Feng Dashen often thinks about the body of the boss, I am afraid that he is busy with government affairs and tired of his body. ”

Tongzhi was poked in his heart by this sentence, and paused for a while, but his face seemed to be indifferent: "Yes, it's difficult to retreat." ”

"You care so much about Yangzhou, it's better to promote the junior and enjoy leisure."

"You mean the Chen County Order, right?"

"My lord."

Tongzhi didn't know much about this fellow Chen, so he sneered and asked: "How dare you call yourself backward?" ”

"This person is decisive in killing, especially in Tian Zheng, and the trend of mergers of large local households may not be long in the future." The clerk gave a meaningful look.

Tongzhi smiled and said, "This official has his own way, and you must not interfere." ”

The clerk understood, kowtowed lowly, and turned to leave.

"It's a little cold today...... Tongzhi said, and the subordinate next to him put on a fur jacket for him.

The weather in Jiangdu began to warm up, and the harshest cold of the previous few days dispersed its most fierce offensive. This seems to be the best interpretation of Wen Zhong's state of mind.

He just received news today that Feng Dashen recommended Chen Tongpao to be the Tongzhi of Yangzhou, which is not important; But then, Tongzhi reported his illness and was ready to return to Xiangzi. The prefect couldn't keep it, so he left his official uniform and hat in the bureau to take over.

Sure enough, today he chose the position of Chen Tongpao to make up for the old and the same knowledge, and ordered him to come to the capital one day. The matter was dealt with neatly, but Chu Zi was sick in Yizheng, and Tuo Wenzhong helped take care of the dyeing workshop. This is not a big deal, it is expected that the staff will be in the prime of life, and it will be good to recuperate from the disease for a few days.

He returned to the gambling house and saw Craftsman Xu coming out of the house, being pulled by a few men, and seeing that his fists, legs and feet were about to go up.

"What? Don't be so rude! Wen Zhong broke off like a thunderbolt and frightened those men.

"You said you'd go back in ten days, how many days have it been? Don't the old and the young in the family want to die! Craftsman Xu sighed aggrievedly.

"You can go back," Wen Zhong met his expectant eyes, "just in time to welcome your new county order." ”