According to the dossier, the Xu family has lived in Yukou Village for generations, and the ancestral family was not very good, until his great-grandfather's family bought a small grange, gradually made a fortune, and started trading medicinal materials next to the wharf, and gradually became rich.

Therefore, Xu Yin's great-grandfather entered the school to study, and later there were several talents in the family.

After several generations of accumulation, Xu Yin's father Xu Zhan passed the examination at the age of twenty, but he failed to participate in the examination several times in Beijing, and at the age of twenty-seven, he was again on the list, and at this time the war affected his hometown, and his parents and clansmen moved their families, so he also set off directly from the capital to travel around the world.

In those years, the rebel army marched north, and wars raged everywhere. Many people have been uprooted and displaced, and it is not uncommon for Xu Zhan to do this.

However, after so many years, Xu Zhan did not return to his ancestral hometown, until six years ago, the imperial court issued a list and announced the list of candidates who would try to enter the army, and the ancestral hometown of Xu surnamed Tanhualang in the first three miles was written in Xiangtan County, Tanzhou Prefecture, and the news spread quickly, and someone came to the capital, and the Tanzhou Mansion Ya immediately led to Yukou Village to verify the situation.

Tanzhou Mansion rebuilt the ancestral hall for the Xu family, and then the capital continued to report that Xu Yin was on the rise, repeatedly promoted, and at the same time became the news of the Rongwangfu County Horse, and the name of the Xu family was even more thunderous in the local area.

Over the years, the Tanzhou government has kept writing to Xu Yin and warmly inviting him to return to his hometown and province, but he has postponed it because he is too busy with official business to take a break.

Later, he sent his cronies back to repair the ancestral house, take care of the ancestral hall, and erect the lintel, which has been until now.

It's just that the Xu family left their hometown at the beginning, and the local people no longer exist, and the Xu Mansion seems to be deserted.

And the housekeeper Zhou Yi in charge is low-key, rarely interacting with people, everyone slowly gets used to it, only when people mention Xu Yin, who is a big official in the capital, they can't help but praise a few words.

In July, the countryside of Tanzhou is full of lotus flowers, and the path after the rain is covered with mud.

Jiang Lin got off the horse, and under the leadership of the shopkeeper of the rice shop who came to guide him, he asked as he walked: "Xu Shilang hasn't come back for so many years, and his old father hasn't come back either?" ”

"I never came back, I still saw him when I was a child, but I haven't seen him for almost 30 years.

It is said that their family encountered an accident on the way to escape, and in the end, Old Man Xu and Xu Shilang were left father and son.

It is said that at that time, because there were their relatives in the northwest, Xu Shilang followed his father to defect, who knew that at that time, Da Zhou and Da Yue were at war, and then the old man Xu was also killed.

"-Come, Boss Jiang, please!"

Jiang Lin spoke with a Jingshi accent, and he was generous, and his speech and demeanor did not look like a small family, so the shopkeeper of the rice shop was very attentive.

This paragraph about the Xu family is very consistent with the background of Xu Yin that Fu Zhen explained to him before he came.

While speaking, he stepped into the wide earthen lawn in front of the Xu family's house, the foundation of the house was in the past, but the courtyard wall and the house were newly repaired, and the plaques and couplets on the lintel were all from Xu Yin's hand.

The shopkeeper knocked on the door, and the porter opened the door: "Who are you looking for?" The tone and demeanor are quite arrogant, in line with the identity.

As soon as the shopkeeper of the rice shop said that Jiang Lin and the others wanted to come to buy rice, the porter got out of the way, turned his head and called Steward Zhou.

Xu Yin now has thousands of acres of fertile land in the local area, and can harvest a large amount of rice every year.

As soon as the tea was served, a middle-aged man in his forties came in outside the door, with a short beard on his chin and a long shirt, which had a bit of graceful demeanor.

Jiang Lin immediately searched in his mind for the appearance of Zhou Yi that Fu Zhen had drawn to him, and decided that this was the same person, so he looked at his nose and nose and listened to the shopkeeper of the rice shop say something from it.

In previous years, there were fixed rice merchants who came to buy these rice from the Xu family, and the reason why Jiang Lin intervened was because he was able to give a price much higher than that of his peers.

After hearing their intentions, Zhou Yi looked at Jiang Lin with a smile: "Shopkeeper Jiang is also from the capital, so he should recognize our master." ”

"Xu Shilang is amazingly talented and famous, how can he not know it? But I am a merchant, and though I admire it, I am not blessed to know the squire.

"This time I first came to Guibao Land, but I didn't expect to arrive at Xu Shilang's hometown by mistake, if this deal is not done wholeheartedly, it will really live up to the opportunity God gave me."

Jiang Lin said as he took Lu Yin out of his arms and put it on the table. This was obtained by Fu Zhen from the yamen before leaving, and the seal of the official government on it was fake.

Zhou Yi took it in his hand and looked at it carefully, then pushed it back with his hand, and said with a smile: "It turns out that Boss Jiang still has the same surname as Jiang Hui in the Ministry of Rites, and Lord Jiang and our master work very well, so we can be regarded as half of our own people." ”

"Steward Zhou lifted."

Zhou Yi waved his hand: "I won't say anything about the scene." Boss Jiang is a big businessman, and he should know that people like Xu Mansion, there will be no shortage of businessmen like Boss Jiang who come to ask for business every year, and the price given by Boss Jiang shows sincerity, and I have no reason to push the God of Wealth out for our lord, but I don't know how long Boss Jiang plans to do business with us? ”

"How long is Steward Zhou willing to do it at home, then I guarantee how long I can do it with Steward Zhou!"

Jiang Lin gave a knowing look.

Xu Yin has not left any way to make money outside in order to create a reputation for Gao Feng Liang Festival over the years. But looking at his food and clothing, it is not bad, and the most important thing is that he still has to support so many guards around him, and he must use money.

Where does his money come from?

There may be other channels, but with so many fields on his ancestral side, there is no reason for him to waste them.

His status as a powerful minister in the DPRK can attract him many interests that do not take the clear road, and Yukou Village is next to the wharf, which is simply a ready-made good channel.

Jiang Lin threw out the bait, and Zhou Yi's expression was really much more serious.

"If only Boss Jiang had come a few months earlier, I could leave this year's grain to you. It's a pity that in addition to the grain that has been given to the original rice merchants, there is not much left, and Boss Jiang is afraid that he will not look down on it. ”

"What's that? As long as Steward Zhou is willing to take care of it, even if it is only one stone of rice to sell, I, Jiang Lin, will also form this friendship with Steward Zhou's family! ”

Before coming, Jiang Lin was ready to negotiate business, after all, this is the season is not suitable.

Zhou Yi's words are obviously also a bait, if he wants to hang his piece of fat, how can Jiang Lin not go along the pole?

"That's good!" Zhou Yi said with a smile, "Boss Jiang is really a happy person!" ”

Jiang Lin took the opportunity to say: "I wonder if it is convenient for the housekeeper Zhou to go to the warehouse to inspect the rice next day?" If it's appropriate, I'd like to pull it away in two days! To be honest, I was also afraid that I would have long nights and many dreams, and someone would rob me of this deal. ”

The shopkeeper of the rice shop made a recommendation this time, and he wanted to take a commission, and he immediately said: "This is a good point!" If it is actually discussed, then it will be without further ado. ”

Zhou Yi stood up: "Then Boss Jiang will come with me." ”

The granary is in the north backyard, and there is a small door leading to the outside, but since the people have already entered the house, they naturally go through the house and go directly.

On the way to the hospital, Jiang Lin looked at the six roads and listened to all directions, Liu Quan inquired about the Xu Mansion There were not many people, this news was really true, and he saw four or five people along the way.

After entering the granary, they routinely took a few handfuls of rice and tested them, and the two sides agreed to come to Lami one day.

"It's still early today, and I see that I can give the contract first." While Jiang Lin was estimating how many cars he was going to come, the shopkeeper of the rice shop pulled Zhou Yi aside and said at the right time.

Jiang Lin looked at the sky and lit up the four directions, only to see that this is a typical house in Tanzhou, and it is also a few in and a few out, but the yard is more delicate than that in the capital, there are patios in the middle of many courtyards, and the courtyards are twisted and turned, and there are some firewood, bricks and tiles piled up under the eaves.

From this point of view, the mansion that Xu Yin arranged for someone to guard is not abnormal.

He retracted his gaze and was about to talk to Zhou Yi about signing a contract, when a middle-aged man with a rickety body walked in carrying two clay pots across the door.

Seventy or eighty percent of the skin on his face was a scar from a burn, and the shape of one eye had been changed, and because of the scar skin, his left eye was obviously much smaller than the intact right eye, and almost only one pupil was exposed.

Because it was too ugly, Jiang Lin couldn't help but look at it twice.

And the man met his gaze, but quickly turned his back.

"Boss Jiang, I have a ready-made contract here, why don't you take a look at it first? If there is something inappropriate, we will discuss it again. ”

"It's so good, it's easy! Just listen to the steward of Zhou. ”

Jiang Lin arched his hand.

Then the ugly man who had bent down to lay the clay pot heard him speak, and turned his head to look at him again.

Jiang Lin's eyes met him again, and the other party immediately turned away, poured the water from the clay pot into the water tank in the corner of the courtyard, and then walked out with the empty pot.

"Boss Jiang, let's go?"

The shopkeeper of the rice shop walked up to him and urged.

Jiang Lin nodded and followed him to the front hall.

Returning to the inn with the signed paperwork, Jiang Lin discussed with Liu Quan and them whether to fulfill the contract next, but they didn't hear a word.

It wasn't until Liu Quan found out that he was distracted by the river that he said, "Put aside the matter of the contract, you go and inquire about Zhou Yi first." Also, what is the origin of the burned family member who appeared just now? ”

After the brothers dispersed, Jiang Lin walked down the stairs and into a ready-to-wear shop.

When both sides returned to the inn, Liu Quan and the others brought the news they had heard: "Zhou Yi doesn't have much contact with his neighbors on weekdays, and everyone doesn't know much about him. ”

Jiang Lin said: "Do you remember that the young lady said that he was from Luokou Town?" ”

"Luokou Town is definitely not!" Liu Quan shook his head, "Luokou Town is next door, according to which it is only ten miles away, and the people around say that Zhou Yi has never left here since he came to Yukou Village, and no relatives and friends have visited, he is alone here!"

Moreover, although he speaks Tanzhou dialect, he has a different sound here for ten miles, and he can hear it even if he doesn't report his home. Neighbors who knew him said that his voice was not the accent of Luokou Town at all!

"The most important thing is that we went to Luokou Town to inquire, and all the people with the surname Zhou have also met people with the same name in the family, or people with the same name, but none of them have a name called Zhou Yi, but they are away all the year round!"

Jiang Lin frowned: "In other words, this Zhou Yi at least lied in front of the young lady back then." ”

After saying that, he asked again, "What about the disfigured family?" Did you hear about it? ”

Speaking of this, Liu Quan poured himself a cup of tea and drank it: "That person's name is Zhang Fu, he is one of these twelve people, he came here with Zhou Yi,."

"Everyone says that he is an honest person, which means that he usually doesn't talk much, and he doesn't have contact with people, but just does chores in the house, and he is just an ordinary housekeeper.

On weekdays, only a few naughty children in the neighborhood would stay with him, because he would sometimes give them origami dragonflies, and he would use silk threads as strings, tie them to bamboo baskets, and play some tunes. Of course the monkeys love these! ”

"Rhythm?" Jiang Lin walked back from the window, "How can a family member understand music?" ”

Liu Quan thought for a while: "It's said that it's a rhythm, but it's just some timbre, and it's probably just fun." ”

The silk thread is tied to the bamboo frame, and it is indeed impossible to play any nice rhythm.

Jiang Lin pondered for a moment, and still gave them a few black clothes beside his hand: "The previous experience in the Xu family, the general terrain is clearly remembered?" Let's go back tonight. ”

The brothers took it one after another, and at this time, the aroma of spicy fried tofu came from the kitchen of the inn downstairs, and everyone shouted where to eat.

Summer nights get dark late.

By the time the twilight broke, the dinner table had already been eaten.

In order to try to play like a newcomer to the businessman, a few people put together two tables of mahjong, until midnight, the sound of bangzi came, everyone put the mahjong tiles a push, turned off the lights and changed into black clothes, and took advantage of the night to quickly sneak to Yukou Village.

At night, Xu's house is only dimly lit at the two corners of the house, and it is about the place where the gatehouse goes.

When they arrived outside the house, with the help of lotus leaves taller than people, Liu Quan and the others first checked the periphery.

After a while, he came back and said, "Something is wrong, there are only twelve people in the house, but there are as many as five or six buckets of swill that they have just carried out." I looked at the vegetable garden in their backyard, and there was at least one acre of land. There are as many as four or five manure pits in the vegetable garden, each of which is the size of two large round tables. ”

The brothers said, "How can there be so many people eating and drinking Lazar when there are only twelve people?" ”

Jiang Lin covered the face towel: "Old rules! Sneak in where there is a light and meet at the granary. ”

After saying that, like harrier eagles walking in the night, several people jumped to the outside of the lighted gatehouse, and at the time of a gesture to each other, they jumped into the wall one after another.

(Ask for a commuter pass)

(End of chapter)