On this day, Zhou Rui took Zheng Jian and Ma Biao to the street to relax, kicking the leaves on the ground with his feet as he walked, and he was very indignant. Suddenly met the businessman Miao Jun coming towards him, and Zhou Rui immediately stepped forward to greet him. It turned out that Miao Jun came to Hezhou to talk to Zhou Shao about selling tea.

Miao Jun asked: "Zhou Rui, I haven't seen you for a long time, didn't you say that you went home to serve your mother?" Why is it that the streets are up now, seeing that you are depressed, have you encountered something unhappy? ”

Zhou Rui replied: "Shopkeeper Miao, I'm really embarrassed. When I went home to my mother, my mother saw that I was a big man, staying at home all day and doing nothing, so she scolded me and forced me to come out and find something to do. I was going to come to Douzhou to find you, but I felt that Douzhou was a bit far away, and I was afraid that it would be inconvenient to take care of my family, so I didn't come, I'm really sorry. Last time Zhou's business group recruitment, I was fortunate to apply successfully, and now Zhou's business group is doing things. ”

When Miao Jun heard this, he understood Zhou Rui very well, after all, his industry was not as huge as the Zhou business group, and it was normal for people to go to high places and water to flow to low places, so he didn't blame Zhou Rui. Seeing that Zhou Rui was not happy when he spoke, he asked, "How are you doing in the Zhou Clan?"

This question was asked in Zhou Rui's heart. Zhou Rui couldn't control himself, and felt that Miao Jun cared so much about him, he should be worth believing. told Miao Jun all the things he did and the grievances he suffered in the Zhou business group.

Zhou Rui said: "I caught the thief Li Wen, and Li Zhang was killed by me with an arrow." And Zhen Long and Xiao Qiang didn't have much credit, but they became shopkeepers and rewarded one hundred taels of gold. Now they are paid much more than I do, and I have only fifty taels of silver, and nothing else. It's also so unfair. This is all done by Zhou Jiang, Zhang Xiong and others, just because I didn't send him silver, I was secretly rectified. ”

Miao Jun comforted: "Don't be in a hurry. Zhou Shao and I have business dealings, and I'm just going to find him now, and I'll help you talk about it by the way. Zhou Shao, who came back from studying abroad, has a weak temperament and is a bit democratic on his face, but in fact, to put it bluntly, he likes to listen to the slander of those people with bad intentions around him. ”

Zhou Rui let out an "oh" and looked at Miao Jun, hoping to gain something. Miao Jun said, turned around and went to the Zhou Mansion. Briefing, meeting, ceremony, pouring tea. Zhou Shao invited Miao Jun to take a seat and asked: "Shopkeeper Miao, you have nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace, you say, what is the matter with coming here today?" ”

Miao Jun took a sip of tea, laughed, first rounded up the opening remarks, and said, "There is nothing to do, the main thing is to report to Zhou Dong's family about selling tea." ”

Last time, Miao Jun and Zhou Shao reached a four-six-point split, Miao Jun contributed funds, personnel, management, and worries, only accounting for sixty percent, and Zhou Shao didn't care about anything, accounting for forty percent in vain. After a period of action, Miao Jun felt that he had not earned any money, and it was not cost-effective. This time, I want to change the score from four or six to three or seven. Miao Jun said it bluntly.

Hearing this, Zhou Shao nodded in agreement. If his father Zhou Hai was alive, he would never agree, but his father was dead, and he had to agree. Why, because the imperial court stipulates that the position of the general merchant cannot be hereditary, his father is the chief merchant, and after his death, the general merchant is naturally dismissed. If he didn't have the position of the general merchant, the tea guide would not be able to be taken back from Miao Jun's hands. In other words, Zhou Shao no longer plays a role in it. Miao Jun can not give Zhou Shao a share, and Zhou Shao has no way to take him. But Miao Jun saw the opportunity of Zhou Hai's death and proposed to divide the three sevens, which was already regarded as not doing things absolutely, and there was such a big room for Zhou Shao to disagree.

This matter was fixed, and we chatted for a while. Miao Jun looked around and said, "You are in a high position now, how many people look up, don't forget me, a bad old man!" ”

Zhou Shao said: "Where did the shopkeeper Miao go. I think you are a real person, and we will cooperate more in business in the future. ”

The reason why Miao Jun didn't do things absolutely was to wait for Zhou Shao's words to be able to do business with the Zhou business group in the future. Zhou's strength is strong, which Miao Jun believes. Miao Jun remembered Zhou Rui's commission, so he talked about dealing with bandits and bandits, and said: "I heard that in the past, dealing with bandits was operated by people below, and your father rarely asked, and after you first succeeded you, you didn't know many things, right?" ”

Zhou Shao said: "Yes, I believe in the people below. Don't be suspicious of employing people, don't use suspicious people - isn't this what the ancients said? ”

Miao Jun said: "However, the world is unpredictable. Zhang Xiong, Zhou Jiang and others covered the sky in the Zhou Mansion with one hand. They set you up in the air, and on the surface they are good to you, but in fact they are behind your back, and they do things that no one else does, and they do things unfairly. ”

When Zhou Shao heard this, he was stunned for a moment and said, "Shopkeeper Miao, why did you say this?" ”。

Miao Jun said: "Zhou Rui's talent is outstanding, and the bandit is the most meritorious, just because he didn't give gifts, when he was commended, he was inferior to others, do you say it's fair?" Zhou Shao was stunned, and before he could speak, a family member came out of the inner room and whispered in Zhou Shao's ear for a while. Zhou Shao hurriedly stood up and said to Miao Jun: "I'm sorry, I have something to do now, let's deal with it first, you wait." With that, he turned around and went back to his inner room.

It turned out that Miao Jun was talking to Zhou Shao and was heard by Zhang Xiong, Zhou Jiang and others. Zhou Jiang instructed the family to invite Zhou Shao to the inner room, and said, "Zhou Dongjia, don't believe this old man's words, he saw that the Zhou family's merchant group was prosperous, and he was jealous, and now he is bluffing in front of you. ”

Zhang Xiong said: "Miao Jun is too cunning, he just wants to drive a wedge between you and us, mess up the Zhou family's business group, and he will watch jokes in it and make profits from it." I think you're assertive, so don't believe him, fall into his trap. Originally, you reached an agreement with him before, and said that you had agreed to share the tea sales, so why did you want to change it? ”

In the last sentence, when it came to Zhou Shao's sore spot, he listened to Zhang Xiong and Zhou Jiang's words. That's true, Miao Jun saw that his father was dead, so he came to change the share, and said that he couldn't change it, why didn't he dare to say it before his father died? It can be seen that Miao Jun is indeed cunning. After thinking about it, Zhou Shao didn't come out to talk to Miao Jun again, but asked the family to take Miao Jun away under the pretext.

Miao Jun came out and guessed that Zhou Jiang, Zhang Xiong and others listened to the conversation between him and Zhou Shao, and broke Zhou Shao apart. came out and sighed on his back: "Zhou Shao is still too young, he doesn't listen to the old man, and he suffers in front of him!" Even if it is not in front of you, raising tigers and acting for tigers will inevitably be divided within the Zhou business group in the future, and it will inevitably suffer a big loss. It's a pity that the foundation of the Zhou business group. ”

After Miao Jun left, Zhang Xiong and Zhou Jiang discussed. Zhang Xiong said: "It may be that Zhou Rui did not get a reward because of his meritorious work in suppressing the bandits, so he was angry and asked Miao Jun to talk about it."

Zhou Jiang said: "Sooner or later, Zhou Shao will know about this, so why not let Zhou Rui go to Jiangcheng County Tea House as a shopkeeper to relieve his resentment." Anyway, it's just a small shopkeeper in the county, and he will still be so ignorant in the future, it's not too late to pay attention to him. ”

The two of them have decided to meet Zhou Shao. Zhou Jiang said: "Jiangcheng Tea House, the former shopkeeper Zong Kai, was expelled for embezzling public funds from the business group, and now the position of the shopkeeper is vacant. Zhou Rui performed well and suggested that he be allowed to be the shopkeeper there. ”

Zhou Shao obeyed Zhou Jiangyan, and notified Zhou Rui to go to Zhou Yun to go through the formalities for taking office, and go to work on the same day. Zhou Rui was notified, and the indescribable taste in his heart could not be said to be happy or sad. Ma Biao comforted and said: "Whatever, anyway, when you get to Jiangcheng, the size is also considered to be the shopkeeper, one step at a time, let's do it first!" Zhou Rui felt reasonable, so he went to Zhou Yun to go through the handover procedures and get the certificate of appointment.

Zhou Yun saw Zhou Rui coming, and joked; "Shopkeeper Zhou, you are out of the way now! Congratulations, congratulations! ”

Zhou Rui said: "My shopkeeper can't catch up with a guy at the headquarters of the merchant group, there is nothing to congratulate, but I feel like I have been exiled." ”

Zhou Yun said; "Don't think so, I'd rather be a chicken head than a phoenix tail. I'm sure you'll be able to show your skills in Jiangcheng. I can't be wrong about you. ”

Zhou Rui smiled and said, "Uncle, no matter what, Zheng Jian, Ma Biao, and I would like to thank you for your kindness, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't be able to do things here!" Please feel free to come to Jiangcheng to drink, I will take care of it. ”

Zhou Yun said: "Virtuous nephew, don't thank me, it's your own good quality." Then he lowered his voice and said: "When you arrive in Jiangcheng, don't be too old-fashioned and adapt." Zhou Jiang and Zhang Xiong may still find your stubble, so you must guard against it. As he spoke, he finished the voucher and handed it to Zhou Rui and said, "Go and take office!" As a shopkeeper for the first time, everything is cautious. ”

Zhou Rui thanked Zhou Yun, took the voucher, and went back with Ma Biao and Zheng Jian to prepare for the trip, and set off on the same day. At this time, Zhou Shao sent someone to invite Zhou Rui to drink and eat.

It turned out that in the autumn of this year, the city of Hezhou suffered a flood that had not been encountered in a hundred years, and the upstream water washed down, causing the canal river to flood. The houses on both sides of the canal river have collapsed countless times. The rice in the field was about to ripen, but it was washed away by the flood, and not a single ear of grain was gone. Thousands of victims, who had no place to eat and live, poured into the city of Hezhou together.

After the flood, Zhou Shao felt that this was an opportunity to make a fortune. As a large merchant of grain stores in Hezhou, Zhou Shao has the power to control the price of grain. There are a few conscientious rice shop shopkeepers who want to sell grain at a reasonable price, and even donate grain for disaster relief, but after being stopped by Zhou Shao, they don't dare to act without permission. As a result, they sold and hoarded grain at a high price, and for a time rice was as expensive as a pearl. For this reason, the victims could not afford to buy rice, so they had to starve, and even ate the bark and yellow mud to satisfy their hunger, which was really miserable.

Zhou Shao and other businessmen made a lot of money and made a fortune. was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth, and invited all the shopkeepers, supervisors, masters, Wu Chang and a few guys to eat meat and drink, and of course invited Zhou Rui, which was regarded as a send-off for congratulations. This group of people, sitting in a comfortable room, eating eight bowls of meat, fish, chicken, shrimp and duck, drinking Hezhou gin, guessing the boxing order, is so lively.

While he was on the rise, there was a commotion outside. Zhou Shao said to Zhang Xiong: "You go and take a look, what's going on?" Zhang Xiong came down to take a look, only to see a few people asking for food, surrounding the gate of the Zhou Mansion, shouting and begging for food, the gatekeeper Ding was driving them away, but they were unwilling to leave, and they were fighting each other.

Zhang Xiong asked angrily: "What do you want to do with you people who want to eat?" ”

Seeing that Zhang Xiong was so unpleasant, the group of beggars did not show weakness, they were noisy and violent, and they wanted to reason with Zhang Xiong. The beggar at the head said, "I am not the one who dies to eat, you are the one who dies." When the time comes, the entire Zhou Mansion will die. I know you, I know you in the past, you have a bunch of shit on your ass, and you can't wipe it clean. You're not a good thing, believe it or not, I'm exposing your old bottom? ”

It turned out that Zhang Xiong reported to Li Jue and killed Zhou Hai...... His shady things have long spread among the people, but Zhou Shao and Zhang Cui don't know about it. Now Zhang Xiong was a little scared when he said that he wanted to expose his old background, and thought: "One more thing is better than one less thing." This group of beggars may not be so easy to mess with, and it is a matter to send them away early. ”

Thinking of this, he took out a few pennies from his pocket, put them in the bowl that was missing in the beggar's hand, softened his tone, and said, "Go buy some baked cakes to eat!" "But the beggar didn't look at it. He said, "If you eat well and drink good, you will also give us a bite of Hanako." You eat meat, and we have soup left, let's drink it......" There were raged victims next to them, watching the excitement, and the crowd became more and more crowded.

Zhang Xiong asked again: "If you don't want to give money, what do you want to do?" He looked a little angry.

"I just want to go in and take a look, in these years of famine, we are curious, what are you eating? One look at it and we'll go. ”

"It is said to be the 'eight big bowls' of meat, fish, chicken, shrimp and duck, which makes those of us who have been hungry for a long time drool when we think about it."

"Boiled fish fillet, braised shrimp, family portrait, osmanthus fish bones, braised smooth fish, shredded Sichuan pork, Sichuan meatballs, loose meat ......"

"These dishes, these days, only the Zhou Mansion can afford to eat, we just want to go in and have a look and satisfy our hunger."

“……”

Beggars, every word you say, every word I say, all express the idea of "I want to go in and have a look".

Zhang Xiong said, "Wait, I'll go and ask for instructions." ”

Zhou Shao and the others had already seen this scene from the window.

Zhou Jiang said: "This group of beggars took the lead, named Miao He, nicknamed 'Crane Maniac', who is famous in Hezhou City, but he is not a good stubble, generally don't mess with him, it will be troublesome to provoke him." Don't let them enter the house, otherwise the situation will be out of control. ”

Zhang Xiong returned to see Zhou Shao, added oil and vinegar, described it, and asked what to do?

Zhou Jiang said: "Why don't you report to the official, please ask Lord Shen to send a arrester to come over quickly, arrest these people into the cell, and see if their momentum is still so high?" ”

Zhou Yun said coldly: "It's not proper, the government is also afraid of such people, they haven't broken the law, and there is no evidence to arrest people, besides, in the famine years, beggars are willing to go to prison, because no matter what, there is always something to eat, and they must not starve to death." ”

Zhou Rui thought to himself, in the past, when dealing with bandits, he could use force, but now when dealing with beggars, it would be a bit unkind to use force. After all, they are weak and defenseless. So he put forward this idea: "Give some money, go to the temple, boil a pot of porridge, so that the beggars have a way to live." Otherwise, if there is nothing to eat, there will be a big problem. But no one agreed. Seeing this, Zhou Rui was a little angry. Yes, the Zhou merchant group is so rich, how can it not save some expenses wherever it wants, and take out some money to relieve it, so that the victims and beggars will not starve to death? This is also a accumulation of yin virtue! Why is no one agreeing? Zhou Rui wanted to say something more, but saw that Zhou Shao was indifferent, and his face was angry, and his mouth only moved, but he didn't say it.

Zhou Jiang said: "Please ask Zhen Long, Xiao Qiang, and Zhou Rui, the three captains, to lead the family and men and drive them away." ”

Zhou Shao said: "Right, drive away this group of Huazi." ”

Zhen Long, Xiao Qiang, and Zhou Rui listened on the side. Hearing that he was going to use force to drive away the beggars, Zhou Ruitui said that he would prepare to pack up and set off to Jiangcheng Tea House, and he would hurry in advance, so he said goodbye to Zhou Shao. Only Zhen Long and Xiao Qiang called more than 50 family members to come with swords and other weapons.

The beggars, who had no weapons in their hands against a group of armed troops, estimated that they would suffer a loss, and they all ran away in their hearts. But his mouth was unforgiving, and he cried out in unison, "For the rich and unjust, you will be punished." He shouted as he ran, repeating the cry: "For the rich and unjust, you will be punished." "Until I ran away, I couldn't hear the shouting.

The group of victims gathered at the door, seeing that the beggars, the protagonist of "this scene", had run away, and they couldn't see the excitement, worried about the conflict, afraid that the blood would wash over them, and they all dispersed.