Zhang Zhong wandered around in the afternoon. The villagers didn't eat lunch, and he didn't eat either. He only ate some beef jerky, fried noodles, and other things that he brought with him.
Walking around the village, the villagers also caught three poisonous snakes, which he bought. He said that he would eat them when he went back, but in fact, he would use them to make medicinal wine.
Little Fragrant Mountain Village was not far from here. It was only an hour's walk away. Zhang Zhong decided to go there tomorrow. At night, he really would eat in the village and stay in the village.
The villagers couldn't tell what kind of feeling they had. Anyway, before the meal, they had already chosen 30 people to take turns to guard outside at night.
Zhang Zhong didn't specify which house to eat at. The villagers couldn't arrange it, so they could only make the best food at home into food.
When it was time to eat, Zhang Zhong randomly chose a restaurant. When he went in to take a look, there were actually four dishes. One was fried salted rabbit meat, one was fried salted venison, one was steamed fish, and the last was an omelet. It was something that was made by breaking eggs and then putting them in oil to fry. It was considered a dish for ordinary people.
In addition to the four dishes, there was also a soup. It was a ceremonial thing, and it didn't matter whether it was drunk or not. It was made by boiling small fish with a layer of oil and some chopped green onions floating on top.
The rice was two-rice, which was made by boiling rice and millet together.
Zhang Zhong looked at the dishes, and Weiwei nodded. He already understood that there was really nothing to eat in the village. The two dishes of fried salted meat were prepared for emergencies, and the omelet was definitely not poultry, but pheasant and wild duck eggs. There was one part of the color that was different from the others.
Zhang Zhong picked up a little with his chopsticks, tasted it, and said, "You also took out the salty ones and fried them? Is the rice at home also gone? "
"Sir, do you think the food is not good?" The male owner of the house asked with some worry. The child and the woman had already gone to the next room, and they were not qualified to come over to eat.
"Good, how can it not be good? How can the food that was made with all the effort not be good? I won't pay for today's meal, but I'll treat you tomorrow. "
Zhang Zhong had originally planned to give them money. After all, it wasn't easy for the commoners. If they ate a meal, they might have to use up half a month's worth of savings. But when it was time to eat, he decided not to give them money. A little money couldn't solve the problem. Tomorrow, he would get people to go back and deliver some food and salt.
Although the two dishes were marinated, the taste of the eggs was very light. It seemed that there was no more salt in the village. Their salt was basically used to marinate things.
The men of this family didn't know how to respond and could only smile along. Zhang Zhong didn't hold back and ate as much as he could. Only two of the guards were still guarding, the rest had gone to other villagers' houses to eat with the bailiffs.
Everyone had a good meal, but the villagers had a lot less emergency supplies in their houses.
That night, Zhang Zhong stayed at the village chief's house. There was no ice basin, and the mountain was hot and stuffy. Fortunately, Zhang Zhong brought mosquito repellent. When he slept at night, he only heard the buzzing of mosquitoes, but was not bitten.
When he woke up early the next morning, he ordered people to go back and bring some food and salt to the village for the villagers to eat. At this moment, he couldn't be calculative about his efforts and returns. Let the villagers have food to eat first. As for what would happen in the future, he would go back and ask his son. Not only could his son earn a lot of money, he could also help some people earn a little money.
Zhang Zhong watched them leave and prepared to continue to the next place, Xiao Xiang Mountain Village. For this, he even found two guides from Da Xiang Mountain Village.
*****
Mi Fan, Guo Ren, and the others also welcomed a new day. After sending people to make arrangements yesterday, they prepared to go back today. After breakfast, they didn't forget to ask the waiter to find the Zhang family's people who came to discuss the cooperation yesterday.
"Everyone, are you ready to sign the contract?" The Zhang family's people came over and asked first.
"No, this detail is still lacking. How about this, in a few days, when you have thought about what you are lacking, you can come to us again."
A businessman didn't need Mi Fan's help this time and said directly.
The Zhang family's people smiled and asked, "Do you know what's not good? Let's think about it carefully. "
"This … is not good? It's not convenient for us to point it out. After all, it was the Zhang family's idea. We are the party who provided the boat. You can't expect us to think of a solution, right? Take a good look at it yourself. Here. "
After the businessman said something that even he felt was shameless, he handed back the paper with the details sent yesterday, including the unsigned contract.
The Zhang family's people didn't show any dissatisfaction. They still had the same smile. "Then we will think about it carefully. Goodbye."
Seeing that the Zhang family's people were so happy, Mi Fan clutched his chest again. That special feeling appeared again, making him unable to breathe. Some small dots appeared in front of his eyes.
"Brother Weitong, what's wrong?" Guo Ren, who was beside him, noticed that something was wrong with Mi Fan this time and asked with concern.
Mi Fan shook his head. "It's nothing. I just swallowed a little. Let me say something now. I know that some of us have connections with other boat companies, but don't tell anyone about this sea transportation, especially the details. Otherwise, it will harm others and ourselves. After this is over, if we really want to go by sea, we will have to make a new plan."
Everyone agreed. Mi Fan didn't have time to distinguish who was telling the truth and who was lying. He felt that the uneasiness in his heart should come from this plan.
But after saying that they wouldn't act according to this plan, the uncomfortable feeling didn't disappear.
"Brother Weitong, according to the time we arranged, there will be a boat stopping us in three days, right?" After leaving the first family in Linshui, Guo Ren, who was standing on the boat, was in high spirits. It was as if the whole world was in his control. He asked Mi Fan, who was still feeling uncomfortable.
Mi Fan forced himself to stay alert. "Yes, in three days. One day is for someone to send the message, two days for the boat to arrive at Dingping. Brother Qianyuan, don't you think we're going too far? If we wanted to deal with the Zhang family directly, we wouldn't have to lie to them about the sea transportation plan. What if Zhang Zhong becomes a higher official one day? What will happen to us then?"
Mi Fan kept looking for a reason for his uneasiness. Since it wasn't because of that plan, it should be something else. Thinking about the Zhang family's situation, only Zhang Zhong was a threat to them.
Guo Ren laughed disdainfully. "Brother Weitong, you're thinking too much. How long will it take for a county magistrate to become a high official? By then, we'll be able to make money by sea transportation. Even if he becomes a third-rank official, we can go to the prime minister and the others. With money, there's nothing that can't be done. "
"Oh, that's right. With sea transportation, we'll be able to contact more powerful people. If it doesn't work, we can contact a few princes."
Mi Fan was trying his best to find a reason for himself, a reason that would make him feel at ease. But when he said it, he still felt uncomfortable.
*****
In Feng State Prefecture, there was a fleet of six ships by the riverside. They left from the dock with the intention of going to Ma Lingshui. These were big ships that had just been bought from elsewhere last night. Six ships, costing nearly twenty thousand taels of silver.
Someone else was carrying some heavy things onto the boats. The people at the pier didn't know what they were, and the boatmen and the people moving the things on the boats were unfamiliar faces.
The six boats sailed against the current. As long as they reached Dingping County, they would be able to reach Ma Lingshui by following the largest river. The people on the boats seemed to be nervous and excited at the same time, but they did not speak.
The boats weren't fast. At this speed, they would need one and a half days to reach Dingping County.
*****
Two days later, Zhang Zhong came out of the mountains. He bought a lot of furs and cured meat from the two villages. He also sent a lot of grain, salt, cloth, and silk to the two villages. He even secretly gave them 12 military bows. Others couldn't get these things, but he could.
The moment the people of the two villages saw the grain, they completely believed that the new county magistrate was a good county magistrate. The grain was enough for them to eat for half a month. It was all good white flour and rice. The salt was divided into coarse and fine salt. The coarse salt was naturally used to pickle things, while the fine salt was eaten at home.
They didn't have to do anything to get these things. They said again and again that they would give the county magistrate their own things. The county magistrate agreed, but after they left, they found that there was some silver in the county magistrate's house. It was exactly the value of the things they gave.
Some people cried on the spot. What was a parent official? County Magistrate Zhang was. He always had a smile on his face when he talked to people. He was never picky when he ate or drank. He even sent all kinds of things to the village.
Hong Cun knew that he couldn't catch up with the county magistrate's team. This time, there were a few people who came to deliver the goods. From the way they talked and when they went out, it could be seen that they were all good hunters. With such people leading the way, the team would move very fast. They were still in the inner courtyard of the Zhang family.
"The county magistrate is amazing. Remember, go to the county town more often in the future. Prepare the furs for next year as early as possible. If the county magistrate doesn't make things difficult for us, we can't make things difficult for the county magistrate either. The money from selling the bear is here. Whoever hunts it, divide it. Remember the county magistrate's kindness."
Hong Cun said loudly to the people who gathered in the village.
The villagers nodded vigorously. They also understood that they had taken the county magistrate's things for free this time. They must find a way to repay him in the future.
At the same time, there were three big boats on the Jingshui River heading towards Dingping County. They would arrive there in another two hours.
In the upper reaches of the river, which was Ma Lingshui, there were six similar big boats. They turned around in the middle of the river and headed towards Dingping County, which they had just passed. It was estimated that they would arrive there in three hours if they followed the river.
A small boat carrying people passed by Dingping. The boat was moving very slowly. It was moving at this speed when it came out of the Xiao Luoshui Pier. At this time, the people on the boat were sitting at the bow of the boat and drinking wine. They let out bursts of laughter from time to time.
In the lake of Xiao Luoshui, Zhang Xiaobao was rowing a fixed double-oared boat. He said to Wang Juan, who was sitting there eating snacks, "I just finished arranging a task and my father found a new one for me. What a tiring life! Arranging work for people in the mountainous areas. What is this called?"
"I know you can do it. It's not too far away. You can get in from the outside in just over two hours." Wang Juan stuffed Zhang Xiaobao's mouth with a big mountain and said lightly. Zhang Xiaobao was so sour that his whole face scrunched up.
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