Of course, Cheng Lingxiang didn't think that Song Jinggong didn't want to say anything. He was just waiting for him to ask. Since he had the money, he would ask.
"Zijin, you are treating me like an outsider. Is there something you are unhappy about? Tell us so that we can discuss it together. It's better than you keeping it in your heart."
"Since Milord has asked, this student will naturally obey. It's all because this vegetable oil has been selling well these past few days, but in the end, it attracted trouble. This morning, a few hooligans actually came to my oil stall and said that someone had been poisoned by it. They even found a doctor to testify.
I have never encountered such a situation. Those people wanted me to take out 50 taels of silver. I am their advisor, where can I find 50 taels of silver? I am really helpless. If I don't give them the money tomorrow, those people might drag me to see the officials.
I sold quite a lot of vegetable oil these few days. Also, the fried food in the morning was made with this oil. If it was really poisonous, why was it that only one person was poisoned and the others were fine? I am really speechless. "
Song Jinggong shook his head and sighed as he spoke. It really looked like that was the case.
Cheng Lingxiang looked at the money on the table. The money there was more than what they asked for. No money? If you don't have money, why did you send it to me? Luckily, it wasn't a big matter. It was just a bunch of hooligans who wanted to extort some money. He didn't expect Song Jinggong to have such a bad temper. He would rather give me more money than those hooligans.
Well, at least I got some benefits. It's just that the money was too much. Could it be that he wanted me to throw those people into jail? Then sentence them to a serious crime? I still have to ask.
"How preposterous. Zijin, don't worry. I will make the decision for you. You will write a complaint today and send it up tomorrow morning. I will teach those people a lesson."
"You don't have to be so angry. The people of San Shui County are peaceful under your rule. Only those who don't know their place would dare to do such a thing. There is no need to punish them. I hope you can help me persuade them. Under your rule, I don't think there will be such unreasonable people."
Song Jinggong took a step back in order to advance. He praised and ridiculed the county magistrate. It was all up to the county magistrate.
"Zijin is right. In that case, I'll send someone to bring those people over tomorrow to correct Zijin's reputation. Zijin, you don't have to worry. Oh, it's already late. I think Zijin hasn't eaten yet. Why don't you have a bite here?"
The county magistrate, Cheng Lingxiang, of course, understood that he had to do something about this matter. Fortunately, the other party did not push him too hard. It seemed that he would have to help the other party in the future. Otherwise, it would be troublesome to take so much money.
"Thank you, sir. Dinner has been prepared at home, and there are people waiting for this student to return. It is inconvenient for me to disturb you. Sir is busy, so please take care of your health. This student will take his leave now."
When Song Jinggong saw that things were almost done, and that the other party was beginning to send him off, he stood up and bowed again before respectfully turning around to leave. Behind him, he heard a voice saying, "Send Young Master Song off on my behalf."
*****
Early the next morning, the county magistrate, Cheng Lingxiang, found someone to ask about this matter. In the end, his subordinates all knew about it and told him about it. Cheng Lingxiang suddenly felt a headache. Why did he have to meet this wastrel? If it was someone else, it would be easy to handle. He could only order someone to find Song Jinggong and have a good discussion.
Song Jinggong heard the call and hurried over. When he saw the county magistrate, he knew that the matter was difficult to handle. Before he could say anything, Cheng Lingxiang spoke first.
"Zijin, yesterday I already knew that the leader was the state's Minister of War, Zhou Qiong's nephew, Zhou Xihu. Today, I will look for him to ask. If there is really fifty taels of silver missing, I will give it to him. If not, Zijin, you have to make another plan."
Cheng Lingxiang indeed did not have any other ideas. If there was really money, he could just give half of the money to the other party. However, he was afraid that the other party was after something else. If that was the case, it was not something that could be settled with fifty taels of silver.
When Song Jinggong heard this, he also knew that he was in trouble. The Provincial Treasurer Cang Consigliere was the Provincial Treasurer Cang Consigliere. He was in charge of taxation and storage, and even the County Magistrate didn't dare to offend him. It seemed that he really had to think of another way after asking clearly.
Therefore, he said, "Lord, for telling Zijin the truth, Zijin is very grateful. Zijin will go back and wait for news. If that Zhou Xihu is only asking for fifty taels of silver, Zijin will definitely give it to him. If … Zijin will need to go back to Zhuangzi to discuss. I hope that Lord can help delay it for one day. At most one day, there will definitely be a result."
"Oh? There will be a solution in one day? Zijin, don't worry. There is no need to be anxious. It is still possible to entrust three to five people. After all, one day is too short. Zijin will only need time to go and come back. "
Cheng Lingxiang thought that Song Jinggong had become muddle-headed. After taking the money, he naturally had to help more.
"There is no need. There will be a way when Zijin returns to the village. You can come back directly. One day is enough." Song Jinggong said firmly.
"Since that is the case, then Zijin should go back and wait. After I ask Zhou Xihu, I will have someone inform Zijin. I see that Zijin is so sure. Could it be that there is an expert in Zhuangzi?" Cheng Lingxiang saw that Song Jinggong's eyes were clear and was curious.
When Song Jinggong thought about how he had lost and how he had earned money, a trace of respect appeared on his face. He nodded.
"That is correct. This matter is extremely difficult for a student. To that person, it is not worth thinking about. When that person does not move, he is like a gentle breeze. When he moves, he is like a violent storm. I was fortunate enough to experience it once. Thus, I went there to be an advisor."
County Magistrate Cheng Lingxiang knew that Song Jinggong had deceived many people before. He did not expect that there would be a time when he lost. This made him feel that it was even more interesting. He asked, "Could it be that Zijin is afraid of that person?"
"Afraid, really afraid. Just once, I did not even have the chance to make a comeback. Later on, that person let me go. Otherwise, I would be in the county jail right now. There is also a person beside that person. When these two people are together, it is like a combination of a zither and a flute. There is no one else who can compare to them."
Song Jinggong thought about the young master and Cuckoo on Zhuangzi. A trace of a smile appeared on his face. There was even a trace of pride.
"If that is the case, then Zijin should go back first. I will do it as soon as possible."
Cheng Lingxiang saw that Song Jinggong had described the two people as if they were gods. He did not believe him at all. He could use this matter to ask. He already had a thought in his mind. Zhou Xihu would not lack that bit of money. He definitely had a bigger plan. He wanted to see what the person on Zhuangzi would do.
Song Jinggong agreed and went back to wait. Cheng Lingxiang quickly ordered someone to find Zhou Xihu and ask him face to face. Zhou Xihu did not evade and directly said what he wanted. He wanted to get the recipe for the vegetable oil. He had eaten that oil before. These days, he had been eating vegetable oil every meal. The taste was better than other oils. Even if it was used to light a lamp, the smoke would be small.
Seeing that this was his intention, Cheng Lingxiang did not say much. He told someone to tell Song Jinggong about this matter. As for what to do, it would depend on the person Song Jinggong mentioned.
Once Song Jinggong received the news, he hired a carriage and rushed back. When he entered the courtyard, he did not even drink his saliva. He just looked at the young master and waited.
Just as he thought, when the young master and young lady heard this news, they were not worried at all. Not only were they not worried, but they also smiled.
"Young master, do you have a countermeasure?" Song Jinggong saw that the young master and young lady were not worried, so he also relaxed.
"Xiao Bao, you guessed right again. This is good. We will eat candied haws during the New Year." Wang Juan said to Zhang Xiaobao with a smile.
Zhang Xiaobao also pretended to be reserved and nodded. "En, let Pomegranate take out the thing and give it to Zijin. Zijin, I will tell you what to do."
After letting Pomegranate take out the thing and give it to Song Jinggong, Zhang Xiaobao said to Song Jinggong. Song Jinggong's eyes lit up and he nodded. "Young master, don't worry. I will definitely do it well. So it is like this. There is no time to lose. I will leave now."
Song Jinggong promised and took the clear soup that Pomegranate prepared for him. He turned around and left. He let the carriage drive and rushed to San Shui County.
When Song Jinggong arrived, it was already evening. This time, Song Jinggong still did not rest and came to the yamen. When he saw the county magistrate, he asked, "Sir, I am back.
Please help me be the middleman. It is dinner time and I want to invite Zhou Xihu to have dinner at Waterview Restaurant. "
Cheng Lingxiang saw Song Jinggong's happy expression and was shocked. Could it be that there was really a solution? According to the time that Song Jinggong took to come and go, he had just returned and someone had already thought of a solution. How was this possible?
"Zijin, you have an idea? The expert over there heard your words and thought of a solution in a short time? "
Cheng Lingxiang asked expectantly.
"No, as soon as I entered the courtyard and finished explaining the matter, that person gave me the things that he had prepared beforehand and gave me a few instructions. I didn't dare to delay and came back immediately. They seemed to have known about it for a long time."
Song Jinggong was so excited that his whole body trembled when he thought of the situation when he returned. The young master was really too scary. Today, he finally saw what it meant to have a perfect plan. Zhuge Sheng was just like that.
Cheng Lingxiang was also shocked. It seemed that there was really an expert in Zhuangzi. He did not hesitate and sent someone to invite Zhou Xihu while he brought Song Jinggong to Waterview Restaurant. They did not even take the carriage and asked as they walked.
"Zijin, can you tell me what idea that person came up with? I am very curious. "
Song Jinggong did not say it directly this time. He smiled apologetically, "Sir, please forgive me for not being able to tell you now. When Zhou Xihu arrives, everything will naturally become clear."
"Oh? In that case, let's wait for a while. I heard that the dishes in Waterview Restaurant were also prepared by your Zhuangzi. What does it have to do with that expert? "
Seeing that Song Jinggong did not say anything, Cheng Lingxiang did not force him. He would find out later anyway. Thinking of the new dishes in Waterview Restaurant, he casually asked.
"Sir, your eyes are indeed as sharp as a torch. The vegetable oil, chili sauce, and those dishes were all made by that person."
Song Jinggong and the county magistrate arrived at Waterview Restaurant while talking. Zhou Xihu had already arrived and asked for a single room. When he saw Song Jinggong, he said, "What? Young Master Song, have you thought it through? "
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