It was almost the thirtieth day of the year. Even the poorest people in the family would try their best to get some good things for the coming year.
The farmers of Zhuangzi, Zhang Family, and Wang Family were the happiest. Their main family was back, and they could keep watch at night. The people of Sanshui County were also happy. Each family had a big fish. No matter how expensive it was, it was given by the Zhang Family and Wang Family.
The people of Lu Zhou were also happy. The new Provincial Governor did not make any trouble. He did everything according to the rules set by the previous Provincial Governor. He did not cross the line at all. The thirtieth day of the year could be said to be the busiest day of the year.
Everyone was looking forward to the arrival of the new year. They were busy slaughtering pigs and chickens.
However, not everyone was like that. The Ning family in Qin Province was worried now. They had money for the new year, and they did not lack things. Moreover, they had made a lot of money recently. However, it was because of this money that they got into trouble.
"They did it on purpose. The Zhang family must have done it on purpose. They knew that we would follow them and make fake furniture and sell it to the rich and powerful. I want to impeach them. How could they set me up before they left?"
Ning Zhongze did not have to do anything anymore. He was resting during the new year. He sat in his study. On the beautiful table, there were posts of questions.
The content of the posts was basically the same. They asked him where the goods came from and why they were fake furniture. How much did they cost when they bought the goods? Did they know that the goods were fake?
The steward stood beside him. He had also read the posts. At this moment, he did not have the heart to think about who would be responsible. He only sighed inwardly at the Zhang family's methods.
In the past, the Zhang family also sold furniture. However, they never went through Qin Province. They would just send people to find ways to deliver it to the buyers. This time, before they left, they actually sent people to deliver a lot of furniture from Qin Province by land.
Of course, they had to stop them. The furniture was beautifully made, and the paint on it was very charming. There were also design drawings, and the function of each part was written out. There were also extra documents stamped with the seal of Lu Zhou's Chamber of Commerce.
If it were anyone else, they would be tempted. There were so many documents, why not forge them according to the drawings? In the end, the Ning family agreed. They chased away the people who were escorting the Zhang family and left everything behind. They also found a craftsman to make furniture according to the blueprints.
Some of them were given away as gifts while some were sold to the rich and powerful. Lu Zhou's Chamber of Commerce's name was still there. It could be said that he had made a lot of money. He even made a fake seal according to the seal on the document.
Who would have thought that the Zhang family would release news before they arrived in Beijing, saying that there would be a lot of fake furniture. They also told people where the fake furniture was and asked people to pay attention when they bought it.
This time, the mark appeared on the certificate document. Every document was different, and there was a special pattern in a very inconspicuous place. If the furniture was turned over or the drawer was pulled open, the same mark could be found on the document.
However, there were no marks on the Zhang family's furniture and documents. Wasn't this a scam?
This was bad, too bad. This batch of furniture didn't seem to be for sale at all. It was specially prepared for the Ning family. The people who bought it were angry. Not only did they spend a lot of money, but when their friends saw it, they would be ridiculed. They would be too ashamed to go out.
The people who were given the furniture were even angrier than the people who bought it. How could a family that could be given furniture be a simple family? Using fake things, those who knew would think that they were cheated. Those who didn't know would think that they were reluctant to spend money to buy the real thing and bought fake things at a cheap price to show off.
Even if they knew that they were cheated, it would still be embarrassing. This showed that such good things weren't something that the cheated people could understand. With their status, it wasn't suitable for them to use such furniture. They lacked a foundation.
It was too close to the New Year, so they couldn't find time to come here in person. They could only ask someone to send an invitation. After the New Year, it would be hard to say what would happen.
Seeing the Master hit the fake table hard, the housekeeper hesitated and said, "Master, why don't we return the money to them and buy a few sets of real furniture and send them to the people who gave them the furniture for free last time? We can't buy them in our name. Otherwise, we'll be cheated again."
"It's too late. It's fine as long as we compensate the people who bought the furniture. But will the people who gave them the furniture still want it? Won't they buy the real thing themselves? I hate Zhang Zhong. I'm going to impeach him for manufacturing fake goods. "
Ning Zhongze knew very well that this was a trap set by the Zhang family. He didn't blame his family's decision. If it were anyone else, they would fall into this trap.
Although he said that he was going to impeach, he didn't have any intention of writing. The Zhang family didn't say that they were going to sell the furniture. They were just shipping it. When the time came, they could say that it wasn't good and that they wanted to destroy it or give it to the village.
If he really reported this matter to the higher-ups, they would ask him why he blocked the goods and become a laughingstock.
Besides, it wasn't up to him to impeach Zhang Zhong. It was up to the Ning family whether or not they wanted to impeach him. The Ning family was a family. Some of them were officials, while others were businessmen. If the Ning family was impeached for manufacturing fake goods and cheating people, it was very likely that he would be implicated as well.
The housekeeper wasn't worried that he would be investigated. He lowered his head and looked at his feet until he felt that the Master's anger had softened. He said, "Master, why don't we do this? If we continue to give them furniture, they might not want it anymore. Then we can give them some gifts. The Ning family has a lot of them. They won't be useful for the time being."
"What do you mean they won't be useful? The hawksbill shell is useless, but the shell incense is a medicinal material. It's also a precious incense that is usually used. Not to mention that we haven't had any income for more than a year, we've been wasting money all this time. Now that the business outside is back, we still have to take things out. In less than two years, the Ning family will be finished. "
The more Ning Zhongze thought about it, the more his heart ached. 'Money, it's all money. Which one of them doesn't need money? Otherwise, don't keep up appearances and stay away from the big families. Otherwise, we'll end up like them. '
"Let's do as you say. Lu Zhou, didn't a new Provincial Governor come? Find someone to discuss it with him and ask if he can get us some gifts at a cheaper price. We haven't heard from Cao Herui and the other two families for a long time. Do you know where they went? Since they're no longer judges, it's time to ask them to return the money. "
Ning Zhongze was 100% unwilling to give away the good things in his house. Suddenly, he thought of the three people who had written IOUs. They were no longer of any use. It was time to ask them to do something else.
The housekeeper knew about this matter. He nodded and replied, "Master, I heard that the three families and Liu Shaoqing's family have gone to the newly discovered island. They need to help with the local affairs. Should we send someone to catch them? It's only right to return the money owed."
"Zhang Zhong is a despicable person. Do you know that? Even now, he still doesn't want to let them go. Life on the island must be tough. It's New Year now. Let's not talk about this. Go and arrange the gifts. How are the preparations for the New Year's goods? "
Ning Zhongze really could not find a way to deal with Zhang Zhong. He could only take advantage of Zhang Zhong with his words and categorize him as a despicable person.
"Don't worry, Master. I've already arranged the New Year's goods at home. I'll go right away." The housekeeper did not have time to care about this despicable person. He replied and left in a hurry.
What was the point of contacting the new Provincial Governor? Lu Zhou was already an iron plate. No one could touch him.
*****
Zhang Xiaobao, who had tricked the Ning family once, had long thrown the matter of scheming to the back of his mind. He did not care if they were not on the same level as him.
He and Wang Juan were accompanying Old Man Chang and Old Man Pi to go fishing. The two old men also knew how to find a place. It was the most beautiful pavilion Between the Clouds and the Water. They first sprinkled a large amount of rice flour into it. This was called making a nest. Then, they found the earthworms that the Zhang family specially raised. There was a stove next to it to boil water. There were tea bowls and melon seeds on the table.
The two of them appeared to be very leisurely and did not care about anything. Old Man Chang did not care. He was alone, so he could go anywhere.
However, Old Man Pi was wrong. He had a family. He did not care about himself. Instead, he told his family that they did not have to work and that they would go to Zhuangzi to eat and drink together on the 30th.
What the hell was this?
"Xiao Bao, why do you think we haven't caught any fish yet? Don't we have a lot of fish in the lake? "
Old Man Pi waited for a quarter of an hour. When he saw that no fish had taken the bait, he retracted the hook and looked at the drowning earthworms that were about to die from the cold. He asked Zhang Xiaobao.
How could Zhang Xiaobao not know the reason for his own family's fish? Nowadays, the fish did not eat the bait that was casually thrown outside. There was fish food specially prepared for tourists. A bag of fish food cost five copper coins. Usually, they were not fed. If tourists wanted to see the fish, they would buy it and throw it into the lake.
Moreover, the weather was cold now. The two old men were fishing in a shady place. The current was also relatively strong. If they wanted to catch fish, they would have to change the direction.
Zhang Xiaobao knew. Just as he was about to say it, he suddenly realized that something was wrong. He should not have gone to the pavilion with Cuckoo to play today. The old man had something else to do. He was probably looking for an excuse. Just like last time, when one fish was full, the other fish were still hungry.
In the end, he had to think of a way to help the people of Sanshui County find something to do so that more fish could eat their fill.
He glanced at Wang Juan, and Wang Juan turned her head away in a very disloyal manner, implying that she should be the one to bear the brunt.
After thinking for a while, Zhang Xiaobao said, "Grandpa Bi, is it because it's too cold? The fish don't like to come out? Why don't you change to a place where the sun can shine? "
Zhang Xiaobao felt that this answer did not seem to connect to anything else. If there was a connection, it would be the cotton clothes. He was already working hard to plant cotton flowers. He thought that Old Man Pi would not use this as a breakthrough.
Unfortunately, Old Man Pi was not Ning Zhongze. He was a third-rank official and had held many important positions. He was qualified to compete with Zhang Xiaobao, and he took the initiative to attack.
As expected, Old Man Pi looked at Zhang Xiaobao with admiration. He understood that Zhang Xiaobao wanted to change the topic with a few words, but that was not possible.
"Xiao Bao is right. Xiao Bao, I find that you are getting smarter. When it's cold, the fish don't like to move. It's the same for people, right?"
"Is that so?" Zhang Xiaobao realized that things were a little out of his control. He continued, "I'm very stupid. It's all thanks to Grandpa Bi and Grandpa Zhang's good teaching."
"Why not? When winter comes, the people in the north usually don't do anything, just like the fish. But … fish don't know how to wear clothes, but people know how to wear more clothes. I think you know this, Xiao Bao. "
Old Man Pi continued.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
