While these people were thinking about how long it would take to make so many soybeans into dried tofu, the dispute between Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao was not over yet.
The reason was that Wang Juan wanted to eat tofu. She wanted to invite the farmers in Zhuangzi to eat tofu as well. She and Zhang Xiaobao had so many soybeans. Even if the tofu they made was not as good, it was still edible.
In the end, although the villagers ate it, it was as though they had eaten poison. They felt like they were sacrificing themselves. When Wang Juan was moved, she felt that if her villagers were like this, then what about the people in the prefecture? How long would it take to correct the soybeans?
At first, Zhang Xiaobao did not think much of it. Later, he realized that there was not much to eat at this time of the year. It was good to be able to eat some soy products. It could be considered as continuing to make up for the mistakes he made when attacking the enemy. Zhang Xiaobao sold all the black fungus to other provinces.
After he got the money, he bought soybeans from those provinces. Since he was the one who started the rumor and decided to take responsibility, he could only use this method.
"I didn't expect you to be so soft-hearted. Actually, I also admit that your way of doing things is not wrong. Isn't it just some people who can't eat soy products? How many people have cheated an entire country and countless people for their own sake? In the end, everyone still praises them. Tell me, why are you soft-hearted again? "
Wang Juan saw Zhang Xiaobao's quick actions and how he could make money in the process of making up for his mistakes. She said to Zhang Xiaobao in admiration.
"I have never been that kind of heartless person. Some things are an exception. For example …"
"For example, I know about those people who touched the funds of the orphanage. You were really smart. You bought a large amount of soybeans at once, and the price was lowered by you. The most amazing thing was that you sold the wood ears to those who had soybeans and asked them to bargain before you gave them the money. This time, we actually made more than four hundred taels of silver."
Wang Juan did not wait for Zhang Xiaobao to finish and continued his words.
"Sigh ~!" Zhang Xiaobao didn't have anything else to say. Originally, according to his method of operation, he could have earned an extra thousand taels of silver. That Black Fungus would definitely have helped him achieve his goal. He didn't expect that he would have to lose six hundred taels of silver just to make up for it in advance. In fact, if he had taken action a few days later, he would have been able to solve this problem. Who asked the farmer to reveal an expression as if he was unafraid of death when he was taking advantage of the tofu?
"Why? Are you regretting it?" Wang Juan asked with a smile.
"There's no such thing as regret in life. Do the villagers have any mental illness? I didn't expect the people of this era to have such a strong belief in this kind of thing. "
"No, the main family has sent people to check on them. They are fine, and some even cried for those who didn't believe the main family at that time. This is really good, we know what kind of people the farmers are. Now I'm not jealous of Napoleon. Why don't you let me handle the new soybean?"
Wang Juan was touched when she thought of how the farmers were taking advantage of the tofu that day. They all thought that tofu would kill people, but they still ate it. She would treat them better in the future.
"Don't do it. I know that you want to make those beans into finished products and sell them. That won't do. Just sell them to those who used to make tofu at a normal price. If someone doesn't want to make bean products anymore and wants to make money from Dan Dan noodles, there's no need to rush. The number of merchants depends on the demand of the market."
Zhang Xiaobao knew what Wang Juan was thinking when he saw her expression. He immediately rejected the idea.
"You're really a good person." Wang Juan's smile became even brighter.
"What good person? That's derogatory. I can only say that I'm not a bad person. The soybeans will be delivered tomorrow, and then everything will be fine. No, I can't let people who provoke me go so easily. "
Zhang Xiaobao mentioned those people again.
"You still don't want to let them go? You've affected a lot of people. "Wang Juan felt that the current Zhang Xiaobao was a little scary. He was too persistent.
"I'll take responsibility for the people who were affected by me. I'll make it up to them. But what about them? At least I don't have the idea of making money from a national disaster. They think that they're smart and have calculated a lot of things. I don't represent justice, but I represent myself to take revenge. That's fine, right? "
The more Zhang Xiaobao thought about this matter, the more frustrated he felt. He didn't expect that the rumors from back then could cause such a big impact. Psychology seemed to be limited by the era. After going around in circles, he couldn't get over his conscience. He couldn't even hold on for a few days. He clearly knew that everything would be solved after a few days, but he still sold the fungus.
Wang Juan took out a handful of meat floss from nowhere and handed it to Zhang Xiaobao. "Then have you thought of how to take revenge? Will you do it yourself, or will you let County Magistrate Cheng do it? It's not bad. What are you smelling? Could it be that you were infected by the farmers when they were eating tofu? "
"No, I won't do it this time. I'm still young. It's not suitable for County Magistrate Cheng to do it. He's under too much pressure. Let the provincial government do it. There are so many soybeans. If they want to get them out, they'll have to turn them into finished products. I think they're doing it now. It's a good opportunity to get something on them."
Zhang Xiaobao said with the meat floss in his mouth.
"Then how do you want the provincial government to do it?" Wang Juan smiled and stuffed another handful of meat floss into Zhang Xiaobao's mouth.
"Give them benefits. What else can we do? We just need to create an auspicious sign. "
"Auspicious sign? What do you want to plant this time? "
"What's the use of planting during a drought? What do you need during a drought? Water. As long as there's water coming out of a dry well, it's an auspicious sign. Tomorrow, get someone to check and see if there's a dry well in this county. You can plant some Yao yao. "
Zhang Xiaobao was now determined to deal with those people no matter what. As long as the soybeans were investigated and they were locked up for two days, they would definitely spend a lot of money.
Wang Juan understood. Zhang Xiaobao was preparing to blow up the wells. Many dry wells could continue to produce water after digging a little. She nodded and said, "Alright, I'll leave it to you.
"Alright, leave the matter of the fertilizer to me. Actually, I'm quite angry as well. We raised some chickens just to help them eat some locusts and let the villagers live a better life. In the end, they came looking for us. Sometimes, the beginning and the end of a battle are not something you can control. Since they came to fight, then let's fight to the end."
*****
Two days later, clear water suddenly came out of a dry well in Sanshui County. At the same time, there was a loud noise in the middle of the night. The people who woke up in the morning found the place where the noise came from yesterday and saw that the dry well that had been dry for 30 years was producing water.
This news quickly spread in the county. County Magistrate Cheng even wrote a memorial, claiming that this was an auspicious sign from the heavens after the people in the county got rid of those people who hid the soybeans. He also pointed out the possible hiding places of those people.
When the people in the county saw that there was an auspicious sign and the county magistrate directly sent this merit to the higher-ups, they immediately sent people to search for the locations that County Magistrate Cheng pointed out.
In just half a day, those people who hid the soybeans and their people were found. The people sent by the county didn't care how much these people wanted to bribe and directly arrested them. They listed a lot of crimes, such as hoarding during a major disaster, wanting to make poisonous soybeans into dried tofu and sell it to harm people, etc.
Among those who were arrested, there were even people who were willing to pay 3,000 taels of silver to protect themselves. The arresters didn't even want to take the money. What was the situation now? It was a drought. At this time, there was actually water coming out of a dry well that had been dry for many years. This was the most important thing, more important than cucumbers in winter.
These people were finally locked up. As for what kind of treatment they would receive in prison and how much money they would spend, it was not Zhang Xiaobao's concern.
He was now busy arranging for people to help the county magistrate burn all the local soybeans. Some firewood was spread on the ground with soybeans on top. Some soybeans were piled up with another layer of firewood. Many people in the county came to see in person. When the fire started, these people cheered.
Now they could eat soy products with ease. County Magistrate Cheng's reputation was promoted to another level. There was no other good official in the Tang Empire who made decisions for the people. Otherwise, there wouldn't be another auspicious sign in Sanshui County.
When County Magistrate Cheng saw so many soybeans being burned, he felt a little distressed. However, when he remembered that these soybeans were all paid for by others, he felt a little better. The dead old man was also reconfirmed to have contracted tuberculosis. It was said that even a woman who was not pregnant was pregnant.
After nine days, the trouble caused by Zhang Xiaobao's revenge was all solved. The people didn't care whether the soybeans were poisonous or not. Anyway, they had been burned. It was better if there was no poison. Even if there was poison, they were not afraid.
After Zhang Xiaobao heard the news, he also let out a long breath. Wang Juan's mood also improved. "Xiao Bao, have the burned soybeans been transported back? We have made a lot of money this time. How much soy sauce can we make? "
"It's still early. There are so many beans and firewood. We might not be able to finish burning them in two days. County Magistrate Cheng has already promised us that the last thing will be ours. Those innocent people have suffered. They didn't dare to eat any bean products for six days. Fortunately, the beans we bought from outside three days ago were sold. The burnt beans can't be used to extract oil. In the future, when we cook, we will put soy sauce in every meal."
Zhang Xiaobao lay down on the chair and fell asleep in a while. Wang Juan also yawned and fell asleep.
Two days later, all the soybeans were burned. They were transported to Zhangjia Zhuangzi in carts. Black piles of soybeans were placed there. People who didn't know the situation wouldn't be able to guess that these were the 'poisonous' soybeans.
"How is it? Have you seen it? This is the power of Zhangjia Zhuangzi. They put the people who threatened them in jail. "County Magistrate Cheng said to Chen Dong, who had just returned from delivering the soybeans.
"Yes, Milord. This lowly one knows that the Zhang Family's manor is not ordinary. But this lowly one doesn't understand. How did water come out of that dry well? It sounds like firecrackers, but firecrackers aren't that loud. It's possible to make hundreds of thousands of firecrackers, but the well can't be filled. I also didn't see so many firecrackers. "
Chen Dong said in confusion.
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