Chapter 152

Zhang Hongyi slapped the table and said, "How bold! Aren't they afraid of damaging their father's reputation by doing this? Jinhua, your father is the censor. Do you want to … "

Zhang Hongyi gave Qiao Zhen Hua a meaningful glance, and revealed a sinister smile. Kuai Peng said, "Brother Zhang, even if we expose this matter to them, they will at most be reprimanded by their father. Moreover, the imperial court also advocates disaster relief. Even if the method is a bit inappropriate, what severe punishment can there be? But we've lost. "

Zhang Hongyi said impatiently, "Then do you have any good ideas?"

Kuai Peng said, "Brother Zhang, if they are allowed to do this, can't we do the same?"

Zhang Hongyi's expression changed and said, "You mean …"

Kuai Peng said, "They have already taken the initiative. Why don't we go to all the rich and powerful families tomorrow and get some money back to salvage the situation. They have already plundered once. They can't be so thick-skinned as to plunder again, right? "

"Well …"

Zhang Hongyi pondered for a moment and looked up at his companions. Qiao Jinhua and Liu Junyang both nodded.

…

Qian Shun listened to Zhang Hongyi's impassioned speech with a fake smile. He just smiled and sipped his tea. But in his mind, he was thinking about the scene when he saw Rui Qinxing yesterday.

Rui Qinxing crossed his legs and said arrogantly, "Lord Qian, collecting donations for disaster relief is a benevolent act. I am doing my best now, but unfortunately my strength is limited. I can only ask for help from you. If you let me return empty-handed, I don't mind, but I'm afraid my father won't be too happy. I heard that you have finished your three-year term and are seeking to stay on? "

Qian Shun heard the threat in his words and was annoyed. But he didn't want to have any grudges with the minister because of this, so he could only force a smile and said, "Okay, okay, I will naturally participate in this kind of good deed. But I don't know … how much should I donate? I hope you can give me a number. Haha, I also live on my salary. I'm afraid I can't take out too much … "

Zhang Hongyi said for a long time. Seeing that Qian Shun was lost in thought, he couldn't help but ask, "Lord Qian? Are you listening? "

"Ah? Oh, I heard you, I heard you. Haha, good! Good, it's only right to do good deeds. Those with money should contribute, those with power should contribute. Let's work together for the good cause … "

Qian Shun smiled wholeheartedly as he stood up. Zhang Hongyi's father was the Minister of War. No matter how high an official's rank was, it wouldn't be able to control him. More importantly, Zhang Hongyi's father was nearing the age of retirement. There was no need to offend this person, but there was also no need to care.

Qiao Jinhua, Liu Junyang, and Kuai Peng were all in the same situation. Birds of a feather flock together. Xiao Gongye and his friends were mostly high-ranking officials with real power or descendants of noble relatives. The reason why Zhang Hongxuan was the leader of Zhang Hongxuan's group was because his father held the highest position — the Minister of War of Nanjing.

However, Guan Jun's influence on the local area was too small. The other people's fathers' positions were even lower, and the people they knew, Guan Xiaokun and the others also knew them. Those people had already gone to plunder, and these officials and gentry were already somewhat dissatisfied. How could Qiao Zhenhua and the others have a good result if they went again?

If their fathers came forward, these people might give them some face. But they were just juniors. Even if those people's positions were lower than their fathers, they wouldn't be so humble. The gentry in Nanjing were the same. Which one of them didn't have relatives or friends who were officials in the court? But they didn't put them in their eyes. As a result, Zhang Hongyi, Liu Junyang, and the others left excitedly, but when they came back, they were either angry or dejected.

In the House of Light Smoke, Zhang Hongyi said angrily, "How dare they! Do they think I'm a beggar? They only gave me twenty taels of silver at most. Now that the price of grain has skyrocketed, one bucket of rice is worth a thousand taels of silver.

Liu Junyang faintly said, "Be content, Young Master Zhang, you're fine. They gave your father face and were even willing to fork out money. Look at me … "

Liu Junyang picked up a pile of clothes and said, "Do you see this? These are all ministers and assistant ministers. Usually I call them Uncle and Uncle, but they don't have the face to be stingy. They actually took out some old clothes and sent me away. And they even called it disaster relief. Everyone has a responsibility. Those who have money contribute money, those who have power contribute."

Liu Junyang angrily threw away the pile of shoes, hats, and clothes. She heard footsteps coming from the stairs. Qiao Zhenhua was holding an open painting and walking up the stairs. Zhang Hongyi said in surprise, "Brother Qiao, what are you doing?"

Liu Junyang's eyes lit up. "What a great painting of Guanyin the Great Sage. Brother Qiao is so serious. Could it be an antique? Aiya, could it be the masterpiece of Painting Saint Wu Daozi? "

Qiao Zhenhua rolled her eyes at him. "Open your dog eyes wide and look carefully. Isn't there a signature? Wu Daozi, pei! The ink hasn't even dried yet! "

Liu Junyang lowered her head to look at the signature. She could not help reading it aloud, "Official of Counsel, Assistant Minister of Zhan Shi Fu, and Assistant Reading Scholar of Hanlin Academy, Huang Haoran!"

Qiao Zhenhua said, "See? I was afraid that my father would find out, so I took advantage of the fact that my father was not at the Imperial Censorate today to go to Hanlin Academy and the Imperial Censorate to ask for donations from those old gentlemen. In the end, those scholars who never stop worrying about the country gave me this pile of stuff. "

Qiao Zhenhua threw the bag she was carrying on her shoulder to the ground. Inside were a lot of painting tubes. Qiao Zhenhua said, "All of them are either words or paintings. Can these things be eaten? Grand Scholar Huang did not have any ready-made works on hand. He was unwilling to fork out money, but he actually wrote one on the spot! "

The more Qiao Zhenhua spoke, the angrier he became. He was about to crush the painting into a ball. Ye Xiaotian's hands and eyes were quick. He grabbed him and said, "Brother Qiao, wait a moment!"

Qiao Zhenhua rolled her eyes at him and said, "You like it? I'll give it to you."

Ye Xiaotian took the painting and looked at it carefully. Xia Yingying said angrily, "Brother Tian, why are you still looking at this broken thing? It's a pity that Guiyang is too far away. Otherwise, I would have asked my family for help. It would be better than having you beg those unscrupulous nobles and officials."

Ye Xiaotian's eyes flickered. He shook his head slightly and said with a smile, "There are only bad ideas in this world, there are no bad things. As long as you have a good idea, you can even sell a stone for the price of gold! "

Everyone looked at each other in dismay. They were already too disappointed. They did not dare to ask Ye Xiaotian any more questions. They were afraid that they would rejoice in vain again. Zhan Ning 'er looked at the corners of Ye Xiaotian's mouth curled up slightly. He was smiling mischievously, but he blurted out, "What kind of swindling idea did you come up with this time?"

…

In front of each yamen, there would be several boards that looked like bulletin boards. There were also eaves built on them. Some information that needed to be announced to the public would be posted on them. Suddenly, one morning, the people going in and out of the yamen unexpectedly found that there was an unofficial 'notice' on the bulletin board.

First, some people took a few indifferent glances and were immediately attracted by the contents of the 'notice'. Later, it was widely publicized. More and more people crowded in front of the bulletin board to see. For a time, all the yamen began to talk about Zhang Hongyi, Qiao Zhenhua, and the others holding a charity sale to raise food for disaster relief.

The Minister of War of Nanjing, Zhang Letian, had naturally heard of his son's righteous deed. After listening to the small official's detailed report of the notice, Zhang Letian waved his hand for the small official to leave. He said unhappily, "This kid, what is he doing? What does he know about disaster relief? He actually wants to hold a charity sale. He really doesn't know what he's doing!"

The Left Assistant Minister of War, Yang Si, smiled and said, "The flood of Lake Tai has affected hundreds of thousands of people. Although the court has allocated food for disaster relief, it is the autumn of the court. Everything is slow. Borrowing the power of the people to help the needy and share the burden of the court is a good thing. Your son regards the world as his own responsibility. It is all because of the Minister's teachings. "

Zhang Letian waved his hand and smiled bitterly. "This child only knows how to make trouble. What serious things can he do? I only hope that he will not turn this charity sale into a farce and make a fool of himself. Then I will be satisfied. "

Inside the posthouse, under the shade of a willow tree, Zhan Ning 'er looked left and right. Although there were people walking in the distance, she still looked at Ye Xiaotian with some panic. She said, "Why did you call me here?"

Ye Xiaotian chuckled and had a flattering expression on his face. He was like a little pug wagging its tail and waiting for its owner to throw a bone at it. He even rubbed his hands and had a very strange expression. He said, "Miss Ning 'er, there is something that I would like to trouble you with."

Zhan Ning 'er subconsciously took a step back. She almost tripped on the strange stones under her feet and fell into the river ditch at the side. "You … you … you … what do you want? If you have something to say, say it nicely. Don't make such a strange expression. I am so numb."

Ye Xiaotian didn't feel that there was anything wrong with his actions. He just felt that he owed Ning 'er. Now that he had a favor to ask of Ning' er, he was behaving more cordially. Ye Xiaotian coughed and said, "Miss Ning 'er, you represented your father to congratulate the Duke of Wei on his birthday. You should have gotten to know some of the daughters of the ambassadors and noble ladies in Nanjing, right?"

Zhan Ning 'er vigilantly said, "I know them? Why?"

Ye Xiaotian subconsciously licked his lips. In Zhan Ning 'er's eyes, he looked even more wretched. "Cough! Then, why didn't you meet them this time? "

Zhan Ning 'er curled her lips and said, "Why would I meet them? Each and every one of them is so delicate and pretentious. I hate being with women like them the most. "

Ye Xiaotian sternly said, "Miss Ning 'er, this is your fault. Every place has its own customs and habits. The women of the Central Plains are shy and introverted. Naturally, they are not as straightforward as the women of Guiyang. However, there is no lack of good women with a pure heart."

Zhan Ning 'er's timidity gradually disappeared. She unhappily stared at him and said, "What are you trying to say?"

Ye Xiaotian moved forward and said, "It's like this, Miss Ning 'er …"

Zhan Ning 'er pointed in front of her and raised her eyebrows. "Just stand there and say it. Don't be sneaky."

Ye Xiaotian was helpless. He could only stand there and quietly say something to her …