Chapter 937: Zhu Shitai was beaten, and the new policy came to an abrupt end
"Roc!"
Jiang Qingzhi was holding his son. Just now, someone outside set off a big firecracker. The sound was so loud that it scared Dapeng and made him cry.
"Wow!"
The child opened his mouth and cried. Jiang Qingzhi smiled and said, "When you are older, I will take you to set off firecrackers, okay?"
Li Tian sat aside, sorting out the gift list with Huang Yan'er, "Husband, it's the end of the year, and the gifts that should be given are almost ready. Husband, do you think we should increase or decrease the number this year?"
"It's the end of the year, and it's a hassle to deal with people." When Jiang Qing was young in his previous life, he thought dealing with people during the Chinese New Year was fun, mainly because he could get lucky money. People who came to pay New Year's greetings would give him a lot of gifts, mainly food. For a greedy teenager, this was the most anticipated festival of the year.
"Giving gifts is a headache. If you give too much, it will be hard for others to return the gift. If you give too little, you will offend people. You even have to consider who is giving the gift and figure out their preferences..."
Li Tian sighed and put the gift list on the table. "Forget it, that's it. Whoever is not satisfied can be dissatisfied."
"That's right." Jiang Qingzhi paced with the child in his arms, "Just do your best. There's no need to guess what others like."
"Isn't this because you're afraid of offending people?" Li Tian pounded her waist with her backhand. "My husband is now in a high position and has great power. The people he interacts with are either rich or noble. They care about these things the most. I remembered something. This year, someone actually reserved the most famous Zhang's Dim Sum Shop in the capital, and not a single piece of dim sum would be sold to others..."
"Why pack it?" Jiang Qingzhi thought his son's smile was very innocent. Thinking of how his mind was full of calculations all day long, he couldn't help but imagine what would happen ten or twenty years later.
Being able to protect his wife and children from worries is what a man should do.
Therefore, Japan... must be destroyed!
"They said they reserved it for themselves as a gift, so other families can forget about it." Li Tian said bitterly, "The Zhang family's dim sum in the capital is in short supply now, and things are valuable because they are rare. Whoever receives the Zhang family's dim sum as a New Year gift from that family will feel proud..."
"This method is a waste of talent when used for gift giving."
Jiang Qingzhi smiled, feeling that it had some flavor of the competition for wealth in later generations.
But unexpectedly, the situation suddenly changed...
The next day, Jiang Qingzhi prepared to enter the palace. Although he and Daoye had reached a tacit understanding on Japanese affairs, the necessary procedures still had to be followed.
"I'm afraid someone will impeach you today." After breakfast, Xia Yan picked his teeth and said slowly.
"It would be strange if a minister like me who holds great power is not impeached." Jiang Qingzhi stuffed the last bite of the meat bun into his mouth. "When eating buns, you must eat them in big mouthfuls and swallow them in big mouthfuls. That kind of satisfaction..."
"You must have been a Taotie in your previous life." Xia Yan smiled, "The important officials who are not impeached are either extremely treacherous or extremely evil." The old man thought of his own past.
"Back then, I was considered a powerful person and few dared to impeach me. Now that I think about it, it's a big mistake."
"You! Don't always think about the past. The past is all illusion, and the future is yet to come. You'd better live in the present."
"Live in the present? That makes sense."
Jiang Qingzhi chuckled and thought to himself, if I spread the word that I can actually teach Xia Yan how to behave, who would believe it?
"Celebrate it."
The old playboy came, looking a little angry early in the morning, "I am so mad at you, brother."
"What's the matter? Don't worry, someone come and get some tea to clear the heat." Jiang Qingzhi ordered.
"This matter..." Zhu Xizhong had just come out of the Zhilu, "I just learned about it. Yesterday, Dalang had a half-day off, so he hurried out of the military camp and went shopping everywhere..."
"Wait, what is he buying for?" Jiang Qingzhi frowned, thinking of the bribery in the army.
The military and the officialdom are actually the same. During every festival, subordinates give generous gifts to their superiors.
In the past, Jiang Qingzhi turned a blind eye. It was not that he did not care, but that he was waiting for the opportunity.
"He said he wanted to buy some things for me, your sister-in-law, and your second uncle. It can be considered as a filial piety."
Fortunately, if Zhu Shitai had also joined the gift-giving army, Jiang Qingzhi would have had to take action earlier.
"Duke." The servant brought the tea. The old playboy took it and took a sip despite the fact that it was scalding hot, which made Jiang Qingzhi think of his throat.
Most people in this era have a skill, which is to be able to withstand high temperatures. The freshly brewed tea is at least 80 degrees, right? They are able to drink it mouthful after mouthful.
It was as if the throat and stomach were made of iron.
"Your sister-in-law and your brother's wife both like Zhang's dim sum..."
Jiang Qingzhi knew about this. Every once in a while, the person in charge of purchasing in the mansion would go to Zhang's dim sum shop to buy a few boxes of dim sum. Jiang Qingzhi would occasionally eat a few pieces, and most of them went into his wife's mouth.
"Da Lang went to Zhang's Dim Sum Shop and found out that he was being kept by someone, so he asked if he could have some of the dim sum."
The young master of the Chengguo Mansion has spoken, so even the Yan family has to give him some face, right?
"Who knew that the family not only refused, but also spoke rudely..."
Zhu Xizhong took a sip of tea and said, "Da Lang got angry and started fighting."
"Is it a loss?"
Jiang Qingzhi's first reaction startled the old playboy, "Why are you like your sister-in-law? You don't ask whether it's right or wrong, but first ask whether Dalang has suffered a loss."
Jiang Qingzhi said calmly, "My child, if you want to beat me, I will beat him myself. Who the hell dares to do that... I'll take care of it. You go and do your work."
"Da Lang was hit a few times and hurried back to the barracks this morning. He also said something... We'll talk about this matter when he comes out next time. I was on duty last night and I have to go back. Your sister-in-law is a woman, it's not good for her to get involved with that family."
"I told you I'm here. Come on, get some food."
The old playboy hurried back with the two roujiamo.
Zhang's Dim Sum Shop is located in the west of the city, where many nobles live. It can be said to be a high-end business district in a high-end residential area.
Zhang's dim sum shop opened early in the morning.
Not long after, a young man came down surrounded by several followers.
The shopkeeper Zhang Yu came out and said, "Meet Master Wang."
The young man was called Wang Shou. He dismounted and asked, "After I left yesterday, did Zhu Shitai come to cause trouble?" Zhang Yu shook his head and said with a wry smile, "He is a minor duke after all. I can't afford to offend him."
Wang Shou touched his dark blue eye sockets, his eyes were cold, "I will naturally take full responsibility for this matter."
That's good... Zhang Yu was intimidated by the other party's power and smiled: "Wang Gong is a great scholar, respected by scholars all over the world..."
"Don't talk about this." Wang Shou waved his hand and said lightly.
Zhang Yu chatted for a few words and then left.
An attendant came up behind him and said, "Young Master, he is after all the only son of Duke Cheng. If he gets beaten, Duke Cheng might stand up for him."
Wang Shou sneered, "Jiang Qingzhi started with Yan Song and others. Yan Song and others were angry but dared not say anything, so they could only report their land and population. Logically, the next ones would be the important officials. The scholars have already reached a consensus that the next one would be my family. As expected... But Jiang Qingzhi was the first to start with my family..."
"Those fields..." The attendant was also distressed. "Yan Song and others have already declared them. I'm afraid the family will have no choice but to give in."
"Why should we bow down?" Wang Shou said, "Someone has to take the lead for everyone. If others don't dare, I will do it!"
Young people aged seventeen or eighteen are at the age when their blood is boiling. Yesterday, Wang Shou was drinking with others and mentioned this matter during the meal. Someone instigated Wang Shou, who was so angry that he said he would go to Xin'an Lane to block Jiang Qingzhi.
Zhang's pastry shop was booked by his uncle. Wang Shou came to the pastry shop to take some pastries home and happened to meet Zhu Shitai who was buying gifts. Thinking that Zhu Shitai was Jiang Qingzhi's disciple and nephew, Wang Shou, under the influence of alcohol, angrily rebuked him. The two sides argued and then fought.
Zhu Shitai was alone when he left the camp, but Wang Shou brought several followers with him. After a melee, most of Wang Shou's followers were knocked down by Zhu Shitai. Wang Shou wanted to use Tai Ping Fist, but was blinded by Zhu Shitai's punch.
When did Zhu Shitai become so powerful... Wang Shou was a little confused.
His grandfather Wang Qing was sneering at this moment.
"So, you didn't try to persuade Erlang yesterday?"
A servant with a bruised face and nose knelt down and said, "Yes, we... have tried to persuade him, but the young master has been drinking and we can't persuade him..."
"Who said Erlang drank?" Wang Qing waved his hand, and the servant quickly stood up and left.
After the servants left, Wang Qing's son, Wang Shou's father, Wang Shen, said, "Dad, Erlang beat up Duke Cheng's only son. I'm afraid this matter won't end well. How about I go to the Duke's Mansion?"
Wang Qing shook his head. "Someone from the Ministry of Revenue secretly told me that the first move in the investigation of the imperial scholars was to target us. Jiang Qingzhi is still using the method of starting with the difficult and then moving on to the easy."
Some people say that Jiang Qingzhi's method this time is to kill the monkey to scare the chickens, and he starts with the big boss.
"Does he think I'm a monkey?" Wang Qing sneered, "Why should we pay taxes on the land passed down from our ancestors? Jiang Qingzhi is so arrogant."
Wang Shen said, "Dad, those dignitaries have all reported it."
"Why do the rich and powerful apply for it?" Wang Qing said calmly, "Who do the rich and powerful rely on to become rich and powerful?"
"Your Majesty. Eh!" Wang Shen was startled, "We don't rely on him!"
"Yes, we can't rely on the one in the palace." Wang Qing said softly: "Do you know why I didn't punish Erlang?"
Wang Shen looked up, "Dad means..."
"Once I bow my head, the Wang family will become traitors in the literati circle!" Wang Qing, who had always been calm and composed, had a ferocious look on his face at this moment. "Jiang Qingzhi started with me, and I have no way to avoid it. If I bow my head, my reputation will be ruined. Then, there is only one way..."
"Dad!" Wang Shen stood up, "Then I will go and discuss it with those old friends."
"They will be happy to see Wang's family at the forefront. They are used to waving flags and shouting when the wind is favorable, and playing it safe when the wind is unfavorable... However, this matter involves the interests of all families after all, and they will not sit idly by."
Wang Shen set off. Wang Qing stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, stroking the trunk of the big tree planted by his ancestors. He sneered and said, "My grandson offended your nephew, and you are taking revenge for personal gain..."
Jiang Qingzhi was preparing to enter the palace at this moment, and Sun Bu Tong happened to come back from getting some news.
"That Wang Shou is the grandson of the great scholar Wang Qing. Wang Qing's family is at the top of the list that the Ministry of Households will check next."
"So that's it." Jiang Qingzhi understood that this was a way to vent his anger.
"Uncle, do you want to take action?" Mo Zhan asked.
Jiang Qingzhi shook his head, "We must convince people with reason." Then he ordered, "Go to the Ministry of Revenue and tell Lu Song that it's time to take action."
At the same time Jiang Qingzhi entered the palace, officials from the Ministry of Revenue arrived at Wang's house.
"Please be lenient and report all the land and population in your family one by one."
The officials from the Ministry of Revenue were very polite.
Bah!
The door slammed shut.
The doorman's voice came from inside, "My old master... is ill and cannot see guests. In addition, my young master has offended Long Wilbur..."
Jiang Qingzhi is taking revenge!
How can such a narrow-minded person be in charge of the new policy?
This was a counterattack by the scholars in the capital.
And in the south.
Huating.
The hometown of Xu Ge Lao.
Several officials from the Ministry of Revenue were also turned away at the Xu family.
"Master is not at home, so we can't get the list."
The nail was soft, but it was the third time.
The entire new policy is like a galloping wild horse that was suddenly stopped by someone.
Stop it abruptly!
(End of this chapter)
