poor family prodigal

Feicang Salt Well is a small town thirty miles away from Jiushan County.

Because of the salt wells, business exchanges are frequent and it is as prosperous as a small mountain town.

Kitchen households, salt merchants, salt transportation fleets, and salt transportation make subordinate departments mixed.

The group set out before dawn, and ten horses and two carriages arrived at Feicang in the morning.

This kind of convoy quickly attracted attention, but they were all watching from a distance, and no one dared to step forward.

The group of people were riding horses and carrying swords, and they were obviously not someone to be trifled with.

Let Wang Sihai inquire about the news, while Wang Yuan walks around and observes the town.

Soon, he frowned!

Hu Mengying was keenly aware: "Master, what's wrong?"

Wang Yuan said: "Isn't there a salt well in Feicang? Why is it as poor as Fu County?"

One land supplies the salt of three counties, and the oil that needs to be fed to the granaries is used to feed and clothe everyone.

But on the streets, except for the well-dressed salt merchants and petty officials, most people are in rags and skinny, just like the people in Fu County.

Many refugees were begging for food and were staggering when they walked!

Hu Mengying was questioned. She didn't know anything about Fei Cang's situation!

Wang Zhonglou said: "Uncle Yuan, it is true that there are a large number of salt wells in Feicang, and every household is responsible for boiling salt, but the real bulk has been taken away by Jiatou and salt merchants. Even the government has not confiscated much, let alone the kitchen households. It would be nice to be able to make ends meet.”

Wang Yuan frowned and shook his head.

This kitchen household is no different from the common people in Fu County, except that the landlords and powerful men have become Jiatou and salt merchants!

"Brother Yuan, please find out!"

Wang Sihai brought people back: "There are eighteen villages in Feicang. The people here are called Zaohu. They have been responsible for boiling salt for the court for generations. The government uses the 'Zaojia method' to manage them. Almost every village has its head, and the head is responsible." To manage kitchen households, salt merchants have to go to Jiatou to buy salt. After discussion, they will go to the Salt Transportation Department to buy official bags, inspect salt banknotes, and salt coins, and then kill them and go through various procedures! Jiatou is better than ours. The landowners are so rich that they all live in the big houses built in Feicang Town. I also found out the location!"

"Good job!"

Wang Yuan said in appreciation: "Let's go find Jia Tou!"

After careful training, Wang Sihai's vision and ability to do things have skyrocketed. It was still difficult to do big things, but he has already become more comfortable with small things.

The carriage team set off to visit Feicang's biggest leader - Liu Baizao!

Feicang's stoves are like people's fields. The more stoves you have, the more salt you can cook.

After a while, the carriage team came to a large house, and there was a cry!

Wang Yuan lifted the car curtain and took a look.

In front of the Liu family's mansion.

A big man was kneeling in front of the door with a child in his arms, and two other men were kneeling next to him.

The three of them had similar appearance, clothing, and temperament. They all had rough skin, cloudy eyes, ragged clothes, strange smells, and numb and miserable faces.

bang bang bang...

The man held the child in his arms, bowed into a shrimp shape, and kept kowtowing: "Master Liu, please be merciful and lend me ten guan of money. My son is seriously ill and needs money to save his life!"

The two men also kowtowed, with tears streaming down their faces and prayers on their faces!

The people passing by looked at the three people with sympathy, helplessness and intolerance in their eyes!

There are too many people who are sick and cannot afford medical treatment.

The two servants closed the door directly: "Get out, the master said, you don't have a copper, so you can get out wherever you come from!"

"Mr. Liu, I have been boiling salt for the Liu family for the past ten years. I will only lend you ten taels of silver. Please save my son's life. I will boil the salt and pay it back. Please!"

The middle-aged man got up again, holding the door and crying, with a pleading look on his face.

"If you dare to yell again and anger the master, I will break your dog legs!"

The door didn't move at all, but the servant's vicious curses came from the crack in the door!

"I can't help it. The doctor said that my son won't be able to survive today if he doesn't take medicine!"

The middle-aged man kowtowed: "Master Liu, please show mercy. I only borrow ten taels of silver. I will work hard to cook salt in the coming year and I can pay it back!"

"Damn it, you think I am a Bodhisattva. Even if your son dies, even if your whole family dies, I won't even look at it!"

The servant cursed indifferently!

"Son, daddy is useless, daddy can't save your life!"

The middle-aged man got desperate and stood up with his child in his arms, dragging his legs like a zombie.

The two men also got up and cried together, confused and at a loss!

Suddenly, a hand stretched out and placed it on the forehead of the sleeping child!

"You, what are you doing?"

Seeing that Wang Yuan was well-dressed and accompanied by his entourage, the man asked with a trembling tone.

The two men also came forward and looked at Wang Yuan cautiously, with alert eyes.

"I have a high fever!"

He asked for Hu Mengying's handkerchief, poured water from the water bag to wet it, and put it on the child's forehead. Wang Yuan said: "You have to cool him down, otherwise he will burn his brain!"

The three men were stunned.

This young lady in fine clothes would hold her nose and retreat when she saw them dirty!

This young man actually asked for the lady's handkerchief to wet it to cool his son down!

"Take the child to see a doctor quickly!"

Taking out two ingots and ten taels of silver, and placing them in the man's hands, Wang Yuan waved his hand.

Plop, plop, plop!

bang bang bang...

The three men were startled and knelt down. Dust was everywhere on the ground, and tears came out in droves: "Thank you, Master. Master, you have a bodhisattva heart. Good people must be rewarded. We will go to see the child first, and we will set up a memorial tablet for you when we get back!"

After getting up, the three men turned around and ran away, tears flying all the way!

"Pity the hearts of parents in the world!"

Looking at the backs of the three of them, Wang Yuan sighed and turned around: "Sihai, go knock on the door!"

As soon as Wang Sihai knocked on the door, the door opened immediately.

The two men, who were originally fierce and fierce, looked respectful and apologetic: "Young Master is really compassionate. I wonder why you are here at Liu's house?"

They heard and saw everything outside the gate, and they were also shocked!

They are all low-class people, and no one wants to meet such a kind person when they are in trouble.

As for being cruel to men who borrow money, that's the master's order, and there's nothing they can do about it!

Wang Sihai handed over two pieces of broken silver: "My young master is a salt merchant from Fu County. He has salt banknotes and salt coins. He wants to buy some salt from Mr. Liu. Please let me know, little brother!"

"Fu County!"

The two servants were startled, then took the money and ran into the mansion. Soon they came out again with stiff faces: "Master, my master said that all the Liu family's salt has been ordered by the Yang family. Master, you should find another buyer!"

"Oh, farewell!"

Wang Yuan turned around.

[-]% of Feicang's salt is monopolized by the Yang family. He has known this for a long time and is mentally prepared!

"Son!"

Suddenly the servant shouted again, looking like he was hesitating to speak.

Wang Yuan handed over an ingot of ten taels of silver.

"Thank you, son!"

The servant's eyes were bright, he quickly took it and picked it up, and whispered: "Master, you don't need to go to the town to ask, no one in the town will sell you salt?"

Wang Yuan was surprised: "Why!"

"Yesterday, someone from the Yang family in the county town came and notified the eighteen heads of the family. If a salt merchant from a wealthy county comes, even if they have all the salt banknotes and salt coins, they cannot sell a grain of salt. Otherwise, they will be against the Yang family. So Fei Cang, no one dares to sell you salt."

After saying something hastily, the servant hurriedly ran back.

The group of people was furious!

After all the hard work, we now have salt banknotes and salt coins, but it turns out that the Yang family is causing trouble again.

"Uncle Yuan, this is what I told you, why Fei Cang's situation is complicated!"

Wang Chonglou sighed and said: "The Yang family has controlled Feicang for nearly a hundred years, and they say everything in Feicang. Those kitchen households and Jiatou dare not disobey them!"

"what should I do now!"

Wang Sihai scratched his head anxiously.

Now he can handle some small things, but he still gets upset when big things happen!

Hu Mengying said with a look on her face: "The Yang family is powerful in Feicang, but if the benefits are too great, I don't believe those Jiatou and Zao households can still sit still! As long as we give them enough, the Yang family will not allow them to sell. , if you stop them from making money, they will hate or even oppose the Yang family, and then the pressure will be on the Yang family!"

Wang Yuan's eyes lit up and he looked at Hu Mengying with appreciation. Her analysis was right!

He is worthy of being the most powerful leader in Fu County. He is not afraid of detailed analysis when encountering problems.

The look in her eyes made Hu Mengying's heart tremble, and she blushed and said, "However, if we break the situation in this way, we will have to pay a lot of money this time!"

"As long as there is nothing wrong with you, it doesn't matter if you lose money, you can just make it back later!"

Wang Yuan looked at the dozen people and said, "You all go to Jia Tou and tell us to pay twice the price for salt!"

Wang Sihai and his party left!

Half an hour later, the ten people turned back, all looking downcast and shaking their heads!

Wang Sihai said: "Brother Yuan, if no one dares to buy it, they are still afraid of the Yang family!"

"Go again!"

Wang Yuan raised his eyebrows: "This time, we will triple the price and tell them that if anyone agrees, they will draw up a deed immediately and pay in gold!"

The ten people dispersed again!

After another half an hour, the ten people turned back again, looking even more depressed and shaking their heads!

Wang Sihai said with a sad face: "Jiatou is very moved, but no one dares to sell it, and they are still afraid of the Yang family's threat. Brother Yuan, what should I do?"

"No hurries!"

Wang Yuan was about to speak.

Suddenly a timid young man came up and said, "Young master, I want to buy salt. I have salt here. It's no problem if it's less than [-] kilograms. I don't want to pay triple the price, just give me the market price!"

Wang Yuan sneered: "No one else dares to sell to me, why do you dare to sell to me and ask for such a low price!"

"I am a private person!"

The young man lowered his voice: "Young master, if you dare to ask for it, I can contact you for you. The official bag and cover are all completed, and you can safely leave the warehouse!"

Wang Yuan frowned!

Private salt is also made by kitchen households, but there are no official procedures and it is illegal!

With salt banknotes and salt imports, as long as it is transported back to Fu County, private salt will also be official salt!

However, if there is a problem during transportation, it will be a big trouble!

And looking at this man's wretched appearance, he doesn't look like he spent a hundred thousand kilograms of private salt!

The young man continued: "If you think it's too expensive, sir, we can discuss the price, and we'll give you a penny less per kilogram. Master, no one in Feicang dares to sell you salt now. You have no choice but to buy private salt!"

Wang Yuan sneered and wanted to speak!

Suddenly, a voice shouted: "Master, don't believe him, he is a big liar who is full of lies and specializes in deceiving salt merchants from other places!"