The Female Assistant of Wei Yuyan Shuangfei

After Lian Qiao's lobbying, the yamen runners were very tactful and accelerated the inspection of the team. Several people who originally had to wait for an hour were able to enter the city smoothly in just one stick of incense.

After entering the city, Xie Zhenghong immediately lifted the curtain to look, and was surprised to see vendors coming and going, and the crowded streets presented a grand scene.

"parking."

Upon hearing this, Xie Chen hurriedly pulled the reins and stopped, saying, "Master! We haven't reached the county government office yet."

"I know. I just wanted to get off the carriage for a walk after sitting in it for a long time." As Xie Zhenghong spoke, he lifted the curtain and got off the carriage taking Xie Chen's hand.

After landing on the ground and looking at the flat street, Xie Zhenghong couldn't help but sigh: "If Laigu County develops for a year or two, I'm afraid it will be incomparable to Yongzhou Prefecture."

Although the streets in the county town were still dirt roads, Xie Tingwen ordered them to be repaired and the sanitation of the streets was also subcontracted, with each household maintaining the one-third acre of land in front of their door.

As for those places without merchants, the county government organized people to clean them out. Apart from those who were sentenced for "committing crimes" and "petty thefts", the rest were beggars.

Regardless of how neat the streets are, overall all merchants are happy to see it. After all, who doesn't like a clean environment?

"Ningzhi! Lianqiao! You two come walk with me."

As Xie Zhenghong spoke, he glanced at Xie Ningzhi. Facing his grandfather's pressure, he could hardly make any small moves, so he quickly agreed, "Yes! Grandfather, please come this way."

Lian Qiao followed helplessly. Her chance to go back and deliver a message was nipped in the bud by Xie Zhenghong.

Xie Chen naturally saw what Lian Qiao was thinking, and hurriedly called a guard to his side, whispering, "Drive the carriage to the county government office first and tell Master Xie that Master Xie is here."

"Yes!" The guard bowed and responded, then led the three people away in the car, leaving the three people to accompany him.

On the street, Xie Zhenghong walked slowly, looking around aimlessly, and actually felt a sense of novelty about the items on both sides of the street.

Xie Ningzhi and Lian Qiao accompanied him carefully. They exchanged expressions several times, but they never found the right time to leave.

It was not until the three of them walked to a small stall that Xie Zhenghong stopped. Looking at the various novel gadgets placed in front of him, a hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes.

Seeing this, the stall owner hurriedly introduced the walnuts enthusiastically, "My guest has good eyesight. These are authentic Yangbi walnuts, which are much fuller than the walnuts from the Song Dynasty."

"Yeah!~"

Xie Zhenghong nodded from time to time, grabbed a handful of walnuts, rubbed them a few times, and pinched them together, and asked with a puzzled look on his face: "How much is this?"

"To answer your question, old man, this food is not expensive and easy to store. You always ask for more than this..." The stall owner smiled and held up three fingers.

Xie Zhenghong frowned slightly, shook his head and said, "Thirty cents is too expensive, how much cheaper can it be?"

The stall owner thought for a moment, hesitated for a moment and said in a deep voice: "Twenty-seven cents at most, no less."

Xie Zhenghong still didn't say anything. The stall owner's expression changed. He hesitated and rubbed his hands and said, "Well! If the old man wants all of it, it'll be 25 coins per catty. I really can't go any less. The total is 575 coins. How about that?"

Realizing that Xie Zhenghong was a little embarrassed, Lian Qiao slowly stepped forward and took out a banknote from her bosom and said, "I want all of these. You don't need to give me the change for the rest of the money. I will send the items directly to the county government office."

"Okay, you...wait a minute."

The stall owner looked at the people in front of him in shock. After looking them up and down, he finally saw Xie Ningzhi's appearance clearly.

He hurriedly walked out from the stall, bowed to Xie Ningzhi and said, "Thank you, Master! Please forgive me for my poor eyesight and for not being able to see your face."

"It's okay. Just do as my girl says and send him to the county government office." Xie Ningzhi waved his hand nonchalantly.

How could the stall owner follow Xie Ningzhi's wishes? He hurriedly returned the banknote to Lian Qiao, and said in a low voice with an apologetic smile: "If Master Xie wants it, just give me the cost price. This box is 180 coins."

Lian Qiao covered her mouth with a smile and took out two silver coins from her bosom, handed them to the stall owner and said, "Then do as the stall owner wishes. You don't need to give me the extra change. Just consider it as hard work fee."

"Okay, okay. Thank you, Master. Bye." The stall owner nodded repeatedly.

Xie Zhenghong couldn't help but twitch his lips. After leaving the stall, he looked at Lian Qiao and said, "Isn't one hundred and eighty wen too cheap?"

After all, the previous price was 575 Wen, but after just one look at Xie Ningzhi, the price was reduced by more than half. For him, this was a losing deal.

Seeing that Xie Zhenghong was still suspicious, Lian Qiao hurriedly took a half step forward and said slowly, "Old Master, you don't know that even if the stall owner sold it for 180 cents, he still made at least 50 cents."

"This..." Xie Zhenghong was stunned for a moment.

Xie Ningzhi saw the opportunity to show off, and hurriedly went up to him and said, "Grandfather! Father followed my sister's instructions and asked the Household Department to take charge of the commerce in Laigu County. The people can obtain goods from the government at a low price and resell them for a profit to supplement their family income."

"Oh! Won't this change the people's household registration?" Xie Zhenghong asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"My father had this concern as well, but for such a small-scale operation, if there is no tax, how can there be any merchants?"

"I see."

Xie Zhenghong nodded, still confused. He didn't believe that with Shu Ting's idea, the obvious means of making money would be thrown away.

Sure enough, just as Xie Zhenghong was beginning to think, Xie Ningzhi said smugly, "Grandfather! Are you wondering why father and little sister would do such a losing business?"

Lian Qiao was shocked when he heard that. Xie Chen, who followed in, naturally heard it clearly. At this moment, he couldn't help but show a trace of pity on his face.

Xie Zhenghong looked back with interest and laughed loudly: "Oh! Then tell grandfather, how does Shu Ting make money?"

"In order to increase the commercial tax and not let the people become merchants, my sister raised the price of the goods by 40%. Everyone thought it would be profitable, so..."

When Xie Ningzhi said this, he suddenly noticed that the atmosphere around him had changed slightly. He raised his head tremblingly and saw Xie Zhenghong's deep eyes.

"So...what is it?" Xie Zhenghong asked in a deep voice.

Lian Qiao had mixed feelings at the moment. He didn't understand why the young master couldn't change his arrogant character.

Just when the scene became extremely awkward, a team of yamen runners from a distance quickly came over, led by none other than Constable Cao Zhen.

Seeing Cao Zhen coming, Lian Qiao had an idea and hurriedly stretched out his hand but did not dare to speak.

Lian Qiao's actions naturally aroused Cao Zhen's attention, and he hurriedly led people to greet them. When he saw Xie Ning, he bowed and said, "Master Xie! Are you back from visiting your parents?"

Xie Ningzhi felt like a thousand horses were galloping in his heart. I was standing here, so wasn't it obvious that I had returned?