The most unlucky crossing in history

It was also the fifth day Xie Wenyuan came to Hangzhou. On the seventh day of the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, there was news in Hangzhou that Chu Huaize, the Minister of Zhongshu Province, and Feng Ping, an official from the Ministry of Household Affairs of Shangshu Province, were about to go to Hangzhou.

In the afternoon of that day, Sima from the Hangzhou government office sent a letter inviting Zhong's family to the government office for a meeting on the ninth day of July.

Zhong Qiyun, who was going to have a good time with Xie Wenyuan in the afternoon, called to go to the Hangzhou government office to discuss some things with Quejiang in advance.

The Qixi Festival in the Daqing Dynasty is almost different from the "Oriental Valentine's Day" celebrated by Zhong Qiyun in modern times when he has weakened and turned into young men and women.

It can be said that the meaning of the Qixi Festival to the people of Dazhu is half of the Zhengyuan Festival. As early as a few days before the Qixi Festival, the common people would make some exquisite and fashionable things, such as colorful paper mandarin ducks, water birds, or floating Fish lanterns on the water surface also put grains such as beans and wheat into porcelain, soak them in clear water directly, wait for the beans and rice to grow tender shoots, and tie them with four wires. It is not made at home, and it is a lively place in the streets and alleys. There must be a sale.The confectionery shop will also make "Fruit General". The petal-shaped wooden box is divided into seven compartments, and each compartment contains seven kinds of desserts, including mung bean cakes, lotus seed cakes, and rice candies.

On the day of Qixi Festival, every house is decorated with lanterns and festoons. Whether it is the inner courtyard of the palace or the dignitaries or ordinary people, men, women, old and young, regardless of their family background, rich or poor, they will wear new cool summer clothes and bring them some time ago. The prepared things go out together, visit the lotus pond at night, and the prepared lanterns are placed on the river. When the long river is lit and the moon is shining, the men compose poems and songs with fine wine and wine, while the women kneel down and beg for cleverness from the Cowherd and Weaver Girl. It is really lively.

Zhong Qiyun originally wanted to see the lotus flowers everywhere with Xie Wenyuan during the day, walk around the downtown area, and feel the style and taste of the south of the Yangtze River. When night falls, watch the sunset together, so he will not eat at home today. In the Accord on the third floor of the Linglong Building on the lake, I will bring Xie Wenyuan to drink and eat together, savor the night scenery of the West Lake, and look at the lanterns on the lake.But......

It took half a day to go to the government office in Hangzhou, and it was dark when I came back.

Zhong Qiyun looked at the delicious food and wine on the table, looked at Xie Wenyuan who had already prepared the food, and sighed: "I originally wanted to take you to Linglong Building for dinner and drink to see the lake view..."

Xie Wenyuan sat down at the table, helped Zhong Qiyun add a bowl of rice, and said with a smile: "Although Linglong Building is quiet, there are so many people today that it must be noisy.

Naturally, it’s not as comfortable as at home, and the dishes there don’t come with meals, you probably don’t like it very much, do you? "Having known Zhong Qiyun for so many years, Xie Wenyuan naturally knows that Zhong Qiyun prefers food delivery dishes to those fancy and complicated dishes.

Zhong Qiyun laughed when he heard Xie Wenyuan's words, he moved his chair and moved to Xie Wenyuan's side, leaned over and kissed Xie Wenyuan's cheek, "What Wenyuan said is that I really don't like it, I can't I always feel that I can’t get enough of the food I eat, since Wenyuan cares about me so much, then I won’t go to Linglong Building, and we can eat better at home.”

Xie Wenyuan looked at Zhong Qiyun amusedly, he didn't know that Zhong Qiyun actually wanted to take him to play, after he left home, Zhengyuan Festival was very casual, and Qixi Festival had never been held before, so he put the bowl in his hand With Zhong Qiyun in his hand, Xie Wenyuan said: "If you want to go out with me to have a look, it's not too late after dinner, and then go for a walk by the lake."

Zhong Qiyun smiled happily, picked up the chopsticks and picked up some food for Xie Wenyuan, "Eat more too."

During the meal, Zhong Qiyun suddenly remembered what Jiang Cai told him just now, and asked, "Ask Yuan, but just now the governor told me that Chu Huaize, Minister of Zhongshu Province, and Feng Ping, Minister of Household Affairs of Shangshu Province, will arrive tomorrow. I thought Zhongshu Shilang, Hubu Shangshu and others came with you, but I didn’t expect it to be seven days late?"

Xie Wenyuan took a mouthful of rice, his expression remained unchanged, and he said slowly: "We did set off from Jingzhao City together."

Zhong Qiyun paused after hearing this, looked at Xie Wenyuan, and finally thought about asking: "When did you leave Beijing?"

"June [-]."

Zhong Qiyun's chest trembled violently, June [-]th... Unless the situation is urgent and requires a day and night trip on the way of the official inspection, otherwise, according to the normal speed, it will take at least [-] or [-] days from Jingzhao to Hangzhou. Departing on June [-]th, it is true that it will not arrive until the seventh and eighth day of July...

But Xie Wenyuan's birthday is coming up on the second day of July, and there is no one around him except for one entourage...

It's not that others are late, but that Xie Wenyuan arrived early, five or six days early... As a businessman on the road, no one understands better than Zhong Qiyun how difficult it is to reduce the time consumption of five or six days , how much to suffer.

Putting down the bowls and chopsticks, Zhong Qiyun turned sideways and hugged Xie Wenyuan into his arms.

Xie Wenyuan couldn't laugh or cry, he had to put down the bowls and chopsticks in his hand, and said, "What are you doing?"

"How did you get here?"

Xie Wenyuan sighed after hearing this: "After leaving Jingzhao, they went directly south and traveled by land. I didn't go with them. They went east to the canal and then took the river to Hangzhou. Your seal is very useful at this time."

Xie Wenyuan thought of seeing that seal at Chengfeng Station, so he didn't dare to ask more questions, and directly ordered the best shipping consul to send him to Hangzhou, but he couldn't tell what he felt when he saw the situation at that time , What exactly did Zhong Qiyun say to the stewards of the Chengfeng Station in the middle school.

After hearing this, Zhong Qiyun calculated the time. It would take at least eight days for Jingzhao to arrive at He Lin City, and it would take at least six days for He Lin to come to Hangzhou by water transport, and it would also take fourteen days...

Seeing that Zhong Qiyun frowned and didn't speak, Xie Wenyuan also knew what he was thinking, so he said: "I saved some time on the road, but I asked the supervisor named Zhang Sheng to arrive in the second grade of junior high school by taking the river transport."

"That kid Zhang Sheng?"

"You brought out a good hand."

"What are you good at, that kid is very frizzy." Zhong Qiyun also knew that it was useless to say it now, so he could only sigh: "You can't be like this in the future. For me, nothing is as important as you."

Xie Wenyuan looked at Zhong Qiyun with a smile: "It's only nine days for you to go to Jingzhao and walk the sea, but it's not enough for me to go here for [-] days?"

"What's the matter? I'll lead the boat myself, so it's naturally faster."

"How could it be different? The distance from Hangzhou to Linzhou port only takes you two days, and you, Boss Zhong, are more aggressive than anyone else."

"..." Zhong Qiyun was speechless by Xie Wenyuan's words. He had never told Xie Wenyuan about this matter. Zhang Sheng could only say it, "Zhang Sheng told you?"

"Who in your Zhong family's fleet doesn't know?"

Zhong Qiyun rubbed his nose, then hugged Xie Wenyuan tightly again, "Isn't that because I miss you?" Then thinking of the reason why Xie Wenyuan rushed here, he said with a smile: "Isn't it because you miss me too?" ?"

"..." Xie Wenyuan sighed, but he didn't deny it, he just said, "Relax, I'm still eating."

"it is good!"

After the meal, Zhong Qiyun took Xie Wenyuan through the lively streets. Hangzhou city is not like a northern city like Jingzhao. Hangzhou has a unique style of Jiangnan water town. One household has one water and one place has one water. Xie Wenyuan is not the first

This is my first time in Hangzhou, but it’s the first time I’m walking leisurely among the crowds. The water is glistening under the lights, and the distant mountains are empty. You don’t need to think about the messy things in the court, just look at the street lights red, low Hanging on the eaves, listening to Zhong Qiyun telling him all kinds of interesting things one by one, for some reason, even if the streets were crowded and noisy, he didn't feel bored, but it was the first time he felt the vitality of this world.

"Speaking of which, last time you came to Hangzhou City, I also took a walk with you on the Baidi." Slowly walking to the edge of the West Lake, walking on the Baidi, people coming and going, Zhong Qiyun smiled Said.

When Zhong Qiyun mentioned this, Xie Wenyuan remembered the last time he came to Hangzhou. He looked at the lotus on the lake and nodded, "Well, it was the day when Brother Yuanren wanted to have fun."

"...That's why He Minqing insisted on inviting me. I never thought of...doing that kind of thing."

Xie Wenyuan looked at Zhong Qiyun with a smile: "Oh? Really?"

Seeing that Xie Wenyuan didn't believe it, Zhong Qiyun knew that Xie Wenyuan had thought of his affectionate hug that night, Zhong Qiyun quickly explained: "The reason why I did that day was because I hugged you and smelled the smell on you. Taste, if it wasn't for you, how could I..."

When Xie Wenyuan heard this, he first looked away.

Zhong Qiyun still looked at Xie Wenyuan and laughed. The two were about the same height. He slowly approached Xie Wenyuan. In the crowded crowd, he slowly held Xie Wenyuan's hand: "So let's talk about it early in the morning. Then there is fate..."

"..." Xie Wenyuan lowered his eyes and smiled.

Covered by the wide sleeves, the two walked slowly hand in hand like this. After watching the lanterns and the crowds dwindled, the two set off to go back.

On the way back, sitting in the carriage, Zhong Qiyun remembered what he hadn't finished talking about before dinner, so he asked again: "The business meeting on the ninth day of the lunar new year, Wenyuan, are you also going to the Yamen?"

Xie Wenyuan nodded and said: "Naturally, I will discuss with you as the prime minister of the court. The court ordered officials to come to Hangzhou, one is to know the situation of the coastal shipping, and the other is to see the Zhong family's understanding of the sea. The attitude of business and taxation." At this point, Xie Wenyuan looked at Zhong Qiyun and said: "You must not respond too quickly."

As soon as Zhong Qiyun heard it, he knew what Xie Wenyuan meant. If the imperial court wanted to collect money, ordinary merchants would definitely not agree. It's too fast, I'm afraid the court will feel that

His Zhong family is very loud, and when the Zhongshu Province compiled the laws and regulations, his Zhong family's maritime merchants did not get the benefits they deserved.

The formulation of laws and regulations is a process of running-in, and both parties must be willing to make a good decision.

Zhong Qiyun blinked: "Then when the prime minister represents the imperial court, if he says something that is beneficial to the imperial court or harmful to me, do I still have to pretend that I am not familiar with you, and then turn around and refute what you say against you?"

Xie Wenyuan smiled and said, "That's true."

Zhong Qiyun clicked his tongue twice, and said after a long while: "To collect taxes, you need to know the price of the goods. The value of the goods sold on the ship is hard to estimate. There must be countless places to calculate. In the end, only the sea merchant can know what he is. How much did I earn, and after that, should I tell the sea merchants all the profits?"

Xie Wenyuan shook his head: "It's not necessary."

"How much does the imperial court need now?"

"If the tax rate of 35 is one..."

Xie Wenyuan told Zhong Qiyun the money estimated by the court that day, and Zhong Qiyun laughed when he heard that, "Master Prime Minister, do you know how much I can earn by traveling the sea?"

Xie Wenyuan looked at Zhong Qiyun, beckoning him to say.

Zhong Qiyun approached Xie Wenyuan and whispered a number in Xie Wenyuan's ear, and then said: "Is our family considered rich?"

Xie Wenyuan really never thought that Zhong Qiyun's trip to the sea was so much more than what was estimated at the court at the time, but seeing Zhong Qiyun's complacent appearance, although he thought it was amused in his heart, he still turned his face to Zhong Qiyun's. Seriously said: "In Jingzhao City, I heard several times how Boss Zhong planned ahead in Hangzhou and created a business myth that is rarely seen in the business circle. Looking at it now, Boss Zhong is indeed as good at business as rumored. Talent, I really admire Xie."

As soon as the words fell, Zhong Qiyun over there threw him on the soft couch...