This Is the Grave Crime of Selling Out Our Country. I Can't Do It
Master Zhu hadn't expected Zhou Wanwan to have considered things so thoroughly. "I remember there are greenhouses like this in the capital, but the cost is too high, isn't it?"
Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said:
"What's so big about that? We won't have to worry about selling the vegetables we grow."
I'm now in the food delivery business, and it's getting better and better, with a lot of orders coming in.
With so many disaster victims and nowhere else to go, it's actually a good thing they've come here to farm for me."
Now, the village is filled with the shadows of many disaster victims.
Lord Fang directly stated that as long as the disaster victims came to Dongshan Prefecture, they could directly change their household registration to Dongshan Prefecture.
However, we still need to investigate carefully, in case there are fugitives among these people.
Lord Fang's words kept more than a dozen county offices busy, with countless disaster victims flooding into Dongshan Prefecture every day.
Cheng Xiao wiped the sweat from her brow and said, "There are just too many disaster victims. I'm exhausted. What do we need so many people for?"
Lord Fang smiled faintly and said:
"Of course, we will make proper arrangements. Zhou Wanwan told me to settle these disaster victims first."
"Our government will arrange for these disaster victims to reclaim wasteland and cultivate the land."
Cheng Xiao looked at Lord Fang and said, "Are you really planning to listen to Zhou Wanwan? I heard that Eunuch Hai is coming soon. Aren't you afraid something will go wrong?"
Eunuch Hai is a confidant of the Imperial Concubine, and now the court is almost entirely controlled by her. So, when Eunuch Hai arrives, they naturally have to treat him well.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a young Lord Fang rushed over and said, "Lord Fang, our Eunuch Hai will be here shortly. Please arrange accommodations for him."
Lord Fang smiled and said, "Understood, I will have the post station make the arrangements."
The young eunuch was somewhat dissatisfied, but he didn't say anything and simply turned and left.
Cheng Xiao said softly, "That Eunuch Hai doesn't seem to have any good intentions. What should we do?"
Lord Fang looked at Cheng Xiao and said, "We'll meet force with force, and deal with water with earth. Let him come, we'll treat him well and observe how things unfold."
Cheng Xiao nodded, Lord Fang looked at him and said, "Go and receive Eunuch Hai! Remember, don't say anything you shouldn't, lest you get yourself into trouble."
Cheng Xiao sighed and walked out.
He entered the post station and had it cleaned. An hour later, he saw more than a dozen carriages approaching the post station in a grand procession.
That's quite a grand and impressive affair.
Eunuch Hai stepped down from the carriage and looked at Cheng Xiao coldly, saying, "So you're here to receive me? Where is Lord Fang?"
Cheng Xiao coughed and said, "Lord Fang is very busy with official duties today and cannot get away."
Eunuch Hai sneered:
"Is it because you're too busy with official duties, or do you look down on this 'generalist'? Does this mean you have a problem with this 'generalist'?"
Cheng Xiao, I have something I want to ask you. Please come in with me.
Sitting in the inn, Eunuch Hai frowned and said, "Making me stay in such a dilapidated place? Does your Dongshan Prefecture not want to live anymore?"
Cheng Xiao said helplessly, "It was all too rushed, please forgive me, Father-in-law."
Eunuch Hai scoffed coldly:
"Eclectic scholars have their own secluded courtyards; they wouldn't even look down on a place like this."
I just wanted to ask you, our business was doing so well before.
Why are you unwilling to cooperate now? Do you have a problem with the "Master" (a term referring to a particular group of people)?
Cheng Xiao quickly replied, "How could I possibly have any complaints about you? It's just that things have been so tense lately, I'm afraid something might go wrong."
Eunuch Hai looked at him and said:
"Cheng Xiao, what are you afraid of? With me protecting you, what problems could there be?"
You're just too preoccupied. This time, the eccentric scholar came to discuss a big deal.
After this is done, I'll promote you to another rank. You're really wasting your talents in this lowly county magistrate position.
How about I let you return to Beijing then?
Cheng Xiao wiped the sweat from her brow and asked, "I wonder what kind of big deal it is?"
Eunuch Hai looked at him and said:
"Anything that has value and can be exchanged for money, I will naturally not let go of."
Cheng Xiao, you're practically one of my people now, so I'll be frank with you.
This time, we'll be selling weapons, warhorses, salt, gunpowder, armor, medicinal herbs, military equipment, refined iron, provisions...
Cheng Xiao was so frightened that she immediately knelt on the ground. "Father-in-law, spare my life! Selling these things is treason! I wouldn't dare!"
Eunuch Hai laughed heartily and looked at him, saying:
Look at you, such a coward, what wouldn't you dare to do?
"These supplies were allocated by the imperial court. I'm the escort officer for this shipment, so don't worry! There won't be any problems."
Cheng Xiao nodded and said, "Yes, I'll do whatever you say. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it."
Eunuch Hai looked at Cheng Xiao and said:
"I heard there's a Black Wind Stronghold around here, they're really arrogant!"
There's a little girl from Black Wind Stronghold, what's her name again? Bring her over tomorrow.
Cheng Xiao looked at Eunuch Hai and said, "What are you trying to do? This little girl is no simpleton."
Eunuch Hai smiled faintly and said, "I'm quite curious, what kind of girl dares to steal my things? I naturally want to see her for myself."
Cheng Xiao nodded and said, "Let me escort you back to your villa!"
Eunuch Hai looked at Cheng Xiao and said:
"No need, you go ahead and do your thing! Bring her over tomorrow morning."
If you handle this matter well, I will send you back to the capital to be a sixth-rank official.
You'd better think this through. Once you return to the capital, with the Imperial Concubine's support, your future will be limitless!
Cheng Xiao looked at him and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch Hai."
Eunuch Hai quickly returned to his villa, Cheng Xiao entered the prefectural government office, repeating Eunuch Hai's words.
Lord Fang looked at him and said, "Cheng Xiao, what do you plan to do?"
Cheng Xiao quickly shook her head and said, "I just didn't know what to do, that's why I came to you. How could I dare to sell those things?"
Lord Fang sighed and said, "This time, you're smart. Let's go see Zhou Wanwan together!"
Zhou Wanwan looked at the two of them and said, "You mean Eunuch Hai wants to see me? What does he want to do?"
Cheng Xiao shook her head and said, "I'm not sure about that. Anyway, he specifically asked to see you at the inn today. Do you want to see him?"
Zhou Wanwan thought for a moment and said, "Let's meet him. I want to see what he's up to!"
Cheng Xiao then recounted what Eunuch Hai had asked her to do, "Eunuch Hai said he wanted me to do some small business, which I was willing to do, but this isn't small business! This is a heinous crime of treason, I can't do it."
In fact, Cheng Xiao is a timid and fearful person, and now he is so scared that his hands and feet are trembling.
Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "My lords, please have some tea to calm your nerves. It's nothing serious."
Cheng Xiao took a sip of tea, looked at her, and said:
"If this isn't a big deal, then what is?"
Wanwan, I know I offended you before, but I don't want to take this kind of job.
If my dad finds out, he might just beat me to death.
Cheng Chao walked in from outside and looked at his father, saying, "Oh! This is a rare guest, Dad, what brings you here?"