Yi Xin as a concubine

Xin Baoer and Wei Yu, two half-baked people, took great pains to finally put together a set of clothes suitable for going out to meet guests. When they walked out the door, half an hour had passed since Manager Qian arrived.

Shopkeeper Qian was so anxious that he was running around in circles. Even in the middle of winter, sweat was visible on his forehead. He finally waited for his master to leave the house, but before he could say anything, he was interrupted by someone.

"Hey, Baoer, I was just about to call you, let's eat." Zhao Xian came over with a lunch box and laid out the food one by one while speaking.

When Manager Qian saw this scene, he swallowed the urging that was about to come to his lips. Eating is the most important thing in the world. His young master has been in poor health since he was a child, and they, his subordinates, have all been punished. No matter where the young master goes, three meals a day must be taken at regular times and in regular quantities. He cannot let him starve to death, otherwise he will become the target of public criticism in the organization.

"Master, please have your meal first." Shopkeeper Qian said cheerfully, but there was a hint of reluctance on the corners of his mouth.

"Boss, have you used it? Why don't we eat something together?" Xin Baoer pretended not to know his anxiety and asked kindly.

"No... no need, I'm not hungry." Shopkeeper Qian forced a smile and prayed in his heart that the person in the main hall would not get impatient waiting for him!

Seeing that the other party was still calm, Xin Baoer smiled and nodded. She turned around and went to the main room to eat.

The breakfast was eaten quickly. After about a quarter of an hour, Xin Baoer put down her chopsticks, rinsed her mouth, and walked to Manager Qian, who was sitting on the steps with his head hung down.

"Come on, take me over to meet the guest."

This voice sounded like heavenly music to the anxious shopkeeper Qian, who immediately became alert. "Okay, I will lead the way for you, my master."

In the front yard, in the main hall used for receiving guests, a little old man with a hunchback was measuring the length and width of the hall in circles with his small feet.

Xin Baoer, led by Shopkeeper Qian, arrived late and made eye contact with the old man as soon as she arrived.

The old man saw a little girl with a veil standing outside the door. He paused and was about to frown and question her about how they treated guests, but then he saw Shopkeeper Qian following the little girl half a step away.

The questioning expression turned docile in an instant, his old face wrinkled into a bun with many wrinkles from smiling, and his expression was unconsciously flattering.

"Boss Qian, you're asking me to wait!"

"Lord Feng, you are really embarrassing me. Come, come, let me introduce you. This is my master. You have to talk to him about what you want." Shopkeeper Qian was also surprised by the old man's attitude, but he still spoke humbly and politely.

After hearing Manager Qian's introduction, Lord Feng turned his gaze back to Xin Baoer.

He came running over after listening to the report from Chang Zhushi. In Seabuckthorn, a high official position is not as important as abundant grain. Especially for him, who is in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, every year when the various places ask for money and grain, he would wish he could dig a hole and hide himself. Whoever has the ability should find a way to go.

He also heard from Master Chang that Boss Qian's master was a little girl, and judging by how respectful Boss Qian was, she didn't seem to be a show-off, but he just didn't take it seriously.

A little girl in her teens, isn't she almost the same as his little granddaughter? His little granddaughter has never done anything serious except running around and causing trouble all day long. He, a child of a second-rank Yuan family, is like this, so how can a nameless little girl be so powerful?

But in just one night, reality overturned his cognition, making his collapsed back bend even more.

Because in his opinion, the unknown little girl who couldn't even compare to his little granddaughter, didn't even look at him after she came in, and only said something that made him so angry that he almost fell over.

"I have food, but you...are not qualified to talk to me."

He is a second-rank official, and she is just an unknown businessman. Among the four classes of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, merchants are the lowest. Where does she get the courage from? Isn't she afraid that my king will be angry and kill her and her people?

But in fact, he nodded and said, "Boss Xin, we can discuss it. Although it is a donation of grain, my king has also promised that there will be corresponding compensation. If you have any requirements, you can tell me first. If I can't make the decision, I will naturally apply to my king."

"Instead of wasting time talking to me here, why don't you find someone who can make the decision to talk to me." Xin Baoer smiled calmly, the corners of her mouth slightly raised under the veil, her exposed eyebrows and eyes were full of smiles. She seemed friendly, but in fact she kept people at a distance.

Minister Feng was somewhat discouraged, and also felt angry after being offended and looked down upon, so he tried to ask Shopkeeper Qian to smooth things over. However, Shopkeeper Qian turned his head around, looked up and down but not at him. He snorted twice, flicked his sleeves, and turned away.

As soon as he left, Manager Qian quickly signaled to the old servant outside the door to follow him and say, "See the guests off, see the guests off. The ones who came in are the guests."

"Master, wouldn't it be bad if we don't give him face?" Shopkeeper Qian asked worriedly.

Hearing Manager Qian's question, the other people inside and outside the door couldn't help but prick up their ears. In fact, they were also quite surprised. Xin Baoer was not a very strong person. She always believed in making money through harmony. She tried to be thorough in everything so that no one could find any loopholes. Whoever she cooperated with would feel comfortable.

This time he was so strong, which was really beyond their expectations, and they were also very curious.

"If I don't do this, I won't be able to see the person I want to see!" Xin Baoer said with a wry smile. She was unsure too!

When it comes to gambling, you have to raise the stakes high, so that people can’t guess or figure it out, only then will there be a chance for the fish to take the bait.

After Minister Feng left, there was no news for three days, but Xin Baoer was not in a hurry. She slept until she woke up naturally every day, and then went out with a few friends to go shopping and eat. She lived a leisurely and comfortable life. The guards who were ordered to monitor Xin Baoer and others followed them every day.

While others were having fun and eating heartily, they were starving, cold and shivering.

On the third night, after Xin Baoer and the others had gone to bed, the guards went back to report as usual. After hearing the unchanging news, Minister Feng sighed and said, "No need to follow me, go down and rest!"

Minister Feng sat on the chair with a frown on his face. He really couldn't understand. Since they wanted to talk, they must have something to ask for. But after several days, he couldn't see any clues.

He just eats and drinks every day, acting like he's here for fun. I don't know if he's really heartless or just too cunning.

"You'd better report it. Alas, I'm old! I can't even guess what a little kid is thinking!"

With such a sigh, Minister Feng fell into a deep sleep. He hadn't slept well for several days.

The next day was a grand court meeting. Minister Feng entered the palace early and waited outside the door with a group of officials, thinking about how to report so as not to appear incompetent.

He had already thought about abdicating and letting others take over his position, but although he had not made any great achievements in all these years as an official, he had never made any mistakes either. He had to do this last thing well, otherwise his integrity would be ruined in his later years.

The door opened, and a group of officials entered the hall one after another. After performing the ceremony of three kowtows and nine bows, the court meeting officially began. After a heated debate between the civil and military officials, they finally directed their criticism at him, the money and grain manager.

"Minister Feng, half a month has passed. Has there been any progress on the issue of food and fodder?" The king's majestic gaze passed through the high steps and went straight to Minister Feng.

Minister Feng wiped the nonexistent sweat silently, walked out of the queue tremblingly, knelt down and apologized: "I am incompetent, I only raised less than one-third of the total."

After hearing what he said, there was another sigh in the hall. Although the court officials were dissatisfied with the result, they did not continue to make things difficult for Shangshu Feng. After all, they all knew the national conditions.

Sure enough, the king's somewhat desolate voice sounded from the top: "Get up, this can't be entirely blamed on you. I'm sorry to trouble you."

Minister Feng did not stand up and return to his seat this time. He just bowed his head again, then stood up straight, looked at the totem on the steps and said, "It's not that I haven't made any progress. There is a merchant from the Central Plains who has grain, but she thinks that I am of low status and power, so I am not qualified to negotiate with her."

When Minister Feng said this, he seemed to feel a little aggrieved for no apparent reason, which made everyone in the hall dumbfounded.

The second grade is not enough. Foreign businessmen are so confident. They really don’t take their Seabuckthorn Country seriously!