Starting from a thatched cottage, the farmer embarked on the road to wealth through imperial examina

Ye Changyan and Zhong Yunfeng talked for a long time about the future arrangements of Yunfeng Building.

When I came out of the accounting office in the backyard, I heard a lot of noise on the street outside.

The peak dining time has passed. Although there are still several tables of guests in Yunfeng Building, this is a rare moment of leisure for the waiters in the day.

Seeing the shopkeeper Quan Youfang and two waiters watching the fun at the door, Ye Changyan asked the shopkeeper Quan Youfang with a smile.

"Uncle Quan, why is it so noisy outside?"

Although Quan Youfang has not joined Yunfeng Tower for a long time, Zhong Yunfeng is quite satisfied with him. He has Zhong Yunfeng's trust in both work ability and interpersonal skills.

The cooks and waiters in the building all obeyed Quan Youfang's arrangements, and Quan Youfang quickly established prestige in the minds of these people.

Last month, the father of a worker accidentally broke his leg. Quan Youfang took the initiative to advance the worker two months' salary, gave him a consolation payment, and granted him three days of leave to go home and take care of his father. The worker was very touched and worked even harder after returning.

A few days ago, the wife of a kitchen worker named Dunzi was about to give birth, so Quan Youfang took the initiative to give this Dunzi five days off and also gave him a red envelope to congratulate him in advance on the birth of his baby. Yesterday, Dunzi came back to work with a happy face. There was a big fat boy in his family, and he also invited Quan Youfang and the waiters and cooks to his house to celebrate the baby's full moon.

When Ye Changyan heard Zhong Yunfeng mention this, he was very satisfied with Quanyoufang's work in caring for its employees.

"Master Ye, someone outside said that he bought a fake ox and is clamoring to take the ox dealer to the police."

Quan Youfang said to Ye Changyan with a smile.

“Is there a fake ox?”

After hearing Quan Youfang say this, Ye Changyan became a little curious, so he simply said goodbye to Zhong Yunfeng, Quan Youfang and the others, and went out to watch the fun.

After leaving Yunfeng Tower and walking towards the county government office for a while, I saw a crowd of onlookers heading towards the county government office.

Ye Changyan got into the crowd and saw someone in front of him leading two cows, and a few young and strong men escorting two people, cursing as they walked towards the county government office.

However, the two cows that were being led surprised Ye Changyan a little, as they were actually two spotted cows.

This is a bit strange. Isn't this spotted cow a dairy cow? How could someone in Yuzhou sell dairy cows?

Out of curiosity, Ye Changyan followed the crowd towards the county government office.

Soon, the crowd arrived at the county government office.

County Magistrate Wu also rushed to the scene quickly. You know, cows and horses are important livestock. It would be unacceptable if someone reported to the authorities that they had encountered someone selling fake cows.

Magistrate Wu did not formally go to the court to interrogate the case, but went directly to the courtyard of the county government office.

There was a commotion in the yard of the county government office. Two old men were leading a cow each, and several strong young men were forcing two ragged men to kneel on the ground.

"Who reported it to the police?"

When everyone saw Magistrate Wu coming, they all stepped aside, and then a young and strong man stood up.

"Your Excellency the County Magistrate, we are the ones who reported this to the police."

The young man knelt in front of Magistrate Wu and reported.

"Why did you report it to the police? Tell the truth."

The officer brought a chair, and Magistrate Wu sat down and asked questions to the young man.

"Your Excellency the County Magistrate, we are Tu Ergou, a villager from Xiawa Village, Hedu Town. A few days ago, these two cattle dealers came to Hedu Town to sell cattle."

As he spoke, Tu Ergou pointed at the two ragged men who were being forced to kneel on the ground, and continued.

"I thought that during the slack season, I would turn over the few acres of land that I have been rotating to grow crops. After the spring comes, it will be easier to cultivate. So I bought a cow from these two people for 15 taels. I thought that after I finish plowing my own land, I can help others plow their land. This way, I can earn some money and make back the money I spent on the cow."

When everyone heard this, they all nodded. What Tu Ergou said was true. Buying a cow to plow the soil was easy and fast, and after plowing his own land, he could make money. He was a young man with ideas. However, people who knew a little about the business thought that the price of the cow was quite cheap.

"But I took the cow home and fed it well for two days. Yesterday, when I took the cow to the field, I found that it didn't know how to plow the land. I was worried, so I ran to the town to find the two cattle dealers, but I didn't find them. Instead, I met Song Dazhu, a villager from another village who was also deceived."

As he spoke, Song Dazhui, another young man who was escorting the two cattle dealers, also stood up, knelt down beside Tu Ergou, and said with a look of resentment on his face.

"My Lord, County Magistrate, it was these two black-hearted cattle dealers who sold me a fake ox. This ox not only eats a lot, but also can't work at all. My Lord, please help me!"

After listening to the statements of the two young men, County Magistrate Wu had a rough idea in his mind, and he spoke to the young and strong men who were escorting the two cattle dealers.

"Let these two cattle dealers go first. I have something to ask you."

A few young men released the two cattle dealers and removed the cloth balls stuffed in their mouths. Then they heard the two cattle dealers kneeling before Magistrate Wu and crying out that they were innocent.

"My Lord, I am wronged. I didn't know this cow couldn't plow the land!"

"As far as I know, the market price of an adult ox is around 20 taels. Even an older ox can't be bought for 15 taels. Can you two tell me where you got this ox from and why you sold it for much less than the market price?"

Ye Changyan was in the crowd and heard County Magistrate Wu ask the key question. He also wanted to know where these spotted cattle came from in this prosperous agricultural civilization.

"Your Excellency, we two were originally from the same small caravan, usually selling tea, cloth, medicinal herbs and other things around Yuzhou Prefecture and Yizhou Prefecture to Qiang and Hu lands to earn some hard-earned money."

Ye Changyan looked through the brief map of Dasheng. To the west of Yuzhou Prefecture is Yizhou Prefecture. Yuzhou Prefecture and Yizhou Prefecture are the two most prosperous cities in the west of Dasheng. A few hundred miles west of Yizhou Prefecture, you will gradually enter the land of Qiang and Hu, where many nomadic and semi-nomadic ethnic groups and tribes live. The land of Qiang and Hu is a general term for these many ethnic groups and tribes.

"When our caravan entered the land of Qiang and Hu, we came to a tribe called Mailma. This is a small tribe. They really need the goods we brought, but they don't have enough gold, silver and gems to pay for our goods. We are unwilling to trade with them."

As he spoke, the vendor began to cry sadly, and then another vendor continued.

"We found that some people in this tribe seemed to have a disease with a high fever. Soon our caravan members also developed fever. Although we brought medicine, more than half of our caravan members died."