Farming and reading family

Xu Boyan thought that Gao had always avoided him, so she must have something to ask him.

But he was too lazy to see Gao for no reason.

Soon the bailiffs brought Gao E and Lian Xin in, and Lian Xin was still holding the two iron ingots.

"My humble servant greets Lord Xu." Gao E bowed.

Xu Boyan glanced at Gao E and asked, "What's the matter?"

Gao E signaled Lianxin to put the iron ingot on the table, which frightened Zhu Mo so much that he took a step forward and looked at Lianxin warily.

Lianxin felt puzzled and put the iron ingot on the table with two clatters.

"What is this for?" Xu Boyan looked at Gao E suspiciously.

"These two iron ingots, one was bought before Lord Xu took office, and the other was bought after Lord Xu took office. Why is there such a big difference?" Gao E questioned.

After hearing what Gao E said, Xu Boyan looked at the two iron ingots carefully and found that there was indeed a big difference.

"Do you mean that the quality of iron ingots has deteriorated since I took office?" Xu Boyan stared at Gao E.

"It's getting better." Gao E said directly, "My third sister-in-law's father is a blacksmith. He even formed a blacksmith guild because of the poor quality of the iron ingots. I want to ask the government for an explanation."

"It's gotten better..." Xu Boyan looked at the two iron ingots. "Why did you come to me?"

"This iron ingot was purchased from the government. The quality of the iron ingot was poor before, but we still charged a normal price. Isn't that a bit too much?" Gao E said confidently.

"Then what do you want to do?" Xu Boyan leaned on the table and looked at Gao E.

"I want a refund." Gao E said directly.

Xu Boyan wondered how this woman could possibly be short of such a small amount of money. "You also said that the quality of the iron ingots deteriorated when He Tangchun was in office. Maybe He Tangchun embezzled it. You can ask him for it."

"The common people recognize the county magistrate." Gao E was a little unreasonable.

"Then you wait a little longer. Maybe the next county magistrate can help you solve this problem." He waved his hand to signal Gao E to leave quickly.

Gao E was dissatisfied, and Zhu Mo stood in front of her to see the guest off. Lian Xin looked at Zhu Mo with some warning.

"Mrs. Chen, please." Zhu Mo was much more polite to Gao E.

"Birds of a feather." Gao E said angrily and left.

Xu Boyan didn't get angry but laughed instead, then looked at the two iron ingots in front of him very seriously.

The imperial court had specific requirements for iron ingots. There was only one reason for the appearance of such poor quality iron ingots: someone had opened a private mine.

However, privately opened mines are used secretly, and it is really a big deal to circulate it through government channels.

"Master." Zhu Mo came back to indicate that he had sent the person away.

"Come find Bai Hao." Xu Boyan ordered.

Zhu Mo turned around to look for Bai Hao, and soon Bai Hao came running over.

"Why are you running outside every day instead of keeping an eye on that living dead?" Xu Boyan looked at Bai Hao.

"My brother-in-law asked the richest man in He County for half of his property. Everyone in He County is betting on whether he will give it to him. The gambling house is open. Do you want to take a chance?" Bai Hao looked excited.

Xu Boyan wanted to put the iron ingot on Bai Hao's head: "You don't do any real work every day."

"I'm just doing my job," Bai Hao said confidently. "I heard that the Duan family offended Lord Yishun and only escaped punishment by giving Yuyang Tower in Tanzhou City to Lord Yishun. Even then, they were forced to leave Tanzhou City and move to Hexian County."

Xu Boyan thought for a moment: "Why did the Duan family offend Yishun Bo?"

"It seems to be because of the daughter of the Duan family." Bai Hao was not sure. "The daughter of the Duan family was only 28 years old. She became a concubine to that old man Yishunbo, and she died."

Bai Hao sighed with emotion: "People are dead, and Yishun Bo is still blaming the Duan family. That's a bit too much."

Xu Boyan frowned and thought for a while, it was indeed a bit too much, was it possible that he had offended Uncle Yishun too much?

Bai Hao then noticed the two iron ingots on the table: "Master, are you using iron ingots as paperweights?"

Xu Boyan looked at Bai Hao speechlessly.

Bai Hao didn't think the joke was funny: "Then why did I put two iron ingots there?"

"Ms. Gao from the Chen family sent it. She said that the quality of the iron ingots was different before and after I came to He County. Go check it out." Xu Boyan ordered.

Bai Hao dragged the two iron ingots in front of him with some difficulty: "Is the difference so big? This one obviously does not meet the court's standards."

"Well, that was leaked from the He County government office before I came here." Xu Boyan nodded.

Bai Hao immediately understood what was going on: "Then what does it mean that Madam Chen brought the iron ingot to me?"

His idea of ​​opening a mine privately was equivalent to Gao E telling his grandfather that someone was opening a mine privately.

"What do you think a country woman like her would have to do with this kind of thing?" Xu Boyan looked at Bai Hao.

He also thought that Gao E did it on purpose.

But it's so obvious that it doesn't seem intentional.

They had investigated Gao E before. Even if Gao E had secretly acquired a lot of properties, they were only in He County.

With her ability, she couldn't imagine the trick in the iron ingot at all, so she could only care about the quality of the iron ingot.

This explanation is reasonable, but Xu Boyan is not very satisfied.

"I'll check it out right away." Bai Hao knew this was a big deal.

When Gao E left He County, she went to see Lu Hao again and asked him to pay attention to the movements in the county government office. Lu Hao agreed reluctantly.

Now, Mr. Xu in the county government office is not as easy to talk to as Mr. He. If he is discovered, he will be in trouble.

It was already dark when Gao E returned to He County. Chen Tao was sitting on the steps holding a small box, waiting for her to come back.

"Why are you outside alone?" Gao E saw Chen Tao as soon as she got out of the car.

"Did Master go to my house?" Chen Tao asked a little embarrassedly.

"No, your father just left, why would I go to your house?" Gao E was puzzled.

Chen Tao handed the box to Gao E and said, "My father sent this for me."

It was dark outside. Gao E took the box and took Chen Tao to the main room.

"Did your father send it to you or to me?" Gao E said as she opened it and was dumbfounded.

Inside were house deeds and land deeds, as well as some people's indentures. On the top was Chen Xiangyue's seal, and a seal was also engraved for Chen Tao.

"It's for me." Chen Tao whispered, "I want to give it to Master for safekeeping."

Gao E thought about the Duan family asking for half of the Chen family's property. It seemed that Chen Xiangyue was determined not to give it. "Do you know what this is?"

"This is our Chen family's property." Chen Tao is not stupid. "Did something happen to my father?"

"Not yet." Gao E was uncertain.

When Chen Tao heard his master say it was just for now, he felt uneasy: "I want to go home tomorrow."

Gao E was a little uncertain. Chen Xiangyue sent these to Chen Tao because he probably didn't want Chen Tao to go home.

"How about this..." Gao E found a compromise, "I'll take you home tomorrow, but if you don't come in, I'll call your father out so you can meet him."

Chen Tao thought about it and nodded: "Okay, then these masters will help me keep them."

Gao E wants Chen Xiangyue to hand over all his property to his son. Isn't she afraid that his son will get into trouble?

There was a table full of delicacies in the Chen family's living room, but the people eating around the table all looked unhappy.

"Chen Xiangyue, isn't it inappropriate for you to keep my sister from coming out?" Duan Shiying asked.