insane

When Master Liu came back, he saw Liu Mu studying hard, and said with a smile, "Bastard, I finally know how to improve."

Liu Ye said, "Brother has been busy studying every day recently, so he doesn't have time to play with me."

Master Liu smiled and said, "Your eldest brother knows that it's a good thing to study hard. Tomorrow, Mu'er will go to the pawnshop and learn how to manage business with Manager Zhao."

Shopkeeper Zhao put the guest's pawned things into the cabinet, and Liu Mu said, "Shopkeeper Zhao, why don't this one and the one pawned just now be put in the same cabinet."

Shopkeeper Zhao said, "This man looks like a down-and-out rich man. Most of the things pawned by these prodigal sons are dead. When pawning, I imagined that one day I could redeem things back, but I was used to extravagance since I was a child. I can't live through that poor life at all, and the things in the house can only be pawned less and less, and it may not be possible to redeem a few of them in the end." After speaking, he opened another cabinet, "Did you see that in this cabinet? They are all overdue dead goods, and they will be taken out and cleaned up tomorrow."

Liu Mu smiled and said, "Shopkeeper Zhao is really powerful. You can tell whether this thing is a living or dead just by looking at the appearance of the customer."

Seeing two officials come in suddenly, Liu Mu said, "Master Zhao, do you think this is for life or death?"

Shopkeeper Zhao sighed, "Here comes the accountant again." After speaking, he cupped his hands and went out to greet him, "What's the matter with the two messengers?"

The official said, "The emperor is building a palace in Jinling. As a party of merchants, you naturally have the responsibility to share the emperor's worries. We are here to collect taxes!"

Shopkeeper Zhao said, "How much?"

"Not much, 500 taels!"

Liu Mu said, "500 taels? Are you kidding me! Didn't you just hand in 100 taels last month. Why don't you just grab it!"

Shopkeeper Zhao hurriedly signaled Liu Mu to stop talking, and took out 500 taels of silver notes, "Brother sent, 500 taels of silver notes, a penny is not a lot." After speaking, he stuffed two broken pieces of silver to the two officials, "This is Tea for the two elder brothers."

The official took the money and said with a smile, "Actually, it's not our intention to collect taxes, and it's not an order from the magistrate. Your Liu family is a big family, so naturally you have to pay more." After speaking, he took out a blank paper, "See? , the above are all big merchants in Jinling, and they all pay 500 taels."

Liu Mu stretched out five fingers, looked at it several times, and said to himself, "Damn it, 500 taels, ordinary people probably won't be able to make so much money in their lifetime! It seems that this time the money bag of the prefect Yang It's going to break."

After the official left, Liu Mu said, "I heard that nearly 1000 taels have been collected intermittently in the past few months. I think this is clearly what Yang Zhifu himself meant."

Shopkeeper Zhao nodded and said, "It's indeed Yang Zhifu's own intention. But this is under the banner of building a palace for the emperor. If you don't pay it, it will be disloyal. If they take the opportunity to punish you for being a bully, they will have to kill you." The money is nothing to the master, but those small merchants outside are miserable. Some of them have taken their wives and children to the countryside overnight in order not to be taxed."

Liu Mu said, "With Zhifu Yang's money-greedy nature, can they run away so easily?"

Shopkeeper Zhao said, "Of course not. Those who can be caught will be arrested and put in prison. If there is no money, they will not be released. If they can't pay the money, they will be sent to the construction site to do coolies. No, recently a lot of stalls are set up outside. The street vendors in the city have been captured to do hard labor. Last month they were levied five taels of silver, and they went to collect the tax yesterday. That would have killed them. In order to prevent these people from escaping, the gates of the city are now tightly guarded. It is difficult for the common people to leave the city.”

Liu Mu sighed, "It is said that the magistrate is the parents of the people, but I think the people are the parents of these officials. They are fed with hard-earned money, but in the end they will be trampled under the feet of these dog officials. The emperor is also Yes, just stay in the capital well, what are you doing in Jinling, as long as the emperor is out on tour, the local people will have a hard time!"

Shopkeeper Zhao was so frightened that he hurriedly covered Liu Mu's mouth, "My little ancestor, you should be careful, if this word gets out, you will be killed!"

In the evening, Liu Mu hummed the most common ditty in brothels, and wandered back home, only to see a carriage parked in front of Liu's mansion, refueling, seeing Liu Mu came back, hurriedly greeted him, "Young...Young Master... Come... come..."

Liu Mu nodded and said, "Well, I'm back." I wondered why I was so diligent today, and ran outside to greet me.

Refueling, he shook his head and waved his hands and said, "One..." Then he stretched out a finger, "One..."

Liu Mu thought that he was asking why Mr. Liu didn't come back, so he said, "I came back alone. My father has something to do in the shop. I ordered two drunken eight immortals at Zhangji Restaurant, and I will leave later. I can deliver it. After a while, you can go to the wine cellar and take two jars of 70-year-old Fenjiu back to my other courtyard. It’s not fair to ask to add vinegar. You and I and the young lady have a good drink. Finally, my young master can’t wait. The feet are grounded again, we have to celebrate it! By the way, you can tell the kitchen to make some small dishes."

"no no……"

"Why, I don't have to ground my feet anymore, aren't you happy!"

"No no... no... yes!"

"What's that?" Liu Mu glanced at the carriage at the door again, "Is someone at home?"

When I heard Liu Mu ask this, I hurriedly nodded, "Come... come... one... one..."

"Are you looking for my father to discuss business?" Liu Mu said to himself, "Then why don't you go to the shop."

He refueled and shook his head anxiously, "Young master... Hurry up... Hurry up..." Refueling for a long time, he couldn't say a complete sentence, and stamped his feet anxiously.

Hearing what Tianyou said, Liu Mu thought it was some important guest, anyway, business matters had nothing to do with him, so he didn't take it to heart.

Jiajiu came out from the inside, saw Liu Mu hurried over, and said in a low voice, "Master, you are back, you should go in quickly! A young man came inside, hey, he looks like a little boy. Don't blame me Little talkative, since that guy entered our house, his eyes have never left the young mistress. I am afraid that he has some evil intentions, and I am letting the dubious stare over there, as long as he has something wrong If you act as you should, you will break his leg immediately!"

Liu Mu's heart skipped a beat, and he had already guessed who this person was out of ten.Quickly asked, "What does that person look like? What's his name?"

Adding vinegar while making gestures, he said, "He is fair and clean, taller than you, young master, his eyes are not small, sharp and angular, his lips are red and his teeth are white, and he is quite handsome. I heard young mistress call him Mr. Feng."

As soon as Liu Mu heard the yell, it was not good, so he hurriedly ran inside and cursed, "Grandpa, why did this rotten maggot come here. Why the hell is he going to my house if he doesn't go into the shit pile."

Liu Mu turned around the corridor, stopped, took a few deep breaths, and collected herself again, as if she was afraid that others would see that she was running over.His breathing gradually became even, and then he walked towards the door.

Liu Mu stepped into the door of the living room with one foot, and cupped his hands pretending to be surprised, "I heard that there are guests in the house, who should I think it is, so it's Brother Feng."

Feng Langqu stood up, and with a polite look, he cupped his fists in return, "Brother Liu, long time no see, don't come here to be safe."

"I'm fine, I'm fine! You're doing great! Why did Brother Feng come to Jinling all of a sudden?"

Feng Langqu smiled and said, "This time, thanks to the trust of the emperor, I was sent to Jinling to supervise the construction of the palace."

"Oh..." Liu Mu took a sip of tea, "It seems that Brother Feng is already a person who eats the emperor's food."

Feng Langqu smiled, and pretended to be modest and said, "Brother Liu is too much for the award, but he's just a little boy from the Ministry of Industry."

Liu Mu looked at Erlang's legs and said, "That's right. Those big officials are all enjoying the blessings in the capital, or they are high-ranking officials who dominate one side like the governor. These errands can only be left to Sesame Mung Bean The little official came to do it."

Feng Langqu smiled, "Unexpectedly, brother Liu's speech is still as funny as before."

At this time, Master Liu also returned to the mansion, and said, "I heard that there are guests in the mansion, but I didn't expect it to be Lord Feng. If the mansion is negligent, I hope Lord Feng will not be offended."

Feng Langqu stood up, cupped his fists and bowed respectfully, "Feng Langqu has met Master Liu."

"If you can't do it, you can't do it, Mr. Feng is so generous that it will break the common people."

Feng Langqu laughed and said, "Firstly, Liu Mu and I are classmates. Master Liu is Liu Mu's father, so naturally he is also my elder. Second, I heard that although Master Liu is rich, he is a rare kind person who donates money for free. Repairing houses for the people, and lent money to farmers to buy farm tools without interest. Five years ago, there was a severe drought in Jinling, and Mr. Liu even bought rice from other places at a high price and sold it to the local people at a low price. As for the poor people, even more Don’t take any money and give them the rice. What I, Feng Langqu, respect most is Mr. Liu, a kind and generous businessman like you. Mr. Liu can stand my worship in terms of emotion and reason.”

Mr. Liu smiled and said, "Master Feng is over-rewarded. On the contrary, Mr. Feng became a member of the Ministry of Industry at a young age. This time, he came to Jinling to supervise the construction of the emperor's palace. He is really young and promising."

Liu Mu curled his lips in disdain, no matter how arrogant you are, you were not caught by me back then with cow dung all over your face!

Feng Langqu said, "Thanks to the trust of the emperor, it is naturally the duty of a courtier to share the emperor's worries."

Master Liu smiled and said, "If Mr. Feng doesn't dislike it, why don't you stay in the mansion tonight and have the dinner before leaving."

Feng Langqu said politely, "I don't want to trouble Master Liu. It's the first time I've arrived, and many local officials from Jinling area have arrived, and I've prepared a banquet to welcome my officials. It's getting late, so I'll take my leave first." Feng Langqu She smiled at Yu Wanran again, "Mrs. Liu, Langqu will come to visit you some other day."

Yu Wanran smiled politely, "Master Feng, walk slowly."

Feng Langqu clasped his fists at Liu Mu and said, "Brother Liu, take your leave."

"Farewell, farewell." Liu Mu waved his hand impatiently.

Bu San came over and said, "Master, the Fenjiu you wanted has already been taken back to the other courtyard."

Liu Mu said angrily, "Send it back to the wine cellar, don't drink it."

"What about the two drunken eight immortals that Zhang Ji restaurant just delivered?"

"Feed it to the dog!" After speaking, he left angrily.