Chapter 50: Is This Silver to Be Repaid to Me Alone?-Caça: Começando com a esposa enviada pelo governo, caçando ursos e expulsando tigres(Qiao Zixuan V)

"Unearned rewards bring nothing but trouble!"

Zhou Zheng looked outside with a righteous expression, then continued, "Since young brother Lu wishes to help me, let me also do something in return for young brother Lu!"

Zhou Zheng said with a beaming smile.

"No need, no need..."

Lu Chuan shook his head and said calmly.

"Just one thing!"

"Just a small matter!"

Zhou Zheng added.

Lu Chuan waved his hand. This Zhou Zheng was indeed a shrewd man. Almost instantly, he had brought up the manager of the Cui Family Grain Shop, effectively explaining how he knew Lu Chuan.

This person was not easy to deal with.

After a moment of silent contemplation, Lu Chuan looked at Zhou Zheng before him and said, "Sir, since you are so keen on doing a favor, how about helping me with a small matter?"

"What matter?"

A hint of confusion flashed in Zhou Zheng's eyes, and he looked at Lu Chuan in some surprise.

He certainly hadn't expected Lu Chuan to actually seize the opportunity and climb right up the pole!

This young man!

He's got some tricks up his sleeve!

The two of them exchanged a glance, and then burst out laughing together.

"Very well! No matter what it is, just speak your mind! As long as it doesn't violate my conscience, as long as it doesn't require too much of my physical labor, and as long as it doesn't give me too much worry, I will handle this matter for you!"

Just listen to that!

Lu Chuan couldn't help but click his tongue inwardly.

These officials really knew how to play the game. With those three conditions of his, there was practically very little left that he could actually do!

"Alright!"

Lu Chuan looked at Zhou Zheng in front of him, paused for a moment, and then continued, "I remember that Wangxian Mountain behind Shuangshui Village is the private property of the Prince of Bingzhou. Is that correct?"

"Indeed!"

Zhou Zheng nodded. "That is indeed the case. To be precise, within the entire territory of Bingzhou, eighty percent of the unowned barren mountains are the private property of the Prince of Bingzhou!"

"If ordinary commoners could have that much land to farm freely, I'm afraid Bingzhou would no longer look the way it does today!"

With that, Zhou Zheng shook his head with a trace of regret, his gaze filled with helplessness. "Pardon me, pardon me, my emotions got the better of me for a moment!"

It looked so sincere and heartfelt!

If an outsider were to witness this, they would truly believe that the man before them was a virtuous official fighting for the people!

Lu Chuan curled his lips, momentarily at a loss for words.

After pondering for a moment, he continued, "I want that barren mountain!"

"Furthermore, not just that one—any barren mountains nearby, I'm interested in all of them!"

A faint smile hung on Lu Chuan's lips.

"Oh?"

Zhou Zheng froze for a moment, seemingly unable to believe his own ears. After a pause, he asked, "It seems I have underestimated young brother Lu. How could you possibly have enough money for that?"

"Of course I don't!"

Lu Chuan gave a slight shake of his head.

"But one day, I will be able to afford it."

"Right now, I am merely planning ahead and want to secure this pathway!"

Lu Chuan narrowed his eyes, staring fixedly at Zhou Zheng.

Zhou Zheng tapped his fingers lightly against the table. At this moment, he truly dared not do anything to Lu Chuan because Lu Chuan appeared far too confident and righteous!

He knew that to purchase his coal, Lu Chuan had to shell out at least nine hundred taels of silver. As for those barren mountains, although they were uninhabited lands, buying them without five thousand taels of silver was simply impossible!

To put it bluntly, plots of land like those were the private property of the Prince of Bingzhou. For barren areas devoid of utility or mineral deposits, the Prince of Bingzhou held the authority to dispose of them, and selling them off was entirely normal.

"The Prince of Bingzhou is not short of silver," Zhou Zheng remarked at that moment.

Lu Chuan immediately burst into laughter, as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. "Sir, saying something like that takes the fun out of it!"

"Whether the Prince of Bingzhou lacks silver has very little to do with whether he is willing to sell land!"

"Besides, you are not the Prince of Bingzhou; how do you know he doesn't lack silver?"

A hint of amusement lingered in Lu Chuan's voice.

Zhou Zheng pondered for a moment. "I can probe around and inquire about this matter for you, young brother Lu, but do not hold out too high of hopes. After all, I am merely a sesame-seed-sized official, and I have no say whatsoever before the Prince of Bingzhou!"

"No worries!"

Lu Chuan said cheerfully. "If this matter can be done, great. If not, then forget it!"

At that moment, Zhou Zheng cautiously drew a small piece of shattered silver from his sleeve and slowly placed it before Lu Chuan. After a brief pause, he continued:

"When young brother Lu arrived, the guards outside undoubtedly collected a fee!"

"However, young brother Lu should not take it to heart. Bingzhou is impoverished, and the higher-ups haven't issued salaries in quite some time. Therefore, the guards have no choice but to find other ways to make a living!"

"Please do not take offense, young brother Lu!"

Lu Chuan nodded, picked up the piece of silver, and examined it carefully.

With a curious tone, he asked, "Is this silver being returned to me alone, or will it be refunded to everyone who entered the yamen?"

"..."

Zhou Zheng was left speechless.

With a helpless shake of his head, he replied, "How could it possibly be refunded to everyone? It is simply because young brother Lu and I feel like old friends meeting too late that I am willing to dip into my own pocket to make up for it. If it were anyone else, why would I even care?"

"Fair enough!"

Lu Chuan nodded and tucked the shattered silver into his robe.

Looking around, he said, "By the way, Lord Zhou, there is still one more matter that deeply puzzles me, and I would like to ask about it."

"Go ahead!"

Zhou Zheng nodded, equally curious about what Lu Chuan might ask.

"My household lacks a weaving loom!"

"Originally, I intended to buy one from the Weaving Bureau, but yesterday, I paid a visit there..."

With that, Lu Chuan recounted everything he had encountered step by step.

"The Weaving Bureau clearly has unused weaving looms; why won't they sell them?"

"Oh my!"

Zhou Zheng was stunned for a moment.

Then, he abruptly slapped his own forehead. "There's been a misunderstanding!"

"So it was all a misunderstanding?"

"To think that the person who went to the Weaving Bureau yesterday was none other than young brother Lu!"

Zhou Zheng sighed. "That is a long story!"

With that, Zhou Zheng took a sip of tea.

"After the Prince of Bingzhou took office, he established a new office called the Inspection Bureau!"

"Its duty is to inspect various localities. If any violations are discovered and reported upward, it spells big trouble!"

Zhou Zheng shook his head helplessly. "The Weaving Bureau has always been the most lucrative business! Naturally, it caught the eye of the Prince of Bingzhou!"

"Therefore, we can only keep a low profile during this period!"

"Young brother Lu, please forgive us!"