noveltune Chapter 16, Going with the Flow
Chapter 16, Going with the Flow
"Didn't my uncle say he'd use this to get me a minor official position? Now that he's given it to them, what am I supposed to do? Where's my position?!"
The Imperial City Guards were rendered speechless by Lin Zhou's question, while the eavesdropper next to him almost couldn't suppress his smirk. As someone within the Song Dynasty's system, he knew all too well that if Xu Ping were outside, with his fourth-rank status, he might actually be able to get a minor substitute official position for him.
But where is this? This is Lin'an, the capital of the Song Dynasty. If you went out at Chenshi (7-9 AM), a brick thrown there could kill eight fourth-rank officials. He, a mere fourth-rank official from a military background, a brute who almost died alongside Yue Fei, is really nothing in this place. If it weren't for his meritorious service in protecting the emperor during the southward relocation, he probably wouldn't even have a powerful government office to hold.
"Since the Emperor has spoken, you may hand it over."
Sihou's subordinates said nothing more, got up and left, their posture clearly indicating that they had given up on Lin Zhou. The bystanders followed him out, and with a turn of their bodies, they entered a room.
After recounting what he had just witnessed, the middle-aged man who had his food withheld yesterday laughed heartily: "Seeing that the tide has turned, he's no longer going to indulge this young master. Let's go, it's my turn."
He slowly approached Lin Zhou, lifted his robe, and sat down: "Young Master Lin, I heard that the Emperor has spoken. You're not still hoping your uncle will stand up for you, are you? Cooperate well, and my master won't treat you unfairly. But if it's... a crime of deceiving the Emperor, even your uncle might have to distance himself from you."
Lin Zhou sat there, his imposing manner clearly not as strong as yesterday. He leaned forward and asked in a low voice, "Could...could you get me an official position?"
"Hahahaha..." The middle-aged man's eyes widened: "If you had acted like this yesterday, my master might have allowed me to get one for you, but today you have no choice. If you are still stubborn tomorrow, then it's not me who will talk to you."
The escalating emotions gradually built up pressure on Lin Zhou, causing his gaze to become somewhat unfocused as he sat there.
Finally, he gave up resisting, leaned back, and sighed, "You won't discard me after I've served my purpose, will you?"
"Don't worry, young man. The Emperor is already aware of this matter. He understands the principle of 'spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones'—that you have presented a treasure to the Emperor."
Hearing this, Lin Zhou shook his head and smiled wryly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "The item is in my shop, in the bag on the left as you enter."
The man raised his hand, and the person next to him walked out. While he was getting something, he said to Lin Zhou, "Young man, why bother following a military officer? You'll never amount to anything. I see you have many rare items. Why don't you cooperate with me?"
Lin Zhou pursed his lips and remained silent, while the other guy didn't say much either, just smiled and leaned back quietly, observing the changes in Lin Zhou's expression.
Dealing with these people is really too difficult. If it were the old Lin Zhou, he might have agreed immediately, but Si Hou had told him before that he absolutely could not agree so readily at this time. These people only believe what they see with their own eyes, and if he agreed immediately, it would arouse their suspicion.
Therefore, Lin Zhou now needs to maintain this wavering stance to dispel their doubts.
Soon, the seeds and the epidemic prevention manual were brought over. Just as Si Hou had predicted, this person did not even ask Lin Zhou, but instead found a Sinong (a high-ranking official) from the Ministry of Revenue to identify the grain seeds.
The farmer carefully examined the rice seeds in his pocket, then put a few into his mouth, and Lin Zhou watched as his eyes lit up.
"The best rice seeds are golden in color, clean and free of blemishes, with a fragrance that is clear and far-reaching. The embryos are plump, bright in color and glossy, and feel as fresh as new. Their moisture content is moderate, no more than 13% for indica rice and no more than 14% for japonica rice. They make a crisp sound when bitten, and the cross-section is smooth and free of coarseness. High purity varieties have a purity of no less than 98% for common varieties and no less than 96% for hybrid varieties, with a cleanliness level of no less than 98%, and few impurities. They are free of disease spots and blemishes; rice blast will show blackish-brown spots, indicating disease. Excellent!" The Minister of Agriculture slapped his thigh: "An absolutely superb seed! If over 80% germinate, that would be a truly auspicious sign!"
"Li Sinong, is it true?"
"I've been growing rice for sixty-two years. If you don't believe me, let someone else try. Humph."
The old man was stubborn; he grabbed a handful of rice seeds and stormed off. The middle-aged man shrugged, seemingly helpless with him, and smiled at Lin Zhou, saying, "Oh dear, this old man, there's just no way to deal with him."
He continued, "It seems the young master is indeed a capable person."
The way he addressed him had subtly changed; he was now calling him "Young Master," and his eyes also showed a shift. Although Lin Zhou didn't know the exact status of the Grand Minister of Agriculture, judging from this man's demeanor, the Grand Minister of Agriculture was probably of quite high rank.
"This..." He then pulled out the epidemic prevention manual again: "Why is it about epidemic prevention? There's no treatment? Where are your medications?"
"Making medicine costs money... that medicine is very expensive!" Lin Zhou looked up and chuckled, "Brother, if you're willing to pay, I can make some for you."
"Can you match it?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhou thought to himself: Yes! They've taken the bait!
But he managed his expression well, raising an eyebrow and a smile: "Which of us overseas refugees doesn't have some special skills? Take Borneo and Luzon, where I went, for example. The climate there is hot and humid, things spoil easily, and there are many mosquitoes. There are no four seasons, only two seasons, dry and rainy. Every year, countless people die from diarrhea. To survive, you naturally have to know some tricks."
His words reached the other party's ears, and the information immediately began to be gathered. At this time, there were people in Lin'an City who came from the places he mentioned, and they said the same thing. Moreover, the things he brought, especially the soup noodles, were said by those who had eaten them to be very flavorful and full of spices, and they were not the spices from Persia.
The world's spice-producing regions are Persia in the west, and Luzon and Borneo in the south, and now it seems they all come together.
"Hmm, it seems the young master is indeed very knowledgeable. Since this medicine is so expensive, perhaps..."
"Sigh! Forget it. Even if you kill me, I can't tell anyone. This is my livelihood; do you think you'd tell anyone? If you do that, you're forcing me into a fight to the death. Do you think my uncle will let you off then?"
Let him go? Someone else might be intimidated, but for him, a mere Sihou couldn't really do anything to him. However, what he was planning now wasn't to swallow the other person's secret formula, but to get the complete smuggling route from him, and even the suppliers behind him.
"Ah, if that's the case, then I won't ask any further. I don't understand this method of epidemic prevention either, but if it proves to be effective, His Majesty will certainly reward me handsomely."
He stood up and cupped his hands towards Lin Zhou, saying, "As for the matter of alchemy, I would appreciate it if you would put in some effort, young master. Don't say I didn't remind you, young master, that this is a windfall."
"Oh, right." He took out a card, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Lin Zhou. "If you need anything, you can come to Changping Trading Company to find me. My surname is Cao, my given name is Wei, and my courtesy name is Wenda. You can call me Brother Wenda."
"Oh my, there's even a business card..." Lin Zhou picked up the Song Dynasty business card and looked at it, finding it amusing: "I don't recognize this character either, so I'll just call you Brother Wenda. Brother Wenda, I apologize for yesterday."
"Haha, that's only human nature."
After Lin Zhou stood up, he leaned towards Cao Wenda: "Hey, my reward..."
"Haha, young master, don't panic, it will happen. Please..."
After being ushered out of the salt tax office, Lin Zhou stood by the roadside with his hands on his hips, looking back and forth. Finding that Cheng'er hadn't appeared, he spat on the ground: "Use and throw away, bah!"
Even his spitting was meticulously reported to Cao Wenda.
"That's not surprising. I know how indignant Xu Ping is." Cao Wenda laughed. "Interesting, interesting. He even replaced his guards. Everyone says Xu Ping is an old fox, but I think he's nothing special. He's just a brute. Go and prepare a shop for this silly young master."
"Eh? Master, doesn't he own a shop?"
"Just go when I tell you to. Since when did it become your place to ask so many questions? You ill-mannered brat."
"Yes……"
Just as Old Cao had predicted, when Lin Zhou returned to the shop, he found that it had been sealed off by the Imperial City Guard. The reason given was that Lin Zhou had forced a sale and was a local bully...
"Hey! You son of a bitch!"
Lin Zhou pointed at the shop and asked the person next to him, "What's going on here? Sigh!"
Those drivers who were all respectfully calling him "Young Master" just two days ago are now ignoring him and acting like they don't care anymore.
"Where's Cheng'er?"
"Commander Zhao is too busy with official duties to attend to this matter."
"Awesome, awesome, awesome." Lin Zhou stood in front of his shop with his hands on his hips, looking completely bewildered and helpless.
Everything else was probably planned out, but this letter from the shop was something he truly hadn't expected...
His expression and actions at that moment were completely genuine, and the way he pointed at the Imperial City Guard and launched into a tirade was also real.
And all of this truth reached Cao Wenda's ears.
"Hahahaha... Just as I expected, the Imperial City Guard is indeed the Imperial City Guard, it truly did not disappoint me." Cao Wenda shook his head and said to his attendant, "Let's go, follow me to greet our distinguished guests."