No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 98 Discussion in the Car with Junior Sister Qipin (Joint Chapter)

"The Liu family has a problem."

After walking out of Yuanming Tower, Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang stood on the steps in the evening wind and waited for a while. The two vermilion lanterns above their heads shone red.

Liu Ashan drove a carriage out from the side alley and stopped in front of them. Ouyang Rong stepped forward first. Before boarding the carriage, he turned his head and said this to Xie Lingjiang suddenly.

This is a declarative tone.

Xie Lingjiang's eyes were curious. She entered the dark carriage and waited for Liu Ahsan to drive the carriage to start slowly.

"what is the problem?"

Ouyang Rong didn't open his eyes, and said:

"The Liu family knelt too quickly and decisively tonight. Although the words were still annoying, they were obedient to me in the inside, just like saying that they don't want their bodies but they are very honest... It's no different from kneeling to beg for food. Now, it's not like their usual style."

What kind of strange metaphor is this?Xie Lingjiang was a little speechless:
"Is there a problem with agreeing too quickly? Isn't it because the senior brother is too domineering and they are forced to submit to the senior brother.

"The Liu family has been oppressed and squeezed out by the senior brother for so long, and it is not impossible for the knees to be a little weaker. As long as this kind of local tyrant and evil gentry are not pushed, they will still be given a way to survive. They will naturally follow the wind and be weak and flattering. This is what the senior brother said before. .”

"Then what if there is no way out and you are in a hurry?"

"What do you mean?"

Ouyang Rong opened his eyes and said:

"I just made the decision in the morning to divide the broken wing canal into two phases. Immediately after the discussion in the morning, an inside ghost ran to report the letter. In the afternoon, Liu Zian came to apologize. In the evening, Liu Ziwen cleared up his suspicions and sincerity. Full ran over to shake hands and make peace.

"Is this still the Liu family that used Di Gongzha and disaster relief food to boil my house? The speed of surrender and peace negotiation is a bit dizzying. If someone is in a hurry, what is it?
"If you insist on saying that the Liu family was tamed by me, senior brother, it's not unreasonable, but the contrast is still too fast. Before today, the Liu family was still as stable as an old dog. It is more likely that some changes happened that caught them off guard and messed up their positions. .”

Ouyang Rong turned his head and analyzed.

Seeing that the younger junior sister was dumb for a moment, he said calmly:

"I guess, there is a high probability that the decision to build the Zhanyi Canal in stages made them anxious. To be more specific, it was decided that the first phase of the Zhaiyi Canal would be completed within two months. This may have touched the Liu family's pain point. .”

Xie Lingjiang thought thoughtfully: "Brother, did you judge based on the postponement conditions proposed by Liu Ziwen to Zhe Yiqu at the meeting just now?"

Ouyang Rong nodded, and he waved his hand:
"Don't listen to Liu Ziwen's nonsense. I'm almost sleepy. I don't care if what he said makes sense or is logical. I only see how his last request affects our current Zhanyi Canal plan. What impact, this 'influence' is most likely what the Liu family wants to achieve, and I treat everything else as smoke bombs!"

Xie Lingjiang was a little stunned, and couldn't help leaning forward with his upper body, and asked:

"The Broken Wing Canal, which can be divided into installments, what's wrong with them?"

Ouyang Rong was silent for a while, then slowly shook his head:
"I don't know, but it may be the core interests of the Liu family. A powerful family like the Liu family can only bow their heads if they involve huge interests."

He seemed to think of something, and said doubtfully:
"After the first phase of Zhayi Canal is completed, it may divert the current main channel of Butterfly Creek. The Liu family's largest industry is the sword stove on the west bank of Butterfly Creek. Is it possible that it will be diverted as the superstitious people in the county said? Will the Butterfly Creek affect the Gu Yue Sword Shop's casting of swords?"

Ouyang Rong couldn't help thinking of the doubts that were raised after the public announcement of the new construction on the street in front of the county government that day.

He pondered for a while, then shook his head:

"That's not right. The Zheyi Canal is always going to be opened. The diversion of the Butterfly Creek's water is decided. This is a conspiracy. The Zheyi Canal is now in the interests of most people in Longcheng County. It has become a trend. The Liu family can't stop it. And don't they also invest [-] yuan in it now, why, add fuel to the fire?

"Or, I just don't want Zhanyi Canal to be opened in a short time? But what's the use, racing against time to forge a few more swords? No, it doesn't look like the core interests of the Liu family. Then what exactly are they trying to achieve? "

The young county magistrate looked puzzled.

Xie Lingjiang pondered, and said suddenly:
"Could it be that the brother is worried that once the first phase of the Broken Wing Canal is completed, he won't worry about flooding in a short time?
"And the Liu family had heard some definite news before, and bet that the senior brother would be worried about the short-term flood, and would go to the door to beg them for the only life-saving straw, Di Gongzha, so that they could handle the senior brother."

Xie Lingjiang said more and more smoothly, and felt that this direction was very possible:
"But now this road may not be able to pass through Zheyiqu's installment plan, so Liu Ziwen is in a hurry today, and hurried over to stop the senior brother in a different way!"

Ouyang Rong asked: "But when they come here tonight, they not only have to invest [-] guan in the county government, but also contract the construction of the Digong Gate. Is it just to prevent me from controlling the water? If the first phase is even quicker, isn’t it putting the cart before the horse?”

"Brother, think about it, if you really fulfill Liu's request tonight and suspend the phased construction of the Zheyi Canal, will the Digong Gate soon be the only water conservancy construction in Longcheng County in the short term? By then, Couldn't Mrs. Liu use it to manipulate you at will?
"So Di Gongzha is not at all a compromised benefit to the senior brother, but a bait, if you eat it, you will be hooked!"

Ouyang Rong smiled bitterly and said:

"This direction does make sense, but there is still a flaw. Is it that for the Liu family, it is their core interest to control me? Can they not hesitate to consume so many resources for this? Can they still swallow their anger and keep their heads down?"

He laughed and said:

"If that's the case, it's like abandoning the car and changing the cannon when playing chess. It's a bit stupid. Besides, I didn't agree to Liu Ziwen's request. The Zhanyi Canal will still be built in stages, and the Digong Gate will be repaired immediately. It can't threaten me. Isn't Liu Ziwen at the mercy of grandma's family now?"

Xie Lingjiang was speechless for a moment, and felt that what the senior brother said made sense.

She couldn't help sighing: "What the hell is Liu Ziwen going to do? Could it be that he really gave in and chose to cooperate honestly...but the brother thinks there is something wrong with him..."

Ouyang Rong turned his head and asked, "Am I a bit of a bully tonight?"

As soon as this was mentioned, Xie Lingjiang had a smile in his eyes, and said crisply: "It's a bit scorching, but senior brother is very domineering...

"What?"

"Very manly."

She uttered the next few words a little slowly, her eyes fixed on someone.

It's a pity that Ouyang Rong is not thinking about this right now, so he immediately explained:

"I did it on purpose. I put the airs higher on purpose, but I didn't expect Liu Ziwen to be so tolerant. I couldn't help going too far, but he still agreed to any conditions... The more he behaved, the more suspicious I became. Humans are so pushy."

Ouyang Rong sighed, wondering if he was suspicious.

Xie Ling Jiang Renjun couldn't help but said, "If Liu Ziwen heard this, brother, he might be so angry."

Ouyang Rong shook his head, frowned and said:

"I don't care if he's angry or not. No matter how weak he is, I won't underestimate him, and I just want to find out what kind of medicine he sells in the gourd, and what are the interests of the Liu family touched by this broken wing... "

The light from the street outside penetrated through the cracks in the curtains of the carriage, and there were light and dark shadows in the carriage. Xie Lingjiang stared at the side face of the brother who was concentrating on meditation with clear eyes.

She gently reminded:
"No matter what it is, senior brother, be careful from now on. Senior brother rejected Liu Ziwen's proposal, Zheyiqu continued to install installments, and even earned a digong gate from the Liu family for nothing, in case they really have something unknown Little thought, that might have offended them by now."

After a pause, Xie Lingjiang said seriously: "From now on, every time you go out, I will follow you, don't leave me and run around."

"The Liu family dare not be charged with hurting the court officials."

"But it's hard to guard against an arrow in the back."

"Yes, okay."

Ouyang Rong regained his senses and glanced at the junior sister, without thinking too much, he nodded slightly in agreement, and he immediately changed the subject:
"Junior Sister just said something that makes sense."

"What?"

"Di Gongzha may not be a compromise to me."

"What do you think, brother?"

"Junior sister, do you still remember that old Cuitou?" Ouyang Rong suddenly mentioned.

"Of course I remember." Xie Lingjiang wondered.

"Then do you remember what he said before the burning of the account? This is what you mentioned to me last time."

"Remember." Xie Lingjiang's face became serious:

"Old Cui sighed after reading the accounts of the Liu family. He said... no wonder there is flood every year, but he gets rich every year. He is like a prophet... Wait, brother means..."

Ouyang Rong nodded:
"I went to check the archives of the county government carefully. Since Master Di, who was demoted to Longcheng, built the Digong gate for the first time, the Digong gate has collapsed almost every four years. When Ling took office and handed over, the timing was almost the same.

"In order to draw the sand table of Butterfly Creek, I visited the upper reaches of the Digong Gate and asked some refugees about the Digong Gate. Most of them said that there is a dragon king in this water, which passes by once every four years, but was blocked by the Digong Gate. out of the way, so it collapsed."

"Brother, do you believe in this superstition?"

"I naturally don't believe it. I am more inclined to man-made disasters than natural disasters."

Xie Lingjiang recalled Ouyang Rong's difficult questioning at the dinner just now, and couldn't help saying: "Brother, you mean...in fact, the Liu family did something to Di Gongzha?"

"It's possible, but not necessarily."

Xie Lingjiang's tone was inconceivable: "They are really crazy. If they dare to destroy the court's water conservancy construction, if they are caught, it will be a capital crime of beheading. Even the prime minister of the court can't keep them."

Ouyang Rong nodded: "There is no evidence, so if you don't get discovered, you'll be fine?"

"That will also invite God's punishment!"

Ouyang Rong turned his head and asked, "Do you still remember the last condition that Liu Ziwen put forward just now?"

"He wants the senior brother to hold a grand ribbon-cutting meeting, not only to invite the powerful gentry from Longcheng, but also to invite the senior officials from Jiangzhou City... Combined with what the senior brother deduced just now, this condition sounds a bit wrong now .”

Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but raised his head and asked, "Did senior brother see something and want to reject it?"

Ouyang Rong didn't answer, he was quiet for a while, narrowed his eyes and said:

"It doesn't matter if you let him repair the Digong Gate. The ribbon-cutting meeting is also the same. If you want to hold it... then let's do it. Junior sister, you also said that daring to destroy the court's water conservancy construction is a capital crime of beheading. Ten Liu families are not enough to pay for it."

If Ouyang Rong pointed out something, Xie Lingjiang deeply believed it.

There was a moment of silence in the carriage.

After talking about these twists and turns, Xie Lingjiang couldn't help heaving a sigh of relief. She opened the curtains of the carriage, as if wanting to let in the wind, but suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure outside, the noble daughter of the Xie family frowned, and immediately The curtains were lowered.

Seeing her expression, Ouyang Rong couldn't help asking: "What's wrong?"

Xie Lingjiang shook his head expressionlessly.

The young county magistrate didn't believe it, so he stretched out his hand and opened the curtain. He immediately saw a staggering figure not far behind the carriage.

Ouyang Rong also frowned.

"Ah Shan, stop the car."

"Yes, sir."

The carriage stopped on the side of the street, Ouyang Rong lifted the curtain, leaned out half of his body, and asked the embarrassed Hu Ji timidly following him with a serious face:
"What do you want?"

Yingniang immediately knelt down towards the carriage, tears streaming down her face, and shouted "Miss Xie", her mouth was full of words of regret and apology, and then she kowtowed humbly to ask Xie Lingjiang for forgiveness, and said that she would do it for her for the rest of her life A cow is like a horse, I just ask Miss Xie to take it in.

Ouyang Rong watched silently, and the carriage behind him was also very quiet. He looked back into the carriage:

The little junior sister held the horizontal sword on her knee, stared straight ahead, said nothing, and turned a deaf ear to it.

The young magistrate turned his head and said softly:
"At the beginning, junior sister treated you sincerely. She gave you the only pearl in her body. In fact, if you had any difficulties that day, you could tell her. Her soft temper can forgive and protect you. You say, Chen Is the Xie family in the county no better than the Liu family in Longcheng?

"But that day you still chose to betray, and turned around to slander the only person who really wanted to save you... Now that the Liu family has let you go to please the younger sister, cherish and be content.

"Let's go, the farther you go, the better. This is the last time. If you dare to appear in front of Junior Sister again, I will send you back to Liu's house without her help."

After finishing speaking, he returned to the carriage without turning his head. Ah Shan swung his whip tacitly, started the car slowly, and drove away.

On the street behind, Hu Ji, who was left alone, fell limply to the ground, and fell on the cold bluestone slabs of the street, staring blankly at the shadow of the carriage that the noble daughter of the Xie family was riding away. She didn't know until long ago This Miss Xie, who helped her enthusiastically, has such a great background, and even the Longcheng Liu family, who has always been regarded as a giant in her eyes, wanted to be polite to her in front of her. ...

Under the night, Youyou returned to the carriage on Luming Street.

Ouyang Rong sighed, then turned around and asked, "For saving her life, does Junior Sister want her to live in regret for the rest of her life?"

"Not at all." Xie Lingjiang put the sword on his lap aside, and calmly shook his head: "Actually, I have something to thank her for."

"Thank you for what?"

Xie Lingjiang suddenly grabbed Ouyang Rong's right hand, put it on his bent legs, rolled up his cuff naturally, and looked at the red mark on her right forearm without blinking. She lowered her head and said softly:

"Senior brother, I'll borrow your 'Qi', you've reached the seventh rank."

Ouyang Rong looked stunned.

　I got up late today, I’m in a bit of a hurry, I’ll combine the two chapters, and I’ll reissue another chapter in the early morning, the time is not sure, good brothers, don’t wait, go to bed early, remember to cover the quilt~ (reminder from the tough guy white-haired little maid)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)