Night Emperor

Chapter 531: If there is no difficulty, create difficulty

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There is a bridge at the intersection of Qingping Street. Under the bridge is a clear and shallow stream, about two feet deep, with soft aquatic plants. People often use this river to wash their clothes and vegetables. This river is also an important source of flood discharge during heavy rains. waterway.

At this moment, those soft aquatic plants have been dug up to the banks on both sides, and lumps of silt have pressed these soft aquatic plants under their bodies, occasionally revealing a line of emerald green. The originally clear river water was turned into a muddy soup. Dozens of servants stood in the river in their loincloths, digging up puddles of mud.

The first one on Qingping Street was a pharmacy. Because of the dredging of the river due to the clearing of blood stasis, there were few pedestrians walking around the bridge. The shopkeeper, Zhu, had nothing to do, so he came out to chat with Su Xuntian, who was supervising the project. Shopkeeper Zhu said to Su Xuntian, "Boss Su, to what extent do you plan to clean up this river?"

Su Xuntian said: "This river is the main channel for flood discharge. According to the engineering department, this river was originally four feet wide in front, two feet wide at the bottom, and seven feet deep. Look how it is choked up now, even two feet wide. No, we plan to restore this Jianhe to its original appearance."

The shopkeeper Zhu was overjoyed, and said: "The relationship is good, but... I don't know how long it will take to clean this section of the river, as you can see, the clearing has already affected my business. Drink the northwest wind."

Su Xuntian said: "I wish the shopkeeper rest assured. It won't be long. Didn't you see that we started to clear this intersection first? The purpose is to clear this area as soon as possible so as not to affect the entry of the people. At least three days, at most five Today, this area will be cleaned up."

The shopkeeper Zhu heard that there would be a delay of three to five days, although he was reluctant, but the delay was affordable, so he said with a smile: "Then work hard, Mr. Su, you take care of it, and the sooner the work will be completed." The better. Ah, the sun is getting brighter and brighter, how about a cup of tea under Mr. Su's house?"

At the intersection on the other side of Qingping Street is a culvert. This culvert also has the function of flood discharge, but it is a discharge outlet for various domestic water in daily life. After the river course was built, it was covered with stone slabs, and the stone slabs were covered with soil, turning it into an ordinary street.

For hundreds of years, many people who live on both sides of this street don't even know that there is an undercurrent flowing under their feet. But at this moment the ground has been dug up, and the stone slabs covering the underground river have been seen again. The underground river is very blocked, and the gurgling stream can still pass through. If the water flow is slightly larger, it will be blocked, and it can no longer play the role of flood discharge.

As soon as the culvert was uncovered, the stench was overwhelming, and most of the passers-by covered their noses and hurried past. There were mostly taverns and teahouses on both sides of the road, which were originally very prosperous, but now the business plummeted. Picking up the rice bowl, I couldn't swallow the stench that filled my mouth and nose.

The shopkeepers of the restaurant were all complaining, and hurriedly went out to inquire, and learned that the big man surnamed Mao was the supervisor of this section, and hurried forward to complain to him: "Mao, this is not good, why are you so sudden?" The entire street has been uncovered, and our business cannot be done."

Mao Wenzhi stared at the bull's eye, and shouted: "What are you doing? What are you doing? You are against you. This is the grace of the magistrate, it is for the benefit of the township, and it is for the benefit of the people. Do you understand? How dare you talk to the magistrate?" Can't you sing the opposite?"

The shopkeepers explained in a low voice: "That's not the case. We are naturally grateful for the prefect to clean up the river. We just want to know how long it will take to clean up the river. We still have business and we really can't afford to delay it." .”

Mao asked Zhizhi: "Why is there such a hurry? It took five hundred years to clean up this underground river built in the Song Dynasty. I plan to build a flood discharge channel that will still be usable in a thousand years, so that people will remember it in a thousand years. With the grace of our magistrate, if you cut corners and get found out by the magistrate, you will take care of it or I will take care of it, and you will not be able to eat hot cakes if you are impatient."

Build an underground canal that can be used continuously for a thousand years? All the shopkeepers cried out bitterly, and immediately the quick-minded businessman took out a stack of big money and stuffed it into Mao Wenzhi's hand, and said with a smile: "A little thing is not a respect, Mao Touer and all the brothers It’s hard work, take it to have a cup of tea. I have nothing to ask for, I just hope that Mao Touer can repair this section of road as soon as possible, and I am very grateful.”

Seeing his behavior like this, all the shopkeepers felt in their sleeves, arms, and purses one after another. Mao Wenzhi yelled: "What are you doing? Give me back the money quickly." , or else I'll punish you for bribing an official, hehe, my old Mao's big stick is already hungry and thirsty... "

At this time, a soap slave ran over, pushed away all the shopkeepers and squeezed to Mao Wenzhi's side to whisper a few words, Mao Wenzhi immediately raised his arms and shouted: "Little ones, call it a day!"

"Gah?" All the shopkeepers were startled, and the businessman who had just intended to bribe Mao Wenzhi stammered and asked, "Mao Touer, it's still early at noon, why did you call it a day?"

Mao Wenzhi narrowed his eyes and shouted: "The magistrate has an order, telling us to go to Xicheng first to build a flood canal for his relatives. What's the matter, don't you accept it? If you don't agree, go and reason with the magistrate."

Those restaurant proprietors asked with mournful faces: "Boss, you're leaving now, what about here?"

Mao Wenzhi said: "We'll talk about it after we finish building the West City. Let's go to the West City!"

Mao Wen Zhiming planted the government's labor banner in the half-cleared project area, and then led a group of barebacked servants with trouser legs to leave, leaving only the shopkeepers in Qingping Street. A stinking mess.

The same scene, in the busiest part of the three streets and six alleys, happens to happen at the same time...

※※※

In the evening, the lady of the Hua family was sifting rice in the yard. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a guest coming from the yard next door. He was dressed brightly and dressed like a member of the staff. He was holding two boxes of gifts. After answering a few words, the lady was led into the house.

The lady of the Hua family quickly put the dustpan on the stone roller, twisted her buttocks and entered the house, mysteriously said: "Master, just now I saw a member of the family entered Jiang Li's house and brought a gift."

Hua experienced running around the construction site for a day today, coordinating arrangements, dispatching personnel, a body that has been inactive for a long time, and it was a bit overwhelming for a while, but now it feels like it is falling apart, and it is lying there lazily to rest. Hearing what the woman said, Indifferently said: "What do you do with other people's affairs?"

"Bullshit!" Hua Niangzi slapped him hard on the buttocks, and reprimanded: "He is an experience, and you are also an experience. Why do people come to beg him eagerly with generous gifts, but no one comes to give you benefits? You A worthless thing..."

Lady Hua became more and more enraged, seeing her husband lying there still looking half dead, she twisted his ears and lifted him up: "Are you pretending to be dead, did you hear me?"

"Ai ai ai, take it easy, take it easy..." Hua Dalang sat up with a bitter face, at this moment he heard someone calling at the door: "Excuse me, is Hua experience at home?"

Lady Hua let go of her husband's ears, walked over and opened the door, and saw an old man wearing a brocade robe with copper coins pattern standing outside. Lady Hua saw that the old man looked familiar, and after thinking about it carefully, she opened her mouth wide in surprise , isn't this the owner of the "Shu's Tou Noodle Shop" on Qinglang Street

Head noodle shops sell hair accessories, earrings, neck ornaments, arm ornaments, hand ornaments, hairpins, and mirror combs. These things range from expensive to cheap, and they cost a few pennies or a few thousand taels. The materials are different and the prices are different. There is a world of difference. "Shu's Noodle Shop" is the largest noodle shop on Qinglang Street, and of course they sell precious things.

He said that in terms of the rare and expensive treasures, only the "tycoon grocery store" Shengshu's house on Qinglang Street has three points, but that "tycoon grocery store" only sells rare things, regardless of category, so The so-called groceries, this is not a place where women like the Hua family like to hang out.

Hua Niangzi often goes to Shu's head noodle shop, looking at those precious heads and faces that fascinate her, but unfortunately she is too cash-strapped, so she can only enjoy her eyesight when she goes there. Also very cold. But at this moment, Shopkeeper Shu was holding the gift box and smiling all over his face.

The lady of the Hua family looked at Dongzhu Shu dreamily. Dongzhu Shu bowed to her and smiled, and asked politely: "This lady must be Mrs. Hua, right? I don't know Mrs. Hua, the owner of Shu's head noodle shop on Qinglang Street, old man. Is your lord at home?"

Hua Niangzi is like a dream first match, Qiqi Ai Ai said: "Ah! He...he is here, please come in, Mr. Shu!"

Hua Niangzi let Shopkeeper Shu into the house, at this time Huazheng had come out of the back room, Shopkeeper Shu hurriedly stepped forward to pay respects, Huazheng was an official after all, although she was a little poor, she didn't feel at a loss like a wife, she calmly let the guest say: "The snail house is a bit rough, and Shu Yuanwai laughed, please sit down."

Lady Hua poured a cup of tea for her husband and Shu Yuanwai, and still went to stand in the yard, kept sneaking a look into the house, and saw that Shu Yuanwai, who was usually arrogant, sometimes laughed with him, sometimes cupped his hands, with a very humble attitude. But her husband who usually let her beat and scold him without even daring to reply a word is sitting upright like a mountain, stroking his beard and nodding his head, with a calm demeanor, Hua Niangzi can't help feeling a strange feeling in her heart.

After Shu Yuanwai left, Miss Hua hurried back to the house and asked, "Master, what can Shu Yuanwai do with you?"

Hua Jing said indifferently: "It's nothing, I just asked me to do something." He handed the gift box to her and said indifferently: "This is a gift from Mr. Shu, you can keep it." Go to the back room and lie down as before.

Miss Hua hurriedly opened the gift box, and saw a whole set of head jewelry, exquisite earrings, sparkling necklaces, trembling steps, and Miss Hua's heart immediately jumped up.

Miss Hua put away her jewelry with a smile on her face, and was about to run back to the house to tell her husband what the family had sent, when she heard another question from outside the door, and when she opened the door, there was still a person dressed as an outsider, followed by a servant, Picked two baskets of silk and satin.

This time, Hua went through the meeting with guests in the main room, so Miss Hua hid in the back room and listened through the curtain. He seemed to be begging her husband for help, and said that the business could not be delayed. All good words, husband Only then did he agree to think of a way for him, and the member went there gratefully.

Hua Jing lifted the curtain to see the back room, and handed two baskets of silk to the lady, and the lady Hua said with bright eyes, "My God, the best Huzhou silk."

Hua Jing still had a calm expression on his face, and today "light" has become the expression he most often hangs on his face. Hua Jing glanced lightly, and said lightly: "Isn't it just a few pieces of silk and satin, just put them away, I don't know much about fussing." It's ridiculous. I've been busy all day and I'm really tired. Let's take a rest and go prepare dinner."

As Hua Jing said, she fell down on the couch lightly. Hearing his words, Mrs. Hua first raised her eyebrows, but when she saw her husband lying on the couch in large characters, she suddenly lost the courage to attack.

Hua Jingchen was taking a nap with his eyes closed, and suddenly put his hands on his shoulders. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Miss Hua's cheeks were dizzy like a newlywed, and she said tenderly: "Mr. Squeeze."

Hua Jing closed his eyes to try to calm down, his face was still as calm as before, but in his heart, it was as if ten thousand grass and mud horses roared past, and he was so excited that he couldn't be more excited: "Master Li is right, following Mr. Ye is really popular. I drink spicy ones."