Lid's hearing is so good that he can hear conversations in the house through the fence even in heavy rain.
After using the money ability, he successfully persuaded Qizheng to help him create a chance to meet Celius. In fact, he had already anticipated this ending from the moment he saw Qi Zheng. Although Qi Zheng had a dignified look at that time, Lide still saw the clue from the patch on his body.
If a person has worked hard and managed to get the position of chief tax officer, but can't even afford a decent set of clothes, it only shows that there are huge problems in the entire bureaucratic system of Xiqin. Li De believes that the Western Qin system is fine, which means that Qizheng deliberately dressed like this to show his integrity, which is not a sign of guilt.
Of course, what kind of person Qi Zheng is has nothing to do with Li De. In Li De's eyes, he is just a tool man.
Alaya stood behind Lide, holding an umbrella for her young master, and being careful not to let the wind blow the rain on the young master.
After a long time, there was a sound of "I will send the adults away" from the house, which meant the end of the feast in the house.
The door opened.
Lide saw a middle-aged man surrounded by him. He had a high hairline and mottled white hair on his head. Although he had a smile on his face, his eyebrows and eyes concealed worry. He looked at Lide for a while and then looked away, obviously thinking that Lide was someone who came to visit Qizheng, and he was about to leave Lide's side. But Qi Zheng frowned first, and said:
"Why are you here again?"
Lid didn't speak, just looked at Celius who was about to leave.
Celius looked back at Qizheng.
Qizheng said to Celius with a helpless face:
"My lord, these two people are the ones I told you during the dinner, the two who want to see you... I didn't expect that they are still guarding the door today. You get in the carriage first, and I will find someone to drive them away." go out."
Celius waved his hand:
"No... I just want to hear what they want to say."
He turned his head to look at Lide, and at that moment, Lide clearly realized that this gray-haired middle-aged man had seen through Qizheng's trick, because there was a little more irony in the smile on the corner of his mouth. Qizheng cupped his hands in embarrassment, and said:
"Since this is the case, I will not bother you. Hey, you two, if you dare to disrespect Lord Celius, don't even think about stepping out of Yuanyang City!"
Qi Zheng gave a warning and closed the door silently.
Celius' personal bodyguard came over to help him open the umbrella, but he didn't expect that Celius took the umbrella himself and waved him away.
After the guards and the coachman left for a distance, Celius looked at Lied, and the first sentence he came up was:
"How much did you send?"
Lied smiled and replied truthfully:
"A few thousand gold coins."
Celius clicked his tongue and said lightly:
"It seems that my face is really not small... With this money, you might as well give it to me directly, or support the construction of the West Qin frontier. Then, if you spend thousands of gold coins, what do you want from me?"
Lide patted his chest and said with a smile:
"I want to discuss a business with you. My name is Baima, and my public identity is a steel merchant in Yunyang. In fact, I do some business that is not easy to meet people in private. To be precise, I am a meeting hall Yes. White Horse Clubhouse, has Sir Celius heard of this name?"
Celius shook his head, but from Lide's tone, he probably understood what Lide wanted to say, and then said:
"A place like a brothel? Xiqin does not prohibit the business of brothels, you can open them as you like."
Lied smiled and said:
"The clubhouse I run is different from the brothel, it serves women. In my opinion, the women's market is also a huge cake. The Western Qin Dynasty is strong and the atmosphere is relatively open. Among the women are many well-known businessmen and even some politicians. These people have achieved a relatively high social status, so they naturally have some needs of their own, and I want to do this part of the business.”
Celius was at a loss and replied instinctively:
"This doesn't seem to be in line with the laws and morals of our Xiqin... Although doing so will indeed make a lot of money, I have no right to promise you. This may lead to some incalculable consequences."
Lied continued:
"Your Excellency, you might as well think about it again. There are not only some gray industries here, but we also sell many items to women. Including accessories, cosmetics, new clothes... Xiqin liberated women's productivity, but did not provide them with corresponding services , I can fill this vacancy. I am Yunyang Baima, known as the Friend of Women."
Celius seemed a little hesitant this time, and he knew very well how much benefit Lide said could be realized in the short term.
And Xiqin is indeed spending money now.
After thinking about it, he still said:
"You have a lot of ideas, but I can't handle this matter alone. And if it is announced, I can't predict the corresponding consequences. There are interests here, but governance of the country can't just start with interests, we political officials Not like you merchants. Unless someone else of weight nods, but I can't think of anyone else who—"
Celius didn't finish his sentence, and Lid seemed to say something lightly:
"Yingbai, son of the Western Qin Dynasty, promised me to do this."
Celius shuddered all over. In the rainstorm, he raised his head to look into Lid's eyes. Coincidentally, Lid was also staring at him.
In order to conceal his own thoughts, Celius took two deep breaths in a row, his brain had already started to run rapidly.
After a long time, he asked hoarsely:
"When did he give you this promise? Where did you meet him?"
Lied raised his head, seemed to recall briefly, and then replied:
"I don't remember clearly... one or two years ago. At that time, he told me that if anything happened to me in the future, he could come to Xiqin to find him. By the way, he still owes me a carload of steel, Sir Seleus If you can see him, remember to ask for it back for me."
Celius looked at Lied and said slowly:
"You are not from the Yunhai family... People from the Yunhai family would not do this kind of thing. Are you from Yunyang? Does your lord know about this?"
Lied laughed and replied:
"I know. He also said that repaying debts is justified, and you are afraid of a hammer."
Celius closed his eyes, when a gust of wind blew, the umbrella in his hand was tilted to the side, and the heavy rain immediately wet half of his hair. Celius didn't seem to notice at all. After nearly two minutes, he opened his eyes and said to Lid:
"The business you mentioned is really interesting. It may bring new changes to the current Xiqin... It's not suitable to stay here for a long time. I will invite you to a secluded place tomorrow. We can have a detailed discussion then. .After I go back tonight, I have to think carefully about how likely this [business] is to succeed.”
He stretched out his umbrella, took a last breath, and walked towards the carriage.
The rain hit him, and Lid suddenly noticed that the clothes on Celius were neat and clean, made of exquisite materials, in line with his status, and there were no patches on them.
But the part that was wet by the rain revealed a cheap plain white.