After dressing as a widow

Chapter 225

Lin Zhen felt that he was wrapped in it like a worm, but seeing Gu Lin's eyes that had been closed, with the slight blue color under the eyes, he lay on him and did not move.

Go to sleep, go to sleep, it's okay to sleep for a while.

Lin Zhen, who said that he was full of sleep, was scalded by Gu Lin's body temperature through the quilt, and soon fell asleep.

Realizing that his breathing became regular, Gu Lin who closed his eyes opened them. There was a trace of warmth in the dark eyes. He hugged the quilt wrapping him up, let his head rest on his shoulders, and regained his composure. fell asleep.

When the two woke up, it happened to be around lunch time. Lin Zhen came out of the quilt bag and said, "Qu Yuanli said yesterday that it is easy to handle. Get it out, grain seeds are the most troublesome."

"Didn't we think of starting from the retail merchants in Hekou yesterday? I thought about it carefully just now. If I can pay the money, I can buy the grain seeds first, and when the autumn harvest comes, I will collect new grain in the name of the magistrate's office." Come up and pay it back, just treat it as a cooperation between me and the magistrate's government office." Lin Zhen saved some money in Fucheng, and after arriving in Kyoto, he changed his jade face powder business, plus the money from selling the storybook of "Legend of the White Snake", now There are about 7000 taels in hand.

Although it looked like a lot, but for such a big Lizhou, the grain bought with this little money was like a drop in the bucket.

But it's better than doing nothing.

Gu Lin has just arrived, and there is no family support behind him. He is a bare-handed commander. Even though the local tyrants seem respectful to his officials who know the state, it is really not easy to get money from those people.

Let's think about it in another way, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old Zhizhou asked for money and food with a bad check, who would be willing to take advantage of it.

Only by doing practical things that are visible to the naked eye, so that they know that they will have food and money to follow Gu Lin, will they come forward with money and food themselves.

When Gu Lin heard that Lin Zhen was going to spend money to buy grain seeds, he lifted his feet and got off the bed: "I have roughly discussed this matter with my colleagues. The magistrate government sent people to contact the merchants in Hekou, Dongyang County, and asked them if they would accept it. The IOU issued by the magistrate's office, this IOU can be paid by the new grain this autumn, or by the local specialty products in Lizhou, but the ratio of principal and interest has not yet been calculated."

Lin Zhen turned to look at him: "When did you come up with the idea?"

Gu Lin put on his shoes, walked towards him, took over the work in his hand, and buttoned up a string of pearl buttons on his collar from his thigh: "I thought about it after you talked about grain seeds with me yesterday."

"You little bastard is getting smarter and smarter!" This is simply a simplified version of the national debt, with the magistrate's government as the guarantee, and merchants and retail merchants also have a certain degree of trust in this, as long as this year's grain is settled, next year will be fine done.

Standing in front of him, Gu Lin, who was buttoning the last pearl button, heard him calling her a brat, and suddenly lowered her head and bit his Adam's apple, which was smaller than the man's.

It doesn't hurt, the temperature left by the tongue on the top is still a little itchy, Lin Zhen still didn't react when he was bitten, when Gu Lin straightened up, and buttoned his button, he said: "You can't do this outside, Although there is no one you and I know in Lizhou, but you are in this position, there will definitely be many people staring at you."

"I know." Gu Lin buttoned him up and adjusted his official uniform.

He looked at Lin Zhen: "It won't be long."

Looking back at him, Lin Zhen nodded: "Then you and I—"

"It's really my Uncle Lin, and also my husband." Gu Lin leaned slightly and kissed the tip of his straight nose.

Lin really couldn't do anything about his problem of catching people and just kissing here and there, and he understood the meaning of his words.

It is true that I raised him by myself, and it is also true that he called himself Uncle Lin since he was a child. What can make a fuss here is that he was Gu Da’s husband when Gu Da died, and he was Gu Lin’s successor at that time. father.

But Gu Da has been dead for so many years, and he also declared that Gu Lin is his nephew, and broke the previous relationship. As long as Gu Lin and himself are not blatantly married, the value in the eyes of others has not yet reached the point where they need to start from now on Sometimes, others will not meddle in the two of them's affairs.

Lin Zhen also let go of the idea of ​​moving outside. A distant uncle of his came to Lizhou with his nephew to seek a living, and it was all right to live together.

The two cleaned up, washed their faces and brushed their teeth, and after a quick meal, they discussed together the issue of the IOU issued by the magistrate's office. Lin Zhen took advantage of the opportunity and changed the name of the IOU to a name he was familiar with, Lizhou Bond.

And some modern things are included. For example, the principal and interest of this bond should be estimated based on the current output of the Lizhou, and the most reasonable figure will be given. At the same time, it is necessary to do a good job of comparing the bonds with the holders of the bonds, so as to avoid the circulation of fake bonds.

The two talked and took notes, and finally wrote down four or five sheets of paper. Gu Lin took what Lin Zhen wrote down and said: "Uncle Lin and I will go meet with you."

"I go?"

"Uncle Lin is more comfortable with the bond issue than I am. After finalizing the matter as soon as possible, I will take someone to Hekou in person tomorrow afternoon at the latest. If there is no accident, Liangzhong will be able to arrive in Dongyang County in eight days."

The boat departed from the estuary of Dongyang County. If there is no bad weather, it is indeed as Gu Lin said. It can buy grain from Kyoto and enter Lizhou in eight days, just in time for the end of this year's farming.

The time for farming cannot be delayed, and the harvest will be different if it is delayed for a day.

Hearing what he said, Lin Zhen didn't say that it would be bad for him to go there as a person without a position, so he got up and followed him.

In the morning, Gu Lin told Tongzhi, Limu, and judge that they would continue to discuss matters in the afternoon. When Lin Zhen and him arrived, the three of them and the people under the three of them were already waiting.

"The next official sees your lord." The same official friend, the judge Jiang Jing, and the official Gao Tong bowed their hands and saluted. When they saw Gu Lin bringing an unusually beautiful brother, the official friend frowned involuntarily, while Jiang Jing said nothing. He raised his eyebrows.

Gu Lin sat on the first seat, "This is my uncle, Lin Zhen. My uncle has some opinions on the issue of IOUs issued by the magistrate's office that I discussed with my colleagues this morning. Let me listen to it."

Lin Zhen looked at the following few officials who had not turned their faces because of Gu Lin's status as an official in the state, but they were obviously a bit different, and explained what he had just said to Gu Lin in more detail.

It is difficult for a brother to be in the court of elegance. Although the appearance is the same as that of a man and can conceive a woman, he is looked down upon after all. Not to mention that there are no brothers in the court, even officials who marry wives will not take brothers as their main wives.

At first, the officials and friends thought that Lin Zhen was Gu Lin's wife and concubine, but then they heard Gu Lin say that Lin Zhen was his uncle, and then Lin Zhen threw out the word "bond".

Soon, the three of them understood what the bond in Lin Zhen's mouth was, and what its function was, as well as the preliminary work before the issuance, and the matters that need to be paid attention to when issuing it...

This is the first time this bond is here. Guan Peng and others have never seen the real thing, but Lin Zhen has seen it in modern times. The process is clear.

When they originally looked at Lin Zhen with strange eyes, they also asked a few questions, such as how to ensure the authenticity of the bonds after they were issued.

Lin Zhen looked at this smoldering colleague, and felt that he asked a good question, and said, "The authenticity of the securities is very important. With the current output of Lizhou, the bonds that can be issued are limited. If there are a large number of bonds on the market Fake bonds are an unbearable thing for the prefectural government.”

"So when issuing bonds, it is necessary to register the information of the buyer in detail, record the buyer's facial features, and leave his fingerprints."

Lin Zhen raised his thumb: "Everyone's finger prints are different. When buyers go to the state capital to ask for exchange, they can only be exchanged after matching themselves, bonds, and fingerprints."

As he spoke, Lin Zhen took the inkpad on the table, pressed his thumb on the inkpad, and took out a piece of paper to leave a complete thumbprint on it.

Guan Peng also looked at his thumb. His fingers were thick and his fingerprints were rough, which were easier to recognize than those printed by Lin Zhen on paper: "Is what Lin Fulang said true? Everyone's fingerprints are different?"

"My lord, you can verify it as much as you want."

Gu Lin waited for him to explain the principle of the bond and said: "Today the yamen servants can go through all the villages near the state capital, and tomorrow the willing people in the village will come to the government office, so the bond issue needs to come up with the charter tonight. To know how much principal bonds the state government can take out, and where the interest is set, it must be laid out in an orderly manner."

"Qualcomm, you immediately lead the people under your command to sort out the various tax amounts for the three years from the state."

"Yes."

"Guan Peng, please tell people in the state capital. If they are interested, they can also buy bonds." Half of it is true, and the benefits that the people of Lizhou can get are enough.

The official friends took orders and went to work in the same hurry as the official Gao Tong.

Jiang Jing, who is in charge of supervision, is the most leisurely one. When Gu Lin and Guan Peng are busy driving, he still has time for his subordinates to make tea and drink.

Seeing Gu Lin busy in an orderly manner, Lin Zhen, who showed his side, wiped the ink pad on his thumb with a paper, and gave him a look to signal that he was going back to the backyard.

Gu Lin is busy with his own affairs, and he is also busy with Yurong Fenhualu lipstick. The goods in Kyoto can't be out of stock for too long.

"Lu Lu, call Niu Da and let's go out." Returning from the front to the backyard, Lin Zhen looked at Lu Lu who was entering the house with a bamboo basket, and called her to stop.

Lulu immediately put down the bamboo basket: "Okay boss, I'll call Big Brother Niu right now."

Niu Da and the others lived in the row of houses behind the government office, and soon followed Lu Lu. When Lin Zhen said that he was going out, they immediately followed Lu Lu.

Besides the two of them, Lin Zhen also called a servant in the government office to serve him.

These waiters were bought by Xu Zhizhou after he came here to take office, and some of them signed not the contract of sale, but came to work in the government office. It is naturally impossible for the latter kind of people to follow Xu Zhizhou, Xu Fulang and others to take office in the south. His family is here, and his relatives are also here. After Xu Zhizhou Xu Fulang left, these people were watching to see if they could continue to work in the backyard of the government office.

One of them was Lin Zhen who asked to go out together, named Lu Xuan, who lives in the state capital, and has been in charge of the kitchen purchases of the magistrate's government office for the past few years.

Lin Zhen was wearing a shirt with collar and sleeves sewn with pure white fur, his hair was tied into a high ponytail, and his white face didn't match the gray magistrate's office. He brought Lu Lu Niu Da and Lu Xuan, He raised his feet and walked to the outside of the government office: "Lu Xuan, how many people are left in the government office now?"

After I arrived yesterday, I chatted with Xu Fulang until dinner, and rested after dinner. Today, I got up and was hugged by Gu Lin and slept until noon. Then I explained the bond to Tongzhi, Limu and the others. There are several people.

Lu Xuan is a woman in her thirties, her skin is not fair, and she is a little taller than Lin Zhen standing next to Lin Zhen. She looked at this new master who was like a fairy, and said: "Husband Hui , now including me, there are five people in the government office, I am in charge of the kitchen shopping, Dacheng is in charge of carriages and horses, one of the three brothers is in charge of cooking, and the other two are in charge of sweeping. "

"Call me to meet you after you go back," Lin Zhen said, "If you still want to work in the government office, you should re-sign the contract."

"Yes, the servants will tell them when they go back." Lu Xuan couldn't help but let go of her heart. Compared with other tasks, the affairs in the government office are considered idle, and it is best to stay.

It’s not too far from the prefectural capital, and it takes seven or eight minutes to walk out of the magistrate’s government office. There are streets where merchants sell things. On both sides of the road, there are people carrying things and selling them.

It was similar to what Lin Zhen saw when he entered the city yesterday. They were all unprocessed agricultural products, and the most sold items in the shops were grain, cloth, and some daily necessities.

Originally, Lin Zhen wanted to see if there were any flowers for sale, but he didn't see any after looking around, so he thought for a while and asked Lu Xuan, "What kind of flowers are abundant in Lizhou? What season do they bloom in?"

Lu Xuan thought it was normal for such a beautiful brother of him to ask about these flowers, and said: "Wintersweet, Youcao, and Frostflower are the most common ones. They are hardy, and they can bloom except when there is heavy snow in winter. , Xiuluan flowers must be kept at home, and water and braziers are not indispensable."

"The wintersweet has already bloomed now, and the frost flowers have not yet reached the season of blooming. Now the grass is the most numerous."

Lin Zhen said: "Where is the grass now, take me to see it."

Lu Xuan didn't expect this husband to care so much about flowers and plants, and said: "You can find grass everywhere, you should be able to find it outside the city, if husband wants to raise it, I will dig two pots when I return later. "

"It just rained yesterday, and the blades of grass are covered with floating mud. Don't stain Fulang's clothes."

"No problem." Without flowers, the extraction of floral dew would not be possible, and a day's delay would cost a lot of money. When estimating the price of grain seeds today, Lin Zhen found that his little money was not enough, so he wanted to do what he wanted It's far worse than the old hat.

Hearing what he said, Lu Xuan stopped dissuading her and took Lin Zhen and Niu Dalulu out of the city gate.

Four city gates away from the state capital, this time they walked through the south gate. As soon as they came out, they could see an ant-like village that was so flat that it could be seen far and far away. Slowly across the sky.

In the open space outside the city, there were many people digging up wild vegetables and wild roots with baskets. When they saw Lin Zhen who was dressed in extraordinary clothes, he hurried away, fearing that he would bump into him and cause trouble to his upper body.

Lu Xuan bent down and searched for scattered greens on the ground, and quickly returned to Lin Zhen with two clumps of plants with slender leaves that didn't look much different from weeds: "Fulang, this is Grass."

Lin Zhen took Youcao into his hand, but he really didn't see how the grass looked like a flower, so he held it up to his nose and smelled it. Suddenly, he looked at Youcao in his hand, and was a little surprised.

The name of Youcao is not for nothing, the seemingly ordinary leaves of grass actually have an indescribable fragrance, very high-end and very attractive fragrance, it ranks first among the flower dew extracted by Lin Zhen .

Seeing his surprised expression, Lu Xuan said: "The flowers of Youcao are fragrant, as long as there is a clump of Youcao blooming in that field, that area will be fragrant, but Youcao is difficult to bloom."

Lin Zhen said with a smile on his face, "The fragrance is very good." Looking at the endless land and scattered green grass, he felt that his luck was really good, "Let's go, these days, use secluded grass first, and then slowly Find other flowers to try."

As soon as he came, the people who were digging wild vegetables and roots in this field avoided. Lin Zhen handed the secluded grass in his hand to the deer behind him, and walked towards the city gate while saying: "After I go back, I will write a post about harvesting the secluded grass. Notice, you post it outside the government office."

"Yes." Lulu is now serving him almost every day, watching him walk towards the city gate and following him step by step, Niu Da also followed.

Lu Xuan, who brought Lin Zhen here, heard that Lin Zhen was going to collect Youcao, but she didn't take it seriously. Although Youcao smells good, it can't be eaten. Only those who have a little spare money will pick some back to boil water when they take a bath and wash their clothes. , Let the body smell good.

Fu Lang took it back for this purpose.

But not long after returning to Zhizhou government office, Lu Xuan heard Lu Lu and Niu Dao walking outside holding a notice: "One penny is one catty, five hundred catties is temporarily collected, and it will take a few days to receive it. Meizi and the others are in a panic in the backyard, feeling that they are sorry for the boss."

Lu Xuan, who was walking towards the kitchen, thought she had heard it wrong, and quickly walked up to Niu Da and Lu Lu: "Brother Lu, you just said that Husband wants to collect Youcao?"

Lu Lu nodded: "Yes, our boss was originally in the rouge powder business, and bought some grass seeds to make spices. By the way, when I came out, the boss asked me to tell Sister Lu that I used to work in the government office. What I still want to do now is to sign a contract with him."

She thought that Lin Zhen just had a good-looking face, just like those Fu Lang's wives from rich families outside. Lu Xuan, who embroidered flowers and ate tea all day, really didn't expect that he was actually a businessman. The one hundred catties of secluded grass was harvested temporarily and will be used in the future.

That's a great thing for a tael of silver!

If it wasn't for the thought that Lin Zhen wanted them to come, Lu Xuan would have liked to run home now and tell her family to dig the grass right away.

Lu Xuan's head was a little dizzy, she talked loudly with Lu Lu Niu, then turned around and asked her three brothers who worked in the government office like herself and Da Cheng, the man in charge of carriages and horses, to go to Lin Zhen's room.

It was hot along the way, Lin Zhen didn't sit by the charcoal basin, instead he was wearing the clothes he wore when he went out, sitting behind the table writing and drawing, with his pretty eyebrows lowered.

Hearing the movement, Lin Zhen raised his head, put the charcoal pencil in the booklet and said, "Come here."

"Fu Lang." Lu Xuan led the four people, stopped three steps away from Lin Zhen, and bowed to him.

Lin Zhen looked around and saw that apart from Lu Xuan whom he met in the morning, two of the other three brothers were younger, in their twenties, and one was old, in their forties, who should be the man in charge of the chariots and horses. Also looks like 20 years old.

When they met his new master for the first time, they were a little cautious.

He said: "I won't talk too much, you guys were recruited by Xu Fulang to do the work, and you are all familiar with it, I don't plan to dismiss all of you, and find others who are not familiar with the way of life at hand."

"However, I have something to say first. When I am easy to talk, I am easy to talk, but if I know something about it, the previous good words will not count."

The few people who were planning to continue working here quickly expressed their loyalty: "Master, all the servants want to stay and work, and they will never do things like stealing, raping, cheating and deceiving you!"

Lin Zhen raised his hand: "Call me the boss in the future, and the title Fu Lang will be put on hold for now."

"Yes."

Lin Zhen has written five copies of the contract, and several people work here, except Lu Xuan who is in charge of the kitchen purchases, the forty-something husband who cooks, Da Cheng who is in charge of the carriages, and the other two cleaning brothers. At the beginning, my son's wages were one renminbi a month, or one hundred wen.

In Lin Zhen's eyes, it was a little less, but Xu Fulang's salary was lower than this in the past, only seventy cash a month. In Lizhou, where self-sufficiency is difficult, this job is already a good job they can find.

The strong and strong men have no other way to get money except to plan food in the ground and go hunting in the deep mountains and old forests with their heads tucked into their belts.

As for the three who are in charge of some affairs, the treatment is slightly better than the two. The monthly salary is one yuan and thirty yuan, and then everyone has a set of clothes every season.

A few of them were illiterate, and when they pressed their fingerprints, they wondered if they were dreaming today.

And Lin Zhen took advantage of these locals here, and asked by the way: "Can Lizhou produce some special rice, such as the green stem rice and purple heart rice in the south?"

After solving the raw materials of flower dew, Lin Zhen was worried about the raw materials of Yurong powder. When he came to Lizhou, he did not bring much bistem rice and purple heart rice. Big, secondly, the rice must be new this year, and if there is too much old rice, it will not be usable at all.

Now there are only more than 600 boxes of jade powder made of three kinds of rice, which is not enough to take it to Kyoto.

And he doesn't plan to start a small workshop like in Kyoto, he wants to recruit more people to increase production, divide it into high-end, mid-range and low-end, completely regard Kyoto as a dumping ground for the three types of jade powder, and firmly control the market. Hold it in your hand.

In this way, the amount of the three types of rice needed is very large, and if it is transported in through the mouth of Dongyang County, the cost will increase slightly.

It would be best if it could be resolved in Lizhou.