Twenty-eight, contention

  When County Magistrate Chen heard the case of "Guī Jì", it ended in nothing, without even saying a word of consolation, and he fled with his face covered. The people who were watching at the gate of the government office finally understood what had happened. The power of the Shēn family was still known to some of the common people, as several years ago, the Shēn family had invested in building Wei Zhongxian's ancestral temple, and forcibly occupied several pieces of civilian fields. At that time, the county magistrate was also like this, seeing Shēn Dà come out, he immediately fled with his face covered, exactly the same as today.

  The common people let out a huge hiss, and then dispersed, leaving only a few people on the square in front of the government office. Only a group of women from Xigou Village were still timidly lingering around, half-exposing their heads, wanting to enter the main hall to take a look at their husbands, but not daring to do so.

  Zhu Yuanzhang said in a low voice to the villagers of Xigou who were kneeling in the hall: "What are you still kneeling here for? Hurry up and leave!"

  The forty or so villagers finally got up from the ground and looked at Da Shun and Second Master with a complex expression, then walked out of the hall.

  The land deeds and sale contracts that were thrown out of the mansion earlier were scattered all over the floor in the main hall. These pieces of paper, which were clearly important contracts related to their lives and property, didn't even warrant a glance from the villagers. This morning when they woke up, they were still slaves of the Ma family, and the land they tilled was still the Ma family's land. By this afternoon, they had suddenly become members of the Shan family, without even realizing it themselves... Reality trampled on their dignity, but life had to go on... Whether they belonged to the Ma family or the Shan family, wasn't it all the same? They were just slaves serving others either way.

  Walking to the door... a man from Xigou Village suddenly turned his head, quickly walked in front of Zhu Yuanzhang and said in a low voice: "Brother Zhu Ba, we are not one family from now on, but no matter whether I am at Ma's or Shen's house, I will always remember Brother Zhu Ba's kindness... if there is anything, just let me know."

  Zhu Yuanzhang patted his shoulder and whispered: "Live a good life..."

  The villagers walked out of the government office, and the women waiting outside immediately rushed up to them, surrounding the men and crying. The sound of their wailing accompanied the footsteps as they went further away. Da let his servants pick up the land deeds and slave contracts that had been thrown on the floor, and put them back in his pocket. Only then did he beckon to Second Master Ma: "Let's go, Second Master Ma, let's have a couple of drinks."

  Shan Da is already in his forties, more than twice the age of Second Master Ma, but he is roughly the same age as Eldest Master Ma, so they should be considered peers. Therefore, Shan Da also doesn't dare to put on airs as an elder, and instead addresses him as Second Young Master Ma.

  The Second Master heard him call out casually and also called out randomly: "Shan Old Big, come on, let's go drink."

  The two of them walked hand in hand, looking very affectionate as they left the government office and headed towards the only San Gu Xiang wine house in Baishui County. Since the San Gu Xiang wine house was not far from the government office, neither of them took a sedan chair, but instead strolled casually, with two large groups of family servants following behind, making a big show as they passed through the streets.

  The three-story Xiang Wine House has a large dining hall on the first floor for ordinary people, with square tables arranged in a disorderly manner and long benches placed along the edges. A group of dirty-handed and barefooted waiters are busy serving customers here. The second floor is much better, with square tables neatly arranged and a certain distance between each table. The long benches have been replaced by square stools.

  The third floor is the best, with screens dividing it into many compartments. There are potted plants in the corners, and each compartment has only one eight-immortal table, with a few delicate sandalwood chairs placed beside it. Each table is against a window, where you can feel the cool breeze. The attendants here are also dressed neatly and have smiles on their faces.

  Shan Da and Second Master Ma naturally went to the third floor, while the servants of both families stayed on the first floor. Just before going upstairs, Shan Da suddenly pointed at Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Qianjiu, laughing: "Second Master Ma, it's not suitable for these two managers to stay on the first floor. They are both capable people, let's call them up to the third floor to drink together."

  The second young master smiled and said: "A capable person? They're all just servants. Who has the qualifications to drink with Lao Da at the same table?"

  Shan Da smiled and said: "I have something to say to them..."

  The Second Master smiled and said, "Alright, let them follow us."

  The four of them went up to the third floor together, and Da Shang was asked to sit in the southernmost seat first. The second young master sat on his left, Ma Qianji accompanied him, and he reluctantly sat on the left side of the second young master. Zhu Yuanzhang imitated Ma Qianji's manner and sat at the end. In those days, there were many rules for eating, especially in large households, where seating arrangements could not be mistaken. If one's buttocks accidentally occupied the wrong seat, they would immediately offend someone.

  The shopkeeper kept bringing up wine and dishes, and Da Hai and Er Xiao Ye drank a few cups and ate a few bites. Ma Qianjiu and Zhu Yuanzhang were also at the table, but they were very restrained and hardly touched their chopsticks.

  After three rounds of wine, Shenyi finally spoke up: "Second Master Ma, our two families didn't have much of a relationship in the past, but from now on, we can certainly interact more. The learning and knowledge of Old Master Ma is something that our family has always admired."

  The two young masters and Ma Qianjiu thought to themselves: You want to rise to wealth and come to cling to our family, the Ma family with a successful candidate? Dream on! Although you have some power, you will always be just a tasteless nouveau riche.

  Xiang Gui thought for a moment, but Ma Qianjiu smiled and said: "Shen Lao Ye is too polite, our two families should indeed interact more..."

  Shan Da Hei Hei laughed twice, then suddenly said: "Ma Qianjiu, you are the old steward of the Ma family, and your reputation as a capable person has long been heard. I didn't expect that the Ma family not only had you, such a capable steward, but also another formidable little steward, who looks very pleasing to my eyes."

  Everyone understood as soon as they heard it, he was talking about Zhu Ba, but didn't know what he meant by saying this.

  Shan Da continued, "My Shan family is just short of a capable manager. You all know that our current manager is getting old and will soon be entering his coffin. As people age, they start to get muddled, and the affairs of the front and back yards are not being handled smoothly. I'm putting on a thick face to ask you, would your Ma family be willing to give up this Zhu Ba and transfer him to me, letting him come to my house as a manager?"

  Shan Da's words were like a spark, and the expressions of Second Master, Ma Qianjiu, and Zhu Yuanchang suddenly became strange. In fact, asking someone else for one or two slaves was not unusual, and it was common for wealthy families to give each other dozens of slaves as gifts after exchanging glances. But recently, Zhu Ba had been in high spirits at the Ma's house, so when Shan Da asked for this person, it made people think twice.

  The second young master thought for a moment: Zhu Ba is capable, but he's not considerate. Today, he even broke into the inner courtyard with Ma Qianjiu and beat up my people. Since he wants it so much, I'll just give it to him.

  He was originally a cold-blooded person, and even when Qi Guan Shi, who had been a dog for the Ma family for 15 years, died, he didn't have half a bit of sadness. He smiled casually and said: "Shan Lao Da, look at how polite you're being. If you want it, I'll give it to you."

  The second young master had just opened his mouth, and Ma Qianji immediately exclaimed: "Absolutely not!" He was the person who knew best how capable Zhu Ba was. This time, helping the Ma family resolve the crisis relied on Zhu Ba's ideas, and at a critical moment, he gave medicine to Shan Da and Chen Guanyu. This is an extremely valuable talent, how can it be easily given away? Even if all the poor scholars in the side house were sent away, Zhu Ba couldn't be sent away.

  Ma Qianjiu, although a slave, was a household slave of the Ma family and his status was not low. Usually, he followed the second young master's whims, but at this critical moment, he also had the courage to defy his master. He quickly spoke up: "Second Master, the person in charge of the side courtyard has just been replaced by Zhu Ba, and things have not yet been settled. At this time, if we send Zhu Ba away, who will be in charge of the side courtyard? Our family also needs Zhu Ba very much, so it's better to apologize to Shang Lao Ye."

  "What's that supposed to mean?" The Second Master said impatiently, "Without Zhang Butcher, am I supposed to eat hairy pigs? Without Zhu Eight, there are still Zhu Nine and Zhu Ten. Can't anyone else manage the estate?"

  Ma Qianjiu smiled wryly and said: "Second Master, it's hard to find talented people. Although our Ma family doesn't lack someone like this, having someone like this is still a bonus."

  The two of them actually started arguing in front of Da Ye and Zhu Yuanzhang, the second young master was young and incompetent, but after all, he was the young master, so his words were much more overbearing. Ma Qianjiu was a slave, but when he spoke, he had a smile on his face, being careful and cautious, however, he was the trusted confidant of the eldest young master, and if anything happened, the eldest young master would protect him, so he wasn't afraid to argue with the second young master.

  Two men quarreled from the east wing to the west wing, and then from the west wing to the front yard. Ma Qianjiu brought out Da Shao Ye to back him up, while Er Shao Ye kept saying "Old Dad hasn't died yet, this family is still not entirely under Brother's control..." The two men quarreled in a daze, with Zheng Da watching in amazement and Zhu Yuanzhang crying with laughter on the side.

  In the end, Shandai couldn't bear it anymore and interrupted, "Second Master Ma, Big Manager Ma, I think you two should stop arguing. It's just a small matter of asking someone to do something. I didn't expect one sentence to cause so much trouble... Ah, this matter, I think it's best to let Zhu Ba make his own decision. Ask him if he wants to continue being the manager of the side courtyard in the Ma family or go to my Shandai family to take over as the big manager."

  The second young master rolled his eyes: "He's just a lowly servant, why bother asking for his opinion? I want to send him away, it's as simple as that."

  Ma Qianjiu also said: "That's right, Zhu Ba's contract is in our Ma family. If we don't want to send him away, he can't leave even if he wants to."

  One is afraid he won't leave, the other is afraid he will... The two people surprisingly reached a consensus at this time, but as soon as these two sentences were spoken, the contradiction between them became apparent.

  Shan laughed loudly: "Whether Zhu Ba is willing to go or not, this is no small matter. If he's willing to come to my Shan family, even if you use a contract to keep him, his heart won't be with you and things won't go well. If he's not willing to come to my Shan family, even if you give him to me as a gift, I wouldn't dare to use him. That's why I say... it's best to ask him."

  The Second Master and Ma Qianjiu were both taken aback by these words!

  The two of them turned their heads at the same time, staring at Zhu Yuanzhang and asked seriously: "Zhu Ba, you tell us, are you willing to stay in the Ma family as a small steward of the side house, or go to the Yi family to take over the big steward's job?"

  After asking, the second young master added a sentence: "The other side is in charge of big things! There are many things to take care of, just like Ma Qianjiu...". When he said the words "take care of the same width", he intentionally emphasized his tone, with a strange and mysterious tone, secretly satirizing Ma Qianjiu for not respecting him as the master.

  Ma Qianjiu had no time to pay attention to the second young master, and he was also worried in his heart. As the saying goes, people tend to go to high places, and the conditions offered by the other side are quite tempting, and it's impossible for this side to offer better conditions unless... This is clearly impossible. He had no choice but to lower his voice and whisper to Zhu Yuanzhang: "The imperial examination... The Shang family doesn't have an imperial examination..."

  Three pairs of eyes stared tightly at Zhu Yuanzhang, the scene was like a football, after being kicked around by forwards Da Zhong and Er Xiao Ye, and defender Ma Qianjiu, it finally landed in front of goalkeeper Zhu Yuanzhang.

  What was Zhu Yuanzhang thinking at this time?