Chapter 15: Wei Guofu

  Wayne Gretzky

  In Yao Fang's opinion, if she didn't know, it would be fine. But San Jie was the first poor person he deeply contacted in this Qing Dynasty. If he didn't help her, his conscience would feel guilty for the rest of his life.

  All he saw was Sun Maowen's face showing a difficult expression, saying: "But, Yao younger brother, this matter is indeed difficult to handle. You should know that the Guo family has a very strong background."

  Then Sun Maowen talked about the background of Guo's family, which basically served as a supplement to He Shicheng's previous words.

  Yao Feng put down his tea cup and asked Sun Mao Wen: "What did Big Brother say, how can we handle this matter to get Third Sister back?"

  Sun Maowen slightly closed his eyes, tapping the table in front of him with his finger, thinking: "This matter is complicated to handle, saying it's not complicated but also complex."

  This Yao Fang is a master who can make money every month, and he is also generous with his hands. There's no reason why he would offend him.

  Moreover, Yao Feng also knows the rules and understands filial piety. For such a trivial matter of competing for favor and face, he actually spent 1,000 taels. It's indeed a bit extravagant. He can help him out himself.

  Judging from the nature of this matter, Yao Fan would be willing to spend at most three or four thousand taels of silver. If he had to spend too much more, he would probably think it wasn't worth it and wouldn't be willing to do it.

  Sun Maowen, who was deep in thought, calculated the value of this matter and then said: "In my opinion, there are three ways to handle this situation."

  Yao Fan's face broke into a smile as he thought to himself, "Sun Maowen is indeed an official with some real skills."

  "Big brother, please speak."

  "Firstly, let's start with something gentle. I'll help my brother out and get County Magistrate Zhao of Jimen to put in a good word for you. Just say that the deposit has already been paid and have him discuss the matter with the Guo family."

  Secondly, let's get down to business. I'll help you ask Wei Shoubei to lead his troops to Guo Family Village to capture the person.

  Thirdly, I'll get a black one for you. I'll ask Liu Xun to help you with the customs. His elder brother Liu Ziren is the salt and tea inspector of Laizhou Prefecture. As long as his elder brother seizes some of the Guo family's private salt and gives them some trouble, the Guo family will definitely hand over the person.

  Yao Feng anxiously asked: "Big brother, helping me like this, aren't you afraid of offending the Guo family?"

  Sun Maowen said with great indignation, "This Guo Jixiu is a scoundrel who relies on his connections in the imperial court to privately brew and sell salt. Even the dogs and horses in his household eat food mixed with salt. The two eyes of the Guo family are blinded by greed, how can they know what filial piety is? My relationship with him is as different from yours as black and white."

  Yao Fang smiled secretly, thinking: "It seems you are still closest to Xinzhi."

  Sun Maowen sighed and said, "However, Brother Yao, you should know that in our great Qing dynasty, if you want to get something done, it's absolutely impossible without silver. This matter has three solutions, each of which requires spending silver."

  Yao Fan knew that Sun Maowen did not directly say how much silver was needed, but treated this matter as a business, wanting to probe his own bottom line and haggle over the price.

  Yao Fan didn't mind Sun Mao Wen making a profit from this matter. Firstly, he genuinely hoped that San Jie would be saved. Secondly, the more money Sun Mao Wen made from him, the deeper their connection would be.

  Yao Feng immediately said: "Big brother, according to you, how much silver will this matter cost?"

  Sun Maowen was straightforward: "Three methods, choose whichever one you like. Without at least 5,000 taels, it's not going to work."

  Yao Feng's eyes lit up: "Five thousand taels is no problem! Brother Sun, which method do you think will make the most impact? This matter has been simmering in my mind, and if I don't give the Guo family a show of strength, this bad temper of mine won't be soothed."

  Sun Maowen glanced at Yao Feng, thinking to himself that this kid was originally a hot-headed and vengeful person who couldn't take the slightest offense, and could get worked up over something as trivial as competing for attention. He said aloud:

  "That first method is most afraid that the Guo family will not buy Zhao's account, or Zhao Shuoyan dare not show his head. After all, Old Master Guo is still Zhao's teacher."

  The third method, I'm afraid the Guo family has too deep a connection in Yan Chadao, and relying solely on Liu Ziming's older brother, a patrol officer, would be insufficient to deal with the Guo family. Even if they confiscate several loads of private salt from their home, it will likely be returned to them by someone else the next day."

  Yao Feng smiled and said: "Big brother's words are exactly what I wanted to say, I also think that this matter should be handled by Wei Shoubei, only then can we deal a blow to the prestige of the Guo family."

  Then Yao Fan changed his tone: "However, I have had a few dealings with Wei Shoubi, if I go through my brother to ask him, it would be inappropriate. It's better for me to ask him for help myself."

  Sun Maowen thought to himself that things were going to go wrong. Why did he, in front of Yao Feng, inexplicably and involuntarily reveal his plans, making everything so clear? This way, he wouldn't be able to take advantage of the situation and gain anything from it. And why did Yao Feng have to choose the most difficult option? A businessman should prioritize harmony and profit! If he had chosen one of the other two options, Sun Maowen would have been able to find a way to benefit from it.

  Although Yao Fan is a technical expert, he hasn't spent less time socializing in the office. By looking at Sun Maowen's face, he had already guessed his thoughts.

  Yao Fan added: "Of course, big brother gave me this idea and it's a great achievement. After the matter is settled, I will definitely thank big brother heavily."

  After hearing this, Sun Maowen's face regained its radiance.

  Yao Fan again smoothed things over with Sun Mao Wen for a few sentences before leaving the government office of Sun Mao Wen.

  Mounting his horse, Yao Feng said to He Shi-cheng: "Go, go and guard the camp."

  Upon arriving at the guard camp, Yao Fan again spoke eloquently, adding oil to the fire as he poured out his grievances to Wei Guofu. However, looking at Wei Guofu's expression, he seemed very calm.

  Yao Feng cursed himself for being foolish, "I suppose Wei Guo Fu thought I was competing with the Guo family and eating vinegar, so naturally he's not interested. I'm really wasting my saliva."

  Before Yao Feng could take out the silver, Wei Guofu suddenly spoke up:

  "Alas, Younger Brother Yao, Wei Big Brother has been feeling troubled lately."

  Yao Feng was shocked and thought to himself: I came here to vent my grievances, what the hell are you bothering me for?

  "Big brother, what's wrong? If you have something to say, hurry up and let me help you think it over."

  Wei Guofu sighed and said, "The birthday of my old mother in Wuhu is approaching, and two days ago, someone from my hometown came to ask me if I still want to celebrate her longevity this year.

  Yao Fan's heart skipped a beat, and he hastily said: "Of course we'll do it!"

  Wei Guofu's expression was like that of a tragic hero, shaking his head and sighing: "But where can I find silver in this poor yamen except for these big-headed soldiers who eat and drink at my expense?"

  Yao Fanzhen said it wasn't good, this scene seemed familiar to him! This is the rhythm of a lion's big opening mouth! He hurriedly showed his teeth and smiled: "What a big deal, look at how anxious my brother Wei is. It's just making a longevity, I as a younger brother should also have a share, right? Brother, you say, how much more silver is needed? I'll think of a way to add this fun for the old lady, even if I have to sell pots and pans."

  Wei Guofu's eyes lit up, and he rolled his eyeballs, blinking twice, his face slightly red as he said: "If it were just this one worry, that would be fine. But the family members who came this time also said that my wife from my hometown, your sister-in-law, has contracted a strange illness. She takes medicine every day but doesn't get better, and can only barely hold on with ginseng soup. Alas, my poor household is struggling to make ends meet, I'm afraid we won't be able to afford medicine in the future! Sigh, poor sister-in-law, she didn't even get to spend a single day of prosperity with me."

  Yao Fangan was originally a distant ancestor of Wei Guofu's eight generations, and then he smiled sycophantically: "What medicine is so expensive? Brother, tell me, I'll buy a year's worth and we'll drink ginseng soup to our heart's content. This illness, we must cure it!"

  Wei Guofu was slightly excited at this moment, his face flushed with a hint of red, he swallowed his saliva and hesitated for a moment before speaking spiritedly: "To be honest, my son back home is also like that, never studying properly! He's always fooling around with money, owing debts outside, oh dear, what can I do about it!"

  Little brother, you also know that big brother has always been very honest and clean, how did he raise such an unfilial son? Seeing the money, I couldn't pay it back, and I didn't have the face to see the officials, so I had no choice but to let that little beast be killed by others.

  And another thing, that little nephew of mine is a complete good-for-nothing! He tried to learn how to do business from others, but ended up losing money...

  Yao Fangxin said, "You Weiguo, are you done yet? I'm not asking you to send troops to fight, do you think this is like before when we asked the Qing court for travel expenses and back pay?"

  Yao Fang bluntly interrupted: "Alright, big brother, don't say any more, I completely understand."

  Isn't it that you're short of money now?

  What is that silver thing? That silver thing is a turtle egg!

  I have this thing, isn't it just like you big brother having it?

  "Today, I just want one sentence from my brother, what number do you want?!"

  Wei Guofu's mouth was still agape, his lower jaw moved a few times, but he didn't make a sound. After his eyes rolled around twice, his originally worried expression calmed down, and suddenly he slapped the table, saying with a stern tone: "Let me put it this way, little brother, you take out 10,000 taels, and big brother will help you settle this matter."

  Yao Feng smiled and said: "I'll have someone bring the silver right away."

  Wei Guofu smiled and said: "I'll go to the Guo's house right away!"

  Out of the guarding camp, Yao Fanzhi got on the horse carriage with great satisfaction.

  "Go home."

  He Shicheng led the horse and left immediately.

  "Today, I'll drink to celebrate my triumph! My ambitions are not yet fulfilled, I swear I won't rest until they are. Tomorrow, I'll show off my skills and shed hot blood to write a legendary tale... Hahahahaha!"

  He Shicheng seeing Yao Fang so happy, chimed in: "The opera you sang is really beautiful, I'm not knowledgeable, haven't heard it before, have you received good news?"

  Yao Feng smiled and said: "I'm going back to get reinforcements, of course I'm happy, I have something else to take care of."

  "Hey! Hold on tight, boss!"

  He Shicheng quickly pulled the horse and started trotting.

  Yao Fan felt that spending 10,000 taels to settle the matter was still worth it. If he had followed Sun Maowen's proposed negotiation method, he would have had to pay who knows how much silver in the end. The key point was that his third sister would inevitably suffer more humiliation at the Guo family, so if force could be used, then there was no need for diplomacy.

  Yao Fan knew that the biggest difference between the Qing and Ming dynasties was that military officials were no longer treated like dogs in front of civil officials. Even if military officials were humble and civil officials were arrogant, they could not order military officials around as they did in the late Ming dynasty. Although on the surface it seemed that the idea of emphasizing literature over martial arts had not changed, the Manchu ruling system did not leave much room for civil officials to interfere with military affairs. Therefore, Yao Fan was not worried that Wei Guofu would take the silver and fail to accomplish anything.

  Yao Fan returned to the store, opened the lock on the door of the warehouse at the back, and took out his own hidden silver bills, counting out 10,000 taels.