Chapter 68 Return

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  Yao Fan successfully convinced Xu Jianyin, the head of Shandong Machine Bureau, and Xue Fuchen, who was also listening on the side, was deeply impressed. The two thought that if they followed Yao Fan's words, the machine could be installed immediately after purchase and put into production within three months, which would be much faster than Director Ding's requirement of one year for production. If this can be achieved, it will be a remarkable achievement.

  The two immediately set out to write a petition and apply for the silver, and in just two days, Yao Fan received 50,000 taels of silver tickets personally handed over by Ding Baozhen.

  That day on Beichazi Street, in the Machine Bureau's business office, Yao Weng and Xu Jianyin, Xue Fuchen were quietly waiting for Ding Baozhen's arrival.

  Ding Baozhen came in without saying anything like "Yao Feng, don't cheat me" or any sentimental words like "Every penny here is the people's hard-earned money".

  Only in front of Xu Jianyin and Xu Fuchen did he hand over the silver ticket to Yao Fang, saying: "You focus on doing things well, don't worry about anything else."

  Old Ding turned around and was about to leave, as if he had come specifically just to deliver the silver.

  Yao Fan stuffed the silver ticket into his pocket, with mixed emotions. He knew that people like Ding Baozhen were rare exceptions in the Qing Empire's officialdom; among those who could squeeze out silver, how many would use it to handle foreign affairs?

  Yao Feng didn't hesitate and took a step forward, bowing his head in respect:

  "Your junior still has one more thing to ask for your permission."

  Ding Baozhen was also stunned.

  "What else do you want, Yao Fang?"

  "Sir, on the way to Jinan this time, my merchant group encountered bandits and everyone was held at knifepoint. I almost lost my life. Even now, I still have a lingering fear. I beg you, sir, to allow me to purchase a military officer position for my family members, so they can be attached to the Green Camp and receive a salary. This way, in the future when we travel, we can also bring some guards with us."

  Ding Baozhen frowned and said, "I know about this matter. Those bandits are always in groups of three to five dozen people, causing trouble on the trade routes all year round. I've mentioned it to Zhou Jue several times, but he's always making excuses that the bandits are elusive and have no fixed residence, so they can't be eliminated!"

  At this point, Ding Baozhen became somewhat angry.

  Yao Feng said this, but not to make things difficult for Zhou Jue Rong, the Shandong general of Jinan Prefecture. He hastily added: "I think Li Jing Fang and his men have few servants, but they are good at handling knives, so they can easily repel the horse bandits. I was thinking, if I also had a few dozen servants with knives, wouldn't that be safe?"

  Ding Baozhen chuckled and said: "You are just a hundred servants with knives, how can you compare to those brave warriors in his family who have been on the battlefield?"

  Never mind, I'll go with you to donate it then. You don't need to run around to the Silver Bureau, the Training Bureau, and the Baojia Bureau. Just come to the Supply Bureau in my government office, hand over your identification documents and 1,000 taels of silver, and I will instruct them to take care of it for you. It will be attached to the Weiguo Fu's defense battalion at Qingdao Port in Jiaozhou. Give yourself a title as Training General or something... normally, just report to Sun Maowen's government office in Jiaozhou to help him collect some donations and that's all.

  Yao Fans heard that, and the three of them were not even from the same family, this was a case of "three no's"! He was overjoyed in his heart and quickly thanked Ding Baozhen.

  "It's just that the silver is gone, don't think about it. Nowadays, even the Green Camp's silver is only taken half, where would we get the money to pay the rural guards? You can pay yourself! This is already protecting your own family's property, do you still want to ask the imperial court for help?" Ding Baozhen said this and also got a bit angry, impatiently turning around and leaving.

  "Alas, Old Ding, if only you were 20 years younger, I would definitely win you over." Yao Fang thought to himself with a sense of complacency.

  Lao Ding left, and Xue Fu Chen smiled and said: "Brother Yao, since you helped our family donate a team's quota, why bother asking the adults for expenses? The adults asked you to help the prefecture collect donations and issue certificates. Those things are issued every month like snowflakes. Since the adults have given you this task, aren't they afraid that the expenses won't come through?"

  Yao Fanzhen said he just wanted Old Ding to think he was greedy for money, but unexpectedly Old Ding had already arranged a way for him to dig up the silver ingots, and indeed treated himself with great care.

  Back at the shop, Yao Fang was busy helping He Shi-cheng write a good body certificate, and sent it to the Zhiying Bureau of the Provincial Governor's Office along with the silver. He also gave the Zhiying Bureau a red envelope containing 100 taels. With the red envelope and Ding Baozhen's personal instructions, the Zhiying Bureau handled the matter quickly, and within two days, they sent the documents to the relevant prefectures, counties, and departments for reporting, and handed over the appointment certificate to Yao Fang.

  He Hesheng went to Tai'an to deliver the silver, and after returning with Luo Guangqun and Wang Chuanyan from helping Yao Fan settle his household registration, he suddenly discovered that he had become a small official.

  "Once you arrive in Qingdao, I'll hand over the appointment letter to Wei Guofu, and you can consider yourself a Brigade Commander."

  "Master Dong, what rank is Zhang Gong?"

  "Not in circulation."

  "The hundred officials under the Defender General are also unrefined, which one is superior?"

  "I don't know, probably he's older than you, after all, they're regular army."

  He Shicheng returned to his own house with a hum, but he was still happy in his heart. After all, he had become an official! Although it was just a minor position as the head of a group of irregular soldiers who were not even ranked as ninth-grade officials, it still made him so excited that he couldn't sleep well for the whole night.

  The three members of the Li family played in Jinan Prefecture for nine days. On the tenth day, the three of them had to leave.

  Yao Fan deliberately made friends with them during this period, and his relationship with the three of them became even closer. On that day, he sent the three of them off ten miles away before turning back. Before leaving, he also gave them five boxes of Ferrero Rocher chocolates that he had left over, still removing the Chinese stickers from the imported goods. He also gave the three of them three 28-inch farm-use bicycles, simple tool kits and manual air pumps.

  These days, Yao Fan heard Li Jingyu complaining that because Yao Fan said those chocolates couldn't withstand the heat, so the three of them ate quickly. Li Jingyu was particularly greedy for sweets and could eat half a box in one day. Yao Fan thought to herself: Is this a complaint or a bribe? So she had no choice but to give away the share she had kept as a snack to the three of them.

  "Brother Jing Fang, here are thirty pens and thirty bottles of ink for you and your brothers to use when studying. It's also a gift for your classmates, so they'll think highly of you. Additionally, I have ten new towels that I brought back from the West, specifically for washing faces, much more comfortable than using cloth." Yao Fang carefully took out a package from his carriage and handed it to Li Jing Fang.

  "Brother Yao, this period of time has really put you to a lot of trouble." Li Jingfang said gratefully.

  "But my brother also asked people to patronize your business, Brother Yao. He bought a hundred Heaven-brand umbrellas and three hundred bars of Runchun soap, helping you earn some money." Li Desheng said with a smile.

  Yao Fanyi was stunned as soon as he heard it.

  "What?... Hey! Why didn't you say so earlier, I would have sent a few boxes over and that's it. Why did you have to call someone to buy them, now everyone knows and I've lost face."

  "Look at what Brother Yao said, why be polite with us? My brother bought these to bring to Beijing and Tianjin to give to friends. If he still had the nerve to ask Brother Yao for help, that would really be too much. Moreover, Brother Yao has given us so many books and gifts before, this little bit of money is nothing to mention, it's just a pity my brother has to rush off and can't bring more, otherwise we would definitely buy twice as much." Li Desheng said with a smile.

  Yao Weng smiled gently.

  "You all study well in Beijing and Tianjin, if I have a chance to travel on business and pass by there in the future, I will definitely come visit you."

  "Brother Yao, if you're passing by, you must come!" Li Jingyu suddenly blurted out.

  Li Desu and Li Jingfang also strongly urged, asking Yao Wenyue to make sure to find time to go to Tianjin in the future, so that they can have the opportunity to be a good host. Yao Wenyue knew that it was Li Hongzhang's stronghold, many Huai Army soldiers had moved their families there, and on the streets, people speaking Anhui dialect were more than those speaking the local accent.

  After several days of traveling and dining together, the relationship between the four people had become quite close.

  After bidding farewell to each other, Yao Fangmu saw them off as they left.

  On the way back to the city, Yao Fan decided to take a detour and head towards Qingdao Port immediately.

  He was originally going to Jinan Prefecture to curry favor, now that his goal has been achieved, the thickest thigh is firmly grasped by him, naturally there is no need to stay here for long.

  Luo Guangqun and Wang Chuannian spent 3,000 taels of silver to help Yao Fan find a declining Yao surname landlord family in Tai'an to register his household, and after being recorded in the clan genealogy as a side branch, he also returned to Jinan. Yao Fan asked them to stay in Jinan Prefecture to keep an eye on He Wanyou and be careful not to embezzle silver from the business.

  Yao Fan led his original team from Qingdao Port, using a small air cylinder to inflate the bicycles and set off again. The 28-bicycle, 30-person fleet headed back to Qingdao Port. This time, without cargo, the ride was more relaxed, and the two extra people who were left after sending out three bicycles took turns riding on the team's vehicles.

  As for Zhou, he had received Yao's order earlier and was told to deliver the medicine quickly. He then hired a large cart in Jinan Prefecture and rushed straight to Qingdao Port.

  The driver who was in a hurry received twenty taels of silver and naturally followed the agreement to rush overnight, because the empty car ran fast, it only took nine days to send Zhou back home.

  After seeing the medicine and letter sent by Yao Fang, and listening to Zhou Di's account of his journey, San Jie and Li Hai Niu were discussing something.

  "Third sister, you decide, you're the one closest to the master, I'll listen to you."

  "Li, I've never encountered this before either, my heart is racing. What do you think Yao is thinking? Why did he want to give the bandit medicine?" San Jie sat in Yao Fang's room, frowning and deep in thought.

  Li Haoniu, however, had seen through Yao Fang's thoughts and calmly said: "Probably the master took pity on those people. As the saying goes, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda."

  "Those bandits robbed Elder Brother's silver, what's there to save? It would be better if they all died!" Third Sister said indignantly.

  "The master has his own reasons for doing things, let's just listen to him." Li Haibei advised.

  ……

  Runan Mountain Area, Shitou Gou

  In a humble wooden hut in Baima Village, a single lamp flickered like a bean.

  In the dim light, Bai Xiaoqi, the host of White Horse Village, knelt in front of a small wooden shrine, wholeheartedly devoted to her prayers.

  She was heard murmuring devoutly from her mouth:

  "Bodhisattva, bless my child with peace and safety..."

  May God and Buddha bless my child with peace...

  May our ancestors bless and protect my child...

  "May the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother bless my child with peace..."

  In the ancestral shrine there was only one wooden tablet with the inscription "Spiritual Position of My Deceased Father Bai Jiude".