sjar Chapter 107 Ballots
Chapter 107 Ballots
Chapter 107 Ballots
South Gate of Hanshan County, polling station.
Standing atop a horse-drawn carriage, Ma Deyun addressed the onlookers with righteous indignation: "Fellow elders of Hanshan, please respect your votes. The grain monopoly cannot be implemented! This is competing with the people for profit. Think about it, only grain shops can sell grain. If a grain shop sells a shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain for ten taels of silver, will you buy it or not?"
"Young Master Ma, Wang Qingtian wouldn't be as shameless as you!" someone mocked.
"Haha... That's right, you bunch of unscrupulous merchants, how dare you slander Wang Qingtian! Get out of here!"
“Supporting Young Master Ma is supporting yourselves! As ordinary citizens of Hanshan, you don’t even have the freedom to buy and sell grain. What’s the difference between being human and being a dog?”
Among the onlookers, some supported the Four Great Talents, while others opposed them, and there were all sorts of opinions.
"Grain trading is free! No one can deprive us of our freedom to buy and sell grain!" Yang Shan shouted, raising his arms.
"Grain trading, free trade!" the servants of the four great scholars shouted in unison.
Ma Deyun pointed to a stall next to the carriage and said, “Fellow villagers, my friends and I have jointly contributed funds to support those who support justice. Every villager who votes against the grain monopoly can come and receive a small gift worth one qian of silver after voting.”
Grain prices in Hanshan County have skyrocketed, making life increasingly difficult for ordinary people. However, those with some savings have taken advantage of the soaring prices to make a fortune. Many households have stockpiled large quantities of grain. They are the most loyal supporters of the Four Great Talents.
"Grain monopoly is a form of extortion and plunder, competing with the people for profit. Free trade is permitted, and no one should interfere!" Those who oppose the grain monopoly chanted in unison.
Seeing this, Ma Deyun smiled slightly, patted the carriage, and said, "Let's go to the west gate and continue."
Liu Rucong was returning from the porridge distribution point when she passed by this place and saw the scene. Her brows furrowed. While Wang Wenzhou was somewhat shameless, Ma Deyun and his ilk were even more so. With grain prices so high, how were those poor people supposed to survive?
"Miss, where are you going?" Shuiyu asked when she saw that Liu Rushi had gone in the wrong direction.
"I'm going to talk to Wang Wenzhou," Liu Rushi said calmly.
Shuiyu pouted. Why did you go see that fatso again? Miss, what's wrong with you? Every time that fatso sees you, he's like a boar in heat, constantly saying he wants to sleep with you. Why are you still going to see him?
Xu Yingjie pulled on the reins, dismounted, and looked at Liu Rushi with a smile, saying, "Lady Liu, what a coincidence! We meet again. Where are you headed?"
Shuiyu pouted. Another damned fly had appeared, always bothering her. She saw him everywhere she went!
"Drunken Flower Pavilion," Liu Rushi replied.
"Pfft..." Xu Yingjie was once again deeply shocked. Miss Liu, why are you going to see that fatso again? What's so great about him?
Xu Yingjie took a deep breath to calm himself down, and a smile returned to his face. He said, "Master Liu, please mount your horse, and I will take you there."
"Hmph! Horse riding is not allowed in the city!" Liu Rushi said irritably.
"It's just a fine! Anything that can be solved with money is no big deal. I bought a monthly pass for the fine, so I can ride a horse freely within the city without any trouble," Xu Yingjie said proudly.
“Taking shamelessness as pride!” Shuiyu muttered to herself.
"Thank you, Young Master Xu, but I don't need you to see me off. It's not far; I can walk. Shuiyu, let's go." Liu Rushi waved to Shuiyu.
Xu Yingjie watched Liu Rushi's retreating figure, feeling deeply aggrieved. "I, the dignified heir of the Duke of Dingguo, handsome and dashing, how am I inferior to that fat bastard from the Earl of Xinjian? In terms of rank, he is inferior to me; in terms of appearance, he is still inferior to me! Miss Liu, why don't you like me?"
……
Zuihualou.
Sheng Lan, dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, twirled in front of Wang Wenzhou and asked, "Does this dress fit me?"
"Very good, so beautiful!" Wang Wenzhou replied listlessly.
Sheng Lan suddenly frowned and said indifferently, "I still think the one from before was better. I'll try it on again."
“Okay! Go ahead!” Wang Wenzhou nodded.
As soon as Sheng Lan stepped out the door, Wang Wenzhou let out a soft sigh. Damn it, a goddess! They're all out of their minds.
Goddess Sheng Lan has been keeping Wang Wenzhou busy for two hours because of her wedding dress.
Wang Wenzhou truly admired the goddess's perseverance; she never seemed tired! She changed clothes again and again, and each time she finished, she wanted his critique. What could Wang Wenzhou say? He could only say "good." Actually, in Wang Wenzhou's opinion, the goddess was most beautiful when she wasn't wearing any clothes.
"Young Master, Miss Liu has come to see you." Wang Qiang said as he walked in.
Wang Wenzhou laughed and scolded, "Xiao Qiang, stop calling her 'Miss Liu' from now on. She's your sister-in-law. Call her 'sister-in-law' from now on."
Wang Qiang curled his lip. "Young Master, I have way too many sisters-in-law! You're finding me sisters-in-law every other day. When I say a sister-in-law is coming to see you, do you even know which one I'm talking about? Besides, you're supposed to be a county magistrate, can you please stop sleeping with girls from brothels? I'm too embarrassed to even go to Chunfeng Pavilion now. Every time I see a top courtesan, I have to call her 'sister-in-law'!"
"Ru Ru, I was just thinking about you! I didn't expect you to be thinking about me too, and even came to see me. Perfect timing, I'm free right now, let's go to bed and talk!" Wang Wenzhou started flirting with Liu Ru Shi as soon as he saw her.
"Hmph!" Liu Rushi snorted coldly and said indifferently, "I came to find you to tell you something. Ma Deyun and his group are spreading rumors against the grain monopoly. They are even giving a silver coin as a gift to the people who voted against it."
"Haha..." Wang Wenzhou laughed loudly, "Those idiots are quite clever, they've learned without a teacher and have already started playing the bribery game."
"You're still laughing?" Liu Rushi said irritably, "Why don't you just issue a grain monopoly order instead of making a vote? If there are more opposing votes, won't you be powerless? Tell me! Did Ma Deyun and the others do this because of you?"
“Ruru, although I’m a liar, you have to understand that I won’t lie to you about wanting to sleep with you! And I didn’t lie to you about this either. I’m really not like Ma Deyun and the others,” Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.
"Then why don't you come up with some countermeasures?" Liu Rushi asked.
"Ruru, give me a kiss and I'll tell you my plan," Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.
"Hmph! Shameless! I don't want to know, Shuiyu, let's go!" Liu Rushi got up and was about to leave.
"Don't go!" Wang Wenzhou quickly stepped forward, took Liu Rushi's small hand, and said affectionately, "Rushi, tell me, what do you want to know? I will tell you everything I know."
"Get out! I don't want to know anything!" Liu Rushi shook off Wang Wenzhou's hand and turned to leave.
Liu Rushi came to find Wang Wenzhou for the sake of the people and to stabilize grain prices. Now that she saw that Wang Wenzhou was confident, she didn't want to continue talking to the shameless fat man.