Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Backed Out Before Making a Move
The previous text mentioned, this is a world with Immortals and Knights. Although the Court also has the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, and cultivators in the City God Temple, the wealthy merchants and noble families still hold a layer of reverence.
Because their main duty is to suppress evil Abnormal People and creatures, prevent foreign invasions, and maintain social stability.
So, while the influential class in the Great Jing Dynasty may act high-handedly, they do not dare to go too far. At least, unrestrained actions like wanton killings are much less common than in typical ancient worlds.
It should be understood that the Great Jing Sect comprises many renowned factions, with Martial Artists and Sword Cultivators who loathe evil being widespread.
If you commit evil and are seen by others, your head could be taken with one sword strike. Do you think the Great Jing Dynasty would offend a cultivation sect for an ordinary person, especially when the sect is in the right?
Thus, even rich families, at most, use connections or wealth to crush others or employ some shady methods, always maintaining a baseline.
Take this Zhao Family for instance, even when they are displeased with Lu Zheng, they never thought of using disreputable methods.
After all, being newly arrived in Tonglin County, they do not want to leave a tyrannical impression on the local government and prominent households.
After swallowing his grievances in front of Lu Zheng, Zhao Wenrong, with a belly full of anger, instructed Zhou Mingsheng to prepare a gift and went to Chunfeng Building with a servant to vent his anger.
...
The next day at noon, Zhao Wenrong and Zhou Mingsheng went together to visit Chief Clerk Li.
They explained their intentions.
Chief Clerk Li nodded, "I have the ties of being classmates with your father. This little favor is nothing serious, just a storefront. I’ll help mediate a bit, and you offer more money. Traders make money, more friends mean more paths. I think the other party won’t refuse."
Zhao Wenrong mentioned that the other party was just a small merchant with a storefront, so Chief Clerk Li did not mind, still thinking that it was Zhao Wenrong posing with the stature of the Zhao Family from Yizhou, causing the situation to go stiff.
However, with his mediation, the local merchants will certainly show some respect, especially since he’s an official at the County Government Office—after all, a county official is not as influential as a direct authority.
Zhao Wenrong raised his hands in salute, "Thank you, Uncle Li!"
"No problem, no problem!" Chief Clerk Li lifted his teacup, took a sip, and asked with a smile, "Which family is the other party? Tell me."
Zhou Mingsheng hurriedly said, "The other party is Lu Zheng, the shop is called Sweet Shop."
"Pfft!"
Chief Clerk Li spewed out a mouthful of tea.
"Who?"
"Lu Zheng, a young man."
Seeing Chief Clerk Li’s odd expression, Zhou Mingsheng cautiously said.
Thus, Chief Clerk Li quickly put down the teacup and seriously looked at Zhao Wenrong and Zhou Mingsheng, "What exactly happened between you and him? Quickly tell me in detail!"
Zhou Mingsheng swallowed, realizing the extraordinary nature of this young man at Lu Zheng’s place earlier, but hadn’t thought deeply about it until seeing Chief Clerk Li’s reaction now...
Zhao Wenrong was momentarily bewildered, "Uncle Li, what’s up with Lu Zheng?"
"Speak quickly!"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Zhou Mingsheng hurriedly recounted the scenes of two encounters with Lu Zheng, ending with, "We were always polite, but that Lu Zheng... Young Master Lu kept giving us stern faces."
"Your servant is ignorant, yet you all are ignorant too?" Chief Clerk Li said in exasperation.
"Is it that his family..." Zhou Mingsheng tried to probe.
"Has a relative in high office?" Zhao Wenrong interjected, then continued, "My second uncle is also an official in Yuhe County!"
Chief Clerk Li almost threw the teacup upon hearing this.
"You mentioned the Zhao Family, if he had someone in office, wouldn’t he say so?"
Throughout history, the relationship between officials and merchants has always been unclear and indistinct, intertwined without clear hierarchy.
In the midst of secular affairs, not revealing support either marks one as foolish or with sinister intentions.
"Then..."
Chief Clerk Li straightforwardly said, "Young Master Lu is an Outer Disciple of White Cloud Temple."
"White Cloud Temple?" Zhou Mingsheng and Zhao Wenrong exchanged glances.
Zhao’s influence doesn’t extend beyond Yizhou, and they rarely interact with the cultivation realm, so they truly don’t know of White Cloud Temple’s reputation.
But...
"Is it a cultivation sect?" Zhou Mingsheng asked, "But it’s nothing to make you..."
There are cultivation sects around Yizhou Prefecture too; although respected by merchants and families, they are not feared, given the town has the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, formidable enough to reprimand unlawfulness.
"Young Master Lu is friends with the Earth God Peach Blossom Fairy in the south of the city," Chief Clerk Li said blandly.
This makes for a connection to the authorities, although not part of the Civil Servant system, still not to be underestimated.
Zhao Wenrong blinked, yet stubbornly said, "We don’t deal with Earth Gods."
We are not the farmers working tirelessly under the sun; merchants and families worship the God of Wealth, rarely the Earth God without reason.
Then Chief Clerk Li continued, "He also has connections within the Yizhou Town Anomaly Suppression Bureau."
He remembered well why the order to build Taohua Temple was issued.
Zhao Wenrong, "..."
Zhou Mingsheng, "..."
This straight up extends beyond Tonglin County, networking directly reaches Yizhou Prefecture?
The Anomaly Suppression Bureau might not manage mundane affairs, but its influence over the government office is substantial. For this alone, using shady means against Lu Zheng is simply impossible.
But... the Anomaly Suppression Bureau oversees anomalies, couldn’t interfere with official administration, right? Yet Chief Clerk Li dared not even to mediate?
Seeing Zhao Wenrong still somewhat resentful, seemingly wanting to say something, Chief Clerk Li brought out the final straw, "By the way, Young Master Lu also knows Yizhou Prefecture’s newly appointed Prefect Lord Du. Lord Du visited Young Master Lu just the other day."
Zhao Wenrong: ???
Zhou Mingsheng: !!!
This time, the two were genuinely deflated, Yizhou Prefecture’s Prefect? A region’s highest local official!
"Then he..."
Zhao Wenrong’s little heart couldn’t help but pound heavily, his mouth twitched uncontrollably, "Why didn’t he say?"
Chief Clerk Li shook his head, "How would I know?"
Glancing at Zhao Wenrong, being the son of an old acquaintance, Chief Clerk Li thought for a moment and said, "Young Master Lu’s identity isn’t a secret within the government office, Chief Constable Liu assisted him with some petty trouble. Some days ago, Lord Du discreetly visited, conveyed by Chief Constable Liu, and both Lord County Magistrate and Lord County Magistrate are aware.
Since you can do business in the county, you must have smoothed the connections within the government office, with diligence you naturally could learn his background, perhaps he felt there was no need to tell you, you would naturally find out."
Darn it, is it really like this?
He doesn’t flaunt, others will flaunt for him to see?
But it almost caused a misunderstanding! We almost lost it!
Is this really ok? Could accidentally harm the innocent!
Zhao Wenrong internally ranted wildly, while Zhou Mingsheng continuously wiped sweat.
"So..."
Chief Clerk Li concluded with a stern expression addressing the two, "Since Young Master Lu has said he’s not selling, then you can stop thinking about Sweet Shop, go check other storefronts in Cong’an Square. If there are suitable ones, offer more money sincerely, I could help bridge the connection."
With words spoken to such an extent, Zhao Wenrong naturally knew Chief Clerk Li wouldn’t assist them in confronting Lu Zheng, thus they could only express thanks and then leave.
"Well, Young Master..." Zhou Mingsheng hesitantly said, then suggested, "Shall I list that storefront again?"
How else? Accept defeat!
"List it," Zhao Wenrong exhaled helplessly and instructed, "Additionally... send Zhao Si back, discipline him by family rules."
"Yes!" Zhou Mingsheng’s eyes gleamed, bowing in agreement.
...
On the other side, Lu Zheng, after sending Liu Qingyan to Renxin Hall early in the morning, waited for Zhao Wenrong to make a move, even toured near Sweet Shop in the afternoon.
So long as the opponent acts first, the classic scenario of flaunting and face-slapping would immediately unfold. Lu Zheng started excitedly rubbing his hands.
But after waiting this way and that, not only did he see no moves from the other side, but a broker’s clerk came, hanging a "For Sale" sign again next to Sweet Shop’s adjacent storefront.
Lu Zheng: ⚆_⚆?
What’s going on?
Lu Zheng wore a bewildered expression, was this admitting defeat before taking action?