Chapter 21: Clouds over hands, rain over hands

Ximen Qing is rich and powerful, but not only does he not show gratitude, he also holds grudges and loves revenge.

Of course, in Ximen Qing's eyes, Yang Chang was just an insignificant minion, and he hated Wu Song.

He had been pretending to be nice to Manager Li before, but he had his own judgment in private.

Manager Li suggested going out to relax, and Ximen Qing took the opportunity to leave the city and went to Tokyo before Wu Song.

Giving the magistrate a huge gift was not because he was afraid of putting him in jail in the Wang Po case, nor was he afraid of the so-called rumors, but because he did not want his business to be affected.

So he went to Tokyo not to relax.

Going to Tokyo to see his daughter and son-in-law was just Ximen Qing's excuse and disguise. The real thing was to build relationships.

When he arrived on a fast horse before the New Year, Wu Song and Yang Chang had not yet walked out of Puzhou. The population of Dongjing (Bianliang) exceeded one million, which was dozens of times larger than Yanggu County. It was destined that the two enemies would hardly meet in a foreign land.

Ximen Qing arrived in Tokyo on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. After entering the city, he did not rush to look for his daughter for the New Year's reunion, but went straight to Zhai Ji's medicine shop on Ma Xing Street.

The rare medicinal materials in his pharmacy, including the lively songs "The Tiger Descending the Mountain" and "The Song of the Heroic Woman", were all collected from Zhai Ji's pharmacy.

After many transactions of goods, Ximen Qing and the owner of Zhai Ji had become familiar with each other. When they met this time, they exchanged a few pleasantries and Ximen Qing proposed to visit the boss of Zhai Ji, Zhai Qian, the steward of Grand Tutor Cai Jing.

How dare the shopkeeper make the decision for Zhai Qian? He quickly declined the offer as the boss was busy with work at the end of the year and suggested that Ximen Qing come back after the new year when he had some free time.

Ximen Qing was experienced and would not be dismissed with a few words. He insisted that he had something important to report and sat in the lobby of Zhaiji, unwilling to leave.

When the shopkeeper of Zhaiji was hesitating, the boss Zhai Qian happened to come to the drugstore to settle the accounts before the New Year, and that's how he met Ximen Qing.

When they arrived at the back hall, Zhai Qian sat down steadily, looked at Ximen Qing and stroked his beard and said, "I usually don't ask about the affairs of drug dealers, but I heard that you are a big customer in Yunzhou, so I will make an exception for you today. If you have something to say, please tell me quickly."

"Mr. Zhai, please allow me to report. I bought some Tiger Descending the Mountain and Song of the Heroine. Recently."

While Ximen Qing was recounting his experience, he took out two porcelain bottles from his bosom. Hearing Zhai Qian frowning and saying coldly, "You took the aphrodisiac by mistake and lost your composure, I'm afraid you can't blame me, Zhai Ji. Besides, doesn't it also indirectly prove that the drug is effective?"

"No." Ximen Qing waved his hands and explained: "How dare I blame Zhai Ji? I just want to find out one thing, that is, what is the dosage that can cause dementia and hallucinations."

Zhai Qian became impatient when he heard this and stood up with his hands on the table.

"Try the dosage yourself. If that's all you need, there's no need to come to Tokyo to ask. I have something else to do at home, so I won't stay with you for long."

"Please wait a moment, sir. I have a request to make."

"Ok?"

"I admire Master Cai very much and would like to visit him in a few days to wish him a happy new year. Master Zhai, could you please introduce me to him?"

Ximen Qing knew that it would not be easy to meet Zhai Qian, so he took the risk to intercept him and tell him his intention.

Zhai Qian's heart tightened when he heard this. He looked at Ximen Qing again and asked seriously, "Do you know my identity? Did Manager Luo tell you?"

"No." Ximen Qing shook his head. "My daughter is married in Tokyo. My relative Chen Hong knows you, so I..."

"Chen Hong? Which Chen Hong?

"He is also the relative of Yang Jiedu"

"Yang Jiedu, Yang Jian?"

Zhai Qian suddenly realized what was going on, and immediately asked, "Since you are related to Yang Jiedu, it wouldn't be easy for you to see the Grand Tutor. Why do you have to go through me?"

"This relative is too far away. Chen Hong is a businessman after all. It would be better to ask Mr. Zhai for help. This is a small gift from me."

While Ximen Qing was flattering Zhai Qian, he was carefully observing his expression. When he saw that the other person's expression was gradually softening, he took out a few gold leaves and presented them to him.

"Haha, only business people know how to handle things."

Zhai Qian accepted the gold leaf and placed it on the table. He stroked his beard and responded to Ximen Qing, saying, "The Grand Tutor is a pillar of the country. He has government affairs to attend to during the New Year. He doesn't even have enough time to spend with his family, let alone take the time to meet a commoner. But I see that you are sincere. I can convey your intentions. How about introducing me to the Grand Tutor when he is free in the future?"

"Thank you, Mr. Zhai."

Ximen Qing hurriedly bowed and added, "I came from Yanggu County, Yunzhou, and brought some local products for you and the Grand Master. I will send them to your residence later."

"Okay, okay." Zhai Qian had been a butler for many years and had learned a lot from the environment. There was no reason for him to refuse Ximen Qing's gift.

After a year or two of preparation, Ximen Qing finally got in touch with Zhai Qian. After leaving Zhai's house, he went back to the inn to get the money and delivered the gifts to Zhai's house in the afternoon.

Ximen Qing was very generous, so Zhai Qian politely invited him to have a drink.

The two of them were chatting about everything at the table, and their every move and gesture was like that of friends who had not seen each other for years.

After three rounds of drinks, Zhai Qian became happier and happier. He recalled the story he heard in the pharmacy, and began to praise Ximen Qing's extraordinary talent and compared him to Lao Ai, the wheel of fortune.

"How dare I compare myself with Lao Ai? He is the Marquis of Changxin in the Qin Dynasty, and I am just a small businessman. I have suffered such a great loss in this matter, but I can't do anything about Wu Song."

"The Yanggu County Magistrate protects him?"

"After all, he is the head of the infantry. I have no evidence to sue him, so I can only watch him become a laughing stock among the people. Sigh, it is difficult for a citizen to sue an official."

"Is the infantry captain also considered an official? Haha."

Ximen Qing deliberately showed weakness and cried miserably to pave the way for his future pursuit of an official position. Zhai Qian was also a shrewd person. He realized something was wrong after hearing a few words, so he immediately changed the subject.

"I'm not an official, but to deal with a small captain, you don't have to use your official position to suppress him. You can use your brain to turn the tables and make him a laughing stock."

"hiss"

Ximen Qing was shocked when he heard this. He immediately stood up and clasped his fists to ask for advice: "Please give me some advice, sir."

"Haha, easy to say."

Zhai Qian waved his hand to signal Ximen Qing to sit down, then twirled his beard and said leisurely, "You can make up a rumor based on what Wang Po said, saying that Wu Song bought aphrodisiacs and cheated on his sister-in-law. Compared with the misunderstanding between you and that woman, wouldn't adultery between uncle and sister-in-law be more likely to be fabricated? The people in the market will definitely spread it widely, and who will remember your story by then?"

"Wonderful."

Ximen Qing slapped his thigh fiercely and said excitedly: "The great master can ruin the reputation of the tiger-slayer hero with just a little trick. I'm afraid he won't be able to continue his work and will even turn against his brothers who depend on each other for survival. I surrender."

"It's just a small amount, not worth mentioning."

Zhai Qian smiled slightly, thinking, what kind of clever plan is this? It's just repeating the words of the Grand Tutor. They are stirring up trouble in the court, and that's called a hundred clever plans.

Ximen Qing got in touch with Zhai Qian and got a good idea to deal with Wu Song, so it can be said that the trip was worthwhile.

After he went to Chen's house to see his daughter, he went to a brothel and played with the women in the capital for a few days. After spending all his money, he left the capital and returned to Yanggu.

Wu Song and Yang Chang walked for more than twenty days until the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, when they arrived in Tokyo and delivered the goods.

On the day we entered the city, Tokyo was hit by a sudden heavy snowfall.

The servants and coachmen who were traveling with him had to stay at the home of the magistrate's relatives and could not return to Yanggu until after the first month of the lunar year.

It was the first time for Wu Song and Yang Chang to visit Beijing, so they had no intention of returning in such a hurry. After delivering the goods, they found an inn to stay in, planning to play for a few days before returning.

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival.

Wu Song originally wanted to take Yang Chang to visit Tokyo, but heavy snow fell all day until the evening, so he could only stay in the inn drinking and watching the snow.

It was getting dark outside the window, and Wu Song thought about going to bed.

Yang Chang pushed open the door and said happily, "Brother, the snow has stopped outside, do you want to go out for a walk?"

"It's almost dark?"

"Today is the Lantern Festival, and the store owner said there will be lanterns in the city tonight."

"Lanterns?"

Wu Song frowned when he heard this and murmured, "That's something women like. Do you want to see it too?"

"It's all here."

(End of this chapter)