Chapter 482 Test (2)

Since Tang Feng came to this era, although he had come into contact with some merchants, they have never been on par with the emperor of the mansion like these merchants in front of him. From this point of view, Tang Feng felt the completely different attitudes towards business in the north and the south. Perhaps because he was far away from the political center, the people here were more pragmatic and attached more importance to merchants, those who could create wealth, so today they were mostly these merchants. Fortunately, he was not really familiar with the books of sages since childhood, and regarded merchants as untouchables, but because of his understanding of later generations, he deeply admired these people who could make greater contributions to the court.

So when Xue Muren introduced the identities of these people in front of him one by one, he always had a faint gentle smile on his face, and he did not feel a little proud of their identities. This performance fell into the eyes of the merchants on the field, which made them feel a little nervous.

After a long introduction, Xue Muren led Tang Feng into the restaurant. Because today the prefect invited the adults from the capital, the entire Nanxiang Pavilion did not do other people's business. However, this does not mean that it was very deserted. On the contrary, when Tang Feng entered the Nanxiang Pavilion, it was still very lively. More than a dozen famous singers in Suzhou City were singing the soft Wu language in the sound of the pipa, and the waiter in the building was also busy putting the wine and dishes on the table one by one.

Seeing Tang Feng stopping, Xue Muren pointed forward to him, "Sir, this Nanxiang Building is three floors high. The food and food prepared by the lower officials for you are in the private room on the second floor." As soon as he finished speaking, the waiter stepped forward and led Tang Feng to the stairs. Some people with low status behind stayed below to drink. Although they could not have a banquet with Tang Feng and Xue Muren, it was already a great deal to be able to receive the invitation from the host, so they naturally would not be dissatisfied.

When he arrived at the second floor, Tang Feng felt more pure than the one below. Except for two or three women with good looks, there was no other sound. Tang Feng couldn't help but nodded secretly when he saw it. Although the officials in the capital were much more powerful than those in Suzhou, when it comes to being elegant, people in Jiangnan still understood it better.

After taking the seat, the waiter quickly brought a pot of freshly brewed famous tea, Biluochun, and filled it with everyone. Then there were plates of candied fruit and snacks, such as golden silk kumquats, sugar bayberry, and nine-made tangerine peel. The southerners eat differently than the northerners. They do not like to send food up the big basin, but they have a variety of varieties, but each one is only a small plate. This makes it difficult to get started when Tang Feng, who has been living in the north.

Fortunately, the food was not the most important thing for this gathering, so Tang Feng was not too uncomfortable. After serving the dishes, drinking a few glasses of wine, and bringing the relationship between the two parties closer, someone smiled and said, "I heard that Lord Tang went south to visit his relatives this time, so why did he take a detour to my Suzhou Prefecture?"

Tang Feng had answered this question several times, and then calmly said: "It's true that I visited my relatives this time, but it's true that I took the opportunity to take a break. It's often said that Suzhou is a paradise on earth, and I have friends here again, so I naturally want to come here for a tour."

A look of relief flashed in Xue Muren's eyes and said, "Okay, if you can come to Suzhou, you are destined to be with me. I dare not say anything else in Suzhou. There are still many famous places to visit. In addition to some gardens with their own interests, there are also good places such as Gusu Mountain Hanshan Temple outside the city. If you have time, you must go there."

"That's natural." Tang Feng nodded with a smile. The two sides talked about the scenery in various parts of Suzhou at the banquet again, and they all carefully introduced to Tang Feng what the benefits and what the wonderful things there were, which made Tang Feng, a person who was not very passionate about natural landscapes, become somewhat interested.

Seeing that the wine had been several days, everyone was not as reserved as before. One of the merchants asked, "Master Tang, you are here for the first time in Suzhou?" After receiving Tang Feng's affirmative answer, he asked, "So, how about the civil administration in Suzhou, you think?"

This was supposed to be asked by the prefect Xue, but somehow, she was asked by such a businessman. Xue Muren, as the local chief, was not unhappy and still listened with a smile. This made Tang Feng see the distribution of power in Suzhou City now. Although the prefect is the prefect, these businessmen are actually the ones who really control everything. He just smiled: "It's very good. Suzhou City is much better in terms of the scenery and the stability of the people than in other places where the official has been. It is truly the name of heaven."

"Sir, I'm sorry." Another businessman smiled, "Actually, my Suzhou city has few fields and many people. Although it is clear in all four seasons and rarely has natural disasters, it is still difficult to have a bumper harvest every year and meet the needs of the court's taxes."

"Oh?" Tang Feng smiled. He remembered that the businessman had just introduced his surname Su, so he asked in confusion: "If what Su Yuanwai said is the truth, how can Suzhou City still be so rich?"

"Of course it is because of the abundant silk and other products in Suzhou. Now the imperial court needs us to hand over silver rather than grain, so that our Suzhou city can hand over silver from other products. This matter has always been criticized by some officials in the court who are very jealous of our Suzhou Prefecture, so we also ask Lord Tang to say a few words to us after returning to Beijing."

"In fact, whether it is business income or farm income, as long as he can pay the taxes he should pay for me in the Ming Dynasty, he will make contributions. Some adults in the court are indeed too picky about this." Tang Feng said according to their meaning: "I can understand your difficulties. After I return to Beijing, I will report the situation here to Your Majesty."

When everyone heard what he said, they all were even more happy and raised their glasses to him. Tang Feng stopped drinking more after drinking a few cups. He had not yet figured out whether any of them would be bad for him, so he naturally had to stay awake. After that, those people praised Tang Feng's previous work, saying that he would become a minister of the Ming Dynasty's revival. Tang Feng just smiled and listened, neither receiving nor giving much refusal.

The wine was drunk until the meal was almost over. While everyone stood up to say goodbye, they all came to see Tang Feng and gave him his "a little bit of intention". Just as Tang Feng was about to refuse, Xue Muren advised: "Sir, these are all the thoughts that my wealthy businessmen in Suzhou admired the unspeakable contributions of the adults. Although they are only valuable local specialties, their success is not common in the north, so I just want to be fresh. Please don't refuse. This is also the admiration of the people of Suzhou for you."

Tang Feng looked at the people around him who had not left, and knew that he could not refuse, so he bowed and said, "I would like to thank you for your kindness." Before we know the enemy, it is a means to accept the gift and confuse the other party. Tang Feng would not be so righteous.

Because many officials and businessmen have their own expressions, when Tang Feng and the others wanted to leave Nanxiang Pavilion, they found that they could not bring so many things. Fortunately, the waiter here and some small people in the yamen were very aware of each other, so they helped to carry those things without Tang Feng's instructions, which saved Tang Feng a lot of trouble.

After Gong sent Tang Feng away, Xue Muren, Gao Chuanlin and others walked back to the government office slowly. As he walked, Xue Prefect smiled and said, "It seems that this Tang Feng is not a completely selfless person. In this way, we can let go of half of our worries. He can let go of his figure and drink with the merchants' deskmates, and accept all the things we gave, which shows that he is not really here to be an enemy of us."

"Although that's the case, we still have to be careful, sir." Xue Muren's confidant master, Mr. Qian, suddenly said: "He did this to numb us and to lay a cover for his subsequent plans. So, sir, we still cannot move our affairs there."

"This official can save you this. Be careful to sail the ten thousand-year-old ship. For ourselves and Suzhou City, we cannot let him catch any flaws. Fortunately, he doesn't have much reason to stay here for too long. Perhaps after visiting the scenery here, he will go south." Xue Muren nodded deeply and said with deep conscience.

"If you think so cautiously, I will feel relieved. Over the past few years, I have done so much for Suzhou and have to keep the imperial court at all times. I feel wronged for you."

"Haha, I, Xue, is also from Suzhou. Being able to do my best to the elders of Suzhou is my only wish to serve the officials, so no matter how difficult or dangerous things are, I will continue to move forward."

"Young Master, what did you say when they were attending the banquet today? Why didn't I feel that you said anything when I was listening?" On the way back to the Xu family, he answered the questions and said in a daze.

"That's right. Sometimes what we want to express is not in superficial words. Even I can't fully grasp this point." Tang Feng smiled bitterly. After all, he had always lived a life of fighting and killing, and he rarely encountered such careful tests. "But I think I have mastered some situations. In addition, they gave me so many things, which is also a way to test me. I will not have any friction with them until I have a definite answer. However, I think things will soon become clear, it depends on how efficient Zhang Tai and the others are."
Chapter completed!