Chapter 326: A Mistake
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“It’s so damn hot.” Master Tian felt extremely frustrated. “It’s all Tian Zhong’s fault. Isn’t it just some corn seedlings?! When the seeds of the Fenggu Food
Bank come, I can have as many as I want! He’s f*cking causing trouble for me.”
Master Tian wiped his sweat with a sweat towel and instructed Steward Tian,
“Go to the government office and send an invitation to Lord Zhou. I’ll invite him to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant for a banquet.”
“Yes, Master.” Manager Tian heaved a sigh of relief when he heard that. He bowed and left.
Zhou Jia received the invitation from the Tian family and threw it aside. Mr. Qian said to Zhou Jia, “Master, Tian Kun’s second brother, Tian Peng, is working in the Censorate. Aren’t you planning to go?”
“I’m not going. So what if Tian Peng is working in the Censorate? I didn’t do anything illegal. Tian Kun invited me because of the family Ruyi sent to the government office. The Tian family colluded with the grain industry against the interests of the people. I don’t have the patience to deal with such a family.”
Mr. Qian nodded. “That’s true. I’ll go back to him now.”
When Manager Tian heard the reply, he felt that Zhou Jia was too disrespectful to Master Tian. He returned to the Tian family unhappily and told Master Tian that Zhou Jia said that he was not free. When Master Tian heard this, his face darkened and he waved his hand. “Go! Go! I understand.’
Master Tian leaned back in his rocking chair and thought to himself, Since you don’t know how to appreciate my kindness, I’ll get you out of Yunzhou. He got up and went to the study to write a letter. He handed it to the servant. “Send the letter to the Fenggu Food Bank and ask Shopkeeper Luo to help take it to the capital to hand it to Second Master. Do you understand?”
The servant bowed and agreed. “I understand, Master.”
When it was time to meet Chu Feng, Zhou Jia left the government office in advance and went to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant. Shopkeeper Xu of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant politely welcomed Zhou Jia in. Chu Feng welcomed Zhou Jia at the staircase. The two of them went upstairs to a private room and sat on the ground.
The shop assistant brought melons, iced watermelons, peaches, melons, and a few shortbreads.
Chu Feng smiled and poured Zhou Jia a cup of tea. “Brother Jiahe, the watermelons have just arrived. Bring a basket back for Madam and Young Master later. Why aren’t you going back to accompany Madam today? Why are you treating me to tea?”
Zhou Jia looked at Chu Feng and smiled. “Brother Qingshan, I’ll get straight to the point. My wife…”
Zhou Jia told Chu Feng what Ruyi had found out. When he saw Chu Feng sitting there in shock and anger, he knew that Chu Feng did not know the situation at the grain shop.
Chu Feng was so angry that his face turned green. He thought about the rules set by the bank. The shopkeeper who made a big mistake would first be punished with the loss of his assets and swept out of the house. Then, he would be punished with ten years of hard labor. Fortunately, Madam Li and Lord
Zhou were kind. Otherwise, his life would be over.
Chu Feng stood up and bowed excitedly to Zhou Jia. “I’m lucky to have met you and Madam in my three lifetimes. I thank Madam for sending someone to investigate and thank you for telling me the truth.”
When Zhou Jia heard Chu Feng speak so excitedly that he was blessed in three lifetimes, he knew that this matter should have a huge impact on Chu Feng. He smiled and helped Chu Feng up. “Brother Qingshan, we’re both working for His Majesty. We should help each other. You don’t have to be so polite. I’m just a little curious how they deceived you?”
Chu Feng looked at Zhou Jia and smiled bitterly. “Brother Jia, the shopkeeper at the grain shop hired an old shopkeeper who had been hired by the bank for many years. The Head Shopkeeper and I also trust him very much. The grain shop stipulates that all sales of rice seeds have to be recorded. After the rice seeds were sold last year and this year, I even checked the account book before the spring plowing. I saw that it clearly recorded which village and which villagers bought the rice seeds. I thought that those rice seeds had really been sold to the villagers. It’s my negligence to be kept in the dark by them for two years. Wait a moment. I’ll give instructions.”
Zhou Jia raised his hand and said with a smile, “Brother Qingshan, let’s not stand on ceremony. It’s more important for you to deal with serious matters first. I’ll go out of the city to accompany Madam as soon as possible.”
Chu Feng cupped his hands. “Alright, let’s gather after I find out the truth.”
Chu Feng sent Zhou Jia off and returned to a guest room in the backyard of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant. He clapped his hands and an ordinary-looking man walked out. Chu Feng looked at him and said, “Yunyi, please check which families Shopkeeper Luo from the grain shop is close to. Which families did he sell the rice seeds to last year and this year? Check what those families did.
Find out why he colluded with them?”
Yun Yi nodded when he heard that. Without a word, he turned around and walked out.
“Shopkeeper, what happened? You actually used Yun Yi.” Shopkeeper Xu walked in and asked.
Chu Feng told Shopkeeper Xu about Shopkeeper Luo forging a sales record and selling the rice seeds to big families. “He actually did such a thing. We trusted him so much.”
Shopkeeper Xu’s eyes widened. “No way! Such an honest and loyal person would actually do such a bold thing?”
Chu Feng said, “When honest people do bad things, they catch people off guard.”
Shopkeeper Xu thought for a moment and recalled something. “Shopkeeper, I heard that Luo Xing in Shopkeeper Luo’s family gambled quite fiercely. Do you think Luo Xing lost a large sum of money? That’s why Shopkeeper Luo colluded with the big families to forge the sales records!”
Shopkeeper Chu looked at Shopkeeper Xu in surprise. “Luo Xing is actually addicted to gambling? When did this happen?”
Shopkeeper Xu recalled, “I heard him mention it two years ago. At that time, he was so angry that he locked Luo Xing up and beat him up. However, Shopkeeper Luo’s mother doted on his grandson very much. When she saw him hit Luo Xing, she sought death. I haven’t heard him mention it since, but someone who came to the restaurant mentioned that Luo Xing played quite a big game in the casino.”
When Chu Feng heard this, he said, “That’s most likely the reason. I was wondering why such an honest and loyal person would change so easily. In my opinion, someone deliberately tempted Luo Xing to become addicted to gambling.”
Shopkeeper Xu felt the same. “Yes! That’s a possibility. We’ll know when Yun Yi comes back.”
Chu Feng sighed. “Sigh! Go ahead! I have to report to the Head Shopkeeper that my carelessness caused Shopkeeper Luo to sell rice seeds.”
When Zhou Jia returned to the manor, he saw that the people from the inner and outer courtyards were all looking at the classroom in the west wing with smiles.
Zhou Jia looked into the classroom curiously. When Auntie Xue, Old Zou, and the others saw Zhou Jia return, they hurriedly went forward to greet him. “Master, you’re back!”
Li Yu turned around and saw Zhou Jia return. She smiled at him. “Come and take a look at Yangyang and Seven Pounds.”
“Let me take a look.” Zhou Jia smiled and walked to Li Yu’s side. He saw Yangyang and Seven Pounds standing in the front row. Shui Sheng, Sister Yan, and the other children were neat and tidy in the classroom. They respectfully bowed to Mr. Lu and Mr. Liu..