Chapter 141: No Way Out
President Shi of the Pingjiang Silk Guild and Old Yu Xing visited the Pingjiang Prefectural Yamen three or four times before they finally managed to see Prefect Liu.
In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, President Shi and Old Yu Xing were politely escorted out by Mr. Cao.
President Shi was filled with frustration, and he walked faster and faster.
Old Yu Xing trotted to keep up behind him.
President Shi stormed into the shop, took off his headwear, and slammed it onto the table. He grabbed a cup, saw it was empty, and flung it out the door.
“President!” Old Yu Xing, quick and sharp, dodged the tea cup and called out in a raised voice.
“Did you hear what he said? Was that even human speech!” President Shi slammed his palm on the table.
“Have a cup of tea first.” Old Yu Xing poured a cup of tea and handed it to President Shi.
President Shi took it, tilted his head back, and drank it in one gulp, then slammed the cup on the table.
“We’ve already thought of that, we discussed it yesterday,” Old Yu Xing said, sitting down next to President Shi.
President Shi’s shoulders slumped. After a moment, he let out a long sigh, “I’m too impatient. They’re the ones rushing me. Alas, we have thought of it, haven’t we?” President Shi looked at Old Yu Xing.
“As for the Cao Division, I’m afraid…” Old Yu Xing wore a wry smile.
“Alas, we can’t blame them. That’s a Prince’s Estate that has held power for generations,” President Shi sighed again.
“Whether it’s useful or not, we have to go. We have to say what needs to be said,” Old Yu Xing said in a low voice.
“Mm. Let’s go back and pack. We’ll set off shortly. I’ll wait for you at the wharf. We’ll sleep on the boat tonight and arrive tomorrow morning,” President Shi stood up and walked out with his hands behind his back.
Old Yu Xing followed him out and went home to pack his belongings.
The next morning, the boat docked at the Hangcheng wharf, and President Shi and Old Yu Xing went straight to the Cao Division Yamen to request an audience.
They smoothly met Mr. Ge, the most trusted staff member of Jiang Cao Division. The two of them meticulously explained to Mr. Ge the matter of the Yueyang Preserved Egg Business encroaching on the Fine Cloth Business.
Mr. Ge listened carefully, furrowed his brow, and pondered for a moment. “This matter, it sounds like it’s not a small issue. How about this, you two go back first. I’ll find an opportunity to speak with our Cao Division and see what their intentions are. What do you think?”
“What you say is very true, Teacher.” President Shi wore a smile. “It is indeed not a small matter. If the Yueyang Preserved Egg Business acts this way, it will disrupt the market. Besides Hangcheng, the other major center for weaving in Jiangnan is Pingjiang Prefecture. If the market in Pingjiang Prefecture is disrupted.”
President Shi paused, glanced at Old Yu Xing, and gave a dry laugh. “If everyone’s business isn’t good, it will be hard to collect next year’s charitable donations. It truly cannot be disrupted.”
“Mm, that’s true,” Mr. Ge stroked his beard and replied indifferently. He stood up and smiled, “You two may go back now. I will certainly keep it in mind and report it to our Cao Division as soon as I find an opportunity.”
Since Mr. Ge had stood up, President Shi and Old Yu Xing had no choice but to stand up and take their leave.
Watching President Shi and Old Yu Xing exit the Ceremonial Gate one after the other, Mr. Ge went out through the back door of the flower hall and headed straight to find Jiang Cao Division.
“What happened?” Jiang Cao Division looked at Mr. Ge.
“It’s the matter Mr. Cao wrote about in his letter,” Mr. Ge sat down on a chair next to the Long Desk and bowed. “They’ve indeed found their way to us.”
Jiang Cao Division frowned and thought for a moment, then stood up and sat next to Mr. Ge, lowering his voice. “Is this because the Young Lord is reckless and indulging his little lover, causing market disruption, and thinks it’s a trivial matter, or is it~”
Jiang Cao Division trailed off, his voice even lower.
“The Young Lord is cunning and intends to use this as a pretext for a major upheaval?”
“It’s hard to say!” Mr. Ge’s brow was furrowed even tighter than Jiang Cao Division’s. “The Young Lord has been staying in Pingjiang City for a year. Suddenly he said he wanted to clear up the Maritime Tax Bureau. We thought he was acting after careful consideration, but who knew he would ride in on a magnificent horse and show himself at the wharf.”
“It’s precisely because he went to the wharf that I feel…” Jiang Cao Division’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Do you really think the Young Lord saw something, that’s why he went to the wharf? What’s there to see at the wharf?” Mr. Ge leaned forward.
“I’m not entirely sure what there is to see, but.” Jiang Cao Division and Mr. Ge were almost head to head. “A long time ago, at a banquet, when discussing the various malpractices of the Maritime Tax Bureau, the old president of the Jiangnan Silk General Store said something. He said the key points were all at the wharf.”
“Hah! That old president was a shrewd man. It’s a pity he’s passed away. Otherwise, the Cao Division would truly have to visit him for advice.” Mr. Ge looked regretful.
“That time, he had also drunk too much. As soon as he said it, he immediately tried to backtrack and cover it up. It was precisely because he covered it up so quickly that I paid attention,” Jiang Cao Division chuckled.
“Cao Division, you say the Young Lord is really going after this key point? I don’t think so. The Young Lord’s usual demeanor, his views and proposals, we’ve seen them for over ten years. If this person were to change, it would be a gradual change, not a complete transformation overnight,” Mr. Ge said in a hushed voice.
“I think so too,” Jiang Cao Division chuckled. “Then this matter is most likely because the Young Lord is reckless. We must quickly write a secret memorial and also write a letter to the Prince. You go and find Wei Educational Commissioner again and tell him about this matter, tactfully, just hint at it.”
“Don’t worry, Cao Division, I understand.” Mr. Ge was about to stand up when Jiang Cao Division raised his hand to signal him to wait.
“There’s another matter. At the end of the month, the Crown Prince will arrive,” Jiang Cao Division paused, and Mr. Ge looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
Jiang Cao Division stood up, walked to the door, looked left and right, then returned and sat down, leaning close to Mr. Ge’s ear. “I see Gao Shuai Division is extremely busy, making a big fuss. I suspect the Crown Prince is not just passing through.”
Mr. Ge’s eyes widened.
“Keep this in mind. From today onwards, keep a close watch on all areas. Absolutely no mistakes must occur,” Jiang Cao Division patted Mr. Ge.
“Don’t worry, Cao Division,” Mr. Ge nodded quickly.
……………………………………
President Shi and Old Yu Xing returned directly to the boat and ordered it to set sail back.
The two of them sat in the cabin, neither wanting to speak, drinking tea cup after cup with their heads bowed.
Mr. Ge’s attitude was as good as stating his position clearly.
Mr. Ge knew about the Yueyang Cloth Shop’s matter, and Jiang Cao Division also knew, but they didn’t intend to intervene.
“I really shouldn’t have become the president,” President Shi said dejectedly.
He really shouldn’t have accepted the position of president back then!
“This is such a small matter. Even if they don’t deal with it, it’s not a big deal,” Old Yu Xing said with a placating smile.
“How is it not a big deal? Look at how those people are acting, what nasty things they’re saying!” President Shi covered his face with his hand.
“We have to handle this matter ourselves,” Old Yu Xing patted President Shi.
“We are the official guild!” President Shi lowered his hand and slapped the table, then let out a long sigh.
He had only become president for that ninth-rank official position. Alas, it was too late to regret it!
“We need to find out first,” Old Yu Xing ignored President Shi’s comment about the official position.
“Mm.” President Shi sighed again. “Haven’t we already found out? Yueyang is backed by that Young Lord. What else is there to find out?”
“Let’s find out how the Yueyang business plans to operate,” Old Yu Xing said meaningfully.
“Mm?” President Shi looked at Old Yu Xing. “What do you want to do?”
“The Prefectural Yamen won’t manage it, the Cao Division Yamen won’t manage it. If no one is going to manage it~” Old Yu Xing dragged out his words. “How can we manage it? We can’t manage it.”
President Shi raised his eyebrows. After a moment, he slammed the table. “That’s right! One by one, they’re afraid of the Prince’s Estate and dare not intervene. Then what can we do? We have no way!”
The next morning, President Shi went straight home. Old Yu Xing first went to the guild for a round. After leaving the guild, he walked half a street towards home, then suddenly stopped. He frowned, thought for a moment, and turned towards the Prefectural Yamen.
Upon arriving at the Prefectural Yamen, he saw several yamen runners gathered by the main constabulary office, talking. He asked if Ping Yatou was in. Hearing that Ping Yatou was not on duty today, he turned and headed towards Ping Yatou’s home.
