Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 84 Determination
Li Shiqun said solemnly: "Our Li family is not the one who recognizes and slaughters people. I have thought about it. I will close the business for now, and then I will carry the coffin back to Nanjing. After burying shopkeeper Xu, I will discuss with the elders in the family how to deal with this matter. Shouling We can't afford to offend eunuchs, a little eunuch who pretends to be a powerful little eunuch is actually disregarding human life, I will never swallow this tone! Just wait and see!"

Boss Ma sighed: "That's fine, Li Dong's family is indeed a benevolent person! It doesn't matter if you turn around to avoid the limelight, but I want to advise you, we businessmen must not fight with people from the government, although I don't know what background your Li family has. , But this matter involves the royal family and the palace after all, and people in the officialdom pay attention to seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages. If it is too involved, no one will dare to stand up. Brother Li, according to me, it is better to spend some money to understand this matter. Can't compete!"

Li Shiqun clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, brother Ma, for your guidance. I know what I know, but I just delayed your construction of the restaurant. I really feel sorry for you. When this matter is over, Li will hold a banquet to apologize to brother Ma!"

Boss Ma quickly waved his hand and said: "You have no choice but to do this, it wasn't intentional, and there's no need to make amends. I've thought about it too, now that Fengyang is being harmed by thieves again, this Eunuch Yang will take the opportunity to exploit again, my restaurant Ah, it’s better not to build it for the time being, so as not to cause trouble when it’s built. Alas, in the eyes of those people, we powerless businessmen are still fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered? How can we have the original intention of being an official to wait for me? ?”

Speaking of this, shopkeeper Ma suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly said: "Li Dong's family, I heard that the new governor is not young, and it is said that he was also famous in the past. If you really think about this matter, why don't you think about it from here. !"

Li Shiqun's eyes lit up when he heard the words. When Chen Qiyu summoned the gentry to persuade him to donate, he also attended the meeting as a well-known local businessman, and donated 300 taels of silver on the spot. Since he had no private communication, the governor gave him the impression of a The image of a civil servant with a refined temperament and a dignified appearance.

Later, I learned through private communication with others that the new governor was once the governor of the five provinces, and he was highly regarded by the emperor. Under his planning and command, the rampant thieves were almost wiped out by the entire army when they were beaten. It was only due to various reasons that the achievements fell short in the end, but in terms of fame and talent, this lord can be said to be a man of great reputation in the government and the public.

Hearing Boss Ma's talk now, Li Shiqun couldn't help regretting it. He should have made more donations to win the favor and attention of the governor. Because he didn't understand the situation, he just donated a little money at will. It wouldn't cause the governor to look at him differently at all. It really shouldn't be. Thinking that he might need to use Chen Qiyu's authority to resolve the culprit, Li Shiqun regretted it a bit.

Thinking of this, he cupped his hands again and said, "Thank you, Brother Ma, for speaking out. If you can really borrow the power of the Governor, I, Li Shiqun, will always remember what Brother Ma said today!"

Boss Ma shook his head and said: "Brother Li, you don't have to be too polite. I just said it casually. As for how to operate it, whether it will be successful or not, I have to carefully consider it! It's getting late, and Ma is leaving!"

After the two sides exchanged salutes, Li Shiqun personally led Boss Ma to the back door, sent him outside, and watched him turn the corner before returning to the courtyard.

Li Shiqun originally planned to buy the coffin and personally escort the treasurer Xu's coffin back to Nanjing, but when he thought of solving the trouble, he had to go back to Nanjing to find a way out. It would be very slow for Fu Ling to go back, and he couldn't wait for a moment. Hou Dingguo's contemptuous expression and Xu The shopkeeper's kind faces appeared one after another, and the thought of revenge was stronger than ever.

So Li Shiqun decided to rush back to Nanjing to seek help. He dug out a wooden box from a hidden corner in the inner courtyard room, which contained 100 taels of silver. He took the wooden box to the shop and took out two ingots of ten taels each He handed over the money to a clerk, and asked him to go to the carriage and horse shop to hire three carriages, one for pulling the coffin, one for the clerks to escort the coffin, and the other for himself.

After dismissing the clerk, Li Shiqun called the other five people over, took out five ingots of silver from the wooden box, and handed them to Zhang Second Hand who had greeted the guests at the door of the store before, and said with a serious expression: "You can wait for today's matter." I've seen it all, shopkeeper Xu died tragically, and the firm is also facing a catastrophe, maybe my Li family will be ruined!"

Holding the heavy 50 taels of silver, Zhang Er felt extremely sad. He came to the firm at the age of 13, and it has been five years. Whether it is the owner or the shopkeeper Xu, he treats all the employees with generosity and generosity. Harsh treatment, the commercial bank manages two full meals, and there is still a few silver wages per month.This kind of remuneration is very generous, and everyone is grateful for their kindness, and they work hard. Although they are sometimes very tiring, everyone thinks it is worth it.

Today they saw the shopkeeper Xu being beaten to death innocently, but they themselves had no courage to come forward to help, and they were already filled with guilt. Now the meaning of the boss's words is clear: the business will be closed, and everyone's jobs will be lost!
Zhang Er said with tears in his eyes, "Boss, I'm all to blame. I'm too timid to go up and help. Seeing Shopkeeper Xu being beaten to death by those villains! I feel so regretful and flustered!"

Some of the others were also weeping, while others bowed their heads in silence.

Li Shiqun comforted: "I don't blame you, those people are all armed with weapons, and you are going to die when you go up, let this matter pass, the tragic death of the shopkeeper is his fate!"

Speaking of this, his eyes were red and his words were choked with sobs. After calming down a little, he continued: "You wait for some to work in the Li family for several years, and some newcomers. Li asks himself that he is not harsh on everyone. , everyone is also working hard with all their heart and soul. If it continues like this, Li believes that it will bring you a good income, and it will also be a subsidy for each family. It's a pity..."

Zhang Er asked with tears in his heart: "Boss, is it because we are going to close the shop? I have worked here for five years. You and shopkeeper Xu treat me like father and brother. My parents all praise me for being blessed to meet such a Good owner and shopkeeper, I don’t want to just break up like this! Woooooo~~~”

After all, Zhang Er threw away the silver in his hand, squatted on the ground covering his face and burst into tears, and the others were also touched by the scene and burst into tears.

Li Shiqun looked at these fellows, and felt very sad, but it was hard to predict the outcome of what happened today. Although he vowed to take revenge, the other party represented the royal family. Although the emperor might not know about this, but The flag is indeed too big, and the victory of one's own side is too small.

He bent down to help Zhang Er, and comforted him in a gentle voice: "Okay, don't cry, I made the worst plan for this matter, and no one knows how it will end. Zhang Er, you take the money, I will I have something to assign to you."

Zhang Er slowly stopped sobbing, his eyes were already red and swollen, he looked at Li Shiqun with tears in his eyes and replied: "Boss, if you have anything to do, just tell me, I, Zhang Er, will be your buddy all my life! I figured it out just now, Boss." You tell me to kill those bastards and I will go too!"

Others also echoed. Although they were kind and cowardly common people, they were oppressed to a certain extent, and when they cut off their way of life, they would put life and death aside.

Li Shiqun forced a smile and said: "It's worth it for Li to have you guys! Zhang Er! You have to take the first step in a while, and you decide to distribute the money to everyone, which is also an explanation for you over the years! Then Take a buddy who volunteers to escort the coffin and head to Nanjing in a carriage, and I will send someone to meet you at the city gate! If this matter is handled properly, the business will continue to open, and you will come back and continue to be a buddy. If it is not handled properly, we will I'm afraid we will never meet again!"

After finishing speaking, he simply handed the wooden box in his hand to Zhang Er, there was still 30 taels of silver in it, which was left for everyone to share, then turned around and strode towards the back door, he had a few gold leaves in his arms, enough for the whole trip.

Zhang Er took the lead in tears and knelt down on the ground, and the rest of them also kowtowed to Li Shiqun's back several times. The tears could not stop streaming down.

(End of this chapter)