Idle courtiers

Chapter 190

Hearing Zhou Nan's promise, Zhu Cong's expression changed drastically, and he murmured, "This is too bad. I only have a few hundred acres of land at hand, and I have to support a large family. If the land is taken away like this, how can it be?" It’s not that I want to drink the northwest wind. No, I have to go to the Ministry of Rites and ask.”

Why did Zhou Nan let him go to the Ministry of Rites to ask, and said in a low voice: "Brother Zhu, even going to the Ministry of Rites is of no use. Now, the emperor is determined to bring back the hidden imperial property of the capital to the palace. Even if your land is really fine Well, the officials of the Ministry of Rituals are trying to figure out the holy will, and they are afraid that they will use you to vote for the best of today. If you go, you will be thrown into a trap. Let's find another way, and it is best to find someone who can speak in the court to help .”

"That's right." Zhu Cong was a son of the clan, so how could he not know Emperor Jiajing's temperament.That is a person who loves money, and he can't see money in his eyes.The imperial court also has many restrictions on the clan, as long as you are a member of the vassal palace of various departments.Whenever something happens, no matter whether it is justified or not, I will rectify it before saying: "It is a big taboo for courtiers to make friends with the clan. I am a soft-spoken person, I am afraid that no one will speak for me."

Having said that, he couldn't help rubbing his hands with an anxious expression on his face.

Zhu Congchen's expression fell into Zhou Nan's eyes, and he thought to himself: Sure enough, it's as expected.

He smiled and said, "Brother Zhu, I have a way to help you."

Zhu Congchen: "I still ask for advice."

Zhou Nan: "You can sell me the land in the capital first!"

"sell to you?"

Zhou Nan: "The court's clearing of the land this time is clearly aimed at the clan. Brother Zhu, you probably won't be able to avoid it. Why don't you sell the land, and the court will check that you have no property under your name, so the flag will naturally die down. In my estimation, This time Qingzhanghuangzhuang is just a gust of wind, and it will blow over sooner or later. At that time, Brother Zhu will take money to redeem the ancestral property from me."

Zhu Congchen: "It's a good idea. Let's stick to your idea for now. Let's find a middleman later and transfer the ownership of the estate to you."

Land in the capital is in short supply, and it is a first-class asset with a price but no market.The ancients all had land plots. Selling houses and land was a prodigal act, and would be condemned by public opinion. He also had some concerns.

Zhu Congba was very moved: "But, what good will this matter do for you?"

Zhou Nan: "I am high-spirited and bright, and my righteousness is light."

Zhu Congchen: "It's better if people believe in it."

Zhou Nan: "Okay, I want to earn some interest. Your 3000 mu of land is worth 100 taels. If you calculate it as a three-point interest, you can give me 30 taels a month." In the Ming Dynasty, paddy fields in the Jiangnan area were the most expensive. It is worth [-] to [-] taels per mu.The dry land in the north is very cheap, only three or four taels, and the ones in the capital are about six taels.

"What, so much interest?" Zhu Congxi was furious: "You have made a plan on my head. It is really a good plan."

Zhou Nan smiled and said: "Don't be angry, I also want to take risks. If the imperial court really judges me, wouldn't my 3000 taels of silver be in vain? Besides, I don't have so much money on hand. In this way Well, I will use 200 taels to buy your land, and I will charge you six taels of silver in interest every month, so as to subsidize some household expenses."

Zhu Congchen: "It makes sense." However, he still felt that something was wrong: "I'd better go home and discuss it with my wife."

Zhou Nan laughed loudly: "People say that the rooster of Brother Zhu's family is the rooster, and it really is."

Zhu Cong was furious: "Zimu, I thought you were a friend worth making, but you humiliated me like this?"

Zhou Nan: "It's my fault. Brother Zhu should still think about how to go home and take out the land deed. Don't let his wife refuse at that time. If she makes a fuss again, it will be heard by the Ministry of Rites. Not only will your land not be transferred, but you will not be able to transfer it." It’s not good, it was taken away by the court.”

Zhu Congchen: "Don't worry, after all, I am the head of the family, and I have the final say on major matters. When I go back to the mansion, let the housekeeper secretly find out the land deed for me. The housekeeper is an old man in the house, my confidant ,no problem."

He moved quickly, and after going out for more than an hour, he got the land deed.The two parties found a middleman, signed and pledged, and transferred the [-] mu of land to Zhou Nan.

Zhou Nan was also generous and gave Zhu Cong 20 taels of gold.

Zhu Congchi guessed that this was the first time in his life that he encountered so much cash. He was overjoyed and went to invite literary friends and poets to hold a banquet for a literary conference.

Originally, he also invited Zhou Nan.

Zhou Nan said that there were still important matters and that he could not make the trip.

Seeing that he insisted on refusing, Zhu Congjian thought of the tenderness of Jiaofangsi's woman in winter, took gold with him, and rushed away excitedly.

After he left, Zhou Nan leaned over his desk and wrote a letter, then put the land deed of the [-] mu of land in an envelope, and handed the soybeans and steamed bread to the waiter.

He ordered: "Both of you go to Mr. Zhu's mansion and give this letter to his wife. In addition, let Mrs. Zhu take 200 taels of silver."

Wotou looked puzzled: "Master, just one letter is worth 200 taels."

Huang Dou scolded: "Wotou, do what the master tells you to do, and talk nonsense."

Zhou Nan waved: "But just go."

The two servants came back about an hour after going out, and they also carried 200 taels of silver.

Zhou Nan took the money, smiled, and asked, "My master asked you, what did Mrs. Zhu say?"

Wotou was stupid, Huang Dou hurriedly said: "Master Zhu, Mrs. Zhu scolded Master Zhu as soon as she read the letter, as bad as she could be."

Zhou Nan became interested: "Oh, why did you scold me?"

Huang Dou: "It's too ugly, and villains don't dare to say it. Anyway, let's say that Mr. Zhu is a gentleman who eats soft food."

Zhou Nan: "And then?"

Huang Dou: "Then, Mrs. Zhu said, Master, you are a man of high morals. If it weren't for you, the eight of them would have been hungry this time, and would have become the laughing stock of the clan. After giving us the money, Mrs. Zhu would He took five or six servants and went out with a big stick."

Wotou interrupted: "Master, where is Mrs. Zhu going?"

Huang Dou: "Stupid, of course I want to catch Master Zhu who is messing around in the brothel."

Zhou Nan laughed loudly: "Yes, it should be."

After dinner, Zhou Nan just memorized two chapters of "The Analects of Confucius" and copied Zhu Xi's annotations in his study, just enjoying himself.There was only a sound of the study door being kicked open.

Looking up, he saw Zhu Congjin barging in with his face covered in bruises.

All this was expected by Zhou Nan, who pretended to be surprised: "Brother Zhu, why is he in such a state of embarrassment, such a dignified relative, who dares to kill you and don't want to live anymore? Let me think about it, When I think about it, it must be Mrs. Sister-in-law. Hey, the outline is always reversed. If things go on like this, the family will not be the family, and the country will not be the general. Sigh, regret it!"

Injured by Zhou Nan's communication, Zhu Hongcong's face was bruised and swollen and turned black and purple, and he said bitterly: "Sure enough, you informed my wife, shameless villain, shameless villain, today I will break up with you."

Zhou Nan let out a "Yo drink": "Brother Zhu sold his ancestral property, instead of going home, he was looking for fun in Huajie and Liuxiang, so he also knows guilt! If this person knows his shame, he will be saved."

"You!" Zhu Congchi could no longer hold back the anger in his chest, and rushed forward to wrestle with Zhou Nan.

(End of this chapter)