Chapter 50: Is This Silver Only for Me?

“No merit, no reward!”

Zhou Zheng’s gaze was righteous as he looked outside and then continued, “Since Brother Lu wants to help me…”

“Then let me help Brother Lu with one thing!”

Zhou Zheng smiled as he spoke.

“No, no…”

Lu Chuan shook his head and calmly said.

“Just one thing!”

“Just a small thing!”

Zhou Zheng added.

Lu Chuan waved his hand. This Zhou Zheng was indeed a shrewd person. He had immediately managed to get the shopkeeper of Cui’s Grain Shop to speak up, which also explained how he knew Lu Chuan.

This man was not easy to deal with.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Chuan looked at Zhou Zheng and said, “Your Excellency, since you are so keen to handle something, how about helping me with a small favor?”

“A favor?”

Zhou Zheng’s gaze showed a hint of confusion as he looked at Lu Chuan in surprise.

He hadn’t expected that Lu Chuan would actually take advantage of the situation like this!

This young man!

He had something to him!

The two of them exchanged a look, then both laughed heartily.

“Alright! Whatever it is, feel free to say it. As long as it doesn’t violate my conscience, doesn’t tire me out too much, or give me too much trouble, I will help you with it!”

Listen to that!

Listen to that!

Lu Chuan couldn’t help but click his tongue in his mind.

This official was indeed something. With those three conditions, there wasn’t much he could do, but it was enough!

“Alright!”

Lu Chuan looked at Zhou Zheng, paused for a moment, then continued, “I remember that the Wuxian Mountain behind Shuangshui Village is owned by the King of Bingzhou. Is that correct?”

“Yes!”

Zhou Zheng nodded. “That’s true. To be precise, about 80% of the unclaimed wasteland in the Bingzhou territory belongs to the King of Bingzhou!”

“If ordinary commoners had access to that much land to farm freely, Bingzhou would have been a very different place by now!”

After speaking, Zhou Zheng shook his head regretfully.

His eyes carried a hint of helplessness. “Sorry, sorry. It seems my emotions got the better of me!”

He appeared sincere!

If anyone else were to observe, they might genuinely believe that the man before them was a good official who cared for the people.

Lu Chuan rolled his eyes. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke again. “I want that wasteland!”

“And not just that one. I’m interested in any nearby wasteland too!”

Lu Chuan’s voice carried a hint of amusement.

“Oh?”

Zhou Zheng stood there stunned, seemingly unable to believe his ears. After a moment, he finally spoke, “It seems I’ve underestimated Brother Lu. You must be able to come up with a lot of money?”

“Of course not!”

Lu Chuan slightly shook his head.

“But one day, I will be able to afford it.”

“Right now, I’m just preparing for the future, wanting to have a route in mind!”

Lu Chuan’s eyes narrowed.

He stared intently at Zhou Zheng.

Zhou Zheng’s fingers lightly tapped on the table. He really didn’t dare to do anything to Lu Chuan right now.

Because Lu Chuan appeared so confident!

To buy the coal from him, Lu Chuan would need at least 900 taels of silver, and that wasteland, although uninhabited, would cost no less than 5000 taels of silver to purchase!

To put it plainly:

The land is the private property of the King of Bingzhou. For places that have no use or minerals, the King of Bingzhou has the right to deal with them. Even selling the land is a normal practice!

“The King of Bingzhou doesn’t lack silver!”

At this point, Zhou Zheng spoke up.

Lu Chuan immediately laughed, as if he had just heard the funniest joke. “Your Excellency, saying that is meaningless!”

“Whether the King of Bingzhou lacks silver or not has nothing to do with whether the land is sold!”

“Besides, you’re not the King of Bingzhou, how would you know whether he lacks silver?”

Lu Chuan’s voice carried a hint of amusement.

Zhou Zheng pondered for a moment. “This matter, I can help you inquire about indirectly, but Brother Lu, don’t have too high hopes. After all, I am just a small official, I don’t have much influence with the King of Bingzhou!”

“It’s fine!”

Lu Chuan said cheerfully, “If it can be done, then great. If not, then forget it!”

At this moment, Zhou Zheng cautiously took out a piece of broken silver from his sleeve and slowly placed it in front of Lu Chuan. After a brief pause, he continued.

“Brother Lu, when you came here, the guards outside must have taken some silver from you.”

“But Brother Lu, don’t mind it. Bingzhou is poor. The officials haven’t received their salaries in a long time. So, the guards can only find other ways to make money!”

“I hope Brother Lu doesn’t take offense!”

Lu Chuan nodded.

He took the silver in his hand and carefully examined it before asking curiously, “Is this silver only for me, or will it be returned to everyone who entered the yamen?”

“…”

Zhou Zheng was speechless.

He shook his head helplessly, “How could it be returned to everyone? This is because I have long wanted to meet Brother Lu, so I’m willing to personally pay for it. If it were anyone else, would I care?”

“True!”

Lu Chuan nodded and tucked the silver into his pocket.

He looked around and then added, “By the way, Your Excellency, I have one more question that’s been bothering me, so I’d like to ask.”

“Go ahead.”

Zhou Zheng nodded, a bit curious about what Lu Chuan might ask.

“My family is missing a textile machine!”

“I was planning to buy one from the weaving bureau, but yesterday, I went to the weaving bureau…”

Saying this, Lu Chuan recounted everything that had happened to him.

“The weaving bureau clearly has unused machines. Why don’t they sell them?”

“Ah!”

Zhou Zheng was stunned for a moment.

He suddenly slapped his forehead, “Ah, it’s a misunderstanding!”

“Isn’t it a misunderstanding?”

“So, it was you who went to the weaving bureau yesterday!”

Zhou Zheng sighed, “This matter is a long story!”

At this point, Zhou Zheng took a sip of tea.

“After the King of Bingzhou took office, he established a new position called the ‘Inspection Bureau’!”

“They’re responsible for inspecting various places. If any violations are found, it’s reported immediately, and that causes trouble!”

Zhou Zheng shook his head helplessly, “The weaving bureau was originally the most profitable business! Naturally, it’s been targeted by the King of Bingzhou!”

“So, we can only lay low for a while!”

“Brother Lu, please understand!”