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The shopkeeper of "Jufu Pavilion", named Guo Pu, like most innkeepers, is a wealthy and shrewd philistine, with a kind and wealthy smile on his face all the year round.

Therefore, when Zhao Junchen, Huo Zhengyuan, and Bao Wenjie led a group of entourages into the "Jufu Pavilion", Guo Pu saw the extraordinaryness of the three at a glance, so he hurriedly greeted them, with a flattering smile on his face, and said in a loud voice: "Several guest officers, are you eating or lodging?" The food in the small shop is famous for its delicious food in Huai'an, and there are also spare first-class rooms, all of which are spacious and comfortable......"

Before Guo Pu finished speaking, Xu Qingyan behind Zhao Junchen had already waved his hand and ordered: "Gossip aside, my son-in-law and others are tired, go and clean up the three best guest rooms, as well as four or five ordinary guest rooms, we will stay here for a few days...... In addition, prepare another table of good dishes, my son-in-law and others are also a little hungry, and they are going to eat now! ”

Then, Xu Qingyan took out a large ingot of silver, threw it to Guo Pu, and added: "No, this is a deposit, if it's not enough, come to me." ”

Zhao Junchen and others were ordered to handle the case this time, and all they spent were treasury money, so Xu Qingyan was also very generous when he made a move.

Three upscale rooms, four or five ordinary rooms, plus the cost of three meals a day, this is a big deal for the "Jufu Pavilion".

Moreover, Xu Qingyan's attitude was very arrogant, and when he gave the order, he didn't even ask about the price, which made Guo Pu confirm that the guests in front of him were all distinguished guests and high-rollers, and they must not be neglected, if they are served well. Maybe the reward they give will be enough to cover a month's salary.

Thinking of rewarding money, Guo Pu's smile became more and more flattering. and personally arranged accommodation for Zhao Junchen and others, busy and diligent.

*

When a qiē are ready. Zhao Junchen, Huo Zhengyuan, and Bao Wenjie found a private room in the "Jufu Pavilion", planning to eat and discuss at the same time.

However, Guo Pu was full of anticipation for the reward, so he did not leave, and still stood by and waited, so Zhao Junchen, Huo Zhengyuan, and Bao Wenjie could not talk at will.

After Bao Wenjie turned his head and glanced at Guo Pu, he waved his hand and said, "You don't need to serve here, you go and go busy with your own affairs first, and then I will tell you when you have something." ”

Seeing that he did not get the reward. Guo Pu's smile froze, but he couldn't say it clearly, so he had to nod his head in agreement and prepare to turn around and leave.

At this moment, Zhao Junchen suddenly spoke: "Mr. Bao, let him stay and serve, let's just ask him for some news...... Every inn is a place where news is distributed, and this shopkeeper must also be well-informed, so let's find him for news. It's always a lot more convenient. ”

After pondering for a moment, Bao Wenjie nodded, "It's okay." ”

As for Huo Zhengyuan next to him, his attitude towards the investigation of the case is still a little negative, and he looks dispensable. and did not express an opinion.

Seeing that things had taken a turn for the better, Guo Pu hurriedly came to Zhao Junchen and the others, and asked politely, "Contemptible Guo Pu." It's the shopkeeper of this inn, I don't know what news the three distinguished guests want to find out? The contemptible must know everything and say everything. ”

"It turned out to be the shopkeeper Guo." Zhao Junchen smiled and nodded: "That's right." The three of us run a business house in partnership and now want to do business in Huai'an. The most important thing in this business is to open up the door to the government, so we want to inquire about the situation of Huai'an officialdom from Guo's shopkeeper. ”

Guo Pu said with a smile: "I see, guest officer, you are asking the right person, the contemptible brother-in-law is now working in the Huai'an prefect's yamen, and the contemptible person knows the situation of Huai'an officialdom best." The current Huai'an prefect is named He Hengze, this Lord He is very talkative, and he likes celebrity calligraphy and painting the most, so the three adults only need to buy a few valuable celebrity calligraphy and paintings to give him, even if the door of this official mansion is opened, Lord He will naturally take care of the business of the three in the future......"

Hearing Guo Pu say this, Zhao Junchen's smile did not change, Huo Zhengyuan still had a negative attitude, and Bao Wenjie snorted lightly with an unhappy face.

Guo Pu's "very talkative", in other words, "easy to bribe and bribe", with Bao Wenjie's temperament, he was naturally unhappy when he heard this.

However, although Zhao Junchen did not say anything, the thoughts in his heart were much more profound than Bao Wenjie.

"He Hengze, I remember that he was the doorman of Pavilion Elder Shen Changmao...... Now that Shen Changmao and Huang Yourong have formed an alliance, it stands to reason that they should support each other. But after Huo Zhengyuan heard these comments about He Hengze, he didn't say anything, and he looked like he didn't care about himself, obviously the alliance between Shen Changmao and Huang Yourong was not as close as I imagined...... But that's a good thing for me. ”

After thinking about it, Zhao Junchen asked again: "Oh? Today's Huai'an prefect is Lord He Hengzehe? It seems that I am not well-informed, I originally thought that the current prefect of Huai'an was Liu Xin Liu. ”

Guo Pu said with a smile: "Hehe, Liu Xin has committed corruption now, and he has already lost his official position and been imprisoned, where is he still an adult!" ”

Seeing that Guo Pu was a little gloating when he commented on Liu Xin's loss of official position and imprisonment, Zhao Junchen asked, "Oh? I remember that Liu Xin has a good official reputation, how could he commit the crime of corruption? Also, I see that Shopkeeper Guo is very happy about this, but why? ”

Guo Pu shook his head and said: "Saying that Liu Xin committed the crime of embezzlement, the contemptible people also think it is a little incredible, because Liu Xin is different from today's Lord He, he is notoriously difficult to speak, and he never accepts gifts on weekdays, it is hard to believe that people like him can also be corrupt, but this case was personally judged by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince today, how can it be fake?" It can only be said that this person is too deeply hidden, and he is good at window dressing, and he is a big hypocrite! ”

After a pause, Guo Pu continued: "As for why the contemptible people are happy, it is because Liu Xin is too difficult to speak, and he doesn't accept the money he gives him, let alone expect him to give him convenience and special care...... When encountering things, this Liu Xin is even more ruthless, with an iron-faced and selfless hypocrisy, a few years ago, the small shop only paid a little less tax silver, and was fined three times the silver by Liu Xin, so that the contemptible people naturally don't like him...... In fact, not only the contemptible person, but all the businessmen in Huai'an City, no one said good things about him! On the contrary, some poor people will talk about Liu Xin's benefits from time to time......"

Obviously, the profit-seeking nature of businessmen makes their values different from ordinary people.

In the eyes of businessmen, a clean official who refuses to accept bribes is not necessarily a good official, and a corrupt official who digs three feet into the ground is not necessarily a bad official.

Because, for businessmen, bribery is a kind of investment that can make huge profits - although corrupt officials receive bribes, they will also give businessmen some convenience and privileges, and then businessmen will naturally recover the cost of bribery several times; Although the Qing officials never took bribes, the merchants lost their convenience and privileges, and naturally earned less money.

In ancient and modern times, the phenomenon of corruption and bribery has always been repeatedly prohibited, and in some respects, this is not just the reason of the officials themselves.

Now, listening to Guo Pu's comments, it can be seen.

And Guo Pu's views naturally aroused Bao Wenjie's dissatisfaction again.

It's just that while Bao Wenjie is dissatisfied, he is also faintly worried in his heart - listening to Guo Pu's evaluation, the former Huai'an prefect Liu Xin really doesn't look like a corrupt official, could it be that the prince Zhu Heyu was wrongly convicted?

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…… (To be continued......) I1292