Chapter 04 Chengji Commercial Bank ()

Tomorrow, I will go to Zhongyang Temple to seek Fu Water, which is a major event that concerns Cao Peng's life, so Zhang naturally attaches great importance to it.

Since we are going to ask for the water of talismans, we naturally cannot go to it empty-handed. There is no free lunch in the world. The water of talismans in Zhongyang Temple is quite famous. If there is no offering, it is impossible to be offered. What is it? Naturally, it will not be a sacrifice for three animals. Zhongyang Temple does not lack these. They donate the water of talismans and talismans for wealth. Without money and silk offerings, how can they ask for effective water of talismans? Everyone knows this.

Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion of Taiping Road, the surveillance of alchemists and sorcerers in the court has become stricter.

In the first year of Zhongping, the Zhang Jiao brothers relied on donating talismans to win over a large number of believers, and the harm they caused to the Han Dynasty was immeasurable.

Therefore, once you find the alchemist who donates talisman water, you will immediately arrest and question.

So, the alchemists began to take the opportunity to make money blatantly. Giving talisman water can be done, but they must take out money and silk to worship and exchange it. The government is not afraid of the alchemists taking advantage of this to make money, but what they are afraid of is that they use the opportunity to donate talisman water to attract believers and gather people to cause trouble.

In this way, the transaction of Fushui becomes open and upright.

How much money you spend to worship, you will get the same level of talisman water, alchemists and government officials, and they will be in peace.

The Cao family is not a wealthy family. Cao Ji is a third-rate blacksmith who can barely make a living by repairing iron tools. After thinking about it, Zhang thought that if he did not show enough sincerity, he would probably not be able to get the best talisman water, so he secretly took out the ancestral jade pendant, hoping to exchange it for more money so that he could get the talisman water for Cao Peng and keep him safe for his life.

Zhang's father's father's father also had a glory for some time.

Later, the family was ruined and the Zhang generation became commoners. When they married Cao Ji, they had no valuable dowry, and only the jade pendant heirloom was passed down from their ancestors.

Early in the morning, Zhang came to the market with his jade pendant.

In fact, she also knew that in a small place like Zhongyang Town, this ancestral jade pendant was not worth a lot of money.

But I understand that Zhang still holds some hope and wants to sell it as expensive as possible... Ordinary small shops will naturally not pay too high, and if they give them the jade pendant, they may not be able to understand the value. If they don’t understand the value, of course, it is impossible to give Zhang a price that satisfies him. So after thinking about it, Zhang finally chose Chengji Store.

Just like those big cities, there is also a gap between the rich and the poor in small towns.

Chengji Trading Company is the largest business in Zhongyang Town, and is specialized in purchasing mountain goods. They almost eat mountain goods in Zhongyang Town... At the same time, Chengji Trading Company also carries a pawnshop business. Chengji's shopkeeper is named Cheng Ji, and it is said that he has a background in the government.

Zhang felt that if Cheng Ji had such a big business, he might be able to recognize goods.

"What a jade!"

Chengji's pawnshop is a person who knows the goods and can see the value of this jade pendant at a glance. "Sister-in-law, where did your jade pendant come from?"

Everyone lives in the same town, but the pawnsman recognizes Zhang.

Zhang said: "This is a treasure passed down from my family. If my child hadn't had a bad health, I wouldn't have used it for money to go to Zhongyang Temple to ask for him for talisman water."

The pawnshop has heard about Cao Peng.

He nodded sympathetically and then said, "This jade pendant is quite old and has fine carvings, unlike ordinary people who have produced it... If you decide to die, your despise will be twenty-six thousand, do you think?"

The best talisman water requires about ten stalks of sacrifice!

The remaining ten stalks can also buy some medicinal materials to nourish Cao Peng's body.

Zhang was overjoyed and prepared to agree.

But at this moment, someone said behind the counter: "What is worth twenty cents?"

As he spoke, a short, fat, black and thick man walked out of the back hall, wearing a gorgeous brocade robe, walked to the counter and picked up the jade pendant, and played with it in his hand.

"Shopkeeper, this is the daughter-in-law of the Cao family in the town. She pawned a beautiful jade."

This short and fat man was Cheng Ji, the shopkeeper of Cheng Ji. He glanced at Zhang and suddenly sneered: "What kind of beautiful jade is just a worn-out jade, it's always!"

As he said that, he pointed at the pawnshop and cursed: "You guys, don't you think I'm a good house?"

Next time, let me see it clearly..."

After saying that, he left with the jade pendant.

Seeing that Twenty Guan suddenly shrank into the same coin, how could Zhang agree?

"This jade... I won't sell it anymore, you can give it to me!"

Don’t Cheng Ji know the goods?

Of course not...

He could see the value of this jade pendant at a glance, but it was obviously unlikely that he would buy it for twenty coins. As the legend says, Cheng Ji was a businessman with background. He was the brother of the county magistrate of Wuyin County, and his daughter was also the concubine of Zhang Xiu's nephew Zhang Xin!

Nanyang County is under the jurisdiction of Jingzhou.

Since Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu became famous in Nanyang, after the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty regime, Wancheng was designated as the accompanying capital, also known as the Nandu.

Under the jurisdiction of Nanyang County, there were 37 counties under the jurisdiction of Nanyang County, owned by Liu Biao.

But in fact, since Zhang Ji and Zhang Xiu's uncle and nephew invaded Nanyang, Nanyang County was divided into two.

With Jiyang as the junction, north of Jiyang is Zhang Xiu's territory, and south of Jiyang, seventeen counties including Jiyang are governed by Liu Biao.

If he is in Wancheng, Cheng Ji will not be considered a person.

But this is Wuyin. With Cheng Ji's identity and his brother as his backer, he can definitely be called the rich man in Zhongyang Town.

"Why are you, your wife, so many things?

If you sell it for a while, and if you don’t sell it for a while, do you think I’m here?”

Zhang saw that Cheng Ji wanted to destroy her jade pendant... So he couldn't help but feel a little panicked and waved his hand quickly: "I won't sell it anymore, I won't sell it anymore!"

Seeing this situation, Cheng Ji was immediately unaware of it.

I think he is a dignified master and always walks sideways in Wuyin County.

How could he let go of what he liked? Moreover, Zhang's attitude was firm, and he was panicked, and he was inevitably disrespectful in his words.

This also made Cheng Ji even more unhappy...

His eyes rolled, and he immediately had an idea.

A smile appeared on the fat face and said with a smile: "Chef sister-in-law, if you don't want to sell it, then forget it!"

As he said that, he returned the jade pendant to Zhang and turned around and ignored him.

Zhang didn't think too much. After taking the jade pendant, she turned her head and wanted to leave. This was so domineering that she felt a little uneasy.

However, when she just walked to the door, she heard Cheng Ji screaming behind her: "Where is my Qilin Jade Pendant?"

Zhang was stunned and subconsciously accelerated his pace.

But just as she was stunned, Cheng Ji shouted loudly: "Catch that village woman, she stole my jade pendant..."

There were two strong men standing at the door of the business. Without saying a word, they rushed up and pressed Zhang to the ground. The jade pendant in Zhang's hand also fell to the ground. She was extremely frightened and shouted loudly: "I didn't take your jade pendant, don't blame the good people..."

"You thief woman, you have been captured by the stolen woman, how dare you argue?"

Cheng Ji sneered and stepped forward, picked up the jade pendant on the ground, blew the dust on it, and put it in his arms.

"This thief woman stole my jade pendant. Have you all seen it clearly?"

He turned around and looked at the guys at the counter, his small triangle eyes shining fiercely.

Even though those guys knew it well, they could not help but be silent when they saw Cheng Ji's appearance, and said in unison: "See!"

Mrs. Zhang burst into tears!

"Please come..."

Cheng Ji shouted sternly: "If you don't teach you a lesson today, you won't know that the sky is high and the earth is thick."

The three elders are the town officials.

Although Zhongyang Town is not big, there are at least nearly a thousand people. Wuyin County is a bit far from Zhongyang Town, so there must be someone in charge.

All three elders should be over fifty years old and have virtue and can lead the masses to do good deeds.

However, in such a chaotic period, where did so many virtuous people come from? Therefore, the three elders of Zhongyang Town are actually positions granted by privately. They are responsible for verifying and mediating civil disputes and being responsible for the public security of this territory.——

Although Cao Peng did not see what happened before, he believed that Zhang would never do something stealing.

Seeing that Zhang was trampled under the feet by the short and fat man, Cao Peng was immediately angry!

More than ten days after his rebirth, Zhang's care for him moved him very much. Although he was a little awkward, he actually regarded Zhang as his own mother. Cao Peng's eyes were red... Without saying a word, he was about to rush over and fight to the death.

A big hand suddenly grabbed his arm and looked up and it was Wang Meng.

"Afu, don't be impulsive!"

"Uncle, let me go, I will kill the fat thief."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Wang Meng held Cao Peng tightly and lowered his voice: "You rush over like this, it will only make things more and more troublesome... Cheng Jisu has been domineering, and with Wuyin County Magistrate as his backer, how can you beat him? Stay here and don't move, and leave this matter to me to solve."

At this time, the three elders and others rushed over.

"Master Cheng, what happened?"

"This thief woman stole my jade pendant, and my shop's friend can testify for me.

You immediately lock the thief woman up and report it to Wuyin County to know... I want these untouchables to understand who is the heaven of Wuyin County."

"Uncle Zhang, I didn't steal his stuff... that's my ancestral jade pendant!"

"A slut, how dare you say something about the ancestral inheritance? Lao Zhang, this thief woman is stubborn. According to my opinion, she will teach her a good lesson."

The people of Zhongyang Town whispered.
To be continued...