Chapter 48 The Former Master

  Li Meng suddenly became interested when he heard Chen Liu's words. He came to do this inspection, completely following some small economic common sense in modern times to operate private salt. As for what this inspection is going to do and how to do it, it's really half-understood, so someone like this is needed to help. Who would have thought that someone would come right up to the door, and he hastily sent someone to bring him in.

  The teacher followed behind Chen Liu, walking into the house with a humble and cautious attitude. Before Li Meng could ask any questions, the teacher had already knelt down on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly and saying:

  "Spare my life, spare my life."

  Li Meng felt a bit helpless, thinking that people in this era were so fond of kowtowing, no matter what they did, they would knock their heads together. As someone from modern times, he was not used to it. The teacher wore a green robe and had a black cloth wrapped around his head, which looked like the attire of a scholar. Until now, Li Meng had not seen the other person's face, only noticing that his hair was somewhat gray. However, as the teacher of Mu Xun, he probably wasn't a good person. Li Meng drew out his voice and said:

  "Lift your head and speak clearly! If you keep crying like this, I'll chop you down with one knife!"

  The old master suddenly stopped crying, lifted his head, and this old master had three long mustaches, a clear and thin face, well-maintained, without the traditional impression of Li Meng's gaunt, goat-like beard, triangular eyes. However, Li Meng saw that the old master was not too afraid, although he made a flustered appearance, his eyes were very stable, and when he lifted his head, he was also carefully sizing up Li Meng.

  Li Meng suddenly laughed and jokingly said:

  "What should I call you?"

  "My surname is Ning, Ning Qian Gui, adults call me Xiao Qian Gui for short."

  "Is it Qian Gui, Money Cabinet?"

  Li Meng couldn't help but laugh when he heard this name, clearing his throat before speaking again:

  "Mr. Ning, you seem to be unworried, did you figure out that I wouldn't lay a hand on you?"

  "Mr. Ning" The title made Ning Shifu, who was kneeling there, tremble all over, and his body straightened up unconsciously, and he also slightly adjusted his appearance. This is the most basic office etiquette that Li Meng had when he worked in the company in his previous life, and it's a kind of subconscious title. He didn't expect that the other party would take it so seriously.

  Compared with what was expected, the latter half of the sentence didn't have much effect. Ning Qian Gui actually smiled and said in a soft voice:

  "My body hair and skin were given by my parents, so I must be careful with them. Students who come here also have some confidence..."

  Before he could finish speaking, Li Meng stepped forward and helped him up with a smile.

  "Intellectuals are just troublemakers, what's on your mind, speak up! If you could make it out there, you wouldn't be kneeling at my door so early in the morning. I won't kill you, so go ahead and say something!"

  The term "intellectual" was naturally beyond Ning Qian's comprehension, but Li Meng's words had actually expressed everything he had been thinking in his heart. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, but seeing that Li Meng didn't drive him away, he thought to himself that perhaps his goal might be achievable after all, and so he began to speak up.

  It's better not to mention it, but as soon as he mentioned it, Chen Liuzi, who was standing on the side, almost drew out his knife to kill someone. It turned out that Ning Qiangui was actually the mastermind behind the ambush of those salt smugglers on the day of the previous official's departure. Ning Qiangui claimed to be a fallen scholar and had worked as an accountant in a certain shop before joining Mu Xun as a teacher. He was different from his companions, who were like bandits, and had some clear thinking and judgment. When Li Meng took office, those salt smugglers were originally prepared to disband, but he found several leaders and said that after so many good years, it would be a waste to give up this lucrative position.

  This Li Meng is just a poor man from a military household, making a living by farming, I don't know where he got several hundred taels of silver to donate for the position of patrol inspector, presumably he has no ability. As long as everyone takes action halfway, and kills this Li Meng, the new patrol inspector of Lai Prefecture will not arrive in a short time.

  Everyone still has the identity of Yan Ding and the identity of confusing right and wrong. When the next inspector comes, there may be a turning point in the matter. The leaders of those Yan Ding were originally fugitives and bandits who had escaped from prison, and they enjoyed their time as Yan Ding, no one wanted to become outlaws again.

  It was indeed a perfect match, and both sides quickly decided how to take action. Whoever thought that those poor soldiers were not worth fighting against.

  Everyone knew the result, Ning Qiangui saw Li Meng entering the city that afternoon and knew it was bad, so he hurried to a friend's house to hide. In the following days, the news of more than 80 people dying on the road became more and more certain, and Ning Qiangui, who didn't dare to go out, became more and more afraid.

  After all, this matter was his plan, and the plan failed miserably. It's likely that neither Li Meng nor Yan Ding would let him off. Ning Qian Gui also had some ideas after thinking about it carefully. He cautiously inquired outside for two days and found out that everyone around Li Meng were military men brought from Ling Shan Wei. As a native of Jiaozhou, Ning Qian Gui was also familiar with the military men from Ling Shan Wei.

  In the Wei Su, especially in the Shandong Deng Lai area, there are very few families who let their children read books and take imperial examinations. They all farm or fish, these kinds of families may be simple-minded, but they lack a lot in terms of intelligence and insight.

  Although this inspection is just to investigate private salt, it's an official business after all, and a lucrative one at that. To do it well, he really needs the help of an experienced mentor like Li Meng. After weighing the pros and cons, Ning Qian decided to take a gamble and knelt down in front of Li Meng's door early in the morning.

  This isn't much of an adventure, Ning Qian Gui has thought it through carefully, and Li Meng really does need a role like this that's familiar with the business...

  The next day, Ning Qian Gui became a teacher under the salt administration inspector stationed in Jizhou. If any of his former acquaintances were to see him now, they would definitely be shocked, because Ning Qian Gui used to have a flattering smile on his face all the time, despite having a refined appearance. However, since working under Li Meng, he had become very dignified.

  Since it was a sensible person who came over, Li Meng asked about the income issue. As a result, Ning Shifu heard that from last year to now, Li Meng had already made nearly 10,000 taels of silver, and could guarantee 1,500 taels per month. He was immediately stunned, with his mouth wide open in surprise.