vstars Chapter 311 Salt Scarcity
Chapter 311 Salt Scarcity
Inside the prefectural office, Lin Ping carefully inserted silver needles one by one into Qi Tianzhang's chest.
To be honest, Qi Tianzhang was a little scared, but in the end he chose to believe, after all, the doctor was a miracle worker, and he had saved him in this way before.
Actually, there was little need for acupuncture this time. Lin Ping had already used X-ray to check Qi Tianzhang's chest, and the blood stasis had been basically cleared away, which showed that the prescription he had given was effective.
"Who taught Young Master Lin his medical skills?" Qi Tianzhang asked curiously after the acupuncture treatment was finished.
Medical skills are a closely guarded secret, and it's difficult to become proficient on one's own. Reaching Lin Ping's level is even more challenging. If Lin Ping were over fifty, it might be understandable. But he's only in his early twenties, which is somewhat puzzling, unless he's been taught by a renowned physician.
“I’m afraid…” Lin Ping smiled and paused. He knew Qi Tianzhang’s intention and how difficult it was to learn without a teacher.
This vague statement is to tell the other party that I, Lin Ping, do indeed have a famous teacher, but that my teacher is a reclusive master who lives in seclusion in the mountains and forests, and it is inconvenient to mention his name.
"Hahaha! I understand, I understand. Such a master would not want to show his face in public. This is a great loss to my Wu Kingdom." Qi Tianzhang shook his head and smiled, naturally not pressing Lin Ping for answers.
"Lord Qi, as far as I know, the Salt Transport Commission is only an agency in charge of salt. Why does the transport commissioner have such great power that he can even force Miss Zhou to marry him?" Lin Ping asked respectfully, not wanting the other party to think that he looked down on the Salt Transport Commission.
Qi Tianzhang knew that Lin Ping was straightforward, and he wasn't angry because of this. Instead, he said in a low voice, "This is a long story, and it all has to do with salt."
"Oh?" Lin Ping pricked up his ears, pretending to be eager to hear more, though he had already guessed the gist of it.
“In recent years, the weather in Wu Kingdom has been mostly cloudy with few sunny days, resulting in low salt production. Jiangcheng Prefecture is even struggling to survive, and Yingtian Prefecture relies entirely on Shancheng for its salt supply.” Qi Tianzhang explained with a sigh, “Not long ago, the governor in charge of salt transportation in Shancheng joined forces with the city lord of Shancheng to suppress the city lord of Jiangcheng, but suffered a crushing defeat. The city lord of Shancheng was killed, and the governor fled back to Yingtian Prefecture. The new city lord of Shancheng has stopped supplying salt to Yingtian Prefecture, leading to a severe salt shortage in the prefecture.”
Lin Ping listened with great interest, almost bursting out laughing at one point. "The one who defeated the city lord and the governor of the mountain city is none other than me, Lin Ping! The salt shortage in Yingtian Prefecture should be credited to me with a great deal of credit."
"So, the Zhou family couldn't buy salt at all and faced the danger of bankruptcy, so they went to ask the transport commissioner to sell them salt?" Lin Ping perfectly analyzed the ins and outs of the matter, and a strange sense of sadness arose in his heart, as if he was sympathizing with Zhou Xiyin's plight.
This was clearly a spoiled young lady who was willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of her family's development. Lin Ping would never forget the shocking scene of her agreeing to Ruan Dan's request.
"That's right." Qi Tianzhang nodded slightly.
Salt is in short supply in Yingtian Prefecture. Salt merchants are unable to buy salt from the Salt Transport Commissioner's Office and are facing the risk of bankruptcy. Therefore, they are trying every means to buy salt.
"If I'm not mistaken, Wang Ba's banquet with you that day was also to buy salt?" Lin Ping finally pieced together all the events that had happened in the past few days.
Wang Ba's father was also a salt merchant, but his warehouse was out of salt, so he couldn't make a penny. He had to find another way, so he thought of currying favor with Qi Tianzhang.
If Lin Ping hadn't interfered, this deal would likely have gone through, since the other party had already prepared a large red envelope.
"As expected, I couldn't escape the discerning eye of the divine physician." Qi Tianzhang smiled awkwardly and admitted the matter.
In his eyes, Lin Ping was a divine doctor with extraordinary abilities, so how could he dare to play any tricks on him?
"So, the Salt Transport Office still has some in stock?" Lin Ping's eyes immediately lit up, and he smiled mysteriously.
"To be honest, Divine Physician, the Salt Transport Office does indeed still have five hundred shi of salt left, and we are looking for a powerful buyer," Qi Tianzhang explained in detail.
The so-called powerful buyers were actually buyers who relied on connections.
For example, the Wang family, who wanted to bribe Qi Tianzhang, and the Zhou family, who were willing to submit to Ruan Dan.
“Yesterday, a servant in the Zhou family fell seriously ill, so I went to treat him. On the way, I discovered that the Zhou family mansion was lavishly decorated with carved railings and jade pillars. I suppose this is the buyer that Lord Qi is looking for,” Lin Ping said in a serious tone.
Qi Tianzhang, aren't you looking for a wealthy and powerful buyer?
What a coincidence, I, Lin Ping, happen to know such a place.
Qi Tianzhang was a shrewd man, so how could he not understand Lin Ping's implied meaning? His brain worked quickly, and finally he replied with a smile, "The divine doctor said that the Zhou family is powerful, so it is powerful. I will send someone to deliver all the salt over another day!"
That was a very skillful way of putting it. I, Qi Tianzhang, only chose the Zhou family out of respect for the Divine Physician, and I spared no effort in doing so, hoping that the Divine Physician would secretly remember it.
"There's no better day than today. It's best to send it over now, and in the name of the Salt Transport Commissioner, not in my name, Lin Wuqing," Lin Ping continued with a smile.
Since Qi Tianzhang had promised Lin Ping, he naturally wouldn't go back on his word. It didn't matter when he delivered it. He just didn't understand why Lin Ping had helped the Zhou family but deliberately didn't leave his name.
Could it be... a trick?
How could the eldest daughter of the Zhou family discover her benefactor on her own initiative and then repay him with her body?
"That guy Ruan Dan is utterly pathetic. The Divine Doctor is the real beauty magnet. His tactics are miles ahead of the other guy's!" Qi Tianzhang thought to himself, hurriedly ordering people to prepare for the matter.
This last batch of salt will have to be sold sooner or later, so rather than accepting bribes, it's better to let the miracle doctor owe me a favor.
Anyway, he has made a lot of money over the years, but what he cares about most is his health.
Having received the miracle doctor's favor is like having an extra life.
"Lord Qi, has the Salt Transport Commissioner considered purchasing salt from Jiangcheng Prefecture?" Lin Ping asked mysteriously.
"Jiangcheng Prefecture?" Qi Tianzhang looked at Lin Ping with the same surprise and asked in confusion, "Even the Divine Doctor has heard that a salt mine has been discovered in Jiangcheng Prefecture?"
Qi Tianzhang, being the Salt Transport Assistant Magistrate, was well-informed in this area and had naturally heard the legendary stories about the Jiangcheng Salt Mine.
They originally wanted to send someone to negotiate, but unfortunately they were turned away.
Aren't you, the Salt Transport Commissioner, a big shot?
Back then, no one in Jiangcheng Prefecture would sell salt to me. Now, the tables have turned, and it's time for Jiangcheng Prefecture to finally get its due.
Clearly, it was Lin Ping who refused the Salt Transport Commissioner's order. He wasn't acting on impulse; he was seeking greater benefits.
Since salt has become a scarce commodity, we're not afraid that you won't raise the price.
"I, Lin Wuqing, once saved the life of the City Lord of Jiangcheng. Perhaps I can be of some help!" Lin Ping said with a grin, his intentions written all over his face.