Starting from a thatched cottage, the farmer embarked on the road to wealth through imperial examina

Chapter 225 Butterfly Wings

Chu Yunmao naturally agreed. Before coming to Yuzhou Prefecture, he learned that although Mr. Cai's youngest disciple was just a country scholar, he had intricate ties with the cattle farm, Weihaojia Milk Processing Workshop, and Yunfeng Tower, and even had some connection with the Qiu family in Shengjing.

The group arrived at Yunfeng Tower. Zhong Yunfeng was still busy with the affairs of the Yizhou branch in Yizhou Prefecture. The Yunfeng Tower in Wanshou County was now under the full management of Quan Youfang.

Quan Youfang saw Master Cai and Master Ye Changyan coming, along with the new county magistrate, and hurriedly invited them to the private room on the second floor.

Seeing that the owner of Yunfeng Tower was even more polite to Master Cai's disciple than himself, the newly appointed official, Chu Yunmao thought that the information he had obtained was basically reliable and that Ye Changyan did have some relationship with Yunfeng Tower.

Chu Yunmao had just taken office and had not been to Yunfeng Tower yet. Looking at the dishes on the table, he found them to be very different from those in other places. After hearing Mr. Cai's call, everyone started to eat.

Chu Yunmao picked up a piece of pickled fish, which tasted sour, fresh and tender. It was an unprecedented experience. Chu Yunmao was very shocked, but seeing that Teacher Cai looked calm and relaxed, Chu Yunmao suppressed his surprise.

He tried other dishes as well, and they were all fresh, fragrant and delicious without exception. Among them, there were several dishes with sour and spicy taste, which made Chu Yunmao unable to stop.

I didn't expect that this remote county under Yuzhou Prefecture actually had such delicious food. Chu Suian had served in Zhangzhou for many years, and the Chu Yunmao brothers could be said to have grown up in Zhangzhou. Zhangzhou is close to the sea, and the locals are good at cooking seafood.

But the dish in front of him, called pickled fish, overturned Chu Yunmao's previous understanding of freshwater fish. The deliciousness of this pickled fish even far exceeded the deliciousness of Zhangzhou seafood in his mind.

I heard that Yunfeng Tower opened a branch in Yuzhou Prefecture a few years ago. Only half a year has passed, and it has opened another branch in Yizhou Prefecture. It seems that Yunfeng Tower is indeed not simple.

"My dear nephew, do you like the dishes?"

"Thanks to my uncle, I have broadened my horizons today. It seems that I will have a good time in the future."

Everyone was laughing and chatting while eating. Both the host and the guests were having a great time while clinking glasses.

After seeing Chu Yunmao off, Master Cai started talking to his two disciples about Chu Yunmao's origins.

"In a remote county like Wanshou County, the selection of the county magistrate has caused quite a bit of competition."

Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng were both a little surprised. What was there to fight for the position of Wanshou County Magistrate?

"Your fourth senior brother mentioned in his letter earlier that the forces behind the prefect of Yuzhou Prefecture and the people of the Qiu family have recommended candidates for the magistrate of Wanshou County to the Ministry of Personnel. The Qingliu officials in the court also seemed to have smelled something and intervened. This Chu Yunmao is a member of the Qingliu faction."

Seeing that both disciples were somewhat confused, Master Cai twirled his beard lightly and thought for a moment.

"In my opinion, this is probably related to Saburo in some way."

Ye Changyan was totally confused as to how a young scholar from the countryside like him could be involved in the selection of the county magistrate and even cause a fight among multiple factions in the court.

"Wu Hongchang's performance in Wanshou County over the past few years has been mediocre, and he has not achieved any outstanding results. Originally, based on Wu Hongchang's evaluation in Wanshou County, he would most likely be transferred to a place with a very different customs and culture from Wanshou County to continue serving as the county magistrate to see if he can achieve something in a completely different environment. If he is still mediocre in a different environment, then according to normal procedures, he is unlikely to be promoted."

Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng both knew that the teacher was teaching them based on current affairs, and they both pricked up their ears and listened carefully.

"Wu Hongchang is a branch of the Wu family, a prominent family in Shengjing. Last year, the Wu family had already started campaigning for Wu Hongchang among the upper echelons. The reason why I did not agree to Wu Hongchang's visit and banquet was that I did not want to convey information that might be over-interpreted to the relevant personnel."

"At the end of last year, you and Zhong Yunfeng suddenly came up with the cattle farm and processing workshop, which suddenly became a bright spot in Wanshou County. Because Wu Hongchang broke the rules and approved the grazing forest for the cattle farm, and also gave Zhong Yunfeng the approval to slaughter the spotted cattle, this move was praised by the governor of Yuzhou Prefecture, and Wu Hongchang's evaluation last year changed from medium to excellent, which also added a heavyweight weight to Wu Hongchang's promotion."

Ye Changyan was shocked. He didn't expect that his actions would in some sense contribute to Wu Hongchang's promotion.

"Originally, Wu Hongchang was aiming for the position of Tongpan of Langzhou, but the position was taken by the people of the Ministry of Personnel. Although Wu Hongchang was transferred to Linzhou to continue to serve as a county magistrate, it can be considered a good opportunity. Linzhou has always been rich and close to the capital. It is an important granary in all dynasties. Officials here are more likely to achieve results, and the probability of being promoted is much higher than that of other prefectures."

Master Cai picked up the teacup, took a sip, raised the corners of his mouth, and looked at his two disciples.

"The governor of Yuzhou Prefecture and the forces behind him saw the prospects of this cattle farm and processing workshop, so they naturally wanted to place their own people there. Weihaojia supplied Lihua Lane and was very popular in Shengjing. The Qiu family behind Lihua Lane also seemed to have seen the prospects of this cattle farm and processing workshop, so they naturally wanted to place their own people there, and even wanted to use this to control Weihaojia's supply."

I didn’t expect that behind this simple business, there were actually political considerations.

"But what no one expected was that Wanshou County, which was favored by the governor of Yuzhou and the Qiu family, was snatched away by the Qingliu faction."

Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng both nodded thoughtfully.

"Back then, your master's wife and I went to Zhangzhou to fight the flood. Chu Suian was quite talented. The local officials in Zhangzhou were full of cliques and xenophobia. Chu Suian, who was transferred from another place to serve as the county magistrate in Zhangzhou, was ostracized by the local officials. He worked as the county magistrate in a county on the coast of Zhangzhou for many years."

"Later, by chance, Chu Suian joined the Qingliu faction in the court. When I was appointed as the prefect of Zhangzhou, Chu Suian was finally promoted to the position of Tongpan of Zhangzhou under the operation of the Qingliu faction in the court."

"After that, Chu Suian's career was relatively stable. However, he wasted too much time as a county magistrate in Zhangzhou. Later, he retired as the Tongzhi of Panzhou. Although his three sons all passed the imperial examination, they repeatedly failed to make the list of the Spring Examination. With the support of the Qingliu faction, Chu Suian finally sent all three sons into official careers."

"Now it seems that the three brothers of the Chu family, especially the youngest son Chu Yunmao, are more interested in the Qingliu faction. I think when he takes office this time, he must be very interested in the cattle farm and processing workshop, and even Yunfeng Building."

After listening to Mr. Cai's analysis, Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng both felt that this might be possible.

"Sanlang, I don't want you to get involved in these fights too early. You should also tell Zhong Yunfeng to maintain a normal relationship with Chu Yunmao. Don't be too close to him, so as not to arouse unnecessary suspicion from others and bring unnecessary trouble to yourself."

Ye Changyan never expected that the flapping of his butterfly wings would bring about such a chain reaction. Hearing Mr. Cai's advice, Ye Changyan nodded and agreed.