Chapter 2 — An Luong Doesn't Choose a Female

The elder sister spends money cleanly, only the person who accounts for her gets the smell of money. Mother saw my silence and thought I was humbled.

"My sister is not good at communicating with rude people. Tomorrow when you go to the dock, remember to arrange the porters and boat owners for her."

"Thanh Nguyet just needs to personally deliver wages to the refugees, don't let petty money matters bother her."

I raised my eyes.

“So who gave me my thousand sacks of salary?”

“My hands and feet are nimble, I can run a few more trips.”

She said it as if it were a matter of course.

"Thanh Nguyet's body is weak, and she has to save face for the Tan family. I've been used to suffering since I was young, so I should shoulder a little more for my sister."

The elder sister held her mother's hand.

“Mom, I can do it myself.”

"At best, I'll ask Uncle Tiet to help me find a few boats, so there's no need to bother my sister."

As soon as the words ended, the gatekeeper came in to report. Tiet Van Son arrived. He did not come alone. Behind him were four servants holding gift boxes. The top brocade box was not closed, revealing a corner of the jade hat. Mother's eyes immediately lit up. Tiet Van Son pretended not to see, just smiled and clasped his hands at his elder sister.

“The story of the eldest lady refusing the general seal in front of the palace today spread throughout the capital.”

"Everyone says that the Qin family teaches women to have a way. Even the Queen Mother will definitely understand that what she wants is not money, but a righteous identity to save the people."

The two words "district lord", he did not say. But everyone in the lobby understood. The third magistrate quickly ordered someone to offer a chair.

"The Tiet family's news is most accurate. Has the Queen Mother ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare the investiture ceremony?"

“The divine will of the heavens, Tiet Mo dare not speculate.”

Tiet Van Son smiled even more gently.

"It's just that with the dignity of the eldest lady, if I just let her look after the money, it would be too condescending."

The anger on his father's face disappeared by half. Originally, he did not want his daughter to be a merchant's clerk. If the eldest sister can exchange her good manners for the title of district lord, the Tan family will truly enter the ranks of nobility. Tiet Van Son gave a boat list to the elder sister.

“I have prepared the food boat tomorrow for you, miss.”

"The porters and carriages are also taken care of by the Tiet family. The lady only needs to show up at the dock, and someone will do the rest of the dirty and heavy work."

The elder sister did not accept it immediately.

"Uncle Tiet helped like that, Thanh Nguyet is truly ashamed."

“It's all for the refugees, how can it be called helping the lady?”

At this time, she received the boat list.

“When the salary arrives, I will make it clear to the Queen Mother that the Tiet family also contributes a part.”

Tiet Van Son smiled and replied yes. The elder sister was used to others paying for her, so she never asked the price. But how could this old fox, Tiet Van Son, let her easily send food to a natural disaster area?

3

The next day, it was not yet dawn, Nam Binh wharf was already full of people. The elder sister changed into a pure white cavalry outfit. The sleeves are neatly tied, and there is only a wooden hairpin in her hair. As soon as she appeared, the people who were waiting to see the excitement immediately moved out of the way.

"That's Miss Qin."

“I heard that she doesn't even need the general seal of the Nine Provinces, just because she wants to personally deliver the salary.”

“If a person like that is in charge of morality, he won't seek anything money from our sweat and tears.”

The elder sister heard but her footsteps did not stop. It's just that the expression on his face softened a lot. Fifty large cars that the Tiet family prepared for her were neatly arranged outside the warehouse. Each car is hung with a white cloth, with four words written on it in black ink.

"Thanh Nguyet saves the people."

Our family's young master, Tan An, carried the flag and ran, sweat pouring down his head. Seeing me coming, he lowered his voice to explain.

“The eldest lady said that when the refugees saw the name, they would know whom to thank.”

“Which house does the salary belong to?”

“Of the good religion of Cuu Chau.”

“Then take down the flag.”

He did not dare to move. Father stood next to his eldest sister, his face darkened.

“My sister wants to make the Tan family famous. As soon as you arrived, you started digging around, can't you bear to see it gaining popularity among the people?"

I didn't pay attention to him, took the order and headed to the west of the warehouse. Western warehouse is closest to the wharf. A thousand sacks of food were lined up behind the door, just waiting for the order to be approved before they could be loaded onto the boat. Counter manager Tran stooped to welcome him.

“Second lady, the food in the Western warehouse has been prepared for you.”

“Master Tiet loves refugees, and especially helps people save half a day to get paid.”

I raised my hand to untie the first bag. Shopkeeper Tran pressed the knot again.

“Checked, every bag is premium white rice. Miss, you have smooth skin and soft flesh, don't let dust get on your hands."

The parents behind urged.

"Your car has started to improve quality, what are you waiting for?"

“Get on the boat now, you can leave before noon.”

I looked at the warehouse door closest to the dock. If you change to Dong Kho, it will take at least another half day. The three-day deadline is already urgent. But we know we can't ignore it. I was just about to open my mouth when a comment appeared before my eyes. 【Don't touch the Western warehouse! Last night, the Tiet family stuffed old, damp rice at the bottom of the bag, with only a layer of new rice on top!】 【Slit the bottom of the bag! The worms and mold are all compressed at the bottom!】 My hand touched the thorn wire, then it was pulled back.

“Turn the bag over.”

The smile of shopkeeper Tran stiffened.

“What did the second lady say?”

“These thousand bags, take one bag for every ten bags, pour it out and check.”

The porters on the wharf all stopped. Father walked quickly.

“The Queen Mother only gave me three days, are you going to unpack a hundred sacks of salary here?”

“In stock, checked once. Don't you believe in the old person your great-grandmother left behind?"

The shopkeeper Tran's eyes immediately turned red.

“This old slave has been working in the food industry for twenty years and has never lacked a single grain of food.”

“If the second lady suspects this old slave, why not chase me away!”

The elder sister also stepped forward. The white flag behind her was blown by the wind.

"Sister, shopkeeper Tran is an old friend of my grandmother's."

“I just received a temporary order and humiliated him like that, who will dare to work for me in the future?”

The counter clerk bowed his head, his shoulders trembling. In the eyes of outsiders, it looks like I'm using my power to bully others. I took a short knife from the porter's hand.

“Whether it's humiliating or not, open a bag and you'll know.”

The tip of the knife pierced the bottom of the bag. Shopkeeper Tran suddenly rushed forward.

“Do not open!”

Bach Ma Ma's stick stood in front of his feet. He fell down hard. The bottom of the bag was torn, black shredded rice mixed with worms all over the ground. A musty smell immediately spread. The porter standing closest covered his nose.

“This is it Salary saves lives? Feed the chickens and they will complain!

My father's face immediately turned white. The elder sister stood in front of a pile of black rice, unable to say a word for a long time. Tiet Van Son arrived very quickly. As soon as he arrived, he raised his foot and kicked shopkeeper Tran.

“Dog! How dare you hide this from me!”

As soon as Tran the counterman got up, he was kicked down.

“Master, you clearly wronged the villain…”

The Tiet family manager immediately silenced him. I stopped the family from trying to drag you away.

"Luong hasn't finished testing yet, no one can leave."

Tiet Van Son squinted his eyes.

"Second lady, shopkeeper Tran used bad things to exchange good things. Of course, Tiet Mo will investigate."

“In the immediate future, rescue is important. The Tiet family vows to take a thousand new bags of rice from our store, without taking a penny."

“No need.”

"What's wrong, lady, even with the salary that saved your life, do you want to be angry?"

“I don't believe in the Tiet family's salary.”

There was a breath of cold air around. This sentence is like slapping the Tiet family in the face right in front of the crowd. Father lowered his voice.

"Tan Minh Chau, if you think it's good then stop."

"Uncle Tiet has agreed to compensate for the salary, how long do you want to make trouble?"

I pointed at the moldy rice on the ground.

“If I hadn't looked closely one more time, these thousand bags would have been on the boat.”

“The victims ate to death, the Tiet family compensated with a thousand new bags of rice, can that compensate for human lives?”

The smile on Tiet Van Son's face finally faded. Bach ma ma bent down and grabbed a handful of black rice, wrapping it in a towel.

“I will bring this salary back to the Queen Mother to see.”

"As for how the second lady fares, the Queen Mother will only see the results after three days."

She did not speak up to defend me. But he temporarily pressed down the Tiet family's reaching hand. I turned around and looked towards the East warehouse. The journey was delayed for half a day and could only be regained on the water.

4

The salary at Dong Kho is a good salary. But there wasn't even a boat. Captain Sun was so worried that foam appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“This morning there were still twenty cars parked at the door of the East branch. Just now, the manager of the Tiet family came on a trip and said there was a big business going upriver, so all the boat owners followed him."

“Where are the rest?”

“The big boats have all gone, there are only small boats left at the fish market.”

One thousand sacks of wages and five big boats are enough. But small boats require more than forty.