The sun has risen, and the morning breeze blows through the reeds, making it desolate. After half a day and a night, Liang Qu had arrived at Fengbu County. Moving closer to the shore, he passed several villages and small cities, and the scene he saw was completely different from that of Pingyang County. Food prices in Pingyang County have risen sharply, and many people are suffering. However, after all, this is not a natural disaster but a man-made disaster. There were no floods or droughts, and the food grew well in the fields. With the help from the surrounding governments, we could barely survive. Everyone knows that after surviving this period and harvesting a wave of rice, life will be much better in the future. In addition, the wealthy families who are coming are building houses one after another, and erecting large houses on the flat land, which changes every day, and everyone can feel the vitality contained in it. Fengbu County was completely silent. Most of the villages Liang Qu passed through were filled with old people who were dying. So many young and middle-aged people in Pingyang County did not appear out of thin air, and the neighboring counties contributed the most.
In many small villages, there were originally a hundred or two hundred people. The ghost mother killed half of them and scared away the remaining half, leaving only the old people who could not walk. Only in big towns and counties the situation is better, and the property is valuable, so they will not be easily scared away. "Brother, can you tell me, what is the name of your village?" After finally seeing a lively small market, Liang Qu asked the three beasts to dive down and then he paddled forward to stop a fisherman who was returning to the boat. When the fisherman saw that Liang Qu was wearing official uniform, he quickly knelt down, but Liang Qu grabbed his arm and stopped him. "It's okay, I'm just asking a question. Brother, just tell me the truth." The fisherman trembled and said: "Sir, our name is Shiqiao City." "Shiqiao City...then do you know where Wuzhen is?" "I know, I know." The fisherman nodded repeatedly and pointed in the west direction, "Go west for more than 20 miles on the waterway, and we're almost there." "Then you're on the right track." Liang Qu nodded and asked again, "Brother, there's something I don't understand. I rowed all the way here, why are your boats docked at the pier?" This thing is very strange. Usually piers are built by private individuals or the government. If you want to dock, you have to pay. For example, in Yixing Town, the fee is 2 cents in normal times and 4 cents in flood season. Liang Qu had to pay before he got rich. But those who are brave and not afraid of trouble can stop in the reed swamp and ignore the wind and rain. Or some people who encounter difficulties, such as parents or children who are sick, sometimes take the risk of stopping outside to save money on a bowl of wine. Everyone has their own way of living. But along the way, Liang Qu passed several reed swamps and never saw anything like this. "My lord, you really upset me." The fisherman was really frightened by Liang Qu's address, and said tremblingly, "My lord, you don't know something. All our boats, one by one, belong to the fishing pen. You are not stopping outside. Beaten to death?" Liang Qu was stunned: "I passed by so many villages along the way. Are all the fishing boats owned by fishing pens?"
"All of them!" How can it be? Liang Qu's first reaction was disbelief. When Yixing Town was still Yixing City, there were hundreds of fishermen in the city. Only about 30% needed to rent fishing boats and relied on the fishing pens to make a living. The rest had their own boats. Why is it so exaggerated to say 100%? But how dare ordinary people tell lies when they see him in official uniform? There is probably something hidden behind him. Liang Qu thought about it and said, "Isn't it possible that your fishing pen is run by one person?" "Your Excellency has a sharp eye. All the fishing pens in Fengbu County belong to the Whale Gang." "How to divide it?" "Four six." "Take 60%?" "Sixty percent belong to other people." Can you survive this? Liang Qu raised his eyebrows slightly. Fishing depends on the season and luck. It is true that experienced fishermen can earn more than 60 or more than 70 fen a day, but only in the seasonal months, more than 10 fen a day in winter is considered good. . Those who earn three melons and two dates will receive 60% of their income, plus two additional taxes. Carrying two mountains is nothing more than this. "Brother, tell me about this whale gang." Liang Qu took out a small piece of broken silver from his arms. It looked like seventy-eight cents, and could be exchanged for a few dozen copper coins. The fisherman swallowed hard when he saw the silver, but he didn't dare to take it: "Sir, I can't do it, I can't do it!" "Here you go! A little money for the drinks." The fisherman couldn't refuse, so he carefully accepted the silver beans and held them firmly in his hands. He looked around and sighed. "When it comes to the Whale Gang, we have to start with the boss of the Whale Gang." After a while, the fisherman held the silver beans and left happily, leaving Liang Qu alone and thinking. Liang Qu took out the album from his arms, opened it and read it word for word. In the past half month, six fishermen in Wuzhen have gone missing and eight have been confirmed dead, bringing the total number of people involved in the incident to 14. But according to the fishermen, Wuzhen has been plagued by water monsters a long time ago. It's just that no one has been taking care of it. The county government's inspections and the Sanfa Division don't pay attention to the things on the water.
Fishermen often encounter water monsters when they go out of their boats. Some die, and some come back alive, but the boat is lost and they have to rely on the fishing pen to survive. It's just that it hasn't happened much in the past year or two, and it's happened again in the last half month for some unknown reason. Liang Qu closed the album again. I thought I just wanted to cook a weirdo. Liu Jie, the boss of the Whale Gang, has something. … “Looking in the mirror, my face looks thinner and thinner with fear, and my brows are filled with hatred and sorrow. The alliance mountain vows to change the coastal defense, but the beauty of the poor life only blames the sky. " Erhuang's slow beat, in response to the melodious singing of Hua Dan, tossed the sleeves in his hands, and they fell like snow. It spread out like a sweet floral scent, taking people's souls to an extremely faraway place. "Because of my infatuation, I am so tender and inconsolable that I am sick all day long. I made a vow with Xie Zhaolang before the lamp, but who knows that we can't break up." The Hua Dan fell down so softly that all hands made a gesture of support, heartbroken and regretful. Looking around the theater, people were everywhere. This is the concubine that Liu Jie, the boss of the Whale Gang, wants to marry. She will only perform one last time and then leave the theater to marry. "She is so beautiful. Even if there are ten concubines in my family, they can't compare to her, Master, don't you think so? Master?" Du Wenchang listened to the song with his head shaking, and his fat body trembled. When he looked back, Master was gone. "It's nice to listen to, it's good to watch, enjoy!" In the evening. The farewell play was over. The actress who had washed off her makeup took small steps, holding a handkerchief in her soft hands, and followed the master into the inner courtyard of the county magistrate. Du Wenchang's heart skipped a beat, and his whole body felt hot. It was really like a small bridge and flowing water, like soft wind, soft water, and soft catkins. But he angrily scolded: "Master, how can you not know the rules at all? How can you bring a woman who has not yet married into my house to my room? Isn't it ruining my reputation? Send her back quickly!" "Absolutely not!" Liu Jie followed and stepped over the threshold, "This little Chun'er just told me that when she saw your face, she felt that you were handsome and elegant. If she couldn't serve you, she would regret it for the rest of her life! I am helping you." "Oh, this is really true." Du Wenchang shook his head, and the oil from his neck mixed with sweat flowed down, "Master Liu is really polite. I wonder if there is anything I can help with?" "The position of patrol inspector..." "Master Liu is really embarrassing me. Although this patrol inspector is only of the ninth rank, it is not something that a small county magistrate like me can appoint or dismiss! It all needs the approval of the Ministry of Personnel."
"Master, you misunderstood. It's not me, it's my son! What do you think of him?" Liu Jie knew that he had no hope and could only settle for the next best thing. "My son" Du Wenchang narrowed his eyes, as if thinking. Liu Jie has been asking for the position of patrol inspector for seven or eight years, but he still doesn't want to give it to him. The reason is simple. Liu Jie has money but no power, so he is naturally manipulated by others and pays tribute every year. But this man is ambitious. If he gets an official position with a high rank and has hundreds of gang members under him, it will be difficult to deal with him in the future. But it's not good to refuse outright, because that's not how business works. Du Wenchang kneaded the soft hands of the actress. "I will recommend you, but whether it succeeds or not is not up to me." "Thank you, sir!" "In addition, don't blame me for not reminding you. Pingyang County now has a river and lake station. The situation on the water is not as good as before. You know how you got up. Save yourself from the trivial things on the water. If something really happens, don't come to me." It's a loss to take only such a small tribute every year and wade into such muddy water. Liu Jie's expression was stern: "Thank you for your reminder, sir. I will not disappoint the sir of the river and lake station! I will definitely let him return with a full load!" "Okay, okay, I'm tired after a busy day of official business today." "Sir, have a good rest." Liu Jie retreated respectfully. ... Underwater, the fat catfish came back from a distance, turning left and right, with a very proud expression. Liang Qu knew what was going on when he saw its smug look. This old fat man is getting more and more arrogant. "Have you found it?" The fat catfish nodded and pointed to one side with its whiskers, dancing with its whiskers. Liang Qu understood and quickly called back the three beasts. When everyone was together, they moved towards the direction pointed by the fat catfish. One person and three beasts followed the fat catfish and soon found a narrow wooden house in the reeds. There was no one around. Liang Qu easily saw what was inside through the narrow gap of the wooden house, which was exactly the same as he had guessed at first. No wonder the monsters look like humans. "Damn it, you assigned me such a big job, give me a raise! I must give you a raise!"
Liang Qu decided to protest to Xu Yuelong when he got back. It was not a Class E mission, it was a Class D mission at the beginning, it took three or four days to go back and forth, and it would be counted as twenty small merits! Midnight. Fishermen went out to fish one after another. Liang Qu was practicing underwater, and the sound of reeds folding on the shore was endless. "The fish are coming!"