Despite this.
Chen Nan still put on a reluctant look.
"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Tian. It's really nothing major," Chen Nan said awkwardly, smiling.
Uncle Tian replied, "Young Master Chen, there's no need to be so formal between us. Please speak your mind. If you've encountered any problems, this old man will help if he can."
"And if I truly can't help, there's always City Lord Yuan!"
Chen Nan hesitated for a moment and said, "To be frank, Uncle Tian, I want to publish a book."
"That's a good thing!" Uncle Tian chuckled. "If Young Master Chen publishes a book, I'll gladly be your first reader."
He had investigated Chen Nan.
A seasoned book lover.
Therefore.
From reader to author, his book should be guaranteed.
Chen Nan picked up the wine pot and refilled Uncle Tian's cup, his tone laced with a hint of helplessness. "However, the publication permit has been blocked."
"Originally, it only cost five taels of silver to register and apply for a publication permit."
"But now it's become twenty taels."
He said indignantly, "Uncle Tian, do we look like people who are short of twenty taels of silver?"
Uncle Tian said, "Young Master Chen certainly isn't lacking twenty taels of silver."
"Exactly, twenty taels of silver is not much at all," Chen Nan suddenly raised his head and gulped down the wine in his cup. "I just can't stand the attitude of the county yamen clerks."
"The imperial laws clearly state that applying for a publication permit only requires five taels of silver."
"Why are they demanding twenty taels of silver?"
"Where did the extra fifteen taels of silver end up?"
Uncle Tian was speechless.
He knew about this matter.
And a portion of the money had also landed in his pocket.
Chen Nan continued, "If that money went into the county treasury, used for the soldiers' supplies, for maintaining the city walls, or for the common people, I wouldn't bat an eye even if it were two hundred taels of silver."
"But that extra fifteen taels of silver clearly went into private pockets."
"I truly can't stand their embezzlement."
"To put it mildly, it's embezzlement."
"More severely, it's a violation of imperial law, a case of knowing the law and breaking it!"
"The most serious thing is their arrogance, acting as if they could pocket the money and you could do nothing about it, completely disregarding the imperial laws."
"Uncle Tian, doesn't that make you angry?"
Uncle Tian said righteously, "Young Master Chen, rest assured, I will definitely demand an explanation for you and guarantee you get several publication permits."
"Also, in the future, for such small matters, just have someone contact me directly, and I'll have someone handle it for you. Why bother coming in person?"
Uncle Tian felt embarrassed.
If the money hadn't ended up in his pocket, it would have been fine.
The key was that he had also received some profit.
Chen Nan's words were no different from an invisible slap in his face.
Chen Nan said with a wry smile, "I thought this small matter wasn't worth bothering you, elder."
Uncle Tian also gave a wry smile.
This matter was indeed not big.
But you just severely slapped this old man's face!
However.
Chen Nan was right.
The yamen was indeed a den of iniquity.
It was time for a thorough overhaul.
If City Lord Yuan discovered this matter and ordered a rectification,
It would be a very bad thing for him.
After that, the two parted ways.
Uncle Tian went to the county yamen immediately.
As the steward of the City Lord's mansion,
And a favored confidant of the City Lord.
His status in Tongcheng was second only to Yuan Zun.
Seeing him arrive.
The yamen officials and clerks all came forward to pay their respects.
"You come with me!"
Uncle Tian glared expressionlessly at Zhao Wu.
Zhao Wu, full of unease, followed Uncle Tian into a room.
Then.
What awaited him was a severe beating.
Uncle Tian grabbed a stool and smashed it down fiercely.
Zhao Wu was terrified, covering his head and not daring to make a sound.
Only when Uncle Tian grew tired from beating did he stop, gasping for breath.
He looked at Zhao Wu, who was convulsing on the ground, and said in a low voice, "Did you offend someone who came to apply for a publication permit before?"
Upon hearing this.
Zhao Wu's scalp tingled.
How did Uncle Tian know about this?
Could it be that the young man knew Uncle Tian?
Uncle Tian said angrily, "I told you before, no matter what you do, you must be more restrained, at least know how to read people's expressions. But you, you brazenly demanded twenty taels of silver from him."
"Don't you know who that person is?"
"If you want to die, don't drag me down!"
Uncle Tian was very fortunate to have encountered Chen Nan at the restaurant today.
If he had told the City Lord about what happened today,
And if the City Lord investigated this matter,
He would also be implicated.
He would definitely be dragged down.
"This subordinate admits guilt, this subordinate admits guilt!"
Zhao Wu, prostrate on the ground, trembled in fear.
He had originally thought Chen Nan was just showing off.
Especially that sentence 'I have connections' made him feel disdainful.
If you truly had connections, why would you come here to apply for a publication permit?
The truth proved.
He really did have connections.
And a very important one at that.
Otherwise, Uncle Tian wouldn't have come here and been so furious.
Nor would he have said, 'If you want to die, don't drag me down...'
Uncle Tian said coldly, "Prepare several publication permits, send them to the Leng family, and apologize to Young Master Chen in person, or I'll break your dog legs!"
"Yes, yes, yes, this subordinate will go now!"
------
On the other side.
Chen Nan browsed five bookstalls in Tongcheng.
Without exception.
Because Master Lan's latest masterpiece had just been released, each bookstall was crowded with Master Lan's fans.
Among these people, he also saw many familiar faces.
Because they were all Master Lan's fans and had queued together to buy Master Lan's collected works.
And so.
As soon as Chen Nan appeared.
Someone smiled and greeted him.
Chen Nan smiled and responded, then headed towards the Leng family.
Thump thump thump!
Suddenly.
A rapid sound of horse hooves came from behind.
A sense of crisis surged into his heart.
Before he could dodge.
A violent impact came from behind, sending him flying several meters away.
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
He felt as if his internal organs had been displaced.
Then an angry curse came, "You damn dog, can't you watch where you're going?"
Chen Nan turned his head to look at the other party with a ferocious expression.
He saw Liang Jian, mounted on a tall horse, looking at him angrily.
Liang Jian was shocked, seeming not to have expected to run into Chen Nan. He quickly dismounted and asked with concern, "Oh dear, Young Master Chen, is that you?"
"My fault, my fault, I shouldn't have ridden so fast, otherwise I wouldn't have run into you."
"How are you? Are you alright? Do you need me to send you to a doctor?"
"Thanks to Young Master Liang's good fortune, I'm not dead yet," Chen Nan forced a smile, his face looking extremely haggard.
He knew.
That what happened today was by no means an accident.
Liang Jian must have intentionally charged at him with his horse.
After all.
It was Liang Jian who had secretly caused trouble for the host before.
He just.
He hadn't expected the other party to be so brazen in harming him.
You little brat!
I haven't even settled the old score yet, and you've added new enmity?
Do you really think I'm a pushover???