After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

Zhao Heng left the banquet angrily, bringing the banquet to an abrupt end.

"Is this what you call a plan?"

The calloused fingertips passed across his lips.

Pei Jiaoran held the opponent's hand and looked up. He removed the hand that was still on his face and said in an indifferent tone, "He wants to check the accounts, so naturally I have to add fuel to the fire. Besides, isn't the effect very good?"

Looking down at her, Li Xiujing tried her best to break free from the restraint. A sigh escaped from his throat, his eyes full of pity.

"Jiaoran." Li Xiujing looked at her seriously and put her under his arms. "In order to achieve your goal, is it worth it to let others bully you again and again?"

"Isn't it worth it?" Pei Jiaoran asked.

Li Xiujing's eyes were fixed on her face, "At least it's not worth it. Maybe there are other ways."

"It sounds like there is something else behind this." Pei Jiaoran smiled and looked at the face of the person in front of him, "Is it because the governor... likes me like this?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiujing chuckled but did not respond. Move closer to her.

The passionate gaze is getting closer and closer, and the body leaning forward seems to indicate some kind of danger. The slender legs under the robe stepped over the table and kicked it over in an instant. The wine cup rolled down and amber light fell on the carpet. The back is slightly arched, and the hot desire is swaying. Like an arrow leaving the string, it instinctively pounces into the distance with a lonesome courage.

His reason collapsed under the mellow aroma of wine, and he leaned forward to peck at the delicate and charming calyx that was smeared with alcohol.

It seemed that he couldn't pick up any sweetness without touching it, but at that moment Hun Dan proclaimed himself the king and greedily plundered everything. But those lips seemed to be lingering with biting frost, and those who touched them felt chills all over their body. He walked on it but accidentally stepped into the snow, and watched the ice and snow spread wantonly on him.

A wisp of cold front filled my eyes.

Pei Jiaoran held a dagger against his chest. The sharp blade pierced his clothes, and his skin touched the cold, bringing back his shattered thoughts.

"The governor is drunk. If he behaves like this again, the dagger will fall somewhere else." After saying this, Pei Jiaoran moved his eyes downwards and smiled maliciously.

Sensing the danger in his eyes, Li Xiujing quickly stepped back. Looking at Pei Jiaoran as if he were a stranger, he quickly picked up the Chu lacquer plate and blocked it.

Looking at Li Xiujing's appearance, Pei Jiaoran curled his lips. He stood up neatly and put the dagger back into his sleeve.

There was mockery in the already ruthless peach blossom eyes.

Moving around Li Xiujing, who was still standing in front of him, Pei Jiaoran walked calmly and calmly. She stopped in front of the threshold, looked back at the crimson figure, and smiled narrowly.

"But your kissing skills are really bad."

When the words stopped, Pei Jiaoran's figure, together with the fragrance, melted into the dark night. Only the narrow laughter echoed in his ears.

Li Xiujing turned around with a dark face and doubtful eyes. Could it be that he was a poor kisser and that's why she was like that? He moved to chase after him, but there was only white snow everywhere.

Loneliness flashed across his eyes, and he turned back to the house. Picked up the empty wine cup. I poured myself a cup and tasted the drink. I couldn't taste the fragrance of the lipstick, only the lingering fragrance of the residual wine was left.

At dawn the next day, Pei Jiaoran took Chu You out because she had to inspect the west side of the city. The houses collapsed by the snow need to be repaired, and it is also necessary to count which wealthy households have opened up residences for the common people to live temporarily.

After the snow fell, the city finally started to become lively. Shops along the street opened one after another, and hawkers carried burdens to sell on the roadside. Groups of Hu merchants led camels through the market.

"How's it going with Li Qian?" Pei Jiaoran asked.

"I went to several families, but only three were willing to rent the house temporarily. The other families gave excuses, and they probably wanted the Yamen to pay them." After replying, Chu You tentatively asked about the difficult-to-distinguish emotions. Pei Jiaoran, "What do you mean?"

The morning sun falls on the snow, casting a layer of pale golden luster. The distant wind blew away the smoke of fireworks in the market. Looking at the golden snow-covered scene in front of him, Pei Jiaoran relaxed his eyebrows and said, "Let Li Qian deal with them first. I didn't make things difficult for them during the autumn tax season, but now I'm taking Qiao instead. Is it because I don't take the imperial decree seriously?"

Many of these wealthy households in Guazhou are related to the Sogdians. The imperial court also attached great importance to mutual trade in the Western Regions, so it was also tolerant of the Sogdians' decrees. I only hope that we can use their hands to promote the exchange of property, so as to spread our culture and achieve the purpose of deterrence in addition to force.

However, businessmen have their own interests to consider from beginning to end. Enjoying the preferential treatment of government decrees, you will also be more considerate of your own interests. In the past, during disasters, when the prefecture and county government rented houses to them, some people would shirk the house in various names, or they would rent it again and use various names to ask for money from the prefecture and county government. In the end, the state often paid two or even three times more money.

Pei Jiaoran thought about this and chuckled. Although it is human nature to put interests first, in special times, the behavior of these wealthy businessmen is really disgusting. In a sense, the court's money and the mutual market are closely related, but it is not impossible to teach them lessons. With so many thoughts on her mind, her deep eyes were filled with light. An idea instantly came to mind.

"Send a reliable person to the city to spread the word that the newly arrived recorder is joining the army and is interested in catching wealthy households making private loans." Pei Jiaoran tilted his head and ordered.

"Catch the moneymaker? Zhao Canjun..." Chu You frowned and lowered his voice: "Isn't this too risky? What if it's just Zhao Canjun's conspiracy..."

"With risks come opportunities. Okay, we are almost here in the west of the city."

Passing through the last alley, a group of dilapidated houses appeared in front of us.

Si Tianzuo, who was wearing a gray robe, was directing the county soldiers to carry wood and other materials. The people whose houses still existed crowded at the door and looked longingly at the county soldiers.

"Cao Tianzuo." Pei Jiaoran called.

Hearing Pei Jiaoran's voice, Cao Tianzuo turned his head. He said respectfully: "Mingfu, you are here."

"Thank you for your hard work, Cao Tianzuo." I saw that Cao Tianzuo's cheeks were red from the cold, and there was frost on his clothes and hats. Pei Jiaoran took off his cloak and put it on him, "It's freezing cold, so be careful with your body."

"The lower officials will meet." Cao Tianzuo looked at Pei Jiaoran with a moved face.

"What's going on now?"

"The county soldiers are already repairing the houses. In the past few days, the official has sent people to inspect various places and found that there are still several houses that are damaged and need to be repaired." Cao Tian finished the report with a smile on his face, "This is the official statistics Good account books, Mingfu, would you like to take a look?"

He looked at Cao Tianzuo and took the account book handed to him. Without opening it, he turned around and asked Chu You, "Take this book back and calculate it carefully and give it to me tomorrow. Go back and find Min Huzuo again, and you two can calculate the money that the county government can spend now. How many more. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, don’t make everyone sad.”

"Here."

"Cao Tianzuo, continue your work. I will join the army with Chu and go somewhere else." Pei Jiaoran smiled warmly at Cao Tianzuo and walked away.

After the two of them walked away, Chu Youcai said, "Why does Cao Tianzuo suddenly say that he still needs money to repair the house at this time?"

"Probably because you're afraid of being discovered." Pei Jiaoran said with deep meaning in his eyes, "You go back first and I'll go take a look myself."