The Golden County Magistrate

"Your Excellency, I am honored to meet you!"

Wang Yue hurriedly saluted.

"No need to be polite, it's better for you to be here. How about these printed portraits? Are they similar to your original paintings?"

Chen Yan asked excitedly.

"This printing method is really ingenious! I never thought it could be so similar."

Wang Yue sighed sincerely.

"That's good! Lao Lu, when can I get this picture?"

Chen Yan turned to look at Lao Lu.

"If you need it urgently, I will ask someone to vacate two drying rooms first and give priority to these portraits. It is estimated that about 300 copies can be produced in two hours at most."

Lao Lu hurriedly said.

"Oh, do you think I can't see your twisted mind? As long as I say it's urgent, do I have to give you another one plus two cents for the expedited fee?"

Chen Yan squinted at him.

Lao Lu's eyes narrowed into slits: "No way, for the goods you want, I will charge you one penny for expediting at most."

Chen Yan said in a lost voice: "One penny? You are too cunning! You really think I am a rich man and want to suck my blood, right?"

Lao Lu said with a bitter face: "Sir, you are wronging me. One penny is really the cost price! Moreover, the drying ovens in the factory are already full. In order to expedite for you, I have to delay the delivery of other people's printed goods. You know how much impact it will have on our factory's reputation! One penny, it can't be any less!"

Chen Yan had a painful expression on his face: "Okay, you are so cruel, then I will expedite everything, and put it in the county government account later. I will ask Li Feng to give you the money in two days."

Lao Lu immediately smiled: "Thank you for taking care of my business!"

Wang Yue on the side was stunned.

What the hell is going on? This is the first time in my life that I have seen a government official bargaining with his subjects like this!

Moreover, wasn't this technique taught to Lao Lu by Lord Chen? Why does Lao Lu seem to have no intention of being grateful, but instead treats Lord Chen as a victim?

But the strange thing is that Chen Yan also seems to have no complaints, as if he thinks the other party is doing the right thing.

After Lao Lu went back to work, Chen Yan looked back and saw Wang Yue's face full of doubts, and smiled dumbly.

"Don't be surprised. This county encourages business and has issued strict orders long ago that no one can abuse power for personal gain."

"Even if it's me, I have to pay the price."

"Set an example, and the doormen, yamen runners, and foreign vendors under me will naturally obey the rules."

After hearing his words, Wang Yue suddenly realized and said sincerely: "Your Excellency is indeed admirable."

Chen Yan grinned: "Of course, this factory originally belongs to me half. If I don't pay the price, I will be cheating myself, haha!"

Wang Yue was even more confused.

Since this factory is his own, why should he pay? Isn't it enough to just tell Lao Lu to print it out?

"Don't think about it, learn slowly, and you will understand why I do this in the future."

Chen Yan patted him on the shoulder and said in a gentle voice.

Just as he said this, Zhang Dabiao came in from outside with a dragon-like stride: "Lao Lu, how is the printing going? Hey? Sir, you are here too!"

As he said this, he realized that Chen Yan was also here.

Chen Yan saw the several paper books in his hand and his face darkened: "Biaozi! What are you holding in your hand!"

Wang Yue immediately reacted and knew that Zhang Bingcao must be looking for those obscene books again, and secretly said that it was bad!

The county magistrate saw him taking those things, wouldn't he be furious?

Although Zhang Dabiao was very strict with him during training, he was actually quite nice in private and cared about him.

Wang Yue valued friendship and was worried that Chen Yan would punish Bingcao, but he saw Zhang Dabiao actually smiled and handed one of the books to Chen Yan: "Sir! Today I have found a treasure! There is a new picture album!"

Wang Yue was dumbfounded.

Isn't this courting death!

However, what surprised him even more was that Chen Yan's expression changed, and he actually took the book with an ambiguous look on his face: "New? How is the painting?"

Zhang Dabiao said excitedly: "It's better than "Erlang Punishes Jinlian's Wife"!"

Chen Yan said with emotion: "Erlang's book can be said to be the pinnacle of our Qingshan County painters. It's really not easy to surpass his level. I have to take a good look at it!"

While speaking, he flipped the album open.

Wang Yue opened his mouth wide and looked at the two.

What's going on!

The county magistrate and the military officer are actually flipping through that kind of thing in public!

"The Biography of Meng De: Three Plays with Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao", this is only the first one. It is said that the painter is going to make a series of 36 books!"

"These guys, it turns out that they are all making money with my stories! No, I have to let him finish reading them all!"

"Of course! Sir, I think this book is worth collecting. How about pre-ordering the whole set?"

"Wait a minute! Let me see how good it is first... Tsk tsk, Meng De's painting is too majestic, even better than mine!"

The two hid in the corner of the room with great interest, watching and discussing in a low voice, which made Wang Yue next to them not know what to do.

How about... also appreciate it?

While he was hesitating, a yamen runner ran in breathlessly: "Sir! The white lady from Zhou's Chamber of Commerce is here again... Wow, sir, is this a new one? The painting is really good!"

But he saw the book and couldn't help but get close to it.

Zhang Dabiao pushed him away: "Go away! Buy it yourself, don't use my album here!"

The yamen runner muttered: "It doesn't matter if you look at it a few times, you are so stingy! "

Chen Yan closed the album and said seriously: "I don't like to hear this. If everyone comes to see it for free like you, without spending a penny, how can we promote the economic development of our county? If the painters can't make money, how can they have the motivation to continue painting? How can the original albums of our Qingshan County flourish!"

He was seriously scolding the yamen runner, and Zhang Dabiao interrupted: "Sir, aren't you also coming to see me for free?"

Chen Yan coughed dryly and said something else: "Miss Bai is in the county government, right? I'm going to see her now."

He ran away in a flash.

Wang Yue looked at this scene with a confused face, feeling like he was dreaming.

This county magistrate really opened his eyes!

When he arrived at the gate of the county government, Chen Yan saw the egret waiting outside the door at a glance.

He walked over excitedly and was about to speak when a loud shout came from the distance of the street: "Come and see! The county magistrate has exchanged silver again!"

Chen Yan and Bai Lu turned their heads at the same time and saw carriages coming along the long street.

The streets were full of people, pointing at the carriages and watching the excitement.

"Today's event is quite large, twelve carriages!"

"I remember there were only five last time?"

"It seems that there is a lot of silver exchanged today. I'm afraid that they have emptied all the silver shops?"