Chapter 2387: Chapter 2362: Inquiring
Director Xiao finished discussing work with them and then looked at Manbao, smiling, "I’ve already seen the eggs and vegetables from your family’s farm. The price and the goods are both quite good."
Manbao perked up and asked, "Then, are we going to buy from us?"
Director Xiao nodded with a smile, "It’s just a pity that your family’s production isn’t that much either. I’ve already asked your Fifth Brother to contact the steward here. They can discuss the specifics, but if the price is right, I think the imperial farm will try to buy as much as possible."
Manbao was pleased and said to Imperial Doctor Lu, "Imperial Doctor Lu, it won’t be long before we can eat things produced from my farm."
Imperial Doctor Lu glanced at her and said, "What’s different about the eggs and vegetables produced by your farm compared to others?"
Manbao replied, "They’re psychologically more delicious?"
Imperial Doctor Lu ignored her.
Manbao felt smug, and Imperial Doctor Lu couldn’t help but remind her, "Doctor Zhou, be careful, someone might accuse you of favoritism."
Manbao said, "No, I haven’t even been in contact with the managers at the imperial farm. I doubt he’ll offer a high price. For such bulk items, the price is usually slightly lowered. As long as our goods aren’t bad, even if someone says something, it can’t be true, so what’s there to fear?"
Director Xiao also laughed and said, "Yes, with Doctor Zhou’s integrity and talent, it’s hard not to attract jealousy. Don’t pay too much attention to the rumors outside. As long as it’s not true, it’s fine."
At this moment, they spoke casually, and Director Xiao thought that as long as the other party was smart, they would step aside and adjust the accounts. He could turn a blind eye and pretend not to know.
However, after leaving Zhou Man and Imperial Doctor Lu, on his way home, Director Xiao wanted to inquire about the procurement. When he went to the other side of the imperial farm to see the steward, he found out the business with the Zhou family didn’t go through.
Director Xiao, who had boasted to Zhou Man: ...
He couldn’t help but ask the steward, "Why didn’t it work out?"
The steward lowered his head and said, "The goods from the Zhou family farm are too little. When we made contact, we found out that Fifth Master Zhou didn’t have much to offer. Moreover, he mentioned that lately, the weather in Yongzhou has been cold, with frost and dew damaging a lot of vegetables, and even the chickens caught cold and laid fewer eggs. Fifth Master Zhou couldn’t provide the quantities we needed, so..."
Director Xiao lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, "In that case, just buy less. Whatever they can provide, we’ll take."
The steward looked troubled, "But counting and settling accounts like this would be a bit troublesome."
"If you don’t have enough subordinates, I can assign a few people to help," Director Xiao’s face turned a bit dark, and anyone could see he was angry.
The steward felt a chill in his heart, but thinking of the consequences of backing down, he gritted his teeth and insisted, "Sir, I originally planned to do just that, but Fifth Master Zhou said that their restaurant’s daily needs are quite substantial. With this disaster, even supplying their own needs is hard, let alone supplying us."
Director Xiao let out a cold laugh, "Are you saying that Doctor Zhou and the Zhou family went through all this trouble to fool me? Coming to me without goods?"
The steward lowered his head without speaking but also didn’t back down.
Director Xiao stood up, looking down at him from above, and said, "I can’t control your usual deceits, but not at the Imperial Hospital."
He said, "The Imperial Hospital, unlike other departments, doesn’t have income. Its expenses rely entirely on the Ministry of Revenue and the private treasury of His Majesty. Life has always been tight. What you’re doing is cutting off the Imperial Hospital’s back road. Cut off the Imperial Hospital’s back road, and it’s cutting off the future of the Imperial Hospital!"
The steward was startled and quickly knelt down, saying, "Sir, I dare not deceive the Imperial Hospital. Every word said today is true."
Director Xiao snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and left directly.
He calmed down only after getting in the carriage, "Take a detour to the palace."
Tonight, it was Imperial Doctor Zheng on duty at the Imperial Hospital. Imperial Doctor Liu was still compiling medical books, so he didn’t leave the palace. Seeing Director Xiao return, he curiously asked, "Why are you back?"
Director Xiao angrily recounted the excuses given by the imperial farm steward and said, "I came to the palace to find out who’s behind this steward."
This wasn’t difficult to find out since the Emperor directed the Palace Eunuchs Department to handle these matters at the time. It’s because the imperial farm there is managed by them, and building houses there, as well as finding convict servants and laborers at Yeting Palace and other places for experiments, all needed approval from the Palace Eunuchs Department.
Director Xiao thought for a moment, then called an aide who had more frequent interactions with the Palace Eunuchs Department and asked him to go there now to inquire.
Imperial Doctor Liu smiled and asked, "Even if you find out, what can you do? Will you complain to His Majesty over such a small matter?"
Director Xiao let out a cold laugh. He certainly wouldn’t directly complain to the Emperor because that would put the entire Imperial Hospital in opposition to the Palace Eunuchs Department.
He always didn’t want to make a big fuss because he didn’t want to have a direct confrontation with the people in the palace using the Imperial Hospital.
After all, unlike the other three provinces and six ministries, they operate in the imperial city, but the Imperial Hospital is based inside the palace. Every movement is under the management of the Palace Eunuchs Department.
Not to mention, when visiting the harem for consultations, each gate, the locks, and the palace servants are all under the Palace Eunuchs Department’s supervision.
So unless one is extremely valued and favored by His Majesty, other Imperial Hospital staff could be easily troubled if they oppose the Palace Eunuchs Department.
In the entire Imperial Hospital, it’s only Director Xiao and Zhou Man who might not need to worry.
Zhou Man might not care, but Director Xiao can’t afford to. As the head of the Imperial Hospital, even if it’s just an aide facing hardship, it’s still his problem.
Therefore, Director Xiao cannot remain indifferent.
The aide finally returned as the sky darkened and reported to Director Xiao, "The people on the imperial farm are all arranged by Lord Xin Chun."
Director Xiao frowned slightly, "Isn’t Eunuch Tong in charge over at the Palace Eunuchs Department? Why is it Lord Xin Chun arranging the people?"
"Eunuch Tong fell ill, so since last year, Lord Xin Chun has been arranging these matters. Originally, he was already in charge of purchases and had close dealings with the Palace Eunuchs Department. It’s said he’s about to succeed Eunuch Tong."
Director Xiao: "...He’s about to become a eunuch?"
The aide was momentarily stunned and then replied, "No, he’s only taking over part of the affairs. The arrangement of servants in the harem is still managed by Eunuch Tong’s son, Junior Neishi."
He paused and then said, "It’s said that before officially taking over His Majesty’s internal treasury, Lord Luo also managed harem affairs for a while."
Director Xiao: "...Lord Luo served as the chief of the guard, what’s that got to do with the Palace Eunuchs Department? Forget it, knowing the affiliation is enough."
Director Xiao checked the time, stood up, and said, "I’m leaving the palace to go home. I’ll return to the palace tomorrow, and you mustn’t tell anyone about this matter."
Imperial Doctor Liu and the aide both earnestly agreed.
Director Xiao then left the palace and went home with his hands behind his back.
Meanwhile, Bai Shan had also finished writing his letter for Manbao, leaving it on the desk. He asked Bai Erlang, "Tomorrow I want to send some food to Manbao. Do you have anything you want to send her?"
Bai Erlang shook his head directly, "No."
After thinking it over and feeling it was too heartless, he added, "Give her my regards."
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