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Although she had her doubts, Qing Luan kept them to herself and asked with a hint of confusion, "What connection does the Old Shopkeeper have with you? Why is he helping you like this?" It was hard to believe that someone would be so generous without any ulterior motives.
"The Old Shopkeeper's name is Qian Ming. We weren't very familiar before, but my father once saved him. Later, he said he wanted to repay my father's kindness by helping the Hu Family connect with the Imperial Merchant Journal. After my father passed away, nothing changed regarding this; he has never wavered in his support for the Hu Family," Hu Lingyun explained with a sigh, reminiscing about the past.
So there was this connection; no wonder the siblings trusted Qian Ming so much. However, if doubts were voiced aloud, would they start to overthink things? Qing Luan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Brother, I have an idea. Do you want to try it?"
"What idea?" The others looked at her with surprise and curiosity upon hearing her words.
"I want to ask you, what do merchants seek?" Some things were better said upfront; after all, it wouldn't hurt anyone.
"Profit?" Linglong replied, puzzled by the question.
"Exactly. Merchants seek profit. So Qian Ming's gratitude is directed towards your father’s generation; it might not matter to you. But why is he still so eager to help and even willing to spend money on you?" She had identified the crux of the issue but thought it better for them to articulate it themselves.
"Well..." The two siblings exchanged glances. They had thought of it but hesitated to voice their concerns. They regarded Qian Ming as an elder and benefactor and feared that if they wronged him, they would feel truly ashamed. Thus, they remained silent.
Having stayed with the Hu Family for some time, Qing Luan knew they were good people and didn't want to pressure them. She gently said, "I have a way to find out whether Qian Ming truly has goodwill towards you or if he has other motives." Such a person needed to be understood clearly; otherwise, the Hu Family would eventually suffer.
Qing Luan's method was to hold firm. In the past, whenever difficulties arose, Qian Ming would proactively offer money to resolve them. However, after receiving Qing Luan's reminder, Hu Lingyun not only magnified their request for several tens of thousands of taels but also refused Qian Ming's assistance, insisting on going to the capital for funds, which startled Qian Ming.
"Lingyun, I’ve done everything I can to help you through your troubles, but if you go to the capital like this and anger him, what will happen to our future business?" A thin sheen of sweat appeared on Qian Ming's forehead as his tone grew tense. Although he was trying to persuade them, his eyes darted nervously.
"If we can't even afford food, what good is thinking about future business?" Linglong observed his demeanor and eyes closely and guessed that the problem lay with Qian Ming. She shouted without reservation, "The Zhou family is an Imperial Merchant! Do you really think we can afford to owe even ten thousand taels?"
"You, a woman, what do you understand?" Qian Ming scolded, displeased with her interruption.
"What’s wrong with being a woman?" Linglong retorted, her dissatisfaction evident. "That silver belongs to the Hu Family, and I have a share in it. It doesn’t matter who it is; repaying debts is only right. Even if my brother doesn’t go, I will storm into the capital and ask the Zhou family what they mean by taking the Hu Family's goods without paying for them!"
"When did they not pay?" Qian Ming said angrily, banging his hand on the table. "It's just a matter of delay."
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