Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"When will you stop withholding the silver?" Qian Ming angrily tapped the table, exasperated. "It's just a matter of time."
"Just a matter of time?" Linglong scoffed. "Uncle Qian, over the years, the Zhou family has owed my family money without paying it back. You took the silver to help them out, but every time my brother repaid the debt, it was always with interest and generous gifts. Are those not silver?" Sometimes women could be unreasonable, and when her elder brother couldn't speak up, she felt free to voice her grievances.
Qian Ming felt mocked, his breathing heavy with irritation. "Did I do something wrong by lending your brother money?" That little girl was sharp-tongued and irritating to look at.
"Uncle Qian, that's not what Linglong means," Hu Lingyun interjected at the right moment to defuse the tension. "It's just that we feel bad for troubling you each time. This time, the shortfall is significant, and we can't bring ourselves to ask you again—so please convey a message to the Zhou family: if they don't settle the debt within five days, my siblings and I will go to the capital to demand it back. They won't be able to deny it with written proof!" Her tone turned firm.
Seeing their determination and realizing there was no way to salvage the situation, Qian Ming felt anger rise within him. He scoffed disdainfully, "The Zhou family has been an Imperial Merchant for so many years; they must have some capability. It's just over a hundred thousand taels of silver—does it really warrant such fuss? If you manage to get your money back, they won't do business with you anymore. Don't come crying to me then!" He thought he was easy to deceive, but these youngsters were becoming more cunning.
"Then we will trouble you, Uncle Qian," Hu Lingyun said, choosing not to linger on the matter any longer and laying her intentions clear.
Hu Family.
"Is it really him who took it?" Linglong understood but still had doubts. "Why would he do that?"
"Profit," Qing Luan explained with a smile. "He plays both sides for his own gain. The Zhou family is an Imperial Merchant; they likely have no habit of defaulting on debts; otherwise, they would have been notorious by now. Qian Ming claims there’s no silver because it's a long journey here, and you can't possibly go to the capital to demand it back. He can easily say the silver hasn't arrived, leaving you powerless while he uses Hu Family's silver to lend back to Hu Family for circulation. He gains reputation and profit from this arrangement. I suspect he was already doing this when your father was alive; it's just that his greed has grown uncontrollable now, likely using that silver for other purposes."
As a merchant, she wouldn't overlook even a fraction of profit; thus, she could pinpoint the root of these issues with just a bit of thought.
"If he doesn't return it, we'll go to the capital. Hmph! If it escalates, I don't believe he can keep hiding it," Linglong said dismissively.
"No, escalating things won't benefit Hu Family," Linglong analyzed quietly. "I think the best solution is to find someone from the Zhou family as quickly as possible—even if it's just a shopkeeper—bring him here to confront Qian Ming. For the sake of Zhou family's reputation, they will come. This way, it's not about involving Hu Family but rather about preserving the reputation of an Imperial Merchant."
“Qing Luan's method is good. I'll go right away; it will take four days for the round trip, just in time,” Hu Lingyun thought of something and acted without hesitation.
After Hu Lingyun left, Linglong looked at Qing Luan and curiously asked, “How do you know all this?” It was a question that even her elder brother did not understand, yet she grasped it, leaving her somewhat puzzled.
Having long anticipated their questions, Qing Luan replied calmly, “What Rui'er has experienced, I have also gone through. It's just that my mother wasn't as resilient as you, and my father certainly isn't a Wei Scholar.” She could understand the implication behind those words.
Linglong was taken aback by her explanation and exclaimed, “Your family is also in business?”
Comment 0 Comment Count