Chapter 282: A Feast at Fu House

Chapter 282: A Feast at Fu House

Who knew that upon hearing this, they still refused to back down.

"Choosing a day is not as good as seizing the moment! I think tonight would be perfect!" Han Chao said in a loud voice.

"Just right, Young Master Song is here too. Why don't we all gather at Fu House!"

"Yes! Let's all go together!" the others chimed in.

Qin Xiaoyao felt annoyed inside.

Just as he was about to refuse, Song Que suddenly spoke up.

"Agreed."

Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que in surprise.

He saw Song Que give him a smile.

"The Second Prince and the generals are about to leave Lingquan Town. It's only right for us to see them off," he said.

"Who knows if we'll have another chance. Tonight is actually quite fitting."

Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback, then remembered this matter.

Seeing Song Que smiling warmly, seemingly not upset at all, he agreed.

"Then let it be tonight. My wife and I will host and treat everyone to a drink."

Han Chao and the others glanced at Song Que.

Seeing how Qin Xiaoyao listened to him, their expressions turned somewhat strange.

"Haha, thank you, Mr. Qin! Please lead the way—Mr. Qin," Han Chao quickly said.

He gestured for Qin Xiaoyao to go first, completely ignoring Song Que.

Qin Xiaoyao frowned slightly.

He tightened his grip on Song Que's hand.

"Let's go, my husband," he said to Song Que.

Then, he led Song Que forward.

Han Chao and the others followed behind, their faces dark.

That woman really didn't know when to be tactful.

Soon, the group arrived at Fu House.

The waiter greeted them warmly, and Song Que asked for a private room.

He then skillfully ordered some wine and dishes.

His attitude surprised everyone.

"Young Master Song, you seem very familiar with Fu House?" someone couldn't help but ask.

This was the best restaurant in Lingquan Town, and the expenses were not low.

Even they had only visited one or two times since coming to Lingquan Town.

And even when they did come, they were very careful when ordering dishes.

They bought wine cautiously, fearing they couldn't afford it.

But this man didn't even look at the menu, reciting a string of dish names. And the wine he ordered wasn't the cheaper kind they usually drank.

"Quite familiar," Song Que replied with a smile.

"I work at the government office, and I'm assigned to liaise with the merchants in Lingquan Town. I often get invited to dine here at Fu House."

"After a few visits, I became acquainted with the place."

Noticing Han Chao deliberately avoiding eye contact, looking like he didn't want to see him, Song Que's gaze swept over his face.

He continued with a smile, "Moreover, thanks to Manager Fang's favor, he gives me some discounts."

"When I come to eat, I only need to pay eighty percent of the bill."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed immediately.

Except for Han Chao, no one dared to look at Song Que with disdain anymore.

A few of them not only stopped looking down on Song Que but also began to regard him with respect.

This was Fu House, a place even wealthy people might not visit often, yet he came frequently.

Not only did he come often, but the manager even gave him a discount.

Eighty percent, considering the consumption here, could save a considerable amount of money.

Han Chao, however, still didn't show any good face to Song Que.

"A meal at Fu House isn't cheap, easily costing over ten taels of silver."

"Even paying eighty percent is a significant sum."

"Can a mere scholar like Young Master Song afford it?"

Hmph, isn't it all thanks to Mr. Qin?

He knows the Song family's situation very well.

This Song Que is nothing but a hollow pillow with a pretty cover.

The reason the Song family has their current life is entirely due to Mr. Qin.

Collaborating with Fu House to sell bean sprouts and century eggs, and now opening a porridge shop—

All these ideas came from Mr. Qin, and he has been the one managing them.

Otherwise, with just Song Que,

Who knows, they might still be stuck in that corner of Xiashui Village.

Frankly, he just can't stand Song Que.

He really doesn't understand why the Second Prince and Mr. Qin hold him in such high regard.

When these words were spoken, there was a moment of silence at the table.

Han Chao's words were too deliberate and hurtful; even if others wanted to cover for him, they couldn't.

Before Song Que could say anything, Qin Xiaoyao's face had already darkened.

Han Chao is usually quite courteous to her, and she had become somewhat familiar with him due to previous matters at the yamen.

She didn't expect him to target her husband like this.

Just as Qin Xiaoyao was about to confront Han Chao, suddenly, her hand under the table was held by Song Que.

Song Que gave her a reassuring smile.

Then, he smiled at Han Chao.

"That's something you don't need to worry about, Captain Han."

"Thanks to the favor of the young master of the Liang family, I have managed to invest in their grain trade in Zhao County."

"The first batch of grain has just arrived in Lingquan Town, and with the profits shared, dining here at Fu House is still within reach."

At these words, everyone was taken aback.

Song Que had actually invested in the Liang family's grain trade?

Right now, not just Lingquan Town, but the entire Zhao County, and even Hua'an Prefecture, are in dire need of grain!

And even if they didn't know the specifics, they all knew that the Liang family was one of the largest grain merchants in Zhao County.

The reason was simple: within Zhao County, no grain shop was as numerous as those of Liang Kee.

Song Que actually invested in the grain trade business of the Liang family in Zhao County—how could anyone still call him a parasite?!

Just for this, he was bound to make a fortune from now on.

This time, the generals truly changed their views of Song Que and no longer dared to underestimate him.

Some even found him more compatible with Qin Xiaoyao when they sat together, admiring Qin Xiaoyao's discernment.

Han Chao was also taken aback upon hearing this.

He never expected that Song Que, after working in the government office for less than a month, could accomplish such significant feats.

After the shock, he no longer dared to look down on Song Que.

Being close to the Second Prince, Han Chao naturally knew how hard the Second Prince had worked to quickly resolve the grain shortage in Zhao County.

It turned out that the matter was resolved thanks to the Liang family.

He never imagined that Song Que was involved in this.

Even though he didn't understand business, given the current situation in Zhao County, participating in the Liang family's grain trade would ensure substantial profits without doing much.

Making money was one thing, but being able to collaborate with the Liang family and secure a share in the grain trade showed that Song Que was not an ordinary person.

At this moment, Han Chao suddenly realized that he might have been looking at Song Que through a keyhole, underestimating him.

Song Que, who could earn the favor of both the Second Prince and Mr. Qin, indeed had extraordinary qualities.

Seeing Han Chao speechless, Qin Xiaoyao simply lowered her head and drank.

The others congratulated or flattered her husband, making her very happy.

She, of course, knew about her husband's investment in the Liang family's grain trade.

At the time, they had already bought eight shops and had about four thousand taels of silver left.

Later, after spending three thousand five hundred taels to invest in the grain trade, they decided to stop buying more shops.

Although their family only received a two percent profit from the grain trade, the returns were enormous.

With three thousand five hundred taels invested, it was likely that they wouldn't even have to wait until next summer for the capital to be recouped.