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Chapter 19: What Surprises Have Come to My Attention

This was about making them spit out everything they had swallowed.

Mr. Chen Liu felt a burning anger in his heart.

He had been bullied to the point where he couldn't retaliate. No, not only could he not fight back, but he hadn't even seen his opponent's moves clearly before being left dazed and at their mercy...

"Selling this house of yours would fetch two or three hundred taels..."

Mr. Chen Liu surveyed the surroundings; the land prices in Jing County were cheap, so getting two or three hundred taels for it would be quite good. He then glanced at the beautiful maids and servants behind Zhu Ganglie, roughly calculating, "If you sell these girls and beauties you've bought as well, that should add another hundred taels. And what about the land you placed under your parents' names? Why keep it? When you die, will silver follow you into the netherworld?"

Mr. Chen Liu spoke sternly, adopting the tone one might use when lecturing a younger relative.

Zhu Ganglie stood there stunned, forgetting even to cry.

Damn!

At a time like this!

And wanting to strip him clean!

Even making him sell his land!

How was he supposed to live after that?

Could he still work at the Chen Ji Paper Shop?

This old bastard!

Zhu Ganglie blurted out, "Is silver going to follow you into your coffin!?"

Zhu Ganglie sneered, "Sixth Master, you're holding onto the silver so tightly, aren't you afraid it'll melt away?—When I was skimming money from the Chen Ji Paper Shop, you weren't idle either! You skimmed more than me! More ruthlessly!"

"I won't give you that thousand taels!"

Zhu Ganglie roared, veins bulging on his neck, "Whoever wants to give it can do so! Once I'm in prison, I'll say whatever I want! If I have a record of the accounts, you have two! We'll see if the Chen family spares you then!"

"You're mad!"

Mr. Chen Liu's goat-like beard bristled as he warily scanned his surroundings.

He was different from this pig.

This dead pig was hired by the Chen family; if he was caught embezzling money, the worst would be returning the silver and suffering some legal punishment.

He was a Chen!

If his son, or even his grandson who was still studying at the Qingcheng Academy, wanted to have a future, they would rely on the elders of the clan! For future studies and official positions, they would need letters of recommendation from the patriarch!

In this day and age, someone without the support of their clan was like a leaf detached from its branch, trampled or torn at others' whims.

Previously, the Qu family hadn't touched him simply because after his eldest brother's death, he and the fifth brother had stood behind this sister-in-law, pushing her up to power. If the Qu family moved against him and the fifth brother now, it would be repaying kindness with enmity, lacking heart and conscience.

Given the current situation...

Mr. Chen Liu felt a suffocating anger, as if a hammer were pressing against his sternum. In this situation, if he didn't fork over the silver, this dead pig would cling to him like a turtle, refusing to let go!

This wouldn't be the Qu family taking the initiative against him; it would be his own weakness handed to the Qu family, his neck extended to the edge of their blade. The Qu family would only need to raise their hand, and his entire household's livelihood would be cut off!

If only this pig were dead...

Mr. Chen Liu narrowed his eyes.

Zhu Ganglie raised his voice, "I have records at home, detailing the accounts of these years, even the movements of the Eight-Zhang Xuan and Six-Zhang Xuan... Li Laozhang's death, Li Ershun's maiming... Even if I'm gone, those records will find their way to the right places!"

Mr. Chen Liu's expression changed, his throat itching as he coughed lightly, "You pig-brain..."

A pig brain, but with a keen instinct for self-preservation.

To actually... actually keep records?

He wasn't afraid of the account books or Li Laozhang and Li Ershun.

What he feared was the investigation into the whereabouts of the Eight-Zhang Xuan and Six-Zhang Xuan...

"Here's what we'll do. I'll pay seven hundred taels, you cover the rest, and I'll transfer you to Jingde to purchase sandalwood bark. We'll lay low until those two damned fools leave, then we can meet again and make our fortune."

Mr. Chen Liu suppressed his agitation, naturally arranging things, "I'll send someone over with the bills later, you deliver them to Chen Fu."

Zhu Ganglie calmed down.

Leaving Jing County?

Leaving Jing County would also work.

Where couldn't money be made?

Seeing that he had pacified him, Mr. Chen Liu continued, "Sell this house if you wish, or keep it if you don't want to sell. It's perfect for housing your precious things. Time is of the essence, and who knows what Chen Fu will do next. After tidying up today, leave tonight. I'll arrange your destination."

Zhu Ganglie rolled his eyes, nodding after a moment, "Then I won't sell it for now. Once you chase Chen Fu away, I'll come back and live here."

Mr. Chen Liu chuckled, saying, "Amitabha! May my old bones still be able to outwit those two fools!"

Mr. Chen Liu comforted him a bit more before turning and leaving the opulent residence, his face falling longer than a horse's once outside.

"...Go send the message! Ambush as usual at the Baochanduo Temple, chop that fatso down as soon as he shows his head. If he really has account books, he'll carry them with him on long journeys. Divide the gold and silver among the great kings, and bring me the account books."

The man beside him was also an old man, but beardless.

"Indeed, indeed... Are we really giving them those seven hundred taels?"

Mr. Chen Liu nodded, "What else can we do? That stubborn Chen Fu is dead set on this money, and if he wants it, let him have it."

The old man sighed, "What a pity!"

Mr. Chen Liu chuckled, "Pity what? They'll have to wait for the bills to mature – they won't be able to cash them for silver until six months later."

The old man was taken aback, "But they can still get their silver eventually! It's just delaying them a bit..."

"You do the math," Mr. Chen Liu continued with a benevolent smile. "After they pay off their debts, the rents for their shops and workshops, replacing equipment, and the New Year's red envelopes... how much will they have left to claim?"

Mr. Chen Liu's smile grew warmer, "Not to mention there's a big chunk of it."

The old man caught on, bending over in laughter, "Indeed! You're the smartest! If they don't secure the sandalwood bark and rice straw from Tongling at the beginning of the year, they'll have to settle for the three counties' produce... and the paper quality will plummet!"

"If he writes to Xuanzhou for silver, my sister-in-law might send it, but I doubt he'll stay here long after that."

Everyone in the family had already written off the third son as a good-for-nothing. Asking for silver would only confirm his worthlessness.

Why should a good-for-nothing control the Jing County workshops?

Because of that wretched woman surnamed He?

Once they lose all hope in the third son, wouldn't the Chen family of Jing County be his to command? That little wretch may have a fiery temper, but she's quite the looker. Taking her as a concubine or forcing her, who would dare stand up for her?

Mr. Chen Liu chuckled heartily.

The old man joined in.

It was a harmonious scene.

That night, Zhu Ganglie paid a visit to Changqiao Hall, adopting a humble demeanor and presenting a full thousand-tael bill right away. "Mr. Chen Liu has sent me to collect sandalwood bark, and I might not return until after the New Year..."

As expected by Xianjin, she accepted the bill, checked the seal and the bank, then handed it to Manager Dong with a smile. "You've truly saved me from a tight spot... I almost thought this was a fake bill because you gathered the funds so quickly."

Zhu Ganglie exclaimed, "Oh oh oh! You know the laws of Great Wei well; forging silver bills is a capital offense. I don't have enough heads to lose!"

Xianjin looked at Manager Dong.

Manager Dong gave an imperceptible nod.

Xianjin smiled, "Then go ahead, and we'll meet again."

However, they would never meet again.

On the third day, Xianjin received word from the authorities. It was said that Zhu Ganglie's carriage to Jingde was ambushed at Baochan Temple, and all his wealth was plundered. His throat was slit, and the golden fat and crimson blood pooled on the ground.

A civil case had turned into a criminal one...

There must be more intricate schemes at play than mere false accounts.

Xianjin suddenly remembered something, her heart jolted, and she hastily instructed Manager Dong to go to the bank to cash the bills.

Manager Dong returned dejectedly, "They can't be cashed! Such large bills require prior notice to the bank. The redemption dates for these bills are set for June..."

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