Chapter 141

Chapter 141

"Laowu."

Madam Qu's tone always descended, according to traditional Chinese medicine, those whose last word always falls are often suffering from qi and blood deficiency, heart meridian depletion, and require proper care.

These two descending words finally landed on Chen Wu's head.

They made his liver ache.

Don't... don't say it...

Chen Wu struggled to hold his breath.

"Laowu, you'll go back to Jing County with Old Dong tomorrow. If it's feasible, allocate another five hundred taels from the mulberry paper workshop."

Madam Qu spoke thoughtfully, her tone wistful, "Regardless of whether it's possible, as long as there's a sliver of hope, we must put in our utmost effort. If your eldest brother knew from beyond the grave, he would be pleased that the roots of the Chen family are growing deeper."

Chen Wu licked his lips, "Yes..."

As he agreed, his mind raced, and he cautiously asked, bowing slightly, "But, wouldn't it be unreasonable for the money to come from the mulberry paper workshop—Xianjin has earned quite a bit this year; shouldn't she use her own money to buy her own shop?"

Old Dong smiled and chimed in, "Exactly!"

Chen Wu: Eh?

This old bastard must have been waiting for him somewhere!

Old Dong smiled, "The cash in our Jing County store plus Third Master's private funds should be enough."

"Even without needing Fifth Master to make the trip—simply transferring the shop to Third Master's name would be convenient."

Madam Qu frowned.

Transferring the Jing County shop to Chen Fu's name!?

Who do they want to anger?

"No," Madam Qu said firmly, "it still needs to go through the mulberry paper workshop. The shop..."

Madam Qu paused, "should be transferred to La'ersi's name, and he should go along."

Chen Wu smiled while grinding his back teeth.

Boss Shang found it amusing and deliberately raised his voice again, "I heard that the Chens also rented a shop on Shuidong Street? Why not handle them together! Two hundred taels for one shop's transfer, three hundred taels for both!"

You, you, you! Shut up!

Chen Wu wished he could sew Boss Shang's mouth shut!

There's so much silver in the world; is the Chen family's silver any more fragrant?!

Hey! Why can't you ever earn enough!?

Chen Wu hurriedly said, "Sister-in-law, let's see how this goes first!"—please don't take any more silver from my pocket!

Old Dong looked at him with a half-smile.

Madam Qu nodded decisively, "First, secure the old shop, then we'll talk about the rest."

Boss Shang chuckled, "You truly are a god of wealth! Once I've settled in Xuancheng, we Jing County folks need to stick together!"

Chen Wu almost ground his teeth to dust: Ha, he was the target of their greed, Madam Qu was the soft-hearted deity, and you're the damn master!

You're the damn master!

One thousand taels lost in this visit!

Madam Qu invited Boss Shang to stay for lunch. Chen Wu ate without tasting anything. As soon as Boss Shang left, Chen Wu and Old Dong exited the main hall one after the other.

Chen Wu kept his hands hanging by his waist, squinting and smiling as he called out, "Old Dong—"

Old Dong turned and nodded, "Fifth Master, you called me?"

Chen Wu's eyes narrowed, but he maintained a warm and kind smile, "How much did that girl He Xianjin give you?"

Old Dong remained composed, respectful, "As you say, Manager He and I are the same—we both receive our monthly stipends from the Chen family. She gets twenty-five taels a month, and I get twenty taels a month."

Old Dong's eyelids drooped slightly, "Even your monthly stipend, year-end bonuses, and quarterly profits are all paid by the Chen family."

"Even the three of us, fundamentally, are the same."

Old Dong's gaze was deep and meaningful as he smiled.

His emotional control was always impeccable, making his words as calm as his name: Dong, meaning no waves.

Chen Wu gave Old Dong a piercing look, his lips trembling.

The same people?

One was an orphan dependent on the Chen family, the other a slave of the Chen family—how could he possibly be the same as them!

He was a Chen!

If the eldest branch earned a hundred taels, thirty taels should be his!

Why should he be considered the same as them?

He had served his eldest brother diligently and now worked hard for his sister-in-law. Now, he was enduring and serving that fool Chen Cai!

What did Chen Fu do?

He kept women, indulged in food and drink, and had fits when he was displeased!

And yet, he could still enjoy the offerings of the Chen family with peace of mind!

These people were all draining his blood!

Draining the blood of him and his brother!

Chen Wu took a deep breath, steadied the smile on his face, and before he left with a flick of his sleeve, sighed regretfully, "Old Dong, you're so old, yet you still play the game of taking sides."

Steward Dong smiled but did not respond.

As Chen Wu turned to leave, he left behind a light remark, "If you want to take a side, go ahead, but if you choose wrong, it's all over."

Steward Dong's long-time attendant from Xuancheng couldn't hold back and said, "Master, have we offended Mr. Chen Wu..."

Steward Dong folded his hands in front of his abdomen, watching Chen Wu walk away from the corridor. After a long while, he laughed and said, "Offended or not, what matters most is integrity and honesty—this man can't win against Xianjin."

To be precise, he even felt that the matriarch couldn't outplay Xianjin.

For some reason, this young girl, though she detested gambling, harbored a gambler's spirit. She treated every action as her last, leaving no room for retreat.

The barefoot fear nothing from the shoed—many would rather endure pain than take off their worn-out shoes.

Just this point alone, Xianjin has already won.

...

When they arrived in Jing County, it was already dusk the next day. Boss Shang first led the group to the warehouse to count the red-decorated books, then went to the county office. Upon returning to the old residence, Chen Fu hosted a banquet.

Second Master Chen Cai sang drunk, Third Master Chen Fu pretended to sleep under the influence of alcohol, trying to avoid Chen Cai's invitation to perform together.

Xianjin walked alone towards the inner courtyard, only to be stopped halfway by a dark figure in the corridor.

"Jinjie."

The dark figure, hands behind his back, emerged from behind the vermilion pillars of the corridor. Mr. Chen Wu's face wore a deep smile, "I underestimated you. Chen Fu losing money at the gambling den, Boss Shang acting, setting up such a scheme just to get me involved?"

"How much do you want?"

"The two thousand taels borrowed?"

"Or more? Three thousand taels? Four thousand taels?"

Mr. Chen Wu approached closer, lowering his voice, "Tell me the amount. I'll admit defeat. If I have it, I'll give it to you."

Xianjin withdrew her hand into her sleeve, gripping the wolf-hair brush, its sharp tip pointed outward, ready to make Chen Wu bleed on the spot.

Three steps away from Xianjin, Chen Wu spread his hands and stopped.

"Everything can be discussed. We have no old grudges or new enmities; it's all about money. There's no need to end up in a bloody mess, both losing—leaving the foolish to reap the benefits."

Mr. Chen Wu was indeed a smart man.

At least smarter than his brother.

He saw through the scheme immediately, finding the key to breaking it. Xianjin believed he had enough savings to fill the gap in the mulberry paper workshop's cash flow.

Taking out two thousand taels wouldn't be difficult for him.

Her scheme could only make him bleed, not completely topple him.

Xianjin raised her head, looking at Mr. Chen Wu with a cold gaze. After a moment, she smiled, "You're a smart man. With smart people, there's no need to beat around the bush—Chen's has three shops and workshops in Xuancheng. I heard you help Second Master manage Chen's properties in Xuancheng. I only want one shop and one workshop."

"Qingcheng Mountain Courtyard has fallen, and business in Jing County has reached its limit. I should try making money in larger towns, right?"