Chapter 10 Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Song Yunzhi finally looked at her straight in the eye.

The young lady couldn't wait to die, which made him feel a little happier. A deep glint flashed through his eyes, and his eyes, which had been cold for two days, now showed a faint smile. He said to the young lady who looked up to comfort him, "Thank you, Madam Qian."

Looking closely, his pupils were actually light-colored. Qian Tong didn't know if it was an illusion, but he always felt that his smile was a little cold.

The maidservant of the Cui family came back and said, "Seventh Lady, please come this way."

Qian Tong didn't have time to wonder whether the young master was dissatisfied in his heart. He turned around and followed the maid to the banquet. After walking for a while, he realized that the maid was taking him to the waterside pavilion where Madam Cui and the wife of the prefect were.

Qian Tong and Mrs. Cui once had a happy time together.

In the early years, when the eldest son of the Cui family wanted to marry the eldest lady of the Qian family, Mrs. Cui invited her to the Cui family to play from time to time in order to please the Qian family. Whenever she saw her, she would take out candies from her pocket to tease her.

She believed that Mrs. Cui treated her sincerely at that time, and had also treated her elder sister sincerely.

But then it changed...

The eldest sister had been married to the Cui family for five years, but had not given birth to a child for them. As the Qian family's business expanded, they gradually came into conflict with the Cui family. The small conflicts accumulated little by little in their daily lives and were suppressed in their hearts. Two years ago, they broke out completely after both families took a fancy to the marriage with the prefectural governor.

When Mrs. Cui and Mrs. Qian were guests at the prefect's mansion, they had a big fight in front of everyone.

The relationship between the two families broke down.

The Cui family hated the eldest lady for taking the position of the eldest young lady, but they did not dare to divorce her because of their reputation. If the Qian family had not been concerned about the eldest lady, they would have broken off relations with the Cui family long ago.

The marriage between the two families was originally for mutual benefit, but now it has become a shackle.

Qian Tong didn't feel any regrets. There were no permanent allies, only permanent interests. He stepped forward to greet Madam Cui and called out with a smile, "Aunt Cui."

Madam Cui said politely, "I didn't know Seventh Lady was coming today, so I didn't prepare a table for you. I had someone add a seat next to Sister Fu. It's been a while since you two last saw each other. You grew up together, so your bond is strong. There's nothing to get over."

The one who got the marriage with the prefectural governor was from his Cui family, so naturally there was nothing wrong with it.

"Thank you, Auntie." Qian Tong thanked her and greeted Cui Liuniang, "Sister Fu."

Madam Cui Liu was looking at the young man beside her.

Just now, from a distance, one could only see his extraordinary bearing. Now that he was up close and could see his appearance clearly, the stunning impact was even stronger, making Young Master Lan standing next to him look like an ordinary person.

She accidentally looked at him for too long and was caught by Qian Tong. Liu Niang hurriedly withdrew her gaze and replied with lowered eyes: "Sister Tong, I thought you would never come to see me again..."

I have known Cui Liu for more than ten years, so how could I not know her? The more I pay attention to her, the more excited I become.

Qian Tong smiled faintly and ignored her.

But since she had brought a man to the banquet, she had to know his identity. She did not take the initiative to introduce him, so Mrs. Cui asked first, "Who is this young man?"

Qian Tong's face rarely showed a trace of his daughter's shyness, and he turned around and gestured to Fu Yin.

Fu Yin quickly took two steps forward and said with a smile, "Madam Cui, this is my seventh uncle. I had originally wanted to choose a day to visit you with gifts, but today I happened to be passing by your house. I was thinking of the eldest lady, so I came to visit you at the last minute. I hope Madam Cui will forgive me for any impoliteness."

No one cares whether you are rude or not.

Isn’t the Seventh Uncle the husband of the Seventh Lady?

Astonished eyes stared at the two of them. Two days ago, the Qian family was competing with the Cui family for Young Master Lan's marriage, and now, just two days later, where did this son-in-law appear...

Young Master Lan on the side seemed to be struck by lightning, stunned and bewildered. The young lady's parting words "It's all over" yesterday troubled him all night, and he was still a little uneasy sitting here today. The moment he saw her just now, he wished he could grow a clone and marry both of them so that neither of them would be let down.

I don't understand how Qi Niangzi got a son-in-law overnight?

The smiles on the faces of the prefect's wife and Mrs. Cui gradually froze. Knowing that the Cui family and the prefect were engaged today, why did she bring her son-in-law to the house at this time?

Mrs. Cui lost her pleasant expression and asked calmly, "Where is the seventh uncle from?"

Qian Tong paused deliberately, "I'm from Kyoto."

It's one thing to scare someone, but what if he almost suffocates you?

After saying that, he paid attention to Mrs. Cui's reaction.

As expected, Mrs. Cui's face became nervous and she held her breath. The four major families wanted to find a backer, but what was the youngest son of the prefect? ​​The people who really had the say were in Kyoto.

The Park family is capable and found a princess.

The remaining three companies can't even find their way around Kyoto on a daily basis.

The prefect's wife looked unhappy. She didn't believe that a mediocre person like Qian Minjiang could make it to Kyoto. She raised her eyelids and asked the young man beside her, "What do you do for a living?"

Qian Tong used to speak for him: "He..."

Unexpectedly, the usually quiet Mr. Song rudely exposed her and replied, "Escort Agency."

The prefect's wife was taken aback and continued to ask, "Which noble family are your parents from?"

Song Yunzhi: "Both parents are deceased."

It turned out to be a Gu Lu. The prefect's wife smiled contemptuously and stopped asking.

Song Yunzhi was just testing the waters. He was not sure whether Lan Mingquan had seen him when he was working in Kyoto. But judging from the reaction of the prefect's wife, she probably did not recognize him.

Collusion between officials and businessmen is a taboo.

Lan Mingquan, an official who once worked in the Censorate, would not dare to marry one of the wealthy businessmen in Yangzhou when he knew that the court had sent people to thoroughly investigate the wealthy businessmen.

He's not that stupid.

As he was guessing his intention, he felt a gentle force on his arm. He turned his head and his sight happened to fall on the young lady's thick eyelashes as she leaned in. He heard her whisper, "Don't take it too seriously."

The witch's compassion is like an eagle looking at its prey in its claws, weighing whether to show mercy and kill it first, or swallow it alive, which would make him feel better.

He doesn't want it.

The Prefect's wife saw the private conversation between the two and was filled with disdain. This was the way young ladies from merchant families behaved, so she took the opportunity to humiliate her. "Yesterday, I heard from the servants that the head of the Qian family came to the mansion, but the master and I were busy and couldn't meet him. Does Seventh Lady know what it was about?"

What else could it be? I wanted to go to the prefectural government to ask for a favor and ask them to protect the Qian family.

Qian Tong had not yet sat down, but was standing there. As soon as the prefect's wife finished speaking, she became the focus of everyone's attention again. This time, there was a bit of sarcasm in her eyes, and they were waiting to see the show.

If she were an ordinary young lady, she would have blushed with shame by now and would have wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

Money and copper don't matter.

She didn't owe anyone money, so she didn't feel ashamed. "I really don't know anything about my father's affairs. I wonder if he has collected some calligraphy and paintings that he wants to share with you, my Lord?"

It’s better to say it’s a gift rather than a sharing. Hasn’t the Qian family given him enough things as the governor over the years?

The prefect's wife knew what was going on, but she was choked by her words and didn't know how to say anything more.

The servant sent by Mrs. Cui happened to bring back the news at this time and squatted down to whisper in Mrs. Cui's ear.

"What?" Mrs. Cui looked at Qian Tong in astonishment after hearing half of what he said. "You are still young, ignorant and understandable, but how can the head of the Qian family tolerate your nonsense?"

Qian Tong looked at her face.

The face clearly wanted to laugh but had to pretend to be heartbroken. The expression looked extremely funny. It can be seen that once a person has evil intentions, his facial features will change.

Madam Cui continued, "Master Qian's only daughter is you. You should marry someone of equal status and social standing. You can't just act out of spite and snatch a random warrior from the docks to propose marriage. How can I, your aunt, feel comfortable with such disrespect?"

Kidnapping people at the dock? Promising marriage?

The wife of the prefect thought she had misheard, but when she saw Qian Tong was silent and did not refute, she was stunned for a moment. She didn't know what to say when she saw Qian Qi Niang, whom she once had high hopes for, fall into such a state.

The guests around began to whisper to each other.

Cui Liu Niang also cried out: "Sister Tong, how can I live in peace in the future if you treat me like this..."

Song Yunzhi was originally secretly investigating the Cui family's courtyard, which was even more luxurious than the Qian family's. At this time, he couldn't help but look at the girl beside him who was almost surrounded by laughter.

She lowered her head slightly, her shoulders much lower than usual.

He had seen her evil and thought she would reveal her true colors, fly into a rage, and take revenge on these people by using the same method she had used on him last night.

This is exactly what he wants. It would be best if the four families start fighting first.

When she slowly raised her head, he saw tears welling in her eyes. She looked up at Madam Cui and said softly, "Thank you for your concern, aunt. My niece didn't kidnap the person. Every kingdom has its own laws. With Magistrate Lan in charge of Yangzhou, I wouldn't dare to act so tyrannically and oppress the people even if I had a hundred guts."

Song Yunzhi looked at her in disbelief, and his impression of this woman as treacherous grew even stronger.

The girl didn't care what the young man beside her was thinking at the moment. With red eyes, she continued, "Although your status is low, my Qian family is just a merchant family. How can it be better?"

Then he turned to Cui Liu Niang beside him, eyes full of envy, "If I had Sister Fu's temperament and appearance, I could still harbor extravagant hopes and hope to marry into a wealthy family. However, I have been unsophisticated since childhood and cannot learn Sister Fu's knowledge and etiquette. It is better for me to settle down and find someone to support me. When Sister Fu becomes an official's wife in the future, she will not forget me as her elder sister."

After the words fell, there was silence for a while.

Mrs. Cui Liu was actually stunned by her look. There was no jealousy or hatred in her eyes, only pity.

Seeing her miserable appearance, Mrs. Cui took a deep breath and muttered, "The Qian family is a wealthy merchant family in Yangzhou..."

Qian Tong shook her head slowly, like a rich girl whose spine had been broken by life, forced to admit defeat. "Aunt Cui, you don't know, the Qian family is no longer the same. The salt wells have often been dry for the past two years, and they were robbed a while ago. More than a dozen cartloads of goods have gone without return. To be honest, aunt, my grandmother's bird's nest supply has been out for more than half a year, and the servants haven't received their monthly salaries for several months. My father is busy working away from home, and his appearance of respectability is just a facade."

Everyone has heard that the Qian family's salt well can't produce salt, and it's also true that it was robbed by bandits not long ago.

Could it be that it has really become an empty shell?

Everyone was talking about the Qian family's decline, making sarcastic remarks and laughing at her, but Song Yunzhi was the only one standing silently by, watching her performance calmly.

The Cui and Qian families had been fighting for so many years, and Mrs. Cui hated them to the core. She hadn't been this happy in years. Just as she was feeling happy, she saw Qian Tong took out the account book he carried with him and handed it to her. "Today, while Aunt Cui is in a good mood, your niece brought the account book. Aunt, please take a look and see if you can settle the accounts of the past few years. Our family can hold on for a while longer."

In the past, the status of the Cui and Qian families were almost equal in the eyes of the people of Yangzhou, and many people even believed that the Qian family had more wealth.

Today's engagement banquet between the Cui family and the prefectural governor was grand and lavish, with an entire yard filled with decorations. Looking at the Qian family's seventh daughter, who came to ask for money with red eyes, all she could hear were compliments to the Cui family.

Mrs. Cui heard it.

Since the Qian family is in such a miserable state, and Miss Qi has asked for money in person, how can we not give it to her? She turned around and called the maid, "Find the accountant and pay her. It's not easy for the Qian family to be so short of money."

Qian Tong bowed and thanked: "Thank you, Aunt Cui."

While waiting, she caught the surprised look from the prefect's wife. She quickly bowed and said, "The officials from Kyoto should be arriving in the next few days. I'd like to trouble the prefect's wife to introduce a few people to my Qian family."

The Magistrate's wife recalled the 50,000 taels the Qian family had promised her. Looking at her behavior today, she realized the Qian family had probably been trying to defraud her. She was thankful for her foresight. Hearing her boastful words, she lost her temper. "How can you just go and see the officials from Kyoto? The Qian family is upright and honest. Are you afraid they won't be able to investigate?"

"Madam, you are right." Qian Tong lowered his eyes and flipped through the account book in his hand. After a moment, he looked up and said, "Madam, the prefectural government has not settled the accounts for three years. Can they be settled today?"

The prefect's wife looked at her in astonishment. She must be crazy because of poverty, coming to ask her for debt?

When has the magistrate ever been given money for food, clothing, and other expenses?

But under the watchful eyes of the public, she absolutely could not admit that the prefectural government had been eating free meals from a few families all these years. With a sullen face, she ordered, "It seems that the Qian family is really short of money. Pay off all the debts to her so that she won't be involved again..."

Qian Tong paid no attention to her threats.

No matter whether she is related or not, it is impossible for her to help the Qian family as the prefectural governor. They want to take advantage of the four major families at the last moment. Why can't she take back her money?

It is natural to pay back debts, and there is no emotion involved. Among the guests present, none who owed money for salt were spared. Qian Tong called them over one by one and opened the account books.

The engagement banquet turned into the best place for the seventh lady of the Qian family to collect debts. By the time Mrs. Cui gradually realized that something was wrong, the situation was already out of control.

——

Qian Tong was too busy to handle it, so he gave the bookkeeping job to Song Yunzhi and counted the banknotes himself, telling him: "The first step for the son-in-law of the Qian family is to learn to keep accounts."

Song Yunzhi finally saw last night's account book as he wished. He stared at the numbers on it, and then looked at the stacks of banknotes in the box beside her. He finally understood why she was willing to give up even her dignity.

After Your Majesty ascended the throne, there was very little money left, and he spent a lot of time on repairs and relief work, leaving the treasury empty.

However, a merchant's account is just the external debt...

"Don't shake your hands, these are all ours, they can't get away." Everyone has a hatred for the rich, and she understood. Qian Tong saw that his eyes were about to burst into tears, so he pinched his wrist and whispered to comfort him, "Whatever you like, I'll buy it for you later. By the way, do you have other relatives at home? Now that you've made a fortune, it's only right that we help you."