"The reason you're making things difficult for this lady behind us today is probably because she's unable to repay your debts, which is why you're in such a hurry to take over her private property. But then again, no one in the world is enemies with money. Today, I'll pay off the money this lady owes, but there's one condition: you have to return all the land and shops you've swallowed and transfer them to my name."
Although the burly man was somewhat intimidated by Jiang Huaifu's aura, he was, after all, a man accustomed to the ways of the martial world. Without the lure of profit, how could he possibly give up so easily?
"Do you know how much money this wretched woman owes us? I advise you not to meddle in our business, lest I reveal the amount and she can't pay it back, and we all lose face."
Jiang Huaifu's casual smile made the burly man feel as if he had been provoked, and he immediately became furious. He raised his head and said with great confidence, "A total of five hundred taels of silver."
Song He'er froze on the spot. Five hundred taels? Even modern loan sharks wouldn't charge such a terrifying interest rate!
The woman had only borrowed two hundred taels of silver. When she returned it later, not only did the woman take back the shop and the land, but the interest also ballooned to more than double!
That's absolutely outrageous!
"Where did you get five hundred taels?" Song He'er couldn't help but ask.
"That's our rule when we visit the counter. You can ask anywhere without any objection."
Seeing the burly man's confident demeanor, the woman hiding behind Song He'er answered tremblingly, "But my land and shops are far more than that amount. The workshop was bought for two hundred taels at the time, and now, with the materials and daily necessities, it has long exceeded four hundred taels. In addition, I have sixty acres of fertile land in the suburbs. Even if I give him half, it would be enough for me to pay the interest."
Jiang Huaifu turned his head, signaling her not to speak yet.
“Since it’s five hundred taels, then bring the loan agreement,” Jiang Huaifu said calmly.
Although the burly man exuded arrogance, he was actually afraid of Jiang Huaifu. After all, he hadn't figured out Jiang Huaifu's background yet, and it wouldn't be good to offend him rashly.
Thinking of this, he handed the loan agreement in his hand to Jiang Huaifu.
The document clearly states in black and white that Zhao Ru, a resident of the Huai River region, borrowed two hundred taels of silver from Hutougui and promised to repay it within three months. If he failed to repay on time, Hutougui would seize his shops and land without having to appeal to others.
Jiang Huaifu read through the contract carefully and suddenly discovered a clear flaw in it.
Although it was stated above that if the repayment could not be made on time, the shops and land under his name could be confiscated, it was not clearly stated whether the sale and cash-out would belong to the Tiger Head Boss. So, things took a turn for the better.
Thinking of this, Jiang Huaifu smiled calmly.
"It's written in black and white that the Zhao family borrowed two hundred taels of silver from you, but it doesn't state that all the money you obtained after confiscating their shops and land belongs to you. So now, you must return the remaining silver."
The burly man with the tiger-like physique felt a little guilty. He took the contract and looked at it again and again, as if he doubted his own eyesight. So he handed the contract to the attendant next to him. The attendant next to him also nodded in defeat. Only then did the burly man soften his attitude and become a wilted man.
Seeing this man's demeanor, Song He'er already had a general idea of what was going on; there was a good chance this matter might work.
"This... this isn't up to me. After all, the owner of Hutougui Workshop is my elder brother. I can't make decisions for him on my own. If you want to buy the workshop, please stay at the inn."
The burly man, Hu Biao, came up with a clever plan to lure Jiang Huaifu and his companion to their territory.
Song He'er wasn't stupid. In this foreign land, if you were to enter someone else's territory, you would be like a piece of pork on a chopping board, completely helpless and at their mercy. In the end, even the white would be called black.
The best course of action now is to resolve this matter publicly.
After all, there are many people coming and going here. Even if the Tiger Head Gang had the greatest courage, they wouldn't dare to kidnap foreign merchants at the city gate.
Song He'er smiled and replied:
"Don't you have an attendant with you? Let him be a messenger and go back to report to your boss. If you're willing, we can exchange money for goods today. If you don't agree, then I'll consider this deal off. In that case, no one in Jiangning will dare to take your assets, which you've swindled from others."
“…You, alright.” The burly man finally agreed, turned around, and instructed the servant beside him to go back and relay the message.
Song He'er was so confident because she was certain that no businessman in Jiangning would buy property from a loan shark.
Secondly, because all of Zhao's properties were registered with the government, even if the land deeds and house deeds were received, they could not be sold legitimately unless they were sold to merchants from other places to do some shady business.
Furthermore, there isn't a single person in the entire Jiangning who can immediately produce five hundred taels of silver.
If he wanted to resolve this hot potato as soon as possible, he could only return it to Song He'er.
Before an incense stick's time had passed, the servant who had gone to deliver the message returned and whispered something in the burly man's ear.
After a while, the burly man asked Jiang Huaifu again, "I wonder if you sent someone to carry your five hundred taels of silver, or if you had a money order from a bank?"
Before Jiang Huaifu could speak, Song He'er took out a pearl the size of an egg from her bosom.
She had seen the household accounts before. This pearl was bought ten years ago by Song Xiaoqi when he accompanied the emperor to Southeast Asia from a salt merchant. It cost a total of 215 taels of silver. Although the price was not high at the time, this thing was very rare, especially in Nanzhao, where it was impossible to have ever seen one.
"Do you know its value? This is a treasure, worth far more than what you're saying. Can it now be used to offset the five hundred taels of silver that Madam Zhao owes you?"
The burly man stared wide-eyed. He had never seen such a large pearl before, with its full shape and even color. He had only ever seen them in paintings before, and seeing them in person was truly astonishing.
“Young lady, please accompany us to the counter. My elder brother has traveled all over the country and seen countless treasures. As long as he accepts them, I will return the land deed and house deed immediately.”
Song He'er thought to herself that he really didn't have the right to make this deal on his own, so she might as well go with him. The door would be wide open, and they wouldn't have any problems sitting inside for a while.
......
My darlings, I've had a long break for the New Year~ Sorry~ Updates are back!
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