"Who in Shuojing City doesn't know your name, Second Master Gu? Back then, the Li family in the South City couldn't get their money back after lending it out. It was thanks to you acting as guarantor that the creditors were willing to give them some time, and that's how they have their current fortune."
The Yang and Liu families who sell peonies almost came to blows over a single seedling. Wasn't it you who mediated between them, and that's why they still have dealings now?
And those were over a decade ago, we've all been through that time, who doesn't know that! Who does business honestly back then? It's all thanks to you that everyone in the Shuojing market follows the rules now, our customers are blessed, and we business partners are more at ease.
Someone like you, with your sharp mind, reasonable nature, and sense of justice, isn't you the perfect candidate for president?
Gu Yaoniang knew a little about the families that Chairman Jiang mentioned; they were all prominent families in Shuojing City.
Unexpectedly, they had all received help from their second uncle.
Gu Yaoniang glanced at Gu Xingzhi secretly.
From her angle, she could only see Gu Xingzhi's profile. President Jiang's words were eloquent, but Gu Xingzhi showed little surprise; he simply declined politely, just as before.
In fact, Gu Yaoniang could probably understand Gu Xingzhi's thoughts.
The Gu family already held a pivotal position in the Shuojing business world; most of the rice and grain shops in Shuojing belonged to the Gu family.
Don't be fooled by the fact that these grains are all bought from tenants and then resold; and that rice, unlike gold, silver, and jade, doesn't command much of a premium. But every household needs firewood, rice, oil, and salt—who doesn't need them?
The Gu family owns many shops, and the quality is guaranteed, so almost everyone trusts the Gu family's shops. This results in huge profits.
Moreover, with numerous rice and grain shops and a great influence, the Gu family held a very high status both in the eyes of their customers and in the business world.
Furthermore, the Gu family already enjoys almost all the benefits of being the president. The only difference is the lack of the president's title.
Taking over the chairmanship wouldn't cause much trouble, but it wouldn't bring any benefits either. On the contrary, it might attract gossip, with people saying that the Gu family is seeking fame and fortune and likes to take advantage of others.
Moreover, Gu Xingzhi preferred a leisurely life and disliked dealing with the trivial matters of the Chamber of Commerce. He would only come to the Chamber of Commerce when there were important decisions to be made.
If he were to become the president, he would probably have to come to the chamber of commerce every day to report for duty. Gu Xingzhi would certainly not want that.
Therefore, it's normal that Gu Xingzhi doesn't want to take on the position of chairman.
Chairman Jiang was about to try to persuade him further when a panicked voice came from outside the door: "Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"
Everyone in the hall turned to look outside and saw the merchant guild manager who had led them in earlier. The cheerful smile on his face when they first met was gone, replaced by a look of anxiety.
Those present were familiar with this manager, knowing his temperament and his consistently steady approach to tasks. Moreover, as the manager of the Shuojing Chamber of Commerce, he was certainly not someone who hadn't seen much of the world and would panic at the slightest disturbance.
Seeing his flustered state, the people present couldn't help but change their expressions, feeling uneasy and wondering what had happened.
The manager hurriedly stepped into the hall, disregarding all formalities, and went straight to Chairman Jiang's side. He put his hand to Chairman Jiang's ear and whispered a few words to him.
Chairman Jiang's expression also changed, and his cheerful, round face lost its color.
His face was blank as he murmured, "Is it really true?"
The steward grew anxious upon hearing this, slapping his thigh hard until he grimaced. "How could I dare to gossip like that? It's all over the place! It happened during the morning court session this morning!"
Some people in the hall could no longer contain themselves and anxiously asked, "What exactly happened!"
This is so frustrating!
President Jiang seemed to realize something at that moment and said to everyone, "I just received news that during the morning court session this day, someone impeached Lord Liu for embezzling public funds and accepting bribes. He has now been dismissed from his post!"
His voice trembled slightly, still carrying a sense of disbelief and disorientation.
As soon as he said that, the hall erupted in uproar and disbelief.
Except for Gu Yaoniang.
Even as she rode the Jade Horse with Gu Xingzhi towards the Gu family home, Gu Yaoniang remained completely bewildered.
With the carriage curtain lowered and no one else around, Gu Yaoniang finally voiced her lingering doubts: "Second Uncle, who is Lord Liu?"
Gu Xingzhi looked at her with a half-smile, somewhat surprised, and asked curiously, "Didn't your husband teach you that?"
That shouldn't be the case! When he hired the tutor, he said that Gu Yaoniang should also be informed about matters of the court. Even setting aside other matters, shouldn't he have mentioned Lord Liu, a high-ranking official whose life is so closely intertwined with the business world?
Gu Yaoniang thought for a moment, then looked somewhat guilty at the swaying curtains that were following Ta Yu as they walked, and said uncertainly, "I don't think I said that, did I?"
She didn't recall saying it.
Gu Xingzhi did not believe it.
"Lord Liu is currently serving in the Ministry of Revenue, and now..."
Gu Xingzhi, recalling the news he had just heard, quickly changed his words: "Previously, it was the Vice Minister of Revenue. The reason why the Emperor allowed the sons of merchants to take the imperial examinations was because Minister Liu advised him. He said that with peace throughout the land, money and grain all passed through the hands of merchants. If there were no merchants to transport goods in and out and trade with them, the lives of ordinary people would not be so convenient."
He said that, in truth, merchants had rendered meritorious service to the state and should not be considered of low social status; they should have the same right to participate in the imperial examinations as all other citizens of the Great Cheng Dynasty.
Gu Yaoniang nodded knowingly: "So, the people of the Chamber of Commerce must have great respect for Lord Liu. But today, when they heard that Lord Liu had been dismissed, their sadness and resentment were secondary; why were they more afraid?"
Gu Yaoniang was somewhat puzzled.
If one's respected superior is wrongly accused, dismissed, or investigated, shouldn't one be even more worried? Why does everyone's expression change, and why are they all filled with anxiety?
Gu Xingzhi was somewhat pleased to hear Gu Yaoniang say this: "You noticed this, that's good."
He spoke slowly: "When you read books, you should know that since ancient times, merchants have been looked down upon. People like me and Lu Zhaoan, who could have embarked on an official career, are now engaged in commerce and inevitably suffer criticism behind our backs for being self-degrading."
In recent years, the court has been divided on the issue of merchants. One side is the "pro-merchants faction," which believes that the prosperity of the country and the strength of the people cannot be separated from the contributions of merchants, and that merchants should enjoy the same rights as all the common people. The other side is the "anti-merchants faction," which believes that merchants are the lowest of the four classes of people, the most despicable subjects.
Over the years, Lord Liu has been a key figure in the pro-merchant faction. You don't know, in the past, we had to pay a lot of taxes. Not only did we have to pay half the price of the goods we sold as tax, but we also had to pay a poll tax that everyone had to pay. Merchants had to pay 10% more tax than ordinary people.
Nowadays, we pay less tax than before, receive fewer disapproving looks, and have clearer business rules. Although this is because the Emperor intended it, these good days are also inseparable from Lord Liu's mediation.
Lord Liu is an upright and honest official; it's impossible for him to be corrupt. Now that Lord Liu has been dismissed, it seems the anti-merchant faction has made moves to harm us merchants!
Gu Xingzhi sighed softly.
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