As long as Lu Yao agreed, it would be fine. At least Luo Ming could go home and give an explanation to his father. At the same time, he felt relieved. Fortunately, Lu Yao was easy to deal with. Otherwise, if it was someone as sharp-tongued as Qi Xiuyuan, or as cunning as Xiao Hechuan, he would have lost all his face today.
"That's fine. Brother Lu, just let me pass it on. I'll use tea instead of wine to toast Brother Lu!"
He really doesn't know how to speak politely, and it's hard for him.
Lu Yao also gave him face and drank the cup of tea he offered, and then the two of them dispersed.
After returning home, Lu Yao found his father and told him about Luo Ming asking him to borrow money. When Mr. Lu heard this, his brows were so furrowed that he could kill a mosquito.
He knew a little about the Luo family's shipwreck, and knew that their family was in dire straits, but to be honest, their cloth and silk business had nothing to do with their ceramic business. Although they would meet in some social occasions, they were just nodding acquaintances, and they were not close enough to the point of borrowing eight thousand taels of silver right away.
Furthermore, helping others also depends on the situation. The Luo family failed to deliver the goods on time because of the shipwreck, and their reputation has been greatly damaged. They will have funds in the future. Unless they can get a large order, it will take them forever to make ends meet with just those small orders. He also doesn't know when he can get back the eight thousand taels he lent out.
Moreover, eight thousand taels is not a small amount, so you should think twice.
Mr. Lu was in a very difficult situation. If he helped, the sum of eight thousand taels was too large and the risk was too great. But if he didn't help, they were all doing business in the same area and would see each other every day. If the other party became successful in the future, it would be awkward to meet again. Not only would they not be able to establish a good relationship, but they might even become enemies.
Mr. Lu thought about it and then found his eldest son to discuss how to solve this problem. He had two sons. The eldest son followed him in business and managed the family property, while the second son was responsible for taking the imperial examination.
After hearing this, the eldest brother of the Lu family also showed an embarrassment like his father, but after discussing it, the father and son reached a consensus.
In order not to offend anyone, adhering to the principle of leaving a way out for others so that they can meet again in the future, they decided to lend three thousand taels of silver to the Luo family. If you are willing to accept it, then accept it. Business has been bad in the past two years, and everyone is cautious and treading on thin ice. This is not to add insult to injury. If you don't accept it, then there is nothing we can do. This is the greatest sincerity that the Lu family can give without offending anyone.
But this matter still needs Lu Yao to convey it. If they go to find Master Luo themselves, it will feel like they are rushing to offer warmth. Their two families are not that familiar with each other, and Master Lu will not be so humble.
As for the speech, the eldest brother of the Lu family had already prepared it for Lu Yao, so he just had to follow it. Anyway, he would say something like, the market has been turbulent in the past two years, business is bad, and everyone has some minor troubles. The three thousand taels were given out because Lu Yao and the young master of the Luo family were classmates. Although it couldn't help in an emergency, it could at least help their family get through it. This was the greatest help the Lu family could do within their duties.
If Mr. Luo agrees, then he can come to Wenjun Tea House tomorrow afternoon. Mr. Lu will be waiting for him there and will talk to him in person.
Wenjun Tea House is also a property of the Lu family. Mr. Lu usually discusses business and meets friends in his own teahouse, so he spends most of his time in the teahouse.
Lu Yao obediently recited to Luo Ming what his elder brother had taught him, like reciting a lesson, and Luo Ming went back and told his father.
Luo Ming couldn’t understand the twists and turns here for the time being. He just thought that since the Lu family had the ability, why couldn’t they be more direct and borrow eight thousand taels?
If you want this favor, why are you so stingy?
Although he couldn't figure it out, he still told his father and expressed his doubts. After listening to him, Master Luo sighed:
"My child, you can't blame them wrongly. Our family is in this situation now, and it's good that they are willing to help us. They lent us the three thousand taels on the premise of not offending anyone. It's not because they are afraid of us, but because there is a principle in doing business. Leave a way out for others so that we can meet again in the future."
After he explained this, Luo Ming understood.
"Then Dad, do we want these three thousand taels?"
"Of course I have to borrow it. It's better to have it than nothing. I will go to Wenjun Tea House tomorrow afternoon. I will give you some silver. You can treat the second son of the Lu family well and invite him to Feihua Tower for a good meal to express your gratitude.
I told you a long time ago that although you are a scholar with a sense of integrity, you should not forget the most basic social skills. The purpose is to make more friends and more options when we are in trouble. You will not be wrong if you listen to your father. "
In fact, Luo Ming understood all these principles, but what he wanted to complain about was that his father had a lot of principles, and he handled his interpersonal relationships so well and had made so many good friends, but why was it that when the critical moment came, he couldn't count on any of them?
But he didn't dare to say it, for he was afraid of being beaten.
In order to ensure the continuation of the family business, Luo's father risked his reputation and went to Wenjun Tea House the next day to take back the three thousand taels.
Luo Ming took the ten taels of silver given by his father and went to invite Lu Yao to dinner. Lu Yao was hanging out with Xiao Hechuan and Qi Xiuyuan all day, so it was difficult for him to find an opportunity.
When he finally got the chance, he immediately told him that he wanted to treat him to a meal. Lu Yao agreed readily, but on the condition that he bring his two good brothers along.
Luo Ming had just told him that he wanted to borrow money the day before yesterday. The next day, Lu Yao told Qi Xiuyuan about it, and Qi Xiuyuan told Xiao Hechuan. Qi Xiuyuan guessed that Luo Ming would definitely treat Lu Yao to dinner in the next two days to express his gratitude. Qi Xiuyuan was famous for taking advantage of others and would annoy anyone he didn't like.
How could he miss this opportunity to make good money?
So he said hello to Lu Yao and asked him to bring him and Xiao Hechuan to join in the fun. Luo Ming, this guy, is usually so arrogant, but it turns out that there will be a day when he has to ask for help from others?
Although he had no grudge against him, Qi Xiuyuan felt that he was not a good person. In the past few months, he had been competing with Xiao Yixing openly and secretly for the first rank. Now, in the entire Baiyun Academy, he was the only one who did not submit to Xiao Hechuan.
When Luo Ming heard that Lu Yao was going to bring Qi Xiuyuan and Xiao Hechuan with him, his face turned unhappy, and he even felt a little ashamed and angry:
"Have you told them that our family came to borrow money from your family?"
Qi Xiuyuan didn't care, the key was Xiao Hechuan. He had always regarded him as a competitor, but now that he had been seen in such an embarrassing state, he felt like finding a hole to crawl into.
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