"What!" Zu'an exclaimed in surprise, quickly grabbing his hands. "Brother Wei, do you have any ideas?"
Wei Hongde smiled slightly: "Actually, it's not that I have a way, but that my father has a way. As for what the specific method is, I don't know."
Zuan looked annoyed: "Aren't you just messing with me?"
Wei Hongde explained, "Brother Zu, you misunderstand. The reason we sought you out is because of your friendship with Wei Suo, which makes us willing to trust you. Therefore, no one is more suitable to be the middleman than you. However, how to resolve the specific issue is not something that juniors like you and me can decide."
Zuan couldn't help but say, "It sounds like I'm being looked down upon."
It was obvious to everyone that the other party was not qualified to talk; only the person in charge of the Chu family could speak with Wei Dabao.
Wei Hongde smiled slightly: "Because you and Wei Suo are friends, I am speaking the truth to you. If I have offended you in any way, I hope you will forgive me, my ancestor."
Zu An snorted: "But you have to tell me something, otherwise I won't know anything. How am I supposed to go back and talk to the Chu family?"
Wei Hongde hesitated for a moment before saying, "I've heard that the Chu family is in dire need of money. We can provide some assistance in that regard, but as for anything more specific, I really don't know."
Zu An's heart skipped a beat; this sounded like a loan shark.
The Wei family has always had a very low profile in Mingyue City. People only know that some members of their clan hold official positions in the capital and even seem to have connections in the imperial palace, but nothing else is known.
Their family basically doesn't participate in anything in Brightmoon City, as if they don't exist. It's just that everyone takes their family background into consideration, and no one wants to offend them.
So over the years, the Wei family has become almost invisible, but now they have suddenly reappeared.
After saying goodbye to Wei Hongde, Zu An hurriedly returned to the Chu family and reported the matter to Qin Wanru.
As for the salt permit, he has no leads yet, and since it involves Qiu Honglei, it's not convenient for him to tell her.
After hearing his words, Qin Wanru hurriedly summoned Chu's trusted confidants, as well as members of the second and third branches of the family, to discuss the matter.
Zu An was puzzled: "The second and third wives are ambitious and treacherous, why should we discuss this with them?"
Qin Wanru shook her head: "Although they each have their own plans, they are all members of the Chu family after all. If the Chu family is destroyed, they will not fare well either, so they will definitely help the family overcome the difficulties together."
Having witnessed countless instances of infighting in his previous life through history books, Zu'an found it hard to agree with her theories.
However, she has always had a strong personality, and Zu'an wouldn't be foolish enough to provoke her.
Soon, a group of people rushed to the council hall upon hearing the news. Whether it was Chu Chuyan's parting instructions or the news brought by Zu An, Qin Wanru surprisingly kept him with her to participate in such an important matter.
Seeing Zu'an in the council hall, Chu Tiesheng, Chu Yuepo, the official Hong Zhong, and the guard commander Yue Shan were all very surprised.
After all, this meant that he had officially entered the Chu family's decision-making level.
If he was just a son-in-law whom nobody cared about before, after today, no one in the Chu family would dare to look down on him like before.
Chu Tiesheng was about to question it when Chu Yuepo tugged at his hand and whispered to him, "With your elder brother gone, your sister-in-law is all alone and needs someone to help her out. Just let her be."
Chu Tiesheng then gave up, but still asked, "Sister-in-law, why haven't I seen Chu Yan?"
Not only him, but even Hong Zhong and Yue Shan looked over curiously.
Qin Wanru said, "Chu Yan has to go out for a while, so she won't be coming today."
She didn't say anything more, appearing quite enigmatic.
The people in the hall exchanged glances, all secretly wondering where Chu Chuyan had gone.
Qin Wanru cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention back, before recounting the events surrounding the Wei family.
After hearing this, the room erupted in chaos.
Chu Tiesheng said directly, "I feel something is wrong. The Wei family has kept a low profile for so many years, but now they suddenly do this. There must be something behind it."
Chu Yuepo, however, had a different opinion: "As far as I know, there has been an organization in Mingyue City that has been secretly providing loans to families in urgent need of money over the years. At the time, we thought their background was mysterious, but now we think it is most likely the Wei family. Since we need money right now, why not borrow from them?"
Qin Wanru remained noncommittal, instead turning to the butler beside her: "Old Hong, what do you think?"
The Hong family has served the Chu family for generations. Hong Zhong is particularly shrewd and capable, and he even served the previous head of the Chu family. He has always been highly respected in the family, and the Chu couple has always respected him.
Hong Zhong said in a deep voice, "What I'm worried about is something else. The Wei family has a background in the imperial palace. Could it be that they received instructions from the emperor to provide us with loans under the guise of doing so, but actually want to take the opportunity to deal with us?"
Upon hearing this, the people in the room nodded in agreement. Even Zu An couldn't help but glance at him again. As expected of the head steward of the Chu family, his insight and demeanor far surpassed those of ordinary people.
It's a pity that she had a son like Hong Xingying.
Objectively speaking, Hong Xing should be considered to have good qualities in all aspects among his peers, but his mentality is too impetuous and he is far from his father's composure.
It's been a long time since I've seen him. I guess he's scared of me. He stays at school and always avoids me on purpose.
As Zu An was lost in thought, Chu Yuepo spoke up again: "It might not be a conspiracy. As far as I know, those high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital hold enormous wealth, but it's inconvenient for them to show their faces, and the capital is strictly controlled. So they often find some front men to lend money to them in other places at exorbitant interest rates. In my opinion, the Wei family is probably like that. They do have people working in the palace, but they may not be backed by the emperor. It could be some concubines in the palace, or a high-ranking eunuch, or some nobles in the capital... In short, the probability of them being sent by the emperor is very small."
...
Several people discussed it animatedly, and each of them had some merit to their arguments.
Zuan glanced at Yue Shan curiously, but he didn't say a word from beginning to end.
As his name suggests, he was as steady and reliable as a mountain. No wonder he was always Chu Zhongtian's most trusted subordinate.
After some discussion, Qin Wanru finally made the decision: "It's really hard to know what the Wei family's purpose is right now. However, our Chu family is indeed short of money, so it's necessary to make contact with them."
Thinking about how she and Chu Yan had been turned away when trying to borrow money recently, especially how the head of the Li family had dared to covet her, she felt a surge of anger.
Seeing that the others were about to speak again, she reached out to stop them: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Contacting them doesn't mean I'll necessarily ask them for money. Let's see what they're up to first."
The others then gave up.
After the meeting, Zu An was about to leave when Qin Wanru kept him behind alone.
"Come with me to the Wei family!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
