Chapter 541 There are always some people who are confused and cannot see the situation clearly
"Don't worry, Manager Liu." Chu Ruohan returned to her seat and gestured for everyone else to sit down as well. "Rules cannot be abandoned. All goods damaged in this accident will be compensated double the value of the goods written in the contract."
As soon as these words were spoken, a low murmur of discussion suddenly arose in the hall.
Double compensation has exceeded everyone's expectations, which is enough to show Chu Ruohan's sincerity and responsibility.
Most people had a look of relief on their faces.
"Thank you, ma'am!"
However, amidst the voices of gratitude, a discordant voice was heard.
"Madam, that's easy for you to say!"
A slightly plump man in a royal blue brocade robe stood up. He was none other than Shopkeeper Wang, a well-known silk merchant in the capital.
He cupped his hands with a forced smile, "My cart is filled with top-quality brocade, which I'm going to send to a nobleman in the south as a birthday gift."
"Now that the goods are gone, I've not only lost money, but I've also offended an important person! This debt can't be settled with double compensation!"
Chu Ruohan raised her eyes and fixed them on him. She was not angry, but asked calmly, "Then what should we do according to Shopkeeper Wang's opinion?"
When Shopkeeper Wang saw her respond, he became bolder and held up three fingers.
"I won't agree to anything less than that for my shipment, my lost reputation, and the lost business!"
He was referring to triple damages.
After these words were spoken, even the other merchants nearby frowned.
This Fatty Wang is too greedy. He is taking advantage of others' misfortune.
Chu Ruohan picked up the teacup beside her and gently blew away the foam without even raising her eyelids.
"Manager Wang, it's clearly written in black and white on the deed that your batch of brocade is worth a total of eight hundred taels."
"Double compensation, that's one thousand six hundred taels. The extra money is a token of your gratitude, not a bargaining chip."
"Deed?" Shopkeeper Wang sneered. "Who doesn't know that the price on the deed is to cover customs duties?"
"If it were really at market price, my goods would have fetched 1,500 taels! Now Madam is only paying 1,600 taels, so wouldn't I still be at a loss?"
When he said this, he laid all his customs evasion matters out in the open, and he was obviously sure that Chu Ruohan would keep quiet for the sake of her reputation.
Chu Ruohan finally put down the teacup, making a soft "click" sound.
She raised her head, and there was a hint of coldness in her clear eyes.
"So, Shopkeeper Wang is admitting that he made the Yin-Yang Contract in order to avoid taxes?"
The smug look on Shopkeeper Wang's face froze. He didn't expect Chu Ruohan to put it so clearly.
He hesitated, "This... this is the rule of the industry. Why should Madam..."
"Rules?" Chu Ruohan interrupted him coldly, "I only know that according to the laws of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, tax evasion and deceiving the government are serious crimes."
"The lightest punishment is confiscation of property, the worst is exile three thousand miles away."
Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear and powerful.
"Since Shopkeeper Wang feels the amount on the deed is unfair, that's easy to deal with."
Chu Ruohan's eyes grew sharper. "Let's take this deed and go to Jingzhao Prefecture. Let the prefect determine how much your goods are worth."
"By the way, please also examine the punishment for this crime of deceiving the emperor. I believe that the Jingzhao Prefecture's valuation must be the most fair."
"You!" Shopkeeper Wang's face turned pale in an instant, and fine beads of cold sweat oozed out of his forehead.
He never imagined that this seemingly gentle general's wife would be so ruthless and would directly report the matter to the authorities.
If he really went to Jingzhao Prefecture, not to mention triple compensation, he would probably lose everything!
"Madam... Madam, you're joking." Shopkeeper Wang's arrogance instantly subsided. He forced out a smile that was uglier than crying and waved his hands repeatedly.
"I... I didn't mean that. I was confused, I was confused! Everything... everything will be done according to what Madam said, according to the contract!"
Chu Ruohan looked at him, a faint curve appearing at the corner of her lips, but without any warmth.
"As long as Manager Wang has figured it out, I'm glad. As a business, we believe in trust. The compensation will not be reduced by a single cent."
"But anyone who wants to take advantage of me should consider whether they are worthy enough."
She looked around and saw that the other people who were originally ready to make a move now lowered their heads and did not dare to look at her.
"Come here," Chu Ruohan said loudly, "bring the silver notes and settle the accounts with the shopkeepers according to the contract."
The matter was quickly resolved, and the merchants left with their silver bills, expressing their gratitude profusely.
Shopkeeper Wang was even more ashamed, with his tail between his legs, not daring to stay for a moment longer.
After everyone left, Chu Ruohan rubbed her swollen eyebrows, a trace of fatigue appearing on her face.
The steward beside him whispered, "Madam, thank goodness you managed to calm the situation. If Steward Qin were here, he would have had to deal with it."
"Qin Fang has a loyal and honest character, so it's easy for him to suffer losses when facing these tough guys."
Chu Ruohan sighed softly, but she felt more and more that her dowry shop plus the eldest princess's shop...
We can't rely on just one or two people.
Today's incident seems to have been resolved, but it has also exposed more problems.
Trade routes need to be rebuilt, shops need to be managed, and people's hearts need to be appeased.
Each and every one of them is not easy.
After the steward left, Chu Ruohan picked up the cold tea and took a sip. The bitter taste of the tea spread on her tongue, refreshing her tired spirit.
The problems with the merchants have been temporarily suppressed, but more difficult issues are still to come.
Those who asked the caravan to carry goods were not only businessmen, but also noble families traveling in the capital.
When dealing with merchants, you can talk about rules and laws, and use benefits and deterrence to make them shut up.
But for those noble families, compensation is secondary. Losing their favors and face is the real big trouble.
She had to visit them in person and explain all of these things one by one.
In the next few days, Chu Ruohan truly experienced what it meant to be unattached.
Every day, he would get up before dawn, first to deal with the accumulated chores in the mansion, and then to play with Xiao Qingchen and Xuan Ge'er for a while...
When the sun is high in the sky, they will change into etiquette clothes, prepare generous gifts, and travel between various mansions in the capital.
Since she, the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo, came personally, the Ge family would naturally give her some face and would not really make things difficult for her. After all, no one wanted to provoke Gu Junze...
Upon hearing that it was Zhang Xian's private soldiers who were responsible, instead of blaming them, he comforted them with kind words.
She was busy like a top, often returning home exhausted late at night.
The children have already gone to bed...
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