Chapter 748: Waking up from a dream at midnight and hearing the howling of thousands of ghosts is a great blessing for the Fan family master
The situation described by Gui Sheng in a few words easily aroused the heaviness in the hearts of those present, and even Fan Shicheng could hardly laugh.
Fan Shicheng finally figured it out.
Gui Sheng was lying at the bottom of the pit, with no intention of giving him any warning, and was even ready to reach out and pull him into the pit.
But since I'm here.
Plus...
Fan Shicheng suppressed his complex feelings and sighed, following Gui Sheng's words: "Natural disasters are ruthless, and it is difficult for people to be kind."
"I don't remember the specific details of that year, but when I hear people talk about what happened a long time ago, I'm filled with indescribable fear."
"In the face of such a formidable disaster, anyone who steps forward would be futile, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Who can defy fate?"
Fan Shicheng sighed incessantly, as if he was really feeling sad for the tragedy that happened many years ago.
Sang Zhixia's eyes flickered slightly as she chuckled, "From what Patriarch Fan said, most of the information about the disaster back then came from oral accounts by others?"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Fan Shicheng said solemnly, "After the disaster, the people were destitute and it took more than ten years for them to recover. Those who experienced it remember it vividly, so..."
"Hasn't Patriarch Fan seen it with his own eyes?"
Fan Shicheng paused and laughed dryly, "That's not the case."
"I heard that the old Fan family mansion was flooded, leaving only the house-guarding beast on the roof, and the rest of the house was almost the same."
Sang Zhixia sighed in confusion, "That shouldn't be the case."
"The floodwaters have reached the rooftops. Did Patriarch Fan really not notice anything?"
A flash of light suddenly appeared in Fan Shicheng's mind and he suddenly realized something.
Sang Zhixia said with a half-smile, "Patriarch Fan has often gone to Huai'an in the summer and autumn to escape the heat these past few years. I guess he had a pretty comfortable life there when he was young, otherwise why would he have been thinking about it so much for so many years?"
"Master Fan, am I right?"
Beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on Fan Shicheng's forehead. His breathing became lighter and his eyes narrowed rapidly.
He seemed to understand why Gui Sheng told Sang Zhixia everything he knew.
It can't be hidden at all.
Sang Zhixia speaks softly and seems to be a kind person at first glance, but in fact, a single blow can draw blood.
A few light words were enough to shatter all the mental preparations Fan Shicheng had made on the way here.
Seeing that Fan Shicheng was silent, Sang Zhixia said slowly, "Huai'an wasn't a good place to go before. It was poor and difficult to make a fortune. The Fan family has worked hard over the years, and the situation there seems to have improved a lot."
"The Fan family is indeed a wealthy family that started out in business. If they hadn't used Huai'an as a hub, acquiring medicinal herbs from all over and then reselling them to the disaster-stricken areas, I'm afraid there would have been even more casualties."
"In that case, these are all the merits of the Fan family."
Before Sang Zhixia came, he thoroughly investigated all the leaders of the Nanxun Chamber of Commerce and dug up all the secrets from decades ago.
People always say that there is no business without fraud, and this is fully reflected in these people.
It is human nature to flee when faced with a disaster. If you have enough money and a carriage to run faster than others, there is nothing wrong with that.
But the lives and wealth these people had lost made Sang Zhixia feel uncomfortable in her heart even after hearing people mention it many years later.
The medicinal materials bought from other places can be sold at a higher price, so asking for a high price is barely acceptable.
But what if most of the drugs sold at high prices are fake?
Useless grass roots and tree barks were ground into powder and disguised as good medicines, and they came as saviors when people who had nowhere to escape were in despair.
Countless people have spent their fortunes buying fake medicine, and there are also many who have sold their children in order to survive.
It is more about selling oneself and the freedom of future generations.
Those who managed to survive mistakenly believed that the expensive medicine had worked.
Those who give their all but still die tragically can only lament and accept that their fate is over.
How can these people feel at ease with this kind of flesh-and-blood wealth that parasitizes on human flesh and blood and grows on their bodies?
Sang Zhixia coldly watched Fan Shicheng's expression change again and again, then chuckled and said, "I heard that the Fan family's Sanglin and Raw Silk and Satin Shops have the most domestic servants, and are the best among the Nanxun Chamber of Commerce."
"I'm just a little curious. Master Fan, do you still remember how all these servants who have been servants for generations came to be? Can you tell me about it?"
Fan Shicheng took a deep breath with his eyes wide open and said in a very soft voice, "I don't know."
"I was still young back then and never participated in family decisions, so..."
"But weren't those good medicines personally provided by Patriarch Fan?"
Sang Zhixia was too lazy to beat around the bush and said with a hint of sarcasm, "Master Fan, is it possible for such a noble person to forget things?"
"You've been praised for years for your youthful achievements. You've had such a glorious past, and yet you've forgotten it?"
Fan Shicheng closed his eyes in despair and could no longer utter a word in defense.
He had indeed done it.
At that time, all the families in the Nanxun Chamber of Commerce suffered heavy losses due to the flood and were severely damaged.
On the contrary, the Fan family, because of reselling medicinal materials, emerged as a dark horse when their opponents were weak and accumulated a huge fortune at an astonishing speed.
After the disaster, the other families took a long time to recover, but the Fan family jumped directly from the last to the top three.
This happened many years ago, so long ago that Fan Shicheng himself rarely thinks about it.
But when Sang Zhixia spoke in such a calm tone, Fan Shicheng felt a chill that had been delayed for many years.
At that time, the Fan family’s medicine was touted as miraculous, which also raised the status of the Fan family.
But the castle in the air, built on countless corpses and wronged souls, just fell apart today...
Sang Zhixia looked at the silent Fan Shicheng and tapped the table with her fingertips. "Master Fan is silent, so I guess I didn't say anything wrong?"
Fan Shicheng's shoulders slumped invisibly, and he said with unspeakable bitterness, "I'm used to cheating, and now I know how ridiculous it is to show off my sword in front of Guan Gong."
"Since you know everything clearly, I have nothing to say in defense."
Sang Zhixia's expression was indifferent: "It doesn't matter if I have nothing to say at this moment. If I don't hear the howling of thousands of ghosts in my dreams at midnight, that would be Master Fan's great blessing."
Fan Shicheng's throat choked and he bit his lips dejectedly.
Sang Zhixia turned her gaze to Gui Sheng. "The ferry crossing is probably about to collapse. I mean, we must not repeat the mistakes of the past. What do you think, Master Gui?"
Gui Sheng had convinced himself before entering this door, and he said without hesitation: "The Gui family is willing to obey orders, contribute money and effort, and will not refuse even if it means death."
"That's good."
Sang Zhixia curled her fingertips and said, "The water level continues to rise. If there is no crossing point, the river water will flow back into the city, so we have to block it here."
In any case, we must try our best to block the water that may backflow at any time along the ferry!
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