Merchants vary in quality, and they act entirely based on their conscience, which leads to prices ranging from high to low and quality from good to bad.
Therefore, the imperial court had long intended to monopolize the salt trade.
However, Shen Qiyin only gradually came to understand this in this lifetime. The Emperor's decree was probably not solely for this reason.
The illicit sale of salt and iron easily leads to a life of deceit and fraud, and the rise of cliques and factions. The transgressions committed by such individuals are of great magnitude.
Moreover, if the revenue is used for national purposes, it would be a considerable sum for the imperial court, whether for military or public works projects.
Madam Shen didn't react at first, and said, "So what? Even if the court wants to unify the sale of salt, it can't just let these salt merchants throw away their salt. It has to be collected for national use and then sold by the court. So it's not a loss."
"Isn't it a loss?" Shen Qiyin raised her eyebrows slightly: "When the imperial court buys salt, it must purchase it at the lowest price that meets the cost price in various places. Is Mother sure that the price that my grandfather's old friend bought it at was that low?"
"Not to mention, the manpower and resources he consumes in buying coarse salt, refining it, and then selling it as refined salt cannot be ignored."
Upon hearing this, Madam Shen finally panicked completely.
Shen Cang immediately asked, "How much silver did you put in?"
Madam Shen hesitated and dared not speak.
"You...you don't tell me you took all the family's money out there?!" Shen Cang was furious. "That's the entire Shen family's fortune!"
"No! How could I be so reckless?"
"So how much did you take?"
"...There are still two or three hundred taels left."
"How much?" Shen Cang was unsure whether he hadn't heard clearly or couldn't believe his ears.
Madam Shen dared not speak again, but Xianglan said crisply, "Replying to your question, sir, Madam said that she still has two or three hundred taels of silver left for you, but she doesn't know whether it is two hundred or three hundred taels."
"You!" Madam Shen's almond-shaped eyes widened.
Unfortunately, before she could teach Xianglan a lesson, she was taught a lesson by Shen Cang.
He was really furious.
Although he was angry when Madam Shen attacked him and Jiang Wan last time, it was nothing compared to today.
Shen Cang was so angry that he could barely stand, but even without the strength to fight back, he still yelled and cursed loudly.
Chen Qiyin lowered her eyes.
Um……
The grout lines between the bricks still look so nice.
Jiang Wan supported Shen Cang, her gaze towards Madam Shen filled with venom.
Not only for the humiliation she caused me in public back then, but also for her foolish behavior now.
She married into the family to wear gold and silver and live a good life, but this fool almost squandered all the money. Was she supposed to come to the mansion just to starve with them?
She has to get something out of it!
Gently stroking Shen Cang's chest, Jiang Wan said casually, "Husband, calm down. Don't get angry and ruin your health. Making such a commotion might make people think you're trying to divorce me."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qiyin's clear eyes flickered, and she looked up at her.
Madam Shen was also shocked: "You wretch, what did you say?!"
Jiang Wan shook her head innocently: "Madam, please don't misunderstand, that's not what I meant."
But Shen Cang said, "So what if that's what you mean!"
"master……"
"Your mother hates you in every way, it must be because you are not filial; and you have not taught your children well, otherwise how could they have all caused such a disgrace?"
"You're also jealous; you injured Wan Niang."
"Now that you've squandered the family fortune, if I don't divorce you, do you expect me to keep you around for the New Year?"
As he spoke, Shen Cang suddenly waved his hand and said, "Someone, go and fetch paper and pen!"
When Madam Shen saw that Shen Cang was serious, she was so frightened that she forgot to cry and hurriedly knelt at his feet and begged him.
"No, I can't divorce you!" She clung to Shen Cang's legs and shook him desperately. "We can still sell the salt to the imperial court and recoup some of our costs. We won't lose everything."
"My lord, considering how many years I've been married to you, I've certainly put in a lot of hard work, even if I haven't done anything particularly meritorious."
Now that she has lost her confidence, Madam Shen no longer dares to make a fuss and can only humble herself.
If she used to fear being divorced because she still had feelings for Shen Cang as a wife, now she is filled with fear of reality.
She was a woman, and she didn't even dare to think about what would happen to her if she were divorced and left home.
Therefore, she absolutely cannot become a divorced woman!
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Shen Qiyin sitting to the side. As if grasping at a lifeline, she hurriedly came over and tugged at Shen Qiyin's skirt: "Yin'er, Yin'er, please help your mother persuade your father."
"If you're capable, he'll definitely listen to you."
"Mother cannot be divorced, she cannot..." She cried, tears and snot streaming down her face, looking utterly pitiful. "You are my daughter. If I am divorced, do you think the world will think of you?"
"You'll have a hard time finding a husband in the future."
"It's so kind of Mother to think of me like this." Shen Qiyin smiled at her, her smile gentle and kind, yet firm, as she pried open the fingers that were gripping her dress one by one, and said in a cool voice, "But didn't you just teach me that as an older sister, I should take care of my younger sister?"
"I'm thinking now, if people knew that my fourth sister had a stepmother like you, I'm afraid her in-laws would look down on her after she gets married."
"That's why I'll listen to you and be willing to suffer some injustice myself. I think it would be better for Father to find a more educated and reasonable stepmother for my fourth sister."
Madam Shen froze, her face filled with disbelief: "You..."
Shen Qiyin suddenly looked at Jiang Wan: "I think Aunt Wan is very good. She is younger and prettier than you, more sensible and polite. She knows how to please her father and has the background of an official's daughter. No matter how you look at it, she is more suitable to be the mistress of this family than you."
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