Hearing the commotion, the people gathered around the accountant looked over.
Seeing Song Tao jump off the mule cart, everyone was stunned. Someone shouted "Third Miss Song is here," and the crowd swarmed around Song Tao and her companions. One person clamored, "Third Miss, it was you who asked us to come here, and now your dad won’t even pay our wages. You tell us what to do?"
Another said, "Third Miss, you have to stand up for us!"
Some even tried to kneel and kowtow, "Third Miss, please, lend me some silver. I’ll work like an ox or a horse to repay you."
Song Tao helped one up then pulled another to their feet, "Don’t talk like this, get up, please get up!"
The Grand Steward of the Hong Family and the two Protectors he brought exchanged a subtle glance, then spoke on behalf of Song Tao, "Third Miss Song has come here to help you out. Clear the way for Third Miss Song. Otherwise, she won’t be able to meet with Old Master Song and discuss the matter of the kiln factory."
Hearing this, the crowd didn’t quite believe it. They looked at each other, but eventually, they made way.
Song Tao knocked on the door of the accountant’s office.
Song Daliang, who had been shivering behind the window bars looking out, slapped Song Tao across the face as soon as he saw her, "You little wench, you have the face to show up at the kiln factory! Look at the mess you’ve made! Talking about how all the masters were honest and hard-working, and then what? They dare to surround me asking for money. I’ll send them all to Yamen, if not, let them call me a weakling!"
Song Tao deftly dodged the slap.
Song Daliang came after her to hit her again, but was grabbed by the arm by the Hong Family’s Protector.
He was taken aback. The Protector of the Hong Family had already let go of his arm.
He stumbled and almost fell over.
Song Tao said coldly, "Dad, do you still want those five thousand taels of silver?"
Song Daliang gave the tall Protector from the Hong Family a wary look and didn’t continue to chase after Song Tao, "What do you mean?"
Wasn’t she adamantly opposed to getting married?
Seeing Song Daliang’s cowardice, Song Tao secretly sneered and handed over a deed to him, "Dad, if you sign this deed, not only can you clear the family’s debt, but you can also keep one or two thousand taels of silver in the Silver House to earn interest."
Was there such a good deal?
Song Daliang eagerly took the deed.
But as his eyes fell on the deed for only a moment, he jumped up and scolded Song Tao, "You heartless, vile creature, instead of thinking about how to help the family through hard times, you’re actually colluding with outsiders to take over my kiln factory. Why didn’t I strangle you in your cradle!"
As he spoke, he threw the deed at Song Tao’s face and advanced with his hand raised to hit her again.
This time, Song Tao didn’t dodge but said coldly, "Dad, if you don’t repay the silver at the Silver House tomorrow, they will come to seal our house, won’t they?"
Song Daliang’s hand, which was raised high, stopped in mid-air.
Which Silver House owner doesn’t have a foot in both the underworld and law-abiding society?
He dares to owe silver to the Silver House, and they dare to chop his arms and legs off.
Song Tao picked up the deed from the ground, piece by piece, "Dad, why must you do this? If the kiln factory is sold to the Hong Family and I become the Grand Steward, from the outside, the kiln factory will still be ours. If you ever lack money for a drink or a card game, I can always skim a bit from the kiln factory for you. It would be good for you to put aside the trivial matters and listen to music or gamble a bit when you wish, rather than squatting around in the kiln factory every day, right?
"Moreover, you’ve offended all the master craftsmen, and now no master craftsmen from Jingde Town are willing to come work at our kiln. Even if you can sell me for a dowry of five thousand taels of silver, you won’t be able to hire a master to fire the kilns for our family, nor will you be able to produce fine porcelain. What use is it to hold on to the kiln factory?
"It wasn’t easy for me to persuade the Hong Family to buy our kiln factory. It’s all for your own good!"
Song Daliang listened while pondering in his heart.
He had to admit, the more he thought about it, the more he felt Song Tao made sense.
But to just hand over the kiln factory to Song Tao, he really couldn’t bear the thought.
He thought for a moment and said, "If you give me five thousand taels of silver, I’ll sell the kiln factory to you. As for the kiln’s debts, they have nothing to do with me. You will still have to give me one hundred taels of silver every month as an allowance."
Even Song Tao, who prided herself on understanding her father’s character, was shocked by his outrageous demand.
She stood up and walked out: "Then you better keep the kiln factory well in your hands and think of a solution yourself!" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
Song Daliang panicked upon seeing her reaction.
In recent days, he had scoured the entire Jingde Town to borrow money. Even if someone proposed to buy the kiln factory, the highest offer was only one hundred taels of silver, which was the price of the land.
As for the kiln factory, there were plenty in Jingde Town specialized in building kilns; with land, one could be built, and debts could be accrued, making them basically worthless.
But he wouldn’t lower his head to Song Tao.
He believed that Song Tao could not possibly abandon the kiln factory. If the Silver House pressed him to repay the silver, as his daughter, Song Tao would not only be unable to escape; she might even be the first to suffer, possibly even sold off.
Little did he know Song Tao’s spine was ramrod straight, without a hint of hesitation, she walked straight out of the accountant’s office and said to the kiln workers waiting outside, "I’m sorry, my dad disagrees, and as his daughter, there’s nothing I can do to force him to change his mind."
The group of kiln workers had previously been wary of Song Daliang hiding in the accountant’s office; if they barged in and pushed Song Daliang to desperation, even if he agreed to give up his life, there would still be no silver to repay, and they would leave with nothing.
Now, however, it was different. Song Tao had brought the silver back, and as long as Song Daliang agreed, everyone could have their share.
Who knows who shouted "Old Master Song, give us our silver," and then they swarmed into the accountant’s office, sending tables and chairs flying everywhere and surrounding Song Daliang with a barrage of punches, shouting, "Pay us our wages!"
Song Daliang was so terrified that his legs trembling, cowered and dodged, "I’ll pay back, I’ll pay back!"
Protector of the Hong Family rushed in to shield Song Daliang and advised, "Everyone calm down, if you beat Old Master Song to death, not only will you not get the silver, but you’ll also have to pay with your lives. Do you really want to end up in jail?"
Everyone hesitated upon hearing this.
Protector of the Hong Family shielded Song Daliang and escaped from the accountant’s office.
Song Tao stood under the grape arbor outside the accountant’s office, watching Song Daliang.
"Think it through, am I harming you or helping you?" she said indifferently.
The group from the accountant’s office circled around the grape arbor, clamoring for their money.
Song Daliang rubbed the shoulder that he had no idea who had hit, still wanting to negotiate terms with Song Tao: "Five thousand taels of silver, and honor me with one hundred taels of silver every month."
Song Tao looked at him deeply and said briskly in front of everyone, "Fine," but added, "However, you can’t interfere with the kiln factory’s affairs anymore. Otherwise, the kiln will continue to lose money."
Song Daliang did not want to agree, but the eager crowd around him left him no choice: "If you still manage the kiln factory, we will resign."
"Fine!" he reluctantly agreed.
Song Tao went with him to sign the deed in the accountant’s office.
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