Not to mention that he had a rather unpleasant falling out with Chi Yan just a few days ago.
Shen Tangning smiled knowingly: "How much does Father want? Three or five hundred taels is fine. We're all family, no need to be so polite."
Three to five hundred taels?
Shen Chang's expression was somewhat unpleasant. If it were really that little, he wouldn't have asked her for it!
That Zhou Erlang asked for ten thousand taels of silver right off the bat; he was clearly trying to extort money from him!
According to the laws of our dynasty, the punishment for forcibly taking another man's wife is quite severe, generally resulting in twenty years of hard labor.
However, Shen Chang's situation is somewhat complicated. He was unaware that his aunt had been married before, and she did not have a marriage certificate.
Therefore, the limits of this punishment are somewhat difficult to define, and there is no precedent for it, which has put the Dali Temple in a difficult position for a while.
In the end, Zhou Erlang proposed a private settlement, which meant that Shen Chang would have to pay compensation.
Even if he made an exorbitant demand, Shen Chang dared not object. After all, compared to facing forced labor, paying compensation was a lighter punishment. Even though he felt aggrieved, he dared not speak out!
"Tang Ning, three or five hundred taels might not be enough..."
Shen Tangning frowned slightly, her expression showing difficulty: "How much does Father want? I may not be able to afford too much."
Shen Chang was displeased upon hearing this: "We're all family, why are you being so formal with your father? Just that Peach Blossom Village you run must bring in quite a bit of money every month, right?"
A flicker of emotion crossed her eyes, and she inwardly scoffed:
So that's what you were thinking about.
"Father, you may not know this, but while Peach Blossom Village has made a lot of money, maintaining its operation also requires huge costs."
Shen Chang's feigned amiable demeanor vanished completely, and his tone turned somber: "No matter what I say, you just won't help your father!"
Shen Tangning, always good-tempered, said in a gentle tone, “Father, you have misunderstood your daughter. It’s just that I can’t make such a big decision on my own. Why don’t you discuss it with my parents-in-law?”
Shen Chang's face was grim. If he could afford to lose face by asking his in-laws for money, he wouldn't have called her over in private!
Having not only failed to gain any money but also suffered a great deal of anger, Shen Chang lost his patience to deal with her: "After raising you for so many years, you still make excuses when you ask for a little money. I've finally figured it out; you and your mother are the same kind of people!"
The smile in Shen Tangning's eyes vanished, and her voice turned cold without being noticed: "Father, tell me, what kind of people are Mother and I?"
She is not like her mother. Should she be like him, selfish and opportunistic?
Shen Chang choked, then angrily turned away, flicking his sleeve: "Fine, I don't need your help. It's already good enough that you haven't kicked me when I'm down! You can leave now. My Shen family is too small to accommodate the wife of a top scholar!"
She forced a smile and gave a perfunctory curtsy: "It's getting late. Since Father has no further instructions, I'll take my leave now."
They said they were borrowing money, but they never used the word "borrow" once. They really think people are fools!
If he cared even a little bit about his daughter, he wouldn't have said that to her today!
How could he have the audacity to ask his concubine for help in cleaning up the mess caused by the lawsuit?
She left without waiting for Shen Chang's response.
Shen Chang turned around and looked at her back, a look of annoyance creeping onto his face:
"You wicked girl!"
His expression was uncertain, and he felt anxious. Where was he going to find such a sum of money in such a short time?
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