This chapter was difficult to write, so it was later. Tomorrow's chapter would probably be even more difficult, so the update would also be slightly later.
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"Since you know it's just a rumor, then what is there to panic about?" The old Ming matriarch screamed angrily. The old woman's voice had become sharp because of a strange sense of humiliation. It was as terrifying as the tip of a knife scratching across a piece of porcelain.
The great-aunt sitting by her side was scared stiff. She quickly and obediently sat back in her chair, not daring to say another word.
The old Ming matriarch was easily jealous and ruthless. Back then, the old Ming master had only taken three concubines. Of the people of that generation, there were only two women left. Fortunately, the Ming family had a thriving male population. Not counting Xia Qifei, who was currently drinking in Jiangnan Restaurant, there were a total of six men in the two branches with children. Ming Qingda was the eldest son of the eldest branch and the current master of the Ming family. The Third and Fourth brothers were both born of this great-aunt. Seeing their birth mother being yelled at by the old matriarch, these two did not feel very comfortable in their hearts. However, the old matriarch had accumulated power for a long time, so no one dared to argue.
As the eldest son, Ming Qingda had to come out and say a few warm words of explanation in this situation. Unexpectedly, the old Ming matriarch did not even pay attention to this nominal master of the Ming family. With a cold face, she said, "Remember all of this! The Seventh of the Ming family died a dozen years ago. As for the current Master Xia in Suzhou … if he wants to use the rumor from a dozen years ago to cause trouble, the Ming family will not tolerate him. "
Ming Qingda had been rebuffed, but he still wore a smile on his face. Warmly, he said, "Mother, naturally, no one will believe such an absurd rumor. However … what if the court wants to believe it?"
These words were spoken very directly. Xia Qifei was Fan Xian's pawn. If the court power Fan Xian represented wanted to use this opportunity to take over the Ming family's enormous property and power without bloodshed, this kind of situation would be the most dangerous.
The old matriarch blinked her slightly muddy eyes and said with disgust, "Just because that Fan official says so? Does the court not listen to reason? "
Ming Qingda thought to himself, when has the court ever been reasonable? However, in the past, the court had always stood on the side of the Ming family. Thus, the Ming family of all reason and the hardest fist had always been the Ming family. If there was a disagreement within the court, the Ming family's fist had already endured the pain and cut itself off. This reasoning was probably even more difficult to explain.
He smiled bitterly and said, "Mother, please tell me."
Xia Qifei's momentum was ferocious. Looking at the appearance of the bidding today, he had brought a lot of money. Furthermore, he had the support of the imperial envoy. As for how the Ming family would respond, it would require the old Ming matriarch to draw up a plan.
She did not directly answer Ming Qingda's question. She only stared at the Ming family disciples in the yard and said in a cold voice, "The situation today is not the same as in the past. A few days ago, I had Lan Shi go to each branch to see you uncles and have you be more well-behaved. Today, I will repeat it again. At this time, do not bring any trouble to the Ming family. If you want to walk your birds, then walk them at home. Chase all those hooligans who only know how to wrestle out of the garden!"
"Also, no one is allowed to spread this matter! If I hear anyone gossiping behind my back, be careful that I don't pull your tongues out! "
The old Ming matriarch's words were hurried and angry. She actually began to cough. The serving girl behind her quickly gave her a gentle pat on the back. Beside her, Zhangsun Ming Lanshi quickly and respectfully handed over a bowl of tea.
The Ming family disciples in the yard all bowed down, not daring to disobey the old matriarch's orders.
Ming Qingda glanced at his mother. He wanted to say something but stopped himself.
The old Ming matriarch laughed coldly in her heart. When her son did things, he lacked decisiveness. She always had to be the bad guy. She took a shallow sip of tea and indifferently opened her mouth to say, "Tomorrow is the second day of the bidding. As you all know, the imperial envoy is targeting our family. The next eight lots will be bundled into two batches. It looks like the price will be much higher than in previous years. There is only one night. If we go to the money house now to issue the tickets, I'm afraid it will already be too late. At this time, you brothers should go back and gather up the private money in your rooms and hand it over to the accounts in a bit."
Once these words came out, the men of the Ming family in the yard were immediately dumbfounded. Not being allowed to walk their birds and wrestle was just a temporary boredom. Anyone could endure it, but … why did they have to use their pitifully small private money to travel to and fro? Every year when the palace treasury opened the bids, the family would always prepare enough silver. If the prices of those eight lots were ridiculously high, then they could just not fight. Why was there a need to work so hard? The court would not set an upper limit. Who would know how much silver had to be stuffed in?
These men were born with a golden spoon in their mouths, but they did not have the right to inherit. They only knew how to enjoy life. How could they know the true meaning of the palace treasury bidding for the Ming family? Behind it was hidden the power struggle within the court. Hearing the old matriarch's words, they unconsciously did not want to agree.
The Sixth master of the Ming family was younger and liked to wrestle, so he was braver. Gathering his courage, he said, "Mother, us brothers have never been able to participate in the family business. We all live on a monthly basis and each have a large family to support. Even if we have some private money … if we use that pitiful amount of silver to fill in, I'm afraid … it won't be of much use. It would be better …"
Before he finished speaking, a teacup had already been smashed to pieces in front of him with a crisp sound.
The Sixth master jumped in fright and his body trembled. Looking at the old matriarch's expression, he was so frightened that his legs weakened and he knelt down.
The old matriarch looked at him faintly and coldly and said, "Pitiful silver? Do you think I don't know how much you've gained from the public business these years? Your in-laws are all famous rich people in Suzhou … before, I pretended I didn't see it because you are, after all, the flesh and blood of the Ming family. According to the ancestor's rules, you are not allowed to take over the family business. Seeing that you are pitiful, it is fine to gain some silver … but, what is the situation now? All of you kneel and listen to me! "
After these words came out, everyone, including Ming Qingda, knelt in front of the two armchairs.
The old matriarch's voice was like a venomous snake's tongue, making one shiver even though it was not cold. "If the big tree collapses, will it be any good for you monkeys? I will say it clearly. If the bidding tomorrow is not successful, even if the Ming family can hold out for a few more years, in the end, we will only be reduced to scattered ashes. At this time, we cannot be allowed to retreat. We can only advance … at this juncture, don't even think about hiding! "
The great-aunt looked with heartache at her son in the court. She leaned over and comforted, "Sister, don't be angry, they know what to do."
The men of the Ming family in the court were frightened. They pounded their heads like garlic and repeatedly admitted their wrongs.
"It's good that you know your wrongs." The old Ming matriarch slowly leaned back in the chair. Her eyelids seemed to close slightly as she said, "In a moment, you will all go back. No matter what method you use, before dawn tomorrow, hand over the silver to the accounts room. Each room 200,000 liang, Old Six 150,000 liang."
After these words came out, the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Princes did not have any objections. Although they still felt heartache, the Third Prince was not going to let it go. He straightened his neck and said, "Mother, why does Old Six only have to pay 150,000 liang?"
The old matriarch glared at him and said, "Old Six is the youngest. These two years, he has been in contact with the garrison. He likes to wrestle and spends more silver. As the older brother, why are you fussing with him?"
The Third Prince snorted heavily from his nose and said unhappily, "Have I never spent silver on a daily basis?"
In reality, everyone knew that this was the old matriarch feeling bad for her youngest son. However, anyone could say this except for the Third Prince, because he was the great-aunt's own son. The great-aunt saw that the situation was not good and repeatedly signaled to the Third Prince with her eyes. Recently, the Third Prince's silver had not been easy to use, so he stubbornly refused to lower his head.
The old matriarch flew into a rage and scolded, "You only know how to spend silver in the brothel and even buy those whores back home. Is there any reason to spend this silver?"
From the wretched experience of Xia Qifei and his mother, it could be seen that the old matriarch had a very persistent dislike for some of the hobbies of men.
"What about big brother?"
"I am the eldest wife." Ming Qingda knelt on the ground and looked at his brothers with a slight smile. "Naturally, I have to put in a bit more effort. I accept 500,000 liang."
Hearing the eldest brother say this, the brothers could not say anything more. The Ming Garden family gathering immediately dispersed. The brothers quickly left the garden to gather the silver. Although they did indeed have a lot of private money hidden away, to gather this amount in one night was indeed very difficult.
As the Third Prince of the Ming family followed his brothers outside, he cried about being poor and hoped that his brothers could help. At this time, everyone had their hands full. Furthermore, in front of the old Ming matriarch's strict orders, no one dared to be careless. How could they care about him?
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"Time is too tight."
At this time, the great-aunt had also returned to her own courtyard. In the old matriarch's courtyard, there was only one branch of the eldest wife. Ming Qingda furrowed his brows slightly and said, "The imperial envoy's move was too sudden. It didn't give us much time to react."
The old Ming matriarch glanced at her son and sighed. "Today, in the palace treasury manor, your reaction was not bad. At least, you managed to buy one more night of time."
Ming Qingda smiled bitterly and shook his head. "One night is too short. Furthermore, looking at Xia … Qifei's actions today, I'm afraid he still has a lot of strength left. The battle tomorrow will probably be very dangerous. Even if the brothers can gather enough silver, it will only be an extra one million liang. Perhaps it still won't be enough."
To the side, Ming Lanshi was flabbergasted and said with self-doubt, "Father, in the past eight lots, 40% of the fixed silver was a share of 5 million liang. This year, we had already prepared an extra 20%. In addition to the one million liang that the uncles raised, is it still not enough?"
Ming Qingda smiled bitterly and said, "The biggest problem is that the imperial envoy knows that we have to win these eight lots, so Xia Qifei can randomly call out prices. Furthermore, production and sales are all internal matters, so they can do it at a loss."
Ming Lanshi sighed. He was a smart person. He would not ask why the Ming family had to win these lots. Putting aside the so-called power problem, Dongyi alone would demand that they win all eight lots. Otherwise, the price that Dongyi had to pay for the palace treasury's production each year would probably far exceed a few million liang.
"Is there any news from Taiping money house?" The old Ming matriarch, who had been silent for a while, suddenly opened her mouth and asked.
Ming Qingda calmly replied, "They also did not expect it to be like this and did not prepare enough. Xia Qifei's silver was all transferred out from Taiping money house. Presently, they can only give us promissory notes, but they can't issue cash notes. Tomorrow, we must have cash notes … as you know, they also have their fears. Earlier, their shopkeeper had already sent word. At most, he can give me another 300,000 liang. "
The old Ming matriarch understood why this was so. Once a money house's banknote contract was issued, it had to be honored. Xia Qifei had already issued a large amount of banknotes. Correspondingly, there were very few that dared to issue more. The money house had to guarantee that there would be cash to pay. This matter concerned the most important problem of the money house's reputation.
Of course, given the relationship between Dongyi and the Ming family, if it was not under such a tense situation, Taiping money house could completely issue fake banknotes. However, the risk was too great, and this method was too crude. Once they offended Fan Xian, the palace treasury transport company could use the Xia family's banknotes and the Ming family's banknotes to play the most shameless move of making a run.
So much silver … even if Taiping money house was an immortal, they would not be able to move it to Suzhou in such a short amount of time.
If they did, Taiping money house could be considered destroyed.
Although Taiping money house had close economic ties to each country, normally speaking, no country's internal palace would do such a ruthless thing. However, the person hosting the palace treasury bidding this time was Fan Xian, the one who was the most unclear of relationships and the most ruthless and tyrannical in his actions. Taiping money house would not take such a risk even if they were beaten to death.
The courtyard immediately sank into a deathly silence. The hearts of the third generation of the Ming family began to feel nervous. Would they really have to watch the Seventh Ming master steal away the Ming family's business tomorrow? After losing the right to market the palace treasury, the Ming family was just a landlord with the most land and could be slaughtered at any moment.
This terrifying reality made the old Ming matriarch's brows furrow even deeper. She suddenly thought of a name and coldly said, "Recently, has there been anyone from Zhaoshang money house who has come?"
Ming Lanshi shook his head. "They know we are a large customer of Taiping money house. They probed a few times and probably knew they couldn't move us, so they backed off."
The old Ming matriarch unconsciously nodded her head and said, "It looks like … it is not as I imagined."
Because the accounts of Taiping money house had always been in the hands of the old Ming matriarch, Ming Qingda had always strongly advocated a relationship with Zhaoshang money house. Hearing his mother's words soften a little, his heart leaped with joy, but his expression was calm. "They should be trustworthy. If there really is a problem, it shouldn't be this way of doing things."
The old Ming matriarch furrowed her brows as if she was thinking about a difficult problem. After a long time, she said, "Send someone to Zhaoshang money house. No, don't send anyone. Lanshi, go personally. See how much cash they can pull out tonight."
"Yes, mother." Ming Qingda smiled slightly and then asked hesitantly, "How do we deal with Xia Qifei?"
The old Ming matriarch's face became cold. "I don't know that person, you don't know him, and the Ming family doesn't know him. Since it is so, how do we deal with him? Don't get involved in this matter. Don't let the imperial envoy take the lead. Right now, the imperial envoy hopes that the Ming family will react fiercely, so we should be increasingly calm. "
Ming Qingda bowed deeply to the ground and sighed in admiration. "Mother is wise."
Ming Qingda had to deal with the matters of tomorrow's bidding and go to the accounts house to keep an eye on his brothers. Ming Lanshi had to go into the city to find the mysterious Zhaoshang money house that was rumored to have a Dongyi background. Thus, he did not stay long in the courtyard. After bowing, he retreated.
The old Ming matriarch watched her son and grandson walk out of the little courtyard. Her eyes abruptly changed from the previous sternness to the present tiredness. She raised her pinkie weakly and knocked on the armrest of the chair.
The personal serving girl moved closer to the old woman's lips.
The old woman closed her eyes. Her pinkie remained raised for a long time. She did not put it down, nor did she speak. It was as if she was weighing something important.
Xiao Qi?
At this moment, a dark image seemed to rise in the old woman's tightly closed eyes. In the image, a woman with a face full of foxy charm was tossing and turning happily under a familiar man's body. She was smiling boastfully and proudly in front of her. The image changed. The woman had given birth to a child. She held the young infant and swaggered around Ming Garden. Her laughter was like a silver bell … floating and floating, all the way to the sky.
The old woman suddenly opened her eyes, her eyes filled with an ice-cold intent. Her pinky moved agitatedly, bending slightly.
In this instant, she thought of many things from the past, such as when those heavy staffs landed on the woman's body, the beautiful scene of blood flying. That woman had been forced to the bottom of the well by her. The snowflakes on that day had also floated and floated all the way to the sky. That woman's body had probably long become dry bones. When a mouse crawled on top, it would only make unpleasant sounds. It would never be able to make a silvery bell-like laughter, right?
After that old bastard died, she had the final say in the family. That woman had died, but it was not easy to kill the child she gave birth to. After all, he was the flesh and blood of the Ming family in name. Fortunately, Qing Da was ruthless and used a whip to beat him every day. Finally, the child could not stand the humiliation and pain and ran out of Ming Garden one morning.
Perhaps that child would never know that at that time, she had been watching him coldly from behind the door.
Perhaps that child would never know that she had long prepared a killer and was waiting outside Ming Garden to send him down the dry well and reunite with his mother.
But … how come that child did not die?
Why did he not die?
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A glimmer of anger flashed through the old Ming matriarch's cold eyes. The fingers that had been perked up and slightly bent finally gently rested on the back of the chair. At the same time, her slightly dry lips opened slightly. She said in a quiet voice to the serving girl by her lips, "Please, Sir Zhou."
— — —
When the old Ming matriarch finally made up her mind, her son and grandson were walking side by side.
Ming Lanshi gazed at his father with a face full of admiration and said, "You are saying that grandmother will definitely make a move against that bastard?"
"What bastard?" Ming Qingda's face was full of a warm smile. "That is your Seventh Uncle. Although he is our enemy right now, he is still your real Seventh Uncle."
Ming Lanshi smiled self-mockingly. He suddenly furrowed his brows and asked, "Killing Seventh Uncle can indeed completely end this matter … but, how will the imperial envoy's side react? No matter how powerful the Junshang Conference is, they can't rebel. "
"Your grandmother is old." Ming Qingda sighed. "From the beginning of this matter, the method she used was wrong."
Ming Lanshi shook his head.
Ming Qingda suddenly smiled and said, "However, her mistake does not represent the Ming family's mistake … if your Seventh Uncle is not so lucky this time, it may not all be a bad thing. Don't worry too much, I know what to do."
This ostensible master of the Ming family smiled coldly in his heart. Just let the Junshang Conference, which he could never control, clash with the Overwatch Council. Someone as astute and farsighted as him naturally had a way to clean up this mess. He just didn't know what method he would use.
"Sixth Uncle has gotten a good one again this time," Ming Lanshi suddenly said mockingly.
Ming Qingda lovingly patted his son's shoulder and explained, "Old people always like their youngest son the most … of course, it has to be her own."
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While the Ming family was in a mess, and at the same time, there were many mice eyeing each other covetously and thinking of trampling each other to death, the youngest son of the Ming family, Ming Qingcheng, the present Commander of the Jiangnan water bandits, Xia Qifei, the secret inspector of the Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council stationed in Jiangnan, was standing on the highest floor of the Jiangnan Restaurant in Suzhou.
He stood by the side of the building and gently stroked the wooden railing. He gazed thoughtfully at a place outside the city. That place had once been his home, a home he had not returned to for many years — Ming Garden.
The gathering of the Jiangnan merchants had already ended. Although no one had set down any specific rules, looking at the greedy eyes of the Lingnan Xiong family and the Quanzhou Sun family, Xia Qifei knew that the commissioner's plan had already worked. Tomorrow, the Ming family would not only have to face his own attack, but they would also have to face attacks similar to the alliance of the Xiong and Sun families. Merchants always had to eat meat. When they were too hungry, who cared whose meat it was?
Xia Qifei narrowed his eyes slightly. Ming Garden was too far away. Standing on the tall roof of the Jiangnan Restaurant, it was impossible to clearly see the lights in it.
Today was the most unrestrained day he had ever lived since he was lucky enough to survive in this world. He finally said his name proudly in front of everyone — Ming Qingcheng.
Compared to this, the pleasure of using silver to smash people, leaving his identity as a jianghu person, and standing on the stage of the Qing Kingdom were all not much.
As long as he could say his real name, it was like slapping that evil old woman of the Ming family in the face. This pleasure of revenge covered up everything else and made Xia Qifei feel incomparably grateful to Fan Xian. Even when Fan Xian had sent seven swordsmen, he did not feel a glimmer of unhappiness.
He was intoxicated and hurt by everything that had happened today. It was to the point that this ambitious and ruthless person on the jianghu did not notice that a few strange people had appeared on the opposite street.
(To be continued, if you want to know what happened after, please log on to WWW. CMFU. com. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
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