Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 1140: Trading Truth for Money

Liu Wenqing had no choice. He thought, if he didn’t eat now, he wouldn’t be able to escape later when Liu Wenqing got beaten up, so he simply picked up the chopsticks and started eating along.

Liu Wenqing ordered all the expensive dishes; Liu Wenqing had never eaten them. He indulged heartily, and within an hour, most of the good dishes on the table were gone. Qiu Hao also came to the Fugui Building with a group of servants, in a grandiose manner.

Qiu Hao’s father wouldn’t allow Qiu Hao to be a spendthrift wastrel, so he ordered him to work at the Fugui Building every day. If Fugui Building’s losses exceeded three thousand taels, he would deduct the money from his monthly salary.

Qiu Hao had his monthly salary deducted once and after enduring a tough period, he started to fear it. He could only come to the Fugui Building every day, rain or shine, fearing that he would be deducted money again and live a pauper’s life.

As soon as he arrived at the Fugui Building today, he heard a voice calling him: "Young Master Qiu, you’re here at last, you really kept someone waiting."

The person speaking was none other than Liu Wenqing. He heard that Qiu Hao had arrived and immediately pulled Liu Wenqing to intercept him.

Qiu Hao frowned, looking at Liu Wenqing who stopped him, his face full of disgust and angrily said: "You, Tong San’s henchman, what are you calling this young master for?"

Qiu Hao was disgusted with Tong San and looked down on Liu Wenqing, feeling that as a rich young master, he made himself a servant to Tong San without any sense of shame. He despised dealing with such shameless scoundrels.

Liu Wenqing laughed, paying no heed to Qiu Hao’s insults. When he was Tong San’s dog, he’d been called much worse. Qiu Hao’s words were nothing to him: "Young Master Qiu, don’t be angry. I have good news for you today."

"Pah, what good news could you possibly have? This young master doesn’t want to hear it." Qiu Hao immediately ordered his protector: "Throw these two brothers out, and do not allow them into Fugui Building again."

The shopkeeper hurriedly said: "Young Master, they ordered dishes worth one hundred and ninety taels of silver, and haven’t paid yet."

"What?" Qiu Hao said angrily: "These two paupers actually ate a feast costing over a hundred taels."

Qiu Hao immediately pointed at Liu Wenqing and said: "You dog slave, quickly bring the silver!"

Liu Wenqing was very blunt, smiling as if asking for a beating: "I have no money. But I know the truth about the Tong Family’s affairs and the truth about Tong San’s tragic death. If you want to know, come inside and listen."

Then he ignored Qiu Hao, dragged Liu Wenqing back into the private room, and continued sipping his drink.

However, Liu Wenqing gave Liu Wenqing a word: "Don’t worry, I won’t say what shouldn’t be said."

After these past two days, Liu Wenqing had come to trust Liu Wenqing somewhat, so he didn’t stop him but nodded.

Before long, Qiu Hao couldn’t help but run in, pointing at Liu Wenqing and asking: "Do you really know the truth about the Tong Family’s affairs and how Tong San died tragically? Don’t deceive me, or your Liu family is done for. My Qiu family isn’t easy prey; we can suppress your Liu family just as we did with the Tong family!"

Liu Wenqing didn’t take Qiu Hao’s childish threat seriously and nodded: "Let your servants leave and close the door. I will only tell you this alone."

After nearly being harmed by Tong San, Qiu Hao went everywhere with his protector. Hearing these words, he was very reluctant, but after a moment’s standoff, he still sent the people away. After closing the door and sitting down, he arrogantly said: "Speak."

Liu Wenqing laughed again, saying: "Young Master Qiu, don’t rush. Before I tell you, I have one request."

Qiu Hao frowned, feeling that he had been duped.

Liu Wenqing said: "The Tong family committed a crime punishable by extermination of nine relations; according to the law, the family’s property should be sold off. Many of my Liu family’s manors and shops were swindled away by the Tong family. Now that the Tong family is finished, I want to ask Young Master Qiu to lend me a sum of silver. When the government sells the Tong Family’s property, I want to buy some of the Liu family’s assets back. Please help me."

With a bang, Qiu Hao slammed the table and said angrily: "Are you here to tell the truth about the Tong family’s affairs or to borrow money?!"

Liu Wenqing: "Both."

Then he said: "These two matters are linked. Young Master Qiu wants to hear, then you must agree to the borrowing first. Rest assured, it’s not much I’m borrowing, and I really know about the Tong Family’s affairs. I was at the Tong Family that night, I won’t deceive you."

Qiu Hao knew of Liu Wenqing. Because of being Tong San’s henchman, Liu Wenqing often entered and exited the Tong Family, and he had heard some rumors that there were Liu Family People present when the Tong Family incident happened.

Qiu Hao was really disgusted with Tong San, thought for a moment, and agreed: "Fine, I agree. You say."

Liu Wenqing no longer wasted words, immediately revealing the truth about the Tong Family’s affairs, and Tong San’s tragic death.

Only, the truth he revealed was half real, half fake. Throughout, he didn’t mention Liu Wenqing, just focused on the Tong Family’s digging a secret vault under the warehouse and storing weapons there, and Tong San’s love-hate relationship with the Jiangnan Immortal Monarch.

However, Liu Wenqing was good with words and skilled at fabricating tales, making up many nonexistent events, speaking vividly, getting Qiu Hao quite excited. He slapped the table and said: "Good, that Tong San, he deserved it. The Immortal Lord ought to have castrated him, so even as a ghost he would be a eunuch!"

Indeed, Liu Wenqing knew Qiu Hao really disliked Tong San, so he made up a story of Tong San being castrated by the Immortal Lord.

Liu Wenqing listened in disbelief, still surprised that such things could be, and Qiu Hao believed it!

"That Immortal Lord is also a pitiable person, originally here for business. Who knew such life-threatening matters would arise? He was already angry, and seeing Tong San fleeing for his life without him, out of fury, he finished off Tong San." Liu Wenqing sighed and then switched the topic, saying to Qiu Hao: "Young Master Qiu, thirty thousand taels, hand it over."

"Thirty thousand taels!" Qiu Hao was stunned, and so was Liu Wenqing. Wasn’t it agreed to only borrow ten thousand taels? How did it become thirty thousand? Even if Qiu Hao had money to lend them, they couldn’t repay it, could they?

Qiu Hao stared at Liu Wenqing angrily and said: "Borrowing thirty thousand taels of silver from this young master, are you crazy? Bandits aren’t as ruthless as you, and you said it wasn’t much, isn’t thirty thousand taels already too much?!"

"Young Master Qiu, it’s not that I’m greedy, but to buy back the Liu family’s manor and shop, it just requires that much silver coin." Liu Wenqing had a troubled look explaining in detail how much silver it would take to buy back the liquor shop, the manor outside the city, and finally cried, telling the miserable story of how the Liu family had been suppressed by the Tong Family for decades, unable to grow their business, moving Qiu Hao almost to tears.

So when Liu Wenqing held his hand, sobbing, saying: "Young Master Qiu, I know you also have difficulties, I won’t take thirty thousand taels, just lend me fifteen thousand taels, is that okay?" Qiu Hao agreed.

"Fine, fifteen thousand taels, this young master will lend you." Qiu Hao wiped his eyes and said: "But there has to be interest; my father said, silver can be lent, but not at a loss, some interest must be charged. But your Liu family is indeed pitiful, I’ll only charge you fifteen taels of interest per year."