Han Zhi seemed to have thought of something. He also said, “That’s right, my sister’s marriage arrangement with the general’s family fell through.”
“But now, my sister is about to become Ning Wang Shizi Fei. This marriage is indeed better than the previous one.”
Since Song Yao was not present, Han Zhi now addressed Chunlan Xiu directly as “Mother.”
“Mother, do you think there’s a possibility like this.”
“Now, my plan to become a vanguard officer has indeed fallen through.”
“If you go and actively plead with her next, is it possible she might arrange an even better position for me?”
Listening to Han Zhi’s words, everyone felt it made a lot of sense.
It seemed Song Yao hadn’t truly and completely changed her nature.
She still liked to compete and bring the best things to them.
It was just that now, she was using a different method.
Several people had the same thought.
Han Lingyue: “Now that you mention it, I also understand a bit. It’s not that she doesn’t want to care for me.”
“She just wants to give me something better. Because she’s afraid I’ll refuse, she changed her tactics.”
Chunlan Xiu nodded, “I think that must be it.”
“It seems that since Zhi’er can’t become a vanguard officer this time, there must be a better assignment waiting for him.”
“It’s just that next, I need to beg her, and then she’ll be willing to secure a better assignment for Zhi’er.”
Han Zhi slammed his fist on the table, “Her scheming is truly deep enough.”
“She actually wants to use this method to control us instead, and we have no choice but to listen to her.”
After such an analysis.
Han Zhang also felt it seemed more and more plausible.
He said angrily, “Could it be that I agreed to her too quickly just now?”
“If I hadn’t agreed so quickly, would she have invited a better teacher to teach me? But if she really had a better one, why didn’t she say so directly?”
Chunlan Xiu: “What do you know? She’s putting on airs!”
“If Song Yao really has such an intention now, then you did agree a bit too quickly just now.”
“If you had held out a little longer, she might very well have found a better teacher for you.”
Although Han Zhang was a little annoyed, he suppressed it.
Since he had already agreed to Song Yao to study at Wuwei Academy, he would just go and study there first.
He had heard that the Mr. Liang teaching at Wuwei Academy was a teacher whom most people couldn’t hire even with heavy gold.
Being able to study under Mr. Liang wasn’t bad in itself.
After hearing the words of the children and Chunlan Xiu.
The Old Madam also couldn’t help but nod, “I’ve been thinking, even if a person changes a lot, they shouldn’t change to such an extent.”
“Listening to you all, I also think Song Yao wants to use another method to compete for the best things for you.”
“As long as she can still work like an ox and a horse for our whole family as before, then this old woman will be at ease.”
“Come, come, let’s not talk anymore. Let’s eat first.” The old lady picked up her chopsticks.
Han Qingfeng had no appetite for the bland, watery food on the table.
He often told Song Yao that he disliked extravagance, and that three simple meals a day with plain tea and simple food were enough.
But that was just talk. If he really had to eat such oil-less food every day, his stomach couldn’t take it.
Now that Song Yao had actually discovered the severe deficits in the shops.
Han Qingfeng couldn’t voice his bitterness.
He knew better than anyone what was going on with the shop deficits.
He had secretly withdrawn a large sum of silver behind Song Yao’s back.
He didn’t know whether Song Yao had discovered this money.
If Song Yao found out, she would surely make a big scene with him.
Han Qingfeng had not only withdrawn a large sum from the shop, but he had also borrowed quite a bit of usurious loans outside.
Originally, he had planned to find a way to get Song Yao to help him repay the usurious loans after returning this time.
Now that Song Yao had discovered the shop’s deficit, it would certainly be impossible to ask her to help repay the debts.
If the creditors came to demand repayment, where would he get the money to cover it?
It was precisely because Song Yao remembered this matter that she had orchestrated today’s scene.
In her previous life, Han Qingfeng had told her he had borrowed usurious loans outside and asked her to help repay them. Without a word, she had paid off his debts for him.
This time, Song Yao wanted to see how Han Qingfeng would handle all those creditors when they came to press for repayment, given that he had caused the shop’s deficit and still owed money outside, and now there was no ready cash in the manor or in her hands.
…
On the second day after Han Qingfeng returned home, the creditors caught wind of his return and came knocking.
At the entrance of Yunzhou Marquis Manor, a group of creditors had gathered to demand repayment.
The manor’s servants blocked them, preventing the group of debt collectors from forcing their way in.
Unable to see anyone, the creditors stood at the main gate. A crowd of them raised their voices together, shouting, “The Marquis Manor must repay! The Marquis of Yunzhou must repay!”
Many debt collectors had gathered at the manor’s entrance.
Most passersby in front of the manor stopped to watch this spectacle.
The majority of the common people pointed and whispered about the manor.
Inside the manor, everyone heard that a group of creditors had come to the gate.
Except for Han Qingfeng and Song Yao, everyone else was clueless.
When Old Madam heard from the servant who came to report that creditors had blocked the manor’s main gate, she put down the teacup she was holding, looking quite puzzled. “Creditors? What creditors?”
The servant who came to deliver the news shook his head; he didn’t know where those creditors had come from.
If the problem wasn’t resolved soon, those people might storm into the manor.
Madam Jin extended her hand, and the maid serving at her side, quick to understand, helped Old Madam to her feet.
Old Madam prepared to go out and see what was really happening.
At that moment, family members who had heard that creditors had blocked the gate appeared one after another.
The three Han siblings entered their grandmother’s room first.
Their birth mother, Chunlan Xiu, and their nominal adoptive father, Han Qingfeng, followed behind them.
Han Zhang spoke first, “Grandmother, what’s going on? Why has a group of debt collectors come to the main gate?”
Asking Old Madam was futile—she was just as much in the dark!
By this time, Han Qingfeng knew he could no longer hide the truth.
He said, “I borrowed money outside. Those people are here for me.”
Everyone turned to look at him upon hearing this.
Han Zhi asked, “Father, it’s your debt? Why on earth did you borrow money from outsiders?”
Han Zhi’s meaning was: with a money tree at home, why would he need to borrow money from outsiders?
As for why Han Qingfeng had incurred debts outside, he couldn’t explain it clearly at the moment.
“That… let’s not ask about the reason for my debt for now. In any case, we need to find a way to repay the money I owe.”
Han Qingfeng turned to Chunlan Xiu. “Sister-in-law. I really did borrow that money, and now I have no way to repay them. Could you help me cover it for now…”
Chunlan Xiu flatly refused, “How could I possibly have money to cover for you? Besides, I’m not the one in charge of the household. If you owe debts, go find your wife.”
On his way back from the imperial audience, Han Qingfeng had long since made up his mind to seek Song Yao’s help in repaying the debt.
But as soon as he entered the house yesterday, he noticed that the meal served didn’t even have a trace of meat.
After dinner yesterday, he went to the accountant and asked how much silver was left in the household accounts. It turned out there was no money left there either.
Song Yao’s shop was suffering severe losses. Asking her to help repay the debt at this time would undoubtedly be like kicking an iron plate.
Han Qingfeng stood there, seething with frustration. He could think of this, and others would surely realize it too.