The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 480 - 478: I Spent It for You First

Chapter 480: Chapter 478: I Spent It for You First

"Furthermore, our family runs a small-scale business, which doesn’t even compare to the Qian Family’s slight surplus, Boss Qian really doesn’t need to trouble himself with our little business. We have no other demands; we just hope Boss Qian can draft an agreement promising not to send anyone to interfere, obstruct, or harass our family’s mountain goods business in the future. This request isn’t extreme, is it?" Wang Yongzhu asked.

"Not extreme at all! Sister, you are an honest person, and you speak truthfully. In doing business, it’s important to respect each other’s willingness to deal. If your family sells mountain goods at fair prices, others will naturally come to you. It was indeed underhanded of the men in my family. I’ll accept on his behalf. In a moment, I’ll have him issue a written promise in person, assuring that he will no longer interfere with your family’s business!" Lady Yu nodded repeatedly.

Wang Yongzhu was slightly depressed to find Lady Yu so agreeable.

On her way here, she had prepared herself for the possibility that Qian Dahao could be arrogant. She not only intended to fight until Qian Dahao begged for mercy but also planned to make various demands, both reasonable and not, determined to not stop until she had peeled a layer off Qian Dahao.

However, unexpectedly, Lady Yu intervened midway. Clearly, she was Qian Dahao’s wife, but her actions and manner seemed to side with her own, making it difficult for her to make excessive demands.

However, it was better to resolve the situation smoothly and avoid complications.

After all, the Qian Family had been an established power in Shiqiao Town for many years; it was better to leave a little face and goodwill rather than completely falling out with them.

With that in mind, Wang Yongzhu stopped dwelling on it and smiled at Lady Yu, "Sister Yu is so straightforward; that gives me peace of mind! As soon as we have the written promise, we will leave immediately. As long as Boss Qian is generous in the future, we naturally won’t come to cause any more disturbances."

Lady Yu also admired the decisiveness in Wang Yongzhu, reminding her of her younger self. Recalling the information that Qian Dahao had let slip—how Wang Yongzhu was skilled in dyeing and had even earned the favor of the Madam in the palace—was truly extraordinary. If she were ten years younger, she would definitely want to become sworn sisters with this young lady Wang Yongzhu.

If only her own daughter were as capable as the Wang Family Young Lady, she wouldn’t have to worry at all.

In this way, the two women, through casual conversation and laughter, settled the matter.

Song Chongjin knew of Wang Yongzhu’s prowess and was more aware of the forces tied behind Qian Dahao.

He had thought that today’s matter would be very troublesome, but unexpectedly, a chance encounter brought forth Qian Dahao’s legitimate wife.

Lady Yu had been investigated by his people before; she also had her own reputation back in the day. In the mountain goods trade, the older generation still spoke highly of her.

The Qian Family owed much of its success to Lady Yu’s contributions, but it was a pity that she later gradually retreated into the inner house and no longer appeared in public.

Seeing Lady Yu today, she was as open and straightforward as ever, resolving the tricky issue in just a few words.

With Lady Yu’s promise, the Qian Family would no longer be able to go back on their word in the future.

Lady Yu was someone who acted as soon as she said something; since she had agreed, she didn’t shirk the responsibility.

She called for someone to bring paper and ink, spread them on a table, and then forcefully dragged Qian Dahao over to the table’s edge, pointing at the paper, "Write a guarantee for them, declaring that from now on, neither the Qian Family nor you, Qian Dahao, will interfere with their mountain goods business again. If this is violated, you’ll compensate the Wang Family one thousand taels of silver, along with two shops."

Qian Dahao’s chubby cheeks trembled, his puffy eyes under his swollen fish eyes swiveled around, but he refused to write.

After Lady Yu pressed him, he began to whine and play dumb, "Yulan... have you lost your mind? Whose wife are you? Who sends their own silver to others? That’s all the wealth we have labored to amass! It’s supposed to be for our son! Those shops can serve as a dowry for our daughter too..."

Lady Yu slapped him across the face, "Shut your mouth! Do you think I’m still that muddleheaded woman? All the wealth I’ve worked hard to earn with you, damn it, you’ve spent it all on women! You visit brothels and take concubines, decking those delicate concubines out in gold and silver, buying silk and satin, squandering money like running water."

"When it comes to us three women, asking you for money is like asking for your life! Since the money isn’t going to stick to us anyway, I might as well spend it for you, so you don’t go squandering it on some shameless vixen!"

With his face covered, Qian Dahao’s eyes emitted a resentful and venomous glare. If this were Lady Yu from a few years ago or even from yesterday, he would have made this wretch understand his ferocity.

But the current Lady Yu reminded him of the time when they were newly married. She had a bad temper and a sharp tongue, and if provoked, she would grab his ears or kick a grown man off his feet.

He dared not act rashly, and even felt a hint of fear and trepidation in his heart.

Seeing Qian Dahao’s cowardly demeanor, Lady Yu couldn’t be bothered to waste her words. She directly called for the clerk who usually drafted documents for Qian Dahao, dictated the language, and had the clerk write it down.

Then she forced Qian Dahao’s fingers to press his handprint on it, and she pressed her own handprint on the back.

She also found a personal seal on Qian Dahao’s body, a seal which he never left behind. Since he knew little about reading, he used this seal to mark his agreement for many matters.

Those who conducted business with the Qian Family knew that a document bearing this seal meant it had Qian Dahao’s personal approval.

This was a tactic the illiterate Lady Yu and Qian Dahao had come up with back in the day, which Qian Dahao found quite clever and had continued to use until now.

Now, as Qian Dahao watched the seal being stamped, with no chance of retraction, he almost turned green with regret.

With the promissory note in hand, Lady Yu took the personal seal and had the accounting office bring two hundred taels of silver, calling it medical expenses, along with a package of blood-fortifying medicine. She then sent off Wang Yongzhu and her group with a beaming smile.

At the doorway, Wang Yongzhu observed Lady Yu’s outward calm but inner restlessness and guessed that Lady Yu must be planning a thorough reckoning with Qian Dahao.

Her keen senses detected the issues between Lady Yu and Qian Dahao, and naturally, she was inclined to side with Lady Yu.

From both emotional and practical standpoints, if Lady Yu won the marital battle against Qian Dahao, it would be better for her own family and their business.

Therefore, she decided to give Lady Yu a push. With Lady Yu to keep Qian Dahao occupied, he likely wouldn’t have the spare energy to deal with the Wang Family.

After some thought, she stopped in her tracks, "Sister Lady Yu, there is something..."

Lady Yu quickly moved aside with Wang Yongzhu, understanding her intention, "Sister, speak your mind, whatever it is."

Wang Yongzhu leaned in and whispered to Lady Yu, revealing part of the information Song Chongjin had obtained from interrogation.

It turned out that Boss Ma and his fellows were not ordinary people at all, but remnants of a bandit group that had been exterminated in another province several years ago.

Back then, a few of them had been away buying supplies and missed the government troops’ extermination, narrowly escaping with their lives.

Worried about being wanted by the authorities, they did not dare to return. They fled in panic, with nowhere to go.

It was Boss Ma who recalled that his mother’s remarried home was in a secluded place near Dahei Mountain, a suitable hideout. So they stealthily made their way back