BXBX NOVEL Chapter 1282: Bowing
Zhao Mu’s anxiety intensified as he observed the workers busily moving goods in and out. He had no desire to engage in conversation with Uncle Qing, so he expressed his intention to meet Zhao Shu instead.
Witnessing Zhao Mu clenching his teeth, Uncle Qing couldn’t help but sneer inwardly, harboring a deep sense of disdain. Old Master Zhao had neglected his paternal responsibilities during his time as a father, so when he now sought assistance, he seemed unsure of how to proceed. Why did his Young Master wish to meet him? Who did he believe himself to be?
Uncle Qing’s arrogant attitude infuriated Zhao Mu, leaving him feeling utterly helpless. Despite the overwhelming frustration, he reluctantly compelled himself to engage with Uncle Qing.
Uncle Qing maintained a composed demeanor, sporting a smile as he reiterated that the Zhao Family would have to pay the full price for silk, an amount 30% higher than the market rate. He displayed indifference to whether Zhao Mu accepted the offer or not. After all, the silk produced in their own mulberry garden consistently sold out. If they failed to sell it in Yangzhou City, there would always be eager buyers in Suhang.
Zhao Mu’s anger boiled over, prompting him to depart with a stern countenance. Meanwhile, Zhao Shu watched the situation unfold with great satisfaction.
Zhao Mu had given his best effort but ultimately failed. There was no way around it: they needed to address the issue with Ms. Zheng’s mulberry garden to resolve their problems once and for all.
Upon tallying the precious items in his private savings, Zhao Mu found that fewer than 30 pieces remained. These were all exceptional goods, the result of three generations of the Zhao Family’s tireless efforts to acquire them, and they were valued at over 2 million liang.
Zhao Mu was genuinely reluctant to go through with it. He was confident because he had initially intended to pass on this knowledge, and once it was sold, it would be exceedingly challenging to buy it back. The thought of parting with these treasures was not something he wanted to entertain.
In the end, they decided to empty the warehouse and allocate 6,000 liang of gold to deliver these treasures to Ms. Zheng’s abbey in exchange for the needed silk. At this juncture, Zhao Mu had calculated that the Zhao Family’s wealth had diminished by nearly two-thirds in just three months. It was evident that the Zhao Family’s aspirations of becoming the wealthiest in Yangzhou were now a distant dream.
Zhao Mu’s shock was palpable, and his expression darkened. An ominous silence enveloped the mansion, with no one daring to utter a word for fear of incurring Old Master’s wrath.
As the boxes were carried away, Ms. Qin couldn’t help but feel a painful ache in her heart. It was her money, her son’s money! She seethed with anger at Zhao Shu’s greed in seizing her son’s properties.
With the workshop matter resolved, Zhao Mu turned his attention to his impending second marriage. Despite his recent trials, he still had some savings left. Upon hearing the news of his forthcoming nuptials, many families expressed interest in him.
Ms. Qin, overwhelmed by her concerns about money and property, had neglected this aspect. However, she realized that she couldn’t intervene anymore. Her two sons were grown adults with their own families. If the new daughter-in-law wasn’t capable, she might not gain a foothold in the family.
Therefore, Zhao Mu decided to marry a capable woman. His new wife was 18 years old and managed to tie the knot before the 15th of August. She adeptly established her authority with her two sisters-in-law, recognizing Ms. Qin’s long-standing service and the fact that she had two grown-up sons, giving them due respect. However, as the mother-in-law, she insisted on setting rules for her daughter-in-law.
Ms. Qin felt as though she had been slapped in the face, seething with annoyance at this turn of events.