Chapter 99 - 90: Tallying the Harvest

Chapter 99: Chapter 90: Tallying the Harvest

A short while after daybreak.

A middle-aged man in a green robe appeared at the Wang Family’s estate.

The current Patriarch of the Wang Family, Wang Zang, who was also Wang Guan’s father, personally came out to receive the middle-aged man.

"Brother Wang, I need an explanation."

After dismissing the maids and attendants, the middle-aged man stared at Wang Zang and spoke in a low, grave voice.

Wang Zang wore a bitter smile.

This middle-aged man was none other than the current Patriarch of the Hu Family, Hu Gongxiu.

Hu Gongxiu was the Chief of the Ministry of Works in the Inner City, responsible for all public works projects in Wuling City. An agency under the Ministry of Works, called the Refining Bureau, was in charge of smelting all ironware for Wuling City.

Everything in Wuling City, from the armaments used by the City Defense Army to the Constable Sabers used by the constables of the Inner and Outer Cities, came from the Refining Bureau.

Wang Zang himself was the Chief Steward of the Ministry of Finance, responsible for all matters in Wuling City related to money and provisions.

"Brother Wang, you said before that your second son needed experience, that you wanted to send him to South City to train for a while. Without a second thought, I went against the opposition of my own clan and gave the position of South City Sima to your Wang Family. Is this how you repay me?"

Hu Gongxiu’s face was ashen as he spoke with rage.

"Brother Hu, please calm your anger."

Wang Zang said with an apologetic smile, but cursed inwardly, ’You call that "without a second thought"?’

’Weren’t you the one who took twenty thousand taels of silver from me?’

"That rotten kid didn’t know the Xu Family’s background. He was just eager to achieve something, so he ended up fighting his own side."

Wang Zang said with another apologetic smile, while inwardly cursing Wang Guan to high heaven.

’That rotten kid suddenly wanted to go to the Outer City to be a Sima. I actually thought he was a prodigal son returning, that he wanted to better himself.’

’At the time, I was so relieved. I swallowed my pride and went to get him this position of South City Sima.’

’And look what happened. It’s only been a month, and he’s gotten me into this much trouble.’

’Damn it, it would have been better if that rotten kid hadn’t tried to improve at all.’

’If he wasn’t ambitious, at worst he’d just spend some silver in the Inner City. It’s not like he could ever spend all of the Wang Family’s silver in his lifetime anyway.’

’But this "ambition"...’

Wang Zang’s heart was filled with helplessness.

It was true that the Hu Family was behind the Xu Family, but the Wang Family also had a stake in the Xu Family’s business.

Wang Guan’s move to annihilate the Xu Family not only cut off a source of income for the Hu Family, but their own Wang Family also suffered a considerable loss.

"Brother Hu, I’ll be sure to teach that rotten kid a good lesson later. But for now, the most urgent matter is to cover this up and not attract the City Lord’s attention."

Wang Zang said.

Although the armaments the Xu Family was privately selling were all inferior goods rejected by the Refining Bureau, this kind of business was ultimately taboo.

If the City Lord found out, both of their families would surely be punished.

"Don’t worry, I handled my end cleanly. Now that the Xu Family has been completely wiped out by your Wang Family’s second young master, there are no witnesses left. No matter how they investigate, it won’t lead back to us."

Hu Gongxiu snorted coldly. "But only the Xu Family knew this trade route. Now that the route is broken, who knows how much effort it will take to re-establish it."

"Brother Wang, I’m not trying to make things difficult for you, but my Hu Family will lose at least fifty thousand taels of silver a year because of this. If you don’t give me a satisfactory answer, I’ll have no way to explain this to my clan."

Hu Gongxiu continued, "If that happens, I really won’t be able to continue as Patriarch."

"It won’t come to that, it won’t."

Wang Zang said with an awkward laugh.

It was a good thing Wang Guan wasn’t here right now, or he would have put on a grand show of disciplining his son on the spot.

"Brother Wang, let’s be blunt. Your Wang Family’s second young master can no longer hold the position of South City Sima."

Hu Gongxiu said in a low voice, "This point is non-negotiable. You have to agree, whether you want to or not!"

Wang Zang sighed inwardly. ’He controlled the finances and provisions of Wuling City; when had he ever been humiliated like this?’

But he was indeed in the wrong right now, which made it impossible for him to stand his ground.

What Wang Guan had done... to put it nicely, was youthful ignorance. To put it bluntly, it was backstabbing an ally.

’Then again,’ he thought, ’I really do have to bring that rotten kid back.’

’If he continues as the South City Sima, who knows what other trouble he might stir up.’

All the businesses in the Outer City had intricate ties to the Inner City.

"I agree."

Wang Zang sighed, his expression grave.

"You need to go speak to the City Lord and help my Hu Family reclaim the position of South City Sima."

Hu Gongxiu continued.

Wang Zang sighed inwardly. ’Speaking to him surely wouldn’t be enough. I’ll have to offer some benefits again.’

"I’ll go."

he said, feeling like crying but having no tears.

Seeing Wang Zang’s pained and twisted expression, Hu Gongxiu’s mood suddenly improved considerably.

’My Hu Family has suffered such a huge loss; your Wang Family shouldn’t expect to get off easy.’

’Besides, my Hu Family also lost a direct disciple!’

"One last thing."

Hu Gongxiu said.

"Brother Hu, isn’t that going too far?"

Wang Zang frowned. He was indeed in the wrong, which was why he had repeatedly conceded, but he felt that giving up South City was the greatest show of sincerity he could offer.

If the Hu Family tried to use this as a pretext to push their luck, he, Wang Zang, was not one to be trifled with.

"The one who led the attack on the Xu Family must die!"

Hu Gongxiu stared intently at Wang Zang and said in a low voice, "If he doesn’t die, won’t that mean anyone can come and stomp on our Hu Family in the future?

If people think they can provoke the Hu Family and get away unscathed, how will my Hu Family maintain its standing in Wuling City?

Wang Lai is an old retainer of your Wang Family, so I won’t touch him. But that constable named Su Mu must die."

Wang Zang looked at Hu Gongxiu, the fat on his face trembling slightly.

He remained silent, but his mind was spinning rapidly.

He immediately understood Hu Gongxiu’s thinking.

He naturally knew the name Su Mu. Ever since Wang Guan had decided to go to the South City Bureau to be the Sima, he had investigated everyone in the South City Bureau.