CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 23: JOINING THE VENTURE

As he spoke of his heartbreak, even a man like Wang Shan couldn’t hold back tears, repeatedly saying he was useless, cowardly, and ashamed of his ancestors and his wife and children.

"As you said, Lu’s has been domineering in Qingshui County for years, and the County Magistrate shields them. Hasn’t anyone gone to the State Government to appeal?" Zhu Yu asked, somewhat puzzled after hearing Wang Shan’s account.

"Yes, before us, someone went to the county government to lodge a complaint against the Lu Family for their tyranny, but the County Magistrate not only ignored it but also beat the person who accused Lu’s.

Later, we heard that a large distillery, outraged, sent a manager to the State Government to accuse the County Magistrate of Qingshui County of colluding with merchants. But once there, the person was directly sent back to the County Magistrate.

Afterwards... no one ever saw that person again..."

Wang Shan shuddered, suddenly realizing that although Lu’s had fallen, the County Magistrate of Qingshui County was still there, so he quickly shut his mouth, fearing to speak further.

During the time of a meal, they heard many of Lu’s evil deeds in Qingshui County from Wang Shan. After finishing the meal, the sky had already darkened, so Zhu and Lu did not linger, stood up, and took their leave.

Wang Shan’s wife filled a basket with three small jars of wine, covered with straw, and placed a few small fresh fish Wang Shan had bought earlier from the market on top of the straw.

These fresh fish probably came from a nearby river, with a strong fishy smell that masked the faint smell of wine.

Lu Qing carried the basket, letting Zhu Yu leave the courtyard first. Wang Shan took out the remaining money, caught up with Lu Qing, and returned it all to him, saying that today’s expenses had far exceeded the agreed price for the wine, and that his family had already received too much kindness and could not accept the unused Silver Coin.

Lu Qing did not refuse, took the remaining Copper Coin, weighed it in his hand, then turned to Zhu Yu, leaning close to Zhu Yu’s ear as if listening to Zhu Yu’s instructions.

Zhu Yu didn’t know what Lu Qing was up to but just cooperated while pretending.

Then Lu Qing came back to Wang Shan and asked, "Does your brewing skill still remain?"

Wang Shan quickly nodded: "It’s been passed down from generation to generation; I could never forget it until I die."

Lu Qing then took out a large silver ingot from his sleeve, seemingly weighing thirty or forty taels, and together with the Copper Coin Wang Shan had returned, stuffed it into his hand.

"Benefactor, what is this?" Wang Shan was shocked, as he had never seen such a large silver ingot in his life.

"My master asked me to tell you, after the Lu Family’s troubles settle, to restart your brewing business," he said to Wang Shan, "Consider this silver as my master joining your venture, whether a distillery or a tavern, according to your preference, earning profit, my employer takes one-tenth, on the last day of every ten-day period, send it to Yunyin Pavilion in the Capital, saying it’s for Mr. Zhu."

Since Lu Qing had deliberately disguised himself, and Zhu Yu spoke more since earlier, Wang Shan had always considered him as Zhu Yu’s servant, only previously thinking they were "master and servant" with kind intentions, not seeing them as people from a wealthy family based on their attire.

Now, seeing Lu Qing suddenly take out such a large silver ingot, Wang Shan was truly astonished, quickly declined, but eventually could not refuse this time, accepted the silver ingot, prostrated himself and called "Benefactor" tearfully.

Wang Shan’s wife, who was initially at a loss, also quickly followed her husband’s example, kneeling and bowing.

Zhu Yu quickly stepped forward, together with Lu Qing, to help the two people up.

Wang Shan insisted on not taking the money for free, hurried back to search around, finally found a piece of paper, picked up a piece of charcoal, and, by the dim oil lamp, wrote a note for Mr. Zhu, asking for a fingerprint as a guarantee, insisting Zhu Yu must accept it.

Zhu Yu accepted it, offered some advice before taking their leave.

Wang Shan and his wife, clutching the large silver ingot, dared not leave far, standing at the door watching them off, reluctant to go back for a long time.

By the time they returned to the inn, it was already pitch black outside, and the once lively street market had become extraordinarily quiet.

Zhu Yu and Lu Qing, at Wang Shan’s house, saw their family of three, starved to skin and bones, the meal was just to show some courtesy, tasting little. After that, their stomachs still ached with hunger.

Fu Lu took the few fish to the inn’s back kitchen and asked someone to make fish soup for them to drink a little.

After eating, Fu Lu served tea to them, and Zhu Yu finally had time to inquire about what happened earlier with Lu Qing.

"Why did you give Wang Shan Silver to support him in reopening his distillery?" she asked, somewhat curious.

Lu Qing shook his head, pointing to Zhu Yu: "Today, I’m just a servant; you’re the one joining the venture, ’Mr. Zhu’."

Zhu Yu laughed, nodded, and changed the wording: "Then why would I support Wang Shan in reopening his distillery?"

"Because he is honest," Lu Qing replied, "and anyone who survives desperate situations will cherish everything they gain even more, never squandering it easily."

Having said that, he picked up the tea cup in front of him and quietly savored the tea.

Zhu Yu felt that Lu Qing’s words only addressed part of the issue, leaving some things unsaid.

But since they didn’t wish to speak, she wisely refrained from further questioning.

After a cup of tea, Lu Qing looked at Fu Lu standing beside them: "Did you hear anything while staying at the inn today?"

Fu Lu seemed to have expected Lu Qing’s question, quickly answered: "Sir, they were discussing how when Lu’s falls, there might come a Zhang’s, Li’s, or Xu’s, swapping a remedy but keeping the same medicine, all depending on whom the county government wishes to favor, granting them face.

Some even said, first, Lu’s distillery had trouble; might it be that bakeries, butcher shops, and cosmetic shops will face difficulty too, one by one.

Now, with all that excitement, they were said to be so frightened that, in a short time, the streets aren’t as lively anymore."

"Speaking of which, does donating a title require so much effort?" Zhu Yu remembered the conversation overheard at Lu’s gate and casually asked Lu Qing.

After asking, she regretted it, wondering what silly question she was asking!

Even if Lu Qing wasn’t a direct bloodline of the current Holy Emperor, he was nevertheless formally adopted under his knee, with such status, how could he be familiar with the intricacies of donating titles?

"In the Jin Country, merchants are not prohibited from studying and pursuing officialdom," Lu Qing thought for a moment, then said, "It’s just that not many actually take this path.

After all, being born of a lowly merchant, for their children to achieve a title is one thing, but after gaining a title, if they truly wish to make a significant impact, recommendations from nobles are necessary.

Without noble recommendations, often they are only arranged a lowly paid clerical position, which is less comfortable than continuing their family’s business.

Therefore, occasionally, a wealthy merchant might donate for a title, more so as they age, guarding a mountain of gold and silver, vainly wanting a pleasant-sounding name.

The court wouldn’t truly award such donated titles with real positions.

For a merchant family like Lu’s, at best modestly wealthy, to go as far as to invest genuine money for a title is truly rare."