Zhao Erlang angrily retorted, "You don’t count the weight of a rope, but you count the weight of the copper powder lost by people touching it? You’re the one robbing money, right?"
Zhao Hu was incredulous, the fool Zhao Erlang turned out to be this shrewd, leaving him speechless for a mont before he found his voice, "You, your brain is fixed?"
Zhao Zheng couldn’t help but place a hand on his forehead.
Zhao Erlang’s face was red to the point of bleeding, his nose tingled, and he shouted loudly with red eyes, "There’s nothing wrong with my brain!"
The two eventually parted ways rather unhappily, but Zhao Erlang insisted on using the scale to calculate the money. This indeed saved a lot of manpower; instead of counting the money string by string, directly weighing it on the scale took less than a quarter of an hour to finish weighing the four hundred and seventy thousand coins Zhao Hu brought.
Of course, the weight was slightly off, forcing Zhao Hu, under Zhao Erlang’s bull-like glare, to reluctantly have his servant take out two strings of copper coins to make it even.
He glanced one last ti at the slightly lifted scale, quietly took a deep breath, and strode out in a huff.
Of course, he took the contract with him and angrily said to Wu Yin, "Am I the kind of person who cheats on weights and asures? If I say it’s four hundred and seventy thousand, it’s four hundred and seventy thousand – I didn’t short him even one cent!"
Wu Yin repeatedly agreed, then whispered, "Since Taiye knows, why let him go?"
He said, "Even Third Lady must give Taiye face, Erlang is really unreasonable."
Zhao Hu waved his hand helplessly, "Forget it, forget it, we can reason and talk sentintally with smart people, but can we bargain with a stubborn fool?"
Zhao Erlang is just a fool, stubbornly one-track minded, arguing with him is just exhausting oneself.
Therefore, Zhao Hu closed one eye on the little details that he could overlook.
He even blad himself a little, why argue with a fool? It only makes oneself seem foolish too.
Zhao Hu took a deep breath, took the contract and newly made land deed back ho, and said to Wu Yin, "Originally, I wanted to get them out of the dungeon today, but having just argued with Erlang, it’s not suitable to bring it up now. You co and get them tomorrow, and once you get the people, tear down all four houses, I want to build!"
Wu Yin agreed.
Zhao Hu wanted to head ho, but recalling his promise to Zhao Hanzhang, he turned his steps towards the tavern, where he intended to find so wealthy acquaintances in Luoyang.
Zhao Hanzhang was right; it’s better to make money together if soone’s making money, better that his friends earn it.
Besides these rich folks in Luoyang, Zhao Hu was more concerned about his relatives in Yu State, so he wrote to them one by one.
First, he wrote to Zhao Song, "...With Zi Nian’s current position, he might be appointed as a marquis or an official in the future. When he cos to Luoyang, he can’t stay at his niece’s house; I’m definitely not allowing him in my house as I can’t eat if I see his face."
"So, Big Brother should prepare early, while Luoyang’s property prices are not high, buy two or three houses." Zhao Hu said, "There’s a burnt area outside the Imperial City to buy, the bottom price is low, and you can build to your heart’s content. It’s more cost-effective than buying an existing courtyard. Most importantly, nowadays all good locations in Luoyang are occupied, and the rest are far inferior to this site."
"So if Big Brother is interested, please bring money to Luoyang soon to buy land. Building a house here not only facilitates Zi Nian’s comings and goings but also benefits descendants."
Imagine, in the future, the children will encounter noble families and influential figures, even if the descendants lack talent, they won’t fall imdiately.
He also urged Zhao Song, "If anyone in the clan has spare funds, they can co to Luoyang to buy land. Luoyang is under reconstruction now, the court is returning, and it’s a golden ti to make money."
He wrote not only to Zhao Song but to many people in the clan, everyone he thought had money received a letter.
After all, it’s a return to Xiping, one letter to carry, many letters to carry too.
Besides relatives, there were friends – Zhao Hu thought of everyone he could, including Yu Sanlang whom he didn’t quite like, he even sent him a letter with just one sentence, "Luoyang is full of gold, if you want to make money, co quickly."
Yu Sanlang didn’t want to believe him, but ever since receiving that letter, the phrase "Luoyang is full of gold" would suddenly pop up while he was eating, drinking, and even before bed.
Yu Sanlang finally couldn’t resist, got up from bed, and called for the steward, "Set out for Xiping imdiately and check if the Zhao Family has had any activity lately."
The steward hesitated and cautiously asked, "Does Taiye an movent like... troops, battles?"
"Fight what, fight what?" Yu Sanlang angrily slapped his head, gritting his teeth and whispering, "Such things dare you inquire, I wouldn’t even dare listen, do you think your life is too long?"
He softened his tone, "Just ask if there’s anyone planning to go to Luoyang recently, what they’re taking, and whether Zhao Hu is making a profit or losing money in Luoyang?"
The steward suddenly realized, nodding repeatedly, "Understood, I’ll go inquire right away."
Yu Sanlang dismissed him disdainfully, muttering, "Really useless wood."
Xiping Zhao Family was buzzing with excitent ever since receiving the letter.
Initially ready to head to Luoyang, Mrs. Wang had to delay her departure repeatedly because many in the clan decided to accompany her to Luoyang for a look.
Of course, they weren’t aiming for tourism. Although there’s no fighting now, there are still many bandits out there, hence they didn’t like to go too far.
But Zhao Hu’s ntion of the houses at the foot of the Luoyang Imperial City was too enticing, prompting them to go check it out.
Luckily, the Zhao Family Army would escort Mrs. Wang to Luoyang, so they could leverage her security force.
Upon hearing this news, Yu Sanlang imdiately opened his vault to count money, and also packed up goods like silk and satin to take with him; he planned to make a profit in Luoyang.
Then he also sent a note to Mrs. Wang requesting to join her Zhao Family Army on the journey to Luoyang.
Besides him, many friends who received Zhao Hu’s letter also reached out, seeking to head to Luoyang together.
Mrs. Wang:...
Seeing the team grow larger, not only were there more people, but each also brought along a large number of goods. Mrs. Wang felt the matter too significant for her to decide alone and thus sought Zhao Song’s advice.
With a brief contemplation upon lowering his eyes, Zhao Song said, "Then let them go, Luoyang is in need of developnt, the more people go now, the more prosperous it can beco."
He said, "People are fundantal. As long as there are people, a city is bustling."
Mrs. Wang responded with a lowered head, "But with so many people, relying on just a thousand Zhao Family Army for protection, what if we encounter danger on the road..."
Zhao Song casually waved his hand, "What’s so difficult about that? Write a letter to Zi Nian asking him to send troops for you. However, since we provide the people, food supplies shouldn’t be our responsibility, you don’t need to worry about this. I’ll speak to them, let the accompanying people prepare provisions."
Mrs. Wang sighed in relief, bowed her head in agreent, then withdrew with a bow.
Watching her departing figure, Zhao Song couldn’t help but shake his head, "Thankfully, our family’s Third Lady isn’t like her, or like Zhi Zhi, otherwise this family wouldn’t have soone to hold it up."
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