Chapter 221: Two Hands
Kunshan County Li Family Market.
Li Wenliang had become noticeably thinner and darker. He handed the reins to his cousin Li Wenhua and, facing his father Li Shikuan, who had come out of the house, cupped his hands and said with a smile, “I have some urgent matters.”
“Wash up first,” Li Shikuan said, looking at his son covered in sweat.
Old Aunt Tang first brought out a pot of hot water and then hastily fried a dish of rice cake slices, sprinkled them with red sugar, and brewed a pot of tea to bring into the main hall.
Li Wenliang ate a slice of rice cake first and said indistinctly, “A Wu found me and delivered A Nan’s message.”
“Eat something first. No matter how urgent, it won’t be delayed by this much time,” Li Shikuan gestured for his son to eat the rice cake.
Li Wenliang ate more than half the dish of rice cakes in one go and, after drinking tea, continued, “She said A Nan wants us to collect autumn silkworm cocoons, as many as we can.”
Li Shikuan’s brow furrowed slightly.
“She also said that among the tens of thousands of weaving workshops under the Jiangnan Silk General Store, not every one is willing to stop production and close down. If they close for too long, all sorts of ideas will sprout. She said for us to handle it as we see fit.”
Li Shikuan let out a breath, “These words are important!”
“I think so too,” Li Wenliang said with a smile.
“Is that all?” Li Shikuan asked.
Li Wenliang nodded, “That’s all.”
Li Shikuan hummed, narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and said in a low voice, “A Nan passed a message to us, but this message might not be A Nan’s message.”
Li Wenliang paused for a moment before understanding, “Father means?”
“Yes!” Li Shikuan affirmed with great certainty, then sighed, “Autumn silkworm cocoons are not a small matter.”
“On the way back, I saw the mulberry fields and detoured to ask. They said that for the previous season’s autumn silkworm cocoons, a pound of top-grade fresh cocoons cost thirty-eight copper coins, and an acre of mulberry can yield about twenty-three to twenty-four pounds of fresh cocoons,” Li Wenliang said, his brow furrowed.
This was indeed not a small sum.
“The autumn silkworms are about to start pupating, so this matter needs to be handled quickly. You go to Pingjiang City and ask A Nan if she has anyone trustworthy there who can help us oversee the collection of autumn silkworm cocoons. This is not just about money.” Li Shikuan instructed his son while standing up, “Take out all our family’s silver, and I will go find your eldest uncle.”
“Eldest Uncle’s family has a lot of silver, but Eldest Uncle?” Li Wenliang stood up as well.
“When it comes down to it, your eldest uncle is a man of spirit. By the way, after you return from Pingjiang City, detour to Kunshan County and inform that old fox of the Hong Family about this matter. He instructed that no matter how big or small the matter, he should not be left out.” Li Shikuan waved his son away, indicating he should hurry, and walked towards the ancestral hall with his hands behind his back.
………………………………
Yu Chengfu spurred his horse all the way to the Prince’s Estate Villa outside the city. After leaving the villa, he went straight to Linhai Town and smoothly met President Shi. He received some guidance from Huang Xianzhou, then mounted his horse and headed straight for Pingjiang City. As soon as he entered his home, before he could even have a sip of tea, an old servant came in to announce that a Master Li was asking if his master was home.
Hearing the name Li Family, Yu Chengfu hurried out, leading Li Wenliang into the main hall.
Yu Chengfu had a lot of things to sort out at the moment, and Li Wenliang’s matters were so numerous that he wished he had more hands. The two did not exchange many pleasantries. They quickly settled the main business, and Li Wenliang took his leave, mounted his horse, and headed straight for Kunshan County. Yu Chengfu instructed his wife to have her younger brother come to wait for him at home, then hurried out and went straight to President Shi’s house.
Yu Chengfu met President Shi’s wife, Madam Shi, and President Shi’s eldest son. He relayed that he had met President Shi, who seemed to be doing alright, and conveyed the few words about the case revealed by Huang Xianzhou. He then conveyed President Shi’s message, fully entrusting the affairs of the Pingjiang Silk Trade Association to him.
“…He said they are first investigating cases involving murder. Anyone involved in a murder case will not survive this time. He said the Young Lord decreed that military law will be applied!”
Yu Chengfu’s hushed voice was filled with shock.
Madam Shi’s face turned pale. She reached out and grabbed her son’s hand, her lips trembling, “Your father…”
“Sister-in-law, don’t worry, Big Brother is not involved in any murder cases,” Yu Chengfu quickly interjected.
Madam Shi let out a sigh of relief and raised her hand to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead.
“After the murder cases are concluded, they will start investigating financial matters. All the financial accounts of our Pingjiang Silk Trade Association, past and present, will be attributed to Big Brother, since he is the President,” Yu Chengfu continued.
“But that money was given to the general store, to the government office, to this and that. We gave the money out, so how has it become a crime?” Madam Shi could not understand.
“They said the general store spent a lot of money bribing the government office, and it’s said to be interfering with state affairs,” Yu Chengfu’s voice was very low.
“What is interfering with state affairs?” Madam Shi did not understand and looked at her son.
“It’s almost like rebellion,” Young Master Shi’s explanation was concise.
Madam Shi was so frightened that she almost couldn’t catch her breath.
“Mr. Huang revealed a few things, saying that based on the amounts discovered so far, at the very least, Big Brother will be exiled to the northern border,” Yu Chengfu glanced at Young Master Shi, very satisfied with his explanation.
“Then how will your Big Brother survive!” Madam Shi’s tears began to fall.
“Ever since Big Brother was taken away, I’ve been looking for a way. No matter what, we have to save Big Brother. Now I’ve finally found a lead, and it’s because of this lead that I was able to see Big Brother today,” Yu Chengfu said softly.
“As long as we can save your Big Brother…” Madam Shi started crying.
“Sister-in-law, don’t worry. From now on, we cannot be dictated to by the Silk General Store anymore. We must have our own ideas. We cannot ignore Big Brother’s life or death,” Yu Chengfu said with a frown.
“What do you suggest we do?” Madam Shi choked out.
“Our Pingjiang weaving workshops should continue as usual. Big Brother and I will go visit the homes of several senior guild members and persuade them,” Yu Chengfu looked at Young Master Shi.
“Did you really see Father?” Young Master Shi asked.
“Yes, I will think of a way to see if I can let you visit your father,” Yu Chengfu replied very directly.
“Or, should I wait until I’ve seen Father?” Young Master Shi looked at his mother.
“Young Master, forgive my bluntness, but your father is being held in the Linhai Town barracks. So far, has any family been able to go in and visit him?
“As I said, I managed to find a way through the Prince’s Estate Villa, and today I was granted the favor to see your father. If Young Master wants to see your father, it depends on what we do, whether we have the will and the ability.”
“Your father is on someone else’s chopping block. Is this something we can negotiate?” Yu Chengfu’s words were very impolite.
“Uncle Yu is right, your father is on their chopping block. No matter what, we must save your father,” Madam Shi said to her son.
Young Master Shi’s face turned slightly pale from Yu Chengfu’s words, and he reluctantly agreed.
This Uncle Yu had never dared to speak to him so rudely before. However, the Shi family was in trouble now, and people’s hearts were like this.
“I’ve been running around everywhere lately, hitting dead ends, and I’m extremely anxious. I spoke a bit hastily, so please don’t take it to heart, Young Master,” Yu Chengfu explained, bowing slightly to Young Master Shi.
“Thank you for all your efforts,” Madam Shi said sincerely.
“Uncle Yu is also doing this for my father, so how could I take it to heart? Shall we go now?” Young Master Shi felt a little better, but a sense of awkwardness and discomfort he couldn’t explain arose.
Things were different now than before. He realized it, but he hadn’t gotten used to it yet.
“Alright.” Yu Chengfu stood up, bid farewell to Madam Shi, and went out with Young Master Shi, heading towards the nearest senior guild member’s home.
