Chapter 209: Triumphant Return
“How should we handle this extra two hundred thousand strings of cash?” Lu Xin asked in a deep voice.
“Just right to serve as interest for the various clans.” Lu Kan smiled upon hearing this. The loans Lu Jian had borrowed from the various clans were all high-interest ones, and the one month’s interest was exactly two hundred thousand strings of cash.
“Inappropriate.” Lu Xin frowned slightly and said: “This money originally belonged to Xie Min. If our Lu Clan pockets it, wouldn’t we become birds of a feather with her?” He then said more firmly: “So my opinion is that since Lu Jian originally gave her three million five hundred thousand strings of cash, we only keep five hundred thousand from her, making up that three million five hundred thousand, which can be considered a slight punishment for her. As for the remaining two hundred thousand strings of cash, our Lu Clan will not take ill-gotten gains and should return it to her.”
“You already have a plan, so why ask me?” Lu Kan laughed and cursed: “I’m here to help, so of course you call the shots.” He then said seriously: “But in that case, the Finance Department will have to repay that two hundred thousand strings of cash.”
“No problem, I’ve already told the various clans that at the end of the month, we’ll repay only the principal, no interest.” Lu Xin smiled faintly. At that time, the various clans were all worried their money would be lost entirely, so as long as Lu Jian repaid the principal on time, they would be burning incense in thanks—who would still covet that illusory interest?
“I see.” Lu Kan came to a realization and looked at Lu Xin approvingly: “Tenth Brother lives up to the Clan Leader’s high regard; he handles matters shrewdly and steadily, enough to convince the crowd!”
“Without the help of my several elder brothers, I couldn’t even pass the current hurdle.” Lu Xin smiled sincerely.
“Haha, mutual help, mutual help.” Lu Kan laughed heartily and patted Lu Yun’s shoulder, smiling at Lu Xin: “Having such a good son, Seventh Brother here is truly envious of you.” He knew the father and son surely had words to say, so he tactfully went to find Lu Wei.
“How about you send that two hundred thousand strings of cash worth of goods to Cuihe Garden?” Lu Xin looked at Lu Yun with a half-smile, clearly seeing through his little scheme. “Since we’ve spared Xie Min, might as well see the Buddha all the way to the West.” It couldn’t be said that Lu Xin was much more brilliant than Lu Kan; it was simply that no one knows a son better than his father.
“Yes.” Lu Yun rubbed his nose somewhat awkwardly. In his grand revenge plan, he needed all sorts of chess pieces to command. In Lu Yun’s view, it wasn’t only his own people who could be driven; often, people from enemy camps, even those hostile toward him, if used properly, could be even more useful.
“But I must remind you, don’t dare to take in just anyone, or you might end up raising a tiger that brings disaster instead.” Lu Xin solemnly admonished Lu Yun.
“Your son understands,” Lu Yun nodded and said softly: “It’s utilization, not taking in. Xie Bo is the one being taken in.”
“As long as you have a sense of proportion, it’s good.” Lu Xin looked at Lu Yun, his eyes full of gratification: “This time, thanks to you, Father can finally give an account on all fronts.”
“Once Father secures the steward position, we can continue planning the next step.” Lu Yun said somewhat excitedly.
“Take it slow; this seat isn’t even warm yet, no need to rush.” Lu Xin smiled: “Father has risen too quickly in this half year; better to stabilize first.”
“It’s your son who’s too impatient…” Lu Yun nodded, no longer insisting on his view.
“Are you hiding something from me?” Lu Xin looked at Lu Yun with concern.
“How could that be.” Lu Yun shook his head as if nothing was amiss, smiling: “Father is too sensitive.”
“I hope so.” Lu Xin did not fully believe it but did not press further.
。
After daybreak, the Lu Clan members escorted the carriage loaded with gold back to Luojing City.
When the carriage passed over Luo River Bridge, clan members came from all directions upon hearing the news, lining the way to welcome the triumphant heroes. Knowing their monthly allowances were secured, they felt relieved and gave thumbs up to Lu Xin riding on horseback, cheering excitedly: “Third Steward, well done!”
“No wonder Third Steward dared to boast; he was confident all along!”
“Third Steward is too awesome, true to his word—we’re convinced!”
Lu Wei rode beside Lu Xin, listening to the clan members’ praise, and joked to the crowd: “Only praising Lu Xin? Not a word for us brothers? We were out there fighting for our lives half the night.”
“Fifth Steward and Sixth Steward are both great!” The clan members laughed heartily: “With you several around, our Lu Clan won’t have any trouble!”
“Thanks, thanks!” The clan members were in high spirits and bowed haphazardly toward Lu Wei and Lu Kan.
“Heh heh.” Lu Wei, seeing this, felt a bit embarrassed instead and smiled: “You’re thanking the wrong people; today’s chief contributor is Lu Yun! He found the lost money, and that kid did something earth-shaking last night—single-handedly stopping two or three hundred of them, and he actually did it!”
“Ah!” The clan members listened dumbfounded and began searching for Lu Yun everywhere. But Lu Yun had gone to Cuihe Garden to deliver money to Xie Min and had not returned with the main group.
“No need to look; he has other assignments and will return later.” Lu Wei smiled to the clan members.
“Then Fifth Steward, tell us how Young Master Yun showed his divine might last night?” The clan members, bored out of their minds, loved hearing exciting tales.
“No problem!” Lu Wei had completed his task and had no need to report to his old man, so he reined in his horse and vividly recounted Lu Yun’s heroic figure last night to the clan members. In truth, Lu Wei hadn’t seen Lu Yun’s display of might, but it didn’t stop him from talking fluently, blowing Lu Yun up into a Changshan Zhao Zilong or Yan man Zhang Yide, leaving the clan members dazzled and calling it thrilling.
A person’s reputation is sometimes hyped up like this. Under Lu Wei’s strenuous praise, Lu Yun in the clan members’ eyes instantly took on a legendary aura, his image extraordinarily towering. “Young Master Yun is so young—how is he already this formidable!”
Lu Wei had been waiting for that line and said smugly: “Of course—who do you think taught him!”
After saying that, he eagerly awaited the crowd’s praise for himself. Sure enough, they nodded deeply: “Fifth Steward is absolutely right; a great master produces a brilliant disciple!”
“Naturally.” Lu Wei drawled, just about to boast about himself, when he heard the clan members continue: “Disciples taught by the Vice Sect Master are just that impressive!”
“…” Lu Wei nearly choked to death.
。
Cuihe Garden, Xie Min sat in the room full of wreckage, on the verge of tears. This time she had truly lost her wife and her troops—not only losing that three hundred thousand taels of gold, but also her lifetime savings.
“I really am a fool…” Xie Min sat there, muttering to herself: “Why put my own money in together, why didn’t I dare ask that kid for it back when I left…” She paused, then wailed almost: “How am I supposed to get by from now on?”
Xie Min was in utter distress when a servant girl reported at the doorway: “Madam, a guest seeks an audience.”
So early in the day, with people in the capital not yet leaving the city, Xie Min assumed it was Pei Yukou and sighed lightly: “Third Master Pei still has a conscience; looks like he really takes this sister-in-law seriously.”
“It’s not Third Master Pei; it’s a young master.” The servant girl said softly, adding: “Handsome beyond belief.”
“It’s him?” Xie Min’s face instantly drained of color; clearly, Lu Yun had already rooted a deeply terrifying image in her heart. Just thinking of Lu Yun’s ferocious, mad face made Xie Min shudder uncontrollably.
The servant girl, seeing this, said softly: “If Madam doesn’t want to see him, this servant will send him away.”
“No way!” Xie Min snapped back to her senses and shook her head frantically: “Quickly invite him in!”
The main gate of Cuihe Garden slowly opened, and Lu Yun and Uncle Bao led two carriages into the garden. Guided by the servant girl, Lu Yun arrived at the inner courtyard gate, where Xie Min was already waiting. She wanted to curtsy to Lu Yun, but her status was there, yet she feared slighting him and provoking this demon king to rage, so she could only look at Lu Yun in panic.
Fortunately, Lu Yun did not make it difficult for her and bowed deeply to her respectfully: “Your nephew pays respects to Aunt.” That gentle and refined demeanor was completely different from last night.
