Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 11 Trying to get something for nothing? No way!
"Wait!"

Zhang Qi's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, blocking Lu Jia's path.

It wasn't that Zhang Qi was easily swayed; it was simply that the Xie family had indeed been very successful in Beijing back then.

Old Master Xie initially entered the capital to do business through the influence of a classmate he had once sponsored. This classmate held a minor official position in the capital. The Xie family first started a business through his connections, delivering rice, grains, and local products from both the north and south to teahouses and taverns owned by officials. Later, after opening up new avenues, they also became procurement agents for medicinal herbs for nobles.

Having dealt with officials and their families extensively, the Xie family was naturally well-versed in officialdom. From this perspective, although Lu Jia's words were exaggerated, they weren't entirely baseless. However, what truly shook Zhang Qi was the manner in which the brat uttered those words.

After her scolding and snort just now, she was no longer the useless little brat he knew.
He said, "You little brat, you're not old, but you've got quite the nerve. Since your grandfather, the only male heir left in the Xie family is Yi-ge. Even if you and your mother wanted to pull strings in the capital, who would care about you?"

Let's just listen to it; it won't cause any trouble.

If she dares to play tricks, the Zhang family has plenty of ways to make her regret it!
"What's it to you?" Lu Jia said with an arrogant expression. "I have some important news right now. Within three days, the government will issue a notice ordering at least 30% of the cargo ships at Tonghuomen to dock at Shawan. A month later, more than half of the cargo ships at Tonghuomen Wharf will have been diverted there."

"To this end, many large businesses in Tonghuomen have made preparations in advance. They are currently raising funds and are preparing to use the entire Chamber of Commerce to expand a number of shops at both ends of the current Shawan Wharf."

"You should already know these things from the Assistant Magistrate. Don't you know in your heart whether I have connections or not?"

Seeing Lu Jia leaning over, Zhang Qi's face was filled with shock and disbelief!
He Qing, the Assistant Magistrate, was a local of Tanzhou. After several years of dealings, Zhang Qi had become a regular customer of the He family. Although there was a chasm between officials and merchants, who doesn't love money? Officials love money too. If they didn't love money, where would they get those fine Huizhou ink, Duan inkstones, and calligraphy and paintings? Not to mention, if they wanted to climb the ranks, didn't they also have to spend money to bribe their way in?

Even if He Qing is aloof, he has to give back to the Zhang family in some way from time to time, just for the money they have.

The news that Lu Jia mentioned was indeed something he learned from the He family a few days ago. It was precisely because the news was accurate and reliable that he was willing to pay any price to buy the Li family's warehouse.

This matter was indeed a secret; how could Lu Jia know about it? And know it so clearly! She even knew that the merchants of Tanzhou were planning to expand the wharf in Shawan for trade?

"You brat, were you eavesdropping somewhere?!"

Lu Jia crossed her arms: "Whatever you say. Anyway, it's not me who's being delayed. Once the imperial inspector from the capital arrives next month, your assistant prefect won't dare to help you!"

If Zhang Qi had been somewhat disdainful just now, upon hearing the title "Imperial Inspector of the Grand Canal," he was completely stunned and speechless!

This girl actually knew that the capital was going to send an imperial inspector to oversee the grain transport?

Even he didn't know about this!

With a heavy heart, he looked Lu Jia over twice more before returning to his seat.

After a moment, he turned to Lu Jia and asked, "Why don't you tell me first, how do you plan to get the warehouse?"

This kind of information is not something a young girl could possibly access; this brat must be something strange.

Anyway, listening won't cost me anything, and compared to three hundred taels of silver, a warehouse is obviously more important.

Besides, it's not like he can't get the three hundred taels of silver back later, so why is he in such a hurry?
Lu Jia said, "You think you can get something for nothing? That won't do."

Zhang Qi's face darkened again: "So you still want payment?"

Lu Jia raised her lips and pushed a piece of paper towards him: "I've calculated it, and over the past three years, you've borrowed at least two or three thousand taels of silver from us under various pretexts. Plus the shop in front of Tangxing Temple left by my maternal grandfather. All of this belongs to the Xie family. It's only right that I ask you to get it back. What kind of reward is this?"

"I'm too lazy to argue with you, and I don't want any interest. Just give me back the shop and the three thousand taels of silver."

"what?!"

Zhang Qi was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then laughed angrily, "I said, why are you bringing this up with me out of the blue? So you're trying to swindle money from me! You've got a good plan!"

He declared ruthlessly, "Want a silver shop? Dream on!"

After saying that, he left without looking back.

After he came out, he didn't go to the county government office.

He limped into his own gate and immediately called someone over: "Take two boxes of tea and go to Lord He's residence to inquire whether there is any news that the capital is going to send an imperial censor to inspect the grain transport."

Whoever came to the capital, what did it have to do with them, small merchants? But he had to verify this!
He needed to know whether that brat from the Xie family was just spouting nonsense or if she actually had some kind of information.
This girl has changed so much since she woke up; he must find out more about her!

Before an incense stick could burn, the person who went to the He family returned, his legs moving like wheels of fire, his face still showing surprise: "Master!"

"I had just arrived at the He family's residence when I bumped into a yamen runner from the Tanzhou government office who came to deliver a message. The message was that the imperial court had planned to send several imperial envoys to inspect the waterways in various provinces, and the prefect had ordered all counties along the river to properly handle the wharves within their jurisdictions!"

Zhang Qi jumped up from the recliner immediately: "Is that really true?!"

The servant slapped his thigh: "Absolutely true! Would I dare lie?"

Zhang Qi stared wide-eyed out the window, as if trying to see through the walls and reach Lu Jia of the Xie family on the other side.

That brat was right about everything!
She not only knew the messages He Qing had given her in private, but she also knew things that He Qing didn't know in advance!
Zhang Qi felt like he had a boil on his buttocks and couldn't sit still any longer.

He paced back and forth a few times with his limp, then gritted his teeth and stepped out the door again.

The morning was enough for Lu Jia to sort out the events that would happen in the next few days. The reason why she brought up the news that the Imperial Censor was coming to inspect the area at this juncture was naturally because Zhang Qi could immediately confirm this.

Given his dog-like nature of only acting when there's profit to be made, how could he possibly let go of Lu Jia, who possesses so much confidential information?
Lu Jia had just finished washing clothes and was hanging them to dry under the eaves. When she saw Zhang Qi walk in again, she calmly brushed off the wrinkles on the clothes and then picked up the wooden basin.

"Why are you here again?"

Zhang Qi gritted his teeth: "Stop playing dumb with me. You really still have contact with people in Beijing?"

"It turns out they still couldn't bear to part with the storeroom."

Lu Jia held out a hand: "Where is what I asked for?"

(End of this chapter)