Wanjin Lady

Chapter 169: Blocking the Funeral Hall

At this point, Mrs. Yao burst into tears.

This young lady is still so young!

Being a widow is not easy!

You can endure the gossip and it will pass, but the person at your bedside is cold and indifferent, and the close friend who knows your feelings is unaware of your feelings. When you are wronged, you have no one to talk to, and when you have happy events, there is no one to share them with. The only thing left in life is "loneliness".

"Fortunately... I heard you're pregnant, so you now have hope. Spend the rest of your life raising the child well. You still have an old father... You have to live a good life, okay?"

Yao Shizhen disagreed. His two sons naturally wouldn't comfort a delicate little girl, so he said with a stern face, "Could it be that just because her husband died, she wouldn't live anymore? Don't be like those chaste women who sacrifice their entire lives for a dead object. After a year of mourning—"

I'll find you a good marriage.

Yao Shizhen pursed his lips, feeling that it was inappropriate to say such things right after Zhao Heng's death, so he stopped talking in time. "After a year of mourning, you should first raise the posthumous child well and build up the winery business. We can talk about the future later. If all else fails... I'll support you. Just go ahead and do whatever you want!"

Wenwan forced a smile, but the worry between the young lady's brows did not diminish at all, but instead added a touch of charm.

It is like a delicate flower soaked in the wind and rain, so fragile and weak that it makes people feel pity.

Cheng Yunzhang sighed softly, "Manager Wen... I'm so sorry for the loss. Manager Wen isn't someone who's obsessed with personal relationships. He's sure to achieve great things in the future."

Is this... a comfort?
Why doesn't it sound right?

Wen Wan flung her handkerchief aside, wiped away her tears, and acted indecisive. "Thank you for your kind words, Master Cheng, but I'm at a loss right now... For now, I just want to raise the child. As for the rest... let's talk about it later."

When Cheng Yunzhang approached, he immediately smelled a faint scent of ginger juice.

His eyes dropped down to the gentle robe.

The young lady's deafening voice echoed in his ears.

"Looking up, I see the vast universe, the sun, moon, and stars are at my fingertips."

"I don't want to seek work in this world, so a little laziness is fine."

Well, this little girl's fox tail has been revealed again, and it's swaying in front of him, making him feel a little excited.

"Everyone, please come in first. I've reserved a quiet seat in the backyard for Mr. Yao. There's been a lot of people coming and going these past few days, so please forgive me if I've been inattentive."

In the Chen Dynasty, no matter whether it was a wedding or a funeral, a grand banquet was inevitable. Old Master Yao was of noble status, and his willingness to set foot in a merchant's house was meant to bring honor to the Wen family. Wen Wan arranged a few people to a quiet place in the back, set up a small table for them, and invited Old Man Wen to join them.

Madam Yao felt sorry for her. "You're pregnant, so if you can be lazy, just do it. It won't matter if outsiders say a few words. Your own health is the most important thing!"

Damn! This little girl had a miserable life. She lost her mother when she was young. Also, I heard that the Wen family was previously headed by a concubine named Liu.

Old Madam Yao was used to seeing those girls in Kyoto who had to make a living at the hands of their stepmothers, and their lives were really difficult.

What’s more, after losing his mother, he fell into the hands of a young lady?

It would be strange if the skin didn’t fall off!
Fortunately, she had a quick meeting with Concubine Liu before. Concubine Liu was efficient at work and had a straightforward personality. She didn't look like a scheming person. She even followed Wen Wan's lead in her words. This made Old Lady Yao, who had prepared a lot of criticism, give up immediately.

Wen Wan smiled weakly, "Old Master and Old Madam are willing to come and bring honor to me, Wen Wan. I am so grateful that I can't express it in words. It's just that it's not convenient right now. When I'm done with my work... I'll come to your house to pay my respects."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Hongmei rushed over in a panic. Forgetting all about appearances, she anxiously told Wenwan, "Miss, something terrible has happened! Xinlong Money House has brought a lot of people... and they've surrounded our courtyard!" Wenwan's heart skipped a beat.

I've been so busy these days that I forgot the most important thing.

The debt of Xinlong Money House...is due in these two days!

But the Wen family is currently holding a funeral. Even if the people from Xinlong Money House are not human beings, they wouldn't go to the mourning hall and cause trouble, right?
There was a commotion in the front yard.

A dozen clerks from the Xinlong Bank blocked the main entrance to the Wen residence. Manager Ding walked in slowly, holding the IOU. "As everyone knows, the Wen family owes our bank a thousand taels of silver. Including principal and interest, the total is 1,160 taels! The agreed repayment date is tomorrow! This is the loan certificate... Please take a look!"

Many onlookers came forward, took a serious look at the IOU, and then said with a "tsk tsk tsk" sound: "Shopkeeper Ding, you are so mean! The debt is not due until tomorrow, and you come to demand it today. You even brought so many people to intrude on the funeral hall of the Wen family's son-in-law. Don't go too far!"

Shopkeeper Ding bowed with a smile. His voice was not loud, but it echoed throughout the entire mourning hall.

"Everyone——"

"Four months ago, his accountant came to my bank with the land deed and Wen Weiming's seal to borrow money. For the sake of Manager Wen, I lent him one thousand taels of silver to tide him over the difficulties. The repayment was agreed to be on October 2nd."

"My Xinlong Bank has been in Ping County for thirty or forty years, and the maximum loan amount has never exceeded five hundred taels!"

"It was me, Old Ding... Out of my friendship with Shopkeeper Wen and knowing his family was truly struggling, I lent him the money, risking being fired by my employer... In this matter... who could accuse me of being dishonest?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent.

The loan amount at Xinlong Money House is indeed capped at 500 taels, and the loan amount can only be increased if there is collateral of corresponding value.

However, Old Zhu, who was hiding in the crowd eating melons, sneered.

But forget it!
Even if the land price in Ping County is not as high as that in Bozhou, the Wen family's mansion must be worth at least seven or eight hundred taels.

Moreover, given the situation at the Wen family at that time, who knows who might be taking advantage of the situation to make trouble.

We are all businessmen, and we want to make money without looking shabby, but why should we flatter ourselves?
Shopkeeper Ding continued.

"That day, when Young Master Wen got married, how many people from Ping County came to her to collect debts? Did our Xinlong Bank say anything?"

"Last month, I showed consideration for the elderly and vulnerable members of the Wen family and even extended their loan repayments for a month!"

"I, Old Ding, have done my best!"

Seeing Wen Wan approaching, Old Zhu, intent on performing well in front of Yasha, immediately stiffened his neck and choked Shopkeeper Ding, "No matter what, the Wen family's debt to you...is not due until tomorrow! No matter how anxious you are, you should wait until dawn, right? Now they're asking for payment, are you desperate for money?"

As if anticipating this question, Shopkeeper Ding placed his hands behind his back and spoke in a righteous tone, "Tomorrow? Tomorrow, the Wen family's son-in-law will be buried through this main gate. Who's willing to take over this mansion whose owner just passed away?"

Shopkeeper Ding glanced around with his eagle eyes. "Are you willing?"

Manager Ding's words left everyone speechless.

Although Zhao Heng didn't die in this mansion, he was still considered half-master of the Wen family and had ties to the house. The Chen Dynasty was superstitious about ghosts and gods, and with two people from the Wen family dying, most people would consider it unlucky.

(End of this chapter)