Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 178 Things are different now
Requesting an audience with the lady?
Apart from Shen Tu Zhuo, everyone else looked surprised. In their eyes, Tan Huai Ke was just a merchant's daughter who wanted to marry into a high-ranking family. She was used to appease the young widow in the Shen Tu family. She was said to have a few shops, but they were just a dilapidated dowry that her family had abandoned. The only land she owned was given to her by her husband's family. She was not respectable at all.

Although that Yan Zhi Si business has done fairly well in the past two years, it's only managed to make ends meet. Besides, the Tan family itself has declined and is heavily in debt. With no power or influence, who would come to see her?

Old Lady Liao rolled her eyes: "Could they be here to collect a debt? Didn't you say you were going to Andu to do business and borrowed a lot of money from the pawnshop? Madam, you can't possibly be unable to pay it back? Oh dear, they've even come to our mansion to collect debts!"

The old lady's face darkened again: "Ha, birds of a feather flock together. The Tan family has also accumulated a lot of debts, and their business is on the verge of collapse. Your spendthrift brother is still squandering money in gambling dens every day. Whatever the reason, you have to deal with the trouble you caused yourself. We won't help you pay off your debts and fill the hole."

"Collecting debts? That shouldn't be the case." Tan Huaike herself was also confused. She had paid back all the money she borrowed from the pawnshop, so why would someone come to her door to collect debts?

“The money that Sister-in-law borrowed from the pawnshop was to take over the shop on Huaqi Street. If all else fails, there’s still the shop to pay off, so there’s no need for Aunt Liao to worry about it,” Shen Tu Zhuo retorted. “Besides, Sister-in-law’s business is thriving, and she certainly doesn’t have any debts she can’t repay. I think we should invite her in first and not neglect her.”

Tan Huaike looked at him: Do you know who wants to see me?
Shen Tu Zhuo gave her a reassuring look: Don't worry, I'm here to support you.

The old lady thought for a moment, then gestured to Liao'ao to quickly clean the room, and told Shentu Zhuo to put on his official robes so that outsiders wouldn't laugh at him. Only then did she order someone to invite the guests in.
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The two men who arrived were merchants dressed in fine clothes, both regular customers of Yanzhisi, whom Tan Huaike recognized.

After entering the house, the two first greeted the old lady, and then bowed to Tan Huaike in a fawning manner: "Manager Tan, we've been waiting for you! The Chamber of Commerce is finally going to pay attention to our business here!"

Tan Huaike now understood. They were all members of the Guangli Chamber of Commerce. They had come specifically to get acquainted with her after learning that she was in charge of the Chamber in Hexi and the Western Regions. This would allow them to exchange information and make money together when new trade routes opened up.

Tan Huaike stood up to greet them: "Boss Zhou, Boss Yu, you're too kind. With this marriage alliance with Mo He, the trade routes between Da Xuan and the Western Regions will definitely be expanded. The Chamber of Commerce has already drafted a preliminary charter for this matter. After I have sorted it out, I will convene everyone to discuss it and see if there is anything that needs to be added. Please give me your guidance."

Upon hearing her words, the two bosses beamed with smiles: "Oh, Manager Tan, there's no need to be so modest. You've just returned from Andu, so please settle in properly, and we'll host a welcome dinner for you." They then took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Shen Tu Zhuo, "Lord Shen Tu, if you have some free time, please join Manager Tan in your presence."

Shen Tu Zhuo waved his hand and refused: "I am not feeling well and have official duties to attend to, so it is inconvenient for me. Manager Tan knows the news and movements in your chamber of commerce best. With her coordinating and handling the situation, you will definitely not suffer any losses."

Both bosses were shrewd individuals; they never really expected to be able to invite Shen Tu Zhuo, the official in charge of opening up trade routes, but were merely testing the waters. Now that Manager Tan has come to oversee Hexi, her abilities are recognized by the guild leader, and she's also Lord Shen Tu's sister-in-law. Surely she could find out anything she wanted to know?
After chatting for a while, the two bosses felt reassured and tactfully took their leave.

Before leaving, they couldn't help but flatter her: "The old lady is truly blessed. Her new wife is quite capable in business, and the second young master is also a talented man. The Shentu family is truly bringing glory to the family."

The old lady had no choice but to swallow her anger and forced a satisfied smile.

Liao was even more shocked. What merchant guild? What manager? When did this Tan family girl become so powerful? It seems her prestige is about to surpass that of the Queen!

She couldn't keep things to herself, and after the guests left, she asked them in a sarcastic tone.

Pei'er finally seized the opportunity to retort: ​​"My lady... my mistress is now in charge of the Guangli Chamber of Commerce. If these merchants want to make a profit from the new trade routes, wouldn't they have to curry favor with my mistress?" Liao's old face turned red with anger, but she dared not insult her any further.

Seeing the old lady's sullen face and wary expression, Tan Huai Ke took the initiative to make amends: "Aunt Jun, although my husband has passed away, we are still family. In my opinion, dividing the family is just a matter of appearances. Aunt Jun is farsighted. Doing this will also benefit my husband's career. In the end, it's all for the sake of everyone living a comfortable life."

"Yes, it's best if you understand." The old lady picked up her teacup and took a sip.

“I remember that Aunt Jun and the Tan family agreed to support each other. I think there’s no need to go to such lengths,” Tan Huai Ke said. “Instead of pinning our hopes on my selfish grandfather and my useless brother, it would be better to leave the planning to me. If I can be selected as a royal merchant, I can provide the Shen Tu family with another layer of protection.”

These words struck a chord with the old lady.

Back then, this was the situation she and Shentu Heng desired: a military-business alliance, a strategic advance and retreat. Even if the Shentu clan could only remain in Hexi, even if they faced further suppression, they would always have a way out. And now, aside from worrying about Shentu Zhuo reopening old cases, the situation was actually better than she had anticipated.

Seeing that the old lady was in a peaceful mood and had obviously come to terms with things, Tan Huaike gave Shen Tu Zhuo a wink.

The latter understood and ordered the surrounding servants, "You may all leave."

The old lady glanced at him, knowing he had something important to say, and then dismissed Liao's wife.

Once the three of them were alone in the room, Shentu Zhuo began to recount the events that had occurred in Andu, then solemnly asked, "Mother, we've discovered that the Li family of merchants may have come to Hexi. Do you know their whereabouts?"

The old lady frowned and pondered: "A merchant surnamed Li? When your grandfather first came to Hexi, quite a few people did come to visit and make friends, but I've never heard of anyone surnamed Li. Besides, they were just the buyers of that old mansion. Whether their business failed or their family members died, where they went afterward is none of our business. They wouldn't come looking for revenge, would they?"

Shen Tu Zhuo said helplessly, "I thought Mother might know some of the inside story... It's alright, let's start from another place."

The old lady hesitated for a moment, then advised, "Let bygones be bygones. If we keep pursuing this, I'm afraid they'll try to harm you again."

“Mother, sometimes we can’t just give up whenever we want. The more we run away, the more arrogant they become. Without any leverage in our own hands, they can more easily put us to death,” Shen Tu Zhuo said. “If we want to be worry-free, we have to seize their weaknesses and let them taste the bitterness we have suffered, so that they can never recover.”

"So you've been holding this grudge all along."

"Of course, I will make my grandfather pay for his wrongful death and my brother's death in battle!"
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Next chapter: I feel that Aunt Jun is hiding something.