Qing Yao

Chapter 149 Hiring a Manchu to Intimidate People

What does "We regret that we cannot accommodate you" mean?
I've only just started using microloans, and my credit score hasn't even been affected yet, and you're already limiting my loan amount?
Zhao An disliked Manager Shi's attitude, feeling as if he had finally gotten a credit card, only to find that the limit was only 500 yuan.

"Isn't it too formal for you to say such things, shopkeeper?"

You can't hit a smiling face, so regardless of what Manager Shi was really thinking, Zhao An went straight into the office and plopped down, even making himself a bowl of tea.

They didn't act like outsiders at all.

Seeing this, Manager Shi made up his mind and went inside, saying in a low voice, "Lord Zhao, I made it very clear before that our manor will no longer entertain you. You should think of a way to repay the 100,000 taels you borrowed earlier."

Zhao An picked up his teacup and chuckled, "Manager Shi, to tell you the truth, I have no money to repay your estate right now. If you really want to force me to repay, please lend me another 100,000 taels so I can pay off my previous debts."

"."

Shopkeeper Shi was so angry at these words that he almost choked. He stood there with a sullen face, looking very aggrieved.

It's very unfair.

When lenders are threatened into doing favors by borrowers, where can they seek justice?

Zhao An shook his head, stood up and walked to the shopkeeper. The smile on his face turned into a sincere expression: "The shopkeeper helped me get out of here this time. I am not the kind of person who doesn't repay kindness. This five thousand taels is my way of thanking you, shopkeeper."

As he spoke, he magically slipped a five-thousand-tael silver note, which he had prepared beforehand, into Manager Shi's hand.

"I dare not take Lord Zhao's money again; it's too hot to handle."

Looking at Zhao An, whose moves were incredibly frightening, Manager Shi sighed and said, "It's not that I don't want to deal with Lord Zhao, it's just that I don't want to worry about you getting into trouble again every day, and I don't want to be led by the nose by you."

Zhao An chuckled awkwardly, "What happened in Jiangyin was purely accidental. I didn't want it either. To be honest, you were the only savior I could think of at the time. If you hadn't stepped in, I'd probably still be in jail right now."

This is the truth. Among the people Zhao An knows, there are two who can get through to the Grand Secretary's private plane. One is the bank manager Shi in front of him, and the other is Zheng Bowen, the salt commissioner who accepted 10,000 taels of silver from him.

The man surnamed Zheng was someone who would do a favor for money, and the two didn't have a deep relationship. It was uncertain whether he would be willing to help, so in desperation, Zhao An could only place his hopes on Director Shi.

The choice was right. Director Shi made a great effort to get Zhao An out of prison; in fact, he did even more work for him than he would have done for himself.

Not only did he inform He Zhongtang about Zhao An's imprisonment, but he also wrote several letters to his colleagues in the Imperial Household Department in the capital to help them, thus incurring many favors.

There was no other way. With Zhao Anzhen in trouble, not only would the money shop have a huge bad debt, but if that kid couldn't keep his mouth shut and exposed the falsification of asset certificates, Manager Shi's life would also be over.

Fortunately, Zhao An came out, otherwise Manager Shi wouldn't know what to do.

After carefully considering the whole situation, I decided it was best to cut ties with this kid to avoid him getting into trouble later.

When Zhao An asked someone for a favor, he had to give them a gift, even if it was given afterward. He absolutely could not allow anyone to have any negative opinion of him.

Using five thousand taels to solidify the relationship with Bank Manager Shi is a worthwhile gift.

After casually placing the silver notes on the table, Zhao An chuckled softly and said, "I suppose the shopkeeper knows that I have been appointed by the Emperor as the provincial education inspector?"

Shopkeeper Shi remained silent, but he already knew about the matter. "A few days ago, Minister Quan from the Imperial Household Department came to Jiangyin to see me, asking me, as a commissioner, to promote the policy of allowing students to study in other prefectures throughout the province. I have an idea, and I wonder if you would be interested in hearing it?"

After saying that, without waiting for whether Manager Shi wanted to hear it or not, he said to himself, "The matter of borrowing students is something that I was assigned to the Grand Secretary. I will definitely do it, but I also want to get some benefits from this matter, so I would like to do logistics business with you, Manager Shi. What do you say?"

"Logistics business?"

Manager Shi wasn't interested in doing business; rather, he didn't quite understand the concept of logistics.

"It's about doing business with students."

Zhao An stated frankly that he planned to take over the canteen business of all the prefectural schools in Jiangsu Province in his capacity as a supervisory committee member.

However, as a committee member, he couldn't directly appear in person, so he wanted Manager Shi to handle it.

“My Yangzhou Prefectural School canteen earns at least ten thousand taels a year, and the canteens of the eight prefectural schools should earn at least one hundred thousand taels a year. The manager can take over the contract, and I, as the committee member, can approve it. The profits can be split 50/50. How about that?”

Zhao An looked at Manager Shi, whose expression had changed slightly, with a smile on his face.

If one could truly earn 100,000 taels a year, a 50/50 split would amount to 50,000 taels, a profit that's frighteningly high.

Slightly tempted, Manager Shi muttered, "Such a good deal, Lord Zhao could just have anyone handle it, why bother with me?"

"The shopkeeper comes from the Imperial Household Department. With the Imperial Household Department's prestigious reputation, who in the local area dares to compete with the shopkeeper?"

Zhao An was after the large signboard behind President Shi.

Although he was a powerful committee member in Jiangsu's education sector, there were many small interest groups in local prefectural schools. Promoting the transfer of students across the country would definitely cause a surge in student enrollment in local prefectural schools, which would make the canteens very rich.

If he can think of it, others can too.

To gain a foothold in this market that relies on the policy of allowing students to study outside their registered area, one must have a strong brand.

Who can outmaneuver the Imperial Household Department?
Manager Shi had obviously thought of this as well.

Zhao An pressed his advantage, saying, "Manager Shi, we're friends. If I get into trouble, you help me; if you get into trouble, I'll do the same. It's the same in business. We all make money together. You can't afford to mess with money."

Manager Shi did not express his opinion on the spot, but suddenly got up and walked out.

Shortly after, he took out a stack of silver notes and placed them in front of Zhao An: "This is a loan of 100,000 taels that you previously arranged in the name of Lord Lou of the Education Office. After deducting 10,000 taels, the total is 90,000 taels. Please take a look, Lord Zhao."

"No need to order anymore,"

Zhao An casually picked up a 10,000-tael silver note and placed it aside, then tapped the remaining 80,000 taels: "Please exchange this 80,000 taels for notes from other money shops and then deliver them to Lord He in my name. As for this 10,000 taels, that's your commission, I keep my word."

After a long pause, Manager Shi silently placed the ten-thousand-tael silver note along with the five-thousand-tael silver note into the drawer, then sighed and said:
"The logistics business that Lord Zhao mentioned is feasible, but I, as the manager of this branch, may not be able to control the local area. So, I'll write a letter to my brother-in-law, who is a captain in the Eight Banners garrison in Jiangning. He and I can jointly take over the canteens of the prefectural schools in various places. No one should dare to compete with us then."

(End of this chapter)