If you force me to take the blame, I'll spend a day in jail and gain a year's worth of spi

The next day, at the Yong'an Marquis's residence.

Zhang Heng was, after all, a fifth-rank martial artist, whose physique far surpassed that of ordinary people.

In addition, the Marquis's family had a deep foundation and spared no expense, using their treasured top-grade healing medicine.

Overnight, Zhang Heng's injuries were almost completely healed.

Qin Xuehua personally served the ginseng soup, her tone full of heartache and resentment:

"My poor Heng'er, he has suffered terribly this time."

"It's all that wretched child's fault, so vicious, even turning on his own brother like this."

Zhang Wanning also gritted her teeth and said:

"That's right, that beast Zhang Yu must be jealous of your mother's love for you and your talent, so he used such despicable means to harm you."

Does he think he can ruin you like this?

dream!"

Zhang Qingyue said gently, "Fifth brother, take good care of yourself and don't think about those sordid things anymore."

Jiang Luohan sat on a slightly distant embroidered stool, her face barely maintaining a concerned expression, but deep in her eyes there was still a trace of imperceptible alienation and lingering nausea.

Zhang Heng's face was pale, and his eyes were sinister. The fear and humiliation of yesterday had not completely dissipated, but instead fermented into a deeper resentment in his heart.

As he listened to the comforting words from his family and "sweetheart," especially the unanimous condemnation of Zhang Yu, that burning anger and the urge to prove himself surged up again.

His eyes flashed with resentment and determination: "Didn't Zhang Yu boast that he was the one secretly supporting the wealth and glory of the Marquis's mansion? Then I'll show him who's really incompetent."

He threw back the covers and was about to get out of bed:

"From this day forward, all businesses, properties, estates, and shops inside and outside the Marquis's residence will be taken over by me, Zhang Heng."

I want to do ten times, a hundred times better than that good-for-nothing Zhang Yu.

I want him to know that his ridiculous reliance and scheming are nothing but a pipe dream in front of me, utterly vulnerable.

Qin Xuehua felt both gratified and heartbroken to see his "ambition":

"Heng'er, I will naturally support you in having such ambition."

You are smarter and more talented than Zhang Yu; you will definitely do a thousand times better than him.

Zhang Wanning clapped her hands and cheered, "That's right, Xiao Heng will definitely do it. Let that good-for-nothing see what real skills are."

Zhang Qingyue nodded slightly, which was taken as agreement.

Seeing Zhang Heng's renewed spirits, Jiang Luohan felt a little less distant from him.

With the support and encouragement of everyone, Zhang Heng's confidence soared even higher.

He immediately summoned his personal servant and ordered, "Bring some men; I want to check the accounts of each shop one by one and understand their operational status."

"Yes, young master."

The servant obeyed and left.

With the help of his maid, Zhang Heng changed into a new set of clothes and was about to set off.

Just then, a deafening commotion suddenly erupted outside the two heavy vermilion gates of the Marquis's mansion.

"Listen up, people from the Yong'an Marquis's mansion! We are here on the orders of my master to collect the debts owed by your esteemed Zhang Yu."

The total amount was 768,500 taels of silver, as evidenced by IOUs and agreements.

Please open the door quickly and complete the transaction clearly to avoid damaging the harmony.

It's the Wang family.

"What? The Wang family? Debt collection? 760,000...?"

"My God, so much money?!"

"Look, there are many servants of the Wang family outside, and they're even banging gongs."

A large number of servants quickly gathered at the entrance of the Marquis's residence, whispering and looking alarmed.

Qin Xuehua, Zhang Wanning, Zhang Qingyue, and Jiang Luohan, who rushed over upon hearing the commotion, hurriedly arrived at the front yard.

Hearing the shouts and gongs outside the door, their faces turned ashen, as if they had been slapped hard in public, the pain burning intensely.

Especially Qin Xuehua and Jiang Luohan, one is the mistress of a marquis's mansion and the other is the daughter of a vice minister. When have they ever suffered such humiliation of being forced to pay debts in public?

This is practically peeling their faces off and stomping on them.

"This is outrageous! The Wang family is going too far!"

Qin Xuehua was trembling with anger, pointing at the door in a shrill voice.

"How dare they, how dare they humiliate my Marquis's mansion like this?" Zhang Wanning also shouted shrilly, both anxious and angry.

Zhang Qingyue pursed her lips tightly, looked out the door, then at Zhang Heng, who was pale as a ghost, and Jiang Luohan, who was swaying precariously. Her heart turned ice-cold.

She knew that Zhang Yu's "prediction" had come true.

This is not just a debt, but a long-planned revenge and humiliation by the Wang family.

The Marquis's mansion is definitely going to lose face this time.

Jiang Luohan was filled with shame and indignation, after all, this debt was all on her head.

"Mother, don't panic."

Zhang Heng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the fear and humiliation in his heart. He knew he couldn't panic at this moment.

There's a written agreement for this debt, and the Wang family is in the right. Making a scene will only embarrass the Marquis's mansion even more.

He pondered for a moment and said, "This money... I'll just pay it back. Consider it a loss to avoid further trouble; I absolutely cannot let the Wang family look down on me!"

"Yes, pay back the money! It's not like our Marquis's mansion can't afford to pay it back."

Zhang Wanning also retorted, trying to maintain the dignity of a noblewoman.

Even so, 768,500 taels is no small sum.

Although the Marquis's family was wealthy, it would be extremely difficult for them to raise such a huge sum of money in a short time.

"Madam, young master, the cash available in the account, plus the turnover of the various shops over the past few days, can only raise a maximum of... 150,000 taels."

Butler Fu rushed over, wiping the sweat from his brow, and reported in a low voice.

"150,000 taels?"

Qin Xuehua frowned deeply; this was far too bad.

"Mother, how about... we sell some assets?"

Zhang Wanning made the suggestion, but then hesitated, "But our shops are making a fortune every day, they're like goose that lays golden eggs, it would be such a waste to sell them."

Moreover, if they sell now, the Wang family will definitely try to lower the price.

A moment of silence fell over everyone.

Indeed, those shops that are thriving under Zhang Yu's secret management are the most valuable assets of the Hou family now, and the source of their confidence in "earning 100,000 a month". Who would be willing to sell them?

"The shop cannot be sold."

Zhang Heng gritted his teeth and said, "That is the foundation of the Marquis's mansion, and also the foundation upon which I will make my mark in the future."

His eyes flickered, and he suddenly said:

"I remember now, don't we still have two thousand acres of high-quality paddy fields and a small black iron ore vein in the suburbs of Beijing?"

That's a family business passed down through generations. While the output is stable, the returns... are indeed slower compared to shops in the city.

Qin Xuehua's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

In their view, although the two thousand acres of fertile land and the black iron mine were also high-quality assets, the income growth was slow and management required manpower, which was far less profitable than the shops in the city that made a fortune every day.

Using them to fill this hole is a perfect choice, as it solves the immediate problem without causing any fundamental damage.

Only Zhang Qingyue frowned slightly.

She was more rational than her mother and sisters, knowing that the fields and mines were the most stable foundation of the Marquis's mansion. Although the returns were not as high as some other lucrative industries, they were more sustainable.

As for the shops in the city... although they seem to be thriving now, the business world is full of ups and downs and risks are also great.

Moreover... she had a vague feeling that without Zhang Yu's behind-the-scenes management, it was uncertain whether those shops could maintain their current prosperity.

"Mother, Fifth Brother, the land and mines are the foundation of our Marquis's mansion. Should we reconsider?"

Or, should we first negotiate with the Wang family to repay in installments?

Zhang Qingyue advised in a low voice.

"Installment payment?"

Wouldn't that make it seem like my Marquis's mansion can't even afford this much money, and that I have to beg them for an extension?"

Qin Xuehua immediately shook her head; what she cared about most at that moment was her reputation.

Zhang Heng shook his head and said:

"Third sister is overthinking it. Even without those fields and mines, the Marquis's mansion is still the Marquis's mansion."

Once we grasp the ins and outs of the city's businesses, making money will only become easier.

"Once I take over, I'll reorganize things properly, and the profits might even double. Then I can redeem the land."

Seeing that her mother and younger brother were determined, Zhang Qingyue could no longer persuade them, but the unease in her heart grew stronger.

Soon, the stewards sent by the Marquis's residence and the Wang family began their "handover" at the gate.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered around, pointing and whispering, making Qin Xuehua and the others feel uneasy, but they had no choice but to pretend to be calm.

Qin Xuehua took out the Marquis's residence's identification plaque and land deed and handed them to Steward Wang Er.

She slightly raised her chin, trying to project the haughty demeanor of the mistress of the Marquis's mansion, her tone deliberately indifferent:

"These two thousand acres of top-quality paddy fields, as well as the black iron ore vein thirty miles west of the city, are valued at 620,000 taels of silver and will be given to your Wang family."

"Plus 150,000 taels of silver, that should be enough to pay off your debts."

She pushed the land deed and banknotes over as if she were giving alms.

Steward Wang inspected the land deed, confirmed it was correct, and a barely perceptible sneer appeared on his face.

But he didn't say much, readily signed and sealed the deed, and accepted it.

For the Wang family, having so easily acquired the Marquis's valuable ancestral property and publicly humiliated the Marquis's family, their goal had been achieved.

After the transaction was completed, Steward Wang Er led his men, carrying a gong, and swaggered away.

Zhang Wanning's chest heaved with anger.

Jiang Luohan turned pale, feeling that she would never forget the humiliation she had suffered today.

Zhang Heng watched the departing figures of the Wang family members, his hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his flesh.

What a shame!

This is all Zhang Yu's fault!

"Mother, sister, sister Luohan, don't worry."

Zhang Heng turned around, his eyes burning with the flames of revenge and an eagerness to prove himself.

"This setback is nothing."

Farmland and mines are nothing but inanimate objects; what's truly valuable are the shops, the connections, and the business acumen.

I will take over all the shops right away and make sure that the income of the Marquis's mansion far exceeds that of the past.

"It won't be long before we can redeem those fields and mines."

Looking at his spirited demeanor, Qin Xuehua was equally confident:

"Okay, Heng'er, your mother believes you."

The future of the Marquis's mansion rests on your shoulders.

"If you manage those shops well, they'll be rolling in money every day, making those who laughed at you look at you with new eyes!"

"That's right, if Zhang Yu can do it, Xiao Heng can definitely do it too." Zhang Wanning regained her confidence.

Jiang Luohan looked at Zhang Heng. Although she still harbored resentment, she hoped that he could achieve something and save face.

Only Zhang Qingyue felt the shadow of unease in her heart grow heavier and heavier.