Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

"Go to hell!" Gao Zhao wasn't going to tolerate him. He raised his leg and kicked Guo Weize, sending him staggering.

This made him somewhat regretful; his physical condition was truly lacking! Even a kick like that couldn't make someone vomit blood; he was even inferior to Jia Baoyu!

I wonder what would happen if I took two steps back and kicked out?

"Gao Zhao, you owe me money and you don't pay it back, and you even dare to hit me!" Guo Weize was furious after being kicked and shouted angrily.

Gao Qiu's face grew increasingly grim, and he shouted, "Gao Zhao, what exactly is going on here!"

Gao Zhao was equally bewildered, saying blankly, "I don't know! How could I owe him money? Does he seem like the kind of person who would lend me money?"

Gao Qiu was taken aback and turned to look at Guo Weize. He had also been shocked by the other party's words and hadn't reacted for a moment. Ten thousand strings of cash! Who wouldn't be shocked to hear that!

Even if this money were given to the government... well, it wouldn't take long!

In any case, this was a very large sum of money; if given to Grand Tutor Cai, it could secure a very good official position!

Hearing Gao Zhao say this, he finally realized, "That's right! Given his relationship with Guo Weize, would he lend him money?"

"Gao Zhao, you still dare to deny it? It's written in black and white!" Guo Weize pulled out a contract from his pocket, making a rustling sound as he shook it!

Gao Zhao stepped forward suspiciously and took a look, then suddenly laughed. This was the IOU that someone had signed at the money exchange shop. It seemed like this was a bombshell!

Wow, Grand Tutor Cai is indeed very efficient!

No wonder he was appointed prime minister four times!

The emperor has a keen eye for talent; he appoints people based on merit. He truly has the qualities of a wise ruler!

Gao Qiu took the IOU and glanced at it. His eye twitched slightly. He looked up at Gao Zhao, his eyes filled with anger, and said coldly, "You still dare to laugh? Did you borrow this money?"

Seeing this, Guo Weize said smugly, "Ten thousand strings of cash, the written agreement is here, and it's also on file with the Kaifeng Prefecture. You can't deny it!"

Gao Zhao's smile remained unchanged as he calmly said, "So that money shop belongs to you! No wonder the manager was so generous, lending me 100,000 strings of cash so readily!"

Guo Weize glanced at Gao Qiu subconsciously and hurriedly shouted, "Stop talking nonsense and pay back the money!"

"Pay back the money? Pay back what money?" Gao Zhao sat down on a bench by the pavilion and said leisurely, "It's clearly written in the contract: a one-year loan term, five percent monthly interest, payable monthly. I've only borrowed it for a few days, what money are you asking me for?"

"You..." Guo Weize choked. He originally wanted to use this to make Gao Zhao bear a huge debt. In this way, he could not only make money, but also drive Gao Zhao away, thereby making his own son the heir of the Gao family and thus seeking greater benefits.

He never expected that he would learn from a friend in the Ministry of Personnel that the imperial court was going to abolish the old salt certificates and issue new ones!

Gao Zhao, that cunning villain, had actually borrowed salt certificates from him. He panicked immediately. If the news of the replacement of the salt certificates got out, Gao Zhao would probably deny it. That's why he rushed over in a hurry to get the money back!

Seeing that Gao Zhao was still bringing up repayment time and interest, he couldn't care less and said directly, "Don't talk to me about that! In short, I'm not lending you the money! You'd better pay me back right now!"

Seeing his anxiety, Gao Zhao became even more certain that salt certificates had been abolished. He immediately adopted his nonchalant demeanor and sneered, "What kind of logic is that? You think you can just lend it and return it as you please? Let me tell you, everything will be done according to the contract, or I'll take you to court in Kaifeng!"

Guo Weize had no time to argue with him in court. The imperial edict had already reached the Ministry of Personnel and would be implemented within a day or two. By then, it would be too late!

He hurriedly turned to Gao Qiu and said, "Brother-in-law, I had no idea he went to the money exchange to borrow money. The shopkeeper knew he was my nephew, which is why he lent him such a large sum!"

"That's a lot of interest at five percent, five thousand strings of cash a month! Make him pay it back quickly, and I won't charge him the interest! You know that money exchange shop isn't just mine; if this drags on any longer, I won't be able to explain myself!"

Gao Qiu had been observing the expressions of the two men and had already noticed something was wrong!

These two don't seem to be in a relationship of lending and borrowing at all.

Switching identities, that's more like it!

"What do you say?" Gao Qiu turned to look at Gao Zhao.

"No money? I'll pay the interest on time!" Gao Zhao answered without hesitation, then added, "But let's make this clear first! I'm not borrowing money, I'm borrowing salt certificates. I'll repay you five thousand strings of salt certificates every month!"

Guo Weize's face suddenly turned deathly pale. He looked at Gao Zhao in astonishment, then cried out, "No, you have to pay me back!"

"It's all in black and white, registered with Kaifeng Prefecture! Have you forgotten?" Gao Zhao sneered, no longer bothering to hide anything from him, raising an eyebrow and saying, "What? You also know that salt permits are going to be abolished?"

"Thump!"

Guo Weize took two steps back and fell to the ground with a thud!

Only one thought crossed his mind: It's over, he knows!

Gao Zhao stood up, walked up to him, looked down at him condescendingly, and said disdainfully, "With your shallow perspective, you dare to try and outsmart me? Do you know how hard it was for me to hold back my laughter while watching your clumsy performance?"

This sentence was so powerful it was like killing someone's spirit. Guo Weize was so angry that he trembled all over. His hand pointing at him was shaking, and his lips were trembling but he couldn't say a word!

Gao Zhao put his hands on his hips, looking smug, and said proudly, "Hey, I really enjoyed spending this 100,000 strings of cash, Uncle! Thank you so much! Please do your best next time!"

"You... pfft!"

Before Guo Weize could finish his sentence, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Someone come here!" Gao Qiu shouted hurriedly, summoning servants to help Guo Weize away and then asking a doctor to come and treat him!

After a flurry of activity, I turned around and saw Gao Zhao looking down at his blood-stained trousers with a look of disgust.

"Get in here!" Gao Qiu was furious at the sight of him. He shouted and walked toward the study.

"Get me a new pair of pants!" Gao Zhao ordered Gao Yi, then reluctantly followed.

Shi Qian watched his departing figure with admiration. One move and he had given away 100,000 strings of cash!

Did they really make money so quietly?

How many tombs would I have to rob?!

Even if you swing your arm until it smokes, you still won't earn anything!

Do we live in the same world?

He nudged Lu Qian, who was standing beside him, and asked, "Is that man the young master's uncle?"

"Hmm!" Lu Qian nodded and said in a low voice, "You're also curious about their relationship, aren't you?"

"No, that's not it!" Shi Qian shook his head and said, "This is the first time I've ever seen someone get so angry they vomit blood!"

Lu Qian: "..."

On the other side, Gao Zhao had just entered the study when he was met with an angry shout: "How dare you borrow money from loan sharks!"

Gao Zhao was also exhausted and secretly vowed that he would never let anyone yell at him again!

"My lord, you are mistaken! This is an investment!"

"What kind of investment is this! This is gambling! What will you do if the salt permits aren't revoked?"

Gao Zhao smiled and said, "Gambling is about relying on luck without knowing your cards; how can it be called gambling if you know your cards?"

Gao Qiu narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Where did you learn that salt permits are going to be abolished? Be careful, or you'll be punished according to family rules!"

As he spoke, Gao Qiu casually picked up a wooden stick.

Gao Zhao quickly took a few steps back and called out, "It's right here, sir!"

"Um?"