The Heir

Сhарtеr 104: Sоmewhat Dеsрiсаblе (For the Hеshibi оf Yuanyu Zhimо)

In the Spring рrivаtе rооm оf the Four Sеasons Teahousе, nоt far frоm the Li rеsidеnсе.

Ge Dаnа sаt with аn imрosing рosture, his largе, fаn-like рalm tightly gripрing a purрle clау tеароt. Нe squinted slightlу, siрping tеа dirеctlу from thе sрout. His оthеr hand lightlу tappеd the jujube woоd tаblеtoр.

Sitting oppоsitе him, Li Jingming аpреаrеd sоmеwhat mоrе relаxеd, sitting quietly аnd gazing аt а рot оf оrсhids bеside the teа seat. It was a treе orchid, currеntly in full bloоm, filling the rооm with fragrаnce.

After a while, Ge Dana finally spoke, "Qiu Jie will divorce Li Zhengping, her dowry will be returned, and you must compensate half of your family's assets. Then all past matters will be settled."

These were the terms Ge Dana had devised last night while lying on Hongxing's bed in the Qilan Courtyard. Such conditions would prove to the world that the fault for Ge Qiu Jie's divorce from Li Zhengping lay with Li Zhengping, and that Ge Qiu Jie was innocent. This would preserve Ge Qiu Jie's reputation.

Additionally, it would help Qiu Jie secure some wealth for herself.

He thought to himself that Li Jingming had embezzled a considerable amount of money from the main family's businesses over the years. Moreover, with his help, Madam Fang had engaged in significant tax evasion, and he had kept evidence of it all. Ge Dana believed the Li family would not dare to turn against him. If they did, he was confident he could land Li Jingming in prison.

"On what grounds? Let's speak plainly. Initially, it was you who deceived Zhengping. Moreover, since marrying into our Li family, Ge Qiu Jie has failed in her filial duties and disobeyed her husband's teachings, violating the seven grounds for divorce. If not for our long-standing relationship, she should have been divorced outright. Now, I agree to a mutual divorce only out of consideration for the bond Zhengping shared with her as husband and wife. As for the family assets, that is impossible." At this point, Li Jingming finally shifted his gaze from the orchids and spoke calmly.

Ge Dana grinned and chuckled, "Heh, don't be so tough. Where did your family's assets come from over the years? Weren't they all siphoned off from the main family's businesses with my help? Your wife is also quite skilled at embezzling money. Over the years, I’ve turned a blind eye to many things, but that doesn’t mean I was unaware."

As he spoke, Ge Dana pulled a few sheets of paper from his pocket and tossed them in front of Li Jingming. "Take a good look."

Li Jingming calmly picked up the papers and unfolded them. They were nothing more than records: in a certain year and month, the Li family owed door tax and fixed balance tax, among others. The actual payments and the evaded taxes were clearly listed.

"Don’t use this to threaten me. As far as I know, many merchants paid far less in door taxes and fixed balance taxes than my family. What do you say to that? So, it’s hard to say whether our Li family truly evaded taxes." Li Jingming said, placing the papers Ge Dana had handed him on the table. He then reached into his own pocket, took out the papers Zhen Niang had given him, and placed them on the table, pushing them toward Ge Dana.

Ge Dana gave Li Jingming a suspicious glance, then picked up the papers. After reading them, he slammed his fist heavily on the table.

"Gentlemen, would you like more tea?" Hearing the commotion, the tea attendant outside quickly pushed the door open and asked politely."Get out, why did you come in without being called?" Ge Dana roared, and the tea server timidly retreated, then tightly closed the door.

At this moment, Ge Dana's mind was in turmoil. He had been single-mindedly scheming against others, never expecting that he himself had long been plotted against by someone else. Indeed, those who dig pits for others will inevitably fall into one themselves.

The accounts listed on the paper Li Jingming handed over showed understatements on the books, but correspondingly, the remaining portions had ended up in his own pocket.

And all these records were in his private ledger.

He had no idea when Li Jingming had gotten hold of his private ledger. If the contents of these private accounts were exposed, all the family assets he had embezzled over the years would be ruined.

At this point, how could he still care about Ge Qiu Jie?

"Fine, no division of family assets then, but the dowry must be returned. Additionally, we exchange these two private ledgers," Ge Dana said with a dark expression.

"Since it's a mutual separation, returning the dowry is only right and proper—that condition is acceptable. As for exchanging private ledgers, there's no need. How can I be sure you haven't kept a copy? The same goes for you. Thus, exchanging them would be completely meaningless. Let's just keep each other's weaknesses. In the future, we can coexist peacefully. That works well enough," Li Jingming replied.

"Fine, it's settled then. This afternoon, I'll bring people to fetch Qiu Jie and move the dowry," Ge Dana glared, realizing he had truly underestimated Li Jingming before. Indeed, back when the Li family had left Li Jingming in charge of their business, if Li Jingming hadn't had some real ability, how could he have managed?

"Very well, as you wish," Li Jingming nodded, then stood up and took his leave.

As the door closed, Ge Dana smashed the teapot in his hand. He knew clearly that not only could he do nothing against Li Jingming now, but it was also unlikely he would ever be able to scheme for the Li family's assets again in the future.

Now, the only thing to be thankful for was that Li Jingming hadn't been ruthless. Qiu Jie could still leave with her dowry and a mutual separation, which at least preserved some face for the Ge family.

……………………

In the afternoon, Zhen Niang returned after delivering the invitations. Not far from her family's shop, she saw Ge Dana leading a group of people moving Ge Qiu Jie's dowry out of the Li household.

On both sides of the street, many onlookers had gathered.

"I said it on their wedding day—Ge Qiu Jie and Li Zheng Ping wouldn't last long. See? It turned out just as I predicted," someone remarked smugly from the sidelines.

"What's there to be proud of? Who didn't see that coming back then?" another retorted dismissively.

"Even a single night as husband and wife creates a bond that lasts a hundred days. If the two of them had tried to make it work, they might not have been so mismatched. Ge Qiu Jie may seem harsh, but she's straightforward, without any underhanded schemes. Zheng Ping is an upright man and wouldn't have treated Ge Qiu Jie too unfairly. How did the two families end up in such a mess?" someone else commented.

"That's true, that's true," a few in the crowd agreed.

At that moment, Ge Qiu Jie emerged from the Li household dressed in bright red, almost like a bride on her wedding day. As she reached the intersection and saw the crowd watching, she snapped irritably, "What are you all staring at…"

With that, she angrily boarded the carriage.

Just then, Li Zheng Ping rushed out from the alley and called out to Ge Qiu Jie's carriage, "Qiu Jie, take care."

"Go," was the reply, accompanied by the crisp crack of the coachman's whip.Zhen Niang stood under the eaves of a shopfront by the street. She didn’t know what celebration this household had, but red paper scraps from firecrackers littered the ground, resembling scattered plum blossom petals.

Watching the carriage gradually disappear into the distance and the dowry procession fade from view, Zhen Niang let out a long sigh. It wasn’t that she had any particular thoughts—in truth, this outcome was the best for both parties. She had simply sighed instinctively.

Just then, several firecrackers suddenly exploded beside her, startling her. Turning around, she saw Luo Jiu in a blue robe and a gauze hat, swinging a small string of "Hundred Sons, Thousand Grandsons" firecrackers. Noticing Zhen Niang’s gaze, he raised his hand with a smile.

His slightly dark face still carried an air of refinement.

"Today, my ‘Yi’ branch store is opening. I set off a few strings of firecrackers, and this small one fell to the ground without going off. I only noticed it later, so I relit it," Luo Jiu said as he walked over.

"Ah, congratulations," Zhen Niang quickly replied. Looking up, she saw the shop’s signboard: Yi Hou Sheng Bank, "Yi" Branch.

He was already expanding with branch stores.

"Thank you. By the way, your Li Family Ink Manor is about to open soon, right? I’ve seen the interior is almost ready," Luo Jiu nodded, walking over lazily and leaning against a wall, tucking his hands into his sleeves as he asked Zhen Niang.

"Yes, it’ll open in a few days," Zhen Niang replied.

"You must be returning from delivering invitations, right? So where’s mine?" Luo Jiu directly held out his hand in front of Zhen Niang.

Zhen Niang was taken aback for a moment—no one had ever so directly asked for an invitation like this.

"Surely you didn’t forget mine? We’re fellow townsfolk," Luo Jiu pretended to scowl, widening his eyes.

Zhen Niang couldn’t help but laugh, patting a small bundle she carried in her hand. "How could I forget? I prepared it long ago. It’s just that your place wasn’t on the way, so I planned to deliver it tomorrow. Who would’ve thought you’d quietly open a branch store here? I was even worried you might not grace us with your presence." As she spoke, she crouched down and opened the small bundle, which contained several more invitations. Zhen Niang flipped through them one by one.

Luo Wenqian also crouched down, picked up a few invitations, and then held up one of them. "Hmm, this one is mine."

Zhen Niang leaned over to look and indeed saw Luo Wenqian’s name written on it.

"Why are these few blank?" Luo Wenqian then asked, holding several blank invitations.

"I just went to the Merchant Guild and brought a few blank invitations in case I ran into any acquaintances, so I could fill them out on the spot," Zhen Niang explained.

"Well, then I’ll take another blank one. If I happen to meet someone from Huizhou, I’ll invite them on your behalf. The more, the merrier," Luo Jiu said, tucking another blank invitation into his robe.

"Thank you," Zhen Niang replied without hesitation. Luo Jiu ran a bank and often dealt with wealthy households. If he could indeed invite some, it would help bolster the occasion.

Zhen Niang had her own ambitions. Her family’s opening ceremony couldn’t compare to the Tian family’s, but at the very least, it shouldn’t fall too far behind. So, having more guests was always a good thing.

On the day of the Tian family’s opening, it had been extraordinarily lively. The Yingtian Prefect had attended, along with all the officials from the Ink Affairs Bureau, and even Eunuch Ma from the tax office had made an appearance. It was truly a magnificent spectacle.To be honest, Zhen Niang had also sent an invitation to Eunuch Ma. After all, the tax office was the major player in the entire commercial sector, and not inviting him might draw unwanted attention. As for whether he would come or not, Zhen Niang had no expectations at all.

"Don't mention it, don't mention it," Luo Jiu waved his hand dismissively.

Zhen Niang smiled with her eyes slightly narrowed, but when she turned her head, she noticed some passersby giving them strange looks. Her face flushed slightly. The sight of her and Luo Wenqian crouching under the eaves, rummaging through a bag to retrieve invitations, looked exactly like two petty thieves secretly dividing their loot—it was rather awkward.

She quickly cleared her throat and stood up, waved at Luo Wenqian, and strode away with Xiao Ya.