Free Web NovelChapter 288: Chapter 288: Merchants
"Lord Ming, it’s been so many days, is there still no news?"
Gu Kaiyuan booked the room next door, and as soon as he opened the window a crack, he heard voices coming from the adjacent room.
Seems like any business can’t be discussed in the inn anymore; there’s absolutely no privacy.
"No news has come," Ming Peifeng responded impatiently, enduring so many days of prison hardship because of the person in front of him.
He’s already lost so much weight, yet Gu Baijiang hasn’t even inquired once.
"Lord Gu, just stay easy in Tian Village. As soon as there’s news, I will let you know immediately. We can’t be of much help here; mere worry is useless."
"That’s the reason, but life in the village is tough. The house we built with difficulty needs cultivating, and many things need purchasing. I’m running out of resources..."
Gu Kaiyuan listened in from the side, wide-eyed. Gu Baijiang had always carried himself with an aloof demeanor, towering over even Ming Peifeng.
Now he’s speaking in such a humble tone, even with a hint of placating.
Gu Kaiyuan sneered. In the past life, with the Bai Family’s ten thousand taels of silver supporting him and solving so many problems, yet his wife and child ended up with such a fate.
Always looking down but now reduced to this humbleness.
"How come you’re running out of silver now? You’ve built just a few small houses in the village. Don’t tell me they were made of silver?" Ming Peifeng now saw Gu Baijiang’s charges as not unjust in the slightest, simply insatiable.
"There is still the family; can’t just leave them unattended," Gu Baijiang said righteously, "Rest assured. Once we return to the Capital, I will repay you doubly."
Ming Peifeng had heard this countless times, knowing the Third Prince wouldn’t abandon Gu Baijiang, yet this family is a bottomless pit.
The silver he brought out with what the Third Prince provided was already spent, and then he scrambled to borrow from colleagues, enduring hard days with his men, while they splurged without care.
"Lord Gu, it’s not that I don’t wish to help. These mountains are far, and the silver I brought is limited. I’ve given you many times already; there’s not much left, plus I have a whole group of brothers I need to feed and keep fed while ensuring your safety."
Gu Baijiang responded, "I’m aware of this, and I know Lord Ming you’re in difficulty, but still we must continue living, yesterday the village head pressed us to cultivate land, our family is helpless, hoping to spend some silver to hire labor."
"I still have ten taels of silver..."
Ming Peifeng, unable to let a minor matter sour the relationship, bore the pain and handed over ten taels.
Gu Baijiang slightly despised it, finding ten taels useless for such a large family.
"Lord Ming, can’t you think of a way? If you don’t have silver, borrow from local merchants..."
"Lord Gu really has nerve; why would merchants lend us silver for no reason?"
"Giving them a chance to show loyalty to the master will ensure they won’t refuse."
Ming Peifeng inhaled deeply; what kind of being is this? Why did the Third Prince choose to ally with such a person?
Does he aim to ruin the reputation painstakingly built in the Capital?
Though the place is remote from the emperor, there are other factions keeping watch, eager to seize anything on them, never seen someone so anxious to court disaster.
"Lord Gu, I hope never to hear such words again. The master secretly instructed me to protect you, yet are you eager for everyone to know, giving other princes the rationale to attack the master?"
Rong Dynasty has so many wealthy merchants; why doesn’t the master draw them in?
Is it reluctance? It’s actually fear.
Why does a prince need so much silver? Nobody is foolish.
The emperor wouldn’t permit such circumstances; otherwise, the Third Prince wouldn’t target military rations.
Directly getting a few rich merchants would solve all issues.
"This place is so far from the Capital..."
"Lord Gu, have you forgotten the pursuers from that journey?"
Only then did Gu Baijiang fall silent; initially, the princes wanted to recruit him, but after refusing, they truly aimed to kill.
If it weren’t for Ming Peifeng and his guards, he likely wouldn’t have survived the way.
He remembers this debt and promises a grand gift upon returning to the Capital.
But now, the hardship is immense, and Ming Peifeng offers just ten taels. It’s somewhat beyond measure.
"Lord Gu, don’t feel the silver is little. I have only a bit over a hundred taels, with so many brothers needing food and supplies.
These brothers shouldn’t be mistreated."
Even at the end, the voice carried a warning; neglecting to placate these men would mean no protection for the Gu Family.
"By the way, when you’re free, try not to leave the village, avoiding scattering our protective forces."
"Is the village safe?" Gu Baijiang also wondered about this, not daring to sleep deeply at night.
"Rest easy; our people watch from within unseen, and checkpoints are manned. If unidentified persons approach, we’ll know immediately."
Gu Baijiang dished out disdain. In recent days, strangers came and went, thankfully without blending in, or else his family would’ve already been doomed.
"Actually, I think you might reconnect with your Third Prince properly," Ming Peifeng sought to divert misfortune eastward, unable to fill this pit any longer.
"Heard Bai Family figures aren’t far from Capital. Leaning on Bai Family yet not making use is unwitty.
Bai Family lacks everything but silver."
If the Gu Family weren’t so extreme, Bai Family might willingly aid.
Previously, Gu Family benefited from others, but Gu Baijiang forgot past kindness once successful.
Rumors say Bai Suihe was mistreated by Gu Baijiang’s wife previously, even bullied when exiled, leading to a clean break.
Now, Bai Family sends goods worth over ten thousand taels, protected by two escort agencies, not to mention the impending bride’s dowry, showing Bai Family’s care.
Gu Baijiang, they truly abandoned gold, picking sesame, ending in their plight.
Involving me too, exhausting finances and effort for their benefit, almost starting anew, nearing impoverishment.
