This was clearly a scheme to make them cough up every coin they’d swallowed.

Sixth Master Chen felt a fire burning in his chest. He’d been beaten without even seeing the blow—dizzy, helpless, and completely at the mercy of his opponent.

“Sell this house—you’ll get two or three hundred taels…” He glanced around. Property in Jing County wasn’t worth much, so two or three hundred taels was a fair estimate. Then he looked at the beautiful maids behind Manager Zhu and did a rough calculation. “Sell off those maids and concubines—maybe another hundred taels. And the land you registered under your parents’ names? What are you keeping it for? You think silver will follow you to the grave?” His tone was stern, like an elder scolding a junior.

Manager Zhu froze, forgetting to cry.

Damn it! Even now, this old fox was trying to strip him bare!

Sell the land, too? How was he supposed to live? Could he ever return to work at Chen Paper Shop? This old bastard!

Manager Zhu snapped, “You think silver will follow you into the coffin?!”

He sneered. “Sixth Master, you clutch your silver so tightly—aren’t you afraid it’ll melt in your hands? When I skimmed money from the shop, you weren’t idle either! You took more than I did—and with less shame!”

“I’m not paying that thousand taels!” He shouted, veins bulging. “Let whoever wants to pay, pay! If I end up in prison, I’ll say everything I know! I have one set of ledgers—you have two! Let’s see if the Chen family spares you then!”

“You’re insane!” Sixth Master Chen’s goatee flew up as he scanned the area nervously. He wasn’t like this pig.

Manager Zhu was just a hired hand. At worst, he’d cough up the silver and suffer some jail time.

But Sixth Master Chen was family. His son—and even his grandson studying at Qingcheng Academy—depended on clan elders for future success. To take the imperial exams or hold office, they’d need letters of recommendation from the clan head.

In this era, without clan backing, you were like a leaf without a branch—easy to trample, easy to tear.

Old Madam Qu hadn’t touched him before because, after his elder brother’s death, he and Fifth Master had supported her, helping her rise to power. If she turned on them now, it would be seen as heartless and ungrateful.

But now…

Sixth Master Chen felt a heavy pressure in his chest, like a hammer against his ribs. If he didn’t pay up, this rotten pig would latch onto him like a snapping turtle and never let go!

This wasn’t Old Madam Qu coming after him—it was his own dirty laundry being handed to her. His neck was already on the chopping block. All she had to do was raise the blade.

If only this pig were dead… Sixth Master Chen narrowed his eyes.

Manager Zhu raised his voice. “I have a ledger at home—records of all the money over the years, even the whereabouts of the six-zhang and eight-zhang Xuan paper… the death of Old Li Zhang, the crippling of Li Ershun… Even if I die, that ledger will go where it needs to go!”

Sixth Master Chen’s expression changed. His throat itched, and he coughed lightly. “You pig-headed fool…”

Pig-headed, yes—but with a sharp survival instinct. He’d kept a ledger?

The deaths of Li Zhang and Li Ershun weren’t the problem. The real danger was tracking where the premium Xuan paper had gone!

“Alright. I’ll cover 700 taels. You pay the rest. I’ll transfer you to Jingde to handle sandalwood bark procurement. We’ll lay low until those two fools leave town. Then we’ll regroup and make money again.”

Suppressing his rage, Sixth Master Chen spoke smoothly. “I’ll send the banknotes over shortly. You deliver them to Chen Fu.”

Manager Zhu calmed down. Leave Jing County? Fine. Money works anywhere.

Seeing he’d been placated, Sixth Master Chen added, “Sell the house if you must. Or keep it to store your treasures. No time to waste—we don’t know what Chen Fu plans next. Pack tonight and leave immediately. I’ll arrange your departure.”

Manager Zhu rolled his eyes, then nodded. “Let’s not sell it yet. Once you drive Chen Fu out, I’ll come back and live here.”

Sixth Master Chen chuckled. “Amitabha! Let’s hope these old bones can outwit those two fools!”

After a few more words of comfort, he left the lavish courtyard. Outside, his face fell longer than a horse’s.

“…Send word! As usual, lie in wait at Baochan Temple. The moment that fat pig shows up—kill him. If he really has a ledger, he’ll take it with him. Split the gold and silver among the brothers. Bring the ledger back to me.”

His companion, also an old man but beardless, asked, “Are we really giving him the 700 taels?”

Sixth Master Chen nodded. “What choice do we have? Chen Fu is dead set on getting that money. If he wants it, give it.”

The old man sighed. “What a waste!”

Sixth Master Chen laughed. “Waste? Send it to the bank—it won’t be redeemable for six months.”

The old man blinked. “They’ll still get the silver eventually… just delayed.”

“Do the math. After paying off debts, rent, equipment replacements, and New Year’s bonuses—how much will they have left?”

He smiled kindly. “And don’t forget the biggest expense.”

The old man understood and bent over laughing. “Yes, yes! You’re brilliant! If they can’t secure sandalwood bark and rice straw from Tongling early in the year, they’ll have to settle for inferior materials from the three surrounding counties. The paper quality will plummet!”

“If he sends a letter to Xuancheng asking for money, my sister-in-law might give it. But he won’t last long here.”

Everyone thought Chen Fu was useless. Asking for money would only confirm it. Why should a useless man run the Jing County workshop? Because of that low-born He girl?

Once they gave up on Chen Fu, he’d be powerless in Jing County. As for that fiery little girl, she was pretty enough. Whether they took her as a concubine or simply seized her, who would stand up for her?

Sixth Master Chen smiled. The old man smiled too.

A picture of harmony.

That night, Manager Zhu arrived at the Changqiao Guild, humble and deferential. He handed over the full 1,000 taels. “Sixth Master is sending me to procure sandalwood bark—likely won’t be back until after the New Year…”

As expected, Xianjin accepted the notes, checked the seals and bank, then passed them to Manager Dong. She smiled. “You’ve truly saved me—raised the funds so fast I almost thought these were fake.”

Manager Zhu cried out, “Oh heavens! You know the Great Wei law—counterfeiting banknotes is a capital crime! I don’t have that many heads to lose!”

Xianjin looked to Manager Dong. He gave a barely perceptible nod.

Only then did Xianjin smile. “Safe travels. Until we meet again.”

But they would never meet again.

On the third day, Xianjin received word from the authorities: Manager Zhu’s carriage had been ambushed near Baochan Temple. All the gold and silver were stolen. His throat was slit. Yellow fat and bright red blood spilled everywhere. A civil dispute had turned into a criminal case. There was clearly more to this than fake ledgers.

Xianjin suddenly remembered something and sent Manager Dong to the bank to redeem the notes. He returned crestfallen. “No luck. These large-denomination notes require advance notice. The redemption date is set for June…”

Xianjin pressed her lips together, then smiled faintly.

“How interesting.”

Sixth Master Chen—what other surprises do you have for me?