Chapter 582: Chapter 582: Upstanding Character
Aunt Tang shook her head.
Lian Hengruo said, "Aunt must think that because Aunt Tong arranged a marriage between me and Magistrate Yao, she is here to gain benefits from us. But have you thought that the Lu family is Aunt Tong’s kin? What is twenty thousand taels of silver in the eyes of the Lu family? Aunt Tong is willing to give us this opportunity to spend money profitably, and it’s a sure-win business, truly embodying the word ’loyalty’."
Aunt Tang said regretfully, "I considered it wrong."
Then she clapped her hands and said self-deprecatingly, "That’s why I’m just someone else’s concubine; my perspective isn’t as broad as yours, Ruo’er."
Tong Huaqiong indeed intended to share part of the profit with Aunt Tang.
But she didn’t offer it for free; having Aunt Tang invest money was the result of weighing pros and cons in her heart.
There was a high chance that Magistrate Yao and Lian Hengruo could be together. It would be fine for the magistrate’s wife to do other businesses, but if she intervened in the military supplies business, it would bring hidden troubles to Magistrate Yao. Not to mention Magistrate Yao wouldn’t agree; even the Yao family in Shengjing would not consent.
Now that Tong Huaqiong was involved, she needed to tighten this relationship. The best way was to get Aunt Tang involved.
Aunt Tang just needed to provide the money while Tong Huaqiong would handle all aspects, including cotton picking, weaving workshop, and resources transportation. In this way, Lian Hengruo could share the profits without any risks.
Moreover, Tong Huaqiong had a personal motive. Once there was a problem in the future, it couldn’t be easily shifted to her. As long as Lian Hengruo was there, the blame wouldn’t fall on her.
Tong Huaqiong thought she was paving the way for herself and her son in the future, also repaying Magistrate Yao’s protection.
Mr. Lu didn’t return to the county town with Magistrate Yao.
He harbored a grudge against Magistrate Yao, and Tong Huaqiong estimated that this grudge would only be resolved after drinking Magistrate Yao’s wedding wine.
Mr. Lu and Lu Zhaozhao stayed to discuss matters with Tong Huaqiong.
"Mother-in-law, in the summer, you asked Dashu to bring me a message, saying that this winter would experience extreme cold weather and advised me to stock up on coal and firewood," Mr. Lu began, "but I see no signs of a warm winter with the current weather."
It was already late autumn, and the temperature was normal, with no signs of an impending extreme cold weather.
However, Mr. Lu held great respect for Tong Huaqiong, always feeling that a rural woman who could quickly excel in business must have something extraordinary about her.
Moreover, since his grandson had just entered the political scene, it was a time to gain political capital. If extreme cold weather really did arrive and he had stocked up large amounts of coal and firewood to save the people, wouldn’t it earn his grandson a good reputation just as he was starting his political career?
Thus, when Gu Dashu brought the message to stock up on coal and firewood, he did so, stocking not only coal and firewood but also a large amount of cotton.
The Lu family was large and wealthy, and stocking these supplies didn’t destabilize their circulating capital. But with winter approaching and no signs of the so-called extreme cold weather, Mr. Lu couldn’t help but ask upon seeing Tong Huaqiong.
Tong Huaqiong said, "Mr. Lu, trust me, in two months, in two months, extreme cold weather will come."
Mr. Lu, seeing that Tong Huaqiong didn’t seem to be joking, said, "Did you tell County Magistrate Liu and Magistrate Yao?"
Tong Huaqiong shook her head, not daring to take the risk. She feared that notifying Magistrate Yao of the extreme cold weather that existed in Tong Dajiao’s memory in a previous life might arouse Magistrate Yao’s suspicion, leading him to investigate her origins.
To be honest, even Tong Huaqiong wasn’t sure. After all, many things had changed since she found herself in Tong Dajiao’s body; who could tell if the weather would change as well?
Having the Lu family stock up on coal and firewood was a sound decision, as she knew the Lu family had the financial capability and that even without extreme cold weather, Mr. Lu wouldn’t blame her.
Just like now, Mr. Lu didn’t ask her how she was so certain of the extreme cold weather arriving in two months; instead, he inquired if she had informed Magistrate Yao, which showed the trust Mr. Lu had in her.
Tong Huaqiong shook her head, "No. Mr. Lu, you know we farmers observe the weather to determine our livelihood; every village has someone who can read the weather. Since I don’t have a specific explanation on how I’m so sure there will be extreme cold weather, how would Magistrate Yao believe me?"
Not accusing her of spreading false alarms was already a sign of Magistrate Yao’s tolerance.
Mr. Lu remained silent for a while before saying, "I will write to Zhao Yang and have him consider this matter."
Essentially, this meant asking Lu Zhaoyang to remind Magistrate Yao.
After all, if Ning City were truly hit by extreme cold weather, controlling the price of coal, settling the refugees, and informing the people to reinforce and warm their houses would all be responsibilities for Magistrate Yao.
When Lu Zhaoyang was mentioned, Mr. Lu lowered his voice and said to Tong Huaqiong, "Zhaoyang has now been transferred to the Ministry of Revenue for training."
His face was troubled after speaking.
Tong Huaqiong was surprised, "Wasn’t Zhao Yang working as an editor in the Hanlin Academy?"
Being an editor meant drafting imperial decrees for the emperor, akin to being a personal secretary to the emperor. Anyone who could acquire this position as a newly-minted scholar was highly favored by the emperor.
When the news of Lu Zhaoyang’s new position arrived, Gu Jingzhe eagerly explained to Tong Huaqiong that the Cabinet Scholars were all selected from the Hanlin Academy and that becoming a Cabinet Scholar was synonymous with reaching the pinnacle of political power as the Grand Secretary.
For Lu Zhaoyang, with his merchant background, his career path was extraordinarily bright.
How could he be transferred to the Ministry of Revenue in such a short time?
Tong Huaqiong couldn’t understand why someone so favored by the emperor had suddenly fallen.
Indeed, serving the emperor could be as perilous as accompanying a tiger; one had to remember that this emperor, when ruthless, even killed his own sons.
At this moment, Huang Yuanwai arrived in time to hear the conversation and said, "It is said that the Princess took a fancy to Zhao Yang. Zhao Yang is already married, and the Princess demanded Zhao Yang divorce my daughter Jingshan, which Zhao Yang publicly refused. The Princess was relentless and sent hidden guards to assassinate Jingshan. Fortunately, Zhao Yang noticed the signs and reported the situation in a memorial to let the entire court know, thus seriously offending the Princess. The Emperor, despite his favor, couldn’t ignore the fact that the Princess is his beloved daughter... "
Tong Huaqiong couldn’t help but sigh. No matter how wealthy the Lu family was, in the eyes of the truly powerful, they were merely a humble family. A mere top scholar daring to offend a princess; if he wasn’t dealt with, who would be?
Huang Yuanwai had originally been delighted to have a top scholar as a son-in-law, but the top scholar was coveted by the Princess.
If not for Lu Zhaoyang’s unwavering dedication to preserving his integrity and his steadfast affection for Huang Jingshan, perhaps by now, he would have long used a piece of white silk to end his original marriage to gain higher status.
"Zhao Yang endured all this for Jingshan," Huang Yuanwai sighed.
Mr. Lu said, "These words of yours speak to the heart. Anyone with a sense of morality wouldn’t abandon his wife for the sake of status."
Tong Huaqiong thought, that’s not necessarily true, as in a previous life Gu Jingzhe had sought higher status.
It showed that Lu Zhaoyang remained a principled person throughout.
After all, not everyone dares to refuse a princess’s olive branch.
Wait, where did Lu Zhaoyang transfer to?
Ministry of Revenue.
Tong Huaqiong’s heart stirred.
Frequent incursions were happening on the Mo Bei border, and the Dasheng had already deployed troops. Su Chengmin analyzed that an inevitable major war would erupt between the two countries.
Based on the current troop movements, Su Chengmin speculated that war would break out this winter.
News of impending border conflict had even spread to Yan Guan Town. Merchants from the border were closing businesses and saying they would bring their families from the border to avoid the ravages of war. Some returning merchants from the border reported that both Dasheng and Mo Bei had already assembled armies in a standoff, with war about to erupt.
No merchant dared to do business on the border under these circumstances.
As the saying goes, "Military provisions precede military actions."
Winter warming clothes fell under the category of military provisions.
And provisioning military supplies was precisely the responsibility of the Ministry of Revenue.
