TGCFNM -Chapter 207 Your Older Brother Is Truly Crazy

That evening.

Wan Sanjin, who had gone to collect the silver, finally returned, dragging his exhausted body behind him. The moment he came back, he collapsed into a chair, so tired that he didn’t even want to move his fingers.

“Where’s the money you collected?” Chu Ling asked as she stepped outside for a look, then returned and walked over to Wan Sanjin, lowering her gaze to look at him.

Wan Sanjin very slowly lifted a finger and pointed outside. “It was taken by Qinglong.”

Chu Ling frowned. “He took all of Miss Cheng’s dowry?”

Wan Sanjin shook his head slightly. “The Si family couldn’t come up with that much at once. They only gave a portion and issued IOUs for the rest. Qinglong said that it was thanks to him threatening them with people that the Si family handed over part of the silver, so the money he got first, he had his men send to the capital.”

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow. “Qinglong has actually gotten smart?”

Wan Sanjin then took out the IOUs from his pocket and handed them over. “Later, when Miss Cheng returned, she helped organize the remaining IOUs and personally pressed her seal.”

Chu Ling casually flipped through a few of the IOUs, then was shocked. “The Cheng family is this wealthy?”

Wan Sanjin nodded. “Not just wealthy. Master Cheng’s business dealings touch almost every aspect of Dongle City. After he passed away, most of his shops were sold off by the Si family. Now, getting them back will probably take quite some effort, which is why I contacted my older brother.”

Chu Ling didn’t understand at first—Si family owed them money, so why involve the Wan family?

Wan Sanjin curled his lips into a very proud smile. “The Si family not being able to produce cash doesn’t mean they have no money. Moreover, Qinglong threatened them, saying he has an older brother who holds a high official position in the capital. If necessary, he would expose the matter of the Si family misappropriating the dowry of a respectable family. That should test if the Si family still has any shame.”

“The Si family fears ruining their reputation and worries about supporting other branches of the family, so now they’re preparing to sell off some shops. I’ll have my older brother purchase them at a low price, forcing the Si family to quickly raise silver for us.”

Chu Ling couldn’t help but burst out laughing. No wonder Master Wan was surnamed Wan.

“By the way, Lord, even if Miss Cheng gifts you her family’s wealth without compensation, you are still an official of the court. What if the Si family tries to use this against you later?” Wan Sanjin asked.

Chu Ling smiled. “I’ve already thought of that. I plan to take the money collected from the Si family in Master Cheng’s name and then donate it… Also, there’s one more thing I need your older brother’s help with.”

Wan Sanjin asked, “What is it?”

Chu Ling narrowed her eyes slightly and spoke in a low voice, “Have your older brother sound a little ambiguous, saying he wants to do business with the Si family, so that the Si family gradually reveals their salt trade operations. They’re extremely short on cash right now and should take risks. Besides, your older brother is a businessman—they think they can handle him, so they should agree.”

Wan Sanjin suddenly sat up straight. “Lord, what a clever plan!”

Chu Ling smiled lightly. With this, she would not only get the Cheng family’s money but also gain evidence of the Si family’s salt trading.

Truly killing two birds with one stone.

That night.

The people from Tianxia Zhi appeared at the government office as agreed. After collecting all the IOUs from Wan Sanjin, they returned to report back.

Three days later, the Tianxia Zhi agents returned, bringing a secret letter from Wan Xing.

Wan Sanjin handed the letter to Chu Ling. In front of several others, Chu Ling tore it open and read it at lightning speed. Her eyes gradually widened in surprise as she passed the letter back to Wan Sanjin.

“Your older brother is even crazier than I imagined!”

Wan Sanjin lowered his gaze and read carefully. After finishing, he took a sharp breath. “My older brother really is bold.”

Chu Ling bit her lip and looked at Wan Sanjin, asking seriously, “He’s your older brother. How likely do you think it is that he can pull this off?”

Wan Sanjin thought carefully for a moment and gestured with his hand, “Seventy percent!”

“That high?” Chu Ling was shocked.

Wan Sanjin said, “My lord, that’s a conservative estimate. If you’re truly willing to give all of the Cheng family’s IOUs to my brother, he will indeed be able to find evidence that the four major families are selling salt illegally. In this deal, neither you nor my brother will suffer any loss.”

Chu Ling crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping the armrest unconsciously.

If the matter of the illegal salt sales could be handled by Wan Xing, the richest man in the city and known everywhere, it would indeed be much more convenient than doing it herself.

“It’s just a pity—you were originally going to donate the money,” Wan Sanjin said.

Chu Ling shook her head. “Not a pity. Even if I donated it, it would only help the common people a little. But if we can get evidence that the four major families are selling salt illegally, that will truly benefit the people.”

A smile tugged at Wan Sanjin’s lips. “So my lord agrees?”

After a moment of thought, Chu Ling nodded firmly. “I agree!”

Wan Sanjin laughed heartily. “Don’t worry, my lord. My brother will spare no effort to expand his business empire in Dongle City.”

Chu Ling propped her chin on her hand and looked at Wan Sanjin. “Your brother… really is astonishing.”

Wan Sanjin crossed his legs and said proudly, “Based on the IOUs, my brother can gradually inherit all of Old Master Cheng’s shops. Once he has developed them over time, it will be absolutely impossible for the major families to try to drive the Wan family out.”

Chu Ling was genuinely impressed by Wan Xing’s abilities, and with his help, things would indeed be much easier for her.

“By the way, tell Qinglong that I have a way to get evidence that the four major families are selling salt illegally. But this evidence doesn’t come for free—he not only owes me a huge favor, he must also help unconditionally whenever I need it,” Chu Ling said.

Wan Sanjin raised an eyebrow and clapped his hands. “My lord, as a middleman, you’re a bit ruthless.”

“Who asked your brother to cooperate with me instead of Qinglong?” Chu Ling shrugged innocently.

Wan Sanjin clapped and laughed. “My lord, you’re right.”

Chu Ling smiled briefly, then quickly composed herself. “Make sure Qinglong agrees to this. He has access to a lot of hidden information that even the ‘Tianxia Zhi’ cannot obtain.”

Wan Sanjin also calmed his expression. “Understood, my lord.” He then prepared to get up and go find Qinglong.

Chu Ling suddenly called him back. “Also, have Qinglong intimidate the Si family. Otherwise, I’m worried Miss Cheng will have a hard time there.”

Wan Sanjin said, “You don’t know yet, my lord. The Si family has already divorced Miss Cheng on behalf of the deceased Si Qing. She took the divorce certificate and left with her nanny.”

“Left?” Chu Ling asked in surprise. “And her two children?”

Wan Sanjin shook his head. “Not clear. Apparently, on the day she left, she didn’t take the children. They even sent servants to check her baggage to see if she had taken anything.”

Hearing this, Chu Ling couldn’t help but frown.

“However, it’s said that Yu Furong left with her. Someone saw them leaving the city together,” Wan Sanjin added.

Chu Ling sighed. “Well, that’s good—she has company on the road. Leaving the Si family may very well be the start of a new life for her.”