TGCFNM -Chapter 395 Asking for Money!

Seeing how awful Wei Liang’s expression looked, Yunliu felt a bit more satisfied inside.

“When we ransomed people back then, my family had many members, while your family abandoned those from the third and fourth branches. So in total, you took 29,700 taels of silver from me. Later, when we rented a house, you took another 300 taels from me. That makes 30,000 taels altogether.”

“And the money for your illness and medicine—that was 20 taels. But we were in Sin Street at the time. Twenty taels for medicine there was practically a sky-high price. You have to add interest when you repay me—repay me…” Yunliu paused to look at Chu Ling, then firmly shouted, “Two thousand taels!”

“Have you gone mad?!” Wei Liang couldn’t help shouting.

Leaning weakly against her mother’s arm, Yunliu looked at Wei Liang. “That’s a total of 32,000 taels of silver. If you don’t give it to me, I’ll make a scene at the prefectural office. I’ll report it to the authorities. I’ll even go to the Court of Judicial Review. I will get my silver back.”

“Didn’t your Wei family say I was filthy for entering Canghua Tower? Since you think I’m dirty, you must feel awful holding my dirty money. Surely you won’t dare keep the money I exchanged with my life.”

These were the words Chu Ling had taught her. The Wei family had barely regained their footing; they absolutely wouldn’t dare provoke them.

The Wei family’s First Madam stepped forward, her face dark. “We will certainly return the silver—but not now…”

“If not now, then when?” Chu Ling asked in surprise. “The marriage is already annulled, yet you’re still holding onto her money and refusing to return it? Don’t tell me you’re planning to embezzle it.”

Wan Sanjin immediately led the crowd in jeering. “The Wei family are court officials—how would they dare to embezzle money in public? Hurry up and pay it back. What if someone impeaches you?”

The First Madam’s expression changed.

Wei Liang’s face looked terrible as well. Of the 300 taels, only ten had been used to rent this place for two months; the rest had gone into repairs. But even if all of it were recovered, so what? That was 30,000 taels—how could he possibly repay it?

The Second Madam of the Wei family looked at the First Madam in fear and whispered anxiously, “Sister-in-law, what do we do? Where would we even get that kind of money?”

The First Madam actually did have the means to repay it. Since the Wei family had been reinstated to their official posts, she had recovered her old shops as well. But how could she possibly give everything up? That would be the end of them. Besides, the Wei family still needed money to grease palms everywhere.

She had no choice but to pull Wei Liang aside and whisper a few words. “Soften your stance. Ask her to grant us more time. Once we’ve moved away, would they dare come to our door to demand it?”

Wei Liang’s eyes lit up. He walked straight outside. “Sister Yun, I know the Wei family has acted dishonorably in this matter. But I had no choice. I cannot marry the daughter of a criminal. I cannot let my parents—let the Wei family—be shamed. You understand me…”

Su He said calmly, “Shameless.”

Wei Liang shot him an icy glare. “Which family are you from?”

Wan Sanjin immediately stepped in front of him. “What business is that of yours? If you don’t repay the money, you’re shameless. Are common people not allowed to speak the truth?”

Grinding his teeth, Wei Liang turned back to Yunliu and softened his expression. “Sister Yun, although our families can no longer be joined by marriage, we are old family friends. I can acknowledge you as my younger sister. When you marry in glory in the future, your elder brother will prepare a dowry for you…”

Yunliu copied Su He’s expression and tone. “Shameless!”

Wei Liang finally snapped. “Xue Yunliu, do you insist on making this ugly?”

Yunliu looked at him steadily. “If you don’t pay today, I’ll report it to the prefectural office. If you don’t pay tomorrow, I’ll report it to the Court of Judicial Review.”

Wei Liang clenched his fists, his face twisting viciously.

“Don’t lose your official post again over a little money,” Chu Ling said mockingly from the side. “If you can’t bear to part with the silver, then go to prison.”

Wei Liang glared fiercely at Chu Ling. How could he possibly go to prison? He still had a bright future ahead of him.

Su He spoke again at this moment, “Refusing to repay the money is simply shameless.”

Wei Liang gritted his teeth. “You—!”

Wan Sanjin immediately pulled rank. “My lord, didn’t you say we’re going to dine at Lord Lu Shi’s residence tonight? Does Lord Lu have authority over this matter?”

Chu Ling played along. “Isn’t Lord Lu the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review? Of course he can handle it.”

Wan Sanjin let out an “Oh,” as if reassured. “Then I’m at ease. We’ll definitely get the money back. It’s only a matter of sooner or later.”

Chu Ling deliberately added, “That makes a difference. If it comes back late, I’m afraid a certain family will be in serious trouble.”

Wei Liang could no longer endure it. He turned and strode back inside, lowering his voice to the Wei family’s First Madam. “Mother, don’t you have money? Are you determined to drag the Wei family back to Sin Street?”

The First Madam froze, then clenched her teeth and struck Wei Liang. “That’s my dowry!”

“Mother! If you don’t pay now, Father’s official position won’t be safe, and I might even end up in prison. What use will your money be then?” Wei Liang was frantic, even speaking recklessly. “You’re all unbelievably foolish! Just a few careless words, and she didn’t even die. Now look what’s happened—just treat it as spending money to avert disaster!”

The Wei family’s Second Madam also persuaded her, “As long as the official post remains, the family can recover. But if it’s gone, then…”

The First Madam was furious. “That wretched girl survived—she must have stolen her family’s lifespan!”

“Enough, Mother! Don’t delay any longer!” Wei Liang urged anxiously.

With an ugly expression, the First Madam summoned the household steward and whispered a few instructions. Then she slowly walked outside and looked down arrogantly at the Xue family. “I’ve sent someone to fetch the money. You dogs will get it soon. But in the future, don’t you dare come begging the Wei family for anything!”

Yunliu turned to Advisor Wan and lowered her voice. “The First Madam is so furious she’s probably going to sell her dowry shops.”

Wan Sanjin’s eyes lit up. After greeting Chu Ling, he left with Zhang Dong. He intended for the Wan family to swallow them up entirely—and at a low price.

Chu Ling curiously asked in a low voice, “She owns shops?”

“Now that the Wei family has been reinstated to their official posts, they can openly reclaim their shops as well,” the Xue family’s grandmother explained, familiar with the twists and turns behind it all.

Chu Ling listened carefully and committed it to memory.

The Wei family had sent someone to sell the shops, but half an hour passed without any return. The onlooking townspeople grew bored and began glancing toward the Wei residence.

The First Madam didn’t dare shut the doors and could only grit her teeth and wait.

Another hour passed before the Wei family steward finally returned, his face grim. The First Madam suppressed her anger—this was clearly not the time to reprimand him—and ordered banknotes to be brought out.

After Yunliu checked them and confirmed everything was in order, she left with her people.

Chu Ling cheerfully waved toward the Wei residence before happily departing as well. On the street outside, after learning that Wan Sanjin had forced the price down considerably, she had her companions buy some pastries and then went to knock on the gates of the Lu residence.

Since they had mentioned dining together, they ought to pay a visit—who knew, they might even get a free meal.

Moreover, the Wei family had been dishonest and dared to hide assets. This matter had to be reported to a high-ranking official.

And the highest-ranking official Chu Ling and her group knew was Lord Lu.

As for the Prince Rui, she wasn’t quite bold enough to approach him yet—so that option was set aside for now.