BXBX NOVEL Chapter 1267: Money
“Please, Master Zhao,” Qiao Xuan said.
With a nod and a gentle smile, Qiao Xuan departed with her entourage.
In a fit of rage, Zhao Mu snatched the teacup beside him and hurled it to the ground. “How dare you! How dare you! How dare you!”
Butler Zhao hung his head, wishing he could vanish into thin air.
Old Master had incurred a substantial loss this time, and his fury was unsurprising. Yet, deep down, he knew that had he not disappointed Madame, matters might not have taken such a turn. It was a matter of cause and effect.
Breathing heavily, Zhao Mu turned his displeased gaze toward Butler Zhao.
Butler Zhao quivered, managing a strained smile. “Master…”
“Examine the accounts and determine how much can be salvaged. Inspect the estate and assess the stockpile for valuable items.”
Butler Zhao’s heart ached for Old Master. “Certainly, Master.”
They were about to distribute a considerable amount!
Terrified of becoming the target of Old Master’s ire, Butler Zhao hurriedly made his exit.
Zhao Mu vented his frustration for a moment before letting out a sigh of relief. He then slowly retraced his steps to the study.
He needed to contemplate his future course of action.
He firmly believed that without the Zheng Family, he wouldn’t have risen to prominence. The Zhao Family’s success had been solely due to his capabilities, nothing else.
As for Zhao Shu and Madame Shao, they would soon face his wrath.
No one could subject Zhao Mu to such suffering.
The Zhao Family could afford 3.5 million liang.
The Zhao Family was undeniably prosperous. In a mere half-day, Butler Zhao delivered the news that their account held a substantial 800,000 liang. Additionally, they possessed two well-endowed fields in the southern part of the city, spanning 20,000 mu and 6,000 mu respectively. In Yangzhou, prime fields commanded a rate of 13 taels of silver per mu. When combined with the abbeys and laborers, the 26,000 mu holdings amounted to a staggering 400,000 liang.
Though the Zhao Family owned a few more fields, they were undoubtedly being retained.
The storage room harbored an abundance of valuable assets. Given that they had already invested 400,000 liang in acquiring an exquisite jade cabbage, they could potentially procure an additional 500,000 liang. Not to mention a towering pair of red coral pieces valued at approximately 400,000 liang.
Furthermore, there was a complete set of Yuezheng tea sets, a pair of suet white jade bottles, a crystal screen, a box of Southern pearls each the size of a longan, and much more. In addition to this, Old Master Zhao had 100,000 liang worth of gold tucked away in the cellar. Collectively, these resources made it far from challenging for the Zhao Family to amass the required 3.5 million.
However, as he contemplated this extensive list, Old Master Zhao couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. These treasures had been accumulated over two or three generations of the family, with particular attention given to items purchased in the past decade. Each piece had been meticulously chosen for its quality. The idea of parting with them all at once was undeniably heartbreaking.
Yet, Old Master Zhao momentarily lost sight of the fact that these valuable possessions shouldn’t have been his to begin with. The Zheng Family’s funds rightfully belonged to the Zheng Family, and he had benefited from them without restraint. Now, it was merely a matter of returning a portion.
Zhao Shu had not taken undue advantage of him.
Both Zhao Yu and Zhao Ye were well aware of Zhao Mu’s actions within the household. Even Zhao Ye, known for his pretense, couldn’t conceal his discomfort upon learning that his father was expected to provide such a staggering sum. The same sentiment was amplified in Zhao Zhai.
“That’s exorbitant! That scoundrel has crossed the line, Dad. 3.5 million liang is no small sum! Many families in Yangzhou have less than that. Is he not afraid of overreaching? Doesn’t he realize he might choke on his greed?”