150: Planning to accept a gift? A bribe?
“......”
Everyone was stunned the moment they heard that.
The reason they were here was to show face to Xie Cangxuan; after all, Xie Cangxuan was temporarily acting as Marquis Zhenxi, and no one knew how long he would hold the position, so it was naturally necessary to build connections.
But now, Xie Weilou was planning to accept gifts?
Xie Weilou looked at everyone and said with a complex expression, “Everyone has an exceptionally close relationship with my second uncle. Now that he has lost two sons, aren’t you planning to show some support?”
Xie Cangxuan clenched his fists, staring intently at Xie Weilou: “Insolent brat, stop spouting nonsense.”
Xie Weilou spoke earnestly: “Second Uncle! I am helping you! Look at the many high-ranking officials and nobles present today, but can you remember every single person who came? The officialdom is a field of human relations. If people come, but you don’t remember them, then when they have matters in the future, and you don’t remember that they came, you naturally won’t go to them. Is that appropriate?”
He said seriously, “This ledger of mine is not for collecting gifts, but for recording; to record which officials showed Second Uncle face today and visited our Xie Family. That way, when they have matters in the future, we can flip through the ledger and know which family to go to.”
“This… makes some sense.”
Some officials muttered to themselves. Many of those who came were minor figures, only wishing to connect with Xie Cangxuan.
If their names could be left in the ledger, then when Xie Cangxuan looked at it later, he might remember them.
Of course, given the current situation, perhaps it wasn't strictly necessary to connect with Xie Cangxuan...
“You…”
Xie Cangxuan seemed to know what the people around him were thinking, and his expression towards Xie Weilou grew even uglier.
What a load of nonsense about a ledger; this little beast was not doing it for him, Xie Cangxuan, but was planning to use the funerals of his two sons to make money.
Xie Weilou held the brush and looked at everyone: “Everyone, I will remember how much you give from now on. If you ever have matters in the future, you can all seek out my second uncle. Be it a housewarming, a child’s birth, a child’s full moon, an elder’s birthday, a junior’s wedding, or an elder’s passing, seek out my second uncle, and my second uncle will certainly not refuse.”
“......”
Upon hearing this, Xie Cangxuan nearly vomited blood in anger.
“This Young Master is right. If we truly have matters, we naturally wouldn’t dare trouble Marquis Zhenxi. However, since the two young masters have passed today, it would naturally be best if we could do something for them.”
Some people couldn't hold back and directly stepped forward to pull out money. In a blink of an eye, everyone surrounded Xie Weilou, continuously pulling out money, as much as they could.
“......”
Xie Cangxuan stood outside, watching everyone surround Xie Weilou, his face filled with murderous intent. He truly wanted to dismember this little beast into a thousand pieces.
“Zhang Long, Zhao Hu.”
Xie Weilou looked at Zhang Long and Zhao Hu.
“Understood.”
The two directly collected the money. This time, the storage pouch was very large and could hold a lot.
Xie Weilou, meanwhile, began to write down names.
An official watched Xie Weilou write down his name and quickly said, “This Young Master, your handwriting is not good. It doesn't look like my name at all.”
Indeed!
When Xie Weilou wrote, the ink bled into the paper. For a single character, only a dark blob of ink could be seen; the character itself was completely illegible.
Xie Weilou said with a serious expression, “Esteemed sirs, I am a member of the Tianquan Division. If I remember everything too clearly, wouldn’t that leave you with a handle? What if someone were to use this as evidence of your bribery in the future? I deliberately wrote it this way for your sakes!”
“This… it seems there’s no problem…”
Upon hearing this, everyone felt that it seemed there was no problem, after all, they weren't just giving gifts, they were giving silver!
If the accounts were too large, problems would truly arise in the future. If someone used this to control them, wouldn’t that be troublesome?
Xie Weilou patted his chest and guaranteed, “This Young Master is a member of the Tianquan Division. The accounts that pass through my hands today, I am clear about them. If anyone comes to find fault with you in the future, they will naturally have to find fault with This Young Master as well, so everyone, do not worry. If something happens, This Young Master will bear the responsibility!”
“Good, good, good.”
Everyone nodded repeatedly and quickly presented their gifts.
How many officials were truly foolish?
In their hearts, they all understood that This Young Master intended to make a fortune from this funeral, but they still had to give something.
Why?
Because Xie Weilou was the Young Master!
It was possible that he would become Marquis Zhenxi in the future.
Xie Cangxuan might not remember them, but today they showed their faces before Xie Weilou, and Young Lord Xie would definitely remember them.
Currently, Xie Weilou was a member of the Tianquan Division, and his power was not small, making him worth befriending.
If Xie Weilou were to inherit the position of Marquis Zhenxi in the future, wouldn't they have already established a connection with Marquis Zhenxi in advance?
Such a transaction was naturally worthwhile!
The way of an official was precisely this: if one path was blocked, take another. If there was no opportunity, create one and seize it.
“......”
Zhang Long and Zhao Hu watched from the side, feeling some admiration. This Young Master’s ability to make money was truly extraordinary.
Xie Cangxuan could only watch helplessly. At this moment, there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t possibly drive these officials away, could he?
These officials were all fence-sitters, wanting to bet on multiple sides, which was truly hateful.
“What is everyone doing?”
Just then, a majestic voice rang out.
Everyone immediately looked over, only to see a young man dressed in a spotless white robe leading many officials.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Xie Cangxuan quickly stepped forward to salute: “Greetings, Third Prince!”
The person who arrived was none other than Yan Wuchen!
“......”
Yan Wuchen nodded slightly to Xie Cangxuan.
“Greetings, Third Prince.”
After everyone came to their senses, they immediately saluted.
Yan Wuchen swept his gaze over everyone, then looked at the silver notes and silver in their hands, and his face immediately darkened: “What are you doing? Are you trying to bribe a member of the Tianquan Division?”
“We wouldn’t dare!”
Everyone’s expressions changed drastically, and they immediately put away their silver.
However, they felt a bit emotional in their hearts. The word “bribery” appeared so quickly?
This Young Master was extraordinary! He deliberately made his handwriting illegible, so if anyone wanted to cause trouble with it later, they could still argue.
Yan Wuchen then looked at Xie Weilou, and said indifferently, “As a member of the Tianquan Division, publicly accepting bribes, where do you place the laws of Great Xia?”
“Third Brother, you truly have no human empathy!”
A displeased voice rang out, and Yan Junlin was seen arriving with his hands behind his back.
Yan Wuchen looked at Yan Junlin, raising an eyebrow.
Yan Junlin said with a complex expression, “Brother Xie’s two brothers have died. He merely wishes to raise some money for paper so that his brothers can live comfortably below. This should be a touching matter, yet you speak of it as such a heinous crime? Do you have any human empathy left?”
Xie Weilou stood up and bowed to Yan Junlin. He said with a somber expression, “Xie Weilou acts uprightly and sits correctly. In my poorest times, I wore tattered clothes and even made my own straw sandals, yet I have never embezzled a single coin. What do I fear from gossip?”
Yan Junlin’s eyes reddened, and a line of clear tears flowed down. He gently patted Xie Weilou’s shoulder: “Brother Xie just lost two brothers; it pains one’s heart!”
He pulled out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve: “Here are five thousand taels, Brother Xie, please accept them first. We must ensure that those two below live comfortably and are exceedingly wealthy!”
“Many thanks, First Prince.”
Xie Weilou accepted the silver notes.
Yan Junlin wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. He glared at Yan Wuchen and said, “Third Brother, you came here to feast and freeload, and it’s one thing if you don’t plan to give a gift, but you even slander the host? How did you learn the Book of Rites? Do you know propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame?”
“You…”
Yan Wuchen’s expression froze, and he was speechless.
🔊 Text To Speech
Listen while reading