Fan Guangping smiled awkwardly, his mouth agape, not knowing what to say!
"Looking at Brother like this won't do. Fine, I'll cut half of that. Give me two hundred taels!"
Fan Guangping looked innocent and helpless, spreading his hands. "Younger brother, it's not that I don't want to give it to you, but your big brother here has no say at home. Your sister-in-law manages the money. If you care about your brother, could you give me a little cash so I can buy some fruit wine to drink?"
Zhao Jiaqi burst into laughter. Well, not only did she not get any money from her husband, but she might even have to chip in for a few jars of wine!
"Brother, our family owns a winery. If you want to drink, just find Godfather and ask him to have someone send you some. But don't drink too much, or Sister-in-law will beat you. I won't interfere!"
Fan Guangping nodded repeatedly, whispering, "I'll drink it secretly and won't tell Sister-in-law. I'll go home after the smell of alcohol is gone!"
Oh my, wasn't big brother quite the man before? How did he become so henpecked in the past few years?
Zhao Jiaqi glanced at her sister-in-law. Seeing her busy moving things, she silently nodded at her big brother.
At noon, after sending big brother and sister-in-law off to the Liangpi workshop, Zhao Jiaqi asked her mother-in-law, "Big brother really dotes on sister-in-law now!"
Zhang Cuihua chuckled. "Not at all, it's your sister-in-law who dotes on your big brother!"
The way her mother-in-law emphasized the word 'dotes' was significant, and her eyebrows even twitched. Zhao Jiaqi felt there must be something going on that they didn't know about.
She became curious and asked gossipy, "Mother, tell me what happened!"
Her mother-in-law picked through the peanuts in her hand and said, "One time, your big brother went to settle the money for the Liangpi. The seller was also very enthusiastic and invited Guangping for a drink. They drank too much, and on the way back, he stumbled and bumped into a tree!"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded. He must have drunk a lot, otherwise, why would he veer off the main road to hit a tree? It seemed big brother's head was hard and could withstand collisions!
"Later, I don't know what happened to your big brother. He stared at the tree and insisted it was a beauty, saying he absolutely had to marry it. Qi Qi, imagine... it was a tree, not a person, how could it refuse? What do you think your big brother did then!" Zhang Cuihua asked her daughter-in-law, withholding the suspense.
Zhao Jiaqi thought for a moment. "He must have cursed and walked away, right? Or did he really intend to live with a tree?"
Anyone with a bit of sense, sane or not, would know a tree is wood and has no thoughts.
Zhang Cuihua continued, "He cursed and abandoned the tree, and even dug up its roots and brought them home. He told your sister-in-law that he wouldn't marry anyone else and would consummate the marriage tonight!"
Huh?
What kind of outrageous behavior was this!
Zhao Jiaqi could hardly believe her ears. Big brother was so adorably ridiculous!
"Your sister-in-law initially ignored him and asked where the money for the Liangpi had gone. Your big brother said he used it to get married! A whole two thousand taels of silver! Your sister-in-law's hair stood on end. She asked where he married his wife. When your big brother told her, your sister-in-law ran to look, but only found a large pit, nothing but dirt. That money was gone just like that!"
"Your sister-in-law was so angry at the time, she ran back crying. She saw your brother hugging the tree and sleeping on the ground, snoring. In a fit of anger, your sister-in-law grabbed a wooden stick and beat him. She didn't hit his head, but wherever else she could reach!"
Zhao Jiaqi felt her sister-in-law was right to hit him. A portion of Liangpi wouldn't earn much. Two thousand taels of silver, how many portions of Liangpi would it take to earn that back!
"And then?" Zhao Jiaqi asked!
"Your brother woke up then. That scoundrel, he apologized profusely, kowtowed, and bowed, but your sister-in-law refused to forgive him, refusing to let go of the stick. She beat your brother severely. Just this once, and your brother became completely obedient. Your sister-in-law then transformed and became the head of the household!"
So that's how it was!
Indeed, as Mother said, sister-in-law truly 'doted' on big brother.
Then Zhang Cuihua leaned closer to Zhao Jiaqi and whispered, "Your sister-in-law is also a tough one. She suspected that family hadn't given the money, so she went alone to the family that had invited your brother for drinks. Initially, they insisted they had already paid. But you know your sister-in-law; she's not afraid of losing face at all. After a round of threats and warnings of reporting them to the authorities, they finally produced the money. That two thousand taels were not lost after all!"
Zhao Jiaqi listened with bated breath. Fortunately, sister-in-law was fine. It was also fortunate that sister-in-law came from a farming family, otherwise, wouldn't they have suffered a loss!
However, that family's business practices were too unethical. She would have to send people to investigate them later!
At noon, Fan Zehao returned with his big brother. In the afternoon, Godfather and the owners of the four major restaurants arrived, as did Uncle and Zhou Baihe's family.
The previously quiet royal mansion became lively again, with people coming and going incessantly.
After a few days of receiving guests and inspecting the various workshops and operations of the Trade City, Zhao Jiaqi was responsible for meeting with the heads of the three major families in the inner city.
In the front hall of the royal mansion.
Meng Yang, the head of the Meng family, was the first to arrive. As soon as he entered, he saw Zhao Jiaqi waiting for them. He immediately stepped forward and performed a kneeling salute. "Your humble subject Meng Yang pays his respects to the Empress, May Your Majesty be blessed!"
Zhao Jiaqi smiled. "Patriarch Meng, please rise. We are outside the palace, there is no need for such ceremony. Please be seated!"
Meng Yang dared not accept the invitation. He kowtowed and thanked her before daring to rise. He had personally experienced the Empress's methods and did not wish to be the next Ji Shiyi!
"Patriarch Meng, please do not be so reserved. Let's treat this as a friendly meeting and a casual chat. We can also take this opportunity to discuss how your businesses have been in recent years, offer suggestions, or report any matters in the inner city that we might not be aware of!"
Meng Yang listened to her words and began to ponder. What did the Empress mean by this?
Or perhaps, had the Empress heard some news and was testing them?
"Our businesses have been getting better year by year. Thanks to Your Majesty's connections, we have also received conveniences at the Trade City under Prince Fan. We are making double the profit compared to previous years. As for suggestions, we have none!"
Meng Yang spoke cautiously, but his words were truthful, and he deliberately ignored the latter part of her question.
He did not want to be the first bird to get shot, nor did he want to offend anyone. His current life was more stable and comfortable than before, and he earned more. Such a life was his dream, and he did not wish to disrupt it!
Zhao Jiaqi's casual probing revealed that something was indeed happening in the inner city, but he was not saying it.
Not long after, Li Yi and Liu Runming arrived together. After paying their respects and receiving the Empress's permission, they sat down.
"I will reiterate, everyone, please do not be reserved. My current identity is merely that of a businesswoman. I have summoned you here today to inquire about matters concerning the inner city and our businesses. If this realm of the inner city is not peaceful, or if there are existing risks, then it would be impossible for you to earn money stably. You are all intelligent people and should know how to weigh the priorities."
"Are you going to be at odds with money, or with yourselves? Anyone with a thinking mind knows what to do. In other words, even if you don't tell me, I can find out. I just don't want to waste time. Let's get straight to the point, saving time and effort."
Li Yi had heard about the Empress's character from Fan Biao. This couple was definitely upright.
Moreover, the Empress was his cousin-in-law, so he had a familial connection. It didn't matter if others didn't speak, but he had to.
"Your Majesty, there is indeed something happening in the inner city!" Li Yi said. "Our inner city has recently encountered a group of counterfeiters. No matter whose product it is, they can counterfeit it. They don't sell much, and we haven't suffered any significant losses, it's just quite annoying!"
Counterfeiters?
Counterfeiting existed in every dynasty; it was unavoidable!