Chapter 1051: Chapter 887: No Feast Is Truly Pleasant

Some merchants cursed silently in their hearts, as expected! There’s no such thing as a free meal!

This isn’t something that can be settled with just a few hundred or thousand taels of silver, it requires tens of thousands! Therefore, everyone became like quails, afraid to speak further.

At this moment, it was Manager Zhan’s turn again, "We certainly understand the difficulties of the court. The disaster victims are having a hard time, and it’s not beneficial for the stability of the Prefecture, causing troubles for the citizens in the city."

After Manager Zhan finished speaking, he stood up with a serious expression and said, "Before I came, the owner instructed that he wants to help the disaster victims, but he doesn’t have the energy to do so. Working hard himself but not achieving substantial results, it’s better to give the silver to you officials, who can ensure the benefits reach the disaster victims. You officials worry for the country and the people, and we common folks are willing to contribute what little we can."

At this point, Manager Zhan suddenly paused, causing all the people present to look at him with anticipation.

What does this mean? Is Juxiang Building going to donate silver?

Even Xia Hongji looked over in astonishment, is Juxiang Building really that confident? Are they trying to earn a good name, or are they hoping to gain favor with the Lord Imperial Envoy?

"Our Juxiang Building in Hangtian Prefecture will make the first move, willing to donate thirty thousand taels of silver!" Manager Zhan proudly looked around the room, his eyes filled with mockery.

"Good!" Gu Chengyu stood up with a bang, looking at Manager Zhan with excitement in his eyes.

"Manager Zhan and your owner understand the bigger picture, sharing the worries of the court and the hardship of the citizens. Juxiang Building has contributed towards alleviating the urgent needs of the court and the disaster victims. I will certainly report this matter to the Emperor and request a commendation!"

Manager Zhan coughed lightly, "Ahem! You are too kind, sir. We are all citizens of Dayan. Only with a stable court can we live in peace and prosperity!"

What? Isn’t it your owner’s silver? As long as you aren’t distressed about it.

Actually, Manager Zhan was truly pained, thirty thousand taels of silver! Their owner really dared to be so generous!

Moreover, the owner said that not only the restaurant in Hangtian Prefecture would donate thirty thousand taels, but even the restaurant in Yingnan Mansion would also donate thirty thousand taels.

He was taken aback when he first heard of his owner’s grand gesture.

Upon hearing that it would be reported to the Emperor, everyone present was tempted.

This would earn them personal praise from the Emperor! In the future, who would dare not respect them in business?

Who knows, they might even be favored by the Royal Family and become an Imperial Merchant.

Hu Maoshen’s deep pupils looked over, thirty thousand taels? So generous?

"Manager Zhan, your owner is indeed a great philanthropist!"

Xia Hongji almost choked on his own saliva, thirty thousand taels? Juxiang Building really dared!

It seems that Juxiang Building has earned quite a lot over the years, otherwise, they wouldn’t mention thirty thousand taels so easily.

Xia Hongji couldn’t help but feel envious, Juxiang Building is truly a treasure chest.

But there was a more troubling matter at hand, with so many wealthy merchants present, naturally led by the Xia Family.

Even Juxiang Building had expressed their stance, if the Xia Family remained silent, it would be unreasonable.

What’s more, they were relatives of the Chief Minister Xia, if they really didn’t contribute at all, wouldn’t it bring shame to the Chief Minister Xia? If word got out, the Xia Family would be ridiculed.

They not only had to contribute but had to give more than Juxiang Building because they could not afford to lose face.

Xia Hongji suddenly felt a toothache, did Gu Chengyu gather so many wealthy merchants today with this intention?

Could Juxiang Building and Gu Chengyu have colluded to extort silver from them? After all, no one would investigate later whether Juxiang Building had actually given the silver.

Xia Hongji immediately felt that Juxiang Building and Gu Chengyu were extremely sinister, was this an attempt to grasp a wolf with bare hands?

With this in mind, Xia Hongji looked at the pair’s act and felt he had uncovered the truth, otherwise why would Manager Zhan be so proactive in expressing his stance?

There was definitely something shady between these two!

"Manager Zhan! Your Juxiang Building is truly extravagant! Thirty thousand taels just like that, it seems business has been good! But it’s a pity for those of us with struggling businesses, even if we wanted to contribute what little we could, we don’t have that financial capability, do we?"

Believing that there was something shady between the two, Xia Hongji naturally didn’t want to be the fool, so he mocked them.

Manager Zhan turned back and looked at him with disdain, "Our Juxiang Building indeed has decent business, but this thirty thousand taels were gathered from various state prefectures. Honestly, whose silver isn’t earned through proper means? But seeing the miserable state of the disaster victims, how could our owner bear to sit idly by? The owner believes that if one is successful, they should help the world; if not, they should attend to their own virtue. Such a major event as disaster relief after a flood, he shouldn’t stand aside."

"What a notion of helping the world when successful, attending to oneself when not; your owner’s awareness is commendable, I deeply admire him!"

Gu Chengyu was invigorated, his face full of appreciation.

When Manager Zhan mentioned earning through proper means, he intentionally glanced at Xia Hongji, making Xia Hongji’s face turn from blue to red in anger.

"You are too kind, sir, but the owner is indeed a kind person."

After casting a contemptuous glance at Xia Hongji, Manager Zhan turned to Gu Chengyu, praising himself with a straight face, wasn’t this such a contradictory feeling?

Who praises themselves like this? He had heard his owner praise himself several times today.

Watching coldly from the sidelines, Xia Hongji saw the crowd present restless, weighing the pros and cons of whether to donate or not.

How much should they donate, to not lose face and receive the Emperor’s commendation?

"Haha! Actually, I came prepared. Our owner has long wanted to express his goodwill. Even if the Lord Imperial Envoy hadn’t mentioned it today, the owner would have instructed me to present this goodwill!"

Then, Manager Zhan took out a stack of silver notes from his bosom, "These are all silver notes of one thousand taels each, totaling thirty thousand taels, please have someone verify them."

The straightforwardness of Juxiang Building stunned everyone present. Who would have thought that Manager Zhan would actually bring the silver notes with him, isn’t this too eager?

Could it be that Juxiang Building has more silver than they know what to do with? This is thirty thousand taels!

Gu Chengyu nodded towards Prefect Yang, "Lord Yang! As the Magistrate of Hangtian Prefecture, the responsibility of managing the silver naturally falls on you. In the future, all expenditures must have accounts, and every entry must be clear and transparent!"

Gu Chengyu had already considered, thirty thousand taels wasn’t a small amount, but it wasn’t too much either.

It’s not that he was stingy and unwilling to give more, but giving too much would only make him seem like a fool and wouldn’t earn him any favor.

Think about it! The court is currently poor. If a restaurant owner appears this wealthy, wouldn’t he be a ripe target?

If court officials became envious, or even caught the attention of the Emperor, could his restaurant business remain steady?

Thirty thousand taels of silver, though many, were still within the acceptable range for everyone.