Chapter 1052: Chapter 888: Erecting the Merit Stele

In fact, all the wealthy merchants present could easily take out the money; it just depended on whether they were willing to part with it.

One hundred-odd thousand Silver for disaster relief could only barely be considered enough. Of course, the more Silver the better—there’s no such thing as too much!

"Manager Zhan, please be seated! On behalf of those disaster victims, I thank your Juxiang Building!" Seeing that there really was Silver coming out, Hu Maoshen instantly felt a weight lifted from his heart.

No matter how much they could raise in the end, thirty thousand was already no small sum.

It was just that Juxiang Building’s attitude was surprisingly proactive; could it be that Juxiang Building had some connection with Gu Chengyu?

Only that could explain why Manager Zhan responded so enthusiastically to what Gu Chengyu proposed.

Before sitting down, Manager Zhan cast a provocative glance at Xia Hongji, then said, "My lord is too polite, our owner is not the sort to be rich and inhumane."

The faces of those present all darkened a little. Was Manager Zhan implying that the wealthy merchants here were precisely the rich and inhumane sort? That really made them seethe with frustration.

When Xia Hongji saw that Manager Zhan had really taken out the Silver, his expression grew even darker.

This was for real? Thirty thousand Silver! It was practically digging out his heart and liver!

Though this Silver was going through the public accounts and belonged to the clan, if he gave the Silver to Gu Chengyu today, the Clan Leader would definitely give him a vicious tongue-lashing afterwards.

"Honored sirs! Though our Li’s Trading House is just a small establishment, we are still willing to do our humble part. Our Li’s Trading House is willing to contribute ten thousand Silver!"

Li Yu Huan said through gritted teeth.

Their Li could not compare with those great merchants; ten thousand was truly their limit.

"Good! Young Master Li is also one who understands the greater good. This ten thousand Silver will be used for redirecting the river embankment in Hangtian Prefecture. Once the project is completed, I will erect a Merit Stele. Any who donate ten thousand Silver or more, I will have the craftsmen carve their Silver amount and family name upon the stone, to be admired by future generations!"

"My lord overpraises us, our Li’s Trading House is ashamed and unworthy of such honor!"

At this moment, Li Yu Huan could not help the joy showing on his face; he was so excited that his voice trembled.

To be carved into the inscription and admired by future generations—what a tremendous honor! Such a fine deed to be remembered for all ages—Li really had picked up a great bargain; this ten thousand Silver was money well spent!

Luckily, after hesitating just now, he had still gritted his teeth and agreed. Even if he went back and told his father, his father would approve; this was a good opportunity for their Li to rise.

It was a pity that Li was too strapped for cash; if they could put up thirty thousand Silver, they might even receive a commendation from the Emperor.

Anyone who could become a wealthy merchant could not possibly have such narrow vision.

Even a small trader like Li had spoken up; the others were even more tempted. Who wouldn’t want such a famed reputation, a merit that would be praised for generations?

Merchants valued profit, but they valued reputation even more. They did not lack Silver, but they lacked status, lacked a name.

Besides, only with a good name could one earn even more Silver.

Even if Gu Chengyu had set the floor at ten thousand, they could no longer care about such things.

"As long as one contributes thirty thousand or more, I will certainly memorialize the Emperor to grant a reward. A household that accumulates such virtue and does such good deeds ought to be commended by the Emperor."

Gu Chengyu once again tossed out the bait. Come now! Put in more Silver; even if it isn’t all used for disaster relief, whatever flows into the National Treasury will surely make the Emperor overjoyed.

As for borrowing the Emperor’s name, that was nothing at all. In the Emperor’s eyes, Silver was likely what truly spoke. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Our Wang Family is also willing to contribute ten thousand Silver!"

Once someone took the lead, it all became much easier. Even a small trader like Li could give ten thousand Silver; how could they fall behind?

"Our Qin Family will put up twenty thousand!" Hadn’t they said that the amount of Silver would also be carved on the stone? The Qin Family could not give less; they couldn’t afford to lose that face.

At the very least, they had to give more than the Wang Family, right? How could they allow the Wang Family to outshine them?

Hu Maoshen hurriedly ordered people to record the amounts of Silver and the donor families; these would all be carved into the inscription later.

"Mr. Qin is so generous, I will certainly have your Mrs. Qin engraved towards the front of the inscription." Gu Chengyu’s smile was like a spring breeze, while inwardly he was urging, a bit more, come on, a bit more.

There were a total of fourteen wealthy merchants, and all of them scrambled to report the amounts of Silver they were donating.

Gu Chengyu was fairly satisfied with the scene, then her beautiful eyes shifted and she looked toward Xia Hongji, who sat in his seat without saying a word.

He gave a soft, cold snort. The Xia Family still wanted to walk away without shedding a single hair? In his dreams. If he didn’t make the Xia Family bleed heavily today, it would be unworthy of all this fanfare.

Gu Chengyu then shot Manager Zhan a look; Manager Zhan followed Gu Cheng’s gaze, immediately understanding.

"Ahem! All of you have opened your purses so generously—you truly are good and kind families. It’s only a pity that some people are rich and inhumane, sitting on mountains of gold and silver, yet acting like iron roosters, not plucking out a single feather. It’s simply laughable. One wonders whose face they’re planning to disgrace—their own, or someone else’s."

Manager Zhan sat directly opposite Xia Hongji, head held high, every word and gesture dripping with contempt.

Xia Hongji’s face turned livid with rage. This Zhan fellow was enough to make one grind one’s teeth to dust.

It was just a pity that Juxiang Building had no shortage of thugs; otherwise, he would have had this man tied up and beaten bloody long ago to vent his anger.

Hadn’t he just been weighing how much would be appropriate to give? Since everyone else had donated, the Xia Family could not avoid donating too; otherwise, wouldn’t they really become the iron rooster in people’s mouths?

Only, every time he thought of handing Silver over to Gu Chengyu, Xia Hongji felt even more stifled. His own family would be paying out the Silver, only for someone else to take the credit?

And that someone was even the political enemy of their own Grand Secretary—no matter how he thought about it, it was suffocating.

After Manager Zhan’s little outburst, everyone present turned their gazes toward Xia Hongji.

They had actually forgotten that while they were donating in a feverish rush just now, Xia Hongji had shown no reaction at all.

Could it be that Xia Hongji really didn’t plan to donate? At that thought, everyone felt a surge of contempt.

Xia Hongji suddenly felt the change in their eyes on him and could not help but fly into a rage.

"Hmph! Our Xia Family is kin to the current Grand Secretary. Though Xia’s Trading House cannot compare to Juxiang Building, reaping gold every day, when it comes to aiding disaster victims, the Xia Family will certainly not shrink back. How about this—Xia Family will give..."

Xia Hongji extended one hand and raised three fingers. He was just about to blurt out a number when Manager Zhan at his side let out a derisive snort, loud enough for all to hear.

The faces of those present all took on odd expressions. Xia’s Trading House did business in a great many lines—grain shops, silk and satin houses, restaurants, shipping fleets, and so on.

On top of that, the younger generation of the clan was arrogant; even in trade they behaved extremely overbearingly. Over the years, how many deals had they seized by improper means? How much dirty Silver had they raked in?

The Xia Family ranked among the top few great merchants in Jiangnan. Rumor often had it that the old masters of the clan lived in extravagant debauchery.

Supposedly, life for the direct descendants in Xia Mansion was even more luxurious; not to mention being draped in gold and jewels every day—even their chamber pots, it was said, were gold inlaid jade.

And there were even rumors that the Xia ancestral hall was paved with golden bricks, though no one knew if that was true.

With such wealth, who would have thought that when it came to disaster relief, they were only willing to part with thirty thousand Silver.

Couldn’t they see that this upstart Juxiang Building had given thirty thousand without batting an eye?

Xia Hongji’s face went from livid to ashen. He shot Manager Zhan a vicious glare, then raised a fourth finger.

The corners of Gu Chengyu’s lips curled slightly as his eyes flashed with a keen light. In a single stride he stepped forward and grabbed hold of Xia Hongji’s hand.