The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 78 Hua Zixu's Official Debt

Hearing the curses from the crowd, Master Ximen nodded slightly, his gentle smile returning to his face: "Hmm, remember what you said today. Each of you should do your job well."

He paused for a moment: "There's one more thing you must remember: this shop now belongs to the Ximen family! If any fools outside think it's Zhang Dafu's property and try to buy on credit, cause trouble, or try to find out anything... you know what to do."

Xu Zhi immediately chimed in, “Don’t worry, sir! We understand! From now on, the shop will only recognize you, sir Ximen, as its owner! No outsiders are to be allowed near it! If anyone is so ignorant, we will immediately report it to you, sir!” The others echoed his sentiments.

The official nodded in satisfaction, a smile appearing on his face: "Hmm, good that you understand. There's no need to report to me immediately. There are constables nearby who will search in front of the shops regularly every day. If they encounter any ignorant people, they will report to the constables first, and then report to the house."

Everyone claimed so.

The official continued, “Following me will bring you benefits. Alright, that’s the itinerary. Mr. Fu, stay here and sort out the details of the account handover. Xu Zhi, you take the others and go back to the shop now. Do as I say and start making changes immediately. Also, discuss the layout and furnishings of the shop with Mr. Fu. There needs to be a major overhaul. If I have time tomorrow, I will personally go to the shop to take a look.”

Everyone felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and they all agreed in unison, carefully retreating out. Only Ximen Qing, Fu Ming, and Jinlian, who was standing to one side, remained in the hall.

Watching the departing figures of the group, Ximen Qing chuckled softly to Fu Ming, "Mr. Fu, what do you think of these people?"

Fu Ming hurriedly said, "Your Excellency uses both kindness and severity, and your rules are clear, so these people naturally dare not be disobedient. It's just that Xu Zhi was originally a confidant of Zhang the Master..."

Ximen Qing laughed and said, "Confidants? As the saying goes, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; when the wealth is gone, the relationship ends! These scoundrels are just the confidants of money! My rules and rewards are much more generous than that old man Zhang's. You just need to keep a close eye on things, especially the accounts and the warehouse."

Fu Ming understood immediately: "I understand."

Ximen Qing stretched and said to Jinlian, "Go to the back and ask if lunch is ready. Tell the kitchen to steam the newly acquired Jinhua ham and heat up a pot of Jinhua wine. Mr. Fu, sit down and have some wine with me."

Jinlian said sweetly, and quickly shuffled out to serve the dishes.

Fu Ming said, "Yes, I was just about to report this month's income to the employer."

He then took out an account book from his pocket and placed it in front of the official:
"The herbal medicine shop: The weather in the county is peaceful and there are few epidemics, but the epidemic outside the city is ongoing. The three thousand catties of honeysuckle have been made into miasma-eliminating pills and have begun to be sold."

"Of all the pharmacies in the county and the four townships and eight towns, eight or nine out of ten sell their goods through us. It's very stable. This month's income: 185 taels."

The official nodded. It was more than thirty taels more than before, and it should increase more and more in the coming months.

"Village outside the city: Wheat harvest valued at seventy taels of silver"

"Various gifts: thirty taels for the Huzhou silk merchant's lawsuit introduced by Second Master, and ten taels for the property case on Lion Street, totaling forty taels."

"Official Debt: Last month, a new loan was issued to the newly appointed Vice Prefect Wang, who is in charge of river works. The amount was seventy taels of silver, with a monthly interest rate of five percent according to regulations. The amount received was three taels and five cents."
"A total of two hundred and ninety-eight taels and five fen has been deposited into the account!"

"There is another old debt that has not been paid on time: it is owed by Li Zhongyi, the postmaster of Linqing Customs Wharf, for three hundred taels of silver, with a monthly interest rate of five percent. Thirty taels from last month and this month have not been paid." This "official debt" was originally a lucrative business for Ximen Da Guanren, with a long-standing flow of money and silver.

What is "official debt"? It refers to loans made specifically to officials who wear gauze hats and round-necked robes.

In this world, when a new official takes office, he needs to put on a show and throw a lavish banquet. But before he's even pocketed the money, where does the expense come from? It comes from borrowing, of course!
The former official had run out of funds and needed to temporarily cover the deficit to appease the higher-ups during an inspection. Where would the money come from? Naturally, it would be borrowed!
If you find the vacant position undesirable and want a more lucrative one, where will you get the money to bribe your way up and down the hierarchy? You'll have to borrow!
Who should we borrow from?
Of course, it was borrowed from Master Ximen of Qinghe County.

Therefore, regardless of whether you are a new or old official, as long as you hold an official position, you can ask Master Ximen for a loan.

This is also Ximen's most proud move - lending money to you officials!

If you repay the money, you're still friends; if you refuse to repay, you're even better friends!

If you are truly penniless and unable to repay, that's fine too!
Good friends also have all sorts of official documents, connections, and treasury funds... any of these can be converted into cash and used to repay debts with Master Ximen!
As long as you're still wearing that veil, there are countless ways to make you spit out your principal and interest!

However, this debt, if it outweighs the weight of that official hat, becomes quite a burden. Moreover, this money actually filled the gambling hole belonging to Li Zhongyi!
Ximen Qing was taken aback upon hearing this, his brows furrowing slightly: "Li Zhongyi? I know that fellow! He's a stray dog ​​who spends his days lurking in gambling dens, gnawing on rotten bones! I lend 'official loans,' dealing exclusively with those wearing official hats and robes, aiming for respectable profits! How could I possibly fill his bottomless gambling hole? With his meager salary, even if he scraped the ground at the docks until his boots wore out and sparks flew, he still couldn't fill this three hundred taels hole!"

Seeing his anger, Fu Ming hurriedly lowered his body and said in a low voice, "Reporting to your Excellency, it was Fourth Master Hua who acted as the middleman. It's clearly stated in the documents that you had a few drinks that day, so you nodded in agreement."

Hua Zixu?
Suddenly, the image of Li Ping'er flashed through Ximen Da Guanren's mind, and he awkwardly wiped his face.

"The silver has all been deposited and sealed in the treasury, and the accounts are clear. Please take a look, sir." Fu Ming carefully presented the account books and lists again, observing his expression.

Ximen Qing took the ledger, but didn't bother to examine it closely. He only glanced at the lists of large sums before tossing it back into Fu Ming's arms. "Hmm, Mr. Fu, thank you for your hard work. Your accounts are always clear and efficient, which saves me a lot of trouble. I'll have your wife take a look at them later."

He then changed the subject, focusing on the newly acquired silk shop: "Keep a close eye on this new shop. The layout and decorations will be significantly altered, but nothing too drastic. From today onward, the two cents of profit from the herbal medicine shop will be yours to use."

Upon hearing this, Fu Ming's heart pounded wildly, as if he had caught a live rabbit. This two-tenths of the profit was no small sum! He had worked diligently and cautiously in the Ximen household for over a decade, never daring to touch a single copper coin in the accounts. Even the shrewd Madam Yue Niang, after countless audits, had never found a single flaw. Now, to receive such a huge benefit out of nowhere was truly a stroke of good fortune! He immediately rose from his seat, bowed deeply to the ground, his voice trembling, "Thank you, sir, for your heavenly grace! Even if I were to be shattered to pieces, I could never repay even a fraction of your kindness!"

The two ate some delicate dishes and drank a few cups of warm wine.

The official said, “Since Hua Zixu acted as guarantor for Li Zhongyi’s three hundred taels of silver, you should go find him and tell him that I’m a little short on funds, and ask him to urge Li Zhongyi to send the principal and interest as soon as possible. We are sworn brothers on the surface, so I can’t very well swallow my pride and demand payment immediately. You should go and sound him out first. If he hesitates and makes excuses, or if Li Zhongyi delays in paying the silver…”

The official paused for a moment, then said, "...If you reply to me again, I'll have to personally go next door to have a word with him."

Fu Ming immediately understood and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Your Excellency's consideration is thorough, I understand! I will go to see Master Hua today and subtly convey your message." He sat with him for a while longer, ate some snacks, and drank half a cup of leftover wine before tactfully getting up to take his leave: "If Your Excellency has no other instructions, I will go to take care of the shop's construction supervision, and while I'm at it... go see Master Hua?"

Ximen Qing leaned back in his chair, not even lifting his eyelids, and merely grunted an "Mmm" through his nose in agreement. Only then did Fu Ming bow and retreat with light, respectful steps.

(End of this chapter)