Sir Song, do you want to pledge yourself to me?

Fucheng.

With the help of his guards, Master Wen climbed over the wall with great difficulty. He straightened his slightly disheveled robes and hurried to the Chen residence with two guards.

Master Wen had a premonition that today's trip was destined to be difficult. After all, his son, Wen Jida, had dared to collude with bandits to attack the Chen family father and son, attempting to plunder the Chen family's property. If Master Chen could still greet him with a smile, then something was fishy.

However, Mr. Wen now had no choice. The Wen Mansion was surrounded by debt collectors, and even the side and back doors were strictly guarded.

The government treasury and the private treasury of the unfortunate son were looted. The government now has no cash to pay off these debts.

During the last two days of the month, the shops began to bring in their profits, and as soon as the money arrived, it was all given to thieves. The shops only had enough money to maintain their daily operations and could not use it at all.

Master Wen was a passionate man, keeping more than a dozen concubines in his backyard. He often spent lavishly to please these beautiful women. One day he'd give Concubine Liu a shop, the next day he'd buy Concubine Hou several sets of exquisite headwear. Almost all of his own private savings went to these concubines.

To resolve the current predicament, Mr. Wen can only hope that the Chen family will forgive the past and show mercy.

Even though he was mentally prepared, Master Wen was still anxious. He drank two pots of tea and ran to the toilet three times before Master Chen finally arrived.

"Brother Zijing, you are finally done with your work." Mr. Wen is indeed a veteran in the business world. Even when he is treated coldly, he still maintains his businessman's character and greets people with a smile as much as possible.

Master Chen Zijing's face was as cold as frost, and he responded mercilessly: "Master Wen, I, Chen, dare not call you my brother. These days, things are unpredictable. If I am not careful one day, my life and property will really be destroyed in the hands of you, the Wen family!" After that, he looked directly at Master Wen with a sharp gaze, obviously feeling resentful about what Wen Jieda had done.

The two families had always collaborated, and although there was competition, there had never been a fierce, life-and-death struggle over the generations. Mr. Chen was furious that Wen Jida had been so cruel, and this anger was hard to swallow.

Master Wen sighed bitterly, as if pouring out his inner regret and self-blame. "I really didn't know that rebellious son could harbor such a vicious mind! It's all my fault for being so indulgent with him. He became so ignorant and bold as to collude with bandits. I'm truly ashamed and ashamed!"

The Chen family's business was almost destroyed, so how could Chen Zijing be moved by Mr. Wen's words?

He said coldly, "There's no one else here, so stop pretending. Tell me, what is your purpose for coming here today?"

"Jida has indeed committed an unforgivable crime, and now he has received the punishment he deserves. The rumors about my mansion are spreading like wildfire, and now the shopkeepers of all the major businesses are blocking the entrance to my mansion. I really don't have a good solution."

Master Wen spoke earnestly, his brows filled with anxiety. "Brother Chen, our two families have always advanced hand in hand in Kaiyun Prefecture, evenly matched. I have come here shamelessly today, hoping that you will show some mercy, let us put aside our past grudges, and continue to work together."

Chen Zijing sneered, anger and disdain erupting simultaneously. "Ha, putting aside past grudges? That's easy for you to say! If I weren't lucky, I'd have been killed by your Wen family! Your only nephew has been murdered, his body covered in wounds, and he's still lying in bed, unable to get up! How dare you, Master Wen, ask me to show mercy? And look at the Wen family's current situation. What can you offer me to join hands with me?"

Mr. Wen was so ashamed after being scolded by Chen Zijing that he couldn't even raise his head.

But he knew that the Wen family was facing an unprecedented hardship, and that this hurdle had to be overcome. The family business that had been worked hard for generations could not be destroyed in his hands, otherwise he would be too ashamed to face his ancestors in the afterlife.

He suppressed his inner shame and continued, "Brother Chen, please, for the sake of our long-standing friendship, be merciful. We are willing to double the compensation to the Chen family, just to help us get through this crisis."

Chen Zijing's expression softened slightly. "Hmph, now that things have come to this, what can you offer to compensate my Chen family?"

There is still a chance!

Master Wen said quickly, "My nephew has indeed suffered! If you like any of the manors or shops, just tell me and consider it as compensation for my nephew."

Chen Zijing snorted coldly: "Are you really willing to do that?"

Master Wen clasped his fists in affirmation without hesitation, "I only beg you to show mercy!"

"Well, I'm not greedy. The Bishui Manor outside the city will be mine, and the two clothing shops in the capital city will also be given to me."

Master Wen's face was filled with pain. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said calmly, "I agree. Brother, quickly withdraw your people. We will have to continue dealing with each other in the future!"

Chen Zijing had truly grasped Master Wen's limit. If he had asked for even a little more, Master Wen would have likely chosen to simply sell off a few properties to ease the pressure.

As the two major merchants in Kaiyun Mansion, the Chen family and the Wen family naturally meet each other every day in the business world.

Mr. Wen can give the Chen family some compensation within his affordability, which can not only maintain the previous relationship between the two families, but also resolve the current difficulties and avoid the Wen family from having to accept Chen Zijing's subsequent revenge at this time.

"Master Wen is indeed straightforward!" Chen Zijing smiled, then picked up the pen and ink from the table and handed it to Master Wen. "Come, let's write the document first. After my people are withdrawn, we can go to the government to hand over the land deed."

"You are always cautious!" Mr. Wen shook his head helplessly and picked up the pen to write the receipt.

The Chen family was the first to come forward with the bill to collect the debt, and they were telling Master Wen clearly: This was all caused by me, I want revenge, you take it.

Now that Master Wen had arrived with compensation, Chen Zijing immediately ordered his men to withdraw, spreading the word: "The Wen family's business has grown so large because of integrity. Their small debt is nothing. After a month or two, when the Wen family recovers, how can they still run away with their money?"

Seeing that the Chen family's shopkeeper had withdrawn, the remaining people also retreated.

People who owe tens of thousands of taels of silver aren't afraid of losing their money, so why should they be afraid of a few hundred? The Wen family is a big merchant family. If they push too hard, they will be retaliated.

Besides, Chen Zijing, do you think they arranged this just to get a few shops? No, no, no!

Business is about reputation. Wen Jida was arrested by the government for colluding with bandits and thrown into jail. Now everyone knows about it. In the short term, the Wen family's business will be greatly affected.

As a competitor, the Chen family will have more opportunities.

Chen Zijing would never do a business that would lose money!