Remarrying Chun Yuan

Liu Yuechu remained calm and composed, even taking out an account book. "Take a good look. I spent eight thousand taels to get you out of the county government."

"Two thousand taels were used to bribe the county jail, and six thousand taels were used to buy the courtesan and girls at Yixiang Pavilion."

"I also treated Huang Wanwan to a meal, which cost 436 taels."

She counted as she fiddled with the abacus. But every time the abacus beads rang out, Liu Musheng's heart trembled.

"How did it cost so much...?"

"Now you realize how expensive it is? Weren't you having a good time throwing a tantrum?" Liu Yuechu slammed the abacus on the table with a bang. "You keep saying you love Qingqing, but you go to places like that to drown your sorrows in alcohol? I'm ashamed to even mention it!"

"It wasn't my idea to go, it was Zhong Ziqi..." Liu Musheng tried to explain, but Liu Yuechu glared at him coldly, and he couldn't explain it clearly.

Yuan Cuo stood at the door, unsure whether to go in or back out. The two siblings were arguing, and his appearance at this moment was truly awkward.

Bai Shao brought out tea from inside the house, "...The young master is back!"

Liu Musheng jumped up like a rocket, not even bothering to brush the dust off his knees, and looked up at Yuan Cuo with his chin raised.

Yuan Cuo had no choice but to come in, respectfully addressing him as "elder brother," and then asking how he had rested these past two days before turning the conversation to the selection of imperial merchants by the Imperial Household Department.

“…I specifically inquired and found out that there are a total of sixteen companies participating this year.” Yuan Cuo handed the list of participants to Liu Yuechu, who felt a chill run down her spine upon seeing it.

Individually, none of them could compare to the Liu family. It seems she guessed correctly; the palace had given her an opportunity to repay a favor.

"Even if I don't get selected, I still want to go once, just to broaden my horizons and gain some knowledge."

"Don't worry, you'll definitely be elected. What you want will be what you want," Yuan Cuo reassured him.

"Do you think you're the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Department, that you can just elect someone whenever you want?" Although Liu Musheng had changed his opinion of Yuan Cuo, he was still quite indignant to have been seen humiliated just now.

Yuan Cuo didn't seem to care. "Could it be that my elder brother doesn't have faith in Yue Niang?"

"You need to be realistic even if you have confidence!" Liu Musheng rolled his eyes so hard they almost flew off his feet.

“How about we make a bet? If Yue Niang isn’t chosen, I’ll pay back the money you owe her, how about that?” Yuan Cuo suddenly suggested.

"Fine, I'll bet with you!" Liu Musheng snorted coldly.

"But let's make it clear first, if I win, my elder brother has to grant me one request." Yuan Cuo also laid out his conditions.

"What is it?" Liu Musheng asked warily.

"If I win, I'll tell you; if I lose, you don't need to know," Yuan Cuo said, keeping everyone in suspense.

Liu Musheng felt confident of victory, "...I'm still sleepy, I need to go back and get some more sleep!"

Seeing him leave, Liu Yuechu's anger subsided considerably. "I know you're trying to scare him into giving up. Even if he really loses, you don't need to pay me back. I'll just erase it from my account." Eight thousand taels! Where would Yuan Cuo steal his private stash?

“One thing at a time. If I lose, I will have to pay the penalty, but I firmly believe I won’t lose.” Yuan Cuo said confidently.

Liu Yuechu didn't take it to heart. Four days later, she went to the Imperial Household Department early in the morning.

Officials from the Imperial Household Department invited her in, exchanged a few brief words, and without much pleasantries, went straight to asking her which project she was interested in.

Liu Yuechu brought fur coats and military supplies.

She knew she should mention more of the Liu family's advantages, but after racking her brains for several days, she realized that apart from their reputation, the Liu family really had no advantages whatsoever.

"The procedures for military supplies are too complicated. None of your Liu family members are in office and know nothing about them. It's too late to learn them from scratch." An official from the Imperial Household Department picked up a pen, wrote something, and then stamped it with his seal. "Keep this freight slip for the official road safe!"

"The first batch of fur demand orders is here, and the prices are also listed. You can sell any extra fur you collect, but you can't afford to not be able to collect any more."

"20% deposit, 40% upon delivery, and 30% upon inspection and acceptance."

"Go back, next..."

After giving a few brief instructions, the official told Liu Yuechu to return home.

Liu Yuechu was kicked out after taking the order and the first deposit. She stood in a daze at the gate of the Imperial Household Department for a long time.

This is a quota for imperial merchants, not for buying cabbages.

There are over a dozen merchants, all with far greater resources than the Liu family. Why was the fur business given to her?!

Is she dreaming? I pinched her and it hurt a little.

Could it be that Mr. Zhu did a great favor?

"Where is the son-in-law?" Liu Yuechu immediately asked Yuan Cuo.

"The young master said he's going to the trading company today. He's checked all the lists and is going to put the items into inventory one by one. Apparently, a few things are missing, and the third and fourth masters refuse to admit it and are arguing about it." Bai Shao heard this from someone sent by Liu Muchi.

Liu Yuechu snorted coldly; she wasn't surprised at all.

The fact that the two of them took the silver so readily back then clearly means they had already pocketed the valuables.

"To the trading company!" She didn't even have time to be shocked before getting into the carriage and leaving.

At this moment, Yuan Cuo was writing at his desk. His wrist moved nimbly, and his small regular script was elegant. At times, his urgent flying white strokes were powerful and forceful, making people feel peaceful and calm just by looking at his writing.

But no one appreciated Yuan Cuo's calligraphy at this time, and there were seven or eight yamen runners standing at the door, their faces showing considerable impatience.

Liu Chen and Liu Shang, their faces grim, mocked Yuan Cuo, "It's just a few paintings that were lost. Why did you have to summon all the county yamen runners?"

"It's your own business, why do you have to make it known to everyone? I think you're not here to be the Liu family's son-in-law at all, you want to completely ruin the Liu family!"

"I don't know what that silly girl at the beginning of the month could have fallen for you. You're nothing!"

"Get those constables out of here right now, or don't blame me for being rude!"

……

Liu Chen and Liu Shang cursed verbally, but were inwardly shocked. Neither of them expected Yuan Cuo to check every single trivial item.

The Liu family has accumulated at least several thousand items over the years.

He painstakingly took out every single item and rewrote the entire catalog.

Living off a woman means you don't have to worry about money, so you have time to do these things?

Yuan Cuo was not afraid at all. "Since it wasn't taken by my two uncles, then someone stole it. Since it was stolen, we must get it back. After all, it's my father-in-law's painting. Not a single one can be missing."

"Why are you so stubborn!" Liu Chen was about to get angry again when Liu Yuechu entered from outside.

"You're back just in time! He said the trading company lost a few paintings and is trying to frame me and your third uncle!"

"Liu Yuechu, I think you're becoming more and more outrageous. A few days ago you even drove your aunt away with your insults! Do you even know what manners are anymore?!"

"Get these yamen runners out of here! Stop making a scene and embarrassing yourselves!"

Unable to get to Yuan Cuo, who was so soft and weak, the two could only turn their attention to Liu Yuechu.

Liu Yuechu slowly took out the slip of paper given by the Imperial Household Department, "The trading company is not Liu family's trading company at the moment, but an official merchant designated by the Imperial Household Department."

"What do you think will happen to my two uncles if I report the theft of the merchant's goods to the authorities?"