Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

A short while later, the Zhen family arrived near Zhen Jiang.

The three leading figures were dressed in fine clothes; one was older, and the other two were slightly younger, but all were over thirty.

The three rode their warhorses directly to the front of Zhen Jiang's group.

Upon seeing the three men, Zhen Jiang was the first to bow: "Eldest Uncle, Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle."

Standing next to Zhen Jiang, her younger sister Zhen Tuo also bowed along with her, but without addressing her by name. She also looked somewhat unhappy, pouting her lips and wrinkling her little nose.

The three middle-aged men dismounted, not forgetting to glance at the caravan slowly approaching in the distance.

"Big niece."

Zhen Jian, who dismounted first, stood in front of Zhen Jiang, holding a horsewhip wrapped with gold thread.

Subsequently, Zhen Ren, the third wife of the Zhen family, and Zhen You, the fourth wife, dismounted and followed Zhen Jian.

"Uncle." Zhen Jiang looked at Zhen Jian walking towards her.

“My dear niece,” Zhen Jian said with a smile, pointing to the caravan behind him, “Why didn’t you say anything before you left? It’s made your uncle look for you everywhere.”

Zhen Jiang said calmly, "Uncle is joking. Zhen Jiang goes out to check the shops every day. If I were to discuss the accounts with you every day, wouldn't that be bothering you?"

"Hey, what kind of talk is that? How come we're not members of the Zhen family?"

Zhen Jian said with a smile, "We have a share in the Zhen family's affairs, after all."

"Now that your father is gone, you, a young lady who has never crossed any lines, can't be made to appear in public for all the matters concerning the Zhen family, can you?"

Zhen Jiang took a deep breath, her expression growing increasingly grim.

"If that's what you say, then why didn't you and your two other uncles come out to help when my father passed away?"

Upon hearing this, Zhen Ren from the third branch of the Zhen family and Zhen You from the fourth branch, who were standing next to Zhen Jian, immediately looked embarrassed.

“Niece, you’re not saying that right,” Zhen Ren said, taking a small step forward. “When your father passed away, we were the ones who took care of everything here.”

"We just didn't have time to take care of the family business at the time, so how come it seems to you that we didn't care about it at all?"

Zhen You, from the fourth branch of the family, immediately chimed in, "Yes, niece, your third uncle is right."

Zhen Jian, who was in the lead, raised his hand to stop the two from speaking, saying, "Niece, what happened back then is in the past."

“We can’t look at the past, we have to look at the future,” Zhen Jian said. “Now everything has settled down.”

"And what about my suggestion from during the Chinese New Year? What have you thought about it now?"

"My uncle came today not for any other reason than to hear your thoughts."

Zhen Jiang's pretty face was tense.

After glancing at the caravan in the distance, he said, "Uncle, as I have already explained, this snow salt and white paper were not created by me, but by someone else. The Zhen family is merely a partner."

“As for the profits earned by the Zhen family, I have already distributed them according to the family's proportions. What else is there for you to complain about, Uncle?” Zhen Jiang frowned slightly.

“My dear niece, there’s something wrong with what you’re saying.”

As soon as Zhen Jiang finished speaking, Zhen Ren from the third branch of the family immediately chimed in, "You said this business is a collaboration with others, and the snow salt and white paper are also produced by others."

"You must know who this person is."

"Since you know, why can't you tell us when we ask?"

"Also, this snow salt and white paper only came into your possession after you went to Jinyang last year."

"Then why wasn't it there before?"

"Big brother, fourth brother, am I right?" Zhen Ren looked at the two of them.

Zhen Jian and Zhen You both nodded.

Zhen Jian nodded and said, "Niece, we didn't mean anything by it."

“You said before that this deal was done with someone else, fine, that’s settled.”

“But now, the snow salt and white paper have been on sale for a year, and you have already received almost everything you are entitled to.”

"As the eldest uncle and now the head of the Zhen family, I certainly won't go too far."

“After all, the white paper and the snow salt are yours,” Zhen Jian said. “We, the third branch, are not asking for much.”

"Of the profits, you, the first branch, will take 40%, and the remaining 60% will be split 20% each among the three branches."

"In this way, your second branch still gets the most, which can be considered as your hard-earned money, niece. Is it fair and reasonable for your uncle to say this?"

"Third brother, fourth brother, what do you think of my way of allocating the spoils?"

Zhen Ren from the third branch nodded and said, "I agree, and I have no objection to my eldest niece taking 40%."

Zhen You from the fourth branch of the family nodded in agreement: "Alright, let's distribute it according to the eldest brother's method."

Zhen Jiang did not interrupt the three of them.

"Uncle, as I said before, we are just cooperating on the snow salt and the white paper."

Zhen Jiang repeated what she had said countless times: "The profit from snow salt and white paper is only about 30% for the Zhen family."

"Everything I'm saying is true."

Zhen Jian's brows immediately furrowed, and his expression gradually became somewhat unpleasant.

“My dear niece, there’s something wrong with you here.”

Zhen Jian said in a cold tone, "We have already made concessions time and time again."

"Since you say this business is a partnership with someone else, then tell me who that person is. If there really is such a person and this matter is true, then we can pretend that we never said anything before."

Zhen Ren and Zhen You also turned their gazes toward Zhen Jiang.

Even Zhen Jiang's younger sister, Zhen Tuo, who was standing next to her, held Zhen Jiang's arm tightly and looked up at her.

Zhen Jiang pursed her lips and shook her head.

At first.

Back when she was in Jinyang, she had already promised Duan Yu that she would not reveal the origin of the snow salt and the white paper.

She understood what Duan Yu meant.

Now, this snow salt and white paper have been sold to various prefectures and counties of the Han Dynasty.

Sales are excellent.

Almost everyone knows about the exorbitant profits from this white paper and snow salt.

Given Duan Yu's status at the time, it would have been impossible for him to protect those two items.

Therefore, it was essential to keep it a secret at the time.

Although Duan Yu is no longer the county magistrate of Jinyang County.

But since we've kept our promise, we must see it through to the end.

She already owes Duan Yu far too much.

Even her life was given to her by Duan Yu.

How could she possibly mention Duan Yu's name before he had given his consent?

Zhen Jian turned his head and glanced at Zhen Ren from the third branch of the family, and Zhen You from the fourth branch.

Zhen Ren and Zhen You both nodded.

“My dear niece, I have already said all this. It is not that I, as your uncle, am resorting to unscrupulous means.”

Zhen Jian said, "To tell you the truth, the governor has mentioned this piece of white paper and snow salt several times."

"But we've already brushed them off the previous times."

“My dear niece, you must know that our Zhen family is no longer what it used to be, and there are some people we cannot afford to offend.”

"This blank paper and the snow salt mean that a portion of it is destined to be handed over."

"I'm here today to get an explanation for this matter."

As Zhen Jian spoke, he waved to the private soldiers of the Zhen family behind him and said, "Men, take Zhen Jiang back to her home fortress."

"Go, stop the caravan," Zhen Jian ordered.

Zhen Jiang's beautiful eyes widened instantly: "No!"

"Uncle, what you're doing is going to cause trouble!"

Zhen Jian frowned and said, "What trouble? If we don't give the governor an explanation soon, then that will be a real disaster for the Zhen family!"

"Guards! Take Zhen Jiang back!"