Chapter 37: A Truly Useless Ally

“This is the IOU written by my parents, asking me to come to your residence and borrow some silver from you, Madam.”

“If you ask me, our families—the Liu and the Chu—are like one family; is there really any need for an IOU? Isn’t that rather distant?”

The old lady’s expression had long surpassed mere displeasure; it could no longer be described in words. Shen Zhao felt a faint anticipation, watching Liu Jinbao’s performance.

Hurry, infuriate the old woman to death; continue your reckless words, continue your shameless boasting.

A surge of anger clogged the old lady’s chest, and the second madam quickly stepped forward. Heaven help us, she knew this scoundrel was up to no good.

“Mother... I’ll see him out of the residence right away.”

Liu Jinbao brusquely brushed aside the second madam’s hand, which was reaching to snatch the letter from him.

He protested, “Elder sister, what are you doing? The old lady hasn’t agreed to lend me money yet. If you won’t help me, at least don’t ruin my chance.”

“You—” The second madam was speechless with rage. Did he not see how dark the old lady’s face had become?

Shen Zhao, who had remained silent, looked at Liu Jinbao and asked, “You’ve come to borrow money?”

Liu Jinbao was delighted by the question, grinning widely. The General of Chu had never spoken to him before. How rare, to be addressed so directly.

He replied with easy familiarity, “Yes, third brother. Times are tight at home, and some troubles have arisen. So my parents sent me to borrow a bit of silver from you.”

With that, he handed the letter toward Shen Zhao.

Shen Zhao naturally took the letter and opened it.

One glance.

Good heavens—what audacity! They were asking for one hundred thousand taels of silver at once.

But that was not the main point.

The real issue was that this letter was not only an IOU—it was also a threatening note.

If the money was not lent, the Liu family would force Liu to divorce Chu Renjie and take away the two legitimate sons, Shan Jun and Shan An.

Lin Jiaojiao, who had been silently watching the scene from behind the old lady, rose on tiptoe to peek at the letter.

Her lips parted slightly in astonishment.

One hundred thousand taels! The Liu family truly dared to ask for it. They weren’t afraid the sheer weight of the silver would crush them.

Shen Zhao handed the letter to the old lady. “Mother, this letter was written to you by the elders of the Liu family. You’d best read it yourself.”

The old lady took the letter with suspicion. Those two old fools from the Liu family—how could they shamelessly ask her for silver?

For years, she had turned a blind eye to the second madam’s support of the Liu residence, but fortunately, the second madam had always acted with moderation.

The old lady glanced over the contents of the letter, nearly choking on her own breath.

One hundred thousand taels of silver! How dared the Liu family ask for such a sum?

Even if the Liu family were sold off, they wouldn’t fetch one hundred thousand taels. This was not borrowing money—this was daylight robbery.

If she lent the Liu family one hundred thousand taels, what would they use to repay it?

Moreover, the letter threatened her, demanding she lend the silver.

If she refused, Liu would divorce her second son.

Divorce? They truly dared to say it.

Ha! Relying on the fact that the second madam had borne Shan Jun and Shan An, they thought to use this as leverage against her.

Never!

“Liu, come here and see what your parents have written!”

The second madam’s heart skipped a beat.

She took the letter, trembling.

Upon reading the contents, she nearly bit through her own teeth in fury.

No wonder the old lady was so enraged.

The second madam could not believe her parents had written this. How could they be so muddle-headed, threatening the old lady to borrow money?

It had to be the work of that scoundrel Liu Jinbao.

“Liu Jinbao, was this really written by our parents?”

Her parents couldn’t possibly be so confused as to say such things.

Liu Jinbao snatched the letter back from her hand, disgruntled.

“Elder sister, you’re doubting me? After just a few years away, you don’t recognize our parents’ handwriting? You certainly are their daughter.”

Shen Zhao’s eyes narrowed; this drama was becoming increasingly entertaining.

Liu Jinbao looked impatiently at his sister.

“You’ve grown more indifferent to our parents. Two years ago, you still sent silver home; now, when the family faces hardship and needs money, you grudgingly gave them fifteen thousand taels. Did they raise you for nothing? The letter clearly asks for one hundred and five thousand taels—”

The second madam was shocked.

How could this scoundrel dare to speak so brazenly?

Everyone in the household knew she subsidized her natal family, sending them food and cloth at the start of each month—items of little value.

The old lady and others were aware but never commented.

The silver she sent was always wrapped among those items, never openly displayed.

She stepped forward and covered Liu Jinbao’s mouth. “What nonsense are you spouting? When have I ever sent silver home? Are you confused?”

Liu Jinbao’s words changed the expressions of everyone present.

Shen Zhao suddenly understood—she now knew why the General’s residence was so impoverished.

The old lady’s blood boiled; she summoned her attendant and whispered a few words in her ear.

The attendant slipped away quietly.

Shen Zhao watched as the attendant departed. Liu would soon be in trouble.

Chu Mu was deeply shaken.

Fifteen thousand taels! He suddenly realized why Zhao had requested the second sister-in-law’s account book from previous years.

The second brother’s household had always depended on him for support.

Where had the second sister-in-law found fifteen thousand taels to give the Liu family?

From Liu Jinbao’s words, it seemed she frequently gave silver to her natal family—and, judging by his tone, even fifteen thousand taels was too little.

One could imagine how much silver she must have given over the years to provoke such disdain from Liu Jinbao.

Liu Jinbao grabbed his sister’s hand, growing more dissatisfied with her.

“What did I say? I’m your blood brother. I’m in trouble and ask you for some silver—what’s wrong with that? You obviously have plenty of silver; what’s wrong with giving me some? If you were generous like before, giving whatever I asked for, our parents wouldn’t have needed to borrow from the General’s residence.”

“Shut your mouth!” The second madam glared at Liu Jinbao, her eyes shadowed with hatred.

Had he forgotten all the kindness she’d shown him over the years?

She had indulged his every whim—more so than for Shan Jun and Shan An.

“If you give me silver, I’ll shut up. Other valuables will do. Do you still have shops under your name? Best if they’re like those on Vermilion Bird Street; give me two. Shops there can fetch more than a thousand taels more than before. Our parents were foolish to sell those shops too early—”

Slap! The second madam struck Liu Jinbao across the face.

“Liu Jinbao, I told you to shut up!”

Shen Zhao’s gaze darkened—Vermilion Bird Street!

She had two dowry shops on Vermilion Bird Street herself.

It was the most prosperous avenue in the capital, lined with row upon row of businesses.

Every day, crowds thronged the street.

There, land was worth its weight in gold.

Liu, oh Liu—your courage is truly extraordinary.

She had thought Liu was embezzling the General’s estate for the sake of her two sons.

She hadn’t expected Liu to have given all the stolen property to her natal family.

Now, the drama would only grow more captivating.

Liu Jinbao had thoroughly ruined Liu this time.

Who knew how the old lady would handle her once-favored daughter-in-law now?

“Liu Yuanxi, kneel before me!” The old lady clutched Chu Miao tightly, veins bulging on her hand.

Her once serene face was now twisted beyond recognition.

With a thud, the second madam dropped to her knees before the old lady, trembling all over.