Chapter 43

Having said this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian immediately drifted away.

After Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian had departed.

Wang Wang Wang Chengen looked at Zhou Kui and couldn't help but laugh.

"Father-in-Law Zhou, this humble servant has written a..."

Zhou Kui stared wide-eyed, fixing his gaze intently on Wang Wang Wang Chengen, unable to speak for a long time.

Finally, he snorted.

He snatched the envelope from Wang Wang Wang Chengen's hand and immediately vanished.

A few days prior, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had raided Zhou Kui's residence with such great fanfare.

It had already become known throughout the entire city.

But while the Embroidered Uniform Guard had conducted the raid.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian had not issued any edict imposing punishment.

Nor had Zhou Kui been released.

Members of the Zhou family even went to the Imperial Prison intending to visit him, only to find that Zhou Kui was not there either.

For a time, Zhou Kui's whereabouts became the matter of greatest concern to all the nobles in the city.

Just at this moment.

Zhou Kui, whom everyone had assumed Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian had ordered executed, returned home alive and kicking.

Upon hearing this news.

All the nobles and scholar-officials in the entire capital exploded in uproar.

Everyone couldn't help but rush to his door one after another to inquire what exactly had happened.

"Master, the Duke of Cheng and Grand Secretary Hong have both arrived."

Zhou Kui didn't even lift his eyelids, clicking his tongue as he said.

"Let them wait at the gate for a while."

"Tell them I am busy."

"In a moment, inform the long-term laborers of the household that regardless of their duties, each person's monthly wage shall increase by eight qian of silver starting this month!"

Finally, Zhou Kui looked at the steward before him with a beaming smile and whispered.

"Your increase shall be twenty taels!"

The steward standing before Zhou Kui froze upon hearing this.

Immediately, overjoyed, he clasped his hands and said.

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

Bluffing and deceiving.

It is nothing more than this little trick.

When deceiving people, you cannot possibly have the audacity to tell them you have a way to make money.

Even a fool would not believe you if you did.

You must first pretend to be profound and mysterious.

Make them suspicious.

Make them envious and jealous.

Once they are envious and jealous, even the smartest person will take the bait!

As a huckster who used to set up stalls on Qianmen Street.

How could Zhou Kui possibly not know such a simple thing?

Waiting outside the Zhou residence were Zhu Zhu Chunchen, the Duke of Cheng, and Hong Hong Chengchou, a Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion; one was the Vice Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

The other was the head of the noble officials.

They were the foremost figures among the civil and military officials of the court.

Therefore, even though Zhou Kui was the Emperor's Father-in-Law, he had never dared to treat the two with any neglect.

The two of them would never have imagined that today Zhou Kui would actually turn them away at the gate.

He even told them to wait for a while.

Most critically.

Zhu Zhu Chunchen clearly noticed that after the steward went inside once.

When he came out again to deliver a reply to the two, his expression had completely changed.

This was definitely not happiness that could be feigned!

Hong Hong Chengchou and Zhu Zhu Chunchen exchanged a glance.

Zhu Zhu Chunchen immediately assumed the demeanor of a spoiled noble, grabbed the steward's arm, and shouted sternly.

"You murderous scoundrel, how dare you speak to this Duke in such a manner?!"

The steward was startled by Zhu Zhu Chunchen's sudden outburst of anger.

Immediately trembling with fear in both legs, he looked at Zhu Zhu Chunchen and said.

"Both Masters, this humble one truly harbors no intention of neglect."

"My Master, my Master is truly busy!"

Zhu Zhu Chunchen looked coldly at the steward and said.

"The Father-in-Law naturally has important matters; what I am asking is why you are grinning and simpering at this Duke!"

Hearing this, the steward immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He hastily looked at the two men with an aggrieved expression and said,

"Your Lordships have misunderstood. His Lordship just announced that every long-term laborer in the entire household has received an increase of eight qian in their monthly allowance; how could I not be happy?"

"Even if I were to die, I would not dare to neglect either of your Lordships!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhu Chunchen's expression gradually softened.

He waved a hand at the steward and said,

"Very well, there is no issue!"

Only then did the steward depart toward the interior of the residence.

Meanwhile, inside the Jiaxing Marquis Residence, all the servants were laughing together in a group.

Who could tell that the place had just been raided and confiscated!

With a grave expression, Zhu Zhu Chunchen looked at Hong Hong Chengchou beside him and asked,

"Grand Secretary Hong, this, this doesn't feel right!"

Nonsense.

Even a fool could see that something was amiss.

Zhou Kui had just had his home raided; given his iron rooster nature,

for him to increase his servants' monthly allowances, he must have reaped such enormous benefits to be this joyful!

Hong Hong Chengchou knitted his brows tightly, lowered his voice, and whispered,

"Duke of Chengguo, surely you haven't failed to realize even this?!"

Zhu Zhu Chunchen pondered carefully.

Then he suddenly lifted his head, looking at Hong Hong Chengchou in shock as he asked,

"Could it be that His Majesty has enfeoffed the Zhou family as kings?!"

Hong Hong Chengchou looked at Zhu Zhu Chunchen with an expression of speechlessness.

"Your Grace, what are you thinking!"

"This Imperial Father-in-Law Zhou has definitely made a fortune in silver!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhu Chunchen immediately breathed a sigh of relief, only for his face to instantly fill with grief.

"Made a fortune in silver? He can make silver?!"

"They might as well have enfeoffed him as a king!"

"If even he can make silver, that hurts me more than being stabbed with a knife!"

46. Hong Hong Chengchou: Brother, when it comes to making money, bring your little brother along!