Chapter 49

We are all trash.

Why should you, Zhou Kui, be the one making money!

Thinking of this, a wave of sorrow inevitably rose in Zhu Chunchen's heart!

Not long after.

The steward finally arrived, late as ever.

"Two my lords, our Master has finished his business. Please come to the front hall to speak."

Hearing this, Zhu Chunchen let out a cold snort.

He then strode purposefully toward the front hall of the Duke's mansion.

From a great distance.

Zhu Chunchen saw Zhou Kui drinking tea.

He immediately quickened his pace, clasped his hands, and said,

"Oh my, Zhou Guozhang, you speak of it, but you've worried me to death!"

"What on earth happened those few days ago! Such a grand procession, I've never seen so many Embroidered Uniform Guard in my life!"

Zhou Kui smiled helplessly.

His voice somewhat hoarse, he said,

"Troublesome for you, Duke, to take such care. It was just that matters were urgent, and we truly could not find enough hands, so we borrowed a few from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, that's all."

Hearing this, Zhu Chunchen was momentarily stunned.

So those Embroidered Uniform Guard really weren't here to raid the household?

Hong Chengchou gave Zhu Chunchen a look, and only then did Zhu Chunchen shut his mouth.

Instead, Hong Chengchou carefully watched Zhou Kui from the side and asked in a low voice,

"Guozhang, did the Son of Heaven ask you to donate silver again? This time you've donated quite a lot!"

Zhou Kui nodded frantically in his heart.

But on his lips he pretended to be mysterious, shook his head, and sighed,

"Sigh, Grand Councilor Hong, it's not that matter at all. It's just some family affairs at my home, ha, just family affairs."

Seeing Zhou Kui's manner.

Hong Chengchou further confirmed the guess in his heart.

That old rascal Zhou Kui has indeed made money!

Thinking of this, Hong Chengchou could only continue asking,

"That doesn't sound right, Zhou Guozhang. You are the Son of Heaven's father-in-law; where is the need for such a grand mobilization?"

Zhou Kui looked at Hong Chengchou, wanting to speak but holding back.

He could only suppress the sorrow in his heart and said in a low voice,

"Sigh, Grand Councilor Hong, please do not ask. It is just some matters in my hometown."

Seeing Zhou Kui's evasive manner.

Hong Chengchou felt as if a claw were scratching inside his heart.

What is more unbearable than a brother making money?

It is that a brother makes money, you know the brother made money, the brother knows you know he made money, but he simply will not tell you!

Zhu Chunchen took a deep breath, stared fixedly at Zhou Kui, and asked,

"Guozhang, you and I have been friends for many years."

"What exactly is this matter? With our relationship, you must give us the inside story!"

"Could it be you have made contact with the Northwest?"

Hearing this, Zhou Kui immediately shook his head frantically.

"Duke of Cheng, what kind of words are these!"

"How can I say this? I am the Great Ming's Guozhang! From the day my daughter married into the palace, our Zhou family has been bound to the court!"

Hearing this, even Hong Chengchou was somewhat speechless.

You old rascal actually know that!

I was thinking you didn't know this is your son-in-law's Jiangshan!

Hong Chengchou looked at Zhou Kui somewhat awkwardly and asked in a low voice,

"Then, Zhou Guozhang, what exactly is going on?"

Hearing Hong Chengchou ask this.

Zhou Kui finally answered vaguely,

"Nothing much, just found a small business, needed silver urgently, so I hurried to get it done."

Hearing this.

Hong Chengchou and Zhu Chunchen felt ten thousand horses galloping in their hearts.

A small business?

A small business and you emptied the entire household?!

Zhu Chunchen looked at Zhou Kui angrily and said,

"Guozhang, this is a bit unscrupulous of you. When the Noble Lady entered the palace, it was I who submitted her name card. How could you..."

Before Zhu Chunchen could finish, Hong Chengchou interrupted,

"Duke, this is our Guozhang."

"But even so, Guozhang, isn't your conduct a bit unscrupulous?"

"In the past, whenever something happened, didn't us brothers think of you? You, ah, sigh."

"The brothers have truly had their hearts chilled."

Hearing that Hong Chengchou had already spoken to this extent,

Zhou Kui finally chuckled softly.

"Oh, fine, look at how Grand Councilor Hong has painted me."

"It's just a small business."

"A few days ago, a letter arrived from our ancestral home in Nanzhili, from a nephew of ours who went overseas years ago."

"There are some newly arrived Franks who, finding no connections here in the Great Ming, wish to purchase some porcelain to sell back to the Western Oceans."

"I am merely helping out a junior of our own family, putting up some silver; the first month is tight on funds, so the interest is a bit high, just to make a living."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chunchen and Hong Chengchou immediately lost all sleepiness.

Hong Chengchou, moreover, grew up by the sea since childhood.

How much silver one can earn from going overseas, he knows better than anyone!

"May I ask, Father-in-Law of the State, for this month's silver, what is the interest?"

Zhou Kui smiled sheepishly.

"It's nothing, not much."

Seeing Zhou Kui's expression,

Zhu Chunchen immediately grew anxious!

Just by your Zhou Kui's look, this interest cannot be low!

"Oh, Father-in-Law of the State, how much is it exactly!"

"Truly not much, just thirty percent interest."

Thirty percent interest!

Thirty percent!

Five hundred thousand taels of silver.

Used for only one month.

Instantly earn one hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver!

This is much faster than robbing!

Even for high officials and nobles like Zhu Chunchen and Hong Chengchou, upon hearing this number,

they still could not help but swallow hard!

47, crying poverty when donating to save the nation, yet fearing the Ponzi scheme won't be milked?