Chapter 515: Thin Gift Money Bank

Mid-December.

Jinyang had long been cold enough to seep into the bones.

The north wind swirled the drifting snow, howling across the Shiban road, rattling the tavern flags lining the street, while inside the city Thin Gift Money Bank remained warm and cozy.

The Zhuqi Daimen stood open, the copper bells hanging inside swaying with each passing shadow, chiming and dispelling some of the deep winter bleakness.

Just after the hour, a figure stepped through the packed snow, the soles of the boots grinding the ice shards with a creak.

The newcomer was Zhang Fuyuan, thirty‑five, dressed in a moon‑white brothel with dark patterns, a ring of snow‑white fox fur around the collar and cuffs, a jade‑green belt hook at the waist, his robes fluttering lightly as he walked.

As soon as he reached the doorway, the clerk stationed on the steps recognized him instantly and hurriedly lifted the curtain to report.

"Shopkeeper Zhang, you've arrived?"

Before the words finished, the twenty‑something shopkeeper Shen Junli had already quickened his steps to greet him.

He wore a dark‑blue brocade robe, his face handsome, his brows and eyes full of courteous smiles, hands slightly raised, his steps light as he approached, turning aside to guide, "It's bitterly cold, you've had a hard journey, haven't you?"

Speaking, he led Zhang Fuyuan toward the Ya Ge on the west side of the bank, a secluded spot reserved for honored guests, its carved wooden doors shut tight, cutting off the outside clamor.

"Please, have a seat!"

Shen Junli personally pushed the wooden door open, stepping aside to invite Zhang Fuyuan inside.

Inside the Ya Ge, the furnishings were elegant; against the wall stood a rose‑wood Eight Immortals table, and on either side were Grand Master's Chairs cushioned with soft pads.

In a corner a pot of silver‑thread charcoal burned, the flames leaping, heating the room to a warm glow, scented faintly with pine smoke.

When Zhang Fuyuan sat down, Shen Junli quickly gestured toward the doorway, commanding, "What are you all standing around for? Hurry and brew the finest pre‑rain Longjing!"

Remember to keep it warm a while longer; don't let the tea get cold!

The clerk outside answered repeatedly and hurried away.

Just as Zhang Fuyuan settled, he raised his hand in a feigned gesture, "Shen the shopkeeper, no need for such courtesy!"

Shen Junli sat opposite him, his smile unchanged, "Etiquette must not be omitted!"

After a brief pause, his gaze inquisitive, his tone sincere, "May I ask, Shopkeeper Zhang, how much are you intending to borrow this time?"

This Shopkeeper Zhang is one of the bank's major clients.

The previous times he borrowed, it was around two thousand guan each…

A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Fuyuan's eyes, then he raised his right index finger, his aura towering, "Ten thousand guan!"

"Sss—"

Shen Junli blinked first, seeming taken aback; after a moment his pupils narrowed, a genuine astonishment appearing on his face, "Shopkeeper Zhang, this is… five times what you borrowed before!"

Just then, the clerk entered carrying a tray; two blue‑porcelain covered bowls exhaled gentle steam, the tea fragrance mingling with warmth hitting the face.

Shen Junli promptly took one, personally pushing a bowl toward Zhang Fuyuan, "Shopkeeper Zhang, warm yourself first; the tea has just been brewed, the flavor is perfect."

Zhang Fuyuan lifted the tea lid, blew the floating leaves, took a shallow sip; the warm tea slid down his throat, the heat spreading through his body.

He set the covered bowl down, eyes blazing, declared loudly, "To be frank, I, Zhang, plan to purchase all the fertile fields on both banks of the Fen River outside Jinyang before New Year's Eve!"

Shen Junli, hearing Zhang Fuyuan's words, froze his hand holding the tea bowl, his eyes first flashing disbelief, then turning to intense admiration, his tone rising, "Truly worthy of the name, Shopkeeper Zhang!"

"Such a move isn't ordinary at all!"

Having said that, he set the bowl down, clasped his hands before him, his courteous smile deepening, "Those fertile fields along both banks of the Fen River have been coveted by many merchants for years, yet none dared to consider buying them all at once. You intend to seize them before New Year's Eve; that boldness and foresight, I, Shen, truly admire from the bottom of my heart!"

Hearing this, Zhang Fuyuan merely waved his hand lightly, no trace of pride on his face, only a hint of humility, "Shopkeeper Shen, you overpraise me; I, Zhang, have no extraordinary deeds."

"This plan is possible only thanks to your help, Shopkeeper Shen, and the strong support of Thin Gift Money Bank."

He paused, then shifted his tone, his gaze landing on Shen Junli's face, asking inquisitively, "But ten thousand guan is no small sum; may your esteemed bank produce it now?"

The question was blunt, yet reasonable.

Ten thousand copper coins would require two or three horse‑carriages to transport.

Even a typical bank with reserves must deliberate before such a large immediate withdrawal.

Shen Junli showed no sign of unease, a confident smile on his face, his fingertip lightly tapping the porcelain wall, "Shopkeeper Zhang, you know, as long as the collateral is in place and the regulations met, whether ten, thirty, or fifty thousand guan, Thin Gift Money Bank can produce it!"

Zhang Fuyuan smiled knowingly, said no more, reached into his coat, pulling a neatly folded stack of papers from a hidden pocket inside his brothel, lifted his hand and handed them to Shen Junli, "Shopkeeper Shen, you handle matters swiftly; I have already prepared the land deeds, please review them."

The stack of land deeds was bound with fine hemp rope; the pages, yellowed yet smooth, bore the Red Seal of the authorities, the edges faintly scented with ink.

Shen Junli promptly took them with both hands, carefully untying the rope and spreading the deeds one by one for close inspection.

They clearly listed each plot's location, area, boundaries, and the original owner's signature and seal; every document was complete, without any omission.

After reviewing each, he re‑stacked the deeds, his admiration deepening, and gave Zhang Fuyuan a thumbs‑up, "Shopkeeper Zhang truly deserves to be a great businessman; your foresight is indeed thorough!"

As soon as the words finished, Shen Junli turned and shouted toward the Ya Ge doorway, "Someone, come!"

The clerk outside had already been waiting, immediately responded and entered, bowing, "Shopkeeper, what orders?"

"Take Shopkeeper Zhang to the vault at once," Shen Junli said, "Withdraw ten thousand guan of copper coins according to protocol, count them carefully, and be sure to satisfy Shopkeeper Zhang!"

"Yes!" the clerk shouted, then turned to Zhang Fuyuan, respectfully bowing and leading the way, "Shopkeeper Zhang, please follow me!"

Zhang Fuyuan rose, bowed his hand to Shen Junli, a satisfied smile on his face, "Thank you for your effort, Shopkeeper Shen."

"Shopkeeper Zhang, you're modest!"

Shen Junli promptly returned the salute, watching him follow the clerk outward, his gaze lingering on the stack of deeds, his smile widening.

The back courtyard of Thin Gift Money Bank differed entirely from the front hall, lacking the clamor of visiting merchants, gaining a tranquil solemnity.

Passing through two moon‑shaped doors hung with thick cotton curtains led to an isolated Blue Bricks hall.

Having settled Zhang Fuyuan's loan matters, Shen Junli hurried back toward the courtyard.

As he pushed open the hall door, a faint sandalwood fragrance brushed his face, dispelling the chill on his body.

Inside the hall stood a wide ebony desk, upon which lay brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, and several ledgers.

Yuanzhou sat alone on a round chair before the desk, twirling a jade pendant between his fingers, his gaze fixed on the snowy scene outside, lost in thought.

"Old Yuan, has Wu Xiangrui left?"

Shen Junli stepped to the desk, sat down, casually lifted a glass of cold tea and took a sip, then asked.

Yuanzhou nodded and uttered a single word: "Hmm."

Then a meaningful smile curved his mouth; he set down the jade pendant, his voice playful: "Old Shen, you don't know, that kid this time has laid out a fortune, borrowing five thousand guan in one go!"

"He plans to stockpile silk scrolls, resell them to Jiangnan, and make a huge profit!"

Shen Junli heard that, couldn't help clicking his tongue, a hint of sentiment on his face: "Tsk! That's quite an appetite!"

"Five thousand guan is enough for him to fill two large warehouses with silk scrolls. If the market stays hot it's fine, but if Jiangnan's market shifts, his deal could be a loss."

Yuanzhou shook his head with a half‑smile, tapping the desk lightly, his tone teasing: "Speaking of appetite, Wu Xiangrui's ambition pales compared to Bu Liu Gu Derun's."

He paused, then announced an astonishing figure: "In the past half‑month, Bu Liu Gu Derun has borrowed a total of twenty‑five thousand guan!"

"Each loan larger than the last, without even a blink."

"Twenty‑five thousand guan?" Shen Junli's eyebrows shot up, a trace of surprise on his face, then turned to a mocking smile, teasing: "Then we ought to thank him!"

Yuanzhou nodded earnestly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes: "Isn't that right?"

As soon as the words fell, the two exchanged a glance and burst into hearty laughter: "Hahaha!"

The laughter of these two embroidered‑clad envoys echoed through the spacious hall, carrying a tacit sense of delight.

After all, the more these Qi State nobles and merchants borrow, the faster they can fulfill Lord Chen Yan and Lord Li's orders…

After laughing a while, Shen Junli restrained his smile, his expression turning serious, and calmly ordered: "Have someone meticulously inventory the collateral of these borrowers—the grain, jade, jewels, and other merchants' valuables—still pack them as caravans per the old rules and ship everything back to Chang'an!"

Yuanzhou heard this, his demeanor also grew solemn, and he nodded earnestly: "Rest assured, I know the stakes."

Shen Junli pointed to the stack of Land Deeds at the desk corner, the ones Zhang Fuyuan had just delivered along with other merchants' mortgage documents: "As for these lands, have someone organize them and promptly take them to those moneylenders not under our name, mortgaging everything into gold…"

Qi State's land can't be taken, so it must be exchanged for portable hard currency!

Yuanzhou said: "I'll instruct my men to handle it right away!"

Shen Junli pressed his lips together, a fierce light flashing in his eyes, his voice trembling with barely contained excitement: "Now Jinyang's land prices have tripled compared to half a year ago, and the fertile fields outside the city are in fierce demand; grain prices have also surged, doubling, even ordinary millet is far pricier than before!"

"Salt prices have doubled, cloth prices have doubled…"

Speaking of that, a shrewd calculation flickered in his eyes, and he smiled: "By my estimate, after New Year's Eve and into next January‑February, when supplies are scarce, these prices will at least quintuple."

Yuanzhou listened, a mocking curve on his mouth, but his eyes held unabashed sarcasm; he sneered lightly, his tone cool: "Those Qi State officials, seeing prices soar, turn red‑eyed and eager, seeing profit, even join in, stirring the waters for us!"

He paused, counting on his fingers, naming two people with disdain: "Especially Ku Di Gan and Lou Rui, these two, wielding their power, are buying land, silk, and grain like madmen!"

"Ku Di Gan has, in one go, claimed thousands of mu of land on the east bank of the Fen River…"

"Lou Rui even sent men everywhere to gather premium silk scrolls and millet, stockpiling so much the family warehouses are nearly full, fearing any delay would lose profit!"

Shen Junli heard this, his smile widening, his eyes bright with delight, and he couldn't help letting out a light sigh, his tone full of joy: "Now that's good news!"

Saying that, he flung his arms wide, his voice soaring: "With these greedy guys pushing the market from behind, prices will only rise faster and higher!"

"When the two of us return to Chang'an and present this sky‑splitting wealth, how could we not be promoted?"

Yuanzhou heard this, nodded earnestly: "Exactly!"

He paused, then continued: "Future tributes must be generous, tailored to their preferences, ensuring these people are pleased and continue to 'guard our sails.'"

Shen Junli gave a slight nod: "Hmm."

As his words faded, his smile waned, replaced by a complex, meaningful expression; his gaze turned to the snow‑filled window, his tone tinged with an indefinable sigh: "I hope Qi State can still have a good New Year."

At that moment, light footsteps sounded outside the hall, and a clerk in a grey cloth short jacket pulled back the curtain, bowed, and respectfully reported: "Two masters, Young Master Duan Wu has arrived and is waiting in the side hall!"

Meanwhile, besides Jinyang, Qi State's Yecheng, Qingzhou, Luoyang and other places…

Both great and minor nobles and merchants uphold the notion that as long as there is collateral, a year's interest is trivial—essentially giving away money…

The frenzy pouring into the moneylenders, igniting a borrowing craze, also opens the door to massive land consolidation!