Chapter 569: A Jaw‑Dropping Massive Fortune

The next day, Xu Lianyue sat on the top floor of the Chen Chamber of Commerce, and the table before her was filled with all kinds of ledgers.

The ledgers were actually just minor matters, mostly expenses for acquiring nearby land and shops; Xu Lianyue merely gave them a quick glance.

As long as the numbers didn't exceed her expectations, she generally wouldn't pay much attention to these matters.

More importantly, with Chen Yan assuming the post of Minister of Revenue, some lands and shops were practically being rushed over to her.

Such trivialities were not worth her excessive worry.

The only thing that concerned Xu Lianyue was that Chen Yan had specially sent someone yesterday to remind her to pay more attention to the Money Shop opened in Chang'an and see if there were any large deposits.

So Xu Lianyue's focus was mostly on the Money Shop's accounts.

However, after reviewing all the recent ledgers of the Money Shop, Xu Lianyue felt a bit puzzled.

Everything seemed normal; the Money Shop hasn't fully made a name yet, and it doesn't have Chen Yan's prestige in Weinan County, so a simple call wouldn't cause countless citizens to deposit money there.

It can only be said that the Money Shop in Chang'an is still developing steadily, with deposits and withdrawals remaining smooth.

Bang bang!

As Xu Lianyue was pondering, a rapid knocking on the door came from outside.

Steward Xu, please come out quickly and have a look; many people and carriages have gathered outside the Chamber's Money Shop, all saying they want to deposit money.

But they say the amount is too large; the servants dare not decide on their own!

Startled, Xu Lianyue quickly rose, opened the door, and in a deep voice asked, "Is the deposit amount huge? Specifically, how much? One million strings?"

The maid gave a wry smile, "Steward Xu, it's far more than one million strings; it seems to be people from a noble family, who upon speaking want to deposit several tens of millions of strings. We servants truly dare not decide on our own."

How many?

Even though Xu Lianyue handles the Chamber's massive wealth transfers daily, upon hearing that figure she couldn't help but exclaim, "Several tens of millions of strings?"

Yes…

The maid hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Xu Lianyue took a deep breath, feeling a profound shock inside.

What does several tens of millions of strings even mean?

In the past, when she followed Chen Yan in Weinan County, she occasionally heard from him about the Tang Dynasty's annual tax revenue.

Even if all grain, silk, and other goods were converted into cash, plus the treasury's silver, the total would be just a little over ten million strings.

Now some people are coming to deposit several tens of millions of strings?

And not just one household?

"You… you quickly send someone to report to the Duke of Wei's residence, and also send someone to the Eastern Palace to report; this matter is beyond our handling, let the real big figures step in."

"Alright, alright, I'll go right away."

This maid was not an ordinary servant; she had formerly been a palace maid of the Eastern Palace.

After all, the Money Shop bears the Crown Prince's name, so the Crown Prince naturally must lend his support.

Especially the Money Shop in Chang'an, many of its staff are dispatched from the Eastern Palace.

Suppressing her tangled emotions, Xu Lianyue straightened her attire and hurried ahead to the Money Shop.

At this moment, the Money Shop was packed inside, and outside it was so crowded that the street was choked with carriages and people.

The carriages were, of course, for transporting money, while the people came to watch the spectacle.

Escorted by her guards, Xu Lianyue finally squeezed in and saw Cui Xuan, with whom she had once shared a brief encounter.

"Young Master Cui… what brings you here…?"

Unsure of what had happened, Xu Lianyue politely asked.

"So it's Miss Xu," Cui Xuan said courteously, rising and clasping his hands, "I have come to finalize the transaction with the Duke of Wei, to deposit money."

"Not only our Cui family, but the other four families have also sent people."

"Kindly, Miss Xu, could you help handle this?"

Xu Lianyue understood.

If it were Chen Yan's doing, it wouldn't be surprising.

Whatever that man does, it's always normal!

She gave a proper smile, "Young Master Cui, you jest. With such a massive sum, I'm just a mere woman; how could I possibly have the qualification to handle it?"

"Please, Young Master Cui, and everyone else, come upstairs for tea; I've already sent someone to invite the Duke of Wei and the Crown Prince. I believe they'll arrive shortly."

With those words, the representatives from the other four families' expressions brightened considerably.

Originally, depositing money into someone else's enterprise already made them uncomfortable; if you then send a mere woman to receive and handle it without even showing your face, it truly seems disdainful.

But if you've already sent someone to invite, and the invitees are the current Minister of Revenue and the Crown Prince who back the Money Shop, then it's fine.

"That works then; we'll follow Miss Xu's arrangement."

Cui Xuan did not look down on Xu Lianyue, because he had dealt with her before and knew her trading abilities were outstanding.

He never underestimates anyone, even if that person is a woman.

Thus he showed no sign of displeasure.

While Xu Lianyue led the noble families upstairs to wait, the onlookers outside murmured in amazement one by one.

"Did you just hear? That crowd, as soon as they went in, said they wanted to deposit several tens of millions of strings… several tens of millions, how much is that? Could we ever spend it in a lifetime?"

"A lifetime? Come off it, several tens of millions of strings—just a pile of copper coins could crush you; even ten lifetimes of splurging wouldn't finish it."

"Hey, you all say, what's the origin of this Money Shop? I think I've heard of it before, but I don't really know much."

"You probably don't know that?" While they were chatting, a citizen from Weinan County stood tall and said, "That is the Money Shop opened today by the Duke of Wei and the Crown Prince; it even gives interest on deposits."

"Don't be surprised that people deposit so much; they reap many benefits. For example, if you deposit a hundred strings at the Money Shop, you'll earn five strings in interest after a year."

"Calculate carefully; if someone deposits ten million strings, the interest alone after a year would be how much?"

Believe it or not, some people actually counted on their fingers.

After calculating the result, he inhaled a cold breath and said, "Even if they deposit ten million strings, isn't the yearly interest fifty thousand strings?"

"What? You get fifty thousand strings without doing anything?"

"Yes, that's exactly the logic." The commoner Zhou Dashan, who came from Weinan County, nodded resolutely.

Someone doubted, "Could it be unreliable? Does this Money Shop really give that much interest?"

Zhou Dashan, after listening, sneered, "Did you not hear what I said earlier? The Money Shop was opened by the current Duke of Wei and Crown Prince."

"Did you not read the newspaper? The Duke of Wei is not only His Majesty's son‑in‑law, but now also holds the rank of Minister of Revenue. As for the Crown Prince's status, do I need to say more?"

"People dare to deposit several tens of millions of strings; if it weren't reliable, would you think they're fools?"

"Indeed, huh......"

When Zhou Dashan finished speaking, the surrounding commoners all nodded.

Someone who can produce several tens of millions of strings cannot be a fool, right?

Since they dare to deposit, that proves the Money Shop is indeed reliable.

"......"