Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Only Recognize the Seal, Not the Person!
Qi Yue watched He Ziyue with cold eyes.
She was curious to know how He Ziyue, having accepted the Shen Family’s silver, would deal with the compensation issue in the agreent.
He Ziyue looked serious, completely different from his easy-going deanor during their earlier casual chat.
The air gradually filled with a scent of tension.
He Ziyue first picked up Qi Yue’s copy and looked it over carefully, nodded his head, then picked up the Shen Family’s copy, looked it over, and nodded again.
“This is indeed a detailed, reasonable, and formal agreent belonging to both parties. The amount of compensation is also within a reasonable range…”
Upon hearing this, Qi Yue’s pupils contracted.
Was this an affirmation followed by a denial? Or…
Shen Wanzhen, unable to hold back, said urgently, “Comrce Chief, you are unaware that this agreent was signed on his own initiative by my adopted son Shen Zikuang, and it has nothing to do with our Shen Family. He has already disassociated from our family. Divine Doctor Qi should seek compensation from him, not our Shen Family!”
Upon hearing this, He Ziyue slightly raised his eyebrows and looked at Shen Zikuang.
“Is that so? Shen Zikuang has disassociated from the Shen Family?”
Shen Zikuang leaned forward from his wheelchair.
“Responding to the Comrce Chief, it is true, I am not the biological son of the Shen Family; this has already been widely discussed everywhere.”
The Shen father and son also eagerly added fuel to the fire with their remarks.
Essentially, they described how the Shen Family had treated Shen Zikuang with great favor and how he had ungratefully plotted against them to their detrint.
He Ziyue listened quietly, nodded to show he understood, and then continued to review the two agreents.
Suddenly, his flipping through the papers halted for a mont as if he had seen sothing unbelievable, then his expression relaxed, and he let out a long breath.
Seeing this, Shen Wanzhen hurriedly asked, “Comrce Chief, if there’s no problem, please command Shen Zikuang to take responsibility for the compensation himself; our Shen Family really has nothing to do with this!”
“Hmm…” He Ziyue unexpectedly nodded, “Now, I believe that Shen Zikuang indeed has nothing to do with the Shen Family.”
Upon hearing this, the Shen father and son bead with joy.
Shen Zifang was even more overjoyed and bowed to He Ziyue.
“Comrce Chief, please announce the inspection result!”
On this side, Qu Wei and Granny Zhang saw that He Ziyue had accepted the Shen Family’s silver note, and everyone was extrely nervous.
The two positioned themselves on either side of Qi Yue, whispering anxiously.
“Miss, what can we do now?”
“Sister, is it still possible for big brother to bribe this corrupt official with silver now?”
Shen Zikuang also nervously gripped the handles of his wheelchair.
In the past few days, he had tried to contact He Ziyue, but the corrupt official had kept avoiding him, not even accepting the silver!
Had he known that he dared to accept bribes openly in front of everyone, he would have stuffed the silver note in his sleeve the mont he walked through the door!
But now it was too late!
If he really announced that the agreent had nothing to do with the Shen Family, Qi Yue’s hope to acquire the dicine factory would be dashed, and his ambition to accomplish a great deal of work would also be unachievable!
Yet Qi Yue remained as calm as an old dog.
She noticed their nervousness and just snorted coldly.
“Wait and see, I will make this Emperor’s dog taste the truth.”
Without a sound, her fingers already held a silver needle.
She had placed sothing on the needle to ensure he wouldn’t dare to speak carelessly.
Humph!
Under their watchful eyes, He Ziyue smiled slightly and stood up solemnly.
“I declare that this contract is genuine and valid, and the compensation for breaching the agreent should be borne by Shen…”
Qi Yue gripped the silver needle tightly in her hand, calmly staring at He Ziyue.
The next second, He Ziyue looked at her from afar and leisurely pronounced Shen Wanzhen’s na.
Suddenly, everyone in the hall was stunned.
Qi Yue thoughtfully put away the silver needle.
It appeared that He Ziyue had a sharp eye and did not overlook that the stamp on the agreent was Shen Wanzhen’s. He had also proved to be upright, not swayed by the silver notes Shen Zifang had given him.
But she still felt sothing was off.
The Shen father and son were both astonished and quickly asked if there had been so mistake.
Indeed, He Ziyue opened the agreent and pointed to the stamp for Shen Wanzhen to see, “Master Shen, this clear print and your red stamp here are yours, aren’t they?”
Shen Wanzhen stared in disbelief, inspecting the two agreents over and over again.
“No, this can’t be, this can’t be!”
Shen Zikuang wheeled closer, saying coldly, “How can it not be possible, Master Shen? Have you forgotten that all these years, it has been I who have been acting as the head of the family on your behalf, that you even did not allow to have my own stamp?”
These words rendered Shen Wanzhen speechless.
How could he forget what he himself had done?
It had simply slipped his mind in the heat of the mont.
His hands clutching the agreents began to tremble, his lips gradually turning pale.
The compensation soared to over six million Silver Taels, which was exactly what remained in the Shen family’s treasury…
No, he could not acknowledge this debt!
Unconsciously, he grabbed the agreent with the intention to tear it!
But a pair of hands reached out to stop him, those of his most beloved son, Shen Zifang!
“Father, you mustn’t! Destroying the agreent would double the compensation!”
Shen Wanzhen of course knew this. He imdiately dropped the agreent and grabbed Shen Zifang’s arm, “Zifang, our Shen family is finished!”
Shen Zifang, his eyes narrowing, imdiately went over to He Ziyue and lowered his voice.
“Comrce Chief, wouldn’t this be sowhat improper of you to do?”
As he spoke, he slipped several silver notes into He Ziyue’s sleeve.
Throughout this act, his gaze remained fixed on He Ziyue, as if to say, how dare you not do what I want after taking my silver?
He Ziyue did not reject the action of Shen Zifang giving him silver notes; he appeared unaware of accepting a bribe but instantly changed expression when Shen Zifang threatened him with a smile.
“Improper? What is improper? From what Master Shen says, are you planning to take over the Dongjiang Comrce Departnt?”
This scolding frightened Shen Zifang into shuddering on the spot.
He cast a pleading look towards Shen Wanzhen.
Previously he only knew how to manage accounts and collect silver; giving silver to soone was a first for him.
Wasn’t it that taking silver usually ant an agreent to handle things? What was wrong with this He Ziyue, not following the usual practice?
“Oh, Chief Comrce Officer, my son Zifang is not used to socializing; please forgive him if he has offended you,” Shen Wanzhen said, although he was reluctant, he still kept bowing to He Ziyue.
Despite the Shen family’s wealth, they were still rely a rchant family, subjected to the jurisdiction of the Imperial Comrce Ministry; no amount of money could outweigh those who had governntal power.
He Ziyue scoffed.
“Master Shen, you have been the leading figure in the Dongjiang comrcial sector. You should know the rules of the Comrce Ministry that only recognize the stamp, not the person!”
Shen Wanzhen argued unwillingly, “My lord, as you know, Shen Zikuang has been managing the family for many years …”
“Acting as manager!” He Ziyue corrected him, “On the agreent, whose na appears, that person enjoys the benefits, and of course, must also bear the responsibilities. As far as this official knows, the money earned by Shen Zikuang these years has all been transferred to the Shen family’s treasury. Surely, Master Shen can afford six million Silver Taels, right?”
Shen Wanzhen’s face tightened again.
His face, which had reddened from the heated argunt, gradually took on a hue of desperate blue.
“My lord… this won’t do!”
He Ziyue’s expression darkened.
“Master Shen, you better think carefully. If you refuse to carry out the agreent, this official will have to enforce a liquidation.”
“No!” Shen Wanzhen nearly collapsed.
Enforced liquidation would only bring the Shen family to ruin quicker!
The voracious officials from the Comrce Ministry would empty the Shen family’s treasury!
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