flstandardbreds Chapter 439: Return without Success
Chapter 439: Return without Success
"Oh, Lord Si, have you misunderstood? The two young masters do owe our gambling house one hundred thousand taels. It is clearly written in black and white. How could it be wrong?" The gambling house owner spoke in a gentle tone, as if it were nothing.
"One hundred thousand taels? The two of them lost one hundred thousand taels in one night. Do you think it's possible? Even if it's possible, can your little gambling house lend out that much money?"
I am an official appointed by the imperial court. If you dare to say anything nonsense, I will definitely send you to the government and punish you."
A small shopkeeper actually dared to speak so arrogantly. Si Wei Zhong's eyes became stern and he put on the aura of a superior, trying to suppress him with his status.
The owner of the gambling house was naturally not afraid, because he had the support of the Prime Minister behind him. What's more, the mastermind behind this matter was Cheng Kun.
How can Si Wei Zhong be compared with him? He is extremely stupid. He offended someone and was retaliated against, but he doesn't even know what's going on. Such a person deserves to lose money.
When a person's money is not commensurate with his ability, it will naturally flow out in another way because he cannot keep the money.
"I know you are an official, and I also know that you have a big business, otherwise I would not have lent you so much money. As for the IOU, it is 100% real. If you have any doubts, you can go to the government office with me."
The shopkeeper was well prepared and spoke in a gentle and polite tone, with no one being able to find fault with him.
Unexpectedly, he was not afraid at all. It seemed that he was well prepared. Si Wei Zhong looked grim and clenched his fists, but he was helpless.
"You are talking nonsense. That night, the two brothers only lent you 10,000 taels of silver. How could you suddenly add some more on top of it and make it 100,000 taels?" Si Chengyi was already furious and finally couldn't help but yell.
"Mr. Si, don't be angry. I did write the IOU, but both of you can read. You signed and stamped your fingerprints after reading it. There is no such thing as adding a stroke as you said. Maybe you haven't had a good time these past few days, so your memory is distorted."
Looking at Si Chengyi, who looked like he was ready to kill him, the shopkeeper clapped his hands calmly. Then several burly men appeared at the door, including the fat-faced man who went to Si's house to collect debts.
"It's impossible that we remembered it wrong. That night, you must have teamed up to cheat us and made us fall for it. That's why we borrowed more and more silver until we owed 10,000 taels in the end." Si Chengren was so angry that he stood up and confronted them.
Let’s not talk about whether Si Wei Zhong has so much silver. Even if he does, if he gives it all to the gambling house, how will the two brothers live in the future.
Because of the appearance of Li Xiaoxiao, it will probably be difficult for the family’s shops to make money in the future. Without a source of income, are they just going to live off their savings?
Their second branch and the first branch have always had a bad relationship. If they have financial difficulties at that time, it would probably be a problem for them to borrow some money, so the money must not be given to them.
"Mr. Si, I understand your feelings, but everything requires evidence. You said you owed me 10,000 taels that night. What evidence do you have?
If you have evidence to prove it, I will ask you for 10,000 taels. Otherwise, if you cannot prove it, please return the amount on the IOU to our gambling house."
With these people standing behind him, the gambling house owner feels more confident. He is working for Master Cheng, who is smart and does things in a way that is well-connected. What else can these people from the Si Mansion do if they don't admit defeat?
Si Chengren was furious. On the day he borrowed the money, there were only three of them in the room. Where could he find evidence? Was he going to testify on his own?
Seeing that the gambling house owner was unmoved, Si Wei Zhong gritted his teeth in anger. It seemed that he would return empty-handed today.
"Do you know who we are? I am the young master of Yong'an Marquis's Mansion, and you are just a small shopkeeper. Who gave you the courage to be so lawless?"
Si Chengyi was almost mad with anger, his eyes were as big as copper bells, he glared at him angrily, his eyes looked like he wanted to tear him into pieces.
"Master Si, since I have sent people to your house to ask for money, I naturally know that you are of noble status. I am just a commoner, working as a small gambling shop owner to support my family. I live a peaceful life and dare not do anything illegal. Please don't wrongly accuse me."
The gambling house owner calmly smoothed over the words and did not take his threat seriously at all.
"You can do such a thing and still say that I didn't wrong you. Just wait, I will put you in jail sooner or later." Si Chengyi spoke sinisterly and looked at the gambling house owner as if he was looking at a dead person.
"I'm at your service anytime." The gambling house owner met his gaze frankly without any fear.
He has been the shopkeeper of the gambling house for more than ten years and has seen all kinds of people. People like him are just bragging. If he really has the ability, he would not be able to owe so much money.
Until now I still don't know what happened. He deserved to be deceived. Behind him is Chen Kun, the Prime Minister's Mansion, and Si Wei Zhong is just a concubine's son of a marquis.
As far as he knew, Si Wei Zhong did not have a good relationship with the main wife of the Marquis's Mansion. If something happened to their family, the Marquis's Prince would not only not blame them, but would thank them instead.
"Let's go." Things had come to this point, and Si Wei Zhong knew that no matter what he said, the other party would insist that the IOU was real.
Finally, he gave the gambling house owner a cold look and walked away without looking back.
Si Chengren and Si Chengyi followed behind him, and when they reached the door, the fat man suddenly stretched out a fist and gestured at Si Chengren.
Si Chengren was so frightened that he ran out quickly, and then he heard wild laughter behind him.
"Look at that bear, he's as timid as a mouse. I can knock him down with just one punch." The muscular man said arrogantly.
Feeling Si Wei Zhong's anger, the two dared not say a word or breathe along the way, and returned to the Marquis' Mansion trembling with fear.
After a trip to the gambling house, Si Wei Zhong almost fainted as the matter was not resolved. Before going, he still had a glimmer of hope in his mind that even if he could not get 10,000 taels, he could accept even a little more.
But the gambling house owner insisted that there was no problem with the IOU, so he had to pay back 100,000 taels of silver. Whenever he thought about this, he felt his blood boiling and his brain was about to explode.
He kicked the door open. Si Wei Zhong's face looked so gloomy that water could drip from it. The two brothers were so frightened that they dared not make any sound.
He knew that he was about to be faced with a violent storm from Si Wei Zhong, but he had no choice but to go in.
"Kneel down." He was led into the room. Si Weisi suddenly turned around and shouted.
Without even a second thought, the two men bent their knees and fell to the ground together.