Chapter 784 - 786: Climbing a High Branch
Chapter 784: Chapter 786: Climbing a High Branch
Wu Nanping vehemently cried foul. "Master Meng, you really can’t blame me for this. You know how many people are in my family and how complicated things get.
"When managing such a large family, there are times when you simply can’t keep an eye on everything.
"Besides, when that brat Wu Kun opened his restaurant right across from the Tianfu Restaurant, weren’t all your families cheering him on?
"Business inevitably leads to conflicts. That’s what you all said back then, too."
Did they really think he didn’t know? There was no way Wu Kun would have the guts to openly challenge Mrs. Gu if the younger generation from these other families hadn’t been egging him on from the shadows.
"Let’s set that aside for now," Mr. Li, Li Cong, chimed in at this moment. "What we should be discussing now is the disaster your boy has caused. The officials won’t see it as a simple business conflict. They’ll think our aristocratic families are targeting them.
"If this balance is broken, tell me, everyone here—can we really win against the government?"
Commoners did not fight officials. Although their families had been entrenched in this area for over a century, if a true reckoning came, they would be utterly vulnerable.
It was just that the officials were usually unwilling to take on the massive risk of battling them. But if they truly backed the authorities into a corner, these aristocratic families would suffer crippling damage, perhaps even losing their century-old prestigious status.
If this disaster had fallen upon their own heads, the label of "prodigal son" would be nailed to them forever, which was something none of them wanted.
Huang Family Master, Huang Mu’en, followed up. "We know what you mean by calling us here today. You want us to jointly pressure the government to release him, but this matter is far too severe.
"If you’re going to do something dirty, fine, but at least sweep away your tracks cleanly.
"Now he’s been caught red-handed, and I hear the two culprits who were arrested have already confessed. How do you expect us to bring this up to them?
"Don’t tell me Wu Hao knew nothing and was deceived as well.
"Forget about us—even you wouldn’t believe it if you said that out loud!"
Seeing that everyone was clearly refusing to help, Wu Nanping turned to look at Hou Cunjin, who had not spoken a single word since walking in.
"Master Hou, the others may not have a way, but surely you have some influence you could use."
Hou Cunjin had known all along that they would target him and was already prepared.
He put on a troubled expression. "That’s truly hard to say. I’m sure you’ve all heard how deeply Mr. Gu cherishes his Madam. Since Wu Hao targeted his wife this time, Mr. Gu’s fury won’t be easily pacified.
"I know you think I can put in a good word because I’m related to Mr. Gu by marriage.
"But honestly, if you were in Mr. Gu’s shoes right now, would you let someone who spread rumors and caused such trouble off the hook?"
"Master Hou, are you trying to shirk responsibility?" Wu Nanping’s face darkened. "Although your family is tied to two high officials by marriage, don’t forget the rules passed down from our ancestors.
"The Hou Family certainly has a clever plan, trying to play both sides to your advantage."
"I don’t like what I’m hearing," Hou Cunjin replied. "Back then, my sister’s marriage was arranged by my father. At that time, Wu Haicong was just a poor boy. His current success wasn’t single-handedly orchestrated by us; it’s simply that my sister has good fortune.
"As for my daughter, everyone knows my legal wife had a tragic fate, leaving behind only this one girl.
"It wasn’t convenient for me as a father to raise her myself, so my sister kept her by her side and arranged her marriage as well."
Seeing him still making excuses at a time like this, the others’ faces grew even uglier.
Li Cong mocked him directly, "Well, if you put it that way, none of this is your business at all. You are perfectly innocent.
"But as far as we know, you are the one reaping the biggest profits here.
"It hasn’t been long since you married your daughter into their family, and your business has nearly doubled.
"If it wasn’t out of respect for her relatives, would Mrs. Gu have taken such good care of you?
"Don’t forget that our aristocratic families depend on each other. Did you think your family alone could emerge unscathed?"
Hou Cunjin chuckled. "The most important thing in business is seizing the initiative. Your own foresight was lacking, and now you want to blame me?
"I remember when I approached Mrs. Gu to take over the distribution rights for the soap, I asked you all about it first, didn’t I?
"At the time, you looked down on it and told me to do as I pleased.
"I saw potential in the business, so naturally, I went over and fought for it.
"I negotiated all of that through my own genuine capability. Now you see my business booming and you’re turning green with envy. That’s a bit unreasonable, isn’t it?"
"Who would be envious of your measly profits?" Huang Mu’en stood up abruptly, slamming the table. "Don’t try to change the subject! We’re just asking you to be a mediator, to get Mr. Gu to release him first on account of your family ties.
"After that, the Wu family will prepare a generous gift, and we can consider this matter settled."
Hou Cunjin saw the other Family Heads glaring at him. He didn’t need to ask to know what they meant.
If it were in the past, he might have felt intimidated, but now he had every right to talk back.
"You all certainly have a lot of nerve. Your own younger generation caused a disaster, yet you want my Hou Family to clean up the mess. Where do you get the audacity?"
Meng Haotian cleared his throat and stepped in to mediate. "Master Hou, everyone is just anxious, so it’s inevitable that some harsh words were spoken. Please forgive them.
"I also think you really are the best person to act as a middleman for this. How about you find a time to invite Mr. Gu out, and our families can plead for leniency together?"
"Everyone knows I’m a merchant. I don’t make loss-making deals," Hou Cunjin said, leaning back in his Taishi Chair with his chin slightly raised. "You want to use my Hou Family’s favors to offset your debt. You’re certainly generous at another’s expense."
"..."
Putting on an apologetic smile, Wu Nanping said, "Master Hou, if you help us resolve this, my Wu family will definitely offer you a heavy gift.
"We won’t let your efforts go unrewarded. Please, do us this favor."
"It’s not that I’m unwilling to help, but this matter is extremely difficult," Hou Cunjin replied. "In fact, right after the incident happened, I already sought out my daughter to ask around."
"And what did you find out?" Wu Nanping asked urgently.
After all, ever since the culprit was taken away by Mr. Gu, they hadn’t been able to dig up a single scrap of news.
They had gathered the aristocratic families today not only to ask for help but also to unite and pressure the government.
"Alas, I heard this matter involves the Marquis Wu’an Mansion in Shangjing..."
Everyone was stunned. This was something they genuinely hadn’t heard of.
They all turned their eyes back to Wu Nanping. Li Cong said sarcastically, "I didn’t realize the Wu family was so capable, managing to hook up with nobles in the Capital so quickly.
"Then what did you call us here for? To show off?"
Wu Nanping finally snapped out of his daze and hastily cried foul. "You’re falsely accusing me! This is the first time I’m hearing of this, too.
"My uncle from the branch family never mentioned this to me; otherwise, I couldn’t possibly hide it," he said, then turned to look at Hou Cunjin. "Is this news true?"
"I had to use my authority as her own father to force the truth out of her. How could it be false?" Hou Cunjin said.
"I heard your boy is already working under the Marquis. He’s climbed quite high up the social ladder. Who knows, perhaps our families will have to rely on you in the future."
He smugly thought about who was putting whom on the hot seat now.