Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1189: Not Worth Getting Angry Over

Dou Zhi proved to be an odd maid; right from the start, she'd declared she had no interest in marriage, preferring to earn money, then idle away her days feasting until her end.

Young Master Dou believed that existing like a Daoist held little appeal; he'd attempted to convince her several times. Noticing her resolve was firm, he consented to allow her to redeem her contract after age forty and gifted her a grand manor for retirement.

However, Dou Zhi replied that the grand manor suited her well, yet she saw no need to buy her freedom. Leaning on the Dou Family made life simpler, after all. Should she purchase her independence and manage a vast manor solo as a woman, she'd become an easy mark for plots and schemes.

"Yes, this slave will depart immediately." Realizing Young Master Dou was set on falling into the trap, Dou Zhi held her tongue, hastily gathered supplies, and readied the carriage.

Within under half an hour, Young Master Dou settled into a plush carriage, bound for Qingfu Town.

Upon arrival in Qingfu Town, Zezi halted them: "Young Master Dou, our young master and the Young Master await at Master Ouyang’s residence. Follow me, please."

These words filled Young Master Dou with joy; he turned to Dou Zhi and declared, "So you claimed that Gu person was deceiving me? See, they've scheduled the business talk at Master Ouyang’s place. How could it be anything but genuine?"

Thrilled and brimming with curiosity, Young Master Dou pondered: precisely what massive opportunity promised to "benefit three generations"?

Dou Zhi bowed her head, murmuring, "This slave lacked foresight; the young master possesses true wisdom."

"Hmph." Young Master Dou swelled with satisfaction upon hearing this. He instructed Zezi, "Show us the path."

Regrettably, the greater his current smugness, the harder his eventual downfall.

...

In the front courtyard study of Master Ouyang’s household, Young Master Dou stared at the room's occupants in utter shock: "Have you all lost your minds? Do you bear a grudge against wealth?! Fine if you despise money, but spare me—I want no part in this!"

While speaking, his gaze fixed on Gu Jinli as he added, "This terrible scheme must be yours, right? I figured you for sharp. Who knew you'd prove so... idiotic! This impacts all of Great Chu. Believe a handful of our families' Silver can rescue every commoner in Great Chu? Ha ha ha—better to return to bed and dream it up quicker!"

Young Master Dou's rage boiled over, on the verge of eruption. His prior remarks were already restrained. Without the Young Marquis's regard, his sharp tongue might have driven Gu Jinli to end it all right there.

Gu Jinli shot him a look and retorted, "I figured you for sharp too. Didn't expect such foolishness—you missed the point entirely. Utterly beyond hope."

Young Master Dou almost coughed up blood: "You hatch a lousy plan to ruin me, then label me the fool—where's the fairness left?!"

He scoffed once more: "That talk of ’benefit three generations, profit and reputation both’? It's blatantly a loss-making venture that'll impoverish three generations, yet you aim to pull me along. No thanks. Enjoy it among yourselves; count me out."

Noticing Young Master Dou's fury, Master Ouyang urged, "Douzi, hold your anger. Allow Little Xiao Yu to explain fully."

Despite his blazing temper and murderous glare, Young Master Dou stayed put. He took a seat, eyeing Gu Jinli... She was the Young Marquis’s fiancée, after all; some respect was due.

Observing his composure return, Gu Jinli continued, "Should this venture thrive, it truly will benefit three generations while yielding profit and fame. I spoke no falsehoods there."

Young Master Dou countered, "Yet it's a money pit with no returns. Launching it demands at least a hundred thousand taels of Silver initially, followed by endless further investments. A true abyss. My clan might be Imperial Merchants, but no treasure trove, and I lack authority over the Dou Family."

Gu Jinli responded, "It's no loss overall. True, initial funds go in, but monthly interest flows back."

The word 'interest' nearly brought tears to Young Master Dou's eyes: "A measly hundred copper coins monthly at best—enough to drive a man to despair instantly!"

Incredible that she uttered it so earnestly—what good were a hundred copper coins in interest each month? Not even one of Maid Dou Zhi's meals cost less.

Huff, huff, huff. Young Master Dou breathed deeply several times, reminding himself to stay calm; angering himself to death wasn't worthwhile.

Gu Jinli remarked, "Farmers lack numerous paths to earn money, hence a hundred copper coins in monthly interest counts as substantial. In a single year, each household yields over one tael of Silver from interest—far from insignificant. Allow it to continue for ten or twenty years, and we’ll accumulate a considerable amount of Silver."

Breaking even only after gathering interest over ten or twenty years—could any sane person utter such words?

Rage nearly brought tears to Young Master Dou’s eyes, yet that wasn’t the core issue. He jabbed at the contract lying on the table and declared, "The document states clearly: once interest surpasses twenty percent of the principal, the farmer’s debt is deemed cleared. The bank has to hand back the IOU and cease demanding either interest or principal."

Young Master Dou itched to seize a blade and strike: "Lending funds without reclaiming the principal, settling for mere interest— is that your idea of commerce? You’d be better off establishing a Charitable Hall!"

Wasn’t that Gu woman renowned for her business savvy? How could she display such folly now?

Gu Jinli responded, "No one rivals your knack for figures; you realize perfectly this venture won’t result in losses. Per the contract’s terms, we recover every bit of principal plus an additional twenty percent in interest. What reason is there not to proceed? It simply means a longer wait to retrieve the funds."

"Longer? It’s outrageously prolonged!" Young Master Dou understood this arrangement wouldn’t truly cost them money in the end. "Waiting a full ten years for the principal feels like a death sentence. No way, I refuse—this is an enormous setback. Count me out of this deal."

With a smile, Gu Jinli inquired, "Backing out? Have you abandoned your ambition to succeed the Dou Family?"

Young Master Dou creased his brow, staring at Gu Jinli. "What are you implying?"

Gu Jinli explained, "As an Imperial Merchant, the Dou Family isn’t lacking in funds but in prestige. This transaction will garner ample reputation for both you and the Dou Family. Such prestige won’t merely aid your inheritance; it’ll safeguard the family’s wealth—and very existence."

"Across history, Emperors have always craved riches. With your family’s vast Silver reserves, do you sleep peacefully? Yet reputation would give the Emperor pause, preventing him from acting too viciously against you."

All were aware of Emperor Chu’s greed for money and his merciless tactics to extract Silver, making this proposal genuinely beneficial for the Dou Family.

Moreover, upon witnessing the Dou Family’s massive Silver outlay, the Emperor would hesitate to strike them down. Since the funds went to farmers, they’d ultimately turn into taxes flowing to Emperor Chu. Thus, via this indirect path through the Dou Family, the Silver reaches the Emperor bloodlessly. All parties end up pleased.

Upon hearing this, Young Master Dou grew quiet... Truly, prestige was the greatest shortfall for him and the Dou Family, beyond their overflowing Silver. With the treasury depleted, nothing assured the Emperor wouldn’t fabricate a pretext to confiscate their fortune one day.

Better to follow Gu Jinli’s advice—circulate the Silver deviously into the Emperor’s grasp—than lose it to false accusations.

Though swayed, Young Master Dou harbored lingering concerns. Turning to Master Ouyang, he said, "Sir, I’ll provide the Silver for this venture, but can you assure the Dou Family’s security? You understand ‘reputation’—misinterpreted, it could spell doom for us all."