Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1244: Irritable Dou Ke

In the county government office, Su Vice Magistrate and his retinue were in anxious anticipation. Upon the arrival of Young Master Dou and his entourage, they promptly rose. "Young Master Dou, your presence is finally here! You've kept us waiting."

Turning his attention to Gu Jin’an, Su Vice Magistrate exclaimed, "First Place Gu, your efforts have been immense. The Lord Magistrate is greatly pleased with your accomplishments. If all scholars emulated you, Great Chu would surely be at peace."

Gu Jin’an offered a respectful salute to Su Vice Magistrate, lowering his head. "I merely assisted the bank with its accounts and dare not claim undue credit. The greatest contribution belongs to Young Master Dou. Furthermore, this undertaking could only have succeeded owing to the esteemed gentlemen of the prefecture and county. Without their unwavering support, we students would have surely been defeated."

Young Master Dou's expression contorted upon hearing Gu Jin’an's words. "Gu Jin’an, have you been possessed? Is this truly you? Where has your usual cold pride vanished? It seems you possess considerable acting talent."

Su Vice Magistrate, a seasoned performer himself, chuckled. "Ah, we merely offered some assistance; it was nothing significant. First Place Gu is far too modest."

Young Master Dou remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line.

*Just knowing you did nothing is sufficient, so maintain some semblance of shame and refrain from making exorbitant demands, or I shall explode right before you!*

Understanding Su Vice Magistrate's intention behind the praise, without any overt signal, Gu Jin’an addressed Young Master Dou. "Brother Dou, Lord Su has endured a taxing journey. We should proceed inside with haste and ascertain how we may best assist Lord Su."

The word "assist" was strategically chosen, earning Su Vice Magistrate's implicit approval.

Young Master Dou, visibly disgruntled, shot a glare at Gu Jin’an. Nevertheless, he recognized the inevitability of this meeting. To maximize potential gains, he sighed dramatically as they entered the room, then delivered a pointed question to Su Vice Magistrate. "Lord Su, are you aware that our silver reserves are critically low? We are here to request a disbursement."

Su Vice Magistrate appeared bewildered. "What, no silver left?"

*We came to ask you for silver, not to hand over money!*

Young Master Dou affirmed with a nod. "Indeed, we are nearly depleted. Farmers from adjacent counties have been drawing funds, and garrison soldiers have been remitting money to their families. The bank's silver is flowing out in torrents, nearing exhaustion."

Su Vice Magistrate, lacking the perceptiveness of Magistrate Gu, grew alarmed upon hearing Young Master Dou mention the soldiers. Having previously been informed of the sedition involving Liu Chief Commander and nearly a hundred fleeing soldiers, he dared not provoke further. He pleaded, "Young Master Dou, He'an Prefecture must maintain stability. Should chaos erupt, we shall all perish... Regarding the silver, do not fret. The Lord Magistrate has already summoned merchants from across the prefecture; they will be contributing funds."

Young Master Dou inquired, "Only merchants? What about the noble families and the local aristocracy? Are they not the ones possessing wealth and influence, capable of fundamentally altering the bank's stability?"

He continued, "They have already offered silver in pursuit of shares within the bank, but their demands were excessive, and I refused them. They are unlikely to abandon their pursuit and may attempt to establish their own bank. Subsequently, they would inflate interest rates, lend lavishly to farmers, and seize their properties as collateral for defaulted loans."

Young Master Dou fixed his gaze upon Su Vice Magistrate, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Lord Su is well aware that if land ownership shifts to them, the government will collect significantly less grain tax, the populace will be forced into servitude, and even head taxes will become uncollectible. By then, Great Chu will be plunged into destitution..."

Young Master Dou left his statement unfinished, a chilling grin gracing his features that sent a shiver down Su Vice Magistrate's spine.

"I shall report this to the Lord Magistrate immediately; surely he will deal with them," Su Vice Magistrate stammered weakly.

"Keep dreaming. Are you truly afraid of a mere Magistrate?" Young Master Dou retorted sharply, then struck his own forehead in frustration.

*To hell with it! Stating there's no bank and no aid, failing to pay taxes means beheading. Now caught between disaster, exhausted yet must see this through.*

Su Vice Magistrate, thoroughly intimidated, heard the mention of Young Master Dou's sleepless nights spent planning the new bank, his eyes hollowed from constant toil.

Fearing that Young Master Dou, so young, was crumbling under the immense pressure, he quickly attempted reassurance. "Young Master Dou, worry not, they..."

With a resounding crash, Young Master Dou overturned a chair and stood abruptly. "Damn it all, come forth! I fear you not!"

He then turned to the stunned Su Vice Magistrate. "Lord Su, wait but half a day. Before nightfall, we shall ride to the prefecture and crush those scoundrels!"

Saying this, he beckoned Gu Jin’an and strode out purposefully.

Su Vice Magistrate frantically grasped Gu Jin’an's arm, voicing his concern. "First Place Gu, has Young Master Dou truly lost his mind under the strain?"

*His demeanor is most unsettling, far from that of a rational person.*

Gu Jin’an offered a placating smile. "Rest assured, Young Master Dou is merely suffering from sleep deprivation, leading to a brief flare-up of temper."

*Is this mere temper? Having witnessed him, it feels as though imminent bloodshed is likely.*

"Gu Jin’an, are you coming or planning to hatch eggs? You are not a hen!" Young Master Dou’s sharp yell echoed back as he noticed Gu Jin’an lagging behind, further unnerving Su Vice Magistrate.

*He truly seems driven to madness. How pitiful.*

"Coming." Gu Jin’an bowed to Vice Magistrate Su and the silent County Magistrate Zheng, then hurried out.

...

Upon returning to Dou Ou Bank, Gu Jin’an and Young Master Dou convened everyone to arrange upcoming affairs.

"Farmers in Tianfu County and the three surrounding counties have almost all borrowed silver. Leave thirty percent in the bank, and send the rest to Luchang County. The silver on the road should bypass He’an Prefecture and head straight to Bagu County in Hushan Prefecture."

Young Master Dou handed two letters to Manager Dou. "Take the Shadow Guards and half the workers to Bagu County. Upon arrival, meet the County Magistrate and discuss setting up a new bank. We need Bagu County as a barrier, so we must quickly open a bank there to prevent the silver from being seized by people from other prefectures."

This trip to the prefecture will surely see other Jianghuai Magistrates present.

He further instructed Dou Zhi: "Familiarize yourself with the bank's operations and oversee it. If anything goes wrong, I’ll see you jump into a well to end your life."

"Yes." Dou Zhi replied, confident that relying on his skills, the Shadow Guard, government office staff, and military office men, managing the bank would pose little difficulty.

After making arrangements, Young Master Dou inquired, "Is Old Ouyang here yet?"

Gu Jin’an responded, "Master Ouyang is still handling household matters and will arrive in at least four hours."

Magistrate Gu couldn't suppress the noble families; only Master Ouyang could bring them under control.

With a thud, Young Master Dou kicked a stool. "Too slow! We discussed this previously; couldn't the old man be quicker!"

Dou Zhi silently righted the stool, thinking that recently the Young Master had grown irritable. Perhaps he needed some beauties to relieve his stress?

However, considering the Young Master had been exhausted for half a month and was so weak he could barely stand, it was better to hold off on the beauties, lest any excitement lead to an untimely demise in bed.