He smiled gently and thought.
A cold laugh rose in Chen Nan's heart.
It seemed.
He had to be more forceful!
Otherwise, this woman would continue to be so ungrateful.
"Leng Qingmei, hurry out and welcome this young master!"
He gathered his Qi in his dantian and let out a low roar.
The house servant's face turned ashen with fear.
After being divorced, this guy actually dared to be so bold.
Calling her by her name was one thing, but even telling the young lady to roll out.
It was not hard to imagine.
That the young lady would surely be furious when she came out.
At this moment.
Leng Qingmei, dressed in a light pink long dress and exuding an ethereal aura, walked out.
Just as those house servants expected Leng Qingmei to fly into a rage, they saw a look of nervousness on her face: "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here."
???
The house servants were dumbfounded.
The young lady was actually apologizing to him?
And even addressing him as "you"?
What was going on?
Chen Nan snorted coldly, "Tell these people, can I come in from now on?"
Leng Qingmei looked at the house servants with a blank expression: "From now on, when Young Master Chen comes, you don't need my permission. Just invite him directly into the house. Do you understand?"
This was partly her oversight.
She hadn't told the house servants that if Chen Nan came, they should invite him in directly.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The house servants nodded quickly.
But their hearts were in turmoil.
After all, before Chen Nan was divorced, he didn't receive such treatment.
Leng Qingmei looked at Chen Nan cautiously, "Shall we talk inside?"
Chen Nan grunted indifferently and strode into the Leng family.
Leng Qingmei followed behind him, appearing somewhat nervous: "Can you... can you give me some face in front of the servants from now on?"
Chen Nan's lips curved upwards, "That depends on your performance."
A ripple rose in Leng Qingmei's heart.
She knew.
Chen Nan had figured things out.
Of course.
Setting aside the matter of her wanting to kill Chen Nan.
She had also figured things out.
The reason was simple.
Chen Nan was very potent.
He could make her experience pleasure.
She lowered her head, suppressing the panic in her heart, and said, "I will definitely satisfy you."
Chen Nan suddenly said, "I don't know why, but I feel like using the back door now."
Leng Qingmei was stunned for a moment.
Did he mean the door to the back courtyard?
------
Afterward.
The four maids, Meilanzhuju, brought the prepared lunch into the room.
Chen Nan ate the delicious lunch and said, "So, that's the general situation. Tongcheng is in crisis, and all families must contribute some money to deal with this crisis."
"Although Lord Han said I was here to borrow money, but..."
"You understand, right?"
Leng Qingmei nodded.
To take something from someone and then return it.
That was borrowing.
If you took it and didn't return it.
Was that still borrowing?
"Clan Leader Meng is a person of great vision and foresight. You can learn from him," Chen Nan didn't say too much, some words were best left implied.
"Yes, I know what to do."
Chen Nan ate heartily.
After the meal, he fastened his belt.
Then he took out some silver fragments and tossed them to Leng Qingmei, "Your performance earlier was quite good, I'm very satisfied!"
Saying that, he strode away.
Gritting her teeth.
Leng Qingmei's eyes almost spat fire.
It was one thing for Chen Nan not to give her money.
Giving her money was clearly humiliating her!
Treating her like a prostitute in a brothel!
"Chen Nan, you can be smug for a while longer."
"It won't be long before you kneel before me and beg for mercy."
------
Chen Nan rode his horse back to the county office.
He reported what had happened at the First Family to Han Zongyuan.
Han Zongyuan was furious and slammed his palm on the table in front of him, cracking it: "What a First Family! Now that Tongcheng is in trouble, I go to borrow money, and they actually take this opportunity to make excessive demands."
Chen Nan asked, "My Lord, what should we do about this matter?"
Han Zongyuan appeared troubled: "As far as I know, there is a noble person who has appeared in the imperial court, and that noble person comes from the Fifth Family."
"If we suppress the First Family too much, it might displease that noble person."
"If that noble person blames us, we will also face a lot of unnecessary trouble."
Chen Nan had also learned about the history of the Underworld.
He knew that there were surnames from First to Ninth in the Underworld.
In essence, they were of the same origin.
After a moment of hesitation, Han Zongyuan looked at Chen Nan: "What do you think?"
Chen Nan expressed his opinion: "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. The First Family dares to be so arrogant mainly because of their wealth and the noble person behind them."
"But this time, they shouldn't have taken advantage of a national crisis to enrich themselves."
"My idea is simple: publicize the fact that the other four major families have donated money, so that the people of the city know their contributions to Tongcheng."
Han Zongyuan frowned: "Donate money?"
"Isn't it a loan?"
Chen Nan smiled, "Clan Leader Meng cares about the people of Tongcheng and has decided to donate two million taels of silver and the reserves of three grain stores."
"The Leng family has also decided to donate money and do what they can."
"Although the Chen family and the Gongyang family haven't said they'll donate money."
"However,"
"Since the Meng and Leng families have both announced their donations, do they still have the nerve to claim they are lending money?"
Han Zongyuan nodded thoughtfully, and a smile grew on his face: "If this is the case, the four major families will surely win the hearts of the people and gain their support and affection."
"And the First Family, which is also the head of the five major families, will face public opinion."
"Even the wrath of the entire populace."
"If it really comes to this, let alone the mere First Family."
"Even the noble person behind the First Family would not dare to say anything."
"However, what if the First Family learns of this and wants to donate?"
Chen Nan revealed a sinister smile, "If he wants to donate, we just refuse to accept it."
Han Zongyuan was stunned for a moment, and then he laughed: "You kid are truly wicked, but I like it!"
"Fine, you handle this."
"I am, in general, quite confident in your abilities." He gave Chen Nan an encouraging look.
Damn it.
Do you think I want to work for you?
Chen Nan grumbled inwardly, but he didn't dare to say more, and bowed to withdraw.
He set up a donation office at the entrance of the county office.
By now, the crisis in Tongcheng was widely known.
Although the common people were in panic and unease, and some had chosen to leave.
The majority of Tongcheng's people still chose to stay, united in facing the flood.
Seeing the donation office, many people generously contributed.
Although not much.
But small sums add up.
Every bit counts.
As long as everyone participated.
Even in the face of a sudden disaster, humanity could overcome nature.
Not long after.
Meng Guangzhi arrived at the county office, bringing with him two million taels of silver notes and three keys.
Upon seeing this, Chen Nan exclaimed loudly, "Clan Leader Meng has generously donated two million taels of silver and three million catties of grain. This act is truly admirable and will be remembered by future generations."
Han Zongyuan also came out of the county office and bowed deeply to Meng Guangzhi: "Clan Leader Meng has immense merit. After this flood disaster is resolved, I will certainly report to the imperial court to reward your contributions."
Chen Bohan and Gongyang Qing, who were in the crowd, were dumbfounded.
You're donating money?
Donating?
Damn it.
You've donated so much money, what do we do?
Tell the common people that we lent money to the yamen?