Volume 3: The Richest Man in the World Chapter 6: Hutab's Request for Help
No matter how Cai Shiwen kowtowed, Hutabu was as hard as stone. He sneered and said, "When you helped Galu to punish me, why didn't you think about this day? If it weren't for the blessing of the Bodhisattva, my bones would have been gnawed by dogs today, and no one would pity me. I, Hutabu, can't bear your kowtows today. Go away!"
Cai Shiwen's forehead was bleeding. He had aged very quickly in the past few months. His wrinkled face was dripping with tears. He kowtowed to the guarantors one after another. Pan Youjie covered his face with a folding fan and shook his head to avoid him. Pan Yiliang and his horse jumped away a few steps, unwilling to be kowtowed. Ye Dalin looked up, as if he saw nothing and heard nothing.
Lu Guanhuan felt reluctant, but he just looked at Wu Chengjian.
Cai Shiwen turned around, looked at Wu Chengjian, finally bent his knees and shouted, "Hao Guan, since our two families are relatives after all, please give our Cai family a way to live!" As he said this, he kowtowed.
Wu Chengjian's eyes flickered, and a look of reluctance flashed across his face. However, when he thought of Wu Chengjun who was waiting to die in the old house in Xiguan, his heart hardened again, and he said with a choked voice: "Go and save my eldest brother, and I will save your Cai family!"
Cai Shiwen couldn’t knock his head any further and his whole body froze there .
When Pan Yiliang and Ma saw this, they thought, "This is really the law of heaven. It's retribution."
Cai Shiwen knelt there, stiff for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter, crying and laughing at the same time, crying with laughter and crying with laughter.
He got up in a panic and humiliation, and regardless of the dust on his clothes, he ran out the door laughing and crying.
Pan Yiliang looked at his back, then looked at the signed agreement on the desk, and felt a sense of sympathy. This was exactly:
When a rabbit dies, the fox also feels sad. All creatures feel sad for their own kind.
If we defeat the Cai family today, who will be its turn tomorrow?
Lu Guanhuan sighed deeply, and Hutabu said, "The ups and downs of the merchants in the Thirteen Hongs are common to everyone. Who cares what he does?"
Pan Yiliang immediately put on a smile and said, "Not bad, not bad."
After the documents were signed, the secretary made a copy, Hutabu used his seal, Pan Youjie guaranteed it, and then gave it to each family for safekeeping. After everything was done, Lu Guanhuan took out his pocket watch and took a look. It was already past four in the afternoon. At this time, the guarantors all felt their stomachs growling.
Master Yi Shang said, "We have such a happy event today, we must celebrate it. It's better to meet by chance than to invite each other. Otherwise, how about we find a restaurant and I will host it so that everyone can have a good time?"
The merchant Ma said, "I want to congratulate you, but I'm afraid it won't be your turn to host the event!"
Everyone laughed, some looked at Pan Youjie, and some looked at Wu Chengjian.
Wu Chengjian looked at Pan Youjie, and those who looked at Wu Chengjian quickly looked at Pan Youjie as well.
Pan Youjie said with a smile, "People say that the best food is in Guangzhou, but how can the food outside compare to what we have at home? Since we all want to get together, let's find a place and ask the best chefs in our homes to come out. Those who have good wine can make good wine, and those who have good meat can make good meat. How about holding a banquet for eight heroes?"
Wu Chengjian said, "Very good, I will follow your instructions."
All the guarantors said, "Listen to the official!"
Lu Guanhuan asked: "Where is the right place?"
Pan Youjie asked, "How is Zhenhai Tower?"
Ye Dalin said, "It's fine to visit Zhenhai Tower during the day, but to hold a banquet in the evening, we need the approval of Guangzhou Prefecture or even the Governor's Office."
Lu Guanhuan said: "Since everyone is interested, I will go and clear the way for you."
These eight wealthy businessmen all have their own connections and abilities. Once Lu Guanhuan spoke, no one else had anything to say.
They agreed on a time and went home. Before leaving, Lu Guanhuan came over and shook Wu Chengjian's hand and said, "Haoguan, wait a moment!"
Wu Chengjian thought Lu Guanhuan had something serious to say, but unexpectedly he said, "I heard that your wife is about to give birth."
Wu Chengjian smiled and said, "Almost. Recently, the officials are waiting to hold their grandchildren."
Lu Guanhuan said: "Two days ago, my wife gave birth to a daughter for me."
He is not much younger than Wu Guoying, but the Lu family is a newly prosperous family. Lu Guanhuan was lucky in middle age and had a son in old age. He gave birth to his first child two years ago. Now that he has a son, he has no pressure to have another son.
Wu Chengjian hurriedly congratulated them, and the insurance merchants, who had not left yet, also followed suit to congratulate them.
Lu Guanhuan smiled and said, "I am very happy. When their mothers are out of confinement, let them bring their children home for a reunion. I am looking forward to you, Haoguan, having a child. If the Wu family has a baby, we can compare the horoscopes of the two children. If they are suitable, maybe we can become in-laws."
Wu Chengjian smiled and said, "That would be great! We just have to hope that the bone-melting dragon in the fish's belly is a male."
Lu Guanhuan smiled and said, "Then it's settled!"
After the five insurance companies left, Ye Dalin sneered, "Old Lu is so bold to ask for it. He's already set his sights on my unborn grandson."
Pan Youjie laughed and said, "A good father will have a good son. Haoguan's son must be a good one. Unfortunately, my two daughters are too old. It is said that a girl three years older than her husband will bring her a golden brick, but it is not suitable to be older than that. I will add some fuel to the fire and try to get a house in two or three years. Chengjian, you have to keep your son for me, don't promise him to Maoguan so soon."
Wu Chengjian said with a smile: "Since Brother Youjie called me, I have to be in the front of the line."
Ye Dalin said from the side: "Hold on! Haoguan, listen to me, forget about everything else, but I must be the matchmaker for my grandson's marriage. Anyone who wants to be my grandson's son-in-law must pass me first."
Wu Chengjian said: "This is natural, this is natural."
The three of them laughed together and were about to leave together. Hutabu suddenly said with a smile: "Haoguan, there is something small. You have to stay for a while."
Wu Chengjian looked at Pan Youjie, and Pan Youjie said, "Then we'll go first. You take your time. We'll see you at Zhenhai Tower in the evening."
Pan and Ye left first, and Hutab said, "Let's talk in the back garden."
The back garden of the business protection meeting was not allowed to enter without the approval of the Supervisory Office. Wu Chengjian followed Hutabu to the pavilion in the garden. There was no one around. Seeing that the sun was setting, Wu Chengjian thought: "What happened in Jishan?"
But Hutabu looked around and patrolled everywhere to make sure that no one was hiding, and then returned to the pavilion. Seeing him like this, Wu Chengjian thought, "What secret is going on here?" He became alert.
After Hutabu returned to the pavilion, he looked at Haoguan for a long while, and suddenly his face turned miserable. He knelt down and hugged Wu Chengjian's thighs, crying, "Haoguan, help me!"
Wu Chengjian was extremely surprised and hurried to drag Hutabu up: "Brother Hu, what are you doing?"
Hutabu refused to get up, hugged Wu Chengjian's thigh and said, "I'm dying, I'm dying! Haoguan, you have to save me!"
"What exactly is going on?" Wu Chengjian said, "Brother Hu, you should tell us first."
Hutabu said: "Hao Guan, you must promise to save me first!"
Wu Chengjian said, "Brother Hu, if you don't tell me what's going on, I won't be able to start, right?"
He didn't dare to easily agree to anything that would make Hutabula lose face and ask for help.
Hutabu begged and pleaded, but seeing that Wu Chengjian would not agree to anything even if he did not tell him the truth, he had no choice but to lower his voice and said, "Officer Hao, do you remember the time when Lord Quan came to see you in the prison, and the rats were squeaking outside the door?"
Wu Chengjian's heart shuddered, and he remembered that Liu Quan came to the prison to talk to him and revealed a shocking secret. While he was horrified, there was a sudden noise outside the door. Fortunately, the noise disturbed Liu Quan for a moment, giving him some time to think.
He suddenly had an idea and said, "You... heard everything?" He guessed that it was not a mouse passing by, but Hutabu was eavesdropping outside the door and heard something so thrilling that he accidentally made a noise.
Hutab cried, "It's all my fault, it's all my fault!" He pulled his ears so hard that they almost bled: "I got myself killed out of curiosity!"
It might not be true that he was just curious for a moment, but a servant like him would not let go of any opportunity to hear a secret - who knows when that secret will become of great value.
But this time his crying was not fake, it was real crying.
What Liu Quan revealed that night might be difficult for others to understand, but Hutabu was the one in charge of the matter, so he could guess ten things after hearing a little, which is why he was so scared at the time!
How could a servant like him know such a big secret involving the inner court? Heshen had ulterior motives towards Jiaqing - it was just a rumor if others said it, but if a servant like Hutabu was brought before the emperor by chance, he could be a witness! How could Heshen tolerate his words!
Wu Chengjian whispered, "Did Lord Quan...know?"
Hutabu shook his head: "I don't know, I don't know... I was still hoping that he would believe it... But... Haoguan, my master is going to be transferred..."
Wu Chengjian's heart moved again. Jishan was going to be transferred. This was another big secret.
But before he could think of anything else, he heard Hutab crying and saying, "My master called me over last night... He said, he said..."
Wu Chengjian guessed something: "He's not going to take you away?"
