The Emperor doesn’t follow the usual rules. What if he suddenly thinks that the Dou Family lending money to farmers is a slap in his face?

Master Ouyang said, "Don’t worry, I’ll write to my elder brother. By the time what we’re doing reaches the Capital, I’ll have my brother meet with the Emperor in person to explain so that no opportunistic scoundrel can accuse us before the Emperor."

After hearing this, Young Master Dou breathed a sigh of relief. "Elder Ouyang is a mentor to two generations of Emperors, a leading figure among scholars. The younger generation trusts him."

After thanking Master Ouyang, Young Master Dou agreed.

However...

"Isn’t charging two-tenths interest a bit too low? Why not charge three-tenths?" Young Master Dou suggested with gleaming eyes.

Master Ouyang shook his head. "No, three-tenths is too much. Doing so would diminish the good reputation your Dou Family could earn and might even get you cursed by the farmers."

Uh, Young Master Dou felt like spitting blood. Lending to farmers is indeed troublesome. It’s better to lend to wealthy households, businesses, or officials.

"Does the Third Sister have something to say?" Gu Jinli saw Young Master Dou agree, then looked at Ouyang Ming, noticing her frowning. She seemed to have something to say.

Ouyang Ming nodded. "Grandfather has always been a loyal minister. He can speak for us, but I don’t want to tarnish his name as a loyal minister... So I wish to use my name to partner with you in this matter."

She was an orphan with no siblings. If she used her own name for this matter and the Emperor got upset, at most, the Empress would send someone to punish her but not blame Grandfather.

Ouyang Ming said, "The irresponsibility of a young woman is different from the deliberate intent of a courtier. The penalties for these two differ."

The former might cost her life, but the latter could destroy the Ouyang Family!

Gu Jin’an said, "No, our family proposed this first. We can’t let Miss Ouyang take the risk."

His tone was somewhat anxious, drawing a sidelong glance from Ouyang Ming.

"Miss Ming, I initially thought you were smart, but this idea of yours is very foolish." Master Ouyang gave Gu Jin’an a glance, then said to Ouyang Ming, "The Ouyang Family is flourishing. Your Grandfather and I can’t even protect a little girl like you? Is it necessary for you to stand out?"

Ouyang Ming was startled. She stood up and apologized, "Grandfather, don’t be angry. It was my arrogance."

"Sit down. When faced with significant matters in the future, think it over more carefully. Don’t utter such impulsive words again." Master Ouyang suppressed his palm, signaling Ouyang Ming to sit down, then pondered on whose name to use in the partnership with Young Master Dou and the Gu Family.

Finally, he said, "Let’s do it in your grandmother’s name. All our silver and the Gu Family’s silver will be considered part of your grandmother’s dowry."

Master Ouyang’s wife, surnamed Duan, had passed away. Her family now only had juniors working in the Hanlin Academy and nothing related to powerful ministers, so the Emperor wouldn’t be suspicious.

Moreover, his wife’s mother, Master Ouyang’s mother-in-law, once helped the current Empress Dowager, who owed her a favor. The Emperor can’t hold a grudge against someone who helped the Empress Dowager, especially one who has already passed away.

So, using Mrs. Duan’s name to lend money to farmers is indeed suitable.

"Thank you, Grandfather." Ouyang Ming knelt down to thank Master Ouyang.

In fact, she also thought of doing it in her grandmother’s name, but her grandmother treated her very well during her life, so she didn’t want to use her and thus hadn’t mentioned it.

Master Ouyang said, "Stand up. You’re becoming more and more formal. There’s no need for such a display."

He then looked at her and said, "Before your grandmother passed, she said to use half of her private treasury as your dowry. Now that this matter will use it, your dowry will be smaller."

Ouyang Ming smiled. "Granddaughter doesn’t mind. With Grandmother and Grandfather’s love, granddaughter has benefited for a lifetime already."

Dowry and whatnot, she still had her mother’s dowry, which was already quite substantial.

Young Master Dou asked, "Which bank will we use?"

To handle this matter, a bank is needed.

Master Ouyang said, "There’s a bank in the He’an Prefecture that’s in my wife’s dowry. We’ll use that bank."

In reality, this bank belonged to the Ouyang Family. It was given to him by his elder brother, who said that since he traveled far and wide, he needed a bank. Otherwise, if he ran out of money, he might have to beg his way back.

Yet he had official credentials, making it inappropriate for him to manage this himself, so the bank was transferred to his wife’s name as part of her dowry.

He added, "We should set up banks in Tianfu County and Luchang County too, so it’s convenient for farmers to borrow money."

Young Master Dou gave a thumbs up and said, "No wonder you are the Second Old Master of the Ouyang Family. When you act, it’s spectacular. I’m impressed, Elder!"

"Hmph, what’s there to be impressed about? You have your tasks to do too." Master Ouyang couldn’t tolerate Young Master Dou’s watching-the-fun attitude and warned, "Get the silver ready. We’ll need it in three days. If you can’t produce the money to lend to farmers, you won’t gain any benefits."

Young Master Dou said, "Three days? Isn’t that too short? We should wait ten more days before lending. Having them clamor first is beneficial to us."

"Ten more days? If you wait ten more days, you might have to hide in the cellar to escape the turmoil." Master Ouyang scoffed. There were already villagers wailing in town today. If they waited ten more days, it’s estimated the government office would be overrun by angry citizens.

Young Master Dou pouted, "Three days it is. Rest assured, the silver will definitely be ready."

It’s just silver. The Dou Family has a lot, and as the young master, transferring fifty thousand taels is doable, and adding his private stash, getting a hundred thousand taels is no problem.

"Master Ouyang, how much is your family contributing?" Young Master Dou asked with a cheeky smile.

Master Ouyang glanced at him calmly and said, "Not less than what you’re contributing."

Young Master Dou was shocked. "So wealthy?"

Master Ouyang remained silent, but his expression said: Indeed, my late wife had considerable wealth.

Master Ouyang’s wife was also from a noble family, and her dowry had been well-managed throughout her life, earning quite a bit, along with Master Ouyang’s own earnings over the decades, making a substantial sum.

"And your family? How much are you contributing? Don’t think of getting something for nothing!" Young Master Dou looked at Gu Jinli with a demeanor that implied if the Gu Family contributed too little, he wouldn’t hold back.

Gu Jinli replied with a bitter expression, "My family is very poor, at most, we can provide thirty thousand taels."

"Thirty thousand taels?" Young Master Dou frowned, feeling stuck with something he couldn’t swallow... Truth be told, for the Gu Family, a rural upstart, thirty thousand taels was actually a good amount, but also indeed not much!

Gu Jinli nodded. "Yes, we can only spare thirty thousand for now. However, once our ham and liquor start selling, we will contribute more over time."

The Great Chu is already showing signs of unrest and will only grow more unstable in the future. Her silver needs to be saved for Brother Qin to buy horses and maintain manpower. It cannot all be spent at once.