Chapter 387 - 381_1
"Wife, why don’t we close the restaurant and grocery store for now?" Lin Yue suggested reluctantly. "Lord Wei will certainly not let things go. Our family can’t find any loopholes to exploit, and they will definitely target the restaurant and grocery store next. With the Magistrate backing them, they could turn the black into white. All we can do is to avoid them for the time being."
As Zhao Erhu pondered, this seemed the only prudent solution. Otherwise, if they really made a move against the restaurant and grocery store, not to mention the inability to keep the secret recipe safe, suffering a financial loss would be the least of his worries. There was a real possibility of losing his entire family fortune, even his life. Such things had happened before; hence, despite his frustration, Zhao Erhu still made this decision. If he were alone, he might have fought with these unscrupulous rascals out of sheer guts, but with a wife and children, he had to think things through more carefully.
"Brother Erhu, you’re making sense," Lin Yue agreed, her voice laced with resignation. "It looks like our restaurant and grocery store can’t stay open for now, not until this Magistrate leaves office at least. It’s such a shame; we had such a booming business. Head Chef Wang’s culinary skills are unparalleled, even the chefs in the Capital City can’t compare. And now the restaurant has to close because the Magistrate and Lord Wei colluded against us. Who knows how much silver we’re losing out on. Just thinking about it makes me so angry." Lin Yue understood the reasoning, but she couldn’t help feeling indignant. Unlike Zhao Erhu, who grew up here and was used to such things, she found the injustice hard to swallow, yet had no choice but bear it.
"We have no other choice; one can’t fight against officials. We are nothing but humble commoners. Our previous smooth sailing was also thanks to Dr. Jiang getting looked after by Lord Chen. Back then, those scoundrels didn’t dare to trouble us. But now, with this new greedy Magistrate who doesn’t accomplish anything nor cares about the common people, our family is relatively better off. Who knows how many others are suffering persecution."
"Why don’t we ask Brother Jiang for advice?" Lin Yue proposed, still reluctant to give up. "Since he can send gifts to the Empress Dowager, he can’t be an ordinary person. I’ve heard from his servant that the Jiang Family holds a very special place in the Capital City. Perhaps with Brother Jiang’s help, the Magistrate’s servants and Lord Wei might be deterred from targeting us." At the end of the day, Lin Yue couldn’t let go of the business, which they had put so much effort into setting up. She was willing to try any hope available.
But Zhao Erhu disagreed, "Even though we have business dealings with Dr. Jiang and get along well, our own problems shouldn’t trouble him. If it were something minor, it wouldn’t matter, but you don’t know, I’ve inquired about it. The new Magistrate comes from a prominent background. Apparently, he has a cousin in the palace who holds the favor of the Emperor. Even if the Jiang Family has a special status, how can they compare with the Empress in the palace? We should endure and lay low for now. Unless absolutely necessary, let’s not bother Dr. Jiang and cause him trouble."
Lin Yue thought about it and had to agree, accepting Zhao Erhu’s argument, "Then we shouldn’t delay. By kicking out the Wei Family’s manager, we’ve already offended Lord Wei. I’m afraid he will act soon. And the Magistrate’s men are likely at the end of their patience as well. Let’s head to the city now, close up the restaurant and the grocery store, and while we’re at it, stop by the pharmacy to check on the situation there."
Once clear about the stakes, neither Zhao Erhu nor Lin Yue were willing to delay. Fearing that some misfortune might befall them the next moment, they immediately took the carriage to the city. Lin Yue, having watched TV dramas and read novels, was very much aware of the corrupt officials’ secret tactics, even more so than Zhao Erhu. If they really got caught up, losing everything they owned would be getting off lightly. Given the Magistrate’s behavior, it was very likely that they could become entangled in such a situation. So, earning a little less money seemed trivial in comparison.