si-mexico Chapter 541 There are always some people who are not clear-headed and can't see the situation c
Chapter 541 There are always some people who are not clear-headed and can't see the situation c
"Don't worry, Manager Liu." Chu Ruohan sat back down and gestured for everyone to sit down as well. "The rules cannot be broken. All goods damaged in this accident will be compensated at double the value of the goods as stated in the contract."
Upon hearing this, a low murmur arose from the audience.
The double compensation exceeded everyone's expectations, demonstrating Chu Ruohan's sincerity and sense of responsibility.
Most people looked relieved.
"Thank you ma'am!"
However, amidst the expressions of gratitude, a discordant voice rang out.
"You make it sound so easy, Madam!"
A slightly plump man dressed in a royal blue brocade robe stood up. He was none other than Manager Wang, a well-known silk merchant in the capital.
He gave a forced smile and cupped his hands in greeting. "My whole cart is filled with the finest Yun brocade, which I'm preparing to send as a birthday gift to a distinguished person in the south."
"Now that the goods are gone, I've not only lost money, but I've also offended a powerful person! This debt can't be settled with just double compensation!"
Chu Ruohan raised her eyes and looked at him. She was not angry, but asked calmly, "Then what should we do according to Manager Wang?"
Seeing that she had responded, Manager Wang became even bolder and held up three fingers.
"I won't agree to this amount for that batch of goods, along with the reputation I lost and the business I missed!"
He was referring to three times the compensation.
Upon hearing this, even the other merchants nearby frowned.
This fat Wang is far too greedy; he's taking advantage of a disaster.
Chu Ruohan picked up the teacup beside her, gently blew away the foam, and didn't even lift her eyelids.
"Manager Wang, it's clearly written in black and white on the contract that your batch of Yun brocade is worth a total of eight hundred taels."
"Double compensation is 1,600 taels. The extra amount is a token of goodwill, not a bargaining chip for you to use."
"A contract?" Manager Wang sneered. "Who doesn't know that the price on that contract is just to cover customs duties?"
"At market price, I could have sold that batch of goods for 1,500 taels! Now that Madam is only losing 1,600 taels, aren't I actually losing money?"
With these words, he laid bare his tax evasion, clearly confident that Chu Ruohan would let the matter drop for the sake of her reputation.
Chu Ruohan finally put down her teacup, making a soft "tap" sound.
She raised her head, and a hint of coldness had crept into her clear eyes.
"So, Manager Wang admits that he forged a dual contract to evade taxes?"
Manager Wang's smug expression froze; he hadn't expected Chu Ruohan to be so direct.
He stammered, "This...this is the rule of the trade, Madam, why must you..."
"Rules?" Chu Ruohan interrupted him coldly. "All I know is that, according to the laws of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, tax evasion and deceiving the government are serious crimes."
"At best, their property will be confiscated; at worst, they will be exiled three thousand miles away."
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear and resonant.
"Since Manager Wang feels that the amount in the contract is unfair, that's easy to resolve."
Chu Ruohan's gaze sharpened. "Let's take this contract to the Jingzhao Prefecture now and have the Prefect assess how much silver this batch of goods is worth."
"By the way, Your Excellency, please also examine how this crime of deceiving the emperor should be punished. I believe the valuation by the Jingzhao Prefecture will be the fairest."
"You!" Manager Wang's face turned deathly pale instantly, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
He never expected that this seemingly gentle general's wife would be so ruthless, directly taking the matter to the authorities.
If he really goes to the Jingzhao Prefecture, not to mention the triple compensation, he might even lose his own life!
"Madam... Madam is joking." Manager Wang's arrogance vanished instantly. He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and waved his hands repeatedly.
"I...I didn't mean that. I was confused, I was confused! Everything...everything was done as Madam said, as stated in the contract!"
Chu Ruohan looked at him, a faint smile curving her lips, but without any warmth.
"It's good that Manager Wang has come to his senses. We're in business, and we value integrity above all else. We won't shortchange you a single penny in compensation."
"But anyone who wants to take advantage of me by stepping on my face should think twice before admitting they're not good enough."
She looked around, and the others who had been somewhat eager to make a move all lowered their heads, not daring to meet her gaze.
"Someone come here," Chu Ruohan called out, "bring the silver notes and settle accounts with the managers according to the contract."
The matter was quickly resolved, and the merchants left with their silver notes, expressing their deepest gratitude.
Shopkeeper Wang slunk away with his tail between his legs, not daring to linger for even a moment longer.
After everyone had left, Chu Ruohan rubbed her slightly swollen temples, a look of exhaustion on her face.
The steward whispered, "Madam, thankfully you managed to keep things under control. If Steward Qin were here, he would have had to put in a lot of effort to handle this."
"Qin Fang is honest and kind-hearted, so he is indeed prone to suffering losses when dealing with these tough guys."
Chu Ruohan sighed softly, but in her heart she felt more and more that her dowry shops, plus the Princess's shops...
We can't rely on just one or two people to keep going.
Today's matter may seem to have been resolved, but it has also exposed more problems.
The trade routes need to be rebuilt, the shops need to be managed, and the people's hearts need to be appeased.
Each and every one of these tasks is no easy feat.
After the steward left, Chu Ruohan picked up the now-cold tea and took a sip. The bitter taste of the tea spread on her tongue, instantly invigorating her weary spirit.
The issues with the merchants have been temporarily put on hold, but the more troublesome ones are yet to come.
Those who entrusted caravans to carry goods were not only businessmen, but also noble families traveling between the capital and the capital.
For merchants, we can talk about rules and laws, and use benefits and deterrence to shut them up.
But for those noble families, compensation was secondary; losing their favor and face was the real problem.
All of these required her to personally visit and explain them one by one.
In the following days, Chu Ruohan truly experienced what it meant to have her feet never touch the ground.
Every day before dawn, she has to get up first to deal with the backlog of household affairs, and then play with Xiao Qingchen and Xuan-ge for a while...
When the sun is high in the sky, one must change into appropriate attire, prepare generous gifts, and travel between various mansions in the capital.
Since the Duchess of Zhenguo personally came to their door, the Ge family would naturally give her some face and wouldn't really make things difficult for her, after all, no one wanted to provoke Gu Junze...
Upon hearing that it was Zhang Xian's private soldiers who were causing trouble, he not only did not blame them, but also offered some words of comfort.
She was so busy that she often didn't return home until late at night, exhausted.
The children had already gone to sleep...