Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - chapter 41

Chapter 41

“What does Miss mean?” Ruan Fuxin raised his head and looked at Xiao Wangshu.

Xiao Wangshu lowered her eyes and glanced at him, her expression indifferent. She said, “You can extend credit upwards-go to your big buyers, collect the money first, and deliver the goods later.”

“What?”

Ruan Fuxin was stunned and asked again, “How would they be willing? If I do this and fail, I might push long-standing clients to my competitors.”

“Why would that be?

“Clients with status and reputation prefer to receive different treatment. Just like in a money house, look at those wealthy gentry who deposit large sums-the treatment they receive is always different.

“They put their money in the money house. Have you ever seen them show the slightest reluctance?

“Similarly, you let buyers deposit their money with you, give them the highest courtesy, and the discounts they deserve. You are here, your shop is here-if the monk runs away, the temple remains. Why would they refuse?

“As long as your goods are good, your attitude is good, and your prices are fair, once they get used to buying from you, why worry about keeping them?

“For them, switching to a new partner is time-consuming and troublesome. Since that’s the case, why not just choose you?

“Even if something unexpected happens to you, the money can still be temporarily transferred elsewhere and then moved back after the turnover. They probably won’t spend that much money all at once, right?

“Even if in the end you really can’t manage the turnover, with their money tied up with you, not only will they not abandon you, but they will also do their best to help you, because that is also helping themselves protect their own money. What do you think?”

After hearing Xiao Wangshu’s words, Ruan Fuxin’s eyes widened, as if a fog in his mind had been swept away, and he suddenly saw things much more clearly.

At this moment, Xiao Wangshu continued-

“In short, you can use what others urgently need to control them, but don’t extend credit for what others urgently need.

“For the villagers, the money from agricultural goods is their rice and flour money, their livelihood. If you delay even a day, something could go wrong; if you delay even a day, they will be on edge.

“To get their money back, they can disregard face, disregard their relationship with you, disregard the trust built over many dealings, and force you to repay quickly-especially when you have no powerful background to support you.

“Because this money is too important to them.

“But for those wealthy gentry buyers, the money for goods is not so urgently needed-it can be credited.”

After listening, Ruan Fuxin fell silent for a long time before saying in a muffled voice, “I have overstepped, presumptuously trying to share Miss’s burdens and manage Miss’s shop. Please forgive me!”

At first, he thought that with his abilities, managing two shops selling clothing and jewelry would be more than enough.

Now he realized that Xiao Wangshu’s shop was not something he could handle.

He might as well honestly continue as her Guard, pay off his debts, and then seek another path, rather than bring humiliation upon himself.

They were all businessmen, and he understood well that employing people was also an exchange of value.

His business value was not needed by Xiao Wangshu; she seemed to only need a few Guards to protect her safety.

“There’s no need to talk of forgiveness. I have always admired those who dare to seize opportunities. Business opportunities are like a torrential gamble-they belong to those who dare to act.”

As Xiao Wangshu spoke, she glanced at Ruan Fuxin and instructed, “Get up. When you return, have Jiang Ji and Hu Tian report to you on the whereabouts of the money they are supervising. Once you bring down Shopkeeper Xiao, you will be the new shopkeeper of Brocade Gate.”

Jiang Ji and Hu Tian were two of the eight new Guards she had recently recruited.

The two of them were responsible for monitoring the flow of money in Shopkeeper Xiao’s hands. After so many days, that money had already gone to flower houses, taverns, and money houses.

From the destination of this batch of money, she also found the whereabouts of the previous funds.
It was almost time to close the net.

Ruan Fuxin suddenly looked up. “Miss?”

“Your ambition is not limited to that county town, and mine is not limited to Brocade Gate. You need a stepping stone to climb higher, and I need a capable subordinate to share my burdens.”

Xiao Wangshu spoke plainly, and Ruan Fuxin understood clearly.

As long as he had the ability to share her burdens, she was willing to be his stepping stone and support him as he rose.

“This subordinate thanks Miss for your guidance!”

“Get up.” Xiao Wangshu looked at him and continued to instruct, “Do things cleanly. Don’t let the old servants of the Fang Family lose heart.”

You must produce ironclad evidence to prove that Shopkeeper Xiao embezzled money from the public accounts.

First make him lose the people’s trust and put him at a disadvantage; then it will be much easier to remove him.

Ruan Fuxin stood up from the ground, cupped his fists and bowed, accepting the order: “Yes!”

“Knock, knock-”

A series of knocks came from outside the tea room door.

Xiao Wangshu sat back in her chair, and Ruan Fuxin returned to the Guard lineup.

Yichun glanced at Xiao Wangshu, and at her signal, went to open the door.

Outside, Shopkeeper Xiao stood at the doorway, his face still showing traces of anger, his smile forced and insincere. The craftsmen followed behind him, exchanging glances, and finally all their eyes settled on Xiao Wangshu inside the room.

Shopkeeper Xiao took a deep breath at the door, then entered, looking at Xiao Wangshu with a tone of betrayal and abandonment, asking, “Miss, do you think this old servant has not done well in the shop these past decades?”

Before Xiao Wangshu could reply, he continued on his own, “If Miss thinks this old servant is getting on in years and is no longer useful, just send me to the estate. Why bother having these craftsmen make a list and come to me to check the accounts?”

Xiao Wangshu propped her head with one hand, watching him with interest.

“This old servant has worked diligently for the Fang Family for most of my life. Now that I am old, I am indeed not as capable as before, but Miss, you don’t have to doubt me so much.

“Letting outsiders come to me to check the accounts-Miss, where am I supposed to put this old face of mine? How can I face those old friends who once worked together in the Fang Mansion?

“I have been loyal to the Fang Family for decades, first following Old Lady Fang, then Madam. I truly did not expect that, after following Miss, I would be suspected by her.

“If Miss truly doubts me, I will smash my head against the wall right now in front of you, so that I can leave a clean reputation before I die, and let Old Lady Fang and Madam know that I have never harbored any disloyalty!”

As Shopkeeper Xiao spoke, he made as if to dash his head against the wall.

The craftsmen behind him hurried to stop him.

They hadn’t expected this-Shopkeeper Xiao rarely came to supervise, and when he did, he gave random orders and bad advice to cut corners before leaving.

They hadn’t expected that, just as they were sorting out the accounts, Shopkeeper Xiao would show up.

And just happened to catch them in the act.

“Shopkeeper Xiao, please calm down, calm down. Fourth Miss just wants to sort out the shop’s expenses, she doesn’t mean to doubt you. Please don’t misunderstand!”

The leading craftsman spoke up, though his words were insincere.

The other craftsmen quickly echoed him.

But Shopkeeper Xiao still acted as if he would prove his innocence with his death, loudly declaring, “Don’t stop me! I’m an old man, and now I’ve made Miss suspect me-it’s all my fault!”

How could they not stop him?

Even if they didn’t want to, things were getting out of hand, and they had to at least make a show of stopping him and persuading him.

Xiao Wangshu watched the chaos, smiled faintly, and raised her hand to point to the side, reminding, “That wall hasn’t been properly built yet, Shopkeeper Xiao. Don’t hit it. Hit that pillar over there, it’s sturdier.”

She had originally planned to wait a few days and let Ruan Fuxin handle things slowly.

But since the atmosphere was already set, there was no better day than today.