When he walked outside the study door, his heart couldn't help but sink.
The few big shopkeepers under him who were in charge of the spice business were almost all absent. They were all standing outside the study with sweat on their foreheads and their heads hanging down.
Even when she saw him coming, she just gave him a vague look and didn't dare to say anything.
He immediately knew that things might be serious, so he couldn't help but take a deep breath and completely forget about the unpleasantness of the poetry meeting just now. He took a deep breath outside the door, straightened his clothes, and then walked in.
"The child has seen his father——"
After Cui Zihao entered the door, he glanced at his father's gloomy face, then quickly lowered his head and bowed to salute.
"Did you embezzle the family's treasury and hoard a large amount of spices?"
Cui Hong didn't let him get up. He slapped an account book on the table next to him with a sullen face.
Hearing Cui Hong's questioning, Cui Zihao's originally worried heart suddenly relaxed.
I was shocked. It turned out that this was the reason for such a big display.
It seems that the family puts a lot of pressure on the father, so even as a father, he has to show off and give an explanation to those old guys.
It's ridiculous how could these bunch of short-sighted fools understand that these hoarded spices are about to bring huge returns to the family!
Cui Zihao couldn't help but feel relieved, and the look on his face became much more relaxed.
Besides, even if those old stubborns really pursue the case, they still have a clear conscience.
The misappropriation of funds also had the tacit approval of his father, otherwise he would not have been able to divert such a large amount simply by virtue of his status as the legitimate son of the Cui family.
Don't even try to monopolize Chang'an's spice market.
Everything is just for the development of the family.
However, we still need to wait a few more days. After Chang'an's spices are in extreme shortage, the price will inevitably reach a new level. At that time, it will be the best time to come forward to harvest.
Of course, it would be better to sell it to the group of killers in Wagangzhai.
Well, one level lower than the market price.
He couldn't help but smile when he thought about the wonderful situation in which he had made a lot of money from those hard-working people, and they still had to be grateful to him for this favor.
"Father, the total amount is 79,400 yuan. All expenditure details and transaction records have been registered and can be consulted at any time..."
"Seventy-nine thousand four hundred strings——"
This is almost half of the entire family’s liquidity.
Cui Hong almost spit out a mouthful of old blood.
He asked almost through gritted teeth.
"So, plus the original principal, how much is the total—"
"A total of 113,600 guan. Father, please rest assured. As long as the money is delayed for a while, it will be..."
Before he could finish what he said, Cui Hong felt his eyes darken, his throat felt sweet, he felt dizzy, and almost fainted.
"You, you, you traitor——"
Cui Hong stood up tremblingly, used all his strength, raised his arm, and slapped Cui Zihao's chubby face.
"Snapped--"
I don't know why that thin, old and frail body contained so much power. This slap almost knocked Cui Zihao to the ground.
Cui Zihao, who was proudly telling his father about the bright future, was stunned by this slap.
I have never been beaten like this since I was a child.
"Father……"
"You, you, you self-righteous idiot, do you know what stupid things you have done! You, you have been deceived by others, and you still don't know it yet—"
Cui Hong held the table, looking at Cui Zihao who was still in a dazed state, wishing he could kick him to death.
How could I be so blind in the first place that I handed over the medicinal materials business to him despite the pressure from my family!
Seeing that Cui Zihao was still confused.
An old steward couldn't help but remind him softly.
"Sir, we have fallen into a trap. The spice thing is a trap..."
trap?
Cui Zihao was even more confused.
How could it be a trap? He obviously has monopolized the entire spice market in Chang'an——
impossible!
He subconsciously wanted to retort loudly, but then he saw his father's eyes that were almost blazing with fire, and the expressions of the stewards around him as if they were mourning for their heirs, and his heart suddenly trembled.
Suddenly he remembered what happened to his third brother Cui Ming last winter. A huge panic suddenly hit his heart. He grabbed Jian Yi who was standing beside him and said anxiously.
"Uncle Jian, what is going on..."
Jian Yi glanced at him with some pity and said harmoniously.
"Back to the Seventh Young Master, our people have confirmed that the spice matter is a trap. The so-called market shortage and skyrocketing prices are all deliberately caused by others..."
When Cui Zihao heard this, he felt his head buzzing.
How can this be!
Seeing his unbelievable look, Jian Yi couldn't bear it, sighed softly, and reminded him.
"Just three days ago, the major braised pork workshops and restaurants in the capital that consume the most spices all stopped purchasing spices and launched new dishes. It is said that the new dishes do not require the addition of any traditional spices..."
Cui Zihao struggled as if he was struck by lightning.
"How is this possible? They must be trying to trick us into being deceived so that we can sell the spices to them cheaply, right?"
I saw everyone around me looking at me like a fool.
My heart suddenly felt cold, and I felt a little lost.
"How is this possible? Don't they care about the taste of the braised pork and worry about losing customers..."
Hearing this, Jian Yi couldn't help but have a look of sympathy on his face, and he shook his head with a wry smile.
"The crux of the problem is here. After they didn't use spices, the taste of the dishes changed drastically, but it has a unique flavor. Their customers increased instead of decreasing..."
Having said this, an old shopkeeper behind him handed him a copy of today's newspaper with a grimace on his face.
Datang Evening News!
It’s already this time, let me see this!
Just when he was about to get angry, he suddenly understood what the old shopkeeper meant. He took it, opened it, and turned directly to the last page. Then a line of eye-catching characters appeared on the paper.
"The six major restaurants in Chang'an have released new dishes - no spices added, natural taste, amazing Chang'an..."
"The Braised Pork Shop has introduced new things, updated its secret recipes, and the new products are very popular. The new products were sold out on the day they were launched and received rave reviews..."
As for what was written next, he couldn't stand it anymore.
I felt my head was buzzing, my body went limp, and I collapsed on the ground.
I had hoarded a large amount of spices, thinking that they would be a rare commodity, but I didn't expect that someone would give me a huge blow!
Hundreds of thousands of guan, even for the Cui family, is a huge amount that will break your muscles and bones.
Cui Zihao felt regretful and wanted to die when he thought back to the scene when he was so high-spirited and vowed that this business would definitely make a lot of money and everyone would get a huge bonus that would make people jealous.
During this period, several shopkeepers who had been working with him prosperously looked at Cui Zihao who was lying limply on the ground with sadness, not daring to take a breath, let alone look at the head of the house who was obviously about to go berserk.
They don't know what kind of punishment they are about to face.
At this moment, Cui Zihao got up from the ground.
"Even the six major restaurants and braised pork workshops in Chang'an no longer use spices, but there is no limit to the way. People in this world can't help but need more spices. We may not have no chance of making a comeback..."
"Comeback?"
Seeing this, Cui Hong couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake his head.
"If that's all, what else is there to say..."
After all, spices are luxuries. If you hoard some, even if the purchase price is higher, you will make less money or even lose some money. For the Cui family, it is actually insignificant, but the problem is...
He glanced at his youngest son, whom he always doted on, and sighed.
This time it was useless and he continued to explain. An old shopkeeper standing behind Cui Zihao explained very consciously.
"Sir, it's not that simple. The biggest problem now is that we are being targeted. Not only the six major restaurants under the name of the County Prince's Mansion and those braised pork workshops no longer purchase spices, but also some of the old customers we have cooperated with in the past. They all declined our orders one after another..."
Having said this, I couldn't help but add another sentence.
"Although we haven't found out who is behind the attack, I'm afraid the background is not trivial..."
There was one thing he didn't say clearly. He dared to dig a hole and deal with the Cui family. The background behind it can be imagined. Of course, this may be a bit of his own fault. Some time ago, the fledgling Seventh Young Master looked somewhat ugly.
However, he only dared to mutter these words in his heart, but did not dare to say a word more.
After Cui Zihao heard this, his face instantly lost all color and became as pale as paper.
