Meeting the shopkeeper’s slightly skeptical gaze, Ren Zhixian felt extremely displeased. However, he was always domineering within the Shi family, feeling as if everyone owed him something, daring to glare and complain to anyone. Outside, he was extremely concerned about saving face, maintaining a superior and dignified posture.
Even though he was displeased, he did not lash out. Instead, he straightened his back, and with a dignified tilt of his eyes, he proudly said, "I naturally have my reasons. Are you saying that you do not want to do this business?"
"No, no, no!" The shopkeeper thought that in Qingzhou City, no one would dare to impersonate a member of the Shi family. Which prestigious family doesn’t have their unspeakable, difficult to mention, or misunderstood affairs? As long as there is business, the reasons don’t matter!
"Then, shall I send it to the Shi Mansion later?" the shopkeeper asked with a smile.
"Hmm!" Ren Zhixian nodded with satisfaction.
After some thought, the shopkeeper bravely asked with a smile, "May I ask how to address you, sir? When we deliver the goods, someone must sign for them, right?"
Ren Zhixian did not wish to reveal, but fearing that the shopkeeper might not be able to explain things clearly and the Shi family would deny the account, wouldn’t that be terrible? As long as he knew it was the goods he wanted, they would be delivered right to the door. He presumed the Shi family wouldn’t refuse to accept them in order to save face. He then indifferently said, "My surname is Ren, just say it’s for Master Ren when you arrive!"
"Ah, Master Ren! I’ll remember that!" the shopkeeper nodded.
"Deliver it soon; don’t delay too long!" Ren Zhixian instructed once more, then turned and left the shop.
"Rest assured!" the shopkeeper answered loudly, not daring to delay, immediately instructing his men to pack and follow Ren Zhixian right to the Shi Mansion.
All the people in the Shi Mansion referred to Ren Zhixian as the Great Uncle, and the slaves there took a while to realize that "Master Ren" was likely referring to their own great uncle. They then smiled and thanked the clerk, trying to take the delivery.
However, the clerk dodged past the doorman, smilingly said, "It’s fine right here, Master Ren hasn’t paid yet, here’s the invoice, could you please check if it’s correct—"
Not paid yet? The doorman, who deals with people coming and going every day, knew quite a bit about the outrageous actions of this great uncle of the Shi family. Although he inwardly despised Ren, now that he had come knocking at the Shi family’s door, he dared not mishandle it and spoil the Shi Mansion’s reputation. He said with a smile, "How about this, I’ll take the invoice first, and you can sit here and wait a moment!"
The clerk had no objections and handed the invoice to the doorman.
The doorman took the invoice and went to find Butler Yu, briefly explaining the situation to him.
"How could this be!" Butler Yu frowned deeply.
Madam, this morning, had just instructed him to prepare a New Year gift for the great uncle’s family elders. Why would the great uncle inexplicably buy so many Four Treasures of the Study? He glanced at the invoice, 900 taels!
How presumptuous! Butler Yu’s mouth twitched, folding the invoice in his hand, and said, "Wait here for a moment, I need to check with the young master on how to handle this!" Concerning such a large sum of silver, he dared not decide on his own to draw from the account. The young master was always strict about the management of the account room; besides himself and the lady, no one else had the direct authority to draw from it.
Butler Yu hurried to Ningyuan. Sang Wan was not there, but Shi Fengju was. After hearing Butler Yu and seeing the invoice, Shi Fengju’s face turned cold instantly, and he was too angry to even muster energy.
It seems they have been too kind to him in the Shi family; surely some people should not be given face, the more face they are given, the less seriously they take others! Such shameless behavior is unacceptable!
If this precedent is set, trouble will ensue in the future! Sooner or later, everyone in Qingzhou City will know this "Master Ren" who often buys things on credit is the son-in-law of the Shi family, bringing shame to the Shi family’s reputation!
Shi Fengju handed back the invoice to Butler Yu, saying indifferently, "Since it’s for Master Ren, send it to him."
"Yes, young master!" Butler Yu understood and bowed as he left.
Ren Zhixian, in the study, was gloating, sneering to himself: Aren’t you just reluctant to part with some money? I’ll see to it that you don’t get your way! Humph, unless your Shi family values money more than your reputation, you’ll have to pay up!
While Ren Zhixian was indulging in his cleverness and imagining Shi Fengju’s frustrated and constrained expression, feeling immensely satisfied, he heard Butler Yu requesting to see him. He immediately guessed it must be to deliver the items and quickly ordered him to come in.