Borrowing Money

Xiao Fengchai was a woman with a mind of her own, but she knew how to read the room. She understood when to speak up and when to sit quietly and watch.

Like now. Meng Mingshu had just thrown a childish fit, but he was talking with another man, so she wasn't about to interrupt. She sat silently to one side, occasionally signaling with her eyes. Most of the time, she lowered her head and sipped her bitter tea as it cooled, using the man's voice to take the measure of the unfamiliar Dragon King's envoy.

Since Xiao Fengchai had recognized the Dragon King's bodyguard, Meng Mingshu had no reason to doubt the envoy. He sat in another guest chair across the table from him and said coolly, "The Dragon King sent you to discuss business? Fine. But with things in such turmoil, business is hard to do. I hope the Dragon King won't make things too difficult for the Meng Family."

Gu Shenwei tapped his fingers lightly on the table. He waited until Meng Mingshu showed clear distaste before saying, "The Dragon King won't make things difficult for the Meng Family. He'll bring the family great benefits."

"Then let's hear it." The monotonous tapping had irritated Meng Mingshu so much that he could barely remember what he'd been thinking.

Every servant in the building had been drugged and was fast asleep. No matter how loud they got, no one would wake.

"The Dragon King wants to borrow some money from the Meng Family."

"How much? Interest rates are high these days."

"All the silver the Meng Family can spare."

"What?" Meng Mingshu could hardly believe his ears. He glanced at Xiao Fengchai, then back at the Dragon King's envoy. "Do you know how much silver the Meng Family can