Chapter 181 - This Is Your Bill (1/2)
Chapter 181: This Is Your Bill
Under the shopkeeper’s suspicious gaze, Ren Zhixian felt very annoyed. However, he was the type of person to be meek and civil in public but a tyrant at home. In the Shi household, he always felt that everyone owed it to him; he treated everyone with a frown and complained about them, but out in the public, he cared a lot about his reputation and always maintained an aloof attitude.
Even though he was annoyed, he did not flare up. Instead, he straightened his back and raised his eyes to give off an awe-inspiring presence as he said loftily, “I have my own reasons, are you telling me that you are not doing this business with me?”
“No, no, no!” The shopkeeper thought in his heart that who in Qingzhou City would dare to impersonate someone from the Shi family, and which household does not have things that can’t be said, hard to say, and would not be understood if told to others? As long as there’s business, whatever the reason, who cares!
“Then I shall send them to the Shi household later?” The shopkeeper smiled and said.
“That’s right!” Ren Zhixian nodded his head with satisfaction.
The shopkeeper thought about it and summoned his courage to ask again, “May I ask how to address you? We need someone to accept and sign the goods when we deliver it, don’t we?”
Ren Zhixian did not want to say it at first, but he was afraid that the shopkeeper might not be able to explain the situation properly and the Shi family would not accept the bill. If that were to happen, wouldn’t it be terrible? As long as the items were sent to the gate and the Shi family knew those were his, would they refuse only to end up tarnishing their reputation? He said plainly, “My surname is Ren, you can just mention that they’re for Master Ren!”
“Oh, Master Ren! I’ll remember it!” The shopkeeper nodded his head.
“Send those soon and don’t delay for too long!” Ren Zhixian urged again as he turned and left the shop.
“Don’t worry!” The shopkeeper responded loudly. Not daring to delay the order, he ordered for the items to be packed immediately. They arrived at the Shi household almost at the same time as when Ren Zhixian did.
——
The entire Shi household referred Ren Zhixian as ***** , so when the servant received word that the items were for “Master Ren”, it took him awhile to guess that those were for Ren Zhixian. He quickly smiled and thanked the courier before accepting the items.
However, the courier avoided the gatekeeper and said, “Thankfully it’s here. Master Ren hasn’t paid yet; this is the bill. Please check if——”
Hasn’t paid yet? The gatekeeper had the most interactions with people on a daily basis and had heard many tales and fables about his Shi Household’s Eldest Missy’s husband which made him despise him. Right now, someone had arrived at the gate of the Shi Household. The gatekeeper did not dare to recklessly handle the situation for fear of harming the reputation of the Shi Household. Thus, he smiled and said, “How about this. I’ll take the bill first while you sit here and wait for a while!”
The courier naturally did not have any objection and passed the bill to the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper took the bill and went straight to Head Servant Yu before telling him the gist of the situation.
“How can there be such a thing!” Head Servant Yu’s eyebrows creased immediately after listening.
Young Mistress had already given the instructions this morning to prepare New Year gifts for that person’s elders, so why would he buy so many Four Treasures of the Study out of nowhere? Head Servant Yu glanced at the bill: nine hundred silvers!
He sure ain’t modest! Head Servant Yu twitched his mouth and folded the bill in his hand before instructing, “Wait here, I’ll go and ask Young Master what to do about this!” He did not dare to make the decision to withdraw such a large amount of money from the household account! Shi Fengju had always been strict about the household account. Other than himself and Sang Wan, no one had the authority to withdraw from there.
Head Servant Yu hurried over to Ning Garden1. Sang Wan was not present but Shi Fengju was. After hearing from Head Servant Yu and seeing the bill in his hand, Shi Fengju’s face turned cold. He did not even have the energy to be angry.
It seemed that the Shi Household had been treating that man too well. There were definitely those in the world he could not be compliant to else they would look down on others! To think that such a shameless behavior was possible!
If this matter were to be ignored, then there would be trouble in the future! In no time, the people in Qingzhou City will know that the one who bought things on credit was the Shi family’s ****, and the reputation of the Shi family would be ruined!
Shi Fengju returned the bill to Head Servant Yu and simply said, “Since this bill is for Master Ren, then send it to him!”
“Yes, Young Master!” Head Servant Yu understood tacitly. He bowed and withdrew.
Ren Zhixian was thinking highly of himself in his study room. Just at the thought, he laughed in his heart: Weren’t they not willing to part with a few silvers? Then I’ll purposely not let them have their way! Hmph, unless the Shi family wants to keep their money and not their reputation, they will surely fork out the money!
Ren Zhixian was happy and proud of himself for being smart. He pictured Shi Fengju’s sullen and irritated face as he had no choice but to give in, and felt very pleased with himself! Hearing that Head Servant Yu was requesting for a visit, he immediately thought that his items had arrived, so he immediately ordered the servant to come in.
Head Servant Yu pushed the door open and entered. Ren Zhixian blinked his eyes upon seeing Head Servant Yu’s empty hands. He looked behind him, but there were no servants behind him, so he asked in astonishment without any thought, “Where are the items?”
“Ah?” Head Servant Yu stared blankly as he did not seem to understand.
“Where are the items that I bought!” Ren Zhixian said impatiently, “Aren’t you here to deliver them to me?”