One word is as good as nine tripods

  All the three hundred and sixty trades in commerce produce top scholars, each with its own characteristics.

  Some are busy from dawn till dusk, but still can't earn much money. Some don't open their shops for three years and then eat for three years when they do. Some have to get up before the sun rises to prepare, while others only open their doors after the sun has warmed their buttocks, yawning as they do so.

  Because they sell gold and silver jewelry, customers usually come to select and purchase in the afternoon or at noon, so shops that sell gold products open relatively late, only opening one after another when the sun is high. However, Jinshui Street was a bit special today, as soon as the sky had just brightened, a group of people were already gathered in front of a jewelry store, knocking on the door with force.

  "Open the door, hurry up."

  "Return the money quickly, otherwise I will demolish this place."

  "Who's demolishing? This house is mine, they're just renting it. Be careful or you'll get sued!"

  "Hurry up, hurry up... don't dawdle."

  "That's it, after giving so many days, isn't it enough to save face?"

  ............

  A group of people were knocking and shouting loudly, the sound startled the staff at the Jin Yu Zhai restaurant next door. They opened the door to take a look, wanting to say something but couldn't get the words out. Thinking it was none of their business, they didn't bother to intervene further, yawned and went back to sleep.

  Liu Yuan thought about the development of Jin Yu Liangyuan all night yesterday, and it wasn't until the watchman reported three watches outside that he fell asleep dazedly. He was sleeping soundly, but unexpectedly, a knock on the door woke him up early in the morning. Dazed, he got out of bed, almost putting his shoes on wrong. When he opened the door, he happened to see the little girl who slept opposite, also rubbing her eyes and waking up from sleep.

  "Ah, brother, it's you, good morning."

  "Early, how, you were also woken up?" Liu Yuan asked with concern.

  "Hmm, don't know who it is, but they won't even let people have a peaceful morning..."

  Liu Yuan sighed and said: "I reckon it's another official errand or something, you go to sleep first, I'll go open the door and take a look."

  "No, I'll get washed up and then make breakfast. Don't want to oversleep again." Although Xiaoniang was a bit sleepy, she saw that the sky had already brightened up. As a woman, since Liu Yuan had gotten out of bed, she naturally couldn't stay in bed any longer either. After saying this to Liu Yuan, she closed the door and probably went to change her clothes and fix her hair.

  Liu Yuan didn't even have time to sneak a peek at the young woman's beautiful figure as she changed, because the knocking sound grew louder and more insistent, as if it was going to break down the door. He hastily ran over to open the door.

  "What's going on? Anything wrong?" Liu Yuan opened the door while still yawning.

  "Hey little brother, what's today's date?" shouted Zhou Yuanwai from the front.

  "What day is it?" Liu Yuan was still not fully awake at this time.

  As soon as Liu Yuan said this, Zhang Lao Cai, who was standing next to Zhou Yuan Wai, immediately became unhappy: "Everyone, did you hear that? I've been saying it all along, he's not trustworthy. He swore to return within seven days, but in fact, it's just a delaying tactic to let that old ghost Yuan get buried and then find an opportunity to slip away. My people have been following him, thinking he couldn't escape, so he's been dragging it out one day at a time. Look, today he's even forgotten what day it is."

  The butcher, Niudachun, waved the pig-killing knife in his hand and said with a ferocious face: "So many years of neighbors, still cheating us like this. I've been watching you every day at the street entrance. No wonder we haven't seen you preparing for the silver these days. It turns out that you were planning to default on your debt early on. Have you asked about the pig-killing knife in my hand?"

  "Making money? Ha ha ~~" The boss of Chen's shop, Mr. Chen, sneered and said: "That day he brought Qian Rushan from Tianfu Building to my place, I thought he had a good idea, but it turned out that he wanted to sell an antique to raise funds. Unfortunately, it was a fake, worthless. I think he won't even spare a single copper coin, he must be preparing to sell antiques. Now that things have fallen through, I'll say it first, my Chen's shop is owed the most, when it's time to settle accounts, my Chen's shop will get the silver first."

  Someone shouted loudly, "I told you so, he's cheating us. Think about it, even doing a Buddhist ritual requires pawning something, where would he get that much money to repay us, nearly 500 taels?"

  "I thought I'd come after lunch, but unexpectedly saw Old Zhou rushing here early in the morning, fortunately I followed him too."

  "Right, right, fortunately Tea Leaf Xi Shi reminded me, otherwise, hum, you guys would have split the money and I wouldn't have gotten a single cent."

  Everyone was chattering at the same time, all talking about money. Some even said that a few days ago, they had already agreed with the owner of the brothel to bring the two here today to sell them off. The woman would become a prostitute, and the man wouldn't be bad either, selling him to those customers who liked "male charm" or had a fondness for "cut sleeves".

  Liu Yuan was originally a bit dazed, but after hearing this, he immediately sobered up. Today was the day he had promised to repay his debts, and the people in front of him were all here to collect their debts.

  It seems that two of them wanted to take the lead in getting the money, and if they couldn't get it, they would rob others and take people hostage to protect their own property. Unexpectedly, another creditor saw this and was afraid of not being able to get paid, so he also came along. Some kind-hearted ones even reminded other creditors to come together, and soon all the creditors gathered.

  Liu Yuan's anger finally burst out: "What are you arguing about? Who said that our family of gold and jade doesn't pay back money?"

  It is said that one should always leave a thread of connection for future encounters. Now, not even this thread is left, can Liu Yuan be not angry?

  Some things are not explicitly stated, but everyone still follows them. For example, when you see someone has a funeral, you can't laugh; during the New Year, you can't say hurtful words; when you meet an elderly person on the road, you should yield to them.

  Doing business, the most taboo is that someone owes money or asks for debt in the morning, thinking it's very unlucky and affects their financial fortune. If you say you want to owe money or ask someone for debt early in the morning, nine out of ten times you'll be scolded. Even if it's urgent, you have to wait until after lunch, this is an unwritten custom.

  This was also where Liu Yuan was a bit confused, saying that they would come today, thinking that they would come after finishing lunch, one by one to settle the debt, anyway the debt was not enough for five hundred taels. Now in the jar, there were eight hundred taels of good snowflake silver, but unexpectedly, these people came knocking on the door early in the morning to collect debts.

  Before the third day of mourning, before the deceased's bones are cold, you've come to demand debt repayment, disturbing the peace of the dead. Now look at this, early in the morning, before breakfast, these people have arrived again. The matter hasn't been clarified yet, and their words are even more unpleasant than each other's. There's even someone who has already made an appointment with the brothel owner to sell himself and his young wife.

  It's simply too despicable, it would be strange if Liu Yuan didn't explode with anger.

  "Return the money? With what? Not just by talking, my fifty taels are at stake. Return it quickly, or don't blame me for being ruthless. I'll have your house searched immediately, and if that's not enough, I'll sell you off."

  "It's only right that debts should be repaid. It's heavenly principle and earthly righteousness. The silver, as well as my thirty taels." Old Zhang also shouted on the side.

  "Yes, we said today is the day to return it, so let's return it."

  "I'm still waiting for money to buy clothes for my kid."

  "My eight taels of silver are for saving a life. My wife is ill in bed and is still waiting for me to bring this money back to buy medicine."

  Before the person came out, they knocked on the door desperately. Now that the person has come out, they are still making a fuss, as if they didn't want to wait for even a moment longer.

  Human feelings are cold and warm, and the outcome is clear at first sight.

  Liu Yuan knew that there were several reasons for this: Firstly, when Mr. Yuan was alive, he was not only arrogant but also stingy and sometimes too calculating, so his relationships with others were very poor. Secondly, everyone knew that the Jin Yu family had been swindled by two apprentices who stole valuable things, so they probably didn't have much savings left. If it weren't for a simple funeral, they wouldn't need to pawn anything. Lastly, Liu Yuan and Xiao Niang's age was too young, no one believed that they could raise nearly 500 taels of silver within seven days.

  No one's money is blown in by the wind. Some people's families are not rich, but they still borrow a little convenience from others, and now they are anxious to repay it with gratitude.

  "Everyone, please come in. I'll return the money right away." Liu Yuan didn't insist anymore, opened the big door and let everyone walk in to prepare for returning the money.

  Early or late, it's all about giving. To achieve something in business, one must first become a person of great influence. Just let it be, no need to get angry over these things.