Outside the door, he saw many businessmen who used to be like brothers to the Zhu family.
When the Zhu family was still around, they had climbed up by clinging to them, but now they all had faces that looked like they wanted to eat people.
In fact, their losses were not that much. As early as when Liang Quanbin began to deal with the Zhu family, they had already severed ties with the Zhu family. Now they were making a fuss, merely following the Cao family's instructions to try and recover some losses.
Everyone in the outside world knew that the main branch of the Chi family and the fifth branch were irreconcilable.
Therefore, they did not dare to approach Chi Zimo, but instead surrounded the entrance of the fifth branch, shouting louder than anyone else.
Seeing Chi Lingyou emerge, a merchant surnamed Han, who was at the forefront, spoke first.
"What do you mean by sending out a young brat? Where are your father and grandmother? Aren't they the ones responsible for the affairs of the Chi family's fifth branch?"
"Father and grandmother are unwell, so I am in charge of today's matters."
"You?"
The man surnamed Han clearly did not believe him. They were all old foxes who had been in the business world for decades, so this Chi Lingyou, who was only in his teens, was not enough to impress them.
Even if they settled the terms today, if their fifth branch turned around tomorrow and said that a child's words were not binding, wouldn't they have come for nothing?
"No, you haven't even grown all your teeth, and you're here pretending to be the boss? If your father doesn't show up, then we'll go to the fifth branch's shops and take things. Anyway, we've taken things from the Zhu family before, and since you've married into the Zhu family, it's the same."
The threat was evident.
Unexpectedly, Chi Lingyou was not easy to deal with either. He stepped forward and said with a cold smile.
"Alright, try moving something. Let's see if my Chi family doesn't kill you."
Although Chi Lingyou was young, his fierceness in speaking was no less than anyone present. Moreover, the Chi family was a colossus that they could not easily shake. Therefore, it did awe some timid individuals.
The man surnamed Han inside had already received benefits from the Cao family. If he didn't make a fuss at this time, it would be difficult for the Cao family to deal with him.
So, suppressing the trace of suspicion in his heart, he said to those behind him.
"Don't be fooled by this brat. Who doesn't know that when a Chi family daughter gets married, the head of the Chi family's face turns so dark that ink could drip from it? Moreover, when Lord Liang besieged the Zhu family back then, the head of the Chi family didn't even come out to support them, which shows the deep animosity between them and the fifth branch. You say the Chi family will kill us? What a joke!"
After hearing his words, those people became bolder again.
This was like the concubines in the palace. Those favored were naturally not provoked, while those out of favor were naturally trampled by everyone.
The fifth branch of the Chi family was now like those out of favor. Although they had some of the Chi family's assets, they were far inferior to the main branch.
The former Madam Lan might have been able to deter them somewhat, but now the old lady was old, and her vision had also declined, so her authority in handling matters was naturally diminished.
This was why the fifth branch of the Chi family had become their target to fleece.
Chi Lingyou narrowed his eyes, looking at the man surnamed Han, and had already made up his mind. He immediately said.
"The Zhu family owes you, what does it have to do with my Chi family? If anyone doesn't believe me, just call them over and see what their fate will be!"
Then he said to the man surnamed Han.
"You are so eager to find trouble with my Chi family. Report your name and background. I want to see what kind of person from which industry dares to be so arrogant at the entrance of my Chi family!"
A bundle of chopsticks is naturally difficult to break, but if you only twist one, it is very easy.
The man surnamed Han immediately became guilty. What if the Chi family just watched him take revenge alone?
His meager assets could not withstand the wrath of the Chi family. Wasn't it as easy to crush him as to crush an ant?
So he stammered for a long time without saying anything.
From somewhere behind him, a steward who had always been by Chi Zimo's side suddenly appeared.
He said to Chi Lingyou, "Young master, this is Boss Han from Sifang Pawnshop. Besides the pawn business, he has also been running a silk business with the Zhu family all these years. Business has been bad this year, and he lost some money following them. However, when the Zhu family came to the head of the family to mortgage their shops, all their accounts with him were settled."
After speaking, he took out a thick ledger.
It was clearly written, not only with his signature but also with his personal seal.
At once, the man surnamed Han became flustered.
In fact, they all knew about the signatures in this ledger. They just thought that since the Zhu family was ruined, this thing would not be discovered, so they had the idea to trick the fifth branch of the Chi family again. They never expected to hit a steel plate.
The Chi family actually had the Zhu family's ledger!
At this moment, all the troublemakers present lowered their heads in guilt, especially the man surnamed Han.
The bird that sticks its head out gets shot. He had been the loudest just now, and at this moment, he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Chi Lingyou took the ledger and looked at it carefully. "Good! Boss Han, are you really bullying my Chi family? The payment is in black and white, signed and sealed, and you still dare to come to my door to make trouble. Just wait, I will definitely file a lawsuit with Magistrate Feng and ask him to uphold justice for my Chi family!"
Hearing that he was going to report to the official, everyone present scattered like birds and beasts.
They were not one of the four great families, and they did not dare to easily offend officials in Jinling City.
Chi Lingyou was about to send him to his death. How could the man surnamed Han dare to bluster?
He immediately knelt on the ground and cried, "It was my mistake, my mistake. I hope Young Master Chi will be magnanimous and let me go."
Alas, Chi Lingyou did not fall for this pretense. He stepped forward and snorted coldly.
"It seems Boss Han has a poor memory. He can misremember things that he himself signed and sealed. This habit needs to be cured!"
"Yes, yes, yes, it's my brain that's not working. I will definitely find a doctor to examine it when I get back."
After begging for mercy for a long time, Chi Lingyou did not relent. The Boss Han regretted it deeply. He should not have been instigated by the Cao family and come to stir up trouble for no reason.
He had truly lost face and dignity.
"Why bother with a doctor? I have a folk remedy here that specifically treats forgetfulness. That is to drink grass ash mixed with horse urine. It will surely cure Boss Han's illness and ensure that you remember everything firmly in the future."
As soon as he finished speaking, the sensible attendant quickly prepared the items.
A bowl as large as a sea of "resurrection medicine" was placed before Boss Han. Chi Lingyou looked down at him, his warning gaze implicit.
"Boss Han, are you going to drink this good medicine of mine, or shall I go to Magistrate Feng's office? You decide for yourself."
This time, Boss Han was completely defeated. He did not expect Chi Lingyou, at such a young age, to be so adept at manipulating people.
If he refused to drink it, he was afraid the Chi family would not let the matter rest.
But if he drank it, how could he continue to make a living in Jinling City in the future?
In a state of extreme dilemma, he could only look towards the hidden Cao family members not far away, but unfortunately, that place was already deserted.