Chapter Twenty-Five: The Lu Family

  August 16th is the day when Pang Yu will lead his troops out, and Fengyin County has already urged several times.

  Yang You didn't go see him off because today he had a more important task - the Disaster Relief Agency was established.

  The location of the Disaster Relief Office is close to Daxing East City, where people come and go, transportation is convenient, and it is very helpful for promoting the Disaster Relief Office.

  After a round of gongs and drums, the Disaster Relief Agency was formally established.

  Banners with "When one side is in trouble, all sides support" hung on both sides, and from time to time, officials would proclaim the Relief Bureau's manifesto to pedestrians on the road.

  Many kind-hearted citizens of Daxing quickly lined up to donate money and goods.

  In an instant, the entire East City knew that the substitute king, who had made a big splash yesterday, had established a disaster relief agency to receive donations from citizens of Daxing City. Many people also came with a mindset to watch the excitement.

  Before noon, the entire disaster relief process had spread throughout Daxing.

  "When one side is in trouble, all sides support; what a wonderful phrase!" A scholar muttered to himself.

  "Dedicate love with a willing heart, open and transparent, free to check accounts." More people pay attention to these practical contents.

  Most people are very supportive of donating, after all, it's not a mandatory requirement to donate a certain amount, just show some love!

  The Relief Agency is not far away, and there is a luxurious mansion. This is the residence of Lu Jitong, a wealthy businessman in Daxing.

  "You scoundrel, where have you been sneaking around again? These days are already full of troubles, can't you just let people be at peace?" Lu Jitong scolded, pointing at his son who was lurking by the door.

  The Lu family is currently facing great difficulties. The Taiyuan Wang family, one of the top families, has been suppressing the Lu family for some reason and wants to annex them.

  Fortunately, Lu Ji Tong recently scaled back his business to Daxing, and the Wang family's stronghold is in Taiyuan. In Daxing, they didn't dare to be too arrogant, so the Lu family's three generations of family business were able to survive.

  However, he has already received news that the Taiyuan Wang family has arrived in Daxing and is communicating with officials to pave the way for the annexation of the Lu family. The aristocratic families are all intermarried, and at that time, he will probably have no room for retreat.

  Just as his own business was about to collapse, his son Lu Xin was still fooling around outside, how could Lu Ji Tong not be anxious and exasperated.

  "Father, please calm down. I know your troubles and have bought something special to give to Lord Li." Lu Xin furrowed his brow, a plan forming in his mind as he pointed at the four-wheeled horse carriage outside.

  In fact, this four-wheeled carriage was bought by him for thirty taels last night, originally for his own use, but now in order to save himself and his family from this disaster, he can't care about that anymore.

  "Is this the four-wheeled carriage that caused a sensation throughout the city yesterday?" Lu Ji Tong asked, suppressing his anger.

  Yesterday, Yang Youxiu built a brick road and tested the last four-wheeled horse carriage, causing a sensation throughout the city. Lu Jitong also heard about it.

  "It's true, with the large-scale construction of roads by His Majesty, four-wheeled carriages will surely become more and more popular. Now this four-wheeled carriage is still a rare thing, and its name is also very good - BMW." Lu Xin wholeheartedly recommended this carriage, proving that his vision was correct.

  Lu Ji nodded in agreement and also agreed with his son's point of view. Such a carriage as a gift would indeed have an effect.

  "What a pity! It's already too late, Lord Li has made up his mind. Yesterday, not only did he return the gifts that Father had sent over, but also advised Father to stop resisting in vain." Lu Jitong's expression turned gloomy.

  Mr. Li in the mouths of Lu's father and son is a fifth-grade official in the Ministry of Rites, and the Lu family has not been stingy with him in the past. However, since the people from the Wang family in Taiyuan came to Daxing, Mr. Li had made his choice, defected to the Wang family, and sold out the Lu family.

  Although he couldn't bear to part with the generous annual gifts from the Lu family, he simply didn't have the courage to confront the mighty Taiyuan Wang clan.

  "How could this be!" Lu Xinwen was as if struck by lightning, stunned and standing there.

  He was born into a wealthy family and had never worried about food or clothing, but his father told him that all of this would soon disappear, how could he remain calm.

  Why the Wang family would set their sights on the Lu family's business, the Lu father and son still can't understand. Although the Taiyuan Wang family is large, they are willing to do whatever it takes to swallow up the Lu family, but the resources they need to pay out will also be huge, to the point where it might not even be worth it.

  The father and son exchanged a glance, both their faces filled with bitter smiles.

  "We Lus have all become like this! You still show off and bought a four-wheeled horse carriage." Lu Jitong felt embarrassed, looking at his son who was venting his anger.

  Lu Xing closed his eyes and prepared for his father's violent beating, but after a while, he still didn't feel the stick hitting his body.

  As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw his father holding a stick, like an idiot, standing there, muttering to himself: "Make a name for yourself, make a name for yourself."

  "Haha! That's right, show off!" Lu Jitong said with a bright red face.

  "Father," Lu Xin called out timidly.

  "That's right, it's like that. Daxing is not yet worthy of the Wang family's arrogance. Even if Daxing becomes the largest, it will still be under the command of the Crown Prince. What the Crown Prince values most now is, of course, the Disaster Relief Department." Lu Jitong walked back and forth excitedly, listening to the commotion in the distance, feeling very excited.

  "Come on, today I'll show you how a father makes an entrance." Lu Ji Tong burst out laughing and pulled up his stunned son.

  ……

  "The Dongfang Lu family is going to donate 100,000 yuan."

  "Dongfang Lu's family, isn't that the grain merchant Lu's family? How did you know?"

  "It's true, it was at the Lu family residence. My brother-in-law was helping out in the kitchen and he personally heard Mr. Lu announce that they are currently moving their money."

  Lu Ji Tong announced his donation plan in front of the Lu family's servants, leaving only a few trusted people to transport the money and giving the servants half a month's extra wages and half a day off.

  After the crowd dispersed, in less than an hour, everyone in Daxing knew about the generous move of the Lu family.

  "Are you Lujia people stupid or what? If you're tired of having too much money, you can donate it to me, I'm bloody poor!" a big man laughed and said.

  At this moment, the focus of Daxing was on the Lu family for the first time, and at the same time, the name of Zhenzai Temple echoed throughout the city again.

  At the gate of the Lu family's residence, five horse-drawn carriages were ready to depart. The crowd of onlookers who had rushed over to see the commotion surrounded the Lu family, making it impossible for them to move.

  "Father, must we really donate so much?" Ten thousand taels was a staggering amount, and Lu Xing couldn't help but feel the pinch.

  "If you had a choice between donating the 100,000 yuan to the Crown Prince and having your family business taken over by the royal family, which one would you choose!" Lu's father said with deep concern.

  "It is better to be shattered jade than to remain unbroken pottery." Lu Xin understood his father's meaning and gritted his teeth.

  Lu Ji Tong patted his son comfortingly and a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes.

  "Perhaps there is still a turn for the better in this matter."

  "But how are we supposed to get through?!" Lu Xin looked at the large crowd of onlookers gathered in front of the door, who had completely blocked the road.

  "Make way!" A loud shout came from behind the crowd!

  Several yamen runners pushed through the crowd with great effort, and the magistrate of Daxing County, Su Sheng, squeezed over in a most undignified manner.

  "Lu brother, you're really generous!" Su Sheng said with a smile all over his face.

  The Su Shang of today is quite different from the one ten or so days ago, and the former Su Shang still retains the air of an intellectual. Although he doesn't despise money as dirt, nor does he hold them in high esteem.

  Nowadays, Su Sheng sees money as if it were a shark that has smelled blood. Nowadays, money is the elixir of life for refugees in his eyes.

  As soon as he heard that the Lu family was going to donate 100,000 yuan, Su Sheng confirmed the news and immediately brought the yamen runners to escort them.

  "It's too much! I'm afraid we've made a laughing stock of ourselves in front of County Magistrate!" Lu Jitong led the way, with Lu Xinrong following closely behind to pay their respects.

  "Lu's predicament, I've heard something about it. For the sake of Lu's generosity, Su will certainly report the truth to His Highness, the Crown Prince." Su Sheng said in a low voice with his head bowed.

  "Thank you, County Master." Lu Jitong said with great joy.

  Lu Ji Tong's original plan was that after causing a stir, when the Wang family moved against the Lu family, they would definitely be held back by some concerns.

  If he had just donated such a large sum of money and soon after that, the Wang family would have swallowed him up, where would the face of the Wang family be put.

  This was Lu Jitong's stratagem, and he hadn't expected that just as the plan was being carried out, he would receive an unexpected surprise: the County Magistrate of Su was willing to speak up for him.