Several guards, seeing that Abigail Grant's attitude had changed, could only sullenly put away their swords.

Brian Carter sneered inwardly. He had known all along that they wouldn’t dare to actually do anything! He had played a little trick just now. On one hand, although the opposing guards had drawn their swords, they hadn’t actually hurt anyone. Since the blades were only held to his neck, it was most likely just to scare him. There might have been a misunderstanding, but after all, there was no real enmity, so there was no need to kill. On the other hand, he had presented himself as a scholar, and then recited a few lines of poetry in a scholarly manner. Although the status of scholars in this era was far below that of the Song Dynasty in later times, to kill a scholar without cause—even if a prince or imperial son-in-law were present—they would have to think twice and consider the consequences.

Brian Carter was afraid of death, very much so. But precisely because he had calculated all this, not only did he not kneel and beg for mercy, he instead put on a very dignified front, forcing the other side to back down.

As for Abigail Grant, the moment she saw this guy start reciting poetry in such a pretentious way, it seemed to remind her of something as well. She truly didn’t want to kill anyone, and bullying a frail “scholar” would indeed look bad. So she simply went along with it, let out a laugh, and took the opportunity to step down.

But when faced with Abigail Grant’s demand, the very dignified Brian Carter naturally refused outright, saying, “I’m sorry, but the food I have here is not for sale. As I said before, I am a scholar. You just threatened me with a sword, and I haven’t even argued with you about it, yet now you’re pushing your luck—how is that reasonable?”

Abigail Grant couldn’t help but frown and said, “You really won’t agree?”

“No, I won’t,” Brian Carter said proudly. “Don’t even mention killing me—even if you gave me ten taels of silver, I still wouldn’t agree!”

“How about fifteen taels?”

Brian Carter paused, looked seriously at Abigail Grant, and asked, “Could you add a bit more?”

Abigail Grant made as if to leave, flicking her sleeve: “Not a single coin more.”

Brian Carter said indignantly, “You’re insulting me—I am a scholar!”

Abigail Grant lifted her lotus-like steps and turned away.

Brian Carter couldn’t help but sigh, then said, “Fine, fine, fine. Since you like my soup, I suppose it’s fate. Fifteen taels it is. Please, honored guest, take a seat in the main hall.”

Abigail Grant suddenly recalled what someone had said about Brian Carter before: this guy, how could he be a bookworm? Do scholars really have such thick skin?

But the soup she’d just tasted still lingered in her memory, and she was truly reluctant to part with it. She could only give in and say, “Fine, just hurry up.”

Abigail Grant led her guards into the hall.

Brian Carter immediately perked up.

Fifteen taels of silver! Although it wasn’t enough to pay off all his debts, in this era, it was enough to cover a regular family’s expenses for a whole year.

Brian Carter was delighted. Without another word, he rushed into the kitchen and shouted to David Carter, “Start the fire!”

The two cousins began to busy themselves in the kitchen. In the blink of an eye, a huge sum of money was about to fall into their laps. David Carter’s eyes turned red with excitement. As he skillfully helped out, he couldn’t help but say, “Fifteen taels of silver, m-m-master, just for a few bowls of soup—how could it sell for such a price? My goodness… our Qin family’s ancestors must be smiling down on us.”

Brian Carter shot him a look of disdain, chopping vegetables with practiced ease as he said, “You’re wrong. The soup isn’t what’s valuable. What’s valuable is a scholar’s bottom line and integrity.”

“Uh… I don’t get it.”

Brian Carter said slowly, “Let me ask you, how much does a street prostitute charge for a night?”

“At most, ten copper coins.”

“But what about the top performer at the Piaoxiang House, the one who sells her art but not her body?”

“Well… that’s hard to say, but probably not less than a hundred strings of cash.”

“There you have it. It’s the same kind of business, so why is selling one’s body so cheap, while selling one’s art is worth a hundred times more? It’s because those who sell their art have boundaries and integrity. They don’t accept just any client, nor do they serve just anyone. That’s why they’re rare and valuable.” At this point, Brian Carter couldn’t help but sigh, “You see, for a person, integrity is so important. Cousin, let me give you some advice: in the future, whatever you do, you must stick to your principles. Learn from me.”

David Carter clicked his tongue and said, “If I learn from you, master, will I get paid?”

Brian Carter immediately glared at him, brotherly affection instantly replaced by class resentment: “All you ever think about is money, money, money! I talk to you about ideals, and you talk to me about money. I talk to you about principles, and you still can’t get away from money. You’re hopeless, truly hopeless. An ordinary man—I’m ashamed to be in your company.”

……

Chapter 10: Something Big Has Happened

A few bowls of soup were prepared and carefully packed into a food box. Brian Carter, feeling a pang of conscience, actually decided not to charge for the food box this time.

Business is about give and take. He’d already gotten what he could—charging extra would just be embarrassing.

One must have boundaries and principles. Money may be precious, but integrity is worth even more!

Abigail Grant gave a signal, and the guard beside her picked up the food box.

At this moment, Abigail Grant had regained her cold demeanor, hands behind her back, looking down at Brian Carter with the air of someone in a position of power, her eyes filled with a certain aloof arrogance, as if she were looking down on an ant.

As for Brian Carter, he didn’t mind at all, and said with a cheerful smile, “Honored guest, take care.”