Zhao Shu stood on the sidelines, determined not to miss this opportunity. The fate of the Zhao Family hung in the balance, and it seemed almost certain that their decline was imminent.
As expected, when the silk began to flood the market, a significant number of families who had previously signed contracts with Zhao Mu had a change of heart. They preferred to pay double the deposit rather than sell their silk to him.
This turn of events left Zhao Mu torn between anger and anxiety. A considerable number of families reneged on their commitments, with about 16 or 17 of them opting to pay the double deposit. Faced with this predicament, Zhao Mu found himself in a difficult position.
Taking the matter to the authorities was an option, albeit a challenging one. The involvement of so many families complicated matters, and the magistrate was unlikely to favor Zhao Mu's case. Several days had already passed since the issue arose.
