Chapter 205: Chapter 204: Zhengwei Jing Arrives!
The cool sea breeze from the East Sea brushes over the Xuanzhu County on the summer morning, and this cool breeze is also called the ’Golden Wind’. The Silver Blood fleet, carrying golden spices and agricultural products, would ride this monsoon back from Scandinavia to Xuanzhu County.
Meanwhile, because the sea is warm, the Sea Barbarian Race has also entered their mating season. Coupled with the ’Mid-Year Grand Festival’ which saw a large number of lower-tier barbarians without mating rights perishing, the entire Sea Barbarian society has no mind for plundering or fighting, making it very safe for merchant ships to sail the seas.
In this tumultuous season where many trade routes are being gradually severed, the triangular trade route of [Xuanzhu-Tianji-Scandinavia] is considered to be the Silver Blood Association’s lifeline for its coffin money.
In Jing Garden, the master bedroom of Thistle Heart Residence is filled with the sweet fragrance of banana milk.
Le Yu sat up, looking at Qing Lan’s adorable sleeping face next to him. Perhaps because the sunlight was dazzling her eyes, her eyelashes fluttered, and she turned her head to the side to continue sleeping.
Today marked the third day since he returned to Xuanzhu County.
After all, there were many incidents in this negotiation team, and everyone had been traveling and living on boats for some time. Most importantly, various merchant guilds and families also needed time to discuss and deliberate, so these past few days have been peaceful, even celebratory, with reports of Quan Xin and a group of young dandies booking Xiangxue Sea for two days and nights, as if Le Yu and his companions had returned victorious from defeating the big demon king.
But in reality, they returned with the demon king’s minions to seize assets.
Yet while others were indulging, Le Yu was suffering.
On the first night he returned, Qing Lan saw him dusty and travel-worn, and she was heartbroken, helping him wipe his back and massage him, making Le Yu feel the warmth of home and deeply moved.
However, the morning after that came.
As for going to work and updating things, that naturally was entirely forgotten.
And the following day was no different, as if they wouldn’t stop without a decisive winner, with tumultuous battles seemingly shaking heaven and earth, pushing through all ages, obliterating the grand way.
He glanced at Qing Lan, her face radiant and rosy, sleeping adorably and contentedly, and Le Yu, without needing a mirror, knew that his life’s energy had diminished to a flickering candle in the wind.
’That kid Quan Xin booked the whole of Xiangxue Sea for three days and nights, could it be that he wants an early death for early rebirth...?’ He couldn’t help but think this: ’But given how skillful he is with spinning a pen, maybe he’s got some other skills too...’
At this moment, a pair of jade arms gently wrapped around his waist.
"You’re awake."
The cute voice, pure yet with a hint of charm, echoed, making even Le Yu, who had discarded all negative emotions as the Ice Blood person, couldn’t help but shiver slightly, then quickly replied in a gentle voice:
"Dear, you absolutely must go to work today, the next issue of the ’Youth Daily’ is due tomorrow, you must oversee it."
Qing Lan blinked, "Don’t worry, there are a few old chief editors, as long as they approve it, it’ll definitely pass by me too, there’s no problem if I’m not there."
"No, no, you’re the chief editor of the newspaper, it’s really excessive not going to work for two days, if you don’t go today, the staff will definitely talk behind your back."
"Let them say what they want, I can’t hear them anyway."
"I think as a person, you should balance work and leisure, focusing solely on work or solely on play is unsustainable."
"I~don’t~care~"
Qing Lan wrapped around him like a snake, hugging Le Yu’s neck, exhaling into his ear, causing Le Yu to shiver all over.
Then Qing Lan picked up the glasses placed on the bedside table. Seeing this, memories of past electrifying encounters flooded Le Yu, and he quickly and deftly grabbed her wrist: "No, no, we mustn’t!"
"Alright, look at you being so scared, am I that frightening?" Qing Lan teased, putting on her glasses: "Didn’t you say you were going to the inner city today?"
Le Yu felt a great burden lifted from his heart, relaxing entirely: "Yes, today is a very important day for me. Whether my explicit and implicit plans can continue depends on the upcoming Silver Blood meeting."
"Good luck." Qing Lan dressed up, smiling sweetly: "When does the meeting start? Can we have breakfast together?"
"The meeting is in the afternoon, not just breakfast, but even lunch..."
"Isn’t there plenty of time then!"
Qing Lan pounced and hugged Le Yu, who blinked, his expression softening as he gently caressed her head: "Don’t worry, I’m not leaving."
"The biggest hurdle has already passed, what’s left are just minor troubles."
Qing Lan lay on his chest, speaking softly: "While you were away, the newspaper received quite a few threat letters..."
Le Yu sneered: "Just some despicable lowlifes, now that I’m back they’re scared silent."
"That’s good."
"So, you don’t need to worry about me suddenly disappearing, from now on we’ll live through long yet ordinary lives, returning to our usual way of interacting."
"Usual way of interacting? Since you’ve said so..."
"Huh? Wait, wait... Is... is this really your usual way..."
...
...
Inner City No. 88.
The radiant Quan Xin leisurely walked into the meeting hall, taking a seat next to Luo Zhen. Wearing active short attire with a well-built physique, Luo Zhen gave him a glance, raising an eyebrow slightly: "You seem quite spirited."
"So-so, after all, being back in Xuanzhu County, my complexion is naturally better."
"But I heard you spent two days and nights soaking in Xiangxue Sea..."
At this, Quan Xin patted Luo Zhen’s shoulder, and Luo Zhen turned away dismissively, but Quan Xin didn’t mind, smiling: "You, it’s also time for you to follow the right path, forget Red Jade Sea, come to Xiangxue Sea, Xiangxue Sea recently came out with something new, I tried it, and it’s really good, you’ll definitely like it."
"What is this?"
"Sea Wave Powder."
Quan Xin made the gesture of a fly rubbing its legs.
Luo Zhen said dismissively, "Just hearing about this stuff, you know you shouldn’t touch it. Didn’t your dad or your uncle ever warn you?"
Quan Xin snorted, "What do you know? This is good stuff that’s been passed down. What are we afraid of? And if it were harmful, do you think Xiangxue Sea would dare to sell it? Do you think my dad or my uncle wouldn’t go to Xiangxue Sea?"
Luo Zhen pondered something, then said with a peculiar expression, "That’s hard to say..."
Just then, a wave of greetings sounded from the doorway. Quan Xin and Luo Zhen looked over and saw a tall, handsome, and brave man enter. Other members of the Silver Blood Association greeted him. Though the man wore luxurious merchant attire, he couldn’t hide his aura of being from the military, clearly showing he was a military officer.
"Oh!" Quan Xin whistled, "That old dog Ting Gu really is ruthless."
Though they had never had much respect for Ting Gu before, as Ting Gu was the president of the Silver Blood Association, they had to give him some face publicly.
But since Lan Yan heard about his ’understanding’ with Ting Gu, Quan Xin couldn’t even be bothered to give him that last bit of face, calling him an old dog outright, even in Xiangxue Sea.
Luo Zhen didn’t speak, but his expression showed agreement.
Because following behind the brave man was their old acquaintance, Ting Chaozao.
Compared to the bright and cheerful Ting Chaozao of the past, the current Ting Chaozao seemed like a different person, shadowed, silent, as if something was simmering inside his quiet shell, like a shadow.
In some ways, Ting Chaozao seemed more like Ting Gu now.
And the brave man was naturally Ting Chaozao’s brother, the formidable figure who became famous in Xuanzhu County for betraying his father in a reverse paternity scandal, General He Yang of the He Yang Army, Ting Wangjian.
"Greetings, Patriarch Luo, Patriarch Quan."
Ting Wangjian came over to greet them.
"Greetings," Luo Zhen clasped his fist, "General Ting, or should I call you... Patriarch Ting?"
Ting Wangjian smiled, "Either is fine."
Quan Xin raised an eyebrow slightly, "So, you’re saying, your Ting Family wants to go against the decision made by the former president of the Silver Blood Association?"
Quan Xin’s words were like releasing a fart in a sealed elevator; everyone held their breath, daring not to speak.
Before the negotiating team set off, Ting Gu promised the direct lineage heirs of the top ten merchant factions that upon returning, they could directly assume the role of Patriarch, to pressure the top ten merchants not to send cannon fodder into the negotiating team.
After the Quan, Luo, Lan, and Qin families returned, they quickly held internal ceremonies for succession, while the Li, Fang, Zhao, and Zhou families, who did send cannon fodder, didn’t admit or deny the cannon fodder as the Patriarch but still sent cannon fodder to the Silver Blood meetings to show respect to the president’s decision.
And now, the Ting Family, represented by the former president of the Silver Blood Association, was the first to break its own promise?
Many thought deeper: if the promise of the patriarchal succession could be broken, what about the promise of the presidency succession...
"All promises are true the moment they’re spoken," Ting Wangjian calmly explained, "just like fruit on a tree is ripe the moment it falls."
"But the world changes unpredictably, time can’t be stopped, fruit may fall into piles of dead leaves and rot, and promises may have to change due to reality."
"As businessmen, we should know that the only unchanging thing in this world is profit."
"Aren’t you a General?" Quan Xin retorted.
Ting Wangjian suddenly shifted his tone, "I have a friend who once said something that left a deep impression on me."
"Merchants are just hurting people."
"The president of a merchant association and military officers are essentially no different. Though they use different methods, both are about taking what they want from others."
"Then, if you’ll excuse me."
Ting Wangjian walked past the two as Ting Chaozao glanced at them, following closely behind his brother.
Quan Xin snorted, "After not seeing him for a few years, that guy’s getting sharper with his words..."
Luo Zhen’s face suddenly changed, "What is Ting Wangjian really up to!?"
"What’s wrong?"
Quan Xin looked over and his face changed dramatically too!
They saw Ting Wangjian walk over to the seat once occupied by Ting Gu, brush out the hem of his garment, and sit down openly.
The entire council room instantly fell silent.
That was Ting Gu’s seat!
Also the seat of the president of the Silver Blood Association!
How dare he?
At that moment, the voice of the middle-aged steward responsible for reception echoed into the council room from outside—
"Jing Family Merchant Association, Jing Zhengwei has arrived!"