Shi Jianming's face turned pale, hitting a major snag.
Giving advice implied, in an intangible way, that I am superior to you.
If one accepts the advice, it signifies their acknowledgment of your superiority.
But what if they reject it and retort?
The subtext is, I don't think you're superior to me; in fact, I think you're a bit of an idiot.
This is precisely the reality.
Li Chonglou told Shi Jianming without any pretense that he was an idiot and dared to criticize him, thus inviting embarrassment.
"Jianming, Chonglou has a blunt personality and is young. For Lin Ying's sake, please don't mind," Xiao Yun interjected, attempting to ease the tension.
After all, this was her venue.
She had invited Shi Jianming today not just to discuss antiques and curios, but more importantly, for commercial cooperation.
Although the Xiao family was large, one of the eight prominent families nationwide,
their roots were actually deeply decayed.
Appearing grand on the outside, they were rotten within.
Now, with a significant figure interfering, nearly causing a split, it was already extremely difficult for her to maintain the situation.
There was no capacity left for development and growth.
Without external intervention, the Xiao family would rapidly decline at a visible pace.
This era was ever-changing and developing at lightning speed.
Internet projects emerged endlessly, and the wealthiest individuals had changed several times over. Waiting any longer meant only a dead end.
"Xiao Yun, I've heard about your situation and I know why you asked me to come to Yong'an," Shi Jianming nodded, his expression solemn. "We are friends."
"If you need something, I will naturally not refuse."
"But in your position, you should understand that I am currently bound by circumstances."
"The company isn't mine alone; I am merely the chairman of the board, with only a veto right, not a decision-making right."
Although the words were elegantly phrased,
anyone could tell that Shi Jianming was refusing Xiao Yun.
Yet, the reason was plausible and reasonable, as public companies were different from private enterprises.
Xiao Yun was not rushed. If she were to panic at every setback in her position, the Xiao family would have been swallowed up long ago.
After contemplating for a few seconds, she smiled and said, "I understand. If you were to make decisions unilaterally, that would indeed be too much of me."
"I will give you the project proposal. Can you submit it to the company for review? That's not asking too much, is it?"
"With your position as chairman of the board, shareholders will have to show you some respect."
"I believe you can influence the outcome."
She was not surprised by Shi Jianming's refusal.
For businessmen like them, if they couldn't separate public and private matters, they shouldn't be in business.
Therefore, she wanted to appeal to Shi Jianming through personal connections and invited Lin Ying to the banquet. Unfortunately, Lin Ying was uncooperative; she was a woman of the martial world, not a businesswoman.
And due to her friendship with Xiao Yun, she couldn't refuse, so she sent Li Chonglou instead.
Who would have thought that Shi Jianming would have an inherent hostility towards Li Chonglou, leading to an irreconcilable confrontation?
"If I say no after you've said all this, I doubt you'll even consider me a friend anymore," Shi Jianming suddenly chuckled. "I can help you."
"But I have a condition!"
Xiao Yun's beautiful eyes flashed with sharp light. "Speak."
Any condition proposed by Shi Jianming would not be simple.
"You know I'm fond of Tianhuang stones and have bought quite a few at auctions, but I've yet to find one that truly satisfies me," Shi Jianming said, crossing his arms and displaying a commercial smile. "Since you, Xiao Yun, want to do business with me, let me be frank."
"Someone in your Yong'an has a Tianhuang stone with three linked sections that I desire."
"As long as you can help me get that seal, influencing the board might not be impossible!"
One sentence caused Liang Han, standing nearby, to change color.
A Tianhuang stone with three linked sections!
Even if they didn't specialize in Tianhuang stones, they had heard of the fame of the three-linked section seal.
"The one the Governor of Minzhou gifted to Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty?" Li Chonglou's eyes flashed with a sharp glint as he joined the conversation.
"You actually know about it? Then do you know who has this seal?" Shi Jianming retorted.
"No, I don't," Li Chonglou shook his head truthfully. "This seal was originally intended as a burial item for Emperor Qianlong."
"However, it was stolen from the tomb in the late Qing Dynasty and circulated among the populace."
"After enduring several periods of war and turmoil, it was collected by a foreigner and taken abroad."
"Subsequently, its whereabouts became unknown."
Li Chonglou was intimately familiar with the historical origins of this three-linked section seal.
But he was, after all, human, not an immortal.
In his previous life, he had paid attention to this item, but it had never surfaced, seemingly having vanished from the world.
Now, to his surprise, Shi Jianming had brought it up.
If the whereabouts of this three-linked section seal could be found, it would undoubtedly mean helping the country recover a rare national treasure.
The exchange between the two left Xiao Yun and Liang and Han astonished.
Did Yong'an indeed have someone in possession of such a precious item?
"I have been searching for this seal, regardless of the cost. Honestly, my reason for coming to Yong'an this time is that I've found some leads," Shi Jianming laid everything out. "There is someone in Yong'an surnamed Li, same as your surname."
"He is reportedly the leader of an international tomb raiding and smuggling syndicate, specializing in the illicit trade of cultural relics."
"A few years ago, he discovered the whereabouts of this seal abroad and managed to 'pick it up' and bring it back to the country."
"This person's name is Li Hanlong. That's all I could find. It seems he has formidable backing, and further information cannot be obtained."
Li Hanlong again!
Upon hearing the name, Li Chonglou's pupils contracted.
Why was everything related to him?
This guy was truly incredibly capable; a smuggler bringing a national treasure back from abroad.
One had to admit, this was indeed a form of irony.
"Li Hanlong?" Xiao Yun's pretty face also changed upon hearing the name.
She certainly knew Li Hanlong; she had dealt with him some time ago.
This individual had contributed significantly to the division within the Xiao family.
Her cousin, Xiao Qiang, had been kidnapped by him and his whereabouts remained unknown to this day, causing Xiao Qiang's father to turn against her, nearly splitting the Xiao family.
She hadn't expected that the Tianhuang seal Shi Jianming desired was in his possession.
It probably couldn't be bought with money.
Li Hanlong's objective was the fragmentation of the Xiao family; this was simply an unsolvable deadlock.
"I accept this transaction. Within a week, I will deliver the three-linked section seal to you, and you will guarantee cooperation with the Xiao family!" At this moment, Li Chonglou spoke unhurriedly and calmly.
His words struck Xiao Yun's heart with shock.
Li Chonglou was actually agreeing to help her.
On what basis did he dare to say this?
Who was Li Hanlong? An international grand thief, ruthless in his methods.
Even Lian Zijian, the chairman of Lianchuang Group, had dealings with him. While Lian Zijian was now dead, it didn't mean Li Hanlong had become an easy target.
If things went wrong, he could lose his life.
How would she explain it to Lin Ying then?
"Chonglou... do you perhaps want to reconsider?" Xiao Yun, ultimately choosing personal sentiment, advised him in a low voice.
For the sake of the public, it would be great if Li Chonglou agreed to go.
But people had emotions. Although Xiao Yun had known Li Chonglou for a short time, she had saved his life before.
And she was a close friend of Lin Ying. In her heart, she felt a genuine warmth towards this young man.
If he were to lose his life because of this matter, she would feel very bad.
"Sister Xiao, you saved my life. I'll repay you with a three-linked section seal. That's fair," Li Chonglou smiled with extreme carefree abandon.
A drop of kindness received should be repaid with a gushing spring, let alone the kindness of saving a life.
Xiao Yun had helped him, and since he was here, he had to show his worth.
Moreover, Li Hanlong was his mortal enemy, an enmity that could not be resolved without bloodshed.
On Sunday, he would accompany Zeng Wang to meet Li Hanlong. If he couldn't bring this mountain down, he himself would likely perish without a burial place.
He had no other choice.
His life, he wanted to protect, and the three-linked section seal, he was determined to obtain!
"Good, it's a deal. I'll await your good news within a week." As Xiao Yun was touched, Shi Jianming brought his hand down on the table to seal the agreement. "As long as the three-linked section seal is obtained, I will help the Xiao family regain its glory. I keep my word!"
"Words are not enough. Let's put it in writing. Sister Xiao, do you have the contract with you?" Li Chonglou deliberately looked at Xiao Yun and asked.
"I do," Xiao Yun understood his intention and took out the contract she had prepared from her bag.
She handed it to Shi Jianming.
Of course, this contract was no longer a cooperation agreement.
It was a bet.
It was changed to: upon obtaining the three-linked section seal, cooperation with the Xiao family would be facilitated.
With Liang and Han as witnesses, Shi Jianming felt it awkward to renege, so he could only amend the contract, sign his name, and press his fingerprint.
After collecting the contract, Xiao Yun, slightly excited, asked the waiter to serve the dishes.
Although the cooperation today wasn't finalized in one step, at least there were prospects and hope, and Li Chonglou had played an indispensable role.
She sighed inwardly, realizing she hadn't misjudged him.
As the food and wine were served, Old Liang, still holding a grudge after being bested by Li Chonglou earlier, took the opportunity to ply Li Chonglou with alcohol.
Shi Jianming wasn't to be outdone and wanted to get Li Chonglou drunk to see him make a fool of himself.
Old Han, however, felt a kindred spirit with him and didn't urge Li Chonglou to drink, but he also couldn't bring himself to stop Shi Jianming and Old Liang, as drinking culture was deeply ingrained in China, and there was always a justification for it.
"How about this? I'll drink with both of you. You each have one cup, and I'll have two," Li Chonglou, knowing they were deliberately targeting him, broke his usual habit of not drinking and acted outrageously. "As long as you can still drink, I won't stop."
Alcohol, being a nervous system depressant, could be pleasant in moderation but extremely detrimental in excess.
Therefore, Li Chonglou generally avoided it.
But that didn't mean he couldn't drink.
Especially after his Sheepskin Scroll mental cultivation broke through to the second level, his body possessed powerful self-healing and recovery abilities.
If he really started drinking, he could down Moutai like water.
However, Shi Jianming and Old Liang were unaware of this ability. Upon seeing this, they immediately asked the waiter to bring ten bottles of Lai Mao.
Their intention was to get Li Chonglou so drunk he'd pass out.
Xiao Yun, while Shi Jianming wasn't paying attention, leaned close to Li Chonglou's ear and said worriedly, "Don't push yourself. If you can't handle it, just pretend to be drunk."
"They are older than you. If they cause trouble for you, I can still help."
"Sister Xiao, you worry too much. I'm drinking with those older than me," Li Chonglou said, at this moment appearing like an righteous youth in his early twenties, exuding arrogance.
After speaking, he began his performance.
He downed twelve cups of Baijiu with the food, one after another.
Shi Jianming and Old Liang watched in stunned silence, exchanging glances.
This…
This kid was clearly playing the wolf in sheep's clothing.
They had intended to get him drunk, but now they had provoked a harbinger of misfortune.
It seemed they would be the ones to get drunk and lose control in the end.
But having already made a drinking pledge, backing out halfway would be a complete loss of face for a man.
With no other option, they could only grit their teeth and continue drinking.
Seeing this, Li Chonglou chuckled inwardly. If he didn't get them soused and under the table today, he'd write his surname backward!